Dell's new XPS 13, announced at Computex 2026, is getting a lot of attention for its $599 student pricing. But there's a whole lot more going on behind the scenes, which I found out in a Dell and Intel roundtable discussion.
Microsoft has announced the Majorana 2, a second-generation topological quantum chip designed to accelerate the development of commercially viable quantum computers. This new hardware utilizes qubits that the company claims are 1,000 times more reliable than previous iterations. By improving stability at the hardware level, Microsoft aims to reduce the massive overhead typically required for quantum error correction.
In a joint announcement at Microsoft Build and Computex, ASUS has revealed its first mini PC powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite and answered our prayers in the process.
Coming later this year, Microsoft is shipping its first Surface branded mini PC, aimed solely at developers looking to adopt NVIDIA's new RTX Spark platform.
Intel has launched the Xeon 6+ Clearwater Forest processors, featuring up to 288 E-cores to address increasing data center power and space constraints. These chips utilize the Intel 18A manufacturing process to double the core count and provide a five-fold increase in last-level cache compared to previous generations. The platform is specifically designed to help organizations consolidate legacy server estates into high-density environments, particularly for 5G core and cloud-native workloads.
Microsoft and NVIDIA have introduced the RTX Spark superchip, a high-performance processor designed to power a new generation of AI-centric Windows PCs. This hardware enables local execution of complex AI agents and large language models with up to 120 billion parameters. The collaboration has already resulted in the launch of the Surface Laptop Ultra and a specialized miniature desktop known as the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box.
Microsoft is updating the Windows 11 kernel to support the Nvidia RTX Spark, a heterogeneous Arm-based system-on-a-chip that combines a 20-core Grace CPU with a Blackwell GPU. A new Workload Profile Scheduling system has been implemented to intelligently distribute tasks across these diverse processing cores while balancing power and thermal limits. These architectural changes also include updates to the Prism emulation layer, which translates x86 instructions for Arm hardware to ensure legacy software compatibility.
I went hands-on with Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra ahead of launch later this year, and I've been blown away by its design and, more importantly, performance.
Enterprise spending on artificial intelligence is expected to become significantly more efficient as organizations seek better returns on investment. Future advancements will likely focus on increased control over token usage to prevent massive unexpected costs caused by engineering errors or lacks of guardrails. A shift is anticipated away from relying exclusively on cloud-based server environments toward more diverse infrastructure options.
Microsoft has announced the Surface Laptop Ultra, a high-end 15-inch device designed to handle demanding local AI workloads and developer tasks. The laptop is powered by Nvidia’s new Arm-based RTX Spark platform, which features 20 CPU cores and 6,144 GPU cores. This hardware shift aims to move Windows on Arm beyond basic productivity by providing the performance necessary for workstation-level AI development.
To celebrate 20 years of ASUS ROG, the company has released an "Edition 20" version of its awesome Azoth Extreme mechanical gaming keyboard. It's crazy expensive, but it's also undeniably luxe. Here's what you need to know before you buy.
It's ASUS ROG's 20th birthday this year, and to celebrate, the company has launched a special "Edition 20" ROG Harpe II Extreme gaming mouse with a gold-plated interior and high-performance specs. Here are my thoughts after a couple of weeks of full-time use.
AMD has officially extended the support window for its AM5 desktop socket until at least 2029. This announcement updates previous commitments that only guaranteed platform longevity through 2027. The extension suggests that the socket will accommodate at least two more generations of processors beyond the current Zen 5 architecture.
AMD announced two new octa-core processors featuring 3D V-cache technology during its Computex 2026 keynote. The Ryzen 7 7700X3D is a new entry for the AM5 platform, utilizing the Zen 4 microarchitecture with a 4.5 GHz boost clock. Positioned just below the existing 7800X3D, this chip offers 96 MB of L3 cache and a 120W TDP to provide a high-performance gaming option at a lower price point.
Intel has revealed details for its upcoming Diamond Rapids Xeon processors, which are scheduled for release in 2027. These chips will feature up to 192 cores, representing a 50 percent increase in core count over the previous generation. However, Intel is officially removing simultaneous multithreading, commonly known as hyperthreading, from this specific server lineup.
Intel introduced the Crescent Island data center GPU at Computex 2026, targeting the growing demand for AI inference workloads. Built on the Arc Xe 3P architecture, the card features a massive 480GB of LPDDR5X memory, a significant increase from earlier 160GB specifications. The unit operates with a 350W thermal design power and utilizes air cooling to manage heat in high-density rack environments.
Intel has officially launched its Xeon 6+ processor series, codenamed Clearwater Forest, which is the first data center CPU built on the Intel 18A process node. The flagship SKU, the Xeon 6990E+, features 288 Darkmont E-cores and is designed specifically for high-density workloads rather than raw single-core performance. This architecture utilizes advanced packaging technologies including RibbonFET, PowerVia, and Foveros Direct3D to stack twelve 24-core tiles atop base dies containing memory controllers.
Nvidia has announced the full production of its Vera Rubin platform, which succeeds the Blackwell architecture for enterprise AI infrastructure. The centerpiece of this lineup is the Vera CPU, a custom processor featuring 88 cores designed specifically to handle agentic workloads and complex data processing. This hardware is integrated into the Vera Rubin NVL72, a liquid-cooled rack system that significantly improves training efficiency and inference throughput for large-scale models.
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