Friday, May 17th 2024

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Keyboards
Memory
NAS
Other
PSUs
SSD
TerraMaster D8 Hybrid Review

TerraMaster D8 Hybrid Review

TerraMaster's D8 Hybrid combines hard disk drives and M.2 NVMe drives in a USB Type-C connected DAS that can also be used to add more drives to a NAS. Thanks to the 10 Gbps USB interface, it is able to outperform any Gigabit Ethernet NAS.
Ghost of Tsushima Performance Benchmark Review - 35 GPUs Tested

Ghost of Tsushima Performance Benchmark Review - 35 GPUs Tested

Ghost of Tsushima is finally available for PC after being a PlayStation exclusive for four years. Thanks to the porting work by Nixxes, the game runs very well, even on weaker hardware. In our performance review, we're taking a closer look at image quality, VRAM usage, and performance on a wide selection of modern graphics cards.

EK Launches EK-Pro GPU Water Block for NVIDIA RTX 4090 WindForce V2

EK, the leading computer cooling solutions provider, is introducing the EK-Pro GPU WB RTX 4090 WindForce V2 - Nickel + Inox, an enterprise-grade full-cover water block designed specifically for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 WindForce V2 24G graphics card. The water block features a CNC-machined nickel-plated copper base paired with a precision laser-cut stainless-steel top, ensuring both durability and superior liquid cooling efficiency. It fully covers and cools the GPU, VRAM, and VRM components by directing the cooling liquid over these essential areas to efficiently dissipate heat.

Utilizing the Open Split-Flow cooling engine design, this water block delivers exceptional cooling performance. It boasts minimal hydraulic flow restriction, making it compatible with lower-powered water pumps or those running at reduced speeds without compromising efficiency. The jet plate and fin structure geometry are meticulously optimized to ensure uniform flow distribution with minimal loss, achieving optimal cooling efficiency. Remarkably, this water block maintains outstanding cooling performance even when the water flow is reversed, consistently surpassing expectations. It also features a single-slot I/O bracket.

Xencelabs Unveils Industry First 16-Inch 4K OLED Pen Display

Xencelabs, the global provider of digital drawing solutions and new choice for creative professionals, announces the Xencelabs Pen Display 16, its new pen-on-screen solution for creative content professionals, educators, and students. Flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 and the number of ways you can use the device is a testament to Xencelabs' product design philosophy. At just 0.47 inches (12 mm) and very light, 2.67 lbs (1.21 kg), the display can go wherever creativity takes you - to your favorite café, a client presentation or from classroom to home. The Xencelabs Pen Display 16 will connect to any compatible PC, Mac, or Linux laptop via a single USB-C to USB-C cable. A 10-bit hub is included for those needing to connect through HDMI or DisplayPort. The included light and easy to carry Xencelabs Mobile Easel stand offers two drawing angles.

A 4K OLED pen display answers the call from creative users wanting the colors from their drawings and paintings to be more vivid and realistic. The OLED display also provides an absence of visual artifacts such as backlight bleeding and blooming pixels. Furthermore, artists delight in the device's ability to create lifelike colors against a true black background.

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Exascend Launches Rugged AS500 BGA SSD

Exascend, a service-oriented provider of innovative storage and memory solutions, today unveiled its AS500 series NVMe Ball Grid Array solid state drive (BGA SSD). Engineered to address the demanding data storage requirements of next-generation connected and autonomous vehicles, the AS500 combines exceptional endurance with virtualization capabilities in an ultra-compact BGA form factor.

"The immense data demands of autonomous driving, infotainment systems, digital cockpits and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) require ruggedized storage solutions capable of withstanding extreme automotive conditions," said Frank Chen, CEO of Exascend. "The AS500 BGA SSD delivers sustained performance and virtualization support, offering automakers a compact, robust and power-efficient storage solution for in-vehicle deployments. We're particularly proud that the innovative AS500 series recently took home a Best in Show honor at Embedded World 2024."

SK hynix and HLDS Jointly Developed Tube T31 and Haechi H02 Win Red Dot Design Award

Leading semiconductor company SK hynix today announced that its stick-type SSD, the Tube T31, and its heat sink for the Platinum P41, the Haechi H02, both jointly developed with Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), have won one of the top three global design awards, the 2024 Red Dot Design Award. The Tube T31 is SK hynix's first stick-type SSD, which can be used directly by plugging into a USB-A port without a USB cable, offering convenient usability with speeds up to 1,000 MB/s for recording 4K videos, storing game data, etc. Currently, 1 TB and 512 GB models are available; a 2 TB model will launch soon.

The Haechi H02 is a follow-up model to the previously released Haechi H01, a heat sink product for the Platinum P41 designed exclusively for PlayStation 5 models CFI-1000, CFI-1100 and CFI-1200. This upgraded version will also be compatible with the PlayStation 5 Slim and is scheduled to be launched in June. Before they are released, the two products will be exhibited at the COMPUTEX booth of SK hynix's official production and sales partner, Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.

Intel Releases Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5522 WHQL

Intel released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers today. The latest version 101.5522 WHQL brings mostly game ready support for titles like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield May Update, Wuthering Waves, and XDefiant. With the support for Starfield May Update, Intel has prepared performance improvements when the game runs on DirectX 12 API. This brings up to 8% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings and up to 7% average FPS uplift at 1440p with High settings, which is a notable improvement coming only from the driver. You can download the drivers from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5522 WHQL.

This $40 Lifetime VPN Deal Is So Good It's Being Discontinued Soon—Don't Miss Out

While some VPN providers want you to pay monthly or yearly fees, FastestVPN offers a lifetime subscription you can use forever with a one-time payment. Actually, their PRO plan with 800+ servers, support for 15 devices, and tons of other features is only available for a limited time, being discontinued later this year. But, you can get it for $39.99 (reg. $600) right now. Your PRO lifetime plan also includes a 1-year password manager from PassHulk. You can use this to securely store complex log-ins, credit card numbers, and bank accounts.

Get a lifetime of FastestVPN PRO on StackSocial for $39.99 (reg. $600). It comes with a free 1-year password manager.

TSMC Unveils Next-Generation HBM4 Base Dies, Built on 12 nm and 5 nm Nodes

During the European Technology Symposium 2024, TSMC has announced its readiness to manufacture next-generation HBM4 base dies using both 12 nm and 5 nm nodes. This significant development is expected to substantially improve the performance, power consumption, and logic density of HBM4 memory, catering to the demands of high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The shift from a traditional 1024-bit interface to an ultra-wide 2048-bit interface is a key aspect of the new HBM4 standard. This change will enable the integration of more logic and higher performance while reducing power consumption. TSMC's N12FFC+ and N5 processes will be used to produce these base dies, with the N12FFC+ process offering a cost-effective solution for achieving HBM4 performance and the N5 process providing even more logic and lower power consumption at HBM4 speeds.

The company is collaborating with major HBM memory partners, including Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix, to integrate advanced nodes for HBM4 full-stack integration. TSMC's base die, fabricated using the N12FFC+ process, will be used to install HBM4 memory stacks on a silicon interposer alongside system-on-chips (SoCs). This setup will enable the creation of 12-Hi (48 GB) and 16-Hi (64 GB) stacks with per-stack bandwidth exceeding 2 TB/s. TSMC's collaboration with EDA partners like Cadence, Synopsys, and Ansys ensures the integrity of HBM4 channel signals, thermal accuracy, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the new HBM4 base dies. TSMC is also optimizing CoWoS-L and CoWoS-R for HBM4 integration, meaning that massive high-performance chips are already utilizing this technology and getting ready for volume manufacturing.

LN2 Cooled Apple M4 Chip Surpasses Single-Core Performance of M3 Max and M2 Ultra

According to Geekerwan, Apple's latest M4 silicon has achieved a remarkable milestone by using liquid nitrogen to chill Apple's M4 iPad Pro. This unconventional approach unlocked great single-core performance, surpassing even the M3 Max and M2 Ultra processors in Geekbench v6 benchmark tests. The setup involved cooling the M4 iPad Pro, equipped with a 3+6 core configuration, using a Kingpin Cooling T-Rex Rev 4 CPU LN2 pot filled with liquid nitrogen. This extreme cooling allowed the M4 processor to operate at an astonishing 4.41 GHz during the benchmark run, resulting in a staggering single-core score of 4,001 points. This score represents a 28% increase over the M3 Max found in the 16-inch MacBook Pro and an impressive 44% improvement over the M2 Ultra powering the Mac Studio.

Notably, the M4's single-core performance is capable of reaching scores in the 3,000s. With liquid nitrogen cooling, it suprases the 4,000-point mark, making this achievement all the more remarkable. While the M4's multi-core performance did not match the lofty expectations set by its single-core power, it still managed to achieve a score of 13,595 points, outperforming both the M3 Max and M2 Ultra, which scored 20,957 and 21,330 points, respectively. This was done on the 3+6 core configuration with three P-cores and six E-cores, which is not the top-end M4 configuration. This shows that with adequate cooling, like MacBooks, the upcoming M4 Pro and M4 Max chips could achieve much higher performance than their predecessors.

Ghost of Tsushima Lets You Use DLSS 2 and FSR 3 Frame Generation Together

The latest update of Ghost of Tsushima lets you use DLSS 2 super-resolution and FSR 3 Frame Generation simultaneously, so you have the unique benefit of having the NVIDIA DLSS 2 handle super resolution and image quality, while letting the AMD FSR 3 nearly double frame-rates of the DLSS 2 output. All this, without the need for any mods, it's part of the game's original code. It's crazy when you think about it—you now have two performance enhancements running in tandem, with gamers reporting over 170 FPS at 4K with reasonably good image quality. This could particularly benefit those on older GeForce RTX 30-series "Ampere" and RTX 20-series "Turing" graphics cards, as those lack support for DLSS 3 Frame Generation.
Thursday, May 16th 2024
Silverstone Shark Force 120 mm Fan Review

Silverstone Shark Force 120 mm Fan Review

The Silverstone Shark Force 120 is a performance-optimized 120 mm fan with minimal frills and a clean look backed by good build quality. It offers a zero RPM mode as part of a long RPM control range and pushes a lot of air through a radiator, albeit with associated high airflow noise too.

COLORFUL Introduces the new EVOL G Series Gaming Laptops

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, proudly introduces the new EVOL G Series gaming laptops powered by the 13th Generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics. The EVOL G Series comes in a new futuristic design featuring Lila—a space traveler exploring colorful galaxies and the universe. The EVOL G Series gets a new look that sets it apart from the EVOL P Series. The new EVOL G Series also introduces Lila, a space explorer that inspired the futuristic design of the new EVOL gaming laptop. The EVOL G Series is available in white and grey colors with an RGB-lit keyboard.

The COLORFUL EVOL G Series comes equipped with up to a 13th generation Intel Core i7-13620H processor with 10 cores and 16 threads, clocked up to 4.90 GHz. It is paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, which supports ray tracing and DLSS 3.5 for more immersive gaming, and the highest AI power of up to 233 TOP. EVOL G Series comes equipped with a QHD (2560 x 1440) 165 Hz IPS gaming screen, with a high screen-to-body ratio of 86%. Display also features a viewing angle and 100% sRGB color gamut coverage delivering accurate colors and vivid visuals.

ASUS Leaks its own Snapdragon X Elite Notebook

Courtesy of ASUS Vietnam (via @rquandt on X/Twitter), we now have an idea of what ASUS' first Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite notebook will look like, but also what the main specifications are. It will share the Vivobook S 15 OLED branding with other notebooks from ASUS, although the leaked model carries the model number S5507QA-MA089WS. At its core is a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 SoC which is the base model from Qualcomm. The SoC consists of 12 Oryon cores, of which eight are performance cores and four are energy efficient cores. A peak, multi-threaded clock speed of 3.4 GHz and 42 MB of cache, as well as a 75 TOPs AI engine rounds off the SoC specs. The SoC is also home to a Qualcomm Adreno GPU, but so far Qualcomm hasn't released any useful specs about the GPU in the Snapdragon X Elite series of chips.

ASUS has paired the SoC with 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory of an unknown clock speed, although Qualcomm officially supports speed of up to 8,448 MT/s in a to PC users unusual configuration of eight channels at 16-bit wide, for a bandwidth of up to 135 GB/s. For comparison, Intel's latest Core Ultra processors max out at LPDDR5X 7,467 MT/s and up to 120 GB/s memory bandwidth. Other features include a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, a glossy 15.6-inch 2,880 x 1,620 resolution, 120 Hz OLED display with 600 nits peak brightness and a 70 WHr battery. It's unclear what connectivity options will be on offer, but judging by the screenshot below, we can at least expect an HDMI out as well as a pair of USB Type-C ports, a micro SD card slot and a headphone jack. As far as pricing goes, Roland Quandt is suggesting a €1,500 base price on X/Twitter, but we'll have to wait for the official launch to find out what these Arm based laptops will retail for. ASUS Vietnam has already removed the page from its website.

Double Your Screen Space With a $153 Portable IPS Monitor

Even though they have the potential to nearly double your on-the-go productivity, portable monitors can get expensive. Those looking for a budget option might be interested in this 13.3-inch 2K IPS display that's only $152.99 (reg. $169.99). With mini HDMI and two USB-C ports, you can connect desktops, laptops, smartphones, or even gaming consoles at home, when traveling, or anywhere in between. Your purchase includes the power and data cables. For sound, connect headphones to the 3.5 mm AUX port or use the built-in speakers.

Use the gadget in copy, expansion, or second screen modes to mirror or extend your device's display. As for the screen itself, enjoy 2560x1600 resolution, a 60 Hz refresh rate, 8 ms response speed, and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. While these aren't the most impressive monitor specs on the market, they're great for someone who wants an affordable display for working, studying, or gaming.

Double your screen space with this 13.3-inch 2K IPS display that's $152.99 (reg. $169.99) on StackSocial.

NVIDIA GeForce NOW Gets Men of War II, Palworld, and More Games This Week

Whether looking for new adventures, epic storylines or games to play with a friend, GeForce NOW members are covered. Start off with the much-anticipated sequel to the Men of War franchise or cozy up with some adorable pals in Palworld, both part of five games GeForce NOW is bringing to the cloud this week.

No Guts, No Glory
Get transported to the battlefields of World War II with historical accuracy and attention to detail in Men of War II, the newest entry in the real-time strategy series from Fulqrum Publishing. The game features an extensive roster of units, including tanks, airplanes and infantry. With advanced enemy AI and diverse gameplay modes, Men of War II promises an immersive experience for both history enthusiasts and casual gamers. Gear up, strategize and prepare to rewrite history. Get an extra fighting chance with a GeForce NOW Ultimate membership, which streams at up to 4K resolution and provides longer gaming sessions and faster access to games over a free membership.

Western Digital Unveils World's Highest Capacity 2.5" Portable HDDs

With the explosion of digital content, people need bigger and more robust solutions to help access and preserve it all. Western Digital today is introducing a portable HDD expansion across its WD, WD_BLACK and SanDisk Professional product lineups, boasting the world's highest storage capacity in a 2.5" portable HDD. The WD My Passport portable HDD line, WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive and SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE ArmorATD will all now be available in 6 TB capacities.

"Expanding our portfolio with the world's first 2.5" 6 TB portable hard drive is an incredible technological achievement, and it enables us to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible," said Nitin Kachhwaha, Director of Product Management at Western Digital. "Offering up to 6 TB in such a small form factor and accessible price point gives everyone - from students, gamers, professional videographers, and more—greater flexibility to create and keep even more of their essential content in one portable drive."

Introducing ORIGIN PC's new EON16-SX, NSX-16, NSL-14, and NSL-16 Laptops

ORIGIN PC, a leader in custom high-performance systems, today launched their latest laptops - the EON16-SX, NSX-16, NSL-14, and NSL-16. For gamers, the EON16-SX offers powerful 40-Series performance and the latest in processing efficiency with an Intel Core Ultra processor. Professionals have a much broader selection of workstation laptops moving forward with the introduction of the brand new NSX-16, NSL-14, and NSL-16 laptops. Designed for the Generation of AI, the new Intel Core Ultra processors also feature a built-in NPU and Intel AI Boost. Experience improved productivity, efficiency, and performance with AI-acceleration that can be used for video editing, multi-tasking, and more. All four of the new laptops meet MIL-STD-810H-SPEC standards, meaning they have passed extensive stress tests including extreme temperatures, humidity, shock, and more. Durable and powerful, yet completely portable, ORIGIN PC is proud to announce the newest editions to their world-class lineup of custom PCs.

The brand new EON16-SX and NSX-16 laptops are a fusion of high-performance and fully portable design. While only 4.29 lbs light and 0.77 inches thin, they offer high-performance via quality hardware like an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, DDR5 memory, and a spacious amount of high-speed SSD storage. Both laptops are also designed with a 16" 240 Hz 2560x1600 display, providing an expansive view of games, videos, and software. The two new laptops also take advantage of NVIDIA Optimus which automatically switches between the high performance dedicated GPU and power-efficient integrated GPU to maximize power efficiency. Packed with the latest technology, they boast a generous battery lifespan of 4 hours and 40 minutes. Customize the EON16-SX or NSX-16 with up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory and 16 TB of SSD storage, while also accessing a wide array of connectivity options.

XFX Launches Phoenix Nirvana Series Radeon RX Graphics Cards in White

XFX earlier this month debuted the Phoenix Nirvana line of premium custom-design Radeon RX 7900 series graphics cards with the China-exclusive RX 7900 XTX Phoenix Nirvana. The company is expanding this lineup with two new models, both of which are draped in white. These are the company's first white-themed graphics cards. The lineup now includes the Radeon RX 7800 XT Phoenix Nirvana White, and the RX 7900 GRE Phoenix Nirvana White. Both cards appear to share a common board design, because the compacted "Navi 31" ASIC powering the RX 7900 GRE is pin-compatible with the "Navi 32" ASIC that the RX 7800 XT is based on. Since both GPUs feature a 256-bit GDDR6 memory interface, and a nearly identical typical board power value of around 260 W, AMD's board partners get to use their RX 7800 XT custom board designs for RX 7900 GRE products.

The XFX RX 7900 GRE Phoenix Nirvana White features a significantly different board design to the company's Merc 319 product that's available in the west. The heatsink is noticeably larger, the cooler shroud appears better ventilated, and XFX is using thicker 100 mm fans for higher static pressure than from the ones you find in the global Merc 319 card. The most striking design element of course is its color trim. White makes up the cooler shroud, the fan impellers, and the backplate. The heatsink protrudes out of the edges of the black PCB that's barely noticeable. The card is 33.7 cm long, and 5.9 cm-thick, with a 13.2 cm height. The RX 7900 GRE Phoenix Nirvana White comes with a hearty 6.7% factory overclock, with a 2394 MHz boost clock (vs. 2245 MHz reference); while the RX 7800 XT Phoenix Nirvana White ticks AMD reference 2430 MHz boost. Both these cards, unfortunately, are China-exclusive products, just like the RX 7900 XTX card XFX launched earlier this month.

Ampere Scales AmpereOne Product Family to 256 Cores

Ampere Computing today released its annual update on upcoming products and milestones, highlighting the company's continued innovation and invention around sustainable, power efficient computing for the Cloud and AI. The company also announced that they are working with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to develop a joint solution for AI inferencing using Qualcomm Technologies' high-performance, low power Qualcomm Cloud AI 100 inference solutions and Ampere CPUs.

Semiconductor industry veteran and Ampere CEO Renee James said the increasing power requirements and energy challenge of AI is bringing Ampere's silicon design approach around performance and efficiency into focus more than ever. "We started down this path six years ago because it is clear it is the right path," James said. "Low power used to be synonymous with low performance. Ampere has proven that isn't true. We have pioneered the efficiency frontier of computing and delivered performance beyond legacy CPUs in an efficient computing envelope."

ASUS ROG Ally X Gets a Memory Upgrade to 24 GB

The ROG Ally X handheld gaming console ASUS plans to unveil on June 2, has not just a fixed microSD card slot, and a 40% larger battery, but also an upgraded main memory, MysteryLupin, a reliable source with ASUS leaks, reports. The console features 24 GB of LPDDR5X memory, compared to 16 GB on the regular ROG Ally with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The larger battery should give it usage of up to 8 hours on a full charge, while the larger memory should definitely improve performance, given that the SoC is the same Z1 Extreme ASUS uses in the regular ROG Ally. Besides the larger memory and battery, the console features an industry standard M.2-2280 NVMe SSD drive bay, with a pre-installed 1 TB SSD. This should open users up to the widest possible range of SSD upgrades. ASUS is reportedly pricing the ROG Ally X at $799, a $100 increase over the original ROG Ally with the Z1 Extreme—a premium that's actually shaping up to be good value.

Philips Announces Evnia 49M2C8900L QD-OLED Ultrawide Monitor

This new Evnia gaming monitor is stacked with visual power. Philips Monitors introduces its latest addition to the premium Evnia 8000 monitor series. The Philips Evnia 49M2C8900L is jam-packed with powerful features like a 48.9-inch (124.3 cm) QD-OLED panel, a 32:9 SuperWide aspect ratio, 5120 x 1440 resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, Ambiglow lighting, and DTS Sound. All in all, this monitor is made for all kinds of game genres, but its visual fidelity is what makes it stand out.


A hallmark feature of the Philips Evnia 49M2C8900L is the QD-OLED panel. Certified with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 for an exceptional HDR experience, and certified with VESA ClearMR 8000 for butter-smooth gameplay, visuals on this monitor are assured to be rich in colour, sharp and blur-free. Furthermore, the SuperWide (32:9) QD-OLED panel, when combined with the monitor's 1800R curvature, provides a high-quality and immersive adventure to all gamers. With a 10-bit colour depth, supreme sRGB colour accuracy (DeltaE < 2) and a high gamut coverage (99% DCI-P3), the Evnia monitor reproduces vibrant, true-to-life colours. The large screen is like having two 16:9 QHD monitors side by side and allows gamers to play on a singular screen instead of a dual-monitor setup; thereby creating a more seamless and smooth usage.

LG's Announces New TONE Free Wireless Earbuds With Pure Graphene for Exceptional Audio

LG Electronics (LG) is introducing the company's latest TONE Free T90S model to the global market, designed to offer impressive sound for a heightened listening experience. The new T90S earbuds are enhanced by pure graphene, boast an even more comfortable fit and possess a range of useful features essential for elevated on-the-go listening pleasure.

Delivering an enriched audio experience with improved accuracy and clarity, the newest T90S earbuds use pure graphene for drivers, a departure from the conventional use of coated graphene. The lightweight and sustainable material is widely known for boosting performance and efficiency in advanced technologies such as semiconductors and solar cells. The use of pure graphene in LG's latest earbuds reduces vibrations and allows users to revel in well-balanced and precise sound with powerful bass and enhanced mid- and high-range frequencies. The T90S earbuds are designed to take full advantage of graphene's lightweight nature, ensuring a cozy fit that ensures comfort for prolonged listening.

EK Unveils New EK-Quantum Momentum² Quad RAM Module Set D-RGB For DDR4 and DDR5

EK, a leader in premium liquid cooling solutions, proudly unveils the EK-Quantum Momentum² Quad RAM Module Set D-RGB, an advanced cooling solution meticulously designed for effective thermal management of DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules. This comprehensive set includes a water block capable of covering four RAM sticks with aluminium heatsinks, integrating high-quality cooling efficiency with dynamic RGB lighting to enhance both the performance and visual appeal of any high-end computing setup. The system is specifically engineered to support configurations with four RAM sticks, optimizing cooling for modern high-performance memory arrays.

Enhanced Cooling and Sophisticated Design
The EK-Quantum Momentum² Quad RAM Module Set D-RGB accommodates both single and double-sided DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules, ensuring versatility across different RAM configurations. It features four sleek, black, anodized aluminium heatsinks with an elox finish for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance. This treatment not only improves the heatsinks' appearance but also boosts their thermal conductivity and cooling effectiveness.

Sapphire Announces Radeon RX 7700 XT Pure Frostpunk 2 Edition, Includes the Game's Deluxe Edition

Sapphire today unveiled the Radeon RX 7700 XT Pure Frostpunk 2 Edition graphics card. The card is a branding collaboration with 11 bit Studios, which releases Frostpunk 2 this July. The city-building survival strategy game is one of this Summer's most anticipated game releases. Sapphire celebrates it with a variant of the RX 7700 XT Pure graphics card that has a game code for the Deluxe Edition of Frostpunk 2, a themed backplate, and some goodies in the box, including custom keycaps, and enamel pin badges. While the backplate is heavily themed on the game, the all-white cooler shroud, the white impellers for the three fans, and the rest of the card, sticks with the white color scheme that's characteristic of Sapphire's Pure brand. The card comes in a collector's edition box themed after the game.

Based on the 5 nm "Navi 32" silicon, the Radeon RX 7700 XT features 3,456 stream processors across 54 compute units. The GPU is based on the RDNA 3 graphics architecture, and AMD recommends it for 1440p gaming with maxed out settings. The card features 12 GB of 18 Gbps GDDR6 memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface, and features 48 MB of Infinity Cache memory. The card draws power from a pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors. Display outputs include two each of DisplayPort 2.1 (featuring UHBR 13.5), and two HDMI 2.1 connectors. The card will release to market in July, probably alongside the game's July 25 release date, pricing isn't known yet (we asked Sapphire).

G.SKILL Launches Ripjaws M5 RGB Series DDR5 High-Performance Memory

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is announcing the release of Ripjaws M5 RGB, a high-performance RGB DDR5 memory series designed for the latest DDR5-enabled Intel platforms. At launch, initial specifications will be offered up to DDR5-6400 CL32-39-39-102 96 GB (2x48GB). Available in matte black or matte white aluminium heatspreaders and features customizable RGB lighting, the Ripjaws M5 RGB is an ideal memory kit for a wide variety of PC builds and themes.

Designed for Stylish Performance
Available in matte white or matte black aluminium heatspreaders and standing at 41 mm tall, the Ripjaws M5 RGB series is designed for a minimalistic look and features customizable RGB lighting to match a wide variety of PC build themes.

Intel Prepares Core Ultra 5-238V Lunar Lake-MX CPU with 32 GB LPDDR5X Memory

Intel has prepared the Core Ultra 5-238V, a Lunar Lake-MX CPU that integrates 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory into the CPU package. This new design represents a significant departure from the traditional approach of using separate memory modules, promising enhanced performance and efficiency, similar to what Apple is doing with its M series of processors. The Core Ultra 5-238V is the first of its kind for Intel to hit mass consumers. Previous attempt was with Lakefield, which didn't take off, but had advanced 3D stacked Foveros packaging. With 32 GB of high-bandwidth, low-power LPDDR5X memory directly integrated into the CPU package, the Core Ultra 5-238V eliminates the need for separate memory modules, reducing latency and improving overall system responsiveness. This seamless integration results in faster data transfer rates and lower power consumption with LPDDR5X memory running at 8533 MT.

Applications that demand intensive memory usage, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and high-end gaming, will be the first to experience performance gains. Users can expect smoother multitasking, quicker load times, and more efficient handling of memory-intensive tasks. The Core Ultra 5-238V is equipped with four big Lion Cove and four little Skymont cores, in combination with seven Xe2-LPG cores based on Battlemage GPU microarchitecture. The bigger siblings to Core Ultra 5, the Core Ultra 7 series, will feature eight Xe2-LPG cores instead of seven, with the same CPU core count, while all of them will run the fourth generation NPU.

NVIDIA Blackwell GB200 Superchip to Cost up to 70,000 US Dollars

According to analysts at HSBC, NVIDIA's upcoming Blackwell GPUs for AI workloads are expected to carry premium pricing significantly higher than the company's current Hopper-based processors. The analysts estimate that NVIDIA's "entry-level" Blackwell GPU, the B100, will have an average selling price between $30,000 and $35,000 per chip. That's already on par with the flagship H100 GPU from the previous Hopper generation. But the real premium lies with the top-end GB200 "superchip" that combines a Grace CPU with two enhanced B200 GPUs. HSBC analysts peg pricing for this monster chip at a staggering $60,000 to $70,000 per unit. NVIDIA may opt to primarily sell complete servers powered by Blackwell rather than individual chips. The estimates suggest a fully-loaded GB200 NVL72 server with 72 GB200 Superchips could fetch around $3 million.

The sky-high pricing continues NVIDIA's aggressive strategy of charging a premium for its leading AI and accelerator hardware. With rivals like AMD and Intel still lagging in this space, NVIDIA can essentially name its price for now. The premium pricing reflects the massive performance uplift promised by Blackwell. A single GB200 Superchip is rated for five PetaFLOPs at TF32 of AI compute power with sparsity, a 5x increase over the H100's one PetaFLOP. Of course, actual street pricing will depend on volume and negotiating power. Hyperscalers like Amazon and Microsoft may secure significant discounts, while smaller players could pay even more than these eye-watering analyst projections. NVIDIA is betting that the industry's insatiable demand for more AI compute power will make these premium price tags palatable, at least for a while. But it's also raising the stakes for competitors to catch up quickly before losing too much ground.

AMD Documents the Firmware of its GPU Scheduler that Distributes Graphics and Compute Workloads Among Shader Engines

AMD earlier this month released documentation for the Micro Engine Scheduler (MES) firmware of its RDNA 3 GPUs. The MES is a hardware component that distributes graphics processing and general-purpose compute workloads among the main number-crunching machinery of the AMD GPU—the shader engines, which contain the compute units (CU), the indivisible SIMD muscle of the GPU with programmable shaders and certain kinds of specialized hardware, such as the AI Accelerator and Ray Accelerator. The MES is driven by a programmable firmware, which is what AMD released developer documentation of.

The decision to release MES documentation probably comes from the very top of AMD corporate management. In March, a controversy erupted when Tiny Corp, builders of AI compute servers and workstations, complained of issues testing the Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card with a ROCm compute stack, prompting a response from no less than CEO Dr Lisa Su. There were then calls to open-source the firmware, which AMD didn't agree to, probably since it treads on their core GPU hardware IP; but the company did the next best thing, by releasing detailed developer documentation for the MES firmware.

AMD to Discontinue Windows 10 Support for its Ryzen 9000 "Strix Point" Mobile Processors

AMD is rumored to be discontinuing driver support for the Windows 10 operating system for its next-generation mobile processors, starting with the upcoming Ryzen 9000 "Strix Point" (and possibly "Strix Halo" and other chips from the generation). This would mean a lack of official drivers for the XDNA 2 NPU, SoC components, and possibly even the iGPU. This who know their way around manual driver installation might have some luck getting the Windows 11 drivers to work on Windows 10, but for the most part, notebooks and pre-built SFF desktops powered by these chips will not come with Windows 10 preinstalled, since there won't be any official drivers from AMD.

The CPU of Ryzen 9000 "Strix Point" processors should still very much work with Windows 10. This however doesn't cover the upcoming Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" desktop processors, which have minimal hardware that need drivers, except for the basic iGPU they pack. Microsoft is discontinuing Windows 10 from regular updates on October 14, 2025. Those who want to hold on to the operating system need to pay for extended security update plans that get progressively pricier with each year.

SteelSeries Introduces Arctis Nova 5 Series Headsets and 100+ Audio Presets in the Companion App

From the creator of the groundbreaking Arctis Nova line of headsets, SteelSeries.com, the original esports brand that fuses gaming and culture and worldwide leader in gaming and esports peripherals, today expands the Arctics Nova family with the introduction of the Arctis Nova 5 series headsets and Nova 5 Companion App.

For the newest member of the award-winning Arctis Nova line of headsets, the design and engineering teams set out to craft something new with three innovative goals in mind; create better audio for the games people play on Xbox and PlayStation; develop a wireless gaming headset that's both premium and accessible; and allow gamers to play longer and harder. The result is the Arctis Nova 5, and the Nova 5 Companion App, the first of its kind app to give players access to over 100 audio presets at their fingertips, Quick Switch Wireless freedom with high-speed 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth 5.3 at the tap of a button, an extraordinary 60+ Hour Battery Life, and a $129.99 price point. That's "affordable luxury" at its best.

V-Color XFinity Series Receives Prestigious Red Dot Design Award 2024

Technology Inc. proudly announces that its XFinity Series has been honored with the prestigious Red Dot Design Award for 2024. This esteemed recognition celebrates the XFinity Series for its original design, remarkable visual appeal, and outstanding performance. Renowned for its sleek design and exceptional performance, the XFinity Series has captivated the esteemed Red Dot Design Award jury, earning accolades for its exceptional quality and creativity. This acknowledgment underscores v-color's dedication to delivering products that not only excel in performance but also set new benchmarks in design excellence.

With v-color's new gold/silver streamline light guide rod, and enhanced LED brightness, the RGB lighting emits a smooth and soft glow, elevating system aesthetics to new heights. Bid farewell to traditional transparent plastic and embrace artwork-like illumination that captivates whether lit or unlit.

ASUS Intros Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT DUAL OC Graphics Cards

ASUS introduced the Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT DUAL OC graphics cards. The two join ASUS's rather slim RX 7900 series custom-design lineup, which until now only included the TUF Gaming OC products for the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX. ASUS's common board design for the cards it's launching, features a large cooler shroud, a tall, yet triple-slot board design, and a cooling solution that uses an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that uses no more than two Axial-Tech fans, hence the name DUAL OC. We've seen this exact board design on some of the RTX 30-series "Ampere" DUAL OC products, so ASUS may probably be carrying over the design, with suitable changes for compatibility with the "Navi 31" GPU.

Both the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT DUAL OC cards feature a milder factory overclock compared to the company's TUF Gaming OC products. The RX 7900 XTX DUAL OC does 2455 MHz Game clock (compared to 2365 MHz reference); while the RX 7900 XT DUAL OC offers 2075 MHz Game clocks compared to 2025 MHz AMD reference. It's also interesting to note here, that the RX 7900 XTX/XT DUAL OC cards feature a significantly different board design than the RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC, which features a design closer to that of the RX 7800 XT DUAL OC. Both the RX 7900 XT DUAL OC and RX 7900 XTX DUAL OC feature triple 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and display I/O that includes three DisplayPort 2.1, and one HDMI 2.1. Besides the minimal RGB, the cards offer dual-BIOS, with the Q-BIOS running them at reference speeds, and with a tighter fan curve. The card measures 32.3 cm in length, 14.7 cm in height, and is no more than 3 slots thick. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Wednesday, May 15th 2024

Today's Reviews

Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
Motherboards
Notebooks
PSUs
SSD
Lofree Edge Ultra-Low Profile Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review

Lofree Edge Ultra-Low Profile Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review

The Lofree Edge is an ultra-low profile and extremely lightweight keyboard with wireless connectivity and long battery life. It uses premium materials and novel engineering to cut down the height enough to be extremely thin without sacrificing on the mechanical keyboard typing experience.

Optoma Unveils GT3500HDR Compact Gaming and Entertainment Ultra Short Throw Projector

Optoma, the No. 1 4K UHD projection and DLP Laser brand in the Americas, today introduced the GT3500HDR, a compact full HD 1080p ultra short throw projector for optimal gaming experiences, movies and home entertainment viewing, and work-from-home office needs. Joining the company's line of award-winning, full HD 1080p resolution projectors, the GT3500HDR projector delivers high brightness at 3,800 lumens, reliable long-term usage, and installation flexibility for a variety of home viewing occasions - all in a compact, eco-friendly, ultra short throw design.

Delivering superior color performance and a 500,000:1 contrast ratio, the new ultra short throw projector provides vibrant, true-to-life visuals for watching movies, TV shows, and live sports, gaming, and remote work. Featuring an ultra short throw lens, the GT3500HDR can display up to 100-inch images from less than one foot away (120-inch maximum) from the screen or projection surface for convenient use in any room, no matter the location.

AMD Software Adrenalin 24.5.1 WHQL Released

AMD today released the latest version of the AMD Software Adrenalin Edition drivers. Version 24.5.1 WHQL comes with optimization for Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, and F1 24. AMD added HYPR-Tune support for Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, Starfield, and The Last of Us Part I. AMD also says that these drivers offer optimal support for AI acceleration on Radeon 7000 series RDNA 3 graphics cards.

Among the issues fixed with this release include an intermittent driver timeout or crash observed when playing World of Warcraft or World of Warcraft Classic on RDNA 3 GPUs; a similar issue with Overwatch 2 on Radeon RX 5000 series GPUs; an intermittent stutter after alt+tab with performance metrics overlay enabled; and corruption with certain water elements when playing Alan Wake 2 with Radeon Boost enabled.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 24.5.1 WHQL

ELECOM Unveils Groundbreaking IST Trackball Mouse with Swappable Bearing System

Decades of providing relief from wrist and shoulder discomfort have established the trackball mouse as a compelling alternative to the standard mouse. ELECOM, with nearly 30 years of experience in innovating trackball mice, now introduces the IST trackball mouse, a revolutionary device boasting a Swappable Bearing System designed to redefine the user experience.

After four years of research and user surveys, ELECOM identified the key factors that make trackball mice appealing to users and found two standout reasons - the smoothness of ball operation and an ergonomic design. The IST trackball mouse addresses these aspects with a cutting-edge approach, delivering an ultra-comfortable shape while incorporating an unprecedented Swappable Bearing System.

Intel Announces Thunderbolt Share, a PC-to-PC High-bandwidth Networking Technology

Today, Intel announced Thunderbolt Share, a new software solution enabling PC-to-PC experiences that fundamentally change the way users interact with two PCs. Thunderbolt Share is offered with select PCs and accessories with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 ports, enabling responsive screen-sharing and fast PC-to-PC file transfers for more flexible and productive workflows.

"We are excited to continue to lead the industry in connectivity solutions with Thunderbolt technology. Thunderbolt Share delivers on our aspiration to bring innovative solutions to the market and deliver new experiences for users to get the most out of their PCs. Now users can seamlessly access one PC from another at Thunderbolt technology speeds. It truly changes how users can be more productive and efficient," said Jason Ziller, Intel vice president and general manager of the Client Connectivity Division.

ASUS Launches TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB Series Case Fans

ASUS today announced TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB case fans, which offer exceptional airflow and polished aesthetics from every point of view. Next-gen refinements boost the cooling power of TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB fans. The redesigned fan blades are extra-wide, and are now housed in a 28 mm frame - up to 12% thicker than the previous generation. Combined, these elements increase airflow by up to 77.4 CFM and static pressure by up to 3.3 mmH2O. When dialing in a tough workload, these 120 mm fans make sure that a build has the steady stream of cooling air that it needs.

TUF Gaming TR120 ARGB case fans are primed to perform, and they're also built for quiet operation. At most, they produce 29 dB(A) of noise. In the heat of battle, users are unlikely to hear them at all. When standard case fans are used as intakes in a panoramic chassis, they are not always displayed to advantage, as users can only see their sides and rear. This means that elements like structural supports, wires, and visible parts of the motor get the front-and-center treatment instead of RGB LED illumination and any front-facing decorations.

GameSir Outs the X4 Aileron Bluetooth Mobile Game Controller

GameSir, a leading provider of innovative, high quality gaming peripherals, is thrilled to unveil its latest masterpiece, the X4 Aileron, a groundbreaking mobile controller that redefines gaming. The cutting-edge telescopic controller has been meticulously designed to accommodate most Android devices and allow mobile gamers to enjoy ultra-responsive Bluetooth connection and low-latency play, anywhere, anytime. The GameSir X4 Aileron is available to purchase now from Amazon US, Amazon UK and the GameSir website, with an RRP of £99.99/$99.99.

With a sleek, compact two-piece design that magnetically joins together, gaming on-the-go has never been this seamless and immersive. The X4A is compatible with most Android devices, whilst also allowing for extra space for phone coolers and wireless chargers, meaning users can enjoy extended sessions without needing to worry about devices overheating or the battery dying.

Palit Announces The GeForce RTX 4070 and RTX 4060 Ti White Series

Palit Microsystems Ltd, a leading graphics card manufacturer, is thrilled to unveil the White Series for the GeForce RTX 4070 and RTX 4060 Ti graphics cards. The White series offers a perfect blend of elegant looks and uncompromised power. The models feature a sleek white color scheme across both the shroud and backplate, easily integrating into any light-colored PC build. The design caters to the growing desire for a clean and sophisticated look for your PC.

The twin 95 mm fans and optimized backplate vents ensure effective thermal performance. Equipped with 0dB technology, the cards minimize the noise during light loads like multimedia applications and browsing. During demanding tasks, fans automatically adjust to optimal cooling and performance. The Palit GeForce RTX 4070 and RTX 4060 Ti White Series cater to both gamers and creators. Gamers will benefit from the exceptional performance boost, allowing them to experience high frame rates and smooth gameplay. Creators will appreciate the powerful processing capabilities for tasks like video editing and high-resolution design work. Additionally, the sleek white aesthetics perfectly complement a modern creative workspace.

Phison Announces Pascari Brand of Enterprise SSDs, Debuts X200 Series Across Key Form-factors

Phison is arguably the most popular brand for SSD controllers in the client segment, but is turning more of attention to the vast enterprise segment. The company had been making first-party enterprise SSDs under its main marquee, but decided that the lineup needed its own brand that enterprise customers could better discern from the controller ASIC main brand. We hence have Pascari and Imagin. Pascari is an entire product family of fully built enterprise SSDs from Phison. The company's existing first-party drives under the main brand will probably migrate to the Pascari catalog. Imagin, on the other hand, is a design service for large cloud and data-center customers, so they could develop bespoke tiered storage solutions at scale.

The Pascari line of enterprise SSDs are designed completely in-house by Phison, feature their latest controllers, firmware, PCB, PMIC, and on-device power-failure protection on select products. The third-party components here are the NAND flash and DRAM chips, which have both been thoroughly evaluated by Phison for the best performance, endurance, and reliability, at their enterprise SSD design facility in Broomfield, Colorado. Phison already had a constellation of industry partners and suppliers to go around with, and the company's drives even power space missions; but the Pascari brand better differentiates the fully-built SSD lineup from the ASIC make. Pascari makes its debut with the X200 series high-performance SSDs for high-access heat data. The drive leverages Phison's latest PCIe Gen 5 controller technology, the most optimized memory components, and availability in all contemporary server storage form-factors.

Intel Readies N250 Series "Twin Lake" Low-power Processors, Succeeds "Alder Lake-N"

Intel is readying the new N250 "Twin Lake" line of low-power processors that succeed the N200 series "Alder Lake-N" series. These are chips built on the latest process node Intel is using for its Core and Xeon processors, but only features E-cores (efficiency codes) from the latest microarchitecture. Chips from the N200 series are popular with low-cost notebooks, thin-clients, embedded systems, kiosks and point-of-sale terminals, NAS, and consumer electronics. "Twin Lake" is codename for the new processor series, these are likely monolithic processor dies that use a client ringbus layout, and one E-core cluster that makes up the compute muscle.

While "Alder Lake-N" is powered by "Gracemont" E-cores, the new "Twin Lake" chips are expected to feature "Skymont" E-core clusters. Intel is expected to debut "Skymont" E-cores with its upcoming Core Ultra 200V series "Lunar Lake-MX" mobile processors. "Skymont" is technically two generations ahead of "Gracemont," as Intel introduced the "Crestmont" cores with its current Core Ultra 100 "Meteor Lake" processor family. Not a lot is known about "Skymont" at this point, except that it's expected to feature IPC increases, and perform close to Intel's P-cores from 3-4 generations ago, such as the "Willow Cove" cores powering the 11th Gen Core "Tiger Lake" processors, looking at past trends of the "Gracemont" core performing similar to a "Skylake" core with HTT disabled.

Sabrent Intros DS-UICA USB-C Docking Station for Smartphones and Ultraportables

If you have been searching for a quality, do-everything USB-C dock, we have the perfect solution. The Sabrent USB-C Universal Docking Station (DS-UICA) has near-limitless potential with a wide variety of ports and capabilities to enhance your computing experience. Enjoy and get the most out of your laptop, ultrabook, Chromebook, Android phone or tablet, MacBook, Apple iPhone or iPad, and more with this incredibly compact and featureful docking station. Everything is connected through a 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) USB-C upstream host port designed for modern machines. Downstream it has two 10 Gbps USB-C ports, two 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) USB-A ports, and two 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) USB-A ports. The first four can deliver 5 V/1.5 A; the latter two are great for keyboards and mice.

This dock has it all, including dual video output via two pairs of HDMI 2.0 and DP ports with the optional use of a single USB-C port for display. Simultaneous output up to 4K@60 Hz is possible with DSC. Forget unreliable Wi-Fi. Connect to your network and Internet at up to 1000 Mbps with wired Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE). You can also easily access your content with the built-in dual microSD/SD card reader with UHS-I (104MBps) support. On top of that, there are three 3.5 mm ports for audio out, a microphone, and one for audio in/out. We've included a USB-C to USB-C cable and an external power adapter to power everything with the device charging up to 80 W. The docking station has a cradle for your device of choice with front-facing LEDs for extra clarity.

Ducky Announces 8K Ducky One 3 Pro Nazca Line and Zero 6108 Mechanical Keyboards

DuckyChannel International Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer dedicated to providing top-notch hardware solutions such as mechanical keyboards and professional mice, has unveiled upgraded versions of its One 3 Pro and wireless three-mode Zero series models tailored to different user groups. Building on the strengths of the One 3 series, the One 3 Pro Nazca Line incorporates Ducky's innovative QUACK Mechanics+ along with features such as an 8K reporting rate, triple-shot true PBT keycaps, and a south-facing switch design. It also introduces an upgraded Cherry MX2A switch series, enhancing existing outstanding features and injecting innovative functionalities. The wireless tri-mode Zero 6108, on the other hand, features hot-swappable technology and PBT double-shot keycaps, catering to both the work and entertainment needs of users.

One 3 Pro Series Mechanical Keyboard
The frequency at which the keyboard reports to the computer. A higher polling rate results in lower input lag. Ducky One 3 Pro Nazca Line delivers inputs with an 8,000 Hz polling rate for optimal performance. Faster polling rates mean that keystrokes are detected more quickly, resulting in less lag and fewer missed keystrokes. This can be particularly important in fast-paced typing situations, such as gaming or coding, where even a slight delay or missed keystrokes can be costly.

DUNU Launches DaVinci In-Ear Monitors in Collaboration with Gizaudio

IEM brand DUNU has its latest release up for pre-order as of today. Titled DaVinci, named after Leonardo DaVinci, this is a hybrid set of IEMs using two dynamic drivers and four balanced armature drivers housed inside resin shells with stabilized wood faceplates. It comes with a rich accessory pack, including three types of ear tips (10 sets total), a modular cable featuring 3.5/4.4 mm terminators, and a handsome looking carry/storage case too. The DaVinci is a collaboration effort in conjunction with IEM reviewer Gizaudio and has been tuned with a 5-way crossover to offer, as the brands involved claim, a fast and punchy lower-end response, accurate midrange, and a true high-resolution sound experience. It retails for $300 with first shipments expected from next week, and you can pre-order it now from HiFiGo if interested.

Majority of 4K Gamers Have 16GB or Higher Video Memory: TechPowerUp Poll

A majority of TechPowerUp readers that play at the 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160) say that they have graphics cards with 16 GB or higher video memory. In March, we ran a front-page poll asking our readers who play at the top 16:9 resolution how much video memory the graphics hardware in their machines had. Options included 6 GB or less, 8 GB, 12 GB, 16 GB, or more than 16 GB. There was also a control option just to gauge what percentage of the respondents do not play at 4K, which got 39.4% of the vote, and a technical majority, although not a part of our analysis. 32,296 responded to the poll.

What's interesting here, is that "More than 16 GB" and 16 GB take the #2 and #3 spots, respectively. So, 35.1% of our survey respondents say they have hardware with 16 GB or greater than 16 GB of video memory. 11% responded that their graphics card has 12 GB of memory; closely followed by 8 GB at 10.1%, and just 4.4% say their graphics cards have 6 GB or less amount of video memory. The biggest takeaway from this poll is the confirmation that 16 GB or more indeed is the video memory size today's gamers think they need to play the latest games at 4K.

AGON by AOC Announces the 24G4XE and 27G4XE Gaming Monitors

AGON by AOC - one of the world's leading gaming monitor and IT accessories brands - unveils the latest additions to its G4 series from their acclaimed AOC GAMING portfolio, the 23.8" (60.5 cm) 24G4XE and 27" (68.6 cm) 27G4XE models. Launched this year, the new G4 series with its striking stealth aircraft-inspired design is already available on the market, featuring the height-adjustable Full HD models 24G4X and 27G4X, as well as the QHD model Q27G4X.

Engineered to cater to the core gamer audience seeking high performance without the premium price, the 24G4XE and 27G4XE represent pared-down alternatives with a no-frills stand design, while maintaining high performance specifications such as a 180 Hz refresh rate and up to 1 ms GtG response times. This makes the new G4 models significantly more accessible, addressing the demand for competitive-level gaming experiences at a more attractive price point.

LG Display Showing New 4K OLEDoS Display for VR at SID Display Week

LG Display, the world's leading innovator of display technologies, announced today the unveiling of a large number of its next-generation OLED and cutting-edge display technologies at SID Display Week 2024 in San Jose, California from May 14-16. LG Display is allowing visitors to experience new OLED technologies under the theme "A Better Future," ranging from OLEDoS for VR to large-sized OLED panels that go beyond the limits of picture quality and automotive display solutions that are optimized for Software Defined Vehicles (SDV).

The company's latest innovations include a new technology, OLEDoS for VR, which is being shown to the public for the first time and features dramatically increased screen brightness and resolution compared with the existing standard. Despite being the size of a coin at 1.3-inch, it achieves an ultra-high brightness of 10,000 nits and an ultra-high resolution of around 4,000 ppi, which is in the 4K class. In addition, its color expression accuracy is realized by meeting more than 97% of the DCI-P3 standard color area of the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI). All these enable more lifelike virtual reality with industry-leading picture quality.

Lenovo Announces its New AI PC ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 Mobile Workstation Powered by AMD Ryzen PRO Processors

Today, Lenovo launched the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 designed for professionals who need top-notch performance in a portable 14-inch chassis. Featuring a stunning 16:10 display, this mobile workstation is powered by AMD Ryzen PRO 8040 HS-Series processors. These processors are ultra-advanced and energy-efficient, making them perfect for use in thin and light mobile workstations. The AMD Ryzen PRO HS- Series processors also come with built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, including an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for optimized performance in AI workflows.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 5 is provided with independent software vendor (ISV) certifications and integrated AMD Radeon graphics, making it ideal for running applications like AutoCAD, Revit, and SOLIDWORKS with seamless performance. This mobile workstation is ideal for mobile power users, offering advanced ThinkShield security features and passes comprehensive MIL-SPEC testing for ultimate durability.

Shipments of OLED Monitors Hit 200,000 Units in 1Q24, Annual Forecast to Reach 1.34 Million

TrendForce's latest report reveals a robust start to 2024 for OLED monitors, with shipments reaching approximately 200,000 units in the first quarter—marking a YoY growth of 121%. The momentum is expected to continue into the second quarter, which is set to see quarterly growth of 52% as new models hit the market, bringing the total for the first half to 500,000 units. With brands ramping up investments and panel makers launching new products alongside aggressive promotions, annual shipments are projected to soar to 1.34 million units, achieving an impressive 161% growth rate.

Samsung leads the market share in the first quarter with 36%, driven by strong sales of its 49-inch models which offer a significant cost-performance advantage—being only 20% more expensive than their LCD counterparts. Notably, Samsung's plan to introduce 27-inch and 31.5-inch models in Q2, which are expected to further boost its OLED shipments.

Intel Ponte Vecchio Waves Goodbye, Company Focuses on Falcon Shores for 2025 Release

According to ServeTheHome, Intel has decided to discontinue its high-performance computing (HPC) product line, Ponte Vecchio, and shift its focus towards developing its next-generation data center GPU, codenamed Falcon Shores. This decision comes as Intel aims to streamline its operations and concentrate its resources on the most promising and competitive offerings. The Ponte Vecchio GPU, released in January of 2023, was intended to be Intel's flagship product for the HPC market, competing against the likes of NVIDIA's H100 and AMD's Instinct MI series. However, despite its impressive specifications and features, Ponte Vecchio faced significant delays and challenges in its development and production cycle. Intel's decision to abandon Ponte Vecchio is pragmatic, recognizing the intense competition and rapidly evolving landscape of the data center GPU market.

By pivoting its attention to Falcon Shores, Intel aims to deliver a more competitive and cutting-edge solution that can effectively challenge the dominance of its rivals. Falcon Shores, slated for release in 2025, is expected to leverage Intel's latest process node and architectural innovations. Currently, Intel has Gaudi 2 and Gaudi 3 accelerators for AI. However, the HPC segment is left without a clear leader in the company's product offerings. Intel's Ponte Vecchio is powering Aurora exascale supercomputer, which is the latest submission to the TOP500 supercomputer lists. This is also coming after the Rialto Bridge cancellation, which was supposed to be an HPC-focused card. In the future, the company will focus only on the Falcon Shores accelerator, which will unify HPC and AI needs for high-precision FP64 and lower-precision FP16/INT8.

AeroCool Intros Viewport Mini, a Pillarless Micro-ATX Case

AeroCool today introduced the Viewport Mini, a pillarless Micro-ATX tower case, which features the latest design trend, of letting go of the front-left corner pillar for the front- and left panels to seamlessly blend, providing a better view of the hardware inside. The case comes in two variants based on color—black and white, both include a trio of 120 mm fans with ARGB lighting, preinstalled along the rear- and side exhausts. The case features a horizontally partitioned layout, with the glasshouse only covering the top compartment with the motherboard tray.

The AeroCool Viewport Mini seats Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX motherboards, with room for graphics cards up to 35.5 cm in length, and CPU coolers up to 16.5 cm in height. The case provides 4 expansion slots (so you can't have a >1 slot thick addon card on the 4th slot). Storage options include a 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drive cage that holds up to two drives. The ventilation system includes two 140/120 mm top exhausts, two 120 mm side exhausts, a 120 mm rear exhaust, and two additional 120 mm along the partition dividing the upper- and lower compartments. Front panel connectivity includes USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and 4-pole 3.5 mm headset jacks.The case meaasures 212 mm x 377.5 mm x 437 mm. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Tuesday, May 14th 2024

Today's Reviews

CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Mouse
Notebooks
PSUs
SSD
Enermax REVOLUTION D.F. X 1200 W Review

Enermax REVOLUTION D.F. X 1200 W Review

The Enermax REVOLUTION D.F. X 1200 W power supply offers plenty of capacity for all workloads, featuring RGB lighting, ATX 3.0 compatibility, and two 12VHPWR cables. Backed by a generous 10-year warranty, it presents a compelling value proposition at a competitive price of $110.

Toshiba Successfully Demonstrates Nearline HDDs with Massive Capacity of Over 30TB

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has successfully achieved storage capacities of over 30 TB with two next-generation large capacity recording technologies for hard disk drives (HDDs): Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) and Microwave Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR). The demonstration drives represent a major milestone in the advance toward commercial products based on each of these emerging recording formats.

HAMR, one of the two technologies that are driving forward next-generation high-capacity data recording, boosts magnetic recording capabilities by locally heating the disk with near-field light. Toshiba achieved 32 TB on 10 disks and adoption of Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) technology. Toshiba plans to start shipping test sample HDDs with HAMR technology in 2025.

Chaos Releases V-Ray 6.1 Benchmark

Chaos releases V-Ray 6 Benchmark, updating the free standalone application to help users quickly evaluate V-Ray rendering speeds and compare the capabilities of leading CPUs and GPUs. V-Ray 6 Benchmark adds new looping capabilities and GPU mode comparison, giving users even more control over their findings.

Since launching in 2017, V-Ray Benchmark has become a standard for new hardware testing, helping countless users and reviewers assess the rendering performance of laptops, workstations, graphics cards and more. By benchmarking against one of the most popular renderers in the world, professionals can quickly gauge how hardware from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and Apple handle common 3D assets like cities, characters and hard-surface models.

The free V-Ray 6 Benchmark app is available now.

Epic Games Fined €1.1 Million in Netherlands Court for Misleading Underage Children

Epic Games, the developer behind the battle royale game Fortnite, has been slapped with a hefty fine of €1.1 million for violating EU consumer laws and pressuring youngsters into making in-game purchases. This decision was made by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) following an investigation into the company's practices. The ACM found that Epic Games had failed to provide clear information about the nature of its in-game purchases, particularly to children. This lack of transparency led to many young players making unintended purchases, which was a clear violation of EU consumer protection laws. The authority also noted that Epic Games' practices were designed to encourage children to make frequent purchases, which further deepens the issue. Netherlands' ACM claims that these were "dark patterns" which are prohibited in the EU. More specifically, these were "Get it now" or "Buy now" phrases that pushed youngsters into making choices. One fine is for illegal aggressive commercial practice that created fear of missing out (FOMO), which is calculated at €562,500. Another €562,500 is fined on countdown timers, which were used in the Item Shop for items that were still available even after the timer had reached zero. This totals €1.125 million.

In response to the fine, Epic Games has announced its intention to appeal the decision. This fine serves as a significant reminder to game developers of the importance of transparency and consumer protection in the gaming industry. As the popularity of online gaming continues to grow, companies must prioritize the well-being and financial security of their young players. The ACM's decision sends a strong message that such practices will not be tolerated and that companies must take responsibility for their actions. The fine is significant, and it will be interesting to see how Epic Games responds to the decision. In a statement for GameIndustry.biz, Epic Games has noted that "The findings in the ACM's decision contain significant factual errors about how Fortnite and the Item Shop operate. The ACM is mandating changes that would result in a poor experience for players. We will appeal this decision. While our appeal is pending, players in the Netherlands that are under the age of 18 will not be able to see or purchase items that are in the shop for less than 48 hours, beginning May 24, 2024."

AMD Launches the Ryzen 7 8700F ($270) and Ryzen 5 8400F ($170)

AMD formally launched the Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 5 8400F Socket AM5 desktop processors. These are variants based on the Ryzen 8000-series desktop APUs, but with their integrated graphics disabled. The 8700F may lack integrated graphics, but includes the Ryzen AI NPU, with up to 16 AI TOPS performance. The 8400F lacks an NPU. Much like the 8700G, the 8700F packs an 8-core/16-thread CPU based on the current "Zen 4" architecture, but with a 100 MHz lower maximum boost frequency of 5.00 GHz. The TDP is the same, at 65 W, and the retail package includes a Wraith Stealth cooler.

The Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core/12-thread processor, but much like the 8500G, it is based on the "Phoenix 2" silicon, which has two "Zen 4" cores that can achieve the maximum 4.70 GHz boost frequency for this chip, and four "Zen 4c" that boost lower. Both kinds of cores feature an identical IPC and ISA, and so AMD Chipset Software uses UEFI CPPC preferred cores software flags to prioritize workload to the "Zen 4" cores. AMD in its launch presentation claims that the 8700F should offer competitive gaming and productivity performance to an Intel Core i5-14400F, and that the 8400F should offer gaming performance in the league of an i5-13400F. The company is pricing the 8700F at $269, or $60 cheaper than the 8700G; while the 8400F is priced at $169, or $10 less than the 8500G.

European Supercomputer Chip SiPearl Rhea Delayed, But Upgraded with More Cores

The rollout of SiPearl's much-anticipated Rhea processor for European supercomputers has been pushed back by a year to 2025, but the delay comes with a silver lining - a significant upgrade in core count and potential performance. Originally slated to arrive in 2024 with 72 cores, the homegrown high-performance chip will now pack 80 cores when it eventually launches. This decisive move by SiPearl and its partners is a strategic choice to ensure the utmost quality and capabilities for the flagship European processor. The additional 12 months will allow the engineering teams to further refine the chip's architecture, carry out extensive testing, and optimize software stacks to take full advantage of Rhea's computing power. Now called the Rhea1, the chip is a crucial component of the European Processor Initiative's mission to develop domestic high-performance computing technologies and reduce reliance on foreign processors. Supercomputer-scale simulations spanning climate science, drug discovery, energy research and more all require astonishing amounts of raw compute grunt.

By scaling up to 80 cores based on the latest Arm Neoverse V1, Rhea1 aims to go toe-to-toe with the world's most powerful processors optimized for supercomputing workloads. The SiPearl wants to utilize TSCM's N6 manufacturing process. The CPU will have 256-bit DDR5 memory connections, 104 PCIe 5.0 lanes, and four stacks of HBM2E memory. The roadmap shift also provides more time for the expansive European supercomputing ecosystem to prepare robust software stacks tailored for the upgraded Rhea silicon. Ensuring a smooth deployment with existing models and enabling future breakthroughs are top priorities. While the delay is a setback for SiPearl's launch schedule, the substantial upgrade could pay significant dividends for Europe's ambitions to join the elite ranks of worldwide supercomputer power. All eyes will be on Rhea's delivery in 2025, mainly from Europe's governments, which are funding the project.

AVerMedia Releases Firmware Update For Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 USB Capture Card

AVerMedia Technologies, a leader in digital audiovisual solutions, today announced a firmware update for its well-received HDMI 2.1 USB Capture Card, Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1. The update gives users three new features - including 5.1 multi-channel audio pass-through and capture - fulfilling some highly wished-for upgrades of the capture card, making it even more powerful.

"We're constantly listening to our customers to ensure that we're bringing nothing but the best to the table," said Michael Kuo, President and CEO of AVerMedia. "Now, with the three added features, creators can take their content creation and gaming experience to greater heights."

Patriot Memory Teams Up With MSI for New Viper Xtreme 5 RGB DDR5 MPOWER Memory Series

Patriot Memory, a renowned name in performance memory and storage solutions, has teamed up with MSI, an innovator in gaming hardware, to unleash the Viper Xtreme 5 RGB DDR5 MPOWER Series - an extreme-speed DDR5 memory kit crafted for gamers, overclockers, and power users. This cutting-edge collaboration between the two brands combines blistering data rates up to 8000MT/s with massive 32 GB (16 GB x2) or 48 GB (24 GB x2) capacities. The Viper Xtreme 5 RGB DDR5 MPOWER series unleashes a torrent of memory bandwidth, turbocharging gaming rigs, content creation workstations, and other high-intensity applications demanding extreme responsiveness and throughput.

Optimized for Maximum Overclocking Potential
Intel XMP 3.0 certified for seamless plug-and-play overclocking on the latest Intel platforms, the Xtreme 5 RGB DDR5 MPOWER kit also integrates with MSI's user-friendly EZ Dashboard utility. This enables granular control over advanced timings and voltages to extract every last drop of performance.

Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5518 Beta Released

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.5518 beta comes with optimization for "Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut" and "Homeworld 3." The drivers also fix a couple of issues with this release. To begin with, lower than expected performance with "Dragon's Dogma 2" has been fixed on Arc A-series discrete GPUs. A bug that caused "Dead Space" to experience lower than expected performance on Core Ultra processors with Arc Graphics has been fixed. Grab the latest version of Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5518 Beta

Introducing Xming Formovie's Episode One Best Value Projector with Google TV and Native Netflix-Support

Formovie Technology, a leading player in the world of display technology, has announced the launch of Xming Episode One, its latest 1080p resolution projector with Google TV and Native Netflix support. As an independent brand of Formovie Technology, Xming offers quality LCD projectors with features such as auto keystone correction and autofocus included at an incredible price point.

Episode One seeks to be the top pick for Google TV users. It comes with native Netflix support and is available at an affordable price point of $/€299 at Formovie's website. This projector is unique for its Google TV and Native Netflix features, which make streaming easy and seamless without any additional devices. Its Google TV certification and integrated Google Assistant makes it versatile and convenient for everyday use.
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Homeworld 3 Performance Benchmark Review - 35 GPUs Tested

Homeworld 3 Performance Benchmark Review - 35 GPUs Tested

Homeworld 3 is the latest installment in the epic space RTS series. Thanks to Unreal Engine, you get upgraded visuals and combat in real three-dimensional environments. In our performance review, we're taking a closer look at image quality, VRAM usage, and performance on a wide selection of modern graphics cards.

ASUS ROG Ally X Priced at $799, Battery 40% Larger

We've had our eye on the ASUS ROG Ally X since last week. The Ally X started its life on the rumor mill as a design revision of the ROG Ally that corrects the location of its microSD slot away from a heat vent, before we learned that it's a whole new product positioned above the ROG Ally, which not just fixes the microSD slot, but also comes with a larger battery, and support for M.2-2280 NVMe SSDs to unlock the widest selection of aftermarket SSDs among any handheld console.

Mystery Lupin a source with ASUS leaks, suggests that the ASUS ROG Ally X could be priced at $799, which would be a $100 premium over the top-spec ROG Ally Extreme. For this premium, ASUS is dropping in a battery that's rumored to have a 40% higher capacity than the one the original ROG Ally Extreme comes with; and the sheer convenience of an M.2-2280 drive bay that has a 1 TB SSD. It's also rumored that ASUS may step up the memory size. The other hardware specs are unchanged—the processor is still an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the display is still that 7-inch 48-120 Hz VRR with 1080p resolution; and with an identical controller layout. ASUS is expected to launch the ROG Ally X on June 2.

ASUS Offers Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Game Bundle for Selected NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Cards

ASUS today announced that it is bundling a Steam code for the role-playing video game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series and AMD Radeon RX 7000 series graphics cards purchased from May 13 to July 8, 2024. For gamers who have been waiting for their chance to explore Japan and Hawaii's criminal undersides with Kasuga Ichiban and the gang in the latest installment of the beloved Like a Dragon series, now is the chance to leverage new hardware in an adventure so vast that it spans the Pacific.

During this global promotion, any purchase of an ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or above or any ASUS AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT or above will include a bundled Steam code for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Gamers everywhere can take advantage of this opportunity to upgrade their system and redeem the game code by August 8. For complete promotion details and instructions on how to redeem this code, click here.

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces ROG Tessen Mobile Controller

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced availability of the ROG Tessen Mobile Controller. The Tessen is the only foldable mobile controller currently available on the market, and it features programmable rear paddles, additional rubber support pads for phone-case compatibility, mechanical switches for the face buttons and D-pad, plus console-grade joysticks to provide gamers with a combination of ultimate portability and superb control. The ROG Tessen's unique construction and features have already been recognized at international level, achieving a top spot in the Gaming/VR/AR category at the prestigious 2024 iF Design Awards, as well as bagging a 2024 Red Dot Award for product design.

The ROG Tessen has a travel-friendly design that folds easily to enable users to slip it into any bag or even a pocket. The Tessen securely holds phones in landscape orientation, with the left side of the controller folding down to easily slot the phone to the controller's extended USB-C connector. Once connected, the left side of the controller can be flipped up and the telescopic aluminium bridges adjusted to lock the phone in place. Bundled rubber support pads and an extended USB-C connector allow the Tessen to be easily connected to a phone in a protective case.

SilverStone Intros Air Slimmer 140 Case Fan

SilverStone today introduced the Air Slimmer 140, a slimline 140 mm case fan. The fan comes with a thickness of just 15.5 mm, compared to the 25 mm that's typical of 140 mm fans. This should come in handy if you choose a thicker radiator, or are building an SFF machine. The fan features a copper fluid dynamic bearing, although the company didn't specify endurance numbers. The 9-blade impeller features what SilverStone brands as Shark Force patterns, which improve noise characteristics.

The fan takes in 4-pin PWM input, and supports ultra-low speeds. It turns at speeds ranging between 0 and 1,700 RPM, with a maximum airflow of 82 CFM, at 2 mm H₂O static pressure, and 33 dBA maximum noise. It includes cables for daisy-chaining. There are two key variants of the fan, the base variant comes with a black impeller and lacks any lighting, and then there's the Air Slimmer 140 ARGB, which has a white impeller and 9 LEDs studded in the hub. It takes in 3-pin ARGB input for the lighting. The all-black version is priced at $19.99, and the ARGB version at $24.99.

Dell XPS Roadmap Leak Spills Beans on Several Upcoming Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm Processors

A product roadmap leak at leading PC OEM Dell, disclosed the tentative launch dates of several future generations of processors by Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. The slide was detailing hardware platforms for future revisions of the company's premium XPS notebooks. Given that Dell remains one of the largest PC OEMs, the dates revealed in the leaked slides are highly plausible.

In chronological order, Dell expects Intel's Core Ultra 200V series "Lunar Lake-MX" processor in September 2024, which should mean product unveilings at Computex. It's interesting to note that Intel is only designing "Lunar Lake" for the -MX memory-on-package segment. This chip squares off against Apple's M3, M4, and possibly even the M3 Pro. Intel also has its ambitious "Arrow Lake" architecture planned for the second half of 2024, hence the lack of product overlap—there won't be an "Arrow Lake-MX."

AMD Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 5 8400F Detailed

AMD is indeed bringing the Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 5 8400F desktop processors to the retail PIB channel. Both these processors are based on the 4 nm "Hawk Point" or "Phoenix 2" silicon, but with their iGPU disabled, hence the "F" in the model name. Company slides related to the two were leaked to the web. The processors feature CPU cores based on the "Zen 4" microarchitecture, and are built in the Socket AM5 package.

The Ryzen 7 8700F features the 8-core/16-thread "Zen 4" CPU that the 8700G, but with lower CPU clock speeds of up to 5.00 GHz boost (compared to up to 5.10 GHz for the 8700G). Although its iGPU is disabled, its NPU isn't. The Ryzen AI NPU offers 16 AI TOPS performance. The processor retains the 65 W TDP of the 8700G. Moving on to the 8400G, and here we see the processor being based on the "Phoenix 2" silicon, with 6 CPU cores. Two of these are "Zen 4," and can reach the processor's 4.70 GHz maximum boost frequency; while the other four are "Zen 4c," and operate at lower clock speeds. The chip physically lacks an NPU, and its iGPU is disabled. It still has 65 W TDP to feed its CPU cores. In their retail packages, both processors include a Wraith Stealth cooling solution that's meant for 65 W TDP processors.
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