Computer Hardware
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Sunday Tech Bits
IBM is preparing to scale its quantum computing capabilities, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Separately, a memory crunch is posing existential threats to smaller companies, while Apple and Microsoft are also affected. The article also touches on the current state of PC hardware, particularly with an all-AMD focus.
Prime Day 2026: The Best Deals on Asus ROG Laptops, Monitors, And More
Prime Day 2026 is offering significant discounts on Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) products, including gaming laptops, monitors, and accessories. Deals are available on models like the ROG Strix G16 and G18 laptops, various ROG Swift and Strix monitors, and accessories such as the ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab mouse and ROG Falchion Ace keyboard. This event provides an opportunity to purchase PC hardware at reduced prices, potentially mitigating the impact of recent supply chain issues.
As everything gets more expensive, it's time to make do and mend
The rising cost of computer components necessitates a shift in consumer mindset towards making do and mending. This economic pressure encourages a more sustainable approach to hardware usage.
PC RAM prices could stay this high for years, hints memory maker Micron's latest earnings
Micron Technology's latest earnings report indicates that PC RAM prices may remain high for several years due to long-term supply agreements and a focus on data center production. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra highlighted that industry supply is structurally constrained and unlikely to meet increasing demand until around 2028. This situation, coupled with potential shifts in AI infrastructure, suggests inflated prices for RAM-intensive tech products will persist.
Valve Admits That it Didn’t Have Bargaining Power With RAM Companies for Steam Machine
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais revealed that the high cost of the Steam Machine was partly due to a lack of bargaining power with memory manufacturers. These companies dictated prices with no room for negotiation, a situation exacerbated by the demand from AI data centers. Griffais also explained Valve's commitment to an open PC ecosystem, which prevented them from subsidizing the hardware cost like a console.
$1,049 Steam Machine is still a "good value," Valve engineer says, even though it was supposed to be $789 like…
Valve engineers discuss the $1,049 price of the Steam Machine, acknowledging it's higher than their original $789 target due to component shortages. They believe the price is still competitive for its specifications and form factor, especially compared to self-built PCs, and hope consumers will understand the market conditions.
The RPS Anti-Prime Day 2026 deals guide: Cheaper hardware, 100% Amazon-free
This guide provides a curated selection of PC hardware and peripherals available from non-Amazon retailers, aiming to offer deals on components that are currently overpriced or scarce. The article explicitly avoids highlighting any Amazon Prime Day deals for 2026, focusing instead on alternative purchasing options.
Steam Machine Price in the Philippines: PHP Cost Breakdown — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
This article analyzes the potential cost of Steam Machines in the Philippines, converting US prices to Philippine Pesos and estimating them to range from ₱64,000 to ₱87,100. It highlights that these prices are higher than current PlayStation 5 systems and discusses factors like supply chain issues and the overall value proposition compared to building a custom PC or buying existing consoles.
Valve upgrades AMD's 9070 XT GPU in the Steam Hardware Survey, finally allowing the credit it deserves
Valve's Steam Hardware Survey for May shows a significant, implausible increase in the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT's user numbers. This surge, from negligible to 1.33%, is likely due to changes in how Valve collects or tags GPU data, with the 9070 XT now being correctly identified instead of being lumped into a generic 'AMD Radeon Graphics' category.
Samsung 990 Pro SSD Gets Rare Discount Ahead Of Prime Day
Samsung's 990 Pro NVMe SSD is currently available at a significant discount, with the 2TB model priced at $370, down from $640. This early Amazon Prime Day deal also applies to the 1TB and 4TB versions. The SSD is a popular choice for PC and PlayStation 5 users, offering high read and write speeds, though a heatsink is required for PS5 compatibility and recommended for PC.
Hardware Reviews
This article provides reviews for PC hardware, specifically the Phanteks XT View Matrix case and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless OMNI headset. The Phanteks case is noted as a PC Gamer review, while the SteelSeries headset is described as a refined take on an all-in-one solution.
You can swap around the position of the front IO on Cooler Master's updated Q300L case, and its price is hard to…
Cooler Master has released an updated version of its Q300L PC case, the Q300L V3, which maintains its mATX form factor and affordable price point of $44.49. Key updates include modular front I/O placement, a high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, and increased internal dimensions for better component compatibility.
Noctua's AIO liquid cooler is here but hooo boy is it expensive
Noctua has released its first AIO liquid cooler, the NL-LC1, developed in collaboration with Asetek. The cooler features Noctua's fans and a noise-absorbing pump cover, aiming for quiet operation. Despite its premium features, the NL-LC1 comes with a high price tag, with the 360mm version costing $250.
Modular laptop maker Framework forced to push SSD prices even higher but says DDR5 is 'stable'
Modular laptop maker Framework has announced price increases for SSDs due to higher sourcing costs, impacting their inventory and production of Storage Expansion Cards. However, the company reports that DDR5 memory prices have remained stable. The Framework 13 laptop and Framework Desktop PC are affected by these component cost changes.
Havn is making a smaller, lighter version of the excellent HS 420, with a few convenient upgrades too
Havn has announced the HS 360, a smaller and lighter version of their HS 420 PC case, featuring a 19.4% reduction in size and 29.5% reduction in weight. The new model includes upgrades like a magnetic glass divider for improved airflow and easier fan installation, and a smart solution for back-connect motherboards. Tentative pricing places the VGPU version around $230 and the non-VGPU version around $160.
A new RX 9070 has landed at Amazon in time for Prime Day, but I'd avoid following the Golden Rabbit
A new AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) graphics card has become available in the US, but the article advises caution due to its lower specifications compared to the original RX 9070. While the GRE model features 12GB GDDR6 VRAM and a narrower memory bus, the original offers 16GB and more compute units. The author suggests that with Prime Day approaching, better deals on superior models might emerge, making the GRE edition less appealing unless significantly discounted.
My favorite budget CPU cooler just got a big update, boosting its cooling performance
Thermalright has released the third iteration of its budget-friendly CPU cooler, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE V3. This update features slimmer, faster-spinning fans and a revised fin design, aiming to improve cooling performance. The cooler remains compatible with AMD AM4/AM5 and Intel LGA 1851/1700/1150/1151/1200 sockets and is priced at $37.
This gaming PC can boot to Windows in just six seconds, runs Unreal at 1300fps
A PC enthusiast has built a custom machine capable of booting Windows 95 in just six seconds, utilizing a combination of modern hardware like a Ryzen 9 9900X CPU and an NVMe SSD, alongside older components such as a PCI adapter and an Nvidia GeForce 7900 GS graphics card. This setup also allows for impressive performance in classic games like Unreal, running at 1300fps.
AMD exec says DDR5 RAM pricing won't normalize until 2028 — and it's sad that given other predictions, I…
An AMD executive predicts that DDR5 RAM prices will not normalize until 2028, citing a slow recovery. This outlook contrasts with some other industry predictions, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's suggestion that the memory crisis could last until 2029 or 2030. Additionally, rumors suggest Lenovo may implement further price increases on its PCs and laptops.
We got our eyes and noses on a new PC case with a magnetic essential oils diffuser to make your gaming den smell less…
Montech has unveiled the Ten Wood PC case, featuring wooden detailing and a magnetic essential oils diffuser. The case comes in three models (M1, M2, I3) supporting Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. While a release date and exact price are not yet confirmed, it is expected to be a budget-friendly option.
