AMD launched its Ryzen Threadripper 1950X desktop processor in August, a massive 16-core chip for massive performance in PC gaming. Now AMD is receiving the prestigious CES 2018 Best of Innovation Award for this processor in the “Computer Hardware and Components” category. Why? For “outstanding design and engineering,” according to the press release.
AMD introduced new Ryzen-branded desktop processors earlier this year that are based on a new CPU design built from (nearly) scratched called Zen. The company set out to cram as much performance as possible into every penny spent while reducing the power requirements in the process. In other words, AMD pushed to create processors with a higher performance and lower power draw with a lower price tag than similar CPUs built by Intel.
But in August, AMD revealed that it wasn’t quite done with its Zen-based rollout in 2017. The company introduced two “extreme” desktop processors built for top-of-the-line gaming and enthusiasts. Filed under the Ryzen Threadripper brand, the 16-core Threadripper 1950X earning AMD the new award at CES just received a price cut, Buy Now . The 12-core Threadripper 1920X model received a price reduction too, Buy Now .
By comparison, Intel’s latest 16-core desktop processor for enthusiasts, the Core i9-7960X, costs a heftier $1,740. Meanwhile, Intel’s latest 12-core chip, the Core i9-7920X, Buy Now after a recent $100 reduction. Just in the prices alone, there is a huge gap between the two AMD processors and Intel’s two X-Series chips. But you also have to compare the specifications to really appreciate why AMD is receiving an award.
As the chart shows, AMD clearly accomplished what it set out to achieve with its Zen processor design. The drawback with both cases is that you simply can’t cram the Core X-Series and Ryzen Threadripper processors into any desktop PC. They are large chips that require a specific motherboard chipset and a big seat on the motherboard designed specifically for these CPUs. Spending money on the CPU is just part of the X-Series/Threadripper upgrade process.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from enthusiasts and expert reviewers that greeted the release of AMD Ryzen Threadripper already served as a huge reward for the AMD whole engineering team who built this ground-breaking product,” AMD Chief Marketing Officer John Taylor said in a statement.
Awards are dished out to technology companies through a panel of judges consisting of “industrial designers, engineers, and members of the trade media.” CES, short for the Consumer Electronics Show, takes place in Las Vegas in January every year. It’s a platform for showcasing new products and technologies, and to honor companies for their achievements. The show and awards are sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association.
Nearly a month after announcing the GPT-6.1 Sol model, OpenAI unveiled GPT-6.1 Terra today. The latest addition to the family focuses on computer use, visual reasoning, coding, and professional work, while costing 50% less through the API than GPT-5.6 Terra.
OpenAI says Terra can handle everything from filling out browser forms and working inside spreadsheets to interpreting technical drawings and editing videos. The company says it can also complete computer-based tasks more than three times faster than GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol.
ASUS has started selling its UGen Intel Arc Pro B70 graphics card in Europe, bringing its take on Intel’s workstation GPU to customers with a hefty €1,799 recommended price. The card is available in Germany and Austria, while ASUS lists it at CHF 1,799 in Switzerland.
Intel first introduced the Arc Pro B70 in March 2026, with its own branded model starting at $949. ASUS’s version arrives several months later with the same core GPU architecture but a different cooling design and a higher power rating. The price also places it well above Intel’s original starting point, although the two prices are not directly comparable because ASUS’s European figure includes VAT.
Anthropic has officially filed to go public, and buried inside its S-1 is a blunt warning about the technology at the center of its business. The maker of Claude AI says advanced AI could cause everything from large-scale cyberattacks and geopolitical instability to catastrophic or even existential risks for humanity.
The warnings take up a surprisingly large part of the filing. Axios notes that more than 90 pages, or roughly a third of the prospectus, focus on risk factors. Many of them warn about what could happen as AI systems become more capable and autonomous.