Tom's Hardware's hands-on time with the new Dell XPS 13 (2026) confirms it is setting a new bar for mainstream Windows ultraportables, though you will pay a premium for that compact, non-upgradable chassis. The cooling and power supply market is heating up too, with be quiet! releasing the Dark Rock Pro 6, Noctua expanding into 240mm and 420mm AIOs, and Cooler Master quietly dropping a 3000W platinum workstation supply. On the desktop side, reviewers tested the AOC's 4K/240Hz QD-OLED panel, the uniquely cooled AORUS RTX 5070 Ti INFINITY, and a new wave of sub-12ms 8,000Hz Hall-Effect and optical keyboards. If you are looking to tune out the fan noise with some clarity-focused aune AS5 active speakers, full reviews for all of these components are live across Tom's Hardware, IgorsLAB, and other partner sites.
Today's Hardware Roundup: XPS 13 Reborn, New AIOs Hit The Desk, And A 3000 Watt Power Supply For Your Workstation
Tom's Hardware, IgorsLAB, KitGuru, and others have plenty to cover in a busy Monday for components.
The new Dell XPS 13 (2026) just shipped, and it is making a fairly bold case for itself as the default Windows ultraportable. Meanwhile, be quiet! dropped a sixth generation of its flagship air cooler, Noctua expanded its liquid lineup into 240mm and 420mm form factors, and Cooler Master quietly introduced a 3000W platinum workstation supply that will inevitably cost more than most gaming PCs. If you have an afternoon to kill, there is a lot of silicon and sheet metal to sort through.
The Laptop Space Keeps Getting Tighter
Tom's Hardware got hands on time with the 2026 XPS 13, and they are calling it the new bar for mainstream Windows laptop excellence. Dell clearly wants this machine to look and feel like the premium ultraportable market finally caught up to itself. The catch, as it usually is with this crowd, is the price. Tom's lists it as affordable relative to other Dell premium lines, but you will still be paying a noticeable premium over the budget chassis that dominate college dorms and coffee shops. Keep in mind that the design and build quality are solid. You are getting a compact footprint that does not feel like you are carrying a brick around. It is a rather expensive machine for the internals it is touting, though the small form factor does help it somewhat. However, at the same time, the lack of upgradability hurts it long term.
Tom's Hardware: Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: the new bar for mainstream Windows laptop excellence
An affordable laptop that looks and feels like a premium ultraportable
Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: the new bar for mainstream Windows laptop excellence
Cooling And Power Supplies Take Center Stage
Heat is still the enemy, no matter what generation of silicon you are cramming into your case. APH Networks spent time with the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6, the latest iteration from the German manufacturer. The reviewer's opening anecdote about preferring subzero environments and unzipping jackets on school buses in winter sets the tone. The Pro 6 needs to handle modern heat producers without sounding like a jet engine. The predecessor, the Dark Rock Pro 5, set a high bar. If be quiet! can shave a few decibels off the noise floor while keeping temps in check, the update will stick around. Not cheap, but quiet coolers always sell themselves to the right crowd.
APH Networks: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6 Review
When I was a child, I found that I always was a bit warmer than most people. One story my mom loves telling was the time I was getting off my school bus in elementary school. I was probably around grade three, and my mom was at the stop to pick me up and walk home with me. However, it was in the middle of winter, and it had been heavily snowing. Regardless, as I jumped off the bus, I was unzipping my winter jacket and telling my mom how hot it was on the bus. I removed layer by layer until it was just my arms showing and I observed steam rising from my arms. Even to this day, I rarely wear long sleeves unless it is cold. In general, I still prefer a cooler environment, as I can always put on clothes to warm up, but I can only take off so much clothing when it is too hot. In some ways, I think I am a bit like a processor, as I would prefer a cold place and would want things to help keep me cool rather than warm me up. There are many products that can keep processors cool, including air coolers. Today, we have the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6, which is the latest CPU cooler from the German manufacturer. We have seen its predecessor, the Dark Rock Pro 5 and Dark Rock Elite, but how will our latest one perform? Is it still a capable option for these recent heat producers? Let us read on to find out!
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6 Review (Page 1 of 4) | APH Networks
On the liquid side, Noctua rolled out the NL-LC1-24 and NL-LC1-42. Funky Kit put them through their paces. The 240mm and 420mm all-in-ones bring classic Noctua virtues to the AIO market. First class cooling performance, quiet operation, and the kind of reliability that makes you stop thinking about your pump after six months. Noctua basically said, "We already make the best air coolers. Now drink this." And honestly, the market was waiting for it.
Funky Kit: Noctua NL-LC1-24 240mm and NL-LC1-42 420mm AIO CPU Coolers Review
With first-class cooling performance, superb quietness of operation and industry-leading reliability, the NL-LC1 series brings classic Noctua virtues to the world of all-in-one liquid coolers.
Noctua NL-LC1-24 240mm and NL-LC1-42 420mm AIO CPU Coolers Review - Funky Kit
The power supply situation got interesting this week too. Tom's Hardware reviewed Cooler Master's V Platinum 3000. It is a 3000W, 230V-only unit built by CWT, and it carries a 12-year warranty. No pricing is listed yet. That absence of a price tag is a bold marketing move when the unit will inevitably cost more than a decent used car. You will want a dedicated workstation or a seriously overbuilt multi-GPU rig to actually draw that much juice, but the Verified Platinum efficiency rating means you are not throwing money away as heat.
Tom's Hardware: Cooler Master V Platinum 3000 power supply review: Verified Platinum efficiency for workstations, with a stellar 12-year warranty
A 3000W, 230V-only workstation supply built by CWT, but no pricing yet
Formula V Line's FV-1200GM takes a different approach. At 1200W with an 80 Plus Gold rating, it promises serious wattage on a strict budget and a smaller physical footprint. Efficiency and ripple performance came in well above average. However, the review team did flag other issues you will want to be aware of before wiring it into a build. Cheap does not always mean smart.
Tom's Hardware: Formula V Line FV-1200GM Review
The Formula V Line FV-1200GM promises 1200 W of 80 Plus Gold power on a strict budget and physical footprint. While there are no concerns with efficiency and ripple, both performing admirably, our testing reveals other issues you will want to be aware of.
Displays, GPUs, And Peripherals Round Out The Day
KitGuru checked out the AOC Agon Pro AG326UZD2, which runs the same 32-inch 4K/240Hz Penta Tandem QD-OLED panel as MSI's MPG 322UR X24. Higher peak brightness. True Black 500 HDR certification. The new QuantumBlack panel coating to fight reflections. It also undercuts the MSI on price. If you have been sitting on the fence waiting for a fourth-generation OLED panel to mature, this is a strong sign.
KitGuru: AOC Agon Pro AG326UZD2 Review (Penta Tandem 4K/240Hz QD-OLED)
Today we are back with another review of a 4th Gen Penta Tandem QD-OLED monitor. This time we are checking out AOC's AG326UZD2, utilising the same 32in 4K/240Hz panel that we saw in our recent coverage of MSI's MPG 322UR X24. That means it's packing in all the same panel improvements – including higher brightness, True Black 500 certification for HDR, and the new QuantumBlack panel coating. It also comes in at a lower price* than the MSI, so is it worth buying?
AOC Agon Pro AG326UZD2 Review (Penta Tandem 4K/240Hz QD-OLED) - KitGuru
Vortez took a look at the AORUS RTX 5070 Ti INFINITY, and the WINDFORCE HYPERBURST cooling system makes it one of the most visually distinct models on the market. Unique designs always draw a crowd, even if the benchmarks barely budge from reference. You are paying for the aesthetic, which is fine if that is your thing.
Vortez: AORUS RTX 5070 Ti INFINITY Review
Featuring the WINDFORCE HYPERBURST cooling system, the new RTX 5070 Ti INFINITY might just be one of the most unique models on the market.
The keyboard wars are entering a weird new phase. IgorsLAB tested the Dry Studio Battleye 74.5 RT, a Hall-Effect board that clocks 11.5 ms of end-to-end latency at 8,000 Hz polling. High-quality construction and that kind of responsiveness is exactly what tournament players hunt for. Windows Central got the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Low-Profile TKL in for a spin. It packs optical analog switches, 8,000Hz polling, and an ultra-slim chassis into a tenkeyless footprint. Browser-based Synapse Web control removes the desktop bloatware dependency, which is a welcome change. Two very different takes on the same speed obsession.
IgorsLAB: Dry Studio Battleye 74.5 RT Review: Hall-Effect Board
The Dry Studio Battleye 74.5 RT impresses in testing with high-quality construction, Hall-Effect switches and 11,5 ms end-to-end latency at 8.000 Hz.
Windows Central: Speed, precision, and a slimmer build — Razer’s Huntsman V3 Pro Low‑Profile TKL nails all three
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Low-Profile Tenkeyless 8KHz is an esports powerhouse crammed into an ultra-slim chassis. Featuring lightning-fast low-profile optical analog switches, 8,000Hz polling, and browser-based Synapse Web control, it sets a new gold standard for work and play.
Finally, NikKTech put the aune AS5 active speakers through the paces. A compact coaxial design with independent Class AB monoblock architecture. The tuning leans heavily toward clarity and control rather than bass rumble. If you prefer your music to hit you in the face with detail instead of muddying the mix with subwoofer shake, the AS5 is worth a listen.
NikKTech: aune AS5 Active Speakers Review
aune’s brand new AS5 step into the active‑bookshelf space with a compact coaxial design, independent Class AB monoblock architecture, and a sound signature that leans toward clarity and control.
Full reviews are live across Tom's Hardware, APH Networks, Funky Kit, KitGuru, Vortez, IgorsLAB, Windows Central, and NikKTech. Which of these releases caught your eye, or are you just waiting for a sale? Drop a note in the comments.
