Following Bungie's recent promise of more in-depth PvE gameplay for Marathon later in 2026, and the announcement that Marathon's General Manager, Scott Taylor, was leaving Bungie after a 20-year stint at the studio, it has been revealed in a post on X that Marathon's Game Director will also be stepping away from the project and studio as a whole.

The now-former Marathon Game Director, Joe Ziegler, announced that Friday, July 17, 2026, would be his last day at Bungie. It's currently unclear why Ziegler is leaving his previous position, although the announcement comes not even a month after Sony announced that there would be significant layoffs at the studio. Ziegler will be replaced by Del Chaffe III, who has worked as Assistant Game Director for Marathon since 2024.

When ASUS launched the ROG Flow Z13 gaming 2-in-1 in 2025, it proudly boasted about the convertible's 10/10 repairability score—a self-reported score that evaluates the repairability of a product based on the availability of parts, documentation, repair cost, and how easy it is to access the internals for parts replacement.

Just recently, iFixit, the popular repair and right-to-repair activism company, got its hands on the Flow Z13 for one of its teardown repairability analyses, and after taking the device apart, iFixit gave the Flow Z13 a much more reserved 7/10 repairability score. Of course, this is still a reasonably high score, especially considering how compact the Flow Z13 is, but it's nowhere close to the 10/10 that ASUS gave itself based on the French index.

DropReference, a PC hardware comparison and build-planning platform attracting more than 200,000 unique visitors each month, is officially expanding to the United States. Already established among European PC builders, DropReference allows users to compare PC component prices, create complete gaming PC configurations, check price history, and estimate expected gaming performance before purchasing their hardware. The US launch introduces pricing and availability from American hardware retailers, giving US-based users access to localized offers rather than converted European prices.

PC Hardware Price Comparison for US Builders
Shopping for PC hardware often requires checking several retailers, comparing product variants, and determining whether an apparent discount is actually a good deal. DropReference brings offers from multiple retailers together on a single product page. Instead of displaying every store listing as a different product, the platform groups matching offers around the exact hardware model. This helps users compare prices without accidentally mixing different GPU variants, storage capacities, motherboard versions, or regional product references.

MSI has added two new WQHD monitors to its MAG lineup targeting different ends of the gaming market. The MAG 274QPF X32 is a classic 27-inch flat monitor that boasts a 320 Hz refresh rate making it the fastest of the two. The monitor has a Rapid IPS, anti-glare panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 0.5 ms GtG response time, 300 cd/m² SDR and 400 cd/m² peak HDR brightness and VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. Color coverage is good with 95% Adobe RGB and 97% DCI-P3, with G-SYNC Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium support. Connectivity includes one DisplayPort 1.4a and two HDMI 2.1 ports. The stand adjusts for tilt, swivel, height (130 mm), and 90-degree pivot.

The MSI MAG 325CQPF E18 monitor takes a different approach as this is a 31.5-inch curved Rapid VA, anti-glare panel with a 1000R curvature. It offers a 180 Hz refresh rate with the same 0.5 ms GtG response time. The VA panel sports a 3500:1 native contrast ratio, which is the main draw here over IPS alternatives. However, color coverage is more modest at 85% Adobe RGB and DCI-P3. From the connectivity point, we see that the monitors offer one DisplayPort 1.4a and two HDMI 2.0b ports, with the latter capped at 144 Hz. AMD FreeSync, PiP, and PbP are supported alongside MSI's AI Vision and Night Vision features. It's worth mentioning that neither of the two MSI monitors has USB ports. The MAG 274QPF X32 is priced at $309 and the MAG 325CQPF E18 at $289 and should be available in stores worldwide during this summer.

Major PC OEMs are beginning to secure deals with Chinese memory maker CXMT, as the supply chain has been depleted of available DRAM from the big three memory makers—SK hynix, Samsung, and Micron. According to a report from DigiTimes, CXMT's memory capacity has been booked through the end of 2027, leaving little room for new customers to source DRAM from China's largest memory producer. The report notes that large PC vendors such as Dell, HP, and Apple are the only ones that managed to receive allocations, while smaller brands with less presence in the desktop and laptop market have been left with nearly no allocation.

An important aspect of this situation is the negotiation leverage that larger PC vendors have. As they command more volume than smaller companies, Dell, HP, and Apple are willing to sign bigger contracts with CXMT to secure a larger DRAM supply, even at prices higher than historical levels. For CXMT, this is a positive indication that capacity expansion is well-received and a signal to continue building new fabs. DigiTimes also notes that the United States government has not yet made a firm decision on whether to keep CXMT on the barred entity list, so PC OEMs are taking advantage of the opportunity to stockpile any available DRAM. Future policy changes might impact this, but for now, long-term supply agreements are being made to secure any DDR5/LPDDR5X memory possible.

Following recent layoff announcements from Microsoft, which will affect 25% of Bethesda's staff, the game studio has sought fit to address some player concerns surrounding some of its major franchises. In the statement posted to X, Bethesda confirmed that there are currently two Fallout game remakes—Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas—in the works at the studio, with Fallout 5 being the studio's "long-range destination."

After a recent statement from Bethesda CEO, Jill Braff, stating that Bethesda would be working alongside other studios under the ZeniMax umbrella and across Xbox Game Studios, rumors emerged that Obsidian Entertainment was working on its first Fallout game since the 2010. This has been reinforced in this latest statement, with the studio saying that it is working with Obsidian Entertainment on "a new Fallout project," which is likely in reference to that Fallout game that was given preference over Avowed 2 in recent rumors.

Electronic Arts Inc. and Battlefield Studios today revealed a first look at Battlefield 6 and Battlefield REDSEC, delivering the franchise's largest seasonal update to date with Naval Warfare, new content, and a meticulously crafted knockout Top Gun crossover experience in partnership with Paramount Games Studio. The update will include the F-18/Super Hornet and iconic F-14 Tomcat, fan-favorite characters from Top Gun, as well as two new modes inspired by the franchise's iconic aerial combat.

Three characters from Top Gun come to life in-game, fully voiced by their original performers: Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller), Lt. Robert "Bob" Floyd (Lewis Pullman), Adm. Solomon "Warlock" Bates (Charles Parnell), with Top Gun-inspired character skins and cosmetics available in-game.

Building on its continuous innovation and refinement in the mouse category, Epomaker introduces the latest addition to the Nex series: the Nex Lite. Combining a thoughtful design approach with reliable performance and accessible pricing, the Epomaker Nex Lite delivers a well-rounded experience for everyday users, creators, and casual gamers alike.

Ergonomic Design Built for Extended Use
Designed with long-term comfort in mind, the Nex Lite adopts an ergonomic shape that naturally follows the contours of the hand. The gently extended overall shell provides stable palm support, while the sculpted side grips create a secure and comfortable hold for the thumb and ring finger. Every curve has been carefully considered to reduce strain during extended sessions. By supporting a more natural hand posture, the Nex Lite helps minimize wrist fatigue and delivers smoother, more effortless control.

If your PC needs a new operating system license, this is one of the lowest prices you'll find on Windows 11 Pro. Through July 19, a lifetime license is available for $9.97 (MSRP $199). This version is intended for PCs that require a new Windows license and already meet Microsoft's Windows 11 hardware requirements. Before purchasing, it's worth checking compatibility with Microsoft's PC Health Check tool. If your Windows 10 PC isn't eligible for Microsoft's free Windows Update upgrade, this license won't bypass those hardware requirements.

Windows 11 Pro includes everything found in the standard Windows 11 experience, along with additional features aimed at professionals, developers, and business users. That includes BitLocker for full-disk encryption, Hyper-V for running virtual machines, Windows Sandbox for safely testing software, and Azure AD support for workplace identity management.

Get Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (MSRP $199) through July 19.

NVIDIA's long-rumored GeForce RTX 50 SUPER graphics cards have been shipped to the company's board partners, but we can't get our hands on them just yet. According to VideoCardz, NVIDIA's board partners have already received the GeForce RTX 50 SUPER silicon, but the release is on hold by Team Green headquarters. This means that while the GPUs are physically with the board partners, they can't proceed with the launch due to a shortage of GDDR7 memory chips. It was previously rumored that the "SUPER" series was planned to feature denser GDDR7 memory modules, offering 3 GB of capacity per chip, which would increase the memory configuration of the standard GeForce RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080. Initially, the RTX 5070 SUPER was expected to be upgraded to offer 18 GB, while the RTX 5070 Ti SUPER and RTX 5080 SUPER would each provide 24 GB of GDDR7 memory.

Meanwhile, all other specifications will remain the same. However, since the 3 GB GDDR7 memory modules are being used in other products like NVIDIA's AI GPU portfolio, including the RTX PRO 6000 "Blackwell" and "Rubin CPX," the company has likely decided to prioritize this high-margin business. The availability of 3 GB GDDR7 modules is much lower than the current industry demand. As a result, gamers are left with the regular GeForce RTX 50 series for now, which uses the more readily available 2 GB GDDR7 memory modules.

Today, the leading system integrator iBUYPOWER is thrilled to announce that, following previous one-off projects with "cozy tech" creators momodokii and kaileune, it is relaunching its RDYxYOU program, where the company is teaming up with content creators to offer their fans a chance to recreate their personal desk setup and PC with an all-new system that is directly inspired by that influencer's own configuration.

To start off the new RDYxYOU program, we will be working with popular lifestyle and "cozy tech" creator sadgirltypes, who is known for her color-matched and pastel-colored workplace aesthetics. For this, we are selling a full system highly inspired after her personal build, which also includes home-printed custom fan-shrouds themed after the shrouds installed in her PC.

Large file transfers are still more complicated than they probably should be. Many services limit upload sizes, require subscriptions, or offer little visibility into whether a file was actually received. Transfr Pro takes a different approach by combining unlimited file transfers, delivery tracking, and security features into a browser-based platform with a one-time lifetime license.

Through July 19, lifetime access to Transfr Pro Fast & Secure File Transfer is available for a one-time $79.97 (MSRP $499).

Transfr Pro is designed for freelancers, creative professionals, agencies, and teams that regularly send large media files, documents, or client deliverables. There are no transfer size limits, and shared files can be stored for up to 60 days. Instead of simply sending a download link, users can create professional transfer pages with custom branding for a more polished presentation.

Intel is gradually laying the groundwork for the launch of its Core Ultra 400 "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors with a basic branding overhaul. However, the company is reportedly preparing different launch dates for various SKUs, according to VideoCardz. We know that Intel has SKUs arriving with either one or two compute dies, featuring up to 8 "Coyote Cove" P-Cores and 16 "Arctic Wolf" E-Cores, along with 4 LPE-Cores that are part of the I/O die. Depending on the SKU, Intel can pack a single compute die for up to 28 cores total or two compute dies for a 52-core CPU SKU. It seems that the single compute die version will arrive first, with the dual compute die variants following. The 28-core "Nova Lake-S" DS version, a new SKU segment, is expected to launch in Q1 of 2027. For the regular overclocking-focused "K" SKUs, Intel reportedly plans an early Q2 launch between March and April.

What is particularly interesting to enthusiasts is when the 52-core compute powerhouse will launch. With its dual compute dies, Intel's most powerful desktop CPU is set to arrive between late May and September 2027, bringing this model to consumers. As for a possible reason why Intel is choosing such a schedule, we might assume that the recent change in plans to bring back most of the compute tile production on the 18A node is the reason. As Intel ramps up 18A high-volume manufacturing for its internal needs, the company likely needs more time to stockpile fully-fledged compute dies for the flagship 52-core SKUs. Since they require double the compute tiles compared to the 28-core designs, the production capacity may need to catch up first.

As Akko approaches its 10th anniversary, the brand introduces U1 Series mechanical keyboard switches. As Akko's next-generation switch lineup, the U1 Series is built around material innovation, structural refinement, and acoustic tuning, aiming to deliver a polished typing experience.

Across the series, U1 switches feature a newly engineered POM-blend material. While retaining the self-lubricating properties of POM, the material improves smoothness and consistency, bringing a cleaner sound profile and a refined typing feel. A redesigned cylindrical stem and optimized rail structure help each keystroke sound more focused and lower-pitched, with a thocky character, while reducing rail contact area. Paired with an upgraded POM top housing, the design suppresses spring ping and unwanted resonance. Each switch is precision factory-lubed to reduce dry friction out of the box, allowing users to enjoy a smooth, stable feel without manual lubrication.

We already know that GTA VI is a highly anticipated game, with the game's second trailer reportedly crossing over 475 million views in its first 24 hours across all platforms. Now, analytics firm Newzoo has predicted that GTA VI may sell anywhere between $3.3 billion and $5.2 billion globally in its first launch week.

According to the firm, GTA VI garnered $260 million in pre-orders during the first week of pre-order sales. The firm's models, which evaluate past game pre-orders and sales, and uses that to predict release performance, suggests that the first week of launch will see GTA VI earn around $4.5 billion in revenue from around 51 million unit sales.

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, the new 4v4 tag-team fighting game from Arc System Works and PlayStation Publishing, has an open beta scheduled for July 24-26, ahead of its August 6 release date. This will be the first time players can experience the game outside previous closed beta tests, and it will also see the introduction of Blade to the game for the first time. In total, players will have access to 15 different heroes and villains to play in heated close-quarters combat.

Although it was previously known that there was a beta test coming, Sony just revealed more details about what will be playable in the beta. The Fighting Souls open beta will be available on PS5 and PC via Steam. As confirmed previously, however, there is. Although there is no requirement for a PlayStation Plus account, players will need to have or register an "Account for PlayStation"—seemingly a rebranded PSN account, as we previously reported. This online account requirement was previously confirmed when SteamDB showed that the game would be inaccessible in 132 countries due to PlayStation account restrictions.

The development team behind RPCS3, the open-source PS3 emulator for Linux, macOS, and Windows, has just announced in a post on X that the emulator can now play 75% of the PlayStation 3's game library, which accounts for 2,681 games of the console's 3,559 published games, according to the official compatibility list.

Notably, there are no games on the compatibility list that have zero compatibility, and only 0.06% of the platform's games are "Loadable," which means they initialize but only load a black screen. 1.69% of PS3 games are rated "Ingame", which means they make it into the game, but won't load past the menu, and 22.93% of PS3 games are playable to some extent but cannot be completed due to some game-breaking bug or poor performance.

Since Marathon launched in early March, the PvPvE extraction shooter has been having a rough time with player retention, dropping from a peak Steam concurrent player count of 88,337 players shortly after launch to daily peaks of just around 5,000-6,000. Bungie recently announced that it would be testing a much-requested PvE-only mode, with the new roguelite Vault Breaker game mode going live from July 21 to August 4.

Now, in a recent developer blog post, Bungie explained that the Vault Breaker test is simply the first step into the PvE gameplay and confirmed that it will be taking the PvE gameplay a step further in Season 3. It's unclear whether this will build on the existing Vault Breaker game mode or if it will be a new PvE game mode entirely. Bungie has said that it will use lessons and feedback from Vault Breaker in the design and development of what it calls the "full PvE mode," however.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is coming to GeForce NOW at launch, with the playable demo available this week. It's joined by Denshattack! rolling in with five new games arriving in the cloud. Plus, GeForce NOW officially launches in India, moving from beta to public availability—meaning gamers can sign up without a waitlist.

Pick Up the Oni Gauntlet
Capcom's next legendary action adventure is coming to GeForce NOW. Onimusha: Way of the Sword will arrive on the cloud at launch on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Leading headphone maker Skullcandy, and renowned audio pioneer THX Ltd., today announced an extension of their partnership to deliver the ultimate immersive entertainment audio when enjoying movies, music, or gaming on the go. The upcoming headphones are made for everyone and integrate THX Spatial Audio, a flexible, next-generation positional audio solution that delivers pinpoint listening accuracy using real-time onboard processing.

At the heart of Crusher 720 is Skullcandy's patented adjustable Crusher Bass technology—the one-of-a-kind sensory bass experience that lets listeners feel every beat, not just hear it. With an adjustable bass wheel, users can customize the intensity from subtle rumble to full-body sensation, creating a listening experience unlike any other. Paired with THX Spatial Audio, Crusher 720 surrounds listeners with immersive, three-dimensional sound for entertainment that hits on every level.

The OpenTools Open Printer is a new open-source hardware project that spawned in response to expensive, predatory designs from traditional printer manufacturers. The philosophy behind it is that it is a "repairable, compact, and robust printer designed to last," and according to an announcement and preview video by CrowdSupply, it seems as though the Open Printer will be launching on the crowdfunding platform soon. It uses off-the-shelf parts to make repairs easy, and it prints on paper up to A3 in size, but can also accommodate a paper roll that is as wide as an A3 sheet's short edge 297 mm.

The Open Printer will use refillable ink cartridges, and it will be able to print on a variety of paper formats, including paper rolls. It features no DRM and is built on open-source firmware, and the makers have published both the firmware source files and the electronic and mechanical design files under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license, meaning users are allowed to freely use and adapt the printer's design files as well as build projects based on it, as long as they share their projects under the same license and don't use the resources for commercial purposes. All parts that are not off-the-shelf will be able to be 3D printed, which again plays into the repairability aspect, since if something breaks, it is easy to replace.

Intel and Google Cloud today announced an expansion of their previously announced multi-year strategic collaboration, which would accelerate Intel's enterprise-wide digital evolution through the deployment of Gemini Enterprise and Google Cloud.

Intel will integrate advanced, Gemini-powered generative AI across its global workforce, helping to scale capabilities and bolster traditional workflows across engineering, supply chain, and corporate operations. Google Cloud's highly scalable infrastructure will also augment Intel's semiconductor development environment, introducing custom, agentic workflows to speed the chip design lifecycle and streamline cross-functional execution.

We previously reported that it seemed as though Valve was silently sunsetting replacement batteries for the Steam Deck LCD based on comments issued by iFixit representatives on both Reddit and official support channels. More recently, however, iFixit CEO, Kyle Wiens, has issued a direct response refuting the notion in a statement on X that reads:

Valve has reached out and is sending us a new batch of Steam Deck LCD batteries!

iFixit will move heaven and earth to keep supporting these handhelds.

TSMC's 2 nm node has reportedly attracted significant client attention, as the company's Senior Vice President, Kevin Zhang, confirmed that the N2 node has four times the number of tape-outs compared to its previous leading-edge 3 nm N3 node. This indicates that many of TSMC's customers, who are also long-time partners, have focused their resources on 2 nm chip designs instead of the 3 nm node PDKs. The driving force behind the fourfold increase in chip tape-outs is the impressive power and performance improvements achieved by the company's first gate-all-around FET nanosheet transistor. With GAAFET, TSMC's N2 delivers up to a 15% performance increase at the same power level, or up to a 30% power reduction at the same speed. This means designers can achieve much higher switching performance within the same power budget as the previous N3E, or reduce power consumption by nearly a third while maintaining the same performance target. Additionally, the transistor density increase is about 15%, allowing for smaller dies with the same functionality or larger dies with more performance.

Interestingly, TSMC began high-volume production of its N2 node in Q4 2025. Fast-forward two quarters to today's date, and the 2 nm node now accounts for only 3% of the company's revenue, while the 3 nm node commands 30%, and the 5 nm node holds the top spot at 33%. However, in the coming quarters, the situation is expected to change as TSMC's customers start receiving more 2 nm chips, and the node's revenue generation grows. Among the N2 customers are AMD with its EPYC "Venice" server CPUs, Apple with its A20 Pro chips for the iPhone 18 Pro series, and others. With four times as many customers using the 2 nm node compared to its 3 nm lithography, TSMC's record-breaking quarterly reports are likely to intensify. Each new node generation brings more expensive wafers due to the increasing complexity of developing a new node, so more tape-outs will significantly boost TSMC's revenue. We are yet to see just how substantial the changes will be in the next few quarters.

Bosgame, a technology-based electronic product brand, has demonstrated distributed inference of the DeepSeek-V3.1 671B-parameter model on its AI MAX+ 395 7-Node Cluster. Built from seven Bosgame M5 AI Mini PCs connected through USB4 Direct Connection, the system presents a scalable approach to private AI deployment and local large language model (LLM) inference.

As AI models continue to expand in parameter size and complexity, a single AI PC may lack the memory and computing resources required for advanced workloads. While traditional AI servers can provide the necessary computing power, their high deployment costs and infrastructure complexity can limit adoption. Enterprises and developers are therefore exploring scale-out architectures that support larger models while providing greater flexibility than conventional AI server deployments.

Lenovo, a global technology powerhouse, has officially released the Legion R9000P featuring a breakthrough Inkjet-printed OLED (IJP OLED) display from TCL CSOT, a global leader in advanced display technologies and a subsidiary of TCL Technology. This partnership marks the first time TCL CSOT's IJP OLED technology has been successfully integrated into a laptop, signaling a substantial step forward in the commercialization of this next-generation display technology.

Reshaping the Value of Laptop Displays with Maturing Inkjet-printed OLED Technology
The 16-inch screen of the Lenovo Legion R9000P translates the technical advantages of IJP OLED into a premium product experience. Offering top-tier display performance, the screen supports an ultra-high 240 Hz refresh rate to meet the demands of smoothly rendering fast-moving visuals.

AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) announces the appointment of Alan Smith as the newest AMD Corporate Fellow, recognizing his contributions to GPU architecture and technical leadership that have helped advance AMD AI computing.

"Alan's technical leadership in GPU architecture was critical to achieving AMD's product success across HPC, AI for science and data center AI computing," said Mark Papermaster, executive vice president and chief technology officer, AMD. "His appointment as Corporate Fellow recognizes the depth of his technical contributions and his commitment to execution excellence and exemplifying AMD's engineering culture of innovation and collaboration."

Phanteks introduces the Enthoo Pro 2 Server V2, engineered for extreme performance and versatility. Its fully meshed all-metal exterior delivers exceptional airflow and durability, while the flexible interior is built for demanding server and workstation configurations. With broad hardware compatibility, adaptable cooling support, and versatile storage options, it is designed for scalable, high-performance systems.

Also joining the lineup is the Phanteks Enthoo Elite Server, a flagship chassis engineered for AI development, professional workstations, and enterprise computing. Expanding on the Enthoo platform, it delivers exceptional expansion, cooling, and storage capabilities with support for E-ATX and SSI-EEB motherboards, dual PSU configurations, and multi-GPU deployments. With 12 PCIe slots, support for up to 29 fan positions, and flexible high-capacity storage options, the Enthoo Elite Server is purpose-built for today's most demanding workloads.

Skullcandy released Crusher 1080 ANC, the most advanced headphone in the brand's history and a groundbreaking evolution of its fan-favorite patented Crusher franchise. For the first time, Crusher 1080 ANC ($279.99) combines Skullcandy's multisensory Crusher bass with premium Sound by Bose technologies, unlocking a new way to experience audio content.

For years, Skullcandy has built a passionate global fan base around its Crusher technology with a simple idea: music should be felt, not just heard. Crusher uses a dedicated dual-driver system to create a subwoofer-like effect that lets listeners physically feel their music. With its sensory bass technology, Crusher became one of the first truly immersive products in consumer audio.

The new Audio-Technica 20 Series Control Application gives streamers, content creators, and audio production professionals easy access to essential AT2020USB-X, AT2020USB-XP, and AT2040USB controls directly from their Elgato Stream Deck. Now you can quickly mute and unmute your mic, adjust the mic input level, and (for AT2020USB-XP users) control the mic's advanced Automatic Gain Control and Noise Reduction functions.

Drag-and-drop configuration in the Stream Deck app makes it easy to assign a function to a chosen key, dial, or foot pedal. And you can customize your layout to match your workflow, whether you're streaming, recording, or producing audio.

AGON by AOC, the world's leading gaming monitor brand, expands its 34-inch (86.36 cm) curved G4 ultrawide range with two new models: the AOC GAMING CU34G4CA at 180 Hz, and the AOC GAMING CU34G4ZCA at 240 Hz (overclockable to 250 Hz). Designed to transition seamlessly between gaming and work, both models combine high-refresh-rate performance with productivity-focused features such as 90 W USB-C Power Delivery and an integrated KVM switch, making them equally suited for immersive gameplay and hybrid work setups.

Thermal Grizzly is expanding the DeltaMate range of fittings. The DeltaMate Quick Disconnect (QDC) are drip-free quick-release couplings with an integrated shutoff function and vacuum-assisted anti-leak design. The DeltaMate Drain Valve with G1/4-inch thread is a drain valve with a spring-loaded internal valve for automatic sealing and leak-free operation.

DeltaMate Quick Disconnect
The DeltaMate Quick Disconnect (QDC) are drip-free quick-release couplings with an integrated shutoff function and vacuum-assisted anti-leak design. The internal geometry of the QDCs is optimized for high flow and minimizes flow resistance. Each QDC coupling requires one fitting with a male QDC connector and one fitting with a female QDC connector. For a premium finish, the fittings are coated with either a matte black chrome coating, a matte nickel coating, or a glossy nickel coating.

After many rumours about what OpenAI's first hardware product would be—with rumours ranging from a speaker to an iPhone killer—the company has now revealed the Codex Micro, which simply put is a keypad. This is obviously not what anyone was expecting and at US$230 for what is largely a compact keypad from specialty keyboard maker Work Louder, it's hard to see how this is going to be a big seller. It does admittedly appear to be a high quality product, but it's pretty much a Stream Deck for ChatGPT.

From a hardware perspective, you get 13 mechanical keys—clicky and silent options are available—one touch sensor, one rotary encoder and one planar joystick. The keypad has RGB backlight, not just of the keys, but also the sides of the device. It connects via Bluetooth or USB-C and it comes with a set of 31 keycaps for customisation. The keycaps are made out of PBT and polycarbonate, whereas the keypad itself is made out of CNC'd polycarbonate and aluminium. We should also note that it's not limited to use with ChatGPT, as it can apparently be used with any software that supports keyboard input. Whether or not it's worth the asking price, is a different matter.

Following record second-quarter earnings, TSMC has confirmed one of its most ambitious expansion plans in the United States. Earlier this year, TSMC was reportedly preparing a $100 billion investment package to add four more fabs to its Arizona facility. Now, it seems the decision has been finalized, and TSMC is increasing its investment in the Arizona facilities. Approximately $165 billion has already been invested in Arizona, and the additional $100 billion will make this one of the largest external investments in the U.S. Interestingly, TSMC is not alone in this investment round. Its supply chain partners are expected to contribute about $30 billion of the $100 billion total. This means many more players are gathering funds to establish new supply chain independence.

In January, TSMC reportedly purchased an additional 900 acres of land directly across the highway from the existing site north of Phoenix, preparing to expand its campus. This extra production capacity will be supported by an estimated $100 billion of additional funding that TSMC is willing to invest in the U.S., despite also making simultaneous investments back home in Taiwan.

Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC liquid cooling technology. With one of the industry's most comprehensive product portfolios and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is once again expanding its lineup with new Apex Monoblocks. The Monoblocks combine outstanding cooling performance with an elegant design precisely tailored to each compatible motherboard. In addition to the CPU, the voltage regulators (VRMs) and the M.2 NVMe SSD located below the CPU socket are actively cooled, providing comprehensive liquid cooling for all key thermal zones of the motherboard.

The Apex Monoblock ROG STRIX X870E-E Gaming Wi-Fi is an exception, as it actively cools the three M.2 NVMe SSDs located below the CPU socket. As with previous Apex Monoblocks, Alphacool utilizes an offset cold plate. This design directs coolant flow precisely toward the thermal hotspot of the AM5 CPU. Combined with the proven Cross-Slot fin structure and the 3D Jetplate 2.0, it generates high water pressure for exceptionally efficient heat dissipation.

TSMC (TWSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today announced consolidated revenue of NT$1,270.38 billion, net income of NT$706.56 billion, and diluted earnings per share of NT$27.25 (US$4.31 per ADR unit) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. Year-over-year, second quarter revenue increased 36.0%, while net income and diluted EPS both increased 77.4%. Compared to first quarter 2026, second quarter results represented a 12.0% increase in revenue and a 23.4% increase in net income. All figures were prepared in accordance with TIFRS on a consolidated basis.

In US dollars, second quarter revenue was $40.20 billion, which increased 33.7% year-over-year and increased 12.0% from the previous quarter. Gross margin for the quarter was 67.7%, operating margin was 60.3%, and net profit margin was 55.6%. In the second quarter, shipments of 2-nanometer accounted for 3% of total wafer revenue; 3-nanometer accounted for 30%; 5-nanometer accounted for 33%; and 7-nanometer accounted for 11%. Advanced technologies, defined as 7-nanometer and more advanced technologies, accounted for 77% of total wafer revenue.

Japan's legendary SEGA and NVIDIA have announced a new partnership, marking a significant addition to NVIDIA's latest RTX Spark PC platform. Celebrating three decades of collaboration, the two companies are bringing VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS and future SEGA-branded titles to NVIDIA's RTX Spark. When NVIDIA unveiled its RTX Spark at the Computex 2026 international show, many gamers were curious whether a new Arm-based PC platform would receive the same support as its competing x86-based platforms. It turns out that NVIDIA's industry partnerships with major game studios are proving fruitful, as SEGA's upcoming titles will be running on RTX Spark laptop and desktop PCs.

Interestingly, we asked NVIDIA whether the support means a full native port of VIRTUA FIGHTER CROSSROADS or if it will just be an emulation of the native game running without issues. We are still waiting for a response and will update the article once we learn more. Modern emulation of games is usually good enough to ensure performance and playability, but a native port is always preferable as it allows for more optimizations. Either way, the release brings RTX Spark one step closer to fulfilling NVIDIA's dream of powering slim laptops and compact mini PCs with its own hardware.

Following the announcement of NVIDIA Jetson T2000 and NVIDIA Jetson T3000 modules, industry-leading provider of edge AI solutions AAEON (Stock Code: 6579) has announced its intention to adopt the new memory-optimized, compact modules across its Fanless Embedded AI System range AAEON's adoption of the new additions to the NVIDIA Jetson Thor series modules will begin with the BOXER-8752AI, a Fanless Embedded AI System powered by NVIDIA Jetson T3000 module. Equipped with the new module's NVIDIA Blackwell architecture GPU with 1536 CUDA Cores, which offers 865 FP4 TFLOPS, an 8-core Neoverse Arm CPU, and 32 GB LPDDR5X memory, the BOXER-8752AI will be designed to enable the next generation of Smart City infrastructure solutions.

The BOXER-8752AI is set to offer up to eight RJ-45 LAN ports with PoE function alongside an additional RJ-45 port supporting 5GbE speed with independent MAC. Joining these will be up to six independent 5 Gbps USB ports, both DB-9 and DB-15 ports offering a selection of CANBus, programmable DIO, and RS-232/422/485 interfaces. With the additional announcement that NVIDIA Cosmos 3 - the first fully open omnimodal world model for physical AI - will be available to run on NVIDIA Jetson Thor series, the BOXER-8752AI shows particular potential for scalable Smart City infrastructure projects. The lightweight, 4B parameter model enables real-time livestream and multi-view vision understanding, giving AAEON customers a fast, cost-efficient, and customizable foundation through which data acquired using AAEON's expansive hardware can be tailored to suit real-world scenarios.

The Solum 2 series opens a new chapter in the history of ENDORFY microphones. Designed from the ground up in cooperation with a German design studio, it includes four USB models: Solum 2 Core, Solum 2, Solum 2 Pro, and Solum 2 Boom Arm. It is a new generation of microphones created for everyday recording, streaming, voice communication, and remote work.

All models are equipped with a high-quality condenser capsule, a proprietary next-generation shock mount, and a detachable metal pop filter. The individual designs differ in equipment, operation, and recording capabilities, allowing them to meet the needs of different user groups, from people making online calls to streamers and content creators. What connects them is the brand's shared design approach: to create a microphone based on proprietary solutions and prove that functionality, simplicity, build quality, and modern sound can go hand in hand in both basic and the most demanding voice-work scenarios.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Endorfy Solum 2 Series is live]

General-purpose robots and autonomous machines are moving from research labs to real-world mass-market deployment, creating demand for compact, power-efficient AI supercomputers capable of running foundation models at the edge. To meet that need, NVIDIA today introduced the T3000 and T2000, new modules based on the NVIDIA Thor architecture that enable mass-market robotics and edge AI applications at scale. Jetson AGX Thor is powering this next generation of humanoid and robotic systems, with growing adoption across industries. Leading companies - including 1X, Agile Robots, Amazon Robotics, Boston Dynamics, FANUC, Hitachi and Techman Robot - are building on the platform.

Unlocking Humanoid and Robotics Deployment With T3000
The hardware underpinning those capabilities starts with the Jetson and IGX T3000 modules, which delivers 865 FP4 TeraFLOPS of AI compute in a compact form factor roughly half the size and power of the T5000. Jetson T3000 combines an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU, an eight-core Neoverse Arm CPU, 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory and 273 GB/s of memory bandwidth, along with 25 GbE connectivity. IGX T3000 delivers the same performance with integrated functional safety while seamlessly running the NVIDIA Halos for Robotics full-stack safety system for robots operating alongside humans.

Valve recently released Windows drivers for the new Steam Machine living room console, and it turns out the drivers are pretty good, given recent benchmark results from ETA Prime. The notorious YouTuber and gaming hardware reviewer installed Windows 11 on the Steam Machine, noting that the process was fairly painless, and that all the hardware worked flawlessly. It's both notable and somewhat comical that the GPU shows up in both Windows Task Manager and AMD's Radeon Adrenaline driver as an AMD Radeon RX 7600.

The Steam Machine in question has been upgraded to have 64 GB of memory, so there may be slight differences in performance, especially once the Windows installation starts to accrue more and more programs. In terms of actual gaming and productivity performance, SteamOS and Windows mostly trade blows, but Windows does have a few notable performance wins over SteamOS.

There have recently been a slew of details about the upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe, from positives, like the return of fan-favorite characters, to less positive news like the pared-back combat system, or the recent dev team layoffs that may affect the scope of the game further. Now, recent leaks by @AgaiinTx on X claim to reveal the pricing and some other details of what they call Assassin's Creed: Codename Hexe.

According to the leaker, Hexe will feature a PEGI 18 rating and will release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Allegedly the game will use Denuvo. The leaker also claims that June 2027 has been set as the game's launch date, but it is suspected that this is likely a placeholder and will change at a later date. The base game will allegedly cost $69.99, but it will also launch with deluxe and collector's edition, both of which will cost more than the former.

ASUS today announced the US availability of the ASUS Chromebook CM15 and ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable, expanding its ChromeOS lineup with devices built for everyday productivity, mobility, and durability. Powered by the efficient the MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor, both devices feature long battery life, access to Google AI Pro tools, and military-grade toughness—making them reliable options for students and on-the-go professionals.

ASUS Chromebook CM15 (CM1505CM4A)
The ASUS Chromebook CM15 is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch laptop powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor, with support for up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 128 GB of storage, and up to 12 hours of battery life for smooth daily computing. Its portable, 3.2 6lbs. chassis is complemented by a 180° lay-flat hinge for flexible use, while a built-in webcam privacy shutter provides added peace of mind. The expansive FHD wide-viewing-angle display is paired with ergonomically repositioned I/O ports placed along the upper left edge—a layout that keeps cables routed away from the mousing area and reduces desk clutter for a more comfortable workspace. Connectivity includes HDMI and dual USB-C ports, ensuring easy support for external displays and accessories. The ASUS Chromebook CM15's eco-conscious construction incorporates 30% recycled plastics and sustainable packaging, and it's built for longevity with easy-service components and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability.

Razer, the leading global gaming lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveils the Razer | Pikachu & Eevee Collection, created in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International. The collection is now available on Razer.com, at RazerStores worldwide, and through select retail partners across the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Inspired by Pikachu and Eevee's playfulness, the collection brings a light-hearted, approachable touch to everyday gaming setups. Launching in Pokémon's milestone 30th year, the lineup celebrates the enduring appeal of two of the most beloved Pokémon in the franchise by pairing bright detailing with familiar Razer performance, designed to fit naturally into daily play, work, and everything in between.

It seems as though the launch of Valve's Steam Deck has resulted in an almost non-stop slew of comparisons between Linux and Windows as a gaming operating system. In one recent test, Meta PCs sought out to test the two operating systems head-to-head to get some hard numbers and potentially settle the debate, however, the results brought up an interesting debate about what makes one operating system better than another.

Benchmarks were conducted on an all-AMD system running an AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, an XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB, and 16 GB of RAM, with the AMD Linux drivers effectively making this a best-case scenario for Linux. The benchmarks were run on the latest version of Windows 11 and Fedora Linux 44, games were tested at the same resolution, and results were an average across three runs. All games tested were also the Windows versions running via Valve's Proton compatibility layer.

Gainward, a globally recognized pioneer in high-performance graphics hardware, today breaks cover with the new GeForce RTX 3060 Python II OC. Merging factory-tuned clock speeds with a 12 GB frame buffer and a dual-fan layout, the Python II OC delivers elite thermal efficiency and unwavering hardware stability for modern mainstream computing.

A Factory-Overclocked 12 GB Weapon
Gainward provides a massive 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM pool to ensure mainstream hardware never limits your potential. This acts as an essential accelerator for students and novice creators to unlock stable, high-resolution content creation and smooth entry-level local AI pipelines by eliminating critical memory bottlenecks.

Apricorn, the leading global provider of quantum-resistant hardware-encrypted external storage solutions, today announced the availability of the 4TB Aegis Secure Key 3 (ASK3), the highest-capacity hardware-encrypted USB drive of its kind. Built on a mini solid-state drive architecture housed in a USB flash drive form factor, the new ASK3 delivers eight times the storage capacity of comparable hardware-encrypted USB flash drives, giving organizations an unprecedented combination of portability, speed and security.

The new 4 TB model incorporates the same hardware enhancements introduced in the latest generation of the ASK3, including a new bridge controller chip for faster performance, improved data transfer speeds and an environmental protection design that helps safeguard both the device and the data it contains in demanding operating conditions.

Lenovo announced today that it will be the official power behind the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris, France. Recognized as the largest esports event globally, the Esports Foundation (EF) has partnered with Lenovo to provide Lenovo Legion gaming desktop PCs, gaming monitors, and everything else players need. All esports athletes will be using their Legion Tower 7i and Tower 5i desktop PCs. This event will take place from July 6 to August 23, featuring around 200 teams and approximately 2,000 esports players competing for the top spot across 24 games and 25 tournaments, with a record-breaking prize pool of over $75 million. New this year, athletes will also be using Legion monitors, not just competing on Legion desktops.

This isn't Lenovo's first involvement with the EWC. In 2025, the company's debut at the event saw over 2,000 Legion machines in use on the tournament floor, in broadcast booths, at creator activations, and throughout the festival grounds. The Legion logo was prominently displayed across all 24 games that year, with the broadcast reaching an estimated 750 million viewers worldwide. Beyond the competition hardware, this partnership has inspired Lenovo to innovate. At CES 2026 earlier this year, the company unveiled the Legion Pro Rollable Concept—a gaming laptop featuring a 16-inch rollable PureSight OLED screen that can expand to 21.5 inches or even a full 24 inches, depending on how much space esports athletes need for training on the go. EWC attendees in Paris will have the opportunity to try it out themselves at the Legion booth.

Compact embedded systems are becoming smaller, while storage requirements continue to grow. Applications such as embedded computing, medical computers, self-service kiosks, and service robots need reliable local storage for operating systems, data, logs, updates, and system files.

However, when system space is limited, adding storage is often not as simple as installing another SSD. Designers may face limited PCB space, low-profile enclosures, and a lack of available M-Key storage slots.

If you're a serious gamer or content creator and were ordering up your ideal laptop, what would it have?

• A 2K OLED, 500-nit display
• Workstation-caliber processing power
• Up to 96 GB of RAM
• NVIDIA GPU and graphics card
• Light weight (3.37 pounds)
• Exceptional pixel response times and motion rendering
• Sharp text, high contrasts, and 1 billion colors
• A flawless Linux experience - it's from System76, why ask?

You just ordered the new Adder Pro laptop, System76's most advanced, visually stunning, and powerful machine ever for gamers, developers, creators, and makers.