Mara Lindqvist
Hardware Editor · 65 stories[email protected]Mara Lindqvist edits the hardware desk. She covers graphics cards, processors, memory and storage, the foundries and chip designers behind them, and what the numbers on a spec sheet mean for people choosing a PC. Specifications in her stories come from manufacturer spec pages and datasheets.
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NewsNVIDIA Windows 10 Driver Support Is Ending: Key Dates to Know
NVIDIA confirms October 2026 is the last Game Ready driver for Windows 10; after that, updates drop to quarterly security patches through 2029.
GuideShould You Buy an SSD Now or Wait? A 2026 Buying Guide
NAND prices surged through 2026 and have not come back down. Here is how to choose the right SSD, and whether now is the time to buy or wait.
NewsNVIDIA Opens Vera Rubin Rack Architecture to the Industry via OCP
At the OCP Global Summit, NVIDIA contributed Vera Rubin rack and compute tray designs to the open MGX architecture, plus new power, cooling, and networking standards for AI factories.
ComparisonHomePod mini 2 vs Echo Dot Max: Which Smart Speaker to Buy
Apple's $149 HomePod mini 2 faces Amazon's cheaper Echo Dot Max. Here's how price, sound, Siri AI, and Alexa+ actually compare, fact by fact.
NewsRAM Prices 2026: TrendForce Predicts Another 10-15% Jump in Q4
TrendForce's September 30 forecast says DRAM contract prices will climb another 10-15% and NAND flash 15-20% this quarter, as AI server demand keeps squeezing supply for PCs.
GuideShould You Buy RAM Now or Wait? A 2026 Buying Guide
DRAM contract prices are still rising into Q4 2026. Here's what the data says about buying RAM now versus waiting, and how much to buy either way.
NewsApple Unveils HomeView, HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K
At a Tribeca event, Apple announced HomeView, its first smart-home display hub, alongside a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, all powered by Siri AI.
ComparisonRTX Spark vs DGX Spark: What's the Difference?
Nvidia has two very different Spark-branded machines on sale at once — here is how RTX Spark and DGX Spark actually compare.
NewsNVIDIA, Microsoft Launch Agentic AI PCs: RTX Spark Ships Oct. 16
A joint San Francisco event paired RTX Spark’s October 16 ship date with Microsoft’s new agent-hosting layer, MXC, and a first look at DGX Station for Windows.
ExplainerWhat Is Backside Power Delivery? Why Intel and TSMC Chips Need It
Intel and TSMC are both moving power wiring to the back of the silicon wafer. Here's why that matters for the chips inside your next laptop or server.
NewsSamsung's Q3 2026 Profit Guidance Tops ₩100 Trillion for First Time
Samsung's Oct. 8 guidance points to ₩195 trillion in sales and ₩107.4 trillion in operating profit for Q3 2026 — its first quarter above ₩100 trillion, driven by surging memory chip prices.
ComparisonASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 vs GT-BE98: Is the Wi-Fi 8 Upgrade Worth It?
ASUS's first Wi-Fi 8 gaming router has identical radio specs to last year's flagship Wi-Fi 7 model. Here's what actually changes, what doesn't, and whether upgrading makes sense now.
NewsNvidia's Final Windows 10 GeForce Driver Arrives This Month
Nvidia's own support page confirms October 2026 is the final Game Ready and Studio Driver update for Windows 10, with quarterly security patches continuing to 2029.
ExplainerWhat Is Wi-Fi 8? The Next Wireless Standard, Explained
Wi-Fi 8 targets reliability and latency, not a speed jump. Here's what IEEE 802.11bn changes, when it ships, and why ASUS already has a router.
NewsIntel Xeon 6+ (Clearwater Forest): Release Date, Specs, and Price
Intel's first 18A data-center CPU family ships in four SKUs, from 144 to 288 E-cores, with Intel-listed prices between $4,608 and $14,995 per chip.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 vs G16 (2026): Specs, Price, Which to Buy
The 2026 Zephyrus G14 and G16 share OLED displays and a new chassis, but split on CPU platform, GPU ceiling, and size. Here is what ASUS confirms, and which to buy.
NewsASUS Ships ROG Rapture GT-BN98, the First Wi-Fi 8 Gaming Router
ASUS says the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 is the first Wi-Fi 8 gaming router, shipping now with 25,000Mbps class speeds and 10G ports — but the Wi-Fi 8 standard itself isn't finished.
ExplainerWhat Is an NPU? Neural Processing Units Explained
NPU, TOPS, Copilot+ PC: a clear, no-jargon explainer on the AI chip powering modern laptops and phones, and how it stacks up against your CPU and GPU.
NewsSurface RTX Spark Dev Box: Specs, Price and Release Date
Microsoft confirmed specs for its Nvidia RTX Spark-powered developer mini PC, but still hasn't announced a price or exact release date.
ComparisonMac Studio M5 Max vs. M5 Ultra vs. M3 Ultra: Specs and Price
Apple's M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studios bring faster chips, up to 512GB of memory, and a late-October flagship configuration — here's how they compare to the M3 Ultra on specs and price.
NewsROG Xbox Ally X20 Release Date: October 15, Pre-Orders Live
Pre-orders for the ROG Xbox Ally X20 are live now ahead of its October 15 launch, with a standalone option and a 20th Anniversary bundle.
ExplainerWhat Is a Copilot+ PC? Meaning and Requirements Explained
Microsoft's AI PC certification requires a 40+ TOPS NPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage. Here's what a Copilot+ PC actually is, which chips qualify, and how it differs from a regular Windows 11 laptop.
NewsSurface Laptop Ultra: RTX Spark Specs Confirmed, No Price Yet
Microsoft and NVIDIA confirmed the 15-inch RTX Spark laptop's chip, display and memory specs today. Pricing and a ship date are still unannounced.
ComparisonAMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 vs Nvidia DGX Spark: Which to Buy
Compact AI desktops with up to 128GB of unified memory, compared on specs, bandwidth, price and which one actually suits local LLM inference.
NewsDRAM Prices Set to Climb Another 10-15% in Q4 2026, Makers Say
Taiwan's Nanya and Winbond just posted record September revenue as DRAM supply stays tight, with TrendForce pointing to another 10-15% contract-price jump in Q4 2026.
DisplayPort 2.1 Explained: UHBR Bandwidth, Cables, and GPUs
What DisplayPort 2.1's UHBR10, UHBR13.5, and UHBR20 tiers actually deliver, how it compares to DP 1.4 and HDMI, and which GPUs, monitors, and cables support it right now.
NewsRTX 5090 Price Today: Up to $9,200, Far Above Its $1,999 MSRP
Nvidia's RTX 5090 still carries a $1,999 MSRP, but real Newegg prices now run $6,500 to over $9,200. Here is why, and what to do about it.
NewsSteam Hardware Survey: What GPU Most Gamers Have (Sept 2026)
Valve's fresh September 2026 telemetry reveals the GPU, CPU tier, OS, resolution and VR headset most PC gamers actually use on Steam right now.
ExplainerPCIe 6.0 Explained: Speeds, PAM4 and When It Reaches Desktops
PCIe 6.0 doubles PCIe 5.0 speeds with PAM4 signaling and FLIT encoding, but it is landing in AI data centers first. Here is when it reaches consumer desktops.
NewsNvidia DGX Spark 64GB Release Date, Price and Specs Explained
Nvidia confirmed a 64GB DGX Spark on October 2, 2026, priced from $4,999 and arriving October 23 — the same Grace Blackwell platform as the 128GB model, with less memory.
ComparisonIntel Nova Lake vs AMD Zen 6: Specs and Price Leaks
Neither Intel nor AMD has confirmed final specs, pricing, or dates for Nova Lake or Zen 6. Here is how the leaked roadmaps, core counts, and rumored CES 2027 delay compare.
NewsIntel Nova Lake Release Date Leak: Specs and Benchmark Rumors
Intel hasn't detailed Nova Lake yet, but leaks claim a Q1 2027 release, 52 cores, 288MB cache and a leaked Core Ultra 9 4950K benchmark score.
ExplainerHBM4 Explained: Bandwidth, Makers and HBM4 vs HBM4E
HBM4 is JEDEC's newest stacked memory standard for AI accelerators. Here is what its real bandwidth, makers, and roadmap mean for GPU and RAM prices.
NewsAMD and Intel Chip Price Hikes Hit in Q4 2026: What We Know
AMD and Intel are reported to be hiking GPU, CPU and chipset prices roughly 10% in Q4 2026, driven by rising TSMC costs — though neither company has confirmed the figures.
ComparisonGooglebook vs MacBook Air: Specs, Price and Positioning
Google's five Googlebook laptops arrive October 4 starting at $899. We compare their chips, displays, battery life and price against Apple's MacBook Air, using only official specs.
NewsGooglebook Launches October 4: Where to Buy and What's Included
Google's Android-based laptop line hits US shelves October 4 and six more countries a day later, with Google AI Pro and app bundles included.
ExplainerUSB4 2.0 Explained: Speeds, Cables, and Thunderbolt 5
USB4 2.0 doubles USB-C to 80 Gbps. Here is what cable you need, how it stacks up against Thunderbolt 5, and whether it matters for your next laptop or dock.
NewsHP, Dell and Lenovo Hike Laptop Prices Over Memory Costs
Memory now makes up roughly a third of HP's PC costs, and Dell and Lenovo show the same pressure. Here's what each company has confirmed about its price increases.
ComparisonRTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT: Specs, Price and Which to Buy
Nvidia's $749 RTX 5070 Ti and AMD's $599 RX 9070 XT target the same 1440p-to-4K buyers. Here is how their official specs, pricing and ray tracing stack up.
NewsAcer Predator Atlas 8 Release Date, Price and Specs
Acer's Intel Arc G3-powered handheld ships October 2026. UK pricing runs £999.99–£1,499.99; US and EU prices are not yet confirmed.
ExplainerHDMI 2.2 Explained: Release Date, Specs, and HDMI 2.2 vs 2.1
HDMI 2.2 doubles bandwidth to 96Gbps, adds the Ultra96 cable and Latency Indication Protocol, and sets the stage for 16K displays.
NewsIntel Panther Lake release date, price and specs
Core Ultra X9 388H leads a lineup built on Intel's 18A node, with laptops from Acer, ASUS, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung and the new Googlebook now shipping worldwide.
ComparisonRTX 5080 Super vs RTX 5090: Specs, Price and Which to Buy
Nvidia has not launched the RTX 5080 Super yet. Here is how its reported specs and price stack up against the RTX 5090 for gaming, AI and creator workloads.
NewsNvidia RTX Spark Laptops: Every Confirmed Model and Release Date
Lenovo, Dell, HP, MSI, Asus and Microsoft have confirmed specific RTX Spark laptops shipping this October, with Acer and Gigabyte following in a later wave.
ExplainerThunderbolt 5 Explained: Speeds, Docks and Compatibility
Intel's Thunderbolt 5 doubles Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth to 80-120Gbps and 240W charging. Here's what laptops, docks, SSDs and eGPUs actually support it now.
NewsMicron Earnings Today: What Its Q4 Report Means for RAM Prices
Micron's Q4 FY2026 results land today. Based on its own confirmed Q3 numbers and SEC filings, here's what the memory market's DRAM squeeze means for RAM prices.
ComparisonWD Black SN850X vs Samsung 990 Pro: Which SSD to Buy
Speeds, price per GB amid the 2026 NAND shortage, PS5 compatibility, and endurance — which NVMe SSD wins for gaming and everyday PC use.
NewsRTX 5080 Super Release Date, Specs and Price: What Leaks Say
Leaked specs point to more VRAM and higher prices for the rumored RTX 5080 Super, 5070 Ti Super and 5070 Super, still unconfirmed by Nvidia.
ExplainerCAMM2 RAM Explained: What It Is, and CAMM2 vs DDR5
CAMM2 is JEDEC's SO-DIMM successor for laptops and desktops. Here's what it actually changes, which devices support it, and why it's still niche.
NewsWhy SSD Prices Are Surging in 2026 as AI Squeezes NAND Supply
NAND flash contract prices jumped as much as 60% in early 2026 and Micron killed its Crucial consumer line as AI datacenters buy up enterprise SSD supply.
ComparisonSnapdragon X2 Elite vs Intel Core Ultra 300: Laptop Chips Compared
Qualcomm and Intel both published big claims for their flagship laptop chips. Here is how the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Core Ultra 300 actually compare, spec by spec.
NewsNvidia RTX Spark Release Date, Specs and Price: What to Know
Nvidia's Arm-based AI PC pairs a 20-core Grace CPU with a Blackwell RTX GPU and up to 128GB of unified memory. Here's what's confirmed and what isn't.
ExplainerWi-Fi 7 Explained: MLO, Speeds, and What You Need
What Wi-Fi 7 actually is, how Multi-Link Operation works, and whether your router or phone needs it — a plain-language guide to Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7.
NewsWhy RAM Prices Are So High in 2026 (And When They'll Drop)
AI datacenters are consuming the world's DRAM supply, and Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron all say relief won't come quickly for PC buyers.
ComparisonRTX 5080 vs RX 9070 XT: Specs, Price and Performance Compared
A specs, price, and performance breakdown of two rival GPUs — Nvidia's $999 RTX 5080 and AMD's $599 RX 9070 XT.
NewsNvidia DLSS 5: Release Date, How to Use It, and What Changed
DLSS 5 adds AI-generated lighting and materials via 3D-Guided Neural Rendering. Here is the release date, supported GPUs and games, and how to turn it on.
ExplainerDDR6 RAM Explained: Release Date, Price, and DDR6 vs DDR5
JEDEC has not finalized DDR6, and manufacturers disagree on timing. Here is what actually changes vs DDR5, when it realistically ships, and what to buy today.
GuideHow to Check What Graphics Card You Have on Windows, Mac and Linux
Find your exact GPU model, video memory and driver version in under a minute using tools already built into Windows 11, macOS and Linux.
ComparisonCore Ultra 7 270K Plus vs Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs 9850X3D: Specs and Price
Intel’s 24-core 270K Plus costs far less than AMD’s X3D gaming chips. We line up the official specs, prices and platform differences to show which one fits your build.
NewsGooglebook Laptops: Price, Specs and Release Date for All 5 Models
Google’s new Gemini laptops start at $899 and ship October 4. Here is what each of the five launch models costs, what is inside, and which chip to pick.
NewsNvidia GeForce 617.14 Driver: New Games, Fixes and Known Issues
Nvidia’s September 22 Game Ready driver tunes four big launches, fixes three R615 regressions and still leaves one Assassin’s Creed Shadows crash open.
GuideHow to Check RAM Speed in Windows 11 and Enable XMP or EXPO
Your DDR5 kit may be running slower than the speed on the box. Two quick checks in Windows 11, and the BIOS setting that fixes it.
ComparisonRX 9070 GRE vs RTX 5070 vs RTX 5060 Ti: Specs and Price Compared
Two $549 cards with 12GB and a $429 card with 16GB. How AMD’s RX 9070 GRE stacks up against Nvidia’s RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 Ti.
AnalysisMLPerf Inference v6.1 Results: Vera Rubin, MI350P and Arc Pro B70
A record 30 submitters, a 512-GPU system and first verified numbers for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin: what the latest AI inference benchmark round actually shows.
NewsAMD Ryzen 5 5500F and Ryzen 5 7500: Price, Specs and Release Date
AMD’s budget six-core chips are out: a $99 Zen 3 upgrade for AM4 owners and a $189 Zen 4 chip with integrated graphics for AM5 builds.