If your motherboard lacks 5GbE and you've upgraded your network to support it, or even 2.5GbE then the BrosTrend 5GbE PCIe adapter offers an inexpensive way to upgrade your system. For a…
During a recent pre-briefing, we learned about the new Intel Xeon 600 series processors. The new generation of workstation-grade chips will be launching very soon, with ‘budget' options around the $500 mark, moving all the way up to massively powerful $7,699 versions.
The new Xeon chips are based on Intel's new Granite Rapids architecture and is designed to replace the previous Xeon W-2500 and W-3500 series, which were divided up into two distinct tiers. The new line-up offers a single, scalable line-up, simplifying things for those looking to go with Intel for their next workstation upgrade.
You can see the full specifications for each new Intel Xeon 600 series SKU in the table below:
| SKU | P Cores | Turbo Boost Max (GHz) | All-Core Turbo (GHz) | Base Frequency (GHz) | L3 Cache (MB) | Base TDP (W) | Unlocked | Memory Channels | MRDIMM Speed | PCIe 5.0 Lanes | RCP Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 698X | 86 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 336 | 350 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $7699 |
| 696X | 64 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 2.4 | 336 | 350 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $5599 |
| 678X | 48 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 192 | 300 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $3749 |
| 676X | 32 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 144 | 275 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $2499 |
| 674X | 28 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 144 | 260 | Yes | 8 | 8000 | 128 | $2199 |
| 658X | 24 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 144 | 250 | Yes | 8 | — | 128 | $1699 |
| 656 | 20 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 72 | 210 | No | 4 | — | 128 | $1399 |
| 654 | 18 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 72 | 200 | No | 4 | — | 128 | $1199 |
| 638 | 16 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 72 | 180 | No | 4 | — | 80 | $899 |
| 636 | 12 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 48 | 170 | No | 4 | — | 80 | $639 |
| 634 | 12 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 48 | 150 | No | 4 | — | 80 | $499 |
While not noted in the table, every single chip in the line-up supports DDR5 memory speeds of 6400MT/s and supports Intel vPro Technology. Only a handful of these CPUs will be offered in boxed form as well, including the Xeon 696X, 678X, 676X, 658X and the Xeon 654. As always, the chips listed as ‘unlocked' are overclockable for those with the necessary cooling to squeeze out the extra performance.
In the slides above, you can get a closer look at all of the new features Intel announced.
Each new Xeon 600 CPU is built using the new Intel 3 manufacturing process, as well as Redwood Cove cores. Intel says this has led to improved power efficiency versus the previous generation Sapphire Rapids Xeon processors. Compared to the 60-core Xeon W-3595X, Intel reports up to 9% higher single-thread performance and up to 61% higher multi-thread performance, depending on workload.
Intel is also introducing MRDIMM (Multiplexed Rank DIMM) support with this new line-up, enabling memory speeds of up to 8000MT/s on select SKUs. While MRDIMMs trade maximum capacity for bandwidth, Intel says they deliver meaningful gains for memory-bound workloads such as simulations and data analytics.
Alongside the new Xeon 600 series CPUs is the W890 chipset, which adds new features like WiFi 7, faster USB, PCIe Gen 4 expansion and more.
Systems based on Xeon 600 processors are expected to become available from major OEMs and system integrators starting in March 2026.
KitGuru Says: What do you think of Intel's new Xeon line-up?
The post Intel unveils new Xeon 600 series processors with up to 86 P-Cores first appeared on KitGuru.
Some folks act as if Intel and AMD have killed off the "high-end desktop" or HEDT market, but that's never really been the case. Instead, what happened is that mainstream desktops went from a maximum of four cores to 16 - 24 cores basically overnight, propelling HEDT systems out of reach for most enthusiasts. If you want a processor with 
The Saturn was Sega's fifth generation fully-3D console, launched in 1994 to compete with the PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64—and all these years later, homebrew developer XL2 has managed to create a functioning ray tracing demo on the hardware. The first video of the demo is a single room without any static lighting sources and all ray tracing 
Notepad++ reported that its built-in auto-update feature had been hijacked by Chinese state-sponsored hackers from June to September of 2025, and the credentials gathered by the bas actors enabled further exploits until December 2nd, 2025. In an effort to thwart similar issues moving forward, Notepad++ has moved to a hosting provider "with 
The Raspberry Pi has been one of the most affordable ways to jump into single-board computing, but even these devices haven’t been able to avoid price increases due to the current DRAM shortage. A mere two months after announcing an initial price hike, the organization is having to raise prices yet again because of an “unprecedented rise in 
Apple has reportedly been exploring new designs to invigorate sales of its ubiquitous iPhone. Even though sales of the sleek iPhone Air didn't set any records, Apple doesn't seem to be changing course and still plans to release totally new designs. It has long been rumored that a foldable iPhone, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, is on 
Sony has filed a new patent in the US that describes a departure from traditional gamepad design, envisioning a controller in which a large touchscreen replaces a significant portion of its front. This proposed interface would, in theory, allow users to reposition, resize, and entirely reconfigure digital versions of the D-pad, thumbsticks, and face buttons to suit their specific ergonomic or accessibility requirements.
According to the patent description (via VGC), the current static nature of inputs is a drawback for modern gaming peripherals, as a one-size-fits-all approach inevitably leaves some users struggling with reach or placement. This patent tries to solve that by allowing the input buttons to be dynamically allocated and configured.
Image credit: Sony
By utilising displays, the controller could change its layout based on the game's genre and even resize its buttons, adapting to the user's needs. The patent also mentions temperature and pressure sensors for these displays, which might allow users to have different outputs based on pressure or create a dead zone to ignore inputs.
While the prospect of a screen-based DualSense successor with dynamic layouts might interest some, it is important to remember that companies often patent experimental technology that never reaches mass production. Assuming Sony does move forward with this concept, it would likely result in a premium optional accessory rather than a standard controller for a future console.
KitGuru says: Sony's patent filings are often a window into its R&D lab rather than an indication of an upcoming product. While a fully customisable surface would be exceptional for accessibility, the idea of playing a high-intensity action game on a flat touchscreen doesn't seem all that exciting.
The post Sony patent points to new PlayStation controller with passive buttons and gesture controls first appeared on KitGuru.Xiaomi has expanded its display roster with the global release of the G Pro 27Qi (2026). While its predecessor was already a sought-after entry in the budget Mini LED segment, the 2026 refresh increases luminance and colour coverage.
Already available at a few retailers and appearing on Xiaomi's global site, the G Pro 27Qi (2026) (via NotebookCheck) maintains the sweet spot 1440p resolution and 180Hz refresh rate but pushes the hardware envelope in ways rarely seen at its price point. The standout feature of this new revision is the Mini LED backlight, which features 1,152 local dimming zones, nearly double the count of many competitors in its class. This dense array allows the monitor to hit a claimed peak brightness of 2000 nits, earning it a VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification.
Xiaomi has included a “custom engine” that utilises AI scene recognition and a proprietary local dimming algorithm to minimise blooming and preserve shadow detail down to a claimed 0.0001 nits. The G Pro 27Qi (2026) covers 99% of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB gamuts, with a factory calibration ensuring Delta-E values below 1. Connectivity is varied enough, with two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports. A nice touch is the flip-out headphone holder integrated into the top corner, paired with a fully ergonomic stand and a subtle RGB ring on the rear.
On the official website, the monitor is listed at $475 (£347). However, at this retailer, the same monitor is much cheaper at just €285 (£247), suggesting there might be a launch promo.
KitGuru says: Do you think the G Pro 27Qi has what it takes to stand out from its competitors?
The post Xiaomi launches G Pro 27Qi monitor with Mini LED backpanel with 1,152 dimming zones first appeared on KitGuru.When Highguard launched last week with its 3v3 PvP mode, many players were quick to complain that the map feels like it was designed for larger-scale battles. Now just days later, the developers have put out an experimental 5v5 mode.
Highguard now has a 5v5 mode, allowing larger teams to better cover the game's large map. The new mode was well received, and the growing sentiment seems to be that this should have been the launch mode. Unfortunately, it won't last for long.
While 5v5 is available for now, it is listed as a limited-time mode, so it is just a matter of time before it goes away again. The developers have also not yet addressed complaints around the loot-farming phase of matches, which many players say is a trivial and boring part of the game.
It is unclear if 5v5 will end up becoming a permanent mode in Highguard, or if the developers will just introduce smaller maps in the future, but it seems quite clear that 5v5 is a mode that players want to stick around.
KitGuru Says: Have you tried Highguard's 5v5 mode?
The post Highguard gets requested 5v5 mode, but only for a limited time first appeared on KitGuru.Nikita Buyanov, the creator of Escape from Tarkov, has further fuelled speculation regarding his next project, Cor3, with a teaser trailer that seemingly confirms a leap into the sci-fi genre. Following a month of cryptic social media teases and an interactive terminal set in the year 2251, the latest video, titled ‘PRJRPNT_BLUEMARS_FO', gives us the clearest look yet at what could well be “Tarkov in space”.
The trailer begins with a familiar sight for Battlestate fans, with a first-person perspective of a PMC-like operative holding a futuristic ‘Kalash Corp' rifle. The video also includes various other references to Escape from Tarkov, namely a patch for the “Bogatyr.bs First Navy Squad”, suggesting a connection to the BEAR special squads in Escape from Tarkov. The setting, however, is far from what you would expect from the streets of Tarkov. Instead, it shows a destroyed city (apparently named Mariner) on a planet that doesn't look like Earth.
You can find some lore of the game in the Cor3.gg interactive site, but besides that, not much more is known about the game. As expected from a teaser trailer, it's light on concrete gameplay details, leaving fans to wonder if this will be a hardcore extraction shooter like EFT or something else entirely.
Battlestate Games has been notably quiet about this game, leading some to wonder whether Cor3 will be a single-player title or something more familiar to Tarkov's studio. The heavy emphasis on first-person military hardware alongside space-bound “Navy Squads” suggests a connection to Tarkov, but it isn't enough to be sure it's yet another extraction shooter.
KitGuru says: What do you think Cor3 will be like? Will it be more of the same in space or a game completely different from Tarkov?
The post Escape from Tarkov studio unveils trailer for new sci-fi project first appeared on KitGuru.
Puget Systems has released its 2025 Hardware Reliability Report: if you're familiar with the company's annual reports, they offer an invaluable look at which components in your build actually survive the rigors of professional use.
Around since the 2000s, Puget Systems' annual reports have been a cornerstone for workstation professionals 
Will Drake Maye lead the New England Patriots to another Super Bowl victory against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, or will the Seahawks atone for the abysmal decision to pass the ball on the 1-yard line 11 years ago, which led to a game-sealing interception? I'm originally from Boston so I'm hoping for the former, but even if you're just 
Console gamers love new tech, but there are ones that we hope never ever make it to production. Case in point: Sony has patented a controller that ditches physical buttons entirely in favor of a giant, customizable touchscreen. Heresy!
Sony's patent for a fully customizable, button-less controller
The patent, titled Devices and Methods 
The peripherals market is absolutely flush with gaming headsets of all kinds, so how do you make a splash in a sprawling sea of options? You team up with HiFiMAN, which specializes in planar-magnetic headphones, to develop a headset built for gamers and purportedly discerning enough for audiophiles, and price it at $299. That's exactly what Nioh 3 is about to come out and just like its predecessors, the game will be a PS5 console exclusive. While neither Nioh or Nioh 2 have ever made it over to a non-PlayStation console, that might change with this entry.
In its latest trailer for the game on the PlayStation YouTube channel, Sony confirms that it has a six-month exclusivity agreement in place for the game. That means that Nioh 3 could potentially appear on other consoles, like the Nintendo Switch 2 or Xbox Series X/S, before the end of the year.
PC players don't have to worry about the console exclusivity agreement at all, as the game will be available on PC from day-one. This is pretty typical for PS5 console exclusives, as Sony has begun allowing more and more games to ship on PC alongside the PS5 launch date. Sony itself has also been ramping up the number of its exclusives that come to PC, with the likes of Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, as well as the most recent God of War titles all making their way over to Steam.
Nioh 3 will launch on PC and PS5 on the 6th of February.
KitGuru Says: Are you planning on picking up Nioh 3 later this week, or are you going to be waiting for it to land on another console platform?
The post Nioh 3 will be a PS5 console exclusive for 6 months first appeared on KitGuru.
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