ComputersNews

Western Digital is out of hard drives, because AI (of course)

February 18, 2026
It kind of feels like the last six months of my job has just been telling you about all the different ways the “AI” industry is making life suck. And I’m just a guy who writes about computers! I barely even touch on its environmental impact or mental health issues. But I digress. Here’s the latest way in which the “AI” industry is making life suck for all of us: “AI” data centers…
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ComputersNews

MSI DataMag 40Gbps review: Shiny, magnetic USB4 storage

February 16, 2026
Magnetically attached SSDs can be handy, especially speedy 40Gbps models such as the MSI DataMag 40Gbps reviewed here. They can be fixed in place on any suitable metallic surface. Alas, that doesn’t include my aluminum Macs, but it does include the router right next to…
ComputersNews

Lenovo stockpiled enough RAM for 2026. It’s still raising PC prices

February 16, 2026
Basically every PC maker that’s made a public statement on the RAM crisis says it’s going to have to increase prices, or make other adjustments, like bumping mid-range laptops back down to just 8GB of memory. Lenovo, the largest PC manufacturer in the world, was a happy exception, saying it had enough RAM to get through 2026. But apparently that wasn’t enough to keep prices down. According…
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ComputersNews

Windows won’t boot? Safe Mode is the lifeline you need

February 13, 2026
If your Windows PC won’t start properly or keeps crashing, Safe Mode can help you identify the cause and fix the problem. In Safe Mode, Windows only loads the most essential drivers and services, skips third-party autostart programs, and uses a simple graphical user…
ComputersNews

4 quick security upgrades I always do on a new PC

February 13, 2026
Put a brand-new laptop or desktop PC in front of most people, and they’ll begin installing their favorite programs. Me? I check out its security setup. That’s not just making sure basics like antivirus is active. I also look at Windows and installed apps to make sure the…
ComputersNews

Intel’s tough decision boosted AMD to record highs

February 13, 2026
Shipments of x86 processors dropped from the third to the fourth quarter of 2025, as Intel’s supply constraints reined in PC processor shipments and helped AMD, especially in the mobile market. AMD itself released some of the shipment estimates from Mercury Research on Wednesday, but the research firm added additional details on Thursday, including Intel’s market share. It also confirmed that…
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ComputersNews

Watch this RTX 5090 burst into flames

February 12, 2026
Nvidia’s graphics cards are the most in-demand for PC gamers right now. But with high power requirements and a new 12VHPWR connector introduced on the 40 Series, followed by a revised 12V-2×6 connector after those kept melting, Nvidia’s cards are causing some concern…
ComputersNews

Microsoft just forked Windows

February 12, 2026
Testing Windows has always allowed you to try out new features ahead of time, even a new operating system. But the Windows 11 26H1 release Microsoft is testing now literally breaks Windows into two parallel tracks, separated into x86 and Arm. Some of this isn’t new: Microsoft said last November that Windows 11 26H1 would be used to test “specific silicon,” believed to be the Snapdragon X2…
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