TechPowerUP NEWS

Ripple Effect Studios has chosen a new direction for Battlefield 6: the game will not feature ray tracing when it launches on October 10th or in later updates. Technical Director Christian Buhl told ComicBook that the studio doesn't plan to add this feature showing a clear change in how the franchise approaches top-notch graphics. Rather than chasing fancy visuals, the team wants to focus on how well the game runs—which matters a lot in a fast, multiplayer-focused shooter where your frame rate can mean winning or losing. This choice also comes from what they learned from Battlefield 2042, a game that got a lot of optimization issues when launched and needed higher-than-average [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for a decent run.

Battlefield 6 still lets players tweak over 600 PC settings however, the game doesn't have ray tracing, and that's on purpose. The developers want more people to be able to play it easily. Some folks spotted bits of ray tracing code in the beta's console commands, but these didn't show up as actual features in the game. What players did see though was how smoothly the game ran on all sorts of different computers during the open beta tests (read our in-depth [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...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

According to Korean analyst Kurnal on X, Rapidus, the Japanese foundry pushing into leading-edge chips, will deliver its upcoming 2 nm process, called 2HP, with a transistor density that rivals the best in the business, even TSMC. The reporting allegedly shows a logic density of 237.31 million transistors per square millimeter for 2HP, essentially matching TSMC's N2, which has 236.17 MTr/mm², and comfortably ahead of Intel's 18A at about 184.21 MTr/mm². Rapidus has focused on high-density standard cells and a single-wafer front-end method that allows engineers to tune runs before scaling. It states that a [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] built with ASML EUV tools met its electrical targets. The firm plans to publish process design kits in early 2026 and aims to start high-volume production at its IIM-1 facility in 2027, with monthly output expected to reach roughly 25,000 wafers.

What Rapidus is selling beyond raw density is speed and flexibility. While being a node or two behind TSMC in 2027, the company promises significantly shorter cycle times than traditional batch processes, reducing the typical turnaround from around 120 days to approximately 50 days, and offering extreme "hot lot" pushes down to 15 days for urgent orders. To deliver this, Rapidus is building a custom backend ecosystem with OSATs, EDA vendors, IP providers, and materials partners, and it benefits from government support and interest from major compute players. However, density is only one metric of the new node. Energy efficiency, performance per watt, mature supply chains, and, crucially, repeatable yields will determine whether Rapidus can turn validated test silicon into a reliable, high-volume competitor.[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...]

Lenovo has a new ThinkVision monitor coming and the P40WD-40 as it's called, sports not only a 5120 x 2160 resolution, but also expected to have a 120 Hz refresh rate, something most high-resolution office monitors tend to lack. It's said to feature a 40-inch ECO-IPS panel with an 8 ms refresh rate and a 300 cd/m² brightness rating. It obviously has a 21:9 aspect ratio, but it also supports 98 percent of the DCI-P3 colour space, making it suitable for colour correct work as well.

Other known features includes Thunderbolt 4 support and Lenovo has integrated its eKVM solution which makes it a full Thunderbolt 4 docking station. It's not clear exactly which ports will be on offer, but the P40w which is the model it will supersede, sports two Thunderbolt ports, DP and HDMI, Ethernet and several USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. What we do know is that it will offer 100 Watt charging, which means most office laptops can be connected to it by a single cable for power, data and display signal. Insight UK has it listed for £1,417 and change, including 20 percent VAT.[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...]

Montage Technology today announced the launch of its CXL 3.1 Memory eXpander Controller (MXC, Part No. M88MX6852), now in sampling phase with key customers. Compliant with the CXL 3.1 Type 3 specification, the controller supports both CXL.mem and CXL.io protocols, delivering high-bandwidth, low-latency memory expansion and pooling solutions for next-generation data center servers.

Built on a PCIe 6.2 physical layer interface, Montage's CXL 3.1 Memory eXpander Controller achieves data transfer rates of up to 64 GT/s (x8) and offers versatile configurations with multi-rate and multi-width support, including the option to split into two x4 ports. The chip integrates a dual-channel DDR5 memory controller operating at speeds of up to 8000 MT/s, substantially enhancing data exchange efficiency between the host CPU and backend SDRAM or DIMM modules.[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...]

At IFA Berlin 2025, one of the world's leading tech trade shows, global consumer tech brand HAVIT is set to make a bold statement with a series of audio innovations, showcasing its latest breakthroughs in immersive audio technology. HAVIT warmly invites attendees to visit our booth and experience our transformative updates firsthand.

HAVIT's Highlight Products: Pioneering the Future of Audio
Leading HAVIT's lineup are the SPACE NC02T adaptive ANC earbuds and the FUXI-H8 gaming headset—the world's first open-back gaming headset.[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...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

TrendForce's latest investigations reveal that global foundry revenue in 2Q25 reached a record US$41.7 billion, up 14.6% QoQ, thanks to China's consumer subsidy program spurring early stocking, along with upcoming demand for new smartphones, notebooks/PCs, and servers launching in the second half of the year. Both capacity utilization and wafer shipments improved significantly across the top ten foundries.

Looking ahead to 3Q25, seasonal demand for new products will drive order momentum. Advanced nodes will benefit from strong demand for flagship chips, while mature nodes will be supported by peripheral IC orders. As a result, industry-wide utilization rates are expected to rise further, supporting continued revenue growth—albeit at a more moderate pace.[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...]

QNAP Systems, Inc. has stood out among tens of thousands of global entries to win the 2025 Red Dot Product Design Award with its QNA-UC25G2SF USB4 Type-C to 25GbE SFP28 network adapter. The QNA-UC25G2SF enables computers to enjoy ultra-fast and stable 25GbE connectivity through a USB Type-C connection—significantly boosting work efficiency. In addition, QNAP will participate in the Red Dot Design Award touring exhibition, "Contemporary Taiwanese Design," where the QNA-UC25G2SF will be showcased from September 16 to November 16, 2025 (GMT+8 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily) at Room 04 of the Taiwan Design Museum, located in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

Red Dot and Taiwan have long maintained a close and fruitful partnership. This internationally renowned design award's connection with Taiwanese enterprises highlights the nation's strength in innovation and outstanding design capabilities. Both sides share a common vision: to deepen collaboration, drive design innovation, and foster professional exchange in order to set new international standards in design.[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...]

AAEON's UP brand, a leading provider of professional developer boards, today announced the release of a new line of AI development kit platforms based on its UP TWL, UP Squared Pro TWL, and UP Xtreme ARL, representing entry, mid, and high-end models. The new development kit series represents UP's first step on the roadmap outlined following the brand's 10-year anniversary, following which it reaffirmed its commitment to "Bridge the Gap from Idea to Success". This comes in light of the concurrent release of a full UP AI Ecosystem comprised of both hardware and software platforms designed to accelerate edge AI development from initial concept to mass production.

Representing the entry-level of the three, the UP TWL AI Dev Kit is positioned as a cost-effective, power-efficient option, which is also reflected in its Intel Processor N150 CPU (formerly Twin Lake). Sharing the same processor foundation, but with an integrated Hailo-8L, DEEPX DX-M1, or Axelera Metis AI acceleration module is the UP Squared Pro TWL AI Dev Kit. Courtesy of its versatile AI acceleration module support, the UP Squared Pro TWL AI Dev Kit offers up to 214 TOPS of AI inferencing performance with market-leading power-efficiency, reflecting its positioning as a kit for those wishing to bring AI functionality to low-power industrial projects.[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...]

To maximize its CPU performance, Intel has filed a patent that describes a new way to boost single-thread performance by letting several smaller cores work together as if they were one larger core. Instead of chasing higher clock speeds or building ever-bigger cores, the idea is to dynamically fuse two or more physical cores so they cooperatively execute a single thread, while appearing to the operating system as a single logical core. The patent refers to this approach as Software Defined Super Cores, or SDC. The technique would split an instruction stream into chunks and hand those chunks to the fused cooperating cores. Those cores would coordinate closely, utilizing special buffers and fast communication paths to ensure correct memory ordering and data transfers. In heavier single-threaded cases, the processor can enter a fused mode, forming a "super core" that aggregates instructions per cycle without requiring higher voltage or frequency, which can improve performance per watt.

Keeping instructions in strict program order across multiple physical cores requires very low-latency inter-core messaging and careful synchronization, as well as scheduling the fused cores so they actually benefit real applications, which is a challenging software problem. Presumably, compiler magic would be needed to extract maximum bandwidth from this approach, which is something that made Intel's Itanium fail. If the approach can be made practical, it would give chip designers another way to scale single-thread performance beyond process shrinks and larger core designs. Whether we ever see an SDC design in shipping silicon will depend on the results of prototypes and how well operating systems and compilers can leverage the mode. Intel is constantly experimenting with new core architectures, but not everything makes it to volume production due to low feasibility.[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...]

A Redditor who goes by gaseousgalaxy, in a detailed post, claims that some of the older NVIDIA GeForce GPUs with UEFI-capable video BIOS could face problems booting with Windows Secure Boot enabled, as their UEFI GOP (graphics output protocol) security certificate expires in June 2026. UEFI GOP is essential for providing display output during firmware initialization and boot processes. With Secure Boot enabled, a standard security feature that only loads binaries chained to valid, time-sensitive certificates in the UEFI database, expired signatures could prevent the GOP from loading. This could result in a black screen before the BIOS even appears, halting access to system settings, OS installers, or even recovery media. If installed, Windows could proceed to load correctly (you will see the login screen), and you can then get Windows to start the UEFI setup program on the next boot, from which you can manually select media to boot from.

For users whose motherboards or processors require a discrete GPU to complete POST (lack integrated graphics), this could lead to a "soft" brick: the machine fails to boot until the graphics card's video BIOS is updated with a valid signature or the card is replaced. Updating the motherboard's UEFI firmware won't resolve the issue, as the problem lies in the VBIOS itself. Moreover, new hardware may ship without the 2011 certificate, as Microsoft no longer mandates it, and the company could revoke it via Windows Update's dbx mechanism, exacerbating the problem prematurely.[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...]

Microsoft has released the latest Windows 11 version 25H2 (Build 26200.5074) in the Release Preview Channel for customers who want to preview what the new OS will offer before the general, widespread release cycle later this year. Microsoft isn't aiming for more under-the-hood changes for the 25H2 update, nor a visual makeover that prior updates were usually known for. Instead, the updates are mostly focused on security. For example, Microsoft removes some of its features with the installation, like PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC). Both of these were previously deprecated, as they were vulnerable to various security exploits. Additionally, IT administrators can remove pre-installed Microsoft default apps via Group Policy/MDM CSP on Enterprise/EDU devices.

Interestingly, the 25H2 update is delivered as an enablement package, or eKB, so it's not a complete OS replacement but a light switch that turns on feature code already present on machines running 24H2. Microsoft stages new features inside regular cumulative updates in a disabled state. When the eKB is installed, it flips those flags, and a single restart activates the features, upgrading the device to 25H2 with minimal downtime. Because 24H2 and 25H2 share a servicing branch, they utilize the same codebase and servicing pipeline, which provides annual feature updates with the same efficiency and reliability as monthly updates. That helps reduce package size and installation time, making the transition from 24H2 to 25H2 about as easy as rebooting. The process also resets support timelines for affected editions, for example, Enterprise and Education move to a 36-month cycle, while Pro editions follow a 24-month cycle. This keeps feature rollouts controlled and reversible until the eKB enables them.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Welcome to the first week of the month of September, no matter if you're prepared for it or not. This week's major release is a sequel to a 2017 game, but this time the main character is a princess turned knight and it'll be available on just about every platform imaginable. The rest of this week is packed with new releases and we kick off the week with some 1920s animation inspired psychological horror, which is followed by a first person sci-fi shooter and a 3D action platformer with a rather unique looking art style. Then we get to experience hell on earth and we round the week off with some third person time travel sci-fi horror. Don't forget to check out the additional games that didn't quite make the list this week.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] / This week's major release / Thursday 4 September
As the lethal hunter Hornet, adventure through a kingdom ruled by silk and song! Captured and taken to this unfamiliar world, prepare to battle mighty foes and solve ancient mysteries as you ascend on a deadly pilgrimage to the kingdom's peak. Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure. Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past. [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...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Pulsar Gaming Gears, a leading developer of high-performance esports peripherals, today proudly announced the official launch of the Pulsar Susanto-X gaming mouse. This groundbreaking new peripheral is a direct result of Pulsar's deep commitment to continuously develop cutting-edge products that truly empower esports athletes, born from the unique bond and competitive spirit of brothers Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto and Kevin "Xccurate" Susanto.

The story of the Pulsar Susanto-X isn't just about a gaming mouse; it's a tale forged in the fires of brotherly rivalry and a shared dream. The two brothers constantly push each other, driving and inspiring their sibling rival to be the best that they can be. This spirit of competition has pushed each brother to varying degrees of their own success in the VALORANT professional circuit.[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...]

It seems as though the upcoming [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] will officially launch at IFA in early September. Previously, it was teased that the Legion Go 2 would be launching towards the end of 2025, but a more recent leak from [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] contains marketing images and videos that suggest the Legion Go 2 will launch during next week's IFA show in Berlin, slated to take place from September 5-9. The leaked press media confirms [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and suspected about the Legion Go 2, like the fact that it will come with a 144 Hz, 1200p OLED display with VRR—something that was sorely lacking in the original Legion Go.

According to the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] the Legion Go 2 images, the new Windows-powered handheld will feature a new "Next-Gen Excimer" coating that is meant to be more durable and easier to clean. The Legion Go 2 will once again feature dual USB Type-C ports, there will be a microSD card slot in the bottom of the device, and it will be powered by [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], which has so far impressed in [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], thanks to its more powerful AMD Radeon 890M iGPU and Zen 5+5c CPU architecture. The Legion Go 2 will use the same connectors for the detachable controllers, despite having slightly redesigned ergonomics, and it seems as though Lenovo will forego updating the charging connector accessory used to connect the two controllers when in what Lenovo calls "console mode."[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...]

As the official release date of Battlefield 6 draws near, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and leaks of the upcoming FPS have started to become more frequent. The latest drop in the ocean of news and leaks reveals what we can expect of the return of Battlefield 2042's Portal game mode, which was the game's sandbox mode that introduced a version of user-generated content in the game. The return of Portal was [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] reveal, when EA also revealed how the game's progression system will tie into Portal via Verified Community Experiences. A recent leak, however, purports to show off in-game footage of the new Portal mode in action.

[Editor's note: Our [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] is now live]

The Battlefield 6 Portal gameplay was shared by [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], and the footage in question shows a custom game that combines the PvP gunplay of BF6 with the added risk of falling from the pseudo-platforming gameplay reminiscent of Only Up!. The footage seems to have been captured from the Battlefield Labs Alpha testing, and it shows the player running up an impressively complex series of vertical structures and engaging in combat along the way. [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] that Portal and UGC would be a big part of the live-service model for Battlefield 6, and the comments on the Portal footage leak seem to suggest this might be a successful strategy. The previous Portal implementation has sparked a vibrant community of modders and content creators, with services like the Battlefield Portal Library spinning up around the UGC platform.[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...]