The ‘tiniest GPU’ has gotten a big update. Amateur FPGA designer and retro PC enthusiast Pongsagon Vichit has just gone public with the TinyGPU v2.0 . This GPU is described as a standalone processor that is capable of rasterization, plus transformation & lighting (hello GeForce 256). 0Vichit, AKA @MattDIYgraphics on X, also says that this GPU has been submitted to the upcoming Tiny Tapeout shuttle, where it will be hewn from ~20
Hard drives on backorder for two years as AI data centers trigger HDD shortage — delays forcing rapid transition to QLC SSDs
The race to achieve AGI (artificial general intelligence) has pushed constituents to invest in and build data centers at a pace far outstripping our ability to make them. Manufacturers are struggling to keep up with AI demand, and the ongoing DRAM shortage is proof of this, with memory kits costing more than double what they did just a few months ago. Now, DigiTimes is reporting that storage is taking a hit, too, with delivery times for enterprise -grade HDDs delayed by two years
No Longer Evil Thermostat hack strips Google from Nest thermostat to heat your home better — open source project revives sunsetted hardware, gives more precise control
Google ’s sunsetted Nest Gen 1 and Gen 2 thermostats have been given a new breath of life by a frustrated developer. The recently released No Longer Evil Thermostat project promises better control, with a “sleek, intuitive interface that rivals the original.” Moreover, it offers the benefit of community-driven software that is free and open source.
Nest Gen 1 and Gen 2 sunsetting backstory
Laid-off Intel employee allegedly steals 'Top Secret' files, then disappears — ex-engineer downloaded 18,000 files before vanishing
A former software engineer is facing a $250,000 lawsuit from Intel after he allegedly stole tens of thousands of files, including data labeled as “Intel Top Secret” According to The Mercury News , Jinfeng Luo, who started at Intel in 2014, received a termination notice last July 7th, ending his service with the company at the same month. Luo downloaded around 18,000 files in total, and then
DIY Amiga sound sampler circuit mystery solved 32 years later — Magazine instructions had key component spec typos
A three-decade-old “Amiga mystery” has been solved by an intrepid electronics-focused TechTuber. Rob Smith originally tried to make a DIY sampler for his Amiga computer back in 1993. Despite his best efforts — carefully following a magazine-printed guide and reaching out to geeks at his local Maplin (Radio Shack) — he could never get the finished sampler to work. Now, 32 years later, with extensive experience on
500 disposable vapes recycled into a powerwall to power a house and workshop — enough juice for up to eight hours of home usage or three days of work
In a recent DIY project, YouTuber Chris Doel salvaged 500 rechargeable batteries from disposable vapes to build a powerful power bank that runs his workshop and even his entire house. The process appears quite tedious and requires a fair amount of technical expertise, but the result takes a solid swing at addressing the growing e-waste problem.
The UK has been facing an e-waste crisis caused by disposable vapes for the past few years. In fact, a report published by Material Focus
This week in 1982, Compaq announced the first true IBM PC clone — it was portable, too, as long as you were comfortable lugging 28 pounds
Compaq took the wraps off its first product in November 1982, revealing the computing world's first true IBM PC clone , and an all-in-one portable model at that. The Compaq Portable featured a legally reverse-engineered IBM BIOS and delivered near 100% compatibility with those all-important IBM PC applications.
Kickstarting the IBM PC Clone business
Corsair's premium SFF case sees a massive 70% price drop to $59 — iCUE Link 2500X hits a new historic low
Those looking to build a mid-tower rig can get Corsair’s iCUE Link 2500X dual-chamber case at a massive discount. With a listed MSRP of $219.99, you can grab the white variant at just $59.99 over at Newegg . Essentially, you are saving over 70%, and if you care about better airflow, the front mesh panel variant is also available at the same discounted price.
OpenAI asks U.S. to expand CHIPS Act tax credit to cover AI infrastructure despite firm's denial wanting a government 'backstop' for its massive loans
OpenAI has asked the Trump administration to expand a major CHIPS Act tax credit to support the build-out of AI infrastructure, including servers, data centers, and power systems. The company submitted the proposal in October as part of the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s public consultation on long-term AI policy, according to a policy document posted online by OpenAI .
At issue is the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC), a 25% investment tax credit created under
Chipmaking industry pushes back on U.S. Patent Office considering imposing annual fee based on assessed value — “tax on innovation” draws strong opposition from Semiconductor Industry Association
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) just released an open letter addressed to John A. Squires, the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), urging him to reconsider the proposal of imposing periodic patent fees to maintain the validity of a patent based on a government-assigned value instead of the current fixed price. According to the document ( PDF ), patents in the semiconductor industry are interconnected, making it difficult, if not impossible, to determine the