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September 8
- 1TB Raspberry Pi SSD Arrives For A Fast And Affordable Pi 5 Storage Boost
➀ Raspberry Pi Foundation has released its own-brand 1TB SSD, complementing the existing 512GB and 256GB options.
➁ The SSD is designed to enhance performance of I/O-intensive applications on the Raspberry Pi 5 and offers fast startup times.
➂ The 1TB model is the most performant with 4K random reads and writes at 90,000 IOPS.
- Upgraded Nvidia RTX 5090 gets 128GB VRAM and $13,000 price tag — 'super limited' GPU is described as a 'prototype'
❶ A modified NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU with 128GB GDDR7X VRAM emerges in China's underground market, priced at $13,200 for AI workloads.
❷ Custom PCB design and prototype memory chips enable the VRAM upgrade, requiring dual-sided configurations and custom firmware to function.
❸ Concerns arise about fraudulent resale of stripped GPU cores and the technical viability of high-density memory mods amid the AI hardware boom.
- Best of IFA 2025: New laptops, monitors, gaming handhelds, and more
➀ The IFA 2025 showcased innovative devices like the Lenovo ThinkBook VertiFlex with a rotatable screen and Acer Swift 16 AI with Intel's Panther Lake chip;
➁ Gaming hardware stole the spotlight with the Acer Predator X27U F8 monitor's 720Hz OLED display and Lenovo Legion Go 2 handheld's upgraded OLED and battery;
➂ Anker's 14-port Prime Docking Station and Baseus EnerGeek GT01 hybrid charger highlighted convergence of AI and consumer convenience.
- TSMC increases Arizona internships to feed its Phoenix fabs — CHIPS-fueled supply chain begins to take shape
➀ TSMC doubled its Arizona internship program to over 200 students, targeting talent for its advanced 4nm and future 2nm fabs;
➀ The U.S. government's $6.6B CHIPS Act supports TSMC’s third Arizona fab, aiming to create 6,000 jobs and onshore advanced chip production;
➂ Partnerships with ASU, Amkor’s $2B packaging facility, and state-funded apprenticeships strengthen the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.
- New and simple detection method for nanoplastics: The 'optical sieve' works like a test strip
➀ A joint team from the University of Stuttgart and the University of Melbourne developed a cost-effective method using an "optical sieve" to detect nanoplastics (0.2–1 µm) in environmental samples, requiring only a standard optical microscope;
➁ The technique utilizes semiconductor substrates etched with "Mie voids" that produce color changes when particles are trapped, enabling rapid size and quantity analysis without complex equipment;
➂ The method has potential applications in on-site environmental monitoring and health research, with plans to adapt it for irregular particles and real-world water samples.
September 7
- New report blames Phison's pre-release firmware for SSD failures — not Microsoft’s August patch for Windows
➀ A Chinese Facebook group PCDIY! identified pre-release Phison firmware as the root cause of recent SSD failures, contradicting initial blame on Microsoft's Windows 11 update;
➀ Affected drives used unreleased engineering firmware, while consumer SSDs with official firmware remain stable;
➁ Phison and Microsoft previously denied responsibility, but new findings suggest overlapping complexities in firmware, hardware, and OS updates.
- Multiple undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, hampering internet performance — international cables connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are compromised
➀ Two major submarine cables (SEA-ME-WE 4 and IMEWE) in the Red Sea were severed, causing latency spikes for Microsoft Azure users in South Asia and the Gulf;
➁ Microsoft rerouted traffic via longer paths, while repairs may take weeks due to geopolitical risks and scarce repair resources;
➂ This marks the second major cable disruption in the Red Sea since 2024, highlighting vulnerabilities in global Internet infrastructure.
- Eight-year-old gaming PC with Nvidia GTX 1080 found in the trash room gets a second life — offered a substantial upgrade to the finder despite age
➀ A vintage 2017 gaming PC with Intel i7-7700 and GTX 1080 GPU was rescued from dumpster;
➁ Found fully functional except storage, offering substantial upgrade over a 12-year-old system;
➂ Upgrades like SATA SSD expansion and RAM boost highlight ongoing value of legacy hardware
September 6
- AMD launches Ryzen 5 9500F, claiming up to 24% faster than Ryzen 5 7500F in gaming — Zen 5 chip launches as a China-exclusive for now
➀ AMD launches Ryzen 5 9500F as a China-exclusive Zen 5 CPU with 6 cores and 5 GHz boost clock.
➁ Claims up to 24% gaming gains over Ryzen 5 7500F, averaging 15% better performance in benchmarks.
➂ Priced at ~$180 (1,299 Yuan), but current pricing strategy may limit competitiveness vs AMD's other Zen 5 chips.
- Top Wi-Fi 7 Router Deals: Save Up To 38% On TP-Link, Netgear & More
➀ If your wireless router is struggling to maintain a connection, investing in Wi-Fi 7 now is more cost-effective as prices have stabilized.
➁ TP-Link's Tri-Band BE19000 Archer GE800 Wi-Fi 7 gaming router is on sale for $369.99 at Amazon, marking a 38% discount.
➂ The router offers multi-link operation support, allowing devices to connect to multiple bands simultaneously, and boasts speeds up to 11,528Mbps on the 6GHz band.
- SAMA P1200 Platinum power supply review
➀ The SAMA P1200 Platinum power supply exceeds 80 Plus Platinum efficiency standards, achieving 93.2% efficiency at 230V input, ideal for high-performance systems;
➁ Compact 150mm form factor with premium Japanese capacitors ensures reliability and thermal stability, backed by a 10-year warranty;
➂ Priced competitively at $190, it challenges established brands despite limited PCIe connectors for modern graphics cards.
- Seagate Exos M 30TB HDD review: laser-powered HAMR recording tech revitalizes the enterprise HDD market
➀ Seagate's Exos M 30TB introduces HAMR technology, achieving a breakthrough 30TB capacity with 275MB/s sustained write speeds.
➁ The drive uses laser-heated media and Mozaic 3+ platform for higher storage density while maintaining power efficiency at 9.5W.
➂ Priced at $20/TB, it targets enterprise users but faces competition from smaller drives, with SMR variants reaching up to 36TB.
- Amazon Echo is reportedly an internet vampire that uses gigabytes of data per day despite being unused, says owner
➀ An Amazon Echo user reports two Echo Show devices consumed over 4GB/day despite minimal usage;
➁ Experts suggest potential causes including software updates, cached video content, or Amazon Sidewalk sharing;
➂ Users advised to monitor network logs or unplug devices to eliminate privacy/data risks.
September 5
- DIYer creates the PC gaming handheld of your widest dreams – 32:9 AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme device showcased in driving games
➀ A Chinese DIY enthusiast showcased a custom 32:9 ultra-wide PC gaming handheld powered by AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, demonstrating smooth 60fps gameplay in racing titles like Asphalt Legends and SnowRunner;
➁ The device uses a rare 32:9 Asus ProArt portable display (1,920 x 550 pixels) capped at 60Hz, with estimated high costs due to premium components;
➂ While innovative, commercial alternatives like OneXPlayer X1 Air with 11-inch 16:10 screen and Intel Ultra 200V chips gain attention for balancing portability and performance.
- Portable 3D-printed device can produce enough drinking water from thin air for a family of four every day - Water from Air project can capture 1.6 gallons of drinking water per day
➀ A 3D-printed device by graduates uses atmospheric water generation (AWG) to produce up to 6 liters (1.6 gallons) of drinking water daily.
➁ The modular design leverages metal-organic frameworks and solar-powered condensation cycles, targeting affordability and global scalability.
➂ While still a prototype, the project highlights 3D printing’s potential in solving water scarcity amid global sanitation challenges.
- Lenovo shows off ThinkBook VertiFlex laptop and Smart Motion dock concepts at IFA – rotating displays and AI-powered docks that follow your every move
➀ Lenovo unveiled the ThinkBook VertiFlex Concept, featuring a 14-inch display that manually rotates between landscape and portrait modes without keyboard adjustment;
➁ The Smart Motion Concept dock integrates AI-driven motorized gimbals to track user movements and voice, optimizing ergonomic positioning;
➂ Both concepts emphasize Lenovo's experimental approach, potentially influencing future commercial products despite uncertain release timelines.
- Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 packs Ryzen Z2 Extreme and an OLED display — thick gaming handheld starts at $1,049
➀ Lenovo Legion Go 2 features AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, OLED display (1920x1200, 144Hz), up to 32GB RAM, and Hall effect joysticks.
➁ The handheld is thicker (1.66” with controllers) but includes a larger 74WHr battery and 2TB storage, priced from $1,049.
➂ Lenovo also announced the LOQ Tower desktop with AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, starting at $999.99.
- Lenovo's IFA launches include 4K 240 Hz OLED gaming monitors — Legion Pro 7 laptops features Ryzen 9 9955HX3D with an RTX 5080
➀ Lenovo unveiled three OLED gaming monitors at IFA 2025, including 4K 240Hz Legion Pro 32UD-10/27UD-10 and QHD 280Hz 27Q-10;
➁ The flagship Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop features AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU, NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU, and a 16" 240Hz OLED display;
➂ Priced from $699 (monitors) to $2,399 (laptop), products will launch between October-November 2025.
August 1
- AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming chip champ drops to $449 at Amazon — $29 off its MSRP
➀ AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D gaming CPU drops to $449 at Amazon, offering the best 8-core gaming performance;
➁ The processor utilizes 3D V-Cache technology and improved thermal design, delivering 8% performance gains over its predecessor;
➂ Dominates Intel in 1080p gaming benchmarks, especially in esports titles like CS2 and Valorant.
- SK hynix dethrones Samsung to become world's top-selling memory maker for the first time — success mostly attributed to its HBM3 dominance for Nvidia's AI GPUs
➀ SK Hynix surpassed Samsung in Q2 2025 with $9.66B memory revenue (36.2% market share), marking its first leadership since 1983.
➁ Dominance driven by HBM3/HBM3E supply for NVIDIA's AI GPUs, while Samsung faced delays and price cuts in the HBM race.
➂ The shift signals AI-centric demand reshaping memory industry profits, with SK Hynix advancing HBM4 R&D and Samsung seeking AMD/startup partnerships.
- 3D printing in space passes industry testing milestone for fabrication of spacecraft and associated equipment — promising future for zero gravity 3D printing
➀ Horizon Microtechnologies' 3D-printed components passed critical outgassing tests under the ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C standard, enabling their use in spacecraft manufacturing;
➀ The International Space Station (ISS) has successfully tested 3D printing in microgravity using low-temperature plastics;
➂ Specialized coating technology addresses material volatility, opening new possibilities for on-demand part fabrication in space.
- Dell's back-to-school sale takes $350 off the price of Alienware's 4K QD-OLED curved gaming monitor
➀ Dell offers a $350 discount on the Alienware AW3225QF 4K QD-OLED curved gaming monitor during its back-to-school sale, dropping the price to $849;
➁ The 32-inch monitor features a 240Hz refresh rate, HDR10/Dolby Vision, and exceptional color accuracy, earning Tom's Hardware's Editor's Choice award;
➂ Requires a high-end GPU to fully utilize its 4K resolution and performance, offering an immersive 1700R curved display for gamers.
- XeSS SDK 2.1 release opens up Intel's framegen tech to compatible AMD and Nvidia GPUs — Xe Low Latency also goes cross-platform if framegen is enabled
➀ Intel's XeSS 2.1 SDK enables cross-platform frame generation for AMD/Nvidia GPUs including GTX 10-series and RX 5000 series, though RTX 30/RX 6000+ is recommended;
➁ XeLL low-latency mode now works on non-Intel GPUs but requires active frame generation, with developers needing to adopt the updated SDK for implementation;
➂ Despite the openness, adoption is limited with only 22 games supporting XeSS 2, highlighting challenges against entrenched solutions like FSR and DLSS.
- Dr.-Ing. Ronny Tobias Zimmermann Awarded the Max Planck Society's Otto Hahn Medal
➀ Dr.-Ing. Ronny Tobias Zimmermann received the Otto Hahn Medal for his research on reactor and catalyst pellet designs enabling flexible chemical energy storage via Power-to-X processes;
➁ His work developed core-shell catalyst pellets that prevent temperature spikes under dynamic renewable energy conditions, maintaining high product yield without requiring reactor modifications;
➂ The innovation offers an economically viable solution for large-scale energy storage, with Zimmermann currently leading a research group at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg.
- HiQ-CARB Project: More Sustainable Conductive Carbon Additives for Lithium-Ion Batteries
➀ The HiQ-CARB project developed sustainable conductive additives (carbon nanotubes and bio-based acetylene black) to reduce CO₂ emissions in lithium-ion batteries, replacing fossil-based materials;
➁ The additives improved battery performance, reduced material usage, and were validated in production by partners like Fraunhofer ISC and CustomCells, enabling lighter and more cost-effective batteries;
➂ Life cycle analysis confirmed a 50% lower CO₂ footprint compared to conventional methods, supporting Europe's transition to eco-friendly battery manufacturing and electric mobility.
- Battlefield 6 requirements suggest it'll run on surprisingly modest PCs — EA VP says it still won't work on Steam Deck, though
➀ Battlefield 6 (BF6) requires surprisingly modest hardware, needing a 10th-gen Intel or Ryzen 3000 CPU and RTX 3060 Ti/RX 6700 XT GPU for optimal performance;
➁ EA confirms the game won’t run on Steam Deck at launch due to discrete GPU requirements but may work on handhelds with external GPUs or AMD Strix Halo chips;
➂ The free-to-play approach drives lower specs, contrasting with recent AAA titles demanding cutting-edge hardware.
- MLPerf Client 1.0 AI benchmark released — new testing toolkit sports a GUI, covers more models and tasks, and supports more hardware acceleration paths
➀ MLPerf Client 1.0 introduces a user-friendly GUI and expands support for Meta's Llama 2/3.1, Microsoft Phi, and experimental models;
➁ Enhanced hardware acceleration paths now cover Qualcomm, Apple, Intel, and NVIDIA devices via diverse SDKs and frameworks;
➂ New tasks like code analysis and large-context summarization enable deeper evaluation of AI performance across integrated and discrete hardware.
- How to tweak your Windows 11 and Windows 10 setup with Winaero Tweaker — easily remove ads, tracking, AI copilot, and more
➀ Winaero Tweaker is a free utility that enables deep customization of Windows 11/10, including removing ads, disabling telemetry/data tracking, and eliminating AI Copilot;
➁ The tool allows advanced users to freeze system states for benchmarking by disabling driver/Windows updates, while also restoring nostalgic features like classic shutdown shortcuts;
➂ Caution is advised when disabling critical security features like User Account Control (UAC), as it increases system vulnerability risks.
- Real-Time Measuring Method Extends Lifespan and Enhances Safety of Batteries
➀ Fraunhofer IFAM developed dynamic impedance spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of battery status during operation, improving safety and lifespan;
➁ The method enables immediate detection of overheating in electric vehicle batteries and optimizes charging strategies, reducing wear;
➂ Applications extend to renewable energy storage and safety-critical sectors like aviation, supporting diverse battery technologies, including solid-state and sodium-ion.
- Listening for Damage to Wind Turbines
➀ Fraunhofer IIS and IWES developed an acoustic sensor system with a specialized chip to remotely detect rotor blade damage in wind turbines, reducing costly inspections.
➁ The chip captures structural sound anomalies, transmits minimal data via mobile networks, and enables real-time monitoring, optimizing maintenance for offshore wind farms.
➂ Future upgrades aim to detect lightning strikes, enhancing reliability and supporting the energy transition through improved turbine durability.