PC components Archives

Winsage

January 13, 2026

CES 2026: Showcasing new Windows 11 PC innovations across the ecosystem

CES showcased significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into the Windows ecosystem, with various companies unveiling new products. Acer introduced the Copilot+ PCs, including the Swift 16 AI laptop with a haptic touchpad and Predator Helios Neo 16S AI gaming laptop. ASUS launched the Zenbook DUO, featuring dual OLED touchscreens, and the ROG Zephyrus Duo, a dual-screen gaming laptop. Dell refreshed its XPS brand with new laptops and monitors, while HP presented the EliteBook X G2 Series and the EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC. Lenovo revealed several new Copilot+ PCs, and Samsung introduced the Galaxy Book6 series. AMD and Intel announced new processor lines, with AMD's Ryzen AI 400 Mobile Series and Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon X2 Plus for enhanced AI experiences in PCs.

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.

Winsage

December 27, 2025

Microsoft, drop your AI obsession and give us what we really want: a lightweight Windows 11 that nails the basics

Recent sentiments surrounding Microsoft are negative, with stakeholders expressing dissatisfaction with Windows. Investors are concerned about the slow uptake of Copilot features, consumers feel overwhelmed by unwanted AI tools, and gamers are disappointed with the stability of Windows 11 compared to Windows 10. Former Microsoft engineers advocate for a streamlined Windows experience, emphasizing fixes over new features. Tiny11, an unofficial version of Windows, offers a simplified experience by removing AI features and bloatware but raises security concerns. The rising costs of PC components make a leaner OS more appealing, especially as Microsoft pushes for 16GB of RAM as a standard. The removal of the TPM 2.0 requirement could help older devices upgrade to Windows 11. Essential core applications could include Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Settings, and File Explorer, with a browser and access to the Microsoft Store for additional software. Despite the appeal of a streamlined OS, Microsoft is unlikely to pursue this direction due to its commitment to integrating AI. The outlook for Windows in 2026 appears pessimistic, with expectations of further complications.

AppWizard

December 5, 2025

Cloud Gaming Is Looking More Attractive Than Ever for All the Wrong Reasons

The cost of RAM has surged significantly, with prices for 16GB DDR4 sticks now around 0, and DDR5 sticks priced five times that amount. Micron, which held a 25.7% share of the DRAM market, announced it will discontinue its consumer-facing brand, Crucial, to focus on AI data center memory, likely exacerbating component prices. Xbox reported a 45% increase in playtime hours on its Game Pass Cloud Gaming service year-over-year, and Nvidia upgraded its GeForce Now service to support games on the latest RTX 5080 GPU. The rise in DRAM prices may persist until 2028, as major manufacturers prioritize supply for AI data centers over the PC industry.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

This pirate-themed FPS just got an enormous update that lets you sail a ‘living ship’—a hybrid of wooden hull and space whale that’s called Abby and is utterly horrifying

This November, pirate-themed gaming has surged with the release of Salt 2, a survival simulation in its 1.0 version, and Captain Wayne: Vacation Desperation, an action shooter using the Doom engine. Davy x Jones, a roguelike first-person shooter, received a significant update introducing a second gameplay mode featuring a "living ship" named Abby, allowing players to engage in naval battles and recruit ghostly pirates. The update includes a boss fight against the Kraken, enhanced first-person combat with new attack options, a redesigned skill tree, a comprehensive codex, and support for advanced graphics technologies. Existing save files may become corrupted due to these changes, and the game is currently available at a 20% discount until December 9, priced at .99/£12.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

Why does Helldivers 2 have such a bloated install size on PC? Old hard drives, says dev

Helldivers 2 has an installation size of approximately 150GB, primarily due to the presence of duplicate files, which include weapon models and environmental textures. This redundancy has led to excessive storage consumption on PC, while the PS5 and Xbox versions are about one-third the size. The decision to include multiple file copies was made to address slow loading times on traditional hard drives, as the mechanical HDD's seek time creates performance bottlenecks. The developers are exploring alternatives to reduce file size, such as removing duplicates or offering 4K textures as optional downloads, but upgrading to SSDs is not a feasible solution for many players due to rising costs.

Winsage

September 20, 2025

GPU Sales Rise 27% QoQ in Q2 As Buyers React to Tariff Uncertainty

In Q2 2025, GPU sales increased by 27% quarter-over-quarter, driven by consumer concerns over impending tariffs that will raise prices on PC components. The U.S. government plans to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-made chips, prompting buyers to purchase GPUs and CPUs in advance. CPU sales also rose by 8% QoQ and 13% YoY, with desktop CPUs holding a 33% market share. While mid-range and entry-level GPUs have seen price reductions, high-end models have increased in price. Nvidia holds a 94% share of the add-in board segment. As the holiday season approaches, rising prices and potential declines in sales may challenge the market. Nvidia has reduced prices on its Blackwell GPU lineup to manage inventory amid reports of oversupply.

AppWizard

September 15, 2025

Now you can even get an OLED screen in your RGB PC gaming RAM

V-Color and Gigabyte have introduced the V-Color Manta Xfinity+ OLED RAM kits, which feature integrated OLED displays to show real-time system information such as memory temperature, latency timings, and capacity. Only one module in each dual-channel kit has the OLED display, while the second module is a standard RGB DIMM. The kits support Intel XMP and AMD EXPO profiling technologies, with options for speeds up to 9,000MT/s and low latency timings. They will be available exclusively through Newegg initially, with plans for broader availability later. Pricing details have not been disclosed.