ThinkComputers

Project Name: ROG CRONOX Builder: GGF About This Mod / Build: This week for Case Mod Friday we have a build from our friends over at GGF inside the brand new ROG CRONOX case! Loving the all-white design and of course the frosted tubing! What do you think?

Amazon has introduced a new tablet lineup under the Alexa brand, ending production of its Fire tablets and shifting to Android with full Google Play access. The 8.7-, 11- and 12-inch models add upgraded hardware and Alexa+ features, with prices starting at $229.99. Preorders open October 8, and U.S. shipments begin October 14. Amazon’s move pairs a higher-priced hardware strategy with broader app compatibility and deeper Alexa integration.

Sony has transferred 43 U.S. patents covering virtual- and augmented-reality technology to Meta, according to patent records cited in recent reports. The move is part of a broader agreement covering 419 patents worldwide. While it raises questions about Sony’s future VR hardware plans, it is not an official announcement that PlayStation VR is ending. Sony’s patent transfer comes as PlayStation VR2 faces questions about investment and long-term support.

Microsoft is rebuilding Windows 11 Search with a redesigned, single-list interface and typed actions that can change settings or organize open windows from the taskbar. The new experience is built on WinUI 3, which Microsoft says has improved performance and memory use in early tests. It begins rolling out to Windows Insiders on October 7. The redesigned Search uses WinUI 3 and replaces the two-pane layout with one list of results.

Microsoft and NVIDIA used their October 7 event in San Francisco to announce RTX Spark-powered Windows PCs and new tools for running AI agents locally. The lineup is led by the Surface Laptop Ultra, while Windows updates focus on securely managing agents and letting Copilot choose between on-device and cloud models. Microsoft’s new hardware targets developers, creators and gamers who want substantial AI compute on a Windows PC.

Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball has disputed reports that Microsoft secured exclusive cloud-streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto 6, clarifying that the game will not stream exclusively or to PC. That rules out the reported PC workaround for launch, while leaving questions about other potential cloud-streaming access unanswered. Xbox says GTA 6 will not be streamed exclusively through its cloud service or streamed to PC at launch.

AMD plans to substantially increase chip supply in 2027 as demand continues to outstrip what it can deliver, CEO Lisa Su said during a visit to Taiwan. The company is seeking more advanced wafer and packaging capacity, while extending supply-chain planning to account for demand several years ahead. AMD expects to raise supply substantially in 2027, but Su did not disclose a production target. Demand is running ahead of supply for CPUs as well as AI-focused products.

JGINYUE has introduced an unusual PCIe add-in card built around AMD’s B650 chipset, bringing extra storage, USB and network connections to compatible PCs. Priced at 388 yuan—about $58 in China—the card offers four M.2 slots, a 2.5GbE port and 10Gbps USB connectivity. Availability outside China has not been confirmed. The card uses AMD’s Promontory 21 B650 chipset as an expansion controller, but its four M.2 slots have different interface speeds.

This week on the podcast we go over our reviews of the Fractal Design Refine 2 Gaming Chair and ADATA SC735 External SSD. We also talk about NVIDIA’s RTX Spark and how it is finally launching, a cool RTX 5090 mod, Intel Nova Lake-S leaking and the new naming scheme, a cool Gears of War keyboard / mouse combo and more! Come join in! Leave your comments below to let us know what you think.

A developer has demonstrated NVIDIA DLSS 5 neural rendering with the original DOOM’s game data, bringing an early-1990s classic into a modern graphics experiment. The setup does not run DLSS 5 on the original DOS executable: it uses a custom Windows port with a DirectX 12 rendering path and additional frame data the technology requires. The demonstration is a modding experiment, not official support for DOS games.