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Articles by Cale Hunt
Xbox Series S owners are probably feeling pretty good about FSR 4.1 right now
Gaming 4 hours ago AMD has shipped FSR 4.1 early for RX 6000 graphics cards, and it's coming to Ryzen APUs, Vulkan, and Xbox too pcgamer.com - James Bentley • 4h Better support is always a good thing. If you are rocking an AMD graphics card or AMD laptop/handheld, there's good news.
I thought the Xbox Series S was running out of road — With AMD’s FSR 4.1, it might actually last until 2028
I can't help but see this as one of the most important things that Microsoft could possibly do for current-gen Xbox owners who likely just found out that their consoles will need to last longer than expected. A longer life for your gaming devices? No better time than now.
I'm using Lenovo's Pro 9n with RTX Spark — here's what I already like, and what worries me
Lenovo's Pro 9n is the first RTX Spark laptop that I've been able to sit down and use as I normally would at work and at home, following several brief stints with the new class of PCs at Computex and IFA. Lenovo is aiming its 15.3-inch Pro 9n directly at creators handling demanding 3D rendering and video editing tasks. Its 2.5K OLED display with Pantone color validation, its four Dolby Atmos speakers, its pen-enabled haptic touchpad, and its newfound RTX performance all play into this direction.
Ben Affleck played StarCraft for 3 years straight after getting famous
Netflix 2 hours ago Five gripping thrillers to binge on Netflix right now Best of Netflix - Radhika Deshmukh • 2h People do adore the idea that life is under control; they like to maintain their calendars, doors locked, and plans made with confidence, all while … entertainment news Now Why Ben Affleck Turned Down Directing 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens SYFY WIRE - Josh Weiss • 34m Before J.J. Abrams landed the job to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting,...
HP's PC shipments sank 31% in Q3, the steepest drop among major brands
IDC and Omdia , two major analyst firms, recently released independent reports showing massive year-over-year drops in global PC shipments in Q3 2026 IDC shows a slightly rosier 20.1% decline compared to Q3 2025, whereas Omdia reports a 21.2% decline Breaking that down, Omdia notes that desktop shipments dropped and laptops 20.6% to arrive at the average. This decline is not normal. As IDC notes, Q3 almost always beats Q2, but this year, it's dropped by sequentially. Is there a need to panic?
Your AMD gaming handheld is getting a free upgrade — FSR 4 is coming to Ryzen APUs this year
AMD 's Senior VP and GM of Computing and Graphics, Jack Huynh , recently revealed to Korean tech outlet TheElec that the company intends to launch FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (aka FSR 4 ) on more than just its Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 discrete graphics cards before 2027.
Your AMD gaming handheld is getting a free upgrade — FSR 4 is coming to Ryzen APUs this year
AMD 's Senior VP and GM of Computing and Graphics, Jack Huynh , recently revealed to Korean tech outlet TheElec that the company intends to launch FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (aka FSR 4 ) on more than just its Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 discrete graphics cards before 2027.
Is the Surface Laptop Ultra a gaming PC? Let me explain.
13 hours ago These are high-powered, potentially high-priced laptops. Microsoft is all set to announce a Surface laptop powered by the powerful new Nvidia RTX Spark chip on Wednesday afternoon, but HP may have jumped the gun by revealing the price of its own RTX Spark laptops ahead of time. According to …
Why Steam's 32GB RAM surge during a RAM crisis looks suspicious
The last thing I want to hear again is how high RAM prices have become due to AI's unrelenting pressure on component markets . Nevertheless, there's something curious happening, as evidenced by Steam's September 2026 hardware survey update. In the System RAM section, which covers the spread of how many gigabytes are in use in a single PC, the three segments directly above 16GB grew.
Why Steam's 32GB RAM surge during a RAM crisis looks suspicious
The last thing I want to hear again is how high RAM prices have become due to AI's unrelenting pressure on component markets . Nevertheless, there's something curious happening, as evidenced by Steam's September 2026 hardware survey update. In the System RAM section, which covers the spread of how many gigabytes are in use in a single PC, the three segments directly above 16GB grew.
32GB of RAM takes over Steam's user base, but what's really going on?
2 hours ago Apple TV is having a great year, and its latest series—Small Prophets—is getting hailed as perhaps the streamer’s best 2026 debut yet. Here’s what reviews say. Small Prophets reviews call it a ‘masterpiece’ for Apple TV Apple TV has been on a roll with comedies this year, including new seasons of …
Quote of the day by Panos Panay: "To make a great product, you can't have great software without the hardware; you can't have great hardware without the software." — Can Microsoft's October 7 Surface event keep this vision alive?
A lot is happening this week in the world of Windows and Surface. Today is the fifth anniversary of Windows 11, a milestone that snuck up on me and plenty of other users. Perhaps it's because I dragged my feet while making the move permanently from Windows 10. On October 7, Microsoft is hosting a Surface event where it's expected that NVIDIA's RTX Spark chip and the Surface Laptop Ultra lineup will be further discussed (and hopefully better explained).
Windows 95's redesign is still the most profound 31 years later — I take a look at what survived more than three decades of hardware evolution
Believe it or not, there was a time when people lined up outside of actual stores to buy the latest version of Windows. Such was the case on August 24, 1995, when Microsoft officially launched Windows 95. Yes, I find it hard to believe, but it's been 31 years since Microsoft made what is arguably the biggest change ever to its operating system. I didn't line up outside of Best Buy to secure my copy, but I do remember some of the hype ahead of the launch.
From the Start button to the taskbar — what Windows 95 brought to the modern PC
Believe it or not, there was a time when people lined up outside of actual stores to buy the latest version of Windows. Such was the case on August 24, 1995 , when Microsoft officially launched Windows 95 Yes, I find it hard to believe, but it's been 31 years since Microsoft made what is arguably the biggest change ever to its operating system. I didn't line up outside of Best Buy to secure my copy, but I do remember some of the hype ahead of the launch.
Is this laptop dock with built-in M.2 SSD slot and Thunderbolt Share right for you?
Docking stations are an interesting section of the laptop market. There are a lot of options out there, many of them offering the latest Thunderbolt 5 connectivity with an assortment of older and varied ports. As the market fills up, laptop docks have to set themselves apart with different sub-features. I'm talking about Thunderbolt Share . A built-in M.2 SSD slot . A standout design (as much as that's possible with a small chunk of metal).
Forget GTA 6 gameplay leaks — I'm more interested in path-traced GTA 4 that looks shockingly close to 2026 graphics
A GTA IV character in a dark jacket and motorcycle helmet standing in front of cars, with a roller coaster in the background. Grand Theft Auto VI has been hogging the limelight lately, and for all the wrong reasons. Hackers have been leaking bits of gameplay and other info online, and gamers are gobbling it up ahead of the expected November 19, 2026, release date.
Windows 11's latest Patch Tuesday update is breaking games and turning off PCs — This temporary fix might get ARC Raiders and The Finals running again
A character stands beside a rusty, weathered structure in a rocky outdoor setting, holding a firearm. A colorful Windows-like graphic with an exclamation mark appears in the corner. I've been gaming again lately on my desktop PC thanks to cooler weather, but thankfully I haven't experienced this new Windows 11 bug that cropped up after the August 11 (KB5121003) update. It's apparently affecting 25H2 and 24H2 installs of Windows 11, as this update rolled out to OS builds 26200.9168 and 26100.9168.
GTA 4 with path tracing looks better than many modern games thanks to RTX Remix and savvy modders
Grand Theft Auto VI has been hogging the limelight lately, and for all the wrong reasons. Hackers have been leaking bits of gameplay and other info online, and gamers are gobbling it up ahead of the expected November 19, 2026 , release date. I'm trying to avoid as many spoilers as possible by not viewing the leaks, and besides, I have something better to keep me busy until GTA VI's official launch.
Windows 11's latest Patch Tuesday update is breaking games and turning off PCs — This temporary fix might get ARC Raiders and The Finals running again
2 hours ago Outside of tie-ins with Embark Studios' other game, The Finals, and the odd Discord collaboration, Arc Raiders hasn't featured in any other promotions in the same way that other multiplayer shooters often do. Until now, that is. Starting today, Thursday, Aug. 20, and running until Monday, Oct. 26, you …
Apple's leaked AirPods Ultra already have competition — Razer's Motoko is a PC gaming headset with built-in cameras, and it's no longer just a concept
A person holds a pair of black Razer Project Motoko wireless headphones, showcasing their design, with a green box visible in the background on a wooden surface. The next evolution of Apple's AirPods is out in the wild after a leaked video was posted online. Known as AirPods Ultra, the new wireless earbuds look basically the same as regular AirPods, albeit with a thicker stem.
Razer jumps on Apple's AirPod Ultra leak, shows off its own camera-infused gaming headset
The next evolution of Apple's AirPods is out in the wild after a leaked video was posted online. Known as AirPods Ultra , the new wireless earbuds look basically the same as regular AirPods, albeit with a thicker stem.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme beats Intel's flagship Panther Lake chip by up to 87% while costing significantly less, according to a new lab report
Images of Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, benchmarks from reference design laptops, and pictures from the announcement at the Snapdragon Summit (2025). A new commissioned study from the independent testing group Signal65 has basically confirmed my arguments, this time after testing the flagship X2 Elite Extreme (X2E-96-100) variant in retail systems you or I can buy.
Crucial dodges SSD warranty claim, says "our inventory is depleted" — Consumers are being ignored as record profits roll in for memory and storage makers
Image of the Crucial X10 Portable SSD. I've been keeping watch on Crucial (and by extension, Micron) after the company began refusing to honor lifetime RAM warranties. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the same thing is now happening to customers with dead SSDs. Reddit user AssignmentGlass5591 recently created a thread explaining that their Crucial X10 Pro 4TB external SSD decided to die at just 1% of its advertised lifespan. "It didn't wear out. It just broke," they explain.
Standalone RTX 5090s now cost at least $4,800, more than entire pre-built PCs with the same GPU inside — Who's buying anything when the market is this chaotic?
An Omen Max 45L with a transparent side panel displays its internal components, including a GeForce RTX 508 graphics card, against a backdrop of a bookshelf. I haven't seen a sane GPU price in what feels like almost a year, and the landscape isn't getting any better for gamers. The NVIDIA RTX 5090, which arrived at a $1,999 MSRP in 2025, is now listed at Newegg starting at $4,799.99.
"Market response has far exceeded our expectations" — ASUS can't make enough laptops with RTX Spark ahead of their expected Q4 launch
ASUS ProArt P16 laptop samples on display shelving highlighting chassis and features at Computex 2026. I was at Computex this year when NVIDIA's RTX Spark System-on-Chip (SoC) was revealed to the world, and from the start, I had a hunch that it would be a big deal. Incredibly sleek and streamlined, these laptops were a smash hit on the show floor. Apparently, they're also far more popular than ASUS was expecting.
Pre-built gaming PCs with an RTX 5090 inside are now cheaper than buying the graphics card by itself
I haven't seen a sane GPU price in what feels like almost a year, and the landscape isn't getting any better for gamers. The NVIDIA RTX 5090 , which arrived at a $1,999 MSRP in , is now listed at Newegg starting at . The MSI Ventus 3X OC is indeed the lowest price I could find, and there are other options that push well beyond Bad luck if you're shopping for a new RTX 5090 alone.
ASUS reports high demand for RTX Spark-powered ProArt laptops
I was at Computex this year when NVIDIA's RTX Spark System-on-Chip (SoC) was revealed to the world, and from the start, I had a hunch that it would be a big deal. A powerful chip for Windows on ARM that can run every Windows app ever made? That was one of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's first promises.
Standalone RTX 5090s now cost at least $4,800, more than entire pre-built PCs with the same GPU inside — Who's buying anything when the market is this chaotic?
8 hours ago Cut-down flagship chips could save you money. But are you getting a bargain or less than you paid for? Follow us on Google DiscoverAdd us as preferred source Buying a flagship phone used to mean grabbing the fastest (or second fastest) processor on the market. That’s increasingly not always the case, …
Cherry MX built the mechanical keyboard, but Hall Effect, optical, and Topre switches are changing the game — Here's how to pick the right one
But the days of switches being an enthusiast's niche are over. Hall Effect and optical switches are enjoying a mainstream push, especially in gaming hardware, and the less flashy keyboards for office work are also seeing some major upgrades. These advancements can make buying a new keyboard in 2026 a confusing endeavor. You step away for a few months, and it feels like there's a completely new set of literature to read up on.
ChatGPT adds Windows 11's most hated feature to Mac — Will the backlash be the same this time around, or has OpenAI taken the right approach?
Scooby Doo meme of Fred pulling the mask off of ChatGPT only to reveal Windows Recall beneath. I have several PCs in my office that are capable of running Copilot+ tools in Windows 11, but there's one feature I've stayed away from: Windows Recall. Why? I don't particularly like the idea of AI snapshotting what I do on my PC and making it searchable, even if it promises to never let the data leave my local system.
ChatGPT's new computer history tool for Mac mirrors Windows 11's hated Recall feature
I have several PCs in my office that are capable of running Copilot+ tools in Windows 11, but there's one feature I've stayed away from: Windows Recall Why? I don't particularly like the idea of AI snapshotting what I do on my PC and making it searchable, even if it promises to never let the data leave my local system. I'm sure it's handy for some users, but I've yet to come across a scenario where I wish I had it enabled. If you're of the opposite opinion and happen to use macOS, I have good news.
I switched to an OLED monitor months ago, and now I know why everyone else is doing the same
I made the switch to a full-time OLED monitor a few months ago, and it's been a welcome upgrade on my desk for gaming and for work. Apparently, I'm far from the only one who decided to make this upgrade. The latest market research from TrendForce shows that the OLED monitor market picked up momentum as it moved through the second quarter of 2026 In fact, TrendForce saw global OLED monitor shipments rise by a healthy in Q2 2026 compared to Q2 2025 . Year over year, shipments are up a whopping .
The guy who built Windows Task Manager in 1996 just remade it with a cyberpunk vibe — but there's one big issue for PC users
Lenovo PC displaying Task Manager OG with CPU and memory statistics, set against a colorful abstract background. Fellow Canadian Dave W. Plummer is a legendary programmer who created some of Microsoft's most recognizable (and lasting) software. Not only did he create ZIP file support for Windows and get Space Cadet Pinball running on Windows NT, but he also created Windows Task Manager. As the story goes, Plummer began working on Task Manager at home before bringing it into Microsoft.
OLED monitor shipments are up a massive 98% year over year — I think the real reason has less to do with the panels than most people suspect
Windows Central's Ben Wilson wearing a black cap sits at a desk playing Euro Truck Simulator 2, with the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG32UQWMS monitor showing a DAF truck interior. I made the switch to a full-time OLED monitor a few months ago, and it's been a welcome upgrade on my desk for gaming and for work. Apparently, I'm far from the only one who decided to make this upgrade.
The guy who built Windows Task Manager in 1996 just remade it with a cyberpunk vibe — but there's one big issue for PC users
Ken Russell’s Controversial NC-17 Horror Film ‘The Devils’ Sets First Look at Restored Cut – Film News in Brief Ken Russell‘s controversial film “The Devils” will finally be seen in its original form, as seen in a new trailer for the NC-17 release. The 4K …
ASUS Armoury Crate has a serious new vulnerability rated 8.4 out of 10 — here's how to update it now
ASUS Armoury Crate is but one piece of specialized management software that many of us have installed on our PC, perhaps without even knowing it. It comes preinstalled on ASUS gaming handhelds, including the Xbox Ally X , as well as ASUS gaming laptops If that sounds like hardware you use, it's time to check up on Armoury Crate. According to an August 10 update on the official ASUS advisory board , "a component used by Armoury Crate" is vulnerable and could be leaving you open to attacks.
A severe ASUS Armoury Crate vulnerability affects laptops, handhelds, and desktop PCs — Here's how to check if you're in the clear
Armoury Crate menu on ROG Ally. ASUS Armoury Crate is but one piece of specialized management software that many of us have installed on our PC, perhaps without even knowing it. It comes preinstalled on ASUS gaming handhelds, including the Xbox Ally X, as well as ASUS gaming laptops. If that sounds like hardware you use, it's time to check up on Armoury Crate.
Before you buy a game on GOG, see this growing list of 1,140 titles missing updates, DLC, and more
GOG (formerly known as Good Old Games) is one of the most popular spots to buy, download, and curate PC game collections. It competes directly against the behemoth Steam , the oft-maligned Epic Games , and plenty of other PC game storefronts, and over the years it has garnered quite a positive reputation among gamers. Why? It's all about GOG's focus on consumer rights and actual game ownership , which in 2026 is becoming increasingly rare. GOG's games don't come with DRM .
I checked GOG's most popular games and found shocking gaps in updates, DLC, languages, soundtracks, and more — 1,140 games are affected with 1,531 issues
Game Developers 4 hours ago Epic Sells ArtStation, Users Happy It's Now Free From 'AI Slop' Kotaku - Lewis Parker • 4h Epic Games has announced that it’s sold ArtStation and Sketchfab, two 3D art and video game asset platforms that the company acquired in 2021, to the … Windows 11 18 hours ago Windows 11’s faster app launches released today, enable it using these steps windowslatest.com - Abhijith M B • 18h Windows 11’s CPU boost feature is now silently active while opening apps too, after...
Xbox cut thousands of jobs, but a bigger threat to game development may be happening lower down the ladder — Turkey's AI dilemma is a perfect example
Three AI logos on a dark background: a large Xbox logo in green and gray in the center, a colorful gradient logo on the left, and an abstract orange symbol on the right. It seems like every time I turn around, there's another round of layoffs affecting video game studios. It's all starting to feel like white noise with the same language. Streamlining. Restructuring. Focusing resources. Adapting to changing markets.
My Steam Deck's biggest flaw is no PC Game Pass. This new open-source project could finally fix it
I've spent a lot of time this summer gaming on my Steam Deck . It's hot outside, it's hot inside, and my desktop gaming PC simply creates too much heat. The only major problem I have with my Steam Deck is that it doesn't play nicely with PC Game Pass , to which I'm a subscriber. Yeah, I could stream games to my handheld, but there's now a better solution in the works.
The gaming industry has a new AI problem, and it could be worse than the last round of Xbox layoffs
It seems like every time I turn around, there's another round of layoffs affecting video game studios. In July, Xbox announced its biggest downsizing ever, cutting 3,200 jobs throughout 2026 and 2027 . At the same time, Xbox made deals with four major studios to go independent or take on new management That independence didn't come without a cost either, as studio Double Fine Productions announced it was laying off 23 employees shortly after going solo.
Xbox cut thousands of jobs, but a bigger threat to game development may be happening lower down the ladder — Turkey's AI dilemma is a perfect example
7 hours ago Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants Amazon to employ the couriers who already wear its logo, but he company would rather spend millions than answer for them. Amazon is spending $5M to kill a single New York City bill, and the size of that cheque is the most honest story the company has said about the …
My biggest Steam Deck regret was losing native PC Game Pass, but an open-source project called Xodus might finally undo that mistake
A researcher says 'we just undid about 20 years of progress' when it comes to memory prices, so I broke out my calculator and compared actual RAM kits from 2007 to 2026 Spoiler: it's not pretty. We all know the cost of RAM is ridiculously high these days thanks to the global memory shortage. But it can be useful (and …
I used the two best new $699 Windows laptops to see which one you should buy — Does Acer's Swift Air 14 beat Dell's awesome XPS 13?
The incumbent Dell's XPS 13, starting at $599 for students and $699 for everyone else, kicked off a new market sector of affordable-but-premium Windows 11 PCs. It's not likely to be usurped by the new Acer Swift Air 14 unless you need more ports, a larger display, or more expressive color options.
HP Omen Max 45L review: A monster pre-built gaming PC with a unique cooling setup
HP announced its new Omen Max 45L desktop gaming PC in 2025 , and it arrived with several upgrades over previous models. I'm talking about an upgraded cooling system built on the back of HP's unique " Cryo Chamber. " About a new modular power supply with an auto-cleaning fan . About new in-depth overclocking abilities The Omen Max 45L recently landed in my office, and I've been using it for a couple of weeks to see what it's all about. Does it make a strong case for itself compared to a DIY build?
I switched to HP's $6,000 Omen Max 45L pre-built gaming PC for two weeks, and the price isn't what's giving me second thoughts
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ThinkPads from 2008 are some of the hottest used laptops right now — Here's how (and why) they're being turned into Windows 11 PCs
Close-up of a black ThinkPad laptop in focus, with a green plant blurred in the background. If you asked me what the most exciting ThinkPad on the market is, I might say the latest T14 because it's highly upgradeable, or the latest X1 Carbon because it's so thin and light. If you ask someone from the r/ThinkPad subreddit, you'd probably get an entirely different answer.
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