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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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Just a week ago, we [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] Microsoft's efforts to enhance File Explorer performance by preloading the application at startup. Recent testing by [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] suggests that this approach results in diminishing returns, as the application uses more RAM while offering only marginal performance improvements. Microsoft has acknowledged the performance issues with File Explorer on Windows 11, which is concerning given its role as a core application within the operating system. To address this, Microsoft has started preloading File Explorer in the background to enable quicker access when users open the application.

Windows Latest testing now confirms that preloading works partially, allowing File Explorer to load faster, but not fast enough. In a virtual machine running the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) available in the Dev and Beta channels, the regular File Explorer launch uses 35 MB of RAM. However, the preloaded version nearly doubles that to 67.4 MB of RAM due to background processes. To the end-user, the change is barely noticeable as File Explorer still feels sluggish. The difference becomes apparent only when the speed of a video comparison is reduced to 0.25x, revealing the real difference. However, since real-world usage does not occur at 0.25x speed, the change makes little impact on everyday usage.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Launching [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] isn't just releasing a game—it's sharing something we've poured our hearts into for 3 long years. We care about this sim, and we care about your experience with it. You've been with us as we went on this journey together, and we want to acknowledge not only your feedback beyond the first day, but your passion and honesty. Behind the studio are people, and it hurts knowing we didn't hit expectations on release. So now, we'd like to take this moment to explain where we are, and what comes next.

In the months leading up to release, we pushed with the intention of gaining a higher level of fidelity and accuracy. At the time, we did not see (nor foresee) performance issues during our testing across platforms and different specs of machines. However, once everything came together, issues have arisen that have soured players' experience of the sim. These are our issues to solve, and we want to be upfront about them and what we're going to do.[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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Now that Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10, keeping it installed is not only inconvenient—it slows down your system and leaves you vulnerable to security risks. If your computer still runs Windows 10, the smartest move you can make right now is to [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. And for a limited time, you can do it for just $9.97 (MSRP 199)

Windows 11 Pro is more than a visual refresh. It's built to run faster and manage modern apps more efficiently, which gives older machines an instant performance lift. Everyday tasks feel smoother, multitasking is cleaner, and start-up times improve thanks to better system optimization. If you're working, gaming, or just trying to keep your machine responsive, the upgrade delivers noticeable gains.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] while this limited-time offer is still live.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Lately, a handful of AMD GPU board partners seem to be concentrating on getting Radeon AI PRO R9000 series hardware out into the wild. Last we heard from XFX, they were [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] of Team Red's [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] card. Earlier today, VideoCardz highlighted a revisit of much older hardware; with XFX's legacy team releasing an update for an 8+ year old card, of "[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]" vintage. A new BIOS file, dated November 26, is available to download from XFX's support portal.

The model code seems to correspond to XFX's [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] model. According to TechPowerUp's GPU database, this dual-slot option was released back in Spring of 2017. The TPU VGA BIOS Collection provides a BIOS file from a similar timeframe. It is not clear why the North American AIB has decided to push out a revised instruction set for much older hardware. Radeon RX 580 graphics cards enjoyed a renewed lease of life during the crypto mining boom period. Presently, Chinese e-tail platforms still offer new units. Owners/preservationists of a very specific XFX card are welcome to investigate this new BIOS revision.[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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ASRock is looking to enter the workstation business and capture the lucrative demand for local AI acceleration with its new product lineup. Called GAI4G-R9700, the 4U workstation is a rack-mount or standalone desktop solution that pairs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series CPUs with four Radeon AI PRO R9700 Creator GPUs. This gives the system a total VRAM capacity of 128 GB from the GPUs alone, which is 32 GB per GPU. For additional capacity, the system can utilize the 2 TB DDR5 capacity housed on the ASRock WRX90 WS EVO motherboard with horizontal CPU and memory placement.

Since ASRock doesn't manufacture CPUs and memory, the company will likely bundle the workstation with four GPUs, leaving users to acquire their own CPU and memory. This is especially tricky to figure out as the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] could impact final workstation pricing far more than anything else, especially in larger quantities such as 512+ GB. The system supports eight ECC RDIMMs running at 6400 MT/s, in eight-channel configuration (1DPC). The whole system is powered by a single 80 Plus Platinum 2500 W ATX 3.1 power supply.[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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