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June 9
- Micron balks at court order to share 73 pages of sensitive data with China's banned YMTC chipmaker — Micron strives to protect IP from Chinese chip firm on the entity list
➀ Micron challenges court rulings that allowed YMTC access to 73 pages of confidential 3D NAND documentation, citing national security risks;
➁ The dispute stems from a 2023 patent infringement case where YMTC accused Micron, with Micron arguing YMTC's request for printed source code pages exceeds agreed limits;
➂ Under the protective order, YMTC's access is restricted to physical copies with strict anti-duplication rules, though Micron seeks Supreme Court intervention to revoke access entirely.
- Xbox Series X|S expansion card from Seagate now comes in 4TB — quadruple your storage for $499
➀ Seagate launched a 4TB Xbox Series X|S Storage Expansion Card priced at $499.99, quadrupling console storage capacity;
➁ The card allows direct gameplay without transferring files to internal SSDs, maintaining native speed and compatibility with Xbox Velocity Architecture;
➂ Despite its high cost, it addresses storage woes for AAA games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (400GB+), offering seamless performance for hardcore gamers.
- Qualcomm acquires Alphawave Semi for $2.4 billion – says its leading high-speed wired tech will accelerate data center expansion
➀ Qualcomm acquires Alphawave Semi for $2.4B to enhance data center and AI chip capabilities;
➁ Alphawave's high-speed connectivity tech will complement Qualcomm's Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU cores;
➂ The deal signals Qualcomm's intensified competition with Intel, AMD, and Nvidia in server processor markets.
- If you deleted that mysterious Windows file Microsoft told you not to, there's a new script to restore it
➀ Microsoft released a PowerShell script to restore the critical 'inetpub' folder mistakenly deleted by users;
➁ The empty-looking folder is essential for patching CVE-2025-21204, a Windows Update Stack vulnerability;
➂ The script avoids enabling IIS manually, maintaining system security without adding unnecessary components.
June 8
- Researchers convert old phones into 'tiny data centers' — deploy one underwater for marine monitoring
➀ Researchers at the University of Tartu repurposed old smartphones into compact 'tiny data centers' to reduce e-waste and enable real-time edge computing.
➀ The system, featuring 3D-printed casings and custom software, successfully monitored marine life underwater without human intervention.
➂ Potential applications extend to public transit optimization and other edge computing scenarios, offering a sustainable solution for obsolete devices.
- ChatGPT used to disable SecureBoot in locked-down device – modded BIOS reflash facilitated fresh Windows and Linux installs
➀ A PC modder used ChatGPT to disable SecureBoot and FRP on a Panasonic ToughPad, enabling installation of Windows 10 and Linux Mint;
➁ The process involved BIOS chip dumping, AI-assisted SecureBoot removal via OpenAI’s model, and firmware reflashing with a $15 programmer;
➂ This breakthrough highlights AI's potential to revive locked enterprise devices, reducing e-waste while raising firmware security concerns.
- YouTube is expanding its ad-blocking powers — closes loopholes that allowed some users to bypass restrictions
➀ YouTube intensifies ad-blocking countermeasures, closing loopholes used by browsers like Firefox and ad-blocking extensions;
➁ Users now face blocked video playback unless allowing ads, sparking renewed privacy concerns and EU legal challenges;
➂ Regional inconsistencies persist in ad-blocker effectiveness, hinting at an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Google and developers.
- Microsoft 'Xbox PC' branding surfaces in game dev publicity materials — Xbox App also sees big changes
➀ Microsoft is consolidating Xbox and Windows platforms through 'Xbox PC' branding in game marketing, targeting Steam's dominance by redirecting users to the Xbox app;
➁ The redesigned Xbox App now integrates console games into PC libraries, signaling deeper Xbox-Windows store integration;
➂ Facing SteamOS's handheld performance advantages, Microsoft partners with Asus for an Xbox-branded handheld in 2025, amid lagging Xbox console sales.
June 7
- Relive the days of unhinged GPU box artwork — new book catalogs 300 retail boxes with both horrors and delights
➀ A new book compiles over 300 GPU box artworks from the 90s-2010s, blending mythical creatures and retro futurism;
➁ Taiwanese/AIB brands like Gainward and Sapphire showcased Terminator-style cyborgs and gem-armored warriors, while defunct brands evoke nostalgia;
➂ Sold-out print includes vintage ads, with publishers accepting bulk orders for potential reprints.
- New leaked Bambu Lab 3D printer images may show the next model — decoding the images reveals interesting details
➀ A leaked image suggests Bambu Lab's new 3D printer with a 340mm build volume and single extruder, hinting at a budget-friendly model.
➁ Structural similarities to the H2D and A1 series indicate a possible stripped-down flagship design without laser capabilities.
➂ The leak aligns with Bambu Lab's product strategy of releasing affordable variants after premium launches.
- Tesla details how it finds punishing defective cores on its million-core Dojo supercomputers — a single error can ruin a weeks-long AI training run
➀ Tesla developed a groundbreaking 'Stress' tool to detect defective cores in its wafer-scale Dojo processors, critical for preventing silent data corruption that could invalidate weeks of AI training;
➁ Each Dojo 'Training Tile' contains 8,850 RISC-V cores and leverages TSMC's InFO_SoW packaging, with Stress enabling real-time monitoring across millions of cores without downtime;
➂ The method not only identifies faulty cores but also exposed rare design flaws, positioning Tesla alongside Google and Meta in hardware reliability while shaping future wafer-scale chip adoption.
June 6
- Groundbreaking 3D-printing tech developed — dual-light system can print two different materials from the same resin
➀ Scientists developed a dual-light resin 3D printer that creates both permanent and dissolvable materials from a single resin;
➀ UV light forms rigid structures, while visible light produces supports that dissolve in lye in 15 minutes;
➁ The innovation enables complex designs like movable caged spheres and interlocking chains previously unachievable with standard resin printing.
- New Nintendo Switch 2 units show potential signs of tampering — UK customers report receiving unsealed products from multiple retailers
➀ UK customers report receiving Nintendo Switch 2 units with broken seals, sparking concerns about tampering across multiple retailers including Currys and John Lewis;
➁ Conflicting explanations emerge: Some blame weak packaging seals while others suspect intentional checks for missing Mario Kart World game codes in the supply chain;
➂ This follows prior Nintendo packaging controversies, including GameStop receipts puncturing console screens in the U.S., raising quality control concerns.
- AMD scoops entire Untether AI chip team — Canada AI inference outfit will cease product support
➀ AMD acquires Untether AI's entire engineering team in a non-traditional talent acquisition, leading to the discontinuation of Untether's AI inference products;
➁ The move enhances AMD's capabilities in AI compilers, SoC design, and energy-efficient inference solutions to challenge Nvidia;
➂ Industry analysts suggest this signals a strategic shift toward AI inference optimization as GPU-driven training demand plateaus.
June 5
- Corsair HX1200i ATX 3.1 power supply review
➀ The Corsair HX1200i boasts exceptional electrical performance with ATX 3.1 compliance, 1200W output, and dual 12V-2x6 PCIe 5.1 connectors;
➁ Pros include Platinum efficiency, silent operation, and iCUE software integration, while cons highlight its high price and oversized 200mm chassis;
➂ Recommended for high-end PC builds requiring reliable power and advanced monitoring, though budget-conscious users may prefer alternatives.
- Scientists print 'world's smallest violin' in platinum with nanolithography — UK physicists push toward nanoscale computing
➀ UK physicists at Loughborough University created the world's smallest platinum violin (13x35 microns) using nanolithography as a testbed for advanced memory device research;
➁ The team utilized a thermal scanning probe microscope to etch nanostructures, enabling progress in heat-sensitive storage and nanoscale magnetic sensors;
➂ This breakthrough highlights nanolithography's potential to extend traditional computing technologies amid slowing Moore's Law.
- Nvidia planning its most affordable 50-series GPU yet – RTX 5050 reportedly launching in July with 8GB VRAM and 130W TDP
➀ Nvidia's RTX 5050, set for July launch, targets sub-$300 as the most affordable Blackwell GPU with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM;
➁ Despite sharing a 128-bit interface, it adopts a strategy reminiscent of older GTX 1600-series cards, with potential GDDR7 support limitations;
➂ VRAM bottlenecks in modern games may surface, but its modest compute power could mitigate constraints.
- Asus responds to concerns over 9,000+ routers compromised by botnet — firmware updates and factory reset can purge routers of persistent backdoor
➀ Over 9,000 Asus routers were compromised by the 'AyySSHush' botnet exploiting CVE-2023-39780, enabling persistent SSH backdoors.
➁ Asus recommends firmware updates, factory resets, and disabling remote access features (SSH, DDNS) to mitigate the vulnerability, especially for end-of-life devices.
➂ GreyNoise identified the botnet via AI monitoring, noting minimal active exploitation but emphasizing proactive security measures for exposed routers.
- AI drone beats human champions for the first time at Abu Dhabi racing event – new deep neural network sends control commands directly to motors in significant leap
➀ A team from TU Delft developed an AI drone that defeated human champions at the A2RL Drone Championship 2025 in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such achievement.
➁ The drone’s AI uses a deep neural network to send control commands directly to motors, bypassing traditional controllers, improving efficiency and pushing physical limits.
➂ This breakthrough has implications for autonomous systems, including delivery drones and self-driving vehicles, showcasing AI’s potential in real-world applications.
June 4
- Unreal Engine 5.6 promises 60 FPS Ray Tracing on current hardware – features Hardware Ray Tracing enhancements and eliminates CPU bottlenecks
➀ Unreal Engine 5.6 enhances hardware ray tracing performance by shifting CPU tasks to GPU, achieving 60 FPS on current-gen consoles and PCs.
➀ Introduces Fast Geometry Streaming Plugin for seamless open-world loading and asynchronous physics processing for smoother asset interactions.
➂ Automatic device profile adjustments and showcased 《The Witcher 4》demo on PS5 highlight optimizations for cross-platform game development.
- Alienware 16 Area-51 review: a big, mysterious powerhouse
➀ The Alienware 16 Area-51 delivers top-tier gaming performance with an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU, excelling in AAA titles like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.
➁ Despite its power, the laptop's bulky design (7.49 lbs) and short battery life (4h) make it better suited as a desktop replacement than a portable device.
➂ Unique features include a teal-colored chassis, quad-fan cooling, and a $50 mechanical keyboard upgrade, but it lacks OLED display options at its $3,000+ price point.
- Intel Nova Lake CPUs reportedly get a GPU overhaul — Xe3 Celestial and Xe4 Druid IPs used for graphics, media, and display
➀ Intel's Nova Lake CPUs adopt a groundbreaking chiplet design, integrating Xe3 Celestial for iGPU and Xe4 Druid for media/display engines on separate tiles;
➁ The split architecture allows TSMC N6/N5 nodes for non-critical components, improving cost-efficiency while preparing for future Druid-based products;
➂ Performance upgrades focus on media codec support (e.g., H.266 decode) and a potential tripling of iGPU power to rival low-end discrete GPUs.
- Crazed modder straps CPU cooler to Nvidia GTX 960 with a 3D-printed bracket, breaks 3DMark benchmark record
➀ A modder modified an Nvidia GTX 960 GPU by attaching a CPU cooler using a 3D-printed bracket, reducing temperatures by 13°C compared to the stock cooler.
➁ The unconventional setup achieved a record-breaking 3DMark Fire Strike score of 7642, surpassing the previous GTX 960 benchmark.
➂ The modder plans to test the concept on modern GPUs like the RTX 4080 and conduct comparative studies between CPU and GPU cooling solutions.
- TSMC could charge up to $45,000 for 1.6nm wafers — rumors allege a 50% increase in pricing over prior-gen wafers
➀ TSMC's A16 (1.6nm) wafer prices may surge to $45,000, marking a 50% increase over N2 (2nm) nodes;
➁ Backside Power Delivery Network (BSPDN) technology drives higher costs, benefiting AI/HPC chips but requiring complex manufacturing steps;
➂ Chip development costs for N2 nodes could reach $725 million, limiting adoption to major players like Apple, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm.
June 3
- MSI unveils one of the tiniest RTX 5060 GPUs yet — Single-fan Inspire RTX model measures just 145 x 120 x 45mm
➀ MSI launches the compact RTX 5060 8G Inspire ITX, featuring a single-fan design and dual-slot form factor (145 x 120 x 45mm) matching the reference 145W TGP；
➁ Despite its size, it offers identical core specs (3,840 GPU cores, 8GB GDDR7) as bulkier models, with OC variants reaching up to 2.527 GHz boost clock；
➂ Trade-offs include potential noise and thermal limitations compared to triple-fan designs, though retro Cyclone models offer similar performance in a slightly larger package.
- U.S. ban on EDA software hits Chinese tech companies hard — Xiaomi, Lenovo among affected
➀ U.S. bans EDA software exports to China, blocking updates for Synopsys/Cadence users;
➁ Xiaomi (3nm XRing 01 SoC), Lenovo and Bitmain's advanced chip designs impacted;
➂ Chinese EDA tools (Empyrean/Primarius/Semitronix) lag in cutting-edge nodes but advance in localization.
- U.S. extends China GPU tariff exemption until August 31 — Motherboards also listed in Section 301 exclusion
➀ The U.S. extends 25% tariffs on Chinese GPUs and motherboards to August 31, 2025, providing temporary relief for tech imports;
➀ Trump's fluctuating trade policies create market uncertainty, driving manufacturers to relocate production to Vietnam;
➂ Industry analysts criticize prolonged tariff delays for complicating supply chain planning and investment decisions.
- TSMC quashes UAE fab rumors, but says AI demand remains fierce in the face of tariff pressures
➀ TSMC CEO C.C. Wei refuted rumors about establishing a fab in the UAE and stated it doesn't fit the company's strategy due to lack of local clients;
➁ Despite acknowledging potential tariff impacts causing price hikes and demand fluctuations, Wei emphasized AI demand consistently outpaces supply;
➂ TSMC warned U.S. import tariffs could reduce demand for consumer electronics, affecting revenue and threatening its Arizona fab operations.
June 2
- $29.5 million home of Intel founder who invented Moore's Law goes up for sale – Gordon Moore's 9,000 sq ft home includes 25 acres of land, wine cellar, pool, and one very strict rule
➀ Gordon Moore’s 25-acre Mountain Meadow estate in the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring a 9,000 sq ft main house with luxury amenities, is listed for $29.5 million.
➁ The property is protected by a conservation covenant requiring new owners to maintain its historical and natural features, including redwood groves and gardens designed by renowned landscape architects.
➂ Moore, co-founder of Intel and creator of Moore’s Law, lived here for 30 years, with the estate originally purchased for $6 million in the 1990s and renovated at a cost exceeding $15 million.
- Chip news live: All the latest in the semiconductor industry
➀ Intel collaborates with SoftBank to develop stacked DRAM alternatives to HBM through joint venture Saimemory, targeting commercialization by 2030;
➁ NVIDIA unveils plans for a China-compliant B30 AI chip with multi-GPU scaling, circumventing export controls;
➂ TSMC explores building a UAE-based fab with US government support, mirroring its Arizona project scale.