Daily Tech News 7 June 2026

Top Story

I mentioned before how PCIe switches - at least ones operating faster than PCIe 3.0 - are prohibitively expensive and reserved for enterprise customers except for the ones built into every mainstream PC motherboard. All but the cheapest models have a chipset, and that chipset's primary function is to act as a PCIe switch.

And hobbyists have started tinkering with using AMD's B650 chip, which is a serviceable and reasonably priced example - plus one that already works because every operating system has drivers to support it.

Now it's moving beyond a hobby. (Tom's Hardware)

Raspberry Pi shop WisdPi announced its PROM21 All In Expansion Card - the codename for the chip in the B650 chipset is Promontory 21. For $199 - not cheap, but it's a small production run - you get four extra M.2 slots, five 10Gb USB 3 ports, a selection of USB 2 headers, and an OCuLink header that can provide four PCIe 4.0 lanes or through an adaptor cable four SATA ports (the magic happens in the chipset, so the cable is easy). And it's a single slot half-height half-length card so it will fit easily into any PC.

Minisforum is preparing a similar card.

This would have been much more interesting before storage prices went into orbit, but at least it exists.

Tech News

Speaking of things more interesting in the Before Times, the Zima Cube 2 is a worthy successor to the old Cobalt Cube, though a little larger and disappointingly unblue. (Notebook Check)

It has an Intel 1215U or 1235U processor, two DDR5 SODIMM slots (so up to a nominal 64GB and a theoretical 128GB), one M.2 slot on the motherboard for the boot device, four more M.2 slots in a removable bay for storage, 6 3.5" drive bays for more storage, two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports plus a 10Gb port in the Pro model, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 4, two regular USB ports, and two PCIe slots, all in a compact, roughly 9" cube.

The Qube was a little less than 8" on a side so the newer device beats it in every respect except that.

$799 for the basic model with 8GB RAM; $1299 for the Pro model with 16GB.

Also, the power supply is pretty limited so if you want to add a graphics card you need one that doesn't require any more than the 70W it can draw from the motherboard.
AMD has expanded on its continued support for its current AM5 motherboards, stating that new products will arrive for that standard until 2029. (WCCFTech)

AM6 with support for DDR6 memory and the PCIe 6.0 bus will arrive only when it "makes sense". PCIe 6.0 devices for the enterprise are trickling out now, but DDR6 isn't expected to appear until 2028.
CXMT is coming to the rescue in the memory drought. (WCCFTech)

Unfortunately it is rescuing itself, raising prices to match the Big Three.
And Lexar's regional manager for Australia and New Zealand says that memory prices are expected to double by the end of the year. (Tom's Hardware)

On top of the already 5x increase, making the 128GB kit I bought a year ago one of the most valuable items I own.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Orange-lemon.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 04:30 AM (6wpGE)

2 uh-oh

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 04:36 AM (6wpGE)

3 Tammy Wynette - Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad

; )

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 04:39 AM (6wpGE)

4 Guten morgen, horde.

Posted by: clarence at June 07, 2026 04:41 AM (FLIKO)

5 wikipedia

Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 199

... was born and raised near Tremont, a small town in Itawamba County, Mississippi, by her mother, stepfather, and maternal grandparents. ... In 1967, she had her first commercial success with the single "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad".

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 04:47 AM (6wpGE)

6 *April 6, 1998

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 04:48 AM (6wpGE)

7 >> And Lexar's regional manager for Australia and New Zealand says that memory prices are expected to double by the end of the year. (Tom's Hardware)

> On top of the already 5x increase, making the 128GB kit I bought a year ago one of the most valuable items I own.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Matthew 25:29 "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."

Posted by: SciVo at June 07, 2026 04:54 AM (Sy6m/)

8 From the ONT:

400 Live cam showing the reflecting pool filling up

https://tinyurl.com/bduutu2d
Posted by: Piper
****

Currently too dark to see the pool.

Posted by: clarence at June 07, 2026 04:58 AM (FLIKO)

9 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at June 07, 2026 05:02 AM (V0/Sp)

10 @5. If you like them painted up, powdered up, then you gotta be glad cause your good girl is gonna go bad.
In 1967 I was ten years old and if I was in the car with Mom that song was going to be blasting. I don't know why but she loved that song.

Posted by: Case at June 07, 2026 05:03 AM (4Pn+V)

11 I recently started looking into upgrading my laptop’s memory. While
looking for answers I discovered https://znayka.com.ua.
I couldn’t find practical upgrade instructions on most websites. Many sources were confusing.
On this site I found clear explanations about RAM compatibility, along with images that made everything much easier to understand.
Now I definitely recommend this website if you want reliable information about laptops and hardware upgrades.

Posted by: Andrey Ivanchenko at June 07, 2026 05:08 AM (EzY64)

12 Belated BOING!

Another gorgeous day up here in north Israel. Did some house maintenance this morning. Lunchtime with some of the pups and grandpups at a restaurant we all like.

Maybe l8r.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 07, 2026 05:13 AM (V6c7t)

13 10 @5. If you like them painted up, powdered up, then you gotta be glad cause your good girl is gonna go bad.
In 1967 I was ten years old and if I was in the car with Mom that song was going to be blasting. I don't know why but she loved that song.
Posted by: Case at June 07, 2026 05:03 AM (4Pn+V)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:13 AM (6wpGE)

14
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 07, 2026 05:18 AM (AMvSw)

15 Thanks Pixy, and to the Horde support.
I was able to fix my browser issue mentioned yesterday.
After spending about an hour through the week trying to fix it I restarted with most simple ones suggested yesterday.
When I went into settings of clean Chrome browser, there was an alert that once clicked resolved the issue. I'd spent much more time earlier in Brave & Windows settings.
Link from Comrade Flounder saved much more aggravation.

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at June 07, 2026 05:19 AM (KaHlS)

16 Yes, but do you sell quality lace wigs?

Posted by: fluffy at June 07, 2026 05:20 AM (V0/Sp)

17 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at June 07, 2026 05:21 AM (hcPzc)

18 16 Yes, but do you sell quality lace wigs?
Posted by: fluffy at June 07, 2026 05:20 AM (V0/Sp)

haha!

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:21 AM (6wpGE)

19 Posted by: clarence at June 07, 2026 04:41 AM (FLIKO)

FLIKO sounds like an television series spy organization, like CONTROL or KAOS.

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:24 AM (6wpGE)

20 "an television"?

covfefe

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:24 AM (6wpGE)

21 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at June 07, 2026 05:26 AM (Ia/+0)

22 8 From the ONT:

400 Live cam showing the reflecting pool filling up

https://tinyurl.com/bduutu2d
Posted by: Piper
****

Currently too dark to see the pool.
Posted by: clarence at June 07, 2026 04:58 AM (FLIKO)

5:35am

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:35 AM (6wpGE)

23
Good morning, Hordians.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 07, 2026 05:39 AM (O0L8i)

24 WAMO Cam
Washington Monument Cam

Check out the view from the highest point in the nation's capital - the Washington Monument. 24/7 views over the National Mall in Washington, DC are delivered in higher resolution than ever by EarthCam’s specially designed 5G camera, embedded in a secret, 3" diameter hole drilled by engineers in 2011 to allow climbers to rappel down the monument to inspect earthquake damage.

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:39 AM (6wpGE)

25 Evening to the Sunday toilers! Morning to the early risers!

I don't know if any of you remember, but Tammy Wynette and the young Burt Reynolds once had an affair. Early '70s, I think, around the time he did his controversial Playgirl centerfold. He also had an affair with Dinah Shore around then. Apparently he had a thing for older hot ladies.

And for cute-cute ones; I recall he and Sally Field were an item at one time too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 07, 2026 05:43 AM (wzUl9)

26 FLIKO sounds like an television series spy organization, like CONTROL or KAOS.
Posted by: m at June 07, 2026

***
Hmph. Those upstarts.

Posted by: Thrush Supreme Council at June 07, 2026 05:46 AM (wzUl9)

27 AM6 with support for DDR6 memory and the PCIe 6.0

* all the curse words ... and more *

Posted by: weft cut-loop at June 07, 2026 05:50 AM (diia5)

28 Anyhow! I am awake, sipping my coffee. Stirling is roaming around like a miniature panther, and Dagny (who at one point last night was on the bed with us) trotted out from her window when I called her name. They are not due for breakfast for an hour, though.

And I really do need to work out this morning. I've been off since Thursday, and you get rusty if you don't work out regularly.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 07, 2026 05:52 AM (wzUl9)

29 Coffee in hand but its very hot

Posted by: Skip at June 07, 2026 06:12 AM (Ia/+0)

30 "an television"?

covfefe
Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:24 AM (6wpGE)
---
The "t" is silent.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 07, 2026 06:12 AM (gnNyN)

31 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 07, 2026 06:13 AM (amcLV)

32 mornin yall

"Young man plunges to his death from scenic California cliff overlooking nude beach"

The report says that it was unclear what the young man was doing on the cliff overlooking the nude beach.

Posted by: fd at June 07, 2026 06:19 AM (vFG9F)

33 30 "an television"?

covfefe
Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 05:24 AM (6wpGE)
---
The "t" is silent.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 07, 2026 06:12 AM (gnNyN)

THANK YOU!

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 06:19 AM (6wpGE)

34 hank you

Posted by: Skip at June 07, 2026 06:21 AM (Ia/+0)

35
Coffee in hand but its very hot

Posted by: Skip at June 07, 2026 06:12 AM (Ia/+0)

_____________

Most of us use cups.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 07, 2026 06:25 AM (O0L8i)

36 In a similar vein to the musical interlude:

tinyurl.com/8zwra3pk

Posted by: Nazdar at June 07, 2026 06:28 AM (NcvvS)

37
Needs must take Her Majesty to the airport this morning. Afternoon Mass today, which I don't much like, but people are falling over each other arriving and leaving the morning ones.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 07, 2026 06:34 AM (O0L8i)

38 @15/InspiredHistoryMike: "... When I went into settings of clean Chrome browser, there was an alert that once clicked resolved the issue. I'd spent much more time earlier in Brave & Windows settings."

What was the text of the alert you got?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 07, 2026 06:40 AM (O7YUW)

39 Good morning! Lotsa rain and rumbly grumbly goin on here. It's a good morning to chill on the patio with a cuppa and watch the lighting.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 07, 2026 06:41 AM (3Ope8)

40 What was the text of the alert you got?
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 07, 2026 06:40 AM (O7YUW)

Browser warrantee was expired.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 07, 2026 06:44 AM (1Ff7Z)

41 @27/weft cut-loop: "AM6 with support for DDR6 memory and the PCIe 6.0

* all the curse words ... and more *"

I might start using "Hynix", "Samsung", and "Micron" as curse words.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 07, 2026 06:47 AM (O7YUW)

42 Disclaimer: Orange-lemon.

I don't know what that means, but:

OrangeEnt at June 07, 2026 06:44 AM (1Ff7Z)

Posted by: m at June 07, 2026 06:50 AM (6wpGE)

43 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at June 07, 2026 06:54 AM (CJnkZ)

44 "Birdbath status?
Posted by: Just Wondering"

Lawsuit filed.

Posted by: the crows at June 07, 2026 06:57 AM (vFG9F)

45 I'm half hoping Elon Musk will decide do something about the memory drought, kind of the way he freed Twitter by buying it (at a loss to himself) from the censorious idjits that owned it previously.

If anyone could spin up a memory fabrication facility in a lot less time than the "years" the big three (now big four?) existing memory manufacturers claim it would take, it'd be him.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 07, 2026 07:00 AM (O7YUW)

46 @34/Skip: "hank you"

Dang it, Skip!

Posted by: Propane and Propane Accessories at June 07, 2026 07:02 AM (O7YUW)

47 Grumpy, Sorry I was so relieved I didn't need to dig into DOS registry I didn't retain verbage of Chrome alert. I'd not done anything abnormal proceeding the issue. All browsers were effected, after windows 11 update, Edge also had the webpage unavailable error to most sites.
I'd been avoiding 10 to 11 upgrade obviously, but had installed the prolonged support which will expire in October. The only thing I'm happy with is that the upgrade did not force me to add a log-in password for start up.

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at June 07, 2026 07:02 AM (KaHlS)

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