DDR5 Archives

Winsage

January 14, 2026

How much RAM does your PC really need in 2026? A Windows and Mac expert’s verdict

Shopping for a new computer involves focusing on three critical components: the processor, storage drive, and RAM. For Windows machines, 16GB of RAM is the operational minimum for new consumer laptops, while 4GB is the minimum requirement for Windows 11. MacBook users can find satisfactory performance with 8GB of RAM, but Apple has set 16GB as the starting point for its new MacBook Air M4. Chromebooks can operate effectively with 8GB or less. More RAM generally improves performance, but excessive memory can lead to diminishing returns. DDR stands for "double data rate," with DDR5 being the latest standard for faster data transfer speeds. Most users find 16GB adequate, while gamers and creative professionals may need 32GB. Beyond 32GB is typically excessive unless engaged in demanding activities, where 48GB or 64GB may be warranted.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Steam Machine release date speculation, specs and latest news

Valve is set to launch the Steam Machine in early 2026, potentially up to April 2026, though delays may occur due to a RAM crisis affecting component prices. Pre-orders are currently unavailable, but customers can add it to their Steam wishlist for notifications. The Steam Machine is a PC-hybrid console, running SteamOS, and offers a desktop environment for flexibility. It has performance specifications between the Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5, with 16GB of system memory and 8GB of video memory. Key specifications include a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, and storage options of 512GB or 2TB NVMe SSD. The Steam Machine will come with a Steam Controller, featuring standard controls and enhanced precision through dual trackpads and a gyroscope.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Asus’ colossal new gaming PC has a two-inch-thick door, holographic fans, and a hood scoop

The Asus G1000 gaming PC features a unique design with holographic 'fans,' a hood scoop for cooling, and a thick side panel. It is equipped with an Asus Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage. The cooling system includes a 420mm AIO liquid cooler, a 140mm fan at the base, front-mounted fans, and an exhaust fan at the rear. The holographic 'fans' consist of spinning light strips with 680 LEDs, creating a lighting effect rather than circulating air. The design includes two smaller holographic displays and a larger side panel display, all within a hinged glass panel. The current version is a prototype with no confirmed release date or pricing.

Winsage

January 6, 2026

HP put a mini PC inside a keyboard, and I love it — a Windows-based approach to the Raspberry Pi 500 with self-repairable parts

HP introduced the EliteBoard G1a at CES 2026, a keyboard that integrates a mini PC powered by AMD's Ryzen AI 300 PRO mobile processors, featuring a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of delivering up to 50 TOPS. It is designed to cater to hybrid workers using external monitors with laptops closed. The internal components include upgradeable DDR5 SODIMM RAM and M.2 NVMe solid-state drives. Key specifications include: - OS: Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro - CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 PRO - GPU: Up to AMD Radeon 860M integrated - RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM - Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2, 512GB encrypted PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2, 32GB eMMC v5.0 (Ryzen AI 7 350 only) - Ports: 1x USB4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (detached cable); 1x tethered USB4, 1x USB4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (attached cable) - Connectivity: MediaTek RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3, MediaTek MT7925 Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 6.0 - Audio: Stereo speakers, Stereo microphones - Power: Configurable 32Whr battery (3.5+ hours), 65W USB-C GaN power adapter - Dimensions: 358mm x 118mm x 17mm, weight 1.49 - 1.69 lbs The design includes a spill-resistant keyboard that can be replaced in about ten minutes and a removable bottom panel for easy access to internal components. Both models support up to four 4K monitors at 60Hz and offer around 3.5 hours of usage on a full charge. The EliteBoard G1a has received a CES Innovation Award.

Tech Optimizer

December 18, 2025

Improve Aurora PostgreSQL throughput by up to 165% and price-performance ratio by up to 120% using Optimized Reads on AWS Graviton4-based R8gd instances

AWS has introduced Graviton4-based R8gd instances for Amazon Aurora, which offer significant performance enhancements over Graviton2-based db.r6g instances. Users can expect up to 165% higher throughput, a 120% improvement in price-performance ratio, and an 80% enhancement in application response time. The integration of an Optimized Reads-enabled tiered cache allows for expanded database caching capacity, minimizing network storage access and improving query response times. Organizations like Mindbody and Claroty have reported substantial performance improvements and cost savings after implementing these features. Aurora PostgreSQL 17 has introduced smarter storage batching algorithms and optimized writes, further enhancing performance for I/O-intensive applications. The db.r8gd instances allow for scaling up to 48xl, providing 192 vCPUs, 50 Gigabits of network bandwidth, and 10.4 TiB of local NVMe capacity. The benchmark testing using HammerDB demonstrated significant improvements in throughput, price-performance ratio, and response times when upgrading from db.r6g to db.r8gd instances. The Aurora Optimized Reads-enabled tiered cache is available for Aurora PostgreSQL versions 17.4 and higher, among others.

AppWizard

December 16, 2025

Expensive DDR5 RAM is driving PC gamers to make this major mistake, and you need to avoid it

DDR5 RAM prices have surged, with 32GB kits increasing from under 0 to over 0 in a few weeks. This trend is expected to affect pricing in other tech sectors, including graphics cards and laptops. Industry experts advise consumers to wait for a price correction rather than panic buy, with expectations that the market will stabilize in six to eight months, although prices may not return to previous lows. The rise in prices is partly due to AI data centers consuming a large portion of the DRAM supply, leading to uncertainty. DDR4 prices have also increased, making it less advisable to switch to older systems. Current hardware can still handle most modern games, and consumers are encouraged to consider affordable upgrades in peripherals instead of rushing into RAM purchases.