ASUS 30th Anniversary Gamescom Giveaways Hint at New Astral RTX 5080 L
In the lead-up to Gamescom 2025, which is slated to kick off on August 20, with a press event on August 19, ASUS is teasing a new product launch and a series of giveaways for the event. Information obtained by [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] points to a 30th Anniversary Edition ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, however, the website HTML code suggests that the "new ROG graphics card" in question may simply be in reference to the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. As VideoCardz points out, this might simply be a placeholder link, because [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that it has "got something really special cooking" for Gamescom 2025.
ASUS is also [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for a host of its gaming components and peripherals, including an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D bundle with an ROG Crosshair x870E motherboard as well as the aforementioned GPU and TUF Gaming Hatsune Miku Edition peripherals, an ASUS ROG Strix OLED gaming monitor, ROG Falcata split Hall-effect gaming keyboard, ROG Harpe II Ace gaming mouse, the ROG Strix GS-BE18000 gaming router, and an ROG Ryuo IV 360 AIO CPU cooler. More information on the ASUS 30th Anniversary giveaway page supports the idea that a new RTX 5080 Astral GPU is coming on August 19.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Intel's Foundry Business Hinges on 14A Node Success
In response to a question about Intel's foundry strategy from Timothy Curry—a UBS analyst—Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan mentioned that although the company has a team that is laser focused on developing its 14A node, the node hinges on customer commitment at the moment. This obviously includes Intel itself, but also its potential third party customers and if there will be enough business for Intel to make money on the upcoming node. Lip-Bu Tan said that it "has to meet my requirement in terms of performance and yield. It's a lot of responsibility to be serving our customers, make sure that we can deliver the result—consistent, reliable result—to them, so that their revenue can depend on us."
It's clear that Intel's new CEO is very focused on revenue for the company and its customers, which makes sense considering the current situation at Intel. However, the question is if TSMC will be able to handle potential future business from Intel, as they will most likely be the only viable option for Intel, if the company decides that the investment into its 14A node doesn't make financial sense. The company has already announced that it will "further slow the pace of construction in Ohio to ensure spending is aligned with market demand" while cancelling its announced fab in Germany altogether. Admittedly the German fab was never intended to be a leading edge fab, but with so many cancelled projects, one has to wonder where Lip-Bu Tan will take the company and without third party customers, it sounds like Intel's foundry business might soon give up on trying to be a cutting edge foundry. For now, a lot hinges on its current 18A node and if it can attract enough third party interest for it.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Borderlands 4 Goes Gold, Assuaging Concerns of Rushed Development
Gearbox Software has [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that Borderlands 4 has officially "gone gold," meaning that development on the game has concluded, and that the game is in a state where the developer and publisher can dedicate their time to preparing for launch. This effectively means that—barring any unforeseen circumstances—the game's September 12 launch date is locked in, and that no additional development work will delay the launch. It's still generally advisable to wait for the game to actually launch before buying it, but this is still an important milestone for Gearbox and 2K Games.
This doesn't mean that technical work on the game is complete, and it has [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that certain minor features, like Photo Mode, will be added to Borderlands 4 post-launch. It has also become the norm for games to receive day-one patches, and this will likely be the case for Borderlands 4 as well, but having the bulk of the development work done ahead of time theoretically leaves the development team with extra time to iron out bugs, perform [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], and make sure the game is ready for launch. Borderlands 4 creative director, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that the reason the Photo Mode was delayed to post-launch was due to needing to prioritize other features that affected "moment-to-moment" gameplay. This gave rise to concerns that Borderlands 4's development may have been rushed, and that it would potentially ship in an incomplete state. Reaching the gold milestone suggests that this is unlikely, although anything is possible.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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AMD Strix Halo Makes Handheld Debut in GPD Win Max 5 Teaser, Boasts Im
AMD's Strix Halo APU has finally shown up in a gaming handheld, with the GPD Win 5 today appearing in a [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and further specifications being revealed by [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] shortly thereafter. The GPD Win 5 shown off by the Chinese handheld manufacturer featured the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] with the fully fledged AMD Radeon 8060S running at a CPU power of 55-60 W. With those power figures, the GPD Win 5 is able to run Black Myth Wukong at 160+ FPS for the most part. Of course, there is no way to know what sort of settings the game was running at or what the CPU or iGPU loads were, but the temperatures also seemed to be relatively healthy, with the CPU temperature fluctuating between the mid- and high 60° range throughout the video. The iGPU also showed off some healthy clock speeds, at around 2300-2500 MHz.
According to the follow-up video by The Phawx, the specifications of the GPD Win 5 include a 7-inch, 1080p, 120 Hz display with AMD FreeSync Premium support, ten-point touch support, and 100% sRGB coverage. The display is also covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 6, which should protect it against scratches and minor drops. The gaming handheld will come with either the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 or the slightly less powerful AMD Ryzen AI Max 385. The former is the full-fat 16-core, 32-thread APU with the Radeon 8060S iGPU, while the latter offers just 8 cores and 16 threads and ships with the slower, less power hungry [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] iGPU. Both APUs, however, will have a TDP of 45-75 W. Both configurations offer 32, 64, or 128 GB of LPDDR5x-8000 RAM in quad-channel configuration and 1, 2, or 4 TB of PCIe Gen 4 M.2 storage. If the Win 5 follows the same formula as the Win 4, it will feature a slide-up display that hides a basic keyboard, solving one of the more annoying quirks of using these Windows-powered gaming handhelds—the on-screen keyboard.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Keychron Explains Recent Q Max and V Max Issues: Apparent Manufacturin
In recent months, there have been an increasing amount of reports from users on the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] detailing issues with Keychron's high-end Q and V Max mechanical keyboard line-ups. Reports included recurring issues like double key presses, keys not registering, and unpredictable chatter on some keys. A handful of technically savvy users started speculating that the issues these keyboards presented were likely being caused by cold solder joints on the hot-swap sockets causing the hot-swap sockets to come loose and lose contact with the PCB. However, Keychron this week addressed the complaints in a [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], explaining that it had seen these reports, conducted internal testing to isolate the root cause, and addressed these issues at a manufacturing level.
In the post and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] linked in the post, Keychron explains that the input issues were being caused by the switch plate becoming warped and essentially pushing the switches out of the hot-swap sockets. This causes intermittent contact with the hot-swap sockets, and could result in keys not registering or multiple inputs registering on every key press. To correct this issue, Keychron is advising owners who experience these issues to take their keyboards apart and reseat all of the switches firmly in the PCB sockets by pressing the plate and PCB assembly firmly between their hands with the switches installed. If issues continue, the brand recommends disassembling the keyboard entirely, inspecting the plate for warping, and carefully straightening it manually. Keychron says that, beyond the recommended fixes mentioned in the article, it is also handling individual customer reports on a case-by-case basis, although this approach and the corrective steps do not seem to be sitting well with the community and the brand's customer base.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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(PR) Lian Li Unveils the New Compact ATX Tower O11D MINI V2 PC Case
LIAN LI Industrial Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, announces the O11D MINI V2, a compact ATX tower that provides expanded hardware compatibility and better airflow with only a 2-liter increase in size compared to the original O11D MINI design. Now supporting full ATX motherboards, standard ATX PSUs, and radiators up to 360 mm, the O11D MINI V2 is also fully compatible with ATX Back-Connect motherboards. It features a 10° slanted bottom for enhanced GPU cooling, support for both standard and vertical GPU mounting with included adjustable anti-sag brackets, and a repositionable I/O module for flexible front panel ports and button access. The Flow variant of the O11D MINI V2 comes pre-installed with 5 x 120 mm reverse-blade fans, offering optimized airflow straight out of the box.
Minimal Size, Maximum Support
With only a 2-liter increase in volume, the O11D MINI V2 delivers significantly expanded compatibility. Thanks to a subtle side panel protrusion and an offset mounting bracket, the case now supports full-sized ATX power supplies without increasing its overall width. Internally, it accommodates ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards, including ATX Back-Connect motherboards, while offering clearance for radiators up to 360 mm at the top and 240 mm on the side. The case supports up to three 120 mm fans at the bottom, two 120 mm fans on the side, one 120 mm at the rear, and up to three 120 mm or two 140 mm fans at the top, giving builders greater flexibility for high-performance configurations.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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ASUS Intros Turbo Radeon AI PRO R9700 Graphics Card
ASUS introduced the Turbo Radeon AI PRO R9700 graphics card. This card targets a multitude of use-cases spanning professional visualization and edge AI acceleration. It is based on the PRO R9700, a spruced up variation of the Radeon RX 9070 XT gaming GPU, which comes with 32 GB of memory to take advantage of the AI acceleration and compute capabilities of RDNA 4 architecture.
The card gets its name from its lateral blower cooling solution that uses a copper baseplate with a phase-change thermal pad, an aluminium channel-type heatsink, and lateral airflow from the blower to keep cool. This design allows the card for a strictly 2-slot thickness. Recessed backplate and fan intakes let you have up to four of these cards installed next to each other in a workstation or server, with minimal airflow obstruction. The card uses a 12V-2x6 power input located at the tail end instead of the top. The card comes with clock speeds of 2920 MHz boost (2350 MHz average clock), and 20 Gbps memory speed. It measures 26.67 cm in length, 11.1 cm in height, and is 2 slots thick. Peak compute figures include 47.8 TFLOP/s FP32, 95.7 TFLOP/s FP16, 1531 AI TOPS INT4, and 766 AI TOPS INT8.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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(PR) Kioxia Commences Sample Shipments of 9th Generation BiCS FLASH 51
Kioxia Corporation, a world leader in memory solutions, today announced it has commenced sample shipments of 512 Gb Triple-Level Cell (TLC) memory devices incorporating its 9th generation BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory technology. It plans to commence mass production in fiscal year 2025. The devices are designed to support applications requiring high performance and exceptional power efficiency in the low- to mid-level storage capacities. They will also be integrated into Kioxia's enterprise SSDs, in particular those that aim to maximize GPU efficiency in AI systems.
Kioxia continues to pursue a dual-axis strategy to address the diverse needs of cutting-edge applications while delivering competitive products providing optimal investment efficiency. The two axes are:
- 9th generation BiCS FLASH products: these achieve high performance at reduced production cost by leveraging CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology, which integrates existing memory cell technologies with the latest CMOS technology.
- 10th generation BiCS FLASH products: these incorporate an expansion in the number of memory layers to meet the expected future demand for larger-capacity, high-performance solutions.
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(PR) QNAP Officially Launches Dual-NAS High Availability Solution for
QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, today officially released its High Availability (HA) solution, empowering businesses to maintain uninterrupted access to mission-critical data and services through reliable dual-NAS failover architecture. Building on successful beta testing and positive market reception, the finalized HA solution offers enterprise-level uptime with cost-effective deployment for organizations of all sizes.
"With growing IT complexity, uninterrupted access to critical services is essential," said Andy Yu, Product Manager at QNAP, adding "QNAP's High Availability solution combines automatic failover, real-time sync, and intuitive management to ensure continuous operations across industries."[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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(PR) ASRock Launches New B850 Challenger Series Motherboards
ASRock, the global leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, mini PCs, power supplies, and gaming monitors, today is pleased to announce its new Challenger motherboard series, the B850 Challenger WiFi & B850 Challenger WiFi White. Based on AMD B850 platform, the modest and elegantly designed Challenger Series is all about fearless play, bold breakthroughs and relentless evolution, aim to deliver an ultimate option for casual gamers.
Packed with an adequate 12+2+1 phase VRM design and an enlarged heatsink, B850 Challenger WiFi & B850 Challenger WiFi White is able to deliver uncompromised gaming experience. The PCIe Gen 5 x4 M.2 slot with top and bottom side heatsinks are able to dissipate heat efficiently to ensure your high-speed storage device always works at its optimum. Lightning Gaming Ports to offer fast and low-latency connections for high polling rate gaming mouse, premium connection such as 802.11be WiFi 7 is also available too, you may enjoy fast access to your favorite games with ease.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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(PR) AAEON Announces Dual Desktop Network Devices for SD-WAN and Edge
Leading white box provider AAEON has released two new additions to its desktop network appliance range, the FWS-2291 and FWS-2292, designed for SD-WAN, uCPE, and UTM applications. The FWS-2291 and FWS-2292 host the Intel Processor N97 and Intel Processor N150 by default, respectively. However, AAEON notes that the two devices are each able to support CPUs from across the Intel Atom x7000RE, Intel Atom x7000C, and Intel Processor N-series ranges (formerly Twin Lake, Alder Lake-N, and Amston Lake).
While both devices suit similar types of networking applications, they offer unique benefits depending on project need. For the FWS-2291, this is reflected in its four 2.5GbE copper RJ-45 and two GbE SFP ports with two-pair LAN bypass, designed for hybrid environments requiring both long-distance fiber uplinks and local high-speed LAN capabilities. Meanwhile, the FWS-2292 is more equipped for edge firewall, UTM, or SD-Branch applications, given its six RJ-45 ports, all of which offer 2.5GbE speed, also with two-pair LAN bypass.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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(PR) Team Group Unveils DDR5 256GB (4×64 GB) Ultra-Capacity Memory Kit
Team Group Inc., a global leader in memory solutions, today announced the launch of its new high-capacity 256 GB (4×64 GB) DDR5 memory kits under its gaming brand T-FORCE and creator brand T-CREATE. Developed in close collaboration with leading motherboard manufacturers and validated on AMD's latest X870 platform, these kits provide a stable and high-efficiency upgrade solution for users seeking the perfect balance between speed and capacity.
The T-FORCE LAB continues to strengthen its high-performance gaming memory portfolio with the launch of the T-FORCE DELTA RGB DDR5-6000 CL32 256 GB (4×64 GB) Quad-Channel Kit. Designed to reinforce the brand's leadership in the high-end gaming market, this new release delivers an elevated user experience by combining high speeds, large capacity, and system stability. Supporting AMD EXPO memory overclocking technology, gamers can effortlessly activate the EXPO profile via BIOS to unlock ultra-smooth gameplay and optimized system performance powered by high-capacity DDR5 memory.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Intel CEO Confirms SMT To Return to Future CPUs
Intel [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], and it was a bit of a mixed bag, with the earnings largely down and projections showing little overall growth for the foreseeable future. Ahead of this announcement, though, Intel's CEO, Lip Bu Tan, sent an [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] to employees, which has since been made public, detailing his plan to "step in the right direction." While much of this revolved around AI, its foundry business, and job cuts—a 15% cut in overall head count and a 50% cut in management layers—one of the more relevant takeaways for the PC enthusiast community is that Intel will be reintroducing SMT or Hyper-Threading to its processors in the future.
It's unclear whether the change to reintroduce SMT, aka as "Hyper-Threading", will only apply to the data center, since it was only called out when talking about that segment, but generally the desktop and data center are not too far apart in terms of architecture, so it stands to reason that if SMT returns to Intel's data center CPUs, it will likely make its way back to the desktop, too. Intel first started moving away from Hyper-Threading around the 12th-Gen CPUs, around the same time as the company moved towards asymmetrical CPU designs, first enabling SMT on only performance cores and later ditching Hyper-Threading entirely in the 15th-Gen CPUs. It's already clear that reintroducing SMT [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], or likely even its successor, and as we've recently shown in our testing, it isn't always a [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]—especially in gaming—but most PC enthusiasts would probably rather have it and be able to disable it than outright not have the option.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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(PR) AGON by AOC × Counter-Strike 2 CS24A and AG246FK6 Monitors Delive
AGON by AOC—the world's leading gaming monitor brand—unveils two groundbreaking 24.1-inch (61.21 cm) esports monitors that join the elite ranks of the world's fastest LCDs with an incredible 600 Hz performance, overclockable to 610 Hz. The AGON PRO CS24A, created in collaboration with Counter-Strike 2, and its counterpart in the well-known brand design, the AGON PRO AG246FK6, represent the pinnacle of esports gaming technology, delivering the ultra-fast response times and revolutionary MBR+ (Motion Blur Reduction Plus) Backlight Strobing technology that professional players demand.
Counter-Strike has defined competitive FPS gaming for over two decades, serving as the proving ground where countless players took their first steps into esports. From LAN parties to packed arenas, CS has evolved from a mod into a global phenomenon that sets the standard for tactical shooters. The collaboration between AGON by AOC and Counter-Strike 2 brings together two leaders in competitive gaming, uniting the game that wrote the rule book for esports with monitors engineered to push those rules to their limits. As refresh rates have climbed from 144 Hz to 240 Hz and beyond, the CS24A now sets a new benchmark at 610 Hz, delivering the instantaneous response that Counter-Strike's precision gameplay demands.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.4.0 Brings Frame Generation and Lo
Sandfall Interactive has released the newest Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Patch 1.4.0, adding Frame Generation and Low Latency Mode support for both DLSS and XeSS, as well as bringing some requested quality-of-life (QoL) additions like the Battle Retry Prompt. While the support for DLSS Frame Generation was already available for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 via a mod (behind Patreon), it is great that Sandfall Interactive has now added the official support. In addition, the new 1.4.0 update also fixes some general bugs, improves visuals, and brings some requested QoL updates.
According to the release notes, the biggest update is the Frame Generation and Low Latency Mode support for both DLSS and XeSS (on compatible GPUs), which promises smoother gameplay and lower input lag. In addition, Sandfall Interactive also added the Batter Retry Prompt, which is a new pop-up window that appears after defeat and gives you an option to quickly retry the battle. Apparently, this was one of the most requested additions. Other QoL improvements include Lumina cost display, autoplay dialogue, and separate volume sliders for different phases in the game.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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