ComputersNews

The hidden laptop parts that decide speed, heat, and noise

Laptops are way more than just a slew of powerful components crammed into a tight space (a bit like a tin of sardines!). The CPU and GPU are a big part of it, for sure, but they’re only half the story. The other half is the cooling system, which may be the most vital element of a laptop. For example, you can have two laptops with the same exact processor that run totally differently. One might…
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ComputersNews

Microsoft explains why it killed Windows phone activation

Summary created by Smart Answers AI In summary: Microsoft officially ended telephone activation for Windows on December 3, 2025, requiring users to activate through an online portal instead. PCWorld notes discrepancies between Microsoft’s actions and some support documentation that still references the discontinued telephone method. The new digital workflow requires an internet connection and…
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ComputersNews

A Valve engineer’s Linux patch makes 8GB AMD GPUs better at gaming

Is 8GB of VRAM enough for modern PC gaming? That’s the question a lot of people have been asking lately as prices for graphics cards climb higher, and doubly so since the Steam Machine was announced with a custom AMD GPU with “just” 8GB. A Valve engineer seems to have been working on the problem, and a new kernel patch for AMD graphics cards could deliver greater performance on Linux. The…
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ComputersNews

AMD’s $899 Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is wild—but that’s why I care

Earlier this week, when AMD revealed its price for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, I waded into a few comment sections. I expected to see a lot of scoffing (at minimum) about the $899 MSRP for this soon-to-be released halo chip—the first dual 3D V-Cache processor the company has produced. The internet didn’t disappoint. One of the first comments I saw on Reddit: “AMD is out of their minds with that…
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