This week on Tom's Hardware Premium: August 14, 2026
Exclusive testing, unredacted interviews, and much more.
Near-packaged optics (NPO) gains ground as the industry hedges against CPO's growing pains
Premium SemiAnalysis calls NPO the interim step between pluggable transceivers and true CPO.
The current state of PCIe 6.0 SSDs and controllers
Premium Micron and Samsung already have actual SSDs
How optical interconnects and silicon photonics emerged as AI's next hot commodity
Premium The U.S. wants Chinese optical transceivers out of future AI data centers, but China’s current dominance of the rapidly evolving photonics supply chain could make a ban complicated
Reviews
ViewSonic VG1457 dual-screen portable monitor review: compact size and weight, but lackluster color
ViewSonic nailed the design with the VG1457, but should have put some more effort into sourcing higher quality display panels.
xTool M2 color craft laser and engraver review: Improved print head and positioning cameras at a lower price
xTool concocts a crafty new machine with 10W or 20W diode laser, combined with a CMYK print head, 2W IR laser, and rotary tool options.
Ocypus Sigma L36 Pro Review: How is this LCD AIO so cheap?
High performance and a 3.5-inch display for $134, or less.
Best Picks
Best MicroSD Express Cards For The Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026
We’ve carefully chosen the best microSD Express cards to meet the needs and budgets of all Switch 2 owners, based on our detailed lab testing.
CPUs
Intel says it will launch new core with Nova Lake on desktop first, not in data center
Intel’s Robert Hallock says he hopes enthusiasts “do the math” compared to AMD, highlighting that the company’s new core architecture will release in consumer processors before the data center.
Graphics Cards
Japanese repair shop sells GPU VRAM upgrades for $25 per GB during memory crisis
This vendor can upgrade your RTX 2080 Ti to feature 22GB of VRAM for less than $300, converting it into an AI powerhouse without breaking the bank.
Features
Benchmarking AMD's BC-250, offering Steam Machine-like performance at half the price
Premium The repurposed APU for mining has come back home again.
Chinese chipmaking tool roadmaps examined — Beijing's nascent lithography tools target DUV production at five machines a year, and an EUV prototype with no chips
Premium Ultimately, three markers will indicate whether China’s domestic DUV program is a legitimate rival or yet more state-sanctioned hot air.
PC Components
Best MicroSD Express Cards For The Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026
We’ve carefully chosen the best microSD Express cards to meet the needs and budgets of all Switch 2 owners, based on our detailed lab testing.
Desktops and PC Building
Grab this RTX 5070 gaming PC for just $1,499, saving $600 off list price
Deals The Acer Nitro 85 gaming desktop is currently on sale for $1,499, which is $600 off its regular price for a PC that would otherwise cost you $2,000 to spec out yourself.
Deals
Save $60 on Corsair's impressive 96% gaming keyboard with Elgato Stream Deck integration
Deals Save $60 on Corsair's impressive Vanguard 96 RGB mechanical gaming keyboard at Best Buy.
More from Tom's Hardware
Geekom admits to shipping malware-laced network drivers for AMD mini PCs
Geekom admits to shipping malware-laced network drivers for AMD mini-PCs — maker requests takedown of report on the situation
Alibaba is selling its gaming studio for at least $1.5 billion to help fund AI buildout, mirroring Micron's exit from consumer business
Alibaba has agreed to sell its game development unit, Lingxi Games, to Asian private equity firm Trustar Capital, according to an internal staff memo.
Judge clears Nine PBS to retrieve 70 years of archival TV data
There’s light at the end of the tunnel for Nine PBS after a judge has cleared the way for it to retrieve archival data and programming from Iron Mountain.
America's largest grid wants to cut power to new data centers first during shortages
PJM Interconnection has asked federal regulators to approve rules that would cut power to new data centers ahead of households during supply shortages.
Best PC peripherals deals 2026
Enjoy these fantastic deals on gaming and productivity peripherals.
ViewSonic VG1457 dual-screen portable monitor review: compact size and weight, but lackluster color
ViewSonic nailed the design with the VG1457, but should have put some more effort into sourcing higher quality display panels.
