Tech News
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T-FORCE XTREEM CKD DDR5 8400MHz 48GB Review @ Vortez
The UK Tech media outlet, Vortez, reviewed the T-FORCE XTREEM CKD DDR5 8400 MHz 48 GB memory kit, highlighting its exceptional speed and advanced design. This dual-channel kit includes two 24 GB modules running at 8400 MHz with CL42-54-54-84 timings and a voltage of 1.4V. What sets it apart is the use of CKD (Clock Driver) technology, typically found in server-class memory, which enhances signal quality and stability at ultra-high frequencies. The modules also feature a thick aluminum heatsink and a 10-layer PCB, providing both durability and thermal efficiency, along with on-die ECC for error correction.
What sets the XTREEM CKD apart is its use of CUDIMM (Client Unbuffered DIMM) architecture, which incorporates an onboard Clock Driver (CKD) to improve signal integrity and timing accuracy at ultra-high frequencies. This design change departs from traditional unbuffered DDR5 modules and allows for better electrical stability—essential when pushing past 8000MHz.
When put through benchmarks, Vortez reported excellent stability and out-of-the-box performance when paired with supported Intel 800-series motherboards. The memory ran smoothly using XMP profiles, achieving impressive results across bandwidth and latency benchmarks. While compatibility may be limited on older platforms, the kit showed promise for further tuning in enthusiast setups. At around 290 US dollars, the XTREEM CKD kit was praised for offering top-tier performance at a surprisingly reasonable price, making it a strong choice for gamers, overclockers, and power users aiming to push their systems to the next level.
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ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 16Gb OC graphics card Review @ Funky Kit
FunkyKit reviewed the ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC graphics card, spotlighting its bold white aesthetic and factory overclocked performance. The card features AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture with 32 compute units, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory running at 20 Gbps, and a 128-bit memory interface. ASRock equipped it with a triple-fan cooler, reinforced backplate, and ARGB lighting with a dedicated on-off switch. It also includes modern display outputs such as three DisplayPort 2.1a and one HDMI 2.1b. The review praised the card’s excellent thermal design and strong 1080p performance, although it noted that ray tracing capabilities are still limited and 1440p results are average for more demanding titles.
" ... The ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 16Gb OC graphics card is ideal for those who's after a GPU that offers great aesthetics and decent performance for 1080p gaming, furthermore it's capable of 1440p gaming at a push. With an MSRP of only USD $389 (16GB version), it's cheaper than the Geforce RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 5060 Ti, while offering similar performance. "
In testing, the RX 9060 XT Steel Legend delivered smooth gameplay in popular games and held up well against similarly priced competitors. The card remained cool and quiet even under stress, with temperatures averaging around 56 degrees Celsius. While it may not outperform Nvidia’s midrange options in ray tracing, its higher VRAM capacity and support for technologies like FSR 4 and HYPR-RX help it stay competitive. At around 390 dollars, FunkyKit found it to be a solid choice for gamers seeking a visually appealing and efficient card with future-ready features, especially for 1080p and light 1440p gaming setups. -
NVIDIA Partners With Europe Model Builders and Cloud Providers to Accelerate Region’s Leap Into AI
NVIDIA GTC Paris at VivaTech -- NVIDIA today announced that it is teaming with model builders and cloud providers across Europe and the Middle East to optimize sovereign large language models (LLMs), providing a springboard to accelerate enterprise AI adoption for the region’s industries.
Model builders and AI consortiums Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Bielik.AI, Dicta, H Company, Domyn, LightOn, the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS) together with KBLab at the National Library of Sweden, the Slovak Republic, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the University College of London, the University of Ljubljana and UTTER are teaming with NVIDIA to optimize their models with NVIDIA Nemotron™ techniques to maximize cost efficiency and accuracy for enterprise AI workloads, including agentic AI.
Model post-training and inference will run on AI infrastructure in Europe from NVIDIA Cloud Partners (NCPs) participating in the NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton™ marketplace.
The open, sovereign models will provide a foundation for an integrated regional AI ecosystem that reflects local languages and culture. Europe’s enterprises will be able to run the models on Perplexity, an AI-powered answer engine used to answer over 150 million questions per week. Companies will also be able to fine-tune the sovereign models on local NCP infrastructure through a new Hugging Face integration with DGX Cloud Lepton.
“Europe’s diversity is its superpower — an engine of creativity and innovation,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together with Europe’s model builders and cloud providers, we’re building an AI ecosystem where intelligence is developed and served locally to provide a foundation for Europe to thrive in the age of AI — transforming every industry across the region.”
Optimizing Model Accuracy and Inference Savings With NVIDIA Nemotron
Europe — the world’s third largest economic region — is home to industries spanning manufacturing, robotics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, finance, energy and creative.To accelerate the region’s AI-driven transformation, NVIDIA partners are delivering their open LLMs with support for Europe’s 24 official languages. Several models also specialize in national language and culture, such as those from H Company and LightOn in France, Dicta in Israel, Domyn in Italy, Bielik.AI in Poland, the University of Ljubljana and the Slovak Republic models, BSC in Spain, NAISS and KBLab in Sweden, TII in the United Arab Emirates and the University College London in the U.K.
The LLMs will be distilled with NVIDIA Nemotron model-building techniques — including neural architecture search — as well as reinforcement learning and post-training with NVIDIA-curated synthetic data. These optimizations will reduce operational costs and boost user experiences by generating tokens faster during inference. The Nemotron post-training workloads will run on DGX Cloud Lepton hosted by European NCPs including Nebius, Nscale and Fluidstack.
Developers will be able to deploy the sovereign models as NVIDIA NIM™ microservices running on AI factories — on premises and across cloud service provider platforms — using a new NIM microservice that supports more than 100,000 public, private and domain-specialized LLMs hosted on Hugging Face.
Adding Europe’s Sovereign AI Insights to Perplexity
Supporting AI diversity for enterprises across the region, Perplexity will integrate the sovereign AI models into its answer engine, which is used by European enterprises, publishers and organizations, including telecommunications and media giants. Perplexity uses LLMs to improve accuracy in search queries and AI outputs. The answer engine draws from credible sources in real time to accurately answer questions with in-line citations, perform deep research and complete assistive tasks.“Perplexity’s goal is to provide accurate, trustworthy answers to any question from any person, wherever they are,” said Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and CEO of Perplexity. “Bringing NVIDIA-optimized sovereign AI models to Perplexity empowers innovation in Europe with AI built and running in the region.”
Availability
The first distilled models from Europe’s model builders are expected to be available later this year. -
Pulsar TenZ Gaming Mouse Signature Edition @ TechPowerUp
TechPowerUp reviewed the Pulsar TenZ Signature Edition wireless gaming mouse, a collaboration with pro esports player Tyson "TenZ" Ngo. With a solid outer shell and a featherweight design at just 48 grams, the mouse balances build quality and performance. It features Pulsar's custom XS-1 sensor (based on PixArt’s PAW3950), capable of 32,000 CPI and true 8,000 Hz polling in wireless mode. The mouse includes optical switches, a TTC Gold scroll encoder, onboard memory, and a symmetrical shape with side buttons on both sides, catering to various grip styles and handedness. Its construction impressed the reviewer, showing no creaking or flex, and the bundled software allowed fine-tuning of key settings.
Designed by TenZ, the ambidextrous TenZ Signature Edition comes with Pulsar's latest tech: the custom XS-1 sensor, 8000 Hz wireless polling, and optical main button switches. Unlike previous Pulsar releases, the TenZ Signature Edition uses a fully solid shell to reach its 48 g weight.
In performance testing, TechPowerUp found the TenZ mouse delivered excellent click responsiveness and precise tracking. However, at higher polling rates like 4,000 Hz and 8,000 Hz, occasional polling inconsistencies were observed. The real-world benefit of these higher rates was relatively minor, offering latency improvements of less than half a millisecond, mainly noticeable for competitive players using high refresh rate monitors. Battery life at these settings also took a hit, with less than 10 hours at 8,000 Hz. While the $129.95 price places it on the premium end, the combination of lightweight design, professional-grade features, and smooth performance makes it a strong contender for competitive gamers and TenZ fans alike. -
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Gaming OC 8G Graphics Card @ Funky Kit
Funkykit reviewed the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Gaming OC 8G graphics card, noting its appeal as a budget-friendly solution for 1080p gaming. Built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, the card comes with 3,840 CUDA cores, 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, and a factory overclock of up to 2,595 MHz. It features Gigabyte's Windforce cooling system with triple 90 mm fans, composite copper heat pipes, and a metal backplate, helping the card run cool and quiet under load. The compact design and standard output options (three DisplayPort 2.1 and one HDMI 2.1) make it an easy fit for most modern PC builds.
" ... If you're after an affordable GPU for standard 1080p gaming, then you might want to consider the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Gaming OC. It appeals to the budget-conscious gamer who prefer efficiency with options to enable ray tracing features. It comes with a slightly overclocked GPU, along with some nice aesthetics, a decent cooling solution and a Dual BIOS switch. "
In performance testing, Funkykit gave the card a score of 7.8 out of 10, commending its efficiency, solid frame rates at 1080p, and support for DLSS 3.5. However, the review pointed out limitations such as the 8 GB memory capacity and relatively weak ray tracing performance. While it may not be ideal for demanding 1440p or 4K workloads, Funkykit concluded that the RTX 5060 Gaming OC offers excellent value for casual and mainstream gamers who want smooth gameplay at full HD resolution without overspending. -
be quiet! Pure Power 13 M: ATX 3.1 power supply with high efficiency and silent operation
Top-selling Pure Power power supply series gains ATX 3.1 compatibility and semi-passive cooling
be quiet!, the German manufacturer for premium PC components, is proud to introduce Pure Power 13 M, the next evolution of its popular mainstream PSU line. Fully compliant with the ATX 3.1 standard, the Pure Power 13 M offers improved performance and high efficiency, modern PCIe 5.1 compatibility, a semi-passive cooling system that ensures virtually silent operation during low to medium loads and remarkably quiet active cooling under higher loads, and modular cables for a clean installation. This future-proof power supply is available in five wattages: 1000W, 850W, 750W, 650W, and 550W, each with 80 PLUS® Gold and Cybenetics Gold certifications.
“With Pure Power 13 M, we’re delivering the features and performance users expect from be quiet!.” says Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet!. “We’ve improved on our proven fan technology with a semi-passive mode as well as lower noise levels during active cooling. The result is a reliable and extremely quiet PSU that’s fully compatible with the latest GeForce RTX 5000 and Radeon RX 9000 series and that meets the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s PC builders.”
Gold-rated efficiency with semi-passive cooling
Thanks to a proven combination of LLC, SR, and DC/DC topology, Pure Power 13 M delivers exceptional stability and voltage regulation. Certified with both 80 PLUS® Gold and Cybenetics Gold, it achieves high efficiency levels while maintaining low power consumption. A newly introduced semi-passive cooling mode allows the 120mm be quiet! fan to remain off under low and moderate loads, ensuring a virtually inaudible operation when full cooling isn’t necessary. When active, its airflow-optimized blades and temperature-controlled curve maintain the company’s hallmark quiet performance.
Designed for next-gen hardware
Pure Power 13 M fully supports Intel’s ATX 3.1 specification and is PCIe 5.1 ready, featuring a 12V-2x6 connector delivering up to 600W1 for the most demanding graphics cards, alongside up to four traditional PCIe 6+2 connectors2. The stricter safety standards of ATX 3.1 ensure improved support for next-gen GPUs. This makes it a highly compatible solution for both current high-end setups and future upgrades.
Improved design and functionality
Pure Power 13 M features a single 12V rail for stronger, more consistent power delivery and includes fully modular cable management, making cable routing easier and reducing clutter inside the chassis. The PSU is housed in a sturdy steel enclosure and continues to reflect be quiet!’s high standards in design and manufacturing, with quality assurance conducted in Germany. All models are backed by a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, reinforcing be quiet!’s commitment to reliability and customer satisfaction.
Pure Power 13 M is available now.
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Crucial X10 Portable Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers
ThinkComputers reviewed the Crucial X10 Portable SSD, positioning it as a compelling and affordable high-speed storage option for users needing portability and large capacity. While the drive features a plastic enclosure instead of the X10 Pro’s aluminum design, it offers a more rugged IP65 water and dust resistance rating and introduces higher capacity models, including 6TB and 8TB. The X10 supports USB 3.2 Gen2x2, and in testing, it achieved transfer speeds close to 4,056 MB/s read and 3,630 MB/s write, making it one of the fastest portable SSDs in its class despite lacking hardware encryption.
"Back at the end of 2023 we took a look at the Crucial X10 Pro portable solid state drive, which really represented Crucial's flagship portable SSD product at the time. While it still does sit as the flagship, Crucial has recently introduced the X10 (non-Pro). At first glance the only real difference I am seeing is that the X10 (non-Pro) does not have the anodized aluminum enclosure. The Crucial X10 still offers the same transfer speeds of 2100 MB/s with its USB 3.2 gen 2×2 connection it will be available in larger capacities up to 8TB. Let's take a look at the X10 and see what it is all about!"The review notes that the drive is highly compact and lightweight, ideal for travel and mobile professionals. Although the plastic casing is more prone to scratches, the overall build remains durable and practical. ThinkComputers also emphasized that the X10 delivers great value, particularly for U.S. buyers, where pricing on higher-capacity versions is competitive. For users who prioritize performance, large storage, and portability without the need for added encryption, the Crucial X10 stands out as a top-tier choice.
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What is SOCAMM Memory? How Low-Power Memory is Revolutionizing Data Centers
The relentless growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is placing unprecedented demands on data centers, creating a critical challenge: maximizing performance while minimizing power consumption. U.S. data centers are projected to triple their electricity consumption by 2028, potentially accounting for 12% of the nation’s total energy use. To meet this challenge, a new generation of memory technology is emerging – low-power (LP) memory, like Micron’s LPDDR5X – offering a pathway to significantly improve efficiency and sustainability. This shift isn's just about reducing bills; it's about enabling the future of AI.
Traditional memory technologies, such as DDR5, struggle to keep pace with the power demands of modern AI workloads. LP memory, however, is engineered to deliver high-speed performance while consuming significantly less energy. This is achieved through operating at lower voltages, optimizing circuit designs, and focusing on energy savings. Micron’s recent testing of LPDDR5X (on NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip) compared to traditional DDR5 (on an x86 system) demonstrated remarkable gains when running Meta Llama 3 70B for inference. The LP memory system achieved 5 times higher inference throughput, nearly 80% better latency, and a staggering 73% reduction in energy consumption.
The benefits of LP memory extend beyond just power savings. Reduced energy needs translate directly into lower cooling requirements and electricity expenses for data center operators, shrinking utility bills and reducing their carbon footprint. Furthermore, the improved throughput and reduced latency contribute to a more seamless user experience, characterized by faster response times and enhanced overall performance. This combination of efficiency and performance makes LP memory a strategic imperative for modern data centers striving to meet the demands of increasingly complex AI applications.
The shift towards LP memory isn't just a technological upgrade; it's a crucial step towards sustainable computing. As AI continues to evolve and push the boundaries of data center capabilities, advanced memory technologies like LPDDR5X are emerging as key enablers of efficiency. By accelerating AI tasks like inference while simultaneously reducing power requirements, we can achieve more with less, paving the way for a more environmentally responsible future for AI.
Micron encourages data center operators to explore the potential of LP memory. Their comprehensive technical brief, "The role of low-power (LP) memory in data center workloads," provides deeper insights into how this technology is transforming data center performance and energy use. As AI continues its rapid advancement, embracing LP memory is not just a smart choice; it's a necessity for building a sustainable and high-performing future.
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Resident Evil Requiem: A Glimpse into the Future of Survival Horror (Late February 2026)
Resident Evil Requiem: A Glimpse into the Future of Survival Horror (Late February 2026)
Capcom’s latest announcement has sent ripples through the survival horror community: Resident Evil Requiem is on the horizon. While Resident Evil Village successfully blended the series’ classic survival horror roots with more action-oriented gameplay, Requiem appears poised to recalibrate the balance, leaning back towards the methodical exploration and resource management that defined the franchise's golden age. However, with a planned launch on 27th February 2026, Requiem isn’t just about refining existing mechanics; it’s a glimpse into the potential future of survival horror, leveraging advancements in both hardware and game development techniques.
The initial trailer showcased a return to sprawling, interconnected environments, reminiscent of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2, suggesting a shift away from the more linear structure of its predecessor. This design choice not only enhances the sense of exploration but also presents unique challenges for level design and optimization. We anticipate a greater emphasis on environmental storytelling, with intricate details and interactive elements contributing to the immersive experience.
Technical Expectations & the RE Engine:
Built on the proven RE Engine, Resident Evil Requiem is expected to deliver a substantial visual upgrade. While specific details remain scarce, we can reasonably anticipate:
- Enhanced Ray Tracing: Resident Evil Village utilized ray tracing for lighting and reflections, and Requiem is likely to expand upon this, potentially incorporating ray-traced shadows and global illumination. This will contribute to a more realistic and atmospheric environment.
- Improved Textures and Models: Higher-resolution textures and more detailed character models are almost guaranteed, pushing the limits of current-generation hardware.
- Advanced Lighting Techniques: Expect more dynamic lighting and volumetric effects, creating a sense of depth and realism.
- Potential for 120fps Mode: Given the performance capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, a 120fps performance mode is a distinct possibility, offering a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience. However, this will likely come at a visual cost, potentially requiring dynamic resolution scaling.
- PC Optimization: Capcom has a generally good track record with PC optimization, and we anticipate Requiem will offer a range of graphical settings to cater to different hardware configurations. DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) or FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) support is highly probable to boost performance on less powerful GPUs.
Gameplay Mechanics & Performance Considerations:
The return to a more interconnected world presents unique challenges for performance. Larger environments require more complex level streaming and occlusion culling to maintain a stable frame rate. Capcom will need to carefully balance visual fidelity with performance optimization to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience across all platforms.
The emphasis on resource management and methodical exploration suggests a slower pace of gameplay, which could allow for more detailed environments and more complex AI behaviors. However, this also means that performance dips during intense encounters could be more noticeable.
Early Verdict:
Resident Evil Requiem appears to be a compelling technical proposition, promising a significant visual upgrade and a return to the core tenets of classic Resident Evil gameplay. While performance optimization will be crucial, the RE Engine’s proven track record and the power of current-generation hardware suggest a potentially stunning experience. We’re eagerly awaiting further details and hands-on impressions to assess the game’s full potential.
Release Date & Platforms:
Resident Evil Requiem is currently slated for release in [Release Date - Replace with actual information] on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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T-FORCE GC Pro with Dark Airflow I Review @ Vortez
Vortez reviewed the TeamGroup T-FORCE GC Pro Gen5 SSD bundled with the Dark Airflow I cooler, evaluating both performance and thermal efficiency. The review highlights that while the GC Pro delivers impressive sequential read and write speeds of up to 12,000 MB/s and 11,000 MB/s respectively, it generates substantial heat during sustained workloads. To prevent thermal throttling, TeamGroup includes the Dark Airflow I, an active cooler featuring a finned heatsink, dual heatpipes, and a small 40 mm fan. Vortez noted that with the cooler installed, the drive maintained consistent performance even under stress, whereas without it, transfer speeds dropped by as much as 90 percent during heavy IOMeter testing.
TEAMGROUP’s T-FORCE GC PRO 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD represents a significant leap in storage technology, harnessing the capabilities of the InnoGrit IG5666 controller to deliver exceptional performance.
The review emphasizes that although Gen5 SSDs currently target high-end users, adequate cooling will become increasingly essential as performance standards rise. Vortez praised the Dark Airflow I for its easy installation and compatibility with double-sided M.2 drives, ensuring wide usability. Overall, the bundle was commended for unlocking the GC Pro's full potential while maintaining safe operating temperatures, making it a smart choice for enthusiasts seeking both speed and long-term stability.
