From Tom's Hardware · 40 stories
id Software's Quake Shareware CD-ROM distribution model failed due to rapid cracking
In 1996, id Software released a shareware version of Quake on CD-ROM, which included encrypted full versions of their game catalog, intended to be unlocked via a phone call and credit card. This distribution model failed when hackers quickly released a tool to decrypt all games on the CD, allowing users to access them for free.
AMD BC-250 Repurposed as Budget Linux Gaming Board, Unlocking PS5 APU Capabilities
The AMD BC-250, a repurposed PlayStation 5 APU, is being used as a budget Linux gaming board, offering performance comparable to the Steam Machine at a lower cost. Community-developed tools allow users to unlock all 40 Compute Units and two additional Zen 2 cores, enhancing its gaming capabilities.
Modder adds full path tracing and 60 FPS frame generation to Grand Theft Auto 2 via RTX Remix
A modder developed GTA2 RTX Remix, which integrates Nvidia's RTX Remix technology into the 1999 game Grand Theft Auto 2, adding full path tracing, dynamic time-of-day cycles, and 60 FPS frame generation. This mod addresses the game's legacy graphics APIs by using a custom Direct3D 9 renderer, allowing modern visual enhancements and improved gameplay features.
Open-source AnyPS5 project aims to run PlayStation 5 games natively on PC
The open-source project AnyPS5 is under development to port PlayStation 5 executables to run natively on Windows and Linux PCs without emulation. This project aims to reduce computational overhead by converting PS5 game files and recompiling shaders for Vulkan, similar to compatibility layers like Proton or Wine.
SanDisk Releases Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD, a Rebranded WD Black SN850P
SanDisk launched the Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD, which is a rebranded version of the WD Black SN850P, offering high-end Gen 4 performance with a pre-installed heatsink for PS5 compatibility. The new drive is available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities but is priced higher than its WD counterpart.
La Croix can improves iPhone 18 Pro sustained performance by 25% in thermal throttling test
A tech enthusiast used a cold can of La Croix sparkling water to cool an iPhone 18 Pro during benchmarking, resulting in a 25% improvement in sustained performance. This demonstrates how external cooling can mitigate thermal throttling in mobile devices under heavy loads. The test shows that even simple methods can impact device performance during prolonged use.
Sony patent describes PlayStation controllers accepting tap-to-pay credit card and gift card payments
A recently published Sony patent details a system allowing PlayStation controllers to accept payments via tap-to-pay credit cards, smartphones, and gift cards. This system could simplify purchases of games and in-game content directly through the controller.
Lisuan Tech LX 7G100 GPU performance trails older AMD and Nvidia cards
Recent benchmarks show the Lisuan Tech LX 7G100 GPU performs comparably to the nine-year-old Radeon RX 580 and lags significantly behind the seven-year-old GeForce RTX 2060. Despite driver updates, the LX 7G100 does not compete with modern mid-range graphics cards, indicating a technological gap for Lisuan Tech.
Aftershock PC offers Cherry Bloom PC with heat-reactive titanium cherry blossoms
Aftershock PC is selling a $14,000 gaming PC featuring 70 handcrafted titanium-alloy cherry blossoms that unfurl as the internal temperature rises. This commercially available PC includes high-end components and a unique aesthetic element, distinguishing it from typical gaming rigs.
Airbus uses Steam Deck as a controller for prototype Mars rover testing
Airbus is utilizing a Steam Deck to control a prototype Mars rover during its development and testing phases in the UK. The Steam Deck's PC capabilities, including its Linux operating system and physical controls, make it suitable for running custom software to operate the rover.
Durabook Z14I-DX3 rugged mobile workstation features three integrated 14-inch displays
Durabook released the Z14I-DX3, a rugged mobile workstation with three integrated 14-inch 1080p displays, designed for field professionals. This device offers enhanced screen real estate and durability for specialized industrial and public safety applications.
Bambu Lab Releases R1 55W CO2 Laser Cutter and Engraver
Bambu Lab launched the R1, a 55W CO2 laser cutter and engraver, featuring a 600 x 300 mm work area and integrated software. This standalone unit addresses previous criticisms of combining laser functions with 3D printers, offering a dedicated solution for makers.
Glorious Releases GMMK Eternal Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $99.99
Glorious has released the GMMK Eternal, a new wired mechanical gaming keyboard featuring a compact 96-percent layout and hot-swappable PCB. The keyboard is available for $99.99 and includes three layers of sound-dampening material.
AX Gaming Releases Limited Edition RTX 5070 GPU with Built-in Aromatherapy and Anime Theme
AX Gaming, an Inno3D subsidiary, has launched a limited-edition GeForce RTX 5070 12G graphics card that includes an "e-sports aromatherapy" feature, emitting an autumn-like scent. This release combines standard GPU functionality with unique aesthetic elements like an anime character, floral graphics, and ARGB lighting, targeting a niche market for themed hardware.
YouTuber EastMakes Replaces HP ProLiant N40L Motherboard with Custom Raspberry Pi CM5 Board
YouTuber EastMakes designed and built a custom motherboard using a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) to upgrade a 15-year-old HP ProLiant N40L server. This project added NVMe storage and USB 3.0 ports, modernizing the server's capabilities while reusing its chassis.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation May Exceed 200 GB, Requiring Additional Download
Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the final entry in the remake series, is estimated to require over 200 GB of storage, necessitating an additional download beyond its UHD Blu-ray disc. This large file size is due to the game's scope and the need to deliver content digitally for pre-release patching, potentially making it the first base game install to exceed 200 GB.
Prusa CORE One L+ 3D Printer Receives Minor Update for Improved Precision
Prusa Research has released a small update for its CORE One L 3D printer, designating it the CORE One L+. The update includes a new nozzle wiper and improved GT1.5 belts, which enhance print quality and reliability, and is available as an upgrade kit for existing users.
Leaked 192GB GTA V data reveals early GTA VI map and unreleased DLC content
A 192 GB data leak from GTA V's development files has surfaced, revealing an early map for GTA VI and details about unreleased DLCs for GTA V. This leak provides insight into Rockstar's long-term development plans and scrapped content for its popular game series.
Noctua NF-A4x10 5V PWM fan cools CAIM1 'Anti-AI' 4K camera to prevent throttling
Noctua's NF-A4x10 5V PWM fan is used in the CAIM1 4K camera to prevent throttling during simultaneous high-bitrate imaging and cryptographic calculations. The CAIM1 camera is designed to produce verifiable media that has not been altered or generated by AI, requiring active cooling due to its intensive processing tasks within a compact form factor.
Putin uses unlicensed Windows on Dell PC for online vote, visible in official Kremlin clip
Russian President Vladimir Putin was filmed casting an online vote for the State Duma elections on a Dell PC running an unlicensed copy of Windows, indicated by an 'Activate Windows' watermark. This event drew attention due to the use of foreign hardware and unactivated software, despite mandates for Russian officials to use localized technology.
Mainstream optical drive supply issues halt production of high-end CD players from PS Audio and Naim
PS Audio and Naim have ceased production of their high-end CD players, the PMG Super Audio CD Transport and Uniti Star, respectively, due to the unavailability of optical drive components. The discontinuation of mainstream optical drive manufacturing has led to a supply shortage and increased costs for specialized audio equipment manufacturers. This impacts audiophiles who prefer physical media and rely on these brands for high-fidelity playback.
PC enthusiast builds custom copper PC with upcycled blowtorch reservoir and antique wood
A PC enthusiast, Old-Mate-Fetus, showcased a custom-built, steampunk-inspired PC featuring extensive copper piping, an upcycled blowtorch reservoir, and an antique wooden base. The system houses an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Radeon RX 9070 XT, with custom liquid cooling. This build highlights unique aesthetic design in PC hardware.
Elon Musk's Terafab faces trademark dispute from Tera-Print over 'Tera-Fab' name
Elon Musk's chip manufacturing venture, Terafab, received a cease-and-desist order from Tera-Print, a company that has sold "Tera-Fab" branded lithography tools for over a decade. This dispute highlights potential trademark conflicts for new ventures entering established technology sectors.
Enthusiast repairs Intel Celeron 1200 CPU with missing data pin, achieves 33% overclock
An enthusiast successfully repaired a 25-year-old Intel Celeron 1200 CPU by replacing a ripped-off data pin, enabling the chip to boot and then be overclocked by 33%. This repair involved intricate work digging into the CPU substrate and soldering a donor pin, demonstrating a complex hardware restoration.
Acer Swift Air 14 Laptop Offers Thunderbolt 4 and 16-Hour Battery Life for $699
Acer released the Swift Air 14 laptop, featuring Thunderbolt 4 ports and over 16 hours of battery life, priced at $699. The device aims to provide strong connectivity and endurance at a budget price point, despite limitations in CPU/GPU performance and screen brightness.
Developer uses GPT-6 Astra to run CoD Black Ops 2 map natively in Minecraft at 45fps
A developer used GPT-6 Astra to rebuild and run the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Hijacked map directly within Minecraft's OpenGL context, achieving 45 frames per second. This demonstrates AI's capability in assisting with complex game modding and cross-platform integration.
Retired Microsoft Engineer Explains Leak of FCKGW Windows XP Key and Copy Protection Details
A retired Microsoft engineer revealed how the widely known FCKGW Windows XP key leaked, detailing that the Volume License Key (VLK) was likely distributed by a major OEM before the official release. The validation mechanism for retail copies used 10MB of encrypted Microsoft Bob data, while the leaked Volume key bypassed individual activation, leading to its widespread use.
NvpwrControl Tool Allows Nvidia RTX 50-Series Laptop GPU Power Limit Increases
A new tool, NvpwrControl, enables owners of Nvidia RTX 50-series gaming laptops to increase their GPU power limits by up to 40 watts. This aims to unlock additional performance from mobile GPUs that are often constrained by factory power settings, potentially offering significant performance gains.
PieceMakers, a DRAM designer, begins trading on Taiwan's Emerging Stock Board
PieceMakers, a DRAM designer backed by Nanya Technology, began trading on Taiwan's Emerging Stock Board, valuing the company at approximately $1.4 billion. The company focuses on custom memory designs for AI inference, proposing an alternative to HBM by directly stacking DRAM on processors using hybrid bonding.
Wine-NX Custom Firmware Enables Classic Windows Games on Nintendo Switch
A custom firmware solution called Wine-NX now allows several classic Windows games, including Need for Speed Underground 2, Quake III, and OpenTTD, to run directly on modded Nintendo Switch consoles. This development expands the gaming library for Switch owners with compatible hardware, leveraging Wine 11 and Box64 for x86 code translation.
Thermal Grizzly WireView adapter's 8-pin PCIe connector melts on Radeon RX 7900 XTX
An 8-pin PCIe connector on a Thermal Grizzly WireView monitoring device melted while connected to a Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card, causing system instability. This incident suggests that even established 8-pin connectors can experience failure, especially when additional adapters introduce more connection points.
Engineer Integrates Meta Quest 3 with Bambu Lab 3D Printer for Object Transfer
A software engineer demonstrated a custom integration allowing a Meta Quest 3 headset to "throw" a 3D model to a Bambu Lab P2S 3D printer for printing. The system uses the printer's local API, a web server on a PC, and an Android app to bridge the VR environment with the physical printer.
Modders Halve FSR 4 Render Times on AMD BC-250 Mining APU
Modders reduced FSR 4 processing time on AMD's RDNA 2-based BC-250 APU by nearly half, from 11.51 ms to 5.92 ms at 1440p. This optimization, now in a portable FidelityFX DLL, makes FSR 4 more efficient on older hardware by improving how it handles machine-learning workloads.
Intel reinstates One Mono font project after brief archiving during open-source reduction
Intel reversed its decision to archive the One Mono open-source font project, restoring its GitHub repository. The font, designed for developer legibility, was initially shelved as part of Intel's broader reduction in open-source efforts for projects with slowed development or departed employees.
Mexican authorities seize cartel crypto farm with 300 GPUs in Puebla mountains
Mexican police, federal authorities, and the Navy seized a clandestine cryptocurrency mining farm in Tlaola, Puebla, containing 300 GPUs, electricity infrastructure, and satellite equipment. This discovery is the fourth such operation uncovered in the region since early last year, indicating Mexican cartels are increasingly using crypto mining for income diversification and money laundering.
Tomb Raider Runs on 1-Watt ESP32-P4 Microcontroller at 1024x600 Resolution
A developer demonstrated OpenLara, a Tomb Raider port, running on an ESP32-P4 microcontroller development board, achieving a playable 1024x600 pixel experience while consuming approximately 1 watt. This showcases the increasing capabilities of affordable, low-power microcontrollers, which now possess sufficient processing power for tasks previously requiring more robust hardware.
Syitren RM1 Transparent Wall-Mounted CD Player Exceeds Kickstarter Goal
The Syitren RM1, a transparent wall-mounted CD player, has raised over $540,000 on Kickstarter, significantly surpassing its $3,000 goal. This device features visible internal components, Bluetooth audio, and a rechargeable battery, appealing to users seeking physical media and nostalgic design.
IKEA Releases Free Skyrim Mod Featuring Kallax Storage Unit Companion
IKEA launched a free mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on PC and Xbox, introducing a Kallax storage unit as a voiced companion. The mod aims to address in-game inventory management and disorganization issues for players.
Reddit User Discovers 12 RTX 3070 GPUs from Crypto Mining Rigs in Basement Storage
A Reddit user found two old cryptocurrency mining rigs containing 12 Zotac Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics cards that had been stored in a basement since the end of Ethereum mining. The GPUs show minor wear but are likely salvageable, offering a significant amount of graphics memory in the current market.
Engineer creates Stonkfly, a simulated fruit fly brain that day trades cryptocurrency
A Coinbase engineer developed Stonkfly, an open-source project that simulates a fruit fly brain with 166,700 neurons to day trade cryptocurrency based on candlestick charts. The simulation uses positive reinforcement (dopamine rush) for profitable trades and negative reinforcement for losses, without employing leverage or short selling. This project demonstrates the connection between visual input, neural changes, and trading decisions, though the author cautions against interpreting it as actual trading ability.