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Best SSD for Gaming: PCIe 5.0 vs 4.0 vs 3.0 vs SATA vs HDD Comparison

FEATURE By Tim Schiesser, 18 minutes ago TechSpot Gaming

We tested everything from PCIe 5.0 to SATA, and even hard drives, to see what really matters for gaming performance, and whether ultra-fast storage offers a tangible edge over older options.

Gaming The Web

Study uncovers dark market making millions from video game cheats

Cheats can cost between $10 and $240 a month

The big picture: Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick in the United Kingdom estimate that roughly 80 websites selling cheats for online video games generate between $12 million and $73 million annually. Although some cheats can bypass robust (and often unpopular) anti-cheating software, these tend to be more expensive.

Full story By Daniel Sims, Today 10:16 PM 8 comments

Hardware Apple

Apple's new MacBook may start at $599 with 12.9 inch display and iPhone 16 Pro chip

Low cost MacBook could target (and kill) Dell and HP's budget offerings

Why it matters: Apple is reportedly preparing to launch its most affordable MacBook yet – potentially starting at just $599 – in a move aimed squarely at the budget Windows laptop market. If true, it would mark Apple's most aggressive pricing play in the notebook space since the original MacBook Air redefined ultra-portable design in 2008, and could open macOS to a much broader audience than before.

Full story By Kishalaya Kundu, August 11

Tech Deals Software

Microsoft Office is down to $49 for a lifetime license

TL;DR: If you're looking for a powerful productivity suite without breaking the bank, Microsoft Office 2021 is now available for just $49 – a significant price drop and the lowest we've seen this year.

Full story By TechSpot Deals

Wearable Tech Science

Smartwatches are useless for measuring actual stress levels, study says

"Be careful and don't live by your smartwatch"

By Alfonso Maruccia, August 11

Download of the Week Software

Upscale your images for free with Upscayl

If you're looking to upscale low-res images, Upscayl is a powerful and free tool for enlarging and enhancing images. It's cross-platform and in our tests, performs as well as other paid apps like Topaz.

By Julio Franco, August 11

Software Microsoft

User sues Microsoft over planned end of Windows 10 support

What just happened? Official support for most Windows 10 editions is set to end on October 14, 2025, causing growing unease among users. One individual has asked a legal team to attempt to compel Microsoft to extend support beyond this date, citing concerns over data integrity and security that could justify several additional years of support for Windows 10 devices.

Full story By Alfonso Maruccia, August 11 13 comments

Trivia Software

Which modern OS was the first to add system-wide dark mode?

Was it Android 10, macOS, iOS, or Windows Phone?

By TechSpot Trivia, August 11

Tech Deals Microsoft

Grab a full Windows 11 Pro license for $15

Unbeatable deal, available for a limited time

By TechSpot Deals

Software Tech Culture

Linus Torvalds calls Google engineer's RISC-V code "garbage" in Linux 6.17 dispute

The engineer took the criticism well

By Skye Jacobs, August 11 8 comments

Software The Web

Mozilla angers Firefox users with latest AI browser gimmick

The browser's inference process makes people's CPUs go "nuts"

By Alfonso Maruccia, August 11 8 comments

Tech Culture Electronics

Cities roll out noise cameras to crack down on loud streets

They not only measure noise but also pinpoint which vehicle is responsible, even in heavy traffic

By Skye Jacobs, August 11 12 comments

Car Tech Security

Hyundai tells Ioniq 5 owners it will fix keyless security flaw – for a $65 "contribution"

Sounds fair

By Rob Thubron, August 11

AI Industry

US strikes unprecedented deal: Nvidia and AMD to give 15% of China AI chip sales to Washington

AI chipmakers accept revenue-sharing condition for China export licenses

By Skye Jacobs, August 11 32 comments

AI Industry

Microsoft, Meta, and startups are battling for AI talent with more than just money

Startups like Anthropic are outpacing Big Tech in keeping AI talent with promises of agility and autonomy

By Skye Jacobs, August 11

AI Tech Culture

Man develops rare 19th-century psychiatric disorder after following ChatGPT's diet advice

He thought his neighbor was trying to poison him

By Rob Thubron, August 11 22 comments

Software Security

Antivirus bloatware may be killing your (not so old) Windows PC

Plus, a list of tools to fully uninstall AV software

Facepalm: Security software is supposed to be the good guy. But when it's outdated, bloated, or running in duplicate, it can cripple performance as effectively as the threats it's meant to stop. On a machine that's only a few years old, a bad slowdown might look like a hardware problem, but knowing your software can mean the difference between a system you can patch and one you abandon entirely.

Full story By Julio Franco, August 11 24 comments

Security Software

Security flaw in WinRAR allows malware to install at Windows startup

The bug has been fixed but users must update manually

By Skye Jacobs, August 10 9 comments

The Web Software

Google Maps faces roadblocks in South Korea as detailed navigation remains restricted

Government officials have again postponed a decision on Google's map export request

By Skye Jacobs, August 10

Trivia Tech Culture

In the 1930s, which country built an analog computer that ran on water?

Yes, water!

By TechSpot Trivia, August 10

Hardware Tech Culture

Thermal Grizzly and der8auer unveil open-air test bench for hardware enthusiasts

The modular test bench makes swapping components easier by integrating cooling, storage, and control

By Skye Jacobs, August 10

Science Space

NASA and Google developed an AI medical assistant to keep astronauts healthy on deep-space missions

The system could have wider healthcare uses

By Skye Jacobs, August 10

The Web Industry

AOL to discontinue dial-up internet service after 34 years

Yes, it's still a thing

By Rob Thubron, August 10 10 comments

Security The Web

Hackers are hiding malware in SVG images via fake Facebook posts

The growth of age verification requirements is fueling the trend

By Skye Jacobs, August 9 15 comments

AI Software

Backlash over "horrible" GPT-5 forces OpenAI to restore older ChatGPT models, double rate limit

GPT-5 is easily jailbroken, too

By Rob Thubron, August 9 28 comments

Software Mobile

Microsoft to retire popular Lens app, fold scanning into Copilot

The decade-old document scanner will shut down by the end of 2025

By Skye Jacobs, August 9 12 comments

Tech Culture Science

Maglev trains' tunnel boom problem may finally have a fix

Prototype maglev trains can exceed 370 mph, exacerbating the issue

By Daniel Sims, August 9

Science Space

Astronomers spot black hole 36 billion times the mass of the Sun

Record-setting black hole discovered in fossil galaxy five billion light-years away

By Skye Jacobs, August 9 9 comments

Industry Hardware

Intel CEO calls China ties allegations "misinformation" after Trump demands resignation

Lip-Bu Tan reaffirms commitment to US' chipmaking competitiveness

By Daniel Sims, August 8 49 comments

Download of the Week Software

Windsurf is a free AI-powered IDE with smart coding tools

Windsurf offers intelligent code completions, inline suggestions, and a smart assistant called Cascade to help with debugging, refactoring, and documentation. The free version includes all core features with no usage limits, supports multiple languages and frameworks.

By Ivan Franco, August 8