Shortly after the official Fedora 45 launch, Bazzite 45 has launched, with a rebase to Fedora 45, Gnome 51.1, and KDE Plasma 6.8.2. The new Bazzite version lists updated OGC Linux kernels—7.2.15 for AMD and Intel, and 6.18.60 for NVIDIA users—and additional hardware support, including for the Acer Predator Atlas 8 and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X20, but also for more peripherals, including the Logitech TrueForce racing wheel hardware. The Mesa driver version has also been updated to 26.2.6, InputPlumber has been updated, and CoolerController has been moved to the official docker container, while XWaylandVideoBridge has been removed in the name of stability and squashing KDE bugs. The rest of the actual updates are minor back-end changes, save one.

As per the announcement post on the Universal Blue Discourse page, as of Bazzite 45, Bazzite has become accepted by Epic Games as a signing key provider, and the development team behind Bazzite has added a Linux EAC V2 readiness checker to Bazzite 45. The checker automatically updates the latest Linux EAC V2 requirements and compares the requirements to the current kernel and BIOS configurations—specifically kernel and module signing, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, measured boot, IOMMU, kernel lockdown, kexec, and BPF LSM. If there are any incompatibilities, the user will be notified by the readiness checker.

MSI has launched the MPG COREFROZR AP15, its first air cooler with an integrated display built into the top cover. The cooler uses a dual-tower design with asymmetric tower widths, six 6 mm copper heat pipes, and a copper base. The DIGI-DISPLAY top cover module connects via magnetic POGO-PIN contacts and MSI's EZ Conn single-cable connection, showing real-time CPU, GPU, and memory temperatures, loads, and frequencies without additional software. In terms of dimensions, MSI says that the heatsink measures 168 x 126.5 x 128 mm and has 102 fins. The two included 120 mm ARGB fans operate at different speeds. The front fan runs at 2000 RPM with 66.41 CFM and 1.98 mmH2O static pressure at 31.1 dB(A), while the mid fan is quieter at 1600 RPM, 54.14 CFM, 1.30 mmH2O, and 25.06 dB(A). Both are PWM controlled.

MSI MPG COREFROZR AP15 cooler is compatible with Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851, and AMD AM4 and AM5 platforms. According to MSI, the cooler was designed with AMD Ryzen X3D processors in mind, so even without any official information regarding its thermal capabilities, it should handle pretty much all CPUs well. In China, it's priced at 549 yuan, around $82, however international pricing and availability have not been confirmed yet.

Chieftec has launched two compact CPU coolers, the CAC-S90PWM-T120 tower cooler and the CAC-S92PWM-LP45 low-profile model. Both were first previewed at Computex 2026, as we reported earlier. They follow the recent release of the taller CAC-S120PWM-T150 tower cooler, which stands 148 mm tall and features an all-black matte finish. The CAC-S90PWM-T120 measures 80 x 92 x 117 mm and uses four 6 mm heat pipes with an aluminium fin stack. Do not let yourself be fooled by the T120 suffix into thinking it uses a 120 mm fan. It instead uses a smaller 90 mm PWM model running at 800-2,400 RPM, with 40.48 CFM, 2.73 mm H₂O static pressure, and a noise level of 29.79 dBA.

For even more compact systems, the low-profile CAC-S92PWM-LP45 measures 110.8 x 93 x 45 mm. This model has five 6 mm heat pipes and a slim 92 mm x 92 mm x 15 mm PWM fan with 11 blades. The fan runs at 2,300 RPM, delivering up to 36 CFM of airflow, 3.2 mm H₂O of static pressure and a 38 dBA noise level. Both coolers have an all-black finish, support Intel and AMD CPU platforms and come with a 24-month warranty. Chieftec has not announced pricing or exact retail availability. More pictures and full specifications follow.

Responding to a question from a customer with a stained copper cold plate, modder and overclocker, Der8auer, has published an analysis of Thermal Grizzly's Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal thermal interface, revealing the long-term effects of the TIM. In the video, published to YouTube, Der8auer explains that the staining that can often be seen after the use of liquid metal TIMs is a simple reaction between the copper and gallium in the liquid metal forming CuGa2 in what is known as a peritectic reaction. The resulting alloy has an effective thermal conductivity of around 100 W/m·K, which is significantly lower than pure copper but much higher than the liquid metal alone. Fortunately, this deposition grows at around 1 µm per day until it reaches 50-100 µm, and it is given as the explanation for online reports of liquid metal evaporation over time.

Moving onto the actual long-term testing and analysis, Der8auer analyzed a copper plug applied with Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Extreme intermittently over a two-year period to see how the thermal interface material changed over time. While the liquid's surface is clearly visible under the electron microscope after the initial application, it changed significantly after just two weeks, with obvious crystallization and solid particulates forming in the TIM surface. These crystals continued to grow as the test sample sat in a de-oxygenated environment, losing any appearance of the liquid by the end of the second month after the initial application, with the surface then comprised exclusively of crystals. No further changes were observed in the liquid metal's surface between the two-month and two-year marks, suggesting that no major changes happened after the first 50-60 days, as predicted by Der8auer's initial explanation that peritectic deposition would occur at a rate of roughly 1 µm per day until it reached around 50 µm thick.

Cooler Master, a global leader in digital infrastructure cooling solutions, has outlined its end-to-end cooling portfolio for AI infrastructure, designed to support high-density computing deployments in new data centers and existing facilities expanding AI capacity. Anchored by a 2,500 kW Liquid-to-Liquid In-Row Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU), the portfolio spans facility-level heat transfer, rack and server cooling, and the equipment used to prepare liquid cooling systems for operation.

Thomas Chen, CEO at Cooler Master Corporation"Customers need choices that bring fast time-to-market, flexibility, and scalability for the deployment of their facilities. We aim to help them put liquid cooling to work, whether that means retrofitting an existing data center or building a new site. That requires comprehensive plans about how the equipment being assembled, installed, and serviced."

A month after Cooler Master launched its GPU Shield 12v-2×6 power cable monitoring solution in the US, it has finally released the safety accessory in the EU, where it received a €29.99 price tag—compared to $49.99 in the US.

Along with the lower price, however, Cooler Master has also reduced the warranty period on the GPU Shield adaptor cable from three years in the US and China to just two years in the EU—just barely covering the minimum threshold for legally mandated warranties in the EU, but still longer than the one-year warranty granted for the international version of the GPU Shield. The GPU Shield adaptor cable is available via Cooler Master directly, and it does not appear to be available on sites like Amazon just yet.

AMD's upcoming EPYC "Verano" processors will apparently use a new socket called SB1. The name comes from server cooler maker Dynatron, which now states on its website that its cooling solutions support "AMD EPYC Verano on Socket SB1." Dynatron also has a product page up for a 4U active cooler listed as "SB1-4U-ACTIVE (TBD)," so the final product name is still pending. The "B" in SB1 could point to a BGA package soldered to the board, although that is a guess based on the name and nothing official. The listing doesn't help much either. Maximum power is marked as TBD, and the 128.05 x 106.6 x 130.7 mm dimensions are identical to Dynatron's J26 cooler for SP7, so the specs could simply be placeholders for now.

Verano is the codename for the EPYC 9006 LP, a Zen 6 part that AMD announced alongside the rest of its 6th Gen EPYC lineup. It tops out at 72 cores with boost clocks of up to 5 GHz, and it runs on 24 channels of LPDDR5X memory through replaceable SOCAMM2 modules. AMD is aiming it at AI racks as a host processor for GPU clusters, with a launch planned for the second half of 2027. The regular "Venice" chips use different sockets, namely SP7 for up to 256 cores and SP8 for up to 128. For "Verano," AMD itself hasn't revealed the socket name yet.

Thermalright has added a fully black variant to its Peerless Assassin lineup with the Peerless Assassin 120H-A Dark, a twin-tower air cooler that builds on the existing black models but steps up the fan speed for more aggressive thermal performance. This follows the recently launched single-tower Assassin X 120-A Dark, an updated version of the Thermalright Assassin X 120 V2 series. The heatsink uses six 6 mm U-shaped copper direct-touch heat pipes running through a dual-tower fin stack. The cooler measures 125 x 135 x 159 mm (including fans) and has black covers on top for a clean, uniform look that avoids the mixed-finish look of some other "all-black" coolers. Socket support covers Intel LGA115X, 1200, 1700, and 1851, and AMD AM4 and AM5.

Where it differs from the standard Peerless Assassin 120 Black is the bundled fans. The two included TL-N12-R9 V2 units spin up to 2400 RPM, significantly faster than the 1550 RPM of the base model. Each fan is pushing up to 85.35 CFM at 2.95 mmH2O static pressure. Noise at maximum speed is rated at 33.3 dB(A), with S-FDB bearings and 4-pin PWM control. The higher fan speed makes this version better suited for more demanding CPUs where the standard fans might fall short under sustained load. Pricing and regional availability haven't been announced yet. However, the 120 SE Black is listed on Amazon for around $43, so we could estimate that the new Thermalright PE 12H-A Dark CPU cooler will be priced at around $55.

There is no shortage of horror stories about misbehaving 12V-2x6 power connectors, whether they be on AMD Radeon or on NVIDIA GPUs. The ongoing drama with the GPU connector has prompted manufacturers of other PC gaming hardware to come up with solutions, like ASUS's ROG Equalizer, Cooler Master's GPU Shield technology, or ASRock's protected, right-angled 12V-2x6 cable. The latest to join the GPU power race with active protection is Lian Li, except it does things a little differently.

The Lian Li Edge Hub Adv is the latest iteration of the brand's USB-controlled fan hub, and the new model includes two sensor ports for temperature sensing using NTC (negative temperature coefficient) sensors built into an included 650 mm 12V-2x6 GPU power cable. The power cable connects the GPU to the PSU, and the NTC cable plugs directly into the Lian Li Edge Hub Adv, which connects to Lian Li's L-Connect 3 monitoring software on Windows. By default, L-Connect is set up to monitor the temperature of the NTC sensor and start an emergency shut-down once the connector temperature reaches a certain threshold. In addition to an on-screen pop-up alerting the user to an imminent shutdown and giving them the chance to trigger the shutdown manually instead, Lian Li will also send the user an email when a shutdown is triggered by a misbehaving GPU power connector.

Thermal Grizzly has launched the Mycro Pro Stainless Steel CPU water blocks, which list support for Intel's upcoming LGA1954 socket. The AMD version covers AM4 and AM5, while the Intel version covers LGA1700, LGA1851, and LGA1954. Thermal Grizzly sells both at $116.88, and European listings show €99.90. LGA1954 is the socket for Intel's upcoming Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs, which Intel seems to have confirmed through an internal validation tool listing, and recent leaks point to a Q1 2027 launch. Cooler makers have been signaling compatibility for a while, with Thermaltake's leaked installation guide and Noctua's FAQ update both saying LGA1851 coolers should carry over. Since the socket is expected to keep the same mounting as LGA1851, this block looks like it follows suit.

As for the block itself, the main change from the existing Mycro Pro RGB line is the materials. These blocks use an unplated copper coldplate with 0.2 mm microfins (68 on AMD, 70 on Intel), a stainless steel housing, and an anodized aluminium mounting frame. Thermal Grizzly dropped the nickel plating, which it says can give a slight thermal edge and lowers production costs. The tradeoff is that the bare copper will probably discolor over time, and there is no RGB. Neither block is meant for direct-die use, and the Intel inlet is tuned for LGA1851 chips with the stock heat spreader. However, the key point remains that Intel's new LGA1954 socket is now appearing in official product listings.

Corsair (Nasdaq: CRSR) is excited to announce the launch of powerful second-generation cooling hardware with NAUTILUS II all-in-one liquid CPU coolers, and updated RS II and RS II ARGB fans. These components deliver powerful, low-noise cooling with easy setup and management for simple plug-and-play operation on any modern PC. NAUTILUS II, RS II, and RS II ARGB devices connect directly to the motherboard for simple fan management without the need for external fan controllers, offering affordable and effective cooling with easy setup and maintenance.

Cooler Master previously showed off the GPU Shield adapter cable at CES 2026, demonstrating the small 12V-2×6 adapter that is able to not only alert the user with a visual and auditory warning when there are anomalies in the current in the GPU power cable, but also actively intervene and reduce current when higher-than-normal current is detected. GPU Shield has officially launched in the US after showing up in China in early August 2026, and it is available on the Cooler Master online shop for $49.99.

In addition to monitoring high current, which is often the cause of the melted 12V-2×6 GPU connectors, GPU Shield also attempts to mitigate the meltdowns in the first place with dual-color connector tips that are an easy indicator to ensure proper cable insertion in the GPU and PSU. The adapter itself comes with 200 mm of total cable length, which should be enough for most DIY PC cases with conventional PSU placement, and it improves on Cooler Master's GPU Shield tech that is built into the PSU itself, since that is often not visible in many modern PC cases.

XERON, a technology brand guided by its "From Origin, Beyond Boundaries" philosophy of returning to first principles through purposeful design and user-focused innovation, introduces the NEX A61 ARGB, a next-generation single-tower air CPU cooler engineered around the thermal characteristics of AMD AM5 processors. Combining direct-touch heatpipes, triple-parallel-pipe precision coverage, and dual silent ring-blade fans, the NEX A61 ARGB is designed to manage concentrated heat from high-performance CPUs while maintaining low noise and broad platform compatibility.

The offset single-tower design provides improved memory clearance, allowing tall-profile RAM to be installed without compromise. Full-spectrum ARGB lighting, a magnetic top cover, and motherboard ARGB synchronization add a distinctive visual element, making the NEX A61 ARGB a versatile cooling solution for performance-focused and aesthetically driven PC builds.

Thermalright has launched the AXP120-X77 low-profile CPU cooler, available in standard and AXP120-X77 BLACK variants, with the latter featuring an all-black finish. The AXP120-X77 is derived from the AXP120-X77R series, but adopts a shorter design with a total height of 77 mm, including the fan. Unlike the X77R, which allowed its 120 mm fan to be installed either above or below the heatsink, the new X77 only supports mounting the fan above the heatsink. The cooler measures 133.5 x 122 x 77 mm and uses six 6 mm heat pipes connected to a nickel-plated C1100 pure copper base. It is paired with Thermalright's TL-B12015 EX 120 mm slim fan, which measures just 15 mm thick.

The TL-B12015 EX fan achieves speeds of up to 3150 RPM, with up to 83.61 CFM of airflow and 3.4 mm H₂O of static pressure. It has a maximum noise level of 37.07 dBA, uses dual bearings, and a 4-pin PWM connector for power. The cooler is compatible with Intel LGA115X, 1200, 1700, 1851, 2011, 2066, and AMD AM4, AM5 CPU sockets. Thermalright AXP120-X77 came with a six-year warranty, the company has yet to disclose pricing.

The TechPowerUp team is on the ground at IFA 2026, and the Chieftec booth had some interesting offerings. Chieftec used the floor to show off a new air cooler alongside its case and PSU lineups: the CAC-S120PWM-T150. It's a tower-style air cooler with an all-black matte finish, standing 148 mm tall. Socket support is broad, covering Intel's LGA 1851, LGA 1700, LGA 1200, and LGA 115X, plus AMD's AM5 and AM4, so it should slot into current and slightly older builds without issue. I spotted five heatpipes running through the heatsink array, which should give it enough grunt to handle some serious CPUs.

The single 120 mm PWM fan spins between 500 and 2,400 RPM (±10 percent), pushing up to 74.54 CFM of airflow at 3.51 mm H₂O of static pressure. That puts it in a similar performance bracket to Chieftec's Single Tower CAC-SI2-BLK from Computex 2025, though this new model trims one heat pipe and adds a bit more height. Chieftec hasn't announced pricing or availability yet, but we'll know more soon. The company has been steadily expanding its air and liquid cooling range this year, following the announcement of the Iceberg PRO series AIOs earlier.

Xeron, the PC hardware company that recently launched at Computex 2026, whose cases and AIO liquid coolers we've already seen at Gamescom, has also launched the NEX A61 ARGB, a new CPU tower cooler designed for AMD's AM5 socket. The CPU tower cooler integrates noise-damping rings on the fan mounts and uses 120 mm ARGB fans mounted to either side in a push-pull orientation in order to maximize the cooling density. The cooling tower measures just 148 mm tall and has an offset design for memory compatibility.

ASRock, a global leader in motherboards, graphics cards, gaming monitors, mini PCs, power supply units, and AIO liquid coolers, today introduces the new Rock Series AIO liquid coolers, designed for practical users seeking a clean, no-nonsense setup with rock-solid stability. Combining dependable cooling, simplified installation, and exceptional value, the Rock Series delivers a perfectly balanced solution for everyday PC builds.

The Rock Series lineup includes eight models, available in 360 mm and 240 mm radiator sizes and classic Black and White color options. Users can also choose between Digital and minimalist ARGB editions to best suit their preferences. The Digital models feature a 1.05-inch display for real-time CPU temperature monitoring, while the ARGB models deliver subtle, refined lighting for a sleek system aesthetic.

Thermalright has introduced the Assassin X 120-A Dark, an updated version of its Assassin X 120 V2 series. The single-tower cooler keeps the slim design of the original, but uses an all-black finish across the heatsink, top cover, base, and four 6 mm copper heat pipes. It also changed from a nickel-plated copper base to a heatpipe direct-touch base. The heatpipes run through the fin stack in a square-pattern layout to provide an even heat distribution. The heatsink measures 120 x 46 x 151 mm and is paired with a single Thermalright TL-NT12-R9 V2 120 mm PWM fan that replaces the TC-C12C V2 from the older model. The new fan uses an S-FDB (fluid-dynamic) bearing, has a top speed of 2,400 RPM, offering up to 85.35 CFM airflow, a static pressure of 2.95 mm H₂O, and a maximum noise of 33.3 dBA.

The Assassin X 120-A Dark CPU cooler supports Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, and 115x sockets, as well as AMD AM5 and AM4 platforms. Thermalright has not announced pricing or availability.

The CNPS CPU cooler series from Zalman spans more than a decade and recently the company has silently introduced four new dual-tower CPU air coolers, the CNPS15X BP and CNPS12X BP, each available in standard and ARGB variants. The CNPS15X BP cooler measures 126 x 135 x 159 mm and weighs 1,170 g. It uses six reverse direct-touch black-coated heat pipes, a 104-fin aluminium radiator with 9,997 cm² heat dissipation area, and is rated for 285 W TDP. The included dual 120 mm ZM-XF120 (ARGB) fans run between 600 and 2,000 RPM with up to 32.9 dB(A) noise level and 71.14 CFM. For RAM clearance, Zalman says it is 44 mm for standard memory modules and up to 52 mm for RAM modules with the cut-out fin design.

The CNPS12X BP is a smaller variant measuring 120 x 120 x 153 mm and 750 g. It uses six nickel-plated copper heat pipes with a direct-touch design and is rated for 260 W TDP. The two 120 mm fans spin between 800 and 1,800 RPM, reaching up to 74.62 CFM at 32.2 dB(A), slightly quieter and with higher airflow than the 15X model despite the lower TDP rating.

Noctua's enthusiasm for performance in the PC cooling space remains solely focused on practicality. According to a recent interview with Club386, the company's Chief Product Officer, Jakob Dellinger, confirmed that features like RGB lighting and LCD screens are not something the company plans to incorporate. Instead, the core principle behind any product rollout will be performance and the significant engineering efforts that go into achieving it. Rather than trying to enhance aesthetics with RGB lighting and LCD screens, Noctua designs its products around the beige color theme and even black with chromax.black, which presents its own challenges.

Noctua's Chief Product Officer, Jakob DellingerWe want to spend as little in the way of resources as possible on making things look pretty - that's just not where our focus lies. That's why it's very unlikely for a Noctua product to come out with a huge fancy screen or something like that... What we want to do is drive thermal efficiency, improve the quietness of operation, and ensure the best possible quality.

Noctua produces a range of cooling solutions, from low-profile air coolers and massive dual-tower air coolers to AIO liquid coolers. When fitting a large tower air cooler inside a case, PC case manufacturers list the maximum cooler height their chassis can accommodate. Recent testing by Noctua has revealed that more than half of the tested cases deviate from their original specifications. The room for error varies from being 3.5 mm less than the specified CPU cooler height to providing up to an extra 10 mm of cooler height. After testing over 100 cases, Noctua found that around 56 cases deviate from the manufacturer-provided specifications, mostly offering more space than advertised.

This is good news for case buyers, as there can be up to 10 mm more room for a CPU cooler. However, some cases are advertised with more space than they actually provide. For example, the ASUS Prime AP201 case claims to have 170 mm of CPU cooler headroom, but real-world measurements show it to be 168.3 mm. This means that when using the Noctua NH-D15 G2 dual-tower cooler, there's no way to increase RAM clearance by moving the front fan, necessitating the use of RAM kits that are only 32 mm tall. Anything taller will interfere with the CPU cooler. Another example is the Lian Li B4-mATX, which measured at 164.5 mm instead of the advertised 168 mm, making the NH-D15 G2 incompatible with this case.

Cooler Master, a global leader in innovative thermal solutions and PC hardware today announced the HAF II 500, a new high-end airflow case designed to push cooling performance forward while delivering a quieter, more flexible building experience. HAF II 500 is available now for $199.99 in North America from Amazon and Newegg. Availability, pricing, and purchase options vary by region. Please refer to your local Cooler Master website for details.

The HAF II 500 uses Cooler Master's thermal authority to bring together two benefits that often compete in a PC case: stronger cooling and lower operating noise. With a purpose-built thermal architecture powered by oversized extra-thick fans, and a layout designed to support high-performance hardware and cleaner internal routing, the case helps users get more from modern gaming, creative, and compute-intensive systems.

Cooler Master, a global leader in PC components and thermal management solutions, today launched its MasterFan A Series and MasterFan M Series fans, which have received strong evaluations from Cybenetics Labs, with recognition for excellent airflow and static pressure. Among all 120 mm fans evaluated by Cybenetics to date, MasterFan A120 and MasterFan M120 ranked among the strongest performers, especially in static pressure generation, earning the highest Diamond rating. MasterFan A Series and MasterFan M Series are available now in 120 mm formats, 140 mm will be available at a later date. Pre-orders for A120 and M120 are available now on Amazon.

The MasterFan A Series was developed around Cooler Master's continued focus on its Thermal Authority: solving harder cooling challenges through material science, mechanical precision, and system-level performance. Unlike conventional plastic fans, the MasterFan A Series uses die-cast aluminium blades and an aluminium frame to achieve near-zero deformation at high RPM. This allows a precise 0.6 mm blade-to-frame clearance, helping reduce air leakage and improve cooling efficiency through dense radiators, heatsinks, and obstructed case intakes.

The ARCTIC Freezer 4U-Altra is a powerful air cooler for server and workstation processors. It is designed for efficient heat dissipation under high-performance demands and supports the Ampere Altra LGA4926 socket. With its compact design, it fits into standard 4U racks and 4U cases.

Efficient Airflow, Reliable Performance
Two high-performance fans in a push-pull configuration ensure high airflow while maintaining moderate noise levels. The durable bearings enable reliable continuous operation, making them ideal for 24/7 use in server environments. They provide efficient cooling - particularly well-suited for compact 4U server or workstation builds with powerful processors.

Noctua today introduced its first all-in-one liquid CPU coolers. With first-class cooling performance, superb quietness of operation and industry-leading reliability, the new NL-LC1 series brings classic Noctua virtues to the world of closed-loop liquid cooling. "The performance headroom of liquid cooling has always been tempting to us, but we first had to make sure that acoustics and reliability met the strict standards that customers expect from a Noctua product," said Roland Mossig, CEO of Noctua. "With the NL-LC1, we are proud to have achieved a level of thermal performance, acoustic refinement and dependability that sets a new standard."

The NL-LC1 series is based on Asetek's renowned, premium-grade Emma V2 platform, which has established itself as a gold standard for both thermal efficiency and long-term dependability. What makes the NL-LC1 coolers unique is Noctua's custom-engineered NL-PNA1 pump noise absorber: Leveraging a three-layer acoustic soundproofing structure and the tuned-mass damper effect, the NL-PNA1 reduces both air-borne noise and structure-borne vibrations, which can yield significant improvements in pump acoustics.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of NL-LC1-36 is now live]