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AIO coolers are fully embracing personality panels and daisy-chain ecosystems, with MSI’s MPG CORELIQUID P22 360 W, be quiet!’s Light Loop IO LCD 360, and Arctic’s Bionix P12 and P14 A-RGB fans all landing in this week's roundup. Razer upped the customization ante with the 23-button Naga V3 Pro, positioning it as the default peripheral for MMO and RTS players who actually want to map out their loadouts. The budget crowd keeps winning, as the Valkyrie B12 ARGB, EPOMAKER GX1 headset, and MSI’s display-equipped AIO all deliver solid performance without the usual flagship tax. While DeepCool’s woodgrain AK620 G2 and Id-Cooling’s visual "hybrid" design try to shake up the thermal market, premium acoustics and clean cable management.
Microsoft's August 2026 Patch Tuesday addresses a staggering 421 CVEs across Windows, Office, Exchange, SharePoint, and Azure, with the most urgent fix targeting a WinSock driver flaw actively exploited in the wild. Windows 11 users should install cumulative update KB5121003, which brings builds 26200.9168 and 26100.9168 to versions 25H2 and 24H2, while eligible devices can apply the patch hotpatch-style without a reboot. The release also quietly patches two TPM 2.0 hardware vulnerabilities and rolls out minor UX tweaks like better File Explorer unit formatting and desktop fingerprint support for Windows Hello. IT teams need to deploy these fixes immediately, especially since Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions will lose support in just over two months.
Microsoft has raised Windows OEM licensing fees by 7% to 10% effective July 2026, marking a steeper increase than previous annual hikes. This comes as PC makers face a compounding cost crisis, with RAM prices surging 110% and SSD costs jumping roughly 147% since early 2026. Industry analysts expect OEMs to pass these rising expenses to consumers, leading to further price increases for pre-built PCs in the coming quarters. If you are in the market for new hardware, securing a purchase now may help you avoid higher costs later.
Today's hardware coverage features two new laptops, starting with Acer's $799 Swift Go 16 AI which trades peak performance for a large display and strong value, followed by XMG's Apex 17 powered by an RTX 5070 GPU for heavy gaming and creative work. The peripherals section highlights a pink Epomaker TH65 keyboard that successfully merges a bright exterior with remarkably quiet tactile switches. Smartphone buyers interested in durable gear should examine the FOSSiBOT F116 Pro, a compact 5G device built for drop resistance and mounted-camera functionality. Finally, PC builders looking to minimize costs can rely on the MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WIFI6E to deliver a complete feature set for under two hundred dollars.
Computers: Acer Swift Go 16 AI (AMD Gorgon Point) Review: A balanced, affordable, big-screen portable, XMG Apex 17 (M25) Review - RTX 5070 12 GB Tested
Input: Epomaker TH65 Review
Mobile: FOSSiBOT F116 Pro Mini Rugged Smartphone Review
Motherboards: MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WIFI6E Review - Z890 for under $200
Microsoft released Windows Server vNext Insider Preview Build 29641 to Insiders on August 10, 2026, marking the first preview based on the new internal Rubidium codebase. The build arrives via the Experimental channel as a testing-only LTSC Preview edition for Datacenter, Standard, and Azure configurations, though users must perform a clean install rather than upgrading from builds older than 29531. 29641 inherits major features like ReFS Boot, an NVMe over Fabrics initiator, Quick Machine Recovery, and Trusted Launch for Hyper-V VMs, though detailed release notes are currently gated behind authentication.
Here is a roundup of the latest reviews. TFTCentral breaks down RGB-stripe OLED panel technology and advises consumers on whether to purchase current models or wait for newer QD-OLED and WOLED options. Input device coverage features Funky Kit’s evaluation of the CORSAIR HARPOON v2 WIRELESS mouse alongside Tom’s Hardware’s hands-on tests of the Turtle Beach Command Series KB5 keyboard and the Pulsar Feinmann F01 Noctua Edition. System builders can review Wccftech’s full assessment of the Gigabyte X870 AORUS Infinity motherboard, while IgorsLAB examines the MSI MPG Ai1600TS PCIE5 power supply for its extreme wattage and quiet operation. Media enthusiasts can also find TweakTown’s assessment of Arrow Video’s 4K Ultra HD release of the 1995 Mortal Kombat film.
Microsoft Edge is accelerating its deprecation of Manifest V2 extensions, targeting full removal by the end of 2026 to align with Google Chrome's Chromium standards. The transition replaces persistent background pages with service workers, caps filter rules at 30,000, and bans remote code execution, effectively killing uBlock Origin and forcing ad blockers into reduced-functionality modes. While Microsoft defends the move as a security upgrade, privacy advocates argue it creates a backdoor for trackers and strips users of browsing control, leaving those who rely on legacy tools with no choice but to switch to Firefox, Brave, or Vivaldi.
Today's collection of hardware reviews spans desktop enclosures, portable business laptops, compact system units, input peripherals, circuit boards, and power supplies. The Cougar MX600 Max RGB and ASUS ROG Strix B850-F boards pair with the CPS PCCooler YS1200 ATX 3.1 power supply to give PC builders a solid foundation, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 and Geekom IT13 MAX serve professionals who need reliable machines that fit tight schedules and limited desk space. Gamers and office workers can weigh the magnetic switch variants in the Epomaker HE75 V2 keyboards against the ultra-lightweight Genesis Zircon 880 Pro mouse and the competitive features of the SCUF Omega controller. Each unit targets specific workflows, from all-day corporate travel and content creation to fast-paced multiplayer sessions, giving buyers clear performance trade-offs before they commit.
Casing: Cougar MX600 Max RGB Case Review
Computers: Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 Review: An Ultralight Laptop Built For Business, HyperX Omen Max 16 review: All bark and no bite, Geekom IT13 MAX Mini PC review
Gaming: SCUF Omega Review
Input: Epomaker HE75 V2 & HE75 V2 TMR Review, Genesis Zircon 880 Pro Black review: 8K and 64 g
Motherboards: ASUS ROG Strix B850-F Gaming Wi-Fi7 Neo Review
Power: CPS PCCooler YS1200 ATX 3.1 80 PLUS Gold PSU Review
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