News Archive

Thursday, May 29th 2025

TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.66.0 Released

TechPowerUp today released the latest version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z, the popular graphics sub-system information, monitoring, and diagnostic utility. Version 2.66.0 introduces support for a number of new GPUs. On the NVIDIA front, we've added support for GeForce RTX 5060, RTX 5070 Ti Mobile, RTX 5070 Mobile, RTX 5060 Mobile, RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell, and Quadro RTX 5000 (TU104-B). Over on the AMD side, we've added support for the upcoming Radeon RX 9060 XT, and Radeon Pro W7900 Dual Slot. Grab the latest version from TechPowerUp GPU-Z from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.66.0

ZOTAC Silently Upgraded Its ZBOX E-Series Mini-PCs with GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and Intel Core Ultra 7

ZOTAC silently added a new MAGNUS Mini-PC to its ZBOX E-Series that features a desktop-class GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU with 16 GB of GDDR7 with 128-bit bus interface paired with Intel Core Ultra 7 255H (16 Cores, 2 GHz up to 5.1 GHz) processor. The MAGNUS came in a compact 2.65 liters small form factor measuring 210 mm x 203 mm x 62.2 mm and is equipped with 16 GB of pre-installed DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM RAM that can be expanded up to 96 GB by using DDR5-6400 CSODIMM or DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM modules. The storage consist of a 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD along with one more M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot available for expansion. The system supports up to four displays simultaneously through one HDMI 2.1 port and two DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, with the highest resolution being 7680 x 4320 at 60 Hz (120 Hz at 4K). The unit sports dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7 wireless networking (dual SMA antenna connectors available), along with Bluetooth 5.4, five USB 3.2 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and 8-channel audio support through HDMI.

The system comes with active cooling and an external 330 W power supply. ZOTAC offers multiple SKUs for the Magnus E-Series Mini-PC, including pre-configured models (ZBOX-EN75060TC-W4B/W5B) with Windows OS, 16 GB DDR5 memory, and 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD pre-installed, as well as a barebone model (ZBOX-EN75060TC) that allows users to configure their own memory and storage options.

Nokia Brings Wi-Fi 7 to All With Launch of Beacon 4 and 9 Home Devices

Today, Nokia launched two new Wi-Fi 7 gateways designed to deliver, reliable, ultra-fast broadband to every corner of the home. Nokia's entry level Beacon 4 and mid-tier Beacon 9 offer gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi - essential for supporting the expanding demands of streaming, online gaming, video, smart home, and security applications in the home.

As XGS-PON and 25G PON services grow, Wi-Fi upgrades are essential to delivering multi-gigabit speeds into homes. Nokia's new Beacon 4 and 9 are designed specifically for this purpose, allowing service providers to offer an affordable, best-in-class Wi-Fi 7 experience for the masses. Incorporating Wi-Fi 7's full capabilities, the dual-band Beacon 4 gateway delivers 3.6Gbs speeds over Wi-Fi while the tri-band Beacon 9 gateway delivers blazingly fast 9.4Gbs speeds that help eliminate slowdowns and buffering issues. Both Beacons are powered by its Corteca software which allows operators to create and monetize better broadband experiences.

Alphacool Announces ES Barbed fittings, QDCs and MCX Manifold

Alphacool International GmbH, based in Braunschweig, has been a pioneer in PC water cooling technology for over 20 years. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over two decades of experience, Alphacool is now expanding its portfolio with the new barbed fittings and quick disconnect couplings (QDCs) designed for TPV tubing.

The new components are engineered to meet the high demands of enterprise and server environments. With robust construction, easy handling, and compatibility with TPV tubing, these fittings ensure secure and efficient operation even under continuous load. The straight and angled barbed fittings offer flexible routing options, while the QDCs allow for tool-free disconnection and reconnection of water loops, simplifying maintenance and system upgrades.
Wednesday, May 28th 2025
Phylina S480 Max Review

Phylina S480 Max Review

Weighing just 41 g, the ambidextrous, solid-shell Phylina S480 Max comes with PixArt's latest PAW3950 sensor, Huano main button switches, and 8000 Hz polling in both wired and wireless operation. What's more, the lightweight rodent has a light price too, just $69.99.

NVIDIA Announces Financial Results for First Quarter Fiscal 2026

NVIDIA today reported revenue for the first quarter ended April 27, 2025, of $44.1 billion, up 12% from the previous quarter and up 69% from a year ago.

On April 9, 2025, NVIDIA was informed by the U.S. government that a license is required for exports of its H20 products into the China market. As a result of these new requirements, NVIDIA incurred a $4.5 billion charge in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 associated with H20 excess inventory and purchase obligations as the demand for H20 diminished. Sales of H20 products were $4.6 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 prior to the new export licensing requirements. NVIDIA was unable to ship an additional $2.5 billion of H20 revenue in the first quarter.

AMD Reportedly Discontinues B650 Motherboard Chipset, Insider Predicts Q3'25 Stock Depletion

Yesterday, members of the Bobantang discussion board disclosed intriguing insider knowledge. According to recent industry murmurs, AMD has informed motherboard manufacturing partners about the discontinuation of B650 chipset production. Chinese media outlets have jumped on this alleged revelation, with Western counterparts quickly joining in on the fun (hours later). ITHome and Unika's Hardware were the first channels to parse info from the Bobantang forum. Since a 2022 launch, Team Red's mid-range B650 board design has remained a firm favorite for many budget-conscious owners of Ryzen 7000 (plus 8000G and 9000) series desktop processors. A "direct" successor—B850—reached retail at the start of this year, but higher price points combined with relatively minor feature set advantages have discouraged a lot of buyers. The likes of ASUS, ASRock, Colorful and Sapphire have released (or previewed) new B650 chipset-based mainboard products in 2025—mostly in microATX form factors.

A Bobantang member has prophesized two major trends—the first being: "after AMD's B650 chip production line is shut down, its inventory is expected to be large. According to Team Red, the B650M series inventory sales plan will probably end in the third quarter (of 2025)." A second claim was outlined: "it is expected that the digestion time of the tail end stock of AMD's B650 series motherboard will be longer, at least there will be inventory to sell in the second quarter (of this year), but the inventory of B650M chips will become more and more scarce as time goes by." PC hardware watchdogs propose a fall in B850 pricing; likely expertly timed to occur shortly after the complete depletion of predecessor stock—by the fourth quarter of this year.

Saber Interactive Announces World War Z VR - Launching on August 12

The swarms are back for more in World War Z VR! Coming to Meta Quest and Steam VR on August 12. World War Z VR is a new first-person experience designed from the ground up to capture the series' legendary scale and action for long-time fans and VR enthusiasts alike. The gameplay mechanics of the original World War Z game have been fully reimagined for VR to deliver a gripping sense of realism and excitement with each moment.

Take on hordes of undead across vast environments in three unique locations: New York, Tokyo, and Marseille. Customize your challenge to suit your playstyle with a variety of characters, weapons, perks, and difficulty settings to choose from. A special bundle that includes both the new World War Z VR and the original World War Z is also available to pre-order today!

Xiaomi Envisions Proprietary Chipset Designs Being Deployed in non-Flagship Mobile Devices

Last Thursday, Xiaomi revealed its proprietary XRING O1 3 nm mobile chipset. After months of rumors, the Chinese firm's highly anticipated first-party chip design was introduced during their special "A New Beginning" event—held in Beijing. During this multipronged product launch celebration, company leadership disclosed the underpinnings of their first-ever flagship processor. According to official descriptions, Xiaomi's pivotal XRING O1 SoC is built on: "a cutting-edge second-gen 3 nm process with 19 billion transistors, features a 10-core CPU and 16-core Immortalis-G925 GPU, delivering flagship performance with industry-leading power efficiency. It also integrates Xiaomi's fourth-gen ISP and a 6-core NPU offering 44 TOPS for advanced AI processing." Days prior to important ceremonies in China, a joint statement—issued by Qualcomm—detailed an extended Snapdragon chipset supply agreement. The XRING O1 processor line will drive forthcoming Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphones and Pad 7 Ultra tablets; reserved for initial "domestic market" launches. Qualcomm's current flagship offerings are technically superior to Xiaomi's fresh effort, but an ever-shifting political landscape could affect future shipments.

Lu Weibing—a company president and partner—has outlined a vision for XRING's eventual expansion beyond a flagship/high-end product tier. Last week's intro firmly positioned the 3 nm part as premium option that will power suitably expensive Android-based mobile devices. Weibing acknowledged that his team has jumped into the deep end: "(for) this platform capability, it is most difficult to work on smartphone flagship SoC, it has high power consumption demand and its technology is extremely complicated. If you can, then you should have the ability to work on flagship smartphone SoC. (Once you) move to work on other chips, it won't be that difficult." Industry moles posit that Xiaomi's XRING division is already a formidable force, in terms of staff headcounts and experience. The department could be absorbing some inspiration from Apple; namely their custom C1 modem chip. The firm's president painted a picture of things to come: "so we want to focus on the flagship SoC, and then we want to make a capable modem for the future. We have to work on 4G and 5G parts—together with 3G—leading to a complete matrix. So that is what we need to do at this stage." Early leaks have indicated the existence of a binned version of the XRING O1 SoC; present within early Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra tablet samples. In theory, these compromised chips could be deployed in unannounced cheaper products.

AMD Acquires Enosemi - Taking Steps to Accelerate Co-Packaged Optics Innovation for AI Systems

Last week, welcomed the Enosemi team to AMD, marking the next key step in our rapidly evolving AI strategy. Enosemi has collaborated with us as an external development partner on photonics, and this acquisition extends that successful relationship. Now as part of AMD, the team will help us immediately scale our ability to support and develop a variety of photonics and co-packaged optics solutions across next-gen AI systems.

The elite team of experts and PhD-level talent at Enosemi, based in Silicon Valley, has a proven track record of building and shipping photonic integrated circuits in volume, a unique feat that few select teams have accomplished. Their depth of experience, technical rigor, and track record of execution make them an ideal fit for AMD as we push deeper into high-performance interconnect innovation.

ASRock Motherboard Team Believes That Overly Fierce PBO Settings Have Damaged Ryzen 9000 CPUs

Earlier this month, Bryan Bilowol—of Tech YES City fame—was taken aback by the unexpected "death" of his Ryzen 9 9950X processor, at the alleged hands of an ASRock X870 Steel Legend motherboard. Throughout early 2025, widespread news reports and community tracking efforts have largely implicated ASRock boards. AMD's highly popular Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming CPU has "fallen victim" on numerous occasions, but a smaller number of incidents have affected non-3D V-Cache equipped Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" models. The Taiwanese manufacturer and Team Red have investigated these problems, and have released fixes via BIOS updates. Despite these efforts, unhappy owners have experienced CPU failures in Q2'25. Following the uploading of initial findings and theories, Bilowol promised further reports. Fortunately, a sit-down—with ASRock's motherboard team—happened late last week, at Computex 2025. At the time of writing, the company has not published an official statement regarding their latest findings or fixes. Tech YES City shared a couple of compelling details in a May 26 YouTube upload (viewable below).

Commenting on the Ryzen 9000 CPU failure situation, Bilowol relayed important ASRock material: (the motherboard team) told me it had to do with the EDC and TDC, which is the electric design current as well as the thermal design current. Essentially, they're saying it's an ampage problem that exists with the precision boost overdrive (PBO) settings. In particular, these mid-range and high-end motherboards—say for instance a B650E or an X670E Taichi or even a B850 Steel Legend—have the ability to run Ryzen 9000 series CPUs at their maximum PBO settings out of the box. What's happening here is ASRock told me they were implementing these settings to what they believe was too aggressive for what the CPUs were able to handle, at least for earlier samples. However, they do promise me that these issues have been fixed with their latest BIOS updates that they're rolling out for these mid-range and high-end motherboards. They also told me that the lower-end boards, say for instance, an A620 HDV or something like that, shouldn't be affected by this issue simply because those PBO settings have been deliberately tuned down, due to the motherboard in question not being a high-end model." Three months back, ASRock's Japanese branch accused the PC hardware community of spreading "misinformation." Hopefully, the latest batch of fixes will bring an end to all Ryzen 9000 CPU + high-end/mid-range ASRock mainboard controversies.

Rainbow Six Siege X's UX Director Talks About Accessibility Features

Rainbow Six Siege X is launching on June 10, kicking off a new evolution of the tactical first-person shooter with new content and major updates. To help players prepare, we've published details on the Siege X PC & console specs, and in this article, we're diving deep into accessibility. The Siege team has long had accessibility in their sights as a priority, as you'll see in our interview with User Experience Director Sébastien François. He describes the team's embrace of accessibility throughout the years, shares details on how they've been preparing for Siege X, and offers insights into their future. Read on to learn more.

What is the Siege team's goal or guiding philosophy when it comes to accessibility?
Sébastien François: Siege is a tactical competitive shooter with a strong esports scene, which presents its own set of challenges compared to a single-player game, but we do not want to compromise on accessibility. We want as many players as possible to be able to engage with our unique gameplay elements with comfort, so they can enjoy the full extent of what the Siege experience has to offer. This is an integral part of our design process, and an important focus for our ongoing efforts to improve the game season after season.

NVIDIA Plans 800 V Power Infrastructure to Drive 1 MW AI Racks

AI infrastructure buildout is pushing data center desings beyond the limits of conventional power delivery. Traditional in-rack 54 V DC distribution was designed for racks drawing tens of kilowatts and cannot scale to the megawatt requirements for next-generation AI facilities. At GTC and Computex 2025, NVIDIA introduced a comprehensive solution: an end-to-end 800-volt high-voltage DC (HVDC) infrastructure that will support 1-megawatt AI racks and beyond, with deployments planned to begin in 2027. Cooling and cabling already place immense strain on rack designs. NVIDIA's current GB200 and GB300 NVL72 systems can draw up to 132 kW per rack—significantly more than the 50 to 80 kW that most data halls were built to handle. If rack power rises to the 700 kW to 1 MW range under a 54 V distribution, it would require roughly 64 U of chassis space devoted solely to copper busbars, which is almost the entire rack, and about 200 kg of copper per rack. For a 1 GW installation, that adds up to nearly half a million metric tons of copper.

NVIDIA's 800 V HVDC architecture eliminates multiple AC-to-DC and DC-to-DC conversion stages by consolidating them into a single grid-edge rectifier. From a 13.8 kV AC feed, power is converted directly to 800 V DC and then routed through row-level busways to each rack. Compact DC-DC modules in the rack step down the voltage for the GPUs. Fewer power supply units mean fewer fans, lower heat output, and a simpler electrical footprint. Beyond scalability, 800 V HVDC offers up to 5 percent gains in end-to-end efficiency and a 45 percent reduction in copper usage. This results in lower electricity costs and reduced infrastructure buildout costs. To drive industry adoption, NVIDIA has partnered with leaders across the power ecosystem. Silicon and power-electronics specialists such as Infineon, MPS, Navitas, ROHM, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments are contributing components. System integrators, including Delta, Flex Power, Lead Wealth, LiteOn, and Megmeet, are developing power shelves. Data-center infrastructure companies Eaton, Schneider Electric, and Vert iv are standardizing protective devices at every boundary from the power room to the rack. Below you can compare the traditional rack system in the top to the newly proposed variation in the middle and the bottom part of the image. Thanks to HardwareLuxx, we can even see how it looks in reality.

Intel Mesa Driver Updated with Unannounced Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" GPU Identifiers

Back in January, keen trackers of internal Team Blue developments stumbled upon encouraging signs of new Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics card activity. Fast-forward to Computex 2025; where Intel and involved board partners unveiled Pro-grade B60 and B50 workstation card products. In the interim, rumors of a canceled "BMG-G31" GPU-based gaming series turned up online. Leading up to last week's important trade event, Team Blue's social media accounts were actively engaging with the community—mostly answering queries regarding a speculated Arc Xe2 "B770" model. According to secretive show floor banter, higher-end B-series gaming graphics cards could be lined up for a fourth quarter launch (this year).

Freshly discovered "BMG" identifiers were highlighted by Lasse Kärkkäinen—this latest tip-off was directed at GawroskiT, Haze2K1 and x86deadandback. At various points in 2024 and 2025, these veteran industry observers have unearthed crucial "Battlemage" inside track information. Team Blue's Mesa graphics driver for Linux was updated late last week; Kärkkäinen's attention was drawn by 0xe220, 0xe221, 0xe222 to 0xe223 device codes. These IDs seemingly exist in a separate category, distinct from "BMG-21." Intel's B580 and B570 cards are based on "Battlemage" BMG-21 GPU die foundations. According to Wccftech's expert opinion: "at least two of these listings belong to Intel's recently-unveiled Battlemage 'ARC Pro' variants...The rest of the two device IDs will belong to newer models, and the one we anticipate to be unveiled is the Arc B770, since Intel 'indirectly' confirmed its release at Computex, but this will occur in the latter part of the year, presumably at Intel Innovation 2025." Inevitably, the Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" family will be succeeded by "Celestial"—recent leaks have suggested development of Xe3 reaching a pre-silicon validation phase.

PowerColor's RX 9070 XT Red Devil Special Edition Features Magnetic Swappable Backplates

PowerColor has introduced a new twist to its Red Devil lineup with the Radeon RX 9070 XT Special Edition, which features swappable magnetic backplates known as "Devil Skins." While the GPU itself remains identical in terms of specifications and cooling design to the existing Red Devil variants, this new edition focuses on user customization by allowing aesthetic changes without altering performance. Customers will receive the "Onyx Devil Skin" with the card, and although no additional skins have been confirmed, more options are likely to follow. Interestingly, these magnetic skins are expected to be compatible with other RX 9000-series Red Devil models, making it an easy and cost-effective upgrade for existing owners. Visually, the card maintains the sharp, angular look typical of the Red Devil line. However, PowerColor has moved toward a cleaner and more uniform finish compared to some of its past, more dramatic designs. Pricing and availability for the Special Edition have not been announced yet. The last picture shows the regular backplate on the Red Devil RX 9070 XT, so you can see the comparison between the two.

Microsoft's "Copilot for Gaming" Beta Trial Available Now on Mobile Platforms

At Xbox, we want to help you spend more time playing the games you love, to be there when you need some help—and out of the way when you don't. Copilot for Gaming (Beta) is designed to do just that, and starting today, you can begin testing this new feature as it starts rolling out to the beta version of the Xbox app for mobile devices.

Copilot for Gaming is the ultimate gaming sidekick, making gaming with Xbox more seamless and personalized. In this early version of the feature for mobile, you'll be able to access Copilot for Gaming on a second screen, without distracting you from your core gameplay experience. The companion knows what game you're playing and understands your Xbox activity, so it can answer any questions about the games you're interested in, provide links to more information when its response includes web sources, or answer questions based on your account, play history and achievements.

Acer Nitro AI Laptops Spotted with GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile GPU Specs

NVIDIA's oft-leaked GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile 8 GB GPU did not make a debut appearance at last week's Computex trade show. Given the very recent launch of GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB laptops, truly cost-conscious buyers will need to wait patiently for the next wave of even cheaper portable "Blackwell" hardware. Mid-way through the month, a British e-tailer inadvertently published pre-launch prices. Lenovo's least expensive option—utilizing a GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile card—sported a (likely placeholder) tag of £1149.97 (inc. VAT). So far, a lot of pre-release information has been sourced from official websites or webstores.

Yesterday, VideoCardz shared another NDA-buster—courtesy of Acer's "Predator and Nitro Gaming Laptop GPU Power Specifications page." At the time of writing, offending items are no longer present within this list. Prior to removal, three configurable Nitro AI laptop models (16, 16S, and 18) were visible with GeForce RTX 5050 specifications (alongside RTX 5060, 5070 and 5070 Ti options). Only clock speed and TGP data points were logged by the notorious investigator (see below). Currently, TechPowerUp's GPU database entry contains speculative information—a "GB207" GPU identifier was unearthed a while ago, but some insiders reckon that Team Green's GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile design will be based on "GB206" silicon. Additionally, debates continue to rage over the selection of GDDR7 or GDDR6 VRAM. So far, all launched tiers of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50-series have emerged with GDDR7 memory modules.

Pwnage Launches Zenblade V2 Hall Effect Gaming Keyboards

Pwnage, a leader in precision gaming peripherals, is proud to announce the launch of the Zenblade 65 V2, a high-performance Hall Effect keyboard designed for gamers and creators who demand total control, zero latency, and a personal edge. Shipping begins May 28th, with preorders now live at https://pwnage.com.

Introducing the ZenBlade 65 V2
Featuring exclusive Nyomi artwork and performance-tuned internals powered by Pwnage's custom next-gen ZENITH chip. With 8,000 Hz polling, Rapid Trigger support and advanced Pro key customization, it delivers input speeds that redefine what it means to feel "in sync" with your gear. The Zenblade V2 launches with the limited edition Nyomi colorway, inspired by Pwnage's original character Nyomi - a symbol of strength, resilience and self-mastery. The keyboard includes exclusive keycaps featuring Nyomi, an individually numbered collector's card, and a striking CNC-machined aluminium chassis with a two-tone finish.

Intel "Diamond Rapids" Xeon to Debut on 9,324-Pin LGA9324 Socket

Intel's upcoming "Diamond Rapids" Xeon processors are going to debut on a remarkably large new LGA9324 socket, according to a recently leaked photograph shared by hardware leaker HXL on X. The image appears to show a socket with 9,324 contact points, and when auxiliary debug pins are included, the total connection count may exceed 10,000. If this turns out to be accurate, it would surpass Intel's current flagship LGA7529 and AMD's SP5 sockets in raw pin density. Earlier reports indicated that Diamond Rapids will require Intel's next-generation Oak Stream platform, which in turn will use this upgraded socket. Within Intel's roadmap, the seventh-generation Xeon family is intended to replace the existing Granite Rapids lineup in both Advanced Performance (AP) and Scalable Performance (SP) segments. Prototype coolers from Dynatron suggest Intel plans to offer two sub-families: higher-end AP variants similar to the Xeon 6900P and a slightly less demanding SP series, potentially with a reduced pin count.

To put this evolution in context, the current LGA7529 platform supports up to 128 performance cores, 12 channels of DDR5 memory, and power envelopes up to 500 watts. A roughly 30 percent increase in pin count should allow Diamond Rapids to expand I/O bandwidth, add memory channels, increase thermal design power, and possibly accommodate more cores. Visually, the new socket appears to be nearly five times the size of Intel's LGA1851 socket, used by Arrow Lake desktop processors. Under the hood, Diamond Rapids is expected to use the Panther Cove-X core architecture, a server-optimized counterpart to the Coyote Cove design found in Nova Lake. These CPUs are reportedly being fabricated on Intel's 18A process node, with high-volume manufacturing anticipated by late 2025 or early 2026.

Boxelware Launches First Demo of Aquapark Tycoon on Steam - With Pirates Aboard!

Just in time for the start of outdoor pool season, developer studio Boxelware is opening the gates to Aquapark Tycoon, at least for a sneak peek! From now on, players can dive into the refreshing fun and try out the new tycoon game from the indie developer - known for its successful debut title Avorion - through an extensive demo.

The demo of Aquapark Tycoon offers plenty of fun for all fans of the genre! Players can prove their skills as aquapark managers and design a water park entirely to their own vision: from pools for young and old to spectacular slides and a wellness area featuring a wide range of saunas.

NACON Launches Revosim RS Pure Bundle, Reveals Full Sim Racing Lineup

NACON, a world leader in gaming accessories, is delighted to announce the availability of its first Direct Drive Revosim RS PURE bundle on nacongaming.com. Several additional accessories will be released between now and the end of 2025. Presented at Bigben Week 2025, these products are designed to enrich the Revosim ecosystem. Players will be able to add a hybrid gearbox (classic H-box/sequential gearbox), a clutch pedal, a loadcell handbrake and a new wheel, all compatible with products in the RS PURE range.

"This RS PURE bundle embodies our desire to offer gamers a high-performance steering wheel, adapted to the demands of modern sim racing," says Sébastien Waxin, Head of Racing at NACON "Thanks to our combined expertise as a publisher of racing games and designer of gaming accessories, we have designed a product true to our commitments: to provide quality equipment, to accompany gamers in their passion for gaming, and now sim racing."

HPE Expands Its Aruba Networking Wired and Wireless Portfolio

Hewlett Packard Enterprise today announced expansions of its HPE Aruba Networking wired and wireless portfolio, along with new HPE Aruba Networking CX 10K distributed services switches, which feature built-in programmable data processing units (DPU) from AMD Pensando to offload security and network services to free up resources for complex AI workload processing.

The new expansions from HPE Aruba Networking include:
  • The HPE Aruba Networking CX 10040 is HPE's latest distributed services switch -- also known as a "smart switch" -- that doubles the scale and performance of the previous networking and security solution.
  • Four new HPE Aruba Networking CX 6300M campus networking switches, which provide faster data speeds for enterprise IoT, AI, or high-performance computing with a more compact footprint.
  • New Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs) and capabilities for AI-driven indoor and outdoor connectivity that deliver the highest quality of service for data, voice, and video communications.

In Advance of F1 25's Launch, EA Recommends Latest Graphics Driver Updates

Hey racers, we know you're all excited to get your hands on the game this week—we can't wait to see what you think. In early testing, we have identified that the vast majority of game crashes on PC are resolved by making sure that graphics drivers are up-to-date. So that you have the best possible experience playing the game from lights-out, we recommend making sure this is the case before you load up F1 25 for the first time.

Yeston Reveals Radeon RX 9060 XT Game Ace 16 GB Model

Roughly a month ago, Yeston introduced its new generation Game Ace design along with a mysterious no. 207 mascot. The Chinese manufacturer is best known for creating bright and sparkly graphics cards, but a couple of darker products have emerged from their HQ. Their latest offering—finished in varying tones of pink, purple and black—was debuted with GeForce RTX 50-series hardware. At the start of this week, the 2025 Game Ace lineup welcomed a new member. Yeston's social media accounts introduced a custom Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB model: "the black and purple cyberpunk RX 9060 XT Game Ace launched today. Would he be your choice?" In a reply to a follower's question, a company rep confirmed that the better known Sakura and Sakura Atlantis backplate/shroud designs are currently reserved for higher-end Radeon RX 9070 XT and non-XT options (within the RDNA 4 family). Game Ace will probably not escape the confines of Navi 44 (XT) hardware.

Unsurprisingly, the Yeston Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB Game Ace SKU exhibits only minor visual differences, when compared to its "Blackwell" GPU-based relatives. We are looking at a fairly typical triple-fan + three 6 mm heat pipes cooling solution. A single 8-pin power connector is visible in some of Yeston's promotional renders. According to ITHome's inspection of specifications: "the boost frequency and game frequency under standard mode (STD) are 3230 MHz and 2620 MHz respectively, and the VAR mode further overclocks to 3230 MHz and 2780 MHz." Despite claiming that their freshly unveiled Game Ace model has reached launch status, the AIB likely has to conform with official AMD decree. Team Red's board partners will be releasing Radeon RX 9060 XT cards on June 5.

NVIDIA Blackwell a Focal Point in AI Factories; As Built by Dell Technologies

Over a century ago, Henry Ford pioneered the mass production of cars and engines to provide transportation at an affordable price. Today, the technology industry manufactures the engines for a new kind of factory—those that produce intelligence. As companies and countries increasingly focus on AI, and move from experimentation to implementation, the demand for AI technologies continues to grow exponentially. Leading system builders are racing to ramp up production of the servers for AI factories—the engines of AI factories—to meet the world's exploding demand for intelligence and growth. Dell Technologies is a leader in this renaissance. Dell and NVIDIA have partnered for decades and continue to push the pace of innovation. In its last earnings call, Dell projected that its AI server business will grow at least $15 billion this year.

"We're on a mission to bring AI to millions of customers around the world," said Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer, Dell Technologies, in a recent announcement at Dell Technologies World. "With the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, enterprises can manage the entire AI lifecycle across use cases, from training to deployment, at any scale." The latest Dell AI servers, powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, offer up to 50x more AI reasoning inference output and 5x improvement in throughput compared with the Hopper platform. Customers use them to generate tokens for new AI applications that will help solve some of the world's biggest challenges, from disease prevention to advanced manufacturing.

DDR5 Price Uptrend Weakens, Overall DRAM Prices to Cool Down in Q3 2025

The memory market starts to show a slowdown after months of steady price hikes according to TrendForce's latest memory spot price trend report. DDR5 memory prices, which had been going up consistently, are now stabilizing as they've hit fairly high levels that sometimes go beyond contract prices. While DDR5 still sees small price increases compared to DDR4, buyers and traders are growing more wary and leaning towards DDR4 products. The common DDR4 chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 3200 MT/s) saw a big 12.8% rise this week going from $2.18 to $2.46, but industry experts think these big price jumps will ease off in the third quarter.

NAND flash memory prices are cooling off after big jumps since late February. NAND flash chip costs have shot up, but customers are losing interest as more products flood the market. This change in supply and demand is showing up in the numbers - 512 GB TLC chips dipped by 0.18% this week to $2.73, as buyers take a "wait and see" approach. The big picture hints that the memory market might be settling down after months of steep price hikes. Nevertheless, major North American cloud providers' AI investments drive enterprise SSD demand surge, creating a supply shortage and supporting up to 10% quarterly price increases in Q3 2025.

Inno3D Intros GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Frostbite Pro Graphics Cards

Inno3D unveiled its new iChill GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Frostbite Pro graphics cards targeting PC enthusiasts with DIY liquid cooling loops. These cards come with factory-fitted full-coverage water blocks. Perhaps their most interesting feature is that the blocks make the card single-slot. The blocks are supplied by Alphacool, and come with tail-ended ports for liquid cooling fittings. The blocks come with chrome-finish nickel-plated copper as their primary material, with POM acetal tops that have a carbon-fiber print vinyl decal. These are what set the new Frostbite Pro series apart from the older RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Frostbite series that Inno3D launched at CES earlier this year, which come with water blocks that have top-oriented fitting ports, and clear acrylic tops.

Given that most air-cooled RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 cards come with PCBs that are barely two-thirds the length of the cards themselves to make room for the air cooling solution to have a flow-through region, the Inno3D iChill RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Frostbite Pro cards are very compact, with under 20 cm of lengths, but with some length being added from the tail-ended fittings and tubing. These cards would have been suitable for 3U rackmount builds if not for the positioning of the power connector. The 12V2x6 connector points upward along the top, as they are in most air-cooled gaming graphics cards, and not toward the tail-end. Both cards are expected to offer factory overclocked speeds that are at least as high as the iChill Frostbite series.

AGON by AOC Unveils New UHD 240 Hz QD-OLED AGON PRO AG276UZD Monitor

AGON by AOC - the world's leading gaming monitor brand - announces the AGON PRO AG276UZD, a new 26.5-inch (67.31 cm) QD-OLED gaming monitor that brings UHD (3840x2160) resolution to the widely favored 240 Hz format. Building upon the success of the highly popular AG276QZD2, this new AGON PRO model combines ultra-sharp visuals with an exceptional 240 Hz refresh rate and a lightning-fast 0.03 ms GtG response time, delivering outstanding clarity for both competitive esports and professional content creation.

QD-OLED performance in UHD
The AG276UZD features the latest (3rd gen) QD-OLED panel technology with a glossy finish, combining the benefits of ultra-high refresh rates with the visual clarity of UHD resolution. This unique pairing in the AOC portfolio is ideal for immersive gaming experiences - from expansive open-world adventures to richly detailed role-play games - where visual clarity and lifelike colors are key for deep player engagement. With 166 PPI (pixels per inch), text and UI elements appear crisp and clear, creating an advantage in games where reading information quickly is crucial.

D-Link Unveils the New DBR Router & Access Point

D-Link Corporation, a global leader in networking solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest DBR Series, which includes the DBR-600-P and DBR-700 business routers, as well as the DBR-X3000-AP smart access point. This new series delivers powerful, secure, and easy-to-manage networking tailored specifically for small business environments such as startups, retail shops, satellite offices, and educational facilities with fewer than 100 users.

With the growing demands of hybrid work and decentralized operations, many small businesses face challenges in establishing a stable and secure network without dedicated IT resources. The DBR Series addresses these challenges by offering streamlined deployment, reliable performance, and centralized management. Each product in the series embodies D-Link's unwavering commitment to high-quality, Made-in-Taiwan craftsmanship, which stands for trusted engineering, meticulous manufacturing, and product reliability. This quality standard reflects Taiwan's globally respected technology ecosystem and reinforces the durability and integrity of the DBR series.
Tuesday, May 27th 2025

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Monitors
Mouse
Multimedia
NAS
PSUs
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB Review

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB Review

The GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB is NVIDIA's newest release. It is built using the same chip as the RTX 5060 Ti, but only comes with an 8 GB VRAM option. In our review we run it through all our tests, including 1440p and 4K with and without ray tracing, and we also recommend optimal settings for certain demanding games.
Lian Li Lancool 217 Review

Lian Li Lancool 217 Review

The Lian Li Lancool 217 shines in the spotlight, much like the Lancool 207, its baby brother. With extremely good cooling performance, a thoughtful and functional engineering design coupled with a compellingly solid feature set, it really is a no brainer. Especially for the asking price.

Sapphire China Opens Up Radeon RX 9060 XT 16/8 GB Card Pre-orders, Starting at $347

Prior to AMD's official unveiling of the Radeon RX 9060 XT series, Sapphire's Computex booth teased a forthcoming lineup of custom graphics card options. Hours later, the TechPowerUp crew inspected freshly wall-mounted specimens. To the surprise of many, the Hong Kong-based manufacturer is readying a premium Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB NITRO+ SKU for launch time (on June 5). The usual suspects—in PULSE and PURE guises—were also exhibited within the walls of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre. Not long after the closing of ceremonies, Sapphire China's JD.com store has opened up pre-orders for six launch day products.

Yesterday, a VideoCardz investigative piece delved into pre-release price points (including VAT). Keen potential customers can secure finalized retail units via a deposit system; demanding a 50 RMB (~$7 USD) upfront fee. Unsurprisingly, the largest tag is affixed to Sapphire's triple-fan 16 GB NITRO+ model—3299 RMB (~$458 USD). This top-tier option sits 800 RMB above Team Red's suggested guideline. The AIB's barebones dual-fan Radeon RX 9060 XT PULSE 8 GB package adheres to official MSRP: 2499 RMB (~$347 USD). Their PULSE 16 GB model sits almost in the middle of the lineup—in terms of pricing—at 2899 RMB (~$402 USD). VideoCardz believes that another PULSE color/finish variant will emerge, at some point post-launch—bringing the total number of items up to seven distinct products.

NVIDIA DLSS 4 Comes to F1 25 and More Games

More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players.

As of today, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is now available in Avowed, EVERSPACE 2, F1 25, STORROR Parkour Pro, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Torque Drift 2, and Wreckfest 2, multiplying frame rates for GeForce RTX 50 Series gamers, and enabling other GeForce RTX gamers to accelerate performance with DLSS Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution. Additionally, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad and Revenge of the Savage Planet are available now with DLSS Super Resolution.

Corsair Launches New Corsair ONE i600 PC

Corsair, a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gear and technology for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, is proud to launch the Corsair ONE i600 PC, the latest compact powerhouse PC in the award-winning Corsair ONE PC line. Building on the success of the Corsair ONE i500, the new i600 delivers even more power, efficiency, and thermal performance—perfect for creators, AI developers, and gamers who demand cutting-edge capability in a space-saving form factor.

The Corsair ONE i600 takes performance to a new level with the GeForce RTX 5080 graphics with 16 GB VRAM and Intel Core Ultra 9 processor—both kept cool by individual 240 mm liquid coolers that deliver quiet operation and brilliant performance. Equipped with 64 GB DDR5 memory and 4 TB NVMe SSD storage, the Corsair ONE i600 minimizes load times, streamlines AI workflows, and delivers seamless 4K gaming experience—encased in a sleek aluminium chassis that complements any modern setup.

Funcom Outlines Dune: Awakening Release and Pre-Loading Times

Greetings Sleepers, we're less than two weeks away from launch of Dune: Awakening (and head start is even closer!). It's time to grab your Fremkit, put on your stillsuit, and start getting ready. The first thing you need to know is exactly when you can start playing. Dune: Awakening will first be available in head start on June 5th for those who have pre-ordered either the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition. Pre-ordering either edition, or the base edition, will also unlock the Terrarium of Muad'Dib pre-order reward.

Official launch is June 10th, at which point pre-orders (and the Terrarium of Muad'Dib reward) will no longer be available for purchase. The base, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions will be available for regular purchase from that point onwards. The game will unlock for play on Steam at 16:00 CEST / 10am EDT, both on June 5th and June 10th. For other regions, we've included a map above with some select locations to help you figure out when it will be available in your area. Pre-load will be available to all pre-order owners 24 hours before head start on June 4th, but please be aware that pre-ordering the base edition does not grant head start access.

G.Skill OC World Cup 2025 Grand Final - CENS Wins OC Champion Title Again

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is pleased to announce that CENS from Germany has once again claimed the title of OC Champion and the grand cash prize of $10,000 USD in the OC World Cup 2025 extreme overclock competition held live at Computex 2025. After an intense series of extreme overclocking challenges, CENS emerged victorious, demonstrating unmatched overclocking knowledge and technical skill with liquid nitrogen cooling, using the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor and ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard. This is his second consecutive OC Champion title, after his victory last year at the OC World Cup 2024.

Exhilarating Competition with G.SKILL DDR5 24 GB Modules
This year at the live competition, the contestants are only allowed to use G.SKILL's high-performance 24 GB DDR5 module. It gave the contestants a new challenge to explore the 24 GB module's overclocking behavior and benchmarking potential. These 24 GB modules, built with SK hynix ICs, showcased exceptional headroom on Intel Z890 chipset platforms, allowing CENS to achieve up to DDR5-10266 CL32 2x24GB for benchmarking under LN2 cooling. At the same time, Seby, a rival overclocker contestant in the G.SKILL OC World Cup 2025, achieved DDR5-12666, which was the fastest memory frequency validation throughout the live competition.

CXMT Reportedly Diversifying Manufacturing Footprint with HBM3 - Could Expand DDR5 Production

The rising profile of ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has supposedly attracted international scrutiny as-of-late. Despite dealing in commercial memory product lines—currently DDR5, DDR4, LPDDR5 and LPDDR4X—the Chinese manufacturer could be stepping up its game in the near future. According to a fresh DigiTimes Asia news report, the nation's "top DRAM supplier" could be freeing up production capacity—in favor of enterprise-grade third-gen High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM3). Industry moles believe that a major sacrifice will be made; namely CXMT's DDR4 line. Despite an alleged early 2025 ramping up of related activities, the firm's factories could refocus on new endeavors by mid-2026. Additionally, insiders reckon that company leadership is shifting commercial priorities: "by year-end 2025, DDR5 is expected to make up more than 60% of CXMT's output, alongside LPDDR4/5."

The move into more advanced memory technologies is reportedly the result of government instruction. DigiTimes outlined a new strategy: "as CXMT scales up, it's also shifting rapidly to DDR5. The company only began mass-producing DDR4 in late 2024, yet it's already expected to issue an end-of-life (EOL) notice by the third quarter of 2025. The speed of this pivot and retooling has surprised many across the industry. Industry sources say the sudden shift is policy-driven, as Beijing pushes key chipmakers to accelerate alignment with national goals, especially around AI and cloud infrastructure." Murmurs of CXMT's forthcoming exit from DDR4 production have spread across local chip making businesses; causing a sudden doubling of Nanya-branded 8 Gb DDR4 chip prices in China. The manufacturer's early journey into DDR5 territories looked promising on paper—around January 2025—but the latest DigiTimes report disclosed inside track info regarding troubled quality and yield issues. In particular, initial samples have reportedly exhibited unstable performance when crossing a 60°C (140°F) threshold.

Qualcomm & Xiaomi Extend Collaboration with Multi-Year Agreement

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Xiaomi Corporation are celebrating 15 years of collaboration and have executed a multi-year agreement. The relationship between Qualcomm Technologies and Xiaomi has been pivotal in driving innovation across the technology industry and the companies are committed to delivering industry-leading products and solutions across various device categories globally.

"Qualcomm Technologies has always been one of Xiaomi's most trusted and vital partners, supporting our journey from a startup to a global technology leader. We look forward to continuing the next 15 years of our collaboration and leveraging Qualcomm's cutting-edge Snapdragon platforms and technologies to deliver even more innovative and high-quality products to our customers worldwide," said Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi.

ASRock Showcased Radeon RX 9070 XT "Taichi White" OC Concept Card with Built-in LCD Panel

ASRock revealed its Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi OC flagship card at CES 2025—at the time, TechPowerUp staffers quickly realized that this design was outfitted with a 12V-2x6 power connector. Up until early 2025, this connection standard was mostly associated with NVIDIA GeForce 40 and 50-series graphics cards. ASRock and Sapphire have taken the unusual step of deploying premium RDNA 4 GPU-based models that sport 12V-2x6 connectors; breaking away from a traditional usage of 8-pin power delivery channels. The Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi OC SKU arrived with a new aesthetic; consisting of various gunmetal gray shades, gear graphics, and ARGB lighting zones. Visitors to the company's Computex 2025 booth were dazzled by plethora of new products—most notably: brand-new Radeon RX 9060 XT models.

Unfortunately, TPU's photographer did not notice a very special current-gen Taichi spin-off. Apparently, the Taiwanese manufacturer has absorbed some inspiration from a nearby rival's "Spectral White" line: PowerColor. ASRock's "Taichi White 16 GB OC Concept Card" seems to stick with existing overclocked Radeon RX 9070 XT specifications (including a 3.1 GHz boost clock), but the firm's engineering team has integrated an LCD information window. This built-in-display was not powered up—for obvious reasons—but industry watchdogs reckon that (speculative) finalized retail examples will demand higher prices of entry, due to this extra provision. Company representatives—in attendance at last week's Computex event—have disclosed only a bare minimum of details. Top brass could be weighing up Taichi White's future; with an escape beyond concept phases—maybe in limited edition form.

Owlcat Games Announces Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy

Lord Captains! We are proud to announce that our new Warhammer 40,000 game is on its way! Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy is already in development, and we urge you not to miss it. Prepare for a completely new story unfolding in the Calixis Sector. By the decree of the Holy Inquisition, you have been chosen for a perilous mission that will dictate the future of the Calixis Sector. Become an agent of the Holy Golden Throne and hunt down all those who would dare stray from the Emperor's light. Hold fast to your duty, eradicate the enemies of the Imperium and battle the horrors of the void in the long-anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy!

Explore the Warhammer 40,000 universe like you've never seen it before! Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy is an upcoming turn-based CRPG with a unique and thrilling narrative that follows the shadowy agents of the Inquisition. Take on the mantle of an Inquisitor, and use every tool at your disposal to root out corruption, sedition and heresy, bringing the Emperor's wrath to those who would see the Imperium fall. Hunt down clues, investigate mysteries, and uncover vile conspiracies.

GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT PCB Design Spotted During Factory Tour

During a recent Gigabyte Nan-Ping factory tour, members of the media/press encountered trays of brand-new bare motherboards and graphics cards. HWCooling's Jan Olšan noticed the presence of a not-yet-launched RDNA 4 product. Fortunately, the manufacturer granted photo access (two examples are below). A full report outlined multiple products and production pipelines, but Olšan's scoop serves as a nice preview of things to come. We anticipate TechPowerUp's W1zzard de-shrouding of numerous custom Radeon RX 9060 XT designs, early on next month. Prior to the publication of comprehensive evaluations, HWCooling's article provided an early insight: "a wild Radeon RX 9060 XT appears…take note of the graphics card in the top-right corner of the first lot of PCBs—this is likely the first publicly shown PCB of the Radeon RX 9060 XT, which, technically speaking, may still be under NDA. So enjoy this privileged look at the exposed Navi 44 chip."

Olšan linked the factory specimen to a freshly revealed design: "the card will go on sale June 5, with reviews a day earlier. Its design matches AMD's official renderings, and its identity is further pointed at by the unusual three display connectors. This should be the PCB for the Gaming version of the card, or more specifically, the Gaming OC model with three fans. The cooler will significantly overhang the PCB, with a pass-through window under the last fan." Last week, the TechPowerUp team spent hands-on time with Gigabyte's premium Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC SKU. Prior to Computex 2025, product registration information pointed to the Taiwanese manufacturer readying Gaming OC 16 GB and 8 GB variants. Curiously, the company's RDNA 4 custom card portfolio is represented by a lone ultra-premium AORUS ELITE flagship option and various triple-fan Gaming OC models.

10th Anniversary Celebrations Continue - Special Edition The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Xbox Controllers

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, and we at CD Projekt Red have commemorated the milestone by collaborating with the Xbox team to create a tempered and battle-ready controller for players looking to expand their witcher's toolkit. Embark on the path with the Xbox Wireless Controller - The Witcher 3 10th Anniversary Special Edition and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 - Core The Witcher 3 10th Anniversary Special Edition. This is such a special moment for both our teams, and we wanted to share some insight into how Geralt's journey brought this design to life.

Our team has put great care into representing the style of The Witcher 3 and Geralt himself, headlined by the wolf medallion iconography at the center of the controller. The medallion acts as a constant for Geralt, one that allows him to adventure and warns him of lurking dangers, and we want players to connect with these controllers in the same way. We love how the design fits the layout of the controller, with the wolf's head coming below the Xbox button and between the other inputs with its glowing red eyes. It's very ominous and epic at the same time!

Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure Launches in Full on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox

The wait is over! Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure, the cozy-meets-complex blend of automation and real-time strategy, is out now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, delivering its complete and most polished version yet. Developed by Massive Miniteam and published by HandyGames, Oddsparks invites players to explore strange fantasy worlds, tame the terrain, and build sprawling logistics systems using a delightful crew of Sparks, tiny, oddball helpers that carry, craft, clean, and even defend your base.

From towering trains to botanical production lines, from base defense battles to sandbox-style customization, Oddsparks 1.0 is automation unleashed.

Intel Arc Xe2 B770 "Battlemage" dGPU Reportedly Lined Up for Q4'25 Launch

In the run-up to Computex 2025, Intel sent out mixed messages about the future of Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" desktop graphics cards. A combination of first-party teasers and "official leaks" (courtesy of AIBs) indicated an (eventual) introduction of professional B-series products. PC hardware enthusiasts were looking forward to a possible unveiling of higher-end gaming cards; the rumor mill has floated a "B770" option in recent times. Industry observers detected further encouraging pre-release signs; a "B750" identifier was discovered on Intel Japan's website—likely existing as placeholder material. Team Blue's social media account drummed up additional hype, prior to the commencement of last week's key trade event.

The TechPowerUp crew and other media outlets did not stumble upon any Intel Arc Xe2 B750 or B770 specimens at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. According to a mid-visit Tweakers.net article, several unnamed figures (likely board partner company representatives) divulged inside track knowledge during Computex 2025. The online publication outlined a smattering of details: "sources close to Intel confirm the existence of the Arc B770 video card. According to them, the introduction is planned for the second half of this year. The card is expected to appear in the fourth quarter, although the planning can of course still change. Intel is working on an Arc B770 video card based on the 'Battlemage' architecture. Tweakers was able to confirm this with multiple sources during Computex. So far, Intel has only released lower-positioned B570 and B580 video cards with this architecture." Now defunct product roadmaps had the "Battlemage" series wrapped up by 2024, but delays and other factors have allegedly caused major timeline slippages. An industry expert claimed that a larger "BMG-G31" GPU development project was closed down at some point late last year, but fresher production activities have generated renewed beliefs that the "Battlemage" gaming line will expand beyond "cheaper" tiers.

Turtle Beach's New Wave of Designed for Xbox & Officially Licensed by Nintendo Gaming Headsets & Controllers Are Now Available

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH) today announced the brand's new officially licensed by Nintendo and Designed for Xbox gaming headsets and controllers are now available globally. For gamers on the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch - OLED Model systems, these new accessories include the Turtle Beach Recon 70 and Turtle Beach Airlite Fit wired gaming headsets, as well as the Turtle Beach Rematch Invincible Mario and Turtle Beach Rematch Super Mario Star wireless controllers. For gamers on Xbox and Windows PC, there are two new Designed for Xbox wired controller options, including the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave RGB controller and Turtle Beach Rematch Core controller—each available in five different colorways.

"Our latest Designed for Xbox and officially licensed by Nintendo gaming accessories reinforces Turtle Beach's ongoing leadership in gaming headsets and controllers," said Cris Keirn, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. "These exciting new products deliver top features and strengthen our best-selling lineups with new entry-level and mid-range options at attractive price points." All new gaming headsets and controller model—16 in total - are globally available directly from www.turtlebeach.com and at participating retailers. Expanded details for each of Turtle Beach's new gaming headsets and controllers are below:

Framework Dives Deep into Desktop's Power Supply Design - Collaborated with FSP

We're close to the finish line on Framework Desktop development. We're now at the end of the DVT2 phase where we complete validation and finalize firmware and drivers. With that, we're continuing our deep dive series, this time digging into the semi-custom 400 W Power Supply we integrated into the product. This may sound mundane, but it's one of the more complex parts of the product. To align to our product philosophy, we used a standard FlexATX form factor. That means both that you can bring your own compatible power supply or re-use the one we designed in the future with any other ATX-compatible system. If you're bringing your own, make sure to pick one that can handle at least 32.5 A on the 12 V rail.

Although the "peak" power demand of the AMD Ryzen AI Max processor is 140 W, it can actually pull hundreds of watts in millisecond-level bursts. Because there is no battery in the Framework Desktop to absorb this, we sized up the Power Supply to handle it and maximize performance. We worked with FSP, one of the biggest power supply makers in Taiwan and the manufacturer behind many other brands, to build a compact, high-efficiency, quiet design. We actually started with one of their higher wattage off the shelf power supplies, down-rated it to 400 W to focus on efficiency while allowing higher peak load, and customized it from there. We modified a few areas to optimize it for the core Framework Desktop use cases.

PowerColor "REVA" Graphics Card Series Debuted at Computex 2025

The majority of PowerColor coverage—emerging from Computex 2025—focused on custom Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards. The usual staple of Reaper and Hellhound options were showcased in Taiwan, but a brand-new family made an appearance. As highlighted by Shroud/syurarara (a YouTuber), a whole corner of the brand's booth was dedicated to a lone demonstration unit. Not much context was provided, beyond a logo and an accompanying mascot/icon/protagonist. Shroud shared a couple of tidbits: "apparently a new PowerColor model will be released in the future! It's a mix of white and gray. The name of the new graphics card hasn't been decided yet, but the female character's name is apparently REVA."

Given the lack of specifications and little explanation (provided by company representatives), PowerColor could jump-start a full-blown marketing campaign in the near future. Their brand-new REVA graphics card series seems to be semi-related to the familiar Hellhound IP; observers noticed the presence of two Hellhound emblem-branded cooling fans on the Computex sample/prototype. Despite having an almost direct line to a source at (or adjacent to) PowerColor, VideoCardz did not get an inside scoop on REVA. Their news report opined that the white/gray card could leverage Radeon RX 9070 XT (or non-XT) hardware, and be lined up for a possible global release.

Square Enix's DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Releases October 30, Pre-orders Now Open

We're excited to announce that DRAGON QUEST HD-2D Remake launches October 30, 2025, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on Windows. Read on to learn a little more about the game and how to get it.
What is DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake?

DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake reimagines the first two DRAGON QUEST games with the beautiful HD-2D visual style featured in titles like OCTOPATH TRAVELER series, TRIANGLE STRATEGY, LIVE A LIVE and, of course, DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake.

NACON Confirmed as Official WRC Games Franchise Publisher - Starting in 2027

WRC Promoter has confirmed that the publishing of games based on the FIA World Rally Championship will return to French publisher NACON. The agreement covers the development and publishing of the official WRC games and eSports competitions, granting NACON exclusive rights for PC and consoles for six seasons, from 2027 through 2032.

As part of this strategic partnership, NACON will begin development of an all-new WRC game series, aiming to deliver an immersive experience that faithfully reflects the reality of the championship and meets the expectations of both rally enthusiasts and new players. The games will feature the official rallies, vehicles, teams, drivers, and sponsors among the many anticipated content elements. This project represents a complete reboot of the franchise, based on an entirely fresh vision, and marks an ambitious new chapter in the brand's development.

MSI Launches the New MAG Power Supply

MSI has announced its new MAG series power supply units - the MAG A1000GLS PCIE5. Available in four wattages - 1000 W, 850 W, 750 W, and 650 W - all models are ATX 3.1 ready and support up to 220% total power excursion. Backed by triple Gold efficiency certifications from 80 Plus, CYBENETICS, and PPLP, these PSUs deliver clean, efficient power.

The "S" stands for Silent, highlighting high performance with lower temperatures and noise, within this series, even the maximum wattage of 1000 W achieved an A sound level with a 230 V input. Compared to previous MAG power supplies, these models feature an enhanced sound design that incorporates a 135 mm FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) fan and optimize fan curves for more efficient and quieter. They also inherit the silent-focused design found in the MEG and MPG series.

Preparing Windows for the Quantum Age: Microsoft Hardens Windows 11 Preview with New Encryption

To defend regular users from bad actors wielding quantum computing power like Majorana 1, Windows 11 Insider Preview now includes built-in support for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), giving developers and security teams early access to algorithms designed to withstand the capabilities of future quantum computers. Available in Canary Channel Build 27852 and above, this update integrates two new schemes, ML-KEM for key exchange and ML-DSA for digital signatures, directly into the Cryptography API: Next Generation (CNG) and certificate management functions. ML-KEM addresses the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat model, in which adversaries collect encrypted data today to decrypt it once quantum hardware has advanced. Microsoft offers three levels of ML-KEM security: a Level 1 option that produces 800-byte ciphertexts and a 32-byte shared secret; a Level 3 configuration with 1,184-byte ciphertexts and the same 32-byte secret; and a Level 5 tier that increases ciphertext size to 1,568 bytes while keeping the shared secret at 32 bytes. These parameter sets allow organizations to balance performance and protection according to their threat models and operational requirements.

Sparkle Readies Passive, Blower, and Water-Cooled Arc Pro B60

Sparkle has quietly revealed that it will offer three versions of its upcoming Arc Pro B60 graphics card, designed to meet the varying needs of professional users. The first model employs a familiar blower‐style cooler that exhausts heat from the rear of the chassis, while a fully passive variant relies on cooling from case/server/workstation fans. A liquid‐cooled edition, set for a later release, promises the lowest possible temperatures under sustained load. At its core, the Arc Pro B60 is powered by Intel's new workstation‐class "BMG-G21" GPU, featuring 160 XMX AI engines capable of delivering 197 TOPS at INT8 precision, 20 Xe cores, 20 ray‐tracing units, and a peak graphics clock of 2,400 MHz. It is equipped with 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit interface, yielding up to 456 GB/s of bandwidth, and the card's dual-encoder Xe media engine supports modern codecs, including AV1.

All three cooling configurations share a total board power of 200 W supplied via a single 8-pin PCIe connector and include four DisplayPort 2.1 outputs capable of driving displays at up to 8K resolution at 120 Hz with HDR and Display Stream Compression. The blower and passive models were pictured in Sparkle's press release, showing a compact 289×120×42 mm, a two-slot design that should fit most workstations, while the details of the water-cooled version remain mysterious until closer to its debut. No pricing information is available for now.
Monday, May 26th 2025

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Monitors
Motherboards
Mouse
PSUs
SSD
MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Wi-Fi Review

MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Wi-Fi Review

If you want the benefits of X870E on AMD's Socket AM5 platform, then the MSI X870E Tomahawk is one of the cheapest options around. But what does it offer over X870 and B850 boards, especially those that cost a fair bit less?

Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6795 Beta Released

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6795 Beta comes with optimization for "Dune: Awakening," "Elden Ring Nightreign," and "F1 25." The drivers also improve performance of Arc B-series "Battlemage" discrete GPUs in "Monster Hunter Wilds," with up to 9% seen at 1080p and 6% seen at 1440p. The drivers don't fix any game-specific, application-specific, or Graphics Software-specific bugs with this release, but identified a few new issues that it added to its "Known Issues" list, and will release fixes for in future releases. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6795 Beta

80 Plus Ruby Sets 96.5% Peak Efficiency Benchmark for Server Power Supplies

Data centers have quietly become the engines of the modern world, processing everything from social media updates to critical financial transactions. Yet, as their workloads grow, so does their appetite for power. The data center power supplies are powering these massive compute clusters, which are wasting a great deal of power converting AC to DC. A few months back, CLEAResult silently introduced 80 Plus Ruby, a new certification that raises the bar for server power supply efficiency and offers a path to greener data center operations. Data centers account for about 0.4% of US electricity use, but that figure could climb to 12% by 2028 as AI and cloud services expand. Under the Ruby standard, power supplies must achieve at least 96.5% efficiency at 50% load and maintain at least 90% efficiency at 5% and 100% loads. These thresholds apply across common voltages, including 230 VAC, 277 VAC, 480 VAC, and 380 VDC.

Unlike earlier certifications, Ruby also specifies minimum power-factor values: at 5% load, a PSU must deliver 90% efficiency with a power factor of at least 0.90, and at 20% and 50% loads, it must hit 95% and 96.5% efficiency, respectively, each with a power factor no lower than 0.96. Delta Electronics has already put three of its high-wattage power supplies through the Ruby certification process. Its 5,500 W redundant models, built for AI servers, achieved up to 97.5 percent efficiency and a power factor above 0.96. With global regulations from ENERGY STAR to the EU's ErP directive tightening efficiency rules, 80 Plus Ruby is getting real and immediate backing from power regulators and power supply makers.

AI Demand Fuels Enterprise SSD Growth; 3Q25 NAND Flash Prices Likely to Rise Further

TrendForce's latest investigations reveal that continued AI investments by major North American CSPs are expected to drive a significant increase in enterprise SSD demand in the third quarter of 2025. The enterprise SSD market is likely to shift toward undersupply with finished product inventory levels remaining low, supporting a potential price increase of up to 10% QoQ.

TrendForce notes that earlier this year, suppliers adopted a conservative production strategy as they gradually brought the NAND Flash market back into supply-demand balance. However, the introduction of new U.S. reciprocal tariff policies in early April disrupted the market's momentum in Q2 and introduced volatility into price trends. Although some PC manufacturers accelerated shipments in Q2, it failed to substantially boost overall demand for NAND Flash products. Meanwhile, persistent weakness in the retail market has prompted suppliers to tighten capacity controls even further.

GIGABYTE Releases TRX50 Motherboard BIOS Update Supporting Latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000 and PRO 9000 WX-Series Processors

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced the availability of BIOS updates for its TRX50 motherboard lineup, bringing full support for AMD's latest launched Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-series processors. The new firmware enables users to take full advantage of AMD's cutting-edge TSMC 4 nm processors on GIGABYTE's premium TRX50 platform.

The updated BIOS versions, featuring Combo-AGESA 1.0.0.0 or later version, are now available for download from GIGABYTE's official website. Compatible motherboards include the TRX50 AERO D and TRX50 AI TOP models, both engineered to deliver exceptional performance with the new AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-series processors.

Prototype NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 with Four 16-Pin Connectors Pictured

What if NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 GPU had access to not one but four 16-pin power connectors? Not only would it draw much less power per connector, thus avoiding overheating of the connector in some cases, but the power coming into the GB202 could theoretically scale to 2,400 Watts. This is precisely what NVIDIA tested with its latest leaked GeForce RTX 5090 GPU engineering sample. Pictured below is a PCB that was destroyed after testing. Around the edges of the card, you can spot several USB headers, pin test points, and diagnostic connectors. These features are standard on development samples but are removed from retail models. On the I/O bracket, there are five display outputs, which are more than what you usually find on a gaming card. This suggests NVIDIA was testing output strength and signal quality under different loads. Since we can't see the back side of the board, it's unclear if the chip itself is from the GeForce RTX 5090 series or the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell variant. However, it is most likely a super early sample of RTX 5090 before volume production began.

NVIDIA Issues vBIOS Update to Fix RTX 5060 (Ti) Reboot Black Screens

NVIDIA has quietly released a firmware patch for its GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards to fix a frustrating blank-screen issue that appears when users restart their systems. Interestingly, this reboot glitch affects only the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti models built on NVIDIA's GB206 silicon. Other RTX 50-series cards and the older RTX 20, RTX 30, and RTX 40 generations do not show this behavior. While NVIDIA has not revealed exactly what went wrong, providing a vBIOS patch suggests the issue lies in its own firmware code. This update is delivered as a vBIOS upgrade rather than a traditional driver, and it must be applied manually using NVIDIA's new GPU UEFI Firmware Update Tool v2.0. The problem seems to come from the way the RTX 5060 series vBIOS communicates with certain motherboard BIOS or UEFI implementations.

On systems booting in Legacy (CSM) mode or those lacking full UEFI support, users sometimes encounter a black screen on reboot even if the operating system and drivers are correctly installed. NVIDIA's utility first checks if you need the update, then walks you through the flashing process step by step. Because flashing firmware always carries some risk, especially if your power goes out mid-update, NVIDIA recommends that only those experiencing blank screens should proceed. Before you start, power down your PC completely, make sure you have the latest BIOS from your motherboard maker and switch to UEFI boot mode. If you still cannot get any display, try plugging it into your integrated graphics or a second GPU so you can run the update tool. After closing all your applications and pausing any pending OS updates, follow the on-screen prompts to apply the vBIOS fix. If your motherboard does not support UEFI mode, contact your graphics card vendor for a legacy firmware version.
Sunday, May 25th 2025

This Week in Gaming (Week 22)

Welcome to the last week of the month of May where this week's major release comes somewhat unexpectedly from New Zealand's Viva La Dirt League, who are more known for their YouTube skits than games. This week you also have the chance to hunt some far eastern ghosts and monsters, build your dream abode, navigate your life as a teen again, build some train tracks in a cute world and finally drive some really expensive race cars around a track. If you own Elden Ring, you might want to check out the new expansion as well.

Nice Day for Fishing / This week's major release / Thursday 29 May
The world needs you Adventurer! Embark on an RPG pixel adventure where you'll play as Baelin the humble fisherman, who must rise-up to become the hero of Honeywood. Battle fish with precision timing and magic spells, upgrade your abilities, defeat evil and rebuild Honeywood. Steam link
Saturday, May 24th 2025

Xigmatek at Computex 2025: Massive Screen AIOs, Desk Cases, and Full Towers

A new giant AIO CLC cooler screen module marked Xigmatek's Computex 2025 presence. It hooks directly into its CPU pump via a rotating shoulder-style cradle, letting builders orient the display vertically or horizontally. The oversized panel spans nearly the entire width of a full ATX motherboard. It streams real-time system metrics—CPU/GPU temperatures, fan speeds, clock frequencies, and performance graphs—alongside custom images or GIFs. Firmware is still being refined for latency and color calibration, but early prototypes demonstrated smooth refresh rates and responsive touchscreen control. Beyond the specs, this thing is just plain fun. Picture cracking open your PC's side panel and being greeted by a mini billboard where your cooler lives—no more squinting at tiny OLED badges or fumbling through software widgets. It's like giving your rig a big, bold, and unashamed personality trait.
Friday, May 23rd 2025

j5Create Brings Accessories for the Travelling Creator at Computex 2025

j5Create brought several useful connectivity accessories for a wide range of consumers from professionals to creators, to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the JTD5172, a Thunderbolt 5 Triple 8K @ 60 Hz docking station. The dock comes with Intel Thunderbolt 5 Bandwidth Boost capability, where either the Tx or Rx lanes can be made to work at 120 Gbps at the expense of the other running at 40 Gbps, to enhance transfer speeds. The dock also supports passthrough of displays at resolutions as high as 8K @ 144 Hz or triple 8K @ 60 Hz, or 4K @ 240 Hz. It also puts out some downstream connectivity of its own, including an M.2 NVMe Gen 3 slot, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, SD 4.0, and a few USB 3.2 ports.

Next up, is the j5Create JTD5174, a more feature-packed, "AI-ready" Thunderbolt 5 dock that includes a GPU/NPU module to turn your PC into an AI PC. We're not sure what module this is, or what silicon it uses. Its downstream connectivity and Thunderbolt 5 daisy-chaining features are similar to those of the JTD5172. Next up, we were shown j5Create's durable 40 Gbps USB4 cables that are capable of 240 W power delivery; and a VESA-certified DisplayPort 2.1 cable, which can transmit 80 Gbps for resolutions of up to 16K @ 60 Hz with DSC over a single cable. The JTSA302 is an ergonomic dual-monitor mount that includes a USB4-capable 10-in-1 docking station that puts out a plethora of connectivity, including dual 4K @ 60 Hz HDMI, 1 GbE wired LAN, SD 4.0, microSD 4.0, and a number of USB ports that include 100 W PD passthrough. For its main function, the JTSA302 supports up to two 32-inch 16:9 monitors. We now move onto one of the star attractions in the j5Create booth, the Stream Station Pro 4K.

This $56 Full Coding Package Won't Be Around Forever

If you want to learn to code, then take a look at this bundle that pairs Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 with the Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle. It's a comprehensive introduction to programming paired with an industry-standard tool for mobile and desktop app development. It's on sale for $55.97. Visual Studio Pro is a 64-bit IDE from Microsoft that handles larger workloads and supports multiple languages and platforms. It's ideal for cross-platform app development with.NET MAUI and web UI creation using Blazor. It also supports development, debugging, and testing for.NET and C++ apps on Linux.

Advanced coding support tools like IntelliCode help you write code faster by predicting variable names and functions. CodeLens gives you insights into your codebase, including recent changes and test results. Real-time collaboration is easier with Live Share, so you can work together with other developers seamlessly. The other half of this bundle contains over 100 hours of instruction for beginner developers. It is comprehensive and non-linear, so you can start with the language that you want to learn. There are courses for Python 3, C++, MySQL, JavaScript, and more.

A lifetime license for Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 and Lifetime Access to the Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle is now available for $55.97 (reg. $1,999).

Acer's Portable and Gaming Monitor Lineup at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025, Acer showcased its monitor lineup that spans from dual-screen portable displays to ultra-fast 500 Hz gaming monitors, and we couldn't miss the opportunity to take a quick look at these products. We start with the Nitro PG271K, a 27-inch "portable" gaming monitor (as much as a 27-inch monitor can be portable) with an IPS panel with dual-resolution modes. You can make it run at 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution with 72 Hz refresh rate, or you can change it to FHD (1920 x 1080) with 144 Hz refresh rate with 0.5 ms response time for some gaming sessions. It has a kickstand and VESA mount holes for different mounting options and include USB-C and HDMI connections.

In the same portable section we founded Acer PD243YE. This is a dual-screen portable monitor with two 23.5-inch screens stacked on top of each other. Both screens are 1080p IPS panels. The top screen tilts from 0 to 315 degrees on hinges, which gives you a lot of setup flexibility. Connects via USB-C or HDMI.

Acer Showcases Predator Gaming Laptops, Swift and Aspire Copilot+ PCs at Computex 2025

In Acer's booth at Computex 2025 we've encountered their updated lineup of gaming laptops from the Predator series as well as an extensive range from the newly announced Swift Edge, Swift Go, Swift X and Aspire Copilot+ PCs. The new Predator Triton 14 AI is a lightweight 14.5-inch gaming laptop weighing 1.6 kg with a slim 17.31 mm aluminium chassis. It features an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU, cooled by Acer's 6th Gen Dual AeroBlade 3D cooling system and graphene thermal interface materials. It also supports up to 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 2 TB PCIe Gen 4 storage. The 14.5-inch display is a Calman Verified OLED WQXGA+ touchscreen panel running at 2880x1800 resolution with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 1 ms response time. Since Acer is also targeting creative users it includes a haptic Gorilla Glass touchpad with a bundled active stylus. It will be available in Europe this July starting at €2,999.

Right next to this we saw the Predator Helios 18 AI gaming laptop with its 18-inch Mini LED 4K display, not exactly a novelty since it was announced in February. However, it does pack a punch with up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, up to GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU, and MagKey 4.0 swappable mechanical switches. Available from April in Europe starting at €3,699, May in North America at $2999.99.

aboStudio Shows CNC-Machined Cases at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025, the smaller case brand aboStudio stole some of the spotlight from countless others. While the show floor teemed with flashy AI demos and next-generation robotics, aboStudio reminded visitors that solid hardware design still matters. Their Container L case drew early crowds. Crafted from sand-blasted anodized aluminium, it can house Micro ATX or Mini ITX motherboards and can fit graphics cards up to 330 mm long. Builders who care about cooling will appreciate its support for 280 mm radiators and the four internal bays for 2.5-inch drives. The front-mounted ATX power supply design and side panel window give it a clean, straightforward look without sacrificing performance.

Raidmax Unveils New PC Cases and CPU Coolers at Computex 2025

For Computex 2025, Raidmax quietly refreshed its case lineup across three distinct series: VECTOR, INFINITA, and MESHIAN. Each family now spans everything from compact, minimalist designs to full-tower workhorses, promising builders both style and substance. The newly highlighted V217 and V300 full towers are engineered for extreme hardware, with support for triple-radiator liquid loops and GPUs up to 350 mm long. Just below them sits the V213 M, which balances expandability and a tempered-glass showcase, while the mid-tower V212 wins praise for its mesh-front panel and four pre-installed RGB fans. Even space-sensitive setups aren't forgotten: the V158, V155, and the ultra-compact V152 and V153 all deliver surprisingly roomy interiors, clean cable management channels, and flexible drive mounts. Enthusiasts also have their eyes on the yet-to-appear V210, teased as a hybrid between the V213 M's showcase and the V158's streamlined profile.

Acer Arc B580/A380 and Radeon RX 9060 XT Graphics Cards Pictured

Acer released four new graphics cards in the Intel Arc and AMD Radeon lineups, and we found them on display in Acer's booth here at Computex 2025. The Acer Nitro Intel Arc B580 OC is now available in white, with 2x FrostBlade fans (alongside the existing black version). It features 12 GB memory running at up to 2,740 MHz with Intel Xe2 architecture, supporting 1440p gaming and 8K displays (1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 2.1 outputs) with ray tracing, XeSS frame generation, and low latency technology. The Intel Nitro Arc A380 LP is a low-profile card with 6 GB memory, powered by one 8-pin PCIe connector and 2,000 MHz clocks, built on Xe architecture with DirectX 12 Ultimate support, ray tracing capabilities, and XeSS upscaling for content creation and gaming.

The two Acer Nitro Radeon RX 9060 XT OC models come in 16 GB and 8 GB variants, both delivering boost clocks up to 3,320 MHz and game clocks up to 2,780 MHz. Both models came in a two-slot format with dual-fans, metal backplates and 1x HDMI 2.1a and 2x DP 2.1 outputs.

Einarex Showcases Its Full Lineup of New Cases, Coolers and PSUs at Computex 2025

Einarex is a young company that seems to put a lot of effort into building its reputation. Since we saw them this year at CES Las Vegas, we stopped at their Computex booth to see what they've created since then. It seems that aside from the Prisma, Pulse, and Zenith PC case series, they have quite a few more interesting items, such as new cases, air and liquid coolers, fans and even power supplies under the Nexus and Apex series.

The Snow is a spacious tower case with full front and side glass panels. If you prefer a more classic design you can take a look at the Rack series that features a grille-style front panel, a glass side panel and a large display at the bottom. The Prisma series received the SM501D—slightly less inspired naming than Snow—a case that offers a panoramic view in a more compact format. Pulse series received a surprisingly good-looking PM200 "Small Frame, Big Game" case with perforated panels all over. Of course, their booth had the shiny-reflective Prisma S800 and the elegant Pulse PM400 with its wooden grille front panel up on display as we already saw them in January.

Wooting Brings its Latest 60HE v2 Keyboard to Computex

Wooting, the Hall effect keyboard specialist, brought its latest generation of keyboards to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the new Wooting 60HE v2, which as its name suggests, is the second generation of its 60% keyboard with Hall effect key switches. In charge of the job are the new Lekker Tikken medium key switches, with a friction-fit mounting style, sitting on the company's FR4 switch plate, and encased in an aluminium body. The keyboard comes in black, white, and bright silver colors, and its electronics support 8,000 Hz polling. The keyboard measures 305 mm x 115 mm x 28.08 mm, weighing 960 g. The Wooting 60HE v2 is expected to release in Q4 2025.

The company also showcased its selection of knobs. A knob in this context is a keycap replacement that holds the Hall effect key switch in a precise actuated position as it is turned up or down along threading. The Wooting Big Knob measures 4U in size (covers four key spaces), while the small one measures a single key space. Both are expected to release in Q1 2026. Lastly, Wooting also showcased their Wooting x Optimum keyset, and aluminium-magnesium alloy (AL5052) casing.

HAVN Showcases New Metal-core Fans and BF360 Low-noise Case

At Computex 2025, HAVN showcased its newest line of high-end case fans under the H-series. Features include a triple-groove fluid dynamic bearing in a metal alloy core; a harmonized impeller design that reduces the gap between the fan blade and the bore of the frame, to maximize axial airflow, frames as thick as 40 mm (for the 180 mm model), and impellers made from 30% fiberglass reinforced composite. There's even a male-to-female connection on the fan to help with cable management.

Next up, is the HAVN BF360, a premium ATX mid-tower case designed to minimize noise output while also balancing it with high airflow and a side window. The front of the case comes with vents for two large 180 mm intake fans hidden behind a dust filter. The drive bays have vibration dampening. The SSD and HDD mounts are detachable. The case includes a GPU bracket, and the 180 mm fans ensure positive internal air pressure. The area behind the motherboard tray is spacious, giving you ample room for cable management even with some of the thicker cables that are otherwise hard to bend.
More pictures follow.

Framework Presents AI Mini PC Cluster and Customizable Laptops at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025 in Taipei, Framework Computer highlighted the growing importance of compact, serviceable hardware by unveiling an AI cluster built entirely from its new Framework Desktop mini PCs. Each 4.5-liter unit is equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, which combines 16 Zen 5 cores running up to 5.1 GHz and a Radeon 8060S graphics engine with up to 128 GB of unified LPDDR5x memory. In a striking demonstration, four of these desktops were mounted side by side in a 10-inch half-rack enclosure, creating a scalable cluster that delivers up to 200 TOPS of on-device AI performance from the XDNA 2 NPUs alone, before the 8060S comes into play. The rack features integrated Wi-Fi 7 and 5 GbE networking, while its modular expansion card slots allow users to tailor ports to their exact needs. By packaging powerful inference capability into a compact, repairable chassis with efficient cooling and low power draw, Framework is making it simpler for research labs, small businesses, and edge-computing enthusiasts to deploy AI solutions outside traditional data centers.

Valkyrie Shows Off Coolers, Cases and Peripherals at Computex 2025

We couldn't miss Valkyrie's colorful booth at this year's Computex where they showcased new and updated liquid and air CPU coolers, a new case, and some peripherals that are for the moment in the final stages of development. Let's start with the V360 and V240 AIOs, which feature a large rectangular 3.5-inch IPS display integrated into the pump. The coolers are equipped with Valkyrie's latest B12 series 120 mm ARGB fans—three on the V360 and two on the V240. These 25 mm thick fans operate at speeds ranging from 800 to 2150 RPM, offering a maximum airflow of 81.68 CFM, a noise level of up to 30.5 dB(A), and a static pressure of 4.0 mm H₂O. As for pricing, the V360 is set to retail at €249.90, while the V240 will be priced at €219.90. Also on display were other recently launched AIOs from Valkyrie's V Lite and A series.

EK's Latest AIO: Pump, Reservoir, & Dual 120 mm Radiators in One Package

EK Water Blocks showed us an exciting solution at their Computex 2025 booth, with the unveiling of its Quantum Surface Kinetics 240, an all-in-one liquid‐cooling kit that marries two 120 mm Quantum Surface radiators with the company's signature Quantum Kinetic pump-and-reservoir module. The dual‐radiator array leverages a thin, high‐density micro-fin design to allow for ample heat dissipation while remaining just 30 mm thick—ideal for cramped mid-tower builds or even ITX systems. At the heart of the loop sits EK's Quantum Kinetic DDC pump and reservoir combo, now showcased in a newly refined, transparent acrylic housing. The integrated fill port and machined aluminium top cap feature customizable RGB channels, while the visible coolant pathways highlight EK's precision flow engineering. EK has pegged the Quantum Surface Kinetics 240 at an MSRP of $360. While not being like a traditional AIO design, it will allow PC enthusiasts to get much more creative with their water-cooling setups and both and reduce the setup difficulty of custom loops.

SK hynix Presents Groundbreaking AI & Server Memory Solutions at DTW 2025

SK hynix presented its leading memory solutions optimized for AI servers and AI PCs at Dell Technologies World (DTW) 2025 in Las Vegas from May 19-22. Hosted by Dell Technologies, DTW is an annual conference which introduces future technology trends. In line with DTW 2025's theme of "Accelerate from Ideas to Innovation," a wide range of products and technologies aimed at driving AI innovation was showcased at the event.

Based on its close partnership with Dell, SK hynix has participated in the event every year to reinforce its leadership in AI. This year, the company organized its booth into six sections: HBM, CMM (CXL Memory Module)-DDR5, server DRAM, PC DRAM, eSSDs, and cSSDs. Featuring products with strong competitiveness across all areas of DRAM and NAND flash for the AI server, storage and PC markets, the booth garnered strong attention from visitors.

Synology Announces PAS7700, Active-Active NVMe Storage for Enterprise Applications

Synology today unveiled PAS7700, an active-active NVMe all-flash storage solution engineered to deliver uninterrupted high-performance services for enterprise mission-critical workloads. Combining dual-controllers with 48 NVMe SSD bays in a space-efficient 4U chassis, PAS7700 scales seamlessly to 1.65 PB of raw capacity with the addition of seven expansion units. PAS7700 features comprehensive support for a range of file and block protocols including NVMe-oF. With redundant memory upgradable to 2,048 GB across both controllers and support for high-speed 100GbE networking, PAS7700 delivers exceptional performance, availability, and scalability to meet enterprise storage demands.

"PAS7700 is the culmination of Synology's 25 years of engineering experience in data management and storage," said Kenneth Hsu, Director of the System Group at Synology. "By combining our deep software and hardware development expertise with close collaboration with partners and enterprise customers, we've engineered PAS7700 to deliver ultra-high performance at a price point previously unseen in the enterprise storage market."

Biwin Showcases its Latest Memory and Storage Products at Computex 2025

Biwin over the years has emerged as a major OEM of DRAM and NAND flash consumer products, selling innovative new hardware not just under its own brand, but also supplying them for top-tier PC OEMs, such as Acer and HP. At Computex 2025, we went hands on with their latest products that they directly sell under the Biwin marquee. Starting off things, is the Biwin X570, a high-end M.2 NVMe Gen 5 SSD that comes in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB, with sequential performance of up to 14.5 GB/s reads, with up to 11 GB/s writes. Next up, is the X570 PRO, a step up from the regular X570, which offers increased sequential write speeds and NAND flash endurance.

While the regular X570 does up to 14.5 GB/s reads with up to 11 GB/s writes, the X570 PRO offers up to 14 GB/s reads, with up to 13 GB/s writes. It also comes with increased endurance of 750 TBW, 1500 TBW, and 3000 TBW for the 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB variants, respectively, compared to the 600/1200/2400 TBW respectively, of the regular X570. The X570H PRO is basically the same drive, but with an added heatsink.

Jonsbo Reveals Small Form Factor Cases and More Cases at Computex 2025

Here in Jonsbo's booth at Computex 2025 we discovered two new Small Form Factor ITX NAS "style" cases, the NV10 and N10. These compact cases support ITX motherboards and Flex PSUs up to 150 mm. The NV10 is oriented more towards users who want to build a compact PC by offering support for a dual-slot graphics card. The N10, on the other hand is focusing on storage with support for four 2.5-inch drives and cooling fans for SSDs. Another SFF-oriented case is the V12, a microATX case with three-sided glass panels and wood accents.

From Jonsbo's T series they showcased the T9 that sports a modular design with removable metal and wood panels. Going further down the series there are also the T7 and T6, both following a similar design, with the T6 being a compact micro ATX model.

Silicon Motion Showcases a Fast DRAMless SSD Controller and More at Computex 2025

Silicon Motion at the 2025 Computex showed off its latest SSD and flash storage controller products. The star-attraction is the company's new SM2504XT, a DRAMless client NVMe SSD controller. The chip is built on the TSMC 6 nm process, with a power draw of just 2.4 W when active, and 1 mW when idling. The controller features 4 flash channels with 16 control elements, each with up to 3600 MT/s transfer speeds. It supports 3D TLC and 3D QLC NAND flash types from popular vendors. The reference SSD based on the SM2504XT was shown offering maximum sequential read speeds of 11.5 GB/s, and max sequential writes of 11 GB/s; with 1.7 million IOPS 4K random reads, with up to 2 million IOPS 4K random writes.

Next up, is the SM8366 enterprise SSD controller designed for PCI-Express Gen 5 x4 host interface across popular form-factors such as U.2, E1.S, and E3.S, including some extreme capacity drives. A demo drive showcased in the Silicon Motion booth had the NAND flash components spanning two PCBs that are interconnected by a ribbon cable. There are other interesting onboard devices such as DRAM cache, and capacitor-based power-loss protection. This controller was shown posting sequential read speeds of 14710 MB/s with QD128, and sequential writes of 3444 MB/s with QD128; and a sensational 3 million IOPS 4K random reads at QD512.
Pictures of the SM8366 and its performance follow.

AeroCool Debuts Three New PC Cases at Computex 2025

AeroCool unveiled three new PC cases at Computex 2025 and our team was at their booth to get a first look at them. The lineup includes the D520A, P500A, and P500B-Digi, all featuring support for reverse connector motherboards and enhanced airflow. The P500B-Digi is built with full tempered glass panels (front and side with quick-release) and features an integrated pixel display that monitors system parameters like time, CPU and GPU temperatures, and power consumption. The case supports dual 360 mm AIO radiators on top and on the side, accommodates up to ten 120 mm fans, and comes preinstalled with three side-mounted reverse ARGB PWM fans and one rear standard fan. It can house GPUs up to 418 mm and CPU air coolers up to 165 mm.

The D520A stands out with twelve fan slots and ventilated metal grill panel, while the P500A offers a more streamlined nine fan slots with dual curved glass panels. Both models include four APNX ARGB fans, airflow-optimized PSU shroud designs, and GPU support brackets to handle heavy graphics cards. They offer removable panel design across front, top, and side sections provides easy access for installation and maintenance.
More pictures follow.

Bitspower at Computex 2025: RTX 50-series and RX 9000 Water Blocks, New Desktop and Workstation Blocks

Bitspower at the 2025 Computex shows off its latest DIY liquid cooling solutions. The water block expert began its showcase with full-coverage water blocks for the latest generation of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" and AMD Radeon RX 9000 RDNA 4 graphics cards. The Bitspower Nebula BPM-VG5090FE is designed for the GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition. There are additional custom-design vendor-specific full-coverage blocks under the Nebula series for other RTX 50-series GPUs.

For example, the Nebula BPM-VG5090ASA is designed for the ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090. The BPM-VG5090ASF is for the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5090. The VG5080MT is designed for the MSI RTX 5080 Gaming Trio. The company also introduced water blocks for AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT custom-design graphics cards, such as the 2025 VGM-X9070XT for Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics cards designed close to the AMD reference design PCB; and the VGM-X9070X16 is designed for the XFX RX 9070 XT Mercury OC.

Patriot Memory Shows New Viper SSDs, Including PV593 and DRAM-less PV563

In addition to the new high-end DDR5 memory kits, like the Viper Xtreme 5 CKD or the Xtreme 5 - 40th Anniversary Limited Edition, Patriot Memory also showcased a couple of new SSDs at the Computex 2025 show in Taipei, including the new Viper Gaming PV593, PV563 DRAM-less PCIe Gen 5 SSD, and the future PV573.

The stars of the showcase were the new Viper Gaming PV593 and the PV563 DRAM-less PCIe Gen 5 SSD, with the PV563 being one of the first DRAM-less PCIe Gen 5 x4 SSDs and probably the world's first DRAM-less SSD that reaches read performance of up to 14,000 MB/s. According to Patriot, the PV563 reaches sequential performance of up to 14,000/11,500 MB/s. The Patriot PV563 will be available in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB and uses Maxiotek's MAP1806 controller. With such performance, and fact that it lacks DRAM cache, could make it one of the fastest yet affordable SSDs on the market when it launches. The Patriot PV593 is a higher-end version with DRAM cache. It uses a 6 nm SMI SM2508 controller, and will also be available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB versions. It has the same sequential read performance of up to 14,000 MB/s, but much higher write performance of up to 13,000 MB/s. The random 4K read performance is at up to 2,000K IOPS. Patriot also plans to release the PV573 SSD that should fit between these two versions in terms of performance, but the company was still not ready to share further details.

Shuttle Presents Intel and Qualcomm-Powered AI Mini PCs at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025, Shuttle introduced a new range of compact PCs designed to meet the needs of professional, industrial, and edge-AI users. The company presented five distinct models. The star of the show is the XPC Slim DB860. Housed in a sleek, slimline chassis, it accepts Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors (Arrow Lake) with up to 65 watts of thermal design power. Users can install up to 96 gigabytes of DDR5-5600 memory across two slots. Storage options include one 2.5-inch drive bay and one M.2 NVMe or SATA slot. Video outputs consist of two HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 7680 × 4320 at 60 Hz, two DisplayPort outputs supporting 4096 × 2160 at 120 Hz, and a USB4 port for a fourth display. A total of eight USB 3.2 ports and dual Intel Ethernet ports (1 Gb and 2.5 Gb) round out the I/O panel, making the DB860 suitable for creative workstations or small servers.

Geometric Future Shows New Cases, PSUs and Cooling Solutions at Computex 2025

Geometric Future is one of those brands that follows the principle "the fewer, the better" when it comes to product portfolios, and it was confirmed when we visited their booth at the Computex 2025 show. Sitting right in the middle of the Geometric Future booth is their new Model 9, a PC case series that breaks their rectangular design style (apart from the older Model 2 Ark). The case sports rounded corners with large tempered glass panels on the front and left, and a full mesh panel on the top and right sides. It can accommodate up to four radiators (one 420 mm, two 360 mm, and one 140 mm); there's also enough space inside to fit three 140 mm fans. The M9 also features a motorized retractable power button that is activated only through proximity sensing.

LYNK Unveils LYNK+ VGA Water Block with Quick-Connect and Display

LYNK at the 2025 Computex showed off its latest VGA liquid cooling solutions under the LYNK+ brand. The company showcased an all-in-one liquid VGA cooling system consisting of a 2-slot pump-block and VRM+memory cooling baseplate, connected to a 360 mm radiator. The company's original design sees the coolant tubes fixed and sticking out from the top of the card as shown in the stock image below, but at Computex 2025, LYNK showcased its latest version, which has the coolant tubes located at the tail-end.

This latest version of LYNK+ comes with a Quick-Disconnect at the card's end, designed in-house by LYNK. Another innovation by LYNK is the introduction of displays on the pump-block. We've seen this to be the general scheme with liquid cooling solutions at Computex 2025, and it's only fair for LYNK+ to get this as well, especially given the rise of vertical graphics card slots.

APNX Shows V2/V2-F Cases and Power Supplies at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025 in Taipei, boutique chassis maker APNX presented two striking new enclosures, the V2-F and the V2. Both models combine bold aesthetics with advanced cooling and cable-management features. The V2-F captures attention with its panoramic glass front and side panels, offering an unobstructed view of every internal component. Beneath its elegant exterior, the chassis supports two 360 mm radiators and up to 13 fan slots to ensure exceptional thermal performance even under sustained heavy loads. Builders will value its flexible internal layout, which includes swappable PSU and HDD trays. In addition, users can mount a 360 mm AIO cooler vertically or horizontally, adapting to individual airflow needs. Cable routing remains neat thanks to a detachable silver-finished motherboard cable cover that keeps wiring organized without sacrificing style.

Kioxia Showcases a Prototype Gen 5 SSD with Over 14GB/s and More at Computex 2025

Kioxia at the 2025 Computex showcased its next-generation Exceria PRO G2 M.2 NVMe SSD for PC enthusiasts. The drive is under development, and leverages PCI-Express Gen 5. What's most interesting is the first-party claim that the drive offers sequential speeds of over 14 GB/s, which would make this contemporary against high-end Gen 5 SSDs in the market, but with the brand trust and market reach of Kioxia. The drive comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities. Also shown in its booth were the enterprise CM9 drives in U.2 NVMe Gen 5 x4 and E3.S form-factors. Winding things up is an Exceria Gen 4 NVMe SSD with sequential speeds of 6.2 GB/s, with a heatsink, meant for PlayStation 5.

Patriot Memory Shows New Memory and External Storage Products at Computex 2025

Patriot Memory brought its full lineup of new memory and storage products to the Computex 2025 show in Taipei, and as the company is celebrating 40 years of innovation, it also showcased its special Xtreme 5 - 40th Anniversary Limited Edition DDR5 memory, and new storage products, like the PDP31 portable SSD and the Viper EV330 SSD enclosure.

Patriot Memory brought its full lineup of DDR5 memory modules and kits, including the Patriot Signature Line, Viper Venom RGB and non-RGB, Viper Elite 5 Ultra in RGB TUF Gaming Alliance or non-RGB versions, as well as its high-end Viper Xtreme 5 lineup, that comes in RGB, RGB MPOWER, non-RGB, CKD RGB and non-RGB versions. Plus the special 40th Anniversary Limited Edition kits, with capacities of up to 48 GB and speeds of up to 8,000 MT/s. The Viper Xtreme 5 CKD memory will be available in various modules and kits, reaching speeds of up to 9,600 MT/s. Patriot also showcased a couple of CKD CSODIMMs, that come in kits of up 32 GB and reach speeds of up to 7,200 MT/s.

BIOSTAR at Computex 2025: Motherboards and Custom Builds

At this year's Computex, BIOSTAR introduced a carefully curated selection of next-generation motherboards designed for gamers, content creators, and system integrators. Leading the Intel lineup is the Z890 VALKYRIE, which delivers extreme overclocking capabilities and high bandwidth performance. Alongside it, the Z890A-SILVER combines a clean, minimalist appearance with a robust power delivery system. Both models support Intel's latest processors, feature reinforced PCIe slots, dual-channel DDR5 memory compatibility, and advanced thermal solutions to maintain stability under continuous heavy loads.

Kolink Observatory HF Mesh and Unity Alpha Cases at Computex 2025

Kokink at the 2025 Computex showcased its two premium mid-tower cases, the Kolink Observatory HF Mesh, and the Kolink Unity Alpha. The Observatory HF Mesh is a variant of the original Kolink Observatory, that comes with a mesh intake and pre-installed fans, designed for positive air pressure inside the case. It features three 140 mm Kolink Umbra ARGB intake fans, and three 120 mm top exhausts for rapid airflow inside the case. The case offers clearance for graphics cards up to 33 cm in length, CPU coolers up to 16 cm in height, and PSUs up to 18 cm in length.

The Kolink Unity Alpha is a glasshouse case with a horizontally partitioned layout. Tempered glass takes up the left side and front panels. The motherboard tray offers plenty of space on the backside for cable management, but is recessed toward the front end, so fans or radiators pointing sideways don't get in the way of long graphics cards. The case comes with two side-facing reverse-blade ARGB fans pre-installed, besides a 120 mm rear exhaust.

Phison Showcases its first PCI Express Gen 6 SSD Hardware at Computex 2025

Phison at the 2025 Computex showcased its next-generation PHY controller designed for PCI-Express Gen 6, the next interconnect standard, that enables 64 Gbps per-lane per-direction bandwidth. The prototype PHY test chip by Phison is labeled PT1601, and was installed on a PCIe Gen 6 test bed, and is the first step in designing next-generation signal integrity products used in SSDs, motherboards, server backplanes, and specialized cabling for automotive and data centers.

We were also shown the PCI-Express 6.0 x4 digital signal. Phison not only creates the SSD controller, but also the PCIe re-drivers and retimers needed to clean and boost the digital signal, and maintain data integrity at high speeds. On topic, the company also showcased its PCIe Gen 5 re-driver and retimer solutions at Computex 2025. As a market leader, Phison offers comprehensive design and validation solutions for SSD manufacturers that include controllers, and these re-driver/retimer components, besides firmware co-development, testing, and product optimization.

Phison Approaches the 15 GB/s Mark with its Latest E28 Gen 5 SSD Controller at Computex

Phison at Computex 2025 showed off its latest E28 series client M.2 NVMe Gen 5 controller. The reference E28-based drive from Phison, built using a 6 nanometer process, was shown nearly hitting the 15 GB/s sequential reads mark. A live benchmark session with CDM put out 14942.85 MB/s sequential reads, with 14149.47 MB/s sequential writes. Both the sequential reads and writes are the highest in the industry for this form-factor. Next up, the company showcased its new E31T DRAMless controller and reference design drives in the M.2-2242 and M.2-2230 form-factors. Phison says that the first drives implementing the latest E28 controller should hit the market in the coming weeks.

Super Flower Showcases its Latest High-Wattage ATX 3.1 PSUs at Computex 2025

Super Flower showed off a comprehensive lineup of new ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 power supplies. We begin our tour with their flagship Leadex Platinum 3300 W F14 HP, with its Cybenetics Platinum rating. This PSU is meant for a workstation that can have up to four RTX 5090 cards, but also a 2P CPU setup. Just below this is the Combat II FP 3000 W. This massive PSU meets Cybenetics Platinum switching efficiency, uses a 140 mm fan to keep cool, and offers as many as four 12V-2x6 power connectors. This PSU targets AI inferencing workstations and has more than sufficient power for up to four GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards.

The Leadex Titanium 2800 W is probably the only PSU we've come across at Computex that offers a wattage as high as 2800 W, but with Cybenetics Titanium efficiency. Just a notch below this is the Leadex Platinum 2800 W, with its Cybenetics Platinum and 80 Plus Platinum rating, a high endurance fan, and four 12V-2x6 connectors.

Silicon Power at Computex 2025: XPower Cyclone, Gen 5 SSDs, CSODIMMs

Silicon Power brought an extensive lineup of memory products to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the company's DDR5 CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs. The company's baseline DDR5 CKD lineup sees CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs tick at DDR5-6400, with 16 GB density, CL52, and 1.1 V. The XPower Storm RGB is a premium gaming PC memory series, which comes in 16 GB and 32 GB single modules, and 32 GB (2x 16 GB) and 64 GB (2x 32 GB) kits. Speeds range between DDR5-6000 to DDR5-8000. These support XMP and EXPO.

The XPower Zenith is a mid-range kit, which comes in the same kind of densities as the XPower Storm RGB, but with speeds of DDR5-5200, DDR5-5600, and DDR5-6000. The XPower Cyclone is the company's enthusiast-segment DDR5 OC memory series. The non-CKD (UDIMM) variant comes in speeds of up to DDR5-8000, with the CKD (CUDIMM) variants pushing further, up to DDR5-9200.

Neo Forza Brings CAMM2 and CKD OC Memory to Computex 2025

Neo Forza brought its latest memory and storage products to the 2025 Computex. We begin our tour with the company's latest CAMM2 and LPCAMM2 modules. These are dual-channel DDR5 memory compacted into a single module that's intended to be installed along the plane of the motherboard, to minimize Z-Height. The company's CAMM2 and LPCAMM2 modules come in 16 GB, 24 GB, 32 GB, 48 GB, and 64 GB densities, with speeds ranging from DDR5-5600 to DDR5-7500 and LPDDR5-7500 (in case of LPCAMM2), with CAS latencies ranging from 46T to 52T, and DRAM voltages as low as 1.1 V for the CAMM2, and 0.5 V to 1.05 V for the LPCAMM2.

The company's DDR5 Standard series UDIMMs and SO-DIMMs target the entry level of the market, with speeds of DDR5-5600, and module densities ranging from 8 GB to 64 GB (dual-rank), CAS latencies from 40T to 46T; and DRAM voltages of 1.1 V. Neo Forza is also ready with its first DDR5 CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs that implement client clock-drivers (CKD)s. Its Standard series CKD modules offer densities ranging from 8 GB to 64 GB, with speeds of DDR5-6400, CL52, and 1.1 V module voltage.

V-Color at Computex 2025: Memory Modules with Displays are Here

V-Color brought an interesting innovation to Computex 2025—DDR5 memory modules with LCD matrix displays. The company showed off its upcoming XFinity Manta DDR5 modules that come with small integrated displays (around 1-inch diagonal), which put out real-time stats such as module voltage, temperature, clock speed, timings, module density, etc. Among the speed and density options we've seen are 24 GB DDR5-7800 CL38 @1.4 V, and 24 GB DDR5-8000 CL38 @ 1.35 V. There's also a 32 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 @ 1.4 V module, a 48 GB DDR5-6000 CL28 @ 1.4 V module, and a 48 GB DDR5-7200 CL36 @ 1.4 V. The 32 GB and 48 GB modules are likely dual-rank.

We also spotted a 64 GB (2x 32 GB) DDR5-8000 CL44 @ 1.4 V dual-channel kit. Given its high speed, it is either using high-density DRAM chips in a single-rank configuration, or a CKD. Another example of high density is an XPrism 32 GB DDR5-9600 CL48 1.4 V module, and an XSky ROG co-branded series 24 GB DDR5-8800 CL42 1.45 V module. Next up are things we weren't expecting—OC R-DIMMs with RGB!
Thursday, May 22nd 2025
ASRock 4X4 BOX-AI350 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350) Review

ASRock 4X4 BOX-AI350 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350) Review

The ASRock 4X4 BOX-AI350 Mini-PC delivers performance and flexibility. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor featuring a 50 TOPS NPU, it can handle general computing tasks and casual gaming via the Radeon 860M iGPU. It also offers full support for Copilot+, making it an interesting option for those interested in the latest features.
Gamdias Atlas E1 Review

Gamdias Atlas E1 Review

The Gamdias Atlas E1 is the most affordable of the Atlas series, sporting a temperature display integrated into a compact dual-glass enclosure. Equipped with three fans, ARGB control and the ability to hold a long and potent GPU, the Atlas E1 is aimed at those wanting something small on their desk while showing off all their cool hardware.

Minisforum Shows Off Upcoming AMD Powered NAS at Computex 2025

Tiny PC maker Minisforum was showing off its upcoming N5 Pro NAS at Computex, and it's quite different from what most NAS makers have put out to date. For starters, it's built around AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 SoC and has support for up to 96 GB of ECC DDR5 5600 MHz memory over two SO-DIMM slots. Connectivity consists of one 10 Gbps and one 5 Gbps Ethernet port, two USB4 ports—with DP Alt mode support—one HDMI 2.1 port, two USB 3.2 10 Gbps ports and one USB 2.0 port. For some reason the Oculink port, clearly visible around the back of the unit on display, isn't mentioned in the specs we were provided, but it's still mentioned on the product page, so we'll have to wait and see if that will be part of the final product or not.

On the storage side of things there's room for five 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives in traditional drive caddies, and drives up to 22 TB in size are supported. In addition to this, there's room for one M.2 NVMe slot which is limited to PCIe 4.0 X1, lengths of up to 110 mm are supported. There is also an extra PCB that can be slotted in that adds support for a further two NVMe drives in either the U.2 or M.2 form factor, one with a PCIe 4.0 x2 interface and one with PCIe 4.0 x1. Judging by the design of this expansion PCB, it might be a bit fiddly to install, but as the main PCB of the N5 Pro slides out for access, it could've been far worse. Internally there's also a full-length low-profile PCIe x16 slot—which was occupied by a GPU in the unit on display—although it's limited to four lanes electrically, as well as a USB 3.2 10 Gbps port. It will apparently come with MinisCloud OS, but Windows 11 is also supported, which means the N5 Pro could be used for something else than just as a NAS. No word on pricing, but the company is offering a 30 percent off discount if you sign up on their website.

Lenovo Releases Fiscal Year 2024/25 Earnings Report

Lenovo Group Limited, together with its subsidiaries ('the Group'), today announced Q4 and full year results for the fiscal year 2024/25, reporting significant increases in overall group revenue and profit. For the full year, revenue grew 21% year-on-year to US$69.1 billion, marking the Group's second-highest annual revenue in its history. Net income was up 36% year-on-year to US$1.4 billion on a non-Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (non-HKFRS) basis. The Group's diversified growth engines continue to accelerate, with non-PC revenue mix up nearly five points year-on-year to 47%. All business groups were healthy and strong and met their strategic intent and financial goals, and all sales geographies gained double-digit revenue growth year-on-year, reflecting the strength of the Group's diversified businesses and resilient global footprint.

The results were not only driven by the Group's focus on executing a clear strategy, but also its end-to-end integrated global operations (design, demand forecasting, procurement, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and services), ODM+ manufacturing model, and global resources/local delivery model. Over the past 20 years of operating a global business, Lenovo has established a manufacturing footprint that boasts 30+ manufacturing sites (either in-house or outsourced) in 11 different markets around the world. The combination of these gives the Group maximum flexibility and resilience to navigate through uncertainties and be more adaptive to the market conditions.

ASMedia Showcases PCIe and USB4 Solutions at COMPUTEX 2025

ASMedia Technology is getting ready to unveil its latest PCIe Packet Switch solution (ASM58048) at Computex 2025, with sampling expected in Q3 2025. ASMedia product lineup covers PCIe generations 2 through 6, offering channel configurations that range from 3 to 80 channels. The upcoming PCIe Gen 5 product (ASM68080 series) development is underway, with a fully verified PHY design nearing completion. Following the ASM58048, ASMedia plans for multiple products featuring 24 to 80 channels, while work on PCIe Gen 6 is actively underway.

The company's USB4 ASM4242 host controller has found a home in high-end motherboards and laptops from a variety of brands being certified USB4 and Thunderbolt 4. The ASM2464PDX USB4 controller is tailored for edge AI computing, allowing for plug-and-play external GPUs by converting PCIe Gen 4 signals to USB4. This makes it easy to connect graphics cards, NVMe SSDs, and Wi-Fi modules externally, delivering performance that rivals internal setups.

Update May 22nd: Added more pictures

New Intel Xeon 6 CPUs to Maximize GPU-Accelerated AI Performance

Intel today unveiled three new additions to its Intel Xeon 6 series of central processing units (CPUs), designed specifically to manage the most advanced graphics processing unit (GPU)-powered AI systems. These new processors with Performance-cores (P-cores) include Intel's innovative Priority Core Turbo (PCT) technology and Intel Speed Select Technology - Turbo Frequency (Intel SST-TF), delivering customizable CPU core frequencies to boost GPU performance across demanding AI workloads. The new Xeon 6 processors are available today, with one of the three currently serving as the host CPU for the NVIDIA DGX B300, the company's latest generation of AI-accelerated systems. The NVIDIA DGX B300 integrates the Intel Xeon 6776P processor, which plays a vital role in managing, orchestrating and supporting the AI-accelerated system. With robust memory capacity and bandwidth, the Xeon 6776P supports the growing needs of AI models and datasets.

"These new Xeon SKUs demonstrate the unmatched performance of Intel Xeon 6, making it the ideal CPU for next-gen GPU-accelerated AI systems," said Karin Eibschitz Segal, corporate vice president and interim general manager of the Data Center Group at Intel. "We're thrilled to deepen our collaboration with NVIDIA to deliver one of the industry's highest-performing AI systems, helping accelerate AI adoption across industries."

NVIDIA GeForce NOW Gets 40% Discount on Six-Month Performance Memberships and Eleven New Games

GeForce NOW is turning up the heat this summer with a hot new deal. For a limited time, save 40% on six-month Performance memberships and enjoy premium GeForce RTX-powered gaming for half a year. Members can jump into all the action this summer, whether traveling or staying cool at home. Eleven new games join the cloud this week, headlined by the highly anticipated launch of Capcom's Onimusha 2 and Netmarble's Game of Thrones: Kingsroad. That's not all - Honkai Star Rail's latest update is available to play in the cloud this week.

Level Up for Summer
With the Performance membership, gamers can stream at up to 1440p resolution, experience ultrawide support and play in sessions of up to six hours - all without the need for the latest hardware. For a limited time, gamers can get all of these premium features for just $29.99 when signing up for a six-month Performance membership.

ID-Cooling Unveils New Products and Updates Existing Lineup at Computex 2025

ID-Cooling is known to be a specialist when it comes to thermal solutions, offering an extensive portfolio of products to keep your PC components cool. We headed toward their booth here at Computex 2025 expecting to see firsthand what they have on display as cooling solutions, and yes, the booth was packed with both new and updated products.

The SL360 V2 Plus AIO now features a unique expanded radiator, you can clearly see that ID-Cooling has enlarged the radiator and also added a thick side-frame to the fans. This way they increased the actual active fin-area of the radiator so that the three AP-120 fans are able to cool it better. The SL360 V2 Black/White variants use 120 mm x 28 mm fans (previous SL360 used 25 mm thick fans) without the expanded radiator from the Plus model. Both AIOs sport the same 2.1-inch circular LCD display and ARGB lighting.

DeepCool at Computex 2025: Air Cooling, Water Cooling, More Cooling, and a Case

Deepcool presented a diverse range of cooling solutions at Computex 2025, covering high-end all-in-one liquid coolers, flagship LCD-equipped systems, advanced air coolers, and next-generation chassis fans. The new LQ Ultra models include an ARGB halo ring on the pump housing and a built-in LCD panel that displays live coolant temperature, pump speed, and overall system status. Available in 240 mm and 360 mm radiator options, these AIO units can be fully managed via software for personalized performance profiles. For example, the LQ360 comes with three FD12 ARGB fans and DeepCool's fifth-generation water pump, featuring a three-phase, six-slot, four-pole motor capable of spinning up to 3,400 RPM. This configuration delivers 72.04 CFM of airflow and 3.48 mm of static pressure while keeping noise under 38.71 dB(A). To help ensure long-term durability, the series also incorporates DeepCool's patented Anti-Leak Technology.

Quick Look at Formula-V Line Cases, Coolers and PSUs at Computex 2025

The Formula-V Line is a young Taiwanese company that tries to make its way into the always crowded market of PC components, so our team made it to their Computex booth to see what they have on display. We founded a wide array of desktop cases in different sizes and cooling setups. The Air Power series has designs that allow for strong airflow. The G3 Plus White fits ATX and microATX motherboards in a case measuring 455 x 245 x 470 mm. This case has room to fit up to six 120 mm or four 140 mm fans. The bigger G5 EX model is 475 x 235 x 501 mm in size. It supports back-connected motherboards and works with EATX boards. This larger case focus on airflow allowing users to fit up to ten 120 mm or seven 140 mm fans. The G8 model introduces dual front panel options with both grated and glass configurations in a 480 x 235 x 470 mm case format.

Apacer Shows New Gaming RAM and Storage Products at Computex 2025

This year at Computex, Apacer was showing off several new DDR5 memory modules and storage products. First up is its NOX RGB DDR5 CUDIMM which delivers a base speed of 8000 MT/s, but according to the company, can be overclocked to 9000 MT/s and there's also a non RGB version. Next up we have the Shield RGB DDR5 modules, which appears to want to take on Corsair's Dominator modules, at least design vise and these are also available without RGB. There was no mention of any speeds for these modules and as they'll only be available later this year, there's no information on the Apacer website either. Finally, Apacer has entered into a partnership with ASUS to produce TUF co-branded memory and was showing off the new NOX TUF RGB DDR5 modules. The already available non RGB version is available in speeds from 5200 MT/s to 6800 MT/s.

On the storage side, Apacer had a new external USB4 Gen 3x2—otherwise known as 40 Gbps—SSD, which is based on the Phison U21 controller. The AS741 as the drive is called, will be available in sizes from 1 TB to 4 TB and it should offer sequential read speeds of up to 4000 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 3600 MB/s. It also has an integrated cable/handle, which is the blue part in the picture, but we're not sure how it really is intended to work. Apacer also had a new PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD that goes under the name of AS2280F4U, which is based on Silicon Motion SM2508 controller and it should offer read speeds of up to 14000 MB/s and write speeds of 13000 MB/s. It will come in sizes between 1 TB and 4 TB and the heatsink has a rather tiny fan built into it. Both of the SSDs will be available later this year.

SilverStone Cooling Products at 2025 Computex: AIO CLCs for Workstations and Servers

SilverStone brought a host of new AIO liquid CPU coolers to Computex 2025, and we begin our tour with the IceMyst Pro line of AIO CLCs for a wide range of gaming desktop CPU socket types. The company also added support for AMD Socket TR5 for Ryzen Threadripper HEDT processors. These coolers come in 240 mm, 280 mm, 360 mm, and 420 mm sizes. Next up are the IceMyst 2U and 3U lines of AIO CLCs for rackmount cases. These are highly socket specific. The IceMyst 400 2U comes with a pump-block that supports LGA1851 and AM5, with the included 80 mm server-grade fans turning at speeds of up to 8,000 RPM to push air through radiators that are either 400 mm x 80 mm (5x 80 mm), or 240 mm x 80 mm (3x 80 mm). Then there's the 3U-capable XE360PD, which comes with a pump located in the radiator, and a water block that's capable of AMD Socket TR5; and the XE360PDD, which is meant for 2P servers and workstations. There will be models specific to CPU socket types, including SP5 and LGA4266.
More pictures follow.

SilverStone Power Supplies at Computex 2025

SilverStone brought a huge selection of products to Computex 2025, we begin our coverage with its power supply range. SilverStone targets a variety of markets including servers, workstations, and DIY gaming desktops. Leading the pack is the Hela 2500Rz. The PSU meets Cybenetics Platinum switching efficiency rating, and offers a whopping 2500 W of power, with four 12V-2x6 600 W power connectors. The PSU was announced just last month, and targets workstations and AI inferencing systems with up to four RTX 5090 graphics cards.

Next up, is the Extreme 1000Rz Platinum, the company's flagship SFX power supply with 1000 W on tap, Cybenetics Platinum rating, full modular cabling, and a single 12V-2x6 connector. The FX600Rz is a new generation Flex-ATX PSU with 600 W on tap, which includes two 16-pin 12V-2x6 connectors. These boxes are meant to be part of redundant PSUs, or to be added to your workstations to supplement your power requirements. Also shown are the 2U rackmount power supplies 2U750Rx Gold (750 W), and the 2U850Rx Gold (850 W). The PDB 2-port 1+1 backplane lets you combine two 2000 W PSUs for 1+1 redundancy, supporting up to 2 CRPS, and six 12V-2x6. Speaking of redundant PSUs, we've come across the Gemini 2000C Titanium in 1U and 2U form-factors. There's also a mammoth Gemini 2400C Titanium, a server PSU with 2400 W on tap in a tiny 1U form-factor, which relies on cyclonic 40 mm fan to keep cool.
More pictures follow.

A walk along darkFlash Coolers, Keyboards, Mice, PSUs, and Memory Devices at Computex 2025

darkFlash offers a variety of keyboards and mice designed for gaming and office use, featuring mechanical switches, wireless connectivity, and customizable options. The PXD98 mechanical keyboard is based on the best-selling GD series, featuring a small display that can show custom animations, wireless connectivity, and sound-dampening foam. The EZ68 is a compact 65% magnetic switch gaming keyboard with fully adjustable actuation points, an 8000 Hz polling rate, and RGB backlighting.

darkFlash showcased the DFM80 Series, an ultra-light gaming mouse weighing just 48 g, equipped with the PAW3395 optical sensor supporting up to 26,000 DPI. The Flow 3 vertical mouse, designed for creatives looking for more ergonomic options, was also on display in a wide range of colors.

iRocks Brings its Latest Keyboards and Mice to Computex 2025

Gaming peripherals brand iRocks brought its latest keyboards and mice to the 2025 Computex. We begin our tour with the table with gaming mice. The M51R is a premium mouse powered by the PixArt PAW3950 sensor that provides 30,000 dpi resolution, 52 G acceleration, and 8,000 Hz polling rate. This sensor also powers the M36R, but with its optical micro switches with a hardware optical encoder, which prevents the issue of double-clicking caused by electrical contact oxidation over time. The M25R is a quick charging wireless silent mouse, which leverages super capacitor technology. The mouse takes just 8 minutes to charge up for over 40 hours of use. It offers silent key switches. Connectivity options include 2.4 GHz RF, Bluetooth, and USB.

We now move on to keyboards, and greeting us is the 98% K85R keyboard, which comes in various colors, with various key switch and keycap options. The keyboard comes with a programmable rotary dial, and a 1.14-inch LCD screen. The K107R is a low-profile keyboard that's laid out similar to K85R, but lacking that 1.14-inch screen. This one implements an in-house low-profile key switch with 3.2 mm key travel, and 3-way connectivity. The K105R is a full-size low-profile keyboard with scissor key switches that offer 3.8 mm key travel. We've seen many color examples of this keyboard at the iRocks booth.

The World's First 5 Gbps Ethernet Switch on Display at Computex 2025

Thanks in part to our readers' comments on the back of the new Realtek 10 Gbps Ethernet solutions, we discovered a company that produces what appears to be the only 5 Gbps Ethernet switches in the entire world and it just so happens that they are attending Computex this week. The company goes under the name of Cirinet or Sirivision in China, but after our chat with them at the show, it appears that Apple has taken an issue with the company name, although it might not matter, since the company is largely an ODM/OEM. The company offers two 5 Gbps switches, both are eight port switches and are built around Realtek hardware.

The product on display at Computex is called the SR-S5G3008 and it's an 8-port managed switch, with the unmanaged model being the SRS5G1008. The SR-S5G3008 is a fully managed L3 switch and rather unusually, the company even claims to offers up its firmware for the switch under GPL terms, so at least in theory, it would be possible to download the source code and compile your own version of it. We did also ask about potential retail pricing and the company suggested a price range in the US$150-200 bracket for the unmanaged version. However, with the advent of the new Realtek 10 Gbps PHY, they expect the price difference between a 5 Gbps and a 10 Gbps version, otherwise identical, since the same switching IC would be used, to be less than US$50 in retail. This suggests that 5 Gbps switches might be dead before they've even hit the market, at least if Realtek delivers on their power consumption figures, as both options could be fanless, an advantage these two 5 Gbps switches have over 10 Gbps switches today.

Palit Showcases Pandora NXNano with 157 AI TOPS at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025, Palit showed off its latest Pandora NXNano mini PC, bringing the power of NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX Super to a truly pocket-sized AI platform. At its heart sits an eight-core Arm Cortex-A78AE CPU paired with a 1,024-core Ampere-architecture GPU (32 Tensor Cores), delivering up to 157 TOPS of sparse AI throughput and 78 TOPS dense performance. Up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory (102.4 GB/s bandwidth) and a pre-installed 128 GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD ensure both data-intensive models and large datasets run smoothly. Connectivity is generous: dual 10/100/1000 Mb Ethernet, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C OTG port, plus USB 2.0 and HDMI 2.0 outputs. Four M.2 slots (for storage, Wi-Fi, 5G/LTE or video-capture cards), an 8-lane MIPI CSI-2 camera interface, and headers for I²C, SPI, UART, GPIO, and CAN Bus round out a very flexible I/O package.

Housed in a sleek 145×123 ×66 mm chassis, the NXNano balances performance and thermals with "superior thermal design" that includes two 50 mm high-efficiency fans, ensuring sustained workloads remain cool even under heavy AI inference. Removable base and side panels allow easy customization, whether adding 3D-printed shells or extra modules. The rugged aluminium frame accommodates DC input from 12 to 36 V. At just 470 g, this DIY-friendly unit is ideal for edge deployments in retail, digital signage, robotics, and education, putting enterprise-grade AI in a truly compact form factor.

Ocypus Cooling and Cases at 2025 Computex: Edgy with Curves

Ocypus brought a slick new lineup of gaming PC cooling and cases to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the Sigma L36 Pro, a premium AIO CLC with a cubical pump-block crowned with a 3.5-inch, high-quality true-color display with 640 x 480 pixels resolution, which appears elevated from the rest of the block, which itself is framed by an ARGB diffuser. The cooler comes in black and white color options, and this particular model, as its name suggests, comes with a 360 mm radiator. Ocypus had the display cycle some high-res video clips to demonstrate its quality. Next up, is the Sigma L36 ARGB, which is mostly the same cooler as the L36 Pro, but with a smaller, lower-resolution screen that's surrounded by a ring-shaped design element. The screen is detachable from the rest of the block. While the L36 Pro and L36 ARGB are in production, what's new and upcoming is the Sigma Ultra.

The upcoming Ocypus Sigma Ultra will be the company's flagship CLC product, with a round true-color LCD surrounded by a ring-shaped ARGB diffuser. What's unique to this cooler is its side cowling that opens up like a commercial jet engine with its thrust reversers engaged. These panels then guide airflow from a small fan onto the VRM area of the motherboard when the software controlling the cooler detects high VRM temperatures if they're exposed via ACPI; although you can manually set it to open, close, or stay halfway. The cooler also includes a compound fan that reduces cable clutter.

Endgame Gear Unveils Professional eSports-Level Keyboard and Mice at Computex 2025

Endgame Gear made a striking appearance at Computex 2025 in Taipei, introducing a series of professional esports peripherals designed to shave milliseconds off every input. The centerpiece of the showcase was the KB65HE 8k, a compact 65% keyboard featuring true 8,000 Hz polling and scan rates alongside next-generation hall-effect sensors. Because each keystroke is detected magnetically without any physical contact, the keyboard offers virtually zero debounce delay and remarkable durability. Players can customize the actuation point from 0.1 mm to 4 mm, fine-tune press and release sensitivity with Rapid Trigger Technology, and turn on hardware-level SOCD cleaning to ensure flawless directional inputs, all of which support the split-second decision-making required at the highest levels of competition.

Endgame Gear also refined the keyboard's sound profile by replacing traditional silicone with a Poron sandwich pad and adding silicone dampeners beneath the stabilizers. The result is a deeper, more satisfying "thock" that muffles sharp clacks and provides a softer feel. Housed in a CNC-machined aluminium case, the KB65HE 8k weighs 1,050 g, offers a sleek black finish, and comes with spare feet for an optional 7.5° typing angle, compared with a 5° default. Doubleshot PBT keycaps enhance grip and scratch resistance, and hot-swappable Raesha Silent Magnetic switches require only 28 gf to actuate, making each keystroke quiet and effortless.

Azza Shows Distorted Cube Case at Computex 2025

Azza—maker of unique PC cases—drew widespread attention at Computex 2025 with its bold new cube-cluster designs that combine striking aesthetics and high-performance cooling. On display is the distorted cube design, with an unknown name for now. The top module contains three 120 mm ARGB fans that draw cool air through a perforated mesh panel, illuminating the interior with cascading light. The middle cube supports ATX motherboards and dual-slot graphics cards, while the bottom section accommodates power supplies and up to four storage drives. Azza offered two elegant finishes at the booth: classic black with smoky tempered glass and a limited-edition silver with mirror-like accents. The design incorporates integrated cable channels and quick-release thumbscrews to ease installation for builders of all skill levels. Practical features include magnetic dust filters on all fan intakes, the capacity for 360 mm radiators, and an optional fourth cube that serves as a VR and streaming docking bay.

Retro Classics Come to Xbox Game Pass, PC Gaming Updates, and More

A variety of new updates are available this month across our gaming platforms. Coming today, Retro Classics games are available to play for Xbox Game Pass members. Players who stream on the Xbox app on PC now have an additional streaming option with GeForce Now. Game Bar introduces quick settings, visual updates for Widgets in Compact Mode, and coming soon, Microsoft Edge Game Assist, an in-game browser that brings an immersive game-centric experience to Edge. And Xbox gift cards can now be redeemed for any amount via Xbox Rewards. Read more about these and other exciting updates below.

Announcing Retro Classics available for Game Pass Members
We're thrilled to announce the launch of Retro Classics, a collaboration between Xbox and Antstream Arcade, available to play for Game Pass members globally. Starting today, Game Pass members can dive into a collection of 50+ classic Activision games from the '80s and '90s, including beloved titles like Commando, Grand Prix, Kaboom!, Mech Warrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and Pitfall! This initiative is a step in our commitment to game preservation and backwards compatibility, allowing players to experience many timeless games on modern devices.

Corsair Unveils NAUTILUS RS LCD AIO and RS-R ARGB Fans at Computex 2025

In addition to new PC cases, PSUs, and peripherals, Corsair also brought an updated version of the NAUTILUS RS AIO CPU cooler and new RS-R ARGB fans to the Computex 2025 show. As you may have guessed from the name, the NAUTILUS RS will be getting an LCD screen, and Corsair is also announcing an NAUTILUS RS LCD module, which can be used to upgrade any NAUTILUS RS or NAUTILUS RS ARGB Series AIO cooler. The company is also announcing its new RS-R ARGB fans.

The new NAUTILUS RS LCD AIO CPU cooler is an upgrade to the NAUTILUS RS series launched last year, and were a mainstream offer from Corsair, at least compared to the iCUE-based AIOs. The original NAUTILUS RS was relying on motherboard lighting software and were not compatible with CapSwap modules. Now, with NAUTILUS RS LCD, you get best of both worlds, an LCD screen controllable via iCUE and standard fan control. The NAUTILUS RS LCD will be available in 240 and 360 mm versions and both black and white color options, and comes with new RS120 fans. It uses a convex cold plate, and features a 2.1-inch IPS LCD screen, which you can use to display images, GIFs, or system information, all via Corsair's own iCUE. Corsair also announced the NAUTILUS LCD RS Module, a drop-in upgrade for any NAUTILUS RS or NAUTILUS RS ARGB Series AIO cooler. It is a simple pump cap replacement with 2.1-inch IPS screen that connects via USB.

darkFlash Shows PC Cases and Co-branded Gaming Cases at Computex 2025

darkFlash showcased quite an extensive lineup of new cases here at Computex 2025, ranging from the somewhat traditional DS900 series to more sophisticated ones like those in the Art Ultra and Explore series. We start with the DS900 family, which received three additions. The DS900 Mesh obviously sports a full mesh front panel, the DS900WS adds wooden accents, while the DS900W features large side and front glass panels with, again, some wooden elements.

The DS900G features a single curved glass panel for a seamless panoramic view. The three DS900WS/W/G cases have the same dimensions (434 mm x 218 mm x 454 mm), while the DS900 Mesh is the largest, measuring 470 mm x 218 mm x 454 mm.

Asetek Unveils Ingrid, New Liquid Cooling Platform

Asetek, the pioneer of the all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler and global leader in mechatronic innovation, today announced the launch of Ingrid - a new platform-based liquid cooling solution engineered to deliver superior thermal performance, reduced acoustic footprint, and platform-level flexibility for both partners and PC builders. The Ingrid product line debuts with Value and Mainstream offerings and will later expand the product family - powering a complete cooling portfolio built for tomorrow's CPU architectures and the demands of AI workloads. Set to debut at Computex 2025, Ingrid represents a new generation of Asetek AIO design, built on decades of thermal leadership and precision engineering.

"With Ingrid, we're introducing a platform-based approach that meets the needs of B2B customers, OEM partners, and PC enthusiasts alike," said André Sloth Eriksen, CEO and Founder of Asetek. "It's our most refined acoustic and installation experience to date - and a foundation we'll continue to expand."

Thermal Grizzly at Computex 2025: Award-Winning Der8auer Bench Table, WireView Pro, and More

Thermal Grizzly at the 2025 Computex showed off its latest products targeted at PC enthusiasts and professional overclockers. The star attraction in this booth is the Der8auer der8enchtable. This piece of hardware is perfection—it's a bench table that doubles up as a PCB. You install your motherboard on top of this with the provided standoffs, and connect your motherboard to this baseboard that takes care of all the other connectivity, including USB, fan control, liquid-cooling pump control, storage devices, lighting control, and other cool stuff. TechPowerUp has given the Thermal Grizzly Der8auer der8enchtable the Best of Computex 2025 Award for innovating something we never knew we badly wanted!

Thermal Grizzly also showed off its latest WireView Pro, a module that lets you keep an eye on the way your graphics card is pulling power, with in-line measurement of voltage, current, connector temperature, and other stats. The latest generation of WireView Pro comes with an IPS LCD replacing the older OLED matrix display, for even more detail. Up next, are several DIY liquid cooling products Thermal Grizzly showed off under its DeltaMate brand, which include the Mycro Pro II AM5 CPU water block, which comes with design-level optimization for Socket AM5 MCMs such as "Raphael" and "Granite Ridge," and the DeltaMate ROG Astral RTX 5090 full-coverage water block.
More pictures follow.

AVerMedia Shows New Streaming and Capture Devices at Computex 2025

AVerMedia brought several new streaming and capture devices to the Computex 2025 show in Taipei, including the recently announced Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro), a 4K60 or 1080p240 capture card, the StreamLine Mini+ (GC311G2), a compact 4K60 or 1080p60 capture card, and the CamStream 4K (BU113G2), a high-performance streaming and recording device for DSLR, mirrorless, action cam, or camcorder.

The star of the show is the Live Game ULTRA S, a high-performance capture card external capture card designed specifically for game streamers, supporting high frame rate recording, true-color RGB24 capture, and 5.1-channel surround sound. The card uses USB 3.0 Type-C connection, and supports up to 4K60 HDR/VRR pass-through, high-frame-rate capture up to 4K60, 1440p144, 1080p240, HDR capture up to 1440p30 and ultra-wide aspect ratios. It also has a 5.1-channel audio capture. The Live Gamer ULTRA S (GC553Pro) was announced back in February and is available for $149.99. In addition, AVerMedia also brought two new devices, including the compact StreamLine Mini+ (GC311G2), that supports capturing 1080p60 video while playing at 4K60 HDR pass-through. The company also showcased the new CamStream 4K (BU113G2), a a simple and small device that gives any DLSR, mirrorless, action cam, or camcorder an ability to stream and record at 4K60 visuals and near-zero latency. It has a 1/4-inch female thread for mounting, USB 3.2 Type-C connection and HDMI 2.0 input. In addition to 4K60 resolution, it also supports HDR 1440p144 and HDR 1080p240 options.

Thermalright Brings a Wealth of New Cases, 3000 W PSUs, and Coolers to Computex 2025

The Thermalright brand is synonymous with tower-type CPU coolers, but they've branched out significantly into other allied product lines, including cases and power supplies over the years. The company brought a wealth of its latest innovations to Computex 2025. We were drawn into the booth with a unique open-frame, liquid-cooled mini PC powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS MoD (mobile on desktop) platform. This machine is slightly smaller than a game console, but has a fully fledged liquid cooling loop cooling the SoC, while additional heatsinks cover the M.2 NVMe SSDs. There's even small square color display to put out real time system monitoring stats.

While this mini PC is in the shape of an open-air frame, the company also showed us a closed, cuboidal, liquid cooled mini PC, which comes with a handle, and a neatly executed RGB diffuser along the base. Much like its open-air sibling, it has a square true-color display. This one is powered by the Ryzen 7 7840HS. Both these chips are older generation, but Thermalright intends to showcase the capability of its mini PC cases.

Montech Liquid and Air Cooling Solutions at Computex 2025

Montech is showcasing the yet-to-be-released CyberFlow 360 AIO liquid cooler with an improved and interesting pump design that surely looks impressive. We will see it in stores in Q4 2025 backed by a six-year warranty, however pricing is not yet known. Montech is also preparing a new addition to its HyperFlow AIO liquid coolers with the new HyperFlow Digital 360/240 series that now features a digital display to monitor CPU and GPU temperatures. On the air cooling segment, Montech has on display the NX400 / NX400 ARGB CPU cooler featuring a single tower design with a radiator with 52 fins, a single 120 mm E28 series fan and four heatpipes. The NX400 series will launch this June with an MSRP of $25.90 / $29.90 for the ARGB version. A bigger version named NX600 / NX600 ARGB is due to be launched in Q4 2025, featuring a dual-tower, dual-fan design and six heatpipes.

Lian Li's HydroShift III AIO Features Curved 2K Screen, New PSU Series Coming

In addition to the future PC cases, Lian Li also showcased its new HydroShift III AIO CPU cooler at the Computex 2025 show, which features a beautiful curved 2K screen, as well as new DWS, RS, RB, and SP Series power supplies.

Designed for adaptability, the Lian Li HydroShift III not only has a curved 2K LCD screen, but it is also motorized, allowing for horizontal and vertical movement for best possible positioning. The HydroShift III also comes with a VRM cooling fan above the pump which should improve both RAM and VRM cooling, using metal tubing with a rigid structure for cleaner tube routing. The HydroShift III should come in Q4, with a target price of $269.99. Lian Li also showcased the HydroShift II LCD-C CL, which will be coming later in May for $179.99, and this one uses a standard circular LCD screen.

NZXT Shows New Cases and LCD-Equipped Coolers at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025 in Taipei, NZXT revealed its latest refresh, focused on improving thermal performance and simplifying the building process. The company introduced two new chassis, updated AIO liquid coolers, and its first 420 mm cooling solutions, all designed to give PC enthusiasts more options when assembling high-performance rigs. The spotlight was on the H9 Flow family, which now includes the base H9 Flow (MSRP $169.99), the H9 Flow RGB ($209.99), and the fully equipped H9 Flow RGB+ ($289.99).

These dual-chamber mid-towers accommodate up to 420 mm radiators at both the front and top, while fine-mesh panels and an angled front-right fan arrangement borrowed from the popular H6 Flow help channel cool air directly to critical components. The RGB+ model arrives with two front F420 RGB Core fans, a 120 mm RGB Core exhaust fan, and an integrated NZXT Control Hub so that lighting and cooling are synchronized straight out of the box via CAM software.

Sapphire at Computex 2025: Edge AI Mini PCs, NITRO+ PhantomLink Motherboard, RX 9060 XT

Sapphire brought unique new hardware to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the new Sapphire Edge AI line of mini PCs. First up, is the Edge AI 370, a mini PC measuring 117 mm x 111 mm x 30 mm (WxDxH). It is powered by AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 "Strix Point" mobile processor, with two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 96 GB of memory. Storage comes from a 1 TB Gen 4 NVMe SSD. The CPU is configured with 12 cores (4x Zen 5 + 8x Zen 5c), while the maxed out RDNA 3.5 iGPU has 16 CU. The XDNA 2 NPU is clocked for 50 AI TOPS, and meets Microsoft Copilot+ requirements.

Next up, is the Sapphire X870EA Wi-Fi PhantomLink Edition motherboard. This is Sapphire's first high-end motherboard in years. The Socket AM5 motherboard is based on the flagship AMD X870E chipset, and offers premium connectivity and I/O features. It's also designed to visually match the company's latest Radeon RX 9070 XT NITRO+ graphics card, but its most striking feature is PhantomLink. This is a backside power delivery feature similar to ASUS BTF. The main PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot has a trailing power delivery slot that relays power from a 12V-2x6 power input located next to the 24-pin ATX connector on the motherboard. This may not be a complete backside I/O motherboard, but at least keeps the graphics card free from any power cables sticking out. To use PhantomLink, however, you need a compatible graphics card, and Sapphire showed us the Radeon RX 9070 XT NITRO+ PhantomLink Edition.

Montech Features Upcoming Cases and Power Supplies at Computex 2025

We could not miss stopping by Montech's booth at Computex 2025, since we had a feeling they would be preparing new products. And we were right, Montech's booth was packed with upcoming PC cases spanning all formats, from full-sized towers to compact small form factors. On display were several key product lines: the flagship Sky case series, the King high-end dual-chamber lineup with curved tempered glass, and the upcoming small form factor Ten case family. The booth also featured mesh-focused designs, such as the X5 series and the Air 2000, with its integrated display technology.

The Montech King dual-chamber series continues with its established tradition of using curved tempered glass panels, the case family being extended with two new models: King 45 mid-tower and King 15 mini-tower. Both offer angled bottom pre-installed fans (3x 120 mm with one 140 mm at the back) and full support for back-connected motherboards, the compact King 15 being suited for microATX/Mini-ITX. Again, both cases support one top radiator up to 360 mm and one up to 140 mm at the rear. They will be released in Q1 2026 in white and black variants.

Alphacool at Computex 2025: High-Performance Waterblocks, Pumps, and Custom Loop Innovations

Alphacool's presentation at Computex 2025 highlighted an extensive suite of water-cooling solutions, each blending premium materials with thoughtful, user-friendly design. Beyond the already known Core 2 Aurora CPU AIO and Core GPU AIO, we saw new Apex-series and Core-series accessories, tubing, fittings, and chassis enhancements. The Apex GPU Cooler takes center stage for high-end graphics cards. Its chrome-plated copper block and backplate use Alphacool's distinctive Apex styling, and the internal flow path is optimized for maximum heat extraction during sustained workloads.

Lian Li's Future PC Cases Showcased at Computex 2025

Lian Li displayed its upcoming PC cases at the Computex 2025 show in Taipei, including the Lancool 217 INF, Lancool 4, Vector 100, Vector 200, O11D Mini V2, and the DAN Case B4. The Lancool PC case series from Lian Li is quite popular, and the company is updating its iconic Lancool 217 by replacing the wood panel with an Infinity Mirror front panel with integrated fans. It will also include built-in lighting controls with wireless functionality thanks to integrated L-Wireless receiver, dual PSU support, as well as support for back-connect motherboards. Lian Li also unveiled the Lancool 4, with three sided glass design and precision cut openings at the front for fans, as well as vertical PSU and bottom chamber design for better GPU cooling. The Lancool 217 INF comes in October with price set at $119.99 for the black and $124.99 for the white version, while the Lancool 4 will be available in black and white color options and is also expected in October 2025 with price set at $129.99.

Lian Li also showcased its new O11D Mini V2, a successor to the currently available O11D Mini, and although it is a small PC case as the name suggests, it supports standard ATX motherboards (including back-connect ones). The rest of the features include support brackets for the GPU and 24-pin motherboard cable for a cleaner layout, bottom openings for optimized cable routing, and a slanted bottom for better GPU cooling.

QNAP at Computex 2025: Thunderbolt 5 Expansion Card, AI-Powered NAS, and Managed Switches

QNAP has broadened its high-speed networking and storage portfolio to address the growing demands of data centers, creative studios, and small-to-medium businesses. We were at their Computex 2025 booth to check it out. Central to this expansion is the QSW-M7230-2X4F24T, a 1U rackmount L3 Lite managed switch featuring 24 copper 10 GbE BASE-T ports, four 25 GbE SFP28 fiber interfaces, and two 100 GbE QSFP28 uplinks. With support for ECN and PFC to ensure lossless Ethernet, PTP for precise time synchronization, and MC-LAG for automatic link redundancy, this switch provides a unified management platform that is well suited for both GPU-intensive compute clusters and high-throughput video editing environments.

A Stroll Through the Team Group Computex 2025 Booth

Team Group brought a slick new lineup of storage and gaming PC cooling products to Computex 2025. We already previewed its T-Force AIO CPU and M.2 coolers, and we now have with us memory and storage products spanning the T-Force, T-Create, and Xtreem sub-brands. We begin our tour with the T-Create AI Expert DDR5 CAMM2 module. A CAMM2 module is a dual-channel memory form factor that's installed along the plane of the motherboard instead of perpendicular to it, to improve clearance around the CPU socket area and benefit from superior circuit topology. The T-Create AI Expert CAMM2 offers speeds of DDR5-8000 at CL42-50-50-84 timings, 32 GB of capacity (16 GB per channel), and 1.4 V module voltage. Its advertised speeds are enabled through XMP.

Next up, is the T-Create Classic C47, a M.2-2280 Gen 4 SSD targeting creators, offering capacities of up to 4 TB with transfer speeds of up to 7.4 GB/s reads, and 7 GB/s writes. While the C47 targets client PCs, the company has a few workstation/server grade products under the T-Create brand, too. First up is the T-Create Master AI I5U2, a 2.5-inch SSD with the U.2 Gen 5 x4 interface, capacities of 15.36 TB, 30.72 TB, and 61.44 TB; and transfer speeds of up to 14 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 10 GB/s of sequential writes. The T-Create Master AI I5E1 is a slender drive in the E1.S form-factor, with a PCIe Gen 5 x4 interface, capacities of 7.68 TB, 12.8 TB, and 15.36 TB, and the same 14 GB/s reads and up to 10 GB/s writes as its U.2 sibling. The T-Create Master AI I5E3 is basically the same drive component wise, but in the E3.S form-factor.

Enermax Cases at Computex 2025: An Immersion Workstation, Studio eGPU, High Airflow Cases

Enermax at the 2025 Computex showed us several of its latest innovations with PC and workstation cases. We begin our tour with an attraction in the Enermax booth—a fluorinated liquid immersed workstation that implements a copper foam-lattice heatsink that dissipates heat from a Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000 processor and as many as four high-end GPUs, to the immersion fluid. Next up, is the Studio-G, a production eGPU enclosure Enermax co-designed with Sparkle. The enclosure features an 850 W ATX 3.1 power supply that can feed a graphics card with a 600 W 12V-2x6 connector or 3x 8-pin PCIe power, while the PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot (electrical x4) puts out an additional 96 W. The enclosure features a bridge chip that converts the PCI-Express 4.0 x4 to a Thunderbolt 5 interface, which includes support for 120 Gbps host-to-GPU and 40 Gbps GPU-to-host asymmetric bandwidth boost. The demo unit was shown featuring a PowerColor RX 9070 XT Red Devil with 3x 8-pin PCIe power.

On our way to the company's main case stand, we also spotted the Enermax Open Frame system, targeting enthusiasts and overclockers. It suppors motherboards as large as E-ATX, and was demoed with a Xeon W-3595X based workstation build with an RTX 5090. The EL 501A Air and EL 600A Scenic are ATX mid-tower cases. The Scenic comes with tempered glass front panel that curves along the edges, while the Air comes with a mesh intake. The Scenic comes with up to 9 fan mounts, while the Air comes with 12. Both cases offer up to 43 cm of clearance for graphics cards, and up to 16.5 cm clearance for CPU coolers. You get a spacious crawlspace behind the motherboard tray for better cable management, and modern front-panel features such as USB 3.2 type-C. Both cases come in white and black trims.

Raijintek at Computex 2025: ATX Towers, Power Supplies, and Liquid Cooling

We stopped by the Raijintek booth at Computex 2025 to see what the brand has prepared for this year. The CYCLOPS EVO Liquid AIO CPU Cooler was at the heart of their presentation. It features a slim 397 × 120 × 27 mm aluminium radiator fitted with three 120 × 120 × 25 mm hydraulic-bearing fans that operate between 800 and 1,800 RPM to deliver up to 67 CFM of airflow. The included ceramic-axis pump moves 750 L/H of coolant through 500 mm of tubing, maintaining an impressively low thermal resistance of 0.08 °C per watt while keeping noise levels below 30 dBA.

Eurocom Launches New 16-inch Raptor X16, User Upgradeable Powerhouse Laptop

EUROCOM launches the RAPTOR X16 customized laptop - a lightweight, user-upgradeable RTX 5070Ti powerhouse for Gamers, Creators, and Power Users. Featuring the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070Ti, this 16-inch Raptor X16 powerhouse under 5lbs redefines mobile gaming and performance computing on the go. EUROCOM, a leader in high-performance portable computing, announces the RAPTOR X16, a versatile 16-inch system engineered for those who demand exceptional GPU performance without being tethered to a desktop. Built for gamers, students in STEM fields, power users, and creative professionals, the RAPTOR X16 combines high-powered hardware, extensive configuration/upgrade options, and a robust cooling system to handle demanding applications and AAA gaming - all in a lightweight high quality Aluminium Magnesium Alloy body frame.

EUROCOM Raptor X16 is powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX 24C/24T Processor with 36M cache and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070Ti 12 GB DDR7 with NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and 184 Tensor AI cores. It supports up to 24 TB of NVMe SSD storage in RAID 0/1/5 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports allowing up to 3 external monitors connected directly to dGPU.

SK Hynix Develops UFS 4.1 Solution with 321-Layer NAND

SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has developed UFS 4.1 solution product adopting the world's highest 321-layer 1 Tb triple level cell 4D NAND flash for mobile applications. The development comes amid increasing requirements for high performance and low power of a NAND solution product to ensure a stable operation of on-device AI. The company expects the UFS 4.1 product, optimized for AI workload, to help enhance its memory leadership in the flagship smartphone markets.

With an increase in demand for on-device AI leading to greater importance of the balance between computation capabilities and battery efficiency of a device, the mobile market is now requiring thinness and low power from a mobile device. The latest product comes with a 7% improvement in power efficiency, compared with the previous generation based on 238-high NAND and a slimmer 0.85 mm thickness, down from 1 mm before, to fit into ultra-slim smartphones.

Enermax Cooling Products at Computex 2025: New CLCs, Tower Coolers, and Fans

Enermax CPU and case cooling product lineup shown at Computex 2025 is led by the Aquasoar series. The Aquasoar 360 is the company's premium AIO CLC featuring a pump-block with not one, but two displays. The larger 3.5-inch main display is along the top of the pump-block, while the smaller 2.4-inch one moves on a hinge—you can have it face the top, or the side. Each of the three 120 mm radiator fans comes in a uniquely designed fan frame, and implements daisy-chaining to reduce cable clutter.

The Aquasoar ACS 360 is a step up from the Aquasoar 360, with three exclusive features—its cold plate implements AeroCore Structure (ACS), which extends the copper cold-plate with an extruded aluminium heatsink. A 70 mm fan sits on top of this heatsink, airflow from this fan not just dissipates heat from this heatsink, but also cools the VRM area. The third exclusive feature is its 360 mm x 120 mm compound fan replacing the daisy-chained 3x 120 mm, which further reduces the cable clutter. Each impeller can push up to 82 CFM of airflow.

Enermax Power Supplies at Computex 2025: Platimax II Series

Enermax at the 2025 Computex showed us their latest PSU products, led by the Platimax II series, which meets ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 specs, and offering 80 Plus Platinum switching efficiency. The series is led by the Platimax II 2400DF, a 2400 W PSU designed for workstations that have up to four high-end GPUs for AI inferencing. The PSU puts out four 600 W rated 12V-2x6 power connectors, and uses what looks like a dual +12 V rail design. It uses a 140 mm double ball-bearing fan to keep cool, and includes a fanless mode up to a certain load percentage.

Positioned just a notch below this is the Platimax II 1600DF, a 1600 W PSU that puts out two 600 W rated 12V-2x6 connections, and comes in the same 18 cm-long body as the 2400DF, using a 140 mm double ball-bearing fan, and including a fanless mode. Below the 2400DF and 1600DF are a trio of performance-segment variants, which include the 850DF, the 1000DF, and the 1200DF. These three come in a smaller 15 cm-long body, use 135 mm double ball-bearing fan, and each of the three puts out a single 600 W rated 12V-2x6.

Cryorig at Computex 2025: A Nearly Silent PC, New CPU Coolers

Cryorig at the 2025 Computex showed off a new concept of a nearly silent PC, called Lull. Imagine a regular AIO liquid cooling loop, but instead of a radiator that relies on active airflow to dissipate heat to, a large extruded aluminium heatsink radiator is used. This radiator is similar in concept to a domestic heating appliance, with its thick metal ridges, and takes up almost the entire left side panel, measuring 400 mm x 400 mm, with a height of 30 mm, and weighting about 3.9 kg. Heat from the loop's coolant is spread uniformly across the radiator, and passively dissipates to the air. With this, only noise from the loop is from the pump-block.

The pump-block used in Lull comes with a round color display with an ARGB ring around it. Cryorig used the exact same pump-block with a conventional 360 mm x 120 mm airflow-based radiator and a trio of daisy-chained 120 mm fans, to create the Cryo360 AIO CLC. Next up, is the Gladius Astral, a premium air cooler, which uses an aluminium dual fin-stack design (D-type), with two 120 mm fans in push-pull configuration, and segment display on top.
Pictures of the Cryorig Gladius Astral follow.
Wednesday, May 21st 2025
G-Wolves HTX Mini 8K Review

G-Wolves HTX Mini 8K Review

As the name already implies, the ambidextrous HTX Mini 8K is a smaller HTX. Equipped with PixArt's PAW3395 sensor, the HTX Mini 8K weighs only 28 g, supports true 8000 Hz wireless polling, and up to 80 hours of battery life are cited.
Raijintek AMPERE 1200 W Review

Raijintek AMPERE 1200 W Review

Raijintek might not yet be a well-known brand amongst power supply vendors, however they have now been in the market for over three years. With the AMPERE series Raijintek aims to be recognized as a company worth considering when choosing a high-end power supply.

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces ROG Bulwark Dock and ROG 100W Gaming Charger Dock

ASUS Republic of Gamers today announced the ROG Bulwark Dock (DG300) and the ROG 100 W Gaming Charger Dock (AC100-05). The Bulwark Dock packs 7-in-1 connectivity in a flexible design, allowing users to connect their laptop, ROG Ally, or mobile device to a display and peripherals for a fully-loaded setup. Meanwhile, the ROG 100 W Gaming Charger Dock is the perfect compact charger and connectivity hub for users traveling light.

ROG Bulwark Dock: 7-in-1 connectivity
The ROG Bulwark boasts a diverse assortment of ports to offer users rich connectivity options to accommodate their headset, external monitor, peripherals, and other essential gadgets. The Bulwark Dock supports high-resolution video output via an HDMI 2.1 port, offering up to 4K@144 Hz or 8K@30 Hz visuals for external displays. This allows gamers to experience their ROG Ally, laptop, or mobile devices on a larger screen. In addition, the dock features USB-C with 100-watt Power Delivery, three USB Type-A ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

F1 25's PC Feature Set Explored - VR Exclusive to this Platform

This Story is Yours. Leave your mark on the world of racing in F1 25, the official video game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship. Below, you can find the PC features you can enjoy in F1 25. We have covered everything from the newly introduced path tracing to playing on the keyboard, steering wheel, or controller.

Real Time Path Tracing
Path tracing lets us cast light rays from every pixel in the camera view and simulate the light bouncing 3-4 times around the scene. Each bounce samples a surface, and the light moves to the next surface. This makes a cloud of color that we can use some advanced algorithms to resolve back into pixels from the lit 3D scene. Path tracing offers the most advanced simulation of light interactions. For example, there are hundreds of thousands of light sources in Bahrain. Simulating the type of real time shadow interaction, self-reflection, and color bounce you get with path tracing is far ahead of older techniques.

ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT Graphics Card Lineup Revealed: TUF Gaming, Prime, and Dual

Whether you're building a new PC or bringing your battle-tested rig into the future, you'll want graphics power to keep up with the latest games. That's why we're giving you choices galore with our new AMD-powered Radeon RX 9060 XT (16 GB and 8 GB) graphics cards from TUF Gaming, Prime, and ASUS Dual. You have four distinct options, ensuring there's a Radeon RX 9060 XT that's perfect for your unique rig.

Get ready for next-gen features and designs
All these next-gen graphics cards come packed with RDNA 4 architecture and FSR 4 support. These technologies mean you'll get AMD's latest upscaling solution, granting you incredible high-resolution visuals and impressive system performance to boot. And you'll have the output options you need to enjoy high-res games at jaw-dropping framerates, because all ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards pack DisplayPort 2.1a technology. DP 2.1a provides the bandwidth necessary to see your PC's glorious performance accurately displayed on your monitor. All four of our Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards come with two DisplayPort 2.1a ports and one HDMI 2.1b port.

ADATA XPG Project INFINITY Exhibited at Computex - High Performance DDR5 UDIMM Built for AI

ADATA's XPG sub-brand is best known for producing gaming hardware, but Project INFINITY signals a significant diversification. Two demonstration sample DDR5 UDIMMs were mounted on an open plan build, at the company's Computex booth. Despite bearing XPG branding and gaming-oriented aesthetics, these memory modules are not wholly related to a freshly presented Lancer Neon DDR5 product line. Instead, ADATA has deemed Project INFINITY worthy of inclusion in their "AI Revolution" portfolio.

Impressive credentials are outlined in PR material: "XPG pushes overclocking to new heights with memory solutions that blend extreme performance, bold design, and sustainable materials. Project INFINITY delivers up to 9200 MT/s with 48 GB capacity per module, featuring RGB lighting and an infinity mirror heatsink for a stunning visual effect. For professional workloads." According to an accompanying placard, XPG's bare build utilizes an ultra-expensive ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero mainboard foundation. Intel's Arrow Lake-S flagship CPU—Core Ultra 9 285K—drives the Project INFINITY-centric PC system. Appropriately, the XPG team has selected an ADATA Mars 980 BLADE Gen 5 M.2 SSD, for ultra-fast storage purposes. Hopefully, additional/refined Project INFINITY examples will turn up in the near future.

NVIDIA & SAP Partnership Will Bring AI Agents to the Physical World

As robots increasingly make their way to the largest enterprises' manufacturing plants and warehouses, the need for access to critical business and operational data has never been more crucial. At its Sapphire conference, SAP announced it is collaborating with NEURA Robotics and NVIDIA to enable its SAP Joule agents to connect enterprise data and processes with NEURA's advanced cognitive robots. The integration will enable robots to support tasks including adaptive manufacturing, autonomous replenishment, compliance monitoring and predictive maintenance. Using the Mega NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint, SAP customers will be able to simulate and validate large robotic fleets in digital twins before deploying them in real-world facilities.

Virtual Assistants Become Physical Helpers
AI agents are traditionally confined to the digital world, which means they're unable to take actionable steps for physical tasks and do real-world work in warehouses, factories and other industrial workplaces. SAP's collaboration with NVIDIA and NEURA Robotics shows how enterprises will be able to use Joule to plan and simulate complex and dynamic scenarios that include physical AI and autonomous humanoid robots to address critical planning, safety and project requirements, streamline operations and embody business intelligence in the physical world.

Logitech Launches the G522 Gaming Headset

Logitech G, a brand of Logitech and a leading innovator of gaming and sim racing technologies and gear, today announced the launch of the Logitech G522 Gaming Headset, a new addition to its award-winning G5 series, designed to elevate both gameplay and personal expression. "G522 was made for gamers who bring passion and personality to everything they do," said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech G. "Whether you're climbing the ranks, streaming for your audience, or pulling all-night gaming sessions, the G522 ups your game with top-tier performance, features, and style."

G522 builds on the strong foundation of the widely popular Logitech G733 headset, carrying its legacy further while introducing an exciting evolution. At first glance, the family resemblance is clear, but as you look closer, the G522 reveals a fresh, elevated design. It's all about progression - sleeker curves, a more sophisticated silhouette, and thoughtful design choices that reflect a modern take on performance and style. The sharper edges of the G733 have been transitioned into smooth, flowing lines showcasing a refined aesthetic.

ADATA XPG Presents SFF-ready VALOR NANO Case Series & INVADER X ELITE Chassis

ADATA's gaming division—XPG—has exhibited brand-new SFF-ready cases; as spin-offs from existing Valor Mesh and Valor Air product lines. So far, the Taiwanese manufacturer has released mid-tower options. At Computex 2025, company representatives presented NANO-sized offerings—in particular, a white Air demo unit was endorsed by Jensen Huang. Several XPG items were blessed with the NVIDIA chief's signature—likely coinciding with ADATA's aggressive marketing of new products being (certified) ideal fits for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards.

The Valor NANO microATX case series was developed alongside the brand's PYMCORE SFX power supply product line. As mentioned earlier today, these ultra-compact SFX PSUs can be installed at the front of XPG's freshly revealed Nano enclosures—"allowing longer GPUs to fit into SFF builds without compromising performance." A Valor Mesh Nano-based demonstration build was configured with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition card—occupying only 304 mm of a max. 370 mm length restriction.

Xsight Labs Announced Availability of Its Arm-Based E1-SoC for Cloud and Edge AI Data Centers

Xsight Labs, a leading fabless semiconductor company providing end-to-end connectivity for next-generation hyperscale, edge and AI data center networks, today announced availability of its Arm -based E1-SoC for cloud and edge AI data centers. The E-Series is the only product of its kind to provide full control plane and data path programmability and is the industry's highest performance software-defined DPU (Data Processing Unit). Xsight Labs is taking orders now for its E1-SoC and the E1-Server, the first-to-market 800G DPU.

E1 is the first SoC in the E-Series, Xsight Labs' SDN (Software Defined Network) Infrastructure Processor product family of fully programmable network accelerators. Built on TSMC's advanced 5 nm process technology, the E1-SoC will begin shipping to customers and ecosystem partners.

THX Announces THX Spatial Audio+, New Immersive Audio Platform for Laptops, Headphones and Soundbars

THX, Ltd., a world-class high-fidelity audio and video tuning, certification, and technology company, and producer of the iconic THX Deep Note Trailers, has announced today the expansion of its THX Spatial Audio technology. Innovating for enjoyment of gaming, movies and music while listening on consumer electronics and mobile devices such as laptops, headphones, earbuds and soundbars, THX today announced a feature-rich new immersive audio architecture, THX Spatial Audio+.

To ensure that gamers and audio- and videophiles alike can enjoy the pinpoint audio accuracy and true-to-life realism of immersive entertainment like never before comes THX Spatial Audio+. THX Spatial Audio+ improves the core spatial experience with an enhanced and flexible architecture designed to support continued innovation, including such unique features as adding height channels to the immersion and camera-based AI head tracking, depending upon the demands of the device.

Devolver Digital Announces Launch of Monster Train 2

Play the long anticipated sequel to Monster Train today! Monster Train 2 has officially left the station! It's up to you to stop the corrupted forces of Heaven. This time, you're taking the fight to THEM! Battle the angels on your own terms by building the ultimate army of banished angels, ethereal fae-like creatures from the great beyond, and…mushrooms? All is possible in Monster Train 2's world!

To celebrate Monster Train 2's launch, we've created a special Supporter Pack! Along with the full game, you can also get the Digital Compendium: an art book, digital wallpapers, printable items, photos from inside our studio, and more. That's just one part of the bundle. You can also get the complete Monster Train 2 Soundtrack, composed by the talented Jordan Chin! If his name sounds familiar, that's because he has been the mastermind for every Shiny Shoe game soundtrack, starting with Monster Train, Inkbound, and now, Monster Train 2!

UGREEN Shows Its Six-bay NASync Devices and Thunderbolt 5 M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure

At Computex this year, UGREEN showcases its newest NAS devices, the NASync iDX6011 and the iDX6011 Pro, both models launched this January at CES although at that time only the NASync iDX6011 was available on display. On our visit to UGREEN's booth at Computex we have now found both of them. These NAS models feature Intel Core Ultra processors with six 3.5-inch drive bays and dual M.2 slots for storage (160 TB max., 6x 24 TB, 2x 8 TB) or cache. They come with 32 GB DDR5 RAM (expandable to 64 GB), PCIe 4.0 x8 expansion, and 128 GB SSD for the UGOS Pro operating system. Connectivity includes dual 10 Gbps Ethernet, 8K HDMI, USB 3.2/2.0 ports, and SD 4.0 card slot. The standard iDX6011 includes Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) front ports, while the Pro model features front USB-C ports, status LCD, and rear OCuLink port (64 Gbps).

UGREEN also showcases its Thunderbolt 5 M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure launched this April. They say it can achieve speeds up to 7000 MB/s (read) and up to 6000 MB/s (write) thanks to the JHL9480 chip when using a Thunderbolt 5 connection (it is however backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4/3 and USB4). It supports up to 8 TB NVMe storage capacity with M.2 2280 NVMe M-KEY/(M&B) Key drives and promise to keep your SSD cool thanks to its aluminium enclosure and active cooling with a temperature-activated fan that engages at 40°C.

ADATA XPG's PYMCORE SFX PSU Series Debuts at Computex 2025 - Blessed by Jensen Huang

XPG's newly unveiled SFF-ready platform—carefully optimized for NVIDIA's omnipresent GeForce RTX 50-series—consists of several product ranges. Given the complicated nature of the manufacturer's various new item lineups, this article will concentrate on freshly unveiled power supplies units. At Computex 2025, ADATA's gaming division has keenly showed off its brand-new PYMCORE SFX PSU series. The company's ultra-compact designs are tailored for integration into VALOR AIR and MESH NANO cases—this synergistic combination is advertised as: "allowing longer GPUs to fit into SFF builds without compromising performance."

The XPG PYMCORE power supply series is fully up-to-date with modern standards—most notably, being ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compliant. A 1000 W Platinum 80+ certified flagship model offers 235% power excursion. 12V2x6 (600 W) connectors can be linked to compatible SFF-ready enthusiast-grade NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards (and a smattering of custom Radeon RX 9070 Series models). A flagship PYMCORE unit was closely inspected by a TechPowerUp staff member; they took note of three 12V2x6 outputs. One exhibited specimen was deemed very special; due to having been blessed by Jensen Huang's signature. In addition, XPG is readying 850 W and 750 W Gold-rated PYMCORE SKUs. All models are configured with 100% Japanese capacitors.

CPS PCCooler at Computex 2025: Innovative New Cooling Solutions

CPS PCCooler made a splash at Computex 2025 with a host of new liquid and air cooling solutions, fans, and PC cases. We begin our tour with the new AIO liquid CPU coolers, led by the DS360 Display, which as its name suggests, comes with a cuboid pump-block with a true-color display, and premium high static-pressure fluid dynamic bearing fans. This cooler comes in black and white color variants. The DC360 Pro ARGB Display is a premium version of the cooler, which comes with addressable RGB LED fans. Next up, is a row of CPU air-type coolers, including RT400 ARGB, the R400 ARGB, and the R300 ARGB. The RT400 ARGB comes with a larger fin-stack heatsink, and four copper heat pipes. The R400 ARGB is a more compact cooler with fewer heatpipes, and a 92 mm fan. The R300 ARGB is smaller still. The RT500 Digital is a premium single fin-stack tower cooler with a segment display on top that puts out ACPI monitoring information. The RT620 Digital is a further step up, with a dual fin-stack design, and two 120 mm fans instead of one, in push-pull configuration. The RZ820 Display is a high-end dual fin-stack cooler with a true-color display on top.

Xbox Game Pass Mid-to-late May Lineup Revealed

I appreciate that you've pressed pause on the soundtrack to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or decided to take a breather while fighting the demons of DOOM: The Dark Ages to check out what's coming next to your download queue. We've got some bangers from the recent past, a day one we snuck in today, and some additions for Game Pass Standard and some more games added for cloud gaming. Let's get to the games!

Audioscenic Implements BeClear Technology to Demonstrate World's First Hi-D Soundbar Design with Gaming Voice Chat

Audioscenic, the UK-based audio technology innovator, announces a technology collaboration with Philips and semiconductor solutions leader NXP Semiconductors, to demonstrate the world's first reference design for gaming soundbars. This breakthrough combines Audioscenic Amphi Hi-D spatial audio featuring AI position sensing with Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) from Philips BeClear. Powered by the NXP i.MX 8M Mini applications processor, this technology enables soundbar manufacturers to deliver fully immersive, location-accurate game audio simultaneously with crystal-clear voice chat—a combination previously unachievable in gaming soundbars. Product designers, product managers, and engineers can experience the reference design in person at Computex Taipei 2025.

Gamers have long faced a trade-off: enjoy rich, immersive sound through speakers or have clear voice communication with teammates through headsets. While headsets have dominated hardcore gaming, many players prefer speaker systems like soundbars for extended comfort without headset fatigue, and a more natural "room-filling" audio experience versus the inside-your-head sound of headsets.

Zalman Unveils Wide Range of P-series Cases at Computex 2025

The TechPowerUp crew had trouble keeping up with the plethora of new "panoramic view" P-series cases being exhibited at Zalman's Computex booth. Starting with mid-range products; the South Korean brand has prepared various (up to microATX format) P30 and P30 DS2 color options. The latter is equipped with a fancy two-piece detachable glass section, and an integrated 9.1" LCD panel (4:1 ratio). The P30 family was designed with air flow and maximized ventilation in mind—paired with a minimal aesthetic. The P30 DS2 is bundled with three 120 mm ARGB fans, while its plain sibling is appropriately equipped with three non-ARGB units. Both can support up to 360 mm top-mounted AIOs.

ASUS and AMD Jointly Unveil Full 2025 Expert P Series Lineup

ASUS and AMD today jointly announced the launch of the all-new ASUS Expert P-series Copilot+ PCs at Computex 2025, spotlighting its leadership in the commercial AI PC space. Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, the new lineup includes ExpertBook P3 (PM3) laptop, ExpertCenter P700 (PM700MK, PM700SK) desktops, ExpertCenter P600 (PM640, PM670) all-in-one PCs, and ExpertCenter PN54 Mini PC. These next-generation business devices are engineered to deliver lightning-fast AI computing, seamless productivity, and enhanced security for working professionals—all within a future-ready, sustainable design.

"Our partnership with ASUS has been a tremendous success—initially in the consumer and gaming sectors—and we're excited to build on that momentum as we expand into the commercial space," said Jack Huynh, SVP and GM of the computing and graphics group at AMD. "The introduction of this new commercial lineup, powered by AMD Ryzen AI processors, marks a pivotal moment in high-performance computing. This powerful new solution is designed to meet the growing demands of AI workloads, offering businesses unparalleled speed, efficiency, and scalability for AI-driven applications and innovation worldwide."

PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT Graphics Cards Pictured

At Computex 2025, we ran into the PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT Reaper graphics card. The RX 9060 XT was announced earlier today, and is bound for a June 5th availability date. This card features a rather simple board design, given that the Reaper brand of graphics cards from PowerColor are designed to be priced close to the baseline pricing, the RX 9060 XT 8 GB starts at $299, and the 16 GB variant at $349. Both variants come with a total board power (TBP) value of 180 W, and we see that this card comes with a single 8-pin PCIe power connector to meet its power requirements (150 W from the connector and 75 W from the slot).

We also went hands on with the company's premium custom-design RX 9060 XT cards, the Hellhound and Hellhound Spectral White. These cards are strictly 2-slot, but come with lengthy cooling solutions with three fans, and a slender aluminium fin-stack heatsink underneath. The fans are illuminated There are other premium touches such as dual-BIOS, letting you switch between a factory overclock and a Silent BIOS that aggressively clamps down on load fan noise; and an LED toggle switch. The RX 9060 XT 8 GB is expected to get a regular black Hellhound card, while the RX 9060 XT 16 GB gets regular and Spectral White SKUs. Interestingly, the RX 9060 XT Hellhound series, much like the Reaper series, comes with just single 8-pin PCIe power connectors.

Thermaltake Shows Its TOUGHRAM XG RGB D5 Memory Kits at Computex 2025

Thermaltake has its TOUGHRAM XG RGB D5 memory kits up on display here at Computex 2025 with new Bubble Pink versions and speeds of 7200 MT/s. These will complement an already extensive range of DDR5 memory modules, such as the Black & White 16 GB x 2 kits with speeds up to 8000 MT/s and the Future Dusk, Bubble Pink, and Mocha Mousse 16 GB x 2 kits @ 6000 MT/s. If you didn't know already, the TOUGHRAM XG RGB D5 memory kits from Thermaltake feature support for Intel XMP 3.0 / AMD EXPO performance profile, 10-layer PCB with 2oz copper inner layer, 10μ gold contacts, CKD (Client Clock Driver) alongside their aluminium heatsink and 16 RGB LEDs.

Zalman Showcases Magnetic DF Fan Series & ARGB-lit TXM2 View PSU

Zalman has debuted its ZM-DF120 fan series at Computex 2025; with an emphasis on reducing cable clutter and easy installation. This is enabled by a magnetic mounting system and per-unit pogo pin interfaces. Similar designs have emerged from rival companies in the recent-ish past; eventually leading to ugly legal battles. The South Korean manufacturer is (bravely) stepping into this arena with its heavily ARGB-lit ZM-DF120 120 mm PWM fan options; showcased in black and white finishes. Side infinity mirror panels are hyped as providing dazzling visual effects. According to specification placards, fan speed range is 600-2000RPM (±10%). Maximum noise level is 34.5 dB (±10%), and max. air flow is 70.05 CFM (±10%). Zalman did not list any static pressure data. As expected, their ZM-DF120 fans leverage a hydro bearing platform.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker Free DLC is Out Now

Hello everyone, the time has come: Throes of the Watchmaker—the free DLC for Sea of Stars—is out now! We have spent nearly two incredible years crafting this free DLC, as a heartfelt thank you to our fans. Your support made it possible, and we hope this bonus final adventure for Sea of Stars will bring you joy. To celebrate the launch, Sea of Stars is currently available at its lowest price since release, with a limited-time discount of 35% off!

Throes of the Watchmaker sends Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale on a side-adventure into the miniature, clockwork world of Horloge, where a cursed carnival threatens its innocent denizens. To survive, they'll need to play by unfamiliar rules and confront not only the mischievous Puppeteer and her minions, but also their own darker traits.

XYZ Brings Complete Lineup of PC Cases and Cooling Solutions at Computex 2025

XYZ arrives at Computex 2025, showcasing its complete lineup of PC cases and cooling solutions after they made their worldwide debut at CES this January. And things seem pretty clear with how XYZ thinks; it's all either white or black, while letting the ARGB/RGB do the fancy job of spicing things up. Does that work? We think it does as their portfolio pictures a unified vision with products that can suit all users and all budgets.

The Quantum and Quantum Pro are XYZ's flagship PC chassis, sporting a curved glass panel, BTF support, and ARGB Vortex fans. Need a dual-chamber fishtank case? Tesseract and Tesseract X are available, or if you're a bit nostalgic, they have the Airwave, Airone 300X, or the Tesseract Digital (with a digital display for CPU/GPU monitoring) series with a good-old-fashioned front mesh panel. What about liquid cooling? XYZ offers Aquapulse Fusion, Hydrotemp, and Hydroview (fitted with a 3.5-inch fully customizable display via XYZ Nexus software) AIO liquid cooling solutions. However, air cooling "fans" can enjoy the Thermax CPU air-cooler series with six different versions.
More pictures follow.

GIGABYTE Replaces DIMMs with CAMM2 on the AORUS Z890 Tachyon ICE Motherboard

GIGABYTE has just rolled out its refreshed Z890 AORUS Tachyon ICE CAMM2 motherboard, designed to give overclockers and power users a serious edge. The biggest change is support for CAMM2 DDR5 memory modules, which offer cleaner signaling and much higher speeds compared to traditional DIMMs. At first glance, the new board looks a lot like the previous Tachyon ICE model. It still features the distinctive 90-degree rotated CPU socket and top-mounted memory slots. But instead of multiple DIMM slots, you now get a single CAMM2 connector. That slot comes with a toolless heatsink for better cooling—no fiddly screws required, just snap it on and you're ready to push your memory harder. If you're into extreme memory overclocking, the original Z890 AORUS Tachyon ICE recently set a world record at DDR5-12752 thanks to GIGABYTE's in-house expert, HiCookie, using V-Color's Manta Xfinity RGB modules. That achievement shows just how far this platform can be pushed. We recently reported on G.Skill offering a DDR5-10000, 64 GB of density (2-channels or 4 sub-channels), and timings of CL56-70-70 in CAMM2 form factor. That might be interesting to keep an eye on in the future, as it is definitely a new possible world-record contender.

Zalman Presents Circular ZET Air Cooling Tower Series at Computex 2025

Zalman has showcased their ZET series at Computex 2025; a brand-new family of air CPU tower coolers. This lineup seems to serve as a natural successor to past shell-less CNPS offerings. Circular cooling solutions are an unusual sight in the 2020s, but the South Korean manufacturer is intent on breaking beyond current (boxy) trends. Company representatives and product placards mentioned a main shape inspiration: aircraft engine designs.

The flagship ZET5 model was presented in black and white forms; both augmented with tasteful ARGB lighting rings. The brand's premium option has a 200 W TDP rating. Two modular fans are attached via a magnetic system, and connectivity is granted by a pogo pin system. The ZET5 features copper heatpipes, and a surprisingly non-radial aluminium fin array. A tube of ZM-STC10 thermal compound will be bundled in with these top-end products. Tentative pricing was not available at the time of writing.

Asustor Shows Off Updated Lockerstor 6 Gen2+ at Computex 2025

Asustor didn't have any big news at Computex this year, but the company was showing it's upcoming Lockerstor 6 Gen2+, which is a slightly improved version of the current Lockerstor 6 Gen2, with the only upgrade being a move from red to blue Ethernet ports. Ok, there's a little more to it than a colour change, as the new blue ports support speeds of up to 5 Gbps vs. 2.5 Gbps for the red ports, something Asustor has done to make it easy to visually differentiate between the port speeds. The plus version is set to launch later this year, with no firm launch date as yet.

The company was also showing off its new Lockerstor 12R Pro Gen2 rack mounted NAS appliances with support for either 12 or 16 3.5-inch drives. These 3U or 4U rackmount NASes are powered by AMD's Ryzen 7 Pro processors and come standard with 16 GB of ECC DDR5-4800 memory, dual 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, plus a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports, one M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 5.0 x4 slot for an OS drive and a PCIe x8 expansion slot.

Realtek Shows Off New PCIe 5.0 NVMe and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 SSD Controllers at Computex 2025

Realtek appears to have decided that it still wants a slice of the SSD controller market and showed off two new products at Computex. The first, is a DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 NVMe controller that the company says will offer random read/write speeds of up to 10,000 MB/s, which it also delivers according to a CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 screenshot that the company shared at the show. The RTS5781 as the controller is known as, is a typical 4-channel controller that supports ONFi 5.1 and Toggle 5.1 3D TLC/QLC NAND with I/O speeds of up to 3600 MT/s. It also supports advanced power saving features and common encryption protocols such as TCG OPAL 2.0 and AES 256. Random performance is on par with your typical DRAM-less SSD controller. The RTS5781 was originally revealed last year on a roadmap, but only announced now.

Next up is the RM1220, which is comparable to Silicon Motion's SM2322 in that it's a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps controller that doesn't require any bridge chip for better or worse. Realtek claims the same 2,100/2,000 MB/s read and write performance as Silicon Motion and thus better performance than Phison's PS2251-18/U18 controller. However, Realtek has a couple of tricks up its sleeve to make the RM1220 stand out from the crowd, the first being an integrated addressable RGB controller for "gaming" SSDs and the other being integrated fingerprint reader support, where just the physical reader is needed, for companies that want to add some security features to their external SSDs.

Sharkoon Shows Rebel PSUs, ATX Towers, and More at Computex 2025

Sharkoon's Computex 2025 booth was jam-packed. From the previously covered peripherals, to cases and power supplies. Now we are looking at the latter. The company has launched VK4 ARGB mid-tower, the MK7 ARGB microATX chassis, the REBEL P15 power supply, and the prototype STEEL SHARK ARGB dual-chamber case. Each product emphasizes customizable lighting, great cooling potential, and simplified cable management. The VK4 ARGB, priced at €59.90, upgrades its Rainbow-LED counterpart by including four addressable RGB PWM fans and a four-port controller offering 14 illumination modes. Its front panel features a high-permeability mesh design to maximize airflow. Inside, there is support for up to eight fans in total and radiators measuring up to 360 mm. Builders will appreciate space for either two 3.5-inch hard drives or four 2.5-inch SSDs, as well as a power-supply tunnel that keeps cables hidden for a tidy appearance. On top, two USB 3.0 ports and a TRRS audio jack provide modern connectivity, while dust filters on every intake area make maintenance easy.

GIGABYTE 27-inch 2K QHD Meta 3.0 WOLED Monitor and A18/A16 Pro Series Gaming Laptops at Computex 2025

Continuing our visit to Computex 2025, we discovered one of the new GIGABYTE WOLED monitors alongside new gaming A18 and A16 Pro gaming laptops. GIGABYTE MO27Q28G is the company's latest Meta 3.0 WOLED monitor, meaning it uses a new LG WOLED panel instead of the widely used Samsung QD-OLED panels. In a 27-inch format, the monitor offers 2K QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution with a 280 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time, matte coating and wide color gamut covering 99% DCI-P3. Other features include built-in KVM, certification for AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500, and an updated menu with Tactical Switch 2.0 for quicker and easier adjustments.

Moving to mobile gaming, GIGABYTE presented its A18 and A16 Pro series gaming laptops. The A18 laptop features an 18-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS display with 165 Hz refresh rate and 300 nits brightness. It will be available with up to Intel Core i7-13620H processors and up to RTX 5070 laptop GPU. The A16 Pro boasts a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display with 165 Hz refresh rate and 3 ms response time, up to Intel Core 7 240H and RTX 5080. For cooling, GIGABYTE implemented its latest Windforce Infinity EX cooling technology sporting 158 fan-blade Frost Fan Design, a cooling package that the company says is offering up to 270 W maximum TDP. Both laptops are said to have up to 14 hours of battery life.

Cougar Cooling at Computex 2025: Poseidon Vistek Pro CLC and Unity Series Compound Fans

Cougar brought a couple of its latest cooling products to Computex 2025, besides an innovative new lineup of cases, which we covered here. Starting things off are the Unity ARGB line of compound fans. A compound fan is a single fan frame with multiple impellers that are internally connected for their PWM main function and ARGB lighting. This reduces cable clutter from having individually connect each fan. Compound fans pair best with liquid cooling radiators. The company showcased its Unity ARGB 240 (2x 120 mm) and Unity ARGB 360 (3x 120 mm) compound fans, both of which come in black and white color variants, and come with the ability to forward or reverse their airflow. The frames of these fans not just discreetly wire the subunits, but also serve as ARGB diffusers. Each of the impellers comes with ARGB lighting of their own.

Next up is the Poseidon Vistek Pro line of high-end AIO liquid CPU coolers. These are characterized by large 3.9-inch true-color displays that are mostly square (and hence not from a smartphone spare parts bin). The screen can be made to display just about anything, although its included software puts out system monitoring stats pulled from ACPI. The cooler includes a Cougar Unity ARGB 360 compound fan that shares a common frame among three 120 mm impellers, and hides the associated cable clutter. The frame also has a neatly executed ARGB diffuser, besides the LEDs located in the subunits themselves. The cooler supports all modern desktop CPU socket types, including LGA1851 and AM5.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition Available Now on PC & Consoles

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition is now available on Steam! Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Prypiat get a refresh with enhanced graphics, next-gen console optimizations, and broader modding support. The trilogy receives a visual upgrade across all platforms, featuring improved lighting with godrays, screen space reflections, and global illumination for a more immersive experience. Textures and 3D models for NPCs, weapons, and environments are enhanced, with advanced shaders for water and wetness effects and updated skyboxes for a dynamic world. 4K pre-rendered cinematics sharpen storytelling, and an adjusted FOV improves combat visibility.

PC players gain Steam Deck optimization, Steam Workshop access for mods, cloud saves for progress backup, and full gamepad support. For PC, to thank our loyal fans, owners of the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games get the Enhanced Editions free, and buyers of the Enhanced Editions receive the original versions included.

Sharkoon Unveils First In-House Mechanical Switch and New Peripheral Lineup at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025, Sharkoon unveiled its most ambitious collection of gaming and office peripherals to date. Designed for esports athletes, content creators, and professionals alike, this new range combines lightweight ergonomics, premium materials, and deep customization across keyboards, mice, headsets, and a brand-new, in-house-designed mechanical switch. Leading the keyboard lineup is the ELITE SHARK KM300W, a compact 75% model that delivers a soft, tactile typing experience through its gasket-mount construction and pre-lubricated linear switches. Robust dye-sub PBT Cherry-profile keycaps rest on an epoxy resin positioning plate, while premium PU foam beneath the PCB smooths every keystroke. Hot-swap sockets and VIA compatibility let users reassign keys and create advanced macro profiles, and a single charge provides marathon-length battery life for mobile productivity.

Cougar Unveils Innovative New Case Designs at Computex 2025

Cougar brought a breath of innovation to Computex 2025 with new cases optimized for high airflow without compromising on looks. The CFV235 and CFV235 Mesh are an interesting example of this. The case is horizontally divided, but there is a rather large gap between the upper-left chamber (with the motherboard tray), and the lower chamber (with the PSU and drive bays). This gap features a set of fan intake vents, so you can either install intake fans here, or a 360 mm radiator, and have it draw in fresh air without the PSU or drives getting in the way. There are three additional vents along the top panel, and two facing the right side, besides the obligatory 120 mm rear exhaust. The CFV235 has tempered glass on two sides of the upper compartment, while the CFV235 Mesh sees the front panel replaced with a mesh intake and two additional 160 mm intakes with pre-installed ARGB fans. Cougar set up fogging machines to show how the bottom intakes help draw in fresh air.

Next up, is the AirFace 180. This mid-tower draws its name from its front mesh intake that's dominated by a pair of massive 180 mm ARGB illuminated intake fans. The case has a horizontally partitioned layout, with additional fan mounts along the partition, and the rear exhaust. You get clearance for graphics cards up to 34 cm in length, and other modern features such as USB-C front-panel. Looking for something less bold? There's the AirFace Flo, a mid-tower build on the same concept as the AirFace 180, but with smaller 160 mm fans, which are still larger than the original AirFace that came with 140 mm spinners. And then there's the AirFace Pure Pro, a case with a simplified front mesh design that includes a trio of 120 mm ARGB fans instead of two 140 mm.

TRYX Unveils Cross-Flow Cases and 3D LCD AIO Coolers at Computex 2025

Our Computex 2025 coverage continues as the team heads over to the TRYX booth, checking out the latest cooling and PC enclosures the manufacturer has prepared. First up was the updated STAGE cooler. Instead of hiding under a plain cover, it features two 4-inch concave displays and a mirrored base that turns your CPU pump into a mini 3D performance arena. You can showcase animated logos, system stats or your own artwork right on the cooler. Early hands-on tests showed smooth animations and excellent cooling, even when running intense workloads. Coming with an MSRP of $199.99, it will be available by end of September.

Synology Launches Six New Plus Series NAS Devices at Computex 2025

Although Synology already announced its first plus series NAS in its 2025 range a month ago with the DS925+ and its accompanying expansion unit, the company had no less than six new devices on display at Computex. We also talked at length with the company and got an explanation as to why the company decided to move to supporting its own brand drives only and it turns out the situation isn't quite what Synology's press release made it seem like, but more on that after we go over the new devices.

The new range starts with the DS225+ and the DS425+, where the DS225+ is the new base model of the plus series. Both models are built around an Intel Celeron J4125—a chip that launched at the end of 2019—which is paired with 2 GB of DDR4 which can be expanded to 6 GB in total. Both models come with one 2.5 Gbps and one 1 Gbps Ethernet port, two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and two or four drive bays. The DS425+ also gets a pair of M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots, but unless the CPU information provided is wrong, these will only be PCIe 2.0 and will most likely not sport more than one or two lanes.

ASRock Workstation Motherboards Now Fully Support AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000/Threadripper 9000 Series Processors

ASRock proudly announces that its WRX90 WS EVO and TRX50 WS workstation motherboards now offer full support for AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 and Threadripper 9000 series processors, delivering outstanding computing performance for HEDT & Workstation platform. Featuring the latest Zen 5 architecture, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 / Threadripper 9000 series processors boast up to 96 cores and supports more PCIe 5.0 lanes, setting a new benchmark for industry-leading performance.

ASRock WS series motherboards, including the WRX90 WS EVO and TRX50 WS, support AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 / Threadripper 9000 series processors through a simple BIOS update, which is now available to download from ASRock official website.

GIGABYTE Shows Its X870E/X870 AORUS Series Motherboards for AMD Ryzen CPUs at Computex 2025

GIGABYTE has on display at Computex 2025 its latest motherboards from the AORUS series, built around AMD X870E and X870 chipsets. Starting with the X870E AORUS Master X3D Ice motherboard, winner of the TechPowerUp Best of Computex 2025 Award for product innovation and design, GIGABYTE also showcases the X870M AORUS ELITE WIFI7, X870E AORUS ELITE X3D ICE, X870E AORUS PRO X3D ICE, and finishing with the X870 AORUS STEALTH ICE. These motherboards feature GIGABYTE's second generation of X3D Turbo Mode implemented at the BIOS level. GIGABYTE declares that with a single click in the UEFI setup interface, these motherboards can deliver up to 15% better gaming performance from AMD's Ryzen 9000X3D series processors (9800X3D, 9900X3D, and 9950X3D).

Going quickly over these motherboards' features, the X870M AORUS ELITE WIFI7 sports a digital twin 14+2+2 phase VRM, while the X870 AORUS STEALTH ICE boasts white reverse connectors and a robust 18+2+2 (SPS 80 A) VRM. Worth mentioning that GIGABYTE has partnered with over ten case manufacturers, including Corsair, Cooler Master, Fractal Design, Phanteks, and more, to provide reverse-connector-ready cases across more than 25 models. As for the X870E-based AORUS series, it adds the M.2 EZ-Match (a magnetic alignment feature to help users with the installation of large heatsinks).
More pictures follow.

Endorfy Shows New Celeris 1800 Keyboard With Unique SideTune Feature, Future V2 Versions of Thock Keyboards

The centerpiece of Endorfy's Computex 2025 showcase was certainly the new Celeris 1800 keyboard, which debuted back at the CES 2025 show in January, but is now ready to be launched. Endorfy also unveiled its future V2 versions of the well-known Thock keyboard series, including TKL, 75%, and Compact versions.

The Celeris 1800 is Endorfy's way of rethinking the full-sized 100-keys keyboard with numpad, while retaining the compact layout. It uses Endorfy Yellow factory-lubed switches made by Gateron, has a dual-layer silicone padding to eliminate vibrations and noise, and a FR4 top plate. It supports Bluetooth, a 2.4 GHz wireless, or USB cable connectivity, and even has a switch that let switch between Windows or macOS, with three macOS-specific keycaps included. What makes the Celeris 1800 special is the SideTune feature, small buttons located on the side of the keyboard which are inspired by smartphones, allowing you to control audio, volume, brightness, or any custom macros. The other side of the keyboard comes with switches that allows you to switch between Windows and macOS mode and connectivity options. Endorfy is targeting $99 price tag when it becomes available later this year.

ASRock Displays Its New Taichi OCF and Creator, and Phantom Gaming X870E/X870 Motherboards

In addition to new graphics cards, ASRock also showcased a couple of new motherboards at the Computex 2025 show in Taipei, including the new X870E Taichi OCF, X870 Taichi Creator, as well as the new Phantom Gaming X870 Nova Wi-Fi motherboard.

The star of the show is the new X870E Taichi OCF, which is also the first OC Formula motherboard based on AMD platform. This feature packed motherboard will support AMD Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 series processors on AM5 socket. It features a 25-power phase VRM with 110A SPS, has two DDR5 DIMM slots, two PCIe 5.0 x16 and single PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, a total of six M.2 ports (two of which are PCIe Gen 5 x4), plenty of USB ports, 5 Gbps Ethernet, integrated Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth, and most importantly, "Professional Overclocking Toolkit", which means that this one is aimed at some high overclocking. ASRock also showcased the new X870 Taichi Creator, a more standard motherboard that has 21-phase VRM design, but comes with Marvell's 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet ports.

Endorfy Shows Several New PC Cases at Computex 2025 Show

Endorfy unveiled several new PC cases at the Computex 2025 show, including its first white PC case, and two Fishtank PC cases with two-sided glass panels for a panoramic view. Endorfy also brought in the new Ventum 400 ARGB and Signum M30 microATX, which are pre-production samples expected later this year.

The star of the show is Endorfy's first white PC case, the Arx 700 White ARGB. Promising exceptional airflow, extensive cooling support, and room for high-performance components, the new Arx 700 White ARGB is everything you can expect from Endorfy's Arx PC case series. The Arx 700 White ARGB is a standard tower PC case design which can support up to ATX motherboards, as well as up to 360 mm radiators at the front or top or up to eight fans, with four Endorfy Stratus 140 White PWM ARGB fans already included with the case. The perforated panels (with included dust filters at the front and bottom) should provide enough airflow, while tempered glass side panel shows all your components. The Arx 700 White ARGB comes with integrated RGB controller and I/O panel with all the usual ports, including USB-C 3.2 Gen 2.

Maxsun's Concept Water Cooled GPU Spotted Next to iCraft Z890/B860 Motherboards at Computex 2025

Among Maxsun's iCraft Z890 and B860 motherboards, there is an interesting "tiny little" product on display at their Computex 2025 booth. It seems that Maxsun engineers are flexing their muscles, presenting what seems to be a concept water-cooler graphics card with tubing on the side, encased in a transparent monoblock. Not much is known at this moment, we cannot guarantee that such an idea will ever get beyond experimental stages. However, the concept is interesting, and we can see its applicability as an external GPU (product is shown standing both horizontally and vertically), more than as a classic internal graphics card. More for its aesthetic value and compact format, it would be a shame to hide it inside a desktop PC case.
More pictures with iCraft series motherboards follows.

Crucial Showcases T710 Flagship Gen 5 SSD and X10 Pro Portable SSD

Crucial at Computex 2025 showcased its flagship client NVMe SSD, the T710. On paper, this drive beats even the fastest enthusiast-segment drives out there, offering sequential read speeds of up to 14.5 GB/s, with up to 13.8 GB/s sequential writes; capacities of up to 4 TB, endurance of up to 2,400 TBW, and 4K random access speeds of up to 2.3 million IOPS. There are two key variants of the drive, one with heatsink, and the other without, so you can use the heatsinks your motherboard came with. The Crucial X10 Pro is a nifty little portable SSD that takes advantage of the 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2 interface to offer sequential transfer speeds of up to 2.1 GB/s, and capacities of up to 4 TB. Both the T710 and X10 Pro are currently in the market.

Gigabyte Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC and GeForce RTX 5060 Low Profile OC Pictured

Here are some of the first pictures of Gigabyte's Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC, the company's premium custom-design graphics card based on the new RX 9060 XT performance segment GPU announced earlier today. The card comes in 16 GB and 8 GB variants, with a slight price premium over the $349 (16 GB) and $299 (8 GB) MSRP pricing of AMD. Both cards come with a 2-slot thick aluminium fin-stack cooling solution with three fans. The sole power connector is an 8-pin PCIe power, which is sufficient, given the 180 W TBP for both memory variants of the RX 9060 XT. The RX 9060 XT goes on sale from June 5, 2025.

Next up is a very interesting card by Gigabyte, the GeForce RTX 5060 OC Low Profile. This card comes in a 2-slot thick, half-height (low-profile) form-factor, with a board length of just 18.2 cm. The card's 2-slot thick cooler features a compacted aluminium fin-stack heatsink that's ventilated by a trio of 40 mm fans. The card draws power from a single 8-pin PCIe connector. You get a full suite of display outputs taking advantage of the two slots, including three DisplayPorts and an HDMI.
More pictures follow.

Thermaltake MINECUBE 360 Ultra ARGB AIO and New TS120/TS140 EX RGB Fans at Computex 2025

Probably one of the most interesting and eye-catching products in the Thermaltake booth here at Computex 2025 is the MINECUBE 360 Ultra ARGB AIO liquid cooler available in black and white versions. Taking clear inspiration from Minecraft, the AIO cooler's main feature is the huge cube-like CPU cooling block that sports four 3.95-inch LCD screens with 720 x 720 resolution. The 360 mm radiator is equipped with three 12 cm SWAFAN EX12 ARGB fans with magnetic quick connection, support for daisy-chaining, and TT RGB software for customization.

Thermaltake also introduces the TS120 EX RGB and TS140 EX RGB PC cooling fans, both available in black and white editions. These fans are equipped with individual temperature sensors positioned behind the fan blades. Support for MagForce 2.0 magnetic connection with double-size contact pads, daisy-chaining, and linear lighting effect completes the features.

ASRock Unveils New Radeon AI PRO R9700, RX 9060 XT, and ARC Pro B60 Graphics Cards at Computex 2025

ASRock had plenty of new graphics cards at the Computex 2025 show, with a few interesting pieces in its Creator Series, including the new AMD Radeon AI PRO R9700 and Arc Pro B60 graphics cards. In addition, ASRock showcased the newly announced AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards that will be available in both Challenger and Steel Legend series.

The ASRock Creator Series is an interesting one as this is aimed at "multi-GPU collaborative computing," meaning it is designed for multi-card computing. This is the reason why the ASRock Creator Series uses a blower-style dual-slot cooler design with vapor chamber heatsink. It also comes with 0dB Silent Cooling and a metal frame construction. ASRock also unveiled two new graphics cards in its Creator Series, the Radeon AI PRO R9700, based on the newly announced RDNA 4-based Radeon AI Pro R9700, which is basically a beefed up version of the Radeon RX 9070 XT, maxing out the 4 nm Navi 48 GPU with 64 compute units and 32 GB of 20 Gbps GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit memory interface, and the Intel Arc Pro B60 Creator, based on Intel's recently announced Arc Pro B60 GPU. The Arc Pro B60 is based on Intel Xe2-HPG architecture with 160 Intel XMX engines and coming with 24 GB of 20 Gbps GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit memory interface.

Gigabyte Radeon AI Pro R9700 AI TOP and TPU Award-Winning X870E AORUS Master X3D Ice Pictured

AMD earlier today launched the Radeon AI Pro R9700, a graphics card that covers a wide range of professional-visualization and AI inferencing workloads. This is a maxed out "Navi 48" RDNA 4 silicon with 32 GB of memory, enterprise validation, and board design that favors builds with up to four such cards for a 128 GB memory pool taking advantage of the PCI-Express Gen 5 host interface. Unlike NVIDIA, and much like Intel, AMD made this product board partner-driven, letting them come up with custom designs. Gigabyte's card is nicely slotted in the company's AI TOP ecosystem.

The card comes with a 2-slot lateral airflow cooling solution that makes it easy for workstation builders to install up to four of these next to each other on a server/workstation motherboard. The lateral blower takes in air from both sides of the card, and the obverse side is a little recessed to minimize obstruction to the neighboring card. Also adding convenience to workstation builders is the card's 300 W-rated 16-pin 12V-2x6 power connector that's located at the tail end of the card. Also in the Gigabyte booth is the X870E AORUS Master X3D Ice.

Arctic at Computex 2025: Fanless Mini PCs, Freezer 8, Xtender VG Case, New Server Cooling

Arctic introduced some of its most important products at Computex 2025. The company is broadening its portfolio of server cooling products with the introduction of new all-in-one liquid CPU coolers for servers. It partnered with ASRock Rack to set up example servers that implement its new AIOs. Each cooler is specific to a CPU socket type, and designed keeping in mind the various hot-spots in today's chiplet-based processors. Slender 2U thru 4U-sized radiators and high-performance fans are used to dissipate heat from the CPU, as shown in the example build below. The company even has solutions for 8U GPU and AI compute servers, although we've not seen specifics on the GPU types it supports at the moment. With Moore's Law buckling, server cooling is a market hard to miss for a company like Arctic.

Next up is the Arctic Senza, a fanless mini PC barebone that's designed to be located under your PC desk. The mini PC features a centrally-located motherboard seating an AMD Ryzen 7 5700G "Cezanne" processor, flanked with two large heatsinks to which heat from the SoC is transferred by heat pipes. Arctic showed us a blow-out of how the cooling solution looks underneath. The 5700G may be an outdated processor, but you can see where Arctic is going with this concept, especially with the wealth of H-segment mobile processors and MoD (mobile on desktop) platforms to choose from.

ADATA XPG and Trusta at Computex 2025: New Flagship Memory Products for Gamers and Enterprise

ADATA XPG brought many of its latest memory, storage, and gaming PC hardware to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the SE940, a delightful compact USB4 portable SSD. The drive features a USB4-native Silicon Motion SM2324 controller that takes advantage of 40 Gbps USB4 interface to offer 4 GB/s maximum sequential reads, and 4 GB/s max sequential writes. The drive supports UASP, and comes in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB, along with tested support for Windows, Android, macOS, and PlayStation 5.

Next up, are the company's XPG Mars 980 line of flagship M.2 NVMe SSDs. The drives take advantage of PCIe Gen 5 x4 host interface, and are powered by 6 nm Silicon Motion SM2508 controllers. The 4 TB variant offers up to 14 GB/s maximum sequential reads, with up to 13 GB/s maximum sequential writes, 2 million IOPS 4K random reads, up to 1.65 million IOPS 4K random writes; and endurance of 2,960 TBW. There are three variants of the Mars 980 based on cooling. The Mars 980 Blade is a bare drive, and only has a heat-spreading sticker. The Mars 980 Storm is the top variant, with a self-contained liquid cooling solution. The Mars 980 Pro comes with an air-cooler.

ASRock Shows 27-inch IPS 400 Hz QHD PG27QFW2A Monitor at Computex 2025

ASRock has brought its new 27-inch PG27QFW2A gaming monitor to the Computex 2025 show, and this 2560x1440 resolution IPS display has a refresh rate of 400 Hz. Part of ASRock's Phantom Gaming lineup, the PG27QFW2A has a 400 nits typical brightness, 1 ms (GTG) response time, and a typical contrast ratio of 1000:1. It has VESA DisplayHDR 400 and AMD FreeSync Premium certifications.

It supports all the usual tilt, swivel and height adjustments, as well as a 100x100 VESA mount, and comes with two HDMI 2.1 (FRL) and one DisplayPort 1.4 outputs. The PG27QFW2A also comes with two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two 2 W speakers, and a headphone output. Another unique feature is an integrated Wi-Fi antenna (7dBi). In addition to the PG27QFW2A, ASRock was also keen to point out several other monitors, including the 27-inch 1920x1080 resolution 520 Hz PG27FFX2A, as well as four OLED gaming monitors, including the PGO32QFSA, a 32-inch 4K 240 Hz gaming monitor powered by Samsung's advanced QD-OLED.

Realtek to Bring Affordable 10 Gbps Ethernet to the Masses Later This Year

It's been two years since Realtek showed off its 5 Gbps Ethernet chips at Computex and at the time, they hinted at a 10 Gbps chip. This year, the company was showing off a wide range of 10 Gbps Ethernet chips on the show, ranging from a standard consumer solution, to server chips and native USB variants. The base chip is the RTL8127, which offers the full range of speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps, with a sub 2 Watt power consumption. This is followed by the RTL8127AP intended for servers, as it has full remote management support via DASH 1.2 support. Both chips sport a PCIe 4.0 x1 host interface, which for better or worse limits compatibility to more modern systems.

Next up is the fibre only RTL8127ATF, although it doesn't support 10/100 Mbps speeds, but it has a lower power consumption at just over 1 Watt. This is followed by the RTL8127AT, which is limited to the same speeds as the fibre only SKU, but it's a standard copper NIC. What sets these two SKUs apart from the previous two, is that they support PCIe Gen 3 x2 or PCIe Gen 4 x1 and they actually have a physical PCIe x2 interface, which limits compatibility with some motherboards as an add-card. Finally we have the RTL8159, which is Realtek's USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 10 Gbps chip, which again covers the full range of speed from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps. Realtek had several mockups of customer products on display, but final products might not look exactly like the ones shown.

Thermaltake Unveils 1,200 W ToughPower SFX Titanium and ToughPower I2000 Titanium PSUs at Computex 2025

Thermaltake brought a few new power supply units to the Computex 2025 show, including the ToughPower I2000 Platinum and the all new ToughPower SFX Titanium, which is now coming in the 1,200 W power output version and with 80 Plus Titanium rating.

As expected, the ToughPower I2000 Platinum will use a hybrid design that switch between single- and multi-rail output via software, depending on the need. As the name suggests, it will be available with power output of up to 2,000 W, where it is rated at 80 Plus Platinum, while 1,650 W and models below are rated at 80 Plus Titanium. Each output can be monitored via software, which also used to switch between single- and multi-rail modes. Thermaltake also brought the new ToughPower SFX Titanium PSU to the Computex 2025 show, and this time around they managed to push the power output to 1,200 W, which is quite impressive considering it is an SFX size PSU, and it even has a 80 Plus Titanium rating. Both PSU lineups have native 12+4pin PCIe Gen 5.1 connector and meets ATX 3.1 specifications, and are based on the modular design.

Wizmax at Computex 2025: PSU with Flexible Receptacle, Aurora Cases, Calux TKL Keyboards

Wizmax at the 2025 Computex brought a slick new lineup of PSUs, cases, and gaming peripherals. The product that caught our eye was the Wizmax Swing, a modern ATX 3.1 + PCIe Gen 5.1 modular PSU with an AC receptacle that can swing 90 degrees, to orient itself sideways. This should help with cable management in certain SFF case types. While the AC receptacle takes up one corner of the PSU, its diagonally-opposite corner has a 12V2x6 output that rotates 90 degrees in the same way. This should offer great peace of mind for those worried about giving their 16-pin power connectors too tight of a bend as part of their cable management scheme. The PSU meets 80 Plus Gold switching efficiency, and uses a fluid dynamic bearing fan to keep cool. The Wizmax Swing comes in wattage outputs of up to 1200 W.

Wizmax also showed off its selection of cases, we've seen some of these at CES earlier this year. These include the Woofer Deeptone, and Moon, but what's new is the Aurora line of microATX tower cases. The case has its PSU bay located at the top, and motherboard tray below, with an 80 mm fan handling ventilation. The Aurora series comes in many color variants, including Dalgona. Lastly, the company showed off its Calux TKL line of compact wireless keyboards. Notice that the lid of the keyboard is cushioned, and doubles up as a palm rest when using it.
More pictures follow.

be quiet! Shows New Gaming Mice, Mechanical Keyboards, and Project Light Base Stand at Computex 2025

be quiet! is expanding its gaming mice and mechanical keyboard lineup by introducing the new Dark Perk Sym and Dark Perk Ergo mice, as well as Dark Mount and Light Mount mechanical keyboards. be quiet! also the new Project Light Base Stand, a custom-designed accessory that adds a fourth orientation option for the Light Base 900 FX chassis.

The be quiet! new gaming mice bring high-performance and premium design, combined with full configurability, and it is obvious that company is trying to cover as much base as possible since the Dark Perk Ergo is a right-handed mouse while the Dark Perk Sym features a symmetrical layout for ambidextrous use. Both new mice share similar specifications, including 55 g weight, the Pixart PAW 3950 32,000 DPI sensor, 8000 Hz polling rate, and precise optical Omron switches. These are wireless mice that promise up to 100 hours of usage time. be quiet! also showcased its new Dark Mount and Light Mount mechanical keyboards, and this is the company's first entry into the gaming keyboard market. Both use triple-layer sound dampening, aluminium top plate, proprietary silent switches that will be available in linear or tactile versions, per-key RGB illumination, and more. The Dark Mount uses a modular construction with unique Media Dock, while Light Mount aims for a more minimal design with an integrated Media Wheel. Both will use be quiet!'s IO Center software.

be quiet! Intros Pure Loop 3 AIO Liquid Cooling Series at Computex 2025

be quiet! is extending its liquid cooling portfolio here at Computex 2025, bringing two new mainstream Pure Loop AIO series, namely Pure Loop 3 LX and Pure Loop 3. Starting with Pure Loop 3 LX AIO, we see that it comes in two variants (360 mm and 240 mm radiators) features a 6-pole motor pump with ARGB lighting, and interchangeable foil covers for pump customization. It uses Light Wings LX high-speed fans and supports all current Intel and AMD sockets. The Pure Loop 3 comes in with 240 mm, 280 mm, and 360 mm radiators. It utilizes Pure Wings 3 PWM high-speed fans with low noise operation while maintaining compatibility with current Intel and AMD sockets. Pure Loop 3 LX models launch August 2025 with the 360 mm at $129.90/€119.90 and 240 mm at $109.90/€99.90. Pure Loop 3 variants arrive also in August this year with the 360 mm at $114.90/€104.90, 280 mm at $109.90/€99.90, and 240 mm at $94.90/€84.90.

Seasonic Shows 3,200 W PSU, 16-Pin Connector Cooler, and Advanced Surge Protection at Computex 2025

At the Computex 2025, Seasonic introduced a range of advanced power solutions for desktop PC performance and reliability. The real standout piece was the PRIME PX-3200, a fully modular 3,200 W power supply compliant with ATX 3.1 standards. This unit delivers 266.7 A on its single +12 V rail and achieves up to 94% efficiency under typical loads, earning 80 Plus Platinum certification, alongside TechPowerUp Best of Computex 2025 award. It can provide its entire power capacity to a single rail, designed for extreme overclocking scenarios. Key features include Micro Tolerance Load Regulation (within 1 %), premium Japanese 105 °C electrolytic capacitors, gold-plated high-current terminals, and a 12-year warranty.

G.Skill At 2025 Computex: DDR5 Speeds Go Over 10,000 MT/s, CAMM2 Over Nine Thousand!

G.Skill Memory at the 2025 Computex introduced its latest, high-performance gaming PC memory. We begin our tour with the new Trident Z5 NeoX RGB memory kit that ticks at a whopping DDR5-10600, with timings of CL58-63-63, and comes in densities of 24 GB per module. As a "Neo" branded kit from G.Skill, it comes with an EXPO profile for this speed, but which engages a UClk:MClk divider. G.Skill showed us the proof of its pudding on a machine powered by a Ryzen 5 8500G "Phoenix 2" processor, with a memory speed of 5300 MHz (DDR5-10600), timings of 62-63-63-126, and memory voltage of 1.4 V, in what is one of the highest memory overclocks for the AMD platform.

Next up, is possibly the world's fastest CAMM2 module, offering speeds of DDR5-10000 and 64 GB of density (2-channels or 4 sub-channels), and timings of CL56-70-70. A CAMM2 module is a dual-channel memory module designed to minimize vertical PCB footprint next to the CPU socket, which should benefit enthusiasts and overclockers. The speed was validated on a machine powered by a Core Ultra 9 285K processor. Winding things up is the white Trident Z5 NeoX RGB which ticks at DDR5-10747, with CL68-128-128, and validated on an Intel 285K platform. The Trident Z5 NeoX RGB comes in three bright colors of white, orange and fluorescent green.

Thermaltake Adds Nordic Wooden Accents to Its PC Cases at Computex 2025

A few booths here at Computex are as colorful as Thermaltake's, as the company proved in recent years that they're one of those who aren't afraid to "play with colors". Now we're in 2025, and it seems that Thermaltake has discovered another way to add more flavor to their products, at least if we look at some of their new or updated PC case series, where they've added warm wood-textured panels and accents. Here we have the Tower 600 with touches of wood elements, the tiny, compact, modular TR100 has been fitted with wooden side accents. Touches of wood have been added even to View 380 XL and View 270 cases.

Thermaltake also presented two new small form factor cases, the TR200 and TR300, which can be seen as follow-ups to the TR100 18.9-liter dual-chamber chassis series launched last year. Both cases follow the same path as TR100 and sports swappable front panels with and without wooden elements. Thermaltake will offer both TR200 and TR300 cases in black and white variants, supporting up to a 360 mm radiator, up to six 120 mm fans, and will be compatible with the 6-inch LCD Screen Kit.

be quiet! Brings New Pure Power 13 M Power Supply Series to Computex 2025

be quiet! came to the Computex 2025 show in force, unveiling several new products, including its all new update to one of be quiet!'s most popular PSU lines, the Pure Power 13 M. The new Pure Power 13 M PSU gets Intel ATX 3.1 compliance and native PCIe 5.1 (12v-2x6) connectors and will be available in 550 W to 1000 W power outputs.

The be quiet! Pure Power 13 M is a full modular PSU series that comes with a semi-passive 120 mm fan, single-rail design, and has 80 Plus Gold and Cybenetics Gold efficiency ratings. The Pure Power 13 M is backed by a 10-year warranty, and should easily live up to the popularity of the Pure Power lineup. In addition, be quiet! is also showing off its Power Zone 2 PSU which was announced earlier this year. The Power Zone 2 features 80 Plus Platinum and Cybenetics Platinum efficiency ratings and the same ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 connectors. It is also a modular PSU design with single 12 V rail and LLC technology, and features a 140 mm Pure Wings 3 fan with semi-passive cooling. The be quiet! Power Zone 2 is available in 750 W, 850 W, and 1000 W versions.

Antec Unveils Vortex View AIO and Fully Modular Full-Tower Cases at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025, Antec has introduced a new lineup of products aimed at PC enthusiasts looking for both performance and flexibility. At the center of the release is the Vortex View, a high-performance all-in-one liquid cooler, accompanied by three full-tower cases: the Nine Hundred, FLUX PRO Noctua Edition, and P180. Each case is built with a modular design, allowing users to easily customize layout, airflow, and component placement without hassle. The Vortex View AIO features a slim aluminium radiator measuring 120x394x27 mm and a high-efficiency pump running at 3200 RPM. Mounted on top of the CPU pump/block combo is a massive LCD screen for temperature monitoring or just graphics display. The unit includes a fluid dynamic bearing fan with PWM control, delivering up to 59.23 CFM of airflow while keeping noise levels around 28.6 dB(A). It supports a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets, including AM5 and LGA 1851.

Akasa at Computex 2025: Coolers, Fans, and PCIe Gen 5 Risers

Akasa brought a selection of its latest products to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the company's new SOHO series CPU air coolers. The first one, the AK-CC4022HP01, is a dual fin-stack (D-type) cooler, featuring two large fin-stacks for a total height nearing 160 mm, 7 copper heat pipes, and a pair of 120 mm FDB fans in push-pull configuration, for a cooling capacity of 250 W. All 7 heat pipes make direct contact with the CPU at the base. The 120 mm fans offer addressable RGB LED lighting. Next up is the AK-CC4026HP01, a thick single fin-stack cooler that uses two 120 mm fans in push-pull configuration. This cooler uses four copper heat pipes, and offers the same ARGB illuminated fans as its larger sibling.

Next up, are the company's new T6 ProGrade series thermal compounds. These include the T6 ProGrade Plus (T685), and the T6 ProGrade Max (T695). These come in 5-15 g syringes, as well as tubs going all the way up to 1 kg for systems integrators. The company didn't put out conductivity specs for these coolers. Next up, we have the company's AK-FN120 series "ultra premium" fans that offer IP68 dust and water protection, an impeller design that favors high static pressure and airflow, and a fluid dynamic bearing.

ZOTAC Shows New GeForce RTX 5090 ArcticStorm AIO and Low-Profile RTX 5060 at Computex 2025

We stopped by ZOTAC at the Computex 2025 show as the company previously hinted the return of the ArcticStorm Series, in the form of the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 ArcticStorm AIO. In addition to this flagship liquid cooled GeForce RTX 5090, ZOTAC is also working on a low-profile GeForce RTX 5060, which could be quite popular for small form-factor builds.

The star of the show is definitely the Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 ArcticStorm AIO graphics card, as this will be positioned as the flagship graphics card in ZOTAC's lineup, featuring an all-in-one liquid cooling with 360 mm radiator with three 120 mm RGB fans and SPECTRA 2.0 ARGB lighting, Infinity Mirror design, dual BIOS, and metal backplate. It is a 2.2-slot design and while the specifications are still not finalized, we expect a decent factory-overclock. ZOTAC is also showing off a low-profile GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card, meant for SFF systems and should be compatible with most, if not all PC cases. It is a part of ZOTAC's SOLID Series lineup, takes up two slots, needs a single 8-pin PCIe power connector, has two DisplayPort and one HDMI output, and features a three-fan design. Bear in mind that ZOTAC also has full-height single-fan ITX-ready GeForce RTX 5060, but low-profile graphics cards are not that common these days.

ZOTAC Showcases New Handhelds and Mini PCs at Computex 2025

ZOTAC made a notable impression at Computex 2025 by unveiling a range of compact gaming and AI-ready machines combining high performance and tiny footprints. The highlight was the second-generation ZOTAC Zone handheld prototype, now powered by AMD's top-tier Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU. Equipped with Radeon 890M graphics, the Zone achieves smooth 1080p gameplay on its 7-inch AMOLED display, which offers a 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 800 nits of brightness. Despite its size, the device packs either 24 GB or 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory alongside a 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD to ensure rapid load times and efficient multitasking.

For wireless connectivity, ZOTAC has included Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, dual USB4 ports, and a microSD slot. A built-in kickstand adds flexibility to handheld play, and Hall-effect joysticks, precise triggers, and twin trackpads provide a control scheme designed for accuracy. A 48.5 Wh battery that should support extended gaming sessions is powering all this. ZOTAC also previewed its Manjaro Linux distribution on the Zone, featuring a dedicated handheld interface and Wine-based compatibility for Windows titles.

Ducky Leads the Way for Silent Mechanical Keyboards with Cushion 98 and Shush Switches

Ducky Channel at Computex 2025 showed us their most silent mechanical keyboard and keyswitch. There is a growing trend among keyboard and keyswitch manufacturers to make their keyboards quieter and more comfortable to use without compromising on their tactile properties, and we see these as the general theme with Ducky. The new Cushion 98 is, as its name suggests, a compact 98-keyset keyboard. It offers a cushioned design for dampened typing. The keyboard implements Ducky's in-house Shush series switches that offer low actuation noise without coming in the way of other tactile properties. It's also designed for easy keycap replacement, as well as replacement of the cushioning layers. The electronics of this keyboard support 2 kHz USB polling rate, and both wireless modes—Bluetooth (for convenience and security), and RF (for lower latency while being wireless).

Colorful Also Showcases New PC Chassis, Themed Motherboard

Besides mini PCs and laptops, Colorful's Computex 2025 display had much more to show. The star of the show is an interesting COLORFIRE MEOW Series PC, which blends retro gaming nostalgia with modern performance. It is a microATX chassis, finished in white and orange, featuring Bobi cat graphics and paw print accents. Measuring 470 × 244 × 370 mm and housing a COLORFIRE B650M MEOW WiFi motherboard alongside a GeForce RTX 5060 Ti MEOW-ORG 16 GB graphics card, it is covered in thematic Bobi cat yellow prints. Everything from the motherboard to the case, even the AIO, follows a white and yellow design.

Colorful Shows Mini PCs and New Laptops at Computex 2025

While Colorful is usually known for its GPUs, the Computex 2025 booth was populated with some interesting mini PC designs and laptops. First on the menu are Colorful's new laptops. The new EVOL G16 Pro and P16 Pro laptops arrive powered by NVIDIA's latest RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPUs. Under the hood, they can be configured with up to a 14th Generation Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, which boasts 24 cores, 32 threads, and a maximum P-core turbo clock of 5.8 GHz, and thanks to Intel's Application Performance Optimization technology, demanding applications and games run more smoothly and responsively. Both models sport a 2K QHD display (2560 × 1600) that refreshes at 300 Hz, while full 100% sRGB coverage ensures colors are reproduced with exceptional accuracy and vibrancy.

Noctua at Computex 2025: Air Cooled Mouse, Low Noise AIO CLC, Co-branded Products

Noctua at the 2025 Computex brought several innovative new products to show us. We begin our tour with the various co-branded products. Noctua and ASUS have been co-branding graphics cards for a few years now, and their partnership continues with the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition, which comes with a cooling solution that's been designed and tuned for low noise by Noctua. They've done a fantastic job with their RTX 40-series Noctua Edition cards, and we're confident their excellence will hold with the RTX 50-series, too.

Next up, is the Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition case. A variant of the Flux Pro case Antec launched in August 2024, this case comes not just with Noctua's color theme, but also pre-installed premium Noctua fans, which include the NF-A14x25 G2 140 mm spinners in the front, and NF-A12x25 G2 120 mm at the rear. Noctua has tested the case with these fans for substantially lower noise levels than the stock fans the original Flux Pro comes with. All fans are installed with anti-vibration mounts, and the case comes with a pre-installed Noctua NA-FH1 fan hub, with factory wiring for the pre-installed fans. The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition is expected to launch in Q4-2025.
Tuesday, May 20th 2025
Team Group T-Force CKD XTREEM DDR5-8800 48 GB CL42 Review

Team Group T-Force CKD XTREEM DDR5-8800 48 GB CL42 Review

Team Group is pushing boundaries with its XTREEM series, leveraging CUDIMM technology to deliver exceptional overclocking performance. This particular kit boasts a 2x 24 GB configuration, carefully binned to achieve impressive speeds of up to 8800 MT/s, with an additional 9466 MT/s profile. Join us as we put this memory through its paces and see how it compares to the competition in our comprehensive review.
TOPPING ArpegEar Hane In-Ear Monitors Review

TOPPING ArpegEar Hane In-Ear Monitors Review

TOPPING enters the world of IEMs with its new sister brand ArpegEar. The Hane uses a single dynamic driver with an unusually high impedance voice coil for IEMs, making it usable with some tube amps, and has multiple tuning switches to offer a versatile sound signature based on your mood.

AMD Updates ROCm to Support Ryzen AI Max and Radeon RX 9000 Series

AMD announced its Radeon Open Compute (ROCm) platform with hardware acceleration support for the Ryzen AI Max 300 "Strix Halo" client processors, and the Radeon RX 9000 series gaming GPUs. For the Ryzen AI Max 300 "Strix Halo," this would unlock the compute power of the 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units, with their 80 AI accelerators, and 2,560 stream processors, besides the AI-specific ISA of the up to 16 "Zen 5" CPU cores, including their full fat 512-bit FPU for executing AVX512 instructions. For the Radeon RX 9000 series, this would mean putting those up to 64 RDNA 4 compute units with up to 128 AI accelerators and up to 4,096 stream processors to use.

AMD also announced that it has updated the ROCm product stack with support for various main distributions of Linux, including OpenSuSE (available now), Ubuntu, and Red Hat EPEL, with the latter two getting ROCm support in the second half of 2025. Lastly, ROCm gets full Windows support, including Pytorch and ONNX-EP. A preview of the Pytorch support can be expected in Q3-2025, while a preview for ONNX-EP could arrive in July 2025.

AMD Announces Radeon AI PRO R9700 Graphics Card

AMD at Computex 2025 announced the Radeon AI PRO R9700 graphics card. This card is being launched to cover a wide range of use-cases from professional visualization to AI acceleration at the edge. The card is a beefed up variant of the desktop Radeon RX 9070 XT, and maxes out the 4 nm "Navi 48" silicon, enabling all 64 compute units, for a total of 128 AI accelerators. It also gets 32 GB of 20 Gbps GDDR6 memory across the chip's 256-bit wide memory interface for 640 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The card is rated for a total board power of 300 W. At its given specs, AMD claims up to 96 TFLOPs of FP16 throughput, and up to 1,531 AI TOPS (INT4 sparse).

The 32 GB of memory should come in handy for larger AI models, AMD claims, as it illustrates its performance against an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 with its 16 GB of memory—this could also hint at the target pricing of this card. The card supports driver-level scalability for up to 4 such GPUs, for a memory pool of 128 GB, leveraging the interface level features offered by PCIe Gen 5. The 128 GB memory pool should prove sufficient for Mistral Large Instruct (123 billion parameters with GPTQ4), and DeepSeek R1 Distill (Llama 70 billion parameters, FP8), both of which have memory footprints ranging between 112 GB to 116 GB. Much like the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 "Shimada Peak" workstation processors being announced today, the AMD Radeon AI PRO R9700 should be available in July 2025.

AMD Announces Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 "Shimada Peak" HEDT Processors

AMD at Computex 2025 announced the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 series processors targeting high-end desktops (HEDT) and workstations. These processors are codenamed "Shimada Peak," and are based on the "Zen 5" microarchitecture. "Shimada Peak" is a variation of the EPYC "Turin" MCM, designed for Socket TR5, with slightly modified I/O. The chip puts out up to 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes but lacks CXL capability on these lanes, and the memory I/O is set to 8-channel DDR5 (16 sub-channels), down from 12-channel DDR5 on "Turin" (24 sub-channels).

The top SKU, the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX, comes with a 96-core/192-thread configuration, a 128-lane PCIe Gen 5 I/O, and an 8-channel DDR5 memory interface. The chip comes with a maximum boost frequency of 5.40 GHz, and a total of 384 MB of L3 cache (12x 32 MB). AMD claims a significant 10-20% gain in Cinebench 2024 nT performance over the previous generation 7995WX "Zen 4" processor, and nearly 220% gain over the Intel Xeon W9-3595X processor. Across a wide segment of media, design, architecture, science, and LLM inferencing use-cases, the 9995WX is shown posting performance leads ranging anywhere from 44% to 145% over the W9-3595X. The Threadripper PRO 9000 series will be an OEM-exclusive launch through workstation partners such as Lenovo.

AMD Announces Radeon RX 9060 XT Graphics Card, Claims "Fastest Under $350"

AMD at Computex 2025 announced the new Radeon RX 9060 XT mid-range graphics card. The card is designed to offer maxed out gaming at 1080p, with ray tracing enabled, and lets you take advantage of new features such as FSR 4 and the upcoming FSR "Project Redstone" feature-set. The card comes in two variants, the RX 9060 XT 16 GB, priced at $350, and the RX 9060 XT 8 GB, priced at $300. Both models are based on the 4 nm "Navi 44" silicon, which they both max out in terms of on-die components. The GPU is based on the RDNA 4 graphics architecture, and comes with 32 CU (compute units), which works out to 2,048 stream processors, 64 AI accelerators, 32 RT accelerators, 128 TMUs, and possibly 64 ROPs. The chip features a 128-bit wide GDDR6 memory interface, the company didn't reveal memory speeds. Both models come with a total board power value of 180 W. The company claims that the RX 9060 XT 16 GB offers up to 821 peak AI TOPS (INT4).

AMD also put out some first party performance claims. The company claims that the RX 9060 XT 16 GB, should beat the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB by 6% on average, tested across 40 game titles, at 1440p. The RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB has an MSRP of $380, making the RX 9060 XT 16 GB cheaper by $30, and as a result, have a 15% performance-per-Dollar edge. The company did not put out any performance claims for the RX 9060 XT 8 GB model. Given that NVIDIA is not developing a 16 GB model of the new RTX 5060 (non-Ti), and its $300 price, things could get interesting for AMD, especially if its claim that the RX 9060 XT 16 GB will be the fastest current-gen GPU under $350 holds. Both the 16 GB and 8 GB variants of the Radeon RX 9060 XT should be available on June 5, 2025.

AMD Announces FSR 4 Updates Project Redstone

AMD in its Computex 2025 keynote address announced an overview of FSR 4 implementation. FSR 4 introduces a new AI Machine Learning-based super resolution algorithm that's more accurate, and vastly improves image quality at every performance preset. AMD also announced FSR "Project Redstone." This is a future version extension of FSR, and "Project Redstone" is its working title. "Redstone" combines the AI ML super resolution introduced by FSR 4, with three new features—neural radiance caching, an AI ML-based Ray Regeneration, and AI ML-based Frame Generation. The company plans to launch "Redstone" in the second half of 2025.

All three features being introduced by "Project Redstone" aim to achieve technological parity with NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 and DLSS 4, particularly in AAA games with ray tracing enabled. Neural Radiance Caching sees an AI ML model continually learn how light bounces in a scene to predict and store indirect lighting, which reduces the performance cost of ray tracing. AMD FSR "Redstone" Ray Regeneration is functionally similar to NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction. It uses a neural network to regenerate pixels that couldn't be accurately path-traced. This should improve the quality of reflections, particularly when super resolution is used. The next big announcement of course is a new AI ML-based model for Frame Generation.

Infineon Announces Collaboration with NVIDIA on Power Delivery Chips for Future Server Racks

Infineon Technologies AG is revolutionizing the power delivery architecture required for future AI data centers. In collaboration with NVIDIA, Infineon is developing the next generation of power systems based on a new architecture with central power generation of 800 V high-voltage direct current (HVDC). The new system architecture significantly increases energy-efficient power distribution across the data center and allows power conversion directly at the AI chip (Graphic Processing Unit, GPU) within the server board. Infineon's expertise in power conversion solutions from grid to core based on all relevant semiconductor materials silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) is accelerating the roadmap to a full scale HVDC architecture.

This revolutionary step paves the way for the implementation of advanced power delivery architectures in accelerated computing data centers and will further enhance reliability and efficiency. As AI data centers already are going beyond 100,000 individual GPUs, the need for more efficient power delivery is becoming increasingly important. AI data centers will require power outputs of one megawatt (MW) and more per IT rack before the end of the decade. Therefore, the HVDC architecture coupled with high-density multiphase solutions will set a new standard for the industry, driving the development of high-quality components and power distribution systems.

ASUS ROG Teases Continued Refinement of Modular Hardware Concepts

Browse the list of bestselling PC cases on Amazon, and you'll see a pattern emerge very quickly. Today's PC builders aren't deciding whether they want a tempered glass side panel: they're deciding how many of these panels they want. Panoramic PC cases provide an undeniably gorgeous view of your internal PC hardware, so it's no wonder that they've soared in popularity. But that wide-open panorama does pose a problem for people who prefer a pristine PC. If you have a stray cable or wire in such a build, you'll notice it every time you sit down at your desk.

Already, we offer an ecosystem of BTF motherboards, PC cases, and graphics cards that help you tuck your PC's wires and cables out of sight. But we're interested in doing even more, and we're eager to present solutions that work with traditional PC hardware designs, not just BTF. Behind the scenes, we've been working on modular hardware concepts that cut down on cable clutter for two key components: chassis fans and AIO coolers. Visitors to our Computex 2025 booth will get to see this concept hardware in action, but perhaps a trip to Taipei isn't in the works for you this year. Let's take a closer look.

MediaTek CEO Anticipates Q4 2025 Taping-out of First 2 nm Chip Design

As previously promised, Dr. Rick Tsai took to the Computex 2025 stage earlier today. The MediaTek CEO's keynote speech included a teaser for next-gen. Currently, the fabless chip design firm's best offerings are manufactured at TSMC foundries—utilizing 3 nm node processes. According to inside track knowledge, the forthcoming Dimensity 9500 mobile chipset will be based on "N3P." During today's important presentation, Tsai announced his company's next major leap—with "2 nm silicon innovation." According to a presentation slide, a tape-out phase is anticipated by this September. Industry experts reckon that a futuristic flagship—perhaps "Dimensity 9600"—SoC will benefit from this generational jump. Finalized products could arrive around late 2026; with MediaTek reportedly being on TSMC's 2 nm (N2) mass production order books. Officially, MediaTek's shift from 3 nm into 2 nm is expected to improve chip performance—with an estimated 15% uplift—while reducing power consumption (by ~25%).

EarFun Debuts Tune Pro ANC Over-ear Wireless Headphones

The all-new EarFun Tune Pro wireless headphones deliver stunning sound, smarter active noise cancellation, and all-day comfort with up to 120 hours of wireless playtime, designed for everyday listeners and audiophiles alike. EarFun unveils the new Tune Pro, combining advanced technology with outstanding value. Engineered with next-gen features like Hi-Res Audio certification, hybrid ANC, AI-powered calls, and an astonishing 120-hour battery life, the Tune Pro is designed to bring your sound to life.

Dual Drivers and Hi-Res Audio for Superior Sound
The Tune Pro delivers all the emotions. This all-new Hi-Res certified over-ear headphone carries new dual drivers with separate sonic qualities and functions. A 40 mm PET composite film driver covers the broad frequency range with deep, cavernous bass, fully defined mids, and sparkling highs. An additional 10 mm LCP polymer driver is integrated to articulate the high end further. Together, these drivers provide an energetic sound with true-to-life detail. For gaming or streaming, the all-new Theater Mode sound profile can provide enhanced 2-channel stereo and 360-degree spatial sound formats for total medium immersion.

Red Hat & AMD Strengthen Strategic Collaboration - Leading to More Efficient GenAI

Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, and AMD today announced a strategic collaboration to propel AI capabilities and optimize virtualized infrastructure. With this deepened alliance, Red Hat and AMD will expand customer choice across the hybrid cloud, from deploying optimized, efficient AI models to more cost-effectively modernizing traditional virtual machines (VMs). As workload demand and diversity continue to rise with the introduction of AI, organizations must have the capacity and resources to meet these escalating requirements. The average datacenter, however, is dedicated primarily to traditional IT systems, leaving little room to support intensive workloads such as AI. To answer this need, Red Hat and AMD are bringing together the power of Red Hat's industry-leading open source solutions with the comprehensive portfolio of AMD high-performance computing architectures.

AMD and Red Hat: Driving to more efficient generative AI
Red Hat and AMD are combining the power of Red Hat AI with the AMD portfolio of x86-based processors and GPU architectures to support optimized, cost-efficient and production-ready environments for AI-enabled workloads. AMD Instinct GPUs are now fully enabled on Red Hat OpenShift AI, empowering customers with the high-performing processing power necessary for AI deployments across the hybrid cloud without extreme resource requirements. In addition, using AMD Instinct MI300X GPUs with Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI, Red Hat and AMD conducted testing on Microsoft Azure ND MI300X v5 to successfully demonstrate AI inferencing for scaling small language models (SLMs) as well as large language models (LLM) deployed across multiple GPUs on a single VM, reducing the need to deploy across multiple VMs and reducing performance costs.

NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5080 SUPER Gains 24 GB GDDR7, Keeps 10,752 CUDA Cores

With Computex 2025 in full swing, we learn that NVIDIA's next "SUPER" refresh may soon arrive: reliable leaker kopite7kimi has dropped fresh rumors surrounding the upcoming GeForce RTX 5080 SUPER. In a recent post on X, the leaker indicated that this new card will continue to use the GB203 GPU, matching the existing RTX 5080's full capacity of 10,752 CUDA cores. The only SUPER improvement lies in memory capacity and speed. Unlike the base model's 16 GB of GDDR7 running at 30 Gbps, the SUPER variant features 24 GB of GDDR7 at 32 Gbps, giving it a 1 TB/s of theoretical bandwidth. This increase in VRAM could yield noticeable benefits in high-resolution gaming and professional workloads that demand extensive frame buffers. Early bandwidth estimates suggest a 6% uplift in throughput when compared to the standard RTX 5080's 960 GB/s.

At the same time, the higher memory density requires denser 3 GB modules, similar to those already used in the RTX PRO 6000. Power requirements will rise accordingly. The SUPER model is rumored to draw over 400 W, about 40 W more than the vanilla RTX 5080's 360 W rating. Now, only NVIDIA's flagship RTX 5090—with 21,760 cores and 32 GB of GDDR7 across a 512‑bit bus—will exceed the 5080 SUPER in both compute and memory resources, not counting the last-generation top-tier RTX 4090. The exact launch date remains unconfirmed. While earlier rumors pointed to a Q4 2025 release, a new schedule could see NVIDIA debut the new card by early 2026 at a major trade show such as CES. Pricing is equally speculative. A possible MSRP target would be between $1,000 and $1,500, and it would be positioned to avoid direct competition with NVIDIA's entry‑level professional Blackwell GPUs. As always, until official announcements are made, specifications and launch windows should be taken with a grain of salt.

Samsung Display Presents Its Most Advanced OLED Technology at Computex 2025

Samsung Display is participating in COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2025, Asia's largest IT trade show, for the first time, showcasing its cutting-edge OLED display technologies. The company announced today that it will exhibit at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2025, taking place May 20 to 23 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, it will host a private exhibition for clients, unveiling its latest IT OLED portfolio for applications like laptops, tablets, monitors and other IT devices.

Samsung Display is set to unveil UT One for the first time alongside a range of low-power solutions optimized for IT devices such as laptops and tablets. The company will also showcase QD-OLED prototypes along with an ultra-high resolution and ultra-high refresh rate that will change the premium monitor market. In addition, wheeled dual-arm robots Rainbow Robotics, a company that specializes in robotic platforms, will perform a welcome show to demonstrate the slimness and light weight characteristics of Samsung OLED, set to leave a lasting impression on clients visiting our booth.

Gamdias Showcases Gaming Laptop Coolers & Portable USB Hubs at Computex 2025

Alongside an impressive number of new case designs and components, Gamdias has presented robust gaming laptop coolers. The Aether product range is headlined by a P1 Pro model; versatile enough to accommodate 12 to 19-inch devices. High-elasticity foam padding ensures quiet operation, by minimizing unwanted vibrations. This flagship option—designed for gamers and content creators—is armed with an industrial-grade turbofan—powered via USB-C. Integrated RGB lighting zones can be controlled through a physical interface, along with fan settings.

Manli Launches RTX 5060 Graphics Cards: Nebula & Polar Fox Series

Manli just announced their RTX 5060 cards in two variants: Nebula and Polar Fox. Based on NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, these cards pack 3,840 CUDA cores, 8 GB of GDDR7 memory running at 28 Gbps, DLSS 4 support, and 5th-generation Tensor Cores. The compact Manli Nebula GeForce RTX 5060 model measures 211 mm x 120 mm x 41 mm, runs at 2280 MHz (base) / 2497 MHz (boost) with 145 W power draw and sports a 9 cm dual-fan cooling design in a two slot format.

The slightly bigger Polar Fox GeForce RTX 5060 OC version measures 240 mm x 126 mm x 50 mm and features higher boost clocks at 2280 MHz (base) / 2550 MHz (boost). It uses 155 W, comes in a 2.5-slot format with enhanced cooling, sporting Manli's well-known anime-styled design that strives to catch users' attention. For output, both graphics cards offer three DisplayPort and one HDMI connectors. Manli did not provide information regarding pricing or availability.

SteelSeries Introduces Rival 3 Gen 2 Gaming Mouse Series

On the road to glory and the brand's 25th anniversary in 2026, SteelSeries, the global leader in premium gaming and esports peripherals, today unveiled the Rival 3 Gen 2 and Rival 3 Wireless Gen 2 gaming mice. Building on the legacy of the original Rival mice, which debuted in 2013, the new generation of mice marks an evolution of the beloved Rival 3 Series, delivering top-tier speed, all-new performance, and durability at an accessible price point in the "affordable luxury" category.

The award-winning Rival Series mice have been the staple gaming peripheral for players entering the PC gaming arena for the first time, making them true "game-changers." Crafted for versatility and durability, the Rival 3 Gen 2 and Rival 3 Wireless Gen 2 are the marathon performers in the world of gaming mice, offering a battle-tested design powered by precision-engineered mechanical switches that are guaranteed for 60 million clicks. Speed is key, and an ultra-optimized 1.35 ms (wired) and 1.9 ms (wireless) click latency, combined with fast TrueMove Optical Sensors that have been co-developed in collaboration with PixArt, plus 100% PTFE feet for ultimate glide, deliver near-instant responsiveness for lightning-fast reactions and pixel-perfect accuracy.

CoolerMaster MasterFrame 600 Series Updated with Vertical & Reverse GPU Mounts

Just before Christmas 2024, CoolerMaster revealed its innovative MasterFrame case series. Weeks later, TechPowerUp inspected pre-launch interlocking aluminium panel-equipped specimens at CES. So far, Cooler Master's marketing material has emphasized the importance of customization. At this week's Computex trade show, the manufacturer has presented various MasterFrame 600 configurations—enabled by non-standard GPU mounting techniques, and multiple front panel options.

Two "Vertical GPU Mode" demonstration units aptly showcased interesting graphics card placements. Cooler Master seems intent on presenting its custom VGA cooler across multiple tables and every turn—their MasterFrame 600 builds were togged up with custom GeForce RTX 5080 graphics cards. A "Reverse Mode" example showed off another non-traditional internal layout.

CHERRY Full Lineup of Next-Gen Switches to Debut at COMPUTEX 2025

At Computex 2025, CHERRY prepares four new switches, starting with the debut of the IK inductive switch series and the introduction of three new mechanical switches based on the MX platform: MX Honey, MX Blossom, and MX Falcon. The CHERRY IK analog switch uses electromagnetic induction to detect key presses without physical contact between parts. This contactless design eliminates wear while using 50% less power than magnetic switches and 95% less than Hall effect switches. The IK switches will be available this Fall.

Next we have CHERRY's MX Honey, their first silent tactile MX switch, built on the updated MX2A platform. It gives noticeable tactile feedback without the usual noise, thanks to a redesigned spring and factory lubrication. The switch is rated for over 100 million key presses, with availability starting in June 2025, while 36-switch consumer kits will follow.

Focus Entertainment & Saber Interactive Celebrate RoadCraft's Launch

When we were kids, a pile of dirt and a couple of toy trucks were all we needed to build entire worlds. We'd dig roads, push little vehicles around, make up stories of construction sites and rebuilding adventures. Today, that spirit is back... with RoadCraft! Storms have passed, fires are out and now it's time to bring life back to broken regions. You'll restore roads, clear debris, reconnect towns, and rebuild industry across eight massive maps, from green forests to dry highlands and desert heat.

But here's the thing: there's no one way to do it. You decide how to fix things in RoadCraft. Want to lay down a straight road or build a roundabout? It's your call. You've got 40+ machines to help: cranes, haulers, bulldozers, scouts, roadwork and logging gear and more! And you're not alone. Bring friends. Up to 4 players, with crossplay, voice chat, and shared progression. Everyone builds, everyone counts.

Sapphire Teases "Radeon RX 9060 XT" Lineup - Placeholders On Display at Computex

Earlier today, the Sapphire Japan social media account shared an intriguing teaser photo. As expected, the Hong Kong-based manufacturer has (representative) feet on the ground in Taipei, Taiwan. Currently, their Computex booth's main purpose is to show off already launched custom AMD RDNA 4 products—namely Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 cards. According to Team Red's official schedule, new items will be debuted on-stage tomorrow—insiders believe that the oft-leaked Radeon RX 9060 XT model will be unveiled by Jack Huynh, and board partners.

The Japanese Sapphire office commented on pre-game conditions: "I received a very interesting image from the site. Um...It says something like "tomorrow, the 21st, from 12:01pm (1:01pm in Japan?)" I wonder what it could be." Their photo upload shows five placeholder placards; two with longer profiles—suggesting triple-fan configurations. The three other options seem to be dual-fan in nature. Printed material outlines an imminent "21 May, 12:01 PM" reveal. Despite fairly strict conditions, other AIBs have already presented designs (online). Yesterday, industry watchers noticed Acer's previewing of a Nitro Radeon RX 9060 XT OC 16 GB SKU. Given the total number of "temporary" wall-mounted items on display, Sapphire could be readying various mid-range (PURE) and budget (PULSE) models.

Red Hat Introduces Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today introduced Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, the evolution of the world's leading enterprise Linux platform to help meet the dynamic demands of hybrid cloud and the transformative power of AI. More than just an iteration, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 provides a strategic and intelligent backbone for enterprise IT to navigate increasing complexity, accelerate innovation and build a more secure computing foundation for the future.

As enterprise IT grapples with the proliferation of hybrid environments and the imperative to integrate AI workloads, the need for an intelligent, resilient and durable operating system has never been greater. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 rises to this challenge, delivering a platform engineered for agility, flexibility and manageability, all while retaining a strong security posture against the software threats of the future.

Xbox Games Showcase 2025 will be a Digital-only Presentation

Make some space on your calendar—the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 will be livestreamed on Sunday, June 8, starting at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK time. Following in the footsteps of the 2023 Starfield Direct and 2024 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct, this year we will again have a double feature, with the Xbox Games Showcase immediately followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct.

It all begins with our annual Xbox Games Showcase, bringing you a look at upcoming titles from across our first-party studios, in addition to incredible new titles from our third-party partners across the globe. This year, the show will be digital-only—our livestream will bring you everything you'll need to know about what's next for Xbox, no matter where in the world you're watching.

HYTE Debuts X50 Case Series & Flow FA12 Fans at Computex 2025

HYTE's brand-new X50 cases series was revealed at Computex 2025; with variants divided into premium (glass) and "Air" (mesh) lines. According to preview material, (respective) guide price points are $150 and $120—subject to regional VAT, and the effects of changing tariff conditions. The more expensive options feature very colorful designs, along with 4 mm thick "laminated acoustic glass"—the brand has dubbed these as: "Cherry" (red), "Matcha Milk" (green), "Pitch Black," "Strawberry Milk" (pink), and "Taro Milk" (purple), and "Snow White." The cheaper X50 Air SKUs are only available in black or white finishes. Color-matching 120 mm Flow FA12 fans were also on display at HYTE's booth; rated up to 1500 rpm.

NVIDIA & Microsoft Accelerate Agentic AI Innovation - From Cloud to PC

Agentic AI is redefining scientific discovery and unlocking research breakthroughs and innovations across industries. Through deepened collaboration, NVIDIA and Microsoft are delivering advancements that accelerate agentic AI-powered applications from the cloud to the PC. At Microsoft Build, Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Discovery, an extensible platform built to empower researchers to transform the entire discovery process with agentic AI. This will help research and development departments across various industries accelerate the time to market for new products, as well as speed and expand the end-to-end discovery process for all scientists.

Microsoft Discovery will integrate the NVIDIA ALCHEMI NIM microservice, which optimizes AI inference for chemical simulations, to accelerate materials science research with property prediction and candidate recommendation. The platform will also integrate NVIDIA BioNeMo NIM microservices, tapping into pretrained AI workflows to speed up AI model development for drug discovery. These integrations equip researchers with accelerated performance for faster scientific discoveries. In testing, researchers at Microsoft used Microsoft Discovery to detect a novel coolant prototype with promising properties for immersion cooling in data centers in under 200 hours, rather than months or years with traditional methods.

Cooler Master Refreshes Cosmos Case Series - Air & Water Cooling Configs Presented at Computex

Cooler Master has revived its gargantuan Cosmos case product line; as demonstrated by the brand dedicating a whole table to two behemoth samples. Massive chassis designs are not particularly "de rigueur" nowadays, but 2025 revivals could be appropriate fits for ever-growing graphics card profiles, and extra elaborate cooling setups. Two different configurations were presented; as denoted by product placards and differentiated by modular panel selections. This year's refresh supports modern hidden and back-connector products.

The Cosmos 2025 "Water Cooling" demo unit's foundation consists of a non-specific Intel Ultra 5 processor, a customized (watercooled) GeForce RTX 5090 card, and an ASRock Z890 LiveMixer WIFI mainboard. Cooler Master has installed their fancy X Pro waterblock system; the visiting TechPowerUp team noticed that these components occupied only a small portion of internal volume. The 180 mm long MWE Gold 1250 V2 PSU looks relatively dinky, in its elevated perch. A radiator setup seems to feature absolutely huge airflow fans (maybe four in total); two of these units are visible in some of our photos.

Synology Launches BeeStation Plus

Synology announced the launch of BeeStation Plus today at COMPUTEX 2025, the latest addition to its plug-and-play BeeStation lineup. With 8 TB of storage and up to 4.8x the performance, BeeStation Plus gives families, creative teams, and professionals the freedom to access, organize, and enjoy their digital world, without missing a beat. "The BeeStation lineup was designed to let everyday users benefit from a cloud-like environment without needing advanced storage or networking knowledge," said Mayi, product manager at Synology. "Since launching the first BeeStation, we've seen strong interest from users looking for larger storage capacity and more robust capabilities, like running more applications and support for families and teams working and sharing together. BeeStation Plus is our answer to those needs."

BeeStation Plus automatically backs up memories from phones, computers, cloud photo libraries, and external storage devices all in one place. With built-in local AI, it helps users instantly find photos of people or subjects, without sending any data to the cloud. Personal files, schoolwork, and projects are just as easy to keep organized. Whether from cloud drives, external drives, or computers, BeeStation Plus brings everything together for easier browsing, smarter searches, and faster sharing.

MaxLinear Shows AI Router Demo and More at Computex 2025

There's no shortage of AI products at Computex this year, but MaxLinear had a demo of a router with AI support that kind of makes sense. The company has developed what it simply calls MaxAI, which allows their customers to build their own smartphone all, which is represented by the the left hand side of the screen below. This allows the owner of a router with support for Max AI to give it voice commands, but as the software is aware of the features of the router, it's possible to use it for things like QoS optimisation, speed tests and even for sending system logs to your ISP during a support call. MaxAI is also multilingual, the demo we were shown started out in Mandarin, but was switched to English for the demo and then in the end switched to Japanese.

This might seem like something of a gimmicky feature, but keep in mind that most people don't know how to use a router, from setting it up, to changing any kind of settings. The potential of MaxAI is to allow users to set up their router via voice commands, which to many would be a lot easier, than using an app or logging in to a web interface. However, MaxAI isn't just about controlling your router via voice commands, as MaxLinear has also worked on a new type of QoS, where they don't do deep packet inspection, but instead have trained that AI model to detect patterns of different software. The demo was showing two video streams, one was used to simulate a teams call and by just telling the MaxAI to optimise teams, the video stream went from jerky to smooth. Obviously this assumes that the internet connection is fast enough and it's still just prioritisation, but it works much better compared to traditional QoS.

MSI Presents Its All-New AIO CORELIQUID AIO Coolers at Computex 2025

Up for display at MSI's booth here at Computex 2025, we discovered the company's all-new CORELIQUID AIO coolers. To be more precise, they launched two models: MEG CORELIQUID E13 360 AIO and MPG CORELIQUID P13 360 AIO. Aimed at enthusiast users, the MSI MEG CORELIQUID E13 360 AIO cooler sports a 6-inch rotatable display with POGO-PIN flex connector for adjustable viewing angles, a 360 mm radiator with CenterFlow design for simplified tube routing, factory-applied next-gen thermal compound, and UNI Bracket mounting system compatible with Intel LGA 1700/1851 and AMD AM4/AM5 sockets. The MPG CORELIQUID P13 360 is geared toward performance users and features a curved glass water block with 2.1-inch round IPS display, EZ CAP design with clean lines and precision curves, 360 mm radiator with preinstalled triple CycloBlade 9 ARGB GEN2 fans, and compatibility with MSI motherboards featuring EZ Conn Design for single-cable connection and control of fan speeds, lighting, and display functions.

A demo PC build (using MEG MAESTRO 900 case) from MSI showcasing the MEG CORELIQUID E13 360 AIO demonstrated the performance capabilities, while the stunning aesthetics attracted the curious eyes of booth visitors. Currently, there is no information about pricing and availability in retail stores.
More pictures follow.

EK Introduces Quantum Vector³ Suprim RTX 5090 - Plexi Water Block

EK, a leader in high-performance liquid cooling solutions, proudly presents the EK-Quantum Vector³ Suprim RTX 5090 - Plexi. This meticulously engineered water block is tailored for MSI's flagship Suprim RTX 5090 graphics card, delivering unparalleled thermal performance and a striking visual appeal.

Next-Generation Cooling for the RTX 5090
At the heart of the Vector³ Suprim RTX 5090 lies an advanced cooling engine, featuring an expanded fin array and optimized coolant flow paths. This design ensures efficient heat dissipation from critical components, including the GPU core, VRAM, and power stages. Complementing this is a custom CNC-machined backplate that not only reinforces the structural integrity of the card but also passively cools PCB hotspots, maintaining optimal performance under load.

In Win at Computex 2025: Hands-on with Chronomancy, WIEW, Dlite, and Liquid-Cooled Racks

In Win at the 2025 Computex showed off a bunch of products. This year, the company is celebrating 40 years in business. The company had started out as a PC and ICT chassis OEM before making a splash into the DIY retail channel, and positioning itself as a premium gaming PC case brand to look up for some of the most innovative and functional designs. The company tends to have a show-stopper case every Computex, and this year, presented the Chromomancy.

This case is meant to decorate some CEO's table, and is made from space-grade aluminium and alloys. The top portion of it has a blue transparent element that chronicles the company's history dating all the way back to 1985. The middle portion has two dark alloy panels, and the central portion a brighter silver aluminium accent. The Chromomancy looks like an obscure SFF case in the press images, but is huge in person. It is supposed to have room for a full-sized ATX build, with PCIe risers handling the task of connecting the various add-on cards; and a fully fledged DIY liquid cooling setup for both the CPU and VGAs.

VLI Demos USB Type-C and HDMI 2.1 Portable Gaming Dock Concept at Computex 2025

As we walked around the show floor earlier today, we walked past the USB-IF booth and spotted VLI showing off their new portable gaming dock concept. What the company has done, is to take its new VL605 USB-C DP to HDMI 2.1 PCON and combined it with the VL832 USB4 endpoint device, which under normal circumstances operate as a USB4 to USB 3.2 and DP 1.4 adapter and the VL109 which is a docking controller that also supports USB PD for up to three ports. The overall design supports up to 140 W USB PD 3.1 power passthrough as well.

The end result is a fairly small PCB that delivers an HDMI 2.1 port with VRR support, a first for a docking station solution as far as we're aware, as well as a USB Type-C with DP Alt-mode output, two USB Type-C ports with USB PD support and two USB Type-A ports. In itself it's not a unique product, but from our understanding, there aren't many docking stations out there that support VRR combined with USB ports that offer more than USB 2.0 speeds. VLI has tested it with AMD FreeSync as well as NVIDIA G-Sync compatible monitors without any problems and it's also been certified for FreeSync Premium Pro. Overall a neat little solution that could appeal to gamers that want a simple way of hooking up their peripherals to their gaming laptop when using an external monitor, keyboard and mouse.

PNY Shows Off Gaming-grade microSD Express Card for Gaming Handhelds

PNY at the 2025 Computex showcased its XLR8 GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" graphics card lineup spanning everything from the flagship RTX 5090, down to the "game changing" GeForce RTX 5060, which just hit the shelves earlier this week. We begin our tour with the PNY EX series gaming flash memory meant for handheld gaming consoles. These MicroSD Express cards implement the SD Express standard that's based on NVMe, with a PCIe Gen 3 x1 connection at the physical layer. You get sequential read speeds of up to 890 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 750 MB/s, both of which exceed the performance of SATA SSDs, making them fit for most game storage scenarios. The card comes win 128 GB and 256 GB sizes.

PNY Shows Chrome-Plated, Jensen-Signed GPUs at Computex 2025

PNY has made its Computex 2025 shine with its new GPU SKUs that feature chrome-plated cooler shrouds. Now only carrying a unique aesthetic, these cards feature what appears to be a printed signature of none other than NVIDIA CEO Jensen H. Huang. Available in GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 editions, these chrome-polished SKUs feature ARGB lighting control to match any PC aesthetics. PNY has developed an equally interesting RTX PRO 6000 GPU alongside gamer-focused models, with a chrome-plated blower cooler. While this doesn't have any RGB lights, it is supposed to go into workstation builds, where aesthetics aren't exactly the most important factor.

Corsair Shows MAKR 75 DIY Keyboard and Scimitar Elite Wireless SE Integration With Stream Deck

In addition to new PC cases and PSUs, the company also brought its new MAKR 75 DIY keyboard to the Computex 2025 show, promising to bring a simplified way of creating an ultra-personalized DIY keyboard, all thanks to the Corsair Web Hub. Corsair is also showing off new Stream Deck integrations for its SCIMITAR ELITE WIRELESS SE mouse, which gives it a whole new level of functionality, allowing users to manage the setup, workflows, and more.

The Corsair MAKR 75 DIY keyboard, or the MAKR 75 Barebones Keyboard Kit, as Corsair has launched it, should combine the best of both worlds, customization of DIY keyboards and performance of gaming keyboards. Corsair makes it simple by allowing users to customize the keyboard through Corsair Web Hub, where there is a wide choice of keycaps, switches, frame options, a special module which can be equipped with a rotary dial or small LCD screen, and more. The Corsair MAKR 75 DIY keyboard features 8K hyper-polling, FlashTap SOCD, gasket mounting, 8-layers of sound dampening, aluminium frame, screw-in stabilizers and much more.

Logitech G's Streamlabs Unveils New Streaming Agent Features at Computex with NVIDIA and Inworld AI

Logitech G's Streamlabs, a leading innovator of gaming software, technologies, and gear, today announced significant enhancements to the capabilities of the Streamlabs Intelligent Streaming Agent, which is set for a full launch later this year. Introduced at CES 2025, the AI-powered agent incorporates NVIDIA's advanced digital human technologies and Inworld's AI framework, which processes inputs and commands in real time, bringing production-level assistance, interactivity, and enhanced tools to creators.

"Together with NVIDIA and Inworld AI, we're advancing interactive technology to help streamers engage with their audiences in new and creative ways," said Ashray Urs, Head of Streamlabs. "The tools we're unveiling today represent an entirely new era of digital storytelling, and the new demo at Computex is a crucial step closer to bringing these solutions to market at scale."

Exploring GAMEMAX's PC Cases, PSUs, and Cooling Solutions at Computex 2025

We arrived at GAMEMAX's booth here at Computex 2025, and we're pleasantly surprised by their extended line-up of PC cases, power supply units, and cooling solutions that are oriented for PC gamers. Starting with the PC cases, we discovered the new Blade Concept and N90 models. The Blade Concept is an interesting mix between open-air design, industrial aesthetics, and CNC details. Featuring dynamic claw-style ARGB, support for the latest NVIDIA RTX50 series, swappable I/O, its open-air design clearly targets serious gamers and PC builders. The GAMEMAX N90 case is the next one that catches our attention with its dual-chamber design, panoramic 270° wraparound glass panel, vertical GPU mounting, tool-free customizable top cover, and a large optional LED display. ARGB fans and in-built cable management features are there for those who wish for a vibrant yet clean system.

Cooler Master Cooling at Computex 2025: 3D Heatpipes, Custom VGA Coolers, and More

Cooler Master is seated front-row center as Moore's Law tapers, and the need for advanced computing to have powerful cooling rises. The company showed off several innovations with its core business of cooling. We begin our tour of the Cooler Master booth with its new 3D Heat Pipe innovation. It may look simple and unorthodox, but CM says that this innovation took decades of innovation. Consider a U-shaped heatpipe from a typical tower-type CPU cooler, with its two ends passing through an aluminium fin-stack, and the central region making contact with the heat source (CPU).

Cooler Master innovated an arm of this heat pipe that pops out from the central region. This is easier said than done, as the pipe's inner channel needs to seamlessly connect with the rest of the heatpipe, and improper welding can cause metal extrusions that can clog the pipe. This is probably what took CM decades to figure out. The third arm of the heat pipe helps heat from the source spread more uniformly across the fin-stack. Cooler Master showcased its first tower-type coolers implementing 3D Heat Pipe tech, which we'll talk about in a bit.

Anno 117: Pax Romana Get First Gameplay Trailer

Anno 117: Pax Romana, the upcoming new installment for the Anno franchise, revealed all-new gameplay showing new features and heightened possibilities players can expect. Launching later this year simultaneously for Windows PC through Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Anno 117: Pax Romana invites you to step into the Roman Empire and build a thriving civilization from a small settlement.

In the game, the Emperor has appointed you as governor, tasked with developing provinces in the Roman-based Latium and Celtic-inspired Albion. You'll be able to choose which region you start with and work to build a small settlement into a civilization that spans both regions. You'll be able to build and design your settlements in greater scale, detail, and flexibility than ever before in the franchise, with all the architectural marvels associated with the height of the Roman Empire. This means big additions like a colosseum and aqueducts, as well as smaller scale detail, such as children playing with dogs.

IQM to Deliver 300-qubit Quantum Computer to Finland

IQM Quantum Computers, a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, announced today the signing of an agreement with VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland to deliver a 150-qubit and a 300-qubit quantum computer. The systems will be delivered in 2026 and 2027 and integrated with the Finnish HPC infrastructure. The 300-qubit quantum computer is purpose-built and designed to support quantum error correction experiments an essential step toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. The system is expected to enable algorithm research for techniques such as circuit knitting.

IQM has previously delivered 5-qubit, 20-qubit, and 50-qubit quantum computers to VTT, marking key milestones in the development of Finland's quantum ecosystem. Each system has played a crucial role in advancing research capabilities and supporting the growing needs of the quantum community in Finland.

ASUS Presents ROG Courser and ROG Destrier Core Gaming Chairs at Computex 2025

ASUS presents its new ROG Courser and updated ROG Destrier Core gaming chairs at Computex 2025. The ROG Courser gaming chair incorporates a 90-155° Dynamic Synchronized Reclining system for back support and includes 360° 4D armrests for comprehensive positional adjustment, 4D Adjustable Lumbar support with customizable depth and height settings, and a cold-pressed lumbar pad for better airflow. The chair's dimensions feature an ultrawide 58 cm seat base, a magnetic headrest attachment system, and integrated RGB lighting strips embedded within transparent leatherette that remain concealed when inactive. The ROG Destrier Core ergonomic gaming chair is now available in Moonlight White. Based on an exoskeletal design the chair features breathable mesh, a Nylon frame, lumbar support, adjustable headrest, and padded armrests.

The ROG Courser gaming chair is offered only in black at this moment; pricing and exact availability (for both models) in retail stores have yet to be announced by ASUS.
More pictures follow.

Chieftec Presents New PSUs, Cases, and Tower Coolers at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025 in Taipei, Chieftec unveiled an extensive lineup of power supplies, PC cases, and CPU coolers designed for enthusiasts and professionals alike. The company's new VEGA M series power supplies combine modern efficiency with robust performance. Available in both Black (PPG-1000-C) and White (PPG-1000-CW) finishes, the units deliver configurable output levels of 1,000 W, 850 W, and 750 W (Black) or a fixed 1,000 W (White). Both models employ an LLC Half‑Bridge converter with DC‑to‑DC technology, support ATX 3.1 and PCIe Gen 5, accept 100-240 V AC input at 12 A, and feature a 135 mm fluid-dynamic‑bearing fan alongside 80 Plus Gold certification. Complementing the VEGA M series, the Stealth SPX‑1200‑FC pushes the envelope with 1,200 W capacity, Platinum efficiency, and premium Japanese capacitors. It shares the same advanced cooling design and Gen 5 compatibility, offering a 100-240 V AC input range at 13-6.5 A and ensuring stable power delivery under heavy load.

AMD Ryzen AI Max, Ryzen AI Pro, and EPYC 9006 Chips Hands-on

Here are some close-up shots we took of AMD's latest client and enterprise processors. Starting things off is the Ryzen AI Max "Strix Halo." This is a rather large chip, with a package size resembling some high-end GPUs. This chiplet-based processor is dominated by a large SoC+iGPU tile built on the TSMC N4P process, and two "Zen 5" CCDs. These are the same CCDs as "Granite Ridge," "Fire Range," and "Turin," which come with full 512-bit data paths for the FPU, and large 32 MB L3 caches per CCD. The SoC+graphics tile has the iGPU with 40 compute units. The package is large not just because of the size of the chip, but also its 256-bit wide LPDDR5X memory interface.

Next up, is the Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro mobile processor, which comes in the regular mobile processor package AMD has been using for several generations now. The chip is based on the "Strix Point" monolithic silicon built on TSMC N4P. This particular SKU has the AMD Pro feature-set, and targets commercial notebooks. Lastly, there's the Ryzen Z2 Extreme. This particular chip is built on an optimized variant of "Strix Point," with a few disabled CPU cores, but a maxed out iGPU with all 16 CU enabled. This processor targets gaming handhelds. Winding things up is the EPYC 9006 "Turin" processor with its glorious 12 "Zen 5" CCDs.

GeIL At Computex 2025: Orion V, Gemini RGB, and Aquarius DDR5 Memory

GeIL Memory brought its latest gaming PC memory products to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the GeIL Aquarius DDR5 memory, which features a solid gold mirror-finish aluminium heat spreader that puts it in the same category of premium as the G.Skill Royal. There's just one silicone RGB diffuser along the sides. The GeIL Aquarius is expected to come in various high DDR5 speeds (think 8000 MT/s and above). Next up, is the Gemini V RGB, the company's performance-segment memory that comes with a prominent silicone RGB diffuser along the top, upper mid-range speeds, and capacities of up to 64 GB. Lastly, there's the Orion V RGB, the company's high-performance memory series that comes in asymmetric capacities such as 24 GB, to make up 96 GB memory configurations, and speeds of 6000 MT/s and above.

Netac at Computex 2025: NVI50MK Gen 5 SSD and Magnetic SSD Enclosures

Netac at Computex 2025 brought its latest consumer storage products. We begin our coverage with the NVI50MK, the company's flagship M.2 NVMe Gen 5 SSD. This drive comes with a factory fitted aluminium heatsink, and comes in capacities of up to 4 TB. The company didn't reveal the controller+NAND flash combination, but mentioned that it offers DRAM caching, and sequential transfer speeds of up to 14 GB/s reads, with up to 11 GB/s sequential writes.

Next up, is the HDIOM2 Pr, a magnetic SSD enclosure for M.2-2242 and M.2-2230 NVMe SSDs. Its bridge chip offers a Gen 3 x2 connection internally, which it wires out as 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2. The enclosure is magnetized to stick to most smartphones, with a short length USB-C cable. We also spied the coin-sized US9 USB flash drive, which comes with USB-C and USB-A receptacles, up to 1 TB of capacity, and sequential transfer speeds of up to 1000 MB/s over the drive's 10 Gbps-capable USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. The ZX20-II is a credit card-sized magnetic portable SSD with a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-C connection, and a slender 8 mm profile that weighs just 49 g. The drive comes in capacities of up to 2 TB.

Phanteks at Computex 2025: Matrix LED Cases, Powerful T30-140 mm Fan, and Water Cooling

During our visit of the jam-packed Computex day one, we stopped by the Phanteks booth to see what the company prepared for this year. The spotlight fell on two new Matrix editions of Phanteks' flagship cases. The Evolv X2 Matrix, offered in black or white, retains the original's sleek tri panel layout while introducing soft touch fabric panels. Beneath the refined surfaces, a 900 LED matrix sits along the bottom section. Through the NEXLINQ app, builders can customize display elements such as system statistics, text or simple animations without compromising the case's clean lines. Likewise, the XT View Matrix model shares the fabric exterior and integrates a 600 LED matrix panel on its side. Despite the added flair, it still accommodates up to ten fans and provides ample space for modern motherboards prioritizing cable management.

Corsair Shows Off New PC Cases and PSU Series at Computex 2025

Corsair's Computex booth has plenty of new products on display, particularly for those looking for a new PC case or a powerful PSU to manage the demanding NVIDIA RTX 50 Series GPUs. We will start with the new premium FRAME 5000D case that takes its inspiration from the well-known FRAME 4000D series. This new model is not just a bigger case that supports reverse connection motherboards (ASUS BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Gigabyte Project Stealth), it also comes with fine details and updates like the modular pegboard pattern on its motherboard tray (known as Corsair RapidRoute 2.0) that helps with cable management.

The large size of the case, which measures 556 mm x 250 mm x 542 mm lets users install up to ten 140 mm fans (3x front, 3x top, 3x side, 1x rear) as well as radiators up to 420 mm (360 mm front, 420 mm top and 360 mm side). The FRAME 5000D is available in two variants, first with four RS120 ARGB fans pre-installed and the second one featuring four non-RGB RS120 fans (both variants are offered in black and white color options). On display Corsair also showcases a FRAME 5000D with an optional Xeneon Edge LCD add-on side panel.

FSP at 2025 Computex: Air and Liquid CPU Coolers, Specialist PSUs, and Cases

FSP, the channel brand of power supply giant Fortron, brought a large lineup of their latest gaming PC power supplies, cooling products, and PC cases to Computex 2025. We begin our tour with the things FSP specializes in—power supplies. The Cannon Pro 2500 W is a titan, which maxes out your 16 A wall socket for 2.5 kW of continuous power delivery, with excursions within the ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 specs. The PSU offers Cybenetics Platinum and 80 Plus Platinum switching efficiency. Putting the 2.5 kW output to use are four (!) 600 W-capable 12V-2x6 power connectors, making this PSU fit for AI acceleration builds.

A notch below the Cannon Pro 2500 W is the Mega Ti series, which comes in high-wattage variants of 1650 W, 1350 W, and 1000 W. This is considered FSP's flagship power product, because of its Cybenetics Titanium and 80 Plus Titanium switching efficiency. Both the 1650 W and 1350 W models offer two 12V-2x6 connectors, while the 1000 W model offers one of these. The PSUs offer fanless cooling up to a fairly high load factor. The Mega PM series is positioned a notch below the Mega Ti series in FSP's product stack. As the name suggests, these offer 80 Plus Platinum and Cybenetics Platinum certified efficiency. These only come in 1650 W and 1350 W variants, both of which offer two 12V-2x6 connectors.

Gamdias Shows New PSUs, LCD-Equipped Coolers, and Keyboards at Computex 2025

Gamdias' product portfolio spans more than just cases, as the company has dipped its toes into a wide variety of PC peripherals. The company kicked off its peripherals reveal with the THOR P2 Series fully modular power supplies. Available in 850 W, 1,000 W, and 1,200 W outputs, each unit carries an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating and fully complies with ATX 3.1 and PCIe Gen 5.1 standards, guaranteeing compatibility with the latest graphics cards and motherboards. Builders will appreciate the fully detachable cable harness for streamlined cable management, while the rotatable AC inlet affords 90‑degree positioning flexibility in tight cases. All-Japanese electrolytic capacitors pair with a semi‑bridge LLC resonance and 12 V synchronous rectification DC-DC design to deliver steadfast voltages. A 135 mm sleeve‑bearing fan provides robust airflow under heavy loads, intelligently pausing when demand falls below 40 percent to maintain whisper‑quiet operation. Heavy-duty protections and a 10‑year warranty back the new THOR P2 series.

Intel Core Ultra "Panther Lake" Processor Hands-on and Up Close at Computex 2025

Intel at the 2025 Computex showed off its next-generation Core Ultra Series 3 processor, codenamed "Panther Lake." The mobile H-segment version of the chip comes with a slender rectangular package similar to "Arrow Lake-H" and "Meteor Lake." It is a tile-based disaggregated processor, but comes in a unique arrangement of tiles we haven't seen with the past two generations. The chip is dominated by two large tiles, one is very likely the Graphics + SoC tile, the smaller of the two being the Compute tile with the CPU cores, and the slender rectangular tiles being related to I/O.

As for IP, "Panther Lake" introduces a new generation iGPU powered by the Xe3 "Celestial" graphics architecture. The CPU complex consists of "Cougar Cove" P-cores, and "Darkmont" E-cores, both of which are expected to provide generational IPC improvements over the current "Lion Cove" and "Skymont." At Computex, we not only got to go hands-on with the mobile packages of "Panther Lake," but also see the chip in action, installed on a testing and platform validation system. The engineering goal with "Panther Lake," Intel says, is to offer efficiency similar to "Lunar Lake," but with performance generationally exceeding "Arrow Lake-H." The Compute tile is expected to be built on the new Intel 18A foundry node. Intel says "Panther Lake" is on track for mass-production in the second half of 2025, with the first consumer products expected at CES 2026.

Gamdias Prepares New Mid-Tower Cases and Wood-Finished Designs at Computex 2025

We visited the Gamdias booth at Computex 2025, and there was quite a lot to unpack there. Being a PC peripheral manufacturer, Gamdias makes cases, keyboards, PSUs, and many other products. Now, we focus on cases. The centerpiece, the ATLAS P4 mid‑tower, breaks with convention by placing the power supply at the front. This simple repositioning channels fresh air directly over high‑end graphics cards, and with five preinstalled 120 mm ARGB PWM fans, coordinated through an eight‑port ARGB/PWM hub, thermals should remain low under any load. A seamless panoramic tempered‑glass side panel offers a clear, aquarium‑like view of the interior, while a vibrant 6‑inch IPS LCD lets builders monitor temperatures, adjust fan curves, or even display custom artwork.

Lexar Shows Off Flagship NM1090 PRO and NM990 Gen 5 SSDs

Lexar at the 2025 Computex showed off its two flagship SSDs. Starting things off is the NM1090, the company's top-of-the-line drive with a 6 nm controller, and 3D Xtracking NAND flash memory that offers up to 14 GB/s sequential reads, with up to 13 GB/s sequential writes, and up to 2.1 million IOPS 4K random access speeds. We have an NM1090 review sample back home, and will review it soon. Next up, is the company's previous flagship, which can now be had for attractive prices, the NM990. This drive offers up to 14 GB/s sequential reads, but slightly lower writes speeds, of up to 11 GB/s.

Essencore KLEVV at Computex 2025: LPCAMM2 and M.2 Gen 5 SSDs

At Essencore's Computex 2025 booth, we saw the company's latest M.2 Gen 5 NVMe SSDs, and LPCAMM2 memory modules. We begin our coverage with the Genuine E540, a mid-range Gen 5 NVMe SSD that is powered by a MaxioTech MAP1806A controller. This drive is DRAMless, and offers performance in the 12-10 GB/s class. Moving things up a notch is the E550, a Gen 5 SSD powered by a premium Silicon Motion SM2508 controller with DRAM cache. This drive comes in capacities ranging from 1 TB to 4 TB, with sequential read speeds of 14 GB/s, and depending on the variant, write speeds of up to 12.5 GB/s for the top variant, and up to 11 GB/s for the 1 TB variant. Lastly, the company showed us their LPCAMM2 memory modules targeting ultrathin notebooks. These modules feature LPDDR5X-8533 speeds, and come in capacities of 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB.

MSI Prepares OC-Focused B850E MPOWER Motherboard, and X870 ITX Board with PCB I/O Extension

MSI's Computex booth has prepared new products for everyone, even for overclockers in microATX form factors. The company has presented a microATX MPOWER B850E motherboard, as we expected the MPOWER series comeback, with a very simple visual layout, aiming to please overclockers and even extreme LN2 users, with little add-ons to obstruct operations. Based on the B850E chipset, it accommodates AM5 processors with up to 16 cores and 32 threads in the top-end AMD Ryzen 9 9950X SKU. There are two eight-pin CPU connectors instead of the regular single eight-pin connector, for more overclocking headroom. VRM phases are covered in low-profile heatsinks so that LN2 coolers, often large and chunky, don't interfere with motherboard elements, which would usually require removal and later thermal isolation. What is particularly interesting is the usage of two memory DIMM slots, which is ideal for overclocking as it requires less CPU signaling to the memory. For easy signaling, MSI's EZ dashboard integrates power, reset, clear CMOS buttons, and a debug LED for CPU status codes.

Sudokoo Air Coolers and Fans at Computex 2025

As part of our continuing coverage of Sudokoo at the 2025 Computex, beginning with the company's liquid CPU coolers, we now move on to its air coolers and fans. The company brought two premium air-based CPU coolers to Computex, the SK700V and SK620V. The SK620V is a D-type cooler—aluminium dual fin-stack tower. The heatsink is completely shrouded from the sides, and has a pair of pre-installed 120 mm FDB fans in push-pull configuration. Sudokoo recommends this cooler for AMD Socket AM5, and rates its cooling capacity at 220 W, making it fit for even the top 16-core Ryzen 9 processors. The cooler's star attraction is an LED segment display which puts out ACPI system monitoring stats. The cooler comes win black and white color variants.

Next up, is the SK700V, the company's flagship air cooler, though it continues to be rated for 220 W TDP. Unlike the SK620V, this is a U-type single fin-stack cooler, however the fin-stack is very thick, and is capable of having fans in push-pull configuration, however only one 120 mm FDB fan is included. As with the SK620V, the top plate shroud has a segment LED display that puts out system monitoring stats. Moving on, we were shown the company's premium case fan lineup, the Mach 140 and Mach 120. These fans feature a premium hydraulic bearing, and a transparent hubcap letting you see the motor's winding inside. The motor features a 10-pole/12-slot winding, with 3-phase power. The hydraulic bearing is sourced from Porite Corporation. Lastly, Sudokoo showed us various tag-on accessories for its fans, letting you put their 30 mm thickness to good use.
More pictures follow.

Sudokoo Liquid CPU Coolers at Computex 2025: Energlo and Proteus

Sudokoo is a recent entrant to the PC case and cooling scene, we recently did a Giveaway with this brand just before we took off for Taipei. The company made its debut at Computex with its first product stack. We begin our coverage with the company's liquid cooling products. Starting things off, is the Energlo, a fairly premium all-in-one liquid CPU cooler, which features a large cubical pump-block with an LED segment display. This display puts out CPU temperature, CPU load, frequency, and power values, which it pulls from software via a USB connection. This software reads the values from ACPI. Perhaps the most interesting feature is its corded breakaway module that gives you a rotary dial that lets you cycle information, control fan speed, cycle through RGB presets, etc.

Next up, is the Proteus series. This was one of the prizes in our recent Giveaway. This is the company's high-end offering, and dominating it is a cube-shaped pump-block that has a 3.4-inch true-color LCD with 480 x 480 pixels resolution. The display can be rotated 90-degree to orient with the way you installed it, without needing any tools. The cooler also offers certain premium features such as compound fans, including fans that are 30 mm-thick for larger impellers that turn at lower RPM to achieve the target airflow, and end up quieter. We thought the 360 mm variant was the largest one, but at Computex, we were shown an even larger Proteus 420, with a 420 mm x 140 mm radiator. Sudokoo claims that this AIO can deal with thermal loads of 350 W.
More pictures follow.
Monday, May 19th 2025

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Motherboards
Mouse
Notebooks
SSD
ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi Review

ASRock B850 Steel Legend Wi-Fi Review

If you want a capable Socket AM5 motherboard and have a $200 budget, some features inevitably get culled, so the question is whether what's left is enough for your average PC user. Thankfully, you won't find much better than the Steel Legend in terms of balancing price and features.
Phison PASCARI X200E 6.4 TB Review

Phison PASCARI X200E 6.4 TB Review

The X200E is the first SSD we've tested featuring Phison’s new X2 controller—so far, it's the fastest Gen5 enterprise drive we've reviewed. Compared to other models in our test lineup, it stands out with noticeable advantages in both performance and overall consistency.

Cooler Master Unveils Bold "One Cooler Master" Company Vision at 2025 Computex

Cooler Master is making a big splash at Computex 2025 with its "One Cooler Master—Where Cooling Drives the Future" showcase, held at its headquarters in Taipei. The company is showing off how it's bringing together its enterprise-level engineering and consumer-focused design into a single, streamlined approach. The idea is simple: take the cutting-edge solutions developed for demanding industries like finance and AI and turn them into powerful, customizable gear for gamers, creators, and everyday builders. CEO Jimmy Sha says it best—this structure allows ideas and tech to flow in both directions, ensuring innovation benefits everyone.

"At Cooler Master, we work as one team," Sha explains. "Whether it's solving tough problems for enterprise clients or building tools for passionate creators, we take those lessons and turn them into products everyone can use. That's what "One Cooler Master' is all about" making sure breakthroughs don't stay locked away in server rooms, but instead power the desktops and rigs our community loves to build."

Qualcomm Job Advert Alludes to Snapdragon-powered "Xbox Adjacent" Products

Late last week, tech news headlines were generated by a curious Qualcomm/NUVIA job advertisement. The presence of Xbox-related activities—at the US firm's Redmond, Washington office—has set off watchdog alarm bells. Microsoft's HQ is also located in this Seattle Metropolitan Area business hub. The job description outlined a sales director position—including interesting tidbits: "support sell-in activities for the next generation of Surface and Xbox products built on Snapdragon solutions" and "help define the next generation Surface and Xbox portfolios." Older leaks have suggested Microsoft's weighing up of ARM64 processor architecture, with next-gen Xbox designs in mind. Since the publication of widespread reportage, Qualcomm has edited out any mention of Xbox from the offending job ad. Given the latest evidence, fresh speculation has emerged from online media outlets. In theory, the company's hardware engineers could be formulating a next-gen Arm-based handheld—not directly related to "Project Kennan."

Jez Corden, executive editor of Windows Central, has dismissed many next-gen "handheld" or "home console" projections. Insiders believe that in-progress first-party development centers around AMD (x86) solutions. Similarly, Sony is reportedly collaborating with Team Red. The speculated PlayStation 6 (and a handheld offshoot) has been linked to Zen 6 and UDNA/RDNA 5 IPs. In response to initial claims, Corden reached out to shadowy industry figures. As disclosed in his opinion piece: "sources confirmed to me this morning that the next Xbox systems are not based on Qualcomm chips. There might be some third-party "Designed for Xbox" Arm-based offerings, like the Logitech G Cloud. But, the main plan from Microsoft, at least for now, is for the next-gen Xbox systems to have as much compatibility with your current library as possible. The overheads required to emulate games built for Microsoft's AMD-based systems are beyond what the Snapdragon line up is currently capable of." Today, Digital Foundry pointed out that Microsoft's "Xbox Play Anywhere" marketing campaign has created a looser categorization of related hardware. Thus providing extra scope for adjacent and supplemental devices (in the near future).

InWin Marks 40 Years with ChronoMancy Chassis and Advanced Cooling Solutions at Computex 2025

At COMPUTEX 2025, In Win Development Inc. (InWin), renowned for its brand philosophy of 'Contemporary and Innovative' and a recipient of numerous international design awards, showcased its innovative special edition ChronoMancy chassis and its advanced L11 liquid cooling rack system assembly capabilities for AI datacenters.

40th Anniversary Special Edition Chassis
Time-honored and trophy-inspired, ChronoMancy is a uniquely shaped PC chassis created to commemorate InWin's 40th anniversary. Designed as a trophy to symbolize the passage of time, the top panel features blue engineering-grade plastic engraved with InWin's legacy of special edition chassis, celebrating its heritage and innovation. It is supported by five pillars representing the five continents, symbolizing InWin's global presence and future growth.

NVIDIA GeForce 576.52 WHQL Drivers Released

NVIDIA has released the latest version of its GeForce Game Ready drivers, GeForce 576.52 WHQL. The new drivers add support for the new GeForce RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPUs, and are Game Ready drivers which add DLSS 4 support for F1 25 and Dune: Awakening games, and support for "full ray tracing" update for NARAKA: BLADEPOINT.

The list of fixed issues includes several gaming bugs, including game crashes in F1 23, F1 24, and SCUM games, black screen corruption issues in Diablo II Resurrected when using DLSS, and shader disk cache issues with certain games. NVIDIA also fixed general bugs in Lumion 12 with missing certain UI components and in Varjo XR3 HMD which was not working on RTX 50 series GPUs.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 576.52 WHQL

Marvell Custom Cloud Platform Upgraded with NVIDIA NVLink Fusion Tech

Marvell Technology, Inc., a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced it is teaming with NVIDIA to offer NVLink Fusion technology to customers employing Marvell custom cloud platform silicon. NVLink Fusion is an innovative new offering from NVIDIA for integrating custom XPU silicon with NVIDIA NVLink connectivity, rack-scale hardware architecture, software and other technology, providing customers with greater flexibility and choice in developing next-generation AI infrastructure.

The Marvell custom platform strategy seeks to deliver breakthrough results through unique semiconductor designs and innovative approaches. By combining expertise in system and semiconductor design, advanced process manufacturing, and a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor platform solutions and IP—including electrical and optical serializer/deserializers (SerDes), die-to-die interconnects for 2D and 3D devices, advanced packaging, silicon photonics, co-packaged copper, custom high-bandwidth memory (HBM), system-on-chip (SoC) fabrics, optical IO, and compute fabric interfaces such as PCIe Gen 7—Marvell is able to create platforms in collaboration with customers that transform infrastructure performance, efficiency and value.

Nintendo Confirms that Switch 2 Will Not Support VRR in Docked TV Mode

Not long after Nintendo's comprehensive Switch 2 showcase, official product descriptions were edited. The removal of Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support for TVs (in docked mode) from official websites proved to be highly confusing. At the time (around mid-April), the company did not release any explanatory material. Industry watchdogs anticipated a future firmware update, that would eventually restore docked mode VRR capabilities (over HDMI). In the meantime, the hybrid console's surprisingly capable integrated display would provide the only gateway into VRR-elevated gaming experiences—courtesy of NVIDIA G-SYNC tech. Late last week, Nintendo Life shared an official update—sourced from a company spokesperson: "Nintendo Switch 2 supports VRR in handheld mode only. The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologize for the error."

It is not clear why it has taken over a month to provide clarification, but the online publication did send in a query. When asked about a possible post-release fix, the Nintendo representative replied with a curt answer: "we have nothing to announce on this topic." Last week, the Digital Foundry team surmised that the much-anticipated Switch successor would not launch with a previously advertised feature. Commenting on this missing spec point, Richard Leadbetter elaborated: "something that is important to clarify is that as far as Switch 2 developers are concerned, VRR is indeed a function of the internal display only and that there is no support at all right now for VRR over HDMI...The best theory we have for this is that the dock's DisplayPort to HDMI converter doesn't support standard HDMI VRR, but whatever is the cause, we would hope to see Nintendo provide some sort of solution in due course."

Razer Unveils Sleek New Blade 14 With NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

Razer, the world's leading lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the all-new Razer Blade 14. Completely redesigned to deliver ultra-portability and high performance, the Blade 14 is the thinnest 14-inch Razer gaming laptop ever. Featuring a new thermal hood design, the Blade 14 maintains a slim form factor while maximizing performance with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor. With a stunning 3K 120 Hz OLED display, ample connectivity options, and high-quality materials, the new Blade 14 offers gamers the definitive user experience that only Razer can provide.
  • Fully Redesigned: The new Razer Blade 14 is the thinnest 14-inch Razer gaming laptop, with a focus on portability and performance. Featuring Razer's innovative thermal hood design for better heat management and airflow, the Blade 14 delivers maximum performance in a compact form factor.
  • Powerful New Components: Equipped with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU and an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor for unmatched gaming, productivity, and AI performance.
  • Stunning 3K OLED Display: The laptop boasts a 3K 120 Hz OLED display with a 0.2 ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC , providing a smooth and sharp visual experience.
  • Expansive Connectivity and Superior Battery: Includes a large 72 Whr battery for up to 11 hours of on-screen time, UHS-II MicroSD card reader, two USB4 Type-C ports, and a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port. The Blade 14 supports BT 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 for fast and stable connections.
  • The Razer Blade Advantage: The Blade 14 is made from T6-grade aluminium and features a sand-blasted texture, anodized matte finish and focuses on environmental sustainability with plastic-free packaging.

Dell Technologies Unveils Next Generation Enterprise AI Solutions with NVIDIA

The world's top provider of AI-centric infrastructure, Dell Technologies, announces innovations across the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA - all designed to help enterprises accelerate AI adoption and achieve faster time to value.

Why it matters
As enterprises make AI central to their strategy and progress from experimentation to implementation, their demand for accessible AI skills and technologies grows exponentially. Dell and NVIDIA continue the rapid pace of innovation with updates to the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, including robust AI infrastructure, solutions and services that streamline the path to full-scale implementation.

NVIDIA and Microsoft Advance Development on RTX AI PCs

Generative AI is transforming PC software into breakthrough experiences - from digital humans to writing assistants, intelligent agents and creative tools. NVIDIA RTX AI PCs are powering this transformation with technology that makes it simpler to get started experimenting with generative AI and unlock greater performance on Windows 11. NVIDIA TensorRT has been reimagined for RTX AI PCs, combining industry-leading TensorRT performance with just-in-time, on-device engine building and an 8x smaller package size for seamless AI deployment to more than 100 million RTX AI PCs.

Announced at Microsoft Build, TensorRT for RTX is natively supported by Windows ML - a new inference stack that provides app developers with both broad hardware compatibility and state-of-the-art performance. For developers looking for AI features ready to integrate, NVIDIA software development kits (SDKs) offer a wide array of options, from NVIDIA DLSS to multimedia enhancements like NVIDIA RTX Video. This month, top software applications from Autodesk, Bilibili, Chaos, LM Studio and Topaz Labs are releasing updates to unlock RTX AI features and acceleration.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptops Available Starting Today, From $1099

Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series laptops bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, generate images at unprecedented speed, power through work, unleash your creativity with NVIDIA Studio apps, and use AI innovations on the go in the thinnest and longest-lasting RTX laptops yet, optimized by our newest Max-Q technologies. Now, there are even more options for people wanting access to the latest innovations in a mobile form factor with the launch of GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPUs available in new models from every major manufacturer, starting at $1099.

These laptops are as thin as 14.9 mm, give gamers double the performance of the previous generation with the power of NVIDIA Blackwell and DLSS 4, and enable 100+ FPS in your favorite games. Creators can leverage the latest AI advancements to accelerate creative workflows. Students can accelerate performance in apps used in engineering, architecture, computer science, data science, economics, and more. Play, create, and work longer on battery thanks to Blackwell innovations and Max-Q power optimization.

CD Projekt RED Celebrates The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Tenth Anniversary

Originally released 10 years ago on May 19, 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a critically acclaimed open-world role-playing game where players take on the role of monster slayer for hire Geralt as he travels the war-torn Northern Kingdoms in search of his adopted daughter Ciri. With over 50 million copies sold—and over 75 million of the entire Witcher series of games—it has cemented its legacy as a timeless dark fantasy story. The community that has developed around the game since launch continues to grow even a decade later, and to celebrate both The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's enduring legacy and the game's outstanding community, CD PROJEKT RED released a special trailer.

Celebrations also included an anniversary edition of REDstreams, which took place today and featured Geralt's voice actor Doug Cockle, alongside English Adaptation Director Borys Pugacz-Muraszkiewicz. The voice actor took a walk down memory lane, reminiscing on his time as the voice of Geralt, his experience with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and how the role has impacted him over the years.

Maxsun's GeForce RTX 5060 and iCraft RTX 5000 Series Graphics Cards Seen at Computex 2025

Maxsun is getting ready to release new graphics cards at Computex 2025, starting with the newly and highly expected entry-level RTX 5060 series that NVIDIA just announced and continuing with some fresh models of its iCraft AIGA series. One of the first that we noticed is the MS GeForce RTX 5060 LP 8G (8 GB 128-bit GDDR7), a low-profile, two-slot version measuring 182 x 69 x 38 mm. This particular implementation uses for cooling three 5 cm fans in combination with a heatsink and dual heat-pipes. The card is powered by a standard 8-pin connector and sports 2x DisplayPort and 2x HDMI output connectors. Still in the RTX 5060 series, we also noticed Maxsun's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti iCraft OC16G AIGA X2 Classic graphics card. This card comes in a more compact format measuring 252 x 124 x 43 mm, is equipped with 16 GB GDDR7 memory and sports two 9 cm fans with intelligent fan control technology and a heatsink with three heat pipes. The design follows Maxsun iCraft AIGA theme and includes iCraft Skylight RGB lighting for a more appealing aesthetics.

In the same iCraft AIGA series, Maxsun's lineup included the RTX 5070 iCraft OC12G AIGA and the RTX 5080 iCraft OC16G AIGA Plus running at 2295 MHz (2617 MHz Boost). The RTX 5070 uses three 9 cm fans with six heat pipes for cooling while for the RTX 5080 Maxsun opted for three 10 cm fans. However, Maxsun products are currently restricted to the Chinese market, so we will not be seeing any of them at Western retailers.

Inno3D Presents GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB TWIN X2 OC White Model at Computex 2025

Inno3D is exhibiting many already released graphics card products at their Computex 2025 booth, but TechPowerUp's day zero visit focused on an intriguing wall-mounted demo unit. Earlier today, NVIDIA announced the official launch of its affordable GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB desktop and laptop designs. Prior to full-on introduction, media outlets have expressed dissatisfaction regarding Team Green's "Blackwell" GPU entry-mainstream review conditions. Currently, many professional reviewers are "on-site" in Taiwan. At this rate, the publication of in-depth evaluations will occur following the conclusion of this week's extremely important trade event.

The Inno3D GeForce RTX 5060 TWIN X2 OC White SKU reuses a familiar dual-fan setup; as featured on readily available GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB options (black/silver or white/silver). Interestingly, the manufacturer also extends this dual-slot thick design into triple-fan territories (for RTX 5060 Ti and above). The TechPowerUp GPU database does not allude to any Inno3D GeForce RTX 5060 (non-Ti) models being outfitted with a third fan. As discussed in a mid-April PR piece, Inno3D engineers have drummed up a custom PCB layout. Despite the implementation of a very shallow overclock, the TWIN X2 cooling solution is not expected to struggle—when tasked with the tempering of Team Green's GB206 GPU die.

The Precinct Gets Verified on Steam Deck

The ACPD officially have a new tool in their arsenal, officers. We're thrilled to announce that The Precinct is now officially Steam Deck Verified, which means you can fight crime on the go! "Whether you're on shift or not, rookie, you take the work with you. You can't just turn it off. You never stop being a cop."—Officer Kelly

But what does being Steam Deck Verified mean?
When a game is submitted for testing on the Steam Deck, it can be assigned one of three different badges depending on how it performs. The Unsupported badge means that the game does not run properly on the Steam Deck and the Playable badge means that the game can be played on the Steam Deck, but the player may need to make some manual adjustments to the game for it to function correctly. The Verified badge is only awarded to games that operate well on the Steam Deck without the need for the player to make manual adjustments and don't present any significant problems when it comes to installation, performance, controls, and display.

Corsair Unveils MAKR 75 Barebones Keyboard Kit and Corsair Web Hub

Corsair, maker of award-winning performance gaming peripherals, today announced the MAKR 75 Barebones Keyboard Kit, a keyboard that combines the best parts of bespoke DIY keyboards and pre-built, performance-focused gaming keyboards, while simplifying everything through Corsair Web Hub, a web-based utility engine that allows users to customize their peripherals without an app.

"We truly believe that assembling an ultra-personalized DIY keyboard does not need to be a difficult task that can only be completed by the most hardcore keyboard enthusiasts," said Tobias Brinkmann, Vice President and General Manager of Gaming Peripherals. "MAKR 75 was developed around the concept of an intuitive, layer-by-layer building process that makes the satisfying task of designing and assembling your perfect keyboard as simple as possible."

Acer Previews Nitro Radeon RX 9060 XT OC 16 GB SKU, Ahead of AMD's Computex Showcase

Acer's dedicated Computex 2025 preview landing page mostly concentrates on brand-new AI PC products, but eagle-eyed observers have noticed the inclusion of an NDA-busting item. The manufacturer's web marketing team has inadvertently unveiled their forthcoming Nitro Radeon RX 9060 XT OC 16 GB model; days in advance of AMD's official unveiling (May 21). Over a week ago, momomo_us shared a screenshot of an unnamed retailer's listing of not-yet-official Acer Nitro 16 GB and 8 GB SKUs. The keen tech industry watcher followed up with today's discovery; complete with a promotional render.

As expected, the Taiwanese brand has prepared a new dual-fan design—borrowing elements from semi-recently revealed Radeon RX 9070 Series cards. Despite rumors of leveraging lesser hardware—probably a "Navi 44 XT" GPU—Acer's pre-launch hype material has outlined an ambitious resolution target: "enjoy stunning 8K visuals and use AI tools to craft your next masterpiece based on RDNA 4 architecture." Acer acts as a board partner for Team Red and Team Blue—surprisingly, the firm's pre-game teaser does not outline an upcoming Intel Xe2 "Battlemage" desktop product line. Instead, a fresh-ish Nitro Arc "Alchemist" A380 LP 6 GB model was placed next to the aforementioned Radeon RX 9060 XT card. So far—during day zero booth inspections—the TechPowerUp has not stumbled upon any physical examples of cheaper RDNA 4 options.

AMD Sells ZT Systems Manufacturing Unit to Sanmina in $3 Billion Deal

AMD has announced a definitive agreement to sell ZT Systems' data center infrastructure manufacturing business to Sanmina for $3 billion in cash and stock, which includes a contingent payment of up to $450 million. This announcement follows earlier reports from April that AMD was looking to divest the facility it had acquired as part of its $4.9 billion purchase of ZT in March 2025. The deal set to wrap up around late 2025 shows AMD's plan to steer clear of making products that compete with its customers. At the same time, AMD will keep ZT Systems' design and customer support teams to speed up the rollout of AMD AI systems for cloud clients. Sanmina will also become a top choice for introducing new products in AMD's cloud rack and large-scale AI solutions. "By combining the deep experience of our AI systems design team with our new preferred NPI partnership with Sanmina, we expect to strengthen our U.S-based manufacturing capabilities for rack and cluster-scale AI systems and accelerate quality and time-to-market for our cloud customers," said Forrest Norrod, executive vice president and general manager, Data Center Solutions business unit at AMD.

The sale drew a lot of interest from different manufacturers, with early reports showing that Taiwanese OEM makers Compal and Wiwynn were the top choices, along with U.S. electronics firm Jabil. Inventec and Pegatron decided not to take part. Sanmina, the final buyer, is a U.S.-based company that provides integrated manufacturing solutions to the global Electronic Manufacturing Services field. Jure Sola, Chairman and CEO of Sanmina Corporation, said that ZT Systems' skills in liquid cooling, its manufacturing ability, and its know-how in cloud and AI setup will add to Sanmina's worldwide range and vertical integration skills. "Together, we will be better able to deliver a competitive advantage to our customers with solutions for the entire product lifecycle. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with AMD as we work together to set the standard for quality and flexibility to benefit the entire AI ecosystem." said Jure Sola, Chairman and CEO of Sanmina Corporation.

Ubisoft Publishes Updated Rainbow Six Siege PC and Console Specs - Effective from June 10

Siege X is coming on June 10 to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, and PC via Ubisoft Connect and Steam. While it's a major free upgrade for anyone who owns Rainbow Six Siege, the Siege X update introduces Free Access, allowing new players to experience the tactical action of Siege for free in Unranked, Quick Match, and the all-new 6v6 Dual Front mode.

In Dual Front, attacking and defending Operators join forces, opening up new opportunities to synergize with clever gadget combinations as your team fights to secure enemy zones while defending your own. Plus, Dual Front allows you to respawn, letting you get back to the action quickly. For the best performance on your platform of choice, here is the full list of available PC and console specifications:

Thermaltake Shows Off TR300 & TR200 Cases at Computex 2025

Over a month ago, TechPowerUp published a review of the Thermaltake TR100 compact dual-chamber ITX chassis. Darksaber was seriously impressed by his Hydrangea Blue variant; thus the resultant "Editor's Choice" and "Great Value" badges of honor. Prior to the receiving of a lone sample evaluation sample, TPU staff members inspected demonstration units on two separate occasions. At last year's Computex trade event, and then at CES 2025. At launch, four colors were made available: Black, Snow (aka white), Matcha Green, and Hydrangea Blue. During the setup of this year's booth, the Thermaltake crew granted early access to members of the press. Upon arrival, TechPowerUp's photographer spotted an intriguing "Gravel Sand" TR100 model. This colorway/finish is a familiar sight, as sported by various readily available "The Tower" and "View" models.

The company's TR100 product page mentions two other color options: Bubble Pink and Mint Strawberry. At the time of writing, their Gravel Sand sibling is not listed. Brand-new taller TR300 and TR200 cases were sat to the left of the original 18.4-liter small form factor (SFF) design. The former seems to be approaching mid-tower elevation; likely voluminous enough to accommodate larger components. An optional front panel piece—sporting Scandi-esque wooden slats—was placed nearby; implying a swappable configuration. Thermaltake's "in-the-middle" TR200 SKUs could be tall enough to accept microATX format motherboards. A snow-white demonstration unit was prepped and running an installed 3.9-inch LCD Screen Kit (also present on the TR300 demo unit)—currently available as an extra attachment for the TR100 series.

LIAN LI Presents Prototype Cases, AIO, and PSU Series at Computex 2025

LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, will attend Computex 2025, located at Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, 4F, booth R0602, from May 20th to May 23rd. LIAN LI is presenting a lineup designed to enhance the PC building experience. Visitors will get an exclusive first look at LIAN LI's latest innovations, including the LANCOOL 4, O11D MINI V2, and DAN Case B4, LANCOOL 217 INF and Vector V200; cooling takes center stage with a new AIO solution- the HydroShift III, equipped with a 2K panoramic LCD screen; and four innovative PSU prototypes with the DWS Series, RS Series, RB Series, and SP Series, each pushing the boundaries of power and design.

The LANCOOL 217 INF enhances the iconic LANCOOL 217 chassis design with a stunning Infinity Mirror front panel that seamlessly integrates glass ventilation for effective airflow. Equipped with built-in lighting controls, users can easily switch modes and adjust colors, delivering a fully customizable visual experience. Additionally, the LANCOOL 217 INF features an integrated L-Wireless receiver for effortless wireless control right out of the box. Maintaining the signature toolless mounting for the PSU shroud fans, dual PSU mounting orientations, along with toolless mesh panels and support for motherboards up to SSI-EEB and even back-connect ATX and microATX motherboards, the LANCOOL 217 INF is designed for those who demand both style and functionality.

Antec Vortex View AIO CLC Spied at Computex 2025

Here is the first picture of the Antec Vortex View, a premium all-in-one closed-loop liquid CPU cooler. The Vortex View is characterized by what looks like a 4-inch 16:9 display on top of the pump-block. This display connects to your graphics card over HDMI, and can be programmed to show just about anything. An app included with the cooler reads system monitoring information from ACPI and displays onto this screen, but to the system it's just another display head, and can be programmed to show just about anything. This is the white model of the Vortex View, and comes with not just white sleeved tubing, but also a white radiator—including white fins. The whitewash continues onto the three included FDB fans. The CLC supports all modern client desktop sockets, including AM5 and LGA1851.

FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time Global Launch Times Revealed

The release of Fantasy Life i is just around the corner! We hope you guys are as excited as we are. Make sure to check when exactly the game launches in your timezone (see chart below). Are you ready to start your new Life in this Fantasy World? Step into this Slow-Life RPG where you can freely switch between 14 unique jobs, so-called "Lives," and enjoy a carefree life in a fantasy world. Fish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world.

LEVEL5 has announced that "Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time" is available for Early / Advanced Access on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and PC/Steam—as of May 18 (yesterday). The full game is playable ahead of the scheduled general release on May 21.

ASUS ROG Harpe II Ace Gaming Mouse Debuted at Computex 2025

Prior to official kick-off day, the TechPowerUp team was kindly invited to have a sneak peek around the ASUS booth. Brand-new Republic of Gamers (ROG) Harpe II Ace gaming mice were on full view (with black or white livery), sitting atop second-gen Sheath XXL mouse pads. The original ROG Harpe design was released over two years ago; as an Ace Aim Lab Edition. Last year, two spin-offs were introduced last summer: Harpe Ace Extreme and Harpe Ace Mini. ROG's freshest offering appears to utilize familiar internal components; most notably the cutting-edge AimPoint Pro optical sensor—very likely derived from Pixart's flagship PAW3950 model. Other mainstays include ROG's Optical Micro Switches (rated up to 100 million clicks) and SpeedNova 8K wireless system.

The ROG Harpe II Ace is built with a special and innovative bio-based nylon material, that contributes very little weight. A product placard advertises a total unit weight of 49 grams; only 2 g lighter than the ultra-premium Harpe Ace Extreme model. This $249.99 (MSRP) option features a fully CNC-machined carbon fiber top shell. The company has collaborated with Max "Demon1" Mazanov and other esport champions; thus refining the right-hand ambidextrous Harpe design for a new generation. Instead of using three or four skates, the Harpe II Ace is outfitted with two large chunks of rounded-edge pure PTFE. Gear Link—a web-based platform—grants access to hardware configuration; a massive plus point. TechPowerUp's pzogel has often directed criticism at the manufacturer's Armoury Crate software suite. A "lighter" and "less intrusive" package—called Armoury Crate Gear—was pushed out in recent times, but gaming mouse purists (largely) remain unconvinced.

MiTAC Computing Unveils Full Server Lineup for Data Centers and Enterprises with Intel Xeon 6 at Computex 2025

MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation, a leading server platform designer, manufacturer, and a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings Corporation, has launched its full suite of next-generation servers for data centers and enterprises at COMPUTEX 2025 (Booth M1110). Powered by Intel Xeon 6 processors, including those with Performance-cores (P-cores), MiTAC's new platforms are purpose-built for AI, HPC, cloud, and enterprise applications.

"For over five decades, MiTAC and Intel have built a close, collaborative relationship that continues to push innovation forward. Our latest server lineup reflects this legacy—combining Intel's cutting-edge processing power with MiTAC Computing's deep expertise in system design to deliver scalable, high-efficiency solutions for modern data centers." - Rick Hwang, President of MiTAC Computing.

Heron QPU-powered IBM Quantum System One Will Bolster UTokyo's Miyabi Supercomputer

The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and IBM have announced plans to deploy the latest 156-qubit IBM Heron quantum processing unit (QPU), which will be operational in the IBM Quantum System One administered by UTokyo for the members of the Quantum Innovation Initiative (QII) Consortium. The IBM Heron QPU, which features a tunable-coupler architecture, delivers a significantly higher performance than the processor previously installed in 2023.

This is the second update of the IBM Quantum System One as part of the collaboration between UTokyo and IBM. It was first deployed with a 27-qubit IBM Falcon QPU, before being updated to a 127-qubit IBM Eagle QPU in 2023. It is now transitioning to the latest generation highly performant IBM Heron later this year. IBM has deployed four Heron-based systems worldwide and their performance shows significant improvement over the previous Eagle QPU, with a 3-4x improvement in two-qubit error rates; an order of magnitude improvement in device-wide performance benchmarked by errors across 100-qubit long layers; continued improvement in speed, with a 60 percent increase in CLOPS expected; and a system uptime of more than 95%. The latest IBM Heron processor has continued to demonstrate immense value in orchestrating utility-level workloads, to date, with multiple published studies leveraging these systems' capability of achieving more than 5,000 gate operations.

Transcend's Next High-Performance M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 5 SSD Spotted

We were passing by the Transcend booth here at Computex 2025 when our curious eyes and rapid camera spotted the "yet to be announced" Transcend MTE260S M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 5 SSD. This is the next-generation high-performance M.2 SSDs that are capable of reaching speeds up to 14,000 MB/s (reads) and up to 12,500 MB/s (writes) thanks to its 3D NAND Flash memory, and the Silicon Motion controller (presumably the SM2508 series) aided by a DRAM cache. Other than that, for the moment, we only know that Transcend plans to offer models from 1 TB up to 4 TB capacity with the same graphene heatsink design seen on previous Transcend 2000 M.2 SSD series; the rest of the technical specifications will be known soon once the company makes its official announcement. The product will likely be aimed towards gamers and content creators.

Team Group Previews T-FORCE AIO Cooler for CPU and M.2 SSD

During day zero of our Computex 2025 coverage, we stopped by to see what Team Group had on display. For AIO water cooling enthusiasts, there were some interesting solutions. On display, we saw Team Group's T-FORCE 120 mm AIO cooler daisy-chaining three M.2 waterblocks. It is a bit overkill for M.2 SSD, but given the power output of modern PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drives, it is necessary to use active cooling to maintain smooth read/write operations. Instead of traditionally relying on SSD's own mini fan, this uses a full waterblock to absorb the heat. Available in its own standard pump/waterblock/radiator combination, it will allow workstations that do a lot of intensive data operations to go smoothly without worrying about potential drive throttling. Team Group also has a 360 mm radiator version, which combines a CPU waterblock and an M.2 waterblock, yielding massive heat dissipation potential for any platform.

NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation Expands to Over 125 Games and Apps

More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, our GeForce RTX 50 Series performance multiplier, is now available in over 125 games and apps. Today, at Computex 2025, we revealed that another 10 games are launching with day-one support, 7 of which will be released this month. In each, DLSS Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution are also available, ensuring every GeForce RTX gamer can accelerate frame rates and receive the best possible experience.

Additionally, we're announcing that the critically acclaimed DOOM: The Dark Ages is adding immersive path-traced effects and DLSS Ray Reconstruction in June, further enhancing image quality for PC gamers. And NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, one of the top 10 most played Steam games each and every week, is doing the same on May 22nd. So keep on reading to learn about the DLSS and RTX technologies coming to DOOM: The Dark Ages, F1 25, FBC: Firebreak, inZOI, LIGHT OF MOTIRAM, MindsEye, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, Portal with RTX, RoadCraft, Splitgate 2, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, and creator apps Chaos Enscape and Autodesk VRED.

Other World Computing (OWC) Launches OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock

Other World Computing (OWC), a trusted leader in high-performance storage, memory, connectivity, software, and accessories that empower creative and business professionals to maximize performance, enhance reliability, and streamline workflows, today announced the launch and pre-order availability of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock. Built to meet the demands of creatives, power users, and professionals alike, this all-in-one connectivity solution redefines desktop performance. With exceptional speed, broad device compatibility, and outstanding visual output, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock sets a new benchmark for workstation expansion and productivity.

Whether you're managing high-res video projects, handling massive data sets, or transforming a tablet into a workstation, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock is your all-in-one portal to connect more, do more, and create more, faster than ever.

ASUS Strix Ace XG248QSG 24.1-inch Super TN Gaming Monitor Boasts up to 610 Hz (OC) Refresh Rate

ASUS has unveiled at Computex 2025 show its new ROG Strix Ace XG248QSG gaming monitor, featuring an impressive 24.1-inch Full HD (1080p) Super TN panel capable of reaching up to 610 Hz refresh rate in overclocked mode. Alongside its exceptional refresh rate, the XG248QSG delivers ultra-low input lag of just 0.8 ms that is 2.25x faster than its competitor (under 600 Hz) On the response time the monitor is capable of achieving a rapid 0.1 ms response time via ASUS's GameFast Technology. As we can clearly see this monitor is aimed at competitive gamers and esports pros putting speed and quick response first while still giving good visual quality.

The monitor uses ASUS's Extreme Low Motion Blur 2 (ELMB 2) technology, which reduce the motion blur while keeping brightness levels up to 65% higher than similar technologies from other brands (ASUS says). Moreover, despite using TN panel the display gives good color covering with 90% of the DCI-P3 range. The ROG Strix Ace XG248QSG also has some handy design features, like a base that's 30% smaller to save desk room and adjustable ergonomics. Exact pricing and availability are yet to be announced.

More images from ASUS presentation follow.

Patriot Memory Showcases Full Performance and Mobile Storage Lineup at Computex 2025

Patriot Memory, a global leader in high-performance memory, storage, and gaming-grade hardware, returns to COMPUTEX 2025 with a powerful lineup of next-generation innovations. The company will unveil record-breaking DRAM speeds and the world's first DRAM-less PCIe Gen 5 SSD, alongside intelligent storage accessories designed for today's mobile lifestyles. In parallel, ACPI, Patriot's industrial brand, will debut robust enterprise and edge AI solutions—further reinforcing Patriot's leadership in performance and reliability across global markets.

Viper Xtreme 5 CKD RGB & Non-RGB High-Performance DRAM
The Viper Xtreme 5 CKD RGB and Non-RGB modules deliver ultra-high data rates of up to 9600 MT/s. Featuring an integrated Client Clock Driver (CKD) for independent signal timing, these modules maintain exceptional stability during extreme overclocking—without relying on the CPU's internal clock. It's a breakthrough solution designed for hardcore performance enthusiasts and overclockers.

Samsung Elevates OLED TV Gaming Experience With NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatibility

Samsung Electronics today announced that its 2025 OLED TV lineup will feature NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, delivering ultra-smooth gameplay, low latency, and enhanced responsiveness to meet the needs of gaming enthusiasts worldwide. With NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, Samsung's 2025 OLED TVs synchronize the TV's refresh rate with the GPU's frame rate, reducing screen tearing and stuttering for a seamless and immersive gaming experience. Paired with Samsung's Motion Xcelerator technology, which supports refresh rates up to 165 Hz, gamers can enjoy exceptionally fluid visuals and sharp clarity during fast-paced action scenes.

"With the addition of NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and our most advanced gaming features yet, Samsung's 2025 OLED TVs deliver elite-level performance for even the most competitive players," said Kevin Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Customer Experience Team at Samsung Electronics. "By building on our leadership in display innovation and integrating real-time AI enhancements, we're redefining what gamers can expect from a TV - on and off the battlefield."

Maxsun Arc Pro B60 Dual 48GB Graphics Card Hands-on

Here are some of the first pictures of the Maxsun Intel Arc Pro B60 Dual, which as its name suggests, is a dual-GPU graphics card. This card comes with a pair of Arc Pro B60 chips, each with 24 GB of memory, for a total of 48 GB on the card. The card is a 2-slot, full-height, and over 30 cm-long beast with a lateral-blower based cooling solution. It draws power from a 600 W 12V2x6 power connector. Both GPUs on the card have their own set of display I/O—one each of DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1b, on the rear I/O.

Internally, the Maxsun Arc Pro B60 Dual lacks a PCIe bridge chip. Since the "BMG-G21" silicon has a PCI-Express 5.0 x8 host interface, both GPUs are connected across the x16 gold finger, and rely on PCIe lane segmentation at the host level. This is precisely how M.2 NVMe riser AICs work, where they split the x16 connection among the four x4 M.2 SSDs. The primary use-case of the Arc Pro B60 Dual 48 GB is AI inferencing, and its board is designed to help you stack up to four of these cards in a workstation for 192 GB of video memory for AI models to span across. PCIe Gen 5 offers certain cache coherency features Intel introduced with CXL 1.0. Tying it all together is Intel's Project Battlematrix inference workstation platform.

MSI Unveils Next-Level AI Solutions Using NVIDIA MGX and DGX Station at COMPUTEX 2025

MSI, a leading global provider of high-performance server solutions, unveils its latest AI innovations using NVIDIA MGX and NVIDIA DGX Station reference architectures at COMPUTEX 2025, held from May 20-23 at booth J0506. Purpose-built to address the growing demands of AI, HPC, and accelerated computing workloads, MSI's AI solutions feature modular, scalable building blocks designed to deliver next-level AI performance for enterprises and cloud data center environments.

"AI adoption is transforming enterprise data centers as organizations move quickly to integrate advanced AI capabilities," said Danny Hsu, General Manager of Enterprise Platform Solutions at MSI. "With the explosive growth of generative AI and increasingly diverse workloads, traditional servers can no longer keep pace. MSI's AI solutions, built on the NVIDIA MGX and NVIDIA DGX Station reference architectures, deliver the scalability, flexibility, and performance enterprises need to future-proof their infrastructure and accelerate their AI innovation."

ASUS Showcases Its Updated Gaming Laptops at Computex 2025

ASUS presented at Computex 2025 its complete updated gaming laptops series that features NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060/5070 graphics solutions with the latest Intel and AMD CPUs. The ROG Zephyrus G14/G16 and ROG Strix G16/18 alongside ASUS TUF A14/A16/F16 gaming laptops were showcased at ASUS's booth and are expected to hit the stores soon, giving gamers powerful up-to-date portable solutions to fuel their gaming passion. The ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptops are equipped with AMD Ryzen AI 9 270 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD. All those are packed in a slim form with just 1.5 kg weight and 1.6 cm thin. The ROG Strix G16 & G18 gaming laptops offer Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX or AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, up to 32 GB RAM, and ROG Nebula Displays with 240 Hz refresh rates.

The TUF Gaming A18, TUF's first 18-inch laptop, comes with AMD Ryzen 7 260, RTX 5060, up to 16 GB DDR5 RAM, 1 TB storage, and a 240 Hz screen with 500 nits brightness. The TUF Gaming F16 and A16 features Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX or AMD Ryzen 9 270 processors respectively, with RTX 5060/5070 GPUs, 2.5K 165 Hz displays, and up to 32 GB DDR5 RAM. The ASUS TUF Gaming A14 is a compact 14-inch gaming laptop featuring up to AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics. It sports a 2.5K (WQXGA, 2560x1600) IPS display with 165 Hz refresh rate, up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and storage up to 2 TB SSD. The laptop includes a wide range of connectivity with USB4, USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI 2.1 ports, Dolby Atmos audio and a 73Wh battery. It weighs just 1.46 kg with a slim profile under 2 cm thick, and features a white backlit keyboard with a redesigned air intake that helps the cooling.

Intel Announces Arc Pro B50 and B60 Graphics Cards for Pro-Vis and AI Inferencing

Intel at the 2025 Computex unveiled its Arc Pro "Battlemage" line of graphics cards powered by its latest Xe2 graphics architecture, and based on its 5 nm BMG-G21 silicon. The Arc Pro B50 is targeted squarely for professional visualization and graphics workstations; and comes with 12 GB of memory. The Arc Pro B60, on the other hand, has 24 GB of memory and has additional use-cases in the area of AI inferencing. Unlike AMD and NVIDIA, Intel is going to market for its Arc Pro B-series with board partner-based custom designs. These partners include ASRock, Gunnir, Maxsun, Sparkle, Onix, Senao, and Lanner.

As a pro-vis solution, the Arc Pro B50 series comes with a comprehensive set of certifications and validation by leading content creation applications. Intel is working on bolstering its AI inferencing product stack, with the debut of the new Project Battlematrix Linux software stack, and workstation platform, which enables up to 8 Arc Pro GPUs with 192 GB of memory between them, for accelerating 70 billion+ parameter models.

ASUS ROG Falcata is a 75% Split Layout Keyboard with ROG HFX V2 Magnetic Switches

At the Computex 2025 booth, we checked out ASUS's latest keyboard offering: the ROG Falcata. ASUS touts it as a thoughtfully engineered tool for gamers and creatives who demand precision. Visually, the Falcata's 75% split‑layout immediately stands out, inviting a more natural hand position and reduced wrist strain. ASUS has paired this ergonomic design with detachable silicone wrist rests, so you can fine‑tune your setup for marathon sessions. But the real magic happens beneath the keycaps. ASUS's brand‑new ROG HFX V2 switches employ Hall‑effect sensors to detect actuation with an astonishing 0.01 mm accuracy. That translates to virtually zero debounce time and flawless, lightning‑fast input registration. The Falcata's acoustic profile is refined by a layered damping system, ensuring each keystroke feels solid yet sound‑muted.

On the connectivity front, the Falcata offers dual‑mode flexibility. Engage the ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless link for an ultra‑low‑latency 8 kHz polling rate, or plug in via USB‑C to eliminate any potential lag. Beyond basic settings, configuration lives in the cloud: Gear Link, ASUS's new web‑based portal, stores your profiles and lighting schemes online, so you can pick up exactly where you left off—at home, at the office, or at a tournament. A dedicated "Zone Mode" further enhances competitive play by optimizing key matrices and virtually eliminating ghosting, no matter how frenetic the keystrokes become. And, of course, per‑key RGB lighting lets you customize every detail. ROG aficionados can expect the Falcata on shelves in early July 2025.
More images follow, with silicon pads attached.

ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080 DOOM Edition Isn't Just a Sticker Job

ASUS at the 2025 Computex showed off the ROG Astral RTX 5080 DOOM Edition graphics card. If you've been paying attention to the company's ROG Astral Dhahab Edition cards lately, you know that ASUS is on a spree releasing custom variants of the ROG Astral series. Much like the Dhahab Edition, the DOOM Edition isn't just a sticker job, ASUS put in effort to customize the color of its cooler shroud, and other body panels. The card commemorates "DOOM: The Dark Ages," which released late last week. You can see sticker artwork from the game on the backplate. The cooler shroud is in a color scheme matching the aesthetic of the game. Decals of the Slayer shield takes up the fan impeller hubs. More interestingly, the aluminium fin-stack heatsink has a reddish copper-like finish. This is a different shade from the gold ones in the Dhahab Edition, and the silver-chrome ones in the regular ROG Astral cards. Shown at Computex is the RTX 5080 DOOM Edition. We've tested the technical aspects of the game, and can tell you that the RTX 5080 can max out the game at 4K UHD, so it's unlikely that there will be an RTX 5090 DOOM Edition.

ASUS VGA Innovations at Computex 2025: RTX 50-series Noctua Edition, Flexible BTF

ASUS at the 2025 Computex showed us a few of its latest innovations in custom-design graphics cards. To begin with, the company unveiled a flexible BTF (backside cabling) solution. If you recall from the RTX 40-series BTF cards from ASUS, they all came with second gold-finger for power, which made these cards unfit for regular motherboards, as the power gold-finger would obstruct something on the motherboard, such as a PCH heatsink. With the RTX 50-series BTF cards, ASUS recessed the power gold finger such that the card has the dimensions of a regular card, and can be powered by its 12V2x6 power connector; but on motherboards with BTF capability, a breakaway power gold finger riser can be attached, so it behaves like a BTF card, letting you unplug the 12V2x6—quite genius.

Next up, ASUS unveiled the RTX 50-series Noctua Edition, with the debut of an RTX 5080 Noctua. You see Noctua cooling innovation blend more closely with ASUS design, the card no longer looks like something with an aftermarket air-cooler strapped on. This is still a large 4-slot card, but no longer 5-slot. The heatsink features many of the design innovations Noctua introduced for its CPU air coolers. The heatsink fin-stack has cavities in which the FDB fans are recessed into. The card appears slightly larger and heavier than the ROG Astral air-cooled.

ASUS Announces ESC A8A-E12U Support for AMD Instinct MI350 Series GPUs

ASUS today announced that its flagship high-density AI server, ESC A8A-E12U, now supports the latest AMD Instinct MI350 series GPUs. This enhancement empowers enterprises, research institutions, and cloud providers to accelerate their AI and HPC workloads with next-generation performance and efficiency—while preserving compatibility with existing infrastructure.

Built on the 4th Gen AMD CDNA architecture, AMD Instinct MI350 series GPUs deliver powerful new capabilities, including 288 GB of HBM3E memory and up to 8 TB/s of bandwidth—enabling faster, more energy-efficient execution of large AI models and complex simulations. With expanded support for low-precision compute formats such as FP4 and FP6, the Instinct MI350 series significantly accelerates generative AI, inference, and machine-learning workloads. Importantly, Instinct MI350 series GPUs maintain drop-in compatibility with existing AMD Instinct MI300 series-based systems, such as those running Instinct MI325X—offering customers a cost-effective and seamless upgrade path. These innovations reduce server resource requirements and simplify scaling and workload management, making Instinct MI350 series GPUs an ideal choice for efficient, large-scale AI deployments.

MSI Graphics Cards at Computex 2025: TwinFrozr II Retro, SUPRIM TITANIUM, and More

MSI at the 2025 Computex brought several new innovations to its graphics card product stack. To begin with, the company unveiled its Retro line of graphics cards that bring back to life board designs from at least 10-15 years ago. A case in point is the new GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Twin Frozr 2025 OC, which features a cooler that visually resembles the Twin Frozr II cooler from around 2012. There's also the RTX 5060 Cyclone, a card with an aluminium fin bagel cooling solution, a cooler design MSI used in the mid-late 2000s—almost 20 years ago!

Next up, is the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 SUPRIM TITANIUM. This card is possibly MSI's answer to the ASUS ROG Astral Dhahab Edition, but with higher market availability. It features a-two-tone gold+titanium cooler shroud all around. The topside around the fans in particular has a very decadently textured matte finish that feels like a piece of jewellery in person. Lastly, the company showed us its RTX 5080 Expert graphics card. This card targets creators as much as it does gamers, and features a cooler design similar to NVIDIA's FE Double Axial Flow-through. Unlike the RTX 40-series Expert graphics cards, MSI claims to have worked extensively to improve the cooling performance and noise levels of its RTX 50-series Expert cards.
More pictures follow.

MSI's New QD-OLED and Fast-IPS Gaming Monitors Debut at Computex 2025

MSI did a complete refresh of its gaming monitors here at Computex 2025, and they managed to catch our attention when we first stopped at MSI's booths. Beside the MAG 27IQR QD‑OLED X50 monitor that uses AI human detection to prevent burn-in, we see the MAG 272QP QD-OLED X50. The latter comes with a 26.5-inch 2560 x 1440 resolution display, using the same Samsung 3rd-gen QD-OLED panel and sporting a 500 Hz refresh rate. It's certified by VESA for ClearMR 21000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500. While it's missing the AI Care sensor of the MAG 27IQR, it does feature OLED Care 2.0 technology to prevent burn-in and extend the panel's lifespan. Console gamers will find full support here with HDMI 2.1 48 Gbps bandwidth ports, 120 Hz refresh rate, ALLM and VRR for next-gen consoles.

Introduced last Friday, we spotted MSI's latest 27-inch Mini-LED dual mode gaming monitor named MPG 274URDFW E16M. The monitor uses a Rapid IPS panel with Dual Mode functionality, offering 160 Hz at UHD and 320 Hz at FHD with a 0.5 ms (GtG, Min.) response time. The Mini-LED and Quantum Dot technology boasts the monitor's contrast and brightness with 1,152 full-array local dimming zones. On the connectivity side, the MPG 274URDFW E16M offers HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a, and USB Type-C with 98 W Power Delivery. The monitor also features 44 LEDs (a new MSI design) with Mystic Light support for customizable RGB effects, and a 4-way adjustable stand. For configuring the monitor, MSI included its AI Navigator feature with AI Menu for customized display settings that automatically activate when a game is launched.

MSI MEG VISION X AI 2nd is an Intelligent Desktop With Human-Machine Interface

At its Computex booth, MSI's MEG VISION X AI 2nd was a center of intelligent gaming desktops, based on MSI's new AI human-machine interface (HMI) that integrates a 13‑inch FHD touchscreen as a dynamic control hub, running proprietary MSI AI applications and enabling voice‑based interaction via a built‑in microphone and speaker to adapt performance on‑the‑fly and simplify hardware monitoring and peripherals management. It leverages a dedicated NPU within Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors to accelerate AI‑driven tasks and intelligently optimize system tuning based on user scenarios.

Under the hood, MSI's Silent Storm Cooling AI orchestrates a multi‑chamber airflow design with AI algorithms that continuously adjust fan speeds for optimal thermal levels across the CPU, GPU, SSD, and VRM. At the same time, Glacier Armor heatsinks further reduce component temperatures even under marathon workloads. For the system base specification, MSI put Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs (including RTX 5080 and 5090), supported by up to 192 GB of DDR5‑6000 memory and fast PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD storage starting at 2 TB. It also features a Killer 5 GbE and Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity, and runs on Windows 11 Home or Pro. With the system featuring over 3,400 collective TOPS, its ready for adoption of commercial AI applications.

MSI's MAG 27IQR QD‑OLED X50 Uses AI Human Detection to Prevent Burn‑In

At Computex 2025, we stopped by MSI's booth to see what the company has prepared. An interesting oddball was the MAG 27IQR QD‑OLED X50 monitor. The monitor carries a 27-inch form factor with a 2560 × 1440 QD‑OLED panel that churns through ultra‑vivid colors (99 % DCI‑P3) and true, inky blacks under a DisplayHDR True Black 500 badge, while an impressive 500 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms gray‑to‑gray response time ensure every twitch and turn appears without blur or ghosting. MSI embedded a dedicated AI Care sensor, which detects when you approach the monitor to wake up, when you leave the monitor to lock the system, detects brightness levels in the room to auto-adjust, and controls the dimming and color temperature of the picture based on ambient conditions.

This AI Care technology, which also makes usage easier, prevents OLED burn-in by turning off the monitor when it's unnecessary. All of this combined extends the required panel refresh cycle from 16 to 24 hours and helps guard against burn‑in. That forward‑thinking approach is backed by a three‑year QD‑OLED warranty that explicitly covers burn‑in, and MSI's handy AI Navigator gives you on‑the‑fly control over all these features. Other specifications like NVIDIA G‑SYNC certification keep tearing out of sight, and the DisplayPort 2.1 input even handles up to 80 FPS at UHD 120 Hz for next‑gen rigs or consoles.

MSI Shows Off EdgeXpert MS-C931 DGX Spark Box and an AIO Desktop Powered by Meteor Lake

MSI at the 2025 Computex showcased is EdgeXpert MS-C931, a personal AI supercomputer powered by the NVIDIA DGX Spark platform. This NUC-sized box packs an NVIDIA "Grace Blackwell" GB10 superchip with NVLink-C2C interconnect for cache coherency between the CPU and GPU; 128 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory, 200 Gbps InfiniBand networking, and compute performance of up to 1,000 AI TOPS, for AI-native code development without having to leverage the cloud. The company also showed off its Modern AM273QP AI, an all-in-one desktop powered by Intel Core Ultra "Meteor Lake" processors. The AIO comes with a 27-inch 1440p display. Other features include Thunderbolt 4, and hot-swap M.2 NVMe SSD capability.

GIGABYTE Shows Off AI TOP Atom DGX Spark Box

GIGABYTE at the 2025 Computex showed off the AI TOP Atom, a custom-design NVIDIA DGX Spark box. NVIDIA earlier today announced that it had opened up the DGX Spark compact AI supercomputer for custom designs, and the AI TOP Atom is one of many such custom designs. The box combines an NVIDIA GB10 "Grace Blackwell" GPU+CPU combo, with 128 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory, NVLink chip-to-chip interconnect for full memory/cache coherence, and a high bandwidth ConnectX-7 InfiniBand NIC letting you stack up additional DGX Spark boxes. The box offers up to 1,000 AI TOPS of compute power and is able to accelerate 70B and 200B parameter models. It's designed for AI-native localized software development.

MiTAC Computing Launches the Latest Scale-out AI Server G4527G6 by NVIDIA MGX at Computex 2025

MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation, a leading server platform design, manufacturer, and a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings Corporation (TSE:3706), will present its latest innovations in AI infrastructure at COMPUTEX 2025. At booth M1110, MiTAC Computing will display its next-level AI server platforms MiTAC G4527G6, fully optimized for NVIDIA MGX architecture, which supports NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs and the NVIDIA H200 NVL platform to address the evolving demands of enterprise AI workloads.

Next-Gen AI with High-Performance Computing
With the increasing adoption of generative AI and accelerated computing, MiTAC Computing introduces the latest NVIDIA MGX-based server solution, the MiTAC G4527G6, designed to support complex AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. Built on Intel Xeon 6 processors, the G4527G6 accommodates up to eight NVIDIA GPUs, 8 TB of DDR5-6400 memory, sixteen hot-swappable E1.s drives, and an NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPU for efficient north-south connectivity. Crucially, it integrates four next-generation NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNICs, delivering up to 800 gigabits per second (Gb/s) of NVIDIA InfiniBand and Ethernet networking—significantly enhancing system performance for AI factories and cloud data center environments.

GIGABYTE Shows Off AORUS RTX 5090 eGPU Box Implementing 120 Gbps Thunderbolt 5

GIGABYTE at the 2025 Computex showed off the AORUS RTX 5090 AI Box, which it claims to be the world's fastest external GPU (eGPU). This is an external GPU box with an ATX 3.1 power supply, and a Thunderbolt 5 interface that also leverages asymmetric bandwidth boost—where the host to GPU transmit (Tx) stream runs at 120 Gbps, while the host to GPU receive (Rx) stream runs at 40 Gbps. GPUs tend to be Tx-heavy devices. The box encapsulates a desktop GeForce RTX 5090 GPU that's cooled by an AIO liquid cooling solution. The box also puts out several docking station I/O features, such as Thunderbolt 5 downstream for daisy-chaining, Thunderbolt DisplayPort passthrough, a trio of standard DP, HDMI, 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2, and 2.5 GbE wired Ethernet. The USB ports put out by this box have USB-PD 3.0 quick charge capabilities.

NVIDIA GeForce Updates at Computex 2025: RTX 5060, RTX Remix Mod Contest

NVIDIA at the 2025 Computex announced a handful updates to its GeForce RTX gaming graphics ecosystem, with the introduction of the affordable GeForce RTX 5060 "Blackwell" graphics card. This card is based on the same GB206 silicon as the RTX 5060 Ti, but comes with 30 out of 36 SM present on the chip, for 3,840 CUDA cores. It comes with 8 GB of 28 Gbps 128-bit GDDR7 memory. NVIDIA is announcing the GPU for both desktop and laptops. The company claims maxed out gameplay at 1080p with ray tracing enabled, and DLSS Quality pushing frame rates well above 120 FPS. The RTX 5060 is designed to be a $300-class graphics card, while laptops based on it should start around the $1,100-mark.
Sunday, May 18th 2025

NVIDIA Computex 2025 Keynote Address Liveblog

NVIDIA is at Computex 2025, with CEO Jensen Huang leading a keynote address. We go live with the various announcements. Jensen takes centerstage NVIDIA began with the announcement is the Grace Blackwell AI inferencing system. NVIDIA began the keynote showing off its latest GeForce RTX 5060 desktop and mobile graphics cards. Each node has the same compute throughput as the Sierra compute from 2018. The NVLink Spine is a backend interconnects 72 GB300 node. 1 NVLink spine moves more traffic than the entire Internet. Each NVL72 rack pulls 128 kVA of power. NVIDIA says the terminology "AI factory" and not "datacenter" is suitable because each of these pulls 100s of megawatts of power to offer compute power of hundreds of datacenters. NVIDIA is now describing the manufacturing process behind Blackwell GPU.

This Week in Gaming (Week 21)

Welcome to Computex week, oh, sorry, wrong topic—even though it's the week of what could be our favorite trades show—but this article is about new game releases. This week's major release lets you live out your childhood sandbox dreams, at least if you liked big construction vehicles as a kid. This is followed by some Japanese arcade side scrolling action, a classic adventure game, some drifting in Japan, a game that puts you in the shoes of a courier and finally yet another game related to Japan, just a bit further back in time than the previous two.

RoadCraft / This week's major release / Tuesday 20 May
As the leader of a company specialized in restoring sites devastated by natural disasters, use your construction machinery to restart the local industry. Clear debris and faulty equipment, rebuild roads and bridges damaged by weather, and much more. Steam link
Friday, May 16th 2025

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Processors
SSD
Valkyrie V240 LITE Review

Valkyrie V240 LITE Review

The Valkyrie V240 LITE punches well above its weight, bringing solid performance, useful features, and a design that stands out without trying too hard. It trades blows with some 360 mm AIOs and doesn’t even flinch. Factor in the aggressive pricing and rock-solid warranty, and you’ve got a cooler that’s more than worth your attention.

GIGAIPC Unveils Jetson Orin Series at Computex 2025

As COMPUTEX 2025, one of the most anticipated global tech events, prepares to open its doors in Taipei, AI applications are set to reach new heights. GIGAIPC, the industrial computing and edge AI subsidiary of GIGABYTE Technology, will unveil three innovative AI edge computing solutions at COMPUTEX 2025, showcasing its expertise in industrial-grade system design. Powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin modules, the flagship QN-ORAX32-A1, QN-ORNX16GH-A1, and QN-ORNX16 deliver exceptional AI performance for smart manufacturing, intelligent surveillance, smart healthcare, smart retail, and AIoT applications, setting new benchmarks for edge computing.

The QN-ORAX32-A1, built on the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin 32 GB module, features an 8-core Arm v8.2 64-bit CPU and an NVIDIA Ampere GPU with 1792 CUDA cores and 56 Tensor cores, delivering up to 200 TOPS of AI performance—six times faster than its predecessor. This enhanced computing power makes it well-suited for high-load data processing and complex AI models. Beyond its computing performance, the QN-ORAX32-A1 is also built for real-world deployment. To ensure long-term durability in harsh industrial environments, the system incorporates a fanless thermal design and wide-range DC power input.

Splitgate 2 Exec Developer Discusses Importance of Playtesting - Open Beta Starts May 22

Six years ago, developer 1047 Games released the free-to-play Splitgate, an arena-based first-person shooter that allowed players to place portals around maps, adding a fresh strategic layer. Now Splitgate 2 is set to double down on this unique idea with bigger maps, a new class-based system, and the introduction of The Lab, a player-facing version of the team's map creator. Ahead of the open beta opening up on May 22, we sat down with Ian Proulx, CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, to talk about Splitgate 2's new mechanics and how community feedback and rigorous playtests are helping deliver a sequel that hits the right notes.

Making a sequel to a free-to-play shooter in 2025
When asked how the team is doing in the weeks leading up to the open beta, Proulx's response was succinct and to the point: "It's definitely a bit of a crazy time for us." Splitgate had a team of around 15 people. In contrast, there are about 200 developers working fulltime on Splitgate 2, plus 50 or so outsourced contributors. "We've definitely put a lot of thought and effort into making sure that we have a process that works versus the first game, where everybody was doing a little bit of everything all the time," Proulx added.

NVIDIA Discusses the Revenue-Generating Potential of AI Factories

AI is creating value for everyone—from researchers in drug discovery to quantitative analysts navigating financial market changes. The faster an AI system can produce tokens, a unit of data used to string together outputs, the greater its impact. That's why AI factories are key, providing the most efficient path from "time to first token" to "time to first value." AI factories are redefining the economics of modern infrastructure. They produce intelligence by transforming data into valuable outputs—whether tokens, predictions, images, proteins or other forms—at massive scale.

They help enhance three key aspects of the AI journey—data ingestion, model training and high-volume inference. AI factories are being built to generate tokens faster and more accurately, using three critical technology stacks: AI models, accelerated computing infrastructure and enterprise-grade software. Read on to learn how AI factories are helping enterprises and organizations around the world convert the most valuable digital commodity—data—into revenue potential.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio Product Line Could be in Jeopardy

The Surface Laptop Studio 2 could be the last of its kind; according to Tom Warren's latest theories. Yesterday, The Verge's senior editor envisioned a streamlined future lineup of Microsoft's portable PC devices. According to inside track information, the tech giant is expected to announce the end-of-life (EOL) status for this relatively young branch of Surface products (debuted back in 2021). The Surface Laptop Studio 2 is advertised as being "a laptop like no other"—courtesy of a unique/versatile setup that features a "dynamic woven hinge." Three hybrid configurations are officially outlined as: "laptop mode for productivity, stage mode for streaming, and studio mode for creativity." Current generation models are powered by Intel's 13th Gen Core i7-13700H processor (aka the "Evo" platform), and can be configured with discrete NVIDIA mobile graphics solutions (GeForce RTX 4060, RTX 4050, or RTX 2000 Ada Generation). Under normal circumstances, a baseline build—reliant on an iGPU—starts at about $2400.

At the time of writing, Microsoft has not acknowledged The Verge's insider report. So far, resellers have shared top secret info—indicating an upcoming official announcement; possibly due by next month. Another group of unnamed sources claim that Surface Laptop Studio 2 manufacturing activities have already ended, as of early May (2025). The megacorporation has culled other Surface products in the past; sometimes coinciding with the departure of key executive team members and mass layoffs. A few days ago, mainstream news outlets covered Microsoft's latest batch of staff reductions—affecting roughly 6000 workers. Warren's article dashes all hopes of a potential third-gen design: "there doesn't appear to be a Surface Laptop Studio 3 on the horizon."

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Out Now on PC & Consoles

The fight continues in Capcom Fighting Collection 2, packed with 8 iconic fighting games from across Capcom's history! Get ready to battle now! From beloved crossovers to 3D fighters, 8 classics return to pack a real punch! Fight as one of many colorful characters from the Capcom vs SNK series, cross fists with the extensive roster of the final installment of Street Fighter Alpha, make the world your weapon in the Power Stone series, and experience the thrilling story and intense action of Project Justice and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein.

All games will feature online play and rollback netcode! Get a great deal with Capcom Fighting Collection 1 & 2 Bundle available now (on Steam)! Featuring 18 iconic games including games from the Street Fighter and the Darkstalkers series, the fighting action is endless! To celebrate the launch of Capcom Fighting Collection 2 we're giving away free player profile cards as a gift! Use one of 18 designs and post it on Twitter/X with the hashtag #MyCFC2Card to find new friends to play with!

Xiaomi CEO Teases Proprietary "XRING 01" Mobile SoC - Remembers Previous In-house Efforts

Yesterday, Lei Jun—the CEO of Xiaomi—finally introduced his firm's proprietary XRING 01 mobile chipset, via a couple of Weibo posts. In an initial afternoon short blog entry, the executive informed his followers with a happy unveiling: "I would like to share with you a piece of news: Xiaomi's self-developed and designed mobile phone SoC chip, named XRING 01, will be released in late May. Thank you for your support!" About a month ago, the company's oft-rumored return to in-house chip efforts was linked to a major corporate offshoot. The speculated "chip platform department" was likely established a while ago, given early May reports of the division's staff headcount exceeding 1000+. At the time, an "Xring" codename was mentioned by industry tipsters (in China).

In a follow-up "Weibo Text" bulletin, Xiaomi's head honcho recalled older project timelines and technological attempts: "even drinking ice for ten years can't cool your blood! Xiaomi's journey to making chips began in September 2014. Time flies, and more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye...Figures 2 and 3 are photos of Xiaomi's first chip launch conference in February 2017." Jun's did not provide any hints about the XRING 01 chip's underpinnings. Late 2024 leaks alluded to a reportedly troubled prototype—insiders connected this design to fairly new Arm Cortex architecture, and a TSMC 4 nm "N4P" node process. The vast majority of Xiaomi's modern flagship smartphone devices utilize top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. For example, the brand's latest Xiaomi Ultra 15 model is powered by the ubiquitous Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) platform.

Blacksmith Master Has Launched into Early Access

Yesterday, Blacksmith Master was released into Early Access with a 25% launch discount—and a brand-new trailer to go with it (see below). Build your workshop from the ground up and manage every step of the smithing trade, from raw resource acquisition to finished goods in the hands of your customers. Design your own products, oversee distant mines and camps, hire and train the right staff, and grow a small-town forge into a kingdom-spanning operation. Whether you're forging footman swords or frying pans, everything has its place in the chain.

Steam Reviews: Your Feedback Matters
The forge is running, the shop doors are open, and players are already setting up production lines. If you've had a chance to play, consider leaving a Steam review. Whether it's a short note or a more detailed take, we're reading everything, and your feedback is essential to helping shape future updates!

US Government Reportedly Eyeing Expansion of Chinese Chipmaker "Export Blacklist" - Insiders Mention CXMT

According to a Financial Times (FT) news article, the US Government's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is considering an implementation of additional "export blacklist" entries. Roughly two months ago, a significant update affected the export trade of around eighty Chinese business "entities." Despite a recent "cooling off" of elevated tariff-related activities, significant political tensions still exist between the two powerhouse nations. According to five of FT's unnamed insiders, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT)—a rising star within China's growing memory manufacturing industry—is a potential candidate for "banishment." Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. are (allegedly) already categorized as blacklisted organizations.

Apparently, the nation's most prominent chipmaker and memory module producer (respectively) have managed to sidestep certain restrictions, via offshoot avenues. FT believes that the US administration is actively investigating several of these subsidiaries. CXMT seems to be an independent body, with no military connections—specializing in commercial DDR5 and DDR4 products—but its rising profile has attracted international attention. Around March 2024, Bloomberg heard rumors about the US BIS department's "weighing up" of sanctions, with CXMT in mind. The relatively young DRAM manufacturer (established back in 2016) still trails behind South Korean and Western competitors, in terms of technological advancements—but its initial DDR5 efforts have (supposedly) impressed local evaluators and early adopters.

8BitDo Introduces the All-New Arcade Controller Range

Game Outlet Europe, an independent distributor of video games and gaming accessories and part of Embracer Freemode, today announced the all-new 8BitDo Arcade Controller range, the ultimate controller for the FGC (fighting game community) and arcade fans worldwide! Expected to ship across Europe in July 2025 and with pre-orders opening today, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller will be available in two variations, an officially licensed Xbox version (compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC), and a standard version (compatible with Nintendo Switch and Windows PC).

Perhaps the most advanced Arcade Controller ever made, the new line is built for professionals, competitive gamers and fans of arcade style controllers. Impossibly slim and ideal for tournament travel, the new Arcade Controller is nearly the same size as a sheet of A4 paper measuring as thin as 1.6 cm thick and almost one-third the size of the standard 8BitDo Arcade Stick.

Xbox Honors Global Accessibility Awareness Day - Highlights DOOM: The Dark Ages Feature Set

Global Accessibility Awareness Day, celebrated annually on the third Thursday of May, is dedicated to recognizing and raising awareness about the importance of accessibility. With billions of people playing video games in the world, including nearly 450 million players with some form of disability, our mission at Xbox is to create welcoming and accessible experiences so as many people as possible can enjoy the community and fun of gaming.

We recognize that every player can have different accessibility needs or preferences to support their play. This is why it's critical we partner with members of the disability community to help inform the hardware, platform experiences, and games we create.

Kiwi Ears Launches the Étude IEMs for Bassheads

Kiwi Ears Étude features the all-new Kiwi Vibration Transducer (KVT), a unique driver system that provides physical low-mid tactile vibrations, setting it apart from traditional bone conduction designs. Paired with a powerful 10 mm Beryllium-plated dynamic driver and three custom-tuned balanced armatures, the Étude achieves a stunningly immersive and detailed sound. With its precise 8dB sub-bass response, flat midrange, and extended treble, the Étude balances richness and clarity, offering a dynamic and lifelike listening experience.

KVT: Kiwi Vibration Transducer
The Kiwi Ears Étude is developed to showcase the KVT (Kiwi Vibration Transducer). Unlike traditional bone conduction drivers used in earphones, the KVT is more akin to scaled-down miniature vibration drivers found in Bluetooth vibration speakers. Featuring strong N52 neodymium magnets suspended by a heavy-tension spring system, the KVT physically vibrates a conduction plate when actuated by electrical currents. This technology provides tactile vibrations that enhance low-mid acoustics, offering a unique auditory experience.

MAXSUN Website Updated with Intel "Arc Pro B60" Product Category

Late last week, Intel's social media account dropped a major hint about a new family of Arc Pro GPUs turning up at Computex 2025. At the time, insiders shared very basic details about a rumored "B60" workstation graphics card—likely derived from familiar Xe2 "Battlemage" silicon. Team Blue staffers have recently teased a mysterious "B770" gaming solution, but this "higher -end" desktop option could emerge well after next week's important trade show (in Taipei, Taiwan). Intel and its board partners seem to be readying productivity-focused cards; theoretically spun-off from the existing B580 12 GB model.

April/May leaks have indicated pairings of Team Blue's "BMG-G21" GPU die and 24 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. On Monday, industry observers noted the very fresh registration of Maxsun Arc B580 "iCraft 24G" and "iCraft 24G OC" SKUs. Days later, VideoCardz has stumbled upon evidence of an "Arc Pro B60" product category. At the time of writing, this entry remains empty—within the manufacturer's "Intel" card inventory. Active "Arc B580" and "Arc B570" categories direct you to already launched (12 GB) iCraft and Milestone models. According to slightly older reports, Maxsun is expected to introduce/launch "gaming" Arc B580 24 GB variants at some point after Computex 2025. The immediate focus—for Intel and participating AIBs—seems to be an imminent unveiling of "Arc Pro B-series" cards.

Acer Introduces Pair of Iconia V Series Tablets, Connect Series 5G CPE, Mobile Hotspot and Dongle

Acer today announced a range of new products for users on the go, including two new tablets -- the Acer Iconia V12 and the Acer Iconia V11 -- and three new 5G network connectivity devices, including the Acer Connect X6E Plus 5G CPE, the Acer Connect M5 Mobile Wi-Fi, and the Acer Connect D5 Pro 5G dongle.

Acer Iconia V Series Tablets: Portable and Reliable for Entertainment and Multitasking
The Acer Iconia V12 and Iconia V11 are versatile tablets catering to a wide range of users, from students and family members to budget-conscious consumers, seeking a reliable mobile companion for everyday use. Their stunning displays offer a large viewing area with a wide 16:10 aspect ratio, up to 2K resolution, and 90 Hz refresh rate. The narrow bezel design maximizes screen real estate to see and do more, while their thin in-cell touch panels enhance touch sensitivity performance to deliver a more responsive and immersive experience.

Acer Launches ProCreator Series Monitors; Calman-Verified with Acer Creator Hub Software

Acer today unveiled its new ProCreator Series monitors, designed to enhance creative workflows with Calman-verified, high-resolution displays. These monitors feature wide color gamut coverage, up to Delta E<1 color accuracy levels, and the Acer Creator Hub software. Select models come with OLED and touchscreen panels, built-in webcams for conferencing and collaboration, and compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible technologies.
In addition, Acer introduced a range of portable and dual-screen foldable monitors, as well as compact LED projectors, catering to diverse needs and use cases.

Acer ProCreator Monitors
Acer's new ProCreator Series monitors are tailored for professional creators such as animators, photographers, editors, and designers who demand precise color accuracy and stunning visual clarity for creative projects. All models are Calman-verified, ensuring they meet rigorous standards for reliable color performance and consistency across various workflows.

"The Precinct" Dev Team Teases Future Content Update - Prioritizes Bug & Balance Fixes

"This just in, over one thousand officers have pledged to assist the ACPD in the BIGGEST city clean-up Averno has ever seen"—Bree Bookman, ACTV. We wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to all of the players who have helped support us during what has been, dare we say it, a criminally good launch for us! We've been blown away by all of the positive comments we've received, and all of the useful bug reports and feedback that you have sent our way. We want to assure you that, even though we may not respond to every single review or report, we are looking at all of them and incorporating them into our future strategy. What strategy is that? Read on to find out more about what the future holds for The Precinct.

Together with Kwalee, we've been tracking your most urgent and requested fixes. Our programming team is already hard at work tackling the biggest issues. This is what we're focusing on in the short-term, but in the mid-to-long-term we're also compiling suggestions from your feedback to decide what extra features and content we can add to The Precinct in the future. We are committed to adding more content to the game, but we haven't decided yet exactly what that will be.

Manli Rep. Confirms Downgrading of GeForce RTX 5090D Graphics Cards - Only 24 GB of GDDR7 VRAM

Around late April, Chinese industry insiders started whispering about a possible halting of NVIDIA GB202 "Blackwell" GPU shipments into the region. Team Green's local board partners released custom "market exclusive" GeForce RTX 5090D 32 GB cards; featuring slightly downgraded flagship silicon. Since launch, Chinese hardcore gaming enthusiasts and DIY AI firms have observed impressive performance credentials, despite the presence of factory limited specifications. On May 6, reports suggested a complete halt of GeForce RTX 5090D sales in China. Fresher rumors indicate NVIDIA's engineering team return to the drawing board; with their alleged preparation of an even weaker GeForce RTX 5090D design.

A group of Baidu tipsters have discussed a key area of (further) compromise: VRAM capacity. The original GeForce RTX 5090D configuration was armed with 32 GB of GDDR7 VRAM; mid-May speculation envisioned a 24 GB variant. Earlier today, harukaze5719 highlighted an intriguing Weibo post. A Manli webshop representative has "confirmed" that revised GeForce RTX 5090D cards will become available around July. Up until recent events, this Chinese brand was selling flagship GPU-based Gallardo (black) and Stellar (white) models. A web chat session was captured and shared on Weibo—in addition, the sales agent disclosed their belief that (NVIDIA's) supply of GeForce RTX 5090D GPUs has been "insufficient since launch" time. On a semi-positive note, customers will not be greeted by price hikes. Manli anticipates "unchanged" price tags; albeit associated with lesser specifications.

Gaming Beyond Limits, AI Beyond Imagination ASRock at Computex 2025

ASRock, a global leader in motherboards, graphics cards, mini PCs, power supplies, and gaming monitors, is excited to announce the participation in Computex Taipei 2025. Under the theme Gaming Beyond Limits, AI Beyond Imagination, ASRock will showcase the dual focus on next-level gaming and AI applications. From immersive gaming setups to AI solutions, the exhibit highlights ASRock's commitment to innovation across both fields. Visitors are invited to explore the latest products and technologies, and to experience the Phantom Gaming Zone at booth L0818.

ASRock Unveils Flagship Taichi OCF and Taichi Creator AM5 Motherboards
To expand its success on AMD AM5 motherboards, ASRock will be adding more exciting products into its product portfolio. New product such as X870E Taichi OCF, the very first OC formula motherboard based on AMD platform, Phantom Gaming X870 Nova WiFi, the new high end gaming motherboard based on X870 chipset, a functional yet elegantly designed X870 Taichi Creator and also a lot more products that are based on X870 / B850 / B840 / A620A chipset.

Acer Unveils Creator-Worthy Swift X Duo with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs

Acer today announced new models in its Swift X laptop series, the Swift X 14 AI and Swift X 14, designed to offer professionals and content creators reliable performance and a suite of AI tools to enhance their creative endeavors. Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, the Swift X 14 AI enables seamless on-device rendering, modeling, and real-time visualization. This new Copilot+ PC is equipped to handle demanding AI workloads and offers exclusive AI experiences such as Recall (preview), Click to Do (preview), and improved Windows search, Cocreator, Live Captions, Image Creator, and Windows Studio Effects. The new Swift X 14 creator laptop ensures responsive performance for demanding creative workflows and all-day battery life powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2).

Both laptops are powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPUs with NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and also feature Calman-verified 3K OLED touch displays that are calibrated to produce captivating and accurate colors right out of the box.

Acer Expands Aspire AI Series with Six New Copilot+ PCs Powered by Next-Gen Processors ​

Acer today announced the expansion of its Aspire AI series laptops with six new Copilot+ PCs, showcasing intuitive AI capabilities and versatile features. Available in sleek 14- and 16-inch models, these laptops offer varied configuration options, combining powerful computing with modern designs at pocket-friendly prices. The new Aspire AI laptops cater to a diverse range of users, including students, professionals and families seeking reliable performance and multi-day battery life for their daily computing needs. As Copilot+ PCs, these laptops serve to streamline workflow with exclusive AI experiences, including Recall (preview), Click to Do (preview), and Improved Windows Search, making it easier to resume tasks and quickly find what users need. Acer's proprietary AI applications - AcerSense, Acer LiveArt 2.0, Acer PurifiedView 2.0 and Acer PurifiedVoice 2.0 - make it easy to manage settings, sift through files, produce stunning content instantly, and improve videoconferencing quality.

Featuring a durable, thin-and-light aluminium chassis, the Aspire 16 AI and Aspire 14 AI are perfect for travel, going to school and mobile work. Their versatile 180° hinge designs allow them to lay flat or be positioned in various ways, adjusting viewing angles based on the task at hand. With plenty of battery life, these devices can power through more than an entire day without needing to plug in. The Aspire range comes with 14- or 16-inch up to 120 Hz displays featuring slim bezels, and 16:10 aspect ratios for expansive viewing. Touchscreen models are available for more interactive use cases. Each device is equipped with up to 32 GB LPDDR5X memory, 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 storage, and offers ultra-fast, stable connectivity with up to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Plus, they are equipped with a generous number of I/O ports, including a pair of USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and MicroSD card slots. Each model is also EPEAT Gold registered and is encased in 100% recyclable packaging.

Acer Announces New Predator Triton 14 AI, Helios Neo 14 AI, and Predator Orion 3000 Gaming Desktop

Acer today announced powerful new 14-inch Predator gaming laptops designed for gamers and creative professionals. With a set of high-performance components, including the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs, both devices offer a strong mix of power, portability and innovative features coveted by gamers, content creators, as well as on-the-go creative professionals and students.

Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs bring game-changing capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio. Users can effortlessly level up their gaming performance and creative capabilities on the Predator laptops with support from the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors that power next-gen AI gameplay and scale up both performance and efficiency. Both laptops are a new class of Windows PCs that are designed for AI-intensive processes like real-time translations and image generation. Plus, access to NVIDIA NIM Microservices - state-of-the-art AI models that let enthusiasts and developers build AI assistants, agents, and workflows with peak performance on NIM-ready AI systems. The newly refreshed Predator Orion 3000 gaming desktop is also enhanced with the latest silicon from Intel and NVIDIA, providing avid gamers with the edge they need to max out the graphics on the latest AAA titles and content creators with the necessary performance for editing or streaming.

Supermicro Unveils DLC-2, the Next Generation Direct Liquid-Cooling Solutions for Data Centers

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI), a Total IT Solution Provider for AI/ML, HPC, Cloud, Storage, and 5G/Edge, is announcing several improvements to its Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) solution that incorporate new technologies for cooling various server components, accommodate warmer liquid inflow temperatures, and introduce innovative mechanical designs that enhance AI per watt. The Supermicro DLC-2 solution reduces data center power consumption by up to 40% compared to air-cooled installations. These advanced technologies enable faster deployment and reduced time-to-online for cutting-edge liquid-cooled AI infrastructure. Additionally, the total cost of ownership decreases by up to 20%. The comprehensive cold plate coverage of components allows for lower fan speeds and fewer required fans, significantly reducing data center noise levels to approximately 50dB.

"With the expected demand for liquid-cooled data centers rising to 30% of all installations, we realized that current technologies were insufficient to cool these new AI-optimized systems," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "Supermicro continues to remain committed to innovation, green computing, and improving the future of AI, by significantly reducing data center power and water consumption, noise, and space. Our latest liquid-cooling innovation, DLC-2, saves data center electricity costs by up to 40%."

Acer Unveils New Predator Monitors With 500 Hz Refresh Rate and 4K QD-OLED Panels

Acer today launched an impressive array of monitors designed for gaming and entertainment. The lineup features two new 27-inch Predator QD-OLED gaming monitors, each hitting the mark in terms of clarity and color performance for high-framerate games. The "UltraSpeed" Predator X27U F5 tops out at an impressive 500 Hz refresh rate, while the Predator X27 X smooths details with a crisp 4K resolution and 240 Hz refresh rate. Both models are calibrated with True 10Bit color and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology for vivid and tear-free graphics.

Acer also expanded its line of multi-functional Nitro Google TV smart monitors with the Acer Nitro GA321QK P and the curved Acer Nitro GA341CUR W0. With Google TV, users can enjoy 400,000+ movies, shows, and more available across 10,000+ apps, all on one screen. Their high-resolution panels and fast refresh rates of up to 240 Hz set them apart from other smart monitors, making them great options for casual gaming as well. Additionally, the ultra-thin Acer Nitro PG271K portable monitor combines 4K resolution, a space-saving design, and an adjustable stand for versatile viewing.

Acer Debuts New Swift Edge AI and Swift Go AI Copilot+ PCs

Acer today unveiled updates to the family of Swift thin-and-light Copilot+ PCs - the Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Go AI Series - which are now powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 200V Series processors with integrated Neural Processing Units (NPU). Featuring premium, portable designs, the new laptops include the technology and features needed for creativity and productivity, along with up to OLED displays to present standout color accuracy and details.

The new Swift Copilot+ PCs boast NPUs that perform over 40 TOPS and are equipped to run the most demanding AI workloads and offer exclusive AI experiences such as Recall (preview), Click to Do (preview), and improved Windows search, Cocreator, Live Captions, and Windows Studio Effects. In addition, they also feature a dedicated Copilot key to launch Copilot in Windows 11 with a single touch.

CRKD Delays Shipments of Gibson Les Paul Guitar Controllers, Announces 4% Price Hike for US Market

We wanted to give you a quick update on the estimated shipping schedule for our upcoming CRKD Gibson Les Paul Guitar Controller. Over the past few weeks, we've run into some inbound component delays with our manufacturing partner—largely due to ongoing uncertainty around international tariffs and broader supply chain challenges. As a result, we're making a slight adjustment to our estimated shipping windows to finalize production and better navigate the current logistics environment.

While we've taken steps to mitigate the impact of tariffs, a portion of these costs must be passed on. All U.S. pre-orders placed before June 1 will be honored at their original price. International pricing remains unchanged at this time. All pre-orders placed before June 1 on crkd.gg—U.S. and international—will also receive a complimentary CRKD Gradient Guitar Strap and Collector's Pin.

MSI Announces MSI PortalX, Upcoming RGB Control Website

MSI is committed to continuously enhancing the user experience, and we are proud to announce the upcoming launch of our new web-based RGB control platform - MSI PortalX. This platform eliminates the need for software installation - simply access it through your browser to easily manage your devices' RGB lighting effects, offering a more flexible lighting control experience.

When you connect to MSI PortalX and enter RGB Center (supported on Windows systems only), the platform automatically detects all MSI devices in your system. Just select a device, and you can freely customize the RGB lighting effects for each port, including brightness and speed, with three adjustable speed levels to choose from. To enhance usability, we've also provided an All Sync button, allowing you to synchronize the lighting effects of all devices with a single click, without the need for individual adjustments.

Wistron's New U.S. Facilities for NVIDIA Servers to be Operational Next Year

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Wistron announced on Friday that its new U.S. manufacturing facilities for NVIDIA will be ready next year, confirming they're in discussions with other potential customers as well, Reuters reports. Wistron CEO Jeff Lin made his first public statement since NVIDIA's announcement, saying, "All our progress will follow the customer's lead," and confirmed their timeline aligns with NVIDIA's expectations. The facilities will partly support NVIDIA's ambitious plan to build AI servers worth up to $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. NVIDIA revealed in April its strategy to establish supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas, collaborating with Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas, with both locations expected to increase production within 12-15 months. Recently Wistron's board has approved a $500 million investment in its new U.S. subsidiary.

The facilities will focus on producing high-performance computing and AI-related products, though Lin declined to name the other companies they're in talks with. When asked about U.S. restrictions on advanced chip exports to China, Lin noted that demand outside China remains robust. "We expect to grow alongside our customers... As for developments in the Middle East, most of them are essentially our indirect customers," he added. This comes as the UAE and U.S. signed an agreement this week to build the largest AI campus outside America, potentially involving the purchase of 500,000 of NVIDIA's most advanced AI chips yearly starting in 2025. Wistron also mentioned it's considering moving notebook production in Mexico in an attempt to avoid tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

AMD Prepares Instinct MI450X IF128 Rack‑Scale System with 128 GPUs

According to SemiAnalysis, AMD has planned its first-ever rack-scale GPU cluster for the second half of 2026, when it shows its first rack‑scale accelerator, the Instinct MI450X IF128. Built on what's expected to be a 3 nm‑class TSMC process and packaged with CoWoS‑L, each MI450X IF128 card will include at least 288 GB of HBM4 memory. That memory will sustain up to 18 TB/s of bandwidth, driving around 50 PetaFLOPS of FP4 compute while drawing between 1.6 and 2.0 kW of power. In our recent article, we outlined that AMD split the Instinct MI400 series into HPC-first MI430X and MI450X for AI. Now for AI-focused MI450X, the company created both an "IF64" backplane for simpler single‑rack installs and the full‑blown "IF128" for maximum density. The IF128 version links 128 GPUs over an Ethernet‑based Infinity Fabric network and uses UALink instead of PCIe to connect each GPU to three built‑in Pensando 800 GbE NICs. That design delivers about 1.8 TB/s of unidirectional bandwidth per GPU and a total of 2,304 TB/s across the rack.

With 128 GPUs each offering 50 PetaFLOPS of FP4 compute and 288 GB of HBM4 memory, the MI450X IF128 system delivers a combined 6,400 PetaFLOPS and 36.9 TB of high‑bandwidth memory, and MI450X IF64 provides about half of that. Since AI deployments require massive density of rack systems, AMD plans to possibly outnumber NVIDIA's upcoming system known as "Vera Rubin" VR200 NVL144 (144 compute dies, 72 GPUs), which tops out at 3,600 PetaFLOPS and 936 TB/s of memory bandwidth—about half of what AMD's IF128 approach promises. AMD will have a possibly more powerful system architecture than NVIDIA until the launch of VR300 "Ultra" NVL576, which has 144 GPUs, each carrying four compute dies, totaling 576 compute chiplets.

AMD Ryzen 9 "Medusa Point" APU Comes with 22 Zen 6 Cores and RDNA 3.5+ iGPU

AMD is preparing the next-generation mobile processor based on Zen 6 "Medusa Point" APUs. According to industry leaker HXL, the new lineup will feature a surprisingly high core count, especially on the top-end Ryzen 9 model, which is expected to pack 22 CPU cores. Under the hood, the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 Medusa Point APUs will use a hybrid layout that combines four high-performance classic cores, four dense cores optimized for efficiency, and two ultra-low‑power cores. On the graphics side, these chips will offer eight RDNA 3.5+ compute units, an upgrade from previous designs but still modest compared to some rivals. What really stands out is the Ryzen 9 variant, which reportedly adds a second Core Complex Die from AMD's desktop lineup. That extra 12‑core CCD joins the main ten-core die, bringing the total to 22 cores. While this pushes the CPU core count, AMD keeps the integrated graphics configuration unchanged, with just eight compute units.

Initial performance data hints that this trimmed-down GPU might run about 20 to 25 percent slower than the 12‑CU Radeon 890M used in earlier models. The eight CU GPU is half the power of current generation "Strix Point" with 16 CUs, but Medusa Point packs some RDNA 3.5+ upgrades. Even then, the raw CPU power should appeal to users who rely on heavily threaded applications, particularly in ultraportable laptops and mobile workstations. Medusa Point is built on the FP10 package, allowing for a slightly larger die size that houses the new core arrangement without sacrificing efficiency. Including dedicated low-power cores also marks AMD's first embrace of a heterogeneous x86 approach, similar to Intel's recent Core Ultra series. While more serious graphics work will mandate a combination of discrete GPUs for demanding workloads, Medusa Point will set new expectations for integrated CPU performance in thin, light notebooks.

Sudokoo to Showcase Its Thermal Solutions at Computex 2025

Sudokoo offers world-class high performance PC hardware and thermal solutions from Singapore to the world. At Sudokoo, we're passionate about designing next-level thermal solutions that blend powerful performance with sleek aesthetics—and today, we're excited to introduce our PROTEUS Series AIO cooler, SK700/SK620 Series Air cooler and MACH120 Case Fans during COMPUTEX 2025!

SK700V: An AM5-designated digital air cooler with Full RAM Freedom
FLAGSHIP CPU AIR COOLERS- SK series offer 6/7 offset heat pipes air cooler, comes with digital display screen version and standard version. AM5-focused and delivering 220 W cooling power. Rail Lock Mount design for simple and elegant installation concept. Digital version available provides real-time monitoring of CPU temperature, usage, wattage, and frequency. Controlled via MasterCraft software.

Microchip Brings Hardware Quantum Resistance to Embedded Controllers

Driven by advancements in cryptographic research and the need for stronger security measures, the National Security Agency (NSA) introduced the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0 (CNSA 2.0) to establish a set of quantum-resistant cryptographic standards. The NSA is now urging data center and computing markets to become post-quantum ready within the next two years. To help system architects meet evolving security demands, Microchip Technology has developed its MEC175xB embedded controllers with embedded immutable post-quantum cryptography support.

As a standalone controller, the MEC175xB family employs a modular approach for developers to efficiently adopt post-quantum cryptography, helping ensure long-term data protection without compromising existing functionality. These low-power controllers are designed with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) approved post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, configurable secure boot solutions and an advanced Enhanced Serial Peripheral Interface (eSPI).

Galax Readies Black GeForce RTX 50-series Hall of Fame (HOF) Graphics Cards

Galax tops off its custom-design GeForce RTX graphics card lines with Hall of Fame (HOF) SKUs, which tend to have not just the highest factory overclocks, but also elaborate VRM and cooling designs meant for professional overclockers to chase down benchmark and OC world records. A striking feature of HOF series cards has been their white color scheme, not just for the cooling solution and backplate, but also the PCB solder-mask underneath. The company is about to take a detour on this, with the new black themed RTX 50-series HOF series. It just teased the first picture of such a card on its Twitter feed. At this point, it's not clear which GPU models Galax will create HOF Black SKUs out of, but it's likely these will be the RTX 5090, and possibly even the RTX 5080. The teaser showcases a 2-tone black cooler shroud, black fan impellers, possibly black anodized aluminium fins on the heatsink, and definitely a black PCB.

Silicon Power Launches its First CUDIMM Under the New XPOWER Cyclone DDR5 Gaming Series

Silicon Power (SP) is excited to announce the launch of two new high-performance DDR5 memory modules under its acclaimed XPOWER gaming series: the XPOWER Cyclone DDR5 RGB CUDIMM and XPOWER Cyclone DDR5 RGB UDIMM. Leading with top-tier speeds up to 9200 MT/s, the company's first CUDIMM (Clocked Unbuffered DIMM) is a major milestone in its commitment to next-gen memory innovation tailored for elite gamers, overclockers, and PC enthusiasts.

CUDIMM: Power Meets Precision
The XPOWER Cyclone DDR5 RGB CUDIMM combines ultra-fast speeds, robust stability, and compatibility with cutting-edge platforms. With extreme speeds ranging from 8200 MT/s to 9200 MT/s the CUDIMM is purpose-built for gamers and overclockers who demand peak performance. Engineered with a built-in Clock Driver (CKD), this module delivers enhanced signal integrity and tighter timing control—key factors for maintaining system stability during demanding workloads. Full support for the latest Intel Core Ultra desktop processors (Series 2) and Intel Z890 series platforms ensures a seamless experience for users building or upgrading to next-gen systems.

Silicon Motion Showcases Next-Gen PCIe Gen5 and USB4 SSD Controllers at Computex 2025

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation ("Silicon Motion"), a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers for solid-state storage devices, today announced that it will showcase its broad portfolio of products including two new SSD controllers at COMPUTEX 2025. The first is the SM2504XT, an ultra-low power PCIe Gen 5 DRAM-less controller offering industry-leading performance per watt. The second is the SM2324, the world's first true single-chip portable SSD controller supporting USB4 with built-in Power Delivery. Together, these innovations highlight Silicon Motion's leadership in enabling energy-efficient, high-performance SSD solutions for AI PCs, gaming systems, and portable devices.

SM2504XT Delivers High Performance and Low Power for AI-Driven Client SSDs
Built on TSMC's 6 nm process, the SM2504XT delivers up to 11.5 GB/s sequential read and 11.0 GB/s write speeds, with random IOPS reaching up to 1.7M read and 2.0M write—all while consuming under 5 W. Compared to the previous generation, it achieves an 11% gain on performance per watt and sets a new standard for power efficiency among PCIe Gen 5 client SSD controllers.

QNAP Introduces New Dual-port 10GbE SFP+ Network Cards Supporting SR-IOV and RDMA

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking and storage solution innovator, today launched the new QXG-10G2SF-NXE 10GbE SFP+ network expansion card. Equipped with the advanced Broadcom 57412 Ethernet Controller, this PCIe Gen 3 card can be installed into a QNAP NAS (including the TS-x64 and TS-x64U series) or Windows /Linux PC and servers, instantly augmenting connectivity with two high-speed 10GbE ports.

The QXG-10G2SF-NXE comes with two 10GbE SFP+ (10G/1G) network ports. Users can utilize SMB Multichannel or Port Trunking to combine bandwidth, providing up to 20 Gbps of data transfer potential, thereby accelerating large file sharing and intensive data transmission. The QXG-10G2SF-NXE supports RDMA to enhance data transfer efficiency and reduce latency, while also supporting SR-IOV that enhances network resource allocation for VMware virtualization applications, reducing network bandwidth consumption and significantly lowering CPU usage for virtual machine servers (hypervisors).

Tianma Introducing New Innovations in LCD Display Technology at Display Week 2025

Tianma, a leading global manufacturer of flat panel displays, is exhibiting its family of LCD technologies and solutions at Display Week 2025, Booth #416, San Jose, California, May 13-15.

Tianma's LCD innovations at Display Week 2025 include:
16" WQXGA 480 Hz Oxide - Tianma is launching the world's first 16" 480 Hz Oxide gaming panel, establishing a new industry benchmark for high refresh rate. This panel, featuring advanced Oxide technology, demonstrates a significant improvement in refresh rate when compared to most mainstream "e-sports" gaming displays on the market. With a 3 ms GTG response time, motion blur is effectively eliminated, ensuring instantaneous reactions. In addition, the panel offers a stunning 2560×1600 WQXGA resolution, 500nit brightness, a 1200:1 contrast ratio, and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, making it the ultimate choice for high-performance gaming notebooks.
Thursday, May 15th 2025

Today's Reviews

Cases
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Mouse
NAS
PSUs
SSD
Zaopin ZPW Max Review

Zaopin ZPW Max Review

With the right-handed ergonomic ZPW Max, Zaopin brings the shape of the SteelSeries Prime up to current standards: PixArt's latest PAW3950 sensor, Omron optical main button switches, 8000 Hz wireless polling, and Bluetooth are all on board, wrapped into a 49 g lightweight package.
Fractal Design Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Review

Fractal Design Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Review

Fractal's Meshify series is long due for an upgrade, so it is no surprise that Fractal Design is launching the Meshify 3 in seven different SKUs, with an updated design, some cool new features and unique tooling. Paired with three brand new Momentum 14 RGB fans, the Ambience Pro RGB variant of the case is fully loaded with a new Hub and 100 embedded LEDs.

Sony Introduces the Next Evolution of Noise Cancelling With the WH-1000XM6

Sony today announced the WH-1000XM6 wireless noise cancelling headphones - latest edition of its award winning 1000X series that set a new standard for premium audio and personal listening experiences. Building on the legacy of the 1000X series, this latest model combines premium sound with the best noise cancelling in a seamless design to create an unparalleled audio solution for music lovers, fashionistas, travelers and professionals alike.

The next evolution in noise cancellation
Powered by advanced processor and an adaptive microphone system, noise cancelling is optimised in real time on the WH-1000XM6 so your world stays undisturbed and your sound stays pure. With processor speeds seven times faster than its predecessor, the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 fine-tunes 12 microphones, which is 1.5 times more than its precursor the WH-1000XM5, in real time, delivering a dramatic leap in noise cancelling and sound quality. The precise detection of the twelve optimally places microphones allow the noise cancellation to adapt more precisely to fit you and your environment. Whether you are looking to block out noise on a busy commute or stay focused in the office, your sound experience will be seamless and powerful.

MSI Unveils the MPG 274URDFW E16M - Mini-LED, Dual Mode and AI-Driven Gaming Monitor

MSI proudly introduces the MPG 274URDFW E16M, a 27-inch Mini-LED Dual Mode gaming monitor. It features a Rapid IPS panel, Dual Mode for 160 Hz at UHD and 320 Hz at FHD, 0.5 ms (GtG, Min.) response time, and AI-driven features. This monitor delivers stunning visual clarity, rich colors, and optimized performance.

Stunning Visuals with Mini-LED and Quantum Dot Technology
Powered by Mini-LED and Quantum Dot technology, the MPG 274URDFW E16M offers exceptional brightness, deep contrast, and rich colors. It features 1,152 full-array local dimming zones for precise backlight control, achieving deep blacks and sharp highlights. With VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification, 98% DCI-P3, 100% Adobe RGB, 140% sRGB coverage, and Delta E≤2 color accuracy, this monitor delivers lifelike visuals for gaming, content creation, and entertainment.

FSP to Showcase New PSUs, Cooling Solutions and SFF ITX Case at Computex 2025

In less than a week from now, FSP will present at Computex its complete lineup of ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 power supplies, a new SFF-READY ITX case, and the MP9 Series dual-tower flagship CPU cooler. Despite us not having (yet) any pictures of their upcoming or updated products, we're going to first let you know what FSP will showcase at this year's Computex show. Based on the success of their flagship MEGA TI power supply series, FSP is expanding its range with the new MEGA PM (Platinum efficiency) and MEGA GM (Gold efficiency) series. These additions provide performance-focused users with more options in terms of wattage and efficiency. The VITA PSU series has also received an upgrade with the introduction of VITA PM, now certified for 80 Plus Platinum. Then, for the first time at Computex, FSP will showcase their 1200 W Platinum-certified SFX-L PSU alongside the 1000 W SFX Platinum model.

We're looking forward to seeing FSP's new S550 ITX small form factor case series, which they say is certified as NVIDIA's SFF-READY and fully supports the RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card. FSP added that the S550 case is designed for users who want top-tier performance in a compact form factor, combining attractive aesthetics, optimal airflow, and support for high-end GPUs. FSP will also reveal its newest flagship CPU cooler, the MP9 Series, which sports an elegant all-black design. Based on the MP7 CPU cooler series, this dual-tower cooler comes equipped with two 140 mm high-performance silent fans and six 6 mm copper heat pipes with a copper base for effective heat transfer and superior CPU cooling. The MP9 has long-lasting FDB bearing fans and a tool-free magnetic top cover design for quick and easy installation without needing to remove the fans.

Tencent President Discusses Significant Stockpiling of AI GPUs - Open to Future Adoption of Native Designs

Martin Lau, President of Tencent, has divulged that his company has accumulated a "pretty strong stockpile" of NVIDIA AI chips. In a mid-week earnings call, the Chinese executive reckoned that this surplus will come in handy—upon the company unleashing its full-on upcoming "AI strategy." Lau was responding to a question regarding ripples caused by a recent introduction of revised licensing requirements for "high-end GPUs." His lengthy reply seems to align with "leaked April time" information; when industry analysts theorized a massive $16 billion spend—reportedly, big Chinese tech firms had splurged out with swift acquisitions of NVIDIA H20 GPUs. Lau commented on present day conditions: "it's actually a very dynamic situation right now. Since the last earnings call, we have seen an H20 ban, and then after that there was the BIS new guidelines that just came in overnight...If you look at the allocation of the usage of these chips, obviously they'll be used for the applications that will generate immediate returns for us. For example, in the advertising business as well as content recommendation product, where we actually would be using a lot of these GPUs to generate results and generate returns for us. Secondly, in terms of the training of our large language models, they will be of the next priority and the training actually requires higher-end chips."

Team Green's engineering team has likely been strong-armed into designing further compromised hardware; as "exclusive" sanction-conforming options for important enterprise customers in China. Tencent seems to have enough pre-ban specimens to tide things over, for a while. The firm's president envisioned a comfortable position, for the foreseeable future: "over the past few months, we (started) to move off the concept or the belief of American tech companies—which they call 'the scaling law'—which required continuous expansion of the training cluster. And now we can see even with a smaller cluster you can actually achieve very good training results. And there's a lot of potential that we can get on the post-training side which do not necessarily meet very large clusters. We should have enough high-end chips to continue our training of models for a few more generations going forward." Huawei's controversial Ascend 910C AI accelerator seems to be the top alternative contender; tech watchdogs believe that this design's fortunes will be closely tied to the rising dominance of DeepSeek. Fairly recent leaks have indicated impressive progress being made within China's domestic AI accelerator infrastructure.

Stellar Blade Coming to PC Platform on June 11 - Shift Up CTO Discusses Graphical Features

On June 11, the PC version of Stellar Blade will be released. The PC version of Stellar Blade will support several new features and introduce exciting additional content. This additional content will also be available on the PS5 console version, This additional content will also be available on the PS5 console version. PS5 users will receive the free update content through a patch download. It will deliver the best experience to everyone - both users who couldn't join Eve's mission due to platform limitations, and fans who have already witnessed the end of Eve's protocol. With this in mind, we are pleased to share detailed information about the Stellar Blade PC version.

NVIDIA DLSS 4 & AMD FSR 3 upscaling and unlocked frame rate
Blade, blood, and beauty. Eve is a ruthless executioner and an elegant liberator. The PC version of Stellar Blade supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 resolution scaling and frame generation, NVIDIA DLAA image enhancement, and NVIDIA Reflex latency reduction features. AMD FSR 3 is also supported. Additionally, it supports unlocking the frame rate, allowing you to maximize your PC's potential. With these enhancements, Eve's action will transcend its limits, becoming even more merciless and all the more mesmerizing.

NVIDIA Reportedly Postpones SOCAMM Rollout; Could Debut with Next-gen "Rubin" AI GPUs

Around mid-February, South Korean sources alleged that NVIDIA was in the process of developing an innovative new memory form factor. The System on Chip Advanced Memory Module (SOCAMM) design is reportedly a collaborative effort. Team Green's usual set of memory partners—SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron—were mentioned in early 2025 news articles. Just over a month later, official press material revealed a key forthcoming deployment—Micron stated: "(our) SOCAMM (product), a modular LPDDR5X memory solution, was developed in collaboration with NVIDIA to support the NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Superchip. In a (rumored) blow to all involved parties, ZDNet Korea posits that Team Green has postponed the commercialization of their "next-generation low-power DRAM module" IP. According to industry moles, the SOCAMM standard will not debut with this generation of enterprise-focused "Grace-Blackwell" chips. Instead, fresher theories indicate a postponement into next-gen territories—possibly rescheduled to arrive alongside the firm's "Rubin" GPU architecture.

NVIDIA has reportedly sent out notices to major memory partners—(alleged) May 14 updates were received by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix (in South Korea) and Micron (USA). As a result, SOCAMM supply timelines are (apparently) adjusted. A newer "Cordelia" board design—acting as a substrate for GB300 chips, and compatible with SOCAMM—was in the picture. The latest whispers suggest a return to an existing "Bianca" board configuration, that supports current-gen LPDDR memory modules. ZDNet believes that company engineers have run into several obstacles: "Blackwell chips have been continuously experiencing difficulties in securing design and packaging yields. In fact, the 'Cordelia' board is known to have reliability issues, such as data loss, and SOCAMM has reliability issues, such as heat dissipation characteristics." NVIDIA briefly previewed its futuristic "Rubin Ultra" AI GPU design during GTC 2025—on-stage, a "second half of 2027" release window was teased.

Qualcomm Unveils the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile Platform

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today unveiled the latest addition to its 7-series lineup - the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile Platform. This brand-new platform is designed to enhance users' favorite multimedia experiences and deliver robust performance across the board. Whether capturing priceless moments with advanced image processing or enjoying action-packed gaming with select Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 captivates users, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in their passions. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 also delivers innovative AI capabilities, including support for Gen AI assistants and popular large language models (LLMs) running directly on the device, with new-in-series stable diffusion image generation.

"With the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile Platform, we are delivering new levels of possibilities in the 7-series with AI-driven experiences built directly into the hardware, making it easier than ever for users to capture, create, and share," said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "Backed by Snapdragon Sound technology and packed with premium audio technologies, including the first-ever support for Qualcomm Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology outside the 8-series, this platform brings cutting-edge multimedia experiences to a broader audience."

Autonomous Inc. Introduces Brainy: The Petaflop AI Workstation

Autonomous Inc., a company dedicated to design and engineer the future of work into the hands of innovators, today announced Brainy, a revolutionary workstation designed to accelerate deep learning and machine learning workflows. Brainy delivers unprecedented AI performance directly to the desktop, empowering researchers, developers, and AI startups to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence.

"Brainy is more than just a machine; it's a partner in innovation," stated Brody Slade, Autonomous' Product Manager. "We're putting petaflop-level AI power within reach, eliminating the bottlenecks and costs associated with cloud-based solutions and truly changing the way AI development is done. It empowers you to not just think—but to think with your machine."

Arm Introduces New Product Naming for PC, Infrastructure, Mobile, and More

Arm today announced a simpler, more intuitive naming scheme for its compute platforms to help developers and manufacturers better understand which solutions suit their needs. Under the new naming structure, infrastructure-grade server CPU products will be known as Arm Neoverse, the name previously reserved for Arm's core IP for server CPUs. The PC lineup will adopt the name Arm Niva, while Arm Lumex will convey its focus on mobile performance to smartphones and tablets. Automotive applications, which require both safety certification and high compute capacity, will fall under Arm Zena. Finally, Arm Orbis will cover IoT and embedded devices, offering a tailored edge AI platform for everything from sensors to earbuds.

In addition to the market-specific names, Arm is overhauling its IP numbering system to align with generational releases. Future cores will carry labels such as Ultra, Premium, Pro, Nano, and Pico to indicate relative performance and power characteristics. Combining a clear platform identity with a descriptive performance tier, this two-tier approach should make it easier for partners to plan long-term roadmaps and pick the right building blocks for their designs. Arm's GPU technology will continue under the well-known Mali brand, but Mali will now be presented explicitly as a component within each platform rather than a separate product. By integrating Mali GPUs into Neoverse, Niva, Lumex, Zena, and Orbis, Arm aims to deliver fully validated subsystems instead of standalone IP pieces.

Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune Story Pack Available Now

In Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, the second story pack for Star Wars Outlaws, Kay Vess and her companion Nix team up with legendary pirate Hondo Ohnaka for a new adventure filled with pirates and lost treasures. A Pirate's Fortune is now available on Ubisoft+ Premium, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Amazon Luna, and PC via Ubisoft Connect, Epic Games Store, and Steam. For those who haven't played the open-world Star Wars game yet, a free demo is available on most platforms where Star Wars Outlaws is already available, giving players a chance to hop on their speeder, seek out a heavy to join their crew, and team up with Nix within a part of the base game for up to three hours. Star Wars Outlaws is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4.

In A Pirate's Fortune, Kay and Nix set off to explore the Khepi system, a new space region containing a heavily ionized nebula, in search of hidden treasures. To uncover the secrets of the Khepi Tomb, they'll team up with Hondo Ohnaka to face off against Stinger Tash and her pirate gang, the Rokana Raiders. Along the way, they'll explore tempting opportunities with the Miyuki Trade League who offer new rewards for the Trailblazer in exchange for smuggling dangerous goods across the galaxy. Players must complete the main storyline in the base game before the story pack can be played. A Pirate's Fortune will be automatically accessible and free for Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass owners, or available as a separate purchase. Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate and Deluxe Edition owners will also receive the Naboo Nobility and Desert Nomad cosmetic packs with the release of the new story pack.

NVIDIA Raffling Off GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition - Customized with DOOM: The Dark Ages Wrap

In advance of and coinciding with today's launch of ID Software's DOOM: The Dark Ages, an impressive number of partner companies have revealed licensed hardware and accessories. Surprisingly, NVIDIA has joined in on the fun—with a fan favorite franchise-themed flagship Founders Edition (FE) card. This lone contribution is only available through an online competition; as outlined by the firm's GeForce social media account. This afternoon's announcement stated: "Stand and Fight for a chance to win. We're giving away a DOOM: The Dark Ages custom wrapped NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (FE) to celebrate its official release with native ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS 4 + Reflex." Hopeful entrants are tasked with contributing "thumbs ups," and writing in with comments.

Team Green's ($1999 MSRP) extremely special DOOM-themed card is decorated with highly expensive custom livery. According to official estimates, this level of custom wrapping adds about $600 to the flagship "Blackwell" card's base price. Despite this giveaway being open to worldwide participants, (small print) terms and conditions seem to excluded. As reported by Wccftech, these territories include: "Australia, the Province of Quebec, and a few more. The Middle East region and some Asian countries are also" shut out. Paying customers can consider alternative "step down" options from ASUS and (maybe Asia-only) COLORFUL. The Republic of Gamers (ROG) Astral RTX 5080 DOOM OC Edition is limited to a devilishly low number of units: 666. The Bethesda webshop is running short with available stock, but they offer all manner of extra bundled-in digital and physical tchotchkes (on top of a $1999.99 baseline).

Lenovo Unveils ThinkStation PGX - Offering Big AI Innovation in an SFF Package

Lenovo has announced the ThinkStation PGX, a compact, personal AI developer workstation. The ThinkStation PGX is ideal for AI researchers and developers, data scientists, practitioners, students, and application engineers who need a purpose-built, compact, and powerful AI desktop solution that works immediately out of the box. Built on the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip providing up to 1 PetaFlop (1000 TOPS) of AI performance, the ThinkStation PGX can tackle large generative AI models of up to 200 billion parameters. With 128 GB of coherent unified system memory, developers can experiment, fine-tune, or inference the latest generation of reasoning AI models. To double down on computing power, developers can connect two ThinkStation PGX systems together to work with even larger AI models up to 405 billion parameters.

The ThinkStation PGX comes preconfigured with the NVIDIA DGX OS, and the NVIDIA AI software stack, along with familiar tools and frameworks like PyTorch and Jupyter. Developers can instantly prototype, fine-tune, and inference large AI models from the desktop and seamlessly deploy to the data center or cloud. "By collaborating with NVIDIA to deliver a high-performance, yet compact device, Lenovo is empowering AI developers, researchers, data scientists, and students to accelerate their workloads and adoption of breakthrough innovation in generative AI."—Rob Herman, Vice President, Worldwide Workstation and Client AI Business at Lenovo.

Sony Leadership Contemplating Price Hikes & Potential US Production Line for PS5

A month ago, Sony increased its PlayStation 5 home console prices for EMEA and ANZ regions—affecting customers in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. At the time, industry experts surmised that company leadership was considering a similar strategy for a primary market: North America. Instead of freshly implemented 25% upward hikes for certain products/packages, reports suggested a 30% climb—for the North American market. Weeks later, company leadership has discussed this hot topic. During yesterday's (projected) earnings call with investors, top brass confirmed their consideration of "passing along" additional costs to consumers—in response to a reported/anticipated 100 billion yen (~$680 million) impact from US tariffs. They outlined a stockpile of PS5 consoles; enough units have been accumulated for roughly three months of supply—unaffected by adjusted conditions, in the States.

Despite this provision, Hiroki Totoki—Sony's president/CEO—is open to exploring alternative production avenues, in the face of looming extra charges. When asked about this matter, he replied with: "hardware can of course be produced locally, I think that would be an efficient strategy. PS5 is being manufactured in many areas, whether it is going to be manufactured in the US or not—it needs to be considered going forward." In efforts to navigate a trying situation, Nintendo has juggled its geographic manufacturing footprint—recent-ish developments have shifted away from a complete reliance on Chinese facilities. Industry insiders reckon that the bulk of US-bound Switch 2 units will be Vietnamese-made. Like Sony, Nintendo's executive team has publicly disclosed thoughts about future price hikes—maybe following the launch of its much-anticipated "next-gen" hybrid console. Earlier this month, Microsoft upped modern Xbox portfolio price tags—affecting customers across the world.

Cubic Odyssey Out Now on PC & Modern Consoles

Epic journey in Cubic Odyssey starts now! Explore dozens of star systems and hundreds of unique planets as you fight the Red Darkness that threatens all life in the galaxy. Share the adventure with friends, or journey solo if that's your style. There's no right or wrong way to play Cubic Odyssey—just follow your heart. The only limit is your imagination.

Our team have spent countless days and nights shaping Cubic Odyssey into a game we would want to play ourselves—and one we're truly proud of. We hope you'll love it as much as we loved creating it. You can get Cubic Odyssey on PC and Xbox Series X/S for $24.99. For the first two weeks after launch, a 10% discount is available exclusively on Steam, bringing the price down to $22.49. The offer lasts until May 28.

COLORFUL Unveils Latest Innovations at Computex 2025

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, proudly announces its joint booth showcase at this year's COMPUTEX in partnership with Segotep. Segotep is a leading brand specializing in PC cases, power supplies, peripherals, and cooling solutions. The booth will be divided into six major themed areas, offering visitors a comprehensive look into COLORFUL's latest innovations. Highlights include dedicated zones for motherboards and graphics cards, SSD storage, custom MOD builds, immersive gaming experiences, and laptops—all designed to deliver cutting-edge technology and interactive engagement for PC enthusiasts and gamers alike.

Upgraded iGame Neptune Series PC
The new iGame Neptune all-in-one chassis introduces a groundbreaking cooling design by stacking the radiators for the CPU and GPU. This layout not only enhances the visual appeal by creating a compact dual 360 mm radiator cooling system that promotes a more unified, streamlined build. The design aims to deliver an aesthetically clean and functionally efficient experience for high-performance PC enthusiasts.

ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend & Challenger SKUs Registered in South Korea

On May 9, the South Korean Radio Agency (RRA) logged four unannounced ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT SKUs. Since early Spring, harukaze5719 has kept a watchful eye on intriguing pre-launch registrations. For example, they discovered Gigabyte's Gaming OC 16 GB and 8 GB models over a month ago. AMD's board partners seem to be prepping custom options; well in advance of next week's teased unveiling (at Computex 2025). ASRock seems to be cutting things quite fine, with their registering of (allegedly) Navi 44 XT GPU-based Steel Legend and Challenger models. Rumors of a canceled AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB (GDDR6) variant emerged a while back, but certain insiders have insisted that this cheaper option will arrive alongside a 16 GB sibling.

Recent RRA filings indicate an upcoming two-pronged approach, involving a good number of AIBs. Buoyed by harukaze5719's fresh findings, VideoCardz carried out additional detective work. They soon unearthed "in stock" ASRock Steel Legend and Challenger factory overclocked Radeon RX 9060 XT cards. Apparently, a Vietnamese store is already courting local client interest—prices are not visible on the unnamed shop's webstore, but staffers are reportedly "encouraging customers to inquire" about costs of ownership. Gaming GPU enthusiasts will recall the amusingly extra early arrival of custom Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 retail stock in Europe; in anticipation of a supposedly scuppered January launch window. Unlike its main rival, AMD seems to be running on schedule with its next wave of RDNA 4 gaming products.

NVIDIA Prepares Downgraded GeForce RTX 5090D and RTX 5080 SUPER/Ti SKUs

NVIDIA's rollout of "Blackwell" generation GPUs is not complete, as rumors of a mid‑cycle refresh are already gaining momentum. Latest rumors point to a GeForce RTX 5080 SUPER (or "Ti," depending on what NVIDIA calls it) could arrive before the year is out, aiming to fill the gap between the base RTX 5080 and the flagship RTX 5090. Right now, the standard RTX 5080 comes with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory, while the RTX 5090 doubles that to 32 GB. According to a tipster on Baidu, the SUPER/Ti model would slot in at 24 GB, giving memory‑hungry games and applications a boost without stepping on the 5090's toes. Beyond that bump in RAM, though, we're still in the dark about core counts, clock speeds, and power targets.

On a related front, the China‑only RTX 5090D is reportedly being overhauled because of new US export restrictions. The revamped 5090D is said to lose almost a third of its shader hardware, dropping from 21,760 cores down to 14,080, similar to the professional‑grade RTX Pro 5000. Even if NVIDIA cranks up the clock speeds, that cut in cores would almost certainly drag performance back toward last‑generation RTX 4090 levels. Memory architecture might take a hit too: the revised 5090D could shift from a 512‑bit bus to 384 bits, reducing bandwidth by 25% even while keeping 32 GB of GDDR7. Some leaks even suggest NVIDIA might trim its VRAM to 24 GB, which would oddly line it up with the rumored spec for the upcoming 5080 SUPER.

Fractal Design Intros Meshify 3 PC Case, Momentum Fan Series, and Adjust Pro Hub

Announcing the Meshify 3 series of performance PC cases, the powerful Momentum series of fans, and the Adjust Pro Hub for connecting devices to our new online configurator.

Introducing Meshify 3—a performance PC case series combining top-tier cooling with fluid, aerodynamic design. An evolution of our classic series, Meshify 3 includes several performance-boosting engineering upgrades and a fresh new look. With ample ventilation, a rockface-inspired mesh front, and the inclusion of three powerful Momentum 140 mm fans—Meshify 3 series is built for cooler performance. The standard-size version can also house up to a 280 mm top radiator and 360 mm front radiator for further cooling, with space for a graphics card up to 349 mm in length.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of Fractal Design Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB is now live]

AMD "Zen 7" Rumors: Three Core Classes, 2 MB L2, 7 MB V‑Cache, and TSMC A14 Node

AMD is already looking ahead to its Zen 7 generation and is planning the final details for its next generation of Zen IP. The first hints come from YouTuber "Moore's Law Is Dead," which points to a few interesting decisions. AMD plans to extend its multi‑class core strategy that began with Zen 4c and continued into Zen 5. Zen 7 will reportedly include three types of cores: the familiar performance cores, dense cores built for maximum throughput, and a new low‑power variant aimed at energy‑efficient tasks, just like Intel and its LP/E-Cores. There is even an unspecified "PT" and "3D" core. By swapping out pipeline modules and tweaking their internal libraries, AMD can fine‑tune each core so it performs best in its intended role, from running virtual machines in the cloud to handling AI workloads at the network edge.

On the manufacturing front, Zen 7 compute chiplets (CCDs) are expected to be made on TSMC's A14 process, which will now include a backside power delivery network. This was initially slated for the N2 node but got shifted to the A16/A14 line. The 3D V‑Cache SRAM chiplets underneath the CCDs will remain on TSMC's N4 node. It is a conservative choice, since TSMC has talked up using N2‑based chiplets for stacked memory in advanced packaging, but AMD appears to be playing it safe. Cache sizes should grow, too. Each core will get 2 MB of L2 cache instead of the current 1 MB, and L3 cache per core could expand to 7 MB through stacked V‑Cache slices. Standard CCDs without V‑Cache will still have around 32 MB of shared L3. A bold rumor suggests an EPYC model could feature 33 cores per CCD, totaling 264 cores across eight CCDs. Zen 7 tape‑out is planned for late 2026 or early 2027, and we probably won't see products on shelves until 2028 or later. As always with early-stage plans, take these details with a healthy dose of skepticism. The final Zen 7 lineup could look quite different once AMD locks down its roadmap.

Microsoft Introduces "Designed for Xbox" Floral Accessory Collection

The new Designed for Xbox collection has arrived. Introducing the Floral Collection, designed for players who seek accessories that blend beauty with performance. Each piece in this collection is adorned with unique intricate floral patterns, bringing a touch of elegance to your game time.

Night Blossom: PowerA Advantage Plus Wired Controller
Take your game and style to new limits with the officially licensed PowerA Advantage Plus Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11, featuring the stunning Night Blossom design. With our patented Quick-Twist Thumbsticks, you can easily adjust the thumbsticks to three different height settings with a simple twist. Enjoy a smoother, pro-level feel thanks to Hall Effect Modules that utilize contact-free magnetic sensors in the thumbsticks to help with precision and longevity. Plus, two Mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons, Dual Rumble Motors, and more. Available today for $42.99 USD ERP.

Pioneer Has Ended Production of Computer Blu-ray Drives - Transfers PDDM Business to Shanxi Group

Pioneer has quietly confirmed that it has ended production of internal and external Blu-ray optical disc drives (ODDs), for computers. Rumors about the cessation of manufacturing activities emerged earlier this month; with a small number of Japanese news outlets publishing reports. Days later, an official company statement turned up in a low-key manner—via the brand's Japanese web portal. As of late April, shares of the Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing (PDDM) subsidiary were transferred to Shanxi Lightchain Technology Industrial Development Co., Ltd. Pioneer's optical disc-related businesses is now owned by the giant (Chinese) Shanxi Group. Commenting on shifting market conditions, a Pioneer Japan representative stated: "while we are moving forward with selection and concentration, centered on our car electronics business, we have come to the decision that it is preferable to advance the optical disc business with a new partner, rather than remaining within our group."

The Pioneer IT Japan webstore is due to close on May 30; as disclosed in a mid-April bulletin. In addition, NotebookCheck highlighted the complete lack of optical drive stock for North American webshop customers. At the time of writing, Pioneer's official Amazon.com presence still offers a small selection of portable slimline models. A chunkier external premium option—the BDR-X13U-S BDXL Blu-ray recorder—was launched only six months ago, so the firm's sudden change of heart is quite surprising. What Hi-Fi? noted that Pioneer's AV/home cinema division has not released any new 4K Blu-ray player products since 2019. Three months ago, Sony shuttered its last optical media factory, in Japan—signalling an end of an era. The vast majority of consumers have turned their backs on physical formats; instead favoring digital/streaming channels. In a refreshing (early 2025) PR piece, Verbatim and I-O DATA expressed their (joint) commitment to producing high-quality optical discs.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Unlocked for GeForce NOW Premium Members

Steel clashes and war drums thunder as a new age of battle dawns—one that will test even the mightiest Slayer. This GFN Thursday, DOOM: The Dark Ages—the bold medieval-inspired prequel to DOOM and DOOM Eternal—is available for GeForce NOW premium members, aka Ultimate and Performance members, to stream from the cloud at launch. Premium members can also slay in style with a free in-game reward. The stage is set and the crowd is buzzing—Capcom: Fighting Collection 2 is joining GeForce NOW at launch.

Plus, get ready to take to the skies with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 coming to the cloud this week. And catch the latest GeForce NOW updates rolling out to members starting this week. The updates include quality-of-life improvements, following performance enhancements like 120 frames-per-second streaming for SHIELD TV to keep the cloud gaming experience at its best. It's all part of another thrilling GFN Thursday, with five new games joining the cloud.

KIOXIA Announces First Enterprise NVMe SSD with 8th Gen BiCS FLASH Technology

KIOXIA America, Inc. today announced the development and prototype demonstration of its new KIOXIA CM9 Series PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs. These next-generation drives are the first enterprise SSDs built with KIOXIA's 8th generation BiCS FLASH TLC-based 3D flash memory, which incorporates CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology - an architectural innovation that delivers significant advances in power efficiency, performance and density, while doubling available capacity per flash device.

As the demands of modern computing intensify, applications such as AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing require a sophisticated solid state storage infrastructure - requiring not only enterprise-class performance but also higher power efficiency to ensure scalability and manageable operational costs. Addressing these requirements is central to the design of the KIOXIA CM9 Series, which is purpose-built to support next-generation data center workloads.

MSI Leading in QD-OLED Gaming Monitors at Computex 2025

At COMPUTEX 2025, MSI unveiled its latest series of AI-powered QD-OLED gaming monitors, transforming gaming performance with advanced artificial intelligence. These monitors feature the AI Navigator, which integrates a streamlined AI Menu to effortlessly adjust and optimize MSI's AI settings in one place, delivering peak performance and a seamless, responsive experience. Additionally, MSI's AI Care Sensor enhances gameplay by enabling real-time human detection, dynamically adjusting settings to protect the monitor and boost efficiency. This intelligent system automatically powers down the monitor or activates OLED Care when no user is detected, extending its lifespan while maintaining top-tier performance. Designed for gamers, this new lineup offers immersive gameplay, stunning visual clarity, and AI-driven adaptability, setting a new benchmark for the future of gaming.

Crafted for AI, Engineered for Excellence
MSI's MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 introduces groundbreaking AI-powered technology to enhance user experience and longevity. At its core is the AI Care Sensor, which integrates an NPU-based IC with an always-on CMOS sensor that captures images every 0.2 seconds for real-time human detection. This intelligent system not only detects users but also tracks human forms with remarkable accuracy, enabling dynamic adjustments to the monitor's settings. With AI-driven OLED Care, the monitor automatically adjusts protection settings to prevent burn-in by adapting the display based on user presence and behavior. If no user is detected, the system powers down the monitor, conserving energy and minimizing wear.

Valve Denies Steam Data Leak Was a System Breach, Calls It Old SMS Cache

Valve Corporation pushed back on reports of a massive Steam user data sale. The company says that what surfaced online was not evidence of a breach of Steam's systems but rather an archive of older SMS messages. Security outlet BleepingComputer reported that a hacker was offering roughly 89 million records for about $5,000. Those records allegedly included one-time passcodes sent to Steam users by text message along with their phone numbers. According to Valve, all of the codes were expired by the time they landed in the hacker's hands, and none of the files included any passwords, payment details, or direct ties between phone numbers and Steam accounts. Valve's statement reads, "This was not a breach of Steam systems. The data consisted of older text messages containing one-time codes valid for only 15 minutes and the phone numbers they were sent to. There is no account information, passwords, payment information or other personal data in that cache."

The company also reminded users that whenever an SMS code is used to change a Steam email address or password, they will receive confirmations by email and through Steam's secure messaging system. The incident prompted speculation that third-party messaging provider Twilio might have been hacked. A user on X, formerly Twitter, suggested that Twilio was to blame, but both Valve and a Twilio spokesperson denied the claim. Twilio said it found no evidence that its infrastructure was involved, and Valve confirmed it does not use Twilio for Steam authentication texts. Valve says users do not need to change their passwords or phone numbers, but it encourages everyone to enable the Steam Mobile Authenticator for stronger protection. The company's security team is still investigating how these historical messages were exposed.

AVerMedia & CAMO Partner for Next-Gen Mobile Type-C Streaming

AVerMedia Technologies, Inc., a pioneer in digital video and audio convergence, is thrilled to announce its latest collaboration with CAMO Studio, the powerful and intuitive streaming app developed by Reincubate. This partnership brings together AVerMedia's newly launched GO-Series—a lineup of ultraportable Type-C streaming gear—and CAMO's cutting-edge mobile streaming software to deliver the ultimate on-the-go content creation experience.

This collaboration highlights the synergy between AVerMedia's ELITE GO (GC313Pro) and the CAMO Studio App for iPad/Tablet—offering a truly laptop-free streaming solution for creators, gamers, and professionals who want to broadcast directly from handheld consoles, phones, or tablets.

Alphacool Unveils Core-series Radeon RX 9070 XT Water Block

Alphacool International GmbH, based in Braunschweig, has been a pioneer in PC water cooling technology for over 20 years. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is now expanding its portfolio with the new Core RX 9070 XT graphics card water coolers with Backplate.

The GPU water coolers have been completely redesigned. Precise adjustments to the spacing between the cooler and the PCB, along with optimized water flow simulations and extensive practical testing, have resulted in significant improvements to the cooler base and jetplate. These enhancements ensure maximum cooling performance for the newest AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT generation. The GPU water coolers feature a precisely machined copper base with high-quality chrome plating for exceptional durability and a smooth surface. The design is further complemented by robust brass fittings with a nylon cover, ensuring maximum safety and reliability.

Antec Announces Vortex View AIO CPU Coolers

Antec Inc., a global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories, proudly announces the launch of the Antec Vortex View, an advanced All-in-One (AIO) liquid cooler engineered for enthusiasts who demand both performance and personalization. The Vortex View sets a new benchmark for cooling design and user interaction, featuring a 360° rotatable 5-inch IPS display, that delivers crisp system stats, real-time performance metrics, and custom visuals—viewable from any angle. Whether mounted vertically or horizontally, the display adjusts seamlessly to fit the setup.

The Vortex View is also tuned for platform-specific thermal performance, ensuring optimal cooling across both AMD and Intel configurations based on mounting direction. Behind the display is an integrated addressable backglow, designed to subtly illuminate surrounding components and fully controllable through the iUnity software platform.

Sharkoon Unveils OfficePal K30W Series Keyboards

The OfficePal K30W put the focus on quietness and efficiency. Thanks to its scissor switches and the slim notebook profile with extra keys, this is the ideal keyboard for any kind of office environment. At the same time, the wireless operation with a long battery life ensures freedom of use and trouble-free portability between the office and working from home. And it doesn't matter if you work with a Windows PC or a Mac—the OfficePal K30W can do both.

Thanks to its scissor switches, the OfficePal K30W is extra quiet and therefore ideal in open-plan office environments where everyone can work undisturbed. The slim notebook-style profile and the adjustable height using the fold-out feet help make even hours of use easy and relaxing for the wrists. To simplify working with lists and figures, the OfficePal K30W has a full layout with a number pad and four extra keys with additional functions.

Intel Forecasts Foundry Break‑Even in 2027 as 14A Node Debuts

Intel says its struggling Foundry division will finally break even in 2027, just as its advanced 14A process comes online. The announcement came during the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference, where CFO David Zinsner outlined the plan to offset years of quarterly losses. Intel has been pouring billions of dollars into new fabs and equipment as it races to keep pace with TSMC and Samsung. Its first milestone is the 18A process, whose first product, codenamed Panther Lake, will arrive in client PCs late in 2025, with volume production following in 2026. Intel also plans to use 18A for its next Xeon "Clearwater Forest" server chips and offer it to a small set of external partners to prove the technology's readiness. "We have to start by using our own chips," Zinsner explained. "Once we show that Panther Lake and Clearwater Forest perform as expected, we'll see more interest from outside customers for 18A, 18A‑P, and then 14A."

He acknowledged that initial adoption is low, but expressed confidence that proven performance will drive committed volume. A key part of the strategy is the use of High‑NA EUV lithography at 14A. Zinsner admitted this will raise equipment costs at first, but he believes the improved transistor density and power efficiency will more than make up for the investment, boosting margins and factory utilization. Intel's path to break even also incorporates revenue from mature nodes such as Intel 16/12, advanced packaging services, and collaborations with UMC and Tower. Under its "smart capital" model, the company will balance internal wafer demand with third‑party work, maintaining flexibility and cost discipline. With a relatively modest external revenue target (for a cash-bleeding foundry), low to mid single‑digit billions per year, Intel Foundry aims to reach break‑even in 2027 and move into sustained profitability soon afterward. By 2027, Intel 14A node and ehnaced the 1.8 nm-class 18A-P(T) node will also complement these break-even efforts.

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and Handheld Console Win 2025 Red Dot Design Awards

ZOTAC is excited to announce that our premiere products have been affirmed with the prestigious Red Dot Design Award, once again reaffirming our commitment to feature innovation and hardware design that subverts convention and push the limit. In this article, we will introduce our award-winning products, and invite our product design team to provide further insight on the design process.

For ZOTAC GAMING's 50 Series GPUs, our design team have gone above and beyond in making this iteration of GeForce RTX graphics cards stylish, elegant, and definitely robust. Our Product Design & Development Manager, Surf Wong, has this to say on the design of our newest series: "With the 50 Series GPUs, we had the idea to lean in on the aesthetics of modern PC cases," he commented. "Seeing that more and more brands are coming up with fish-tank cases and other sleek designs for the purpose of displaying the internals, we thought, "why not design something that will match and make it even the centerpiece of the PC?"
Wednesday, May 14th 2025

Today's Reviews

CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Memory
Monitors
Motherboards
Notebooks
SSD
PNY GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Epic-X RGB Plus OC Review

PNY GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Epic-X RGB Plus OC Review

The PNY GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Epic-X RGB Plus OC combines strong performance with whisper-quiet acoustics, even during demanding gameplay. It keeps temperatures impressively low and features a clean design with an excellent RGB implementation.

Boulies Launches EP300 Ergonomic Chair Series

UK based premium office and gaming chair specialist, Boulies, today proudly introduces its EP300 ergonomic chair that combines functionality, comfort and durability to provide optimal support and a great sitting experience for users. The perfect addition for any workspace, it can be tailored to individual needs thanks to its variety of adjustable features.

Engineered for a tailored seating experience, the Boulies EP300 features a Multi Tilt Mechanism to help users get a comfortable and ergonomic sitting posture with a 360° swivel. Built for durability and adjustments, the tilt mechanism provides long-lasting support whilst adapting to unique needs. The backrest can be easily adjusted to lean forwards or backwards (recline 90°-109°), offering the ideal balance between focus and relaxation and able to switch between work and play - covering a full day and evening. Furthermore, Boulies engineers the backrest to perfectly align with the spine's natural curve to help reduce strain on the back during long hours of sitting.

addlink Teases Its Upcoming PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSDs With Speeds Up to 14,000 MB/s

Ahead of next week's Computex 2025 show, Taiwanese hardware manufacturer addlink is teasing some of its upcoming products. We've learned that they plan to release new PCIe Gen 5 x4 NVMe 2.0 SSDs. The addlink G57 (without heatsink) and G57H (with heatsink) M.2 2280 models are presented as capable of delivering speeds of 14,000 MB/s for both read and write operations, thanks to a new 6 nm PCIe Gen 5 controller. The series consists of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models, and we can speculate that the advertised 14,000 MB/s speeds will likely be available only on the 4 TB variant (following the current trend with other manufacturers). These devices use 3D NAND Flash memory and LPDDR4 (for DRAM cache), featuring LDPC ECC, SLC Cache, SMART and TRIM support, and thermal control. The products will be backed by a 5-year limited warranty. Beyond these details, we'll have to wait a few more days for TechPowerUp team to visit addlink's booth at Computex for more technical information.

addlink will also showcase at Computex 2025, alongside the aforementioned products, a wide range of storage and memory devices including various SSDs, USB drives, and DDR5 memory modules with speeds up to 8,400 MB/s (CUDIMM) and 6,400 MB/s (UDIMM). Those who can't wait until Computex can explore these products on addlink's virtual showcase. We're seeing a welcome trend with the latest and upcoming PCIe Gen 5 NAND Flash storage devices for consumers in terms of performance levels, with the bar being raised to 14,000 MB/s or even higher. Just today, Sandisk launched its highly anticipated WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe internal SSD, capable of delivering speeds up to 14,900 MB/s and capacities up to 8 TB. Earlier this week, Kingston released the FURY Renegade G5 with speeds up to 14,800/14,000 MB/s read/write and over 2 million IOPS.

Leaked AMD "Sound Wave" Arm-based APU Linked to "Microsoft Surface (2026)" Lineup

Late last month, data miners unearthed a wide variety of unannounced AMD Ryzen processor IPs. A "Sound Wave" product category received less attention, but Team Red's curious codename has reemerged in the middle of May. Thanks to fresh Kepler L2 theorizations, this mysterious mobile APU family has a potential end destination. Leaks from 2024 suggested that company engineers were working on an unusual Arm-based processor branch. AMD is cozily well-versed in all things x86, but an alleged present day diversification—into Arm (x64) territories—has confounded a fair few industry watchdogs.

In a tangential conversation—forking off from speculative "Zen 6" and PlayStation 6 APU chatter—Kepler L2 reckons that Team Red "Sound Wave" chips will be deployed in 2026, possibly within a refreshed Microsoft Surface lineup. Current-gen Arm-based offerings—leveraging Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors—have generated mixed user impressions (press and public alike). Microsoft and Qualcomm's "Windows on Arm" (WoA) platform partnership was elevated earlier on in May (with cheaper options), but troublesome hardware-to-software compatibility issues have reportedly caused some rifts in this relationship. As of last week, evaluators seemed to be poking around with NVIDIA's rumored Arm-based "N1" chip series on Windows. In theory, AMD's futuristic "Sound Wave" designs could do battle with (claimed) Team Green and MediaTek collaborative efforts.

Icy Dock Intros New ToughArmor EX PCIe 4.0 Mobile Rack Enclosure

The ICY DOCK ToughArmor EX MB601V4KW-B features a Tough-Cover IPX6-rated water-resistant front panel, providing superior protection against dust, splashes, and harsh environmental elements. Designed for military, field, and edge applications, this rugged enclosure supports one 2.5" U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD (up to 15 mm height) and fits into a standard external 3.5" drive bay - ideal for deployments where durability, mobility, and reliability are essential.

Engineered with full-metal construction and fan-less design, the MB601V4KW-B delivers PCIe Gen 4.0 transfer speeds up to 64 Gbps via a direct U.2 (SFF-8639) interface, making it well-suited for high-speed workflows such as AI model training, data logging, and industrial system caching. Drive-level security and protection are reinforced through a 2-segment keylock and EMI grounding, ensuring safe and stable operation in sensitive environments.

ASUS Makes Every Day a Snow Day - Fully Introduces GeForce RTX 50 Series White Editions

Our diverse lineup of GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards is getting even larger with the arrival of new White Editions. With these high-performance, cutting-edge cards, you'll be able to keep your frost-hued battlestation color coordinated. Check out the snazzy new White Edition offerings from ROG, TUF Gaming, and Prime.

Max out your snow-white rig with peak power from ROG Astral
If you want the most power possible in a ravishing white graphics card, consider the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 White Edition 32 GB and ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 White Edition 16 GB. These VRAM-loaded cards comprise the top of the power stack. They both feature a quad-fan design for more airflow than last-gen's flagship cards, our patented vapor chamber tech, and eight heatpipes for incredible heat dissipation. These cards also swap out thermal paste for a premium phase-change thermal pad, enhancing the longevity of the graphics card's thermal interface material.

GAMEMAX Unveils Latest Innovations at Computex 2025

GAMEMAX, an emerging brand of PC gaming components including gaming cases and power supply units, is thrilled to join COMPUTEX 2025 with a bold message - Ready to hunt. GAMEMAX's latest innovations and products aims to empower builders of all levels - from first-time builders to seasoned enthusiasts. At this year's COMPUTEX, GAMEMAX will unveil its latest innovations across three key categories: PC Cases, Power Supply Units, and Cooling. Designed to push boundaries in style, power, and performance, every product reflects the brand's mission to fuel the hunt for the ultimate build.

PC Cases: Bold Designs, Next-Level Functionality
GAMEMAX introduces a versatile range of PC cases designed to meet the needs of every type of builder. GAMEMAX will also exhibit its recent releases including the LEADER 2, BLADE CONCEPT, N90, and T20 cases.

Samsung Foundry Reportedly Making Significant Progress with 2 nm GAA Evaluation Phase

South Korean semiconductor insiders and analysts believe that Samsung's Foundry business is catching up with a main rival. Earlier this month, TSMC leadership openly discussed an unprecedented demand for 2 nm wafer products. Industry moles believe that the Taiwan's top chipmaker is still ahead of contenders in nearby nations. As a result of an alleged leading and comfortable position, TSMC is reportedly upgrading its state-of-the-art facilities with brand-new equipment—indicating a push into 1.4 nm fields. According to a fresh Chosun Biz news article, Samsung engineers are in the process of narrowing the gap between their 2 nm Gate-All-Around (GAA)—also known as SF2—manufacturing node process and TSMC's equivalent technology.

Last month, leaks suggested SF2 trial yields passing the ~40% mark—in comparison, a ~60% figure was uttered by TSMC insiders. Chosun Biz's sources claim that the South Korean foundry team is close to getting their "2 nm process performance evaluation" into a crucial final stage. Yesterday's report posits that NVIDIA and Qualcomm are in the equation; these VIP clients are purportedly considering SF2 as a "second channel" option. Chosun Biz reckons that Team Green is sizing up Samsung Foundry flagship tech for next-gen commercial and enterprise GPUs. Meanwhile, the San Diego-based smartphone processor specialist could be eyeing up SF2 (for a future AP). The latest inside track info points to 2 nm GAA trial production runs breaking beyond aforementioned (approximate) 40% yield rates. TSMC 2 nm wafer charges are reportedly greater than expected, so big industry players are allegedly investigating "cheaper" non-Taiwanese production avenues.

Qualcomm & HUMAIN to Develop State-of-the-Art AI Data Centers

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a technology leader enabling connected intelligent computing, and HUMAIN, a national artificial intelligence (AI) champion advancing Saudi Arabia's goals for AI, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the intent to enter a strategic collaboration for the development of next-generation AI data centers, infrastructure and cloud-to-edge services to meet the rapidly growing demand for AI across the globe, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MOU was signed during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, which was held during the official visit of President of the United States Donald Trump to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The data centers and supporting ecosystem are intended to provide both government and enterprise organizations with access to high-performance and power efficient CPU and AI cloud infrastructure and cloud-to-edge services. These offerings will enable the deployment of AI solutions that can make real-time predictions and decisions, in addition to significantly increasing the availability and value of advanced AI-enabled applications.

AMD Teases "Not Available For Purchase" Radeon RX 9060 XT Reference Card Design

In an almost uncanny case of recent history repeating itself, AMD has kicked off another RDNA 4 new product teaser campaign. Today's reminder—regarding Jack Huynh's upcoming Computex presentation—included a promotional render of a stubbier dual-fan Radeon RX 9000 Series card design. Casting our memories back to late January (2025), Team Red rolled out an ill-timed advertisement—not long after the official delay of Radeon RX 9070 XT and non-XT cards. Despite denying the existence of "Made-By-AMD" (MBA) reference designs, AMD staffers were likely enraged by Chinese black market channel offerings of alleged "real deal examples." Days after first wave RDNA 4's March 6 global launch, a triple-fan specimen was outed.

Throughout early Q2, insiders and members of the Chiphell forum have played around with Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 MBA cards. The latter unit (see photo below) seems to utilize a dual-fan configuration in a fairly long enclosure format. Team Red's latest promo post likely points to a forthcoming unveiling of Radeon RX 9060 XT partner models, but curious industry observers will be wondering whether the shorter reference design actually exists in real life. As per usual, a tiny disclaimer claims otherwise: "Artistic Render. Not Available For Purchase." So far, leaks have suggested the presence of Acer, ASUS, GIGABYTE, and XFX custom options during introductory proceedings. Today's refresher outlined upcoming new product categories and partner contributions: "join AMD on May 21 as we reveal what's next in gaming, AI PCs, and more. (Our) SVP and GM of Computing and Graphics Group, along with industry leaders and partners showcase what is built to power the next level."

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Strix OLED XG32U Gaming Monitors Series

ASUS Republic of Gamers today announced the ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG and XG32UCWG, the world's first 4K WOLED gaming monitors featuring TrueBlack Glossy film, an anti-reflective panel coating designed to significantly cut down on ambient reflections. A one-tap FHD mode in each monitor configures it for esports, unlocking an astounding 480 Hz for the XG32UCWMG and 330 Hz for the XG32UCWG. Plus, the integrated OLED Care Pro suite and Neo Proximity sensor help safeguard the panels by minimizing the risk of burn-in. Both monitors have a new ultra-compact space-saving stand that frees up desk space.

Exceptional OLED performance in any environment
Developed exclusively for ROG, the TrueBlack Glossy film pairs a zero-haze optical layer with an advanced anti-reflective stack, resulting in a 38% drop in ambient reflections versus previous-generation glossy WOLED panels. This keeps black hues truly black, even under fluorescent lights or studio spotlights, and helps prevent eye strain even after prolonged viewing. Additionally, the ASUS Clear Pixel Edge algorithm removes red-green fringing on text and fine lines, so spreadsheets, lines of code, and creative timelines appear pin-sharp.

AMD & HUMAIN Reveal Formation of $10 Billion Strategic Collab, Aimed at Advancing Global AI

AMD and HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia's new AI enterprise, today announced a landmark agreement to build the world's most open, scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient AI infrastructure, that will power the future of global intelligence through a network of AMD-based AI computing centers stretching from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States. As part of the agreement, the parties will invest up to $10B to deploy 500 megawatts of AI compute capacity over the next five years. The AI superstructure built by AMD and HUMAIN will be open by design, accessible at scale, and optimized to power AI workloads across enterprise, start-up and sovereign markets. HUMAIN will oversee end-to-end delivery, including hyperscale data center, sustainable power systems, and global fiber interconnects, and AMD will provide the full spectrum of the AMD AI compute portfolio and the AMD ROCm open software ecosystem.

"At AMD, we have a bold vision to enable the future of AI everywhere—bringing open, high-performance computing to every developer, AI start-up and enterprise around the world," said Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO, AMD. "Our investment with HUMAIN is a significant milestone in advancing global AI infrastructure. Together, we are building a globally significant AI platform that delivers performance, openness and reach at unprecedented levels." With initial deployments already underway across key global regions, the collaboration is on track to activate multi-exaflop capacity by early 2026, supported by next-gen AI silicon, modular data center zones, and a developer-enablement focused software platform stack built around open standards and interoperability.

Vastarmor Updates its Radeon RX 9070 XT Super Alloy Design with Zany Rainbow "Ultra" Edition

Roughly a month ago, Vastarmor debuted its "Super-less" Radeon RX 9070 XT Alloy SKU. The Chinese manufacturer's barebones spin-off—derived from a triple-fan flagship design—was stripped of fancy ARGB trimmings. Additionally, this sober-looking alternative option was deemed unworthy of sporting 3.1 GHz boost clock credentials—instead, making do with a mere 3010 MHz setting. A brand-new "Super Alloy Ultra" model retains elite-tier membership; as demonstrated by a recently published specification sheet. The Vastarmor design team has opted into using a louder and wider color palette; clearly demonstrated by their fresh RX 9070 XT Super Alloy Ultra's zany pearlescent rainbow-spectrum shroud setup. Unfortunately, this bright aesthetic treatment did not extend to the new flagship's backplate. The AIB's Super Alloy White option was appropriately decorated; on the front and back. Vastarmor's latest offering is not expected to break retail barriers beyond Chinese markets. ASRock's premium Radeon RX 9070 XT Taichi OC card is—perhaps—the closest to being a visually "eccentric" option for global audiences. Fittingly, its factory overclocked talents include a 3.1 GHz boost clock.

"The Slormancer" Exits Early Access Phase - Devs Celebrate Milestone Transition to v1.0

The Slormancer is now out of Early Access. Hello everyone! We're two indie devs who started this project over 8 years ago as a hobby. We've always been huge fans of hack'n'slash games so we decided to do one. We started from the bottom: watching YouTube tutorials on how to move sprites, draw pixel art, or generate dungeons procedurally. From there things escalated slowly. Four years later, The Slormancer launched in Early Access, and to our surprise, it found more success than we ever hoped for. That allowed us to go full-time and keep building the game we always wanted to play.

The Slormancer is now officially out of Early Access. Our game is the result of countless hours of work, but it was made possible thanks to the incredible support, feedback, and passion of our player community throughout its development. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this adventure! Fight hordes of enemies led by The Slormancer, an evil warlock from the past, in an absurd yet epic Action RPG! Experience fast-paced gameplay, loads of shiny loot, tons of collectibles, countless hours of content, and carefully crafted pixel art.

AMD Ryzen AI Max "Strix Halo" APUs Reportedly On Sale as Individual Parts in China

Officially, AMD Ryzen AI Max "Strix Halo" mobile processors are only available in complete systems—e.g. laptops, notebooks, and mini desktop PCs. Upon learning about this release status, DIY enthusiasts were left disappointed. After all, these impressively potent all-in-one solutions have picked up considerable praise pre- and post-launch. Team Red's "Strix Halo" flagship—the Ryzen AI Max+ 395—is the subject of much online debate, but cost of entry is steep. Under normal circumstances (i.e. no leveraging of promotional discounts), potential buyers are looking at $2000+ pre-built systems.

Separate BGA packages have turned up for sale in China—specifically on Goofish; Alibaba's second-hand trading platform. A past weekend VideoCardz investigative piece covered these curiosities. At this stage in time, viable custom motherboard designs are not yet widely distributed—effectively making individual "Strix Halo" units expensive paperweights. At the time of writing, seller "The Eraser in My Mind" offers the best Ryzen AI Max+ 395 deal: 3998 RMB (~$555 USD). This Suzhou-based trader also lists Ryzen AI Max PRO 390, and 380 SKUs. Product descriptions indicate that some of these processors are already powering mysterious handheld gaming devices (likely regional exclusives). Four Goofish accounts are displaying the same set of images; distinctive Team Red branding and "Made in Taiwan" tags are clearly visible across specimens—mostly mounted on plastic transport trays.

Final Nintendo Switch 2 Specifications Surface: CPU, GPU, Memory, and System Reservation

With the launch scheduled for June 5, Nintendo has quietly confirmed the final technical details for its next-generation hybrid console, the Switch 2, clarifying the specifications of the "custom NVIDIA processor" at its core and specifying exactly how much horsepower developers can access. The Switch 2's SoC is officially labeled the NVIDIA T239, a custom iteration of the Ampere architecture rather than a repurposed Tegra. It contains eight Arm Cortex‑A78C cores running a 64‑bit ARMv8 instruction set, with cryptography extensions enabled and no support for 32‑bit code. Each core features 64 KB of L1 instruction cache and 64 KB of L1 data cache. Six cores are available for game development, while two are reserved for system tasks. Clock speeds reach 998 MHz in handheld mode and 1,101 MHz when docked, and the CPU can theoretically burst to 1,700 MHz for demanding operations or future updates.

Graphics are powered by a full Ampere‑based GPU with 1,536 CUDA cores. Clock speeds top out at 1,007 MHz in docked mode and 561 MHz in handheld mode, delivering approximately 3.07 TeraFLOPS when docked and 1.71 TeraFLOPS in portable use. As with the CPU, a portion of GPU resources is allocated to operating system functions, slightly reducing the amount available for applications. Memory capacity has increased from 4 GB of LPDDR4 in the original Switch to 12 GB of LPDDR5X in the new model, split across two 6 GB modules. Peak bandwidth measures 102 GB/s docked and 68 GB/s handheld. Of the total, 3 GB are reserved for system functions and 9 GB are dedicated to games and applications. Nintendo has also introduced a dedicated File Decompression Engine for LZ4‑compressed data, offloading asset unpacking from the CPU to improve loading times without overheating the chipset. The console ships with 256 GB of UFS storage, expandable via microSD Express up to 2 TB, and features a 7.9‑inch, 1080p LCD that supports HDR10 and up to 120 Hz variable refresh rate in handheld mode. Although HDMI VRR is not yet available, the internal display fully supports it.

Lenovo Unveils New Generation of AI PC Desktops and Monitors

Lenovo unveiled its new generation of business devices for modern workplaces, featuring a comprehensive selection of AI-powered ThinkCentre M Series Gen 6 desktops and the ThinkVision T Series Gen 40 monitors. Designed to address the needs of businesses of all sizes, the ThinkCentre family of desktops combine performance and reliability in different form factors, including tower, compact and all-in-one (AIO), while the ThinkVision T Series monitors blend outstanding display, connectivity, and manageability.

"Nearly half of businesses believe that AI-powered devices boost employee productivity, and 90 percent of those are already piloting, planning or exploring AI-powered PC rollouts, according to a recent Lenovo and IDC global survey of IT decision-makers. AI has and will continue to reshape the future of work, and Lenovo is proud to lead the way with a new generation of AI desktop PCs and monitors that meet the changing needs of businesses in this new era," said Johnson Jia, senior vice president of Intelligent Devices Group's Global Innovation Center at Lenovo. "Our latest ThinkCentre M Series Gen 6 desktops and ThinkVision T Series Gen 40 monitors power businesses of all sizes with scalable performance to unlock next-gen AI productivity and creativity."

Flow Computing Parallel Processing Unit (PPU) Architecture Achieves End-to-End CPU Operations in Alpha Testing

Flow Computing, the pioneer in licensing on-die, ultra-high-performance parallel computing solutions to CPU vendors of all architectures - today announced it has successfully achieved a critical milestone in Flow's development roadmap towards commercializing its parallel processing ecosystem. Capable of increasing any CPU architecture by up to 100X, the company has been actively developing a compiler that enables source code to take advantage of its acclaimed Parallel Processing Unit (PPU) architecture - that compiler today entered Alpha testing.

Through the first target compilations, it has been determined that simple parallel workloads consist of a massive amount of loops in RISC-V CPU models without PPU assistance. Whereas in RISC-V CPU models incorporating the PPU, the amount of these loops is significantly reduced by recompiling the existing code, demonstrable proof that it is indeed possible to achieve a significant performance boost with a PPU-enhanced CPU design at up to 100X performance.

GameSir Reveals T7 Pro Floral Xbox/PC Controller - Available to Pre-order

Embrace style and performance with the GameSir T7 Pro Floral, featuring a stunning floral-patterned matte shell. Its semi-transparent design and dynamic RGB lighting create a mesmerizing visual experience. Designed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 and Steam, it delivers an ultra-smooth, low-latency gaming experience. Now available for pre-order on gamesir.com and Best Buy.

Built to Last. Engineered to Perform.
Using GameSir non-contact magnetic Hall Effect technology to ensure the sticks never wear down in their lifetime and provide an ultra lifespan of up to 5 million cycles, the T7 Pro Floral prevents stick drift and ensures reliable, durable stick performance. At the same time, GameSir's precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers offer unparalleled smoothness and responsiveness. With 2-stage trigger stops, gamers can toggle the triggers to a short pull position. Whether you need precise linear control or ultimate responsiveness, the T7 Pro Floral gives you the competitive edge you need.

ASUS France Previews ROG Astral White Edition Graphics Card Design

Earlier this month, the global ASUS website was updated with a slew of new graphics card product pages. The most striking examples—TUF Gaming and PRIME White Editions—appeared online with little PR fanfare. Fast-forward to the start of this week; with the ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) France social media account teasing already revealed models, alongside a surprise pale spin-off of a hot topic flagship. The manufacturer's air-cooled Astral GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models were debuted during CES 2025. Since then, various special edition variants have attracted additional press and community attention—most notably, a spectacularly expensive Gold-plated MENA region-exclusive.

The French ASUS office's (May 12) message implied that company leadership had paid close attention to PC hardware community feedback. As a result of these requests, a new marketing campaign—bearing a "Stay Frosty, Play Flawlessly" slogan—is pushing alternate designs. As interpreted by the usual media outlets, the brand seems to be teasing an imminent launch: "you asked for it. We delivered. ASUS GeForce RTX 50 Series White Edition graphics cards are coming soon." Given the current lay of the land, next week's Computex trade event will serve as an ideal platform for White Edition showcasing—as hinted by an appropriate hashtag. ASUS is expected to unveil its (already leaked) portfolio of custom Radeon RX 9060 XT cards, but any in advance hype would break signed NDAs.

Official Intel Account Teases Higher-End Arc "Battlemage" B770 GPU

Intel's official X/Twitter account has started replying to fans asking for a more powerful GPU, teasing the long‑rumored Arc "Battlemage" B770. Over the past week, users who replied to Intel's Arc PRO announcement asking about the B770 have received brief but intriguing responses like "stay tuned," "we're just getting started," and "more to come." On the surface, these could be generic marketing lines. But with NVIDIA gearing up to launch the RTX 5060 and AMD expected to unveil the RX 9060 XT next week, the timing feels deliberate—and perhaps a sign that Intel plans its own midrange contender. Clues are already stacking up. Shipping manifests from Intel's Vietnam assembly plant—the same facility that produced limited‑run B570 and B580 cards—show a batch of BMG‑G31 GPUs en route. Tipster OneRaichu has said the Arc B770 may feature 24 to 32 Xe2 compute units, a 256‑bit memory bus, and up to 16 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Those specifications would position the B770 as a serious rival to NVIDIA's RTX 5060 and AMD's RX 9060 XT in both gaming and compute tasks. Beyond Battlemage, Intel's next‑generation Xe3 "Celestial" architecture is reportedly deep into pre‑silicon validation. Whether Intel opts to reveal the Arc B770 at Computex in late May or in a standalone livestream, the recent social media exchanges have already done their job by building excitement among enthusiasts. Community reaction has been enthusiastic. Many fans hope to see Intel hit the price target of, ideally, under $300. If Intel can deliver strong real‑world gaming performance at an attractive price and ensure wide availability, the Arc B770 could become the breakout midrange card that shifts the balance in this highly competitive segment.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & NVIDIA Announce Building of AI Factories in the Region

NVIDIA and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have announced partnerships to transform the country into a global powerhouse in AI, cloud and enterprise computing, digital twins and robotics. During a state visit today with U.S. President Donald Trump and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang said that the effort will harness sovereign AI infrastructure and expertise to propel Saudi Arabia to the ranks of global hyperscale AI leaders. "AI, like electricity and internet, is essential infrastructure for every nation," Huang said. "Together with HUMAIN, we are building AI infrastructure for the people and companies of Saudi Arabia to realize the bold vision of the Kingdom."

"Our partnership with NVIDIA is a bold step forward in realizing the Kingdom's ambitions to lead in AI and advanced digital infrastructure," said Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN. "Together, we are building the capacity, capability and a new globally enabled community to shape a future powered by intelligent technology and empowered people."

Sandisk Launches WD_BLACK SN8100 PCIe Gen 5.0 NVMe SSD

Setting a new standard for client SSDs, Sandisk today unveiled the powerful WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD with PCIe Gen 5.0 technology, a cutting-edge internal SSD delivering speeds up to 14,900 MB/s and capacities up to 8 TB, for high-performance gaming, content creation and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

With the evolution of gaming graphics, high-quality 4K and 8K content and AI applications, today's gamers and professionals need solutions to help maximize the performance of their PCs. The Sandisk WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe PCIe Gen 5.0 SSD is built for hardcore PC gamers looking to add the most advanced combination of speed and reliability to their rig for peak performance and for professionals needing a top-of-the-line PC storage solution for intensive workflows and AI applications. In addition to blistering speeds, the new PCIe Gen 5.0 SSD is also 100% more power efficient than Sandisk's high-performance PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD.

MiTAC Computing Deploys Latest AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors

MiTAC Computing Technology Corp., a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings Corp. and a leading manufacturer in server platform design, introduced its latest offering featuring the AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors. These updated server solutions offer enhanced performance and energy efficiency to meet the growing demands of modern business workloads, including AI, cloud services, and data analytics.

"The new AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors deliver the performance and capabilities our customers need at a price point that makes ownership more attractive and attainable," said Derek Dicker, corporate vice president, Enterprise and HPC Business, AMD. "We're enabling businesses to own their computing infrastructure at an economical price, while providing the performance, security features and efficiency modern workloads demand."

MediaTek Launches Dimensity 9400e Mobile Platform

Today, MediaTek unveiled its latest chipset in the flagship space, the MediaTek Dimensity 9400e. Featuring the company's advanced All Big Core architecture, the Dimensity 9400e is the latest addition to MediaTek's family of flagship-class processors, providing a wider variety of options and functionality for device makers, and delivering exceptional performance and energy efficiency for outstanding artificial intelligence, connectivity, imaging, and gaming for users.

"With the launch of the MediaTek Dimensity 9400e, we are expanding our family of leading mobile platforms to ensure both device makers and users can select from a larger range of flagship experiences than ever before," said Dr. Yenchi Lee, General Manager of MediaTek's Wireless Communications Business Unit. "We remain committed to exceeding expectations in top-tier performance, energy efficiency, and AI capabilities by combining powerful hardware with advanced MediaTek-driven technologies."

SteelSeries Intros Arctis GameBuds Ultra-Limited-Edition in New 'GLORANGE' Color

From the creator of the groundbreaking line of Arctis Nova headsets and Arctis GameBuds, SteelSeries, the original esports brand that fuses gaming and culture, today introduces an ultra-limited-edition 'Glorange' colorway of their award-winning Arctis GameBuds.

The role that gaming plays in moving culture forward is essential and SteelSeries set out to push boundaries and solve problems for those living a "gaming lifestyle" in today's rapidly changing world. The goal was simple, reinvent the world's number one premium gaming headset - within a pair of gaming earbuds. Whether the pain the points are related to the fact that gamers couldn't connect to a PS5 or Xbox via Bluetooth, or the status quo was poor gaming audio quality and bad microphone communications in traditional earbuds, or the inability to utilize a single pair of earbuds across multiple platforms, or fatigue and poor battery life from all-day use, the introduction of SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds solve multiple problems for gamers.

Zotac Readies Magnus EA Mini PC Powered by Ryzen AI Max "Strix Halo"

Zotac is ready with the Magnus EA (2025) mini PC powered by AMD Ryzen AI Max "Strix Halo" line of processors. It was inevitable for "Strix Halo" to make its way into gaming-capable mini PCs, given its small PCB and cooling footprint for the kind of hardware chops on offer—up to 16 "Zen 5" CPU cores, and a powerful iGPU with up to 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units that makes it capable of 1440p AAA gaming; besides full Microsoft Copilot+ capability with a 50 TOPS-class NPU. The Magnus EA comes in a similar 140 mm-class 1U chassis as the 2025 Magnus One that's expected to be built on Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processors, which is noticeably thinner than the 2025 Magnus EN, which combines a Core Ultra 200H "Arrow Lake-H" processor with GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" mobile discrete GPUs. Zotac is expected to unveil the Magnus EA, the 2025 Magnus EN, and the 2025 Magnus One at Computex, later this month.

Samsung Prepares Hybrid Bonding for HBM4 to Slash Thermals and Boost Bandwidth

At the recent AI Semiconductor Forum in Seoul, Samsung Electronics revealed that it will adopt hybrid bonding in its upcoming HBM4 memory stacks. This decision is intended to reduce thermal resistance and enable an ultra‑wide memory interface, qualities that become ever more critical as artificial intelligence and high‑performance computing applications demand greater bandwidth and efficiency. Unlike current stacking methods that join DRAM dies with tiny solder microbumps and underfill materials, hybrid bonding bonds copper‑to‑copper and oxide‑to‑oxide surfaces directly, resulting in thinner, more thermally efficient 3D assemblies. High‑bandwidth memory works by stacking multiple DRAM dies on top of a base logic die, with through‑silicon vias carrying signals vertically through each layer. Traditionally, microbumps routed horizontal connections between dies, but as data rates increase and stack heights grow, these bumps introduce significant electrical and thermal limitations.

Hybrid bonding addresses those issues by allowing interconnect pitches below 10 micrometers, which lowers both resistance and capacitance and improves overall signal integrity. SK hynix has taken a different path. The company is enhancing its molded reflow underfill (MR‑MUF) process to produce 16‑Hi HBM4 stacks that comply with JEDEC's maximum height requirement of 775 micrometers. The company believes that if its advanced MR‑MUF technique can achieve performance on par with hybrid bonding, they will avoid the substantial capital investment needed for the specialized equipment that true 3D copper bonding requires. The cost and space demands of hybrid bonding equipment are significant. Specialized lithography and alignment tools occupy more clean‑room real estate, increasing capital expenditures. Samsung may mitigate some of these costs through Semes, its in‑house equipment subsidiary, but it remains uncertain whether Semes can deliver production‑ready hybrid bonding systems in time for mass production. If Samsung successfully qualifies its HBM4 stacks using hybrid bonding, which it plans to begin manufacturing in 2026, the company could gain a competitive edge over Micron and SK hynix.

AMD Splits Instinct MI SKUs: MI450X Targets AI, MI430X Tackles HPC

AMD is gearing up to expand its Instinct MI family in the latter half of 2026 with two purpose‑built UDNA‑based accelerators. These new models, MI430X UL4 and MI450X, will cater respectively to high‑precision HPC tasks and large‑scale AI workloads. The MI430X UL4 is designed for applications that rely heavily on double‑precision FP64 floating‑point performance, such as scientific simulations, climate modeling, and others. It features a large array of FP64 tensor cores, ensuring consistent throughput for tightly coupled compute jobs. Because a dedicated UALink switch from partners like Astera Labs or Broadcom won't be available at launch, AMD has chosen a four‑GPU point‑to‑point mesh configuration for the MI430X UL4. This limited scale‑up approach keeps latency low and synchronization tight, making it ideal for small cluster deployments. On the AI side, the MI450X embraces Ethernet‑based Ultra Ethernet for scale‑out.

With UEC‑ready switches already on the market, this open‑standard networking solution lets users build expansive AI farms across dozens or even hundreds of nodes. By relying on established Ethernet technology instead of the new UALink ecosystem, AMD provides customers with immediate, hardware‑accelerated networking for both inference and training. While UALink promises an open, vendor‑neutral accelerator-to-accelerator fabric, its progress has been slow. Committee reviews and limited investment in switch silicon have delayed switch availability. Broadcom, viewed as the primary UALink switch supplier, has been cautious about its commitment, given expected lower volumes compared to Ethernet alternatives. AMD's acceleration segmentation addresses these realities. The MI430X UL4 delivers high‑precision compute in compact GPU meshes. The MI450X offers large‑scale AI connectivity via Ethernet. Should UALink switch development catch up in the future, AMD could revisit native GPU‑to‑GPU fabrics.

Rambus Delivers Industry-Leading Client Chipsets for Next-Generation AI PC Memory Modules

Rambus Inc., a premier chip and silicon IP provider making data faster and safer, today announced the availability of complete client chipsets for next-generation AI PC memory modules, featuring two new Power Management ICs (PMICs) for client computing. PMICs are critical to efficiently power memory modules providing breakthrough levels of performance for advanced computing applications. The two new Rambus industry-leading PMICs are the PMIC5200, for LPDDR5 CAMM2 (LPCAMM2) memory modules and the PMIC5120, which supports DDR5 CSODIMMs and CUDIMMs.

These PMICs, alongside the Client Clock Driver (CKD) and Serial Presence Detect Hub (SPD Hub), comprise a complete chipset offering to enable memory modules for AI PC notebooks, desktops and workstations. Further, with the addition of these new PMICs, Rambus now offers complete memory interface chipsets for all JEDEC standard DDR5 and LPDDR5 memory modules for both servers and clients.

Valve Launches SteamOS Compatibility Rating, Over 18,000 Games Verified

Valve is rolling out a new SteamOS Compatibility rating system to cover every device running SteamOS, not just the Steam Deck. This Steam Deck Verified program extension arrives as Lenovo's Legion Go S, running SteamOS, prepares to ship to customers. Valve hopes the added visibility will help players decide which games will work smoothly on their hardware. Under this system, a game and all its middleware, including launchers, anti‑cheat tools, and so forth, must be fully supported on SteamOS to earn the "SteamOS Compatible" label. Titles not meeting these requirements will be marked "SteamOS Unsupported." Valve emphasizes that this initial rollout focuses solely on basic compatibility. It does not yet include performance benchmarks or input testing, since hardware variations can lead to very different frame rates and control experiences.

Valve expects to award SteamOS Compatible ratings to over 18,000 games at launch. Developers who have already gone through the Steam Deck Verified process do not need to take any additional steps. An automated system will convert existing Steam Deck test results into SteamOS ratings. Games that have not been tested before will enter the same community‑driven evaluation queue, with both Steam Deck and SteamOS results published together once testing finishes. For players using SteamOS on devices other than the Steam Deck, the Steam Store and Steam Client will clearly display the new compatibility badges. If you are browsing on a Legion Go S or any other supported device, you will see the SteamOS Compatible or Unsupported icon alongside the existing Steam Deck Verified icon. On non‑SteamOS platforms, these labels will not appear, and the store will function as it does today. Valve plans to update the Steam client's interface and publish the initial batch of compatibility data in the next few weeks.

Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6793 Beta Released

Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6793 Beta comes with optimization for "DOOM: The Dark Ages" and "Japanese Drift Master." The drivers also fix a handful of issues. To begin with, a bug specific to the Arc B-series that causes color corruption in "The Last of Us Part I" has been fixed. Blue flickering artifacts noticed in "DOOM Eternal" with ray tracing enabled, has been fixed. Flickering black boxes seen in "The Last of Us Part II" has been fixed for Arc A-series discrete GPUs, and the iGPUs of Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6793 Beta
Tuesday, May 13th 2025

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Upcoming Hardware Launches 2025 (Updated May 2025)

Upcoming Hardware Launches 2025 (Updated May 2025)

This article serves as a continuously updated summary of currently known leaks and official announcements regarding upcoming hardware releases in 2025 and beyond. We cover and keep track of developments for Intel Panther Lake, Nova Lake, AMD Zen 6, NVIDIA's and AMD's upcoming GPUs, DDR6 and GDDR7 memory, chipsets and more.
G-Wolves Hati-R Pro 8K Review

G-Wolves Hati-R Pro 8K Review

Essentially, the 25 g Hati-R Pro 8K is a slightly smaller Hati-R 8K. Equipped with PixArt's PAW3395 sensor and Huano switches for the main buttons, the Hati-R Pro 8K is exclusively designed for fingertip grip, supports 8000 Hz wireless polling, and can be configured through a web driver.

The Precinct, a Neon-Noir Action Sandbox Game Launches on PC and Consoles

Kwalee and Fallen Tree Games are proud to announce the launch of The Precinct, a neon-noir action sandbox game now available on PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players can step into the sirens-soaked streets of Averno City today for $29.99/€29.99/£24.99 across all platforms. Set in a crime-ridden 1980s America, The Precinct casts players as rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr., tasked with restoring order in a city torn apart by gangs, corruption, and decay. Patrol the streets, respond to dynamic crimes, and deal with everything from petty infractions to high-stakes heists in an ever-evolving sandbox experience.

To mark the launch, a new launch trailer showcases the game's high-octane action, blending in-engine cinematic footage with explosive gameplay. From street chases and shootouts to bank heists, traffic stops, and arrests, it's time to serve justice in a city on the edge. Steam players can also snag The Precinct as part of several exclusive bundles, joining forces with games like Shadows of Doubt, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, and Deliver At All Costs. Each bundle includes a 10 percent discount, offering great value for players eager to dive into these gripping, crime-filled worlds.

AMD Radeon "GFX13+" Target Found in Code Update; Linked to UDNA/RDNA 5 Architecture

Closer to the start of 2025, Kepler L2 shared "PlayStation 6" inside track info. The venerable leaker—of mostly AMD behind-the-scenes details—theorized that Sony's sixth-gen home console was based around an early fork that branched off from a mysterious "GFX13" GPU architecture. Earlier today, this target identifier has appeared again. Kepler L2's latest investigations have pulled the "GFX13+" target from kernel-level codebase updates. Data miners have often pulled compelling pre-release tidbits from official repositories; AMD's software engineering team open-source developments are quite visible. Over a year ago, similar detective work connected the "GFX12" IP to RDNA 4—nowadays, better known as the Radeon RX 9000 graphics card family. Despite Team Red's official insistence that RDNA 4 was a priority on desktop platforms, supposed discrete mobile variants were leaked last month. In addition, RDNA 3.5 seems to be a mainstay for at least another generation of integrated graphics solutions.

Looking beyond these current-gen graphics architectures, AMD leadership has already previewed a "unified" path forward. Last September's announcement revealed the convergence of RDNA (gaming) and CDNA (enterprise) GPU technologies: dubbed "UDNA." Present day leaks do mention a far out "RDNA 5" line (also "Navi 5x"), but in the same sentence as "UDNA." Kepler L2 commented on the (screen captured) presence of "ENABLE_WAVEFRONT" and "ENABLE_WAVEGROUP" kernel code properties: "I think it's related to SWC (Streaming Wave Coalescer/pseudo out-of-order execution). Each SIMD takes multiple wave32/wave64 (a wavegroup) as inputs and reorders the work items of each wave to reduce execution divergence." Fresh rumors suggest the distant RDNA 5/UDNA avenue being good enough to expand into higher-end gaming card territories. So far, RDNA 4 has hit a ceiling with Navi 48 GPU-powered Radeon 9070 XT offerings.

Labyrinth Of The Demon King Out Now on PC & Consoles

Hello everyone! It's finally time—the gates have opened to the Labyrinth Of The Demon King. The game is out now, and to celebrate we've debuted a brand-new launch trailer (see below). Labyrinth Of The Demon King has been an incredible labor of love by the developer—J. R. Hudepohl—and we've extremely excited to finally be able to share it with everyone. The game is out now on Steam, GOG, Switch, PS4 + PS5, and Xbox platforms—there's a 20% discount which will be active for the first 2 weeks.

We'd also like to thank PC Gamer for their glowing review of the game: 81/100! For a first time developer, this is a remarkable achievement. As a reminder, demo save data will not carry over to the main game. We've added a section on the main steam page as a reminder for this for new users as well. Thank you all for your tremendous support, and we hope you enjoy the game! If you do (and we certainly hope you do!) be sure to leave a review—it helps us and the developer a lot. You'll hear from us (Top Hat Studios) again soon—until then, enjoy all the Labyrinth Of The Demon King has to offer! Thank you all again for your support for during development; it feels unreal that the game is finally releasing.

UK Store Lists Lenovo Laptops Equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile GPUs

NVIDIA's unannounced GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile graphics card has emerged in almost finalized form. According to fresh reports, Laptops Direct UK listed Lenovo's "Legion 5 15IRX10" 15.1-inch (£1349.97) and "LOQ 15IRX10" 15.6-inch gaming (£1149.97) laptop models; the "83LY000AUK" and "83JE000CUK" SKUs (respectively) seem to be equipped with Team Green's truly entry-level "Blackwell" GPU. Both product descriptions hype up the GeForce RTX 5050 8 GB GPU as offering "high-level graphics performance" and being capable of taking "your visuals to new heights." Officially, this "cheapest" mobile model is supposed to be a secret—going back to late last year, leaks revealed the entire laptop-oriented GeForce RTX 50-series product stack.

Unfortunately, the latest NDA-busting disclosure coincides with similar news regarding desktop relatives. Both lines of GeForce RTX 5060 cards are due for launch next week; expertly timed with Computex 2025 events. Given NVIDIA's apparent stealthy approach, VideoCardz posits that GeForce RTX 5050 Desktop and Mobile products could be introduced in a low-key manner. So far, the firm's manufacturing partners have inadvertently let slip very basic information. The Laptops Direct leak did not include overly-detailed specifications, but momomo_us stumbled upon another unnamed example—suggesting the selection of GDDR7 VRAM. Mid-March whispers seemed to link the GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile model's destiny to this advanced memory standard.

ETH Zurich Researchers Discover New Security Vulnerability in Intel Processors

Computer scientists at ETH Zurich discover new class of vulnerabilities in Intel processors, allowing them to break down barriers between different users of a processor using carefully crafted instruction sequences. Entire processor memory can be read by employing quick, repeated attacks. Anyone who speculates on likely events ahead of time and prepares accordingly can react quicker to new developments. What practically every person does every day, consciously or unconsciously, is also used by modern computer processors to speed up the execution of programs. They have so-called speculative technologies which allow them to execute instructions on reserve that experience suggests are likely to come next. Anticipating individual computing steps accelerates the overall processing of information.

However, what boosts computer performance in normal operation can also open up a backdoor for hackers, as recent research by computer scientists from the Computer Security Group (COMSEC) at the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at ETH Zurich shows. The computer scientists have discovered a new class of vulnerabilities that can be exploited to misuse the prediction calculations of the CPU (central processing unit) in order to gain unauthorized access to information from other processor users.

Update:: Intel released a security advisory regarding CVE-2024-45332, accompanied by a public announcement, and provided TechPowerUp with the following statement:
"We appreciate the work done by ETH Zurich on this research and collaboration on coordinated public disclosure. Intel is strengthening its Spectre v2 hardware mitigations and recommends customers contact their system manufacturer for the appropriate update. To date, Intel is not aware of any real-world exploits of transient execution vulnerabilities.", Intel spokesperson

Zotac's Upcoming Next-Gen Gaming Zone Handheld Features Linux-Based OS

Zotac is set to unveil the next generation of its Gaming Zone handheld at Computex in Taiwan later this month, following its initial entry into the portable gaming PC market last summer. This upcoming device will feature the powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and, surprisingly, will run on a custom Manjaro Linux-based operating system specifically designed for handheld devices as reported by Liliputing. This represents a departure from using Windows or adopting Valve's SteamOS, which powers the popular Steam Deck.

The next-gen Zotac Gaming Zone will boast a 7-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Inside, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Strix Point chip makes a big leap in performance compared to the first version (the first-gen Zotac Gaming Zone featured an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U Hawk Point processor with an 8-core Zen 4 CPU and 12-core RDNA 3 graphics). It has 12 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 GPU compute units. It also comes with a better NPU to handle AI tasks. Other features include LPDDR5x memory, a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD slot (M.2 2280), Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, two USB4 ports and a 48.5Wh battery.

EA Reveals F1 25 Global Launch Times & PC Spec Requirements

F1 25: Everything You Need to Know: Launch times, PC specs, achievements, soundtrack & much more. It's almost time to hit the grid. Here's your one-stop-shop on all of the key information, content and advancements we've made to this year's game. Pre-Load Timings: first-off, let's get F1 25 onto your console/PC. If you've pre-ordered, you can download the game to your system from the dates below.

Launch Timings
The big day is fast approaching, Iconic Edition players can hit the track from as early as May 27. Check out the timings below for both Iconic and Standard Edition. Additionally, EA Play members can trial F1 25 for 5 hours from May 27, and EA Play Pro members will have full access to the Iconic Edition from the same date. Leave your mark on the world of racing in F1 25, the official video game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, featuring a revamped My Team mode, the thrilling third chapter of Braking Point, and more!

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT "Updated" Spec Leak Indicates PCIe 5.0 x16 Interface

Late last week, Amazon's prematurely published product pages provided an early insight into XFX's alleged implementation of a 3320 MHz boost clock—90 MHz above AMD's speculated reference setting for not-yet-official Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB and 8 GB graphics cards. A couple of hours ago, momomo_us shared a fresher set of leaked specifications. The tenured PC tech industry observer outlined two separate tranches of unnamed hardware clocks—presumably linked to factory overclocked Radeon RX 9060 XT variants: "up to 3320 MHz, Game: 2780 MHz" and "up to 3290 MHz, Game: 2700 MHz." As interpreted by VideoCardz, these numbers align with older RDNA 4 rumors—previously, insiders claimed that Team Red's Navi 44 GPU was capable of clocking higher than the larger "Navi 48" sibling. According to their investigative article: "new information (indicates) that the RX 9060 XT's game clock is actually higher than the boost clock of the RX 9070 (non-XT)...The highest boost clock reported for the RX 9060 XT so far is 3320 MHz, which significantly exceeds the RX 9070 XT's 3100 MHz found on its fastest variants."

The latest momomo_us bulletin contains mostly repeated information, but graphics card analysts were confounded by the mentioning of a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus Interface. Prior disclosures have theorized the utilization of PCIe 5.0 x8; as listed within TechPowerUp's GPU database entry. VideoCardz weighed in with some credence: "small GPUs like Navi 44 typically don't require wider interfaces, as performance gains are minimal. However, with PCIe 5.0, using only 8 lanes would result in slightly reduced performance on PCIe 4.0 systems, something already seen with the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB variant. By choosing a wider interface, AMD may be attempting to avoid similar issues." Leading up to AMD's debuting of first wave RDNA 4 gaming cards, opposing speculators fought over the company's selection of PCIe 4.0 or PCIe 5.0 standards. A public delivery of finalized Radeon RX 9060 XT specifications is likely due on May 21, during Computex 2025.

Mafia: The Old Country Director Details Gameplay Systems, Outlines Benefits of Unreal Engine 5 Toolset

Hey everyone, Mafia Game Director Alex Cox here. On behalf of the team at Hangar 13, we were thrilled to unveil our Gameplay Trailer for Mafia: The Old Country. With so many in-game details to pore over, I wanted to take this opportunity to offer some extra insights into all of the exciting action we just revealed. Here's a breakdown on some of the finer details we've packed into each scene of the trailer. As our protagonist, Enzo Favara, rides out after receiving orders from Don Torrisi, you may notice the striking contrasts between the various environments of 1900s Sicily on display. From dirt roads flanked by rural villages to dark catacombs, ornate mansions, and more, the game's distinctive setting includes a wide variety of richly detailed locales—all authentically overlapping in a way unique to this rapidly changing time period. We were spoiled for choice when deciding which visually stunning vistas would serve as the lifelike backdrop for our gritty crime drama.

Following Enzo as he descends into an ancient cistern, you'll get a closer look at Mafia: The Old Country's grounded, era-appropriate combat - including a brutal showcase of Enzo's stiletto blade in action. After quietly dispatching the guard outside, Enzo distracts the next patrolling enemy before burying a knife in his neck. Spotting another guard nearby, he hurls his blade, silently killing him from range - a moment too late as others are alerted. Even as the situation erupts into a tense firefight, this encounter highlights how gameplay blends stealth with guns-blazing combat. Each approach complements the other, creating a scrappier, more resource-strapped experience. Enzo may have missed two shots, but with the help of his knife and an explosive lantern, he clears the room using only four bullets. A core pillar of Mafia: The Old Country's combat design is the idea that "every bullet counts"—so think twice about relying solely on your firearms!

ASRock Rack Announces Support for AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors

ASRock Rack Inc., the leading innovative server company, today announced support for the newly launched AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors across its extensive lineup of AM5 socket server systems and motherboards. This announcement reinforces ASRock Rack's commitment to delivering cutting-edge performance, broad platform compatibility, and long-term value to customers in data centers, growing businesses, and edge computing environments.

Built on the AMD 'Zen 5' architecture, the AMD EPYC 4005 Series features up to 16 SMT-enabled cores and supports DDR5 memory speeds up to 5600 MT/s, delivering class-leading performance per watt within constrained IT budgets. As AI becomes embedded in everyday business software, AMD EPYC 4005 Series CPUs provide the performance headroom needed for AI-enhanced workloads such as automated customer service and data analytics while maintaining the affordability essential for small businesses. The series expands the proven AMD EPYC portfolio with solutions purpose-built for growing infrastructure demands.

Intel Arc Xe4 "Druid" GPU Development Activity Spotted by Data Miner

The status of Intel's Arc Xe2 "Battlemage" generation is still an unknown quantity—recent leaks have alluded to a repeat rollout of existing GPU designs, albeit in the field of productivity. Team Blue has hinted about upcoming second-gen professional-grade cards, but tech enthusiasts are still fantasizing about more potent gaming options. Certain industry watchdogs reckon that Intel's graphics division has moved onto getting Arc Xe3 "Celestial" discrete solutions out of the door. Sections of a speculated C-series could act as natural gap fillers; taking the place of "absent" B750 and B770 options. These theories were buoyed earlier on in May; with insiders linking "Celestial" to a pre‑silicon validation platform.

Since late last year, it has been very quiet on the Arc Xe4 "Druid" development front; older "Visual Compute" roadmaps (now completely irrelevant) alluded to a 2025+ launch of fourth-gen designs. x86deadandback has stumbled on new-ish evidence of Xe4 "behind-the-scenes" movement—yesterday's social media post included a (data mined) screenshot of Dawn LUCI CQ activities (dated "Jan 16"). At the time, company engineers seemed to be actively working on "Gen 15/Xe4" (aka "Druid"). x86deadandback's update aligns with official (December 2024) statements—back then, Tom "TAP" Petersen confirmed that his hardware colleagues had polished off "Xe3 IP," and were already shifted onto "the next thing."

Vultr Cloud Platform Broadened with AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors

Vultr, the world's largest privately-held cloud infrastructure company, today announced that it is one of the first cloud providers to offer the new AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors. The AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors will be available on the Vultr platform, enabling enterprise-class features and leading performance for businesses and hosted IT service providers. The AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors extend the broad AMD EPYC processor family, powering a new line of cost-effective systems designed for growing businesses and hosted IT services providers that demand performance, advanced technologies, energy efficiency, and affordability. Servers featuring the high-performance AMD EPYC 4005 Series CPUs with streamlined memory and I/O feature sets are designed to deliver compelling system price-to-performance metrics on key customer workloads. Meanwhile, the combination of up to 16 SMT-capable cores and DDR5 memory in the AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors enables smooth execution of business-critical workloads, while maintaining the thermal and power efficiency characteristics crucial for affordable compute environments.

"Vultr is committed to delivering the most advanced cloud infrastructure with unrivaled price-to-performance," said J.J. Kardwell, CEO of Vultr. "The AMD EPYC 4005 Series provides straightforward deployment, scalability, high clock speed, energy efficiency, and best-in-class performance. Whether you are a business striving to scale reliably or a developer crafting the next groundbreaking innovation, these solutions are designed to deliver exceptional value and meet demanding requirements now and in the future." Vultr's launch of systems featuring the AMD EPYC 4245P and AMD EPYC 4345P processors will expand the company's robust line of Bare Metal solutions. Vultr will also feature the AMD EPYC 4345P as part of its High Frequency Compute (HFC) offerings for organizations requiring the highest clock speeds and access to locally-attached NVMe storage.

MSI Reportedly Readying "Claw 7 A2HM" Handheld; Debates Rage Over Choice of APU

MSI's European spare parts website has listed a rear plate that can fit on its previous and current generation 7-inch handheld gaming PCs. Eagle-eyed investigators noted the presence of a third unannounced option within a compatible device list: "Claw 7 A2HM (MS-1T41)." In addition, observers noticed that the Japan Audio Society had granted certification back in February. These discoveries have fired up online debates once again; regarding a theorized AMD Ryzen Z2 APU-powered portable gaming device. An early 2025 leak suggested MSI's preparing of an unusual Claw model; apparently breaking away from their "traditional" selection of Intel SoCs. Last month, Haze2K1 reiterated their belief that the manufacturer would eventually release a new handheld with Ryzen Z2 Extreme silicon onboard. Given the complete lack of a "AI" tags/branding, MSI's speculated "Claw A2HM" SKU could arrive with a less potent NPU (or completely disabled). Current-gen marketing campaigns have hyped up the Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+'s Copilot+ credentials; driven by Team Blue's "Lunar Lake" Core Ultra 7 258V all-in-one processor.

Very recently, the Taiwanese tech firm introduced a "Polar Tempest Edition" 8-inch flagship spin-off—industry experts posit that MSI is attempting to elevate the Claw 8 AI+'s profile, following a reportedly stuttery early 2025 global rollout. Closer analysis of the "officially" leaked "A2HM" identifier points to a possible "Arrow Lake-H" visitation. As outlined by VideoCardz, this handheld could be based around some sort of Intel Core Ultra 200H chip. Elaborating on their thought process, the online publication commented: "this platform does not use Xe2 GPU cores but instead features Alchemist+ or Xe-LPG+, which is also said to deliver solid gaming performance thanks to XMX core support. Arrow Lake-H also lacks a powerful NPU, which means it doesn't meet the criteria for Copilot+ PC, so Core 200H makes sense." Three months ago, Team Blue's Robert Hallock revealed "big plans" involving futuristic "Arrow Lake-H" and "Panther Lake" portable gaming products. Given recent-ish certification to retail release timelines, handheld enthusiasts could be sizing up MSI's "Claw 7 A2HM" by late summer.

Samsung Display Unveils Advanced R&D Achievements at Display Week 2025

Samsung Display announced on May 13 that it will take part in Display Week 2025, held from May 13 to 15 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. The event, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), brings together display companies and experts from around the world to share cutting-edge technologies and R&D achievements.

Samsung Display is set to unveil a range of next-generation display technologies, including the industry's first non-cadmium 400-nit EL-QD and a 5,000 pixels-per-inch (PPI) RGB OLED on Silicon (OLEDoS) at Display Week 2025, reinforcing its leadership in cutting-edge panel technology. The company will also highlight its leadership in OLED innovation through a range of future-oriented technologies, including organic photodiodes (OPD), advanced sensors capable of measuring biometric data such as heart rate and blood pressure directly from light generated by a panel touched by a patient, and a high-resolution microdisplay that delivers 5,000 PPI in a compact 1.4-inch form factor.

Lost Twins 2 Co-Op Demo Available Now on Xbox & PC

Hi everyone! I'm Fawad Asghar, one of the developers at Playdew, a small indie studio based in Pakistan. I'm thrilled to share that the co-op demo for Lost Twins 2 is now live on Xbox Series X|S, Windows Store, and Steam. Whether you're a seasoned puzzle pro or someone who just wants to hang out and explore a cozy game with a friend, the co-op mode in Lost Twins 2 was designed with you in mind.

Play Together, Your Way
In Lost Twins 2, players guide separated siblings Abi and Ben through a whimsical, shifting world. But in co-op, it's not just about solving puzzles—it's about solving them together. While making the co-op mode, the focus was on the flexibility for all skill levels. One player can take the lead while the other supports, or both can play equally—it's up to you. There's no pressure, no fail states, and no "wrong" way to play. The design encourages collaboration without frustration, making it perfect for partners, siblings, or friends of any age.

US Senators Push to Geotrack High-End GPUs in New Chip Security Bill

US lawmakers are moving forward with a proposal requiring high-performance graphics cards and AI processors to carry built-in geotracking technology to keep sensitive chips out of hostile hands. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas introduced the Chip Security Act on May 12, 2025. Under this legislation, the Commerce Department would have the authority to mandate location-verification features in any device subject to US export controls, with manufacturers given six months after enactment to comply. The bill applies to a broad set of products classified under export control classification numbers 3A090, 4A090, 4A003.z, and 3A001.z. That includes everything from advanced AI accelerators and rack-scale servers to certain gaming graphics cards like NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090. Manufacturers would be required to embed hardware or firmware capable of reporting each device's physical location back to a centralized registry maintained by the Commerce Department.

Exporters must also notify the Bureau of Industry and Security immediately if a unit is diverted, tampered with, or appears at an unauthorized location. To keep pace with evolving security threats, the legislation calls for a joint one-year study by the Commerce Department and the Department of Defense on potential new tracking and safeguard mechanisms. Following that, the two departments would conduct annual reviews for three years. If they determine that additional measures are warranted, they would have two years to draft and finalize rules that outline new requirements and present a detailed implementation roadmap to Congress. NVIDIA has noted that its current architectures are not built for post-sale tracking, and adding such a capability could delay product launch schedules and increase development costs. AMD and Intel are likely to face similar obstacles, as integrating secure location-verification may require redesigning sensitive intellectual property and altering established supply-chain processes.

GIGABYTE Teases AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 Stealth Card Design; Featuring Hidden Power Connector

Late last week, Gigabyte introduced brand-new AORUS Stealth ICE X870 and B850 motherboards—utilizing reverse-connector layouts. The manufacturer's "Project STEALTH" seems to be gaining a larger presence; extending to a proprietary enclosure design. Industry observers noticed the inclusion of a semi-mysterious GeForce RTX 5090 custom card (briefly mentioned in official PR material); a promo render showcased an AORUS RTX 5090 MASTER ICE-esque unit. By reading in-between the lines and analyzing marketing imagery, VideoCardz reckons that this special card will sport a hidden power connector system—likely existing under the "Project STEALTH" banner.

Going back to 2023, a second iteration of the GeForce RTX 4090 WINDFORCE model was configured with a curious non-traditional power input placement (see example below). In recent times, Sapphire's Radeon RX 9070 XT and non-XT Nitro+ flagship cards have attracted plenty of praise—courtesy of a well-regarded hidden compartment. Gigabyte could be teasing an upcoming full reveal of its "AORUS RTX 5090 MASTER STEALTH ICE" graphics card; perhaps lined up for next week's Computex showcase. Hopefully, a forthcoming unveiling will demonstrate an innovative solution.

Supermicro Announces New MicroCloud Servers Powered by AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors

Supermicro, Inc., a Total IT Solution Provider for AI, Cloud, Storage, and 5G/Edge, is announcing that a number of Supermicro servers are now shipping with the latest addition to the AMD based EPYC 4000 series CPUs, the AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors. These servers are optimized to deliver a powerful balance of performance density, scalability, and affordability. Supermicro will feature its new Supermicro MicroCloud multi-node solution, a 10-node CPU and a 5-node CPU + GPU version, in a 3U form factor, ideal for organizations seeking to optimize space, energy, and cost of their IT infrastructure. Supermicro's MicroCloud product family targets dedicated hosting markets where sharing the chassis, power, and cooling are desired while still maintaining physical separation.

"Supermicro continues to deliver first-to-market innovative rack-scale solutions for a wide range of use cases, with the addition of our new Supermicro MicroCloud multi-node solution that feature the latest AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors, designed to optimize the needs of on-premises or cloud service providers who need powerful but cost-effective solutions in a compact 3U form factor," said Mory Lin, Vice President, IoT/Embedded & Edge Computing at Supermicro. "These servers offer up to 2080 cores on a standard 42U rack, greatly reducing data center rack space and overall TCO for enterprise and small medium businesses."

NVIDIA DLSS 4 Comes to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, DOOM: The Dark Ages and Empyreal

More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. From today, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is multiplying frame rates in DOOM: The Dark Ages, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Empyreal. And Deedlee Doo! Carkour! is available now with DLSS Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Launches Today, Featuring DLSS 4 With Frame Generation & Ray Tracing
The long-awaited, much-anticipated DOOM: The Dark Ages has received universal acclaim from reviewers, and is now available in Early Access for those who purchased the Premium Edition or our GeForce RTX 50 Series bundle! Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war, now or on May 15th when DOOM: The Dark Ages launches globally, enhanced by RTX technology.

Giga Computing Supports AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors on GIGABYTE Entry-level Enterprise Platforms

Giga Computing, an industry innovator and leader in enterprise hardware and advanced cooling solutions, today announced software support for GIGABYTE platforms using AMD EPYC 4005 Series processors. These entry-level systems hit a cost point needed for small business customers and hosted IT service providers.

Already in the marketplace, nine GIGABYTE servers and motherboards support both AMD EPYC 4005 and 4004 Series processors from the AMD AM5 platform. At Computex 2024, AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su announced support for Socket AM5 through 2027, and GIGABYTE will provide the go-to-launch updates coinciding with AMD announcements for the AM5 platform. Customers looking for the update only need to visit the respective GIGABYTE product page and go to the support tab where a BIOS update is available to download.

NVIDIA Wins Multiple COMPUTEX Best Choice Awards

NVIDIA today received multiple accolades at COMPUTEX's Best Choice Awards, in recognition of innovation across the company. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU won the Gaming and Entertainment category award; the NVIDIA Quantum-X Photonics InfiniBand switch system won the Networking and Communication category award; NVIDIA DGX Spark won the Computer and System category award; and the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system and NVIDIA Cosmos world foundation model development platform won Golden Awards. The awards recognize the outstanding functionality, innovation and market promise of technologies in each category. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, will deliver a keynote at COMPUTEX on Monday, May 19, at 11 a.m. Taiwan time.

GB200 NVL72 and NVIDIA Cosmos Go Gold
NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 and NVIDIA Cosmos each won Golden Awards. The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system connects 36 NVIDIA Grace CPUs and 72 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in a rack-scale design. It delivers 1.4 exaflops of AI performance and 30 terabytes of fast memory, as well as 30x faster real-time trillion-parameter large language model inference with 25x energy efficiency compared with the NVIDIA H100 GPU. By design, the GB200 NVL72 accelerates the most compute-intensive AI and high-performance computing workloads, including AI training and data processing for engineering design and simulation. NVIDIA Cosmos accelerates physical AI development by enabling developers to build and deploy world foundation models with unprecedented speed and scale.

MSI Introduces Server Platforms with AMD EPYC 4005 Processors for SMB Workloads

Today, MSI announced a lineup of entry-level servers and server motherboards powered by AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors. Featuring up to 16 cores based on the Zen 5 architecture, these platforms deliver the performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness that small businesses, new business owners, and system integrators need to build reliable infrastructure, all within limited IT budgets and space footprints.

"We see this launch as a way to make enterprise-grade compute more accessible to smaller organizations," said Danny Hsu, General Manager of MSI's Enterprise Platform Solutions. "By pairing AMD EPYC 4005 Series Processors with MSI's proven hardware design, we're delivering practical, scalable server solutions built for real-world business scenarios—from private cloud and storage to web hosting and office IT systems."

Intel and Shell Advance Immersion Cooling in Xeon-Based Data Centers

As AI and high performance computing (HPC) increase the need for powerful data center infrastructure, IT operators are seeking more efficient, scalable and sustainable thermal cooling solutions. Liquid cooling is increasingly popular and expected to account for 36% of data center thermal management revenue by 2028, according to the Dell'Oro Group. However, the adoption and proliferation of liquid immersion cooling, known for its superior performance, has been hindered by a lack of certified immersion solutions that are proven and readily deployable.

In collaboration with Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc., Intel addresses this challenge by validating a full immersion solution for data centers supported by hardware from Supermicro and Submer. This first-of-its-kind solution—Intel Data Center Certified for Immersion Cooling—sets a new industry standard1 for cooling efficiency and long-term performance with the first immersion solution for 4th Gen and 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors.

AMD Announces EPYC 4005 "Grado" Zen 5 Server Processors for Socket AM5

AMD today announced the EPYC 4005 series server processors in the Socket AM5 package, codenamed "Grado." These chips come with core-counts of up to 16-core/32-thread, letting enterprise users optimally utilize their Windows Server 2005 Datacenter Edition 16-core license in dedicated server scenarios. These chips offer superior value to competing Intel Xeon E-2400 series and Intel 6300 series processors that only offer up to 8 P-cores, suboptimally utilizing the 16-core license of Windows Server 2005 Standard- and Datacenter editions.

At the silicon level, "Grado" is essentially identical to the "Granite Ridge" MCM powering the Ryzen 9000 series client desktop processors. The processor has two 4 nm "Zen 5" CCDs, and a 6 nm I/O die. The IOD has ECC memory support unlocked, and memory speeds have been increased to DDR5-5600, compared to DDR5-5200 on the IOD of the previous generation EPYC 4004 "Raphael." The processor supports up to 192 GB of ECC DDR5 memory across a 2-channel (4 sub-channel) memory interface. The "Zen 5" CPU cores are identical in features to "Granite Ridge" client and "Turin" server processors, and up with a full 512-bit data path for the AVX-512 implementation. Processor models range from 6-core/12-thread to 16-core/32-thread.

Frogwares The Sinking City Remastered Available Now

Explore the eldritch horrors, remastered in Unreal Engine 5 to offer the ultimate Lovecraftian experience. Free for existing owners. The Sinking City Remastered is out now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, fully rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 to deliver the ultimate Lovecraftian experience!

What's New in the Remastered Edition?
  • Full visual overhaul with Unreal Engine 5 lighting and effects
  • 4K textures and enhanced level of detail
  • Photo Mode to capture your descent into madness
  • Support for DLSS, FSR, and TSR upscaling
  • And more!

EIZO Releases ColorEdge CG3100X 30.5-inch DCI 4K Monitor with HDR Workflow

EIZO Corporation today introduced the 30.5-inch ColorEdge CG3100X color management monitor - the latest in EIZO's lineup of DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution monitors for post-production, joining the ColorEdge PROMINENCE CG1 and CG319X. The new CG3100X features HDR (High Dynamic Range) workflow support in editing and post-production environments, as well as USB Type-C for streamlined connectivity.

High brightness is crucial in modern editing and post-production workflows to support HDR and ensure consistent display of colors and highlights in video content. The CG3100X features a high brightness of 500 cd/m², up from 350 cd/m² in the CG319X, while delivering highly detailed images in DCI 4K. This ensures optimal display of highlights in 4K content, meeting the technical requirements of today's creators. Additionally, the monitor boasts a high contrast ratio of 1800:1 for producing true blacks and rendering shadows in high detail.

KeysOff Mother's Day Sale: Big Discounts on Genuine Software

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QNAP Launches QSW-1000 Series 8-Port Full 2.5GbE Multi-Gig Switch

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, today launched the QSW-1108-8T-R2, a 8-port Multi-Gig unmanaged switch that supports 2.5GbE high-speed connectivity. Delivering a smooth and stable wired network for Wi-Fi 6/6E, the QSW-1108-8T-R2 also enhances file backup, media streaming, and gaming experiences. With a compact, fanless design, it fits easily into any workplace, making it effortless to build an efficient desktop networking environment.

"The QSW-1108-8T-R2 is an affordable option for upgrading to 2.5GbE," said Ronald Hsu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "Its small form factor, 30% smaller than previous models, makes it easy to connect multiple computers, NAS devices, and gaming consoles, while keeping your home or studio network clean and organized."

Intel Partner Prepares Dual Arc "Battlemage" B580 GPU with 48 GB of VRAM

If you recall NVIDIA's GTX TITAN Z GPU with two GPU dies and an impressive 6 GB of memory, it was a big deal at the time and quite an interesting engineering solution. Today, thanks to sources close to VideoCardz, we learn that Intel's Arc "Battlemage" B580 could get the next dual GPU, dual VRAM treatment. According to the source, an unnamed Intel add-in board partner is preparing to launch a GPU with two B580 dies and 48 GB of VRAM. This means that the 24 GB VRAM version of the Arc B580 we saw in EEC filings is basically confirmed, and that some models will be out for display very soon. While the BMG-G21 chip offers up to 20 Xe cores and 2,560 shader units, a dual BMG-G21 configuration will yield 40 Xe cores and 5,120 shader units working in tandem with 48 GB of VRAM.

Clearly, this model is mostly tailored to AI enthusiasts. No game (thankfully) requires 48 GB of VRAM for now, but it is still nonetheless an interesting solution to see. It has been a while since we got something like a TITAN Z, even in high-end form factors. There is a rumored Intel Arc PRO A60/B60 card carrying a B580 die with 24 GB of VRAM, tailored for local AI workloads and professional visualization. This GPU could be the base for the newly rumored dual B580, 48 GB SKU from an unnamed Intel AIB partner. We expect to hear more details at Computex, which is now just a week away!

Report: Customers Show Little Interest in AMD Instinct MI325X Accelerators

AMD's Instinct MI325X accelerator has struggled to gain traction with large customers, according to extensive data from SemiAnalysis. Launched in Q2 2025, the MI325X arrived roughly nine months after NVIDIA's H200 and concurrently with NVIDIA's "Blackwell" mass-production roll-out. That timing proved unfavourable, as many buyers opted instead for Blackwell's superior cost-per-performance ratio. Early interest from Microsoft in 2024 failed to translate into repeat orders. After the initial test purchases, Microsoft did not place any further commitments. In response, AMD reduced its margin expectations in an effort to attract other major clients. Oracle and a handful of additional hyperscalers have since expressed renewed interest, but these purchases remain modest compared with NVIDIA's volume.

A fundamental limitation of the MI325X is its eight-GPU scale-up capacity. By contrast, NVIDIA's rack-scale GB200 NVL72 supports up to 72 GPUs in a single cluster. For large-scale AI inference and frontier-level reasoning workloads, that difference is decisive. AMD positioned the MI325X against NVIDIA's air-cooled HGX B200 NVL8 and HGX B300 NVL16 modules. Even in that non-rack-scale segment, NVIDIA maintains an advantage in both raw performance and total-cost-of-ownership efficiency. Nonetheless, there remains potential for the MI325X in smaller-scale deployments that do not require extensive GPU clusters. Smaller model inference should be sufficient for eight GPU clusters, where lots of memory bandwidth and capacity are the primary needs. AMD continues to improve its software ecosystem and maintain competitive pricing, so AI labs developing mid-sized AI models may find the MI325X appealing.
Monday, May 12th 2025
Formula V Line Crystal Z8 Floe Review

Formula V Line Crystal Z8 Floe Review

The Formula V Line Crystal Z8 Floe is equipped with a whopping six ARGB PWM fans while also giving you the option to convert it to an airflow-focused build thanks to the mesh front panel. All that sounds great and enough to warrant a close look. Read on to find out how it fares!

Sudokoo x TechPowerUp SuperUser SuperCool Thermal Upgrade Giveaway: The Winners!

Sudokoo and TechPowerUp brought our readers from the United States the SuperUser SuperCool Thermal Upgrade Giveaway. Up for grabs were five of Sudokoo's premier AIO liquid CPU coolers and tower-type air coolers. Specifically, the Sudokoo Proteus 360 is a flagship AIO CLC with features such as a large true-color display that can be made to put out just about any information; and a compound fan that's designed to minimize cable clutter; while the SK700V Digital is a heavy air-type cooler with a top-plate that has an LED segment display that puts out useful system monitoring info. We thank our readers for the response. Without further ado, here are the Winners!

The following two winners get a Sudokoo Proteus 360, each:
  • Omar S.
  • devouredrage
The following three winners get a Sudokoo SK700V Digital air CPU cooler, each:
  • Mwardx2My
  • Juuso O.
  • redstormpopcorn
Huge congratulations to the five of you! TechPowerUp and Sudokoo will return with more such interesting Giveaways!

SATA-IO Publishes "AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-Series" Page

In the weeks leading up to Computex 2025, industry watchdogs have noticed an uptick of next-gen Ryzen Threadripper PRO processor inside info leaks. AMD leadership is expected to introduce "Shimada Peak" 9000WX CPUs during a May 21 on-stage presentation. Despite the company's continued delivery of "silent treatment," external partners and other associates have alluded to an imminent arrival of Zen 5-based workstation-grade processors—very likely positioned as natural successors to Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000WX (Zen 4) options. As of May 6, the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) website has produced another "official leak." The independent/non-profit body's recent publication of a dedicated "AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9000 WX-Series Processors" page was highlighted by VideoCardz. "Shimada Peak's" certification seems to pave the way for a looming launch; perhaps shortly after a rumored unveiling in Taipei, Taiwan. Processor technology observers reckon that a non-PRO 9000X series will arrive at a later date—so far, succeeding generation Threadripper leaks have not outlined an adjacent High-End Desktop (HEDT) line. Unfortunately, SATA-IO's latest repository update does not contain any additional supportive info.

"Directorate Novitiate" Story Elements Previewed by Devs - Early Access Version Due This Summer

Trust is dangerous. Love is deadly. Today, Nesting Games unveiled the narrative trailer for Directorate Novitiate, an ambitious urban fantasy action RPG set to launch in Early Access this summer. The trailer introduces Kana Luna, known in the shadows as Mercury, a young assassin torn between two worlds: her everyday life and the secret, magical criminal empire of the Directorate. Set against the shadows of 2006 Los Angeles, Mercury faces a spiraling web of lies, betrayal, and supernatural threats.

With quiet intensity and stylized noir visuals, the trailer teases Mercury's double life. By day, she's a daughter and friend; by night, an assassin navigating a secret war between Syndicates. As the mysterious Constellation Killer closes in, Mercury faces impossible choices between loyalty, survival, and her own humanity. It's 2006, Los Angeles: The seedy supernatural underworld is on the verge of war, with Mercury caught in the crosshairs. Face overwhelming magical forces, discover the horrors hiding in plain sight, track a serial killer, and grapple with difficult choices and dangerous secrets.

NVIDIA GeForce 576.40 WHQL Drivers Released

NVIDIA today released the latest version of its GeForce Game Ready drivers. These drivers come with optimization for "DOOM: The Dark Ages," and "New World: Aeternum." The drivers also add G-SYNC support for almost a dozen new monitor models, listed below. There is a rather short list of game-specific bug fixes with this release. To begin with, the drivers address random stability issues with "Monster Hunter Wilds." Also addressed is an issue specific to the RTX 50-series "Blackwell" GPUs, where in "Dead Space Remake," the shadows exhibit a random flicker.

Among the general issues fixed with this release is incorrect color saturation observed on RTX 50-series GPUs when the game is being rendered at a resolution lower than the display's native resolution. Another bug specific to the combination of RTX 50-series GPUs with ASUS PG32UQXR/ASUS ROG PG248QP/ASUS ROG PG32UCDM displays that causes these displays to boot to a black screen, has been fixed. A bug that causes certain LG TVs to exhibit a stutter at lower refresh rates with G-SYNC enabled, has been fixed. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 576.40 WHQL

MAXSUN Registers Multiple GeForce RTX 5050 8 GB SKUs; Mostly Spanning iCraft Card Range

Earlier today, an unannounced graphics card report focused on Maxsun's alleged registering of custom Arc Xe2 B580 24 GB graphics card models. Olrak29 has uncovered additional intriguing entries—filed with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC)—that provide much-needed and fresh insight into the rumored lowest section of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50-series of "Blackwell" gaming GPU family. In a similar manner, (around mid-February) ZOTAC inadvertently revealed the "general" existence of a GeForce RTX 5050 cards. We have not heard much about this "entry-mainstream" tier in recent times; an incomplete set of specifications was leaked over two months ago.

Maxsun's May 12 (today) logging of an intimidating number of "new" SKUs spans across multiple generations (going back to the GTX 1000 era) and product ranges. Keen-eyed observers have noted the presence of multiple GeForce RTX 5050 identifiers—mostly varying shades of iCraft. "TR" tags could indicate forthcoming Terminator models. The Chinese AIB's existing Transformer lines were (normally) associated with "TF" designations—a smattering of these are present within today's EEC filing. NVIDIA and its board partners are not expected to unveil GeForce RTX 5050 hardware at next week's Computex trade event—instead, GeForce RTX 5060 (non-ti) 8 GB cards (starting at $299) will be a main focus for prospective budget-conscious gamers.

Zen Studios Introduces Tomb Raider Pinball FX Expansion - Coming to PC, VR & Consoles on June 19

If you've ever wanted to raid ancient tombs or explore Croft Manor—but with pinballs flying everywhere - you're in for something special. Tomb Raider Pinball arrives in Pinball FX on PC and consoles—on June 19, including two awesome new tables: Adventures of Lara Croft and Secrets of Croft Manor. But why is this an amazing crossover, you may ask? At their core, both Tomb Raider and pinball are about quick reflexes, careful planning, and that rush you get when you finally pull off the impossible. Whether you're dodging traps in a crumbling tomb or trying to save a ball rolling toward the drain, it's that same exciting mix of precision and chaos. But there's more to pinball than just keeping that silver ball alive. Each table tells a story that makes it unique. Let's see what lies behind the ramps and rails of these two beauties!

Adventures of Lara Croft is all about Lara's classic expeditions—from Peru's jungles to Egypt's pyramids, from the Great Wall to the frozen caves of Tibet. Along the way, you'll face off against familiar foes like Mark Willard, Werner Von Croy, or Natla and the Atlanteans. While exploring these remarkable locations and fighting your way through your enemies, you can even play a special third-person shooting mode with Lara's iconic dual pistols. There's a lot to discover while you explore this world, choosing your missions from the globe pictured above: massive Tomb Multiballs, tricky trap ramps, dangerous pits, and finally, the Survivor Wizard Mode that pulls moments from the Survivor Trilogy for one final showdown. It's pure, distilled Tomb Raider adventure mixed with the excitement of pinball.

ASUS ROG RTX 5090 Astral Dhahab OC Edition Fashioned with Pure Gold; Cheapest Price is ~$6.7K

Not long after the launch of its "standard" Astral GeForce RTX 5090 (air-cooled) flagship card, ASUS ROG unveiled a gaudy golden alternative. According to a past weekend VideoCardz news report, the brand's extremely special "Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab OC Edition" has finally settled on retail shelves in the Middle East. During preview events, ASUS did not let slip any pre-release pricing details—industry watchdogs theorized numbers well above the regular "OC" version's (then) $3000+ tag. A Jensen Huang-signed specimen was auctioned off—for charity—during NVIDIA's GTC 2025 conference week. The latest investigations have unearthed varying costs of ownership; VideoCardz found listings across MENA (Middle-East and North Africa) territories.

The cheapest example was priced at $6700, while a "jaw-dropping" entry was discovered going for ~$10,600. The online publication's detective work concluded that price variations were dependent on differing conditions within each country. An ASUS-authored "Certificate of Authenticity" demonstrates the use of a key premium material; 6.5 grams of "999 Gold Fineness." Official grading indicates the very best purity of this precious metal—largely reserved (and prized) by prime Middle Eastern markets. ASUS is reportedly working on a (presumably) less expensive GeForce RTX 5080 variant—enabled via the selection of lesser silicon, rather than a downgraded level of decoration. Special edition ASUS ROG Astral enthusiasts—outside of MENA—could be eyeing up a DOOM prequel-themed option.

Aledia to Showcase FlexiNova at Display Week 2025 — A Customizable MicroLED Platform for Next-Gen Screens

At Display Week 2025, Aledia, the leader in nanowire and 3D silicon-based microLED display technology, will showcase FlexiNOVA - a new product-ready platform built on its proprietary nanowire microLED technology and designed to scale production of next-gen displays. With its first industrial chip format now defined and available for sampling in 6 V and 9 V variants starting in H2 2025, FlexiNova empowers OEMs and display makers to integrate microLEDs into devices as diverse as smartwatches, automotive dashboards, luxury TVs and ultra-high-resolution monitors while maximizing power efficiency.

To bring microLED to mass production, performance alone isn't enough—industrial viability is key. Until now, microLEDs have mostly stayed in the lab due to high costs and manufacturing challenges for chips smaller than 30 µm. FlexiNOVA removes these barriers, making it easier for manufacturers to transition to microLED displays, which are brighter, more energy-efficient and have a longer battery life than OLED and LCD. What makes FlexiNOVA stand out is its flexibility: chip size, shape and power usage can be tailored to product needs without sacrificing performance.

DeepComputing Announces Availability of Its DC-ROMA RISC-V AI PC

DeepComputing has just unveiled "the world's first" RISC-V AI PC, available now for the developer community. This machine, called the DC-ROMA RISC-V AI PC, is built on Framework's modular laptop platform and powered by ESWIN Computing's advanced EIC7702X SoC with 8 SiFive P550 CPU cores. The system comes pre-installed with Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS and beside the RISC-V CPU it sports a powerful 40 TOPS NPU, vector processing cluster (12-bit-wide vector 8-core), support for 8K @50 FPS video encoding, and capacity for up to 64 GB LPDDR5 memory and NVMe storage (up to 1 TB). All this makes it suitable for serious development work and AI experimentation.

According to DeepComputing's CEO Yuning Liang, the AI PC was created "to empower developers who believe in local-first AI, open innovation, and sustainable computing" and represents "a foundational step toward a more open and privacy-respecting digital future."

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remastered Provides Plenty of Nostalgia

Among my many endeavors as a teenager, from learning to drive and how to play guitar, one stood alone on a mountain of impossibilities: landing an Ollie. It would come in time after a lot of practice and many bumps and scrapes. From there I'd move on to landing Shov Its, pulling off the occasional Manual, landing an Ollie down some stairs, and grind on a few curbs. The kick-flip, though, remains elusive to this day. Among the many things skateboarding taught me, like perseverance and how to "walk it off," it also taught me how to look at the world around me, in a different way. Where someone would just see an empty parking lot, I would see endless possibilities of curb grinds. Stairs? I bet I could Ollie down them. That rail? Not a chance.

This is what the Tony Hawk games dialed up to 11, creating elaborate levels loosely inspired by real-world locations, encouraging you to examine its surroundings and assemble your own "run" while pulling off tricks you could only dream of. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, launching July 11 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Steam, PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch 1|2, and day one with Game Pass, brings us back to this world with some of the most elaborate levels the series has ever put out, now with a significant boost in overall quality and playability—the game has never felt more fun.

Lenovo Reveals Legion GeForce RTX 5070 & 5060 Ti Custom Card Designs

Certain Lenovo Legion pre-built gaming rigs are equipped with intriguing custom graphics card designs; reportedly not available to purchase as (separate) retail packages. As mentioned back in March, the system integrator's Legion 9000K gaming systems were configurable with slick metallic GeForce RTX 5090D and GeForce RTX 5080 options. At the time, Lenovo China hinted about a forthcoming GeForce RTX 5070 offering; also making use of a CNC-machined metal shroud and backplate. Since then, VideoCardz has kept a watchful eye on new product developments—an early April "official" leak suggested an eventual arrival of lower-end GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" Legion models.

As of late last week, Lenovo China's social media accounts have unveiled cheaper Legion 7000K and GeekPro pre-built systems. These new-gen gaming PCs house the brand's fresh GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB (as promised) and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB custom cards. VideoCardz reckons that company engineers have adhered to NVIDIA's reference specifications, so potential customers will be considering non-overclocked hardware. The Legion 7000K—starting at 11,999 RMB (~$1658 USD)—traditionally-proportioned enclosure can accommodate a longer card design; as demonstrated by promo shots. The tastefully ARGB-lit Legion GeForce RTX 5070 card's oblong format (2.5-slot) utilizes only two fans. In contrast, Lenovo's compact GeekPro—starter price: 7199 RMB (~$995 USD)—case seems to be formed around a stubbier graphics card volume; still large enough to be dual-fan. Its ridged backplate aesthetic brings previous-gen XFX to mind.

MSI Teases EdgeXpert MS-C931 - an NVIDIA DGX Spark-based Desktop AI Supercomputer

MSI IPC, a global leader in industrial computing and AI-driven solutions, is set to unveil its latest innovations at COMPUTEX 2025, held from May 20 to 23 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Visitors can explore MSI IPC's cutting-edge technologies at Booth J0506, Hall 1, 1F.

Introducing the EdgeXpert MS-C931: A Desktop AI Supercomputer
MSI IPC will unveil the EdgeXpert MS-C931, a desktop AI supercomputer built on the NVIDIA DGX Spark platform. Powered by the NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, the EdgeXpert MS-C931 delivers 1,000 AI TOPS FP4 performance, equipped with high-speed ConnectX 7 networking, 128 GB unified memory, and support for large language models. Designed for AI developers and researchers, it is ideal for applications in education, finance, and healthcare industries.

Pimax Launches SLAM-Tracked Micro-OLED VR Headsets

Pimax, a leader in high-end virtual reality technology, announced the launch of the Dream Air SE alongside an update to the Dream Air. Designed for portability and stunning micro-OLED visuals like Dream Air, the Dream Air SE features such as integrated audio, inside-out tracking, hand and eye-tracking—at an accessible price point.

Dream Air: World's Smallest Full-Feature 8K VR Headset
Pimax introduced the Dream Air in December 2024 as the world's smallest 8K resolution VR headset. Now, the updated Dream Air takes immersive VR experiences to the next levels, with upgrades across visuals, optics, tracking, and ergonomics:
  • Sony Micro-OLED Panels: 3840 x 3552 pixels per eye, delivering over 27 million lifelike pixels. Upgraded Sony panels enhance brightness, color depth, and detail, with a wider 20° chief ray angle for stunning visuals.
  • Advanced Optics: Next-gen pancake lenses offer edge-to-edge clarity, minimal glare, and a perfect field of view for total immersion.
  • Comprehensive Tracking: Includes Tobii-powered eye-tracking (120 Hz refresh), inside-out tracking, hand-tracking, and controller support. Users can choose SLAM or Lighthouse versions for ultimate flexibility.
  • Integrated Audio: Built-in audio delivers rich, immersive soundscapes.
  • Ergonomic Design: Lightweight and versatile, featuring a self-tightening headstrap, adaptable halo strap, and universal compatibility for extended comfort.

MSI Officially Unveils Claw 8 AI+ "Polar Tempest Edition A2VM" 2 TB Handheld

Last December, MSI announced the launch of its Intel "Lunar Lake" APU-powered Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ PC gaming handhelds. Almost two months later, international buyers were left puzzled by a seemingly staggered new product rollout. Despite proudly exhibiting finalized "Sandstorm-colored" units at CES 2025, North American buyers missed out on experiencing a (semi-promised) mid-January release. By March, the brand had fired up its new-gen Claw device marketing campaign again. It is not clear whether MSI shipped a lot of stock to international markets, but fresh news reports indicate an upcoming arrival of their "Polar Tempest Edition" 2 TB variant. As disclosed by Notebookcheck, this special model popped up momentarily earlier on last month.

Re-upped listings point to a potential mid-July launch; starting prices in the US are hovering around the $999 mark. Amazon Germany is accepting orders; €1107.21 (including VAT) grants access to MSI's slightly redecorated Core Ultra 7 258V-powered flagship. The manufacturer's dedicated product page states: "(our) Polar Tempest Edition features a new color scheme and MSI's custom-formulated polyurethane coating, evoking ice-blue crystals on a snow-white landscape." Despite Intel's recent boosting of "Lunar Lake" integrated graphics solution performance, the Claw 8 AI+ (and its 7-inch sibling) face strong "next-gen" competition. ASUS seems to be readying a ROG Ally sequel—according to leaks, this portable PC will make use of AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. A distant "third-gen" MSI Claw design could be equipped with futuristic Intel gaming chipsets; in "Arrow Lake-H" or "Panther Lake" form.

Intel Partner Flags 24 GB Arc B580 Variants in EEC Filing Ahead of Computex

Maxsun's parent company has quietly registered new 24 GB versions of Intel's Arc B580 graphics card with the EEC. While regulatory filings often cover placeholder or speculative hardware, this submission lines up with ongoing rumors about a high-memory "Battlemage" model aimed at both gamers and professionals. Back in December and January, Intel launched the Arc B580 and B570 GPUs, bringing the Battlemage architecture to desktops just a few months after "Lunar Lake" appeared on laptops. Those first cards came with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, a surprisingly generous amount for graphics cards selling under $300, and they helped establish Intel as a real contender in the mainstream GPU market. Since then, chatter about a 24 GB version has never died down. The story gained weight when board partner Sparkle briefly hinted at such a variant and then retracted the comment under NDA obligations. Further fueling speculation, a Sparkle representative in China discussed the planned "B580 24 GB" during a March social-media exchange.

Now, Maxsun's EEC filing lists two models called "iCraft 24G" and "iCraft 24G OC," and those names match what Sparkle first mentioned. There's no guarantee these cards will actually hit store shelves, but the matching details and timing suggest Intel may be testing the waters for a memory-heavy Arc B580. That would make sense given recent leaks about an Arc PRO A60 workstation card also packing 24 GB of memory. Under the hood, the Arc B580's BMG-G21 chip offers up to 20 Xe cores and 2,560 shader units, putting it in the same ballpark as NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4060. With Computex just days away, Intel will finally reveal whether these high-memory Arc B580 cards, or perhaps even bigger Battlemage-based workstation GPUs, are coming our way. Additionally, enthusiasts are keeping an eye on the rumored Arc B770, which is expected next quarter and likely to be detailed at Computex alongside Intel's broader Battlemage and upcoming Xe3 "Celestial" roadmap.

Cash Cleaner Simulator Devs Celebrate Successful Launch on Steam

The Cleanest Launch Ever! Hey Cleaners! What a launch! We're incredibly grateful for the support you've shown us—your reviews, your Discord messages, your bug reports, and your amazing vibes. Thanks to your quick feedback, we were able to jump on a few issues right away and already pushed out a hotfix. Welcome to the most satisfying job simulator you never knew you wanted! Grab your gloves, turn up the music, and get ready to clean, sort, and pack stacks of dirty money. It's part oddly satisfying cleaning sim, part fever dream. And yes, every single banknote is physics-simulated, because why not?

But that's not all
We're already working on a new patch coming next week! And once again, it's based entirely on your feedback. So if you spot something weird or have a cool idea, now's a great time to share it. Every message helps! Also…you've already left 300 reviews on Steam. That's HUGE. Early reviews make a big difference in visibility. They help new players find the game through "New & Trending" and other Steam features. If you haven't posted review yet and feel like supporting us, just a few words go a long way. You can always edit it later too. We read everything! That includes the comments under your reviews. Your voice matters and truly helps shape the game's future. Thank you.

XFX & Acer Radeon RX 9060 XT Graphics Cards Leaked by Retailers - Starting at "$450"

As reported last week, webstores have mistakenly listed unannounced board partner Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics cards. At the time, only model names and identifiers (SKUs) were inadvertently leaked out—roughly a fortnight ahead of a speculated official unveiling at Computex 2025. By the end of last week, VideoCardz had picked up fresh intel from its readership—Amazon had published XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB GDDR6 (triple-fan) and 8 GB GDDR6 (dual-fan) pre-launch prices and basic specifications. These NDA-busting pages have been removed, but the online publication has preserved crucial details. AMD's alleged reference boost clock for this GPU class is 3230 MHz, but XFX is reportedly tuning matters up to 3320 MHz. Considering that Swift is XFX's casual/entry-level product grade, higher end options could be overclocked beyond that figure.

Amazon.com revealed (likely placeholder) prices: $519.99 for the XFX Radeon RX 9060 XT OC 16 GB Gaming Edition (triple fan), and $449.99 for its twin-fan sibling. Team Red is expected to introduce official guide prices (MSRP) next week; possibly during a May 21 presentation. As discussed by VideoCardz, the leaked XFX numbers are a tad too steep—relative to main competition; NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti family. Starting at $429 for 16 GB GDDR7 VRAM, and $379 for 8 GB GDDR7 VRAM. momomo_us has gathered additional evidence of Radeon RX 9060 XT custom card prices; the intrepid industry watcher pointed out an unnamed Swiss e-tailer's listing of two Acer Nitro SKUs. The overclocked 16 GB and 8 GB models were inadvertently marked with 556.70 and 508.30 CHF (respectively) price tags, including regional VAT. Converting to (USD) ~$660 and ~$603, respectively. VideoCardz noted that these offerings are about 20 - 27% cheaper than Acer's already launched Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT) cards.

PlanetPlay & UN Research Reveals Gamers' Shift to Greener Habits

Data drawn from a new in-game poll called Play2Act showed evidence that gaming has the potential to incentivize greener habits among gamers. 79 percent of those respondents who had played games with green messages or environmental content reported making at least one positive behavioural change after playing these games. Among these players, 47 percent report reducing their environmental impact through energy use or public transport, while 34 percent report making greener consumption choices.

Launched in September 2024, Play2Act is a poll embedded in popular games, designed to explore the role of games in tackling the climate and nature crises. The initiative was developed by PlanetPlay, a not-for-profit platform that contributes to environmental action through games, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Bethesda Announces Global Release Times for DOOM: The Dark Ages

Stand And Fight as the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for. Take flight atop the new fierce Mecha Dragon, stand tall in a massive Atlan mech, and beat demons to a pulp with the newly enhanced glory kill system. Only the Slayer has the power to wield these devastating tools of mayhem.

Hell's forces are almost at the gates! Meet them at the ready when DOOM: The Dark Ages launches May 15 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5. Lead the charge in id Software's biggest DOOM game yet with our Pre-Launch Checklist (see below). Prepare to unleash your inner Slayer with details on preloading, Early Access timing, PC specifications and more.

Kingston Releases FURY Renegade G5 M.2 NVMe Gen 5 SSD

Kingston FURY, the high-performance division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces its PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, Kingston FURY Renegade G5 for gaming and high-power users seeking maximum performance.

Kingston FURY Renegade G5 allows users to unleash the full capability of their system by leveraging the latest PCIe Gen 5 x 4 controller and 3D TLC NAND to reach extreme speeds up to 14,800/14,000 MB/s read/write and over 2M IOPS. Kingston FURY Renegade G5 is optimized for performance PC and workstations to eliminate storage bottlenecks and significantly reduce load times, making it the ideal drive for when you're deep in high-intensity gaming, editing, or a data-heavy workflow.

AMD EPYC "Venice" Leak: 2 nm Zen 6 and Zen 6c to Offer Up to 256C/512T and 1 GB of L3 in a Single Socket

AMD is preparing to set a new data-center performance bar with its upcoming 6th-generation EPYC "Venice" processors, built on the latest "Zen 6" and "Zen 6C" core designs and the industry's first 2 nm-class node from TSMC. Leaked engineering diagrams and forum reports suggest Venice will offer additional core scalability, memory capacity, and cache productivity for demanding server workloads. At the heart of the Venice platform lies a multi-chip module design featuring up to eight Core Complex Dies (CCDs) arrayed around one or more central I/O dies (IODs). In its Zen 6 configuration, each CCD houses 12 "classic" cores, yielding a maximum of 96 cores and 192 threads per socket. The cache per CCD is rumored to reach 128 MB of shared L3, double that of its predecessor, delivering up to 1 TB of L3 cache in a fully populated eight-CCD package.

For customers prioritizing raw thread count over per-core performance, the Zen 6C variant pushes the envelope to 256 "dense" cores and 512 threads by leveraging a leaner core design and higher CCD count. Despite the density boost, each Zen 6C core maintains 2 MB of L3 cache, preserving latency benefits even at scale. Memory bandwidth also receives a major uplift: Venice will support both 16-channel (SP7) and 12-channel (SP8) DDR5 configurations, accommodating up to 6 TB of system RAM per socket. The number of PCIe Gen 5 lanes is still unknown, but it could be well over 128 lanes, which the past 5th-generation EPYC CPUs had. Thermal and power targets differentiate the two sockets: SP7 models are expected to reach TDPs around 600 W, up from 400 W on current Zen 5 chips, while SP8 parts aim for 350-400 W to suit more moderate-density racks. This tiered approach will let hyperscalers and enterprise customers balance performance, efficiency, and cooling infrastructure, especially at the scale that hyperscalers have. A projected launch date is scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026.

ESR to Launches the World's First Magnetic Wireless Mouse on Kickstarter

ESR, the world's No. 1 brand in MagSafe accessories, launches its latest breakthrough—the ESR MagMouse Wireless Mouse—on Kickstarter. The campaign which went live on April 28, 2025 has already smashed its funding goal with well over 700 backers already! MagMouse was unveiled at CES 2025, instantly capturing widespread attention and praise for its innovative design and outstanding performance. The MagMouse officially is available now on Kickstarter, with early backers gaining access to a Super Early Bird price of $24/£20, which is a 32% discount on its original price of $36/£28.

The MagMouse officially is available now on Kickstarter, with early backers gaining access to a Super Early Bird price of $24/£20, which is a 32% discount on its original price of $36/£28. Designed with modern mobility in mind, the MagMouse is the world's first magnetically attachable mouse with a built-in fast-charging cable, engineered for people who work, study, and create on the go. By combining portability, functionality, and an innovative design, MagMouse embodies ESR's mission "Tech Made Easier," reimagining what a wireless mouse can be and how it can simplify working on the go.

Samsung Launches 500 Hz Odyssey OLED G6 27-inch Gaming Monitor

Samsung Electronics today announced the global launch of the Odyssey OLED G6, the world's first 500 Hz OLED gaming monitor. The Odyssey OLED G6 will first be available in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, followed by a phased rollout to additional global markets later this year. Building on its six-year leadership in the global gaming monitor market and two-year leadership in OLED gaming displays, Samsung is once again expanding the boundaries of gaming performance with the Odyssey OLED G6.

"Samsung continues to lead the gaming monitor industry with breakthrough innovations that redefine how games are experienced," said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. "With the Odyssey OLED G6, the world's first 500 Hz OLED gaming monitor, we are pushing gaming performance, visual quality and immersion to entirely new heights—delivering the next evolution of display technology for gamers around the world."

QNAP Unveils TDS-H2489FU R2 24-Bay Dual-CPU U.2 NVMe All-Flash NAS

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, and storage solutions innovator, today announced the launch of the next-generation flagship 24-bay U.2 NVMe all-flash rackmount NAS, the TDS-h2489FU R2. The TDS-h2489FU R2 offers powerful and stable computing performance, robust networking, and scalable storage capability to meet enterprise demands for high workloads, multitasking, and low latency in applications such as virtualization, high-performance computing (HPC), data centers, AI/ML computing, AI Big Data storage, and 3D rendering.

"As enterprises face the rapid growth of data and increasingly demanding workloads, they need more than just performance. They require a stable platform that supports mission-critical operations," said Alex Shih, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "The TDS-h2489FU R2 is purpose-built for high-load, multitasking applications, empowering IT teams to handle virtualization, AI model training, or post-production editing with ease. We aim to help enterprises maximize the benefits of all-flash storage in data centers and high-efficiency collaborative environments, accelerating digital transformation and innovation."

NVIDIA's Unreleased TITAN ADA: 18,432 Cores and 48 GB GDDR6X in Early Tests

Overclocking expert Roman "Der8auer" Hartung has managed to get his hands on a prototype of the NVIDIA TITAN ADA, a flagship design that never saw the light of day. Despite its absence from store shelves, the TITAN ADA prototype reveals a blend of workstation-level ambition and cutting-edge gaming power. Enthusiasts have long whispered about a true TITAN successor in the "Ada Lovelace" lineup, and now we finally have concrete evidence of what that card could have delivered. Inside this beast sits a fully enabled AD102 GPU, boasting all 144 streaming multiprocessors and delivering 18,432 CUDA cores, about 12 percent more than the retail RTX 4090. NVIDIA equipped the card with a staggering 48 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus to match this raw compute potential, twice the capacity of any other consumer Ada GPU. The prototype uses a large quad-slot, flow-through cooler in the classic beige TITAN color to keep everything cool.

Unlike conventional layouts, the TITAN ADA's PCB is split into three sections: a rotated main board flanked by a separate daughterboard for the PCIe interface. This unusual arrangement precedes the vertical board designs that would later appear on Founders Edition cards in the RTX 50 Series. Dual 16-pin power connectors suggest NVIDIA originally aimed for a total board power well above 600 watts, yet Der8auer's tests topped out near 450 watts, likely due to the prototype's early vBIOS and older driver builds. Benchmark results confirm the card's full AD102 configuration. In synthetic graphics tests, it ran roughly 15 percent ahead of the RTX 4090, and in real-world gaming scenarios, popular titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Remnant 2 saw performance uplifts ranging from 10 to 22 percent. These figures place the TITAN ADA comfortably between the 4090 and the new RTX 5090 in both speed and efficiency.

Intel Sunsets "Deep Link" Technology Suite, Ending Future Development and Support

Intel is officially stepping back from its Deep Link suite of technologies. The confirmation came through a company representative on GitHub, confirming that active development has ceased. This follows a period when Intel quietly stopped highlighting Deep Link in newer offerings, such as its "Battlemage" GPUs. While the features might still work for those currently using Deep Link, don't expect any future updates or official assistance from Intel's support channels. If you cast your mind back to late 2020, you might recall Intel launching Deep Link. The core idea was to get Intel CPUs and their dedicated Arc GPUs working more effectively in tandem. To tap into this, you needed a specific setup: an 11th, 12th, or 13th Generation Intel CPU alongside an Arc Alchemist GPU. The package featured key tools: Dynamic Power Share for optimizing power between the CPU and GPU, Stream Assist to offload streaming to integrated graphics, Hyper Encode for faster video encoding, and Hyper Compute to accelerate AI tasks using OpenVINO.

These were designed to give a leg up to applications like OBS, DaVinci Resolve, and Handbrake. However, the writing may have been on the wall for Deep Link. Intel's "Meteor Lake" chips, which arrived in late 2023, weren't on the compatibility list, hinting that development had already wound down. Getting these features to perform reliably wasn't always straightforward, with users, like the one on GitHub who raised the initial question, reporting difficulties even with supported hardware. A user tried running Core Ultra 200S with Battlemage in OBS, facing issues not by the software, but by Intel's drivers. The general thinking is that Intel might have viewed Deep Link as a bit of a niche feature, possibly concluding that the continued effort and investment, especially with the need for validation with each software vendor, wasn't paying off. As for what's next, Intel hasn't announced a direct successor to these specific integrated features.
Sunday, May 11th 2025

This Week in Gaming (Week 20)

Welcome to the 20th week of 2025 and this week's AAA release is a prequel of what might be one of the most famous PC first person shooter games out there. This is followed by a weird cowboy game, cops and gangs in the 1980s, another minecraft clone, but with more weapons, some old school fighting and finally a bit of limbo, no not the dance, the other kind. There's also a couple of extra games that look pretty good this week.

DOOM: The Dark Ages / This week's AAA release / Thursday 15 May
As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for. Take flight atop the new fierce Mecha Dragon, stand tall in a massive Atlan mech, and beat demons to a pulp with the newly enhanced glory kill system. Only the Slayer has the power to wield these devastating tools of mayhem. Steam link, Our Performance Review
Saturday, May 10th 2025

Sudokoo x TechPowerUp SuperUser SuperCool Thermal Upgrade Giveaway: Entries Close Soon!

TechPowerUp and Sudokoo bring our readers in the U.S. a really cool opportunity to upgrade their CPU cooling this Summer. Up for grabs are two of Sudokoo's finest creations in the field of CPU cooling—the Proteus 360, and the SK700V Digital. Both are designed to go up against the industry's very best. The Proteus 360 is a premium 360 mm AIO CLC with contemporary touches, such as a large true-color display that can be made to put out just about any information; and a compound fan that's designed to minimize cable clutter; while the SK700V Digital is a heavy air-type cooler with a top-plate that has an LED segment display that puts out useful system monitoring info. Entries for the Giveaway close tomorrow, May 11. All you have to do is fill up a brief form to help us get back to you if you've won. You can increase your chances of winning by sharing the Giveaway across your socials, retweeting any TechPowerUp post on the TechPowerUp X account, liking the Giveaway on Reddit, or visiting the Sudokoo Amazon store. Sounds good? Go ahead and drop your hat in just before entries close tomorrow!

For more information and to participate, visit this page
Friday, May 9th 2025

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Memory
Monitors
Motherboards
Other
Speakers
SSD
DOOM: The Dark Ages Performance Benchmark Review - 40 GPUs Tested

DOOM: The Dark Ages Performance Benchmark Review - 40 GPUs Tested

DOOM: The Dark Ages is coming soon, offering an amazing first-person shooter experience with fantastic graphics. The game introduces the brand-new id Tech 8 engine, which improves support for ray-tracing. In our performance review, we examine its graphical fidelity, VRAM usage, and how well it runs on a variety of modern GPUs.

Alienware Reveals All-New Aurora Laptop Class

For the first time in nearly two decades, Alienware is launching an Aurora class of laptops. With versatility top of mind, these laptops adapt to any environment. From intense gaming sessions to deadline-fueled commutes and airport layovers, wherever you are, Aurora laptops seamlessly shift between work and play.

This launch marks the next step in streamlining the Alienware portfolio to make it easier for you to choose the right gaming machine. Moving forward, you'll see two distinct tiers across Alienware desktops and laptops:
  • Area-51: Our flagship tier designed for those who demand maximum performance and premium features in a durable, robust design.
  • Aurora: Our versatility tier offering strong performance within a sleek, streamlined form factor.

NVIDIA's GB10 Arm Superchip Looks Promising in Leaked Benchmark Results

Recent benchmark leaks from Geekbench have revealed that NVIDIA's first Arm-based "superchip," the GB10 Grace Blackwell, is on the verge of its market launch as reported by Notebookcheck. This processor is expected to be showcased at Computex 2025 later this month, where NVIDIA may also roll out the N1 and N1X (MediaTek confirmed in April that their CEO—Dr. Rick Tsai—will be delivering a big keynote speech at Computex 2025 trade show) alternatives tailored for desktop and laptop use. ASUS and Dell have already put the GB10 in their upcoming products while NVIDIA has also used it in its Project DIGITS AI supercomputer. The company announced this machine at CES 2025 saying it would cost around $2,999 and be ready to buy this month.

The benchmark listings show some inconsistencies, like identifying the chipset as Armv8 instead of Armv9. However, they point out that the GB10's Cortex-X925 cores can reach speeds up to 3.9 GHz. The performance results show that the GB10 can compete with high-end Arm and x86 processors in single-core metrics. Yet, Apple's M4 Max processors still leads in this area. The GB10 marks NVIDIA's move into the workstation-grade Arm processor market and could shake up the established players in the high-performance computing field.

GEEEK Launches the Rhino Open Air Frame Cases Series

GEEEK, a Taiwanese SFF chassis brand, announced the Rhino open-air frame cases series designed for compact PC builds, featuring a tilted design with acrylic panels and aluminium block construction. The GEEEK Rhino M microATX measures 305 × 250 × 275 mm (excluding protrusions) and supports microATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. This model offers unrestricted compatibility with all standard air and liquid CPU coolers and graphics cards of any length. The open design provides complete freedom for cooling solutions, supporting radiator sizes ranging from 120 mm to 360 mm. Power supply compatibility includes ATX, SFX, and SFX-L formats with no length limitations.

The smaller Rhino S case is designed exclusively for Mini-ITX motherboards, featuring a more compact footprint of 300 × 200 × 250 mm (excluding protrusions) and weighs 1.1 kg. Despite its smaller size, it maintains the same unrestricted compatibility for CPU coolers and graphics cards as Rhino M. The case supports radiators up to 360 mm and accommodates ATX, SFX, and SFX-L power supplies, however, with a maximum length of 140 mm (maximum 150 mm). The white version features slightly thicker acrylic panels, which may make it a bit more difficult to secure the graphics card, according to the product page.

Swissbit Intros iShield Key 2 Hardware Authenticator

Swissbit, a leading manufacturer of storage and security solutions, announces the launch of the iShield Key 2, the next generation of its hardware authenticators. Powered by an NXP chip, the new product family delivers phishing-resistant authentication for enterprises and public sector organizations worldwide, offering a wide range of models and feature sets.

At its core, the iShield Key 2 series is built on the FIDO2 standard, supporting passwordless authentication with market-leading capacity for up to 300 Passkeys. The Pro versions expand functionality to include HOTP and TOTP for generating one-time passwords and PIV for smart card integration. Setting new standards, the iShield Key 2 MIFARE variant uniquely combines digital and physical access control in a single device. This enables efficient authentication for both IT systems and physical infrastructure such as buildings or secure printing environments. For customers with the highest security requirements, a FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certified version is also available. All models are housed in a compact, lightweight, and rugged industrial-grade casing - engineered and manufactured at Swissbit's facility in Berlin, Germany.

Biwin to Showcase Industry-Leading Storage Solutions at Computex 2025

Biwin, a global leader in storage and memory solutions, announces its participation in Computex 2025, held in the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from May 20th to 23rd. In Hall 1, Booth #J1028, Biwin will showcase its latest products setting new benchmarks for speed, reliability, and performance in the consumer storage market. Visitors to the booth will see cutting-edge custom PC builds equipped with Biwin storage products and hands-on live product demos. With the theme "Built to Win," Biwin's booth will feature a wide array of innovative storage products designed for work, play and mobility-- with top-of-the-range Biwin Black Opal SSDs and DRAM modules sure to satisfy even the most competitive gamers, modders and overclockers.

FEATURED PRODUCTS FROM BIWIN AT COMPUTEX 2025
Black Opal X570 PRO & X570
Biwin Black Opal X570 PRO and X570 harness the power of PCIe Gen5x4 to deliver groundbreaking speeds, setting a new benchmark for high-performance storage. The X570 PRO delivers read speeds up to 14000 MB/s and write speeds up to 13000 MB/s. With a 6 nm controller and 8-channel architecture, it maximizes data throughput while maintaining exceptional power efficiency. Featuring up to 4 GB DRAM cache, it reaches 2000K IOPS random read speeds for faster high-load scenarios. While the X570 delivers impressive read speeds up to 14500 MB/s in an efficient, DRAM-less design. By leveraging Host Memory Buffer (HMB) and dynamic SLC cache, it enables faster application launches, quicker game loading, and smoother file transfers.

Tripwire Interactive Announces July 24 Global Launch Date for Killing Floor 3

Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive today announced that the highly anticipated next chapter in the studio's legendary Killing Floor franchise, Killing Floor 3, will launch worldwide on July 24 for PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the PlayStation 5 system, and the Xbox Series X|S console systems. Following a delay from the game's original March 25 release date, the development team has been focused on using the additional time to address feedback from the player community. Since the delay, the studio has shared updates directly with fans showing progress in everything from design, artwork, UI and animations. Additional development updates will be shared via the game's official forums and social channels, further demonstrating the team's commitment to evaluating player feedback and being transparent with their progress. Digital pre-orders for the Standard, Deluxe and Elite Nightfall Editions have been reinstated and are currently live on the respective platform store pages.

"Since delaying the launch of Killing Floor 3, we've dedicated the additional development time to responding to the community's feedback, ensuring the next chapter in the much-loved cult action/horror franchise lives up to our shared vision," said Bryan Wynia, Creative Director at Tripwire Interactive. "The support from our fans has been incredible, and with the new July 24th release date in sight, we're thrilled to bring that vision to players not just at launch, but through the continued support of new features and content that is a hallmark of our studio."

Turtle Beach Corporation Announces Growth in Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Gross Margins in First Quarter 2025 Results

Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH), a leading gaming accessories brand, today reported strong financial results, including growth in revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and gross margins in the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

First Quarter Highlights
  • Net revenue was $63.9 million, an increase of 14% compared to the prior year period.
  • Gross margin improved approximately 470 basis points to 36.6% compared to 31.8% in the prior year.
  • Net loss was $(0.7) million or ($0.03) per diluted share compared to net income of $0.2 million or $0.01 per diluted share in the prior year period.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $4.1 million, compared to $1.4 million in the prior year period.
  • Generated $40.5 million in cash flow from operations, the highest level since 2019.
  • Authorized a new $75 million stock repurchase program.

YUNZII Launches Its QL75 Retro Typewriter Mechanical Keyboard

YUNZII has officially released its QL75 mechanical keyboard, which combines the aesthetics of vintage typewriters and modern functionality in a compact, 75% layout. The keyboard has overall dimensions of 328.1 × 214.5 × 64.1 mm and 1461.5 grams. The QL75 features a top-mounted structure with gasket implementation for keystroke dampening. Switch options include the YUNZII Onyx Tactile Switch, with a defined feedback at actuation points, and the YUNZII Cocoa Cream V2 Early Bottoming Linear Switch for those who prefer a smoother keystroke travel. Both switch variants are accommodated by the keyboard's full hot-swappable PCB, which accepts both 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switch designs.

The keycaps are constructed of ABS polymer and have an electroplated matte chrome finish with laser-engraved legends. The vintage-like typewriter keycaps sport North-facing RGB LEDs that provide backlighting with multiple effect options. The YUNZII QL75 has full N-key rollover (NKRO) capability and is compatible with all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS). Another neat feature is the integrated stand that can hold a phone or tablet.

Biostar Launches EdgeComp MS-J6412 IPC for Edge Computing Applications

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of IPC solutions, motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, is excited to introduce the EdgeComp MS-J6412 industrial PC, a powerful new addition to its EdgeComp series built specifically for industrial automation and edge computing applications.

Designed to excel in demanding industrial settings, EdgeComp MS-J6412 combines powerful performance, energy efficiency, and versatile connectivity in a compact, fanless design. Powered by the Intel Elkhart Lake J6412 SoC, a quad-core processor with speeds up to 2.6 GHz and an ultra-low 10 W TDP, the system ensures stable, round-the-clock operation with minimal heat generation and silent performance. Its embedded architecture makes it ideally suited for space-limited and noise-sensitive environments where reliability is paramount.

Gigabyte X870 / B850 Aorus Stealth Ice Pioneering a New Era of RC PC Building Experience

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, the world's leading computer brand, continues to redefine DIY PC building with its innovative Project STEALTH, first introduced in 2022. The Project STEALTH concept was the industry's pioneer in adopting reverse-connector motherboards for a cleaner, more streamlined assembly. Now, responding to the growing demand for all-white and cableless PC builds, GIGABYTE launches the STEALTH ICE Series, featuring the AMD X870 and B850 chipset motherboards.

Beyond aesthetics and easier assembly, GIGABYTE ensures that the Project STEALTH build is highly compatible. In addition to supporting its own chassis lineup (GIGABYTE C500P STEALTH Series), GIGABYTE has partnered with over 10 renowned case manufacturers, including Corsair, Cooler Master, Fractal Design, Phanteks, and more, to provide reverse-connector-ready cases across more than 25 models. This makes the GIGABYTE Project STEALTH Series the most compatible, the most widely supported and flexible solution in the market for cableless PC builds.

ADATA Wins Four 2025 Red Dot Design Awards

ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a leading global memory brand, and its gaming brand XPG, have once again been honored with the prestigious Red Dot Design Award, widely recognized as the "Oscars of the design world." The award is internationally renowned for its evaluation of innovative design, ergonomics, and solutions. This recognition once again highlights the ADATA Group's profound R&D capabilities and human-centric innovative thinking.

The award-winning products include: the ADATA LEGEND 970 PRO PCIe Gen 5 SSD designed for creators, the XPG LANCER CUDIMM RGB DDR5 gaming memory that significantly enhances AI generation and deep learning, the XPG LANCER NEON RGB DDR5 gaming memory as the first to embody ESG concepts, and the innovatively designed XPG HURRICANE MAG magnetic fan. The Group continues to bring more groundbreaking products to consumers and gamers by combining cutting-edge technology with user-oriented design.

Noctua Releases NH-D15 G2 Specific Offset LGA1851 Mounting Bars

Noctua today presented the new NM-IMB8 offset mounting bars for the award-winning NH-D15 G2 flagship CPU cooler. By offsetting the heatsink 3.7 mm towards the north and 2 mm towards the east side of the socket, more pressure is applied right above the hotspot of Intel 24- or 20-core LGA1851 CPUs, such as the Core Ultra 9 285K or Core Ultra 7 265K. This improved contact exactly at the processor's hotspot can reduce CPU temperatures by up to 3°C with HBC coolers and up to 1°C with the standard version (medium base convexity) of the NH-D15 G2.

"Our NH-D15 G2 has successfully established itself as a new benchmark for premium quality quiet CPU coolers, and we're excited to further improve its performance on 24- and 20-core Intel LGA1851 processors with the new NM-IMB8 mounting bars", says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "By shifting the cooler closer towards the hotspot, LGA1851 owners can edge out up to 1°C using the regular NH-D15 G2 and up to 3°C using the HBC version."
Thursday, May 8th 2025
Acer MA200 1 TB Review

Acer MA200 1 TB Review

The Acer MA200 is a highly compact solid-state-drive using the M.2 2230 form factor. This makes it a perfect fit to upgrade the storage on game consoles like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. Unlike many competitors which use slower QLC, the MA200 is built with TLC NAND flash, which helps boost performance.

Fractal Scape Gaming Headset Launching on June 18

On June 18th, 2025, Fractal Design will launch its first audio product, Scape - a gaming headset crafted to deliver an immersive and intuitive wireless audio experience. Featuring Scandinavian Design with clean lines, soft fabric, and a charging stand, Scape is designed for both performance and comfort. It offers audio connectivity through a low-latency dongle, as well as multi-device Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and comes with a flip-to-mute detachable microphone.

With ambient lighting and audio presets easily customizable through our online configuration tool, Adjust Pro, Scape provides a tailored experience with no software installation or user registration required. Scape is set to launch with global availability at an MSRP of $199.99. Pricing may vary by market due to local import duties and other factors.

Raccoon Logic Announces Revenge of the Savage Planet's Global Launch

All Editions. All Platforms. All the Savage Planet goodness is live. It's time for everyone to clock in. Or at least, it would be if you hadn't been made redundant. After 107 years spent in cryosleep and crash-landing on an alien planet in a faraway space system, we're absolutely pumped to announce that REVENGE OF THE SAVAGE PLANET IS LIVE FOR ALL! This isn't a drill. This isn't a teaser. This isn't an elaborate HR onboarding simulation. We actually finished the game.

Well, here we are...After years of coffee-fueled brainstorming, questionable career choices, and at least one incident involving an employee dressed as a Furry in Raccoon Suit (true story), Revenge of the Savage Planet is finally ready for launch. As a small thirty-person team, when we spun up Raccoon Logic, it wasn't to become galaxy-conquering overlords (though we did pitch that at one meeting). It was to tell weird, wonderful, and art imitating life stories. To let players poke aliens with butts for faces, fire off absurd gadgets, and laugh at the strange, beautiful mess of the universe, and maybe even feel something along the way.

Tech YouTuber Highlights ASRock X870 Motherboard's "Killing" of His Ryzen 9 9950X CPU

Unlucky owners of AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processors have encountered major problems that largely involve ASRock motherboards. Throughout early 2025, user feedback provided insight into numerous cases of "catastrophic CPU failures." Members of the official ASRock subreddit have kept track of these unfortunate incidents; now closing in on 200 documented "murdered" specimens. Industry watchdogs reckon that even more disagreements—involving the Zen 5-based 9000X3D series and ASRock B- and X- (AM5) boards—exist outside of this community-aggregated log. At the end of February, ASRock pushed out an important BIOS update—this fix did not resolve all problems. Over a month later, AMD weighed in with their findings—in response, ASRock released another update.

Evidently, Ryzen 7 9800X3D products continue to perish—Tech YES City's Bryan Bilowol has added Team Red's Ryzen 9 9950X model to the mix. The tech YouTuber was surprised by the death of his example; apparently caused by an ASRock X870 Steel Legend mainboard. Standard "Granite Ridge" processors—that lack 3D V-Cache—have received less attention, but observers believe that these non-X3D options are still vulnerable. Bilowol did not personally experience the moment of catastrophe—instead, a friend was borrowing an affected PC build. As demonstrated in a new Tech YES City video post-mortem, the completely dead CPU sported some worrying gray marks. Tech YES City has a fairly large audience, so ASRock leadership will likely be cursing after noticing another uptick in public scrutiny. Past reports have pointed out the manufacturer's belief that too much "misinformation" is being spread. Bilowol surmised that the company is keeping this issue: "under the radar—they seem to be hoping that the issue will just go away." Despite collaborating with ASRock for over a decade, Tech YES City will not pull any punches—await for more gory details in upcoming follow-up investigations.

V-Color Unveils DDR5 Overclockable R-DIMM RGB Memory Modules with Speeds Up to 8000MT/s

V-Color Technology Inc., a leading innovator in high-performance memory solutions, is proud to announce the industry's first DDR5 OC RDIMM RGB modules. Engineered to redefine workstation and professional computing performance, these revolutionary modules will come in capacities ranging from 16 GB per module up to 64 GB or 512 GB in configurations of 64 GB x 8 and with configurations that reach 8000 MT/s delivering exceptional speeds in addition a new ultra-low timing RDIMM of CL26 now enters the line-up, fully optimized for AMD Ryzen Threadripper and Intel Xeon processor platforms. Protected under Patent No. M667728, v-color's DDR5 OC RDIMM RGB modules feature an advanced design with RGB LEDs, combining vibrant visual aesthetics with outstanding performance, bandwidth, and reliability. Designed specifically for AI development, professional multitasking, data analytics, and demanding creative workloads, these modules deliver unmatched speed, reliability, and efficiency.

Elevating Memory Performance
Crafted with Premium Original Top-Tier ICs and ON-Die ECC technology, v-color's DDR5 OC RDIMM RGB modules deliver exceptional data integrity and stability for demanding professional workloads. Featuring an advanced memory architecture, these modules push the boundaries of performance, reaching speeds of up to 8000 MT/s while also offering configurations with ultra-low Timing like 6000 MT/s CL28. Designed for AI development, real-time analytics, and complex 3D rendering, they ensure lightning-fast responsiveness in the most intensive computing environments.

THQ Nordic Delays Titan Quest II Early Access to Summer 2025

Today, Grimlore Games and THQ Nordic shared another update on the development of Titan Quest II, revealing both community insights from the recent playtest and a revised Early Access timeline.

Originally slated for a Winter 2024/2025 release, Titan Quest II will now launch in Early Access in Summer 2025. The decision comes in response to a crowded ARPG release window and a desire to give the game the spotlight it deserves.

Razer Clio: The Must-Have Gaming Chair Accessory for Audio Immersion

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveiled the Razer Clio, an innovative gaming chair accessory designed to deliver headset-like immersive audio without the constraints of wearing one. Surround sound can often be complex, but with Razer Clio, use it as a standalone primary speaker, delivering powerful and clear audio on its own, or pair it with your existing front speakers on Synapse 4 to enjoy a richer surround sound experience.

Equipped with integrated near-field dual speakers that direct soundwaves straight to the ears, the Razer Clio delivers maximal acoustic performance over stereo speakers, ensuring clear sound without distortion, even outside the 'sweet spot'. This creates a fully immersive sound experience for gaming, watching movies, or listening to music.

"Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall" Available Now on PC - MacOS Version Delayed

Dear peasants of Davern! It is my greatest pleasure to announce that you can now grab your crown, some wine and a controller and go play Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall. We have poured our hearts into this game, and we really hope you like it. Everything you loved about Yes, Your Grace—we turned up to eleven. We wanted to thank every single one of you, many of you have been waiting for this game for a long time and supporting us for so many years! Your support has been invaluable all the way and we truly could not have made this game without this support.

Brave At Night will keep working on the game and update it in the coming months. We have a long list of updates that we will be working on as soon as the launch dust settles. Rule your crumbling kingdom as you try to satisfy the petty needs of your people in this cinematic kingdom management RPG. Balance your resources, collect taxes, hire agents and make difficult decisions to see your kingdom prosper or fail.

ASML Seeking Approval of Planned New Mega Facility in the Netherlands

Just over a year ago, reports suggested that ASML was considering a potential expansion of its presence at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC)—nearby to Eindhoven Airport. A "2.5 billion Euro" investment—courtesy of the Dutch government—was floated, alongside an estimated creation of ~20,000 new roles. The Veldhoven-headquartered EUVL photolithography equipment specialist seems to be in a comfortable position, but growing demand for top-level ASML gear has warranted an apparent acceleration of new facility plans. According to local news articles, company and Eindhoven municipality representatives have presented an adjusted timeline—a "northern part" of the BIC campus could welcome new recruits in 2028. Last year's target proposed a further out inauguration; possibly in 2030 or thereafter.

Stijn Steenbakkers—the Alderman for Brainport—outlined the sheer scale of the company's futuristic and uncharacteristically huge footprint: "over the past year, we have worked intensively on the first elaboration of the plans, resulting in the preliminary design of the urban development plan (VOSP) that is now available. Our future, prosperity and well-being are not self-evident. With the current economic developments in the world, it is not a question of whether we should invest in our strategic autonomy. This is of vital importance! By making the expansion of ASML at BIC Noord (North) possible, we dare to opt for the new economy: sustainable, focused on high-tech, innovation and offering solutions for major global social issues...The important points in the VOSP are: approximately 20,000 jobs, approximately 428,000 m² gross floor area for production, and support functions such as offices." Steenbakkers and ASML reps will present their proposals to Eindhoven city councillors in September; transportation and other local infrastructure considerations will be taken into account.

Europa Universalis V Announced; Be Ambitious

A quarter century after the release of the historical grand strategy game that launched an empire, the Europa Universalis enters a dramatic new era with Europa Universalis V. Paradox Interactive's flagship historical series about the early modern world is being updated with a fresh, new version for a new generation, a game that dares you to be ambitious.

Designed over five years by Paradox Tinto, Europa Universalis V builds on 25 years of tradition and experience to deliver the same captivating empire building and alternate histories that have been the hallmark of Paradox's grand strategy games. Europa Universalis V has been crafted with the devoted Paradox fan in mind, incorporating feedback delivered by the fan community over a year of public discussion, and giving this dedicated audience a voice in the realization of this new vision.

Mafia: The Old Country Launches August 8, Gameplay Trailer Releaved

Today, 2K and Hangar 13 unveiled the Official Gameplay Trailer and 'Breaking Omerta' Developer Insights video for Mafia: The Old Country, coming to PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and NVIDIA GeForce NOW on August 8, 2025. Fans can watch the PAX East developer panel today at 2:00 p.m. EDT on YouTube and Twitch to learn about Mafia: The Old Country directly from its developers, and to pre-order the game today.

"Mafia: The Old Country is a focused, linear experience that combines quality storytelling, authentic era immersion and a refined take on the familiar Mafia gameplay," said Hangar 13 President Nick Baynes. "That focus allows us to deliver a story that's gritty, grounded, brutal and emotional. Embracing early 1900s era Sicily, this is a mafia origin story that follows our protagonist, Enzo Favara, as he takes the oath and works his way up Don Torrisi's crime family."

Spirit Of The North 2 Out Now on PC & Consoles

Greetings, Guardians! The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here—Spirit of the North 2 is officially out now on Steam! Whether you've been with us since the first game or joined along the way, we can't thank you enough for your support, your feedback, and your patience. Now, it's your turn to step into this beautiful, mysterious world once again—this time, with new powers, new companions, and a world that's bigger and more alive than ever before.

You've followed us through development, shared our excitement, and kept the spirit alive—now it's time to experience the magic for yourself. Launch day is just the beginning. We'll be keeping an eye out for your thoughts, feedback, and favorite moments. Don't forget to share your screenshots, theories, and discoveries in the Community Hub! From all of us—at Infuse Studio, and Merge Games—thank you, and we hope you enjoy the journey.

Imagination Announces E-Series GPU IP with Burst Processors and up to 200 TOPS

Imagination Technologies redefines edge AI and graphics system design with the launch of Imagination E-Series GPU IP. E-Series leverages its highly efficient parallel processing architecture to provide exceptional graphics performance while also scaling from 2 to 200 TOPS INT8/FP8 for AI workloads. It offers a versatile and programmable solution for future edge applications including graphics, desktop applications, natural language processing on smartphones, industrial computer vision, and vehicle autonomy.

Two new technologies underpin E-Series' potential to transform edge system design:
  • Neural Cores: Scaling up to 200 TOPS (INT8/FP8), these cores deliver significant acceleration for AI and compute workloads.
  • Burst Processors: A highly innovative solution delivering a 35% improvement in average power efficiency for edge applications.

Nintendo Will Contemplate Switch 2 Price Hikes - Dependent on Shifts in Tariff Conditions

Nintendo's Switch 2 hybrid console is set to arrive early next month (June 5), complete with promised launch prices. Early last month, the company's basic cost of entry for next-gen access—$450 (US)—seemed to be on tenuous ground. Nintendo and its retail partners decided to postpone their opening of pre-orders—affecting excited customers in the United States, then (days later) in Canada. Thanks to political posturing, a number of big industry players had to restrategize. Late last week, Microsoft announced their implementation of global Xbox Series price increases. In April, Sony revealed similar changes for PlayStation 5; restricted to select market territories. Nintendo has allowed a re-opening of Switch 2 pre-orders; gamers can secure core hardware at original MSRPs. Unfortunately, a compromise was made—first-party Switch 2 accessories will be more expensive, on launch day and beyond.

During a recent call with investors, Nintendo's president—Shuntaro Furukawa—confirmed that their core hardware pricing is subject to change. Launch price tags are safe (for the moment); the company will need to radiate some goodwill during their next-gen design's salad days. Commenting on a shifting political landscape, Furukawa-san stated: "at this time, the top priority is to quickly popularize the Switch 2 hardware...If the assumptions regarding tariffs change significantly, we would like to consider what price adjustments we should make, and implement them after considering various factors." Industry analysis has produced a scary projection; worst case scenarios could send tech prices up by roughly 70%. Considering the vintage of Switch 2's alleged internals, gaming hardware enthusiasts have questioned the value offered by this $450 hybrid handheld.

Sennheiser Intros ACCENTUM Open True Wireless Earbuds

The Sennheiser brand today announces ACCENTUM Open, a true wireless open earbud for staying connected to your entertainment and the outside world on the simplest of terms. Combining the audio brand's renowned sound tuning with an open fit (non-occlusive), ACCENTUM Open is made for multitaskers that want satisfying sound without a fuss.

"ACCENTUM Open was designed to complement your busy life—not complicate it," said Friederike Menking, Product Manager. "Whether you are listening to music, catching up on a podcast at your desk or checking in with your friends on your way to the train, the ease of use is second only to the sound."

PS5 DualSense Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Limited Edition Arriving on June 26

Keep the supplies moving with the latest piece of hardware for Porters heading out on a new journey - we're excited to reveal the new DualSense wireless controller - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Limited Edition. We worked closely with Kojima Productions on the controller design, customized with the insignia and motto of Drawbridge in vibrant orange. The DualSense wireless controller—Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities for a recommended retail price of $84.99 / €84.99 / £74.99 / ¥12,480. Pre-orders start on May 22, 2025, at 10am local time at direct.playstation.com (where available), as well as participating retailers. The exact launch date and availability for the controller may vary by country/region.

The new controller launches on June 26, 2025 on PS5 alongside Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, where players can join Sam and his companions on a mission to save humanity from extinction. Pre-order the Collector's Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition for Early Access from June 24, 2025.

Razer Launches Compact Ergonomic Gaming Mouse and Keyboard

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, is revolutionizing mobile gaming with the launch of the Razer Basilisk Mobile and the Razer Joro. Designed to meet the needs of gamers on the go, these compact and feature-rich devices set a new benchmark for portable gaming gear without compromising on performance.

Sized for convenience, the Razer Basilisk Mobile and Razer Joro are lightweight devices that combine a sleek design with robust functionality and gaming-grade performance. Whether battling it out in an online arena or exploring vast virtual worlds, gamers can now enjoy the same quality gaming experience on the road as they do at home.

NVIDIA Reportedly Limiting Press Access to GeForce RTX 5060 Drivers - Suggesting Late Arrival of Reviews

The Hardware Unboxed team has unleashed some of its sarcastic Aussie wit; in response to an alleged manipulation of GeForce RTX 5060 (non-Ti) review day conditions. In an online dig—directed at Team Green leadership—the Australian media outlet's social media account parodied NVIDIA new product decision-making: "we're not hiding the RTX 5060, we're very proud of it and gamers will love it. Also, we're going to launch the RTX 5060 on May 19th during Computex, and although reviewers have cards right now, we won't be releasing the driver until they go on sale." Mid-way through April, Hardware Unboxed's Tim Schiesser voiced his displeasure regarding a complete lack of GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB evaluation samples—only 16 GB variants were sent out to testers. Curious professional reviewers opted into buying these cheaper variants (out of pocket), including TechPowerUp's W1zzard. Our head honcho's reckoning—of a custom Gainward effort—pointed out far too many compromises.

In a follow-up post, Hardware Unboxed's social media rep took a more measured approach with their disapproval of "controlled conditions." Clarifying the "context" of their earlier rant, they explained: "NVIDIA are trying to hide the RTX 5060, just as they did the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB. The strategy here is to release it the week of Computex when most of the tech media are in Taiwan attending the show. They're also blocking reviewers from accessing the driver early to evaluate the RTX 5060 and provide reviews at the time of release. So as it stands I have multiple RTX 5060 samples, and I won't be able to review any of them until about a week after they go on sale." VideoCardz, and other critics/watchers believe that a rumored "rushed" development of GeForce RTX 5060-series cards (Ti and non-Ti) resulted in an uninspiring repeat rollout of 8 GB and 16 GB VRAM configurations—albeit upgraded to GDDR7 standards.

Lenovo Unveils the New Legion 9i (18", 10) Gaming Laptop

Today at Lenovo's Tech World Shanghai 2025, Lenovo announced the new Lenovo Legion 9i (18", 10), a gaming laptop truly designed for games—both those who play them, and those who make them. Packed with features that not just deliver the ultimate gaming experience, but the ultimate game development experience.

"The most powerful gaming laptops deliver seamless performance even with the most demanding titles, and the new Lenovo Legion 9i (18", 10) laptop is designed to set a new standard," said Jun Ouyang, Lenovo's Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Segment, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "Built with top-tier hardware and next-generation AI software innovations, it combines exceptional speed and intelligence—not just for immersive gaming, but also to empower game developers, AI engineers, and designers with the high performance and optional 2K 3D support they need to bring their visions to life."

Drop Introduces "All-White" CSTM80 Mechanical Keyboard

When your whole desk needs some whiteout. A PALER SHADE OF PERSONALIZATION: equipped with a white decorative top case, a white bottom case, and a matching white keycap set, this CSTM80 goes all the way with its white appointments.

MADE FOR MIXING AND MATCHING
In addition to the magnetic top case (which you can switch out for a huge range of colors), this white CSTM80 can also be configured with a host of additional add-ons-including several keyboard weights and switch plates. AND FINISHED WITH ENTHUSIAST FEATURES: alongside the top case(s) and long list of add-ons, this CSTM80 comes equipped with a host of enthusiast features: including south-facing LEDs, including removable gaskets, and a full array of foam.

Rockstar Claims GTA VI Trailer 2 "Captured Entirely" by PlayStation 5 Base Hardware

Not too long after announcing the delay of their flagship next-gen AAA+ game, Rockstar Games appeased the masses with the uploading of a bombastic second trailer—showcasing Grand Theft Auto VI's various colorful cast members, Vice City locales, and spectacular visual effects. Online debaters have picked this cinematic preview apart; many doubters reckon that teaser material (mostly) consists of pre-rendered CGI—pumped out by "pro-grade" equipment. Many observers did not pick up on a small text detail—"captured on PS5"—at the tail end of the studio's GTA VI Trailer 2. To reiterate this point, the Rockstar Games official social media account sent out a bulletin. Yesterday evening's official alert insisted that their: "Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 was captured entirely in-game from a PlayStation 5, comprised of equal parts gameplay and cutscenes." This tidbit is also mentioned in the trailer's YouTube description.

Earlier today, the Digital Foundry team published their (must read, or watch) technical critique of Rockstar's forthcoming magnum opus. In their (collective) professional opinion, Rockstar's claim deserves merit: "the trailer was released in 4K at 30 FPS with black bars—producing a rather odd 20:9 aspect ratio—with text at the end of the trailer confirming it was recorded on a base PS5 instead of the more powerful PS5 Pro. Internal resolution counts come out at 1440p, or 2560x1152 to be exact—that's 80 percent of 1440p on the vertical axis. The trailer seems to be using a spatial upscaler, something like AMD's first-generation FSR, with that characteristic curved look present in fine detail like distant text. This means image quality is a little soft, but makes it more believable that the game is actually running on a base PS5, bearing in mind the relatively realistic details and graphical effects elsewhere." Going back to late 2024, another highly anticipated "AAA+" title was unveiled—The Witcher 4; with an Unreal Engine 5 underpinning. At the time, CD Projekt RED hinted about this fantasy blockbuster's introductory trailer being pre-rendered by an "unannounced NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU." We later learned that this mysterious bit of hardware was a formidable GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. Given GTA VI's (2026) "consoles first" launch, Rockstar engineers do not have the luxury of (immediately) pairing their proprietary RAGE engine with cutting-edge hardware. An elevated visual feast—on PC platforms—is expected further down the line.

OpenAI Sets its "Democratic AI" Sights on Countries Outside of North America

Our Stargate project, an unprecedented investment in America's AI infrastructure announced in January with President Trump and our partners Oracle and SoftBank, is now underway with our first supercomputing campus in Abilene, Texas, and more sites to come. We've heard from many countries asking for help in building out similar AI infrastructure—that they want their own Stargates and similar projects. It's clear to everyone now that this kind of infrastructure is going to be the backbone of future economic growth and national development. Technological innovation has always driven growth by helping people do more than they otherwise could—AI will scale human ingenuity itself and drive more prosperity by scaling our freedoms to learn, think, create and produce all at once.

We want to help these countries, and in the process, spread democratic AI, which means the development, use and deployment of AI that protects and incorporates long-standing democratic principles. Examples of this include the freedom for people to choose how they work with and direct AI, the prevention of government use of AI to amass control, and a free market that ensures free competition. All these things contribute to broad distribution of the benefits of AI, discourage the concentration of power, and help advance our mission. Likewise, we believe that partnering closely with the US government is the best way to advance democratic AI.

Intel Teases Upcoming Unveiling of "New Arc Pro GPUs" - Insiders Predict "Battlemage" B60 Card

Earlier in the week, reports indicated the potential introduction of an Intel Xe2 "Battlemage" B770 gaming graphics card at Computex 2025. Last night, a Team Blue tweet confirmed forthcoming product unveilings: "new Intel Arc Pro GPUs are on the way. See you in Taipei!" In the months leading up to this important trade event, industry watchdogs have drummed up speculation about "Battlemage's" future (or fate). Whispers of 24 GB VRAM-equipped variants emerged late last year—around late January, these theories were connected to an official leak: "3 new PCI IDs for BMG."

Unsurprisingly, VideoCardz has weighed in with some new inside track info—they propose that one of Intel's upcoming professional options will be an "Arc Pro B60 24 GB" model, aka "Developer Edition" (an alleged in-house reference). Despite Sparkle HQ downplaying recent "rogue claims," a company rep (in China) alluded to a possible May/June release of their own custom 24 GB "Battlemage" productivity-oriented card. VideoCardz has picked up on rumors, regarding the "Arc Pro B60's" internal setup. They propose Team Blue's selection of the familiar "BMG-G21" GPU; as used by their Arc Xe2 B580 12 GB and B570 10 GB designs. According to an unnamed inside source, this professional/workstation variant will stick with the usual 192-bit memory interface. Intel's Computex 2025 new product teaser provided a big clue about the speculated "B60" model's cooling solution.

Bluetooth SIG Announces Bluetooth 6.1 with Improved Power Efficiency and Security

The Bluetooth Core Specification recently moved to a bi-annual release schedule. This shift enables more frequent and consistent delivery of completed features, fostering faster innovation and continuous improvements across the Bluetooth ecosystem. Developers and manufacturers now have quicker access to the latest Bluetooth advancements, powering wireless innovation and enhancing overall market responsiveness.

"Moving to a bi-annual release cycle for the Bluetooth Core Specification represents a pivotal step forward for the entire Bluetooth technology ecosystem," said Alain Michaud, chair of the Bluetooth SIG Board of Directors. "This new cadence will ensure that incremental improvements and features can reach developers and manufacturers faster, fueling innovation and helping them meet the evolving needs of the market with greater agility."

Hygon Prepares 128-Core, 512-Threaded x86 CPU with Four-Way SMT and AVX-512 Support

Chinese server CPU maker Hygon, which owns a Zen core IP from AMD, has put a roadmap for C86-5G, its most powerful server processor to date, featuring up to 128 cores and an astonishing 512 threads. Thanks to a complete microarchitectural redesign, the new chip delivers more than 17 percent higher instructions per cycle (IPC) than its predecessor. It also supports the AVX-512 vector instruction set and four-way simultaneous multithreading, making it a strong contender for highly parallel workloads. Sixteen channels of DDR5-5600 memory feed data-intensive tasks, while CXL 2.0 interconnect support enables seamless scaling across multiple sockets. Built on an unknown semiconductor node, the C86-5G includes advanced power management and a hardened security engine. With 128 lanes of PCIe 5.0, it offers ample bandwidth for accelerators, NVMe storage, and high-speed networking. Hygon positions this flagship CPU as ideal for artificial intelligence training clusters, large-scale analytics platforms, and virtualized enterprise environments.

The C86-5G is the culmination of five years of steady development. The journey began with the C86-1G, an AMD-licensed design that served as a testbed for domestic engineers. It offered up to 32 cores, 64 threads, eight channels of DDR4-2666 memory, and 128 lanes of PCIe 3.0. Its goal was to absorb proven technology and build local know-how. Next came the C86-2G, which kept the same core count but introduced a revamped floating-point unit, 21 custom security instructions, and hardware-accelerated features for memory encryption, virtualization, and trusted computing. This model marked Hygon's first real step into independent research and development. With the C86-3G, Hygon rolled out a fully homegrown CPU core and system-on-chip framework. Memory support increased to DDR4-3200, I/O doubled to PCIe 4.0, and on-die networking included four 10 GbE and eight 1 GbE ports. The C86-4G raised the bar further by doubling compute density to 64 cores and 128 threads, boosting IPC by around 15 percent and adding 12-channel DDR5-4800 memory plus 128 lanes of PCIe 5.0. Socket options expanded to dual and quad configurations. Now, with the C86-5G, Hygon has shown it can compete head-to-head with global server CPU leaders, putting more faith in China's growing capabilities in high-performance computing.

TechPowerUp Readers: Will Pay for Premium OC Graphics Cards, in Large Part for Better Cooling

TechPowerUp over the past 50-odd days surveyed our readers to understand if they're willing to pay premium for high-end factory overclocked graphics cards. This is especially important to know in the wake of GPU manufacturer MSRPs turning largely irrelevant, pushing even inexpensive non-OC cards with simpler designs way above the MSRP. We have also seen scenarios where certain GPUs are only sporadically available, and in some cases, only their premium factory-OC cards are. This would tell us if buyers are willing to pick up a premium OC graphics card if it's the only option available versus waiting for non-OC cards to become available at relatively lower prices.

Our survey gathered close to 21,000 responses. 46.4% of the responses (9,738 votes) say that they choose premium OC graphics cards, however, they do so only for the better cooling. Board partners tend to give their products premium cooling solutions to not just deal with the added heat from the OC, power-limits, and boost headroom; but also to offer low noise as a feature, besides other aesthetic touches such as RGB lighting or a premium appearance. The "Yes" option, which means that buyers want premium OC graphics cards for their superior performance, gathered an interesting 28.2% of the vote (5,908 votes). Lastly, only 25.4% (5,335 votes) say that they are not willing to pay for premium OC cards, and prefer cards either at or close to the MSRP.

GeForce NOW Welcomes 2K's Acclaimed Mafia Series to Cloud Gaming

Calling all wiseguys—2K's acclaimed Mafia franchise is available to stream from the cloud. Step into the gritty underworld of organized crime and experience the cinematic storytelling and action-packed gameplay that made the Mafia franchise a classic, captivating both newcomers and longtime fans of the saga. It's all part of nine games joining the cloud family this week, including Towerborne from Stoic and Xbox Game Studios. Plus, the family is waiting—the Mafia saga's highly anticipated prequel, Mafia: The Old Country, will join the cloud at launch.

The Cloud Is Made
Step into the world of organized crime with Mafia, Mafia: Definitive Edition, Mafia II and Mafia III now streaming on GeForce NOW for those new and returning to the family. Experience the gritty underworld drama and cinematic storytelling that made Mafia a legend—no need to wait for a sit-down with the don. Start with the first game in the series, Mafia. An inadvertent brush with the mob thrusts cab driver Tommy Angelo into the world of organized crime. He's initially uneasy about falling in with the Salieri family, but the rewards become too big to ignore. Plus, check out Mafia: Definitive Edition, a remake from the ground up of the classic first title, with an expanded story, gameplay and original score.

Raspberry Pi OS Gets Its Newest Release

We've just published a new version of Raspberry Pi OS - our recommended (and free) operating system for all Raspberry Pi computers - and it's now available for download. Scroll to the bottom of this post to find instructions for updating, or read on to find out what has changed. As many of you already know, Debian Linux works on a two-year release cycle - every odd-numbered year, a new major version is released, and it being 2025, there will be one in the next few months.

So this is probably the final release of Raspberry Pi OS which is based on Debian 'bookworm', before Debian 'trixie' is released this summer. The last full release we made was back in November last year, and there have been quite a few changes since then, so here's a summary of the most important.

Thrustmaster T598 Servo Base Now Available With Four New T598 Bundles

Sim racing fans, rejoice - the T598 Servo Base is finally available! Known for its cutting-edge force feedback, exceptional precision, and robust design, the T598 has become a favorite among serious racers across all disciplines: GT, Formula, rally, and endurance.

To celebrate its availability, we're also launching four brand-new bundles, combining the T598 with our most popular racing wheels. Each bundle is tailored to a different racing style and comes with up to 16% off compared to buying the items separately.
  • T598 Servo Base + Ferrari 488 GT3 Wheel Add-On
  • T598 Servo Base + Ferrari SF1000 Wheel Add-On + QR Upgrade
  • T598 Servo Base + Hypercar Wheel Add-On
  • T598 Servo Base + Evo Racing 32R Wheel Add-On

Intel Foundry Reportedly Secures Microsoft Contract for 18A Node

According to Chosun Biz, Intel Foundry client acquisition efforts for the 18A node have shifted into high gear, with the latest reports indicating that Microsoft has inked a substantial foundry deal based on the 18A process. Talks with Google are also said to be advancing, suggesting that Intel may soon secure a second cloud giant for a customer of its 18A technology. Intel's flagship 18A node, which entered risk production earlier this year, is slated for full-scale volume manufacturing before the end of 2025. Beyond the baseline 18A offering, the company is already developing two enhanced variants: 18A-P, scheduled for rollout in 2026, and 18A-PT, targeted for 2028. Chosun Biz reports that prototype 18A-P wafers have been produced in Intel's domestic fabs, pointing out the foundry's swift pace of new node production.

Intel has even begun sharing early PDKs for its next-generation 14A node with select partners, paving the way for continued scaling beyond the 18A era. Strategically, Intel's extensive US fab footprint, which includes two under-construction fabs in Arizona (a USD 32 billion investment), expanded packaging facilities in New Mexico, a new 300 mm logic plant in Oregon, and two Ohio fabs earmarked for the early 2030s, could prove advantageous amid ongoing tariff uncertainties. Beyond North America, Intel is gearing up Fab 34 in Ireland for mass production of its Intel 4 node and inaugural 3 nm chips later this year. In Israel, Fab 38 is being outfitted for EUV-based, high-performance wafer manufacturing, while an advanced packaging site in Penang, Malaysia, supports global assembly and testing.

Arctic Unveils New Freezer 8 Compact CPU Cooler Series

Arctic presents the new Freezer 8, which is available in different socket variants. The air cooler series offers a convincing upgrade for boxed coolers and small cases at an excellent price-performance ratio. With a height of just 136 mm, the Freezer 8 fits easily into various cases and is ideal for systems with limited space and high RAM modules. Two offset direct-touch heatpipes and a pressure-optimized 100 mm PWM fan ensure quiet and powerful operation. If required, a maximum speed of 2,300 rpm can be achieved.

The compact air cooler is available in four versions for different sockets and applications:
  • Freezer 8A: Supports AMD's AM5 and AM4.
  • Freezer 8i: Compatible with Intel's LGA1851 and 1700 sockets.
  • CO models: For continuous operation with double ball bearings.
May 29th, 2025 06:38 CDT change timezone

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