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GameSir, a leading innovator in gaming peripherals, today announced the official launch of the GameSir G7 Pro, an advanced multi-platform controller designed for pro-level performance across Xbox, PC, and Android devices. Building upon the legacy of its predecessors—the G7, G7 SE, and G7 HE—the G7 Pro introduces a wealth of upgrades, including Hall Effect analog triggers with clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, enhanced latency and polling rate, and the new GameSir Mag-Res TMR sticks, delivering anti-drift accuracy and ultra-smooth control. The GameSir G7 Pro is available for $79.99/£79.99 from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Best Buy and the GameSir website.

Available in sleek Black and White finishes, the G7 Pro embraces a versatile tri-mode connectivity model. It supports wired play for Xbox, wired and 2.4G wireless connections for PC, and Bluetooth for Android, all accessible via a physical mode switch for effortless platform transitions. A detachable cable retainer ensures a secure and stable connection during wired sessions. At the core of its precision is GameSir's Mag-Res TMR stick technology, which merges the low power consumption of traditional potentiometers with the longevity and stability of Hall Effect sticks. As the first Xbox-licensed controller featuring TMR sticks, this innovation enables faster response times and consistent in-game control, further supported by a 1000 Hz polling rate when connected to PC via wired or 2.4 GHz.
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Minisforum today released the N5 Pro AI NAS barebone. The unit comes with five 3.5-inch caddies with SATA 6 Gbps backplanes, and provision for three M.2-2280 NVMe SSDs. The NAS also comes with a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot (electrical x8), so you can install a graphics card, a DPU, or an enterprise-grade NIC. In terms of its own network connectivity, the N5 Pro AI offers a 10 GbE interface, and a secondary 5 GbE interface. The N5 Pro AI NAS is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 "Strix Point" processor with a 12-core/24-thread CPU, a powerful iGPU with 16 CU, and a 50 TOPS NPU. The NAS comes with two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots. The barebone variant lacks any installed RAM, but comes with a basic 128 GB NVMe SSD with the MinisCloud OS. You can opt to have 48 GB ECC DDR5 or even 96 GB ECC DDR5. There is also a value N5 AI NAS (non-Pro), which comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 255 processor, and 16 GB of DDR5 memory. Other interesting features include support for OCUlink, 40 Gbps USB4, and Docker single-key installation. The N5 Pro AI NAS starts at USD $1,019, while the N5 AI starts at $645.

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ASUS launched the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 BTF graphics card at a list price of €2,999 (including VAT). This puts its price at a €100 premium over the regular ROG Astral RTX 5090, which sells for as low as €2,899, but which could be had for as less as €2,739 according to price-tracker Geizhals. The new ROG Astral RTX 5090 BTF comes with preparation for the BTF backside power connection. A gold-finger located next to the PCI-Express 5.0 x16 host interface plugs into a special power slot on an ASUS BTF-compatible motherboard, which has a 12V-2x6 input on the reverse side of its PCB. Graphics cards with BTF connections debuted with the previous generation RTX 40-series "Ada" generation, but with the RTX 50-series, ASUS made a considerable design improvement. The BTF gold-finger is detachable, and the card comes with a 12V-2x6 power input at its regular spot, so you can even use it on motherboards without BTF preparation.

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Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.6989 Beta doesn't include any new game optimizations, but fixes a couple of issues specific to GPUs. For Arc B-series "Battlemage" discrete GPUs, it fixes an issue where "PEAK" experiences an application crash when loading gameplay; and display corruption seen in the skill effects scenes of "God of War: Ragnarok." For Arc A-series "Alchemist" discrete GPUs, it fixes a couple of issues, a system freeze seen when loading levels with "Battlefield 6 Open Beta" has been fixed. A bug which causes character corruptions with "Mafia: The Old Country" has been fixed. Similar system freeze issues seen during game loading with "Battlefield 6 Open Beta" have been fixed for the iGPUs of both Core Ultra Series 1 and Series 2 processors.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6989 Beta
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Manli today launched its GeForce RTX 50-series Black Stellar line of premium custom-design graphics cards. The lineup consists of performance-segment GPUs, namely the GeForce RTX 5070, the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB, the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, and the RTX 5060. All three cards come with a triple-slot cooling solution that uses three 90 mm fans, while the RTX 5070 Black Stellar comes with a slightly heavier heatsink than the other three cards. The cooler design consists of a matte black main shroud with a contrasting S-shaped acrylic accent, and an illuminated "Stellar" logo on top. The PCB is barely half the length of the card, which makes much of the airflow from the second fan, and all the airflow from the third one flow through the heatsink and out from the backplate. All three cards come with factory overclocked speeds that range from 30 MHz to 40 MHz over NVIDIA reference boost speeds.

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AMD has reportedly retired the Ryzen 7 5700X3D Socket AM4 desktop processor with 3D V-Cache technology. The 8-core/16-thread chip was launched in January 2024 as a lower priced alternative to the 5800X3D, which AMD retired later that year in October 2024. Towards the end of 2024, the 5700X3D was among the bestselling processors on Amazon. Its retirement sees AMD finally draw the curtains on the Socket AM4 platform. The 5800X3D and 5700X3D, while based on the older "Zen 3" microarchitecture and only supporting the older DDR4 memory standard, offered gaming performance rivaling 12th Gen Core i9-12900K "Alder Lake" or "Zen 4" Ryzen 7600 processors with newer DDR5 memory, giving those on the 8-year-old platform a cost-effective upgrade path.

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Welcome to the second week of August and this week's major release involves a pig bladder, shoulder pads and helmets. This is followed by some co-op survival horror set in 1998, a co-op brinepunk adventure, a spot of dungeon stalking, a definitive package of hammers of war and finally you get the chance to play as a toy in a sequel toy world.

EA Sports Madden NFL 26 / This week's major release / Thursday 14 August
EA Sports Madden NFL 26 leverages a new AI-powered machine learning system to convert thousands of plays from nearly a decade of real NFL data into more explosive gameplay—with new player-specific traits, authentic play-styles, and adaptive counters that match on-field tendencies and strategies of NFL quarterbacks and coaches. Steam link
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Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH) today announced a new Turtle Beach Airlite Fit wired gaming headset that's officially licensed for Nintendo Switch 2. Prior to Turtle Beach's 2024 acquisition of Performance Designed Products (PDP), the original Airlite headset was a top-3 best-selling headset for Nintendo Switch systems under PDP. Turtle Beach reintroduced the officially licensed for Nintendo Switch Airlite Fit earlier this year as an updated over-ear model available in Neon Blue & Red, White & Black, or Ghost Purple. The new, officially licensed for Nintendo Switch 2 Airlite Fit delivers the same lightweight comfort and immersive gaming audio the series is known for. It now features an official Nintendo Switch 2 design and comes in a new Charcoal Black colorway.

The new, officially licensed Turtle Beach Airlite Fit wired gaming headset for Nintendo Switch 2 in Charcoal Black is available for pre-order today for $27.99/£19.99/€24.99 and launches at participating retailers worldwide on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. "Working with our partners at Nintendo, we are excited to release our latest Airlite Fit headset for a lightweight and comfortable gaming experience, licensed for Nintendo Switch 2," said Cris Keirn, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. "With proven, excellent audio performance at an affordable price, the Airlite Fit enhances the amazing experiences on Nintendo Switch 2 for gamers everywhere."
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TrendForce's latest findings reveal the DDR4 market is set to remain in a persistent state of undersupply and strong price growth through 2H25. Rigid server orders are crowding out supply for the PC and consumer markets, forcing PC OEMs to accelerate DDR5 adoption.

Manufacturers of consumer electronics, meanwhile, are struggling with high prices and material shortages. The tight DRAM supply-demand balance has also pushed up mobile DRAM contract prices, with 3Q25 LPPR4X posting the largest single-quarter increase in nearly a decade.
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ASUS today announced NUC 15 Performance, a cutting-edge barebone mini PC that features the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 / 7 processors (Series 2) and the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 / 5060 Laptop GPUs. This compact powerhouse delivers exceptional performance in a sleek 3-liter design, and is ideal for high-vision computing in commercial and industrial applications.

Next-level performance
Powered by either an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX or Ultra 7 255HX processor, NUC 15 Performance delivers exceptional AI performance and efficiency, offering up to an 18% performance boost over previous NUC models for smooth multitasking while running the most demanding apps. Designed for business and creative professionals, NUC 15 Performance ensures seamless, high-efficiency computing to enhance productivity.
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NVIDIA and AMD have entered into an unusual trade agreement that sees them pay a flat 15 percent of their revenues from sales of chips to China to the U.S. Government, to secure export licenses, Bloomberg reports. This payment would naturally see the two raise prices of their chips to Chinese customers, and the move is intended to raise costs for Chinese AI acceleration data-centers, making data-centers in other parts of the world more competitive. This is probably done to blunt the energy cost advantage Chinese cloud computing companies enjoy compared to Western markets. With Moore's Law practically dead, industrial-scale AI acceleration is poised to become an energy intensive operation.

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According to the technology analyst firm, Gartner, we learned this week that hosted desktops, known as Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS), are now often less expensive to operate than traditional laptops and are expected to become cost-effective for most employees within two years. That could force many enterprises to invest more in DaaS rather than their local PC infrastructure. In its Magic Quadrant for DaaS, Gartner forecasts that by 2027, approximately 20% of workers will use a cloud-hosted machine as their primary workspace, up from around 10% in 2019. The firm also expects DaaS to be cost-effective for approximately 95% of use cases/roles by 2027, compared with roughly 40% in 2019. Gartner cites lower total cost of ownership as a key factor, especially when organizations pair DaaS with light, inexpensive thin-client endpoints. New deployments are increasingly cloud-first, and many firms are choosing hosted solutions over building or expanding on-premises virtual desktop infrastructure. Especially with AI buildout requiring expensive GPUs, it could be more viable for enterprises to use a hosted acceleration when needed, instead of buying expensive hardware for local processing.

The report shows several market leaders and practical questions for IT teams. Microsoft is named the standout vendor for its wide cloud reach, workplace tools, and AI features, though buyers are advised to consider the differences between Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop. Citrix is praised for its strong management and protocol technology, but is warned for offering bundled packages and long subscription terms. Omnissa is recognized for scalable offerings, while some customers worry about global support. AWS earns credit for integrating management tools into Workspaces. Beyond vendor rankings, experts highlight a new use case that could transform desktop strategy. As AI tools and autonomous agents begin to handle routine computer tasks, they will likely need their own optimized virtual workspaces. That raises questions about how those spaces will be designed, secured, and licensed. However, the takeaway is clear: budget planning, procurement, and desktop strategy must adapt to recurring cloud costs, endpoint choices, and a future where both people and software agents coexist in the digital workplace.

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OKI has successfully developed Tiling crystal film bonding (CFB) technology using its proprietary CFB technology. This technology makes possible the heterogeneous integration of small-diameter optical semiconductor wafers onto 300 mm silicon wafers, heretofore not possible due to wafer size restrictions, and will contribute to the advancement of rapidly growing photonics-electronics convergence technology. OKI aims to achieve early commercialization through collaboration with partner companies and universities.

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years has fueled growing demand for data centers, making it a serious social issue to suppress increases in power consumption while expanding data processing capabilities. One solution to such a challenge currently drawing attention is technologies that achieve high-density, high-speed transmission, and low power consumption, applying photonics-electronics convergence technology that combines electronic and optical circuits. In particular, the heterogeneous integration of optical semiconductors onto silicon wafers is expected to improve performance still further by enabling the integration of silicon photonics with optical semiconductors.
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MINIX, a pioneer in innovative compact computing solutions for over 21 years, is set to launch its next-generation AI-powered mini PCs—the ER937-AI and ER936-AI—on August 12, 2025. Combining compact design with flagship-level performance to handle complex tasks effortlessly, these devices aim to redefine industry standards for powerful AI computing and high-efficiency task handling, unlocking endless possibilities for professionals, gamers, and content creators alike. The ER937-AI and ER936-AI embody MINIX's commitment to innovation by integrating advanced AI processing, robust graphics, and enterprise-grade reliability into a small form factor, which is more portable and easier to install compared to traditional desktops and excels in versatility and power. "Our new mini PCs prove that size is no barrier to performance," said the founder of MINIX.

US Market:

• ER937-AI: $869 only—$130 off the MSRP
• ER936-AI: $789 only—$110 off the MSRP

EU Market:

• ER937-AI: €869 only—€150 off the MSRP
• ER936-AI: €789 only—€130 off the MSRP

Visit the MINIX Website for more information.
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FSP, the channel brand of major power supply OEM Fortron, introduced its flagship PSU targeting enthusiast-segment desktops and workstations, the Cannon Pro 2500 W. This beastly PSU was shown off at the 2025 Computex this May, and is making its way to retail later this month. The PSU comes with full modular cabling, and is 20 cm in length. It meets ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 CEM specifications. Its distribution table says that the PSU features a single 208 A +12 V rail, and uses DC to DC switching for 25 A +3.3 V and +5 V rails.

The Cannon Pro 2500 W offers 80 Plus Platinum switching efficiency when used with 230 V AC input. Among the protection features offered are over/under voltage, overcurrent, overload, overheat, short-circuit, surge and inrush, and no-load operation protection. Connectors include one 24-pin ATX, three 4+4 pin EPS, four 12V-2x6 each capable of 600 W, eleven 6+2 pin PCIe power, ten SATA power, and six Molex. The PSU is cooled by a 135 mm fluid dynamic bearing fan. The company hasn't confirmed pricing, but says that the PSU is backed by a 3-year warranty.

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