(PR) G.SKILL Achieves DDR5 Memory Frequency Overclock World Record at DDR5-12872 wit

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory, is thrilled to announce that renowned French extreme overclocker, bl4ckdot, has set a new overclocking world record for fastest DDR5 memory frequency at DDR5-12872. This incredible frequency record was achieved with one 24 GB module of G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 memory, built with high-performance SK hynix DDR5 ICs, running on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop processor under extreme liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling.

This remarkable milestone surpassed previous memory frequency records and marks another achievement in the pursuit of extreme memory overclocking. The score is validated on both HWBOT and CPU-Z. Please refer to the following pages for more details.

HWBOT validation here.
CPU-Z validation here. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/338931/g-ski...r-bl4ckdot

Intel's Core Ultra 5 245HX Laptop CPU Outruns Its Desktop Twin

An early PassMark entry posted on X by the account "X86 is dead&back" offers a glimpse of Intel's Core Ultra 5 245HX notebook processor. The 14-core "Arrow Lake-H" mobile chip quietly outpaced its desktop counterpart, the Core Ultra 5 245, in both single-core and multi-core tests. The numbers themselves are straightforward. The 245HX recorded 4,706 points in single-core and 41,045 points in multi-core runs. By comparison, the desktop Core Ultra 5 245 logged 4,409 and 37,930, respectively, handing the notebook silicon a 7% lead in single-core results and an 8% advantage when all cores are engaged. Against the Core i5-14500, the 245HX is 19% faster in single-core work and 30% faster in heavily threaded tasks.

The gap widens further versus last year's mobile i5-14500HX, where the newcomer enjoys a 30% single-core margin and a 41% multi-core edge. The explanation is partly thermal. Intel grants the 245HX a maximum turbo power envelope of 160 W, well above the 121 W ceiling of the desktop 245. Clock speeds peak at 5.1 GHz, and the core configuration remains identical, pairing six performance cores with eight efficient cores. The higher TDP gives the HX version a chance to run at higher clocks for longer. Notebook manufacturers are expected to reveal Arrow Lake-HX systems later this quarter. Real-world gaming is a different arena, and PassMark is only one ruler. Yet the signs are hard to ignore: a mid-range laptop processor now outworks desktop counterparts.


https://www.techpowerup.com/338912/intel...sktop-twin

(PR) Team Group Unveils P250Q Self-Destruct Internal NVMe SSD

Global memory leader Team Group Inc. today officially unveiled its latest breakthrough in industrial storage: the Team Group Industrial P250Q Self-Destruct SSD. This innovative solution integrates both software and hardware-based data erasure mechanisms, paired with an independent destruction circuit. Engineered to meet the stringent security and stability requirements of military, industrial automation, and AI applications, the P250Q sets a new benchmark for data protection and was recently honored with the 2025 COMPUTEX Best Choice Award for Cybersecurity Category.

The P250Q is equipped with a patented independent destruction circuit that enables precise data erasure at the hardware level by directly targeting the Flash IC. It is further supported by an intelligent software system with an auto-resume function that ensures data destruction continues seamlessly after an unexpected power outage, guaranteeing the complete elimination of sensitive information. Designed with real-world deployment in mind, the P250Q combines dual-mode software-hardware destruction, a one-click activation button, and multi-stage LED indicators that display real-time progress, offering intuitive yet robust data protection for high-security environments. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/338859/team-...l-nvme-ssd

Gaming Actors Score Massive Win as SAG-AFTRA Close Out 11-Month Strike With New Cont

SAG-AFTRA workers have officially ended an 11-month-long video game strike and three years of bargaining with major game studios with a new contract that increases compensation for video game workers and establishes new protections from AI. According to the new SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement, which passed with 95.04% approval, video game performers will receive a 15.17% increase in compensation upon ratification, followed by annual 3% increases for three years starting on November 1, 2025. The agreement also aims to reel in late payment issues, limiting the payment window to 12 business days after services have been rendered.

One of the more contentious issues that was being protested was the increasing use of AI in video games, and to address this, the new agreement requires game studios to get performer consent to use AI to recreate their likeness—for both audio and visual purposes—and it mandates that performers get paid their standard rate when their likeness is recreated by AI for use in a game. There are also workplace safety and comfort provisions, including mandatory rest periods, stipulations for overnight working conditions, a 2× overtime payment rate, and increases to the mandatory contributions to the AFTRA Retirement fund. Overall, much of the agreement aims to make work more sustainable for video game performers. Similar demands are currently being made by the United Video Game Workers Union, which casts a wider net to include programmers and other workers in the video games industry—not just performers. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/338821/gamin...me-studios

(PR) Pulsar Acquires Lethal Gaming Gear to Expand Premium Mousepad Line & U.S. Opera

Pulsar Gaming Gears (AplusX Inc.), a leading global developer of high-performance esports peripherals, today announced the acquisition of Lethal Gaming Gear (LGG), a U.S.-based company renowned for its enthusiast-grade mousepads and outstanding customer support. Founded in 2020, Pulsar has built a reputation for its rapid product development cycle, broad portfolio of intellectual property and esports collaborations, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Most recently, the company launched the X2F, a groundbreaking mouse designed without a back hump - engineered specifically for fingertip grip users. Released in both a standard and 5th Anniversary edition just last week, Pulsar's momentum and dedication to evolving gaming performance shows no signs of slowing down.

This strategic acquisition marks a key milestone in Pulsar's continued global expansion, and establishes Pulsar Americas Inc., a dedicated North American subsidiary. With this move, Pulsar aims to deliver faster regional support, improved logistics, and expanded future retail distribution across North and South America. Lethal Gaming Gear's acclaimed mousepads will now be developed and sold under the Pulsar brand, while maintaining the same performance and quality that LGG is known for. Existing mousepads under the Lethal Gaming Gear brand will continue to be sold until current inventory is depleted. These same products will then be restocked under the Pulsar brand moving forward, with plans to expand the mousepad lineup further through ongoing updates and performance enhancements. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/338729/pulsa...operations

This Week in Gaming (Week 28)

Welcome to the first full week of July, which continues to be a rather slow week for new game releases. This week's major release puts you in a time loop with your fellow resistance fighters. This is followed by an online tactical action shooter, some old balls and bats, a post-apocalyptic 2D side scroller, a remake and another remake, although the two have nothing in common with each other.

Every Day We Fight / This week's major release / Thursday 10 July
Citizens from either side of an ongoing war must set aside their differences as a mysterious alien invasion threatens humanity - time has come to a stop for all but your small band of freedom fighters. Caught in a seemingly endless loop, you must shape these ordinary civilians into heroes as they repeatedly fight and die in this turn-based tactical roguelite. Real-time exploration, stealth, and teamwork are essential as you acquire new skills, seek out more powerful weapons, escape the time loop, and save the world. Welcome to the resistance. Steam link Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/338660/this-...ng-week-28

Nintendo Switch 2 USB Port Lockdown Poses Challenge for 3rd-Party Dock Makers

It appears as though Nintendo has once again deliberately attempted to lock out third-party accessory makers from making docks for the Nintendo Switch 2. According to testing conducted by The Verge, the Nintendo Switch 2 uses proprietary, encrypted signals to effectively authorize a dock before video or power is sent over the USB-C connection. This behavior was confirmed by a USB power bank tester, which monitors the USB connection packets and can output the signals on another device for inspection. The Switch 2 also demands a higher voltage from its dock, requesting as much as 20 V, instead of the usual 15 V, although it does not appear to use the full 20 V for functionality, instead it uses it as a sort of check before dropping back down to 15 V.

In the case of the Switch 2, there was one particular third-party dock that was compatible with the new console, and upon inspecting that USB connection with the power bank tester, The Verge found that there were 30 "unstructured" packets being sent back and forth before the Switch 2 even attempted to send a video signal or negotiate power with the accessory. There was one particular string that was sent between the Switch 2 and the dock that appears to be an encryption key of sorts. If the dock fails either the voltage test or the aforementioned proprietary communications, the console defaults to a USB-only mode with no video or power delivery support. According to two accessory makers who spoke to The Verge, the Switch 2 also uses a dedicated encryption chip to lock out third-party docks and unlicensed accessories. At the time of writing, the only dock that is compatible with the Switch 2 is the Antank S3 Max, although even Antank's representative says that this can't be taken for granted, since Nintendo can, and likely will, change this authentication method with a firmware update if enough third-party dock makers catch on. So far, these changes to the USB protocol on the Switch 2 have already resulted in JSAUX putting its plans for a Switch 2 dock on hold, despite its prominence in the Steam Deck dock market.


https://www.techpowerup.com/338612/ninte...ock-makers

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Trails RTX 4060 but Leaps Ahead with Multi-Frame Generat

Initial benchmarks shared on China's Weibo platform by INNO3D hinted that NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 5050 may not quite catch up to the GeForce RTX 4060 in raw performance. The leaked figures, which focused on a handful of 3DMark tests and a selection of game runs, showed the RTX 5050 lagging just a few percent behind its established last-gen mid-range sibling. While those early results did not cover a comprehensive range of titles, they suggested that the new card would fall slightly short of the RTX 4060's average frame rate and 1% low metrics when gaming at 1080p settings.

A more complete picture emerged from South Korea's Quasar Zone review of the Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 5050 Ultra OC White edition. In tests across fifteen popular 1080p games, the RTX 5050 delivered roughly 7% lower average frame rates and similar 1% low results compared to the RTX 4060. Even Intel's Arc B580 managed to edge it out by a small margin in those same trials. However, NVIDIA's Multi‑Frame Generation options dramatically change the story by reconstructing additional frames on the fly. When these technologies are enabled, the RTX 5050 not only leaves older-generation cards well behind but also overtakes the higher‑priced RTX 4060 Ti in several benchmarks. As we await more reviews to emerge, it will be interesting to see if the newest DLSS and MFG are sufficient for gamers to purchase the entry-level Blackwell GPU or opt for an older mid-range Ada Lovelace.


https://www.techpowerup.com/338582/nvidi...generation

NVIDIA's v580 Driver Branch Ends Support for Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta GPUs

NVIDIA has confirmed that its upcoming 580 driver series will be the final release to offer official updates for three of its older GPU architectures. In a recent update to its UNIX graphics deprecation schedule, the company noted that once version 580 ships, Maxwell-, Pascal-, and Volta-based products will no longer receive new drivers or patches. Although this announcement originates from NVIDIA's UNIX documentation, the unified driver codebase means Windows users will face the same cutoff. Owners of Maxwell-era GeForce GTX 700 and GTX 900 cards, Pascal's GeForce GTX 10 lineup, and the consumer-focused Volta TITAN V can expect their last set of performance optimizations and security fixes in the 580 branch.

NVIDIA further explains that ending support for these legacy chips allows its engineering teams to focus on newer hardware platforms. For example, Turing-based GeForce GTX 16 series cards will continue to receive updates beyond driver v580, ensuring gamers can benefit from the latest optimizations and stability improvements even on older platforms. First introduced between 2014 and 2017, Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta GPUs will have enjoyed eight to eleven years of official maintenance, among the longest support windows in the industry. While existing driver installations will remain operational, NVIDIA recommends that users who depend on these older cards begin planning upgrades to maintain full compatibility and access new features. At the time of this announcement, the public driver sits at version 576.80, and NVIDIA has not yet set a firm release date for the 580 series, leaving affected users a window of several months before support officially ends.


https://www.techpowerup.com/338497/nvidi...volta-gpus

(PR) Rosewill Launches THOR NAS & THOR NAS Pro Cases for DIY NAS and NVR Builds

Rosewill, a trusted name in PC components and enclosures, today announced the availability of its new THOR NAS and THOR NAS Pro chassis. Engineered specifically for building powerful, scalable, and reliable Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems, these solutions stand apart by offering massive storage capacity in a full tower, upright desktop form factor—a significant advantage over traditional rackmount chassis for home, office, and studio environments.

Designed to meet the growing demands of users requiring expansive storage without dedicated rack space, these full tower cases prioritize massive capacity, robust cooling, and user-friendly accessibility:
1. Full Tower Upright Designesktop Placement: Unlike rackmount chassis requiring specialized cabinets, the THOR NAS series offers a conventional full tower footprint, designed to sit conveniently on or under a desk.Simplified Access & Maintenance: The upright tower design provides easy front and side access for drive installation, upgrades, and maintenance without complex rail systems.Aesthetic Integration: Blends seamlessly into home office or studio settings, avoiding the industrial look of server racks. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/338456/rosew...nvr-builds