The TechPowerUp news team stopped by at NZXT's booth at Computex to take a look at the new H6 case the brand announced at the trade show in Taipei. The NZXT H6 is a compact, dual-chamber, mid-tower desktop PC chassis designed for easy assembly and a clean aesthetic. The H6 is a 55 L that separates the motherboard and main components into two separate chambers, offering space behind the motherboard tray for both the PSU and cable management. Despite the curved tempered glass covering the right side panel, the NZXT H6 isn't particularly expensive, coming in at $99.99 without fans or $199.99 with two F360 RGB Reverse fans—the F360 Reverse features three 120 mm fans in a single frame—and it is available in both black and white. The case itself is made of steel and measures in at 448 × 292 × 420 mm.

The new H6 looks very similar to the H6 Flow RGB we reviewed previously, but the big aesthetic difference comes from the overhauled tempered glass panel that now flows over from the side to the front. The rest of the case has also largely been polished somewhat, largely losing its edgy looks in favor of a more rounded aesthetic. Front I/O consists of 2× USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, 1× USB 3.2 Gen2×2 Type-C port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The H6 supports up to 10 120 mm fans—three each in the top, front, and bottom locations, and one rear exhaust fan—and up to ATX size motherboards. There is also support for back-connect motherboards, including ASUS BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Gigabyte Project Stealth models. The H6 also has built-in GPU support brackets to prevent GPU sag, and it is compatible with GPUs up to 390 mm long, PSUs up to 200 mm long, CPU tower coolers up to 165 mm tall, and radiators up to 360 mm in the top slot. The case also sports two 2.5-inch and one 3.5-inch drive bays.

Gigabyte, the world's leading computer brand, continues to advance its vision of "Create Your Own AI on Your Own Desk" with the expansion of the AI TOP ecosystem at COMPUTEX 2026. More than a single product, AI TOP is a purpose-built local AI ecosystem that combines dedicated hardware and optimized systems to simplify AI development. As AI agents become increasingly capable of executing tasks, automating workflows, and operating continuously, AI TOP provides a scalable foundation for users looking to deploy AI locally.

Expanding the ecosystem is the new AI TOP 100 B850, engineered for demanding AI workloads. Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor and available with either GeForce RTX 5090 or Radeon AI PRO R9700 graphics, the system combines high-performance processing with advanced graphics acceleration for AI computing. With support for up to 128 GB of DDR5-5600 memory and a server-grade 1600 W 80 Plus Platinum power supply, it delivers the stability, scalability, and sustained performance required for advanced AI applications. Every workload runs locally, eliminating cloud dependency while keeping sensitive data under user control.

Today, IBM and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) to build an American quantum chip foundry, securing the nation's global quantum leadership and fueling the country's growing quantum ecosystem. The CHIPS incentive from the DoC will support the research and development efforts of a new IBM company: Anderon, which will be America's first pure-play quantum foundry. This initiative represents one of the most significant commitments by the U.S. Government to date in quantum R&D to position the United States to manufacture most of the world's quantum wafers.

In addition to the $1 billion in CHIPS incentives provided by the DoC, IBM will contribute $1 billion of cash into Anderon, along with IBM investing significant intellectual property, assets, and a skilled workforce, with additional investors expected as Anderon grows. Headquartered in Albany, New York as a standalone company, Anderon will operate as a state-of-the-art 300-millimeter quantum wafer foundry. It will help the nation solidify its leadership at the center of a thriving new quantum industry that is estimated to generate up to $850 billion in economic value by 2040 and spur American economic growth while also bolstering national security.

The European Union has officially imposed a new rule for selling laptops with a power rating of 100 W or less, requiring them to use a USB-C port for charging. This rule takes effect today, April 28, Tuesday, as the European Commission has been exploring ways to reduce electronic waste and has been planning this since imposing a similar rule on smartphones in 2024. As readers may recall, modern smartphones have largely been shipping with USB-C ports since the European Commission mandated that all newly sold smartphones must have a unified connection, instead of multiple connectors that create a significant amount of e-waste across Europe. With laptops, the EU legislation now aims to address this issue in the laptop sector, as they contribute significantly to the problem.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. The traditional USB-C power delivery mechanism can deliver 240 W through a single port, but gaming laptops sometimes require more power. Gaming laptops can continue to use the typical barrel power connector on models that exceed 100 W of power, whereas any laptop model with a power rating of 100 W or less must adopt USB-C as its primary charging connector. From today, it is illegal to sell laptops that do not meet the European Commission's standards across the European Union. However, this rule does not apply to computers sold on the second-hand market; only new devices entering the EU zone must comply.

Retro Games Ltd (RGL) today announces that The Spectrum White Edition is available now, marking exactly 44 years to the day since the original rubber-keyed ZX Spectrum 48k first launched on 23rd April 1982. Developed in collaboration with PLAION REPLAI, The Spectrum White Edition reimagines one of gaming's most iconic and influential home computers through a striking new all-white design inspired by decades of community folklore.

For years, stories have circulated of a white ZX Spectrum created to mark the milestone of one million units sold. While never commercially released, it became a symbol of possibility within the retro gaming community. Today, that story becomes reality.

Today, System76, the leading Linux-first computing platform, introduced significant updates to its Thelio product family with the new Thelio Mira desktop and Thelio Major workstation. The two systems - designed, engineered, and manufactured in Denver - deliver a complete range of professional and mission-critical capabilities for organizations that demand sustained performance, open architecture, and hardware built to last.

Engineered for Linux from the hardware up, both systems ship with Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS or Ubuntu. This full-stack approach distinguishes System76 from any other desktop manufacturer in the market.

NVIDIA today announced the world's first family of open source quantum AI models, NVIDIA Ising, designed to help researchers and enterprises build quantum processors capable of running useful applications. To achieve useful quantum applications at scale, significant breakthroughs are needed in quantum processor calibration and quantum error correction. AI is key for turning today's quantum processors into large-scale, reliable computers. Open models empower developers to build high-performance AI while maintaining total control over their data and infrastructure.

Named after a landmark mathematical model that dramatically simplified the understanding of complex physical systems, the NVIDIA Ising family provides high-performance, scalable AI tools for quantum error correction and calibration — two of the most critical challenges in building hybrid-quantum classical systems. Ising models run the world's best quantum processor calibration and enable researchers to tackle much larger, more complex problems with quantum computers by delivering up to 2.5x faster performance and 3x higher accuracy for the decoding process needed for quantum error correction.

At Slimbook, we continue working to take our systems to the next level. That's why we are pleased to announce a new partnership agreement with PNY Technologies, one of the most internationally recognized manufacturers of memory, storage solutions, and graphics cards. Since 2015, Slimbook has established itself as a leading Spanish brand in the design and development of optimized computers, especially valued for their compatibility with Linux distributions and their focus on performance and reliability.

Thanks to this new collaboration, PNY becomes a technology partner and key component supplier for Slimbook systems, including:

• High-performance NVMe SSDs
• DRAM memory modules
• NVIDIA GeForce and NVIDIA RTX graphics cards

Apple has officially discontinued its high-end Mac Pro desktop computer, with no plans to refresh the model in the future. According to the company, which confirmed the decision to 9to5Mac, Apple had been selling the Mac Pro alongside other Mac options that were more aligned with its strategic goals. Initially launched with a redesigned casing in 2019, the Mac Pro was powered by Intel processors until Apple decided to switch to its M2 Ultra SoC in 2023. However, this model has gone a long time without any hardware updates. Apple even introduced an M3 Ultra chip last year but decided to pair it with the Mac Studio instead. The Mac Studio is a smaller, more compact machine that offers greater performance than the Mac Pro while being more practical for various work environments. Multiple Mac Studios can also be interconnected with Thunderbolt 5, making them a potential compute cluster.

For now, Apple will maintain the Mac Studio as its "pro" Mac option, with a refresh expected either this year or next. The current top configuration of the Mac Studio includes an M3 Ultra chip with a 32-core CPU and an 80-core GPU. This powerful setup is paired with up to 256 GB of memory and up to 16 TB of SSD storage. With the introduction of this model without updating the Mac Pro, it was clear that the Mac Pro's days were numbered. Surprisingly, Apple's future desktop computer strategy will focus on the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, complementing its extensive lineup of MacBooks, which includes the Pro, Air, and the newly launched Neo. As one of the largest Apple computer lineups ever, simplifying and removing some products makes sense for a company that is focused on custom silicon.

The leading system integrator iBUYPOWER is happy to share they will be integrating the new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus series processors into its gaming PC lineup. Any new computer using an Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus series processor is covered by iBUYPOWER's industry-leading three-year labor and two-year parts warranty, which the leading national computer and consumer electronics retailer Micro Center honors nationwide for convenient in-store diagnosis and repair.

Compatible with Intel 800 Series chipset-based motherboards, the Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus series processors deliver up to 15% faster geomean gaming performance -- versus existing Core Ultra Series 2 desktop CPUs -- and up to 103% more multithreaded performance compared to similar CPUs in its class. With the new platform utilizing all-new software that simplifies initial set-up and performance acquisition, the Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors are ideal for everyday gamers and creators that crave max value with real performance.

System76 has refreshed its Thelio Mira desktop series with a focus on better thermals, easier serviceability, and a cleaner overall design, while it's still all built in-house at the company's facility in Denver. The new chassis mixes aluminium, steel, and a tempered glass front panel, with a vertical control bar consolidating the power button and front I/O into one clean strip. System76 uses steel fasteners throughout, and the panels are designed for quick access when you need to get inside for upgrades or maintenance. On the cooling side, System76 made improvements, the company claims up to 19% higher sustained CPU clock speeds and temperature drops of up to 13.5°C thanks to liquid cooling and revised airflow.

System76 also made changes to the specs as it is built around an ASRock X870 Pro RS WiFi motherboard. Processor options top out at the Ryzen 9 9950X or 9950X3D, memory goes up to 192 GB of DDR5, and storage can reach 28 TB spread across NVMe and SATA drives. As for the GPU, you can choose a single graphics card up to an RTX 5090 or Radeon RX 9070 XT over PCIe 5.0. Connectivity includes USB4, 2.5 GbE, and Wi-Fi 7, with a mix of front and rear USB ports. PSU requirements start at 750 W and go up to 1000 W for the beefier GPU configs. As with other System76 products, the Thelio Mira carries open-source firmware elements and is built with long-term usability in mind.

HPE (NYSE: HPE) today announced significant innovations to the NVIDIA AI Computing by HPE portfolio focused on large-scale AI factories and supercomputers that enable customers to scale, deploy efficiently, and gain faster time-to-insight. The full-stack AI solutions with NVIDIA include tightly integrated compute, GPUs, networking, liquid cooling, software, and services designed for at-scale and sovereign environments. AI-forward organizations and leading research institutions, including Argonne National Laboratory, HLRS, Hudson River Trading (HRT), and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), have chosen HPE AI infrastructure and AI factories with NVIDIA to advance innovation.

HPE brings NVIDIA AI solutions to its industry-leading supercomputing platform
Research laboratories, sovereign entities and large enterprises are rapidly adopting AI to enhance traditional high performance computing (HPC) workloads. For organizations seeking to significantly expedite scientific discovery, HPE is making the following NVIDIA products available on its second-generation exascale-class supercomputing platform designed to unify AI and HPC - the HPE Cray Supercomputing GX5000.

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) today announces support for NVIDIA NemoClaw and NVIDIA OpenShell, expanding its collaboration with NVIDIA to advance secure, autonomous AI agents. For developers working locally, Dell and NVIDIA are teaming up on NVIDIA NemoClaw—an open source stack that simplifies running OpenClaw always-on assistants, more safely, with a single command. As part of the NVIDIA Agent Toolkit, it installs the NVIDIA OpenShell, an open source runtime providing a secure environment for running autonomous agents, and open source models like NVIDIA Nemotron.

Dell Pro Max with GB10 and GB300 provide purpose-built desktop platforms that allow enterprises to build and run autonomous, self-evolving agents locally with frontier-level intelligence. As the first OEM to ship a desktop with NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip, Dell brings 20 petaFLOPS of performance and 748 GB of memory directly to developers' desks.

GMKtec unveiled its next-generation EVO-T2 Desktop AI Supercomputer Series during Intel's 3rd-Generation Core Ultra processor launch event in Shanghai. Powered by Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and X7 358H processors based on the Panther Lake architecture, the EVO-T2 delivers up to 180 TOPS of AI computing power, positioning it as one of the most powerful desktop AI mini PCs available.

The system integrates Intel's latest 18A (1.8nm-class) manufacturing technology, featuring RibbonFET gate-all-around transistors and PowerVia backside power delivery, marking a major milestone in Intel's semiconductor roadmap.

Intel's Japan president, Makoto Ohno, made interesting remarks that this year will be a make-or-break year for AI PCs. He also mentioned that by 2026, AI PCs will account for roughly half of the unit shipments for the year. This means that out of the total unit shipments, which IDC estimates at around 260 million, about 130 million are expected to be AI PCs. This loosely defined term means that the PC comes with an NPU or other AI processing unit, allowing the system to perform some local AI processing with enough power to meet basic user needs. However, Makoto Ohno also admits that the primary reason for purchasing an AI PC may not be its AI capabilities, but rather the better battery life due to newer and more optimized silicon.

Intel Makoto OhnoIt is also predicted that by 2026, this will exceed half, with one in two computers being an AI PC. However, given the current situation, reasons for choosing an AI PC include its high performance and the long battery life provided by the use of an NPU. In other words, it is important to reflect on the fact that people are not currently purchasing an AI PC in order to use its AI-related functions.

Euro-Q-Exa, the first EuroHPC Joint Undertaking quantum computer deployed in Germany, has been unveiled at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Garching, Munich. The deployment marks a significant step in Europe's effort to build long-term quantum capability as part of its sovereign digital infrastructure, alongside world-leading high-performance computing (HPC).

Installed, hosted, and operated at LRZ, Euro-Q-Exa is designed not merely to provide access to quantum computing, but to enable European researchers to build, operate, and scale quantum capabilities locally. By embedding the system within an established HPC environment, the system supports the development of hands-on expertise, operational know-how, and sustainable research capacity within Europe.

AppControl, a user-friendly Windows system monitoring utility, today unveiled its industry-first application designed to make understanding your PC simple, visual, and stress-free. Built for everyday Windows users, AppControl shows exactly how your computer behaves so you can finally understand what's slowing it down, heating it up, or running in the background without your knowledge. AppControl is a certified member of the Intel Partner Alliance; the AppControl app requires no registration and is available as a free download directly from the AppControl website or via Softpedia.

Unlike traditional system tools that only show what's happening in the moment, AppControl delivers an easy-to-navigate historical timeline of CPU, GPU, memory, disk usage, and temperature. Users can scroll back in time to see what apps were running, what changed, when it changed, and why their PC behaved the way it did, turning confusing performance issues into clear, explainable events. AppControl also provides insights into privacy-relevant behavior, such as apps accessing the webcam, the microphone, or the user's location.

ASUS IoT, a global leader in AIoT solutions, today announced PE1000U, a compact DIN-rail-mountable edge computer powered by an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor. Measuring just 63 x 110 x 160 mm, PE1000U features extensive I/O connectivity to address the growing demand for real-time intelligence at the edge. Housed in a fanless, rugged IP40-rated chassis that's been subjected to US MIL-STD-810H testing for 5Grms vibration, PE1000U is able to operate in environments with temperatures ranging between -25°C to 70°C. It accepts a wide 9-36 V DC power input and includes built-in ignition control, making it suitable for on-vehicle deployment. PE1000U is also ideal for collaborative robots, AMR, industrial vision equipment, and other space-constrained deployments where reliability is paramount.

Performance and connectivity in a palm-sized package
PE1000U is powered by either an Intel Core Ultra 265U or 235U processor paired with hybrid cutting-edge CPU, GPU, and NPU acceleration for high single-thread responsiveness for motion control while simultaneously accelerating AI inference and graphics workloads. Front-access I/O connectors include four USB ports, up to four COM ports, and up to four Ethernet ports (two 2.5G by default) to simplify sensor, camera, and network integration. Onboard dual CAN Bus and an isolated DIO module enhance deterministic control, while DisplayPort and HDMI outputs support up to two 4K displays for HMI or machine-vision monitoring.

Maingear has officially announced its latest retro-themed pre-built desktop PCs, the Retro98. The new pre-built desktops are built in SilverStone FLP02 chassis, replete with a functional turbo button—for setting PWM-controlled fans to max speed—and a big red power toggle switch, and they can be had with either a 360 mm AIO or open-loop liquid cooling designed in collaboration with Alphacool. The entire build looks rather authentic, with classic ketchup and mustard cables and classic 5.25" drive bay covers for the HDD bays tying the look together. The open-loop version is called the Retro98α, and the version that features AIO cooling is just the Retro98. Both versions of the Retro98 are limited edition, though, with only six units of the Retro98α and 32 units of the Retro98 available—by the looks of it, each specific SKU is limited to these quantities, not the series as a whole. Prices start at $2,499 for the Retro98, with the Retro98α topping out at $9,799.

Internally, the Retro98 series starts with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with 32 GB DDR5-6400 RAM, a 2 TB NVMe Gen 5 SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5080 available from $3,499. Stepping up again to $4,999 gets you an RTX 5090, a Ryzen 7 9850X3D, and the $9,799 Retro98α coming equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, 64 GB of RAM, a 4 TB SSD, and an RTX 5090. All versions of the Retro98 also come with onboard Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, and the cooling configuration consists of dual 120 mm front intakes, a single 120 mm rear exhaust, and three top-mounted 120 mm exhaust fans for the radiator. The Intel variant ships with an MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboard, while the AMD versions are all built around the MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi, and they all come with appropriately sized 80+ Gold-rated PSUs ranging from 650 W to 1600 W.

iBUYPOWER, a leading system integrator of gaming and content creation PCs, announced today that AMD's latest flagship gaming CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, is now available as an option when purchasing a custom PC through iBUYPOWER's custom configurator, or through its recently launched PC Lab service on iBUYPOWER.com. Each computer built with the 9850X3D will also be backed by iBUYPOWER's extensive three-year labor and two-year parts warranty for additional peace of mind.

By boosting clock speed to up to 5.6 GHz for faster single-threaded performance and responsiveness, AMD's Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU is the new king of PC gaming processors that is backed by unrivaled longevity thanks to the CPU being designed for AMD's Socket AM5 platform. Built on 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-Cache technology, the 9850X3D has been re-engineered to give direct cooler access to the processor cores, and is fully enabled for overclocking out of the box. This enables accelerated performance for everyday productivity tasks and even higher gaming performance.

We've already seen lots of amazing projects based on Arduino UNO Q come up since its launch in early October - but we're doubling down anyway! Today, we are launching a new Arduino UNO Q variant with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC storage, allowing all of you to dream bigger and go further, while still enjoying the same Arduino UNO Q form factor and ease of use.

4 good reasons to choose 4 GB
In this 4 GB variant, Arduino UNO Q still leverages a unique combination of powerful Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 microprocessor and real-time STM32U585 microcontroller, but can now better meet the needs of developers who require a more ample memory configuration.

cer announced a comprehensive new range of Veriton desktop computers for businesses, including all-in-ones (AIO), a large tower, and an AI mini workstation, designed to boost productivity and creativity amid increasing business demands.

Acer Veriton RA100 AI Mini Workstation for Prosumers, Creators, and Gamers
The Acer Veriton RA100 AI Mini Workstation (VRA100) is a Copilot+ PC powered by AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processors, providing prosumers, creators, and gamers with advanced AI performance and unique AI experiences on Windows 11. With AMD Radeon 8060S Graphics, 50 NPU TOPS, and 60 TFLOPS, the Acer Veriton RA100 delivers up to 120 billion parameters for demanding workloads such as running local AI models, generative AI, 3D design, and content creation. The ultra-fast and high storage capacity, four channel memory of up to 128 GB LPDDR5X, and up to 4 TB M.2 2280 SSD storage provide smooth multitasking and reliable performance across demanding applications. The Acer Veriton RA100 can easily handle tasks that require high-frequency processing, making it ideal for product designers and engineers, AI developers, animators and other creators dealing with large 3D models and complex renderings in real time.

ASUS today announced the showcase of ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 at CES 2026, underscoring its commitment to delivering enterprise-grade AI infrastructure in accessible, deskside form factors. The all-new ET900N G3—accelerated by the NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Platform—sets a new standard for deskside AI supercomputers, combining extreme performance, unified memory architecture, and data-center-class connectivity.

Solving the last-mile challenge of modern AI development
AI development has reached extraordinary heights through massive cloud and data-center infrastructure, yet many researchers, developers, and data scientists still face a 'last-mile' challenge. While cloud services offer immense scale, countless workflows require local, private, and immediate compute power—especially for training, fine-tuning, or running large AI models that exceed the limits of traditional workstations. What these professionals need is a system that delivers data-center-class performance in a familiar, easily deployable deskside form factor.

GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, unveils an expanded AI PC vision with a redesigned GiMATE Interface and a new generation of AI gaming laptops at CES 2026. Built for clearer navigation and faster decision-making, the updated GiMATE experience brings real-time system insights and intuitive, voice-driven control into one streamlined hub, advancing GIGABYTE's commitment to truly adaptive, user-centric AI computing across its laptop lineup.

As GiMATE, GIGABYTE's exclusive AI agent for seamless hardware and software control, evolves, so does the ecosystem behind it, delivering smarter control for power, productivity, and creativity. The newly introduced AI Power Gear III enhances efficiency and flexibility with direct MUX switching between Discrete Mode and MSHybrid through GiMATE. It also brings smarter power behavior, the Auto Mode disables the GPU on battery to maximize runtime, the Optimus Mode delivers smoother, balanced performance, while the Eco Mode provides extreme power saving on AC power and battery. For creators and builders, GiMATE Creator expands its generative capabilities with the addition of Qwen-Image, supporting both English and Chinese prompts to bring powerful visual AI to users worldwide. Meanwhile, GiMATE Coder lowers the barrier to development by enabling natural-language code generation, correction, and optimization, making coding more accessible for beginners while accelerating iteration for experienced users.

ORIGIN PC today revealed the S-Class Edge AI, a compact and turnkey developer kit built around the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16 GB Super. The platform is designed for developers, researchers, and integrators who need a ready-to-use environment for robotics, computer vision, and edge AI workloads. It delivers up to 157 TOPS of performance and allows users to move from unboxing to real-time inference within minutes. S-Class Edge AI represents a new step in ORIGIN PC's expansion into advanced edge computing solutions.

A Compact and Developer Focused Form Factor
The S-Class Edge AI features a small enclosure that fits easily on a desk, lab bench, or classroom workstation. Front and rear ports include USB 3.2, USB Type C OTG, HDMI 2.0, audio I/O, DC power, and dual Ethernet connectivity. This layout supports peripherals, displays, and robotics equipment and allows developers to begin testing immediately. The thermally optimized chassis supports stable operation during extended workloads. The compact footprint reinforces the platform's role as a lab-friendly and classroom-friendly solution that provides workstation level capability without taking up significant space.