Author page description
August 31
- Nvidia 1080 Ti dunked into car transmission fluid for overclocking experiments using a Dodge Journey transmission cooler as a radiator — DIY immersion cooling rig delivers 7% to 16% gains
➀ A Reddit user created a DIY immersion cooling system using automotive transmission fluid (ATF) and a Dodge Journey transmission cooler as a radiator to overclock GPUs.
➁ The GTX 1060 achieved a 2160MHz boost clock (16% gain) and topped Firestrike benchmarks, while the 1080 Ti saw a more modest 7% improvement due to limited thermal headroom.
➂ While effective, ATF caused significant cleanup challenges, with the creator advising against its use for everyday builds due to staining and residue issues.
- Kioxia Exceria Plus G2 (2TB) review: Convex and compact
➀ Kioxia's Exceria Plus G2 features a compact aluminum shell with USB-C and USB-A cables included, though U.S. availability is limited.
➁ In benchmarks, it delivered consistent 10 Gbps SSD performance but trailed behind competitors like SK hynix Beetle X31 in real-world transfer tests.
➂ Pricing competitiveness varies by region, with Crucial's X9 Pro offering better value in the U.K., while Kioxia's software utility supports drive encryption and monitoring.
- Apple iMac G3 made from Legos has a chance to become an official retail set — a fan-designed model needs 4,000 more signatures to be considered by Lego
➀ A Lego iMac G3 model designed by fan Fuma Terai is under review on Lego Ideas, needing 4,000 more votes to reach the 10,000-vote threshold for official consideration；
➀The 700-piece replica mimics the 1998 iMac G3’s Bondi Blue design, complete with CRT and retro keyboard/mouse；
➂ Despite the creator’s prior success with Lego Ideas, approval hinges on both Lego’s legal team and Apple’s licensing agreement.
August 30
- Windows 8.1 graphics get bit-crushed into working in 40-year-old EGA graphics mode — less than half-megapixel display mode is limited to 16 colors
➀ A tech enthusiast installed Windows 8.1 on an emulated EGA graphics system, achieving minimal functionality with 16 colors at 640×350 resolution;
➁ EGA, IBM's 1984 standard with up to 800×600 resolution, was notoriously outdated compared to modern requirements;
➂ The project highlights retro-tech fascination, defying practical limitations in pursuit of 'because we can' experimentation.
- Nvidia App update furthers transition away from the 20-year-old Control Panel — multi-monitor and 3D settings among those migrated from classic Nvidia Control Panel
➀ NVIDIA's App update migrates key features like 3D settings and multi-monitor support from the legacy Control Panel;
➁ The update introduces offline mode for system control and driver settings, enhancing usability;
➂ This marks NVIDIA's ongoing effort to unify its consumer software stack, streamlining GPU management for users.
August 29
- Montech HS01 Pro Case Review: excellent GPU cooling and dual exhaust
➀ Montech HS01 Pro revolutionizes GPU cooling with bottom-mounted intake fans, achieving 8°C lower GPU temperatures than competitors;
➁ The dual exhaust fan design balances CPU airflow but may impact air cooler efficiency, requiring additional front fans for optimal performance;
➂ Features back-connect motherboard support, SFX/ATX PSU compatibility, and modular storage solutions for versatile builds.
- Intel confirms it has already received $5.7 billion from US government, CFO claims the deal was to halt the sale of its chip fabs
➀ Intel received $5.7 billion from the U.S. government in exchange for a 10% stake to prevent the sale of its chip fab business;
➁ Struggling against TSMC and Samsung, Intel's foundry division faced a $13 billion loss in 2024, with potential plans to abandon 14A process development;
➂ The deal includes provisions to discourage majority stake sales, while SoftBank invests $2 billion, signaling confidence in government-backed Intel's stability.
- OpenAI and Microsoft's contract negotiations threaten investment and potential IPO — companies battle over AGI secrecy and Azure exclusivity
➀ Microsoft and OpenAI are locked in critical contract negotiations over access to AGI development and Azure exclusivity, risking a $10 billion SoftBank investment and OpenAI's potential IPO;
➁ OpenAI insists on retaining a clause to withhold AGI models from Microsoft, while Microsoft seeks broader access and aims to maintain its monopoly on AI services via Azure;
➂ Failure to reach an agreement by end of 2025 may force OpenAI to cede more equity to Microsoft and delay profitability amid ongoing financial losses.
- The best tech deals for Labor Day 2025 — holiday savings on SSDs, CPUs, GPUs, and much more
➀ Major discounts on GPUs like MSI RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (lowest ever $409.99) and AMD RX 9070 XT ($699.99) highlight gaming performance upgrades;
➁ CPU deals include Intel Core i5 14600K ($149.99) and AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($359), offering top-tier gaming/compute power;
➂ Laptops (ASUS ROG Strix G16) and SSDs (Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB at $372.42) see record-low prices for Labor Day sales.
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 gets huge $400 discount — RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop equipped with 3K OLED display hits $1999 in BestBuy deal
➀ Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with RTX 5070 Ti and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU is now $1,999 (a $400 discount) at Best Buy;
➁ Features a 3K OLED display (2880x1800, 120Hz) with 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy and Dolby Vision support;
➂ Includes 32GB RAM, upgradable storage, Wi-Fi 7, and a slim design balancing performance and portability.
August 28
- Google is getting ready to 'hack back' as US considers shifting from cyber defense to offense — new 'Scam Farms' bill opens up new retaliatory hacking actions
➀ Google is establishing a 'disruption unit' for proactive cyber defense, shifting from reactive responses to aggressive hacking campaigns.
➁ The U.S. government is pushing offensive cyber strategies through bills like the 'Scam Farms Act,' reviving historical 'letters of marque' to authorize private-sector retaliation against cybercrime.
➂ Critics question the risks of escalating cyber conflicts, as tech giants and policymakers challenge the boundaries of legal and ethical cyber warfare.
- Razer Blade 18 review: World-class gaming, priced to match
➀ The Razer Blade 18 delivers exceptional gaming performance with an RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, outperforming competitors like the MSI Titan 18 in benchmarks;
➁ Its dual-mode display (4K@240Hz/FHD@440Hz) offers versatility, while premium build quality and unique vapor chamber design enhance its appeal;
➂ Priced from $3,499 to $5,199, it targets deep-pocketed gamers, though fan noise and the lack of PCIe 5.0 storage highlight cost-performance tradeoffs.
- Pick up an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at the all-time low price of $409 — the MSI Shadow 2X OC Plus is the best bang-for-buck 50-series performer for your build
➀ MSI's RTX 5060 Ti 16GB hits historic low price of $409.99, featuring Blackwell architecture and GDDR7 VRAM;
➁ Delivers 4608 CUDA cores, 28 Gbps memory speed, and compact dual-fan cooling for mid-tier gaming builds;
➂ Outperforms RTX 4060 Ti in benchmarks but trails behind RTX 5070 in rasterization performance.
- AMD details how it built a product line-up with just two RDNA 4 dies — Flexible design and asymmetric harvesting enables production of multiple models without new silicon
➀ AMD uses flexible RDNA 4 architecture with asymmetric harvesting to create multiple GPU SKUs from two base dies (Navi 48/Navi 44);
➁ The design allows selective disabling of components like shader engines and memory controllers, enabling cost-effective scaling from flagship RX 9070 XT to mid-range RX 9060;
➂ Despite skipping the high-end market, this strategy improves wafer yields and accelerates product launches while laying groundwork for future UDNA architecture.
- Creality submits for an IPO, adds a mysterious 3D printing model website
➀ Creality, the world's largest consumer 3D printer manufacturer, filed for a Hong Kong IPO with a 27.9%-39% market share;
➁ A mysterious AI-powered e-commerce platform 'Nexbie' surfaced in its documents, initially hosting unlicensed 3D models before scrubbing content after media exposure;
➂ Positioned as a decentralized supply chain platform, Nexbie aims to connect designers with end-users through printing partners, though operational details remain vague.
August 27
- Acer Nitro V 16S AI review: Value-priced, but outgunned in gaming
➀ The Acer Nitro V 16S AI offers strong value at $1,299 with a Ryzen 7 260 processor, RTX 5060 GPU, 32GB RAM, and a vibrant 16-inch 180Hz display;
➁ While delivering excellent storage speeds and port selection, its 85W RTX 5060 struggles against competitors with higher-tier GPUs in 1080p gaming benchmarks;
➂ Notable drawbacks include a 720p webcam, excessive bloatware, and thermal limitations during prolonged gaming sessions.
- Sandisk launches WD Blue SN5100 SSD, touting 30% higher performance than predecessor — PCIe 4.0 DRAM-less drives start at $54
➀ SanDisk launches WD Blue SN5100 SSD with 30% performance gains over the SN5000, leveraging Kioxia's BiCS8 QLC NAND and nCache 4.0 technology.
➁ The DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 SSD offers sequential speeds up to 7,100 MB/s read and 6,700 MB/s write, but prices are 20-36% higher than its predecessor.
➂ All models feature a five-year warranty and include Acronis True Image software for data migration, targeting both desktop and mobile users.
August 25
- Intel's upcoming Panther Lake-H pops up in official listing — DFI posts ITX motherboard for industrial use featuring 25W Panther Lake chip
➀ DFI launched an industrial ITX motherboard with Intel's upcoming Panther Lake-H chip, targeting embedded systems;
➁ The board supports DDR5-7200 memory, PCIe 5.0 SSD, and integrates Intel vPro with 25W TDP;
➂ Panther Lake-H, built on Intel's 18A process, is slated for mass production in late 2025, with industry-focused use cases.
- Alienware AW2525HM 25-inch 320 Hz gaming monitor review: Colorful and competition-ready
➀ The Alienware AW2525HM offers a 320Hz refresh rate at FHD resolution, delivering ultra-smooth gaming performance;
➁ With 94% DCI-P3 coverage and HDR10 support, it sets new benchmarks for color accuracy in budget monitors;
➂ Despite lacking speakers/headphone jacks, its $250 price and premium build make it ideal for competitive gamers.
August 24
- Nvidia outlines plans for using light for communication between AI GPUs by 2026 — silicon photonics and co-packaged optics may become mandatory for next-gen AI data centers
➀ NVIDIA reveals its Quantum-X and Spectrum-X silicon photonics platforms with co-packaged optics (CPO) for AI GPU interconnect, aiming for 2026 deployment;
➁ Collaborating with TSMC's 3-stage COUPE roadmap, NVIDIA achieves up to 12.8 Tb/s bandwidth and 85% power reduction via CPO integration;
➂ CPO eliminates 30W traditional optical modules, enabling liquid-cooled 800 Gb/s switches for multi-rack AI clusters with 10x reliability improvements.
- AMD's unreleased Ryzen 5 5500X3D is reportedly 12% faster in multi-core performance in Geekbench — budget Zen 3 chip spotted running in Linux
➀ The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, exclusive to Latin America, shows 12% faster multi-core performance in Geekbench compared to the non-X3D version;
➁ Equipped with 96MB 3D V-Cache, it addresses the original 5500's cache limitations, enhancing gaming and productivity performance;
➂ Despite strong benchmarks, its $185 price is deemed uncompetitive in Western markets, limiting its launch to price-sensitive regions.
- Next-generation 3D DRAM approaches reality as scientists achieve 120-layer stack using advanced deposition techniques
➀ Researchers from imec and Ghent University achieved a 120-layer stack of silicon and silicon-germanium (Si/Ge) using advanced epitaxial deposition, overcoming lattice mismatch challenges through carbon doping and temperature control.
➁ This breakthrough enables 3D DRAM development, allowing vertical stacking for higher memory density without increasing chip size, potentially revolutionizing storage capacity.
➂ The technology also benefits 3D transistors, quantum computing, and aligns with Samsung's 3D DRAM roadmap and next-gen architectures like GAAFET and CFET.
- Microsoft's Windows 95 release was 30 years ago today, the first time software was a pop culture smash
➀ Microsoft's Windows 95 launched 30 years ago marked the first OS release as a global cultural event, with midnight launch queues and the iconic Start Button design;
➁ It introduced 32-bit multitasking, plug-and-play hardware, and integrated Internet support through MSN, while system requirements began sparking 'bloatware' debates;
➂ The OS achieved $720M first-day revenue, fueled by aggressive gaming partnerships and Netscape browser integration, laying foundations for modern PC ecosystems.
- ‘Still, you’re paying for dinner’ Nvidia CEO shoots back, after TSMC CEO jokes about his billionaire status
➀ NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and TSMC CEO C.C. Wei shared a lighthearted exchange about billionaire status and wafer pricing during dinner meetings in Taipei;
➁ Discussions reportedly revolve around China-specific B30 Blackwell AI chips, with Nvidia seeking TSMC's production support amid export restrictions;
➂ Huang confirmed collaborating with TSMC on six revolutionary chips including Rubin-architecture photonics processors, emphasizing the foundry's critical role in NVIDIA's roadmap.
August 23
- This Wolfbox MF100 electric air duster is now just $69 at Amazon — cleans your PC out, not your bank account
➀ The Wolfbox MF100 Electric Air Duster is currently discounted to $69 at Amazon, close to its all-time low price.
➁ With 150,000 RPM and rechargeable USB-C battery, it offers a powerful, eco-friendly alternative to compressed air cans for PC cleaning.
➂ Though slightly pricier than its Prime Day deal, this portable tool remains a cost-effective choice for enthusiasts.
- Commodore took in over $2 million during the C64 Ultimate's debut week — roadmap will include three major releases a year
➀ Commodore's C64 Ultimate debuted with $2 million in sales within its first week, with half allocated to production and future R&D;
➀ The company emphasizes avoiding past bankruptcy pitfalls, showcasing factory quality control and GEOS software integration;
③ Amiga-era collaborations teased, including discussions with original engineers and a roadmap for 3-4 annual releases over four years.
August 21
- South Korea says there are no plans for the U.S. to acquire Samsung shares — denial comes amid talks about Washington acquiring a 10% equity stake in Intel for CHIPS Act funds
➀ South Korea denies U.S. plans to acquire Samsung shares amid speculation sparked by CHIPS Act funding negotiations involving Intel.
➁ The U.S. Commerce Secretary's comments on expanding equity deals to other CHIPS Act recipients, including Samsung, raised concerns over foreign influence in South Korea's crown jewel.
➂ Samsung's pivotal role in South Korea's economy and geopolitical tensions over U.S. tariffs amplify the stakes of potential equity-sharing agreements.
- Full-sized A1200 Amiga remake spotted on display — A1200 will come with a port of The Settlers 2 that took 30 years, and a working keyboard
① Retro Games Ltd announces a full-sized A1200 Amiga remake featuring a working keyboard and a 30th-anniversary port of *The Settlers 2*.
② Detailed specifications and bundled accessories will be fully revealed in October, with the device likely running Linux-based emulators.
③ The company plans multiple retro hardware releases between 2025–2026, reigniting nostalgia for classic computing systems.
- DirectX speeds up game loads up to 10X with new advanced shader compiling — feature debuts with Xbox PC app on ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, more devices later
➀ Microsoft introduces Advanced Shader Delivery, moving shader compilation to the cloud to reduce game loading times by up to 85%;
➀ New SODB and PSDB formats enable precompiled shaders tailored to specific hardware/driver configurations;
➁ Feature debuts on Asus ROG Xbox Ally/X devices in October, with broader device support planned.
- China's Great Firewall blocked all traffic to a common HTTPS port for over an hour, severing connection to the outside world — with no hint as to its intention
➀ China's Great Firewall (GFW) disrupted all HTTPS traffic on TCP port 443 for 74 minutes, potentially due to misconfiguration or a new censorship mechanism;
➀ The anomaly specifically targeted port 443, unlike past protocol-wide blocks, raising questions about GFW's evolving tactics;
➂ The incident highlights China's conflicted approach to balancing economic reliance on global internet access with strict information control.