Intel released microcode patch 0x12F for Raptor Lake processors that stops voltage problems. The update fixes an issue where chips might run below safe power levels during light tasks over many days. Earlier patches from last September handled most voltage bugs but missed this rare case. The new instructions keep voltage from falling below the minimum limits without changing performance or power use. Newer Core Ultra 200S chips never had this problem.
Before the September fixes, some Raptor Lake K processors suffered damage from incorrect voltage. A few computer enthusiasts noticed another edge case when running very light programs for long periods. ASRock already offers test BIOS updates with the new patch. Other board makers plan to...
Clippy has returned as a personal AI helper that works right on your computer without sending your chats online. The program runs on Windows, Mac, or Linux machines through Electron software. When it starts, it grabs a Google Gemma3 model from the web before sitting quietly in screen corners, just like years ago. Users view an old Windows 98-style interface with that famous paperclip moving around their screen.
People can switch to different AI models with one button press or block all internet access for total privacy. The system uses Node code to manage model downloads, with Python running the actual AI through PyTorch or TensorFlow software. Everything comes preset, but users can change the starting messages or display looks through...
EA plans to release the next Battlefield game before March 31, 2026. They will show it to everyone next summer. Players tested the game privately since March, but some shared videos online against the rules. The company will let more people from Europe, North America, and Asia try the game this month. Anyone can sign up on the Battlefield website for a chance to join these test games.
Testers will help fix the fighting systems. They focus on making weapons feel right, improving how players move around maps, and balancing how fast battles happen. Engineers check how well things break apart, like walls, cars, and buildings, in different areas. They aim to keep map changes important for strategy without hurting fair play. The team will...
NVIDIA plans to team up with MediaTek for new computer chips shown at Computex next month. The companies will reveal ARM chips called N1 and N1X that compete with Qualcomm Snapdragon X models. These processors might contain ten powerful X925 cores working alongside ten efficient A725 cores. Several versions could serve different laptop needs, from basic work machines to gaming computers. Engineers still need to fix connection issues between chip parts and improve how they save power with Windows.
The project gives NVIDIA its first real chance to make PC central processors. MediaTek gains entry to the laptop market after making mostly phone chips before. Both firms hope to change Windows computers with new options beyond regular chips...
Seagate plans to make hard drives three times bigger than today, reaching 100 TB storage size five years from today. They released a 36 TB drive early this year, with a 60 TB model coming soon. This growth needs better heat technology, more accurate read heads, and stable spinning disks. Solid state drives work faster but cost much more per terabyte, making hard drives better for large data centers. Company leader B.S. Teh believes no other storage matches the balance of price, space, and lifetime that spinning disks offer.
Large artificial intelligence systems need massive data storage, pushing centers to find cheaper options. More terabytes in each drive means less space used, lower power needs, and smaller cooling systems. Seagate...
Chinese tech writers test new AMD cards with 12 GB memory chips. These cards use smaller Navi 48 parts with fewer processors than regular models. The clock speeds stay almost the same despite changes to the inner parts. People pay about $588 for these cards compared to $630 for bigger versions. Tests show gaming speed matches older RX 7900 cards, which cost $549 when they first appeared.
The card runs just slightly behind NVIDIA RTX 5070 at high settings but beats RTX 5060 Ti by 25 percent. AMD sells these cards only in China through companies like ASUS, Sapphire, and XFX. The company might need better prices or free extras to sell well against other choices. Stores outside China cannot stock these cards until AMD decides to ship...
New Intel computer chips slow down fast storage drives because of their design. Tests show these drives reach just 12 GB/s instead of the expected 14 GB/s. The problem comes from how Intel built the chip parts. Storage lanes travel through a side chip before reaching the main chip area, creating delays.
The main chip section holds lanes for graphics cards with direct memory access, while storage lanes live separately on another chip section. Data must travel a longer path between chip parts, causing speed loss. Intel admits these extra lanes face delays from the chip-to-chip trip.
Users can fix this speed problem by plugging storage into the graphics card slot. This proves the issue comes from lane placement, not the board itself...
Memory maker G.SKILL will show new products at Computex 2025 from May 20 to 23. The company plans two major contests where experts push computer parts to their limits using liquid nitrogen cooling. These yearly events bring together top hardware tweakers who try to break speed records. Visitors can see the action at the Nangang Exhibition Center booth J0818 during the show days. Nine skilled contestants will compete for cash prizes.
The company offers $40,000 in total prize money for its OC World Cup event. Contestants use G.SKILL memory with Intel chips on Z890 motherboards to compete across four days. The winner takes home $10,000 during an award event on Friday afternoon. The second-place finisher earns $6,500, and the third-place...
Intel added smarter features to help games run better with XeSS 2. The system makes pictures sharper, adds extra frames between real ones, and cuts waiting time for player actions. This helps games look nice without slowing down your computer. Players who press buttons or move the mouse see results almost right away with less waiting time.
Tests show the Arc B580 card cuts waiting time by almost half during fast games. Players can use just the quick response part or mix it with other helping tools. Game tests tell a clear story about speed gains. Diablo IV ran four times faster than normal. Assassin's Creed: Shadows more than doubled its speed. Laptop chips with built-in graphics pushed many games past 60 frames each second with these...
