DuatDweller on 26/1/2026 at 23:37
Get AMD's 16GB RX 9060 XT for the MSRP price of an 8GB RTX 5060 Ti — Newegg discount code unlocks $20 saving on double the VRAM
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https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/get-amds-16gb-rx-9060-xt-for-the-msrp-price-of-an-8gb-rtx-5060-ti-newegg-discount-code-unlocks-usd20-saving-on-double-the-vram)
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VRAM-rich graphics cards are becoming harder and harder to find by the day, thanks to the DRAM/NAND flash shortage. However, one of AMD's AIB RX 9060 XT 16GB graphics cards has become a small beacon of light in these dark times. PowerColor's RX 9060 XT 16GB Reaper is on sale on Newegg with a promo code for just $379.99, featuring double the memory capacity of Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, which costs more than this at MSRP and is only $50 less at its cheapest current listing. If you are looking for a VRAM-rich graphics card, don't sleep on this deal; it's unlikely we will be seeing many of these types of deals moving forward.
DuatDweller on 26/1/2026 at 23:40
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a top-tier, 8-core/16-thread desktop processor specifically optimized for gaming using 96 MB of L3 3D V-Cache technology. Operating on the AM5 platform with Zen 4 architecture, it offers exceptional 1080p and 1440p gaming performance with efficient 86-120W power usage, often outperforming higher-end chips in frame rates.
As of late 2025/early 2026, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D generally retails between $320 and $400 in the US, with frequent, short-term sales dropping it closer to $319-$340. While its initial MSRP was $449, competitive pressures and new releases have reduced typical pricing from major retailers like Newegg, Amazon, and Micro Center.
If you want the maximum performance for your bucks get this CPU and match it with your favorite video card.
[video=youtube;B31PwSpClk8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B31PwSpClk8[/video]
DuatDweller on 27/1/2026 at 00:00
Some PCs can't boot after latest Windows 11 security update, no fix in sight —mostly affects 24H2 and 25H2 versions
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https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/some-pcs-cant-boot-after-latest-windows-11-security-update-no-fix-in-sight-mostly-affects-24h2-and-25h2-versions)
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A few Windows 11 users have been affected by a bug from the latest Windows 11 security update, which resulted in their PCs refusing to turn on. According to an AskWoody forum post, there were reports that some devices encountered an “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME” error after installing the January 2026 Windows security update. The affected computers came up with a black screen and a message that says “Your device ran into a problem and needs a restart. You can restart.”\
This isn’t the first issue that came out of Microsoft’s latest Windows security update, with some PCs refusing to shut down or hibernate, and another bug resulting in Cloud-based apps, like Outlook, OneDrive, and Dropbox, not working, as reported by Windows Central. The company has since released emergency updates to address these problems, but it seems that there is no fix for the unbootable error just yet. This is also the most catastrophic error yet, and the only workaround for this is to enter the Windows Recovery Environment and uninstall the latest security patch.
Which is KB5074109 just in case you're wondering what is it.
heywood on 28/1/2026 at 23:07
I'm surprised it has taken NVidia this long to make themselves independent of Intel. I've kind of been expecting them to go ARM ever since Apple came out with their M1.
Intel's business model was totally dependent on continuing Moore's Law.
I was going to comment on this in the other thread, but it seems more appropriate to discuss NVidia's SoC here.
DuatDweller on 29/1/2026 at 01:46
And Intel got lucky they don't have a way to do any x86 CPU.
Or else we could see the end of AMD and Intel together.
DuatDweller on 29/1/2026 at 01:59
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D review: The world's fastest gaming processor, again
3% more performance, 30% more power; the Ryzen 7 9850X3D's victories feel hollow.
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https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-review)
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The Ryzen 7 9850X3D claims a new title as the world's fastest gaming processor, but it lives in the shadow of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with a higher price, higher power consumption, and only marginal performance gains.
US$499 at Amazon
Pros
+
Technically, the fastest gaming CPU on the market
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Runs relatively cool
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5% to 7% uplift in lightly-threaded tasks
Cons
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Around 30% higher power consumption in games compared to Ryzen 7 9800X3D
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Largely similar performance in heavily-threaded tasks, despite higher power consumption
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Launching at $499, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D deals in such thin margins that it's easy to lose it in the shuffle. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D launched at $479, and you can find it for around $465 now. The 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X3D is slightly more, with a street price around $560 now, while the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X3D maintains its halo-product status with a going price of around $670.
DuatDweller on 29/1/2026 at 02:37
BTW DDR4 RAM prices are climbing over DDR5 RAM prices (76%), more than double (176%), so buy now or suffer higher prices later.
(at least is true for Amazon)
DuatDweller on 29/1/2026 at 23:13
Costco reportedly removes RAM from its display PCs to prevent tech-savvy shoplifters, customers claim — GPUs also absent across stores as PC parts become a hot commodity
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https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ram/costco-removes-ram-from-its-display-pcs-to-prevent-tech-savvy-shoplifters-gpus-also-absent-across-stores-as-pc-parts-become-a-hot-commodity)
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The ongoing memory shortage has spiraled so out of control that even the spacious aisles of Costco are apparently no longer safe from its RAMifications. A customer has just shared photos from their local store, where the demo units on display no longer have any memory installed in them, suggesting the store may have removed them to prevent them from being stolen. Shoplifting is a common issue at large retailers like Costco, but the vendor has only done this for GPUs previously.
This is simply RAM/GPU madness, pure madness....
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Many of the comments theorize that the theft may have already occurred and that Costco, like other stores, simply doesn't replace the stolen parts with new ones because they know they'll just be stolen again. Three of the four computers in the image above still have GPUs mounted inside, possibly hinting that this wasn't foul play. The PC on the right, though, has no GPU or RAM, likely because it's the most expensive offering at $2,600.
The top reply to this post is from a shopper who says the Costco near them actually caught someone on camera stealing from PCs, but the deed had been done by that point. Many other people in the thread also chimed in with personal anecdotes about how their local Costco (and Walmart) also has no memory or graphics cards installed, so this could be either a widespread security measure or indeed a widespread shoplifting issue.
DuatDweller on 30/1/2026 at 03:14
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Briefly Appears In Ryzen 7 9850X3D Review By ASUS Representative
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https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-briefly-appears-in-ryzen-7-9850x3d-review-by-asus-representative/)
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The flagship dual X3D processor appears to have reached some vendors, and while AMD didn't confirm the launch date, the launch could happen soon.
ASUS's Tony Review of Ryzen 7 9850X3D Accidentally Shows AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual X3D Chip Folder
AMD's new flagship Zen 5 chip might be around the corner, but we got an early glimpse of the processor's existence. AMD did confirm the processor's coming indirectly at CES, but it hasn't talked much about it yet. The processor was recently spotted in a review by ASUS's General Manager of China, Tony, who was testing the recently launched AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The processor takes the place of the 9800X3D as the fastest gaming processor, but what many missed, the review by Tony had the confirmation of its bigger sibling.
On the other side of the Pond...
The Intel Core Ultra 9 400 series ("Nova Lake-S") is rumored as a next-generation desktop platform expected in late 2026, featuring up to 52 cores (16P+32E+4LPE) and massive 288MB bLLC cache. These flagship processors aim to enhance gaming and AI performance with Xe3-LPG graphics, NPU6 (74 TOPS), and support for high-speed DDR5-8000+ memory.
Key Rumored Specifications & Features
Architecture: Nova Lake-S (Desktop).
Core Configuration: Flagship Core Ultra 9 models are expected to feature a 52-core configuration (16 Performance + 32 Efficient + 4 Low-Power Efficient cores).
Cache: Features a significant "bLLC" (big Last Level Cache), similar to AMD's X3D, likely designed to improve gaming performance by reducing latency compared to DRAM.
Graphics & AI: Utilizes Xe3-LPG graphics architecture and NPU6, offering a projected 5.6x higher AI throughput compared to previous desktop iterations.
Memory Support: Expected to support DDR5-8000+ memory kits.
Release Timeline: Likely to arrive after the Arrow Lake and Panther Lake releases, expected in 2026.
Note: These specifications are based on leaks and rumors reported in late 2025 and early 2026 and are subject to change by Intel.
DuatDweller on 30/1/2026 at 22:20
Apparently Microsoft got wind that Windows 11 sucks big time, failed updates, invasive AI, bloated size and useless apps...
They promise they're gonna fix it this year 2026. We will have to see about that.
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https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/microsoft-is-reportedly-working-to-fix-windows-11s-most-annoying-flaws-wants-to-rebuild-trust-in-the-os)
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Complaints surrounding Windows 11's buggy updates and glitchy UI have apparently finally reached the ears of Microsoft, and the company wants to do something about it in 2026. The Verge reports that Microsoft is now focusing on fixing Windows 11's core issues for the rest of the year, in a process known as "swarming".
The Verge received a statement from Windows and devices president Pavan Davuluri, who claims that feedback from Windows Insiders to fix Windows 11's core issues has been loud and clear. Davuluri further claimed that Microsoft needs to improve Windows "in ways that are meaningful for people", and this year will see Microsoft improving performance, reliability, and the "overall experience" of Windows.
Windows 11 has faced backlash since its launch for having "bloated UI", inconsistent performance, and stricter system requirements than Windows 10. Windows 11 requires a TPM 2.0 module to exist on the host computer to officially work (without workarounds).
