CPU

Qualcomm has confirmed what leaked customer letters already hinted at. During its Q3 2026 earnings call, CEO Cristiano Amon addressed the chipmaker's pricing plans directly, tying the move to broader cost pressures across the industry.

(Update: Small clarification) A rare qualification sample of Intel’s unreleased Core i9-14901KE reveals an unlocked, all-P-core embedded chip that performs much like a Core i9-14900K with its E-cores disabled. Testing found modest overclocking gains and no special silicon advantage, making the abandoned processor more of a Raptor Lake curiosity than a lost flagship.

We measured Qualcomm's next flagship chip before Qualcomm said a word about it. Between an exclusive die-size calculation, a leaked internal graphics document, a fresh wave of details about the CPU, modem, and connectivity hardware, we've put together the most complete picture yet of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.

A new leak claims Qualcomm is preparing a fourth Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant, the SM8850-1-AB, offering near-flagship benchmark performance at a lower cost aimed at phones priced under roughly $600.

A Japanese Amazon customer who ordered one Intel Core i5-14400 processor unexpectedly received five, likely due to a warehouse or barcode-scanning error. The total value of the shipping error amounted to more than $1,100.

We already know that there will be multiple configurations of the RTX Spark “Superchip,” but Nvidia has not shared those details. However, a new driver version has shed some light on a second configuration.

A SemiAnalysis teardown of Huawei's Kirin 9030 Pro suggests SMIC's DUV-only N+3 process rivals Intel's 18A node in one unexpected area despite lacking access to EUV lithography. The report explores the engineering tricks that made it possible and why they still fall short of matching the industry's leading-edge processes.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 will be officially unveiled on Wednesday. A benchmark leak shows just how significantly the next-generation smartwatches benefit from the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite.

Newegg has now discounted a fantastic CPU + motherboard + DDR5 RAM bundle. The combo brings the new Ryzen 7 7700X3D CPU, the Gigabyte B650E Eagle motherboard, and a 16 GB stick of G.Skill Flare X5 DDR5-6000 memory at a $203 discount.

A newly submitted QEMU patch and an independently sourced engineering-sample benchmark both confirm architectural details of AMD's upcoming Zen 6 Epyc "Venice" server CPUs, including a hardware fix for the known SRSO vulnerability, ahead of AMD's official reveal at its July 22-23 Advancing AI event.

Intel has announced Starfire, a space-grade processor built on its 18A node that combines eight CPU cores, a 64-execution-unit Xe GPU, and up to 75 TOPS of AI performance within a 35W power envelope. The chip comes in low-power and performance configurations and is rated for temperatures between -55°C and 125°C.

Intel is looking to give customers more cost-effective CPU options, as the company is reportedly increasing the production of older generation CPUs. A new report out of China claims that Intel is increasing the supply of old, DDR4-compatible CPUs, including 13th and 14th-gen processors.

It was reported a few months ago that there was a severe shortage of desktop CPUs from both Intel and AMD. These shortages were expected to result in limited availability of some in-demand processors and increased prices. It seems Intel has now quietely increased prices of the latest Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.

Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 has now visited Geekbench for an evaluation of its CPU capabilities. The chipset was tested aboard the recently launched Honor X80 Pro Max, but is also expected to power the upcoming Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G.

AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D 10th Anniversary Edition relaunched at $349 as a compelling AM4 gaming upgrade with improved 3D V-Cache packaging and better thermals, but sold out across major retailers within minutes. Scalpers quickly pushed resale prices to $600 or more, though AMD says continued production should ease shortages and return availability closer to MSRP.

The Intel Core 3 304 has been spotted on Passmark, and its benchmark scores are close to those of the Apple A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo.

Once again, the partnership with Elon Musk has allowed Samsung to broaden its portfolio further. The company has been working with Neuralink to develop the next generation of brain chips, and production is expected to start early next year.

AMD’s Frank Azor has pushed back against reports that FSR 4.1 support for RDNA 3.5 APUs has been canceled, saying no final decision has been made despite earlier comments suggesting AMD was leaning against it.

Microsoft and Nvidia are positioning AI as a practical bridge for improving legacy x86 Windows app performance on emerging Arm-based PCs powered by RTX Spark and Snapdragon X hardware. While agentic AI and emulation tools may ease app conversion and compatibility, demanding legacy software, games, and security-heavy systems will still require developer intervention.

Moore's Law Is Dead has published a highly detailed AMD Zen 6 leak. The leak summarizes everything MLID has revealed about Zen 6 in the past while also providing some interesting new nuggets of information. The most interesting aspects of the entire Zen 6 family appear to be the performane potential and SKU segmentation.

AMD has re-announced the Ryzen 7 5800X3D at Computex 2026, positioning the $350 AM4 processor as a cost-conscious upgrade path for gamers still using DDR4 systems. The company says the relaunch required substantial engineering work, including requalifying the chip for a newer 3D V-Cache stacking process after the original TSMC method became unavailable.

The CPU now comes bundled with Carbice's nanotube tech-based 'Ice Pads' in addition to a $100 haircut over its original launch price in 2022.

AMD has introduced EXPO Ultra Low Latency (EXPO-ULL), a new DDR5 memory profile promising lower latency, smoother frame times, and up to 13% higher average FPS with 15% better 1% lows versus standard JEDEC memory. Certified 6000 MT/s and 6400 MT/s kits from major memory vendors are expected starting June 2026.

Nvidia's RTX Spark SoCs hope to bring new life to the Windows on ARM platform. These chips are designed for high-performance in slim and light laptops, with a long-lasting battery, to compete with Apple.

AMD has introduced two 8-core Ryzen CPUs at Computex 2026. One of the CPUs, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, is a re-release of a fan-favorite processor that kick-started AMD’s stand-out X3D gaming CPU lineup. The other chip is a brand-new Ryzen 7 7700X3D based on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture.

A fresh leak has provided the clearest look yet at Nvidia's upcoming Arm processors for laptops, revealing four N1-series variants with Blackwell graphics, up to 20 CPU cores, and support for 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory.

MediaTek has announced the Dimensity 7500 and it is the first mobile processor to feature Arm's C1 CPU cores. The octa-core processor also has a new NPU and brings notable performance and efficiency improvements.

Huawei has claimed some big improvements for the next HiSilicon Kirin flagship SoC. Codenamed "Kirin2026", the next Kirin flagship reportedly utilizes Huawei's LogicFolding technology to achieve a double-digit increase in max boost frequency and more than 40% increase in power efficiency.

As leaks have stated in the past, Intel has multiple CPU architectures under development. Serial leaker has now provided an update on the Intel Razer Lake, Intel Nova Lake-AX, Intel Titan Lake, and Intel Hammer Lake CPU architectures that are set to span multiple CPU generations over the next years.

A reliable hardware leaker claims AMD is preparing a budget Ryzen 7 7700X3D, an 8-core Zen 4 gaming CPU with 3D V-Cache, 96MB of L3 cache, 120W power, and a rumored $300 price. If accurate, the chip could deliver near-Ryzen 7 7800X3D gaming performance at slightly lower clock speeds, offering cost-conscious PC gamers a more affordable route into AMD’s X3D lineup.

Overclocker "wytiwx" has set a new CPU clock speed world record by pushing an Intel Core i9-14900KF to an astonishing 9.2GHz. The achievement was made using extreme liquid helium cooling on an Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard.

MediaTek's upcoming Dimensity 9600 will utilize a 2nm process and a 2+3+3 all-big core CPU. With native frame interpolation and upscaling, the flagship SoC rumored to power OpenAI’s first phone aims to beat Apple’s A20 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 in GPU performance. Flagships from Vivo and Oppo are expected to debut with the new SoC this fall.

Noctua has launched the all-black NF-A12X25 G2 Chromax.Black fan, bringing the performance of its acclaimed G2 design to a matte-black finish priced at $34.90, with a twin-pack available for $64.90. The fan retains the upgraded aerodynamics, low-noise operation, 150,000-hour SSO2 bearings, accessory bundle, and six-year warranty that made the original G2 a standout for PC builders.

Intel shares surged to a record high after a Bloomberg report said Apple is in early talks with Intel and Samsung to produce key chips in the U.S., potentially reducing its reliance on TSMC. The prospect of Apple using Intel’s foundry services for future A-series and M-series processors fueled investor enthusiasm, extending a dramatic yearlong rally in the chipmaker’s stock.

AMD reported strong Q1 2026 results, but warned that rising memory and component costs driven by AI demand could weaken PC and gaming hardware sales in the second half of the year. Executives expect gaming revenue to fall more than 20% compared with the first half, even as Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU demand continues to support year-over-year growth.

In a move that could see Apple diversify its supply chains, Apple is reportedly evaluating Intel and Samsung to manufacture its upcoming processors. So far, TSMC has been the sole producer for Apple's iPhone and MacBook chips. Apple's reliance on TSMC is so big that it is TSMC's second-largest customer, second only to Nvidia.

Valve co-founder Gabe Newell’s decade-old claim that consoles have shifted from bespoke graphics designs to PC-derived hardware has largely been validated, with modern systems relying on x86 architectures and AMD-based GPUs alongside PC-like features such as upscaling. As Valve and Microsoft move toward PC–console hybrids—via a new Steam Machine iteration and the rumored “Project Helix”—the divide between console and PC ecosystems continues to narrow, emphasizing shared hardware foundations and cross-library play.

YouTube has taken down a video from Moore's Law Is Dead detailing AMD's future Zen 7 CPU architecture. Moore's Law Is Dead, known for leaking upcoming CPU, GPU, and gaming consoles, has claimed that the video takedown doesn't seem to be AMD's doing.

Moore’s Law is Dead has revealed Nvidia plans to show off its N1X laptop CPU at Computex this year. However, one might have to wait a while before they can buy a laptop powered by the chip.

Maingear has refreshed its MG-1 desktop lineup ahead of AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2's arrival, pairing expanded CPU/GPU options with higher-end build refinements and deeper customization, including custom artwork, up to 128GB of DDR5, and as many as six M.2 NVMe SSDs. The update also emphasizes value and usability with a BYO RAM program, bloatware-free Windows image, optional warranty extension, and zero-interest financing aimed at smoothing the upgrade path for 2026 gaming and AI workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is here. The CPU features 16x Zen 5 cores, two 3D V-Cache chiplets, and an up to 5.6 GHz boost clock. This is all sounds fantastic on paper. However, AMD has reportedly been very stingy with Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 review samples, as even Gamers Nexus didn't get one.

AMD launched the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 at $900, which is $200 more than the Ryzen 9 9950X3D’s launch price. Performance tests are now indicating that the new CPU doesn’t offer the performance gains that would be worth the price increase.

A fresh batch of slides attributed to AMD has surfaced via Moore's Law Is Dead, detailing the company's Zen 7 server platform. Codenamed Florence, the top SP7/SP8 configuration reportedly scales to 288 cores across eight Steamboat CCDs, pairs high-performance cores with a separate stacked L3 cache die, and remains compatible with existing Zen 6 IO dies.

AMD is reportedly preparing an “AM4 10th Anniversary Edition” Ryzen 7 5800X3D for a Q2 2026 launch, reviving its popular Zen 3 X3D chip with the same core specifications but updated packaging. The move is framed as a pragmatic response to surging DDR5 prices, offering gamers a cost-effective DDR4 upgrade path on the long-lived AM4 platform.

TechEpiphany has released Mindfactory's CPU sales for weeks 14 and 15 of 2026. The data shows that AMD continues to dominate the overall sales. However, Intel CPU sales seem to have improved. That said, TechEpiphany claims that the decline in CPU sales is unprecedented.

Intel has introduced its new Core Series 3 mobile processors, targeting entry-level laptops, commercial systems, and edge deployments. The lineup brings updated CPU cores, integrated AI acceleration, and modern connectivity, with systems expected from OEM partners starting April 2026.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite shows a significant leap over its predecessor, especially in graphics performance, nearly doubling its 3DMark Fire Strike score. Real-world gaming tests on an Asus Zenbook reveal playable performance in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Sales for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 will start from April 22 but initial benchmarks have started showing up. The first set reveals 7-Zip and Cinebench scores with the stock air cooler.

Qualcomm is expected to launch two new Snapdragon 8 Elite processors this year. Now, a popular leaker has provided more details of the less-powerful variant which is expected to launch as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.