Opinion articles

The x86 wish list: Complexities of an imaginary Intel takeover

Editor's take: We are frequently asked some version of the question, "Will someone acquire Intel?" At this point, we think it is highly unlikely, but these are unpredictable times. Setting aside all the principal considerations – like money, strategy, and regulatory approval – there are a few other hurdles. Chief among these is Intel's license for x86.

The Terminator at 40: the sci-fi cult classic that still shapes how we view the threat of AI

In context: October 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of director James Cameron's science fiction classic, The Terminator – a film that popularised society's fear of machines that can't be reasoned with, and that "absolutely will not stop … until you are dead", as one character memorably puts it.

Hybrid AI will change everything in enterprise computing

Intel vs. TSMC: Why economic factors, not tech, are at the heart of America's chip struggle

Cisco shifts focus to AI with new infrastructure solutions

Arm vs Qualcomm: mutually assured destruction

Qualcomm accelerates automotive AI with Snapdragon's latest chips

Money first, fun last: Former PlayStation president warns of gaming's creative decline

Editor's take: I have felt for years that the video game industry is headed for another crash. I base this opinion on the lack of creativity coming from prominent developers. Bethesda: "Let's make another Skyrim port," or Skyrim in space, as we saw with the overhyped Starfield. Other companies are just as devoid of new ideas, releasing a deluge of remakes instead of something new. I'm not alone in my feelings.

Businesses are still betting on generative AI despite media skepticism

Remember AMI BIOS? Turns out there's a buried treasure in firmware

The big picture: Firmware is one of those obscure areas of computing that is simultaneously critical yet largely ignored. Not coincidentally, we have been doing a lot of work lately digging around such dark corners of the industry. Despite the ubiquitous nature of firmware, almost no one talks about it much.

How to build a server in "100 easy steps": The growing pains of modern data centers

Lenovo unveils new AI laptops with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm chips inside

Intel's Lunar Lake reignites PC competition, Core Ultra Series 2 is now official

Intel's gathering storm and why it needs to stay the course

AMD's $5 billion ZT acquisition: Strategic play or overpriced gamble?

Bottom line: The strategic rationale behind AMD acquiring ZT makes sense, to a point, but $5 billion is a lot to pay, especially when the true value of the transaction relies heavily on the price AMD will get when they spin off ZT's manufacturing unit.

Why are there so many AI accelerators?

Google's Pixel 9 series stands out by bringing practical AI to your pocket

Were we wrong about Zen 5?

Recap: We got our first look at AMD's new Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X processors last week, and it's fair to say we weren't impressed with what we saw. That said, online reviews were very mixed, despite reporting similar performance data overall. There were minimal gains in games, with mixed productivity performance. But that mixed reception from reviewers left readers confused, with many asking the question: Are these new Zen 5 processors good or bad? It's a fair question, and the answer is, as usual, "it depends."

Intel's rough quarter was expected, but management's messaging struggles were not

Bottom line: The fact that Intel had a bad quarter is not that surprising. What is surprising is the extent to which management does not seem to have a handle on how to communicate its plans.

Opinion: The rapidly evolving world of AI PCs

Something to look forward to: Even though it's only been two months since they were first announced and just a month since they've shipped, Copilot+ PCs are already having a noticeable impact on the PC market. Major OEMs like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft's Surface group have released slick new NPU-accelerated "AI PCs." Other vendors such as Samsung, Acer, and Asus have also joined with impressive new devices.

AMD teases Ryzen 9000 performance ahead of July 31 launch, details B850 and B840 chipsets