The Hot Take: I like the carbon pads that don't try out and loose performance.
This review examines the GEEKTC GX-300, a solid graphene thermal pad, using thermal measurements, microscopy, LIBS material analysis, and a long-term test under high power density. The sample, obtained directly from the distributor, is identified as the industrial version HCF-010-03. The results show a strongly pressure-dependent thermal resistance, stable behavior over 134.9 hours, and considerable potential for high-performance graphics cards as well as mechanically demanding CPU and GPU installations. However, no claim is made that itā¦
The Hot Take: Sorry, what? LOL They're trying to get players back desperately it seems.
Back in the days of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2(the 2022 one, not the OG 2009 game), developer Infinity Ward released the DMZ Beta. This was an Escape From Tarkov-inspired multiplayer mode, albeit much more casual, and while it showed promise and innovation, it wasn't quite the barnstorming success the studio was presumably hoping for.
By ckasprzak | TkOut
| October 10, 2026 | Hardware
The Hot Take: Nice! People seem to be getting the fact you don't own streamed tunes.
In case you didnāt get the memo, CD sales are surging, up a whopping 58.6% in the U.S. this year, according to the RIAA. And whether youāre looking to break your old disc collection out of the attic or closet, or youāre considering starting a new CD collection and ditching that algorithmically driven streaming service, there are plenty of options to choose from. Some can offer as good or arguably even better audio quality than a 90s-era Discman or hi-fi player, while others prioritize modern features, like Bluetooth, showcasing your spinningā¦
The Hot Take: Seems to be doing good, we'll see soon the issues I'm sure.
Windows 11 26H2 may look like a boring annual update (because it is just an enablement package), but as it turns out, it arrives after months of performance work that many PCs didnāt get because of Microsoftās gradual rollouts.
So, a bunch of users are experiencing better performance with Low Latency Profile, which speeds up the Start menu, Search, and app launches. And best of all, some users, including me, are seeing noticeably lower RAM usage after the 2026 update.
I installed 26H2 on my three-year-old 16GB laptop and noticed RAM usageā¦
The Hot Take: Microsoft going all in on Nvidia it seems. Xbox next?
Software King of the World Microsoft has confirmed that Nvidiaās RTX Spark platform will be featured at its 7 October Windows event, with new hardware announcements expected.
The event, taking place in San Francisco, will include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Vole says the event will feature āRTX Spark and new experiences designed to unlock more possibilities for developers and builders.ā
Nvidia has shared a fresh teaser ahead of the event, suggesting that the twoā¦
Intel's Nova Lake Desktop CPU lineup has leaked, revealing the specs of seven SKUs including the fastest Core Ultra 9 model. Intel Nova Lake "Core Ultra Series 4" Desktop CPUs Leak, Core Ultra 9 4970K Gears Up For LGA 1954 Platforms With 28 Cores & BLLC There have been a spate of leaks surrounding the Intel Nova Lake Desktop CPU family. We have covered many die and SKU configurations in the past, but the latest leak covers the exact details of specific SKUs with their official part identifier name. The leak comes from LC Tech Leaks, whichā¦
The Hot Take: More push for cloud space I'd assume.
Windows 11 26H2 is out, and Microsoft has enabled Windows settings backup by default, a move that could send administrators scrambling to opt out where they once had to opt in. The latest release hasn't made a lot of shockwaves in the community featurewise. Users with up-to-date versions of 25H2 will unlikely notice much difference ā 26H2 has the same code base, delivered via an enablement package. It even has the same set of known issues, although all are now "mitigated" in one way or another. However, administrators will spot severalā¦
The Hot Take: E/P-Core CPUs getting more optimizations from Intel. We'll have to see how AMD does when they start dropping Zen with a similar setup.
Earlier this year Intel announced the "Optimization Zone" as their new initiative to provide a centralized place to collect all their resources for maximizing performance and software tuning on Intel hardware platforms. They've continued building out more resources for the Intel Optimization Zone and yesterday released v1.2 with more tuning guides and best practices for optimal performance on Intel hardware...
By ckasprzak | TkOut
| October 1, 2026 | AMD, GPU, Hardware
The Hot Take: If true, definitely an opportunity for AMD to take the performance crown for a time.
With GPUs and memory chips in incredibly high demand, 2027 is shaping up to be one of the more unusual graphics card release cycles. NVIDIA has been dominating the segment for years, but if recent rumors suggesting that the RTX 60 series is delayed until 2028 turn out to be true, AMD could find itself in a unique position to lure users toward its upcoming cards.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is taking a page from Counter-Strike with a new multiplayer mode built around one of the classic shooter's defining mechanics: buying your gear with money earned during the match. Called Collateral, the new mode puts an economy system on top of the familiar Search and Destroy formula, creating a version of Call of Duty where every death and purchase could have consequences.