TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

Alchemy Factory is now available in Early Access on Steam. Developed by D5 Copperhead and published by Gamirror Games, this medieval-style automation production game combines simulation management and sandbox building. Early Access is priced at $17.99, with a 10% discount available for the first two weeks.

Alchemy Factory is an automation production game set in a medieval world, blending simulation management and sandbox building. Players take on the role of a magic apprentice who unlocks magical technologies, designs automated production lines, and sells various alchemical goods. The goal is to eventually become a master alchemist whose wealth rivals nations, spanning fields like potion making, metallurgy, and jewelry, and to gradually build your own alchemical kingdom.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

MSI's AMD APU-powered Claw A8 handheld gaming PC seems to be heading to North American shores. Over the past weekend, web sleuths noticed Newegg and B&H Photo Video listings. At the time of writing, a pre-release price tag—$1149—is attached to the territory specific "BZ2EM-070US" SKU. Reflecting similar past practices, MSI has staggered the rollout of its latest Windows 11-based portable gaming system. The Taiwanese manufacturer has tended to favor Asian territories when distributing the first waves of Claw hardware—notably, the current-gen A8 debuted in China (and nearby) around "late July/early August."

Unlike most of the competition, MSI opted into using Intel APUs across first and second-generation Claw platforms. Even in Core Ultra 7 form, Team Blue's "Meteor Lake" chipsets trailed behind competing AMD-centric hardware. MSI's second wave handheld PCs—Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+—were driven by Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V APU. This "Lunar Lake" mobile processor currently competes with Team Red's AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme SoC, as tracked/observed by Golden Pig Upgrade. Around mid-May, we picked up on whispers of the MSI Claw family diversifying into the AMD APU realm. A couple of months later, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered Claw A8 started to trickle out at retail. Eventually reaching UK stores by September; priced at £849 (~$1135 USD)—available in Polar Tempest (white) or Neon Green finishes. Presently, only the white 1 TB + 24 GB LPDDR5X model is listed by Newegg and B&H.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

KIOXIA is introducing a new storage solution with its Exceria G3 SSD series, an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD lineup that combines PCIe 5.0 speeds with QLC NAND memory to offer more affordable options for fast PCIe 5.0 storage. Scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2025, these M.2 2280 drives will be available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities. They promise sequential read speeds of up to 10,000 MB/s and write speeds reaching 9,600 MB/s for the larger model. By integrating the latest interface standard with its eighth-generation BiCS FLASH QLC memory, KIOXIA aims to attract users looking to upgrade from older SATA and PCIe 3.0 drives, without pushing them into the higher-priced tier dominated by TLC NAND.

While QLC memory has historically lagged behind TLC in endurance and performance, the 2 TB G3 surpasses KIOXIA's Exceria Plus G4 in sequential writes and random IOPS, achieving 1.6 million read operations and 1.45 million write operations per second. This improvement is due to the BiCS8 architectural enhancements, which enable KIOXIA to rate the drives at 600 TBW for the 1 TB model and 1,200 TBW for the 2 TB version. These durability figures are comparable to most modern TLC offerings. The 1 TB variant is also impressive, with 10,000 MB/s read speeds, 8,900 MB/s write speeds, and 1.3 million IOPS for random reads. Naturally, performance decreases with smaller capacities. Pricing is still unknown, but the point here is affordability, so that might be something to look forward to.

More...

[NextPowerUP]

On December 16 we will release a content update for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl with a brand-new storyline. All of this—completely free for all owners of the game. Christmas arrived earlier in the Zone. Let's get into it.

So what is this new quest?
Strange things start happening near the Malachite on the Western part of the map. The research groups sent by scientists were reporting a signal interfering with their usual PDA communications. After listening to it, stalkers were suffering from headaches, nose bleeds, and hallucinations. Professor Medulin witnessed everything with his own eyes. While being good at scientific research, he didn't know enough about the radio signal and what to do to figure out what was happening. That's where Banzai steps in, a radio enthusiast, who also joined the investigation, but something went wrong. You may hear their emergency transmission almost anywhere in the Zone. Pay close attention to the Red Forest Region on your map, and from here on, your intuition, rationality and choices will lead you down the rabbit hole to see how deep it is.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

The good-old "spinning rust"—commonly referred to as Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)—may be another leg in the depleted computing infrastructure caused by the AI boom. According to DigiTimes, contract negotiations for the fourth quarter of 2025 concluded with traditional HDD prices settling about 4% higher quarter-over-quarter, marking the largest rise in the past eight quarters. That is over the largest increase in recent years, indicating that the demand is again outpacing supply even in the slower storage segments like HDD. The massive demand reportedly comes from particularly strong uptake for desktop 3.5-inch drives in China and continued heavy procurement of high-capacity units by major U.S. cloud service providers and hyperscalers.

In China, there is a preference for domestically produced CPUs and operating systems, combined with an increase in local PC assembly, which has brought HDDs back into first-class role in certain PC configurations after years of being replaced by SSDs. Additionally, concerns about SSD data retention have led some customers and policymakers to favor HDDs for specific workloads. Large cloud operators are also expanding their exabyte-class storage for AI, analytics, and archival needs. Manufacturers report that utilization rates are at or near full capacity as demand extends beyond traditional surveillance and backup applications. Especially with AI infrastructure, storing massive data for model training has prompted AI labs to use some HDD-based storage infrastructure where speed isn't needed.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Acer introduced its opening salvo of Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB and RX 9070 non-XT 16 GB custom card designs back in March, almost alongside competing options produced by other AMD board partners. Oddly, the Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer did not end up launching Navi 48 GPU-based products during that period—months later, retail stock started appearing in Japan. Fast-forward to the end of 2025, and Acer seems to be catching up with other AIBs, yet again. Last Friday (December 12), a Japanese press release signalled the arrival of White Edition Predator BiFrost options at retail outlets. The flagship spin-off SKU is available immediately, at 138,800 yen (tax included), converting to ~$896 USD.

A weekend investigation—prompted by GDM/hermitage akihabara's PR release—produced evidence of pale Predator BiFrost Radeon RX 9070 XT OC and RX 9070 OC stock reaching Europe. VideoCardz happened upon highly-detailed entries on the Geizhals price aggregation engine. In Germany, Acer's best RDNA 4 gaming card—now dressed in white—is (appropriately) cheapest at the "NBB - notebooksbilliger" Ebay store. An active voucher promo brings total cost of ownership down to €613.81 (~$722 USD). Alternatively, NBB and Nullprozentshop offer the joint-lowest non-XT White Edition listings: €539.00 (~$634 USD). Product renders show familiar packaging; already present on boxed standard black models. Oddly, the non-XT promotional shots show the deployment of three 8-pin power connectors (instead of the standard two). Normally this triple provision is reserved for top-level XT options, so Acer's graphics department could be using a generic image set for both overclocked models.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Marvell recently showcased its custom silicon IP advancements at the Marvell Analyst Day 2025. The company has developed SRAM IP that surpasses industry standards in terms of power efficiency and density. Initially launched in June, their 2 nm SRAM IP now reveals performance figures that highlight its superiority over standard solutions. In a 256K instance comparison, Marvell reports an 80% reduction in total power consumption, a 37% smaller area, and cycle times that are 22% faster. Additionally, Marvell's memory layout is more rectangular, facilitating easier integration into dense SoCs.

Further comparisons with top alternatives show that Marvell's custom SRAM uses 50% less area at the same bandwidth, reduces standby power by 66%, and delivers 17 times more bandwidth per mm² when normalized by area. These improvements are attributed to redesigned clocking and port structures that enhance bandwidth from on-die SRAM. Marvell argues that this architectural approach results in significantly higher bandwidth density and lower power consumption compared to standard dense SRAM IP. In an era where logic scaling continues to outpace memory in modern semiconductor nodes, having custom IP that aggressively boosts SRAM density and reduces power usage is a massive advantage.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. (HDMI LA) announced that its CES 2026 booth will spotlight HDMI gaming technologies with a range of demonstrations designed to engage both professional attendees and gaming enthusiasts. The booth will feature the performance benefits of three HDMI cable types across interactive gaming demonstrations:

• Ultra96 HDMI Cable, introduced in the recently released HDMI 2.2 Specification, will be on display with early prototypes
• Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
• Premium High Speed HDMI Cable

These demonstrations will highlight how the right HDMI connectivity drives exceptional performance for next-generation gaming experiences.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

A new era of survival horror arrives with Resident Evil Requiem, the latest and most immersive entry yet in the iconic Resident Evil series. Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Both of their journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill you to your core. Watch the latest heart-stopping trailer (below) for a taste of the horrors that await on February 27, 2026.

Requiem for the dead. Nightmare for the living. Resident Evil Requiem is now available for pre-order! Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Both of their journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill you to your core. A new era of survival horror begins when Resident Evil Requiem launches February 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

A few days ago we reported on Lenovo preparing a rather unusual laptop called Legion Pro Rollable, which takes the regular 16:9 16-inch display and expands horizontally to become a 24-inch 21:9 ultrawide laptop. Today, Windows Latest is back with more exclusive information about the laptop, giving us almost a complete picture of what Lenovo has prepared. According to the updated specification the design will be essentially based on the Legion Pro 7i, modified with a new body. The new Legion Pro Rollable will feature NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 laptop SKU, paired with a "maxed-out" Intel Core Ultra processor. We don't know what CPU SKU that will be, but it could be possible that even a "Panther Lake" SKU ends up inside.

For the display, a motorized mechanism expands it both left and right, transforming the panel from a standard 16:9 aspect ratio to an ultrawide 21:9 format. Additional screen area is rolled up inside the lid and unfolds outward as rails extend, creating a continuous, wider viewing surface. When closed, the notebook maintains a typical Legion appearance with a centered PureSight OLED panel. The screen can extend into two size from the original 16-inch. This includes a 21.5-inch extended configuration, and a full-size 24-inch extended configuration.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, data centers are experiencing explosive growth in computational workloads. With the shift from large-scale model training to continuous inference, the challenge is no longer just about performance - energy efficiency has become equally critical to sustaining next-generation AI infrastructure. This transition is fueling demand for low-power memory solutions capable of supporting continuous AI workloads while optimizing power consumption.

In line with this trend, Samsung has developed SOCAMM2 (Small Outline Compression Attached Memory Module) - an LPDDR-based server memory module designed for AI data centers, with customer samples already being supplied. By combining the strengths of LPDDR technology with a modular, detachable design, SOCAMM2 delivers higher bandwidth, improved power efficiency, and flexible system integration, enabling AI servers to achieve greater efficiency and scalability.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

A new software bundle offering lifetime licenses to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro is now available for a one-time payment of $39.97. For users who rely heavily on Microsoft ecosystems for work, study, or personal productivity, the pairing provides long-term access to two of the company's core products without subscription requirements. Microsoft Office Professional 2021 includes the full suite of desktop applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

This version continues Microsoft's shift toward a streamlined ribbon interface designed to improve usability across document creation, data analysis, and presentation workflows. Office 2021 also emphasizes compatibility with modern file formats, improved performance, and tools for users working with large datasets or graphics-heavy content. Once activated, the license is tied to one Windows device and does not require ongoing payments. The bundle also includes a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft's professional-grade operating system. Windows 11 Pro introduces interface refinements such as Snap Layouts, redesigned multitasking tools, integrated Teams chat, and support for touchscreen and pen-based interactions.

With both a modern operating system and a full productivity suite included, this Microsoft bundle offers a single-purchase option for just $39.97 (MSRP $418.99).
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

With the matt nickel-plated fittings, Thermal Grizzly expands its product range and offers more options for building a custom water-cooling system. In addition to the new color variant, two new fittings are now available, each with two G1/4-inch female threads. The DeltaMate Rotary - FF90° and the DeltaMate Extender - FF14 are primarily intended for combining two fittings. For example, two short hard tubes can be combined into one long hard tube using two DeltaMate Fittings - HT16 and a DeltaMate Extender - FF14, or routed at a 90-degree angle using the DeltaMate Rotary - FF90° and two HT16 fittings, without the need to bend the tubes themselves.

DeltaMate Fittings are water cooling connectors designed for the individual components of a custom water cooling loop. As expected from Thermal Grizzly quality, the fittings are precisely machined from brass. Brass, as an alloy of copper and zinc, offers the advantage of being anodically compatible with other metals while being harder and more corrosion-resistant than copper.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

ASUS today announced that it has claimed the No. 1 position in global OLED monitor market share, following a surge in sales throughout 2025. According to independent market research firm TrendForce, ASUS now holds an estimated 21.9% share, surpassing competitors and cementing its leadership in this fast-growing market.

This milestone underscores the company's commitment to delivering more than just monitors - it reflects a user-first strategy focused on elevating the overall display experience. By expanding its OLED portfolio across both QD-OLED and WOLED technologies for gaming, professional, and creator segments, ASUS ensures solutions are tailored to diverse user needs. Unique innovations such as OLED Care Pro, Neo Proximity Sensor, TrueBlack Glossy, and DisplayWidget Center go beyond performance, enhancing usability, longevity, and visual immersion. This consumer-centric approach transforms OLED monitors into a complete experience, driving user preference for ASUS products and solidifying the company's position as the No. 1 OLED market leader.
Read full story

More...

[NextPowerUP]

Ask any gamer, and you'll hear anecdotes of sky-high hardware prices, especially with the recent developments in the system memory market, but now we also have data to back up those conclusions, thanks to Matt Piscatella and Circana Retail Tracking Service. Piscatella, the Senior Director and Video Game Industry Thought Leader at Circana, recently posted a graph on Bluesky revealing the average monthly US video game hardware unit sales and sale price per unit in November of every year starting in 1995.

According to the data, gaming hardware sales are at the lowest they've been since November 1995, sitting at 1.6 million sales, down from 3.39 million units in November 2019. Meanwhile, the average price per unit is at an all-time high, with the price per unit coming in at $439, up from a mere $235 in November 2019. Compared to November 2024 alone, video game hardware spending declined by a whopping 27%, compared to a 1% increase in sales volume for gaming content and a 13% decline in video game accessory sales. The year-over-year sales reportedly still saw a 10% increase. It's worth noting that this data isn't necessarily representative of global sales or pricing trends, since only US sales were measured. At the same time, it seems as though subscriptions are paying off, with the data analyst claiming a 16% increase in subscription spending since November 2024. In general, it seems as though gamers are spending similar amounts of money on game content as they were just a year prior.

More...