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Zen Browser 1.21.4b is now available with an updated Firefox base, new options for pinned tabs and Space Routing, plus several fixes for tab behavior and the browser sidebar. Zen Browser is an open source Firefox based browser focused on privacy, customization, and a cleaner interface. It includes tracker blocking, vertical tabs, workspaces, container tabs, split views, profile switching, and Zen Mods for deeper

Sparkle 2.20.1 is now available as a new update for the free Windows optimization tool, adding more control over interface animations alongside several backend fixes. The app is designed for Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems, offering tools to remove unwanted apps, reduce tracking, clean temporary files, and apply performance related tweaks. The latest version is not a major feature release, but it improves

Xbox has added three more games to its Free Play Days promotion, giving Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members a limited time chance to try House Flipper 2, Blades of Fire, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. The promotion is available through Sunday, June 28, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Unlike some recent Free Play Days selections, none of the games are available without a

Payday 2 is receiving one of its biggest updates in years, with a new Diesel 3.0 engine upgrade that moves the game to 64 bit architecture and DirectX 11. The update is expected to improve stability, reduce loading related issues, lower VRAM use, and cut the game’s install size from 86GB to around 32GB. The upgrade is especially notable because Payday 2 launched more

Apple’s 13 inch M3 MacBook Air has dropped to $799 during an early Prime Day sale, making it one of the strongest budget MacBook options available right now. The deal cuts $500 from its previous $1,299 price and puts a more capable MacBook within reach for buyers considering Apple’s cheaper MacBook Neo. At $799, the M3 MacBook Air offers a clear step up in

The Gigabyte Aero X16 gaming laptop is available for $1,099.99, a $300 discount from its usual $1,399.99 price. With an Nvidia RTX 5060 laptop GPU, AMD Ryzen AI 7 processor, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 16 inch 165Hz display, it offers a strong mix of gaming performance and everyday productivity features at this price. Buying a gaming laptop can make more sense than

A hardware modder has turned a countertop ice machine into an unusual external cooler for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, bringing gaming temperatures down from around 60°C to roughly 22°C in Cyberpunk 2077. The experiment was not designed as a practical upgrade for everyday PCs, but it shows how much cooling headroom is available when a graphics card is connected to a chilled water

Chinese companies are reportedly paying huge premiums for older Nvidia AI hardware as enforcement against chip smuggling tightens and legal import channels remain blocked. Servers built around Nvidia’s five year old A100 accelerator are now selling for as much as 600,000 Chinese Yuan, or roughly $82,000, after prices tripled in recent months. The shortage is pushing buyers toward aging data center hardware, modified gaming

The best graphics card for most gamers in 2026 is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, but the right choice depends heavily on your monitor resolution, budget, preferred games, and how much you value upscaling and frame generation features. GPU prices remain higher than expected across nearly every modern segment. The AI hardware boom has kept memory costs elevated, while several high end models

Graphics card prices remain difficult for PC builders in 2026, with several popular Nvidia, AMD, and Intel models selling well above their original launch prices. The growing demand for memory from AI data centers is affecting the consumer GPU market, making it harder to find higher end cards at reasonable prices. Nvidia’s latest RTX 50 series is the most affected at the top end.

The best budget CPU in 2026 depends on whether you want the strongest gaming performance, better productivity speed, a cheap upgrade for an older PC, or a processor with integrated graphics. High DDR5 prices have made the total cost of a new PC much harder to manage, so the processor alone should not decide your build. For most buyers spending around $200, Intel’s Core

The best gaming CPU for most people in 2026 is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It delivers leading frame rates, strong efficiency, and lower cooling demands than many high end rivals. However, it is not the right choice for every PC build, especially while DDR5 memory remains expensive. Your best CPU depends on your budget, the games you play, whether you already own a

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is still one of the best gaming processors available for people who already own an AM4 motherboard and DDR4 memory. Its large 3D V Cache helps it deliver excellent frame rates in many modern games, while its low power draw makes it easier to cool than newer high performance CPUs. However, the processor is no longer the easy recommendation

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and Intel Core i7 14700K remain two capable choices for people trying to avoid the high cost of a full DDR5 upgrade in 2026. The better option depends on whether you are upgrading an existing system, focused mainly on gaming, or need stronger performance for creative and productivity work. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is still one of the simplest

Buying RAM for a new PC or an upgrade has become much more expensive in 2026, with DDR5 kits in particular reaching prices that would have seemed unrealistic only months ago. A standard 32GB DDR5 kit that could previously be found for around $100 to $200 is now starting near $350 in many cases, while higher capacity kits have climbed into the hundreds or

A hardware enthusiast has managed to run Windows 11 on a system built around DDR1 memory, a Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, and an ATI Radeon HD 4650 AGP graphics card. The unusual build shows that Microsoft’s latest operating system can still function on hardware far older than its official requirements suggest, although it takes careful component selection and several workarounds. The system is

Commodore has reduced the starting price of its Callback 8020 flip phone from $499 to $399 by using recycled memory chips in most models and making its bundled earphones an optional extra. The change arrives just before pre-orders open on June 30, as rising memory prices continue to affect phone makers and other hardware companies. The Callback 8020 is a Linux based flip phone

Intel’s next generation Nova Lake desktop processors could push power limits far beyond current mainstream CPUs, according to a new leak. The reported flagship model may feature 52 cores and a short term boost power limit of up to 474W, which could require high end motherboards with three 8 pin CPU power connectors. The information is still unconfirmed, but it suggests Intel is preparing

Apple is reportedly seeking permission from the US government to buy memory chips from Chinese manufacturer CXMT as global RAM and storage shortages continue to raise costs across the technology industry. The move would be unusual for Apple, which has traditionally relied on major suppliers such as Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix for memory components used in iPhones, Macs, iPads, and other devices. The

Japanese capsule toy company Tarlin International is preparing a new collection of miniature PC components that can be assembled into tiny desktop builds. The upcoming gachapon series is being developed through official collaborations with ASRock, Gigabyte, MSI, and Intel, bringing recognisable enthusiast hardware into a much smaller format. The collection is designed to look more detailed than a standard toy set. Tarlin says the