Transparent display technology is not new, having been featured in various concept laptops and signage for years. However, a new company called Visual Instruments is attempting to bring the technology to the mainstream desktop with its new Phantom monitor, a display it claims is the first practical “transparent computer monitor”.

Unlike standard transparent OLEDs, the Phantom (via Tom's Hardware) uses technology akin to a vehicle's heads-up display. The image is not generated on the glass itself but is projected onto it using mirrors, as Visual Instruments claims this method is currently the most sophisticated way to achieve a see-through effect.

The monitor also features what Visual Instruments calls “dynamic opacity”, allowing users to adjust the transparency level. This feature is said to offer three distinct settings that range from completely see-through to fully opaque, mimicking a traditional monitor when standard viewing is required.

According to the company, the Phantom is a 24-inch, 16:9 display with a native 4K resolution. Most surprisingly, the marketing materials boast an “Ultra HDR” feature capable of hitting a peak brightness of 5000 nits. It also claims 100% sRGB gamut coverage and includes standard connectivity via USB-C and HDMI.

Currently, the monitor appears to be in an extremely limited “early access” phase. Only ten units are being produced initially, with three already reserved. Each one is also being made-to-order, meaning certain specs will vary, along with pricing.

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KitGuru says: Do you think transparent monitors will ever become mainstream?

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ID-Cooling is refreshing its cooling portfolio with new product lines, heavily embracing the trend of integrated displays in its cooling solutions. These releases include standard tower air cooling, low-profile ITX solutions, and a new series of 360mm AIOs.

Starting with the Frozn A410 TD is a new compact single-tower air cooler designed for mainstream users who want at-a-glance system monitoring. It features a top-mounted digital display that provides real-time CPU temperature readings. The cooler uses a 50mm thick black-coated fin stack connected via four direct-touch heat pipes. Despite its small stature, ID-Cooling rates it for a 220W TDP. It ships with the updated X25 mounting kit and pre-applied Frost X45 thermal paste, carrying a price tag of $34.99.

For SFF builds, the company has introduced the IS-53-XT. This is an ultra-low-profile top-flow cooler standing just 53mm tall and 94mm wide, specifically designed to avoid interference with tall RAM or GPU backplates in tight Mini-ITX motherboards. Unlike the Frozn model, this uses a CNC-machined pure copper base soldered directly to the heat pipes for improved thermal transfer. It is equipped with a slim 92mm PWM fan that can spin up to 3000 RPM, rated to handle thermal loads up to 120W. It is also priced at $34.99.

Rounding out the launch is the new FX360 series of all-in-one liquid coolers, which introduces three new 360mm models powered by the company's Gen 7 Pro pump. The CPU block design and fan choices differentiate the lineup.

The FX360 LCD (also available with a 240mm radiator) features a 1.48-inch screen on the pump block, which is fully customisable to display system statistics or custom images. The “Performance Edition” named FX360 LCD PE upgrades the standard AS-120 V2 ARGB fans to higher-performance AP-120-K fans. For those who prefer utility over customisation, the FX360 TD variant replaces the LCD with a simpler, dedicated digital temperature display that requires only an open USB 2.0 header to function.

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KitGuru says: Are you planning to upgrade your current CPU cooling solution? Did any of ID-Cooling's new products pique your interest?

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Samsung is gearing up for a major showing at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, with plans to unveil advancements in memory technology tailored for the AI era. The company has confirmed it will showcase its next-generation LPDDR6 RAM and a compact, AI-optimised PCIe Gen5 SSD, the PM9E1.

The new LPDDR6 memory, based on Samsung's 12nm process, is rated for speeds of up to 10.7Gbps. This represents an 11% speed increase over current LPDDR5X chips. More importantly for mobile and edge devices, it also boasts a 21% improvement in power efficiency thanks to a new dynamic power management system.

Alongside the new RAM, Samsung will introduce the PM9E1, a compact M.2 2242 NVMe SSD. The new 2242 SSD is claimed to be the “world's first AI-optimised PCIe Gen5 SSD”, offering read speeds as high as 14.8GB/s and write speeds of up to 13.4GB/s. The drive uses Samsung's own Presto controller and V8 TLC V-NAND, offering capacities of up to 4TB and a reported 50% improvement in power efficiency over its predecessor.

Both products have already been recognised as CES 2026 Innovation Award honorees. Samsung is expected to provide full details on pricing and availability during the event in early January.

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KitGuru says: Samsung's move to LPDDR6 appears to be in line with SK Hynix's roadmap, which also includes LPDDR6 starting in 2026. Of the two, which one do you think will be the first to reach consumer devices?

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When Halo Infinite was first planned, 343 Industries had ambitions of keeping the game going for a decade. When the game ultimately failed to win over a significant number of fans at launch, those plans changed. Now, 343 Industries has been broken down and rebuilt as Halo Studios, and the team is looking to move on to other projects. As a result, support for Halo Infinite is coming to an end. 

Announced during the November Community Livestream, Operation Infinite is scheduled to launch on November 18th. It will arrive with a 100-tier Operation Pass and a separate 100-tier Premium Pass, offering a range of new weapon models and armor sets. To help players finish their remaining progression, the update will also permanently increase the earn rates for both Career Rank and Spartan Points.

While internal content creation is winding down, the update will introduce new community-created maps. These include Yuletide, a holiday-themed map joining the Husky Raid queues, and Vacancy, an urban map for ranked play.

Following this update, Halo Infinite will effectively enter maintenance mode. Halo Studios has pledged to keep the servers running and will continue to rotate daily and weekly challenges, as well as the ranked playlists, throughout 2026 and beyond. However, players should no longer expect new seasons or substantial content drops.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Four years after its rocky launch, Halo Infinite is winding down, and resources are now being redirected to other projects.

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Over the past few generations, Nvidia has opted to extend the life cycle of its graphics cards with a ‘Super' branded refresh. Many have expected to see an RTX 50 Super refresh eventually but so far, rumours have been conflicting. Days after a claim was made that the mid-gen refresh would be cancelled this time around, another source has claimed that it is ‘still on the roadmap'. 

After Uniko's Hardware shared a rumour that the RTX 50 Super series might have been cancelled, MEGAsizeGPU (via VideoCardz) began claiming the exact opposite, stating that these cards are still on the way, but may not arrive until the second half of next year. If true, that would rule out any potential reveal at CES in early 2026. Previous rumours had claimed that we would see this new hardware around CES.

It is claimed that the date change may stem from availability of memory components, but we have no way of knowing for sure. MEGAsizeGPU also claimed that memory supply and demand could soon impact the 16GB version of the RTX 5060 Ti. If that is accurate, then we should see some evidence of that on the market in the coming weeks or months. So far though, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB continues to be widely available here in the UK at its usual price point.

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KitGuru says: As always, take rumours with a pinch of salt. Nvidia will make its plans clear once it is ready to do so. Anything outside of that is essentially guesswork. 

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MSI has secured five honoree awards ahead of CES 2026, including a “Best of Innovation” award for its GeForce RTX 5080 16G Expert graphics card.

The annual competition run by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has awarded the RTX 5080 16G Expert graphics card with the maximum honor in its category. Featuring a die-cast aluminum alloy shroud with an industrial aesthetic, this card uses MSI's updated “Flow Frozr 2” thermal system, specifically designed to maintain performance stability over long sessions.

Alongside the new GPU, MSI picked up Honoree awards for two complete systems. The Vision Elite RS AI 2nd is the company's new flagship pre-built desktop, pairing the latest Intel Core Ultra CPUs with high-end Nvidia RTX graphics inside a chassis dominated by tempered glass and managed by AI-driven cooling controls.

On the professional side, the MSI EdgeXpert also received a nod. This system is an edge AI computing device designed for local model training and inference, powered by the Nvidia GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip. MSI has announced that the remaining award-winning products will be unveiled on January 4th, just ahead of the start of CES.

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KitGuru says: It will be interesting to see what the other award winners were when we touch down at CES in January. 

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Lian Li has unveiled its latest series of AIO liquid coolers, the HydroShift II LCD-S. Building on previous designs that attempt to conceal tubing runs for a cleaner aesthetic, this new iteration introduces a detachable 3.4-inch IPS display that connects via magnetic pogo pins. This design enables builders to install the pump block first and attach the screen at the very end of the construction process, thereby reducing the risk of accidental damage.

The HydroShift II LCD-S's display itself offers a 480×480 resolution with 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. It can be operated in three distinct modes depending on user preference and setup constraints. The “offline” mode offers a simple, plug-and-play experience, displaying only water temperature and pump speed without requiring any additional software. For more control, the “wireless” mode connects to Lian Li's L-Connect 3 software via a 2.4GHz controller, freeing up motherboard USB headers while still allowing access to system sensor data for the display. Finally, a “USB-Connected” mode unlocks full customisation, including video playback and the ability to function as a secondary system monitor.

Lian Li has also updated the pump for the new HydroShift AIO coolers, which now tops out at 3200RPM and promises quieter operation than its predecessors. This is paired with a slightly thinner 24 mm radiator, designed to enhance compatibility in tighter chassis. The series retains the signature side-mounted tubing design, using sliding brackets and concealed routing along the radiator edge to create what Lian Li markets as a “tubeless” look.

The new AIO coolers are available in black and white and are split into three models. The top-tier HydroShift II LCD-S 360TL includes the wireless sync controller and costs £199.99/$239.99/€239.90. The 360CL version drops the controller and the price to £149.99/$179.99/€179.90, while a fanless 360N option is available for £134.99/$159.99/€159.90. All models come with a 6-year warranty and are now available for pre-order.

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KitGuru says: While most brands are making thicker radiators for better performance, it's nice to see a change of pace with the HydroShift II, which makes them thinner for enhanced compatibility.

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Asus has launched the Prime AP303, a new 44-liter mid-tower chassis designed to house mainstream and high-end builds. The case is available in black or white and offers builders a choice between tempered glass or mesh side panels.

The case uses a front-mounted PSU layout, supporting ATX units up to 180mm in length via an included UL-certified 15A extension cable. This layout accommodates ITX, mATX, and ATX motherboards, as well as larger graphics cards, supporting GPUs up to 360mm in length and 60mm in thickness. A built-in support bracket is included to handle the sag of these larger GPUs.

Cooling capabilities include support for a 360mm radiator up to 60mm thick in the top, which Asus claims still leaves enough clearance for easy access to CPU power connectors. In total, there are mounting positions for up to seven fans, with intake provided by a square mesh front panel across all versions.

For builders, there is a generous 34mm of clearance behind the motherboard tray for cable management. The front I/O panel is well-equipped, featuring a 20Gbps USB Type-C port alongside two standard USB Type-A ports and audio jacks. Both the black and white variants of the tempered glass variant are now available for around €100. As for the mesh variants, the white version is also priced at around €100, but the black version is slightly cheaper at €95.

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KitGuru says: Of all four variants of the Asus Prime AP303, which one would you pick for a build?

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MSI has introduced a new tool for managing RGB lighting, dubbed Portal X. This web-based platform eliminates the need for a locally installed software suite, such as MSI Center. The company is positioning this as a fast and straightforward solution for users who want to configure their lighting without having to install additional software. 

Unlike the Mystic Light utility, Portal X runs in a browser (Chrome or Edge) and requires a one-time installation of the launcher from the Microsoft Store. After that, the interface is accessed online, meaning it never requires manual updates. The trade-off for this low overhead is a more focused feature set. At launch, Portal X supports lighting control for MSI's new Intel and AMD 800 Series motherboards, as well as Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards. Interestingly, it also claims compatibility with “most memory modules” on the market.

Users can control effects, brightness, and speed, and an “All Sync” function is included for simplicity. If a user also has MSI Center and Mystic Light installed, Portal X will reportedly request to take over lighting control to prevent any software conflicts. This clearly positions Portal X as an alternative, not a replacement, for Mystic Light, which is still required for fine-tuning, third-party device support, and software sync with apps like Ambient Link and Voicemod.

It's also worth noting the current limitations. The platform requires an active internet connection to function. While fans and AIO coolers connected to the motherboard's ARGB headers will sync with the motherboard's lighting, Portal X does not offer any control for fan speeds or AIO display screens. MSI has stated there are no current plans to add this, though it may be considered if user demand is high enough.

KitGuru says: Do you use MSI Mystic Light for managing the RGB lighting of your system? Will you keep using or change to Portal X?

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Sharkoon has revealed its latest chassis, the Elite Shark CM100, a micro-ATX case designed to showcase high-end hardware. The case's main feature is its display-oriented design, which utilizes continuous glass panels on both the front and sides, providing a 270-degree view of the interior components.

Despite the large glass surfaces, Sharkoon is focusing on cooling performance. The Elite Shark CM100 features a side-panel air intake and comes with four 120mm ARGB fans pre-installed: two in the front, one at the rear, and another at the bottom. However, there's space for an additional three 120mm or two 140mm fans on top and another 120mm fan at the bottom. For more complex builds, the chassis has enough room to support up to two radiators simultaneously. The case also includes an integrated five-port ARGB controller and a five-port PWM fan hub.

The Elite Shark CM100 also supports modern BTF-style micro-ATX mainboards, allowing builders to use motherboards with rear-mounted connectors for better cable management. Even with its compact mATX form factor, the case offers substantial component clearance, supporting graphics cards up to 400mm in length, CPU coolers up to 173mm in height, and power supply units up to 183mm long. The Sharkoon Elite Shark CM100 is now available for €129.90.

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KitGuru says: In summary, the Elite Shark CM100 is the smaller sibling of the CA500 we showed recently. Of these two, which one would you go for?

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Fractal Design has launched its new Ion 3 Gold power supplies. These new units are built to the ATX12V 3.1 standard, ensuring compliance with modern power excursion demands and native support for the latest graphics cards.

The new Ion 3 Gold series is fully modular and comes equipped with a 16-pin PCIe Gen 5 (12V-2×6) cable, featuring the updated shortened sensing pins for a more reliable connection. The cables themselves use Fractal's flexible UltraFlex design, which was created to simplify routing and cable management.

To cool the unit, Fractal is using its Momentum 14 fan, a 140 mm unit that features LCP (liquid-crystal polymer) blades and a fluid-dynamic bearing. This is paired with an optional Zero-RPM mode, which the user can enable to keep the fan from spinning under light loads.

Internally, the 80 Plus Gold-rated units are built with 105°C Japanese capacitors and are backed by a 10-year warranty. The Ion 3 Gold PSUs are now available in 750W, 850W, and 1000W models with MSRPs of £99.99, £109.99, and £139.99, respectively. The 750W and 850W units are available in black, while the 1000W model is offered in both black and white. The units are listed for pre-order on Scan HERE.

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KitGuru says: Have you ever owned a Fractal Ion PSU? Were you satisfied with your choice? Would you consider an Ion 3 Gold PSU for a future build or an upgrade to your current one?

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