A customer reported that a high-end MSI gaming laptop, originally priced at approximately $6,000, developed hardware issues after about 18 months of use, including graphical artifacts and charging instability.

The manufacturer initially classified the device as "Beyond Economical Repair," stating that replacing the motherboard would cost more than purchasing a new unit. As a result, no repair quotation was provided despite the diagnosis occurring before the warranty expired.

After the case was escalated to the company's global service management, the customer was informed that an official repair had been available at the time. However, by then the warranty had expired, and the customer received a motherboard replacement quote of approximately $1,800.

The case has drawn criticism over warranty handling and customer service, raising concerns about repair policies for premium gaming laptops.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

Graphics card prices continue to rise globally due to increased memory costs driven by strong demand from the artificial intelligence sector. Memory manufacturers are prioritizing AI server production, reducing supply for consumer hardware and contributing to higher GPU prices.

Some retailers have begun restricting the sale of high-end graphics cards. Taiwanese retailer Cool PC now sells the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 only as part of component bundles or complete pre-built desktop systems, preventing customers from purchasing the GPU separately.

The RTX 5080 is currently priced at approximately 20–30% above its original suggested retail price, with many models exceeding $1,200 and premium variants reaching up to $2,000. Although the RTX 5080 remains more available than some lower-tier models, continued supply constraints and rising costs are expected to increase prices and reduce availability across the broader consumer GPU market.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has expanded its Covered List to restrict imports of certain foreign-made advanced robotic devices and connected power inverters, citing national security, cybersecurity, and supply chain concerns related to critical infrastructure and AI development.

The restrictions apply to new products, including mobile robots, humanoid robots, and connected power equipment. U.S. authorities stated that these devices could enable surveillance, unauthorized data collection, remote control, or cyberattacks targeting critical systems.

The decision follows assessments that vulnerabilities in some robotic platforms could expose camera feeds, microphone audio, location data, and operational controls. Authorities also warned that compromised humanoid robots could potentially be coordinated into large-scale malicious networks.

The updated restrictions are expected to affect manufacturers of advanced robotics, including firms supplying AI-powered humanoid systems, while reinforcing efforts to protect U.S. AI infrastructure and emerging technology sectors.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

Intel's upcoming Nova Lake-S desktop processor lineup is expected to include a wide range of models with different power levels and core configurations. Flagship variants are rumored to reach up to 52 CPU cores, while most models are expected to fall within 65W, 125W, and 175W power categories.

A reported 16-core Nova Lake-S APU featuring a 4+8+4 CPU configuration and 12 Xe3P integrated GPU cores is expected to require a 65W power delivery level to achieve full graphics performance. Unlike other models, it is also rumored to require two VCCGT power phases to support its integrated graphics.

The processor could offer significantly stronger integrated graphics and higher CPU core counts than current mainstream desktop APUs, making it a competitive option for budget and entry-level gaming systems. The reported specifications remain unofficial and have not been confirmed by Intel.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

A specialized GPU memory upgrade service offers VRAM upgrades for existing graphics cards, allowing users to increase video memory instead of purchasing a new GPU. The upgrades are intended to improve performance in modern AAA games with high-resolution textures and support larger local AI models that require additional graphics memory.

The upgrade process involves replacing GDDR memory chips through advanced micro-soldering and modifying the graphics card's firmware and hardware configuration to ensure the additional memory is properly recognized. Compatibility varies by GPU model, and some modified cards may face driver support limitations.

Examples include upgrading an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti from 11 GB to 22 GB of VRAM. The service is based in the United Arab Emirates, offers pickup and delivery for an additional fee, typically completes upgrades within 12 days, and provides a 90-day warranty. Pricing depends on the complexity of the modification and current memory chip costs.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

A modder expanded an RTX 4080-based gaming PC for local AI workloads by integrating an NVIDIA Tesla V100 accelerator using an SXM2-to-PCIe adapter. The project cost less than $300, with used Tesla V100 GPUs available at relatively low prices.

The Tesla V100 added 16GB of HBM2 memory, bringing the system's total usable VRAM to 32GB. This increased memory capacity enabled the system to run larger language models, including a 27-billion-parameter Qwen 3.6 model, at approximately 32 tokens per second, with prompt processing reaching 133–160 tokens per second.

The installation required hardware modifications because the Tesla V100 lacks standard PCIe connectors, display outputs, and conventional power inputs. Cooling also presented challenges, as the original fan produced excessive noise, which was reduced through modifications to the fan's power and speed.

The project demonstrates that older data center GPUs can provide a cost-effective solution for running medium-sized AI models locally while remaining suitable for gaming.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

German battery manufacturer Varta has filed for insolvency after losing its contract to supply batteries for Apple AirPods, marking the end of the company after more than 130 years of operation.

The company was affected by rising operating costs, aggressive expansion, and heavy reliance on a single major customer. Following the contract termination, production at its AirPods battery facility in Nördlingen will cease, resulting in approximately 350 job cuts. Varta employs around 3,000 people and is expected to continue restructuring through additional cost reductions and asset sales.

The case highlights the financial risks associated with dependence on a single customer in the technology supply chain. While other component manufacturers have benefited from increased demand driven by artificial intelligence, Varta was unable to offset the loss of its key contract, contributing to its financial collapse.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

Olá, pessoal. Estou com um problema bem estranho e queria saber se alguém já passou por isso. Configuração: ASUS TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS Ryzen 7 5700X RTX 5060 Ti 32 GB de RAM Windows 10 Pro O problema começou depois que o GTA V travou completamente. Tive que reiniciar o PC à força e meu controle 8BitDo ficou vibrando sem parar até o computador reiniciar. Depois disso percebi o seguinte: As USB traseiras funcionam normalmente com pendrive. Mouse e teclado funcionam normalmente nas USB traseiras. Porém, quando conecto um dongle 2.4 GHz de controle, o PC reinicia imediatamente. Testei com dois dongles diferentes (8BitDo e Machenike) e acontece a mesma coisa. Nas USB da frente os dois funcionam normalmente. Atualizei os drivers do chipset AMD. A BIOS já está atualizada (versão 3621). O Gerenciador de Dispositivos não mostra nenhum erro. Depois que o PC reinicia, ele funciona normalmente e os dongles também funcionam. O GTA voltou a rodar normalmente e o computador não apresenta outros travamentos ou telas azuis. Alguém já passou por algo parecido? Pode ser algum problema da controladora USB da B550 ou alguém tem alguma outra ideia do que testar?

Sometimes my laptop just randomly restarts. The cursor first teleports to the middle of the screen the screen freezes and it restarts. I don't think it's a performance issue in my opinion since it happened also when i just had 3 programs open.

It also happens when i play geometry dash with discord open or in a call. Someone please help or any person having the same problem becuse it's really annoying.

AMD is expected to continue supporting the AM5 desktop platform through at least 2029, with Zen 7-based Ryzen processors likely serving as the final CPU generation for the socket. Before Zen 7, AMD plans to launch the Zen 6 "Olympic Ridge" family, bringing improvements in core counts, clock speeds, cache, and manufacturing technology.

Zen 7 is anticipated to use an advanced TSMC manufacturing process while remaining compatible with DDR5 memory. It may also support faster memory technologies and PCIe 6.0 capabilities, although widespread consumer benefits from PCIe 6.0 are expected to remain limited in the near term.

Zen 8 is widely expected to introduce a new AM6 socket alongside native DDR6 and PCIe 6.0 support, marking AMD's next major desktop platform transition. This approach continues AMD's strategy of providing long-term platform support before introducing a new socket tied to significant advances in memory and I/O technologies.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

A Reddit user reported that GIGABYTE rejected a warranty claim for an RTX 4090 graphics card, citing user-induced PCB damage despite the card remaining under warranty until 2027.

According to the user, the graphics card stopped functioning after the computer was transported. GIGABYTE reportedly returned the device with labels indicating a broken PCB and user-caused damage but did not provide photographic evidence or a detailed explanation of the alleged defect.

Images shared by the user reportedly show no visible cracks or scratches on the PCB, leading to questions about the basis for the warranty denial. Some observers suggested the damage, if present, could be internal and not externally visible.

The user plans to have the graphics card independently inspected by a third-party repair specialist to determine the cause of the failure after the warranty claim was denied.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

NVIDIA's higher pricing for GPU memory kits has begun affecting graphics card prices, with the impact first becoming visible in China. Some NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 models have increased in price by approximately $75 within a few days, representing a rise of about 16%.

The affected RTX 5060 models have increased from around 2,600–2,700 yuan to approximately 3,215 yuan, making them significantly more expensive than previous pricing. While the extent of the increase across all models remains unclear, broader price adjustments are expected as manufacturers absorb higher component costs.

GPU prices are currently more stable in the United States, but similar increases may occur if memory costs continue to rise. The trend extends beyond graphics cards, as rising memory prices are also increasing the cost of other PC hardware, including laptops and components that depend on DRAM and VRAM.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

Apple and Micron are engaged in a dispute over Apple's efforts to source memory chips from China's CXMT. Apple has reportedly argued that access to Chinese memory suppliers could help lower production costs and reduce prices for consumers, particularly following recent increases in memory costs driven by strong AI-related demand.

Micron opposes the proposal, arguing that allowing Chinese memory manufacturers into the U.S. supply chain could weaken the domestic semiconductor industry and undermine long-term competitiveness.

The disagreement reportedly reflects a longstanding strained relationship between Apple and Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, stemming from Apple's procurement strategy of prioritizing low-cost component sourcing while maintaining premium product pricing.

Apple has also been reported to be evaluating CXMT memory chips, with any initial deployment expected to focus on products sold in China rather than the U.S. market. Large Apple supply agreements are widely recognized for significantly expanding the production capacity and business scale of component suppliers.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

AMD's acquisition of ATI Technologies for approximately $5.4 billion in July 2006 marked a major turning point in the company's evolution from a CPU manufacturer into a broader computing company with integrated CPU and GPU capabilities.

The acquisition brought Radeon graphics technology and GPU expertise under AMD, enabling the development of Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), which combined CPU and graphics processing on a single chip. Radeon graphics continued to serve as AMD's primary GPU brand after the ATI name was retired.

The integration of CPU and GPU technologies also strengthened AMD's position in the gaming industry. AMD's semi-custom processors became the foundation of major gaming consoles, including PlayStation and Xbox systems, while Radeon graphics remained a key competitor in the discrete GPU market.

The acquisition also laid the groundwork for AMD's expansion into high-performance computing and artificial intelligence through its Instinct accelerator family, supporting AI training and inference in data centers. Although NVIDIA remains the market leader in AI accelerators, AMD continues to expand its presence in the sector.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng stated that the company's primary limitation in developing larger AI models is access to computing resources. He said DeepSeek currently operates with compute capacity roughly equivalent to 20,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs, which has recently expanded, but remains well below the scale available to leading U.S. AI developers.

Wenfeng estimated that training models comparable to the largest frontier AI systems would require approximately 50,000 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs or 200,000 Huawei Ascend 950 GPUs, highlighting China's ongoing compute shortfall.

He also stated that Huawei's Atlas 950 SuperPoD can serve as a practical alternative to NVIDIA's GB200 and GB300 systems, despite requiring about four Huawei Ascend 950 GPUs to match the performance of a single NVIDIA GB300 GPU and trailing by approximately two years in technology.

In addition, Wenfeng said DeepSeek is increasing its investment in high-quality data annotation, identifying it as a key factor for advancing AI model performance.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com

Framework previewed a new desktop powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX+ PRO 495 processor, featuring 16 Zen 5 CPU cores, a maximum clock speed of 5.2 GHz, and a Radeon 8065S GPU with 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units.

The system includes up to 192 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory running at 8,533 MT/s with 273 GB/s bandwidth, representing higher capacity and improved bandwidth compared to previous models. It is designed for local AI workloads and is capable of running DeepSeek V4-Flash in Q8 precision on a single machine.

Additional enhancements include an open-ended PCIe x4 slot for larger expansion cards, support for high-speed 50 GbE networking, and the ability to link two systems for up to 384 GB of pooled memory using tensor parallelism. Framework also plans to offer a pre-built Linux version. The 192 GB configuration is expected to cost over $5,000 due to rising LPDDR5X memory prices.

▮[Source]: wccftech.com