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Nvidia’s $12.9 Billion Bet on Hugging Face Arrives as the Closed Labs Drift Away
Nvidia is acquiring the open-source AI platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, a price significantly higher than its estimated $150 million annual revenue. This strategic move aims to bolster Nvidia's position in the AI market as major clients like OpenAI and Google develop their own custom silicon, potentially reducing their reliance on Nvidia's hardware. The acquisition is seen as a counterweight to the trend of closed AI labs, securing Nvidia's hardware dominance within the open-source AI community.
The revived RTX 3060 12GB now costs more than the current-gen RTX 5050, and it makes me feel bad for entry-level PC…
The RTX 3060 12GB graphics card is now priced higher than the newer and faster RTX 5050, creating a confusing market for entry-level PC builders. Despite the RTX 5050's lower price and superior performance, the older RTX 3060's higher VRAM is a factor, though its resurgence in price is seen as illogical compared to current-generation options like the RTX 5060 or AMD Radeon RX 9600 XT.
Windows 11 could soon let users reserve unified memory for gaming
Windows 11 may soon allow users to reserve a portion of unified memory specifically for gaming and other intensive tasks. This feature, hinted at in Nvidia documentation and found in Windows 11 builds, would give users finer control over how shared memory is allocated on systems with unified memory architectures like Nvidia's RTX Spark and AMD's Strix Halo.
Both AMD and Intel's desktop CPU sales are falling off a cliff but Ryzen is falling a little slower
Desktop CPU shipments from both AMD and Intel experienced significant declines in the second quarter, with Intel seeing a slightly steeper drop than AMD. Despite this downturn in the desktop segment, overall CPU market growth was strong due to increases in server and mobile processors. This trend suggests a broader reluctance among consumers to upgrade their desktop systems, potentially due to the high cost of accompanying components like motherboards and RAM.
There's a looming GPU supply crisis, which means prices are likely to get a whole lot worse. And it's not just…
A looming GPU supply crisis is expected to significantly worsen graphics card prices, particularly affecting entry-level models. PC Partner, a major manufacturer for brands like Zotac and Inno3D, warns of tight supply in the coming months due to constraints in components beyond just GPUs and memory, impacting both Nvidia and AMD cards.
AMD confirms specs of RX 9050 variant with only 4GB of VRAM
AMD has confirmed the specifications for a 4GB VRAM variant of its RX 9050 graphics card, which will be OEM-only for prebuilt PCs. This version halves the memory bandwidth and Infinity Cache compared to the 8GB model, making it a significant downgrade. The move comes despite 8GB being the current baseline expectation for GPUs in 2026, with 16GB being the most common configuration among PC gamers.
I've just finished reviewing AMD's latest gaming CPU and I would genuinely considering switching back to Intel
A review of AMD's Ryzen 7 7700X3D CPU suggests that Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus offers competitive gaming performance at a lower price point, alongside superior productivity capabilities. While AMD's AM5 platform offers better future upgrade potential, the Intel chip's immediate value and performance may lead some builders to consider switching from AMD.
AMD's latest gaming CPU is more of the same, and that's why I'd still buy the 7800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D offers gaming performance nearly identical to the older Ryzen 7 7800X3D, but its value proposition is complicated by the 7800X3D's similar retail price and availability. While the 7700X3D excels in gaming with low power draw and good thermals, Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus provides better compute performance for a lower price. The 7700X3D may offer better value in pre-built systems or bundles.
Is a $1,200 gaming PC build in 2026 still possible?
This guide outlines a PC build for approximately $1,300 in 2026, aiming to balance cost and performance amidst rising component prices. It features an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GPU, capable of running current titles at 1080p and 1440p with medium settings and high refresh rates, and is future-proofed for upcoming games like Grand Theft Auto 6.
The memory crisis led me down a rabbit hole into nations forming rival factions to secure the flow of computer chips and AI, with names that wouldn't sound out of place in a Command & Conquer reboot
The article explores the geopolitical landscape surrounding semiconductor and AI chip production, highlighting the formation of rival factions like Pax Silica (US-backed) and WAICO (China-backed). These groups aim to control the global flow of these critical components, impacting industries like PC gaming through supply chain disruptions and price volatility. Governments are prioritizing AI infrastructure, potentially at the expense of consumer needs, leading to a new era of resource guarding and a potential technological arms race.
Intel says the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus isn't a flagship processor, but it's an Ultra 9 in all but name and price
Intel's new Core Ultra 7 270K Plus processor offers excellent gaming and content creation performance at a competitive $299 price point, positioning it as a strong alternative to higher-priced flagship CPUs. While it doesn't reach the absolute peak performance of some AMD Ryzen X3D chips, its balanced approach to power, thermals, and value makes it a compelling option for many PC builders.
The RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB currently costs more than the RTX 5070 and RX 9070 XT, and I know which one I'd pick
Graphics card prices continue to rise, with the Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB now costing more than the RTX 5070 and AMD RX 9070 XT. The article highlights that the 16 GB model of the RTX 5060 Ti is priced at $780, significantly above its MSRP and other comparable cards. AMD's Radeon cards have seen more moderate price increases compared to Nvidia's offerings.
Intel Nova Lake gaming CPUs to launch first, while server chips wait their turn
Intel's upcoming Nova Lake generation of processors will prioritize desktop chips for gamers before server variants, according to an interview with Tom's Hardware. This consumer-first approach contrasts with AMD's Zen 6 architecture, which is reportedly targeting servers first. The Nova Lake consumer chips will be branded as Intel Core Ultra 400 series and will require a new LGA-1954 socket motherboard.
"LGA 1700 is still a good socket" - Maybe don't throw out your DDR4 motherboard just yet, as Intel says Raptor Lake will be supported "for years to come"
Intel's VP Robert Hallock has indicated a desire to support the LGA 1700 socket and Raptor Lake CPUs for "years to come," potentially mirroring AMD's long-standing platform support. This commitment is partly driven by the availability of Raptor Lake on both DDR4 and DDR5 motherboards, offering consumers more flexibility amidst current memory pricing issues. This extended support could be a positive sign for future Intel platforms like Arrow Lake.
We've been tracking graphics card prices for exactly one year and it's never been worse than this
A year-long tracking of graphics card prices reveals a volatile market, with significant price increases for Nvidia's RTX 50-series, particularly the RTX 5090 and RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB. While AMD's RDNA 4 cards remain more reasonably priced, the overall trend suggests a challenging landscape for PC gamers seeking affordable components. The article advises against purchasing Nvidia GPUs with more than 8 GB of VRAM due to inflated prices.
Applied Materials (AMAT) Q3 FY26 earnings results beat revenue, but miss EPS whisper number
Applied Materials reported a record quarterly revenue of $9.12 billion for Q3 FY26, driven by demand for AI technology and semiconductors. While revenue surpassed analyst consensus, the company's earnings per share of $3.50 missed the 'whisper number' expectation, though it still beat Wall Street estimates. The company's stock price saw a decline in after-hours trading following the announcement.
PC Gamer magazine's new issue is on sale now: Onimusha: Way of the Sword, with a huge A1 poster and Top 100 games…
PC Gamer magazine's latest issue features an exclusive preview of Capcom's upcoming action sword-fighting game, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, including hands-on gameplay and interviews with developers. The issue also includes a supplement detailing the top 100 PC games, a poster for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and features on co-op games and other previews and reviews.
Someone hooked an RX 9070 XT up to their Steam Machine and it works surprisingly well, like fitting a V8 engine into…
A Reddit user successfully integrated a high-end AMD RX 9070 XT graphics card into a Steam Machine as an external GPU (eGPU) using an NVMe to Oculink adapter. This modification reportedly allows the Steam Machine to achieve over 100 FPS on High settings in games like Crimson Desert, significantly boosting its performance.
The RTX 5070 is creeping ever closer to $1,000, and the mid-range PC gamer in me is in mourning
The average price for Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card has risen to approximately $900, a significant increase from its original MSRP and even its previous inflated price. This trend indicates a broader issue in the GPU market where mid-range cards are becoming as expensive as former high-end models, impacting PC gamers. While AMD cards also see price increases, they remain more accessible in the mid-range segment.
Saturday Tech Bits
This article rounds up recent tech news, including Amazon's use of old rules for an AI data center and an AMD P-State patch improving Linux gaming performance. The content is sourced from Tom's Hardware and Linux Journal.