Hardware News

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• Intel Foundry secures contract to build Microsoft's Maia 2 next-gen AI processor on 18A/18A-P node, claims report — could be first step in ongoing partnership

  Intel Foundry will reportedly produce Microsoft's next-generation Maia processor for AI applications on its 18A process technology, which could mark a big win for the company both in terms of earnings and goodwill.

• AMD's gaming-optimized Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPU hits all all-time low price, finally makes sense — now just $50 more than a 9800X3D

  AMD's Ryzen 9 9900X3D 12-core 3D-VCache CPU is on a 17% discount, fixing its biggest problem that we complained about during our review. At just $499, the 9900X3D is just $50 more expensive than a 9800X3D and has the same price-per-core ratio as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

• Anthropic targets gigantic $26 billion in revenue by the end of 2026 — eye-watering sum is more than double OpenAI's projected 2025 earnings

  Claude AI developer Anthropic has released its revenue projections for the next year, and they are ambitious. Off the back of what it claims is a plan to reach $9 billion in revenue by the end of 2025, it's now targeting as much as $26 billion by the end of 2026, more than double OpenAI's 2025 revenue projections.

• MSI's new AI-powered PC building assistant recommends the 9800X3D as a budget CPU — EZ PC Builder spec'd out over $1,700 of parts for a $1,000 build

  MSI's new AI chatbot, "EZ PC Builder," is here to get you started on your first gaming computer. It's in beta, so there are some quirks, well, a lot of quirks, such as suggesting the 9800X3D as a budget CPU and building a $1,700+ PC when asked for something under $1,000. It also tries to suggest MSI products at literally every point it can.

• Micron is preparing to exit China’s data center memory market completely, report claims — Beijing banned company's chips from 'critical information infrastructure' in 2023

  Micron is reportedly preparing to halt sales of server memory chips to data centers in mainland China, after its business there failed to recover from a 2023 cybersecurity ban.

• Get a 27-inch 180Hz FHD display for just $95 at Newegg — Asrock gaming monitor price slashed by 40%

  The ASRock Phantom Gaming PG27FFT1B is a great budget gaming monitor, and it's even greater now that its price is below $100.

• TP-Link Deco BE65-Outdoor review: Blanketing your outdoor areas with high-speed Wi-Fi 7 coverage

  The Deco BE65-Outdoor offers excellent outdoor performance to blanket a yard or outdoor shed with internet connectivity.

• Massive AI data center buildouts are squeezing energy supplies — New energy methods are being explored as power demands are set to skyrocket

  A perfect storm of massive data centre buildout and new innovations in energy could materially change what our supplies look like in the future.

• Apple M5 chip smashes Snapdragon X2 Elite in early single-thread benchmarks — single core scores rival Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K and beat AMD's 9950X3D, teasing multi-core potential of future variants

  The M5 chip in the new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro refreshes performs slightly differently, as revealed by Geekbench results. This makes sense considering how one is a thin-and-light tablet, while the other is a thick, pro laptop designed to sustain performance for longer with active cooling.

• TSMC moves up 2nm production plans in Arizona — CEO also hints at further site expansion beyond $165 billion commitment

  TSMC is ramping up its construction to unlock N2 production in Arizona, while also mentioning that it's purchasing another plot of land to expand the fab.

• Amazon reveals 960 megawatt nuclear power plans to cope with AI demand — Richland, Washington site tapped for deployment of Xe-100 small modular reactors

  Amazon has revealed plans to help build one of the United States’ first modular nuclear power campuses in a move designed to supply carbon-free electricity for its growing AI and cloud workloads.

• New $1 US coins to feature Steve Jobs and Cray-1 supercomputer — US Mint's 2026 American Innovation Program to memorialize computing history

  Steve Jobs and the Cray-1 supercomputer are joining the heads of former presidents and the Statue of Liberty as icons on United States coinage.

• Give your mouse the finger with this wild cursor control ring — Prolo Ring hits Kickstarter, hoping to transform your finger into the ultimate macro and gesture device

  Prolo Ring is the latest in the line of Kickstarters trying to computer inputs. Still, it's pretty cool to see a smart ring that has a trackpad, a modifier button, and a motion sensor — all built into one, aided with customizable software that should make interacting with your PC more fun, if not more seamless.

• Razer Phantom White collection launches — translucent gaming peripherals include Basilisk V3 Pro 35K mouse, BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard

  Razer just released a new translucent colorway with the Phantom White option for a $10 to $20 premium.

• Multiple generations of Intel's modern chips see price hikes up to 20% overseas — foreign markets are feeling the pinch on 12th, 13th, and 14th-gen chips

  International reports indicate that Intel's 12th, 13th, and 14th Generation processors are selling for up to 20% more in markets like Korea and Japan.

• Here's where to buy the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X — Microsoft and Asus' new gaming handhelds hit store shelves

  The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are now available. Here's where you can buy them.

• China's latest round of rare-earth export controls gives the country dominion over precious resources — regulations have far-reaching implications for the semiconductor industry

  China has expanded its rare-earth export controls to cover not only raw materials but also to mining equipment, and foreign-made products containing Chinese-origin rare earths, effectively globalizing its licensing regime.

• Two Nvidia DGX Spark systems fused with M3 Ultra Mac Studio to deliver 2.8x gain in AI benchmarks — EXO Labs demonstrates disaggregated AI inference serving

  Using its EXO software, the company was able to split an AI inference workload and run it on three systems simultaneously.

• PC gaming smashes consoles in Battlefield 6 sales, report claims — blockbuster shooter sells 7m units, generating an estimated $350 million in revenue

  Battlefield's triumphant return to form has been met with an equally impressive launch record, with the latest title in the series moving over 7 million copies at its launch, across PC and console. EA has reportedly generated $350M+ in revenue, with 56.7% of that coming from PC, followed by PlayStation and Xbox.

• TSMC posts record quarter results as skyrocketing AI and HPC demand drives two-thirds of revenue — company pulls in $33.1 billion

  TSMC posted a record $33.1 billion in quarterly revenue driven by surging demand for AI and HPC processors, the ramp of Apple's latest SoCs, and the continued strength of advanced nodes.