Following the debut of the CH260 last year, DeepCool is doubling down on the “organic” aesthetic trend by introducing the CH260 Wood Grain Edition. This latest revision builds on the foundation of the original micro-ATX chassis and adds a touch of sophistication with timber-effect accents on the side-mounted I/O cluster. Available in both black and white finishes, the new variant targets enthusiasts who want a compact, airflow-oriented chassis with a more ‘furniture-friendly' appearance.

The “pixel” customisation system from the original CH260 is still available, allowing users to customise the perforated front and top panels with rubber bits to create patterns or logos. Beyond its aesthetics, according to ITHome (via TechPowerUp), the new CH260 variant remains a good option for modern builds, particularly those utilising the increasingly common “back-connect” motherboard designs. DeepCool has provided a generous 29.6 mm of clearance behind the motherboard tray to accommodate the cable management requirements of these rear-mounted headers, designed to ensure a clean interior look through the tempered glass side panel.

Image credit: ITHome

Despite its 30-litre volume, the internal layout looks surprisingly flexible. It comfortably houses full-sized graphics cards up to 388 mm in length with front fans installed, or up to 413 mm if you opt for a more minimalist cooling setup. CPU cooling compatibility is good, with enough vertical space to fit 174 mm-tall air towers or a 360 mm radiator mounted at the top. Power supply support is standardised to ATX units up to 150 mm in length, though builders should note that cable routing becomes tighter when utilising the single 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drive bays simultaneously.

Thermal performance is aided by a wraparound mesh design that covers the front and top, supported by three removable dust filters for easier maintenance. Connectivity is up to modern standards, featuring a 10 Gbps USB-C port, a pair of 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and the expected audio jacks. Currently hitting the Chinese market first, the black version is priced at approximately 399 yuan (£42), while the white model carries a slight premium at 449 yuan (£48). Pricing and availability for other regions are yet to be announced.

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KitGuru says: Do you prefer the new CH260 variant with a wooden accent over the original?

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Microsoft is making a push to bridge the gap between traditional x86 gaming and the emerging ARM-based Windows ecosystem. The recent release of a dedicated Arm-compatible Xbox App marks a turning point for the platform, with Microsoft stating that approximately 85% of the current Game Pass library is now playable on Arm-powered machines. This shift is largely due to significant refinements in the Prism translation layer, which serves as the intermediary between legacy code and modern silicon.

As detailed in a Windows Blog, a critical component of this progress is the integration of AVX and AVX2 instruction support within Prism. These extensions are essential for bringing Xbox games to ARM systems, allowing titles previously locked to Intel or AMD hardware to run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X-series chips. The hardware evolution continues as well, with the current Snapdragon lineup paving the way for the upcoming Snapdragon X2 and subsequent generations of ARM SoCs.

Compatibility isn't just about raw processing power; security protocols have historically been a major barrier for ARM adoption in gaming. The landscape is changing as developers implement third-party anti-cheat support for ARM, with Epic's solution now enabling titles such as Fortnite and Gears of War: Reloaded to run locally. To help users navigate the varying performance tiers of these devices, Microsoft has introduced the Windows Performance Fit tool. This utility leverages real-world benchmark data from similar hardware configurations to give users a realistic sense of how a title will run.

While the goal is native or translated local play, Microsoft continues to leverage its cloud infrastructure as a secondary option for titles that remain exclusive to x86 environments. This serves as a necessary buffer while the library of compatible games expands. The effectiveness of this approach remains tied to network stability and server proximity, but at least it's a functional alternative for those who meet the requirements.

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KitGuru says: Do you own an ARM-based PC? Do you game on it? Will you do so more now that more Xbox games are supported?

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AMD has officially confirmed that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D will hit retail shelves on January 29th, carrying a suggested price tag of $499. This move positions the new 8-core processor as the premium choice within Team Red's Zen 5 3D V-Cache lineup, sitting just above the current Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

The announcement comes directly from David McAfee, AMD's VP and GM of the client channel business, who claims this new SKU is the fastest gaming processor currently available. The specifications reveal that while the architecture remains the same, the 9850X3D benefits from improved binning, enabling it to reach a 5.6 GHz clock speed, a 400 MHz boost compared to the 9800X3D. Despite this higher frequency, the 120 W TDP remains unchanged, as does the 104 MB total cache pool, which includes the 96 MB L3 stack that defines the X3D series. AMD's internal benchmarks suggest this clock-speed advantage translates into a 3% to 8% performance uplift over the 9800X3D in CPU-bound scenarios.

The $499 MSRP will likely come as a relief to those following recent industry whispers. Early retail leaks in December had suggested pricing could be a bit higher, especially given the persistent demand for high-end AM5 components.

Availability remains the primary concern for prospective buyers. The previous launch of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D was marred by severe inventory shortages, leading to inflated prices at third-party retailers and a thriving scalper market. Although reports suggest distribution is well underway for the January 29th release, it remains to be seen whether AMD has secured enough volume to meet demand.

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KitGuru says: If stock levels hold, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is poised to become the new default recommendation for high-end gaming builds, effectively squeezing Intel's flagship offerings out of the frame.

The post AMD confirms Ryzen 7 9850X3D for late January release, $499 first appeared on KitGuru.