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News just broke about [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that would have been at the same scale as the recent Claws of Awaji expansion, but Ubisoft is still on track to launch Assassin's Creed Shadows on the Nintendo Switch 2 on December 2. Ahead of the projected launch, Ubisoft has [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] with two developers who worked on porting Assassin's Creed Shadows to the Switch 2 to give gamers an inside look at what it takes to port a game designed to run on PC to a relatively underpowered handheld gaming console. One of the developers, simply referred to as Bruno, said that "Bringing Shadows to Switch 2 was one of the toughest but most rewarding challenges I have ever tackled. We had to rethink almost everything, from the way the world is rendered to how systems interact, all while keeping the soul of the game intact." At the top of the list of priorities for the development team was preserving the game's visuals and maintaining a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS in both docked and handheld modes.

According to the developers, they implemented several of the same simulation systems on the Switch 2 as are in use for PC and console, but optimizations have been made to accommodate the Arm architecture and limited system resources. Namely, simulation data was downscaled to reduce GPU load. Assassin's Creed Shadows will also use the same baked Global Illumination implementation as is used for the Xbox Series S and low-power PCs, in order to conserve RAM. The team apparently spent a lot of time optimizing things like LOD, draw distance, texture resolution, and asset loading in order to hit the target 30 FPS while maintaining the world's immersion and dynamism. Ubisoft included clips supposedly representing the sort of visual fidelity to be expected from the Switch 2 port, and, while the image quality obviously isn't the crisp image of the 4K Ultra settings with RT we saw in our [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], the texture and detail levels look reasonable for the notoriously underpowered Switch 2. Ubisoft is using DLSS to upscale the image, a technology that is frequently being seen as a requirement for decent frame rates and image quality.[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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If you've used a modern mechanical keyboard before, you likely have Cherry to thank—mostly for the switch design it pioneered before a flood of cheaper alternatives from China flooded the market when the MX switch patent expired in 2014. In the years since then, Cherry has not had an easy time of things, with the peripherals maker earlier this year announcing that it was moving much of its switch production to a factory in China in an effort to save costs. Despite this move, launching a slew of [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and office and gaming peripherals earlier this year, and even [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], it seems as though Cherry still has a profitability problem.

According to [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] from an extraordinary general meeting ([Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]), Cherry made a net loss of €20.4 million between January and September 2025, prompting two actions from the company's leadership. For starters, Cherry has officially completed moving all of its switch production to China—a process which it had already started earlier this year—leaving the headquarters in Auerbach, Germany to operate as a development, logistics, and service center. In addition to completing the move to Chinese factories for production, Cherry is currently looking to sell off some of its subsidiaries—specifically its peripherals business, responsible for the manufacturing of all office and gaming keyboards and mice, or its Digital Health & Solutions division. The CFO, Jurjen Jongma, commented that "it is currently neither possible nor advisable to strengthen the group's equity in any other way than through strategic mergers and acquisitions options."[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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It's not uncommon for game developers and publishers to announce games or show off fresh gameplay at the annual The Game Awards show, and that's exactly what CD Projekt Red did when it announced The Witcher 4 in 2024. There is already all sort of speculation flying around about what may be shown off at this year's Game Awards show, but CDPR has confirmed that The Witcher 4 will not be among the games featured during the opening night show, and neither will the hotly anticipated Cyberpunk 2, which just picked up a stack of developers and is looking to hire more, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...].

As explained by CDPR co-CEO, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], CDPR "won't be bringing any new content to TGA this year," despite the fact that The Witcher 4 has been nominated for the Most Anticipated Game of 2025. Currently, there have been no real leaks regarding anticipated game reveals at The Game Awards 2025, but there is [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that we might see some gameplay from GTA VI or a hardware teaser for the next-gen Xbox console, which has already been [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. The Game Awards 2025 will be hosted by Geoff Keighley on December 11, 2025, at 17:30 PST (01:30 UTC), and can be watched live on [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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Colorful's sub-brand—COLORFIRE—is well known for producing cartoon cat-themed "MEOW" designs; mostly adorning [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], motherboards, PC enclosures and peripherals. TechPowerUp staffers inspected [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that were exhibited at Colorful's Computex 2025 booth. The Chinese company's mid-year presence—in Las Vegas—signalled new international ambitions; beyond its native distribution of products. A fresh VideoCardz article indicates that COLORFIRE's B850M-MEOW WIFI V14 motherboard is receiving some form of international release. Chinese customers were able to buy retail units two months ago, with prices reportedly going up from an initial launch tag of $120 to $134.

The V14 board design seems to succeed a slightly older B850M SKU: the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. COLORFIRE's cat mascot features prominently on this product, along with a much busier overall presentation—consisting of text and patterns. By contrast, the fancier (specs-wise) mostly white V14 option dials back on visual flare. A smattering of subtle cartoon feline paw prints and MEOW logos are present on the newer model; perhaps better suited to Western tastes. Upgrades include a 10+2+1 power phase design (versus 7+2+1), support for four DDR5 DIMMs, more rear panel connectivity, and Wi-Fi 7 functionality.[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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Today is the day! Lyra Studio is excited to announce that [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey. Every test, every piece of feedback, every shared run brought us here. From the Playtest in April, the public Demo in May, the Steam Next Fest in June, and the closed beta starting in August, FrostBound has finally launched as a full version.

Survival Challenges: Strategy Amid Ice and Despair
FrostBound challenges players with nine escalating difficulty levels beyond the "Journey" tutorial, ramping up enemy strength and tightening resources while rewarding skilled players with unique buffs and greater loot. High-tier runs feature "Fortification Events" to build defenses and "Beacons" for recruiting epic and elite cards, keeping every run dynamic. Deck management is key. Unlock new card packs, select which to bring into each run, and use "Lock Points" to secure rare cards. A one-click reset makes strategy adjustments easy between runs.[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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Qualcomm introduced its [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] at the tail end of September, followed by yesterday's presenting of their Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 platform. On a surface level, this confusing naming scheme makes it difficult to tell the difference between the two fifth-gen options. Complicating matters further, semiconductor industry soothsayers have already moved onto predicting the nature of next generation Qualcomm offerings. This week, Digital Chat Station reckoned that Qualcomm's engineering department has moved onto the development of a mysterious "Snapdragon 8950" SoC. This forthcoming "standard" SKU could end up becoming the "Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6" chip; set to exist alongside a more potent "Pro" model.

Earlier today, Digital Chat Station shared fresh musings via their Weibo blog: "the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 platform's performance was pretty good, which gives me some confidence in next year's standard Snapdragon 8950. After all, it uses the same high-end TSMC 2 nm '2+3+3' Oryon CPU (as the Gen 6 Pro), with a slightly downgraded GPU. This chip will be positioned directly in the 4000 yuan (~$560 USD) price range." The speculated "Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro" option is expected to utilize a more powerful Adreno GPU, thus demanding a price premium. Insiders believe that Qualcomm will be selecting TSMC's newer 2 nm "N2P" for production of the sixth-gen Snapdragon 8 production. Reportedly, MediaTek leadership has made a similar decision regarding the makeup of its next flagship designs.[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 "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra 200S series of processors were launched over a year ago, and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] recently conducted Linux tests to compare their original performance and power consumption to the current situation. The results are promising for Intel's CPUs, which have not been particularly popular among DIY PC builders. According to the geometric mean of all benchmarks, Phoronix found that the high-end Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has shown a noticeable performance improvement of approximately 9% after a year of software optimizations.

What's particularly interesting is that this performance gain was achieved while using only 85% of the power that was consumed in October last year, representing a 15% reduction. This suggests that Intel has optimized the software to not only reduce power consumption and heat output but also to extract an additional 9% performance from the "Arrow Lake-S" silicon. In these Linux tests, no workload experienced any regressions, indicating consistent results across a wide range of use cases, including code compilation, compression, web performance, HPC, simulation, and many others. We hope that the same optimizations are trickling into Windows software, so more gamers can enjoy everyday performance optimizations[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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It's no secret that Assassin's Creed Shadows has not been Ubisoft's smoothest game launch, with multiple delays and controversies surrounding the game even before launch. Despite eventually launching reasonably successfully, replete with day-zero Steam Deck support and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], it looks like Ubisoft is backing down from some of its more ambitious content plans, according to comments by the game's post-launch director, Simon Lemay Comtois in an interview with [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. The biggest shift away from the game's original plans is the cancellation of the second DLC that was meant to introduce a whack of fresh content in the second year of the game's post-launch development life cycle.

Originally, Assassin's Creed Shadows was meant to receive two DLCs on the same scale as Claws of Awaji, although not much was revealed about the scope of the second update or when it was planned to launch, other than that it was planned as a year two DLC that would otherwise have launched as a season pass. The director goes on to say that the support and development plan for year two of Assassin's Creed Shadows will change from being "quick and reactive" to more "chunky" updates that "shake things up a little more." These comments come the same week that [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] featuring an Attack on Titan collaboration, a new story quest, and a whole bunch of quality-of-life and stability fixes.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Hello everyone, we're delighted to share the full reveal of Beyond Words, created by Mindfuel Games and led by Steve Ellis and Dr David Doak, whose previous work includes GoldenEye 007 and TimeSplitters. Today marks the release of our Playable Demo. Watch the announcement trailer (below) to see the experience in motion, then dive straight in.

What Is Beyond Words?
A smart blend of roguelike strategy and word-crafting where every tile you place shapes the board. Build combos, trigger multipliers and discover over 300 modifiers and abilities designed to test your wit. Build powerful word combos, unlock game-changing upgrades and take on a challenge where victory is spelled one letter at a time. Beyond Words is a clever fusion of roguelike strategy and word-crafting that rewards tactical thinking, inventive play and a touch of flair. Try the game for yourself with the free [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. It offers a tight and representative slice of the full experience with shifting boards, escalating challenges and a growing set of powers to bend in your favor.[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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Samsung has published new research showing a way to cut NAND flash power consumption by a large margin. In a paper released in Nature, a team of 34 engineers from Samsung's Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Semiconductor R&D Center describes how combining ferroelectric materials with oxide semiconductors can reduce power use during string-level operations (the method by which NAND flash reads/writes data by passing signals through series-connected cells) by up to 96%. Modern NAND keeps adding more layers to increase capacity, but this also lengthens the path that signals have to travel through each string of cells. As the stack gets taller, read and write power goes up. Earlier attempts to use ferroelectric designs didn't fully solve this problem. Samsung's approach takes advantage of the electrical characteristics of oxide semiconductors. These materials normally have limited threshold-voltage control, which is seen as a drawback in other device types. In this design, however, that behavior helps lower switching power while still supporting high density, including up to 5 bits per cell. By reworking the transistor structure and applying these materials in a NAND layout, the team shows a clear path to much lower power consumption without sacrificing storage capacity.

If brought to market, the technology could help reduce power use in data centers and improve battery life in mobile and edge-AI devices. Market research firm Omdia projects global NAND revenue will jump from $65.6 billion in 2024 to $93.7 billion in 2029 with shipments growing at an average rate of 17.7% annually over that period. However, just [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that the company seems to plan converting parts of its NAND flash lines in Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong into DRAM production, and will also run its upcoming Pyeongtaek Fab 4 (P4) as a DRAM-only line. Industry sources say Samsung has become cautious about the NAND market, while [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] (and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]) for standard DRAM have jumped sharply.[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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A list of unannounced Intel Xeon "Granite Rapids-WS" processors turned up online two weeks ago; as a result of momomo_us's detective work. Team Blue's supposed next wave of high-end desktop (HEDT) workstation CPUs are expected to be introduced at CES 2026, but unofficial details have already spread across PC hardware discussion communities. The mid-month leak provided an early look at eleven possible 600-series SKU candidates (supported by the W890 platform), complete with basic specifications—clock speeds and L3 cache capacities. A fresh discovery, again courtesy of momomo_us, grants further insight into the desktop family's sub-flagship chip: "696X."

Lately, a test system entry has turned up on the SiSoftware Official Benchmark Ranker database. The "Xeon 696X" model appears to feature 64 cores, and 128 threads. The lowest measured clock speed was 4.4 GHz, going up to 4.6 GHz (averaging at 4.51 GHz). A 2.4 GHz base clock was listed by momomo_us, a fortnight ago. A 350 W TDP rating was picked up by SiSoftware Sandra's suite. The latest leak reaffirms a presence of 336 MB L3 cache. A total of 128 MB L2 cache is shared across the processor's 64 cores (so 2 MB each). Intel's rumored forthcoming re-entry into HEDT territories could carry Xeon 6 family branding, albeit sporting an added "W"—denoting workstation applications.[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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If the performance requirements for new AI or HPC tasks demand maximum performance density regardless of power or heat constraints, Intel has a project presentation scheduled for the ISSCC conference in February 2026. One of the topics will be a 5,000 W GPU design utilizing integrated voltage regulators (IVRs). While this may seem extreme, Intel plans to leverage advanced packaging technology, specifically the Foveros-B variant, to deliver 5 kW GPUs by 2027. As accelerators scale to support larger AI and HPC workloads, traditional board-level regulators are hitting limits in current density and transient response.

Moving voltage regulation into the package shortens current paths and reduces delivery losses. Intel Foundry and its packaging division are already exploring high-density power delivery and kW-class integrated voltage regulators. Intel's Foveros roadmap targets production-ready integrated power elements by 2027, enabling customers to evaluate IVR-enabled assemblies at scale very soon. While Foveros-B is a 2027 product, customers could potentially evaluate multi-kilowatt designs with IVRs next year. Intel is not a singled-out player with multi-kilowatt designs, as NVIDIA "Rubin" silicon is rumored to have a TDP of up to 2.3 kW for highest-end models, leading to rack-level power consumption exceeding 250 kW.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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A few days ago, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 is undergoing an [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. The company indirectly warned that security vulnerabilities may be exposed, and today they issued an updated notice. "As these capabilities are introduced, AI models still face functional limitations in terms of how they behave and occasionally may hallucinate and produce unexpected outputs." After installing Windows 11 Build 26220.7262, you'll find a new toggle for "Experimental agentic features" in Settings > System under "AI Components." Fortunately, this is an optional feature and must be enabled manually.

Upon turning the feature on, Windows will show a warning that these capabilities are experimental and might affect your device. In practice the security risk is the bigger concern. New attack techniques tied to autonomous agents are already appearing, with cross-prompt injection standing out. In those attacks, malicious instructions are concealed inside ordinary documents or interface elements so an agent follows them instead of its original task. That could allow an agent to install malware, leak payment details, or carry out other harmful actions.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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There are software BIOS mods, such as the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that relaxes software-level power limits, letting ASUS RTX 5090 cards pull "up to 2000 W" of power; and then there are hardware mods, using power shunts directly on the card, which bypass hardware-level power limits. Der8auer discovered something in the middle for the ROG Matrix RTX 5090. This card has two ways you can power it—a conventional 12V-2x6 power connector on the top, and a detachable BTF (GC-HPWR) gold-finger that lets you pair the card with ASUS BTF motherboards that have a power delivery slot along the PEG x16 slot. ASUS made the BTF gold finger on the ROG Matrix RTX 5090 detachable so you can use the card on regular, non-BTF motherboards.

Der8auer learned that by shorting a few sense pins in the BTF gold finger while the card is connected to a 12V-2x6 power source raises the power limit drawn from the connector to 750 W, a 150 W increase over the 600 W (continuous) design limit of the connector. This 750 W isn't exactly an "excursion," because the increased power draw isn't happening within the power spike intervals defined in the PCIe 5.1 CEM specification, but rather, lengthier periods of continuous power draw above 600 W. There are, of course, a couple of catches. You'll need a PSU with fairly high power output and +12 V rail(s) connected to the 12V-2x6, a durable connector, and because the BTF gold finger is being modified, not only is the power source a 12V-2x6 connector, but also the card isn't directly slotted into the PCI-Express x16 slot, rather a PCIe Gen 5-capable riser cable is needed. At this point we don't know if the mod works with other ASUS RTX 5090 BTF cards, such as the ROG Astral RTX 5090 BTF.[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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Following its Black Friday promotion, Sudokoo is extending its seasonal discount lineup into Cyber Monday, offering another limited window for PC builders looking to upgrade cooling performance ahead of upcoming 2026 platforms. For Cyber Monday 2025, Sudokoo is placing the spotlight on the NEXAURA 360 ARGB Liquid Cooler, now at a substantial 35% off, marking the strongest discount ever offered on the unit. Designed for performance-oriented desktops, the NEXAURA 360 emphasizes thermal efficiency, acoustic tuning, and a premium visual presentation.

NEXAURA features a high-speed adjustable pump, optimized to sustain high thermal loads on modern Intel and AMD processors. It includes 3-phase 6-slot 4-pole FOC motor fans deliver high-pressure airflow with smoother rotational control and reduced noise output. The pump housing integrates a full ARGB diamond lighting array, offering a uniform glow without hotspots, and supports motherboard-sync compatibility for unified lighting profiles.

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AMD has launched an official [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for the Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor, which was [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. As a part of the "Granite Ridge" Ryzen 9000 X3D series, AMD is reportedly developing two additional updates to the lineup. One is a flagship model, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, and the other is a refined eight-core, 16-thread X3D design. Today, AMD's website confirms the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads, 96 MB of L3 cache, and a boost clock up to 5.6 GHz, with a 120 W power envelope. This represents a 400 MHz increase over the Ryzen 7 9800X3D model, which has the same cache and core configuration. AMD is likely using higher-binned dies it has saved over the past few months to offer a better alternative to Intel's upcoming "[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]," scheduled for early 2026, and "[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]," scheduled for late 2026.

However, details about the new flagship model, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, featuring 16 cores and 32 threads, remain uncertain. This chip reportedly includes 3D V-Cache on both chiplets, totaling approximately 192 MB of L3 cache. It is said to operate at a base frequency of 4.30 GHz, with a boost up to around 5.6 GHz, and has a TDP of about 200 W. The 9950X3D2, with its new naming convention, suggests a tradeoff of slightly lower peak boost speeds (-100 MHz) compared to the single-stack X3D Ryzen 9 9950X3D model, but offers significantly increased cache capacity. Today only the higher-clocked Ryzen 7 9850X3D is confirmed by AMD, so we might have to wait on the dual-chiplet X3D2 SKU a bit more.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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Welcome to the first week of the last month of the year and this week we have a pick and mix bag of new releases for you. We kick off the week with a Jurassic Park level survival FSP adventure. Next up we have a 90's arcade inspired Marvel game, followed by a demon hunter game set in the 80's. If these games aren't your cup of hot cocoa, how about some horror? This week we have both a jumpscare horror simulator and the chance to be stuck on an abandoned lunar base. We end the week with a co-op dungeon explorer which could be fun for the whole family this time of the year.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] / This week's major release / Thursday 4 December
Wake up on an uncharted island where the world feels alive and unpredictable. From ancient ruins to apex predators, every element of the environment shapes your fight for survival. Explore, adapt, and use the island's dangers to your advantage. This isn't just a setting—it's a relentless, ever-changing force that challenges and rewards those who dare to uncover its secrets. [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...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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The GPU vBIOS designed for extreme overclocking is generally intended for professional overclockers, but sometimes these versions become accessible to the public. Recently, a 2,001-watt XOC BIOS for ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs has emerged, enabling unprecedented power limits. This development offers multi-kilowatt-class overclocking opportunities to enthusiasts eager to experiment with their ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 cards. The XOC BIOS sets the core voltage to 1.15 V by default, regardless of the software voltage slider's position, even if the slider is at zero.

Previously, we only saw the 2,001-watt XOC BIOS for the China-exclusive [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. This XOC BIOS allowed Galax to achieve a GPU core speed of 3,570 MHz and a GDDR7 memory speed of 2,250 MHz, boosting the effective memory speed to 36 Gbps with a bandwidth of 2.304 TB/s, nearly 29% above the standard specification. Such extreme overclocking requires multiple fused 12 V-2×6 cables or custom power delivery to bypass the connector's 600-watt limit. Additionally, custom water or LN2 cooling is necessary to prevent overheating. Installing this BIOS automatically voids the warranty, so enthusiasts should exercise caution when experimenting. This time, the XOC BIOS is compatible with the regular RTX 5090, but caution is advised when dealing with third-party BIOS, so we don't recommend it.[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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Leaked marketing material indicates that ASRock is readying a new branch of Mini PCs, that will exist alongside already launched DeskMeet, DeskMini, and Jupiter ranges. Yesterday afternoon, a specification sheet was shared online—by well known hardware sleuth momomo_us. The Taiwanese manufacturer seems to have an Intel-flavored DeskSlim B760 model prepared for imminent release. This system is centered on Team Blue's familiar LGA 1700 platform, covering 12 to 14th generations of Core processors. Fittingly, an Intel B760 chipset controls proceedings. Alternatively, customers can choose X600 variants—AMD hardware is housed in the same DeskSlim enclosure; a compact sub-5 liter prospect.

According to the leaked ASRock specification sheet, their Team Red variant—based on an X600 chipset, utilizing the AM5 platform—can accommodate Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 series CPUs. Early analysis posits that the Intel and AMD systems will be sold as barebones products. Users can add their own appropriately-sized graphics cards—maximum would be a dual-slot low profile design, 200 mm in length. A standard 240 W external power adaptor is listed as a bundled-in item, but the spec sheet mentions a more potent 330 W optional unit. VideoCardz believes that ASRock will reveal official details next week; with brand new DeskSlim products actively listed across web presences.[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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Former TSMC Senior VP Wei-Jen Lo has reportedly joined Intel as VP of R&D, according to a Liberty Times report cited by TrendForce. Lo is said to have started in late October, a move that has surprised many in the semiconductor industry. The report also claims that before retiring in July, Lo asked subordinates to brief him on and copy internal documents covering [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], A16, A14, and other next-generation process technologies. At the time, the requests appeared routine for someone at his level, but TSMC is now investigating and considering possible action. Local media say the case may draw scrutiny under national-security laws if the allegations hold up. If confirmed, this would be TSMC's second major 2 nm leak in recent months. On August 27, Taiwan's High Prosecutors Office indicted three TSMC engineers for stealing core technology files tied to the company's 2 nm development, seeking 7-14 years in prison. The concerns around Lo's move come as [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] into mass production this year and targets 14A production in 2027. TSMC, meanwhile, plans to begin mass production of A16 in the second half of 2026.

Lo worked at TSMC for 21 years and played a key role in building its technology portfolio. Commercial Times notes that the team accumulated more than 1,500 patents during his tenure, including about 1,000 in the U.S. He also had the trust of founder Morris Chang and stayed in his role until age 75, well past TSMC's typical retirement age of 67. Liberty Times reports that Lo's position at Intel involves overseeing advanced equipment and module development from R&D through pre-production, a role closely tied to yield improvement. The report also raises questions about whether Lo was bound by TSMC's usual 18-month non-compete agreement, with some sources suggesting he may not have signed one.

Update Nov 29th: Taiwan [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] of former TSMC executive Wei-Jen Lo on Wednesday, seizing computers, USB drives, and other evidence under a search warrant, prosecutors said. On Thursday, a court approved the seizure of his shares and real estate. Today, Taiwan authorities have now frozen over NT$2 billion (US$64 million) worth of Lo's assets, including NT$1.8 billion in TSMC stock, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. Intel continues to deny TSMC's allegations and said it fully supports its new hire.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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