Intel has somewhat confirmed the unveiling of its highly anticipated Panther Lake CPU family, scheduled for the first week of January to coincide with CES 2026. The launch event is officially slated for January 5th, signaling a broad, mainstream introduction for the new processors.

Spotted by @momomo_us (via Wccftech), Intel is planning to reveal the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Processors on January 5th. Seeing there's a literal panther in the imagery for the event, it seems pretty clear that we're talking about Panther Lake.

This architecture is set to be one of the most important consumer launches of next year, as it will be the first CPU family to adopt Intel's cutting-edge 18A manufacturing process, which incorporates innovations such as RibbonFET and PowerVia. The new lineup is expected to deliver significant architectural advancements, including new P/E-core designs, the ‘Celestial' Xe3 iGPU architecture with up to 12 cores, and a 5th-generation NPU designed to push edge AI capabilities.

Intel will be using a slightly modified naming strategy this time, introducing the ‘Core Ultra X' branding. This designation is reportedly reserved for SKUs that feature the full 12-core Xe3 iGPU. These models will range from Core Ultra 9 down to Core Ultra 5 SKUs.

KitGuru says: What are your expectations for Panther Lake? Do you think it will help Intel turn the tide back in its favour?

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JEDEC has updated its classification system for DDR5 memory modules as higher-capacity unbuffered variants begin entering production. The organization is replacing the previous general CUDIMM label for 4-rank designs, introducing the new, specific term: CQDIMM (Client Quad-Rank Unbuffered DIMM).

Brought to our attention by Guru3D, this new terminology is being made to distinguish 1- or 2-rank modules from the much higher-density 4-rank designs, which include the upcoming 128 GB and eventual 192 GB variants. Previously, all unbuffered DDR5 DIMMs fell under the CUDIMM umbrella. However, 4-rank modules pose distinct challenges for memory training and compatibility due to the higher load they place on the memory controller and bus.

The new classification will be useful to motherboard manufacturers and system integrators. It allows for greater precision when developing firmware and Qualified Vendor List (QVL) entries for next-generation platforms like AM5 and the upcoming LGA-1851, where rank structure directly impacts stability.

Manufacturers have already begun migrating their engineering sample documentation and roadmaps to the new CQDIMM label, confirming the industry's move toward standardised nomenclature for high-capacity builds.

KitGuru says: Although CQDIMM will easily find its way into the professional segment, most mainstream consumers won't have to worry about the new nomenclature for a few years.

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Dispatch consistently garnered more and more hype as each episode dropped over the past few weeks. Now with all eight episodes out, the game has hit a new sales milestone, achieving over two million players. 

The milestone, shared on BlueSky, is particularly notable given the developer's pedigree. AdHoc Studio was founded by former talent from Telltale Games and Night School Studio, with expertise that is clearly resonating with fans of the narrative adventure genre.

The current season, which has consistently grown its audience throughout October and November, wrapped up with its final episode just a week ago. The finale left a few threads open for a potential sequel, although a season two has not yet been confirmed.

As of now, the game has over 84K reviews on Steam with a user score of 97%, making it one of the highest-rated games of the year on the platform. Critics received the game equally well, with a score of 88 (94% recommended) on OpenCritic.

KitGuru says: Have you already tried Dispatch? Do you think it deserves the praise it's getting?

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Poncle, the developer behind the breakout hit Vampire Survivors, has unveiled a spin-off game called Vampire Crawlers. The announcement, teased with a satirical trailer promising high-fidelity graphics before revealing more 2D pixel art, shows the studio is applying its unique chaos engine to an entirely new genre.

Set for a global rollout next year on Xbox and Steam, Vampire Crawlers is described as a deckbuilding dungeon crawler played from a first-person perspective. Poncle founder Luca confirmed that the game will reimagine characters, enemies, and artifacts from Vampire Survivors as cards, but the pace is entirely up to the player. As per the developer, “it's about mowing down hordes of enemies with cards while exploring dungeons, playing as slowly or as quickly as you want”.

Luca notes that the design borrows from the largely forgotten ‘blobber' genre, which was popular on PC in the 80s with titles like Eye of the Beholder and Legend of Grimrock. In essence, the game presents a first-person, grid-based dungeon interface married to a fast-paced card combat system.

The concept has been in development for roughly 4 years, stemming from the founder's desire to create genre spin-offs shortly after Vampire Survivors' success. Luca clarified that exploration will not be “a too heavy component” of Vampire Crawlers. Instead, the dungeon layout is intended to add structure and provide “interesting choices about what to do in between fights”, offering more dynamic decisions than simple menu navigation.

KitGuru says: Did you try the original Vampire Survivors? Will you be trying Vampire Crawlers when it gets out?

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Thermaltake has expanded its mid-tower lineup with the S380, a new ATX chassis designed around maximum mesh and high airflow. The case is built to support the latest system architectures, including next-generation back-connector motherboards.

The S380 ships with four pre-installed 120mm fans from Thermaltake's new SF series, of which three are part of a single SF360 ARGB PWM Reverse Fan (a triple-fan unit) mounted on the PSU cover, acting as intake to push focused airflow directly onto the graphics card. A standard SF120 fan is placed at the rear for exhaust. This airflow design supports a 360mm AIO cooler at both the top and front panels.

The interior supports both standard ATX and the new hidden-connector boards from Asus BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Gigabyte Project Stealth. The S380 offers generous component clearance, fitting graphics cards up to 400mm long, CPU coolers up to 180mm tall, and PSUs up to 200mm long.

The chassis is fully modular, allowing panels to be easily detached for access and featuring extensive cable routing channels. It also includes an integrated, adjustable graphics card bracket to eliminate GPU sag. For connectivity, the top-mounted I/O panel includes one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port and two USB 3.0 ports. The Thermaltake S380 is priced at €119.90.

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KitGuru says: For its price and features, the S380 could be an interesting option in its segment. Of the two colour options, which one would you choose?

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In a surprising move, former rivals Unity and Epic Games have announced a major collaboration that will expand opportunities for game developers across both ecosystems. The partnership, revealed today at Unity's annual developer conference, signals a significant step towards a more open platform philosophy.

The core of the collaboration is twofold. First, Unity games will now be publishable within Fortnite, which currently boasts over 500 million registered users. This move gives Unity developers direct access to Epic's massive ecosystem and allows them to participate in the Fortnite Creator Economy.

Second, Unity will bring Unreal Engine support to its new cross-platform commerce platform. This system, which lets developers manage digital catalogs, payment providers, and live operations from a single dashboard, will soon offer a new choice to Unreal Engine creators. Developers using Epic's engine will gain new options for managing pricing, promotions, and web shops across PC, mobile, and the web, with support rolling out early next year.

The CEOs of both companies framed the move as pragmatic and necessary for industry growth. Unity CEO Matt Bromberg emphasized that “choice and open systems create growth for everyone”, while Epic Games Founder Tim Sweeney stated that collaboration is required to build the “open metaverse in a way that's interoperable and fair”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: How do you expect this partnership to affect Fortnite's growth?

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Nvidia recently released new drivers for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but it has now been forced to issue an emergency hotfix. The company confirmed that a significant performance regression in several games was caused not by its own software, but by Microsoft’s recent Windows 11 October 2025 update.

Nvidia's Hotfix Display Driver version 581.94 was released specifically to mitigate performance issues caused by installing the KB5066835 update (via Videocardz). This patch, which affects various Windows 11 versions, was causing lower frame rates and stuttering across multiple titles. Although Microsoft's official “Known Issues” list does not mention the problem, user reports immediately suggested smoother performance in games like Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6 after installing the hotfix.

The 581.94 hotfix is an emergency beta release based on the existing Game Ready Driver 581.80. Users who are not currently experiencing performance problems with the affected Windows update are generally advised to wait for the formal WHQL driver release for maximum system stability. However, if you want to download it right away, you can get it HERE.

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KitGuru says: Did you update your Windows with the KB5066835 package? Have you noticed any performance degradation? 

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Noctua has finally released the all-black chromax.black versions of its G2 cooling products. Both the NH-D15 G2 CPU cooler and the NF-A14x25 G2 140mm fans now arrive in a sleek design.

The new NF-A14x25 G2 fan (Sx2-PP also available) features advanced aerodynamic engineering, including an impeller made from Sterrox liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) and a record-tight 0.7 mm tip clearance. The new design allows the G2 models to maintain a performance-to-noise advantage over their renowned predecessors in both high-impedance scenarios (radiators) and airflow-oriented case cooling. The fans also integrate the etaPERF motor and SupraTorque technology, ensuring rotational stability against back pressure.

The NH-D15 G2 chromax.black inherits the further refined heatsink design, which now has eight heatpipes instead of six. Paired with the new NF-A14x25r G2 PWM fans (available separately as a single unit or pair), the all-black version offers the same cooling efficiency as the original brown model. The full chromax.black treatment includes a black-coated heatsink and black fans, delivering the highly requested subtle aesthetic. The cooler ships with the Torx-based SecuFirm2+ multi-socket mounting system, NT-H2 thermal compound, and a full 6-year manufacturer's warranty. Builders can further customise the look with coloured anti-vibration pads, which are available separately.

The NH-D15 G2 chromax.black is available now for €159.90 in Europe or $189.90 in the US. The standalone NF-A14x25 G2 fans are also available in chromax.black finish starting at €39.90/$44.90 for a single unit and €76.90/$84.90 for a bundle of two. A full 6-year manufacturer's warranty backs all products.

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KitGuru says: Do you prefer Noctua's chromax.black finish over the typical brown-and-beige colour theme?

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Biostar has introduced the EdgeComp MS-Nano 4G/8G, a powerful fanless edge AI system designed for system integrators and developers. The compact unit is powered by the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano module, which supports the performance-boosting Super Mode, allowing the system to deliver up to 40 TOPS of AI performance.

Available in 4GB and 8GB LPDDR5 configurations, the EdgeComp MS-Nano features a Jetson Orin Nano module, packing a 6-core Arm Cortex-A78AE CPU and an Nvidia Ampere GPU with 1024 CUDA cores and 32 Tensor Cores, ensuring processing capacity for real-time AI inference. The system is compatible with modern AI frameworks, including LLMs and VLMs, and runs on Linux JetPack 6.2.

Marketed toward critical applications such as intelligent inspection and robotic automation in manufacturing, shopper analytics in smart retail, traffic flow management in smart cities, and autonomous systems in modern agriculture, the system is built for 24/7 operation in harsh environments. It features a fanless design and operates over a wide temperature range of -20°C to 50°C. Moreover, it has a small footprint of 160 x 102 x 80mm and a wide 12V to 20V DC power input range.

The unit includes both GbE and 2.5 GbE LAN, with optional Power over Ethernet (PoE) support. I/O includes four USB 3.2 Type-A ports and dedicated serial interfaces, including RS232, RS232/422/485, and CAN bus, which are useful for integration with industrial machinery. Expansion slots are available for an NVMe SSD (M.2 Key-M) and 4G/5G or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: The EdgeComp MS-Nano isn't your typical home PC, but if you had one at hand, how would you use it?

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Antec has announced the debut of the Flux M case, an mATX chassis designed for high-performance cooling right out of the box thanks to its six pre-installed fans.

The Flux M case is built around Antec's dedicated F-Lux airflow platform. Equipped with six PWM fans out of the box, including three 120mm PWM ARGB fans and three 120mm reverse fans, the case features a multi-directional vent design with large intake ports at the front, bottom, and right side, ensuring continuous airflow. On the left side, there's a tempered glass panel that lets you look at the internals of the system housed in the case.

The vertical cooling approach is based on the large bottom mesh panel. With 20mm of clearance between the GPU and the bottom fans, the reverse fans can deliver targeted and effective cooling directly to the graphics card. Despite its mATX size, the Flux M offers substantial component clearance. It can house motherboards up to Micro-ATX and ITX, supports CPU coolers up to 175mm tall, and fits graphics cards up to 405mm long. For liquid-cooling enthusiasts, the case supports a top-mounted 360mm radiator and a rear-mounted 120mm radiator.

Antec has also included several builder-friendly features. The PSU chamber is front-mounted, which frees up internal space for better airflow, and a 13A extension cable is included to connect the PSU to the rear socket. Cable management space is generous for a small chassis, offering up to 59mm in front and 49mm at the back for routing. The I/O panel includes USB 3.0, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, and an audio combo port. The Flux M is expected to cost €69.90 or £59.99.

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KitGuru says: The aggressive price of the new Flux M makes it interesting for those planning an mATX build. 

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AMD's GM and SVP, Jack Huynh, has posted a video teaser confirming the imminent launch of the company's newest iteration of FSR, dubbed Redstone. The Redstone update represents the most significant architectural shift in FSR history, fully leaning into machine learning and AI acceleration.

The teaser doesn't show much besides a few game snippets within the “FSR” logo and a date for the announcement, scheduled for December 10th. In this announcement, we expect AMD to reveal much more information on how FSR Redstone works, whether it will completely replace FSR 4, which GPUs will be compatible with it, and which other titles Redstone will be available for, aside from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

For those who don't know what FSR Redstone is, it builds on the machine learning super-resolution introduced with FSR 4 and adds three key innovations. First, AMD FSR Ray Regeneration uses a neural network to reconstruct and filter high-frequency noise from ray-traced data. This functions similarly to Nvidia DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction, helping to improve reflection quality and clean up artifacts from sparsely sampled ray tracing. This feature has already been seen in a limited, early state in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Second, we have Neural Radiance Caching, which continuously learns how light propagates within a scene, allowing the system to predict and cache indirect illumination. This is designed to significantly reduce the computational cost of implementing ray-traced global illumination. Finally, ML Frame Generation marks a significant evolution from the interpolation technology used in FSR 3. This new model employs machine learning with integrated temporal and spatial awareness to produce highly accurate intermediate frames.

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KitGuru says: Which games would you like to see getting FSR Redstone support?

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ArenaNet, a subsidiary of NCSoft, has announced Guild Wars Reforged, an update and modernisation of the classic 2005 MMORPG. The update will be free for all existing owners and will launch on December 3rd for Steam and Windows PC.

The project is a co-development venture between ArenaNet and the small studio 2weeks, which was founded by former ArenaNet developers who worked on the original. This collaboration ensures the game, which has amassed over nine million players since its 2005 debut. The Reforged package will include the Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall content, and it will be free if you have at least one of them.

The update's primary focus is on accessibility and visual fidelity. Guild Wars Reforged will officially introduce XInput controller support and be Steam Deck verified. Visual improvements include support for high-DPI displays, new antialiasing options, ambient occlusion, enhanced bloom effects, refined textures, and new HD skill icons. The audio system has also been upgraded with enhanced 3D environmental sound.

For QoL improvements, the update will overhaul the user experience by adding a new quest-tracking system to simplify navigation and implementing high-DPI support with increased font size options for modern high-resolution monitors. New players can purchase the Guild Wars Reforged package for £17.99/$19.99, which is quite affordable given that it includes all three original campaigns.

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KitGuru says: Have you ever played the original Guild Wars? Will you do so now with the upcoming Reforged update?

The post Guild Wars Reforged announced, and it is releasing very soon first appeared on KitGuru.

A new report has surfaced claiming AMD is warning its AIB partners of an impending second price increase for its GPUs, this time driven by rapidly rising memory procurement costs.

As pointed out by VideoCardz, the memory market is being squeezed by the AI sector's insatiable demand for HBM and server-grade DDR5. As foundries shift capacity to meet that demand, prices for other components are increasing. Recent reports show DRAM contract prices rising sharply, with GDDR6 seeing an increase of around 30%.

This unconfirmed report comes at a particularly frustrating time for gamers, as prices for certain GPUs had only just begun to normalise after months of inflation. If this report is proven to be true, that price trend will likely revert.

AMD has made no public statement on this and if there are indeed price rises on the way, it could take weeks or months to filter down to the retail market.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: PC gamers only just got through the rough cryptomining years, which led to huge supply/demand issues. Now, it looks like we may have to contend with AI companies driving up prices instead. 

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