All posts tagged: hardware

Linux Mint was throttling my modern hardware by default — 3 changes fixed it completely

Linux Mint was throttling my modern hardware by default — 3 changes fixed it completely

Published by skeptic

On a modern PC, you expect your high-end NVMe drive and multicore processor to give the best performance. That’s why I couldn’t accept that my hardware was the problem after noticing micro-stutters while heavy multitasking on my fresh Linux Mint install. My curiosity led me to investigate, and I realized that the problem was Linux Mint itself. By default, it uses conservative kernel defaults for broad compatibility, which can unnecessarily limit performance on modern systems. Altering these three system configurations unlocks the device’s true speed. Lower Linux Mint’s swappiness My RAM stopped fighting me Afam Onyimadu / MUO When you switch back to a tab it often has to reload, and minimized apps can take a moment to wake up. You would observe this even if your system monitor shows gigabytes of free RAM. So even though memory is available, it feels like the operating system isn’t using it. The reason is tied to a kernel setting called swappiness. This is a number from 0 to 100 that controls how aggressively the device inactivates processes …

Will Apple Launch New Hardware at WWDC Next Week?

Will Apple Launch New Hardware at WWDC Next Week?

Published by skeptic

Apple has several hardware releases in the pipeline, but will we see any of them unveiled at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference? WWDC is primarily a software event where new versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS take center stage, but it’s not unusual for Apple to introduce new hardware during the developer conference. Take WWDC 2017, for example, where Apple first unveiled the original HomePod over six months ahead of its launch. Apple has chosen to show off other major products at the annual event, like the redesigned Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR announced in June 2019. More recently, Apple unveiled the first 15-inch MacBook Air in 2023, along with the M2 Ultra chip in the Mac Studio, and the first Mac Pro powered by Apple silicon. So What Can We Expect at WWDC 2026? Probably not much. Apple has actually released a lot of updates already in 2026. We’ve seen the AirTag 2, the iPhone 17e, and a new iPad Air with M4 chip, along with refreshed M5 MacBook Air …

Flush With Cash From OpenAI, Opal Is Making an AI-Powered Audio Gadget

Flush With Cash From OpenAI, Opal Is Making an AI-Powered Audio Gadget

Published by skeptic

A small San Francisco startup known for making well-appointed, beautifully designed webcams is now vying to become the AI hardware company of the moment. Opal Camera is rebranding to Opal Electronics and will expand its product portfolio beyond webcams to a broad range of consumer devices, some of which will be AI-focused. It aims to emulate Sony Electronics as a wide-ranging consumer gadget brand by focusing on design and culture, not just tech. The transition was possible thanks to a $40 million Series B funding round from OpenAI. Some details about the investment were first reported in 2024, but the deal was closed in the first quarter of 2025. Other investors in Opal include Samsung, Peter Thiel, Seven Seven Six (Alexis Ohanian’s venture capital firm), and noted tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (known as MKBHD), among others, according to a source close to the deal. Opal is now valued at around $275 million. Opal Electronics declined to comment. OpenAI did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was an early customer and …

How Rising Hardware Costs Impact Next-Gen Consoles

How Rising Hardware Costs Impact Next-Gen Consoles

Published by skeptic

Microsoft’s Project Helix and the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are at the forefront of this week’s gaming news, as highlighted by Colt Eastwood. Project Helix, a next-generation console-PC hybrid, aims to merge the accessibility of consoles with the flexibility of PC gaming, potentially reshaping how players interact with hardware. Meanwhile, Modern Warfare 4, set to release on October 23, 2026, introduces a gripping narrative featuring Captain Price as an outlaw navigating morally complex scenarios. With gameplay enhancements like improved hipfire accuracy and cross-platform availability, the game reflects the industry’s push toward both innovation and inclusivity. Dive into this feature to explore how Microsoft’s exclusivity strategies could influence Project Helix’s success and what rising hardware costs mean for the future of gaming. You’ll also gain insight into the role of AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4.1 in shaping next-gen visuals and how these advancements align with the evolving expectations of modern gamers. This breakdown offers a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities defining the gaming landscape today. TL;DR Key Takeaways : Call …

How to speed up a slow laptop without upgrading any hardware

How to speed up a slow laptop without upgrading any hardware

Published by skeptic

You don’t always need new hardware to fix a slow laptop. In fact, most of the time, the hardware is rarely the main problem. More often, laggy performance comes from things we tend to ignore over time, like the overload of startup apps, unnecessary visual effects, the wrong power mode, and Windows itself becoming more demanding with every update. Of course, all of these things can be fixed without spending money on upgrades. All it takes is a bit of patience and a few smart tweaks. Cleaning junk files and dust buildup goes a long way Start with the basics Credit: Oluwademilade Afolabi / MakeUseOf As obvious as it sounds, the first step to fixing a slow laptop is simply clearing the clutter. That means removing unused apps, deleting temporary files, clearing the cache, and freeing up storage in general. These are often the biggest reasons why your laptop might feel slow. The good thing is Windows already offers useful cleanup tools for this. Besides removing unwanted apps, you should also check the startup programs and …

Running Open-Weight AI Models on AMD Hardware in 2026

Running Open-Weight AI Models on AMD Hardware in 2026

Published by skeptic

Running artificial intelligence (AI) models locally is gaining traction as a practical alternative to cloud-based solutions, especially for those prioritizing privacy and cost efficiency. In his explainer, Sam Witteveen highlights how AMD’s advanced hardware, including the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X CPU and Radeon AI Pro R9 700 GPU, enables users to handle demanding AI workloads directly on their machines. With features like 32GB of VRAM and exceptional multi-threaded performance, these components enable smooth operation of AI applications ranging from text generation to media creation, all while keeping sensitive data secure and eliminating recurring cloud fees. Explore how local AI setups can streamline your workflow with AMD’s ROCm platform, which supports popular frameworks like PyTorch and the Transformers library. Gain insight into optimizing your hardware with Linux for enhanced performance and discover practical applications such as fine-tuning models for specialized tasks or generating high-quality media. This guide provides a clear path for using AMD’s ecosystem to unlock the potential of local AI in a variety of creative and technical domains. Why Local AI is Becoming Essential TL;DR …

It Seems a Lot Like Trump Accidentally Invested Million in a Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant Thinking It Was an AI Hardware Company

It Seems a Lot Like Trump Accidentally Invested $1 Million in a Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant Thinking It Was an AI Hardware Company

Published by José Betancourt

Sign up to see the future, today Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech Donald Trump is nothing if not a keen investor. As recent tax filings have shown, the US president has made a number of canny trades over the past few months for tech stocks like Nvidia, Apple, and Dell, flaunting any semblance of ethical financial behavior. New reporting from the Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun revealed that Trump made another surprising investment alongside his tech stocks: a purchase of $1 to $5 million shares in a conveyor belt sushi restaurant chain called Kura Sushi. Specifically, Yomiuri reports that Trump purchased shares in the company’s American-arm, Kura Sushi USA, which operates 91 conveyor belt sushi joints throughout the continental US. The bizarre investment quickly got the attention of Japanese netizens, who took to Yahoo Finance message boards to speculate as to what the stock trade could mean. One emerging theory: the aging president, or his ambling son Donald Trump Jr, who technically runs the president’s trust, mistook the fast-growing sushi …

Test iPhone Hardware With the Secret Diagnostics Tool

Test iPhone Hardware With the Secret Diagnostics Tool

Published by skeptic

Your iPhone is equipped with a hidden diagnostics menu, a powerful tool designed to help you identify and resolve hardware-related issues. This feature is particularly useful for troubleshooting problems such as unresponsive touchscreens, Face ID malfunctions, or distorted audio. It also serves as an essential resource for verifying the condition of a second-hand iPhone before making a purchase. By following a specific sequence of steps, you can access this menu and perform a variety of tests to ensure your device is functioning optimally. Understanding how to use this tool can save time and provide clarity on your device’s performance. The video below from iDeviceHelp gives us more details. Why Use the Diagnostics Menu? The diagnostics menu is a centralized hub for hardware testing and troubleshooting, offering a detailed assessment of your iPhone’s functionality. If your device is experiencing performance issues, this menu allows you to pinpoint the root cause and address it effectively. Here are some key reasons to use the diagnostics menu: Identify Display Issues: Test for dead pixels, discoloration, or other screen abnormalities. …

Windows 11 HDR looked terrible until I fixed one hardware mistake

Windows 11 HDR looked terrible until I fixed one hardware mistake

Published by skeptic

Windows 11 has all sorts of issues when it comes to handling HDR. Trust me, both my home-built rig and gaming laptop are constantly disappointing me on the high dynamic range front. You know what’s going to make HDR look even worse if you’re playing on a portable Microsoft system? Hooking your laptop up to the wrong power cable. If your machine comes bundled with two different adapters, ensure you use the one with the highest power draw to get the most out of your laptop. If you accidentally go the weaker USB-C connector route as I did for a while, HDR performance can get nixed completely. Related HDR was supposed to make everything look better — but do you even notice it? If you can’t tell, you’re not alone (and you’re not wrong) My laptop can’t handle HDR through USB-C Want High Dynamic Range? Use that barrel plug Dave Meikleham / MakeUseOf While this isn’t the case with every laptop, I know playing games with HDR enabled on my RTX 5080-backed system is a …

Lovable just backed a company that’s looking to bring vibe coding to hardware

Lovable just backed a company that’s looking to bring vibe coding to hardware

Published by skeptic

Lovable, the AI-powered app-building platform, has backed Danish hardware startup Atech, which wants to introduce “vibe coding” to the process of creating hardware. Lovable was part of an $800,000 pre-seed round that also included a16z’s scout fund, Sequoia Scout Fund, and Nordic Makers.  In a chat with TechCrunch, Atech’s head of customer experience, Gustav Hugod, said the platform’s workings are quite simple. Users buy a starter hardware kit for whatever they are trying to build from Atech’s site. Then they open a tab at the site, talk to an AI chatbot, describe the hardware concept they’re trying to build, and the AI tool generates code that helps them build a working prototype. Hugod said the company’s user base is pretty broad right now, “from four-year-olds building cars to a hydrogen synthesis plant that needs precise voltage sensing.” Typically, building any type of hardware prototype requires decades of experience or finding pricy but talented engineers. But Hugod said that as the “accessibility gap of software has collapsed,” so will the difficulty of building in the hardware …