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February 25
- Trump wants tighter AI chip export restrictions but may face staffing shortage and other issues
➀ The Trump administration is seeking to tighten export restrictions on advanced AI processors from the U.S. and persuade allies to restrict servicing of tools in China.
➁ The new guidelines, known as the AI Diffusion Rule, limit access to powerful AI processors like Nvidia's H100 GPUs.
➂ The move is met with resistance from the industry, which fears it could harm business interests and accelerate the development of domestic alternatives in China.
- ASRock issues BIOS update to address Ryzen 9 9800X3D failures, warns of 'misinformation' about failures
➀ ASRock has issued a BIOS update for its AM5 motherboards to address CPU boot issues with the AMD Ryzen 9 9800X3D processor;
➁ The company warns about the spread of misinformation regarding reported failures;
➂ Initial reports indicated CPU failures, but further analysis suggests memory compatibility issues might be the root cause.
- AMD's powerful Ryzen 7 7800X3D, one of the best CPUs for gaming, is in stock 🔥and on sale for $449
➀ AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D, a top gaming CPU, is now in stock and on sale for $449;
➁ The processor features AMD's Zen 4 architecture, 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 3D V-cache design;
➂ It was previously out of stock and has seen high prices, but is now available at a discounted price.
- Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max Review: Bigger, Faster Resin
➀ The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max offers excellent details and high-speed printing capabilities, though some detail is sacrificed for speed.
➁ The printer boasts a large build volume and premium features like a heated vat and sensors, but its auto-refill system didn't work in the test unit.
➂ Despite its high price, the M7 Max is a powerful machine for large prints and is one of the best resin 3D printers available.
- Argon40 teases the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 powered Upton One laptop
➀ Argon40 has teased the Upton One laptop, powered by the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5.
➁ The laptop allows users to configure RAM and eMMC by swapping out the CM5 module.
➂ The Upton One features USB Type-C ports, HDMI, and USB Type-A, and is expected to be made of aluminum.
February 24
- Leaked RTX 5070 benchmarks show mixed results against RTX 4070 Super, 18% slower than RTX 5070 Ti
➀ Leaked benchmarks of the RTX 5070 show mixed results against the RTX 4070 Super, being up to 20% slower than the RTX 5070 Ti.
➁ The RTX 5070 is powered by a slightly cut-down GB205 die with 48 SMs and 12GB of GDDR7 memory.
➂ Despite its lower performance, the RTX 5070 still offers a 20% lead over the base RTX 4070.
- Intel ‘Value Pack’ CPUs roll out in South Korea — PC DIYers can save $7 with no-frills packaging
➀ Intel has launched a new 'Value Pack' CPU option in South Korea, offering savings for PC DIYers and gamers.
➁ The 'Value Pack' features no-frills packaging, reducing costs while maintaining the same quality and warranty service.
➂ The price difference is approximately $7, making the Value Pack an attractive option for cost-conscious consumers.
- Nvidia RTX 5080 suffers from similar missing ROP defect as 5090 and 5070 Ti: Report
➀ Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5080 graphics cards may have only 104 ROPs instead of the advertised 112;
➁ The issue is similar to the one found in the RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 Ti;
➂ Nvidia has confirmed a 0.5% defect rate in the affected GPUs.
February 23
- AOC Agon Pro AG346UCD Ultra-wide OLED gaming monitor review: Maximum color and solid value
➀ The AOC Agon Pro AG346UCD offers deep blacks and contrast, vibrant colors, and a premium gaming experience at an affordable price.
➁ Despite lacking variable brightness and some HDR issues, the monitor provides excellent value for a 34-inch ultra-wide QD-OLED.
➂ With a 175 Hz refresh rate and low input lag, it delivers smooth gaming performance.
- RTX 5070 Ti manufacturing defect cuts performance by up to 10% — 88 ROPs vs 96 ROPs (design)
➀ Nvidia has confirmed a manufacturing defect in the RTX 5070 Ti that reduces performance by up to 10%;
➁ The affected GPUs have 88 ROPs instead of the specified 96;
➂ Nvidia has asked customers to contact their board partners for a replacement.
- Cougar Revenger 4K Mouse review: Feels great, but flawed
➀ The Cougar Revenger Pro 4K offers a simple yet effective design and performs exceptionally well, but the 4K dongle has issues.
➁ The mouse is comfortable for large hands and includes additional grip tape and PTFE skates.
➂ Despite the 4K dongle's problems, the mouse's performance and price make it a solid choice.
February 22
- Blown capacitor kills $2,799 Asus RTX 5090 GPU and damages motherboard
➀ A Redditor reports a $2,799 Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 GPU caught on fire due to a capacitor fault.
➁ The incident involved a system shutdown, followed by a restart that resulted in the GPU catching fire and smoke emitting.
➂ The damage is evident on both the graphics card and the motherboard, with burn marks near the capacitor.
- Ray-Ban Meta Glasses review: AI-infused smart glasses for the masses
➀ The Ray-Ban Meta glasses offer a sleek design resembling traditional eyewear.
➁ They come with advanced Meta AI features and hands-free controls for convenience.
➂ The glasses offer a unique blend of functionality and style, though with a premium price tag.
- AMD is in talks to sell $4 billion AI server assembly plants
AMD is in talks to sell its AI server assembly plants for up to $4 billion, with potential buyers including Taiwan-based companies. The facilities were acquired from ZT Systems, a leading AI server supplier, and the sale is expected to be a significant transaction in the AI server industry.
The US locations of these plants could provide advantages in avoiding tariffs and import restrictions, making them attractive to potential buyers.
AMD's decision to sell the plants is part of its strategy to focus on design expertise and compete with companies like Nvidia in the AI server market.
- Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W ATX 3.1 power supply review
➀ The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU excels in power quality with impressive voltage regulation and ripple suppression.
➁ It offers a great balance between performance and thermal efficiency, with a hybrid fan mode and compact design.
➂ Despite its high price, the 10-year warranty and robust performance make it a reliable choice for enthusiasts and professionals.
February 21
- HyperX QuadCast 2 S Review: Pretty overkill
➀ The HyperX QuadCast 2 S is a high-performance gaming microphone with ultra-premium 192 kHz / 32-bit recording capabilities;
➁ It offers a redesigned shock mount and four selectable polar patterns for versatility;
➂ Despite its advanced specifications, the microphone is well-suited for gamers and streamers.
- Leaked AMD RX 9070 XT benchmarks see it match Nvidia's RTX 4070 in synthetic tests
➀ AMD's RX 9070 XT is up to 28% faster than the RX 7800 XT, but falls short of the RX 7900 XTX.
➁ Benchmark scores from Geekbench suggest it matches Nvidia's RTX 4070 Super in synthetic tests.
➂ While the RX 9070 XT shows a decent improvement over its predecessor, real-world performance remains to be seen.
- New form of crystal storage stores terabytes of data per square millimeter
➀ Researchers from the University of Chicago have developed a new storage technique using atom-sized crystal defects;
➁ This allows for a density of 'terabytes of bits within a small cube of material that's only a millimeter in size';
➂ The technique combines solid-state physics with quantum storage research.
- Montech Titan Gold 1200W ATX 3.0 power supply review
➀ Montech's Titan Gold 1200W is a high-performance PSU with excellent power quality and efficiency, targeting demanding gaming and workstation builds.
➁ The PSU has a fully modular design, ATX 3.0 compliance, and a competitive price, but its noise level under heavy load is a drawback.
➂ Despite the thermal stress issues, the Titan Gold 1200W is a solid choice for high-end builds, offering good value for its price.
February 20
- Apple rolls out its C1 modem six years after buying in the technology from Intel
➀ Apple has introduced its first in-house developed 5G modem, the C1, six years after acquiring Intel's 5G modem business unit.
➁ The C1 is designed for the iPhone 16e, a mainstream smartphone, and promises high power efficiency and fast connectivity.
➂ Apple has not disclosed how the C1 achieves its power efficiency, but it is likely due to custom cores and TSMC's 4nm-class process technology.
- Kioxia's new 10th gen 332-layer 4.8 GB/s 3D NAND flash is 33% faster than its 8th gen ICs
Kioxia has unveiled its 10th generation 332-layer 3D NAND flash memory technology, offering up to 33% better performance and enhanced bit density, interface speeds, and power efficiency compared to its 8th generation ICs.
The new technology features a CMOS directly Bonded to Array (CBA) and Toggle DDR6.0 interface, enabling a 4.8 GB/s NAND interface speed.
While the 322-layer design is not yet at the company's goal of a 1,000-layer 3D NAND by 2027, it still represents a significant advancement in bit density by 59% and power efficiency improvements.
February 18
- Trump tariffs result in 10% laptop price hike in U.S. says Acer CEO
➀ Acer CEO Jason Chen announced a 10% price increase for laptops in the U.S. starting from March 2025, attributing it to incoming tariffs from the Trump administration.
➁ The price hike is expected to affect the assembly of laptops that left China after February 2025.
➂ The move could set U.S. customers back by $143 billion, according to the Consumer Technology Association.
- Intel principal engineer bemoans potential TSMC takeover, touts company's 18A tech advantage
➀ Intel principal engineer expresses concern over TSMC's potential takeover of Intel Foundry.
➁ He highlights Intel's 18A technology advantage and advancements in semiconductor manufacturing.
➂ Bonetti argues against the notion that TSMC engineers are necessary for Intel's latest process technologies.
- FSP Vita GM 850W Power Supply Review
➀ The FSP Vita GM 850W PSU delivers excellent efficiency and power delivery, with a 10-year warranty, making it a great choice for gaming and workstation builds.
➁ However, its performance degrades under heavy thermal stress, and the unit has some concerns with component sourcing and internal temperatures.
➂ Despite these limitations, the VITA GM 850W offers a good balance of performance and long-term value, especially for mainstream users.
February 17
- Sandisk puts petabyte SSDs on the roadmap, has yet to reveal release date
➀ SanDisk discusses its roadmap for upcoming UltraQLC-based 1PB SSDs.
➁ The UltraQLC platform uses Sandisk's BICS 8 QLC 3D NAND, a proprietary controller, and firmware to enable high-capacity SSDs.
➂ Sandisk addresses the AI memory crunch with potential solutions including 3D DRAM, but challenges remain.
- SilverStone HELA 2050R Platinum power supply review
➀ The SilverStone HELA 2050R Platinum offers an impressive 2050W power capacity with excellent Platinum-rated efficiency;
➁ It features three PCIe 5.0 connectors, high-quality internal components, and is compact for its output class;
➂ Despite its high price, it's overkill for most users but ideal for extreme workstations and top-end gaming systems.
February 16
- Intel 8th, 9th and 10th Gen processors absent from Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 CPU support list
➀ Microsoft has published the CPU support lists for Windows 11 version 24H2, omitting Intel's 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen processors from official support.
➁ The decision may be linked to Intel's shift to a legacy support model for 7th-10th Gen iGPUs in December 2024.
➂ AMD Ryzen 8000 chips are added to the support list for the first time.
- RTX 5090 supplies to be 'stupidly high' next month as GB200 wafers get repurposed, asserts leaker
➀ Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5090 supply is expected to be 'stupidly high' next month as excess yields from TSMC's GB200 wafers are repurposed for consumer-grade GB202 chips.
➁ The demand for data center GB200 chips fell short of Nvidia's projections, leading to the reallocation of wafers.
➂ This change reflects the shift in focus from data center to consumer-grade GPUs, with almost 90% of Nvidia's revenue coming from data center offerings.
- Lenovo Legion Go S Review: Where's the Beef?
➀ The Lenovo Legion Go S offers an improved design over its predecessor, but its performance and value are questionable.
➁ The device features a new AMD processor and a smaller display, which impacts its gaming capabilities.
➂ Battery life, audio quality, and upgradeability are also discussed, with some drawbacks noted.
- Meta plans 50,000 km undersea cable to connect the U.S., Brazil, Africa, India, and Australia
Meta has announced an ambitious undersea cable project called 'Project Waterworth' to connect the U.S., Brazil, Africa, Asia, and Australia, spanning over 50,000 km. The project is set to be the longest cable deployed so far and will likely cost over $10 billion. It aims to enhance economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and technological development in the regions connected. Meta is also focusing on avoiding geopolitical hotspots and using more resilient cabling technology.