Tech & Hardware 7d

Hardware & Components

AMD's latest 3D V-Cache CPU is already shipping to some customers, with a Swiss user receiving the chip a week before its official launch. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is set to hit shelves on January 29 with an MSRP of $499, and AMD claims minimal performance loss when using slower DDR5-4800 memory versus DDR5-6000. However, the company's broader chip supply is strained, as Intel reallocates production to server CPUs amid tight wafer capacity. This comes as Intel confirms 14A wafer expansion will only follow customer commitments, and its stock has surged nearly 45% in 2026 alone.

On the motherboard front, ASUS is addressing reports that its 800-series boards are killing AMD CPUs, with BIOS updates in the works for both AMD and upcoming Intel Core Ultra 200K+ processors. The company also unveiled its ExpertBook B3 G2 laptop and a new ROG Strix WiFi 7 router. Meanwhile, NZXT's N7 B850 motherboard received a review, and ASRock Industrial introduced a new security-focused AiSafeguard for device protection.

Graphics card news remains turbulent, with NVIDIA ending its "Open Price Program", which will push GPUs further past MSRPs. The RTX 50-series supply is allegedly paused for six months, and the company is also upgrading memory bandwidth for its upcoming "Vera Rubin" architecture ahead of AMD's Instinct MI400 launch. In laptop APU space, Lenovo inadvertently confirmed new models with NVIDIA's N1(X) chips, which are scheduled for this quarter.

Memory and storage markets are feeling the AI boom, with a report predicting annual growth exceeding 50% and driving revenue to a new peak by 2027. Kioxia's memory is sold out for 2026, prolonging a high-end, expensive phase. Samsung's memory distributor reportedly hiked prices by 80%, and the company's Texas fab is attracting major customer interest as the AI boom continues.

Peripherals & Accessories

The mechanical keyboard scene saw new keycaps from Cannon Keys, launching a PFF profile uniform height set. For input devices, Endgame Gear's OP1 8K V2 received a review, while VXE launched a 55g Dragonfly R1S gaming mouse for just $18.99. Angry Miao unveiled the AM Infinity .97, a 47g magnesium alloy mouse with a Viper V3 Pro shape. be quiet! announced new Dark Perk gaming mice, and Keychron launched its Q0 HE TMR num pad at $139.99.

In audio, Sony unveiled the LinkBuds Clip open earbuds, QCY introduced the MeloBuds N20 hybrid ANC earbuds, and Jabra launched the Evolve3 headset series. Sennheiser announced a TV headphones bundle, while Transcend debuted a microSD Express card reader. For home theater, Nexi Go showed a smart cabinet for home theaters and new Aurora Pro MKIII projectors at CES 2026.

PC cases and cooling saw updates from Deep Cool, which refreshed its CH260 micro ATX case range with wood grain editions. Fractal Design debuted the Pop 2 Air series, and Akasa revealed six new low-profile CPU coolers. Gamdias released the Atlas M4 mid-tower case. For desks, Endorfy launched the Atlas Electric Desk series.

Gaming & Software

The gaming landscape was dominated by announcements and release dates. Remedy narrowed down the launch for Control Resonant to Q2 2026. Microsoft is reportedly considering a Fable Switch 2 port, a decision that could hinge on logistics. The game's open world and comedic elements were detailed in an Xbox Developer_Direct. Meanwhile, Beyond Good and Evil 2 survived Ubisoft's latest reshuffle, and Bungie unveiled a limited edition PlayStation 5 controller for Marathon, which launches on March 5 with surprisingly low PC hardware requirements.

Other notable releases include Bandai Namco's Code Vein II character creator demo, the launch of The Eternal Life of Goldman demo, and NORSE: Oath of Blood on PC. Life is Strange: Reunion concludes Max and Chloe's saga on March 26, and Planet of Lana II got a new gameplay trailer. Enshrouded celebrated two years of Early Access with a roadmap to full release in 2026.

Modding support is expanding, as Nexus Mods' Vortex will get Linux support in 2026, thanks to Steam Hardware. Valve plans to host 29 Steam sales through 2026. On the anti-cheat front, Marathon's system all but rules out Linux gamers. For cloud gaming, Boosteroid added official ROG Ally series support, and GeForce NOW gained flight control support with Thrustmaster hardware.

Industry & Business

Intel reported its Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results, with shares down 11% following the report. The company also unveiled its glass core substrate with EMIB multi-chip connection. In a separate note, Lip-Bu Tan mentioned the creation of a custom Xeon CPU that fully integrates NVIDIA NVLink technology.

AMD introduced ROCm v7.2, which is smarter and faster for modern AI workloads, and the new release grants support for the Radeon RX 9060 XT "low-power" card. The company also provided more details on its rumored "Gorgon Halo" refresh of the Ryzen AI MAX 400 series.

Apple is reportedly planning to launch an AI-powered wearable pin device as soon as 2027. The company's Silicon division has already approached AMD's laptop market share in just five years. Conversely, Asus confirmed its smartphone business is on indefinite hiatus.

In other hardware news, Zotac packed a Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 into a compact ZBOX MAGNUS mini PC. Raspberry Pi introduced compact high-quality USB 3.0 flash drives, and a prototype DockFrame USB-C hub was debuted, which accepts Framework cards for expansion.

Security & Policy

A never-before-seen wiper malware targeted Poland's energy grid, raising concerns about critical infrastructure security. In a bizarre twist, a hacker who stole 120,000 bitcoins is seeking a second chance and a security job. Meanwhile, the DHS is failing to unmask anonymous ICE critics online, and the White House altered an arrest photo of an ICE protester, stating "the memes will continue."

On the policy front, the US is officially out of the WHO, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars unpaid. The TikTok deal is done, but users fear MAGA tweaks to the platform. eBay banned illicit automated shopping amid the rapid rise of AI agents, and cURL scrapped bug bounties to deal with an overrun of AI slop and protect its maintainers' mental health.

Science & Curiosities

In a historical twist, a report suggests Thomas Edison may have accidentally made graphene in 1879. In the medical field, a weird, itchy rash has been linked to the keto diet, though the cause remains unknown. A mRNA cancer vaccine from Modern