Intel
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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.
Intel is keeping Raptor Lake CPUs around for 'years to come' as a cheaper alternative to DDR5-compatible chips
Intel plans to continue offering its Raptor Lake CPUs for several more years as a more affordable alternative to DDR5-compatible chips. The company sees value in the LGA 1700 socket and DDR4 memory support, especially given current market pricing. This strategy aims to meet consumer demand for cost-effective yet performant hardware.
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.
Intel might be cooking up a budget-friendly handheld chip but I'd still be surprised if it's cheap enough or…
Intel may be developing a new budget-friendly chip for handheld gaming PCs, potentially featuring four Performance-cores and four Xe cores. This new chip, codenamed Panther Lake, could aim to reduce the high cost of current handheld devices, though pricing remains a significant concern. The article also mentions Intel's previous Arc G3 and G3 Extreme processors designed for the handheld market.
"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.
The Intel Gamer Days Sale Stacks Walmart's Best Gaming PC Deals With Two Free Upcoming PC Games
Intel Gamer Days is offering a sale at Walmart that includes deals on gaming PCs. As part of the promotion, customers will receive two upcoming PC games, each valued at $59.99 at launch.
Arm-based Nvidia gaming laptops get closer to launch, as new performance stats appear on Geekbench
Nvidia's Arm-based RTX Spark chips are nearing launch, with new performance data appearing on Geekbench. These chips, designed for Windows laptops and mini PCs, aim to offer power efficiency for gaming, content creation, and AI tasks. Early benchmarks show the 20-core RTX Spark N1X processor achieving multi-core scores comparable to Intel's i9-14900KS, with DLSS 4.5 support confirmed.
I just awarded this Intel CPU 4/5 stars, and now you can get it with a free AIO cooler and two upcoming games
Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus CPU is currently part of a promotion during Intel Gamer Days, offering a free Cooler Master AIO cooler and two upcoming games, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Star Wars: Galactic Racer, with purchase. Despite being slightly above its launch price, the bundle effectively makes the cooler and games nearly free after a promo code discount, presenting a strong value proposition for PC builders.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Star Wars Galactic Racer headline Intel's Gamer Days freebie promos, but…
Intel's Gamer Days promotion is offering free copies of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Star Wars Galactic Racer with select Intel machines and components. The promotion, which began on August 10 and runs until September 13, aims to offset rising PC gaming costs by bundling games valued at $119.98 with purchases of eligible Intel processors and graphics cards.
Midday Safety Dance
Researchers at MIT have developed the TONTOU attack, which bypasses Spectre defenses on Intel and AMD CPUs. Additionally, N-able has confirmed a "god mode" flaw allowed attackers to reach customer networks, with a second hotfix now available.
The new Razer Blade 16 is still a phenomenal gaming laptop, but it's a real shame about the price
The Razer Blade 16 (2026) remains a highly desirable gaming laptop with a premium design and excellent OLED display, powered by a new Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU. However, a significant price increase to $4,900/£4,800 makes it a tougher sell, especially as some competitors offer better performance for less money, despite the Blade 16's strong portability and refined user experience.
The best gaming tech we've reviewed in July 2026
July 2026 saw the review of several notable gaming hardware products, including the Corsair Clipper Pro Mini 60 gaming keyboard and the Razer Blade 18 gaming laptop. Other reviewed items included the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus CPU, the Secretlab Atlas gaming chair, and the Scuf Omega gamepad for PlayStation 5.
Maingear refreshes its "Zero" PC range, taking cable-free gaming rigs to the next level: "It had to look just as good powered off as it does turned on"
Maingear has refreshed its Zero line of gaming PCs, focusing on a cable-free design with panoramic tempered glass for component visibility. The new models, starting at $2,799, feature high-end CPU and GPU pairings from Intel and AMD, and NVIDIA. The company's CEO, Wallace Santos, emphasized the design's aesthetic appeal both when powered on and off, aiming for "zero distractions".
Report: Nvidia are raising the cost of graphic cards by up to 30%
Nvidia is reportedly increasing the prices of its graphics cards by 20% to 30% due to rising DRAM costs. This marks the third price hike this year, with previous increases affecting specific series like the GeForce RTX 5090. The price adjustments are expected to impact consumers once current stock is depleted, amidst high demand from AI tech giants.
Evening Tech Bits
Intel has reportedly made advancements in advanced packaging technology, enabling larger chip designs. Meanwhile, AMD's Helios Rack is said to be significantly more expensive than NVIDIA's Vera system.
Morning Tech Bits
Intel's Optane technology, specifically its KV cache, is discussed as a potential solution to ease RAM price increases. SK hynix is noted for its record-breaking $55.6 billion in revenue, highlighting significant activity in the semiconductor market.
I put the Razer Blade 18 against the fastest gaming laptop I've tested, and the top dog nearly folded
The Razer Blade 18 is a top-tier luxury gaming laptop that nearly matches the performance of the MSI Raider A18 HX, despite the latter's older, more powerful components. While both laptops perform similarly at 4K resolution in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Razer Blade 18 offers a superior build, keyboard, display refresh rate, and battery life, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing premium features over raw benchmark scores.
Beautiful design and brutal pricing, the Framework 13 Pro is a very 2026 laptop
The Framework 13 Pro laptop features Intel's Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 processor, offering stellar performance and battery life with a beautifully crafted, upgradeable chassis. However, its high price, particularly due to expensive LPCAMM2 memory, and a slightly ghosty screen are notable drawbacks.
