Author page description
September 9
- ASML makes $1.5 billion investment in Mistral AI — ASML becomes the largest shareholder for the French AI start-up
➀ ASML invests €1.3B in French AI startup Mistral AI, becoming its largest shareholder through a €1.7B funding round;
➁ Mistral AI focuses on compact, task-optimized AI models with rapid iteration and permissive licensing, positioning it as a European rival to OpenAI and Meta;
➂ The partnership aims to enhance ASML's AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing processes, including computational lithography and yield optimization.
- Pro Counter-Strike 2 gamer says game runs like 'a**' on anything other than AMD's Ryzen 9800X3D — custom demo of the game runs at under 200 FPS even on on AMD's best gaming CPUs
➀ CS2 esports pro ropz criticizes severe FPS instability, stating the game only runs smoothly on AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D;
➁ User tests using high-end Ryzen 9 9950X3D and RTX 5080 GPUs show frame rates dropping below 200 FPS in intensive scenes;
➂ Valve's optimization challenges persist despite patches, with 5v5 and 20-slot modes exposing performance flaws.
September 8
- Upgraded Nvidia RTX 5090 gets 128GB VRAM and $13,000 price tag — 'super limited' GPU is described as a 'prototype'
❶ A modified NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU with 128GB GDDR7X VRAM emerges in China's underground market, priced at $13,200 for AI workloads.
❷ Custom PCB design and prototype memory chips enable the VRAM upgrade, requiring dual-sided configurations and custom firmware to function.
❸ Concerns arise about fraudulent resale of stripped GPU cores and the technical viability of high-density memory mods amid the AI hardware boom.
- Best of IFA 2025: New laptops, monitors, gaming handhelds, and more
➀ The IFA 2025 showcased innovative devices like the Lenovo ThinkBook VertiFlex with a rotatable screen and Acer Swift 16 AI with Intel's Panther Lake chip;
➁ Gaming hardware stole the spotlight with the Acer Predator X27U F8 monitor's 720Hz OLED display and Lenovo Legion Go 2 handheld's upgraded OLED and battery;
➂ Anker's 14-port Prime Docking Station and Baseus EnerGeek GT01 hybrid charger highlighted convergence of AI and consumer convenience.
- TSMC increases Arizona internships to feed its Phoenix fabs — CHIPS-fueled supply chain begins to take shape
➀ TSMC doubled its Arizona internship program to over 200 students, targeting talent for its advanced 4nm and future 2nm fabs;
➀ The U.S. government's $6.6B CHIPS Act supports TSMC’s third Arizona fab, aiming to create 6,000 jobs and onshore advanced chip production;
➂ Partnerships with ASU, Amkor’s $2B packaging facility, and state-funded apprenticeships strengthen the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.
September 7
- New report blames Phison's pre-release firmware for SSD failures — not Microsoft’s August patch for Windows
➀ A Chinese Facebook group PCDIY! identified pre-release Phison firmware as the root cause of recent SSD failures, contradicting initial blame on Microsoft's Windows 11 update;
➀ Affected drives used unreleased engineering firmware, while consumer SSDs with official firmware remain stable;
➁ Phison and Microsoft previously denied responsibility, but new findings suggest overlapping complexities in firmware, hardware, and OS updates.
- Multiple undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, hampering internet performance — international cables connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are compromised
➀ Two major submarine cables (SEA-ME-WE 4 and IMEWE) in the Red Sea were severed, causing latency spikes for Microsoft Azure users in South Asia and the Gulf;
➁ Microsoft rerouted traffic via longer paths, while repairs may take weeks due to geopolitical risks and scarce repair resources;
➂ This marks the second major cable disruption in the Red Sea since 2024, highlighting vulnerabilities in global Internet infrastructure.
- Eight-year-old gaming PC with Nvidia GTX 1080 found in the trash room gets a second life — offered a substantial upgrade to the finder despite age
➀ A vintage 2017 gaming PC with Intel i7-7700 and GTX 1080 GPU was rescued from dumpster;
➁ Found fully functional except storage, offering substantial upgrade over a 12-year-old system;
➂ Upgrades like SATA SSD expansion and RAM boost highlight ongoing value of legacy hardware
September 6
- AMD launches Ryzen 5 9500F, claiming up to 24% faster than Ryzen 5 7500F in gaming — Zen 5 chip launches as a China-exclusive for now
➀ AMD launches Ryzen 5 9500F as a China-exclusive Zen 5 CPU with 6 cores and 5 GHz boost clock.
➁ Claims up to 24% gaming gains over Ryzen 5 7500F, averaging 15% better performance in benchmarks.
➂ Priced at ~$180 (1,299 Yuan), but current pricing strategy may limit competitiveness vs AMD's other Zen 5 chips.
- Seagate Exos M 30TB HDD review: laser-powered HAMR recording tech revitalizes the enterprise HDD market
➀ Seagate's Exos M 30TB introduces HAMR technology, achieving a breakthrough 30TB capacity with 275MB/s sustained write speeds.
➁ The drive uses laser-heated media and Mozaic 3+ platform for higher storage density while maintaining power efficiency at 9.5W.
➂ Priced at $20/TB, it targets enterprise users but faces competition from smaller drives, with SMR variants reaching up to 36TB.
- SAMA P1200 Platinum power supply review
➀ The SAMA P1200 Platinum power supply exceeds 80 Plus Platinum efficiency standards, achieving 93.2% efficiency at 230V input, ideal for high-performance systems;
➁ Compact 150mm form factor with premium Japanese capacitors ensures reliability and thermal stability, backed by a 10-year warranty;
➂ Priced competitively at $190, it challenges established brands despite limited PCIe connectors for modern graphics cards.
- Amazon Echo is reportedly an internet vampire that uses gigabytes of data per day despite being unused, says owner
➀ An Amazon Echo user reports two Echo Show devices consumed over 4GB/day despite minimal usage;
➁ Experts suggest potential causes including software updates, cached video content, or Amazon Sidewalk sharing;
➂ Users advised to monitor network logs or unplug devices to eliminate privacy/data risks.
September 5
- DIYer creates the PC gaming handheld of your widest dreams – 32:9 AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme device showcased in driving games
➀ A Chinese DIY enthusiast showcased a custom 32:9 ultra-wide PC gaming handheld powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, demonstrating smooth 60fps gameplay in racing titles like Asphalt Legends and SnowRunner;
➁ The device uses a rare 32:9 Asus ProArt portable display (1,920 x 550 pixels) capped at 60Hz, with estimated high costs due to premium components;
➂ While innovative, commercial alternatives like OneXPlayer X1 Air with 11-inch 16:10 screen and Intel Ultra 200V chips gain attention for balancing portability and performance.
- Portable 3D-printed device can produce enough drinking water from thin air for a family of four every day - Water from Air project can capture 1.6 gallons of drinking water per day
➀ A 3D-printed device by graduates uses atmospheric water generation (AWG) to produce up to 6 liters (1.6 gallons) of drinking water daily.
➁ The modular design leverages metal-organic frameworks and solar-powered condensation cycles, targeting affordability and global scalability.
➂ While still a prototype, the project highlights 3D printing’s potential in solving water scarcity amid global sanitation challenges.
- Lenovo's IFA launches include 4K 240 Hz OLED gaming monitors — Legion Pro 7 laptops features Ryzen 9 9955HX3D with an RTX 5080
➀ Lenovo unveiled three OLED gaming monitors at IFA 2025, including 4K 240Hz Legion Pro 32UD-10/27UD-10 and QHD 280Hz 27Q-10;
➁ The flagship Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop features AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU, NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU, and a 16" 240Hz OLED display;
➂ Priced from $699 (monitors) to $2,399 (laptop), products will launch between October-November 2025.
- Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 packs Ryzen Z2 Extreme and an OLED display — thick gaming handheld starts at $1,049
➀ Lenovo Legion Go 2 features AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, OLED display (1920x1200, 144Hz), up to 32GB RAM, and Hall effect joysticks.
➁ The handheld is thicker (1.66” with controllers) but includes a larger 74WHr battery and 2TB storage, priced from $1,049.
➂ Lenovo also announced the LOQ Tower desktop with AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, starting at $999.99.
- Lenovo shows off ThinkBook VertiFlex laptop and Smart Motion dock concepts at IFA – rotating displays and AI-powered docks that follow your every move
➀ Lenovo unveiled the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept, featuring a 14-inch display that manually rotates between landscape and portrait modes without keyboard adjustment;
➁ The Smart Motion Concept dock integrates AI-driven motorized gimbals to track user movements and voice, optimizing ergonomic positioning;
➂ Both concepts emphasize Lenovo's experimental approach, potentially influencing future commercial products despite uncertain release timelines.
September 4
- Samsung's massive 49-inch ultrawide OLED gaming monitor is back down to its lowest ever price at Amazon
➀ Samsung's Odyssey OLED G9 (G93SC) 49-inch curved gaming monitor drops to its historical low price of $899, a 44% discount from its original $1,599.
➁ Features include a 240Hz refresh rate, 5120×1440 OLED display with VESA HDR True Black 400 certification, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and multi-device connectivity via HDMI 2.1/DisplayPort.
➂ Focused on core gaming performance, it omits smart TV features but offers Picture-by-Picture mode for dual-input multitasking.
- Seagate IronWolf Pro 30TB HDD Review: Seagate Drops the HAMR with the Biggest NAS Drive on the Market
➀ Seagate's IronWolf Pro 30TB HDD utilizes HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) to achieve 30TB capacity with 7,200 RPM and 275 MB/s speeds;
➁ While excelling in NAS environments with optimized idle performance and data recovery services, its high base price ($549.99) targets enterprise/data hoarder users;
➂ The drive shares hardware with enterprise-grade Exos M series but offers better consumer-friendly pricing and compatibility with NAS systems like QNAP.
- 'Doomer science fiction': Nvidia criticizes proposed US bill that would force it to give American buyers 'first option' in AI GPU purchases before selling chips to other countries, including allies — GAIN AI Act debuts in defense spending bill
① U.S. Senate proposes GAIN AI Act to prioritize domestic sales of advanced AI GPUs, potentially banning exports of high-end chips;
② NVIDIA criticizes the bill as 'self-defeating' and warns it could undermine U.S. global AI leadership;
③ The act sets strict technical thresholds (e.g., 2,400 TPP score) that would restrict even mid-tier GPUs like H20 from being exported.
September 3
- Making a 3D-printed custom GPU fan shroud with a DDR5 slot doesn't let you add extra VRAM, but at least it looks cool
➀ A modder created a 3D-printed GPU fan shroud with a DDR5 slot for aesthetic purposes, though it cannot expand VRAM capacity;
➁ The design mimics Asus ROG branding and integrates RGB lighting for the DDR5 module, blending form with retro-futuristic flair;
➂ Historically, upgradable GPU memory existed in the 1990s but vanished due to technical and cost barriers, while modern mods focus on replacing memory chips directly.
- Cloudflare blocks record-setting 11.5Tbps DDoS attack two months after the previous record-setting DDoS attack
➀ Cloudflare announced it blocked a record-breaking 11.5 Tbps DDoS attack, primarily sourced from IoT devices and cloud providers, peaking at 5.1 billion packets per second.
➁ This attack surpassed its previous record of 7.3 Tbps in June 2025, marking a tenfold increase in scale compared to 2021's 1.9 Tbps attack.
➂ UDP flood tactics overwhelmed targeted systems by exhausting server resources, highlighting the growing reliance on cloud infrastructure for such attacks.
- ASML and SK hynix assemble industry-first 'commercial' High-NA EUV system at fab in South Korea
➀ SK hynix and ASML have assembled the industry's first High-NA EUV lithography system (Twinscan NXE:5200B) in South Korea, marking a leap in DRAM production technology;
➁ The 0.55 NA system enables higher resolution (8nm vs. 13nm) and 2.9x transistor density, reducing reliance on multi-patterning for advanced nodes;
➂ Initial R&D use will accelerate prototyping for AI memory, with mass production of High-NA-based DRAM expected post-2030.
- Acer hedges its hardware bets, puts vPro and ECC memory in new high-end gaming laptop
➀ Acer launches Predator Helios 18P AI gaming laptop blending workstation features like Intel vPro and ECC memory for enterprise-grade security and stability;
➁ Equipped with NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU, 18-inch Mini-LED 120Hz display, and up to 6TB PCIe Gen5 SSD for both gaming and AI workloads;
➂ Priced at €4,499 in Europe with US availability pending, while refreshed Nitro V series targets budget gamers starting at $999
- Acer's new Predator gaming monitor boasts a 720 Hz OLED panel, if you like gaming at 720p — 27-inch panel can also do native 1440p at a swift 540 Hz
➀ Acer introduced five new gaming monitors at IFA 2025, including the flagship Predator X27U F8 with a 720Hz OLED panel at 720p resolution and 540Hz at 1440p.
➁ The Nitro series features four models ranging from $299 to $999, with specs like 5120x2880 resolution, 288Hz refresh rates, and HDR support, launching in Q1 2026.
➂ The Predator X27U F8 targets elite gamers with OLED's 0.03ms response time, 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, and $1,299 price tag, likely using LG panels similar to Asus and LG's competing models.
September 2
- Remaking a Commodore 64 Datasette from 1982 using 1993 microcassette tech — TechTuber touts 1MB per tape, a 5x improvement over the original
➀ Tech enthusiast Bitluni recreated a Commodore 64 Datasette using 1993 microcassette tech, achieving 1MB storage per tape (5x original capacity);
➁ Custom PCB design, 3D-printed housing, and signal optimization enabled real-time data transfer at 500bps;
➂ Future plans include USB-C mass storage integration and running C64 emulators directly from tapes.
- Chinese social media firms comply with strict AI labelling law, making it clear to users and bots what's real and what's not
➀ Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and Douyin now legally require AI-generated content labeling with watermarks and metadata;
➁ The Cyberspace Administration of China enforces penalties for AI-driven misinformation, targeting paid online commentators;
➂ Global parallels emerge as IETF proposes AI disclosure standards and Google implements C2PA image credentials.
September 1
- 3D printing's tool changer wars heat up as Prusa re-enters the ring
➀ Prusa Research rekindles the 3D printing tool changer race with its six-tool-head CORE One prototype, challenging competitors like Bambu Lab and Snapmaker;
➁ Snapmaker's $649 U1 Kickstarter campaign shattered records with $13M in pledges, while Bambu Lab counters with the H2C nozzle-swapping system;
➂ Bondtech's upcoming INDX wireless tool changer kit and AtomForm's 12-nozzle Palette 300 add fuel to the multi-color 3D printing revolution.
- DDR4 costs soar as manufacturers pull the plug — panic buying and stockpiling impact DDR4 spot pricing as supply dwindles
➀ DDR4 prices surge as manufacturers shift production to DDR5 and HBM for AI demands, creating supply shortages;
➁ A market inversion occurs where DDR4 becomes more expensive than DDR5 despite its older technology;
➂ Contract prices are projected to keep rising, pushing builders toward DDR5 for future systems.
- Linux gaming OS Kazeta promises ‘console gaming experience of the 1990s’ for PC users — supports almost any DRM-free game, past or present
➀ Kazeta OS aims to provide a 1990s console-style 'plug-and-play' gaming experience on modern PCs, using DRM-free games loaded via custom SD card cartridges;
➁ Developers cite motivations including simplifying interfaces for non-technical users, nostalgia for physical game collections, and digital game preservation goals;
➂ Users must install the Linux-based OS on dedicated hardware, manually create game carts, while benefiting from offline DRM-free gameplay spanning modern titles and retro emulation.