SK hynix Inc. and Sandisk Corporation held "HBF Spec. Standardization Consortium Kick-Off" event at Sandisk Headquarters in Milpitas, California on the 25th (local time) announcing global standardization strategy of next-generation memory solution HBF (High Bandwidth Flash) aimed at the AI inference era. SK hynix said, "By making HBF an industry standard, together with Sandisk, we will lay the foundation for the entire AI ecosystem to grow together. A dedicated workstream under OCP will be launched with Sandisk to begin standardization work."

Recently, the AI industry is shifting from training which focuses on creating Large Language Models (LLMs) to inference, which accelerates actual AI services to users. Fast and efficient memory is essential as the number of users using AI services increases rapidly. However, the existing memory structure cannot meet the high capacity data processing and power efficiency at the same time in the inference stage and HBF technology is designed to address these limitations. HBF technology is a new memory layer between ultra-fast memory, HBM and high-capacity storage device, SSD. HBF technology can fill the gap between HBM's high performance and SSD's high capacity and ensure both capacity expansion and power efficiency required for AI inferencing. While HBM handles the high level bandwidth, HBF technology serves as a supporting layer in the architecture.

The leading system integrator iBUYPOWER is pleased to announce the official launch of its new Gen 10 series of prebuilt and custom gaming PCs. Built for those that demand cutting-edge gaming performance with contemporary aesthetics, iBUYPOWER is evolving its prebuilt computers by redefining how a modern gaming system should look and perform. To learn more, please visit: https://www.ibuypower.com/gaming-pcs/signatures/gen-10-series

iBUYPOWER's Trace X and Element Pulse X cases are at the heart of its Gen 10 lineup, as both cases feature refreshed, architectural-inspired designs that emphasize clean lines, panoramic views into your system, and eye catching RGB aesthetics. Both cases are also performance optimized, supporting high-end components like large GPUs, PSUs, and air coolers, and are backed by iBUYPOWER's comprehensive three-year labor and two-year parts warranty and nationwide Micro Center service support.

ACEMAGIC's K1 Mini PC, powered by Intel's 12th Gen Core i5-12600H, is currently available at a substantial discount on Amazon US. Originally priced at $579.99, the system is now listed at $399.99, with an additional 10% off promo code bringing the final price down to $359.99. The promotion runs from February 4, 2026 (04:00 PST) through March 31, 2026 (23:59 PST).

Alder Lake-H Performance in a Compact Form Factor
The ACEMAGIC K1 is built around the Intel Core i5-12600H, a 12-core (4P + 8E) / 16-thread processor based on Intel's Alder Lake architecture. With boost clocks up to 4.5 GHz, the chip offers significantly higher multithreaded performance compared to typical low-power U-series mini PC CPUs, and even outpaces processors such as the i5-12450H in many workloads.

To purchase from the United States, visit this page (Amazon link).

To purchase from Canada, visit this page (Amazon Canada link).

ORIGIN PC today announced the launch of the new NEURON, marking the most dramatic evolution of the platform since its debut and redefining what a showcase desktop can look like. The new NEURON introduces a fully panoramic glass design and advanced airflow engineering that elevates both presentation and performance for gamers, creators, and hardware enthusiasts. First unveiled at CES 2026, the NEURON is now available for customers who want high-end components to be seen and kept cool under demanding workloads.

The updated NEURON features a wraparound single piece glass panel that provides near 360-degree visibility of the interior. A spacious modular layout, improved routing channels, and compatibility with today's largest GPUs allow users to create clean, presentation ready systems that highlight every component.

AIDA64 8.25 continues refining the modern 64-bit foundation introduced in the 8.xx generation. This update focuses on deeper hardware integration, more flexible display customization, and improved automation tools. With revamped SensorPanel monitor pinning, native NVMe support, new PSU monitoring capabilities, and expanded LCD compatibility, AIDA64 becomes even more precise and adaptable across enthusiast setups and enterprise environments.

We are also introducing the new AIDA64 Command Line Builder, an online utility that helps generate correct command line switches quickly and easily for our business line products. Whether you automate reports, deploy AIDA64 across networks, or integrate it into scripts, the builder reduces configuration errors and simplifies setup. It is accessible directly from our website. Please note, that command line options are available exclusively in our business product line.

DOWNLOAD: AIDA64 Extreme v8.25

AMD and Meta today announced a 6-gigawatt agreement to power Meta's next generation of AI infrastructure across multiple generations of AMD Instinct GPUs. This agreement expands on the companies' existing strategic partnership and aligns roadmaps across silicon, systems and software to deliver AI platforms purpose-built for Meta's workloads. The first deployment will use a custom AMD Instinct GPU based on the MI450 architecture to deliver AI platforms that are optimized for Meta's workloads at gigawatt-scale. Shipments supporting the first gigawatt deployment are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026 powered by the custom AMD Instinct MI450-based GPU and 6th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs, codenamed "Venice," running ROCm software and built on the AMD Helios rack-scale architecture. AMD Helios was developed jointly by AMD and Meta through the Open Compute Project to enable scalable, rack-level AI infrastructure.

"We are proud to expand our strategic partnership with Meta as they push the boundaries of AI at unprecedented scale," said Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO, AMD. "This multi-year, multi-generation collaboration across Instinct GPUs, EPYC CPUs and rack-scale AI systems aligns our roadmaps to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient infrastructure optimized for Meta's workloads, accelerating one of the industry's largest AI deployments and placing AMD at the center of the global AI buildout."

Fosi Audio and TechPowerUp bring you the Fosi Audio C3 gaming DAC Giveaway. It's been up over the week, but entries close on February 26. Open worldwide, the Giveaway gives 10 lucky winners a chance to bag a Fosi Audio C3 external sound card (DAC + headphones amp) that's optimized for PC gaming. It packs an analog kit that's perfectly suited for various gaming genres, giving you crystal clear audio and a competitive edge in online multiplayer gaming. nlike traditional gaming sound cards that rely on fixed EQ boosts, the C3 uses AI models to recognize key in-game sounds, such as footsteps, gunfire, reloads, and directional cues, and dynamically enhance what matters while reducing irrelevant or distracting noise. Rather than simply making certain frequencies louder, the system is designed to identify and prioritize important sounds depending on the gameplay context. Sounds good? Drop your hat in before February 26!

For more information and to participate, visit this page.

GameSir today announced the launch of the GameSir G7 Pro 8K PC Aimlabs Edition, a new flagship controller designed specifically for competitive PC gaming. Built to meet the demands of high-level esports play, the G7 Pro 8K PC combines ultra-low latency performance, deep customization, and premium components with a distinctive Aimlabs-inspired visual identity. The GameSir G7 Pro 8K PC Aimlabs Edition Game Controller is available for $79.99/£89.99 on the GameSir website, Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Developed in collaboration with Aimlabs, the industry-leading FPS training platform, the G7 Pro 8K PC Aimlabs Edition is an officially licensed accessory. The controller reflects Aimlabs' iconic cyan aesthetic while adhering to professional performance standards trusted by competitive gamers. This partnership unites precision hardware with a training-driven design philosophy, delivering a controller built to support skill development and tournament-level play.

AMD recently added "Crimson Desert" as an official Ryzen and Radeon game bundle partner, so it should come as little surprise that the game implements nearly the full FSR 4 "Redstone" gaming technology feature-set. This includes the ML-based upscaling AMD introduced with FSR 4, and the two new features the company introduced this year—ML-based ray regeneration, and ML-based frame generation. All three features use machine learning models that leverage the new AI acceleration capabilities introduced with AMD RDNA 4 graphics architecture, benefiting Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs.

ASRock listed one of the first branded mobile-on-desktop platforms based on the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors, barely two months into the launch of the new processor generation. The new NUC Box-358H, NUCS BOX-358H, NUCS BOX-325, and NUC BOX-325 are powered by "Panther Lake-H" (mainstream laptop) variants of the chip, and are marketed by the Industrial sub-brand of ASRock that deals with IPCs and IIoT products. All four models are TAA-compliant. The NUC Box-358H and NUCS BOX-325 come with a thicker chassis measuring 117.5 mm x 110 mm x 49 mm (WxDxH), while the NUCS BOX-358H and NUC BOX-325 come in a slimmer chassis measuring 117.5 x 110 mm x 38 mm. All four feature active fan-based cooling for the SoC, and are barebones that exclude memory and storage.

For memory, all four models offer two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, and support the latest CSODIMMs besides regular SO-DIMMs. For storage, all four offer two M.2-2280 slots, one of which is Gen 5. Intel BE200 Wi-Fi 7 WLAN adapters are standard. The thicker models come with two Intel 2.5 GbE wired Ethernet interfaces, while the thinner ones come with just the one. All four offer quad display outputs, including two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 2.1 passed through a 40 Gbps USB4/Thunderbolt 4 port, and a second DisplayPort 1.4a passed through a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 type-C port (alternate mode). All four come with 19 V, 120 W power bricks.

AMD's next-generation Ryzen "Olympic Ridge" desktop processors are rumored to have been delayed to 2027. Company roadmap slides point to a debut of the "Zen 6" microarchitecture in 2026. This could be a signal that AMD is prioritizing "Zen 6" chiplets for EPYC server processors as the enterprise market has a better-secured supply of memory, and enterprise customers are more likely to stick to their procurement roadmaps for CPUs, in stark contrast to the client segment, which has been grappling with acute shortages of DDR5 memory.

With PC memory selling at prices 5-8 times above normal, 2026 may not present an ideal environment for AMD to debut a new Ryzen desktop processor generation, especially given that AMD processors tend to be heavily favored by the DIY retail channel compared to Intel, which retains a hold over the pre-built OEM market. Besides increased IPC and an updated ISA, "Zen 6" is expected to see AMD increase CPU core counts, as well as update the client I/O die. This new cIOD, likely built on 4 nm, is expected to come with updated DDR5 memory controllers that support higher speeds and have a greater degree of parallelism for dual-channel DDR5, likely with each controller addressing two 40-bit sub-channels from different channels, an approach similar to Intel's with "Arrow Lake." If your best feature is, say, DDR5-9000 support with CUDIMM optimization, you rather hold off when a 32 GB >9000 MT/s CUDIMM kit costs upward of $800.

AGON by AOC, the world's leading gaming monitor brand, launches AOC GAMING Q27G4ZD, a 27-inch (68.6 cm) QHD gaming monitor that brings 3rd-generation QD-OLED technology to a compelling new price point. With a 280 Hz refresh rate, 0.03 ms GtG response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification with up to 1000 nits peak brightness (3% APL), the Q27G4ZD slots between the existing AOC GAMING Q27G4ZDR and Q27G4SDR models as a balanced option for gamers who want next-gen performance without the flagship price tag.

QD-OLED technology first arrived in the AGON by AOC portfolio through the AGON PRO line-up with models reaching up to 500 Hz, serving esports players, enthusiasts and competitive gamers who demand the absolute best. The AOC GAMING line-up now offers QD-OLED for players who want the core benefits of OLED technology, including almost instant response times, perfect blacks, and vibrant colours thanks to Quantum Dot technology, in a more straightforward package.
The Q27G4ZD joins the recently launched Q27G4ZDR (240 Hz, QD-OLED Edge) and Q27G4SDR (360 Hz, 3rd-gen QD-OLED), giving gamers three distinct options. For those who want the 3rd-generation panel improvements but don't need the full 360 Hz speed, the Q27G4ZD delivers the bliss point: 1000 nits peak brightness in 3% area of the screen (up from 400 nits on 2nd-gen), DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, and a 280 Hz refresh rate that handles competitive play with ease.

Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC water-cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is now expanding its portfolio with the Core 70 Tube Reservoir. The Core 70 Tube Reservoir was developed for modern custom watercooling systems and combines the characteristic Core design with high-quality materials and practical features. The real glass cylinder delivers a premium look, high durability, and a clear view of the coolant. The integrated lighting creates strong visual highlights and enhances the overall system appearance. The chrome-plated brass threads in the Core design blend seamlessly into the overall look while ensuring reliable and secure sealing.

The rotatable mounting brackets allow flexible integration into a wide range of case configurations, while the interchangeable tube top makes filling and bleeding the cooling loop much easier. This simplifies both installation and maintenance. To complete the overall package, the Core 70 Tube Reservoir comes with the powerful Apex pump, designed for high performance, quiet operation, and long service life. The Core 70 Tube Reservoir is now available in the Alphacool shop.

Hardcore PC users tend to think of privacy risk as something that happens to other people: the careless, the click-happy, the ones who reuse passwords or fall for obvious scams. Power users, by contrast, optimize. They tweak BIOS settings, benchmark GPUs, curate mod lists, and participate deeply in the ecosystems that make PC culture what it is.

That's the problem.

For highly engaged users, having their personal data exposed is rarely the result of negligence; it's the unfortunate side of visibility. The more you understand and participate in gaming communities, online forums, and similar spaces, the more you will create an enduring, discoverable identity footprint.

This blog isn't about fearmongering over privacy, but rather about practical digital hygiene for people who are already technically savvy.

The acute shortage of DRAM and NAND flash memory could shut down many consumer electronics companies by the end of 2026, Phison CEO Chien Chen Pang warned in an interview with Chen Ning Kuan of Taiwan's Era News. The Phison CEO warns of a "massive die-off" among consumer electronics companies designing cost-effective products that use even the smallest amounts of DRAM and NAND flash components (think TV set-top boxes, Wi-Fi routers, smart TVs, etc). For instance, an 8 GB eMMC chip used in smart TVs rose in pricing from $1.5 in early 2025, to nearly $20 now. Extrapolate this to the vast selection of products priced under the $100-mark, and you can see how component prices could wreck the consumer electronics industry.

Pricing is only half the problem, the other is supply. Memory is now an extremely supplier-driven market, with manufacturers onboarding orders up to three years into the future (i.e. you order now, your DRAM chip reels won't arrive before 2030. All this said, the crisis could fade by the end of the decade as memory manufacturers build more foundry capacity, and industrial pressure causes geopolitical changes, such as the re-entry of Chinese DRAM and NAND flash companies. Phison is a leading manufacturer of NAND flash-based storage device controllers powering SSDs, flash drives, and memory cards.

ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge AI computing, announced the expansion of its product portfolio with four high-performance, server-class edge AI systems—the ISB-W890 server board, and the AXE-7440GW, AXE-7420GWA, and AXE-7220GW GPU servers. This new lineup is purpose-built on the Intel Xeon 600 processors, complementing ADLINK's existing Edge AI platforms by addressing more compute-intensive workloads, enabling high-end, real-time vision processing, advanced analytics, and large-scale generative AI at the edge.

As industries move beyond AI pilots, the demand for server-class performance at the edge is growing rapidly, particularly for real-time visual intelligence and on-site generative AI inference. ADLINK's Edge AI servers support high-end vision processing and analytics—including VLA workloads—making them ideal for demanding environments like medical imaging, robotics, and smart factory AOI, where latency, accuracy, and reliability are critical.

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 last year, and if your computer is still running it, then your data is at risk. If you want an easy way to upgrade, right now, you can get Windows 11 Pro on sale for only $12.97 (reg. $199). Windows 11 Pro adds security tools that help protect your files and accounts in ways Windows 10 simply doesn't. BitLocker can encrypt your drive so someone who gets your laptop can't just pull the data off it. Smart App Control can block unknown or suspicious programs before they run, which is helpful if you download software from different places. Windows Defender works in the background to scan for threats without a separate antivirus subscription.

There are also changes that make it easier to work on a crowded desktop. Snap layouts let you click a layout and drop apps into neat side-by-side or grid views instead of dragging windows around. Virtual desktops help you keep work, personal tasks, and side projects in separate spaces on the same computer. When you plug back into a monitor or dock, Windows 11 Pro does a better job of putting windows back where they were instead of stacking them on one screen.

Right now, it's only $12.97 to get Windows 11 Pro, but it won't stay that way.