Thursday, June 18th 2026
Akko Dash Ultra Review

Akko Dash Ultra Review

The ambidextrous, 44 g Dash Ultra from Akko comes with PixArt's PAW3950 sensor, Omron optical main button switches, and 8000 Hz polling in both wired and wireless operation. Owing to the latest Nordic 54 series MCU, up to 220 hours of battery life are cited, and web driver configuration is also available.

Steam Controllers Available To Order "By September" At the Earliest

The overwhelming demand for the Steam Controller led Valve earlier this year to set up a reservation system by which buyers could sign up and get priority access when the new gaming peripheral was available to purchase. Reservations opened on May 8, and while it promised availability the week following the announcement, Valve didn't provide an estimated date for following batches of the Steam Controller.

Now, the gaming giant has updated its reservation system based on current demand and production capabilities, giving players an estimate for when the Steam Controller will be available for shipping based on when a reservation was made. At the time of writing, Valve is providing three estimated order windows, letting players know that they will be able to order by September 2026, December 2026, or at some point in 2027. Buyers who already have a Steam Controller reservation will already have an estimated order window assigned to their Steam account when they log in and navigate to the Steam Controller page. The 72-hour order window remains in place, and Valve has advised in the notice that current reservations "indicate a 2027 date for shipping."

MSI's $1,800 Gaming Handheld Will Likely Get More Expensive

An MSI online store listing recently revealed the pricing on the new Intel Arc G3 Extreme-powered Claw 8 EX AI+, which will apparently retail at a whopping $1,799.99, but, in a recent interview with FRVR, MSI product marketing lead, Andy Chu, explained that things are likely to get worse as the ongoing AI-driven DRAM and component shortage worsens. Chu, who said that even he, as an insider, is "unsure of where the market will go," also says that "there's much room for another price hike, at least from my own observation."

According to the executive, handheld sales are stable, and MSI is "confident with the new handheld, not just the new platform," referring to Intel's new handheld-specific G3 CPUs. He also championed the idea of releasing handhelds with expanded capabilities, stating that "it's good timing to take a look at what kind of true potential or the capability of this new handheld can provide us." His argument appears to be that, since handheld prices are high, it stands to reason that they should be more performant and more capable—to his credit, this is a topic that has been discussed online in social media posts and YouTube videos asking whether something like a Lenovo Legion Go or Steam Deck can be used as a desktop PC with an external monitor and a dock, for example.

A New $20 E-Degree is Teaching a Better Way to Use Claude

Most people who open Claude treat it like a smarter search box: ask a question, copy the answer, move on. That barely scratches what it can do. This Claude AI Professional E-Degree takes you from those basic chats to building real workflows, and you can get it on sale for $19.99 (reg. $49).

This course pack includes four courses, more than 100 lectures, and over eight hours of video, plus quizzes and projects to keep it hands-on. You start with prompt engineering that goes well past "write me an email," learning context management and chain-of-thought techniques that get you sharper, more reliable answers. From there, it moves into agentic coding, where Claude writes, debugs, and works inside VS Code alongside you.

Get the Claude AI Professional E-Degree on sale for $19.99.

Palworld Lead Speaks Out Against Gen AI in Games: Artists "Like Doing Stuff Themselves"

There have already been several strong reactions from developers to generative AI in video games and their development—and many large studios advocating for the new tech—and Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, has once again clarified its stance on generative AI in a new interview with GamesRadar+ after the studio had to previously defend Palworld against accusations of AI.

In the interview, John Buckley, Pocketpair's publishing and communications head, once again reiterated that the studio behind the ever-expanding Palworld universe does not use generative AI and has no plans to adopt the tech in the future. He commented that "Gamers don't want it, and if the gamers don't want it, I guess that's it, right? Not much of a conversation to be had." He goes on to acknowledge that there are many big game developers using AI to save time on their projects, but that Pocketpair has a large team of in-house artists who "like doing stuff themselves," and that it "seems pointless" to replace them in favor of AI art.

AMD Threadripper Unlocks Massive 215% HandBrake Performance Boost

AMD has fixed a couple of threading bottlenecks in HandBrake that were holding back transcoding performance on high-core-count systems, and the fixes have been included in HandBrake 1.11.0. AMD found that the issues came down to two things. HandBrake wasn't built to efficiently manage systems with more than 64 logical processors, so on chips like Threadripper, available compute was sitting idle instead of being put to work. Separately, some workloads were chopped into jobs that were too small, creating scheduling overhead that affected the actual transcoding time, particularly noticeable at 720p. AMD found cases where performance actually dropped by up to 60% rather than scaling as more cores were assigned. The fix improves thread management and job scheduling so HandBrake can split work more effectively across high core counts, keeping more cores busy with actual transcoding instead of coordination overhead.

According to an AMD blog post, a Threadripper 7980X (64 cores, 128 threads) CPU with 128 GB of DDR5-5600 paired with a Radeon RX 9070 XT measured gains up to 215% in Perfume H.264 720p, 203% in LG_8K HEVC 8-bit 4320p and 105% in LG 8K 60 FPS HEVC 10-bit 4320p. Across all the tested workloads, improvements ranged from 16% to 215%. In HEVC, a Threadripper PRO 9995WX (96 cores, 192 threads) with the same RX 9070 XT achieved gains of up to 181%, depending on the workload. The biggest gains were up to 181% in Perfume H.264 720p, 151% in Perfume HEVC 10-bit 2160p and 149% in LG_8K HEVC 8-bit 4320p.

Vampire Survivors Dev Re-Evaluates Fortnite Collaboration After Epic Games AI Push

Following Epic Games's recent announcement of a slew of new generative AI features coming to Unreal Engine 5.8 and the upcoming Unreal Engine 6, as well as its video demonstrating how it uses AI in daily game development and asset creation, the developer of Vampire Survivors, Poncle, announced in a comment on Reddit that it was reviewing its Fortnite x Vampire Survivors collaboration. Details about the collaboration had not been revealed, but Epic Games mentioned Vampire Survivors as a headline collaboration in its Unreal Fest on June 17. At the time of writing, it's unclear what action Poncle will take regarding the Vampire Survivors x Fortnite collaboration, but it seems as though there is a growing divide in the gaming industry, specifically between developers and studios open to using generative AI and those who oppose it. While Poncle has not explicitly stated its reasons for concerns over generative AI, common concerns range from IP an art direction issues to environmental concerns and even more esoteric issues surrounding the validity of AI art.
Poncle Official on RedditFollowing today's news about gen AI usage by Epic to create all sort of game assets, including Fortnite characters, we're currently "reviewing" our collaboration with Fortnite. We'll let you know if anything moves forward.

Windows 11 Pro is Only $10 During StackSocial's Version of Prime Day

Windows 10 support ended last year, so PCs still running it no longer get security patches and are becoming an easier target by the day. Moving up to Windows 11 Pro closes that gap, and the Pro edition layers on protection that Home leaves out. During StackSocial's version of Prime Day, a lifetime license is on sale for $9.97 (reg. $199).

Windows 11 Pro is the version for people who want to lock things down. The security tools that set it apart from Home include
  • BitLocker drive encryption: scrambles your whole drive, so a lost or stolen laptop doesn't hand your files to whoever finds it.
  • Windows Sandbox: a throwaway, walled-off space to open sketchy files or test untrusted software without it ever touching your main system.
  • Hyper-V: runs full virtual machines, useful for isolating risky work or testing on a clean install.
  • Azure AD: ties into business identity and access management for managed, secure sign-ins.
  • TPM 2.0 with biometrics: backs fingerprint and facial login with hardware-level security instead of a guessable password.
Until June 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it's only $9.97 to get Windows 11 Pro.

Browse the full deal collection during StackSocial's answer to Prime Day.

Witchfire Releases Revelations, Its Last Major Update Before 1.0

Witchfire, the single-player, dark fantasy RPG shooter from The Astronauts, has released Revelations, a major update introducing a wealth of new content, localization for 15 languages, and a dialogue system. Players can now engage in multithreaded conversations with Fallen Preyers, making pivotal choices that impact both gameplay and story. This system establishes the narrative baseline for the game's upcoming 1.0 release, providing fleshed-out storylines that unveil the tragic history of the Preyers.

Revelations introduces the Marshland, a hostile wetland map crawling with new abominations. This grim region hides the secrets of the Cathedral of Saint Aurelian, shedding light on historical Vatican failures and the mystery of a forgotten Fallen Preyer.

SteamOS 3.8 Stable Release: Wider Handheld Support and Improvements for DIY Steam Machines

Despite the Valve Steam Machine being right around the corner, there has been a lot of interest from gamers who want to run SteamOS on custom gaming desktops or DIY Steam Machine console builds, while others may be looking to extract as much of the Steam Deck experience out of something like a used Lenovo Legion Go after the recent Steam Deck price increases. Fortunately, the latest SteamOS release, version 3.8, has officially landed in the stable release channel with a host of compatibility, performance, and usability upgrades. First and foremost, SteamOS 3.8 brings initial support for the upcoming Steam Machine and improvements to the desktop mode for those who want to use the Steam Machine as a PC-console hybrid. This is aside from a host of bug fixes for both the OS and certain game bugs and general improvements to the overall level of polish of the OS.

SteamOS 3.8 updates both the Arch Linux base and the KDE Plasma desktop mode to KDE 6.4.3 and switches to the Wayland display protocol by default. The update also improves VRR frame pacing and adds support for HDMI Variable Refresh Rate thanks to AMD's recent efforts to bring HDMI 2.1 support to Linux. The OS now also supports the LAVD CPU scheduler if manually enabled via the command "steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd". SteamOS 3.8 also updates the graphics driver and fixes performance discrepancies between game mode and desktop mode, specifically addressing performance regressions in desktop mode. It also re-enables Bluetooth wake from sleep on Steam Deck LCD models. There are also improvements to game capture in game mode, as well as support for HDR, VRR, and per-display scale factor on external displays in desktop mode. Critically for desktop builds, SteamOS 3.8 also significantly improves video memory management on systems with discrete GPUs and support for recent Intel and AMD platforms.

GMKtec Launches EVO-X3 Compact AI Mini PC Workstation

GMKtec today announces that early access registration for the upcoming EVO-X3 will officially open on June 22, giving users the first opportunity to secure early access benefits ahead of global launch. EVO-X3 is a next-generation compact AI workstation designed for local AI computing, professional content creation, and enterprise edge workloads.

As AI computing continues to shift from cloud-based processing to local deployment, EVO-X3 represents a new category of desktop AI workstation built to deliver high-performance computing in a compact form factor comparable to a PS4-sized footprint. Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 flagship APU, EVO-X3 integrates CPU, GPU, and AI acceleration into a unified architecture, enabling users to run local AI models, perform real-time inference, and handle demanding creative workloads without relying on cloud infrastructure.

Zyxel Networks Introduces Trio of Ruggedized Outdoor Wireless Access Points

Zyxel Networks, a leader in delivering secure and AI-powered cloud networking solutions, has unveiled three new additions to its range of ruggedized, outdoor wireless access points, to help managed service provider (MSP) partners meet the growing demand for fast, reliable bandwidth in challenging environments.

The trio of devices is designed for use in large, industrial or semi-industrial locations, smaller businesses and homes, and where wireless connectivity needs to reach places a significant distance away from the main coverage area. All three can be managed using Zyxel Networks' Nebula cloud platform, making them easy for MSP partners to deploy them and to subsequently monitor and optimize Wi-Fi performance for customers.

Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders Officially Begin on June 25

Grand Theft Auto fans, rejoice! The latest sequel in the GTA franchise—GTA VI—is opening up for pre-orders on June 25, allowing fans to gear up for one of the most anticipated AAA releases this year. Although the game officially launches on November 19, 2026, fans will be able to place pre-orders in about a week from now. This means that PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players can add GTA VI to their pre-order list. Interestingly, the website doesn't mention any pricing for the game, so we might have to wait a few more days for that information. Additionally, no editions are listed, so it's still a mystery which GTA VI editions will be available on day one and how they will be priced compared to other AAA releases. We don't expect the game to be priced below the industry standard, and a slight premium compared to existing AAA titles is anticipated.

Chinese RAM Kits Adopt Homegrown 24 Gb DDR5 Memory Modules

Chinese companies like Gloway and KingBank, which provide DDR5 memory kits for consumer platforms, have started integrating domestically produced CXMT DDR5 memory into their RAM kits, effectively ending their reliance on DRAM from Micron, SK hynix, and Samsung after years of external dependence. It has been reported that Gloway and KingBank have begun incorporating CXMT's 24 Gb DDR5 modules, which are being shipped as part of 48 GB RAM kits. With 3 GB per module, this results in eight modules per DDR5 DIMM for a total of 24 GB of capacity. In the regular dual DIMM configuration, Gloway and KingBank are offering consumers 48 GB of capacity.

Gloway has prepared the Longwuyi Yi Special Edition kit, which operates at 6,000 MT/s with latencies of CL36-38-38-80. This kit runs at a voltage of 1.2 V and is specialized for AMD CPUs. Reportedly, it features custom heat spreaders to maintain cooling and control heat dissipation, with 5 W/mK thermal pads included. Meanwhile, KingBank DIMMs use 2 mm heat spreaders and have a custom thermal interface material applied over the PMIC, along with dual-side RGB LED lighting that can be controlled via software.

AEWIN Launches NCT802 8-port 10GbE Network Expansion Modules with Intel E610 Controllers

AEWIN is glad to launch our new member of AEWIN Network Expansion Module, the NCT802. Built upon Intel Ethernet Controller E610-XAT2, it provides 8-port 10GbE RJ45 with four pairs of AEWIN Gen 4 Bypass. The module is with AEWIN standard Expansion Module form factor of PCIe Gen 4 x8 connection. The front-access design ensures effortless maintenance and servicing while its modular compatibility with various existing AEWIN platforms offers exceptional flexibility for tailored, high-performance solutions.

Intel Ethernet Controller E610-XAT2 features over 50% lower power consumption compared to previous generation controller (X710-AT2) which helps to reduce operational costs in the meantime. In addition, Intel committed over 10-year full support lifecycle which makes it perfect to build new projects that are expected to have long-term support. For enhanced Ethernet security, Intel E610-XAT2 features a hardware Root of Trust (RoT) for firmware resiliency.

AceMagic Intros Kron Mini K5 Mini PC Powered by Intel "Wildcat Lake" Processor

AceMagic on Wednesday launched the Kron Mini K5, a compact mini PC powered by Intel Core 5 320 "Wildcat Lake" mobile processor. This chip features a 2P+4LPE core configuration, with a 4.60 GHz maximum P-core boost frequency, and 6 MB of L3 cache. AceMagic maxed out its cTDP to offer 15 W base power and 35 W maximum turbo power. The chip is paired with 16 GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory, and a 512 GB M.2 Gen 3 x4 NVMe SSD.

Networking options include 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) + Bluetooth 5.2; along with a 2.5 GbE wired LAN. Display outputs include one each of HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 passthrough. Among the USB connections are four 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A, two 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A, and one 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, which doubles up as a 100 W power input, although there is also a separate 2-pin DC input jack. The USB-C provides single-cable convenience if you want to pair it with docking stations that also put out USB-PD power to their upstream USB sources.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper TR6 "Mustang Peak" Arrives with "Zen 6" and PCIe 6.0

AMD, through its official documentation portal, has confirmed the arrival of the next-generation Ryzen Threadripper TR6 "Mustang Peak" platform, along with some intriguing details about the upcoming CPU lineup. Based on the "Zen 6" CPU architecture, AMD is incorporating the latest I/O standards for these workstation powerhouses, including PCIe 6.0 and DDR5. As the "Zen 6" CPU cores are manufactured on TSMC's 2 nm semiconductor node, we expect AMD to increase the core count over its previous "Zen 5" Ryzen Threadripper workstation platform and deliver a significant performance boost due to advancements in node and microarchitecture. While specific details like TDP, clock speed, core counts, and segmentation are still lacking, we have learned that AMD is retiring its TR5 socket in favor of the new TR6 socket that will accommodate the platform.

With the introduction of PCIe 6.0, which doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 5.0 per lane configuration, AMD needs to add more pins to handle the increased bandwidth. Additionally, with varying core counts and clock speeds, the CPU socket likely requires more electrical capacity to support the new platform, necessitating an overhaul. If readers recall, the previous TR5 socket used 4,844 pins. For the TR6 update, it is possible that the pin count could exceed that number.

AMD Quietly Drops Memory Encryption Feature from Consumer Ryzen CPUs

According to an investigation by Ars Technica, AMD has quietly removed a memory encryption feature from its consumer-focused Ryzen processors after years of inclusion. This feature, known as Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME), is used to encrypt a system's memory content and prevent possible physical exploits that unencrypted memory data could be vulnerable to. Reportedly, AMD introduced TSME about a decade ago and began shipping it across all of its processors, including regular Ryzen, professional Ryzen Pro, Threadripper, and EPYC solutions. However, a random test on a Ryzen 7 9700X CPU, which uses "Zen 5" IP, has highlighted the absence of TSME support in consumer chips. In various exchanges between AMD engineers and some security professionals, the investigation led to a single response from AMD stating that "TSME is a security feature only applied to PRO CPUs as part of AMD PRO Technologies."

AMD has reportedly removed the feature quietly without prior notice. Discovering that the feature is missing is incredibly difficult on Windows-based machines, but still possible on Linux-based OS installations. Under a Linux-based OS, checking for firmware security revealed a missing encrypted RAM flag, despite TSME being enabled in the BIOS previously. It turns out that starting with the AGESA 1.2.7.0 build and in future AGESA versions, AMD has systematically removed the feature from its consumer Ryzen processors. After further investigation and inquiries to AMD, there is no information on whether the AGESA firmware is disabling this feature or if newer CPUs will ship with TSME disabled at the silicon level. All we know so far is that the feature is no longer present after years of being included on the consumer side.

SK hynix Ships Samples of 12-Layer Next-Gen HBM4E

SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has shipped samples of HBM4E, a next-generation DRAM for AI, to major customers. "The company was able to deliver samples of the 12-stack HBM4E on schedule thanks to its advanced HBM development and production expertise for HBM," said SK hynix, adding that "We will work closely with partners for mass production in a timely manner." The 12-layer HBM4E shows improvements in both performance and power efficiency. The product features a maximum data processing speed of 16 Gbps per pin and power efficiency that is up more than 20 percent from previous models. These enhancements improve data processing capabilities for AI training and inference.

The HBM4E reduces data transfer latency through its latest interface and design optimization while maintaining stable operation in high-bandwidth environments. This enables customers to increase efficiency in processing data for AI datacenters and large-scale computing systems. SK hynix utilizes Advanced MR-MUF technology for HBM4E products to achieve a 48 GB capacity in a 12-layer stack while ensuring structural stability. In particular, the company has also improved heat resistance by 17 percent, compared to the preceding HBM4, enabling stable operation of memory chips in high-performance computing environments.
Wednesday, June 17th 2026

Today's Reviews

CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
SSD
ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Pro Wi-Fi7 W Neo Review

ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Pro Wi-Fi7 W Neo Review

The ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Pro Wi-Fi7 W Neo stands out with its robust feature set, including Wi-Fi 7, PCIe Gen 5 support, and a sleek design—all for under $250. With an excellent BIOS and ample USB options, it balances performance and price well, though VRM and SSD temperatures could be better. A strong contender in the mid-range motherboard market.

EU "Cannot Propose a Legal Obligation" To Stop Destroying Videogames

The Stop Killing Games movement and the resulting Stop Destroying Videogames European Citizens' Initiative came to a head recently with a hearing in front of the European Commission, after a petition in support of the initiative garnered over 1.3 million signatures. Following the hearing, the European Commission published a press release detailing its response to the arguments presented by the Stop Destroying Games Initiative, and, while the Commission seemingly recognizes many of the issues with modern video game preservation and the consumer rights issues surrounding game licensing, the Commission has declined to put any laws in place to regulate the video games industry. It says that "The Commission considers that at this stage it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable after they stop being provided commercially." Instead, the European Commission will publish a code of conduct for the video games industry "on managing video games' end of life."

The European Commission justifies this course of action by stating that intellectual copyright concerns, which give copyright holders exclusive rights over their creations, and other IP rights "may also be relevant as they protect different visual and technological aspects of a video game." The Commission leans on existing EU law, which it says "provides for important safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers," in that "video game providers must inform consumers about the duration and the conditions for terminating the contract before the consumers signs up for the video game." It goes on to point out that any consumer that is affected by a video game developer or publisher shutting down a game before the stated date may be eligible for a proportionate refund. The response by the Commission has largely been negatively received, with many gamers expressing their frustration at the lack of action in a follow-up post by the Commission on Instagram. Many of those commenting on the post say that they are disappointed that the democratic process seemed ineffectual, and many others said that a non-binding code of conduct is not what people asked for, blaming industry lobbying and monetary power for the lack of change. The full statement by the European Commission follows.

Unreal Engine 5.8 Paves Way for Better Optimization in UE6

Unreal Engine 5.8 has just been announced by Epic Games as the last major update to Unreal Engine 5 before the launch of Unreal Engine 6. While there are a number of changes present in UE 5.8, including streamlined texturing and landscape creation, and sandboxes for isolated experimentation, to name but a few, two new headline features are coming to the real-time rendering pipeline with UE 5.8. The first is Lumen Lite, a new version of Lumen dynamic global illumination specifically designed to offer as many of the features and as much of the artistic quality as full-scale Lumen with much lower GPU compute costs. According to the update notes, Lumen Lite can be as much as twice as fast as Lumen High Quality, and it is lightweight enough to run on the Nintendo Switch 2 at 60 FPS.

The other new tool available to developers is MegaLights, which is now production-ready and allows artists and developers to place dynamic and shadowed area lights into scenes to improve quality and reduce noise. Epic cites a performance target of 60 FPS on current consoles and has included dedicated debugging tools to make game optimization easier with MegaLights. Unreal Engine 5 has been the scapegoat of many complaints by PC gamers about poor game performance—even if there are examples of visually striking games built on UE5 that are well optimized—and Lumen global illumination is one of the features that tends to take at least some of that blame. Both of the new features are supported on PC, along with many of the other new rendering tools, like Fog Screen Space Scattering, which improves volumetric fog and dust rendering, and a new toon shader for stylized games.

PUBG Gets NVIDIA Ace AI Teammates with High Demands

There has been a lot of talk in recent months about AI-powered teammates in video games of late, with everyone from NVIDIA to Ubisoft and Take-Two expressing interest in the feature. That same Ace AI tech that NVIDIA demonstrated over a year ago has now made its way into PUBG: Battlegrounds as a time-limited game mode called Ally Duo. Announced for the PUBG: Battlegrounds update 42.1, PUBG will be introducing the new Ally Duo game mode, which will pair players with an AI-powered companion in a new arcade mode in the Sanhok jungle map.

In a demo shown off previously by NVIDIA, Ella, the player's AI companion powered by NVIDIA Ace, responds to spoken instructions with natural language, guides players with in-game info and advice, and can be controlled by the player with those same spoken instructions—for instance, helping players look for resources and vehicles, delivering those vehicles, spotting and engaging enemies, and helping set up strategic attacks. Ella and the Ally Duo game mode are currently in beta and will only be available in PUBG: Battlegrounds from June 17 to July 1. The new mode strictly requires an NVIDIA RTX GPU for AI processing, with the RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 3060 8 GB cards and 16 GB of system memory being the minimum spec, while the RTX 4070 paired with 24 GB of system RAM is recommended. Players must also enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling if not enabled already. The NVIDIA Ace AI PUBG demo follows.

Destiny 2 Soars to 2-Year High Despite Uncertainty

By now, the whole gaming industry has more or less mourned the loss of Destiny 2 in some way or another, with the game receiving its final content update on June 9 and mass layoffs expected at Bungie in the coming weeks. Destiny fans, however, seem to have not received the message or simply not cared. Following the Monument of Triumph content update, Destiny 2's performance has skyrocketed, both in terms of finances and player retention. It's hardly surprising to see Destiny still have a loyal fan base, given the recent outcry from Destiny fans for a Destiny 3 from Sony and Bungie.

According to SteamDB, Destiny 2 reached a two-year-high peak concurrent player count, at 167,867 concurrent players on the day of the update's release. While that's impressive enough on its own, Destiny 2 has also floated to the top ranks of the Steam Top Seller chart, which ranks games based on financial performance. Simultaneously, Destiny 2 climbed to third place in the Top Sellers chart for week 25 of 2026 (June 9-16), falling just short of the evergreen Counter-Strike 2 and the hot new Mecca Chameleon. While Bungie has so far decided to keep Destiny 2 online, the next step with these sorts of sunsetting operations is to shut down game servers, making the game unplayable.

New Hellblade Project Was Bait for Potential Ninja Theory Buyers

We recently reported that Xbox Game Studios is apparently looking to shutter or sell off a handful of its in-house game studios, with Ninja Theory, the studio behind the Hellblade/Senua game franchise being one of the impacted studios. With the news of the potential shuttering, there were questions about the Ninja Theory's new Senua game, which was revealed at an Xbox Showcase less than two weeks ahead of the studio closure rumors.

Ostensibly, the new Senua game was meant to be a sequel to Hellblade 2, but according to a recent report by The Game File, Xbox Game Studios already knew about the split with Ninja Theory ahead of the game's reveal in early June 2026. The prevailing theory behind the strategy to continue with the unveiling of Senua is that it would attract buyers when it was eventually revealed that Ninja Theory was being sold off, theoretically increasing the value of the company to a potential buyer, thereby allowing Xbox to recoup its investment in the studio, and making a buyout quicker. When reports surfaced about the upcoming closure or sale of Ninja Theory, it was revealed that the studio received word of its fate on Monday, June 15, 2026, and it is unclear if the machinations behind the Senua announcement were Microsoft's doing or if the leadership at Ninja Theory were also involved.

Fortnite on Steam Deck? Epic Games Hires To Expand EAC Support for Linux

Despite prior harsh criticism from the company's CEO, Tim Sweeney, it seems as though Epic Games may finally be changing its tone on Linux gaming. According to a recent job posting on the Epic Games site, the game studio is currently looking to hire a security engineer with "deep knowledge of Linux and Windows OS internals." The engineer will work on Epic Online Services, more specifically, Epic is looking for a Senior Game Security Engineer for its anti-cheat systems to work on "not only our titles but a wide variety of games from around the world" and to "champion Linux anti-cheat capabilities for Epic." All of this is to say that Epic Games is looking to expand Linux support for Easy Anti-Cheat, and the job description includes mentions of reverse engineering common cheats and malicious software and working with external game developers on EAC implementations based on data analysis.

It's worth noting that EAC already has a Linux compatibility mode, although it appears to simply deactivate the kernel-level anti-cheat capabilities, since that's the main component of EAC that is incompatible with Linux. Previously, the head of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, has been skeptical about supporting Linux in EAC, despite eventually implementing a Linux mode after the launch of the Steam Deck. Notably, however, Epic's flagship game, Fortnite, still does not support Linux, despite the user-space EAC implementation other games use. Recently, there appear to also have been changes in Fortnite's player base and playing habits that resulted in a round of layoffs that have affected over 1,000 workers at the company, so it would not be a surprise to see Epic Games switch up its strategy surrounding Fortnite and EAC in response to the Fortnite downturn.

ALOGIC Unveils FOKUS Touchscreens, Aspekt Touch 27" Monitor, and Folio Portable Monitors

ALOGIC, the global professional AV and connectivity brand announces the launch of five new products at InfoComm 2026: The FOKUS wall-mounted touchscreen range in 43", 55" and 65" sizes; the Folio portable single & dual touchscreens for Mac and Windows; the Aspekt Touch 27" docking monitor; and a wireless-charging Active Stylus; and IRIS 2.4K autofocus webcam.

FOKUS is ALOGIC's new line of wall-mounted 4K touchscreens for meeting rooms and collaboration spaces, in 43", 55" and 65" sizes. FOKUS instantly connects with the Mac or Windows laptop and lets you present, annotate or sketch right on the screen, with full multitouch and 4096 levels of pressure-sensitive ALOGIC Active Stylus. The daisy-chain function lets Fokus work smoothly with Windows devices supporting a laptop, desktop or a mini PC running Windows. Underneath sits the same docking smarts as ALOGIC's Aspekt monitors—90 W USB-C charging, USB-C and USB-A ports, a top port for a webcam, Gigabit Ethernet and daisy-chaining, behind a 500-nit, 100% sRGB matt panel that keeps glare down. An included slim bracket sets it almost flush to the wall (or onto any 400 × 400 VESA mount), and it comes in Space Black. FOKUS screens include a remote control, allowing users to switch them on and off, toggle the touchscreen functionality, and conveniently switch between different video inputs.

Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform

Qualcomm Technologies Inc. today announced at Augmented World Expo the Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform, designed to power immersive spatial computing experiences with stunning visual fidelity and deeply integrated on‑device AI across a spectrum of form factors. It will power high-performance all‑in‑one video-see-through (VST) headsets and lightweight tethered optical-see-through (OST).

"XR adoption continues to expand, with more than 60 million devices already in market and growing momentum across industries." said Ziad Asghar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of XR, Wearables and Personal AI. "As more advanced and integrated XR platforms are developed, demand is increasing for XR technologies that deliver higher performance, greater intelligence, and improved power efficiency. Snapdragon Reality Elite is designed to meet those demands with powerful on‑device AI, enabling faster, longer‑lasting, and more immersive experiences, and reinforcing our leadership in VR and MR as we build purpose‑built XR chipsets from the ground up."

MSI Introduces the MAG Infinite Z: AMD Ryzen 9000 Performance in a Compact 25L Gaming Tower

MSI, a world leader in gaming hardware, today introduced the MAG Infinite Z, an AMD-powered gaming desktop built for players who want strong performance, smart cooling, and easy upgradability in a compact tower design. Featuring up to an AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics, the MAG Infinite Z delivers powerful gaming performance in a space-saving 25L chassis.

Designed for modern gamers, the MAG Infinite Z combines high-performance hardware, intelligent thermal optimization, and practical upgrade features in one refined gaming desktop. Whether for competitive gaming, AAA titles, streaming, or daily multitasking, the system gives players the speed, stability, and flexibility they need without the oversized footprint of a traditional gaming tower.

Biostar Releases the New B850MS-E Motherboard

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, edge computing solutions, industrial motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, today is excited to introduce the B850MS-E motherboard, a modern AMD B850 platform engineered for efficient productivity, immersive home entertainment, and reliable system integration.

Built to bring current-generation features to mainstream AMD Socket AM5 PC builds, the B850MS-E combines DDR5 memory support, PCIe 5.0 M.2 storage, and Wi-Fi 7 readiness in a versatile Micro ATX platform designed for everyday productivity, home entertainment, and business deployment. Supporting AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series processors, with readiness for future AMD Ryzen processors via BIOS update, the B850MS-E delivers a strong foundation for users seeking dependable performance across office workloads, multimedia streaming, and customer-facing applications.

MSI Launches Maestro 500 Wireless Headset

MSI today announces the launch of the Maestro 500 Wireless, a versatile headset designed for users who move fluidly between work, entertainment, calls, and daily listening. Featuring Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode, high-resolution 40 mm drivers, beamforming and ENC-assisted voice pickup, multi-mode connectivity, and exceptional battery life, the Maestro 500 Wireless helps users hear clearly, communicate with confidence, and stay focused throughout the day.

The Maestro 500 Wireless delivers clear, immersive audio across everyday scenarios—from online meetings and music to video streaming and gaming. Its 40 mm drivers support a wide frequency response of up to 40 kHz, while Active Noise Cancellation reduces background distractions for improved focus. Transparency mode lets users stay aware of their surroundings without removing the headset.

Coherent Breaks Ground on Expanded Texas Facility, Scaling AI's Optical Backbone

AI runs at the speed of light. More and more, that light is made in Texas. Coherent broke ground today on an expanded manufacturing building in Sherman, Texas. The company makes the lasers, optical components and compound semiconductors that wire AI systems together—and runs what it calls the world's first 6-inch indium phosphide fab.

NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and Coherent CEO Jim Anderson were on hand for the ceremony, joined by Sherman Mayor Shawn Temann and Adriana Cruz, executive director of Texas Economic Development and Tourism, who delivered remarks. The expanded building will scale production of the same InP wafers that carry data between chips, servers and data centers at the speed of light—the optical backbone of modern AI infrastructure.

ADATA XPG Launches INFINITY Fans and MAESTRO Air CPU Coolers

As the 2026 PC DIY market undergoes a dramatic structural shift driven by volatile memory pricing, global hardware enthusiasts are entering a new era of "precise investment and smart building." To help consumers seamlessly balance core system performance with stunning external aesthetics, XPG proudly introduces the INFINITY F360/F120/R120 infinity mirror fan series and the MAESTRO 42SA/62DA CPU air coolers. These highly calculated, high-value cooling solutions allow users to optimize every single penny of their hardware budgets and build elite, high-performance gaming setups without making sacrifices on powerful thermal control or striking visual impact.

According to recent market data from IDC and arXiv, booming AI infrastructure development is aggressively competing for vital DRAM and NAND flash capacity, triggering widespread hardware inflation that will reshape the global PC market landscape well through 2027[1][2]. Under these fixed total budgets, players are forced to compress PC components investments like chassis and cooling, which unfortunately compromises overall system stability and visual appeal. Addressing this critical market pain point, XPG actively embraces the "Smart Building" trend by launching the INFINITY fan lineup and MAESTRO series coolers. Shattering the outdated myth that accessible pricing dictates performance compromise, XPG delivers premium, value-driven cooling solutions that provide elite gaming power and striking aesthetics to budget-conscious creators worldwide.

NVIDIA RTX Remix 1.5 Update Cuts File Size and Brings Smooth Normals

NVIDIA has published its latest update for the RTX Remix framework, with version 1.5 bringing impressive improvements. As some may recall, NVIDIA's RTX Remix is a tool for remastering older games to enable the game engine to support modern visual enhancements like full ray tracing, neural rendering with DLSS 4, and multi-frame generation. It also automatically enhances materials with generative AI. NVIDIA has been updating classic games like Half-Life 2 and Portal. According to the company blog post, RTX Remix 1.5 now includes new visual enhancements and a more efficient storage system that can reduce file sizes by roughly one-third, depending on the specific game.

The first major feature update is Smooth Normals. This feature, highly requested by the RTX Remix modding community, adds automatic smooth-normal generation to the legacy geometry in the game. This prevents older in-game assets from appearing blocky or faceted when path-tracing lighting is applied. Interestingly, NVIDIA has prepared a demonstration in a concrete tunnel within the game, which now looks like a uniform piece instead of the multi-piece rendering it once was. The company also added lighting control from various viewpoints, meaning that remixes and modding community will get to play with more lighting controls.

Steam Machine Performance Benchmark Leak Signals Approaching Launch

Since the news broke that the Valve Steam Machine would be delayed, there have been countless conversations online about how the Steam Machine would be dead on arrival because of its expected pricing and aging internals—a six-core Zen 4 CPU and a RDNA 3 Radeon Navi 33 GPU with 8 GB of VRAM—but a recent set of leaked Geekbench 6 benchmarks, labelled "Valve Fremont," have reignited these concerns. The Geekbench 6 result, shared by @Olrak29_ on X, show the Steam Machine scoring 7,316 points in the multicore test and 2,334 in the single-core test.

As a point of comparison, the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H in the ASUS VivoBook S16 managed to score a multicore score of 16,104 points and a single-core score of 2,868 points. There are no GPU test results available on Geekbench yet at the time of writing, although estimates based on the hardware of the Steam Machine's GPU put expected performance around the level of an AMD Radeon RX 7600, which is, based on Geekbench's GPU tests, around 50% faster than the iGPU in the Core Ultra X7 358H. For its part, Valve expects the Steam Machine to handle upscaled 4K gaming at 60 FPS with ray tracing and FSR support, to boot. What's perhaps more important to glean from these Geekbench scores is that the Steam Machine now appears to be in the hands of at least one hardware reviewer, suggesting that the Steam Machine may be launching sooner rather than later.
Tuesday, June 16th 2026
Upcoming Hardware Launches 2026 (Updated Jun 2026)

Upcoming Hardware Launches 2026 (Updated Jun 2026)

This article serves as a continuously updated summary of currently known leaks and official announcements regarding upcoming hardware releases in 2026 and beyond. We cover and keep track of developments for Intel Nova Lake, AMD Zen 6, NVIDIA's and AMD's upcoming GPUs, DDR6 and GDDR7 memory, chipsets, game consoles and more.
Noctua NL-LC1-36 AIO Review - Very Impressive

Noctua NL-LC1-36 AIO Review - Very Impressive

The NL-LC1-36 is exactly what you'd expect from Noctua's first all-in-one liquid cooler. It offers an impressive mix of high performance, minimal noise, and exceptional engineering, making it a standout choice in a saturated market. Perfect for those who prefer to skip pump-mounted displays and ARGB lighting.

GPD Box Mini PC: $1,452 Base Price—PCIe 5.0 x8 MCIO Port Skips Intel Core Ultra X7 SKU

We previously covered the announcement of the GPD Box, a new Panther Lake mini PC that features an MCIO 8i port and dual USB4 v2.0 ports for expanded connectivity with eGPUs and other high-bandwidth applications. Now, the GPD Box has finally launched on Indiegogo with a starting price of HK$11,377 ($1,452.25 converted). The base configuration is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 356H with 32 GB LPDDR5-8533 RAM and a 1 TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD. The next level up upgrades the CPU to the Core Ultra X7 358H for HK$12,020 ($1,534 converted), and the bundles with the Box mini PC and the G2 MCIO eGPU Dock come in at HK$14,394 ($1,837 converted) for the Core Ultra 7 356H version and HK$15,036 ($1,919 converted) for the X7 358H variant. The biggest difference between the Core Ultra X7 358H and the Ultra 7 356H is the significantly more powerful Arc B390 iGPU in the former—importantly, there is no MCIO connection on the Core Ultra X7 358H version of the Box, leaving it with only USB4 for eGPU connections.

Despite its compact chassis, at just 175 × 134 × 39.5 mm, the GPD Box has decent I/O capabilities, with the highlight of the show being the MCIO 8i port that allows for eGPU expansion with minimal bandwidth loss compared to USB4 and Thunderbolt connections. According to GPD, the maximum bidirectional bandwidth of the GPD Box's MCIO port is 512 Gbps, which effectively matches a native PCIe 5.0 x8 cable connection. Notably, while the G2 eGPU dock does include a PSU with an 800 W ATX 3.1 PSU with two GPU power cables, you will need to bring your own GPU if you buy the bundle with the dock. The G2 dock can also be purchased separately via Indiegogo at a starting price of $385. The GPD Box itself also features dual 2.5 GbE RJ45 ports with link aggregation support. For wireless support, there is Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E, while the physical I/O includes 2× USB4 V2 Type-C ports, 2× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and a 3.5 mm audio combo jack on the front. The rear I/O has a DP 2.1 UHBR20 port, 1× HDMI 2.1 FRL ports, 2× RJ45 ports with 2.5 Gbps speeds, 2× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and the MCIO 8i port.

CTL Launches New OPS Desktop Monitor Alongside New CTL All-in-One Computers with ChromeOS

CTL, an EdTech lifecycle products and services provider, today announced an expansion of its product ecosystem with the introduction of the CTL MTIP24OPS 24" Open Pluggable Specification (OPS)-Ready Monitor, alongside two new CTL OPS All-in-Ones with ChromeOS, powered by Intel Core i3 and i7 processors. These new products provide flexible, upgradeable, and easily managed desktop computing solutions for schools and businesses where fleets of flexible desktop computers are needed, such as libraries, labs, test-taking centers, call centers, healthcare facilities, and more.

"CTL has a rich history of delivering reliable desktop monitors and innovative 2-in-1 computing solutions, dating back to our previous generations of Chromebox-powered workstations," said Jeremy Burnett, Vice President of Technology at CTL. "We are pleased to continue serving our customers with this next-generation set of modular desktop computing solutions, which can incorporate the inherently cybersecure, easily managed platform of ChromeOS."

KDE Plasma 6.7 Launch: More Performance, Features, and UI Polish

Just on time, following the recent beta launch, which saw the addition of the new KDE Plasma Bigscreen view, KDE Plasma 6.7 has officially launched for public download and is now available from the KDE site. Unlike many previous versions, version 6.7 of the Plasma desktop environment for Linux doesn't have any real ground-breaking features, instead delivering a host of small changes that elevate the desktop environment to new heights and enable more versatile use cases. One such example is improved support for simultaneous HDR and ICC color profiles, making managing a desktop that pulls double duty as a media creation and consumption machine simpler. It also has expanded support for the Wayland protocol and its portals, and the new per-screen virtual desktop switching system has also been implemented. There are also performance improvements at hand across the board, with a focus on power usage and systems with Intel iGPUs.

Perhaps the only major change is the new Union theming system, which is still in its infancy but allows for easier theming of Plasma, QtQuick apps and QtWidget theming via CSS document editing. A much-awaited update to the Oxygen theme also makes its debut in KDE Plasma 6.7. On the UI side, Plasma 6.7 now has a toggle to switch the global theme to and from night mode from the control panel. The Application Menu, Dashboard, and Launcher widgets now also feature drag and drop to add apps to favorites; a system tray update now shows how many jobs are in the print queue on hover, and there is now support for more apps in the Background Apps system tray entry; the built-in calendar widget shows the time difference between the different time zones configured in the widget. For a full list of the tweaks and changes, check out the full changelog on the KDE site or the KDE Wiki.

Intel Details 18A-P Foundry Node Powering Next-Gen Xeon "Diamond Rapids" Processor

At the VLSI Symposium held in Hawaii, Intel unveiled the new Intel 18A-P foundry node, a significant refinement of the Intel 18A node that carves out room for a 9% increase in performance at iso-power. The company announced that it commenced risk-production on this new node, and has earmarked it for its next-generation Xeon "Diamond Rapids" server processor. Besides 9% increase in performance at iso-power, Intel 18A-P is claimed to offer an 18% power reduction at iso-performance, a 20-40% improvement in die-level thermal resistance, and a 10-30% improvement in Via resistance in performance-critical layers.

The company detailed the physical changes to the Intel 18A node made to achieve these gains. Intel added new cell options across its 180HP and 160HD libraries to support a wider range of products. For low-power designs, it introduced W1 and W1.5 cells. For high-performance needs, it added the W3P cell, which utilizes a "dual contact" design to boost performance without exceeding the footprint of the existing W3 cell. The company significantly lowered thermal resistance by integrating a new heat-conducting material on the front side of the die. Intel also updated its EDA tools to support thermally-aware layouts, allowing designers to better manage heat dissipation at the structural level.

Sandisk Announces Optimus GX PRO 850P M.2 NVMe SSD for PlayStation 5 Consoles

Sandisk today introduced the Optimus GX PRO 850P, an M.2 NVMe Gen 4 SSD tailor-made for the Sony PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro consoles. The drive is an officially-licensed PlayStation accessory, and comes with performance and thermal optimization for the consoles. It comes in capacity variants of up to 8 TB. The drive is a variant of the Optimus GX PRO 850X that Sandisk targets at PC gamers and enthusiasts.

Given the way Sandisk is differentiating the 850P from the 850X, this new drive might have a different performance profile from its PC-targeted sibling, and perhaps even a different combination of controller and NAND flash. The company hasn't put out a detailed specs sheet, yet. We know that the 850X comes with WDC's in-house Black G2 PCIe Gen 4, 8-channel controller that uses a DRAM cache, paired with Kioxia 112-layer 3D TLC NAND flash. The company also hasn't put out pricing. For reference, the top 8 TB 850X is going for an eye-watering $2,700.

HP Debuts AI-Powered Unified Collaboration Ecosystem at InfoComm 2026

Today, at InfoComm 2026, HP Inc. introduced AI-powered communication and collaboration solutions designed to transform how work gets done. As organizations operate across increasingly distributed environments, HP is advancing its collaboration ecosystem—powered by the HP Workforce Experience Platform (WXP)—to deliver better experiences focused on connecting people, workspaces, and solutions.

"Organizations don't want more tools. They want to adopt intelligent collaboration solutions that not only deliver reliable meeting experiences, but that are easier to deploy, manage, and scale," said Carles Farre, Division President, HP Collaboration Solutions. "With innovations across HP devices, meeting room solutions, and platform capabilities, we're helping organizations create more seamless, engaging collaboration experiences for employees."

Intel 14A Yields Hit Impressive Milestone Before Trial Production

According to the latest research from Morgan Stanley, one of the leading investment banks, we have learned that the defect rate for Intel's 14A node is currently reported at D0=0.5. This means that defects in Intel's 14A node production are occurring at a rate of only 0.5, indicating a limited amount of purely non-functional silicon produced during the long and challenging semiconductor manufacturing process. For Intel, this suggests that the 14A node is still in the early stages of ramping up. However, the previous claims that this node is currently surpassing the 18A node at a similar development and ramp time are indeed accurate. For example, Intel plans to target a defect rate of only 0.1 to 0.2 by the first quarter of 2027, when the company intends to start running internal test chips and initiate a slight ramp-up for its own products. This will be followed by risk production in 2028 and high-volume production in 2029.

Looking at Intel's current "Panther Lake" SoC, which integrates multiple smaller dies into a unified package, we observe that Intel has utilized its 18A node for the compute tile's production. This tile measures approximately 8.004 x 14.288 mm, resulting in a silicon area of 114.304 mm². If we take this die size and apply the current parameters of the 14A node, we can estimate that a similar die, with the same surface area but increased density and manufactured on the 14A node, would achieve a yield of 56.45% for designs of that scale. Naturally, the current 18A node is providing better yields due to high-volume manufacturing, but the initial statistics for 14A appear promising. This assumption is based on a die of that specific size, with that particular defect rate, using High-NA EUV half-field exposures in the production process. We believe this is the stage Intel's 14A node is currently at, with room for many improvements. While Morgan Stanley notes in their report that the yield is about 40% for a test chip, its size must be significantly larger than the assumed size of the "Panther Lake" compute tile.

Xbox Exec Rebuffs Console Exclusive Backtrack Rumors

It was recently revealed by Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, after many rumors and hints that it would be going in that direction, that Xbox would be reinvesting in exclusives going forward. However, there have been alleged insider reports and some skepticism from the community, who have been vocal about the need for Xbox console exclusives, that this move by Xbox was simply an appeal to that vocal player base. However, in response to a recent post on X by Jez Cordon, Xbox Chief Strategy Officer, Matthew Ball, has shot down those claims, stating that there is no plan to backtrack on currently planned Xbox exclusives, and that there are other exclusives in the works. Ball's full statement reads:
Matthew BallThese rumors are false. Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will stay exclusive. There are no conversations and have been no conversations to "reverse course." And as we said last week, players can continue to expect signature exclusives from us every year.

Lexar AI Storage Solution Helps Limited DRAM Run Larger Local AI Models

Lexar has been exploring various technologies to help consumers achieve faster data throughput and more reliable storage. The company now envisions a shift as the PC evolves from a traditional personal computer to a local AI-enhanced experience. We interviewed Lexar's Chief Technical Officer, Daniel Guo, about the technology Lexar is developing to help reduce some DRAM demand and shift the balance towards integrated hardware-software AI storage solution with NAND Flash. According to Guo, DRAM is about six times more expensive to manufacture than NAND Flash, and AI SSDs present opportunities to reduce DRAM requirements for running AI models on local hardware. This is where the Lexar AI Storage Solution comes into play, as the company is creating new storage solutions to support local AI deployments in constrained DRAM capacity by offloading some parts of large language models to SSDs. This approach allows larger and more powerful LLMs to fit into a PC build, reducing DRAM capacity requirements by up to 40% in specific scenarios.

Based on internal testing, Lexar managed to run the Qwen 3.5 122B AI model on a local PC. Traditionally, users would need to invest about $4,500 in a PC with a decent CPU and 128 GB of DRAM to run this model. Through hardware and software optimization, the Lexar AI suite with the Lexar AI SSD can reduce the DRAM requirement to 32 GB and run the model with 35 billion parameters at 15.6 tokens per second, compared to only 5.2 tokens per second using traditional frameworks. When attempting to load the 122B model on 32 GB of DRAM, the traditional Llama.cpp fails to load and crashes, while Lexar's SSD offloading provides about 4.4 tokens per second.

Microsoft Launches New Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X2 Processors

For more than 13 years, Surface has been shaped by the people who use it. Architects sketch buildings, developers train models, students build startups and field engineers solve problems that rarely make headlines. We didn't intend to design for one audience, but the people who've chosen Surface have defined it through their work. They build, shape, solve and ship, often before anyone else sees what's coming. That pattern is now the platform: new devices, new features and a continued commitment to the makers who show us what Surface means by how they use it.

Expanding Surface for the work ahead
2026 has brought important updates for Surface. We delivered our broadest Surface for Business lineup to date, with new enterprise features including an integrated privacy screen. Later this year, we'll deliver Surface Laptop Ultra, our most powerful Surface Laptop ever, built for developers and creative professionals pushing their work further. We'll also deliver Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, an entirely new category of Surface hardware purpose-built for AI developers who need sustained local compute. Surface is investing everywhere: from entry points to ultra-premium performance, from the enterprise to the individual maker. Today, we're introducing the next Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, powered by Snapdragon X2 processors.

Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 Delivers a Smarter, More Immersive Entertainment Experience

Today Lenovo introduced the Tab Plus Gen 2, the next generation of its tablet created for the increasingly fluid ways people move between media consumption, multitasking, and shared experiences. With upgrades spanning audio, visuals, versatility, and intelligent features, it expands the role of the tablet across a broader range of activities and environments.
"Entertainment today isn't tied to a single place or routine," said Tony Chen, Vice President of Tablets, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "People are moving seamlessly between work, travel, and downtime, and they expect their devices to move just as naturally with them. With the Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2, we created a device that keeps up with that rhythm, giving users the freedom to enjoy content on their terms."

Maono Launches P Series Hybrid Audio Interface to Power the Next Generation of Multi-Platform Creators

Maono, a global leader in hybrid microphone technology that combines wireless freedom (2.4 GHz) with wired-level professionalism (USB/XLR), today announced the launch of the Maono P Series Hybrid Audio Interface, a new range designed to meet the evolving needs of creators working across multiple devices, platforms and workflows. The Maono P Series is now available on Amazon US and the Maono website for $129.99. There is currently a 10% off Discount available with code MAONOP110 from 15th to 21st June.

As content creation expands across platforms, creators increasingly move between laptops, smartphones, tablets, and camera-based setups, blending recording, livestreaming, and production workflows. The Maono P Series addresses this shift through a hybrid approach to connectivity and usability, enabling streamlined multi-device creation without added technical complexity.

Goodram RIVAL Gaming Brand Debuts with DDR5 SODIMM Memory

Goodram expands its portfolio with a new gaming brand - Goodram RIVAL. Its first product is the Goodram RIVAL DDR5 SODIMM series: memory modules designed for gaming laptops and compact mobile workstations built to perform without hardware limitations.

The RIVAL brand was created for gamers, PC enthusiasts, and users who expect stability, speed, and predictable performance under load. DDR5 SODIMM is its mobile-focused lineup - an upgrade for users who want to get more from their laptop without replacing the entire platform.

Synology Releases DiskStation Manager 7.4

Synology today announced the release of DiskStation Manager (DSM) 7.4, delivering DSM Agent, Synology ChatPlus and Meet, and Synology HDD-based post-processing deduplication and compression.

"As AI becomes more capable, the real challenge is no longer building intelligence itself, but putting it to work where data lives," said Bie-i Chu, Executive Vice President of the Synology NAS Group. "With DSM 7.4, we're providing users with a platform where AI drives greater productivity and smarter management, while keeping them in full control of their data and infrastructure."

Cable Matters Introduces Advanced USB-C KVM Switch with 4-Way Switching and Simultaneous Dual Laptop Charging

Cable Matters, a leading innovator in connectivity solutions, today announced the launch of its new USB-C KVM Switch for 2 Computers, 1 Monitor, a powerful workspace upgrade designed for professionals who need to control two USB-C or Thunderbolt-enabled computers from a single desk setup.

Built for modern hybrid workstations, shared desks, content creators, IT professionals, and power users, the new Cable Matters USB-C KVM Switch lets users share one HDMI monitor, keyboard, mouse, USB peripherals, and charging source between two connected host computers.

SiMa.ai Launches Palette Neat, Industry's First Agentic Environment for Physical AI

SiMa.ai, a leader in Physical AI, today launched Palette Neat, the industry's first agentic development environment for Physical AI that collapses complex application timelines from months to days. The open source, purpose-built, integrated development environment combines a Physical AI execution library and agent workflow layer for productivity-focused agentic development. When paired with the full-production Modalix MLSoC System-on-Module (SoM) or its new PCIe companion card form factor, the unified platform delivers unmatched performance-per-watt for high-demand Physical AI workloads across robotics, automotive, drones, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, smart vision, and healthcare.

"SiMa.ai is an AI software company that builds its own silicon," said Krishna Rangasayee, founder and CEO of SiMa.ai. "Today, we are delivering the industry's first agentic development environment for Physical AI. Together, Palette Neat and our pin-compatible SoM dismantle the incumbent GPU moat, allowing developers to design systems in plain English and develop them in days—and in many cases, hours."

SAMA Announces the S50 ATX Mid-Tower Case

SAMA, a global leader in performance PC hardware, announces the S50, a compact ATX case that balances space efficiency, airflow, and high-end hardware support. The S50 features a tempered glass side panel and high-density mesh on the front and top for strong, balanced airflow. Its innovative front-mounted PSU compartment reduces the chassis footprint, enabling a compact size without sacrificing compatibility or cooling capacity. The S50 comes pre-installed with four 120 mm ARGB PWM fans for strong out-of-the-box airflow and lighting. It supports ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX, and back-connect ATX and microATX motherboards, along with graphics cards up to 410 mm, CPU coolers up to 165 mm, and ATX power supplies up to 180 mm. For expanded cooling and easier building, the case supports up to eleven 120 mm fans, a top-mounted 360 mm radiator, tool-less quick-release panels, 47 mm of cable management space, and a removable storage bracket.
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