Intel released its new Core Ultra 200S Plus desktop processors back in March 2026, and it appears that the company has quietly increased their prices. According to Intel's official product page, the Core Ultra 270K Plus now has a recommended customer price of $339–$349, up from the previous $289–$299. Similarly, the Core Ultra 250K Plus has increased from $189–$199 to $219–$229.

While the increase amounts to an additional $30–$50 (depending on the model), it is worth noting that these higher prices have already been reflected on Amazon. We have reached out to Intel to confirm the pricing changes and will update this article if and when the company responds.

The Core Ultra 270K Plus and the 250K Plus are part of Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh lineup and were introduced with a relatively low price compared to their non-Plus predecessors. Intel claimed up to 15% improvement in gaming performance at 1080p compared to stock Arrow Lake chips thanks to several key improvements aimed at addressing the architectural bottlenecks of the original Arrow Lake processors.

The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus comes with 24 cores, including 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, which is similar to the more expensive Core Ultra 9 285K. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus comes with 18 cores across 6 P-cores and 12 E-cores, which is slightly below the 20 cores available on the Core Ultra 7 265K. Intel also increased the die-to-die interconnect frequency by 900 MHz to reduce latency and improve gaming performance.

The new chips also offer native support for faster DDR5-7200 memory, as opposed to 6400 MT/s on the non-Plus Arrow Lake chips. Then there’s Intel's new Binary Optimization Tool, a free software utility that analyzes executables and automatically recompiles them with CPU-specific optimizations. According to Intel, this alone is responsible for a significant portion of the gaming performance gains.

While the increase in price may hamper the value advantage that these chips initially offered, there is no doubt that they bring meaningful performance to the table. In our testing, we found the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus to deliver excellent productivity performance with a noticeable uplift in gaming over the original Arrow Lake chips. In fact, it is currently the best Intel CPU on the market. As for the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, it offers one of the strongest value propositions at its price point. It also remains our top pick for the best budget CPU, thanks to its ability to compete with similarly priced gaming processors while excelling in heavily threaded workloads.

Meta PCs has announced preorders for Steamroller, the first prebuilt gaming PC running on SteamOS. The system features standard PC components that are broadly similar to those offered by Valve in the base variant of the Steam Machine. Priced at $1,299, the Steamroller is available for preorder now, with shipping set to begin on July 3, 2026. Buyers can also opt for an extended warranty, with two-year and three-year plans available for $180 and $240, respectively.

The Steamroller uses the Jonsbo D32, a well-ventilated m-ATX chassis with an AMD Ryzen 9600X, which is a 6-core, 12-thread CPU capable of boosting up to 5.4 GHz. Meta PCs mentions that the B650M/B650M Wi-Fi m-ATX motherboard will vary in brand and styling, meaning not all Steamroller PCs are alike, though they shouldn’t vary in terms of performance. For graphics, the system comes with AMD’s last-gen Radeon RX 7600 based on the RDNA 3 architecture with 8GB of GDDR6 memory. The system also includes 16GB of DDR5 RAM at 5600 MT/s, a 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD, a 240mm AIO liquid cooler, and a 650W Gold power supply unit.

In terms of hardware, the Steamroller seems competitive with Valve's new Steam Machine. Since it includes standard PC components, one also gains the ability to upgrade almost any component in the future, unlike the Steam Machine, which only allows you to swap the RAM and storage. That said, the Steam Machine is more compact, measuring at 152 × 162 × 156 mm (6.0 × 6.4 × 6.1 inches), justifying its console/living room PC purpose.

Another aspect to consider is practicality. The Steam Machine supports HDMI CEC, a protocol that allows it to communicate and control compatible devices such as your TV and soundbar. This allows you to power on the Steam Machine and your TV simultaneously, and even switch to the correct input, without leaving your couch or reaching for a remote. Unfortunately, HDMI CEC is not supported on most PCs, including the Steamroller. The Steam Machine also features standby and quick resume functionality, which allows you to put the system to sleep and jump back into your game almost instantly.

The Steamroller is essentially aimed at potential customers who want a gaming PC running on SteamOS with the flexibility of standard PC hardware. While it may lack some of the living room-focused features available on the Steam Machine, it makes up for them by offering a system that is easier to upgrade and repair, while also offering a way to experience SteamOS without assembling an entire system.

Memory has become one of the most expensive components when it comes to building a PC. With the ongoing global DRAM shortage, one of the best ways to dodge obnoxious price tags is to either get a combo bundle or scour the used marketplace for a solid deal. However, if you are looking for a brand new pair of RAM sticks for a desktop PC, the PNY Performance 32GB DDR5 kit has just dropped from its listed price of $449.99 down to $379.99 over at Amazon, offering savings of $70. That makes it one of the cheapest 32GB DDR5 kits that you can purchase today.

• Check out this deal on Amazon

The kit includes two 16GB DDR5 modules capable of running at 5600 MT/s at CL46 latency, which is noticeably looser than the sub-CL40 timings found on higher-end DDR5 memory. The difference in performance is generally small, particularly gaming at higher resolutions where GPU is the primary bottleneck. However, gamers chasing every last frame or anyone building a high-performance workstation may want to invest in faster memory.

The modules are fairly barebones in terms of design as this particular kit does not include any heatspreaders or RGB lighting. The only saving grace is that the PCB has a black finish, which should blend easily with a dark motherboard.

If your priority is maximizing capacity while keeping costs down rather than squeezing out every ounce of performance, this kit can be a good solid choice at its discounted price. It should be well-suited for budget gaming PCs, home office machines, and productivity builds where 32GB of memory capacity matters more than the lowest latency and aesthetics.

Overall, this isn't the fastest or flashiest DDR5 kit on the market, but at its competitive price of $379.99 it offers solid value for budget-conscious buyers. More choices start to arrive if your budget can be pushed up to $399, where you'll find the TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan DDR5-6000 32GB (2x16GB) CL38 kit, for example.

If you are on the lookout for the best memory for your desktop build, make sure that you head over to our RAM price tracking list to find the lowest price on DDR5 and DDR4 memory of all capacities.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, gaming chair, or CPU Deals pages.

With ongoing inflation in PC component prices, investing in a gaming laptop can be a wise choice to avoid the rising cost of building a desktop PC from scratch. Additionally, it is portable, allowing you to game, work, or study anywhere without sacrificing much on performance. A standout laptop deal we've spotted is the Gigabyte Aero X16, now available for its lowest-ever price of $1,099.99 at Best Buy. The laptop is originally priced at $1,399.99, so you save $300.

• Check out this deal on Best Buy

The Gigabyte Aero X16 features an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, an 8-core, 16-thread processor that can boost up to 5 GHz, paired with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD for storage. One can upgrade the RAM up to 64GB, and there is a secondary M.2 slot to add more storage. For graphics, the laptop comes with an Nvidia RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM. The laptop sports a 16-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, offering 100% sRGB color gamut coverage and up to 400 nits of brightness. It also supports refresh rates of up to 165 Hz and a 3 ms response time for a fast, responsive visual experience.

The laptop also comes with a single-zone RGB-backlit keyboard, a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello support, and built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. I/O options include two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports, a USB 4.0 Type-C port, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, a 3.5mm headphone and mic combo jack, and an Ethernet port. There’s also built-in Wi-Fi 6E along with Bluetooth 5.2. The battery has a capacity of 76 Wh, and the charging brick is rated at 150W.

Overall, the Gigabyte Aero X16 is a well-rounded gaming laptop that balances performance, modern features, and upgrade potential, making it a compelling choice at its current discounted price of $1,099.99. Do note that the deal is only valid until June 29, so you'd better hurry before stocks run out.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, gaming chair, or CPU Deals pages.

Intel is expected to push the boundaries on power draw with its upcoming Nova Lake series processors, which will rival the best CPUs. According to newly leaked information, the flagship 52-core desktop variant is expected to feature a dual-compute tile architecture with a massive PL2 limit of 474W. The information was shared by LC Tech Leaks and confirmed by Jaykihn, who has a pretty solid track record with Intel hardware.

PL2, or Power Limit 2, represents the maximum power a CPU can draw during short boost periods. That said, a PL2 target of 474W remains quite demanding, although a previous rumor suggests Intel may also have a PL4 emergency power limit over 700W. It is important to note that these power limits may only apply to the top-end models with the dual-tile architecture.

Additionally, the leak also sheds light on the upcoming platform, including the previously rumored LGA1954 socket. We already know that Nova Lake-S will require a new generation of motherboards. Motherboard vendors are expected to classify their boards by sustained PL1 power levels, with configurations for 35W, 65W, 125W, and 175W CPUs. Enthusiast-grade motherboards, likely the Z990 series, are also rumored to feature three EPS 8-pin CPU power connectors instead of the traditional two. While vendors will have the option to include a third connector, its primary purpose would be to support extreme overclocking and would not affect the CPU's rated performance profile.

The upcoming Nova Lake-S lineup is expected to carry the ‘Core Ultra 400S’ moniker and will be Intel's biggest desktop CPU overhaul in years. We’ve previously reported leaked specifications indicating configurations ranging from 6 to 52 cores, with support for DDR5-8000 memory. The flagship 52-core model is expected to feature 16 performance cores, 32 efficiency cores, and a new Big Last Level Cache (bLLC) design to take on AMD's 3D V-Cache gaming dominance. The company is also rumored to introduce integrated Xe3 graphics, Thunderbolt 5, PCIe 5.0 connectivity, and an upgraded NPU for AI workloads.

While these specifications are unconfirmed, it is clear that Intel is targeting substantial gains in gaming, multi-threaded performance, and overall platform capabilities with its next-gen processors.

We have yet another combo deal that could help you save a significant amount on your next PC build. Newegg is currently offering the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor bundled with a compatible B850 motherboard and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD for just $429.99. The cost of all the parts when purchased separately comes down to $679.97, meaning this bundle saves you $249.98, which is a discount of 36% and equates to getting the SSD for free.

• Check out this deal on Newegg

The Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite Wi-Fi7 Ice is feature packed motherboard with a white finish, making it suitable if you prefer an all-white build. It supports DDR5 memory with overclocking support of up to 8200 MT/s. It also supports various DIY-friendly features such as a tool-less heatsink cover for the M.2 drives, a quick-release button for the GPU, and a simple solution to plug the Wi-Fi antenna. It also comes with the X3D Turbo Mode, a BIOS-level feature that offers optimization for Ryzen 9000 X3D and non-X3D processors to gain a slight boost in gaming performance. Other notable features include PCIe Gen 5 support, 14+2+2 twin digital VRM design, three M.2 SSD slots, Wi-Fi 7, 2.5 gigabit Ethernet, and an array of USB ports.

The Ryzen 5 9600X is a value-for-money Zen 5 processor based on AMD’s AM5 platform. It features 6 cores and 12 threads with a boost clock speed of 5.4 GHz. It also comes with a low TDP of 65W, which makes it power efficient, allowing it to run relatively cooler. It offers excellent performance for the asking price and holds a solid place in our 13-game FPS performance geomean.

Lastly, we have the Samsung 990 Pro, which is currently one of the best Gen 4.0 SSD that you can buy. It delivers maximum sequential read speeds of 7,450 MB/s and sequential write speeds of 6,900 MB/s. It uses a 176-layer V-NAND TLC flash chip and comes with a rated endurance of 600 TBW. In our testing, the Samsung 990 Pro proved to be one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs, offering excellent performance and solid efficiency with consistently low operating temperatures.

If you're planning an AM5 build, this is one of the better bundle deals we've seen in a while. For $429.99, you're getting a capable Zen 5 processor, a feature-rich B850 motherboard, and one of the fastest PCIe Gen 4 SSDs on the market, all while saving nearly $250.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, gaming chair, or CPU Deals pages.