Nvidia's RTX 50 series recently dropped, bringing with it quite a lot of disappointment and reigniting hope for AMD's Radeon 9070 cards. While Nvidia claimed "4090 performance" out of the 5070, that was only with the company's controversial mutli-frame generation. Alongside that, all of the cards are basically impossible to obtain, with sky-high prices to boot. However, that's not all of the controversy, and one particular point of contention with the series has me seriously worried for the future of Nvidia's GPUs.

When I first came across Microsoft PC Manager, I was really excited by the idea that I could optimize my system without downloading third-party apps. While there are plenty of free Windows apps to optimize your PC's performance, I'm also hesitant to try some of them in case I'm introducing bloatware into my system.

We've talked a lot about the RTX 50 series here at XDA, but most of the cards we've seen are on the high end of the power spectrum. There have been rumors that Nvidia plans to release an RTX 5050 card, which aims to be a more budget-friendly option for gamers who don't need the most powerful cards on the market. Now, said rumors have seemingly come true, as details of an RTX 5050 have popped up online.

Single-board computers (SBCs) are used for plenty of uses, and they've found a permanent home in the home labs of many of our writers and readers. One of those popular uses is the DNS-based ad-blocking Pi-hole, which doesn't necessarily need the power of the Raspberry Pi 5 to run, but will do its best to keep every device on your home network free from ads. It'll also try to block any URLs that go to known malware sources, which keeps everyone safer. But for all it can do, it's not a complete network security solution, and there are some cracks in its virtual armor. It's still a fantastic addition to your other network security options, but here's why it's not the only thing you need to be running.

Do you often struggle with tedious setups, deal with software dependencies, or worry about data privacy? Here is where Docker comes into play. It simplifies your digital life, boosts your productivity, and helps you reclaim control over your applications. I will share a curated selection of Docker containers that have fundamentally changed how I approach development, productivity, and personal data management.

When you're planning out the network for your home lab, a customizable firewall is key to keeping your home lab (and your home network) safe and secure. Once you've decided if you're going to make your own firewall or go with a prebuilt hardware firewall, and before you get to more advanced rules, there are a few essential firewall rules to set up. These are core to your home lab network, and make it so that you can always reach your firewall appliance to change rules should something go wrong. And let's face it, this is a home lab, and everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

3D printing is an exciting way to bring your ideas to life, and it becomes even more enjoyable when you can consistently create great-looking parts. Simple improvements and add-ons can go a long way toward making each print come out just the way you want. Whether you are focused on better quality or more convenience, the right upgrades can make your printer more reliable. With some thoughtful changes, you can say goodbye to frustrating hiccups and look forward to a smoother process.

Immich and DigiKam are two of the most popular open-source photo storage tools, but they offer different ways of storing and managing your visual files. Whether you want a quick setup with the guarantee of open-source security, or you want to host your own server in order to manage your photos, ensuring that everything is your own responsibility during every step, DigiKam and Immich provide the choice. These photo management tools are popular for open-source users and have similar features.

If you have been a PC user for a while, you already know the state of PC games we've been dealing with of late. It's a rare occurrence when a AAA title doesn't launch in a buggy, unfinished condition that needs weeks or months of patches to get fixed. Developers are relying on crutches like DLSS instead of focusing on optimizing games to run on a variety of hardware. More troubling, though, is the fact that PC hardware is now going down the same path.

Neil doesn’t seem very nice.Death Stranding’s sequel continues to look absolutely bonkers. The upcoming game — known as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — got a fresh trailer and a long-awaited release date of June 26th during a presentation at SXSW.The PlayStation 5 exclusive will cost $69.99 and is available for pre-order starting on March 17th. Those who buy the Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99) or Collector’s Edition ($229.99) get early access starting on June 24th.Hideo Kojima presented the 10-minute trailer, which opens on two characters — one is Neil, who is played by Italian actor Luca Marinelli — arguing with each other. Following that, there’s plenty of Sam (Norman Reedus) navigating the wastes with his BB and his cargo, facing bad weather, an avalanche, and the series’ signature horrific monsters. The game has a lot of star power, with the trailer highlighting characters like Fragile (Léa Seydoux), Tarman (George Miller), Higgs (Troy Baker), Tomorrow (Elle Fanning), Dollamn (Fatih Akin), Rainy (Shioli Kutsuna), The President (Alastair Duncan), Lucy (Alissa Jung), Heartman (Nicholas Winding Refn), and Doctor (Debra Wilson). Near the end, the trailer shows Neil donning a bandana that, as IGN notes, is very reminiscent of Solid Snake, the lead character of Kojima’s famed Metal Gear Solid series. The shot is creepy, with quick flashes showing his face intermittently replaced with a skull. Kojima also announced “The Strands of Harmony World Tour,” a Death Stranding concert tour that will visit 19 cities and feature the music of Death Stranding, performed by a live orchestra and singers. That begins on November 8th, 2025, in Sydney, Australia.First announced in 2022, On the Beach is a direct sequel to 2019’s Death Stranding, a game that saw Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima branch out with a new studio. The original’s success led to a director’s cut, multiple ports, and an upcoming live-action film made in partnership with A24. The studio is also working on a pair of other projects, with the Xbox horror game OD, which stars Sophia Lillis and Hunter Schafer, and an “action espionage” codenamed PHYSINT.

When it comes to image editing, Photoshop dominates the industry, but not everyone needs or wants to deal with its complexity or cost. There are plenty of alternatives out there, and while some get a fair share of the spotlight, others remain underrated — one such gem in Paint.NET. It's often dismissed as just a step above Microsoft Paint, but it actually offers a surprisingly robust range of features that make it a solid alternative to Photoshop.

We've covered a few projects that use eyeballs for creepy effects. For instance, we saw this large eyeball that can speak to you and this portrait that watches you wherever you walk. While these projects are a ton of fun, they may be a little difficult to apply to a bespoke project that you're working on.