Latest&nbsp;GPU Drivers

Feb 28th, 2018 14:33 Discuss (3 Comments)

Today Logitech announced important new updates for CRAFT, the flagship keyboard with a Creative Input Dial, including support for Adobe Lightroom Classic CC, the popular Adobe photo editing application as well as Adobe Reader DC on Windows and Preview and Quicktime on Mac. A new CRAFT Software Developer Kit is also now available, allowing application developers the opportunity to augment CRAFT's user experience by integrating app specific controls with the keyboard's creative input dial, or Crown, giving immediate access to context-specific computing tools, into apps.

Dell CTO On AMD-Powered Products: "Don't Expect a [Intel and AMD] Duopoly"

Feb 28th, 2018 14:30 Discuss (43 Comments)

AMD has been making waves on computing markets with its latest line of processors powered by its innovative Zen microarchitecture. Its strengths and weaknesses are very well known by now, so there's no use harking them all over again; suffice it to say that the company has regained competitiveness - and then some - with many of Intel's products in as many different industry sectors. The company's APU solutions, for one, are one of a kind solutions that allow users to do some very impressive gaming sans a discrete GPU. However, Intel's been spending the last several years before AMD's Zen entrenching themselves in all markets, so AMD clearly has an uphill battle in fighting existing relations and supply channels. Case in point: Dell.

Channel Pro is reporting that Dell EMC's CTO, John Roese, said today at WMC that "Intel is the big player, AMD is the second player. There's enough diversity between them that there are use cases to have them both in our portfolio, but just the sheer breadth of the Intel processor portfolio is massive compared to even the accelerated AMD world."

Intel Finally Ready With Security Microcode Updates for Broadwell, Haswell

Feb 28th, 2018 14:11 Discuss (35 Comments)

Via updated documents on its Microcode Revision guide, Intel has revealed that they have finally developed and started deploying microcode security updates for their Broadwell and Haswell-based microprocessors. The microcode update comes after a flurry of nearly platform-specific updates that aimed to mitigate known vulnerabilities in Intel's CPUs to the exploits known as Spectre and Meltdown.

While that's good news, Intel's patching odyssey still isn't over, by any means. According to Intel's documentation, the Spectre fixes for Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge are still in beta and are being tested by hardware partners, so that's two other architectures that still remain vulnerable. Of course, this discussion of who's vulnerable and isn't really can't be reduced to which architectures Intel has released its updates to. Users have to remember that the trickle-down process from Intel's patch validation and distribution through manufacturers to end users' systems is a morose one, and is also partially in the hands of sometimes not too tech-savy users. Time will tell if these flaws will have any major impact in some users or businesses.

"Where Are My Graphics Cards?" - 3 Million Sold to Cryptocurrency Miners in 2017

Feb 28th, 2018 14:00 Discuss (117 Comments)

The title of this piece is both question and answer, though users that keep up with PC-related news knew the answer already. Jon Peddie Research, in a new report, pegs the number of total graphics cards sold to miners at a pretty respectable 3 million units (worth some $776 million). That's some 3 million gamers that could be enjoying video games on their PCs right now, or which would be able to enjoy them at a much lower price that they had to recently pay to have the privilege.

AMD has been the primary benefactor here - its GPU market share went up by 8.1%, while NVIDIA's dropped by 6% and Intel's by 1.9% (the fact that Intel's graphics processing units come embedded in the company's processors helps keep that number stable). As it is, attachment rates of GPUs to systems was over 100% at 136%, the result of miners buying more cards per system in an effort to maximize profits. Jon Peddie thinks that gaming will still be the key player to drive GPU sales, though "augmented by the demand from cryptocurrency miners." The firm also expects demand for GPUs to slacken, coeteris paribus, due to "increasing utilities costs and supply and demand forces that drive up AIB prices." However, for those looking for prices to drop before upgrading their system, the news aren't rosy: the article states that pricing will not drop in the foreseeable future, so owners of GPUs that can actually mine already are being encouraged to mine while not gaming, so as to try and offset the markups in the current GPU offerings.

DRM-Free Version of Kingdom Come: Deliverance Now Available on GOG

Feb 28th, 2018 12:09 Discuss (11 Comments)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance was released on Steam on February 13, but we know that many of you were waiting anxiously for the DRM-free version. Well, we come bearing great news! Kingdom Come: Deliverance is available as of today on GOG. The DRM-free version, which doesn't require activation or an online connection to play, carries a price tag of $47.30. Surprising or not, that's $12.69 cheaper than Steam's asking price. If you want to spoil yourself just a little bit, the OST and artbook bundle can be had for $51.46 which, if you look at it, still costs less than the standard game on Steam. Wondering if your PC can handle the game? Take a look at our Kingdom Come: Deliverance performance analysis.

H1Z1 Leaves Early Access and Features New Auto Royale Game Mode

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Feb 28th, 2018 11:23 Discuss (4 Comments)

Daybreak Games today announced the official launch of H1Z1, the original standalone battle royale game that sparked a worldwide phenomenon. H1Z1 is now available on Steam for Windows PC with a brand-new game mode, Auto Royale, injecting high-octane vehicular mayhem into the genre.

"In 2016, we did something unheard of - we split a successful game into two products and introduced the world to the first standalone battle royale game. The next year, we created the first battle royale esports league and became the second esport to ever air on broadcast television. This year, we continue to push this young genre forward with the introduction of Auto Royale," said H1Z1 General Manager Anthony Castoro. "Auto Royale doesn't rinse and repeat what is currently available on the market; it turns the genre on its head with a fresh approach - arcadey, vehicle-only battle royale unlike anything anyone has experienced before."

D-Link Announces Their AC1750 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Router

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Feb 28th, 2018 10:51 Discuss (7 Comments)

D-Link today announced the immediate availability of its newest router, the AC1750 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Router (DIR-867). The DIR-867 delivers powerful and reliable performance for users who demand faster Wi-Fi speeds for HD streaming and online gaming on multiple devices. This feature-packed router makes it easier for users to enjoy strong Wi-Fi speeds no matter where they are in the home.

The DIR-867 offers blazing fast dual-band speeds of up to 1,750 Mbps and AC SmartBeam technology, which tracks connected devices for enhanced Wi-Fi speed and range. This router also comes with intelligent Quality of Service (QoS) with traffic prioritization, four high-performance external antennas for maximum range, parental controls, and an intuitive interface that allows users to setup their device and experience these features right out of the box. The DIR-867 also features the latest MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, which allows multiple devices to get high-bandwidth Wi-Fi signal at the same time.

Chrono Trigger Makes its Debut on Steam for $15

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Feb 28th, 2018 10:39 Discuss (20 Comments)

Widely hailed as one of the greatest video games of all time, the definitive version of CHRONO TRIGGER is now available for the first time on STEAM. This version features:

Two Extra Dungeons - Includes the mysterious "Dimensional Vortex" dungeon and "Lost Sanctum" dungeon that first appeared in the Nintendo DS and mobile releases
CHRONO TRIGGER Limited Edition - Those that purchase the STEAM version until April 2, 2018 will receive the following digital bonuses for free: An enchanting and specially edited digital song file containing a medley of five songs: "Far Off Promise," "Wind Scene," "Battle with Magus," "Corridors of Time," and "Chrono Trigger", composer Yasunori Mitsuda's digital liner notes, and a collection of six stunning PC wallpapers in varying sizes.
Updated Graphics and Sound - While keeping the atmosphere of the original, this version features optimized visuals designed for modern PCs and a re-recorded soundtrack under the supervision of original composer Yasunori Mitsuda.
Updated Controls - Optimized PC experience that supports both controller and mouse/keyboard configuration
New Autosave Feature - Automatically saves while still featuring the original title's Save Point function

MSI Reveals the VIGOR GK80 & GK70 Gaming Keyboards

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Feb 28th, 2018 10:25 Discuss (0 Comments)

MSI is extremely proud to launch the Vigor GK80 and GK70 GAMING Keyboard as the latest additions to its Gaming Gear line of peripherals. With a strong focus on illumination using MSI's exclusive Mystic Light, both the Vigor GK80 and GK70 offer a gorgeous outlook and allow gamers to fully customize their setup down to each individual key. A premium base crafted out of anodized aluminum gives both models a very solid feel and is easy to clean thanks to the floating key design. Replaceable keycaps are included in two varieties: 12 with a rubber textured finish and 4 with metal surface to instantly find the right keys. Both keyboards feature Cherry MX RGB LED switches and exclusive hotkeys linked to MSI's exclusive Gaming App when paired with specific MSI GAMING series components for an amazing gaming experience.

Toshiba Introduces Three New Video Speed Class 30 (V30) EXCERIA microSDXC Cards

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Feb 28th, 2018 10:17 Discuss (0 Comments)

Toshiba Memory Europe GmbH has announced three new additions to the EXCERIA family of microSDXC cards, named M303. With capacities of up to 256GB, maximum read/write speeds of 98MB/s and 65MB/s respectively, as well as a new Video Speed Class 30 (V30), the M303 allows users to record and store 4K Ultra HD content.

The M303's speed rating supports 4K Ultra HD video recording; a prerequisite for the latest action cameras, video recorders and drones. Smartphones compatible with microSDXC specification will benefit from the M303's ability to write high-resolution videos and images at high speed. Rated with Video Speed Class 30 (V30), the M303 provides a minimum data transfer rate of 30 MB/s with a recommended UHS device under the conditions regulated by SD association.

Sharkoon Announces 1337 RGB Illuminated Gaming Mouse Mat

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Feb 28th, 2018 08:35 Discuss (7 Comments)

Sharkoon now offers the well-known 1337 gaming mats with illumination. The predominately black, 1337 RGB textile mouse mat provides a bordering illuminated RGB string, secured in place with DurableStitch sewing. Three total lighting modes are preset and available: Permanent illumination in one of seven preset colors, Pulsating illumination of one of these colors, and a RGB mode with automatic color change. An integrated RGB controller is located on the upper left edge of the mat, in which all settings occur through a single provided button. Also incorporated into the RGB controller is a mouse cable guide, which makes a separate mouse bungee redundant. The 1337 RGB is powered through a textile braided 180 cm long USB cable with Type A connector, making it compatible with every computer type with corresponding USB port.

The proven characteristics of the Sharkoon 1337 Gaming Mats remain unchanged: The mats were designed together with pro gamers and consist of a durable textile surface, which has minimal start and friction resistance, enabling a precise, fast and quiet mouse usage. Perfectly compatible with all conventional mouse types, or more specifically, both optical and laser sensors. The nonslip rubber base promises a secure grip on all flat surfaces. With dimensions of 359 x 279 mm, and a low height of only 3 mm, the 1337 RGB offers generous and unrestricting freedom of movement.

EVGA Intros CLC 120 CL11 Liquid CPU Cooler

Feb 28th, 2018 02:55 Discuss (12 Comments)

EVGA today introduced the CLC 120 CL11 all-in-one, closed-loop, liquid CPU cooler (model: 400-HY-CL11-V1). The cooler is based on an all new pump-block design that appears to be more cost-effective than the rounded-square pump-block EVGA uses on its original CLC series coolers. It lacks RGB LED lighting, but offers "improved coolant flow-rate, and higher surface-area for heat dissipation," according to EVGA. Taking advantage of the higher coolant pressure, EVGA deployed a slightly thicker radiator, which is 30 mm thick compared to the 27 mm thickness of the original's radiator.

This is a bi-metal liquid cooler, in that the block is made of copper, while the radiator is made of aluminium. The company still backs it with a 5-year warranty. The block supports only Intel sockets, including LGA2066, LGA2011(v3), and LGA115x. The other area of cost-cutting appears to be the included fan. It has a simpler impeller design than the one EVGA includes with the CLC 120, and only has 2/3rds its maximum airflow. The "Teflon nano bearing" makes way for simpler sleeve bearing; speeds range up to 1,800 RPM (the original spins up to 2,400 RPM), and maximum airflow is 58.87 CFM (against 74.87 CFM of the original). Available now, the EVGA CLC 120 CL11 is priced at USD $59.99, $30 cheaper than the original CLC 120.

Intel SSD 600p Series 512 GB Review

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The Intel 600p SSD is one of the more affordable M.2 PCIe x4 based NVMe drives on the market. It uses an SMI controller paired with Intel's own 3D TLC flash. Despite the relatively low synthetic results, our real-life testing shows that the drive is a decent choice for typical consumer workloads.

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Cherry MX Board Silent Review

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The MX Board Silent is Cherry showing the world that it is possible to have mechanical keyboards that are inherently quiet as well. It comes in two color options, two MX Silent switch options, and an all-plastic construction where the lack of typing noise is the main goal.

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Compulab Kickstarts Their Fanless Airtop2 Inferno Mini-PC With GTX 1080 Inside

Feb 27th, 2018 14:59 Discuss (7 Comments)

Compulab has taken to Kickstarter as a way to subsidize the development and production of its Airtop2 Inferno Mini-PC. This aims to be a be-all, end-all Mini-PC that enables high-quality gaming in a fanless, noiseless design. Its insides are positively bursting with top notch hardware: it'll be powered by an Intel i7-7700K (95 W TDP) and the desktop version of Nvidia's GTX 1080 (180 W TDP). If it ever begins actual production, that is; nothing against Compulab, but Kickstarter itself seems to have one too many of these cases popping out.

Compulab's solutions use their metal side panels as "immense" radiators to dissipate the heat buildup inside the chassis. A number of heatpipes and air channels are built into these side panels' structure, so as to allow for better heat dissipation and usage of natural warm air convection. Besides the top of the line CPU and GPU, the Airtop2 Inferno packs a C236 chipset motherboard (a Z170 equivalent). It's possible to install up to 4x DIMMs, 4x 2.5" HDD or SSD solutions, and 2x NVMe SSDs.

In Wake of Lootbox Outcry, ESRB Moves to Label Games With In-Game Purchases

Feb 27th, 2018 14:38 Discuss (9 Comments)

As lootboxes have increasingly fallen on the radar of gamers looking for complete experiences that they don't need to invest a kidney to unlock the full content that's being "offered", the ESRB has moved to include a label on all future game releases that features in-game purchases of any kind. The new label will sit next to the age rating, but separate from the other content warning labels - such as graphical violence, nudity, and others. Its aim? To keep users "well-informed" on the content purchases that are included with the full game. Strangely, the label will not discriminate different types of content - so a game that has a dreaded lootbox system such as Star Wars: Battlefront II, or a well-implemented, non-obtrusive one such as Gwent, will see exactly the same label. As the ESRB puts it, any in-game transaction may live inside this label, such as "bonus levels, skins, surprise items (such as item packs, loot boxes, mystery awards), music, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency, subscriptions, season passes and upgrades (e.g., to disable ads)". Talk about an informed customer decision.

When the Supplements Market Hybridizes With Gaming: God Mode Pills

Feb 27th, 2018 14:09 Discuss (38 Comments)

Well, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later. As the gaming market has become increasingly bigger and moving more and more amounts of money, someone, somewhere, would find a way to generate more revenue out of some new product. Gaming has become big enough so as to justify college scholarships and even companies that promise to coach players on their way to better K/D ratios. Why not join two of the bigger, more relevant emerging markets in one? Enter GodMode, a supplement that seems to marry Herbalife-like products with the looks of almost any gaming-oriented piece of hardware. Why not? The supplements market is a $41 billion affair, after all.

The product, introduced to the market by Boss Level Labs out of Frisco, Texas, is aimed specifically at gamers. The pills are packed with 14 "brain-boosting nootropics", which should improve cognitive functions in healthy adults. Besides promising to "supercharge your memory", "improve your reaction speed 6-10%" and help you "think faster/smarter", the God Mode pills are being touted as even being able to "reduce stress and anxiety". Maybe by reducing your anger at someone destroying your K/D ratio? Particularly frisky, evil players that look to teabag your beloved gaming character?

Lenovo Reveals the Yoga 730 and Yoga 530 2-in-1 Laptops with Alexa Support

Feb 27th, 2018 12:24 Discuss (1 Comment)

At MWC this year, Lenovo announced two new additions to their Yoga line of laptops. The Yoga 730 comes in 13-inch and 15-inch models while the Yoga 530 is only available in the 14-inch flavor. They feature up to Intel's latest 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with the Yoga 730 having the option of coming with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 discrete graphics card. Apart from conventional input methods, consumers can also interact with the Yoga 730 through voice since it comes with built-in Alexa support. The integrated far-field microphone allows Alexa and Cortana to listen and respond to the user with relative ease.

The Yoga 730 is equipped with a UHD IPS touchscreen display while the Yoga 530 is fitted with a FHD IPS touchscreen. Lenovo is also offering the optional Active Pen 2 with up to 4096 levels of sensitivity for those users who love to write, draw, or jot down notes on their laptops. The new Yoga laptops are thinner and lighter than ever too. The 15-inch Yoga 730 comes in at 1.89 kg and the 13-inch model at 1.12 kg. The 14-inch Yoga 530 weighs 1.6 kg. The 13-inch Yoga 730 with Lenovo Active Pen 2 included starts at €999 (VAT included) and the 15-inch model with Lenovo Active Pen 2 included starts at €1,099 (VAT included). The 14-inch Yoga 530 costs around €549 (VAT included). All three models should be available soon on www.lenovo.com and select retailers.

Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine Transforms the Cintiq Pro Into a Windows 10 Workstation

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Feb 27th, 2018 11:01 Discuss (5 Comments)

Today Wacom announced the Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine, a creative PC module available in two configurations that fully integrates into the Cintiq Pro 24-inch pen display (announced today in a separate release). Designed for professional illustrators, designers, engineers and motion graphics users who require professional computing power and graphics performance, the modular Cintiq Pro Engine slots into the back of the Cintiq Pro 24, eliminating the space, cable clutter and compatibility issues that often result from using external computers and laptops.

"It is our mission to help professionals create with the least amount of distraction and clutter and to give them the power to tackle the new spaces of creating content for AR, VR and MR. The Wacom Cintiq Pro Engine provides a beautiful, easy to use solution for creatives everywhere," said Faik Karaoglu, Executive Vice President of the Creative Business Unit at Wacom.

Wacom Launches the Cintiq Pro 24-inch Pen Display

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Feb 27th, 2018 10:45 Discuss (7 Comments)

Today Wacom announced the availability of the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 pen display, expanding the Cintiq Pro high-definition range, which is designed for creative professionals seeking a larger digital canvas and the power to tackle an increasing onslaught of creative applications and programs. The new 24-inch Cintiq Pro pen display joins the previously introduced 13 and 16-inch models to form a comprehensive range of sizes for every need and workspace. The pen and touch display version will be available in May, the earlier announced 32-inch model is slated for later this year.

Performance you can see and feel
The brilliant 4k display, 98% Adobe RGB color accuracy and a billion colors deliver a true-to-life visual experience. The pen on screen experience was also improved. The combination of the new Pro Pen 2 technology (improved pressure sensitivity featuring 8,192 levels), the etched glass surface, the reduction in parallax through optical bonding and the close to zero latency, provide artists with precise control and a more natural feeling pen on screen experience.

Silicon Motion Announces Their New SM689 and SM681 FerriSSDs

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Feb 27th, 2018 10:25 Discuss (0 Comments)

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation, a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers and solid-state storage devices, today introduced its new FerriSSD single-chip SSDs that features PCIe Gen 3 NVMe 1.3 interface for high-performance mission critical applications. The SM689 supports PCIe Gen 3x4 interface while SM681 supports PCI Gen 3x2 interface - exhibiting sequential read speed of up to 1.45 GB/s and sequential write speed of up to 650MB/s. Both products can support multiple capacity configurations ranging from 16GB to 256GB and include enterprise-grade advanced data integrity and reliability capabilities using Silicon Motion's proprietary end-to-end data protection, ECC and data caching technologies.

The SM689 and SM681 are the newest members of the FerriSSD family which includes the PATA (SM601) and SATA (SM619) solutions targeted at embedded computing applications in industrial, commercial, enterprise and automotive end-markets. FerriSSD single-chip SSDs are customizable via firmware and offer enhanced reliability and robust data integrity features that are essential for the extreme operating environments of these applications.

AMD Targets IoT with New Zen-based Embedded Processors Through EdgeX Membership

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Feb 27th, 2018 10:18 Discuss (0 Comments)

Following the launch of its next-generation "Zen" architecture-based embedded processors, AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) has positioned its embedded products to help customers apply and advance the use of internet of things (IoT) principles to a growing number of applications such as industrial systems, smart cities, inventory management, medical displays, and point of sale. Many of those applications and the two new embedded processors are on display at the AMD booth number 1-360 at Embedded World this week.

AMD recently launched the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 and AMD EPYC Embedded 3000 processors, which provide new levels of performance, flexibility and security features for embedded customers. The same qualities that the new processors apply to vertical markets, including gaming, medical imaging, thin clients and aerospace, can translate into benefits for IoT solutions for edge gateways, servers and interconnected products. In addition, AMD is a supporting member of EdgeX Foundry, a group of ecosystem partners with the common goal of improving IoT interoperability and collaborating with more than 50 participating members towards a quality open environment and framework for building and accelerating IoT deployments.

EK Announces Monoblock for ASRock X399 Motherboards

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Feb 27th, 2018 10:06 Discuss (0 Comments)

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer is releasing a new Socket TR4 based monoblock made for several ASRock X399 motherboards. The EK-FB ASRock X399 RGB Monoblock has an integrated 4-pin RGB LED strips which make them compatible with ASRock RGB LED, thus offering a full lighting customization experience!

EK-FB ASRock X399 RGB Monoblock
This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for three ASRock AMD X399 Chipset based motherboards that support AMD Socket TR4 AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors. This monoblock is compatible with the following ASRock motherboards:

ASRock X399 Taichi
ASRock X399M Taichi
ASRock Fatal1ty X399 Professional Gaming

Kolink Intros Observatory and Stronghold Mid-tower Cases

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Feb 27th, 2018 08:48 Discuss (5 Comments)

Kolink have released their latest editions to the midi-case range, both of which come with identical core designs but each with a customized front panel. The Observatory, which features a very distinctive hexagonal design, is encased with front facing tempered glass panel and back lit with RGB fans. The Stronghold is built with an aluminum effect steel front panel, offering a classic tempered glass case design.

QNAP Unveils the QXG-10G1T, a 5-Speed 10GBASE-T NIC for NAS or PC

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Feb 27th, 2018 06:47 Discuss (3 Comments)

QNAP Systems, Inc. (QNAP) today unveiled the QXG-10G1T, a 5-speed PCI Express 10GBASE-T/NBASE-T NIC that supports 10GBASE-T/1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX and also 5GBASE-T/2.5GBASE-T (IEEE 802.3bz; NBASE-T) speeds. When used with Cat 6a cables, the QXG-10G1T can greatly improve network connection speeds to maximize transmission performance.

The QXG-10G1T is equipped with the Aquantia AQtion AQC107 NIC that supports 10/5/2.5/1Gbps and 100Mbps speeds. The RJ45 connector design also allows users to use their existing cables. By using Cat 5e cables, transmission speeds can reach up to 5Gbps, while using Cat 6a cables can deliver up to 10Gbps connectivity.

Cooler Master Announces MasterCase H500P Mesh White Chassis

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Feb 27th, 2018 04:16 Discuss (16 Comments)

Cooler Master, an award-winning computer hardware manufacturer, today announces the launch of the MasterCase H500P Mesh White. For a system being pushed to its limits, the Mesh White offers unrestricted airflow.

Behind the mesh sits two, pre-installed, 200 mm RGB fans that propel air into an all-white interior chassis. The space and capacity inside ensures that the case is easy to build in and cable management is as streamlined as possible. The combination of tempered glass and industrial lines gives the H500P a refined, functional appeal for your build to look as great as it performs. "The H500P represents what building a PC is to us and our community-it's fun, rewarding, and self-expressive." -- Matteo Stracciari, Case General Manager.

US-Gov Looking into National Security Implications of Broadcom-Qualcomm Merger

Feb 27th, 2018 00:05 Discuss (4 Comments)

The United States Government is closely examining national security implications of a potential Broadcom-Qualcomm merger. Broadcom is a Singapore-based company, while Qualcomm is American. An empowered national security panel called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which has the legal power to stop mergers between American and foreign companies, and acquisitions of American companies by foreign entities; is said to be examining specifics of Qualcomm's high-technology and intellectual property falling into the hands of Broadcom, as the two companies close in on a crucial Qualcomm board meet scheduled for March, in which Broadcom has exercised its shareholding to plant 6 favorable board members among the 11-member Qualcomm board, which all but guarantees a vote in favor of the merger - a classic hostile takeover.

"Not so fast," believes Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the US Senate, who urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to have the CFIUS examine the Broadcom-Qualcomm deal. In its unprecedented pre-deal discussions within the otherwise opaque committee, a consensus emerged that Broadcom's decision to relocate its headquarters to the US was insufficient to circumvent a CFIUS review. "I urge CFIUS to promptly review Broadcom's proposed acquisition of control of Qualcomm's board, and to act prior to the March 6 Qualcomm meeting to address any national security concerns that may be identified," Senator Cornyn wrote to Secretary Mnuchin. It looks like Broadcom's decision to tamper with Qualcomm's board is set to spectacularly backfire.

DXRacer Racing Pro R131-NR Gaming Chair Review

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The DXRacer Racing Pro R131-NR is a gaming chair with a simple, well-known bucket-seat design. Equipped with a high backrest and the typical ergonomics most gaming chairs have, it is also reinforced with a steel frame, has soft cushioning, and can hold someone with a weight of up to 115 kg (254 lbs).

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MSI Announces Optix MPG27C Monitor with PrismSync

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Feb 26th, 2018 22:53 Discuss (18 Comments)

MSI and SteelSeries are proud to announce that thanks to their long-standing technology partnership, the newly launched Optix MPG series curved gaming monitors are now supported by SteelSeries Engine. Using the five RGB zones on the front of the monitor, gamers can easily program lighting effects in the SteelSeries Engine to notify them of in-game timers, stats, cooldowns or even Discord notifications.

Joseph Hsu MSI President said: "The integration of SteelSeries Engine with the Optix MPG Series Curved Gaming Monitors brings PrismSync Illumination and real-time game alerts which offer an even greater level of immersive gameplay." "MSI and SteelSeries are delivering a truly immersive experience to gamers," said SteelSeries CEO, Ehtisham Rabbani said, "SteelSeries is proud of the strong partnership that we continue to build with MSI and we are excited to bring the gaming community new types of immersive technology like this."

Toshiba Announces New 2TB Hard Disk Drive for Client Storage Applications

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Feb 26th, 2018 21:25 Discuss (7 Comments)

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC), a committed technology leader, announces its new MQ04 Series 2TB HDD model MQ04ABD200, designed for use in notebook PCs, all-in-one and slim-line desktop systems, and other applications requiring high capacity storage and 2.5-inch mobile-class durability.

The MQ04ABD200 dual-disk model delivers 2 TB of storage capacity in a compact 2.5-inch, 9.5 mm height form factor. The drive's 6 Gbit/s SATA interface and 5,400 rpm performance, combined with a large 128 MB buffer, result in a 34 percent increase in maximum transfer rates and a 50 percent improvement in power efficiency compared to Toshiba's previous 1 TB mobile-class model generation, MQ01ABD100.

Deepcool Launches MF 120 Aluminum Frameless Smart RGB Fan Set

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Feb 26th, 2018 21:17 Discuss (16 Comments)

DEEPCOOL, the company that specialises in feature rich cases and cooling systems for the PC enthusiast has just introduced an exciting new smart fan set featuring frameless fans with RGB lighting and a WIFI compatible controller.

The Deepcool MF120 fan set includes three fans with vibration damping capabilities, and also gets a front side features a seamless all-in one skeleton frame made with 100% aluminum alloy. Its unique frameless design together with double-layer blade can generate positive air pressure and deliver maximum airflow with zero hindrance from the fan structure. The PWM fans can be active between a silent 500 rpm up-to a hefty 2200rpm. These are Fluid Dynamic Bearing fans.

"Lawyering Up" - Coinbase to Send Data on 13,000 Users to the IRS

Feb 26th, 2018 15:55 Discuss (63 Comments)

Coinbase, one of the world's largest cryptoexchanges - which is also one of those with the most solid footing when it comes to these kind of exchange - has announced via email that it will be disclosing around 13,000 users' data to the IRS. No doubt this is a move by the company to improve its footing even more with state institutions; however, this will certainly reduce consumers' trust in the exchange - at least, for those customers who weren't considering having to pay taxes on their crypto earnings.

What prompted this move by Coinbase? Well, back in November 2016, the IRS, through a San Francisco-based judge, started court proceedings which would see all of Coinbase users' data to be delivered to the services. Coinbase fought over these court proceedings, but ultimately caved in after the IRS's proposal changed from "all users" to a system that's likely based on trading volume. This is why "only" 13,000 users will see their personal data (taxpayer ID, name, birth date, address, and historical transaction records for certain higher-transacting customers during the 2013-2015 period) being delivered to the IRS as part of a major tax evasion investigation (which should surprise no one, really).

Khronos Group Announces Free and Open-Source MoltenVK for macOS and iOS

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Feb 26th, 2018 15:39 Discuss (8 Comments)

A Vulkan-compatible driver for macOS and iOS, MoltenVK, is now available free of charge and open-source. Having invested into its development for more than a year, Khronos Group has sponsored The Brenwill Workshop to donate MoltenVK for inclusion in the Vulkan graphics ecosystem.

We've also continued our efforts with LunarG who is today releasing a corresponding update to deliver macOS support to the Vulkan SDK. Also as a result of that work, Dota 2 will soon be updated to target Vulkan on macOS. It's been almost four years since we started contributing to Vulkan's goal of becoming a cross platform solution. With support for Windows, Linux, and Android crossed off the list, this latest set of updates checks off one of the largest remaining targets, giving developers an easy yet robust way to also target their Vulkan-based engines and titles to run on macOS and iOS. By making the code to MoltenVK freely available and open-source, the goal is to enable developers to bring their games to macOS and iOS with minimal development cost.

Lenovo Reveals Trio of Ruggedized Chromebooks with Touch and Pen Support

Feb 26th, 2018 12:18 Discuss (2 Comments)

Lenovo has revealed their ruggedized 100e, 300e, and 500e Chromebooks at MWC 2018. These new Chromebooks are built to withstand life's rigors. They feature rubber bumpers that are capable of handling everyday bumps and drops up to 75cm, reinforced ports and hinges and a water-resistant keyboard. Being the entry model, the Lenovo 100e possesses a more conventional laptop design, while the higher-end Lenovo 300e and 500e models come with the iconic 360-degree Yoga hinge which allows users to switch between laptop and tablet mode on the fly. However, the Touch and Pen feature is what really separates the 100e, 300e, and 500e from rival offerings on the market. For example, users can interact with the touch screen on the Lenovo 300e using everyday household objects like pencils, pens, or even paperclips. The Lenovo 500e, on the other hand, comes with an EMR stylus that takes advantage of Google's machine learning algorithm to predict the user's pen stroke to create a lag-less pen experience.

Both the Lenovo 300e and 500e Chromebook are available now on Lenovo.com for $279 and $349, respectively. The Lenovo 100e Chromebook will be available in March 2018 and will carry a $219 price tag. Consumers can purchase all three models shortly through the Lenovo's partners in major countries including the U.S., Germany, Italy, U.K, Spain, Brazil, and Australia.

SanDisk Announces a 400GB UHS-I microSDXC Card

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Feb 26th, 2018 11:40 Discuss (11 Comments)

As mobile content and applications grow increasingly sophisticated, Western Digital Corporation is transforming the mobile experience with new industry-leading mobile solutions designed to enable consumers to better capture, share and enjoy rich content on their devices. At Mobile World Congress, the company is releasing the world's fastest UHS-I flash memory card, the 400GB SanDisk Extreme UHS-I microSDXC card, and demonstrating the future of flash memory card technology with Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-enabled cards, designed to deliver the performance required for the next wave of data and content-intensive applications.

Whether it's exploring a new world in an immersive virtual reality app, or capturing 4K footage on a smartphone or drone, consumers can count on Western Digital to deliver even more robust mobile flash memory technology that offers them a premium experience on their favorite device.

Qualcomm Comes Around to Broadcom Acquisition, Wants the Price to be Right

Feb 26th, 2018 11:10 Discuss (11 Comments)

The Broadcom-Qualcomm acquisition saga continues, but with an encouraging development for the potential buyer. Qualcomm is reportedly coming around to the idea of acquisition by Broadcom, if the price is right. Broadcom's last offer stood at a staggering $121 billion, or $79 per share (which once touched $82 per share). Qualcomm's board is of the opinion that the current offer "severely undervalues" the company, without further guidance on what would constitute a fair price.

"Broadcom reiterated in the February 23 meeting that its reduced $79.00 per share proposal is its best and final proposal. The Qualcomm Board is unanimous in its view that each of Broadcom's proposals, including its prior $82.00 per share proposal, materially undervalues Qualcomm, and the Board encourages Broadcom to enter into mutual due diligence and price negotiations," Qualcomm stated in a press-release.

Phanteks Announces Glacier Series C350ip and C350ap Water Blocks

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Feb 26th, 2018 11:00 Discuss (4 Comments)

Phanteks, the award-winning thermal cooling and chassis manfacturer, is excited to introduce the latest additions to the Glacier Series, the C350ip (Intel) and C350ap (AMD).

The Glacier C350ip and C350ap features a large copper base in high quality nickel finish, acetal top, and integrated high density cooling fins. The fins are fine-tuned to 0.4 mm width and designed with extra high fins (5 mm) for improved conductivity. The C350ip and C350ap are RGB-free and focus solely on performance. Tailored with Viton O-Ring, the C350ip and C350ap are durable, resistant to extreme temperatures and retains sealing performance for long periods of time. The Glacier C350ip and C350ap can be intergrated into any enthusiast system without compromise.

Huawei Unveils the MateBook X Pro and MediaPad M5 Series

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Feb 26th, 2018 10:58 Discuss (3 Comments)

Huawei Consumer Business Group today unveiled the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro and HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Series at an exclusive launch event at the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona. Beautifully designed both inside and out, the new notebook and tablet excel at work, at home or on the go for the ultimate mobile computing experience. Both the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro and HUAWEI MediaPad M5 blend crisp and clear displays, powerful hardware updates and intelligent software advances:

HUAWEI MateBook X Pro
The HUAWEI MateBook X Pro is an ultra-slim, yet full-featured 13.9-inch notebook with an all-new 3K touch-enabled HUAWEI FullView Display and 91 percent screen-to-body ratio. Powered by an 8th Generation Intel Core i7/i5 processor, a discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU with 2GB GDDR5 and a long-lasting 57.4Wh (Typical Capacity) battery - the HUAWEI MateBook X pro is one of the lightest and most powerful notebooks on the market. The HUAWEI MateBook X Pro features Dolby Atmos Sound System and custom speakers that deliver breakthrough, immersive audio for sound to flow above and around you, making you feel like you're inside the action.

ARCHOS Announces the Safe-T mini Hardware Wallet for Storing Cryptocurrencies

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Feb 26th, 2018 10:37 Discuss (8 Comments)

ARCHOS is providing cryptocurrency enthusiasts with the perfect hardware wallet to secure their bitcoins and other currencies, to ensure cold storage of private keys and to prevent hacking attempts. Unveiled at the MWC 2018 (Hall 6 - Stand B60), the ARCHOS Safe-T mini will be available starting June 2018, at 49.99 €.

ARCHOS is an active member of the SYSTEMATIC PARIS-REGION cluster who has created a specific branch Digital Trust & Security aiming to promote and develop worldwide champions in cybersecurity. ARCHOS Safe-T mini is in line with the dynamics of this thematic group, which, on the cryptocurrency, has partners like Secure-IC, OCamlPro or Gemalto. Digital Trust & Security has also supported and facilitated the emergence and deployment of major collaborative projects such as iTrac or MoneyTrack.

China's Xi'an UnilC Starts Producing In-house DDR4 Memory With Qimonda's DNA

Feb 26th, 2018 10:29 Discuss (6 Comments)

Some of our readers may well remember Qimonda, at one time the second largest DRAM memory producer. The company produced various DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memory products, before eventually going bankrupt in 2009. Its bankruptcy led to its purchase by Inspur Group, a Chinese multinational information technology company headquartered in Jinan, Shandong, China. Using IP form its Qimonda acquisition, the company has now led its Xi'an UnilC subsidiary to become the first Chinese DDR4 producer, with full in-house development of the technology. On which process technology is anyone's guess; that's not being clearly marketed by the company, but it almost certainly isn't a top-of-the-line production process.

Xi'an UniIC's DDR4 lineup includes 4 GB and 8 GB SO-DIMMs, 4 GB and 8 GB UDIMMs as well as a 4 GB UDIMM with ECC, all rated for data transfer rate of 2133 MT/s with CL15 15-15 timings at 1.2 V, which isn't too far away - at least in voltage - from current DDR4 technology. These modules are built with Xi'an UnilC's 4 Gb DDR4 chips. While not overly impressive spec-wise, this news is important in at least two ways: first, it means there's a Chinese company that can leverage its own production for DDR4 memory chips, which will likely start to expand in China's hungry memory market before it starts exporting; second, that the entry of another DDR4 manufacturer into the game will certainly increase the amount of DDR4 memory put into circulation, alleviating China's needs to import memory, and thus leading to increased stock around the world for what should lead, hopefully, to lower DDR4 pricing (eventually, of course).

NVIDIA to Unveil "Ampere" Based GeForce Product Next Month

Feb 26th, 2018 10:16 Discuss (78 Comments)

NVIDIA prepares to make its annual tech expo, the 2018 Graphics Technology Conference (GTC) action-packed. The company already surprised us with its next-generation "Volta" architecture based TITAN V graphics card priced at 3 grand; and is working to cash in on the crypto-currency wave and ease pressure on consumer graphics card inventories by designing highly optimized mining accelerators under the new Turing brand. There's now talk that NVIDIA could pole-vault launch of the "Volta" architecture for the consumer-space; by unveiling a GeForce graphics card based on its succeeding architecture, "Ampere."

The oldest reports of NVIDIA unveiling "Ampere" date back to November 2017. At the time it was expected that NVIDIA will only share some PR blurbs on some of the key features it brings to the table, or at best, unveil a specialized (non-gaming) silicon, such as a Drive or machine-learning chip. An Expreview report points at the possibility of a GeForce product, one that you can buy in your friendly neighborhood PC store and play games with. The "Ampere" based GPU will still be based on the 12 nanometer silicon fabrication process at TSMC, and is unlikely to be a big halo chip with exotic HBM stacks. Why NVIDIA chose to leapfrog is uncertain. GTC gets underway late-March.

Western Digital Announces the PC SN720 and PC SN520 NVMe SSDs

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Feb 26th, 2018 10:11 Discuss (1 Comment)

Addressing the needs of a growing landscape of Internet of Things (IoT) and Fast Data applications at the edge, Western Digital Corporation today announced two new NVMe SSDs - Western Digital PC SN720 and Western Digital PC SN520 - powered by a new NVMe storage architecture, scalable for a range of emerging implementations, from IoT and edge computing to mobile computing systems.

The new Western Digital NVMe client architecture and product portfolio will enable manufacturers of IoT devices, computing devices such as thin and light, 2-in-1 and embedded PCs and monitoring systems to enable the capture and transformation of the massive quantities of data in real-time at the edge of smart city, smart home and personal data environments. Cisco GCI estimates that nearly 850 zettabytes (ZB) will be generated by all people, machines and things by 2021. With the advent of high-bandwidth technologies like 5G, augmented reality and facial recognition, new applications can benefit from the exceptional performance, power efficiency and capacity of NVMe and Western Digital 3D NAND to deliver an optimal user experience.

NVIDIA Releases GeForce 391.01 Game Ready Drivers

Feb 26th, 2018 10:11 Discuss (9 Comments)

NVIDIA today released the latest version of their Game Ready driver suite, which aims to bring users' systems up to scratch towards playing the latest games with as much performance and stability as possible. The new 391.01 version of NVIDIA's driver suite brings GameReady improvements that pave the way towards Final Fantasy XV - Windows Edition's release. This driver release packs a bigger punch than just Final Fantasy XV, though; it's also a Game Ready driver release for the upcoming Warhammer: Vermintide 2, and for the upcoming World of Tanks' graphics engine upgrade, which will bring tons of graphics features, updates and improvements to the base World of Tanks experience.

On a second, still important note, this driver release also packs performance improvements for the majority of NVIDIA's series 10 graphics cards in Player Unknown's Battlegrounds. These performance improvements range between the 3% and 7%. For a list of fixed and outstanding issues, as well as trailers for the most relevant additions to this driver release, look after the break. As always, you can download these drivers right here on TPU. Just follow the link below.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 391.01 Game Ready Drivers

Intel Ships Industry's First 58G PAM4-Capable FPGA

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Feb 26th, 2018 09:18 Discuss (2 Comments)

Intel today announced it has begun shipping its Intel Stratix 10 TX FPGAs, the industry's only field programmable gate array (FPGA) with 58G PAM4 transceiver technology. By integrating the FPGA with 58G PAM4 technology, Intel Stratix 10 TX FPGAs can double the transceiver bandwidth performance when compared to traditional solutions. This exceptional bandwidth performance makes the Intel Stratix 10 TX FPGAs the essential connectivity solution for next-generation use cases: optical transport networks, network function virtualization (NFV), enterprise networking, cloud service providers and 5G networks applications where high bandwidth is paramount.

To facilitate the future of networking, NFV and optical transport solutions, Intel Stratix 10 TX FPGAs provide up to 144 transceiver lanes with serial data rates of 1 to 58 Gbps. This combination delivers a higher aggregate bandwidth than any current FPGA, enabling architects to scale to 100G, 200G and 400G delivery speeds. By supporting dual-mode modulation, 58G PAM4 and 30G NRZ, new infrastructure can reach 58G data rates while staying backward-compatible with existing network infrastructure. A wide range of hardened intellectual property (IP) cores, including 100GE MAC and FEC, deliver optimized performance, latency and power.

SilverStone Intros FG-122 and FG-142 RGB LED Fan Frames

Feb 26th, 2018 08:03 Discuss (6 Comments)

Want to light up your performance-oriented but dull-looking SanAces? SilverStone may have the answer. The company rolled out the FG-122 and FG-142, ring-shaped fan-frames that you mount your fans through. The frames are lined with 24 RGB LEDs, which take input from a 4-pin RGB header. As you may have guessed from their model names, the FG-122 is designed for 120 mm fans, and the FG-142 for 140 mm. If you prefer not to pass bolts through the mount-holes, the frame also has an adhesive strip to latch onto your fan. The company didn't reveal pricing.

QNAP Introduces New 6 Gbps Expansion Enclosures for QNAP NAS

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Feb 26th, 2018 07:39 Discuss (0 Comments)

QNAP Systems, Inc. today launched the new REXP-1610U-RP and REXP-1210U-RP expansion enclosures that support 6 Gbps SATA hard drives and SSDs. Designed for expanding the storage space of a QNAP NAS, the new expansion enclosures provide a flexible and budget-friendly solution for organizations to tackle applications with intense data growth (such as archiving, high-resolution media storage, and video surveillance) without needing a large up-front investment.

"The rampant growth of data makes a flexible storage expansion solution a priority for organizations," said David Tsao, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "QNAP provides a wide range of expansion enclosures with various transmission interfaces and price points, fulfilling the need for higher capacity and lower costs to resolve the needs of data storage and backup."

Cryptocurrency Report: 46% of 2017's ICOs Have Failed Already

Feb 26th, 2018 05:01 Discuss (23 Comments)

ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) were 2017's talk in the cryptocurrency work: they were akin to the Dot-com craziness in the late 1990's, early 2000's, in that investment and speculation moved billions of dollars. Wherever you turned, every week, and sometimes more than twice per day, ICOs were popping out - initial investment efforts much like Kickstarter in "cool" new projects built on the blockchain technology. According to Tokendata, around 46% of 2017's ICOs resulted in failed projects: of the 902 crowdsales that took place last year, 142 failed at the funding stage, and 276 have failed, due to the "developers" either taking the money and running, or choosing the less obvious approach of letting the project fade into obscurity - alongside the collectively raised $233 million between them.

As if those numbers weren't high and disheartening enough as they are, an additional 113 ICOs are being classified as "semi-failed": the teams behind the projects have either started the process of obscuring their activities, stopping to communicate on social media, or their community has become so small as to mean the project has no chance of success. All in all, the 46% failed ICOs could soon grow to a staggering 59% of either confirmed failures or failures-in-the-making.

Colorful Working on AMD 400-series Chipset AM4 Motherboards

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Feb 25th, 2018 23:30 Discuss (11 Comments)

Colorful is designing its first socket AM4 motherboards, according to industry sources. The company will release its first socket AM4 motherboards after the 2018 Computex Expo (June). These boards will be based on AMD 400-series chipsets, and will come with out of the box support for Ryzen "Pinnacle Ridge" processors, Ryzen "Raven Ridge" APUs, and existing Ryzen "Summit Ridge" processors. Taking advantage of PCI-Express gen 3.0 general-purpose connectivity of the 400-series chipset, the boards will feature multiple 32 Gbps NVMe interfaces (M.2 or U.2). It's possible that the company could attach its coveted iGame Vulcan brand to some of these models. The company currently only sells motherboards for Intel platforms. Its lineup includes motherboards based on Intel Z370 and X299 chipsets, including crypto-currency miner-centric boards based on lesser Intel chipsets, such as the B250. AMD is expected to debut its 400-series chipset alongside its 2nd generation Ryzen "Pinnacle Ridge" processors, in Q2-2018.

Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 Review

Review Mice

Cooler Master's MM520 mouse uses great materials, a top optical sensor, and features highly customizable RGB lighting. While the shape might not be for everyone, it could be your top weapon of choice for all different kinds of game genres.

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Konami Charges $10 for a Second Save Slot in Metal Gear Survive

Feb 23rd, 2018 12:37 Discuss (85 Comments)

Metal Gear Survive like many other games requires the player to create a character in order to start the single-player campaign or play online. Everything is fine up to this point. However, only the first save slot in Metal Gear Survive is free as consequent save slots will cost a small fee. For example, players who want to do a second playthrough and keep their existing character will have to pay Konami for a second save slot. Each new save slot costs 1000 Survival coins. Therefore, players will have to spend at least $10 to buy 1150 Survival coins to purchase a save slot. The concept certainly isn't new as many online multiplayer games charge players for creating a second character. It's somewhat justifiable since you're technically paying for additional storage on their servers. But in Konami's case, it's just outright wrong to charge players for storing an extra save file on their own hard drive or SSD.

BenQ Issues Announcement Concerning the Noise Issue with Their EC-B Series Mice

Feb 23rd, 2018 11:16 Discuss (6 Comments)

BenQ has detected that a small percentage of their EC-B series mice produce a noise which is noticeable to some users. The company narrowed down the issue to the high frequency vibrations caused by the Avago 3360 sensor and other internal components. These vibrations, which don't affect the mice's performance, are also harmless to the human body. The issue has been addressed and will not affect future products. But since customer comfort and satisfaction are important to BenQ, the company is offering replacement mice starting mid-March. EC-B mice owners who suffer from the noise issue can contact BenQ's service center directly for further assistance.

Crytek's Hunt: Showdown Now Available Through Steam Early Access

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Feb 23rd, 2018 10:22 Discuss (16 Comments)

The wait is over: Crytek has announced that Hunt: Showdown is now available via Steam Early Access, priced at 29.99 EUR/USD and 25.99 GBP. Hunt: Showdown is a competitive multiplayer bounty hunting game that combines PvP with PvE elements in a handcrafted sandbox environment. "We want to take this opportunity to thank everybody who participated in closed alpha testing," said Hunt Producer Fatih Özbayram. "It was essential for us in our continuing developments, and we are grateful to have such a dedicated community this early in the game."

"Early access is a big milestone for the team, and we are all excited to finally be releasing Hunt: Showdown out into the wild," said Hunt: Showdown Creative Director Magnus Larbrant. "With Hunt, we wanted to make the game that we, as gamers, have always wanted to play ourselves: tense, dark, addictive, terrifying-a real adrenaline-pumping experience. We have the foundations laid out, and now with the support and input of the community during early access, we can polish that experience together."

EK Unveils NVIDIA TITAN V Full-coverage Water-block

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Feb 23rd, 2018 08:31 Discuss (15 Comments)

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is releasing water blocks for the most powerful PC GPU on the market to this day, the NVIDIA Titan V. The EK-FC Titan V full cover GPU water block will help you enjoy the full computing power of the Volta architecture based NVIDIA Titan V in a silent environment.

This water block directly cools the GPU, HBM2 memory, and VRM (voltage regulation module) as well! Water is channeled directly over these critical areas, thus allowing the graphics card and it's VRM to remain stable under high overclocks and to reach full boost clocks. EK-FC Titan V water block features a central inlet split-flow cooling engine design for best possible cooling performance, which also works flawlessly with reversed water flow without adversely affecting the cooling performance. Moreover, such design offers great hydraulic performance allowing this product to be used in liquid cooling systems using weaker water pumps.

TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.8.0 Released

Feb 23rd, 2018 04:41 Discuss (6 Comments)

TechPowerUp today released GPU-Z v2.8.0, with important stability and feature updates. To begin with, we've addressed driver-crash issues seen on AMD "Raven Ridge" APU iGPU enabled systems, when using GPU-Z. The new DXVA 2.0 Features page in the "Advanced" tab is a ready-reckoner for all the video formats your GPUs provide hardware-acceleration for. We've made improvements to the accuracy of video memory usage readings on AMD Radeon GPUs, rendering performance of NVIDIA PerfCap sensor; and AMD power-limit readings in the "Advanced" tab.

Among the new GPUs supported are Radeon RX 460 Mobile, RX 560 Mobile, RX 570 Mobile, RX 580 Mobile, RX 550 based on Baffin LE. Minor bug-fixes include NVIDIA PerfCap sensor drawing outside its area; accuracy of temperature reading on AMD "Vega," a "BIOS reading not supported" error popping up on certain motherboards, and the driver digital signature reading getting truncated on high-DPI displays. Grab GPU-Z v2.8.0 from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.8.0

The change-log follows.

CableMod Announces PRO Series PSU Cables

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Feb 23rd, 2018 04:18 Discuss (12 Comments)

Thanks to the undying support of an incredibly enthusiastic community, CableMod has become the go-to maker of premium sleeved cables and other modding accessories in just three short years. Thorough this time, we have been listening intently to community feedback on how to take our products to the next level. Today, CableMod is proud to announce the result of this feedback - the CableMod PRO Series. Featuring thicker wires, closed cable combs, and a totally revamped color scheme, the CableMod PRO Series represents the next-generation of CableMod cables engineered for discerning PC enthusiast.

The CableMod PRO Series begins with all-new extra-thick wires. Reducing the gap between each wire, the effect is a fuller, more robust look. To perfect the aesthetics on the motherboard side, each cable is also carefully constructed to completely eliminate any merged terminals, which means only a clean and tangle-free wires are visible for an unmatched professionally-sleeved look.

AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.3 Beta

Feb 23rd, 2018 02:44 Discuss (3 Comments)

AMD today released the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition. Version 18.2.3, the third release for this month, comes with optimization for "Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age," "Sea of Thieves," and "Brass Tactics." With "Sea of Thieves," the drivers enable up to 29% higher frame-rates at 4K UHD, when measured with Radeon RX Vega 64, and up to 39% higher frame-rates at 1080p, when measured with an RX 580. With FFXII, it enables up to 13% higher frame-rates at 1440p measured with an RX Vega 64, and up to 20% higher frame-rates at 1080p, with an RX 580.

A host of FreeSync-related bugs are addressed with this release. They correct a bug experienced with FreeSync kicking in during online video-playback in Google Chrome, causing flickering; rapid frame-rate changes between minimum and maximum FPS ranges when gaming in certain system configurations; which causes stuttering; and a flickering observed on FreeSync-capable displays when performance metrics overlay is enabled with Enhanced Sync. A Radeon Overlay flickering noticed on Vulkan API games was fixed. A display corruption issue with "Fortnite" was fixed. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.3 Beta

The change-log follows.

CORSAIR Obsidian 500D Review

Review Cases

The CORSAIR Obsidian 500D offers sleek looks with a thick slab of aluminum up top and heavy swing-open glass side panels. But it does not stop there. You will also get USB 3.1 Type-C connectivity, two retail-grade 120 mm fans, and a few little surprises inside the chassis to make your life a lot easier when assembling your dream system.

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Bloody B945 Optical Gaming Keyboard Review

Review Keyboards

The Bloody B945 is a unique full-size keyboard with a left-sided numpad, which effectively helps with getting the mouse closer to the keyboard for better ergonomics while in use. It features their new LK Libra optical switches with a stabilizer bar for every single switch, dust and spill resistance, and a software driver that crams in a ton of customization options as well!

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Samsung Electronics Breaks Ground on a New EUV Line

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Feb 22nd, 2018 22:26 Discuss (0 Comments)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today broke ground on a new EUV (extreme ultraviolet) line in Hwaseong, Korea, aiming to maintain its leadership in state-of-the-art semiconductor technology. With this new EUV line, Samsung will be able to strengthen its leadership in the single nanometer process technology by responding to market demand from various applications, including mobile, server, network, and HPC (high performance computing), where high performance and power efficiency are critical.

The new facility is expected to be completed within the second half of 2019 and start production ramp-up in 2020. The initial investment in this new EUV line is projected to reach US$ 6 billion by 2020 and additional investment will be determined depending on market circumstances. Samsung has decided to utilize cutting-edge EUV technology starting with its 7-nanometer (nm) LPP (Low Power Plus) process. This new line will be set up with EUV lithography equipment to overcome nano-level technology limitations. Samsung has continued to invest in EUV R&D to support its global customers for developing next-generation chips based on this leading-edge technology.

Venezuela Oils Its Economic Gears With "petro" Cryptocurrency Launch

Feb 22nd, 2018 14:28 Discuss (35 Comments)

Blockchain technologies will eventually change the world, eventually. Whether or not cryptocurrencies will be part of that world, however, is still up for debate. Venezuela, however, is looking to reap dividends from the current cryptocurrency craze before the final answer to that question has a chance of being answered. As the country has entered a severely crippled economic and civil state, the search for a way to raise government funds has led to the development of the petro cryptocurrency - which is linked, as one would expect, to the country's primary export and income source: oil.

As part of the petro pre-sale, investors were being offered $60 petro tokens at discounted rates that they can exchange for actual petros during a planned Mars ICO (Initial Coin Offering). After that ICO has been gone through, a petro will supposedly represent a barrel of crude from a specific division in the country's Orinoco oil belt. Is this a pre-buy for a barrel of crude of sorts? It seems so. It's also an extremely risky move for investors, though, but nothing that they aren't used to already: futures trading does exist, after all.

AU Optronics To Begin Shipping 8K TV Panels In 1H18

Feb 22nd, 2018 14:03 Discuss (21 Comments)

Even as most users are still transitioning from their Full HD panels to 4K ones (less than 40% of users have a 4K-capable panel), the 8K panel onslaught should begin as early as the first half the current year. AU Optronics, one of the world's foremost panel makers, is expected to start shipping 8K-enabled panels between the 65-85 inch range in the first half of this year, thus moving the goalpost once again on what the top of the line in the display market is.

Liao Wei-lun, president of AUO's video products business group, said that global sales of 65- and 70-inch TVs and display products are expected to grow 40% and 50% on year, respectively, in 2018. As yields have improved, so has pricing come down, which means users will be looking to upgrade their panels to higher diagonal sizes. But the bigger the size, the higher the resolution of the panel has to be, and that's where AUO wants to do business. AUO expects the penetration rate of 65-inch and above sizes of 8K TVs will start gaining momentum in 2018 and reach 10% in 2020. Naturally, AUO plans to start 8K panel production on the higher margin products - high diagonal TVs - and will scale down from there, eventually hitting PC monitor's screens. Maybe by that time we'll have graphics card options that can actually push that gargantuan number of pixels.

Intel, NVIDIA Join Forces Towards Garnering US Government Support for AI Field

Feb 22nd, 2018 13:45 Discuss (4 Comments)

Intel and NVIDIA found themselves on the same side of the field last week as both companies defended the US government's planning and intervention into the AI field. Naturally, these two giants' interests aligned in spurring the government to adopt policies and decision making that would impulse and accelerate development of AI technologies. That move would certainly boos both companies' endgames, as both have cut increased footholds in the Ai industry in their respective areas.

This was just the first of three planned hearings with industry professionals in the AI field. The order of business: to inform the federal government in formulating public policy around AI technologies, with a defining stake: making sure the US maintains its leadership in AI. Texas Congressman Will Hurd, which spearheaded the testimony in the hearing, said that "dominance in artificial intelligence is a guaranteed leg up in the realm of geopolitics and economics." AI's impact on general system's inefficiencies, such as transportation, accounting, healthcare, cybersecurity, and defense systems, were pointed towards by the NVIDIA and Intel spokespersons as definite areas of interest and extreme economic growth - and less expenditure - via AI deployment, which could ultimately add eight trillion dollars to the U.S. economy by 2035.

Supermicro Launches New Embedded Solutions Based on the Intel Xeon D-2100 SoC

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Feb 22nd, 2018 11:56 Discuss (1 Comment)

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI), a global leader in enterprise computing, storage, networking solutions and green computing technology, today announced several new additions to its edge computing and network appliance portfolio based on the new Intel Xeon D-2100 SoC (System-on-a-Chip) processor.

Leveraging its deep expertise in server technology, Supermicro is bringing customers some of the first Intel Xeon D-2100 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) processor-based solutions. The company's X11SDV series motherboards offer infrastructure optimization by combining the performance and advanced intelligence of Intel Xeon processors into a dense, lower-power system-on-a-chip. Supermicro is introducing a wide range of new systems to the market including compact embedded systems, rackmount embedded systems, as well as multi-node MicroCloud and SuperBlade systems.

EA Publisher Sale on Origin and Amazon with Discounts Up to 75%

Feb 22nd, 2018 11:33 Discuss (24 Comments)

Electronic Arts is currently running a big sale on Origin and Amazon that you simply cannot miss out on. There's an excellent selection of titles that includes Battlefield 1, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Star Wars: Battlefront II, Titanfall 2, and many others. The good news is that the discounts also extend to several DLCs and game bundles. It's worth taking a look even if you're not a big fan of Origin. The EA Publisher Sale runs through until Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 10 am Pacific time. As is the custom, we've highlighted some of the more interesting offers.

Intel to Bring 5G to Mobile PCs by 2019

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Feb 22nd, 2018 10:00 Discuss (3 Comments)

Today, Intel announced it is collaborating with Dell, HP, Lenovo and Microsoft to bring 5G connectivity to Windows PCs with Intel XMM 8000 series commercial 5G modems. Intel expects the first high-performing 5G-connected PCs to surface in the market in the second half of 2019.

Mobile World Congress (MWC) attendees will get a first sneak peek at a concept 5G-connected PC - a detachable 2 in 1 - connected by an early 5G modem and powered by 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processors. At MWC, Intel will showcase the power of 5G on a PC by livestreaming video over the 5G network. This concept is one of many stepping stones for moving the industry forward in what's possible for 5G-enabled PCs.

5G is not just another generation of wireless connectivity. It promises new opportunities for technology innovation across the computing and connectivity landscape from the cloud to the network and the client.

Corsair Announces Obsidian Series 500D Chassis

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Feb 22nd, 2018 09:57 Discuss (3 Comments)

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today unveiled a stunning new identity for its iconic Obsidian Series of enthusiast PC cases with the launch of the CORSAIR Obsidian Series 500D. Continuing the Obsidian Series' signature elegant and minimalist design, the 500D adds premium smoked glass tempered side panels and curved aluminium construction to create an enthusiast PC case that's thoroughly modern, inside and out. This is the new Obsidian.

With its clean exterior lines, smoked tempered glass side panels and a curved aluminum front, the Obsidian 500D combines minimalist design with the best in premium materials. Solid brushed black aluminum construction is impossible to miss, from the curved door handles, to the front plate and front-to-back top plate. Simply put, the 500D is built better.

SEC Warns Tech Execs Not to Trade Stock When Investigating Security Flaws

Feb 22nd, 2018 08:44 Discuss (12 Comments)

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) came down hard on silicon valley executives trading company stock when their companies were investigating security or design flaws that could potentially bring down stock value; as something like that borders on insider-trading, a felony under US law. This comes in the wake of senior executives of credit rating company Equifax, and chipmaker Intel, dumping company stock while their companies were investigating security flaws in their products or services. Intel CEO Brian Kraznich raised quite a stink when reports emerged that he sold $39 million worth Intel stock while the company was investigating the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities in its processors (which hadn't been made public while he dumped the stock).

The SEC has come up with a far-reaching new guideline to keep tech execs from exhibiting similar borderline-insider-trading behavior. "Directors, officers, and other corporate insiders must not trade a public company's securities while in possession of material nonpublic information, which may include knowledge regarding a significant cybersecurity incident experienced by the company," the new guideline reads. "There is no doubt that the cybersecurity landscape and the risks associated with it continue to evolve," said SEC Chairman Jay Clayton. "I have asked the Division of Corporation Finance to continue to carefully monitor cybersecurity disclosures as part of their selective filing reviews. We will continue to evaluate developments in this area and consider feedback about whether any further guidance or rules are needed."

Qualcomm to Build Snapdragon 5G SoCs on Samsung 7nm LPP EUV Process

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Feb 22nd, 2018 08:31 Discuss (0 Comments)

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, today announced the intention to expand their decade-long foundry relationship into EUV (extreme ultra violet) lithography process technology, including the manufacture of future Qualcomm Snapdragon 5G mobile chipsets using Samsung's 7-nanometer (nm) LPP (Low Power Plus) EUV process technology.

Using 7LPP EUV process technology, Snapdragon 5G mobile chipsets will offer a smaller chip footprint, giving OEMs more usable space inside upcoming products to support larger batteries or slimmer designs. Process improvements, combined with a more advanced chip design, are expected to bring significant improvements in battery life.

Impactics DMono is a Fanless Case Without Aluminium Ridges

Feb 22nd, 2018 08:02 Discuss (3 Comments)

Want a fanless aluminium case for a reasonably powerful machine, but not a fan of brutalist aluminium ridges (fins) sticking out? Impactics DMono could be your choice. This case looks heavily inspired from the Mac Mini, but unlike the tiny air cooler Apple sneaked in, the DMono is completely fanless. Its body, made of a 5 mm-thick block of aluminium, acts as heatsink, powerful enough to handle 35W TDP Intel LGA115x processors. There's 2.65 kg of aluminium to go around. The DMono comes in four variants, two based on color (brushed aluminium and matte-black), and sub-variants based on the positioning of the power button (front or top). Thin mini ITX motherboards from GIGABYTE are supported. Available exclusively from Caseking.de, the DMono is priced at 200€ a piece.

ADATA Showcases Full Industrial Product Range at Embedded World 2018

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Feb 22nd, 2018 03:42 Discuss (0 Comments)

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of highperformance DRAM modules, SSD and NAND based Flash products, is pleased to confirm participation in Embedded World 2018, which is the premiere embedded systems and industrial PC trade show in Europe. The event is scheduled for February 27th to March 1st 2018 and taking place in Nuremberg, Germany. ADATA is fielding its entire industrial-grade portfolio, covering SSDs, SD cards, and CFAST products that now use new-generation 3D NAND.

ADATA will showcase several PCIe M.2 2280 SSDs and DDR4 2666 DRAM modules, which feature extreme high speed, wide temperature tolerance and sustained reliability for industrial embedded applications, as well as for AI, AR, VR and video gaming. In addition, industrial box PCs, embedded cards, server motherboards, smart car infotainment, and casino gaming controls will be at the show. ADATA ex! pects Embedded World 2018 to be the most productive and exciting show yet after years of taking part in the event.

IBASE Announces Embedded Devices with EPYC 3000 and Ryzen Embedded CPUs

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Feb 22nd, 2018 03:41 Discuss (1 Comment)

IBASE Technology Inc., a world leader in the manufacture of industrial motherboard and embedded systems, today launched a series of new AMD Ryzen Embedded and EPYC Embedded processor-based products, including the MI988 Mini-ITX motherboard, SI-324 4x HDMI 2.0 digital signage player and FWA8800 1U rackmount network appliance.

"As a premier AMD partner, we have been working closely on building products utilizing both AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 and EPYC Embedded 3000 products." said Jackson Mao, Product Planning Division Vice President of IBASE. "The next-generation performance and scalability delivered by the new AMD processors translate to real-world differentiation and benefits for our customers across networking, digital media, and industrial applications."

ADATA and XPG Feature Total Mobile Gaming Solution at MWC 2018

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Feb 22nd, 2018 03:16 Discuss (0 Comments)

ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of high performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, is excited to announce the first participation at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018,the world's largest gathering for the mobile industry. ADATA and XPG are together presenting a total mobile gaming solution that provides mobility, functionality, and convenience in order to fulfill of growing number of mobile users' needs. ADATA brings the latest three high density battery cellpower bank models that provide a lightweight and versatile choice of colors and capacities. For XPG, EMIX I30 features patented design driven by 5.2 channel surround sound with a rich and detailed sound quality. By bringing these two devices together into a small, tidy package offers an immediate convenience for mobile gamers.

Nowadays, end users have continued to be fascinated and amazed by rapidly evolving mobile technology. Mobile gaming is one of the few segments that have swiftly grown at an immense pace and with a rise in demand. XPG places an emphasis on delivering rich and detailed sound quality. The 5.2 channel EMIX I30 has established an inner vacuum tube technology that creates true 3D surround sound. It also employs oversized 13.5 mm units made of durable yet reactive monomer materials. EMIX I30 works instantly with a majority of electronic devices.

Apacer Intros Commando Series DDR4-3600 and DDR4-3466 CL16 Memory

Feb 22nd, 2018 02:03 Discuss (1 Comment)

Remember that God-awful (in our opinion) Commando assault rifle-shaped PCIe SSD by Apacer? The company decided to extend some of that styling onto its latest Commando series DDR4 memory variants. The new Apacer Commando DDR4 memory series comes in 16 GB (2x 8 GB) dual-channel kits, in frequencies of DDR4-3466 CL16 (originally announced in Q4-2017 with looser CL18 timings) and the new DDR4-3600 (EK.16GA4.GFAK2). Its module design features a distinctive heatspreader with an ornament that looks like the top attachment rail of certain assault rifles or carbines.

The newer DDR4-3466 variant comes with tighter timings of 16-18-18-36 (against the original's 18-18-18-42), and a module voltage of 1.35V, while the DDR4-3600 variant does its advertised clock speeds at 17-19-19-39, and 1.35V module voltage. Both kits are XMP 2.0 compliant, so the advertised speeds can be enabled with one click in your UEFI setup program. Available now, the DDR4-3466 CL16 kit is priced at 254€, while the DDR4-3600 kit goes for 379€.

Iiyama Intros ProLite XB3270QS 31.5-inch Monitor

Feb 22nd, 2018 01:49 Discuss (4 Comments)

Japanese display maker Iiyama today introduced the ProLite XB3270QS 31.5-inch monitor. The monitor combines an IPS LCD panel with flicker-free LED back-lighting that uses a non-PWM method to control brightness, reducing flicker. The monitor offers WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution, 60 Hz refresh-rate, 4 ms (gray to gray) response time, and 300 cd/m² maximum brightness, with dynamic mega-contrast ratio. The LED back-lighting features blue-light reduction technology. Display inputs include dual-link DVI-D, DisplayPort 1.2, and HDMI 1.4 (30 Hz only). Its stand offers basic tilt adjustments. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS Intros GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus Series Graphics Cards

Feb 22nd, 2018 01:16 Discuss (7 Comments)

ASUS rolled out GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus series graphics cards. Much like the GTX 1070 Ti Cerberus card launched late-2017, these cards come with 144-hour burn-in quality-control by ASUS, and are targeted at gaming iCafes. The GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus (model: CERBERUS-GTX1050TI-O4G) comes with 4 GB of memory, while the GTX 1050 Cerberus (CERBERUS-GTX1050-O2G) comes with 2 GB.

Both cards are based on an identical board design, featuring a 17 cm long full-height PCB, and a monoblock aluminium GPU heatsink that's ventilated by a pair of IP5X-certified (dust resistant) 80 mm fans. A 3+1 phase VRM with ASUS' highest grade Super Alloy Power II chokes power the card. Both cards rely on the PCI-Express slot for power. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI-D, HDMI 2.0b, and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors. Both cards are factory-overclocked, with the GTX 1050 Ti Cerberus shipping with 1341/1455 MHz (core/GPU Boost), and an untouched 7.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective) memory; while the GTX 1050 Cerberus ships with 1404/1518 MHz (core/GPU Boost). The company didn't reveal pricing.

"Kingdom Come: Deliverance" Year's First Gaming Blockbuster, Sells a Million

Feb 22nd, 2018 00:46 Discuss (10 Comments)

Medieval RPG "Kingdom Come: Deliverance" is on course to becoming 2018's first gaming blockbuster. The game sold over a million copies in its first week since launch, with the PC platform amounting to 45 percent of the sales, through Steam. The sales data was compiled by SteamSpy, accounting the first week of sales since the game's February 13 release across Windows (PC), Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 platforms. Czech developer Warhorse Studios debuted with the game, which is published by Deep Silver.

In related news, the game already received its first major patch, version 1.2.5, which fixes controller issues on the console platforms, such as an unresponsive R2 button; bugs in quests with Hans Capon; and bugs in the "Ginger in a Pickle" quest. "We're about one million when I count all the platforms and distribution channels. We certainly thought about one million. The number is surprisingly positive, but it's not something we thought we could not achieve," said Martin Frývaldský, CEO of Warhorse Studios.

ECS Z370-Lightsaber Review

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ECS is back for the new year with the newest entry into its provocatively named "Lightsaber" line of motherboards; this time with the ECS Z370-Lightsaber. Will ECS deliver an overclocking weapon as effective as the lightsaber is for the Jedi?

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Cheaper Intel 300-series Chipset Motherboards Around the Corner

Feb 21st, 2018 23:59 Discuss (6 Comments)

Right now, it makes little sense to pick up Intel's Core i3 quad-core and cheaper Core i5 six-core chips, only to pair them with the company's premium Z370 Express chipset-based motherboards, which start around $139. The company had promised a second wave of Core i3 and Core i5 "Coffee Lake" processors, and newer Pentium Gold and Celeron parts based on the silicon; alongside three cheaper motherboard chipsets - H370 Express, B360 Express, and H310 Express; for launch some time in Q1-2018. We're getting word that March could be a busy month for PC hardware retailers.

The H370 has an almost identical feature-set to the Z370, except its lack of support for CPU overclocking and multi-GPU (PCIe segmentation). The B360 is slightly cheaper, and has fewer connectivity options. The H310 is entry-level, and has the least connectivity options. H370-based motherboards could be priced between $100 to $170; B360-based ones $80 to $130, and H310-based ones $50 to $70. Online retailers have already begun listing some of these motherboards. A list was compiled by Redditor dayman56. It includes links to over a dozen such listings of ASRock and GIGABYTE motherboards that, if not anything else, confirm model names.

Microsoft Shares What to Expect From Mixed Reality in 2018

Feb 21st, 2018 15:29 Discuss (3 Comments)

In a LinkedIn blog post, Microsoft Technical Fellow Alex Kipman shared the company's vision for its Mixed Reality ecosystem for this 2018 year. The vision stands on a three-pronged stance: MR +AI, AR + VR, and Immersive Communication. The first is likely the more exciting of the bunch: marrying MR environments and apps with the power of the cloud to render extensive AI workloads. This starts with the inclusion of AI-processing capabilities intro the next version of Microsoft's HoloLens and its HPU (Holographic Processing Unit). With a strong internet connection, this local processing will be joined by Microsoft's cloud AI processing glut to marry the virtual and physical worlds in an increasingly inseparable mix, allowing for the virtual to perfectly overlap the physical.

The second stance on this Microsoft approach is the marriage of the AR + VR environments in a single product, which both allows for virtual overlays in the physical world, and a comprehensive solution for VR-specific workloads that the same AR headset can propel you to - essentially building a HoloLens + VR headset solution. Finally, Immersive Communication is one of the other applications where Microsoft sees extreme potential in this MR world we're about to enter: where the instant messaging and video chats of the world are superseded by an actual VR solution that places people next to their desired public, be it their loved ones or, frighteningly, their boss, from the comfort of their home or another location they see fit. A focus on actual presence can be brought equally to people separated by an inch or a thousand miles.

Updated Firmware Available for 6th, 7th and 8th Generation Intel Core Processors

Feb 21st, 2018 14:39 Discuss (24 Comments)

Intel today shared in a blog post that they are deploying microcode solutions that have been developed and validated over the last several weeks. These updates aim to patch security vulnerabilities recently found in Intel processors, and will be distributed, mostly, via OEM firmware updates - users who want to have their system hardened against Spectre and Meltdown exploits will have to ensure that their system manufacturer of choice makes these microcode updates available. If they don't do it in a timely fashion, users have no choice but to be vocal about that issue - Intel has now done its part in this matter.

This is the second wave of Intel's patches to mitigate the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities, after the first, hasty patch sent users on towards unstable, crashing systems and the inevitable update rollback. Security had already been reinstated, of sorts, for Intel's Skylake processors, but left users of any other affected Intel CPU family out in the cold. Here's hoping this is the one update that actually sticks after thorough testing and validation.

Intel Plans $5 billion Investment in Israel Plant for Expanded 10 nm Production

Feb 21st, 2018 14:28 Discuss (6 Comments)

Israeli Economy Minister Eli Cohen today revealed that after talks with Intel, the company shared plans for a $5 billion investment in its Kiryat Gat plant, located in southern Israel. The Kiryat Gat plant currently features tools and manufacturing facilities that allow only 22 nm chips to be produced - definitely not cutting edge, but still somewhat relevant in the semiconductor market for simpler technologies. Intel's investment would bring this plant's capabilities to 10 nm manufacturing levels. The minister further stated that Intel will begin its investment this year, and was looking towards a full 2020 payoff with increased manufacturing capabilities. Naturally, with investment comes tax opportunities and government incentives, and Intel is expected to receive a 10% grant from the Israeli government to help it in this investments' funding.

Alphacool Announces the Eisbaer LT AIO Family

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Feb 21st, 2018 14:15 Discuss (4 Comments)

With the Alphacool Eisbaer LT, you get a high-performance compact water cooling system that's barely inferior to its bigger brother, the Eisbaer AIO.
Just like the Eisbaer, the Eisbaer LT distinguishes itself from the usual AIO mix in that Alphacool relied on normal custom components as much as possible during development. This allows the Eisbaer LT to be expanded on not just with the Eisbaer Ready quick connectors but also with connectors using standard G1/4" threads. Another highlight is the new 25mm thin Slim Radiator, made entirely of copper. Since copper has twice the heat capacity of aluminium, optimal cooling is guaranteed.

The cooler bottom is made entirely of copper and has an ultra-fine cross slot structure. Thanks to those cross slots and a sophisticated nozzle system, heat is absorbed extremely fast and transferred away from the CPU. The built-in DC-LT Ultra Ceramic Low Noise pump is an extremely quiet pump that Alphacool has used in many products. The pump is much stronger than what you'd usually find in AIOs. It can also be throttled with the optional 7V adaptor, decreasing the already low noise generation even further. The pump casing is very flat and the aluminium cap gives it a clean, elegant look.

Fractal Design Expands Meshify C Line-Up

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Feb 21st, 2018 12:29 Discuss (8 Comments)

Fractal Design, leading designer and manufacturer of enthusiast PC cases and components, today announced two new additions to the popular Meshify C series high-airflow mid tower lineup. Meshify continues to strike an aggressive pose with its unparalleled cooling performance and defiant look, now available in a multitude of side panel variations. The introduction of the Meshify C with dual solid side panels and Meshify C - TG with lightly tinted tempered glass gives users all new choices, both functional and aesthetic. These new all-solid and light tint TG versions complement the original Meshify C - Dark TG with dark tint TG to satisfy a wide range of stylistic preferences.

An open ATX layout with intelligent space utilization creates an unrestricted airflow path from the mesh front intakes directly through key components to exhaust, ensuring heat is never an issue. The Meshify C series has a remarkably compact footprint with the high-end component support of a larger tower, and with seven fan mounts and multi-radiator liquid cooling capability, it has the cooling capacity to match. When performance is top priority and compromise is not an option, Meshify has you covered in style, now with three unique side panel configurations to choose from.

Assetto Corsa Competizione Speeds its Way Into Steam Early Access This Summer

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Feb 21st, 2018 12:11 Discuss (3 Comments)

Assetto Corsa Competizione, the new official game of the Blancpain GT series, named after world-renowned Swiss watch manufacture Blancpain and organized by SRO Motorsports Group, will be speeding onto Steam Early Access this summer from Kunos Simulazioni and 505 Games. Featuring an extraordinary level of simulation quality that allows players to experience the unique atmosphere of this GT3 Series, players can compete against official drivers, teams, accessing all cars and circuits with the highest level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Taking full advantage of Unreal Engine 4, Assetto Corsa Competizione will ensure the highest quality rendering with photorealistic weather conditions and graphics to reach a new standard in driving realism and immersion racing. Players will experience highspeed torque as they get behind the wheel of luxurious speedsters including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens and many other prestigious GT cars reproduced with an outstanding level of detail. Motion capture technology is used to create the animations of mechanics and drivers in an even more realistic fashion and guarantee a high level of player engagement during races, pit stops and driver changes.

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition Might Make its Way to Steam Someday

Feb 21st, 2018 12:00 Discuss (6 Comments)

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, which was released yesterday, is currently a Windows 10 exclusive. Essentially, what that means is that players can only get the game through the dreaded Windows Store. Microsoft previously blamed Valve for not wanting Age of Empires: Definitive Edition on their Steam platform, but then stated that the move was possible if the platforms pledge their unconditional support for Windows 10. In a recent interview with PC Games Network, Adam Isgreen suggested that Age of Empires: Definitive Edition could possibly arrive on Steam in a near future. As a creative director, Adam has little control over game distribution, however, he fully recognizes that some users suffer from annoying issues with the Windows 10 Store.

AMD Launches Embedded EPYC 3000 and Ryzen V1000 Processors

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Feb 21st, 2018 10:24 Discuss (11 Comments)

AMD today introduced two new product families - the AMD EPYC Embedded 3000 processor and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 processor - to enter a new age for high-performance embedded processors. AMD EPYC Embedded 3000 brings the power of "Zen" to a variety of new markets including networking, storage and edge computing devices, while AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 targets medical imaging, industrial systems, digital gaming and thin clients. These new AMD Embedded processors deliver breakthrough performance, exceptional integration and on-chip security.

"Today we extend the high-performance x86 'Zen' architecture from PCs, laptops and the datacenter to networking, storage and industrial solutions with the AMD EPYC Embedded and AMD Ryzen Embedded product families, delivering transformative performance from the core to the edge," said Scott Aylor, corporate vice president and general manager, Datacenter and Embedded Solutions Business Group, AMD. "AMD EPYC Embedded 3000 raises the bar in performance for next-generation network functions virtualization, software-defined networking and networked storage applications. AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 brings together the 'Zen' core architecture and 'Vega' graphics architecture to deliver brilliant graphics in a single chip that provides space and power savings for medical imaging, gaming and industrial systems. With these high-performance products, AMD is ushering in a new age for embedded processors."

AOC Intros AGON AG352UCG6 35-inch Curved Ultrawide Gaming Monitor

Feb 21st, 2018 06:55 Discuss (10 Comments)

AOC today introduced the AGON AG352UCG6, a 35-inch curved ultrawide gaming monitor. Featuring an 1800R curvature and 21:9 ultrawide aspect-ratio, the monitor offers WideQHD (3440 x 1440 pixels) resolution, with 120 Hz refresh-rate, and support for NVIDIA G-SYNC. Its AMVA panel offers 178°/178° viewing angles. Display inputs include DisplayPort 1.2, and HDMI 1.4. Among its gamer-centric features are genre-specific display presets, headset stand, rear RGB LED diffusers that either work as mood-lighting or whatever you set them to do, a 200-step gray levels saturation setting (think Adobe Photoshop levels control built into your monitor); and a headset mount.

Sonnet 1TB Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive Now Shipping

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Feb 21st, 2018 00:49 Discuss (0 Comments)

Sonnet Technologies today announced that the new 1TB version of its popular Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive is now shipping. A rugged, pocket-size solid-state drive (SSD) storage device with a Thunderbolt 3 interface, the Mac- and Windows-compatible drive is equipped with 1TB of NVMe flash storage and leverages the 40Gb/s bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 to deliver data transfer speeds up to 2600 MB/s.

The Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive was designed for pro users requiring ultimate performance in a truly portable storage device, unencumbered by the need for an AC power adapter. The storage device connects to any compatible Mac or Windows computer, or at the end of a Thunderbolt 3 device daisy chain, with its 0.5-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) cable. Based on the latest PCIe Gen 3 flash memory technology, the Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive is more than five times faster than 6Gb/s SATA SSDs and USB 3 SSD drives.

ADATA Gammix S10 512 GB Review

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ADATA's Gammix S10 SSD is built using a Silicon Motion controller paired with 3D TLC flash. The SSD is cooled by a sexy red heatsink that not only looks pretty but also keeps the drive cooler than other NVMe SSDs we tested before. Priced at $210, it's one of the most affordable PCIe x4 drives on the market.

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ASUS Announces Availability of Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102

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Feb 20th, 2018 22:10 Discuss (3 Comments)

ASUS today announced the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102. Its unique and innovative design, featuring a beautiful 3D pattern and a comfy weight-balanced construction with premium antibacterial cushioned materials, means it's not only stylish but also supremely cool and comfortable for extended use.

Unlike other headsets, the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102 doesn't need any external sensors, making initial setup incredibly easy - users will be ready to play in less than 10 minutes. What's more, the headset supports over 20,000 Windows apps and more than 2,000 Steam VR titles, so users can watch immersive 360° videos, play games like never before or get on with important work or school projects. And importantly, the headset is also compatible with a wide range of affordable PCs. The ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102 is the revolutionary, easy-to-use and affordable way for users to explore their imaginations.

Gem Rose Accent Offers 1 Bitcoin Prize to First Person that Beats Their New Game

Feb 20th, 2018 12:39 Discuss (25 Comments)

Developer Gem Rose Accent will reward the first player to beat their new puzzle game with a Bitcoin, which is worth $11,669.97 at the time of this post. In MonteCrypto: The Bitcoin Enigma, players must navigate through a very complicated maze from a first-person perspective and solve the 24 puzzles to finish the game. Players also have the option form a group with other players to solve the different puzzles. MonteCrypto: The Bitcoin Enigma is available on Steam for $1.99, but you can purchase it for introductory price of $1.19. According to the developer, MonteCrypto: The Bitcoin Enigma will easily be one of the hardest game you will ever play. Will you take up their challenge?

Discovery Tour Update Turns Assassin's Creed Origins Into an Interactive Museum

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Feb 20th, 2018 11:52 Discuss (7 Comments)

Ubisoft's Discovery Tour by Assassin's Creed: Ancient Egypt is a new educational and entertainment tool, which lets anyone explore the entire interactive 3D recreation of Ancient Egypt in Assassin's Creed Origins, free of conflict, time pressure or gameplay constraints. The Discovery Tour by Assassin's Creed: Ancient Egypt releases on February 20th, 2018 on PS4, Xbox and PC, at no cost for all owners of the Assassin's Creed Origins game, and it will also be available independently from the game on PC via the Uplay and Steam platforms for £15.99.

From Alexandria to Memphis, the Nile Delta to the Sand Sea, the Giza plateau to the Faiyum Oasis, the Discovery Tour by Assassin's Creed: Ancient Egypt lets visitors either explore the rich world of Ancient Egypt at their will or follow the 75 themed tours devised by Ubisoft's creative teams in collaboration with History experts and Egyptologists.

Elite Dangerous: Beyond - Chapter One Arrives on February 27

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Feb 20th, 2018 11:31 Discuss (9 Comments)

The wait is nearly over as Elite Dangerous: Beyond - Chapter One arrives on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 27. Beyond, the third Elite Dangerous season will be free for all players, and will focus on community-requested enhancements to the overall player experience. Alongside those core foundational changes, new in-game content will progress the ever-expanding player-driven storyline and give pilots across the galaxy new tools to shape the ongoing narrative.

With the release of Chapter One the crime and punishment system in Elite Dangerous will undergo a series of changes designed to improve the response to players' criminal activities, making Open Play's massively multiplayer galaxy fairer and more competitive. The new Advance Tactical Response will be on the hunt for repeat offenders, 'Hot Ships' attach crimes to players' spacecrafts, and new notoriety levels increase consequences for illegal activities making the galaxy a more challenging place for veteran pilots.

Fujitsu Launches New 2 in 1 Tablets Powered by 8th Gen Intel Core Processors

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Feb 20th, 2018 10:49 Discuss (1 Comment)

Fujitsu introduces its latest flagship 2 in 1 detachable device - the Fujitsu Tablet STYLISTIC Q738. Outstanding durability combined with the mobility of a tablet, in tandem with the power and productivity of a notebook, make the STYLISTIC Q738 an ideal choice for high-performance, mobile working1.

Designed to be tough, the STYLISTIC Q738 can resist damage from accidental knocks and bumps while on the move, thanks to a robust magnesium housing and reinforced edges. The multi-touch, 13.3-inch Full HD anti-glare wide-screen display can be used in direct sunlight, while the 8th generation Intel Core processor provides notebook-matching performance. With weight starting from just 789 grams (1.74 lbs.), the STYLISTIC Q738 is an easy-to-carry yet powerful device, and all-day battery life gives users the freedom to work anywhere, anytime.

HyperX Ships 4 Million Headsets, Global Leader in Esports

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Feb 20th, 2018 08:37 Discuss (16 Comments)

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced it has shipped more than 4 million units of its award-winning gaming headsets. HyperX began shipping gaming headsets in April 2014, reaching 1 million units in less than two years. HyperX gaming headset popularity extends from first-time gamers to professional gamers on tournament stages around the world. HyperX headsets are now available in 15,000 stores, in over 100 countries and across 6 continents.

HyperX headsets deliver the ultimate comfort for hours of gaming for pro gamers and enthusiasts alike, featuring premium HyperX signature memory foam, an adjustable headband, and multi-platform capability. HyperX headsets are designed to deliver industry-leading sound quality for an immersive gaming experience, as well watching movies, listening to music and chat.

Intel "Coffee Lake" Based Pentium Gold Processors Begin Selling

Feb 20th, 2018 08:19 Discuss (14 Comments)

Even as Intel is giving final touches to its massive 8th generation Core family product stack expansion with up to eight new SKUs, retailers have started stocking up, and secretly selling some of these chips. Last week, we brought you the story of Newegg beginning to sell new Core i5 and Celeron 49xx series SKUs, namely the Core i5-8600 (non-K), the i5-8500, the Celeron 4920, and the Celeron 4900. We're now hearing of three other SKUs that have made it to the shelves, the Core i3-8300, and three Pentium Gold models.

The Core i3-8300, like the i3-8350K, is a quad-core chip that lacks HyperThreading, but unlike the current entry-level i3-8100, features a hearty 8 MB of L3 cache. It lacks the unlocked multiplier of the i3-8350K. It is clocked at 3.70 GHz, and lacks Turbo Boost. It's selling at USD $134.99 in tray quantities, so we expect its boxed retail unit price to be $139-$149. The Pentium Gold family consists of 2-core/4-thread chips backed by 4 MB of L3 cache. Leading the pack is the Pentium Gold G5600, clocked at 3.90 GHz, followed by the G5500 clocked at 3.80 GHz, and the G5400 at 3.70 GHz. The three could occupy price-points ranging between $80-$99.

FSP CMT510 Review

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The FSP CMT510 utilizes nothing but steel and glass and comes jam-packed with four RGB fans - all at quite the intriguing price point. With its ability to switch up the color hue and a simple but functional interior with plenty of room, the CMT510 turns out to be quite a worthy chassis in the crowded mid-range market.

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ID-Cooling Intros DK-03 Halo AMD Red CPU Cooler

Feb 19th, 2018 23:12 Discuss (22 Comments)

ID-Cooling rolled out the DK-03 Halo AMD Red, a simple top-flow CPU cooler that acts as a replacement to AMD's decent Wraith-series coolers. It should particularly appeal to those who opt for models that lack stock coolers (eg: Ryzen 5 1600X, Ryzen 7 1700X, 1800X, etc.). The cooler's design consists of a cylindrical aluminium heatsink with radially-projecting fins, ventilated by a large 120 mm fan. The heatsink looks taller than that of a Wraith Spire, yet narrower, for clearance around the memory and VRM areas. A pre-installed clip-type retention mechanism lets the cooler support AMD sockets AM4, AM3(+), and FM2(+).

With its factory-installed fan in place, the cooler measures 130 mm x 130 mm x 63 mm (WxDxH), weighing about 365 g. The fan features a red LED diffuser that draws power from the fan's power supply. The fan spins at speeds of up to 1,600 RPM, pushing up to 58.4 CFM of air, with a noise output of 26.4 dBA. The cooler is rated for thermal loads of up to 100W, which means you will be able to run 95W TDP Ryzen chips such as the 1800X at stock speeds, without expecting much overclocking headroom. Available now, the DK-03 Halo AMD Red is expected to be priced around USD $14.99.

Samsung Begins Mass-production of 30.72-terabyte PM1643 SSD

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Feb 19th, 2018 22:56 Discuss (24 Comments)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass producing the industry's largest capacity Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) solid state drive (SSD) - the PM1643 - for use in next-generation enterprise storage systems. Leveraging Samsung's latest V-NAND technology with 64-layer, 3-bit 512-gigabit (Gb) chips, the 30.72 terabyte (TB) drive delivers twice the capacity and performance of the previous 15.36 TB high-capacity lineup introduced in March 2016.

This breakthrough was made possible by combining 32 of the new 1TB NAND flash packages, each comprised of 16 stacked layers of 512 Gb V-NAND chips. These super-dense 1 TB packages allow for approximately 5,700 5-gigabyte (GB), full HD movie files to be stored within a mere 2.5-inch storage device.

AMD's PlayReady 3.0 In Polaris, Vega GPUs, APUs to Enable 4K HDR Streaming on PC

Feb 19th, 2018 13:28 Discuss (11 Comments)

In the wake of increased requirements when it comes to digital copy protection mechanisms in consumable media (be it in the streaming or disc-type), AMD is looking to allow users of its products to keep up with the increasing demands of content distributors. Besides hardware encode/decode capabilities, hardware DRM support such as HDCP 2.2 or Microsoft's PlayReady 3.0 has become a necessity for high-quality content viewing, and is required for Netflix 4K and HDR streaming on PCs.

AMD themselves have said that they plan on enabling these features for their products via a driver release, thus turning the most recent Ryzen + Vega APUs into even more desirable HTPC-environment solutions. In the Ryzen Desktop APU Reviewers' Guide, the company specifically said, "Please note that HDCP 1.4/2.2 are supported for the purposes of streaming 4K+HDR content. AMD intends to have a production PlayReady 3-capable graphics driver in early Q2". The company thus joins Intel and NVIDIA in developing solutions that allow users to take advantage of 4K and HDR content on their PC solution via, for example, Netflix. The steps are still very convoluted, though; just look at the Netflix requirements for your PC after the break. It's mind-boggling.

Ruckus Signs Strategic OEM Deal with Dell

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Feb 19th, 2018 12:38 Discuss (0 Comments)

Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company, today announced it has signed a global original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement with Dell EMC to deliver Ruckus' broad portfolio of wireless solutions, including access points (APs), controllers, virtualized and data analytics assets, and Cloudpath secure network access software-along with Ruckus IoT and CBRS LTE products-as Dell-branded solutions. This agreement gives Dell EMC's networking sales team and end-user customers access to Ruckus' award-winning portfolio of secure wireless connectivity solutions and strong brand presence not available through alternative suppliers. The agreement is effective immediately and encompasses a range of sales, marketing and customer support programs in international markets, including APAC, EMEA and the Americas.

"Delivering innovative wireless networking solutions to our partners is key to address the insatiable demand for high-performance wireless networking in the enterprise," said Dan Rabinovitsj, president, Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company. "The Dell EMC brand and market reach is complementary to our own and represents a significant path for growth for both companies across a range of vertical markets, including education, public infrastructure, the federal government and service providers. We view Dell EMC's strength in storage and scalable computing platforms as critical to collaboration where complete bundled solutions are required to compete and win."

Lucasfilm Rumored to Ditch EA for a New Game Publisher

Feb 19th, 2018 12:19 Discuss (75 Comments)

Rumors are going around that Lucasfilm isn't too happy with how the Star Wars franchise is turning out since they handed the license on a silver platter over to Electronic Arts in 2013. Up to now, EA has produced a total of two titles under the Star Wars: Battlefront sub-series. Their first Star Wars: Battlefront game was released in 2015 and many considered it a reboot of the previous games. Regardless, Star Wars: Battlefront (2015) was highly criticized for its lack of a single-player campaign. EA's solution to keep die-hard Star Wars fans happy was to release a multitude of free expansions and paid DLC packs to add more content to the game. And then came Star Wars: Battlefront II in 2017, a sequel that received even harsher backlash because of the over aggressive loot-crate system that was implemented into the game. In an attempt to put out the fire, EA temporarily eliminated the microtransactions.

Then, to make matters even worse, EA closed Visceral Games last year. The studio was working on the single-player driven Star Wars: Project Ragtag title, but apparently it didn't fit into EA's business model so they decided to pull the plug. With all that has occurred, EA's relationship with Lucasfilm hangs on a thin thread right now. The gaming giant's lackluster record of releasing two games in a five year period allegedly forced Lucasfilm to explore other options. Ubisoft and Activision were the two big names that have been mentioned so far. If the rumors were true, who would you rather have working on the next Star Wars game?

Intel Unveils Discrete GPU Prototype Development

Feb 19th, 2018 09:54 Discuss (65 Comments)

Intel is making progress in its development of a new discrete GPU architecture, after its failed attempt with "Larrabee" that ended up as an HPC accelerator; and ancient attempts such as the i740. This comes in the wake of the company's high-profile hiring of Raja Koduri, AMD's former Radeon Technologies Group (RTG) head. The company unveiled slides pointing to the direction in which its GPU development is headed, at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco. That direction is essentially scaling up its existing iGPU architecture, and bolstering it with mechanisms to sustain high clock speeds better.

The company's first 14 nm dGPU prototype, shown as a test-chip at the ISSCC, is a 2-chip solution. The first chip contains two key components, the GPU itself, and a system agent; and the second chip is an FPGA that interfaces with the system bus. The GPU component, as it stands now, is based on Intel's Gen 9 architecture, and features a three execution unit (EU) clusters. Don't derive numbers from this yet, as Intel is only trying to demonstrate a proof of concept. The three clusters are wired to a sophisticated power/clock management mechanism that efficiently manages power and clock-speed of each individual EU. There's also a double-clock mechanism that doubles clock speeds (of the boost state) beyond what today's Gen 9 EUs can handle on Intel iGPUs. Once a suitable level of energy efficiency is achieved, Intel will use newer generations of EUs, and scale up EU counts taking advantage of newer fab processes, to develop bigger discrete GPUs.

EK Announces Monoblock for MSI X399 Motherboards

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Feb 19th, 2018 08:46 Discuss (3 Comments)

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer is releasing a new Socket TR4 based monoblock made for several MSI X399 motherboards. The EK-FB MSI X399 Gaming RGB Monoblock has an integrated 4-pin RGB LED strip which makes it compatible with MSI Mystic Light, thus offering a full lighting customization experience.

This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for two MSI AMD X399 Chipset based motherboards that support AMD Socket TR4 AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors. This monoblock is compatible with the following MSI motherboards:

MSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
MSI X399 SLI Plus

Spire Intros SP-ATX-2000W-BTC ETH PSU for Mining Rigs

Feb 19th, 2018 03:26 Discuss (14 Comments)

Spire rolled out the SP-ATX-2000W-BTC/ETH, an ATX/PS2 power-supply for GPU-based crypto-currency mining rigs. With 2000W power on tap, the PSU bears a no-frills design to keep costs low. The design focus is not just on the number of PCIe power connectors, but also the length of the PCIe power cables, so you can have a multitude of graphics cards popping out through risers. The PSU comes with a total of eighteen PCIe power connectors, of which ten are 6-pin, and eight 6+2 pin. You also get a surprisingly high thirteen SATA power connectors, a 4+4 pin EPS, and a 24-pin ATX.

Under the hood, the Spire SP-ATX-2000W-BTC/ETH features a single +12V rail design with so-called "85 Plus Gold" efficiency; APFC, common electrical protection mechanisms against over/under-voltage, overload, short-circuit, and overheat. Two 80 mm fans (one on each end) are used to keep the unit cool. Taking into account its target audience, Spire is rating its life-expectancy at 100,000 hours, and is backing it with a 2-year warranty. It is priced at USD $219.99 a piece Stateside, or 199.95€ a piece in the EU. Currently, the company is only selling it on B2B platforms such as Alibaba, in 200-unit minimum orders.

Kickstart and Burn: System Shock Remaster Put on Hold After Collecting $1.3M

Feb 19th, 2018 03:23 Discuss (18 Comments)

Kickstarter has had some amazing success stories; but it's also had quite the number of unbelievable fails. And the failures to deliver are usually much more impressive, and generate much more press, than the actual success stories - that's just the way of the beast. Now, gamers waiting for the eventual remaster of what this editor has been told is one of the most groundbreaking games of its time - System Shock - have been left in a somewhat spacey environment, as the developer has come out to say that the game has been put on hold - but not cancelled. Nightdive Studios sold its vision to 21,625 Kickstarter backers, which collectively donated more than $1.3M - and some 21,331 extra backers on Backerit, which donated $107,199.83 more to the cause.

Nightdive Studios' CEO Stephen Kick, in a campaign update, revealed that at some point along the way, the vision for the game veered from a remaster to what would essentially become a whole new game. The decision to also change the development engine from Unity to Unreal Engine 4 - which the developers say they don't regret - has also shaved much time and resources from the original intended development effort. Here's hoping this isn't a full 180 on the game's development, and that we do see the light of day for this project - in a way that makes all the backers feel as if their hard-earned money - and the journey they've gone to to see the remaster come to fruition - hasn't been in vain. I, for one, would love to play a modern rendition of System Shock. Look after the break for some of the core ideas in Nightdive Studios' CEO Stephen Kick message to backers.

HDPlex H3 V2 Fanless Chassis Pictured

Feb 19th, 2018 03:12 Discuss (3 Comments)

Here are some of the first pictures of HDPlex H3 V2 fan-less HTPC chassis. The H3 sits between the tiny H1 and deck-sized H5. It has the height of the H5 and the width of the H1. The case measures 270 mm x 264 mm x 93 mm (WxDxH), weighing in at 5.5 kg. Its main chamber can house mini-ITX motherboards, and a half-height add-on card that's no more than 1-slot thick. As with most fan-less cases, the chunky, ridged aluminium body of the H3 V2 doubles up as heatsink for the CPU/SoC, and can handle thermal loads of up to 80W. The CPU block uses eight 6 mm-thick copper heat pipes to transport heat to the body. The case also has room for up to four 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch drives. Available now, it is priced at USD $240.

CD Projekt Red Opens Up Regarding Loot Box Integration in Games

Feb 19th, 2018 02:53 Discuss (4 Comments)

In an interview to PC Gamer, CD Projekt Red's CEO Adam Kiciński approached the subject of loot boxes and their integration in videogames as ways of increasing companies' bottom line. And as has been the case in nearly every move CD Projekt has ever made, the CEO's - and the company's - posture is one of respect and frankly, overwhelming candure as to how to conduct a respectable business. When inquired on where the company that developed the Witcher games stands on the microtransactions and lootbox conversation, Adam Kiciński was very clear: far and away from a "milking customers" position.

"'Conversation' sounds way too nice to describe what was happening last year. I would rather call it community backlash," says Kiciński. "And this time around, it wasn't just the hardcore community, there were a lot of really pissed off gamers out there and they decided to speak up. Where we stand is quite simple and you could see it with all of our past releases-most recently The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and GWENT. If you buy a full priced game, you should get a big, polished piece of content, which gives you many, many hours of fun gameplay."

Kingdom Come: Deliverance Benchmark Performance Analysis

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Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the first surprise hit of 2018. It puts you in the shoes of a low-skilled peasant who has to endure tough adventures in the middle ages. We tested the game on 15 graphics cards at four resolutions, looked at VRAM usage, and checked on how the game scales on the CPU.

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Windows 10 UWP Protection Kicks the Bucket

Feb 16th, 2018 12:21 Discuss (20 Comments)

2018 has been an exciting year for the Warez scene so far. First, Italian group CPY circumvented Ubisoft's deadly triple protection (Uplay, Denuvo, and VMProtect) that was present in Assassin's Creed Origins. And now, the word on the street is that CODEX has successfully cracked Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP) protection found in Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Animal Collection. Unlike Denuvo's unimpressive track record for protecting games for a few months, UWP actually did a stellar job in keeping multiple Microsoft games safe for over a year. So, what's Microsoft's secret winning formula? Stick as many layers of DRM into the game as humanly possible. According to CODEX's NFO file, Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Animal Collection had as many as five different DRMs (MSStore, UWP, EAppX, XBLive, and Arxan) which made the game a pain in the neck to crack. At this moment, it's unknown whether other Microsoft titles like Forza Motorsport 7 or Gears of War 4 possess the same number of protection layers. But now that CODEX has initiated the domino effect, we'll find out soon enough.

ARCHOS Unveils the Vision 215 All-in-One PC

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Feb 16th, 2018 11:00 Discuss (9 Comments)

Fitting in an ultra slim design, with a 21.5 inches Full HD display, almost without edges, the ARCHOS Vision 215 embeds the essential components of a PC, a keyboard and a mouse, a complete connectivity set, and the Home edition of Microsoft Windows 10. This all-in-one PC comes in elegant design, easy to install at the heart of a home to be enjoyed by all members of the household, in order to use online services, interact with their favorite content, texts, music tracks, photos, videos or to achieve main tasks for school or the office. Unveiled at the MWC 2018 (Hall 6 - Stand B60), the ARCHOS Vision 215 will be available from May 2018, priced at 299.99 € all taxes included.

In its sleek design, less than 7 mm thick, the ARCHOS Vision 215 fits easily into any home. Space saver, with its tilting screen, it finds its place anywhere in the house, and becomes a real entertainment platform, in the living room, kitchen or bedroom. Featuring a Full HD 21.5-inch screen, almost borderless, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels in 16:9, combined with the Intel HD Graphics 400 graphics, it displays an ideal surface, realistic and bright colors to view photos and videos or read texts, alone or in a group.

Compulab Launches the Airtop2 Fanless PC with a Xeon CPU & Quadro Graphics Card

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Feb 16th, 2018 10:22 Discuss (3 Comments)

Compulab is introducing Airtop2 - a high-performance ruggedized fanless PC for edge computing and industrial applications that require deployment in harsh conditions. Based on Intel Xeon Processor E3-1275 v6 with an optional NVIDIA Quadro P4000 - both passively cooled using Compulab proprietary Natural Airflow technology and with a volume of just 7.5 liter - Airtop2 redefines the performance level of compact fanless PCs.

Other remarkable features of Airtop2 are up to 64 GB DDR4, high-performance storage sub-system with 2x NVMe + 4x 2.5" SATA SSDs / HDDs, tool-free service and a broad selection of FACE Module extensions. Airtop2 is available at an industrial temperature range of -40°C to 70°C and ships with 5 year warranty.

Coinbase Commerce is a New Cryptocurrency Payment Program for Vendors

Feb 16th, 2018 09:57 Discuss (14 Comments)

Coinbase, one of the world's largest - and more transparent, in legal terms - cryptocurrency exchanges, has announced the start of a new cryptocurrency payment program. Coinbase Commerce is a new service that enables merchants to accept multiple cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin) directly into a user-controlled wallet as payment for services rendered or products acquired. Coinbase Commerce can be directly integrated into a merchant's checkout flow or added as a payment option on an e-commerce platform with just an email address and a phone.

This is another step to cryptocurrency world domination, and one of the most important steps towards widespread adoption of these as actual stores of value. The difficulty of translating cryptocurrency into real world value and products - which has seen better days, but has since seen key players withdraw from accepting these as payments - is one of the remaining walls towards widespread, mainstream adoption, and could provide a window for crypto in general to abandon its actual relevance as mere speculative investment. Some platforms already exist - TenX and BitPay come to mind, for instance. however, Coinbase as an exchange has some of the more solid footings in the cryptocurrency industry - and financial markets as well - so this is definitely a high-impact move that could help cement a future based in cryptocurrency trades.

Lunar Sale, Wishlist Tweaks Hit Valve's Steam Platform

Feb 16th, 2018 09:28 Discuss (11 Comments)

Valve yesterday announced the begin of yet another wallet-burning sale to appeal to our consumerist bones. The Lunar Sale, as it is being called, is live from February 15th through February 19th, so, a mere four days with tons (thousands) of games under heavy discounts that can sometimes go up to 90%. On this front, it's business as usual - buy all those games you've been wanting at a fire-sale price, and then look at them guiltily as they collect virtual dust on your backlog.

Other, somewhat more relevant changes that have been made by valve to the overall Steam experience also look towards making it easier for customers to part with their hard-earned currency of choice (or not so hard-earned, it's all good for Valve, really.) Namely, there are some changes to the wishlist which now allow users to place items on their shopping cart directly from their wishlist page - which is nice, since before, you had to enter the games' own store page, and then add it to your cart). Of course, for items that are sold in packages or where there's a bundle, customers will be invited to peruse "Details" on the package, via the relevant store page. There's also the ability to sort your wishlist gamers through those that have the higher discount percentage - a handy tool for bargain-bin hunters. There's also tag search, and filtering options to exclude games such as W"Early Access" titles that aren't currently finished - and that may, or may not, be finished in the future.

AMD Ryzen 2000-series "Pinnacle Ridge" CPUs Get Soldered IHS

Feb 16th, 2018 08:47 Discuss (31 Comments)

AMD's second-generation Ryzen 2000-series "Pinnacle Ridge" processors, which succeed the company's first Ryzen "Summit Ridge," reportedly feature soldered integrated heatspreaders (IHS), according AMD spokesperson "AMD_Robert" on Reddit. This would make the chips different from the Ryzen 2000G-series "Raven Ridge" APUs launched earlier this week, which come with a thermal paste between the IHS and the die. Soldered heatspreaders are generally known to have better heat transfer between the IHS and die, when compared to packages with thermal pastes between the two; and are more expensive to manufacture. They remove the need to "de-lid" the processor (remove the IHS). Ryzen 2000-series processors are expected to debut in April 2018.

EK Announces Monoblock for GIGABYTE X399 Motherboards

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Feb 16th, 2018 03:28 Discuss (3 Comments)

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer is releasing a new Socket TR4 based monoblock made for several GIGABYTE X399 motherboards. The EK-FB GA X399 GAMING RGB Monoblock has an integrated 3-pin RGB Digital LED strip which makes it compatible with GIGABYTE Fusion, thus offering a full lighting customization experience.

This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for two GIGABYTE AMD X399 Chipset based motherboards that support AMD Socket TR4 AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors. This monoblock is compatible with the following GIGABYTE motherboards:

GIGABYTE X399 Aorus Gaming 7 (rev.1.0)
GIGABYTE X399 Designare EX (rev.1.0)

Microsoft Adding "Ultimate Performance Mode" To Windows 10

Feb 16th, 2018 02:52 Discuss (26 Comments)

In a blog post, Microsoft detailed some new features that have become available for Microsoft's Insider Program Fast Ring users, of which the titular "Ultimate Performance Mode" certainly wrings the most attention. The Ultimate Performance Mode is really a performance plan integrated into Windows, which basically throws all power saving features out the Window to make sure that the underlying hardware is always running at its peak performance. Microsoft says that latencies and microstutters should be reduced as much as possible, thus allowing users to wring "ultimate performance" from their systems.

Microsoft says this is focused on the Workstation market, and should be especially deployed in mission critical scenarios where every second counts (wait, doesn't gaming qualify by this measure?) As a result of this re-balancing on idle and power states, power consumption goes up; the main reason why Microsoft isn't making this feature available for battery-powered devices - at least for now. The consumer side of the equation is being left out in the cold, for now, when it comes to this Ultimate Performance Mode; but users should remain optimistic. There's no reason why Microsoft would leave this option to Workstation environments only, so a consumer-focused release (be it in the Insider Fast Ring or on the regular Windows 10 update cycles) is still out in the open.

ASUS Launches Gladius II Origin Gaming Mouse

Feb 16th, 2018 02:32 Discuss (0 Comments)

ASUS has launched the third iteration of their Gladius gaming mouse, the Gladius II Origin (a missed chance for a Gladius III, uh?) There's a 12,000 DPI optical sensor under the hood (unclear if it's a PixArt solution), and the switches are both Omron-developed, though two different ones at that - there's an Omron D2FC-F-K switch and an Omron D2F-01F, with different clicking resistances, likely to incentivize sensitivity in the left mouse button. All in all, there are five buttons on this mouse (there's a DPI selector button and two thumb buttons on the left side of the mouse).

Other features include detachable, replaceable rubber and braided cables; RGB lighting with ASUS' Aura Sync support for the RGB zones (bottom, scroll wheel, and ROG logo); and support for ASUS' Armoury app. The Gladius II Origin weighs in at 110 g (sans cable), and has dimensions of 126 x 67 x 45 mm, and is available now from select etailers and retailers for $99.

Intel "Ice Lake-U" Gen 11 iGPU Features 48 Execution Units

Feb 16th, 2018 02:01 Discuss (27 Comments)

Intel's next generation "Ice Lake" processor could integrate a significantly faster integrated graphics solution (iGPU), if a SiSoft SANDRA online database entry is to be believed. A prototype "Ice Lake" chip was benchmarked, with its iGPU being described by the database as "Intel UHD Graphics" based on the company's Gen 11 graphics architecture, which succeeds the current Gen 9.5 architecture implemented on "Coffee Lake" and "Kaby Lake." This iGPU is endowed with 48 execution units (EUs), which work out to 384 unified shaders; against 24 EUs and 192 shaders on Intel UHD 620. SANDRA also describes the iGPU as being able to share up to 6 GB of memory from the system memory; and featuring 768 KB of dedicated cache. Its reference clock is 600 MHz, double that of the UHD 620, although its boost clock remains a mystery. "Ice Lake" is being built on Intel's new 10 nm+ silicon fabrication process, so it's understandable for the company to significantly enlarge its iGPU.

GIGABYTE Outs Aorus Z370 Ultra Gaming 2.0 with Improved VRM

Feb 16th, 2018 00:54 Discuss (10 Comments)

GIGABYTE released a major revision of Aorus Z370 Ultra Gaming motherboard. This isn't just marked "Rev 2.0" in some obscure corner of the PCB, but is part of the model name - Z370 Ultra Gaming 2.0. It replaces the 7-phase CPU VRM of the original with a new 11-phase setup that uses stronger ferrite-core chokes that don't whine when stressed. The company is also including one M.2 SSD heatsink for the upper M.2-22110 slot, which the original lacks.

Besides these, the Aorus Z370 Ultra Gaming 2.0 is identical to the original, including its RGB LED diffusers, multiple RGB headers governed by GIGABYTE RGB Fusion software, two reinforced PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x8/x8 when both are populated) with NVIDIA SLI support, one gigabit Ethernet interface driven by an Intel i219-V controller, and a premium onboard audio solution with a headphones amplifier and 120 dBA SNR CODEC (Realtek ALC1220); and a price ranging between $150-$170.

Zhiyun Crane 2 Gimbal Review

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A gimbal is a filming stabilizer, to ensure a precise filming result. Zhiyun offers a plethora of gimbals for entry-level users and professionals alike. The Crane 2 is Zhiyun's top product, offering a rich feature set and top performance along with great responsiveness for the shooting of pro-level video if combined with a suitable camera.

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Intel Reimagines Data Center Storage with New 3D NAND SSDs

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Feb 15th, 2018 21:55 Discuss (0 Comments)

Today, Intel announced the Intel SSD DC P4510 Series for data center applications. The P4510 Series uses 64-layer TLC Intel 3D NAND to enable end users to do more per server, support broader workloads and deliver space-efficient capacity. The P4510 Series enables up to four times more terabytes per server and delivers up to 10 times better random read latency at 99.99 percent quality of service than previous generations. The drive can also deliver up to double the input-output operations per second (IOPS) per terabyte. The 1 and 2TB capacities have been shipping to cloud service providers (CSPs) in high volume since August 2017, and the 4 and 8TB capacities are now available to CSPs and channel customers. All capacities are in the 2.5-inch 15 mm U.2 form factor and utilize a PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 connection.

To accelerate performance and simplify management of the P4510 Series PCIe SSDs and other PCIe SSDs, Intel is also delivering two new technologies that work together to replace legacy storage hardware. Intel Xeon Scalable processors include Intel Volume Management Device (VMD), enabling robust management such as surprise insertion/removal and LED management of PCIe SSDs directly connected to the CPU. Building on this functionality, Intel Virtual RAID on CPU (VROC) uses Intel VMD to provide RAID to PCIe SSDs. By replacing RAID cards with Intel VROC, customers are able to enjoy up to twice the IOPs performance and up to a 70 percent cost savings with PCIe SSDs directly attached to the CPU, improving customer's return on their investments in SSD-based storage.

Confessions of a Crypto Miner: Storing Your Coins

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R-T-B

Feb 15th, 2018 14:57 Discuss (28 Comments)

Welcome back to Confessions of a Crypto Miner, my bi-weekly column about a crypto miner from 2013 trying to get caught up with the latest standards. I'm presently mining and reporting to you from a dual-GTX 1080 based rig mining zCash.

As requested by many readers, today, we are going to talk about safekeeping your digital currency, and particularly, how to do it safely. Crypto has gotten a bad rap as of late for being insecure, due to numerous hacks of exchanges - but the cryptography in it is actually very strong and solid, and nearly all hacks have been related to centralized services or bad practices.

The focus of this article will be how to hold coin safely for the purpose of investment. I will go over the types of wallets, and their pros and cons. It may seem a bit more technical than some of my usual works but it is very essential information that everyone considering crypto should know. I've done my best to boil it down to basic, easy to understand principles for you.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Release Date and System Requirements Revealed

Feb 15th, 2018 11:23 Discuss (7 Comments)

Fatshark announced in a live stream that Warhammer: Vermintide 2, the sequel to Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, will land on PCs on March 8. Up to four players can band together to face the Chaos and Skaven armies. Players can also choose between five different heroes with 15 different career paths to choose from. Warhammer: Vermintide 2 will also feature a new Heroic Deeds system and a revamped loot system. The normal edition costs $29.99, while the Collector's Edition is going for $44.99. However, the game is already up for pre-purchase on Steam for 10% off the regular price. Consumers who pre-order the game will get the chance to participate in the exclusive pre-order beta that starts on February 28.

Intel Core i5-8500, i5-8600 (non-K), and Celeron G49xx Listed on Newegg

Feb 15th, 2018 11:05 Discuss (9 Comments)

Four of Intel's latest 8th generation Core "Coffee Lake" processors that are part of the company's second wave of products for the LGA1151 (300-series) platform, surfaced on Newegg. These include the Core i5-8500 (model: BX80684I58500), the Core i5-8600 non-K (BX80684I58600), the Celeron G4920 (BX80684G4920), and the G4900. The Core i5-8500 and i5-8600 fill the price-performance gap between the i5-8400 and the i5-8600K; while the G4900 could be the cheapest processor you can buy on this platform. The i5-8500 is listed at USD $215.99, the i5-8600 at $239.99, the G4920 at $65.99, and the G4900 at $54.99. The product pages don't include specs yet, but at the time of this writing, both the i5-8500 and the G4920 can be added to cart. Intel is planning to expand its 8th generation Core, Pentium, and Celeron processor families before the end of Q1-2018, along with motherboards based on the more cost-effective B360 Express and H310 Express chipsets.

NETGEAR Insight 28-Port Smart Cloud Switches Now Available

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Feb 15th, 2018 10:48 Discuss (2 Comments)

NETGEAR, Inc., the leading provider of networking devices that power today's smart home and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has begun shipping two new 28-port Smart Cloud Switches introduced last month during CES 2018. Offering even more capacity for growing businesses, the switches fall under the umbrella of the award-winning NETGEAR Insight management solution. With its unified, single pane-of-glass view, Insight provides the convenience of setup, monitoring and management features from anywhere, at anytime, via the Insight mobile app or new Insight cloud web portal. With the addition of these latest switches the Insight ecosystem is now made up of six managed switches, the entire line up of ReadyNAS storage and the WAC500 series of wireless access points providing a complete managed network solution.

Optoma NuForce and Massdrop Announce the Massdrop x NuForce EDC3 IEM Earphones

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Feb 15th, 2018 10:32 Discuss (0 Comments)

Optoma NuForce, a world-leading manufacturer of audio products, today announced that the new Massdrop x NuForce EDC3 IEM (In-Ear Monitors), created from the company's collaboration with Massdrop, is now available for purchase. On the heels of the success of the award-winning Massdrop x NuForce EDC IEM, which won The Absolute Sound's "Product of the Year 2017" award in the earphone/IEM category, the new IEM has been designed for discerning yet price-conscious audiophiles.

Made with direction from Massdrop's audiophile enthusiast community, the EDC3 IEM combines key high-end audio elements and attributes to create a standout product that meets their highly-refined needs. Featuring three balanced armature drivers for true audiophile performance, the IEM is available for just $99 - one-third the price of competitive products.

Microsoft Launches the Surface Precision Mouse for $99.99

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Feb 15th, 2018 10:20 Discuss (18 Comments)

Microsoft today launches the Surface Precision Mouse. Designed for exceptional accuracy, comfort, and control, the new mouse helps you stay in your flow with flawless scrolling and three customisable buttons. Boasting an ergonomic shape, the mouse allows for either wired or Bluetooth connection and can work and switch seamlessly up to three different PCs. The Surface Precision Mouse is available for purchase now from the Microsoft store for $99.99. Special pricing is also available for eligible students, parents and teachers.

Samsung's Latest Notebook 9 Laptops Available Starting February 18

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Feb 15th, 2018 10:14 Discuss (0 Comments)

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announced that three new PCs will be available for purchase starting February 18. The Samsung Notebook 9 Pen will be available on Samsung.com and Amazon.com for $1,399.99, along with the Samsung Notebook 9 (2018), which comes in 13-inch and 15-inch models, starting at $1,199.99 and $1,299.99, respectively. The Samsung Notebook 7 Spin (2018) will be available at Best Buy and on Samsung.com and Bestbuy.com for $899.99.

Samsung Notebook 9 Pen: Lightweight convertible with embedded S Pen
Available in a 13-inch model ($1,399.99), the Notebook 9 Pen is Samsung's lightest 2-in-1 PC weighing 2.2 pounds that comes with the creative power of the S Pen, popularized in Samsung Galaxy Note devices. It is equipped with an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and engineered with Metal12, a premium magnesium alloy built for ultimate portability and durability.

CORSAIR Launches the CORSAIR ONE ELITE

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Feb 15th, 2018 09:59 Discuss (9 Comments)

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced a new version of its award-winning CORSAIR ONE small form factor gaming PC, the CORSAIR ONE ELITE. Now featuring the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8700K six-core CPU, the CORSAIR ONE ELITE boasts six liquid-cooled CPU cores, running at up to 4.2GHz, providing even more processing power to drive the latest games, streaming tools and demanding content creation applications, all at once.

Accompanying its new state-of-the-art CPU, the CORSAIR ONE ELITE boasts hardware to rival the most powerful desktop PCs, all still contained in a chassis that's just 12L in volume and which produces less than 20dBa of noise at idle. 32GB of CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 2,666MHz memory offers plentiful capacity and performance for the most demanding games or content creation applications, while a liquid-cooled NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti delivers leading 3D graphics performance to push frame rates to the limit, even with maximum detail settings and at 4K resolution.

AMD Provides Support for BIOS Update on 2nd Gen Ryzen - Boot Kit Available

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Feb 15th, 2018 05:38 Discuss (34 Comments)

The Socket AM4 platform is designed to be a long life, fully featured, scalable solution with support for multiple processors, with varying capabilities. Since the release of the AMD Socket AM4 motherboards in early 2017 with the AMD Ryzen desktop processor, there have been several BIOS updates made available through our motherboard partners. These updates not only provide improved system performance but also expand support for newer processors as they become available.

In February 2018, AMD began introduction of the new 2nd Gen Ryzen Desktop Processor with Radeon Vega Graphics. To enable support for this new processor, an updated BIOS is required. Due to the rapid pace of innovation, and strong demand for Ryzen Processors with Radeon Graphics, it may be possible that some users with an AMD Socket AM4 motherboard paired with a 2nd Generation Ryzen Desktop introduced in 2018, may experience an issue where the system does not boot up during initial setup.

ELSA Releases GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB ST Graphics Card

Feb 15th, 2018 05:32 Discuss (8 Comments)

After releasing their GTX 1080 Ti on December 2017 (a little late when it comes to this particular GPU, I'd say), ELSA is now launching a new (late) addition in the form of the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB ST. It sports the exact same cooler design as the GTX 1080 Ti they've previously released (if it isn't broken, don't fix it or spend money improving it), and the exact same port distribution as the GTX 1080 Ti (3x DisplayPort, 1x Dual link DVI-D, and 1x HDMI 2.0b). All in all, this is a pretty vanilla release, the kind of which ELSA seems to favor, even if months behind other competitors.

Sea of Thieves System Requirements Outed by Developer

Feb 15th, 2018 05:23 Discuss (3 Comments)

Sea of Thieves is one of the more interesting games coming from Rare since it's been bought by Microsoft. The company, which was previously almost locked in into developing games for the Kinect system, was felt by many as being creatively constrained and underappreciated by Microsoft's management. Well, Kinect is officially dead as a gaming peripheral, and as such, Rare has started developing games outside the Kinect box. Sea of Thieves is the first such, a pirate game with heart, and the company has just outed their system requirements for the game on Windows 10 PC's.

The system requirements are pretty extensive in the amount of configurations you can have for some preset experiences. The game can even be played on Intel's integrated graphics, according to Rare - at 540p with minimum details, though, so I doubt that's what gamers will be looking for as an actual gaming experience. For 1080p and 60 FPS play, Rare is quoting systems with at least an i5 4690 or an AMD FX 8150 (so, an Intel quad core or an AMD "octa-core"), 8 GB RAM, and a graphics card with at least 4 GB of VRAM. A GTX 770 or an AMD Radeon 380X are set as the graphics card requirement,s which Rare is putting on equal footing to the more recent, "modern" GTX 1060 or RX 470. The system requirements seem to scale pretty well with resolution and graphics settings, up to a 4K 60 FPS experience requiring the current top of the line graphics cards in the form of the GTX 1080 Ti or AMD's RX Vega 64.

CD Projekt Red Announces Arena Mode for Gwent

Feb 15th, 2018 04:57 Discuss (1 Comment)

Gwent was a runaway success for CD Projekt Red. Embedded in The Witcher III - Wild Hunt, Gwent stands as an inception of sorts of a deep, strategical game within a deep, satisfying single player experience. And it was so successful, in fact, that the company decided to spin it off into a separate, standalone game that has been widely accepted as well.

The standalone Gwent differs from the version implemented in The Witcher III in a great many ways, as was to be expected for a competitive card game as opposed to the satisfying time killer it was in The Witcher III. And one thing lacking in the game was an alternate mode that allowed players to compete in other environments other than a Constructed format. Gwent's Seasons are typically a race to the top for the best prizes, but it can become a slog for players reaching the top ranks as deck diversity is reduced to a couple of high-power behemoths in the hand of extremely skilled players. As such, Gwent's Draft Mode introduction should not only give players another way of having fun on Gwent, but also give them ways of earning prizes near the end of the Season, allowing them to build up their decks even in the face of what would be insurmountable odds in the Constructed portion of Gwent.

NVIDIA Turing is a Crypto-mining Chip Jen-Hsun Huang Made to Save PC Gaming

Feb 15th, 2018 01:37 Discuss (124 Comments)

When Reuters reported Turing as NVIDIA's next gaming graphics card, we knew something was off about it. Something like that would break many of NVIDIA's naming conventions. It now turns out that Turing, named after British scientist Alan Turing, who is credited with leading a team of mathematicians that broke the Nazi "Enigma" cryptography, is a crypto-mining and blockchain compute accelerator. It is being designed to be compact, efficient, and ready for large-scale deployment by amateur miners and crypto-mining firms alike, in a quasi-industrial scale.

NVIDIA Turing could be manufactured at a low-enough cost against GeForce-branded products, and in high-enough scales, to help bring down their prices, and save the PC gaming ecosystem. It could have an ASIC-like disruptive impact on the graphics card market, which could make mining with graphics cards less viable, in turn, lowering graphics card prices. With performance-segment and high-end graphics cards seeing 200-400% price inflation in the wake of crypto-currency mining wave, PC gaming is threatened as gamers are lured to the still-affordable new-generation console ecosystems, led by premium consoles such as the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. There's no word on which GPU architecture Turing will be based on ("Pascal" or "Volta"). NVIDIA is expected to launch its entire family of next-generation GeForce GTX 2000-series "Volta" graphics cards in 2018.

ASUS Intros GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Phoenix Graphics Card

Feb 15th, 2018 01:08 Discuss (7 Comments)

ASUS today introduced its GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB Phoenix graphics card, based on the same cost-effective design as the GTX 1060 3 GB Phoenix it launched last year. The card features a compact 18.3-inch long custom-design PCB, mated to a simple aluminium fan-heatsink, with spirally-projecting heatsink fins, ventilated by an 80 mm double ball-bearing fan. The card comes with NVIDIA-reference speeds of 1506 MHz core, 1708 MHz GPU Boost, and 8.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective) memory.

Based on the 16 nm GP106 silicon, the GTX 1060 features 1,280 CUDA cores, 80 TMUs, 48 ROPs, and a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 6 GB of memory. The card draws power from a single 6-pin PCIe power connector. Outputs include dual-link DVI, two HDMI 2.0b, and one DisplayPort 1.4 connector. In the wake of the crypto-plague, its price is constantly changing.

Thermaltake Intros the Riing Plus 20 RGB TT Premium Edition Fan

Feb 15th, 2018 00:50 Discuss (4 Comments)

Thermaltake today introduced the Riing Plus 20 RGB TT Premium Edition, a large 200 mm fan studded with RGB LEDs. The 30 mm-thick fan features a 11-blade impeller backed by a motor that features hydraulic bearing; and a fan frame with 24 RGB diodes studded along the bore of the frame, which support 16.7 million colors. What's interesting about this fan is that it plugs into your motherboard via the 9-pin USB 2.0/1.1 header, from which it not just powers the fan and the lighting, but also takes in software control for both.

The included Digital Lighting Controller (DLC) module ensures you don't run out of USB headers if you have many of these fans, by taking input from one header (two 500 mA inputs), and putting out three USB headers for up to three fans. Additional power is drawn from a 4-pin Molex input. The Tt RGB Plus software lets you control the fan on your PC, and through a connected smartphone. As a fan itself, the Riing Plus 20 RGB spins between 500 to 1,000 RPM, pushing up to 118 CFM of air, at up to 29.2 dBA of noise output. Available now as a single-pack that includes one fan, the DLC, and cables, the Riing Plus 20 RGB TT Premium Edition is priced at USD $59.99.

Alphacool Eiskoffer Professional Overview

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The Alphacool Eiskoffer Professional is a collection of mandrels, rulers, and other tools contained in a luxurious stainless steel briefcase that help you achieve that perfect watercooling build via effective measurement, bending, and cutting of either 13 or 16 mm OD hard tubing.

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EK Water Blocks Apologizes to Customers with Re-designed Threadripper CPU Block

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Feb 14th, 2018 19:18 Discuss (14 Comments)

EK Water Blocks (EKWB) did not have the greatest end to 2017, losing key members of their top management, some of whom found employment with CORSAIRas we later found out. The performance of their CPU water block for AMD Ryzen Threadripper CPUs was also a matter of great debate among enthusiasts, with the cold plate having machined microfins that occupied an area smaller than that occupied by the CPU dies themselves. A few tests from end users and the media alike pointed towards disappointing thermal dissipation relative to the competition and, even though EKWB insisted that the block was good enough, the bad press likely was enough to convince them otherwise.

In a public apology published as a press release on their website, EKWB today even conceded that they did not give their best for the product as it is and laid down some plans to make it right. It begins with a redesign of the cold plate, which affects current and future products alike, as well as doing right to the customers who purchased the previous design of the CPU block as well. Click on the story to know more.

Intel Expands Bug Bounty Program in Wake Of Spectre, Meltdown Flaws

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Feb 14th, 2018 15:20 Discuss (3 Comments)

(Editor's Note: This move by Intel aims to expand their bug-bounty program to specifically include side-channel attacks, such as those that can be leverage on the Spectre and Meltdown exploits. The company is also increasing the rewards it will give the researchers who find new flaws, a move that aims to employ the masses' knowledge and ingenuity to try and reach the hard-earned bonus at the end of the vulnerability - all while saving Intel much more money than it's paying to bug hunters.)

At Intel, we believe that working with security researchers is a crucial part of identifying and mitigating potential security issues in our products. Similar to other companies, one of the ways we've made this part of our operating model is through a bug bounty program. The Intel Bug Bounty Program was launched in March 2017 to incentivize security researchers to collaborate with us to find and report potential vulnerabilities. This, in turn, helps us strengthen the security of our products, while also enabling a responsible and coordinated disclosure process.

Micron To Release QLC NAND-Based Drives in 2018 to the Server Environment

Feb 14th, 2018 15:08 Discuss (6 Comments)

Micron has announced that they will be introducing QLC (Quad Level Cell) NAND-based, own brand drives for the server environment this year. The new QLC drives are expected to boost maximum storage density (and price per GB) closer to that of mechanical HDDs, which is why Micron is positioning drives based on this memory technology as data center-class SSDs for the nearline storage market. The company is positioning these drives as replacement options for 7,200 RPM HDDs for workloads that require heavy reads of stored information - thus offsetting QLC NAND's lower endurance when it comes to available maximum writes on the drives' cells.

It's a known trade-off when it comes to the NAND world: higher amounts of bits per cell to represent information means that there must be much increased accuracy when it comes to reading a given cell's voltage state. While SLC NAND only tracks two voltage states, MLC (2-bits per cell) tracks four voltage states, TLC doubles that to eight voltage states, and QLC doubles the ante again for a maximum 16 voltage states, where each voltage state represents data on the cell. Of course, with repeat writes and voltage changes, accuracy and capacity for the cell to maintain its given voltage tend to drop, which leads to incorrect information and thus corrupted data or those cells to be rendered inoperative. This is one of the reasons for manufacturers to include overprovisioning in their NAND-based solutions.

Intel Sees Promise of Silicon Spin Qubits for Quantum Computing

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Feb 14th, 2018 14:48 Discuss (3 Comments)

Quantum computing is heralded for its potential to tackle problems that today's conventional computers can't handle. Scientists and industries are looking to quantum computing to speed advancements in areas like chemistry or drug development, financial modeling, and even climate forecasting.

To deliver on quantum computing's potential, Intel initiated a collaborative research program in 2015 with the goal of developing a commercially viable quantum computing system. While there's been significant progress, quantum computing research is still nascent. The industry is at mile one in a marathon, and to realize this new computing paradigm, many problems must be solved and many architectural decisions must be made. For example, it's not yet clear what form quantum processors (or "qubits") will take. That's why Intel is placing two major research bets and investing in them equally.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance Ships With Always On DRM... For SP?

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Feb 14th, 2018 14:31 Discuss (13 Comments)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance has deployed itself unto the already overwhelming amount of games that users can spend both their time and money on ("spend" that takes the form of "invest" if it's a good experience, naturally). Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a 1400's era open-world simulator that runs on CryEngine, so expect beautiful graphics and vistas. There's been some clamoring over the games' systems; however, gripes with the game design and such considerations being put to rest (they're always better sampled by users themselves on a case by case basis, anyway), there's something strange on this distribution of the game.

This is because while Kingdom Come: Deliverance is being marketed as a fully single-player experience, there seems to be some sort of strange, overly eager DRM solution embedded, which invokes an error message that reads "There is no live connection to server" if users try to launch the game in offline mode. Not strange in the sense that developers would want to protect their return on investment - just strange that such an always-on server ping would be required for a single player experience. And alas, the game has already been cracked by the pirate scene - so this is a case where pirates are actually better served in getting the game that way than actual paying customers with an immediate lack of internet connection or spotty service. Fret not, however; for those who don't want to acquire a DRM-enabled version of the game, the developers, Warhorse Studios, are releasing a DRM-free version via GOG on February 27th. This is users' opportunity to show the developers that they abide to a DRM-less game - provided it's a good experience, naturally.

Update Feb 16th: This has been fixed by the developer in version 1.2.2 and the game will now run perfectly fine while Steam is in Offline Mode.

Razer Partners with Polish Esports Organization Team Kinguin

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Feb 14th, 2018 12:50 Discuss (7 Comments)

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, and Team Kinguin, Poland's most recognized esports organization, today announced a new strategic partnership. The long-term deal includes a full-line product sponsorship as well as a cooperation in product development and testing.

Moving forward, Razer will be the exclusive peripherals partner of Team Kinguin and supply all of the team's athletes with the latest mice, keyboards, headsets and other input devices, making sure they are always well-equipped when heading into battle. Razer will also equip the organization's Warsaw-based esports center and training facilities, drive a knowledge exchange between the two brands and act as a supporting partner for future initiatives and activities.

ViewSonic Boosts its SC-T25 Based Raspberry Pi Thin Client with New Features

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Feb 14th, 2018 12:36 Discuss (1 Comment)

ViewSonic, Corp., a leading global provider of visual solution products, today announced a major platform update to its SC-T25 Citrix Ready workspace hub (previously known as Citrix HDX Ready Pi). Effective March 31, 2018, ViewSonic will be offering the Citrix Ready workspace hub update as a technical preview available for download on ViewSonic.com. Added workspace hub features include: beacon-based session roaming, QR code login, and Citrix Casting. Citrix Casting will enable seamless and secure session roaming from a mobile device to any display connected to the workspace hub. For the first time, with these additional tools, a wide variety of new uses are supported in the healthcare, finance, and enterprise markets.

The new Citrix Ready workspace hub update means the already popular and high- performing SC-T25 will deliver even more compelling enterprise capabilities. Using secure login credentials presented in a phone or mobile device, users can seamlessly connect to their virtual workspace, simply based on proximity to an available ViewSonic SC-T25 workspace hub device. This will eliminate the need for manual login and network authentication, providing tremendous time-saving and productivity advantages for healthcare clinicians, financial analysts, and general knowledge workers in the enterprise space.

NETGEAR Introduces the 96-Port Modular 10G Switch

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Feb 14th, 2018 12:23 Discuss (0 Comments)

NETGEAR, Inc., the leading provider of networking devices that power today's smart home and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), is introducing the NETGEAR M4300-96X Stackable 10G and 40G Modular Managed Switch at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) AV industry trade show, taking place February 6-9 in the RAI convention center in Amsterdam.

The NETGEAR M4300-96X is the world's only 2U rack height modular switch starting at $100 per port that comes either empty or pre-populated and scales up to 96 ports of 10G Ethernet or up to 24 ports of 40G Ethernet, or a combination. With 12 open slots and two redundant power supplies, the M4300-96X supports maximum granularity between copper, PoE+ and fiber and unrivalled headroom for organizations buying infrastructure for the long term.

The In Win D-Frame Mini Makes a Comeback

Feb 14th, 2018 11:34 Discuss (4 Comments)

In Win originally released their D-Frame Mini open-air chassis back in 2014. Despite it becoming one of the most popular cases among PC enthusiasts, the Taiwanese case manufacturer only produced a limited number of units at the time. If you missed out on purchasing the D-Frame Mini four years ago, now's your opportunity to make your dream come true. The rereleased D-Frame Mini is the exact same model that we reviewed back then except for two minor changes. The case was available in orange, red, and black colors. In Win has added three more colors to the mix: blue, green, and white. The brand also reduced the price significantly from $350 all the way down to $199. The D-Frame Mini is available at Amazon starting right now.

Gen-Z Consortium Announces the Public Release of its Core Specification 1.0

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Feb 14th, 2018 09:34 Discuss (0 Comments)

The Gen-Z Consortium, an organization developing an open standard interconnect designed to provide high-speed, low latency, memory-semantic access to data and devices, today shared the Gen-Z Core Specification 1.0 is publicly available on its website. The Gen-Z Core Specification 1.0 enables silicon providers and IP developers to begin the development of products enabling Gen-Z technology solutions. Gen-Z's memory-centric standards-based approach focuses on providing an Open, reliable, flexible, secure, and high performance architecture for housing and analyzing the incredible amount of information at the edge coming into the data center.

"Our membership has grown significantly throughout 2017, now totaling more than fifty members, and we are proud of the hard work that has culminated with the release of our first Core Specification," said Gen-Z President, Kurtis Bowman. "We anticipate great things in 2018 as silicon developers begin implementing Gen-Z technology into their offerings and the ecosystem continues to grow."

Ozone Launches two New Giants Gaming Mousepads

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Feb 14th, 2018 08:11 Discuss (1 Comment)

Ozone Gaming announces the launch of two new Giants Gaming mousepads, esports club competing in the European League of Legends Championship series. This initiative has been developed with the collaboration of Giant's players, actively participating in the design and features of the mousepads. These mats come in two sizes: Giants Pro: 450 x 400 x 4 mm; and Giants Evo: 900 x 350 x 3 mm.

Gustavo Muñoz, Giants Gaming CEO: "The eSports industry is constantly evolving and we love being able to keep up with the technology of a partner as experienced as Ozone Gaming. These mats define the point at which the Giants Gaming team currently stands; in the forefront of gaming." This surface has been thermally treated to improve the sliding of any mouse, optical or laser, while its firm rubber base provide perfect stability for any game.

QNAP Launches the TS-253Be and TS-453Be NAS with M.2 SSD and 10GbE Expandability

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Feb 14th, 2018 05:51 Discuss (4 Comments)

QNAP Systems, Inc. today unveiled the quad-core Intel-based 2-bay TS-253Be and 4-bay TS-453Be. With a PCIe expansion slot, the functionality of both NAS can be expanded to meet application needs, including M.2 SSD caching and 10GbE connectivity. The TS-x53Be also features HDMI output and 4K H.264/H.265 transcoding to provide a greater multimedia experience while its snapshots function helps protect data against potential ransomware threats.

"With the PCIe slot, the TS-x53Be series allows for extending NAS functionalities, including adding SSD caching and 10GbE connectivity, which provides great long-term potential for the NAS," said Jason Hsu, Product Manager of QNAP. "For users who require a professional storage that can help streamline workflows and provide a great multimedia experience, the TS-x53Be series is the ideal choice with a reasonable price," Hsu added.

Newegg Repents for Overpricing AMD APUs by Partially Refunding Customers

Feb 14th, 2018 05:05 Discuss (48 Comments)

California-based Chinese PC hardware retailer Newegg late Tuesday, issued partial refunds to customers who bought highly marked-up AMD Ryzen 2000-series APUs with Radeon Vega graphics. At launch, Newegg marked up the Ryzen 3 2200G and the Ryzen 5 2400G by as much as US $20 above their MSRPs of $99.99 and $169.99, respectively. The 2400G was listed at $189.99, a price that greatly erodes the chip's competitiveness in the market against similarly-priced Intel chips. Newegg has since "lowered" prices of the two chips back to their MSRPs, and is writing to those who bought the chips at marked-up prices, intimating them of refunds of the mark-up back to their original mode of payment.

Sapphire Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Accessories Now Available

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Feb 14th, 2018 04:54 Discuss (3 Comments)

SAPPHIRE Technology is launching today a new series of Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C accessories for both Windows and Mac users. The New lineup features products that extend display connectivity with popular HDMI and DisplayPort connectors, Power Delivery adapters for simultaneous display output and battery charging, and a traveler's 4-in-1 travel dock.

Thunderbolt 3 is a modern connector with staggering bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps. This speed of a single compact port enables users to extend the capabilities of their ultrabook and use additional peripherals, extra displays, Ethernet cards, or storage devices; and deliver power to their device at the same time. Thunderbolt 3 is an interface of USB-C that does it all.

Raijintek Intros Macula 12 Rainbow RGB Fans

Feb 14th, 2018 04:49 Discuss (1 Comment)

Raijintek today introduced the Macula 12 Rainbow RGB 120 mm fan, which will be sold in sets of 2 and 3. The fan is characterized by acrylic LED diffusers both both sides of the frame, even as the supporting structure of the frame, and the impeller itself, are matte black. A control pod and custom LED controllers are included with the sets, which lets you choose from 300 lighting presets, or choose a custom color from a 256-color palette. As a fan, the Macula 12 features sleeved bearings, takes in 4-pin PWM power input, spins between 800 and 1,800 RPM, pushing up to 56 CFM of air, with a maximum noise output of 25 dBA. Its makers rate its MTBF at 40,000 hours.

Colorful Responds to the About Page Saga with a "We didn't do it"

Feb 14th, 2018 03:57 Discuss (6 Comments)

Colorful put out an official response to the rather embarrassing discovery that the "About" page of its company website has company profile text copied verbatim from that of EVGA, which made for quite some bad press, looking at the comments to our story, and similar stories on the web. The company in an e-mail to us, confirmed that it updated its website with new "About" text, and blames the goof-up on an outsourced web-design company that "temporarily put the wrong information."

"We would like to inform you that as Colorful updating their website these days, their outsourcing web company temporary put the wrong information, and Colorful is replacing it soon," the company said in the statement. The updated "About" page has a brief history of the Shenzhen-based company that made a splash on the western press for its over the top graphics card designs that are truly innovative; and is working to expand its supply to more markets in the west. We wish the high degree of innovation Colorful shows in its products also carries over to its web-design.

Silverstone Tundra TD03-SLIM Review

Review CPU Coolers

Silverstone looks to shake things up with their Super Slim series of Tundra all-in-one liquid CPU coolers. The TD03-SLIM is the smallest of the bunch at just 37 mm thick with the fan included. The Tundra TD03-SLIM could very well be the answer to your CPU-cooling conundrum for all those tiny systems where space is at a premium.

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Dead Space Available for Free on Origin

Feb 13th, 2018 13:05 Discuss (23 Comments)

Dead Space is available, once again, for free at Origin as part of their On The House promotion. The title first made its appearance back in 2014 and lasted 42 days before EA removed it. Coincidentally, Dead Space hits its 10 year anniversary this year. Kudos to EA for giving gamers a second opportunity to get this great space-horror classic. To get your free copy, head over to Origin's On the House website, log in and add Dead Space to your "My Games" library. Enjoy!

Activision Blizzard's Best Source of Income Comes from Microtransactions

Feb 13th, 2018 12:29 Discuss (24 Comments)

Activision Blizzard held their earnings call a couple of days ago where the company recorded a record-breaking year with $7.16 billion in revenue. According to the video game publisher's breakdown of their sources of income, player investment contributed to more than half of their annual revenue. Activision specifically used the term "in-game net bookings", which is nothing more than fancy jargon for microtransactions. The financial report revealed that Activision raked in $4 billion from microtransactions alone. Popular titles like Call of Duty: WWII, Overwatch, Destiny 2, Hearthstone, and World of Warcraft contain microtransactions where players can spend money on different cosmetic and other in-game items. However, Candy Crush maker King Digital Entertainment, acquired by Activision in 2015, was the strongest performer of 2017 contributing with a little over $2 billion through microtransactions.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Comes to macOS & Linux This Spring

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Feb 13th, 2018 10:41 Discuss (3 Comments)

Feral Interactive announced today that Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, the definitive edition of the acclaimed action-adventure, will be coming to macOS and Linux this spring. Developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix for Windows and consoles, Rise of the Tomb Raider is the breathtaking follow-up to Tomb Raider, the 2013 series reboot.

Players will become the young archaeologist Lara Croft as she seeks the lost city of Kitezh to recover the Divine Source, an ancient artifact with the power to grant immortality. When Lara's quest puts her in the crosshairs of Trinity, a secret global organization, she must use all her wits and daring to reach the Divine Source first.

NVIDIA to Unveil "Turing" Consumer Graphics GPU Next Month

Feb 13th, 2018 10:12 Discuss (53 Comments)

NVIDIA is reportedly working on a TITAN V-esque surprise for March 2018. According to Reuters, which summarized the company's Q4-2017 results and outlook, the company is working on a new consumer-graphics GPU for launch next month, codenamed "Turing." This could be the codename of an ASIC or an SKU and not the architecture (which could be "Volta"). The Reuters report describes "Turing" as a "new GPU gaming chip." This unequivocally points to a consumer graphics (GeForce) product, and not a professional (Quadro), or HPC (Tesla) product.

ASUS Gearing Up to Launch Their Strix Flare RGB Keyboard

Feb 13th, 2018 06:21 Discuss (3 Comments)

ASUS is looking to introduce another keyboard solution to the market in the form of the Strix Flare RGB keyboard. The Strix Flare doubles down on the RGB goodness that has consumers diving for such products. It uses Cherry MX RGB switches (RGB Silver, Silent RGB Red, Silent RGB Black, Silent RGB Nature White); there's a white diffuser platform under the switches to more homogeneously spread the lighting effects; and the left and right sides of the keyboard sport LEDs that glow on users' desks. The clear plastic on the top right of the keyboard also basks in RGB goodness, and there are a couple of ASUS-branded stickers, and a single user-customizable one, that users can install there to achieve a desired RGB logo effect. All of this RGB goodness can be calibrated and individually controlled via ASUS' proprietary AURA Sync app.

Lighting and macros are adjustable and selectable on the fly; there are various media-dedicated controls on the left side of the keyboard, and there's profile configuration with ASUS' Armoury utility. The Strix Flare sports a detachable palm rest, USB pass-through, and is a wired affair that weighs in at 1,2 Kg with the cable, and should be available soon.

Imitation is The Sincerest Form of Flattery... That Colorful Can Show EVGA?

Feb 13th, 2018 05:40 Discuss (27 Comments)

As I was scouring the Internet and usual places for news stories to share on our beloved TechPowerUp!, I came across an unsuspecting link that triggered my "Oh no, they didn't" sensors. The story title, as posted on Reddit: "Chinese brand Colorful's "about" page is literally copied and pasted from EVGA's." I was torn, right there and then, by the "Oh no they didn't" reaction and a slight pinprick towards the "Of course they did" catharsis. And then I went to the "About" sites for both companies. I read, re-read, and re-re-read each company's "About Us" statement. The result was a warm, fuzzy feeling of incredulity and laughter.

Not only did Colorful copy and paste EVGA's About page, they... Introduced some grammatical and spelling errors as well. I believe I know how this might have happened: an intern at Colorful, tasked with thinking up a glorious, customer-centric "About Us" page, got tired of his company's policy of not allowing workers to play PUBG on the company computers and graphics cards (remember, Colorful dominates this PUBG market). As a way to get back at Colorful, he devised a devious way of getting revenge: subjecting Colorful to the Internet's scrutiny. His tools: copy, paste, and some strategically placed deletes and extra letters to add insult to injury. If I were a Colorful customer, I'd start claiming my "24/7 tech service, 90 day Step-Up program". Just don't go over to the headquarters mentioned in Colorful's "About Us" page. The EVGA employees you encounter there might not find your move very amusing. We, however, do. Oh yes we do.

AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.2 Beta

Feb 13th, 2018 05:36 Discuss (5 Comments)

AMD today released the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition. Version 18.2.2 Beta introduces much welcome performance uplifts for Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), with up to 5 percent gains over 17.12.1 at 1440p, and up to 7 percent gains over it at 1080p. It also includes optimization for "Kingdom Come: Deliverance" and "Fortnite." You can expect up to 3 percent performance uplift at 1440p, and up to 4 percent at 1080p with "Kingdom Come: Deliverance," and up to 3 percent at 1440 and up to 6 percent at 1080p with "Fortnite." Grab the driver from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.2 Beta

Silicon Power Announces Its First PCIe Solid State Drives

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Feb 13th, 2018 05:11 Discuss (3 Comments)

Silicon Power (SP), a leader in performance memory solutions, today released the P32A80 and P32A85 PCIe Solid State Drives, a pair of leading high-performance and long-lasting devices in an already robust pool of SSDs.

For the New Creators Starting Out
The highly functional P32A80 and P32A85 are the ideal SSD solutions for high-end systems that are ready for a new level of performance and responsiveness. SP launches its first ever PCIe SSD, with designers in mind looking for large image rendering and intensive graphic editing capabilities, enterprises demanding high speed file transfer, fast boot-ups, and launches, and also musicians needing high volume recording and music library loading performance.

Intel Intros Core i3-8130U Dual-core Low-power Processor

Feb 13th, 2018 02:54 Discuss (27 Comments)

Intel today introduced the Core i3-8130U dual-core (2-core/4-thread) ultra low-power processor for thin and light notebooks, and 2-in-1 convertibles. Based on the 14 nm "Kaby Lake-U" silicon, the chip features a TDP of just 15W, making it ideal for all-day power devices. It is clocked at 2.40 GHz, with 3.40 GHz Turbo Boost frequency, and packs 4 MB of L3 cache. In its TDP-down mode, the CPU idles at 800 MHz, lowering the TDP to 10W. Its dual-channel DDR4 memory controller supports up to 32 GB of DDR4-2400 or LPDDR3-2133 memory. On the display side of things are the UHD Graphics 620 iGPU with clock speed ranging between 300 MHz and 1.00 GHz, 24 execution units, and hardware-acceleration for H.265/HEVC with 10bpc color.

ASUSTOR Responds to Intel Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities

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Feb 13th, 2018 01:09 Discuss (2 Comments)

ASUSTOR Inc. is releasing ADM to version 3.0.5 to fix the Meltdown security vulnerability in Intel CPUs. The models receiving an update are: AS3100, AS3200, AS5000, AS5100, AS6100, AS6200, AS6300, AS6400 and AS7000 series. For the AS6302T and AS6404T NAS devices, ASUSTOR is releasing a BIOS update to patch the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities. Other x86 NAS will be patched as soon as Intel releases a patch.

For ASUSTOR's other models, they will be patched as soon as an updated Linux kernel is released. On non-Intel CPU models, ASUSTOR is also continuing to work with the other relevant CPU manufacturers. ASUSTOR takes security very seriously. When further information is released, customers will be informed through the appropriate channels.

AMD Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5 GHz with Vega 8 Graphics Review

Review Processors

AMD's Ryzen 3 2200G is the cheapest true quad-core CPU ever released. It also integrates Radeon Vega graphics with 512 shader cores and a modern video decoding acceleration engine. Given its price, this has the potential to be the CPU for system builders on a budget who also want their system to be able to handle light gaming.

Read Review

AMD Ryzen 5 2400G 3.6 GHz with Vega 11 Graphics Review

Review Processors

Today, AMD released their new Ryzen G processors, which feature integrated graphics with the Vega architecture. These new processors use the AM4 socket, which means all motherboards that support Ryzen will support Ryzen G, too. With a price of $170, the Ryzen 5 2400G is also priced reasonably when looking at platform cost because you don't have to buy a separate graphics card at inflated prices.

Read Review

AMD Intros the Wraith Prism CPU Cooler

Feb 12th, 2018 21:01 Discuss (13 Comments)

AMD unveiled its new-generation Wraith Prism CPU cooler, which will soon be available for purchase separately, launched alongside some of the higher models of its Ryzen 2000-series "Pinnacle Ridge" processors. The Wraith Prism is essentially a Wraith Max with RGB LED lighting. The cooler features two RGB LED diffusers embedded into its shroud, an outer ring at the mouth of the intake, and an inner ring along the bore of the intake framing the fan. You will be able to control the RGB LED lighting via Ryzen Master software, but it will also support software standards from motherboard vendors, such as ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, BIOSTAR Vivid, etc. Under the shroud, the Wriath Prism features the same aluminium fin-stack heatsink as the Wriath Max. The cooler features fan-profiles for various CPU OC modes, which can be enabled via Ryzen Master. When it starts selling separately, the Wraith Prism could be priced around $49, a $5-ish premium over Wraith Max.

Google To Integrate "Not Secure" Tag in Websites Sans HTTPS

Feb 12th, 2018 14:31 Discuss (8 Comments)

Google has been one of the more vocal advocates of a HTTPS-based web, and the company is mounting an offensive of sorts that aims to push web page managers to adopt the more secure protocol. Starting July of this year, with Chrome 68, the Google web browser will start marking all non-HTTPs websites as "Not secure", thus warning users of heightened security risks. From the way Google is doing this, it seems the company hopes users that see the "Not secure" badge on web pages will start gradually choosing other options for their web surfing habits - HTTPS-enabled options, ideally - and thus force page managers to upgrade their security to stem the leaving user base.

Google has some interesting bullet points as it pertains to the adoption of HTTPS; they say that over 68% of Chrome traffic on both Android and Windows is now protected; over 78% of Chrome traffic on both Chrome OS and Mac is now protected; and that 81 of the top 100 sites on the web use HTTPS by default (which this editor would personally expect to be closer to 100 out of 100, but there are just some websites that really can't be moved). In the blog post announcing the change, Google engineers also bring attention to the company's Lighthouse utility, which automagically scans web pages for non-HTTPS elements, highlighting them, and noting those that can easily and painlessly be converted to their secure, HTTPS equivalent - which in some cases, might even enable more powerful tools.

Low-Power Variants of the Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G are on the Way

Feb 12th, 2018 13:01 Discuss (4 Comments)

Over the last couple of days, motherboard manufacturers have been scrambling to release BIOS updates for their AM4 motherboards to accommodate the new Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400G processors. From the information we gathered from ASRock's AM4 CPU support list, AMD is secretly preparing two more Ryzen "Raven Ridge" APUs. The unannounced models are the Ryzen 5 2400GE and Ryzen 3 2200GE. Judging from their technical specifications, the aforementioned processors are the low-power variants to the two models that were released today. The "GE" variants come with a lower 3.2 GHz base clock and 35W TDP. As of yet, AMD hasn't officially announced the pricing or release date.

BIOSTAR X370, B350, A320 Chipset Motherboards are AMD Raven Ridge APUs Ready

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Feb 12th, 2018 11:46 Discuss (0 Comments)

BIOSTAR announces compatibility with the all-new AMD Raven Ridge APUs for its existing X370, B350 and A320 chipset-based motherboards. Current owners of these BIOSTAR motherboards can download their BIOS with a new update from BIOSTAR website. Mainstream users such as gamers and content creators will be able to take advantage of the new upgrades from AMD.

GIGABYTE Adds Support for AMD "Raven Ridge" to AM4 Motherboards

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Feb 12th, 2018 11:14 Discuss (6 Comments)

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, has released new BIOS for the GIGABYTE AM4 motherboards based on the AMD X370, B350, A320 chipsets. With the latest BIOS update, the AM4 motherboards support the newest AMD Ryzen Desktop Processors with Radeon Vega Graphics, which fuse both CPU and GPU functions together through new architecture. Not only does this synergy allow for solid processor performance, it also produces impressive graphics performance even without the addition of dedicated graphics cards. By upgrading their firmware with the newest BIOS updates available on the GIGABYTE official website, users can bring out the full potential of these AM4 motherboards with exclusive Smart Fan 5 Technology for effective cooling and Ultra-Durable PCIe armor for added durability.

EKWB Launches Two New EK Reservoir Combo Units for D5 Pumps

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Feb 12th, 2018 11:07 Discuss (0 Comments)

EK Water Blocks, the Slovenia-based premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer is launching two high-performance stand-alone pump tops for Xylem D5 series water pumps with an integrated reservoir. The two most popular pump and reservoir combo units are now available as EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 - Plexi and EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 RGB in stand-alone variant without a pump! These high-performance stand-alone pump tops are compatible with every standard D5 pump on the market!

The EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 - Plexi comes with a 140mm tall reservoir with an integrated high-performance aftermarket pump top (volute) for Xylem D5 series water pumps. This top offers increased hydraulic performance (up to 15%) compared to stock solutions. It features a fully rounded see-through acrylic design thus offering stunning looks and greater usability which allows installation at any angle within 360° of rotation. Special rubber shock absorber is used to de-couple the main pump body from the mounting clip for silent operation, free of vibration induced noise. The EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 - Plexi comes with a preinstalled anti-cyclone insert. Optional PU anti-vortex foam and EK-HD Tube is enclosed for additional options.

ID-Cooling Announces the Dashflow 240 RGB Liquid CPU Cooler

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Feb 12th, 2018 09:39 Discuss (5 Comments)

ID-COOLING a cooling solution provider focusing on thermal dissipation and fan technology research and production for over 10 years, announced DASHFLOW 240 AIO water cooler, featuring an ever enhanced pump and RGB lighting on both the pump and fans at the same time synchronizing with motherboard RGB control.

The newly developed pump is designed to provide extreme cooling performance with 450L/H water flow and 3m flow lift. Metallic pump cover with the linear cuttings allows amazing RGB lighting through. A big copper base contacts CPU to help the heat transfer. Micro fin submerged design increases the heat dissipation surface. Premium coated G1/4 fittings are equipped on both ends of the premium sleeved tubing, more reliable & performance efficient. Inside the tubing is self-contained highly efficient and eco-friendly liquid coolant. Users are not suggested to twist the fittings unless you know how to work with customized water cooling kits.

AMD Ryzen "Raven Ridge" Comes with a Limited PCIe Interface

Feb 12th, 2018 09:24 Discuss (29 Comments)

AMD today launched its first desktop Ryzen "Raven Ridge" APUs that combine quad-core "Zen" CPUs with "Vega" based integrated graphics solutions. One of its key specifications that caught our eye is its PCI-Express interface. Apparently, these chips feature just 8 PCI-Express gen 3.0 lanes for discrete graphics, besides 4 lanes dedicated as the chipset-bus, and 4 other lanes driving a 32 Gbps M.2 NVMe slot. What this means for the end-users, is that any discrete graphics cards plugged into the PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot will run at half the bandwidth - PCI-Express 3.0 x8.

Our various PCI-Express scaling articles, which we regularly redo with the latest high-end GPUs, should tell you that the performance loss between gen 3.0 x16 and gen 3.0 x8 is negligible. This, however, becomes a problem for the small minority of users who combine these processors with AMD X370 chipset motherboards. The second x16 slot (which draws its PCIe lanes by segmenting it from the first x16 slot) won't work, and without at least x8 bandwidth, there's no possibility of NVIDIA SLI functioning, even on X370 motherboards that have SLI certification. One can't even argue that some internal PCIe lane allocation to the iGPU permanently locks 8 lanes away from PEG. AMD confirms that the "Zen" CCX and the "Vega 11" iGPU talk to each other over Infinity Fabric, not PCIe.

AMD responded to our story in advance with this statement:

AMD Announces Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G with Vega Integrated Graphics

Feb 12th, 2018 09:12 Discuss (19 Comments)

AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today introduced the world's most powerful graphics on a desktop processor with the release of two Ryzen Desktop processor with built-in Radeon Vega graphics models.1 Now available, AMD Ryzen 5 2400G and AMD Ryzen 3 2200G processors combine four of the latest "Zen" CPU cores with advanced Radeon "Vega" architecture on a single chip, offering leadership levels of system and graphics performance at their respective $169 USD SEP and $99 USD SEP price points.

"When we launched our first Ryzen processors a year ago, we began driving innovation and competition across the PC market. We remain dedicated to this mission throughout 2018, as we further strengthen our Ryzen portfolio by adding two leadership APUs designed to meet the varying needs of today's PC users," said Jim Anderson, senior vice president and general manager, Computing and Graphics Business Group, AMD. "AMD Ryzen Desktop APUs are a perfect example of the innovation we bring to market for consumer and commercial PC users. Combining our high-performance CPU and GPU architectures, this new category of Ryzen desktop processors is designed to deliver a smooth overall computing experience, as well as the ability to enjoy true 1080p HD gaming, eSports or advanced display features through the visual fidelity of the built-in Radeon Vega graphics."

QNAP Releases QVR Pro, a Professional NVR on NAS with Storage Expandability

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Feb 12th, 2018 06:46 Discuss (1 Comment)

QNAP Systems today officially released QVR Pro, a surveillance app that runs alongside the NAS OS as an independent operating environment. QVR Pro turns a QNAP NAS into a professional NVR solution with the advantages of NAS storage expandability and integration with a wide range of IoT devices for an enhanced surveillance experience. QNAP also released a mobile version of QVR Pro Client, providing users greater management and monitoring convenience while on the go.

"QVR Pro is the culmination of knowledge gained from over ten years of feedback from QNAP NVR users. With QVR Pro we aim to deliver enhanced usability, powerful features, and the incorporation of NAS functionalities - including cross-platform client monitoring and management, CMS concepts, failover capabilities, expandable storage, and more," said Alan Kuo, Product Manager of QNAP.

Corsair Launches Wireless Version of the K63 Tenkeyless, Cherry MX Red Keyboard

Feb 12th, 2018 03:25 Discuss (4 Comments)

Corsair has launched a revised version of their K63 tenkeyless keyboard. The revised version brings with it support for wireless connection protocols (Bluetooth 4.2 (2.4 GHz and 128-bit AES wireless encryption), which means that users will now have one less wire running from their desk to their PC. In another bid to differentiate this revision from the wired one is that the per-key red LED lighting in the wired K63 has been replaced with blue LED illumination for this wireless version - another way for consumers not to be confused and know exactly which keyboard to buy. Corsair is also giving users who prefer it the option to go wired via a USB connection, however.

Other features include a 1,000 Hz poll rate, N key rollover and 100% anti-ghosting capabilities. There's also support for Corsair's "Utility Engine". The 91 keys (with the same Cherry MX Red switches as found on the wired K63) fit into a W 366 mm x 173 mm x H 41 mm frame, and the unit weighs about 1.09 kg. This model is compatible with the Lapdog solution, if that's something you care about, and should be available around the $109 mark.

US and UK Government Websites Infected with Crypto-mining Malware

Feb 11th, 2018 23:36 Discuss (49 Comments)

Potentially thousands of websites operated by various government ministries, departments, and statutory agencies, of the United States and the United Kingdom, could be infected with crypto-currency mining malware. The already infamously slow government websites, often crippled with bandwidth and hosting deficiencies, not to mention webpage design that's often behind web standards, are now embedded with crypto-miners thanks to outdated accessibility software.

Most government websites implement a web-based text-to-speech software called Browsealoud. Outdated versions of the software can be surreptitiously infected with crypto-mining scripts, by exploiting a vulnerability in the way the software dials home to the text-to-speech server. The scripts slow down computers by forcing them to mine crypto-currency for unauthorized people. Browsealoud has been developed by British software company Texthelp, which is reaching out to all its customers to update to the latest version of their software. It's always handy to have mining script blocking browser extensions.

EVGA Introduces Their Latest G1+ Power Supplies

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Feb 9th, 2018 17:30 Discuss (18 Comments)

The EVGA SuperNOVA G1 power supplies have been among the longest-lasting and best-performing power supplies on the market. Despite only a few changes over the years, it's only fitting that it's time for an upgrade. Enter the G1+, the new and improved fully-modular power supply line-up from EVGA with an 80+ Gold Efficiency rating.

Additionally, the G1+ power supplies feature a cleaner internal layout to increase airflow, a Variable Resistor module (to increase voltage stability), two DC to DC modules for more efficient power switching on all models, a full suite of power supply protections, and EVGA's World-Leading Global 10-Year Warranty on all G1+ power supplies.

Fujitsu Issues Recall for Battery Packs in Notebook Computers and Workstations

Feb 9th, 2018 13:00 Discuss (2 Comments)

Fujitsu is recalling the Panasonic lithium-ion battery packs used in their CELSIUS H720, LIFEBOOK E752, E733, E743, E753, P702, P772, S710, S752, S762, T732, T734, and T902 notebooks. The battery packs with the CP556150-03, CP579060-01 and CP629458-03 product numbers can overheat and cause serious injuries to consumers. Both the product and serial numbers are visible on the white sticker that's located on the battery. Out of the 5,800 units sold in the United States and 606 units in Canada, Fujitsu has only received one report of the battery catching fire so far. Owners with the affected models should remove their battery packs as soon as possible and contact Fujitsu for a free replacement. They can continue to use their notebooks normally by plugging in the AC power while they wait for the replacement battery.

Microsoft Office 2019 Will Run on Windows 10, and Only Windows 10

Feb 9th, 2018 12:07 Discuss (85 Comments)

As reported yesterday, Microsoft changed the way how they license Windows 10 to their OEM partners. But buckle in folks, the changes just keep on coming. In what looks like an effort to push Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 owners to upgrade, Microsoft has officially announced that Office 2019 will only work on machines with Windows 10 and the next LTSC release of Windows Server. That's only the tip of the iceberg though. Unlike previous version of Office that came with 10 years of support, Office 2019's support lifecycle is shortened to five years of mainstream support and two years of extended support. Additionally, the client applications are only available with a Click-to-Run installer. However, Microsoft will continue to provide a MSI installer for the server applications.

Lenovo Recalls ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptops Due to Fire Hazard

Feb 9th, 2018 11:07 Discuss (9 Comments)

Lenovo has identified a potential issue with their 14-inch ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Generation laptops that could pose a serious fire hazard to consumers. The manufacturer has sold around 78,000 units in the United States and 5,500 units in Canada. As of January 31, the company has received a total of three reports of overheating, but none of the incidents occured in the United States and Canada. Fortunately, there were no human injury or property damage. According to Lenovo's investigation, the culprit is an unfastened screw, if left unattended, could damage the laptop's battery causing overheating. The recall includes machine types 20HQ, 20HR, 20K3 or 20K4 that were manufactured from December 2016 through October 2017. Units manufactured on or after November 1, 2017 are not affected. Owners can find this information on the bottom of the laptop. Lenovo has also launched a recall site for owners to check if their devices are affected.

X2 Releases the New PENTA Gamer Case

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Feb 9th, 2018 08:34 Discuss (22 Comments)

The new PENTA PC case is a cool computer case made out of 0.5 mm SPCC steel chassis, all black coated structure including a full mesh front panel and two 4,0mm tempered glass side panels. This new PC gamer case is pure coolness. With more than enough space for the assembly or your powerful hardware. Even up to four 3.5-inch SSD drives, two 5.25-inch HDD drives and seven rear expansion PCI slots.

Equipped with a separated PSU chamber and ample space for those long graphics cards ( up to 380mm length ) and large CPU coolers ( up to 160mm height clearance) and superior air cooling enabled through the possible 7x 120mm fan mount locations throughout this chassis. Already included are 2 multi-LED 120mm red cooling fans, one on the rear and one in the front.

ASUS Announces Support for AMD Ryzen Desktop Processors with Radeon Vega

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Feb 9th, 2018 05:00 Discuss (12 Comments)

ASUS today announced that its complete lineup of AM4-socket-based motherboards now offer support for the first Zen architecture-based AMD Ryzen desktop processors with Radeon Vega graphics Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), via a BIOS update that's available immediately. These all-new AMD Ryzen 2000 Series APUs combine up to four Zen-based CPU cores with integrated Radeon Vega graphics. When used in combination with ASUS AMD AM4 Series motherboards, AMD Ryzen 2000 Series APUs offer great-value performance and deliver best-in-class gaming and graphics experiences.

Existing owners of ASUS AM4-socket motherboards can update their systems quickly and easily with the intuitive ASUS USB BIOS Flashback or ASUS EZ Flash 3 tools. In addition, an updated graphics driver - available from the ASUS support website - pushes the integrated AMD Radeon graphics to new performance heights for best-ever visual and gaming experiences with AMD Ryzen 2000 Series APUs.

HiFiMAN RE800 In-ears Review

Review Headphones

The HiFiMAN RE800 is a new high-end in-ear featuring a completely new driver from HiFiMAN. This new driver has a topology-optimized membrane that should reduce distortion. The RE800 launches at $699, which puts it straight into a highly competitive segment. We take them for a listen and see if the new housing and driver can make an impact.

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NVIDIA Announces Q4 and Fiscal 2018 Results

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Feb 8th, 2018 21:13 Discuss (13 Comments)

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) today reported record revenue for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2018, of $2.91 billion, up 34 percent from $2.17 billion a year earlier, and up 10 percent from $2.64 billion in the previous quarter. GAAP earnings per diluted share for the quarter were a record $1.78, up 80 percent from $0.99 a year ago and up 34 percent from $1.33 in the previous quarter. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $1.72, also a record, up 52 percent from $1.13 a year earlier and up 29 percent from $1.33 in the previous quarter.

For fiscal 2018, revenue was a record $9.71 billion, up 41 percent from $6.91 billion a year earlier. GAAP earnings per diluted share were a record $4.82, up 88 percent from $2.57 a year earlier. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $4.92, also a record, up 61 percent from $3.06 a year earlier. "We achieved another record quarter, capping an excellent year," said Jensen Huang, founder and chief executive officer of NVIDIA. "In a powerful sign of our progress, attendees at NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conferences reached 22,000, up tenfold in five years, as software developers working in AI, self-driving cars, and a broad range of other fields continued to discover the acceleration and money-saving benefits of our GPU computing platform.

Thermaltake Announces the TT Premium X1 RGB Keyboard

Feb 8th, 2018 14:54 Discuss (7 Comments)

Thermaltake has announced another entry to their keyboard lineup, which takes the form of the TT Premium X1 RGB. This keyboard, as the name implies, employs copious amounts of RGB lighting (16.8 million color illumination with 12 dynamic lighting effects), and delivers users' option of tactile feel with the choice of either Cherry MX Blue or Cherry MX Silver switch options, in a 104-key ANSI layout. The keys are of the floating type, there's transparent housing for the switches to help all the RGB goodness better envelop the keys. There's a removable wrist wrest, and an added bonus of a USB and audio pass through, which means users can simply connect their chosen headset directly to the keyboard. There are also multimedia and RGB-specific buttons, with multiple profile presets support. There's also TT RGB Sync compatibility built into the keyboard.

Relic Terminates Development Of Further Dawn of War III Content

Feb 8th, 2018 14:17 Discuss (13 Comments)

Relic Entertainment today announced that they were shifting focus and developing resources from developing any further content for Dawn of War III. As the third iteration in the RTS series has seen lukewarm response form critics, gamers, and the market as a whole, the company has said that "When a game underperforms, plans need to change. With Dawn of War 3, we simply don't have the foundation we need to produce major content. We're working in close partnership with Sega and Games Workshop to determine the best course of action, while shifting focus to other projects within our portfolio."

This likely means that no further updates will be delivered to the game, leaving players who were expecting to receive a new playable race in future DLC drops will remain wanting. Luckily, this means that Relic now has more resources to power onto other studio projects - one such could be the next iteration in the acclaimed Age of Empires franchise, which the company is currently working on. With Dawn of War being as expansive a universe as it is, it seems unlikely that the series will be put on ice and development of a franchise-related game won't be developed for Relic; however, that could still be an option. It remains to be seen what game,s and what projects, Relic Entertainment will choose to invest in.

Patriot Showcases Its Viper M.2 SSDs Sporting Phison's E12 Controller

Feb 8th, 2018 14:08 Discuss (3 Comments)

Patriot is aiming to join the high-end, M.2, NVMe SSD playing field with its upcoming Viper SSD family. The company has already shed most details (but not all) on the specs of these upcoming SSDs, which will carry Phison's latest E12 controller, the cream of the crop when it comes to Phison-manufactured solutions. The E12 is controller by Phison is NVMe 1.3 compliant, supports 8 NAND channels, and delivers a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface with strong ECC algorithms. These features are being paired with Toshiba's 64-layer BICS 3D NAND flash memory. The company wants these to succeed to the company's previous Hellfire flagships, with more appealing and modern design, performance, and features.

The Viper SSDs will be available from 240 GB to 2 TB capacities, and Patriot is quoting Phison's own performance estimates for the Phison E12 controller as the performance speeds of its Viper SSDs: 3200 MB/s sequential read, 3000 MB/s sequential write, and 600K random read and random write IOPS. Due to how the showcased Viper SSDs already carry product stickers and retail packaging design seems to be finished, these are expected to be out sooner, rather than later, and will be another options for users looking to bring their storage to some measure of Warp speeds.

Intel Deploys Microcode Update for Spectre Flaw on Skylake

Feb 8th, 2018 13:52 Discuss (15 Comments)

In another step of our Spectre/Meltdown odyssey, Intel has started deployment of a fixed update for its Skylake processors, which aims to neuter chances of a malicious attacker exploiting the (now) known vulnerabilities. This update, which comes after a botched first update attempt that was causing widespread system reboots and prompted Intel to change its update guidelines, is only for the Skylake platform; other Intel CPUs' updates remain in Beta state, and there's no word on when they might see a final deployment.

The new microcode is being distributed to industry partners, so that they can include it in a new range of firmware updates that will, hopefully, end the instability and vulnerabilities present in current mobile and desktop Skylake implementations. Users of other Intel architectures will still have to wait a while longer before updates for their systems are certified by Intel, distributed to industry partners, and then trickle to end users via firmware updates.

Mysterious AMD Athlon 200GE Surfaces on SANDRA Database

Feb 8th, 2018 13:08 Discuss (13 Comments)

The lads over at ComputerBase spotted the Athlon 200GE processor in the SANDRA database. Interestingly, this processor shares some similarities with the Ryzen 3 2200U. According to the SANDRA entry, the Athlon 200GE is a dual-core processor with four threads that boasts a 3.2 GHz clock rate. There's also 4 MB of L3 cache onboard which suggests that the Athlon 200GE is part of the Raven Ridge family. The integrated graphics core is based on the "Vega" graphics architecture, more specifically Vega 3. That means the Athlon 200GE will most likely come with three compute units and 192 shaders.

Windows 10 Consumer Roadmap Reveals Five New SKUs

Feb 8th, 2018 12:36 Discuss (23 Comments)

As the launch date for Windows 10 Redstone 4 approaches, Microsoft has shared new licensing information with a few of their select partners. According to the information provided, the Redmond giant will be adding five new SKUs for partners to use with their products. The new SKUs include Entry ($25), Value ($45), Core ($65.45), Core+ ($86.66), and Advanced ($101). At present, not much is known about how Microsoft will differentiate one edition from another, other than tying them to specific hardware specifications. The SKUs will be available starting on April 2, 2018.

Entry: Intel Atom/Celeron/Pentium ≤ 4GB RAM & ≤ 32GB SSD AND ≤ 14.1" screen size (NB), ≤ 11.6" (2in1, Tablet), ≥ 17" AiO
Value: Intel Atom/Celeron/Pentium ≤ 4GB RAM & ≤64GB SSD & ≤ 14.1" screen size (EM ≤ 4GB RAM & ≤64GB SSD or ≤ 500GB HDD)
Core: Cannot be used on devices that meet the Core+ and Advanced SKU Hardware Specifications
Core+: High end CPU and >4 GB RAM (All Form Factors) ≥8 GB RAM & ≥1080p screen resolution (NB, 2in1, AiO) >8 GB RAM & ≥2TB HDD or SSD storage (Desktop)
Advanced: Intel Core i9 (any configuration) OR Core i7 ≥ 6 Cores (any RAM) OR AMD Threadripper(any configuration) OR Intel Core i7 >16GB (any Cores) or AMD FX/ Ryzen7 >16GB (any Cores) OR ≥ 4K screen resolution (any processor, includes 4K UHD-3840 resolution

Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Rise and Fall Available Now

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Feb 8th, 2018 11:32 Discuss (3 Comments)

2K and Firaxis Games today announced that Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Rise and Fall, the expansion pack for the 2016 award-winning strategy title, is now available for Windows PC.

Civilization VI: Rise and Fall builds upon the critically-acclaimed gameplay experience of Civilization VI giving players new choices, strategies, and challenges as they guide a civilization through the ages. The expansion introduces new Golden Ages and Dark Ages, a new city Loyalty system, and Governors who can be stationed in players' cities. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall also adds nine new leaders and eight new civilizations, including returning fan favorites Shaka leading the Zulu and Genghis Khan leading Mongolia, alongside newcomers in a Civilization game for the first time such as Queen Seondeok leading Korea and Robert the Bruce leading Scotland.

HP Delivers the World's Thinnest Business and Mobile Workstation Devices

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Feb 8th, 2018 11:13 Discuss (2 Comments)

HP Inc. today unveiled a range of new devices, displays and accessories designed for the modern workforce, including the rollout of several award-winning premium features to the best-selling HP EliteBook 800 series and HP ZBook 14u/15u mobile workstations. As the world's most secure and manageable PCs and mobile workstations, these devices - along with the all-new HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 and expanded portfolio of four new HP 4K displays - will bring powerful innovation and premium experiences into the mainstream workforce.

"The game has changed and standard issued corporate devices of the past no longer meet the needs of the workforce of the future, particularly among Gen X to Gen Z professionals," said Alex Cho, vice president and general manager, Commercial PCs, HP Inc. "Our latest EliteBook and ZBook offerings set new standards for design, performance, and functionality. Whether it's the world's thinnest devices or the industry's most robust security features, HP is redefining the commercial PC experience for the modern workforce."

Samsung Begins Mass Production of 256GB eUFS for Automotive Applications

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Feb 8th, 2018 10:52 Discuss (0 Comments)

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass production of a 256-gigabyte (GB) embedded Universal Flash Storage (eUFS) solution with advanced features based on automotive specifications from the JEDEC UFS 3.0 standard, for the first time in the industry. Following the memory breakthrough of the automotive industry's first 128GB eUFS in September, 2017, Samsung's 256GB eUFS is now being shipped to automotive manufacturers preparing the market for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), next-generation infotainment systems and new-age dashboards in luxury vehicles.

As thermal management is crucial for automotive memory applications, Samsung's 256GB eUFS extends the temperature range to between -40°C and 105°C for both operational and power-saving modes. Warranties for conventional embedded multimedia card (eMMC) 5.1 solutions generally cover -25°C to 85°C for vehicles in operation and -40°C to 85°C when in idle or power-saving mode.

GIGABYTE Unleashes the B250-FinTech Motherboard with 12 PCIe Slots

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Feb 8th, 2018 10:45 Discuss (7 Comments)

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, presents the new B250-FinTech motherboard based on the Intel B250 Chipset. Featuring GIGABYTE Ultra Durable components and a native 12 PCIe slot configuration, this new crypto mining focused motherboard maximizes efficiency and yield potential for miners. The B250-FinTech motherboard's 3-for-1 power cable and fine-tuned BIOS Mining Mode are some of the many attributes that make this motherboard a fantastic choice for experienced as well as prospective miners.

"The interest for crypto mining has grown throughout the years but has skyrocketed in recent times. With close regard for consumer needs, GIGABYTE has developed the B250-FinTech motherboard as the quintessential mining platform for all who are interested in mining." GIGABYTE Deputy Director Jackson Hsu stated. "Through extensive research and an exceptionally thorough development process, we have produced a mining motherboard with a robust native PCIe slot configuration for impressive mining efficiency."

Sharkoon Announces SKILLER SGS2 Gaming Seat

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Feb 8th, 2018 10:07 Discuss (5 Comments)

Sharkoon expands their range of gaming seats and, with the SKILLER SGS2, introduces a new seat with a breathable fabric cover. The base is made from a steel frame construction, which, in addition to its class-4 gas lift piston, promises optimal stability. Individual adjustments are possible via the 3D armrests and adjustable backrest with tilt control system. Five 60 mm wheels on the steel five-star base provide mobility. The seat offers four total color versions.

Sporty, black design with a selection of highlights in the colors red, blue, green or gray, characterize the new gaming seat from Sharkoon. This time, however, breathable fabric upholstery is used. This encases the 83 cm high foam padded backrest as well as the 39.5 x 50 cm large seat. Embroidered logos and colored stitching, matching the respective color version, additionally decorate the seat. To support an ergonomic seating posture, the gaming seat is equipped with a class-4 gas lift piston, ensuring an optimal seat height.

The Surge 2 Announced, Incoming to Users' Gaming Platform of Choice in 2019

Feb 8th, 2018 07:55 Discuss (3 Comments)

Souls-like games have gained considerable market and gamer recognition ever since the first entry in the genre, Demon's Souls, made its debut from developer From Software. With increasingly acclaimed and commercially successful games under From Software's belt, game developers started bringing out their own takes on the Souls formula. Entries such as Deck 13's Lords of the Fallen or Team Ninja's Ni-Oh made differing splashes in the market, with various levels of success. Deck 13's latest take, in conjunction with publisher Focus Home Interactive, was a futuresque, dystopian setting in The Surge, which was well received by the gaming community, and apparently, the market as well.

This success stands to reason since Deck 13 and publisher Focus Home Interactive have announced a sequel to The Surge, The Surge 2, which is incoming for PC and consoles in 2019. As most sequels, The Surge 2 will have an iterative take on the original's design, expanding the already implemented and design systems, and cutting the parts that didn't work out so well. "The Surge 2 keeps what fans and critics loved about the original - hardcore combat utilizing a unique, dynamic limb targeting system and deep character progression - while also expanding greatly upon the formula," the developer said in the announcement. There's no information, currently, on the sequels' connection to the original.

ASRock Outs AM4 Motherboard Raven Ridge BIOS Updates, AMD Standardizes New Label

Feb 8th, 2018 05:21 Discuss (13 Comments)

ASRock today announced that it has posted motherboard BIOS updates for its socket AM4 motherboard product lineup, which enables support for AMD Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400G APUs based on the "Raven Ridge" silicon. The company posted BIOS updates for all 18 of its AM4 motherboard models, based on AMD X370, B350, and A320 chipsets. To get your BIOS update, visit the downloads section of the product page of your motherboard model on ASRock company website.

In related news, it looks like AMD has standardized a new label for use by motherboard manufacturers on their product boxes to denote out of the box support for AMD Ryzen 2000 series processors, on newer batches of their AMD 300-series chipset motherboards. Motherboards without this label likely won't support chips such as the 2200G or 2400G out of the box, and will require a BIOS update using a supported Ryzen "Summit Ridge" processor first. Motherboards based on the upcoming AMD 400-series chipsets, which should launch in Q2-2018, will support "Raven Ridge" and upcoming "Pinnacle Ridge" processors out of the box, including backwards-compatibility for existing "Summit Ridge" processors.

VAIO Introduces the New VAIO S with VAIO TruePerformance and 8th Gen Core

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Feb 8th, 2018 03:52 Discuss (11 Comments)

As part of its continued support for the business user, today VAIO Corporation has introduced a new line of the VAIO S laptops equipped with the 8th Generation Intel Core Processor and VAIO TruePerformance, a technology designed to maintain higher performance for a longer period of time by increasing CPU power limits and more efficiently eliminating processor heat.

By applying VAIO TruePerformance, the 8th Generation Intel Core Processor demonstrates higher performance for both the CPU and graphics over the usual 8th Generation Core i7 Processor. In addition, the Core i5 Processor with VAIO TruePerformance has the effect of achieving higher performance than the usual 8th Generation Core i7 Processor.

Colorful Dominates PUBG-capable Graphics Card Market

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Feb 8th, 2018 03:48 Discuss (8 Comments)

Colorful Technology Company Limited, professional manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards and high-performance storage solutions announces that its line-up of graphics cards are highly recommended for the worldwide sensation game PUBG or PlayerUnknown's BattleGrounds. With almost 3 million concurrent active players at any given time, it has become a must for almost any PC to be able to play PUBG. COLORFUL's history has been one created by its fans and users and the overwhelming demand for PUBG has left gamers asking if their graphics card can play PUBG in Ultra. COLORFUL has always stood by its commitment to gamers in delivering high-quality, high-performance products that meets their needs.

The chart below shows the performance of COLORFUL graphics cards in PUBG demonstrating that even in Ultra settings, COLORFUL VGAs are capable of delivering incredible performance even from the value segment all the way to the extreme enthusiast segment.

ADATA Presents the HD710M Pro and HD710A Pro High-Performance External HDDs

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Feb 8th, 2018 03:46 Discuss (0 Comments)

ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a global leader in memory products, is proud to present the HD710M Pro and HD710A Pro, two new entries in the Durable line of external hard drives. The HD710M Pro and HD710A Pro are based on the toughest designs, but with better specifications than ever, offering protection against dust and moisture that exceeds IP68 standards, as well as military-grade shock-proofing. This means that users can bring their hard drive anywhere without having to worry about losing data.

The military-grade storage solutions in ADATA's Durable series are the perfect combination of reliability and creative flair, which has led to multiple awards from organizations such as iF and the Red Dot Award. The HD710M Pro and HD710A Pro represent an evolution of these principles; the HD710M Pro applies the same military camouflage theme as the HD710M, giving off an air of rugged martial prowess, while the HD710A Pro extends the elegant minimalistic themes exemplified by brands such as Apple, with its understated gray and white casing. The HD710M Pro and HD710A Pro both have strong protections against water and dust, which exceed IP68 standards, meaning that they are insusceptible to foreign particles and moisture. They can even survive submerged for 60 minutes in 2m of water, unscathed. The triple-layered construction gives the hard drives exemplary protection against shocks and collisions, having p! assed drop tests on 26 separate points of impact. They can even survive falls of up to 1.5m.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 Sneakily Gets G-SYNC Support

Feb 8th, 2018 03:22 Discuss (11 Comments)

NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 is the company's cheapest and smallest GPU based on its "Pascal" graphics architecture, and is targeted at people who need IGP-replacement graphics cards around $50. Besides fewer shaders, it has a reduced software feature-set, with the notable omission of NVIDIA G-SYNC, the company's proprietary adaptive V-sync technology. We get that someone who pays the $150-200 premium for a monitor that supports it is unlikely to game on a GT 1030, but one user found otherwise.

With the latest GeForce drivers, Redditor "wantkitteh" found that their MSI GeForce GT 1030, when paired with an Acer Predator G-SYNC capable monitor (best guess XB272), was offering G-SYNC controls in the NVIDIA Control Panel. The monitor's OSD settings utility confirmed G-SYNC to be enabled. To meet the requirement, you need GPU and monitor to support G-SYNC, and be connected by a compatible DisplayPort 1.2 (or later) cable. It's something.

Sennheiser GSX 1000 Audio Amplifier Review

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The Sennheiser GSX 1000 Audio Amplifier is a beautiful external USB sound card equipped with the best 7.1 virtual surround sound system we've heard so far, and a host of other interesting features primarily aimed towards hardcore gaming.

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As Gaming Becomes New College Football, Players Can Now Hire COD Coaches

Feb 7th, 2018 13:59 Discuss (22 Comments)

The parallelism between gaming's acceptance as a sport and the worthiness of its recognition in the college universe as a way for students to garner scholarships for their education is becoming more evident as time goes by. Many colleges are now developing their own collegiate, eSports teams with access to scholarships, and have buoyed their legitimacy by creation of the National Association of Collegiate esports, which consists of 45 schools and their varsity esports programs. However, these scholarship amounts still pale in comparison to other sports' scholarships, which is in no way unexpected; gaming is still a recent addition to the sports roster for college and universities, after all. The highest scholarship figures top out around the $20K mark, while most tend to hover much lower around $2-5K.

And with the eSports market becoming more and more on the crosshairs of interest groups, this type of scholarship integration and added importance of eSports is only bound to increase. Add to this the fact that the eSports market made almost $700M in revenue in 2017, and reached an audience of almost 400 million people, and opportunities abound for expansion - and where there's profits to be made, there's interest, investment, and development. As such, it should come as no surprise that some companies are already offering coaching programs to professional - or would be professional - gamers. If players' K/D ratios aren't as high as they could be (and are they ever?), companies are jumping at the opportunity to seek and provide value to those players that are willing to part with it.

"Most Cryptocurrencies' Value Could Hit Zero", Warns Goldmann Sachs Analyst

Feb 7th, 2018 13:34 Discuss (57 Comments)

Adding yet more tinder to the fire is usually the way for some players in the industry - and this isn't any different (one could even say this is exacerbated) by investment gurus and finance groups. Steve Strongin, Goldmann Sachs global head of investment research, said in a February 5th report that most digital currencies are unlikely to survive in their current form, and investors should prepare for coins to lose all their value as they're replaced by a small set of future competitors. Steve Strongin is particularly worried on account of "The high correlation between the different cryptocurrencies," adding that "because of the lack of intrinsic value, the currencies that don't survive will most likely trade to zero."

This is a trend that can usually be seen in the crypto market, as most alt-coins tend to follow Bitcoin's pricing trends, with their value being seemingly pegged to the current cryptocurrency king's value - and some might say credibility. There have been some instances of drifting pricing trends where some cryptocurrencies actually cease being pegged to bitcoin's value in their own valuation, but these events are usually few, far between, and tend to regress to their previous state.

HP Releases First 4K EliteDisplay, Multiple 4K Monitors

Feb 7th, 2018 13:19 Discuss (5 Comments)

HP today announced immediate availability of some monitors specifically geared for the professional - or at least pixel-conscious - crowd. The EliteDisplay S270n monitor features a 4K, IPS, 27" diagonal, 350 cd/m² brightness, 1300:1 static contrast ratio panel with 14 ms gray to gray response times. Display input duties can be allocated towards 1x DisplayPort 1.2 or 2x HDMI inputs (1.4 and 2.0). Additionally, there's 1x USB Type-C supporting Displayport 1.2 which is able to deliver up to 60 W of power to a connected device.

The other three models HP has announced today sport the Z27, Z32 and Z43 monikers, which directly reference the diagonal size of the monitors. The feature set is practically the same across all three of these models; they offer the same 4K UHD resolution and IPS based panels. 350 cd/m² remains as the peak brightness value, as well as a 1300:1 static contrast ratio, but the response time is improved on the 27" and 42" models to 8 ms gray to gray (the 31-inch model is at 14 ms, just like the EliteDisplay). The HP Z27, Z32 and Z43 all support 1x USB Type-C which supports DisplayPort 1.2 and can send up to 65W of power to the connected device. Display outputs are the same across these monitors (1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x Mini-DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB Type-C, but the Z27 and Z32 pats only carry three additional USB 3.0 ports, while the Z43 ups that number to 5x. All monitors are available now, with pricing being set at $549 for the EliteDisplay S270, while the Z27, Z32, and Z43 are priced at $559, $899, and $799 respectively.

AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.1 WHQL

Feb 7th, 2018 13:02 Discuss (6 Comments)

AMD today has released the WHQL version of its Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.1 Beta drivers, which the company had introduced just five days ago. There's no apparent difference between this driver version and the previously released one, other than the WHQL certification - this might mean some additional stability in the new driver release compared to its Beta version, though mileage may vary.

Just as a friendly reminder, the Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.1 drivers add support for Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age, while fixing a number of bugs with FreeSync and the Vulkan API, among others. As always, you can download these drivers right here on TechPowerUp!, just by following the link below.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.1 WHQL

Samsung to Invest $27.7 billion On Second Pyeongtaek Semiconductor Plant

Feb 7th, 2018 12:51 Discuss (0 Comments)

Samsung's management committee has reportedly convened this morning, February 7th, to officially approve an investment plan on a new semicondctor manufacturing facility. Reports say this new factory is expected to be built on Pyeongtaek, the same general location as Samsung's current Pyeongtaek Fab 1. The investment plan is being made with plans for the plant to start production of the "P2-Project" plant during the first half of 2019.

Giving credence to these industry reports is the fact that Samsung has already celebrate gas pipeline contracts with companies (such as Wonik Holdings), just last month, in preparation for this new fab construction. It's as of yet unclear what specific plan the company has for the new factory, though it will certainly inject extraordinary new amounts of volume to Samsung's various foundry businesses. With two years of construction since it broke ground in May, 2015, the original fabrication line at the Pyeongtaek campus is currently the largest single Fab in the industry; in the face of this, it seems that a "first half of 2019" starting date for semiconductor production at Samsung's new manufacturing facilities may be slightly optimistic. However, those plans start to sound a little more on the doable side if one considers these might actually be plans for an expansion of the current Pyeongtaek Fab 1 facilities, plans for which the company has already announced back in July 2017.

Intel Launches Their Xeon D-2100 Series SoCs

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Feb 7th, 2018 12:26 Discuss (0 Comments)

Intel today introduced the new Intel Xeon D-2100 processor, a system-on-chip (SoC) processor architected to address the needs of edge applications and other data center or network applications constrained by space and power. The Intel Xeon D-2100 processor extends the record-breaking performance and innovation of the Intel Xeon Scalable platform from the heart of the data center to the network edge and web tier, where network operators and cloud service providers face the need to continuously grow performance and capacity without increasing power consumption.

"To seize 5G and new cloud and network opportunities, service providers need to optimize their data center and edge infrastructures to meet the growing demands of bandwidth-hungry end users and their smart and connected devices," said Sandra Rivera, senior vice president and general manager of the Network Platforms Group at Intel. "The Intel Xeon D-2100 processor allows service providers and enterprises to deliver the maximum amount of compute intelligence at the edge or web tier while expending the least power."

iBase MBN806, the First AMD Snowy Owl Motherboard to Appear in the Wild

Feb 7th, 2018 11:37 Discuss (3 Comments)

Taiwanese industrial computer manufacturer iBase has listed what appears to be the first motherboard for AMD's Snowy Owl platform. Based on the BGA2028 socket, the iBase MBN806 is powered by an eight-core, eight-thread EPYC Embedded 3201 SoC with a clock speed up to 2.3 GHz. The motherboard has four DDR4 memory slots and supports up to 128GB of registered memory or 64GB of unregistered memory (ECC/non-ECC) at a maximum frequency of 2667 MHz. A lonely PCIe x8 also slot sits near the memory slots. As for storage options, the MBN806 comes with two SATA III ports and a PCIe x4 M.2 slot that supports both the SATA and PCIe protocols. By default, there are no integrated display outputs, but consumers can purchase a separate IPMI module to add a VGA port to the motherboard. Ethernet connectivity is present via an Intel I210-AT GbE controller.

Dell EMC Announces Three New PowerEdge Servers Powered by AMD EPYC Processors

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Feb 7th, 2018 10:33 Discuss (5 Comments)

Dell EMC announced three new servers designed for software-defined environments, edge and high-performance computing (HPC). The PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R7415 and PowerEdge R7425 expand the 14th generation of the Dell EMC PowerEdge server portfolio with new capabilities to address the demanding workload requirements of today's modern data center. All three rack servers with the AMD EPYC processor offer highly scalable platforms with outstanding total cost of ownership (TCO).

"As the bedrock of the modern data center, customers expect us to push server innovation further and faster" said Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, president, Server and Infrastructure Systems at Dell EMC. "As customers deploy more IoT solutions, they need highly capable and flexible compute at the edge to turn data into real-time insights; these new servers that are engineered to deliver that while lowering TCO."

ADATA Launches the ISMS331 Industrial-Grade 7 Pin SATA DOM

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Feb 7th, 2018 10:07 Discuss (8 Comments)

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today launches the ISMS331, an industrial SATA 7-pin Disk-On-Module (DOM), which is suitable for desktops, compact computers, industrial computers and embedded applications by providing various specifications and wide temperature support. It also features several key technologies, including self-diagnostics, life time monitoring and ECC (Error Correcting Code) for product longevity and high reliability.

Various Upgrade Configurations for More Possibilities
The ADATA ISMS331 SATA 7-pin DOM utilizes high-quality SLC and MLC NAND flash and comes with a variety of capacities from 4GB to 32GB (SLC models) and 8GB to 128GB (MLC models). It is available in both horizontal and vertical pin orientations to accommodate a wide variety of system form factors. In addition, it provides excellent performance and reliability with sequential read/write speeds of up to 260MB/s for SLC models and 300/180MB/s for MLC models. Thanks to the industrial grade operable temperature range of -40°C to +90°C, the ISMS331 can operate in harsh environments for long periods of time.

TRENDnet Launches Two New Powerline 200 AV PoE+ Adapters

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Feb 7th, 2018 10:01 Discuss (1 Comment)

TRENDnet, a global leader in reliable SMB and consumer networking and surveillance solutions, has announced the launch of its Powerline 200 AV PoE+ Adapters, models TPL-331EP and TPL-331EP2K. These Powerline adapters allow you to easily add PoE+ support to your existing Powerline network. If your home is not already prewired with Ethernet cabling, adding it may be very timely and costly. With TRENDnet's new Powerline 200 AV PoE+ Adapters, a PoE connection can be made through your existing electrical power outlets. The TPL-331EP and TPL-331EP2K deliver Powerline 200 networking and PoE+ support to connected devices such as IP cameras, wireless access points, and VoIP handsets.

"Powerline is convenient because it provides a wired connection through your home's existing electrical system, eliminating the need to run Cat-5e cables that can be both time consuming and come with a heavy cost," said Evan Davis, senior manager of solutions engineering at TRENDnet. "With PoE readily available through Powerline network adapters, users can easily plug a camera or other PoE device in without worrying about PoE injectors, or wires for power and network connectivity."

Panasonic Introduces a New and Upgraded Version of Their Toughbook CF-20

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Feb 7th, 2018 09:55 Discuss (1 Comment)

Panasonic today announced the newest version of its fully rugged detachable notebook which brings to mobile business computing unrivalled performance, enhanced security and superior usability. The Toughbook CF-20, originally launched in 2015, is still the first and only 10.1" fully rugged notebook with detachable tablet, further demonstrating Panasonic's leadership in the rugged mobile computing market as it continues to deliver innovative fully rugged and semi-rugged 2-in-1 detachable devices.

The enhanced Panasonic Toughbook CF-20 offers more performance at reduced power consumption thanks to 7th Generation Intel Core vPro processor technology. The 2-in-1 device now comes with an extended 17 hours battery life, with a second battery as standard in the keyboard area, and the tablet alone can run for 8.5 hours. Combining these two new features means that the newly enhanced CF-20 delivers significantly higher performance and literally double the battery life.

Brainwavz introduces its Quad Balanced Armature B400 to the UK

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Feb 7th, 2018 06:06 Discuss (8 Comments)

Global audio specialist Brainwavz, established in 2008 with a focus on offering high quality products at a competitive price, today announces the availability of its B400 Quad Balanced Armature Earphones in the UK. The B400 follow the launch of the B200 earphones in the UK in June 2017 which received fantastic acclaim, including 5 star reviews on Expert Reviews and Pocket-lint as well as 4.5 star reviews in iCreate and on Trusted Reviews. The B400 are available for £144.43.

The Brainwavz B400 feature a 4 driver setup with separate drivers, each focused on specific ranges to produce true audiophile grade sound reproduction. The B400 ergonomic housing is hand assembled by Brainwavz's own team in its in-house workshop, with every part scrutinised with quality control the top priority. The majority of the components that make up the B400 are produced in USA or Europe including Knowles drivers, high purity OFC silver plated cabling and the T100 tips.

Raidmax Intros the Gama Mid-tower Chassis

Feb 7th, 2018 02:24 Discuss (9 Comments)

Raidmax today introduced the Gama ATX mid-tower chassis (not to be confused with the NZXT Gamma). The case is characterized by a glossy and bulbous front-top section made of ABS plastic, which comes in four colors - white, piano-black, bright-green, and orange. Contrasting it are matte-black vertical slats. The left side-panel is dominated by a 4 mm-thick tinted tempered-glass panel.

Inside, you'll find a horizontally-partitioned layout, with the top compartment housing the motherboard tray, while the bottom one, which is enclosed from one side, holds the PSU and a couple of 3.5-inch drive bays. Two additional 2.5-inch drives can be mounted behind the motherboard tray. Cooling system includes either three 120 mm or two 140 mm front intakes, either three 120 mm or two 140 mm top exhausts, and a 120 mm rear exhaust. Front panel connectivity is basic, with two USB 3.0 ports (standard header) and HDA jacks. The company didn't reveal pricing.

FSP Announces the Hydro PTM+ 1400W Liquid-cooled PSU Co-designed by Bitspower

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Feb 7th, 2018 02:03 Discuss (14 Comments)

FSP, one of the leading manufacturers of power supplies in the world is pleased to announce its newest advanced power supply, the Hydro PTM+. After its initial unveiling at Computex 2017, where it received massively positive response from hardware fans and PC gamers, the Hydro PTM+ 1200W is now ready to be built into PC gaming rigs across the globe.

The Hydro PTM+ was developed in cooperation with Bitspower to create a unique liquid cooled power supply that excels at its efficiency, power rating, and thermal performance. With liquid cooling enabled, up to 1400W of power can be delivered, but when power demand is below 50% loading the Hydro PTM+ remains passively cooled, remaining completely silent. On top of the fantastic power delivery and unique cooling solution, the Hydro PTM+ fits any gamers' needs, by also offering good looks. With ASUS Aura sync certified RGB lighting inside the unit and fully modular design with ribbon cables, the Hydro PTM+ is the first PSU that truly combines power, cooling, and aesthetics.

MSI Outs Socket AM4 Motherboard BIOS Updates for "Raven Ridge" APU Support

Feb 7th, 2018 01:52 Discuss (9 Comments)

MSI is among the first motherboard manufacturers to release BIOS updates for its entire socket AM4 motherboard lineup, to enable support for Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400G APUs, based on the "Raven Ridge" silicon. With the two chips installed, you will finally be able to use the DVI, D-Sub, HDMI or DisplayPort connectors on the rear-panel of your socket AM4 motherboards. Motherboards based on AMD's upcoming 400-series chipset, will come with support for "Raven Ridge" APUs out of the box, among other chips, such as the company's upcoming 12 nm "Pinnacle Ridge" processors.

Among MSI's 300-series chipset socket AM4 motherboards to receive "Raven Ridge" support, are the X370 XPower Gaming Titanium, the X370 Gaming M7 ACK, the X370 Gaming Pro Carbon, the X370 Gaming Pro, X370 Gaming Plus, X370 SLI Plus, X370 Krait Gaming; the B350 Tomahawk Plus, the B350 Tomahawk, the B350 Tomahawk Arctic, B350 PC Mate, B350M Gaming Pro, B350M Mortar, B350M Bazooka, B350M Pro-VDH, and A320M Gaming Pro. You'll find the BIOS ROM files in the downloads section of your motherboard's product page on MSI website.

Aukey KM-G8 Keyboard Review

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Costing less than $40, the Aukey KM-G8 offers excellent value for the money. It features Outemu Blue mechanical switches in a full-size layout which, coupled with a metal frame and minimal bezels, results in a compelling replacement for OEM membrane keyboards.

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Xigmatek Intros Prodigy ST1266 CPU Cooler

Feb 6th, 2018 23:15 Discuss (7 Comments)

Xigmatek today introduced the Prodigy ST1266 low-profile CPU cooler. With an overall height (including fan) of 67 mm, the cooler is capable of handling thermal loads of up to 150W, making it fit for some of the higher-end mainstream desktop CPUs, such as the Core i7-8700K and the Ryzen 7 1800X. It supports sockets LGA2066, LGA2011(v3), LGA115x, AM4, AM3(+), and FM2(+). Its design involves a conventional C-type, top-flow layout. The cooler measures126 mm x 120 mm x 67 mm.

Six 6 mm-thick copper heat pipes make direct contact with the CPU at the base, which doubles up as a small aluminium mono-block heatsink. The heat-pipes convey heat to a thin aluminium fin-stack that propagates along the plane of the motherboard, which is ventilated by a 15 mm-thick 120 mm fan, which takes in 4-pin PWM input, spins between 800 to 1,500 RPM, pushing up to 56.9 CFM of air, with a maximum noise-level of 22.4 dBA. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Thermaltake Releases World's First AI Voice Controlled Digital Power Supply

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Feb 6th, 2018 12:40 Discuss (31 Comments)

Thermaltake has infused Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its Smart Power Management (SPM) system and unveiled the new 'AI Voice Control' feature to enhance the DPS G Mobile APP, making it easier for mining and PC gaming enthusiasts to control and custom design their ultimate powerful PC system. The 'AI Voice Control' function is currently only featured in the Toughpower iRGB PLUS Titanium/Platinum digital power supply lineups for iOS, and the Android version will be coming soon.

Via mobile phone, users can access 'Voice Control' to easily turn the power supply on/off; change light mode, color, brightness; and control the speed. In addition, the DPS G Mobile APP provides access to the PSU's key parameters: including the historical efficiency, fan speed, wattage, voltage, temperature, total usage time/kWh/electricity cost, and the CPU/VGA's historical temperature. It also gives users control over the RGB fan lighting mode, PC off remote control, and real-time alerts covering major PSU abnormalities such as fan malfunction; like overheating (above 140℉/60℃) or abnormal voltage level (over/under 5% of normal level) conditions. Best yet, it is fully TT RGB Plus Sync compatible, meaning users will be able to sync all RGB colors seamlessly to all Thermaltake TT RGB Plus-compatible product lines for even greater color coordination.

Assassin's Creed Origins' Denuvo and VMProtect Bypassed

Feb 6th, 2018 12:21 Discuss (46 Comments)

It was no coincidence that Assassin's Creed Origins was one of the most difficult Ubisoft titles to crack. The company learned from their past mistakes and was one step ahead of the pirates this time. Instead of just implementing the usual Denuvo and Uplay protections like in previous occasions, Ubisoft slapped VMProtect on top of both for good measure. The added security proved to be a great solution as the game remained intact for a little over three months which is a crucial time for sales. However, Ubisoft's triple-threat protection started to crumble when CPY discovered a way to bypass Denuvo 4.8 two weeks ago. The latest news from the Italian scene group confirmed that they've now bypassed Assassin's Creed Origins' last line of defense as well.

Assassin's Creed Origins has been widely criticized for being a CPU hog. Ubisoft claims that VMProtect has little to no perceptible effect on the game's performance. However, many still believe it to be the culprit. Now that the keys to the kingdom are out there, there's little to no point for Ubisoft to keep VMProtect in the game. This would be the perfect opportunity to prove the doubters otherwise. That is, unless they have something to hide.

Phanteks Introduces Its New PC Building Toolkit

Feb 6th, 2018 11:00 Discuss (18 Comments)

Phanteks today introduced their new PC Building toolkit, which the company says is "the only tool-set you'll ever need for your PC building needs". The company is touting a custom selection of tools and bits for PC building (including watercooled systems), which includes a plethora of options.

CTL Announces Their Upcoming Rugged Chromebook J41

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Feb 6th, 2018 10:31 Discuss (3 Comments)

CTL, an Oregon-based company specializing in comprehensive 1:1 solutions for education, announced today the upcoming release of the CTL Chromebook J41 for Education, the newest addition to their lineup of rugged designed CTL Chromebooks tailor-made for student use.

At a glance, the new CTL Chromebook J41 features a soft-touch, anti-slip rubberized texture. The drop-resistant slim profile design creates a lightweight body weighing in at only 2.45 lbs, making it a great option for the K-12 classroom environment. A water-resistant keyboard further protects the CTL Chromebook J41 by allowing spills to be channeled out and away from internal hardware. The 11.6" matte HD Panel screen is anti-glare ensuring ease of viewing and eye strain as well as being finger-resistant. The CTL Chromebook J41 also comes with the option to be upgraded to an optional 10 point capacitive touchscreen. Sturdy 180 degree hinges help to increase durability as the unit will lay-flat when opened completely. In addition, the unit contains two USB Type-C ports, two USB 3.0 ports, one Micro SD port, and a combo audio jack with an HD Web Camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

Master & Dynamic Launches New Greene Street Collection Headphones

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Feb 6th, 2018 10:23 Discuss (1 Comment)

New York City-based luxury audio company Master & Dynamic announced its The Greene Street Collection. Including leathers in a olive green and a camouflage, The Greene Street Collection features six new products: MW60 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones in olive/black and camo/black ($549), MW50 Wireless On-Ear Headphones in olive/black and black/black ($449) and MH40 Over-Ear Headphones ($399) in olive/black, and camo/black. The Greene Street Collection is available now at www.masterdynamic.com.

Created for the daring and sophistication of the concrete jungle, The Greene Street Collection draws inspiration from New York City, where fashion and streetwear cultures collide. This latest release embraces classic military-themed colorways, and seeks to take the next fashionable step in outfitting the urban creative with sound.

ROCCAT Releases the Khan AIMO 7.1 Headset

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Feb 6th, 2018 09:30 Discuss (5 Comments)

ROCCAT proudly announces its new Khan AIMO headset. Part of the AIMO illumination series, the premium headset builds upon the strengths of the critically acclaimed Khan Pro. It boasts high quality 50mm drivers capable of Hi-Res audio, a microphone that covers the full vocal spectrum and a supremely comfortable fit. The Khan AIMO features an integrated sound card capable of producing crystal clear sound up to 24-bit at 96KHz, easily outperforming onboard audio solutions provided on most gaming motherboards. This ensures gamers don't have to worry about having a headset that needs a specific sound card, with the Khan AIMO representing a complete, premium solution right out of the box.

AAEON Announces the BOXER-6640 IPC

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Feb 6th, 2018 07:01 Discuss (3 Comments)

AAEON, an award-winning developer of embedded systems, is pleased to announce the release of the BOXER-6640, an embedded controller with a 6th or 7th Generation Intel Core Desktop Processor and support for DDR4 memory.

The BOXER-6640 is purpose built for factory automation and machine vision applications. With two LAN ports, four USB3.0 ports, and three USB2.0 ports, it can be connected to a range of cameras and sensors, and its 8-bit DIO enables it to control connected systems based on digital inputs. As it also has a VGA port and two further combined HDMI and DP ports for dual display output, this controller can easily serve as the hub of an effective HMI solution.

GIGABYTE Intros Aorus AC300W Lite Chassis

Feb 6th, 2018 00:22 Discuss (2 Comments)

GIGABYTE today released the Aorus AC300W Lite chassis, a slightly scaled down variant of its AC300W chassis with VR-Link. The Lite variant does away with the original's USP, the VR-link connection. The original has a front-panel HDMI port that plugs into the "VR-Link" internal HDMI ports of certain Aorus-branded graphics cards. The Lite variant also does away with the glowing Aorus logo on the bottom compartment cover. The rest of its specifications remain unchanged. You still get the RGB LED-illuminated front panel Aorus logo and accents, controllable by GIGABYTE RGB Fusion software.

Inside, you'll get a conventional horizontally-partitioned layout, with room in the top compartment for graphics cards up to 40 cm in length, and CPU coolers up to 17 cm in height; and the bottom compartment housing two 3.5-inch drive bays, in addition to the PSU bay. Two additional 2.5-inch drives can be mounted behind the motherboard tray. Ventilation includes either three 120 mm or two 140 mm front intakes, two 140/120 mm top exhausts, and a 120 mm rear exhaust. The company didn't mention pricing.

GamerStorm Baronkase Liquid Review

Review Cases

The GamerStorm Baronkase Liquid once again marries a Captain AIO liquid cooler with a chassis. What makes this case so interesting is the fact that it is geared towards the mainstream, utilizing a Captain 120EX coupled with a compact chassis design. With the all-metal and glass exterior, handle, and RGB elements, GamerStorm checks a lot of boxes, which makes the Baronkase Liquid an interesting contender for those who want to get into AIOs the easy way.

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Ubiquiti Labs AmpliFi Teleport Kit Review

Review Networking

Ubiquiti Labs today brought out a new networking product that provides a hardware VPN solution that works seamlessly with their HD mesh Wi-Fi system. The AmpliFi Teleport kit should be on your short list if you travel and need secure, foolproof access to your local content, which would also make reading through this review well worth your time.

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Square Enix Reaffirms Its Commitment to Single Player Gaming

Feb 5th, 2018 14:23 Discuss (21 Comments)

Single player games may have entered a perceived decline since their heydays, as increasingly long, costly development times have drawn developers towards experiences that are more easily... monetized. This is typically done by cutting experiences into DLC pieces and adding always-on, recurring ways of recouping developer (or publishers') investment. There's no need in beating around the bush - we all know what these experiences look like, in one way, or another. Though it's true that these may not always have the intended effect, as users and the industry as a whole have been recoiling from particularly aggressive renditions of these monetization practices, which in turn, may lead companies to face considerable losses, be these monetary or in the much less liquid good will.

Square Enix is one of the companies that has excelled in the making of first player games, for one. however, for one reason or another, these may not have translated as the successful commercial releases that the company hoped (thinking of you, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided). As a result, the company has reportedly put the Deus Ex franchise on ice, but has recently made some tentative remarks on how they might bring it back. However, Square Enix themselves have put fears into gamers and fans' minds with their renewed interest in games as a service. which, according to Square Enix President & CEO Yosuke Matsuda, may not mean exactly what we've been told it means.

Microsoft Ends Windows 10 S as Standalone Product, Integrates With Ecosystem

Feb 5th, 2018 13:53 Discuss (15 Comments)

Well, that didn't take long. Microsoft's Windows 10 S push as a "lite, free" version of its Windows 10 OS that would be available for education environments free of charge has been thoroughly abandoned as a standalone product. instead, Microsoft is now looking to integrate it into existing Windows 10 versions (Home and Pro) as a sort of sleeping, to-be-activated "S Mode" which has access to updates, but only has the same features as Windows 10 S currently does - the most important, limiting of which is that the OS only runs UWP (Universal windows Platform) apps. Thus, this mode will basically limit the Operating System to a version which, according to Microsoft, enables better security and a more friendly environment for the typical usage scenarios of such lite operating systems.

Naturally, Microsoft will still offer users the chance to upgrade to full Windows versions within S Mode - at a price. Moving from Windows 10 Home S to regular Windows Home will be free, but Pro S users who want to switch to the full version of Windows 10 Pro will have to pay $49. There will be Pro S commercial versions for Value, Entry, and Small Tablet models, but not Core+ and Workstations. There has been no official word from Microsoft on these software changes, though these will likely take place on the next partner pricing change announcement hailing form the Redmond company.

Samsung Confirms Reports of ASIC Mining Chip Production at Its Factories

Feb 5th, 2018 13:31 Discuss (22 Comments)

The "reportedly" has been confirmed today, with Samsung representatives confirming, in no uncertain terms, that the company has entered the mining ASIC manufacturing scene. News of this broke out just last week, citing "an unnamed client from China", who placed a gargantuan order for crypto-coin mining ASICs with Samsung. This news was somewhat confirmed later in the week, as Samsung's latest earnings report did mention higher than expected revenue in it semiconductor business due to "Samsung's acquisition of new China clients". At the time, we speculated this could have something to do with the reported ASIC customer hailing from that same country, and it seems we were correct.

HP Announces New Z4 Workstation, VR Products, and Services

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Feb 5th, 2018 13:06 Discuss (0 Comments)

At SOLIDWORKS World, HP today announced it will power its bestselling performance workstation, the HP Z4, with a choice of Intel Xeon or Core X processors and support dual extreme graphics. HP's latest technology was showcased at SOLIDWORKS World, where it also unveiled its low-cost, full-color 3D printers -- highlighting the company's comprehensive end-to-end solutions for product developers.

"The revamped Z4 workstation, along with our latest HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset and new customer-friendly VR solutions and services, will transform the way products across industries are developed," said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, Z Workstations, HP Inc. "Over the past year, HP has launched the world's most powerful workstation, the most powerful detachable PC and the first-ever professional VR backpack. Today's news reflects our focus on continuously raising the bar with a portfolio of workstations and VR capabilities that will enable amazing new experiences and define the future of computing."

Broadcom Makes Final $121 Billion Offer for Qualcomm

Feb 5th, 2018 11:56 Discuss (9 Comments)

Taking an if-you-can't-beat-them-buy-them approach, Broadcom attempted to buy rival chipmaker Qualcomm last year for $105 billion. However, Qualcomm considered that Broadcom undervalued the company and shot down Broadcom's bid in a heartbeat. Fast forward to present day, Broadcom today announced that they've increased their bid to $121 billion. The company also stated that this was their "best and final" offer. In this new deal, Qualcomm stockholders would receive $82 per share which consists of $60 in cash and $22 in Broadcom shares. If the purchase is completed, it would go down as the biggest tech deal in history surpassing Dell's acquisition of EMC in 2015 for $67 billion. But more importantly, Broadcom would have the assets to compete against rivals in the likes of Intel and Samsung. Qualcomm confirmed that they've received Broadcom's offer and will review it with their Board of Directors.

LG Launches Their Latest LG gram 15Z980 Notebooks In the U.S.

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Feb 5th, 2018 10:42 Discuss (2 Comments)

LG Electronics USA today announced availability for the first of its latest premium, high-performance LG gram notebooks, which received high praise earlier this month at CES 2018. The new 15-inch model, designed for those users who want powerful performance with maximum portability, is available now for purchase."LG continues to engineer the most easy-to-carry notebooks on the market today, while setting new industry standards for battery life and durability," said Tim Alessi, head of product marketing at LG Electronics USA. "With the next generation LG gram, U.S. consumers will experience an innovative design that fits a 15.6-inch screen into a remarkably compact body."

Equipped with the latest 8th Intel Core i7 processor and solid state drive (SSD) storage, the LG gram 15Z980 builds on the success of its predecessor and redefines portable computing with improved mobility and durability, as well as an upgraded processor and more versatility. While other compact notebooks achieve lower weight or smaller size by minimizing interior space, the LG gram 15Z980 offers a second SSD drive slot for even more internal storage for large video files.

SK Hynix Ramps Up Enterprise SSDs with Its 72-Layer 512Gb 3D NAND Flash

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Feb 5th, 2018 10:28 Discuss (11 Comments)

SK Hynix Inc. today announced that the Company recently completed developing an enterprise SATA Solid State Drive (or 'eSSD'). With its 72-Layer 512Gb (Gigabits) 3D NAND Flash chips, the Company is paving the way for its full-fledged entrance to the high value-added eSSD market. SK Hynix combined the 72-Layer 512Gb 3D NAND Flash with its in-house firmware and controller to provide the maximum density of 4TB (Terabytes). SK Hynix makes the most of its 72-Layer 512Gb 3D NAND chips to double the biggest density of the SSD of the same size with 256Gb NAND chips.

A single 4TB SSD could contain 200 UHD (Ultra-HD) movies, each of which is generally as large as approximately 20GB (Gigabytes). The new eSSD supports sequential read and write speed of up to 560MB/s (Megabytes per second) and 515MB/s, respectively, and it can perform 98,000 random read IOPS (Input/Output operations per second) and 32,000 random write IOPS. SK Hynix also improved the read latency, which is of the utmost importance in eSSD performance. The Company is sampling the product to server and data center clients in the United States.

Futuremark Releases 3DMark v2.4.4254 Update

Feb 5th, 2018 08:54 Discuss (0 Comments)

Futuremark today released 3DMark v2.4.4254 update (includes the "Time Spy" DirectX 12 benchmark). The latest version forces hardware monitoring information to be sent to Futuremark for validation of scores (and not just a general hardware and drivers probe). It also corrects a rare crash noticed when the system returns unexpected values for video memory amounts. The splash-screen has been restored. The installer is now available in Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Grab the update from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: 3DMark v2.4.4254

G.SKILL Releases World's Fastest DDR4-4700MHz Trident Z RGB Memory Kit

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Feb 5th, 2018 06:21 Discuss (11 Comments)

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is thrilled to announce the world's fastest Trident Z RGB memory kit at an extreme speed of DDR4-4700MHz CL19-19-19-39 1.45V 16GB (2x8GB). Not only is this kit the first retail DDR4 memory kit to reach DDR4-4700MHz, it's also the first RGB-enabled kit to reach this extremely high level of frequency speed. This ultimate memory kit is achieved with highly-screened, high-performance Samsung DDR4 B-die ICs and validated on the MSI Z370I GAMING PRO CARBON AC motherboard and Intel Core i7-8700K processor.

Ever since the first release announcement of the G.SKILL Trident Z RGB series at the end of 2016, DDR4-4266MHz had reigned as the highest frequency speed for an RGB memory kit. Over the past year, the G.SKILL R&D team has been dedicated to break through this technology bottleneck and aimed to provide an even higher speed RGB memory to PC enthusiasts. Today, all the hard work is finally paying off. G.SKILL successfully developed the world's fastest RGB memory kit at a blistering DDR4-4700MHz, while maintaining ultra-low timings at CL19-19-19-39.

Sapphire Launches Pulse Radeon RX Vega 56 Graphics Card

Feb 4th, 2018 23:40 Discuss (37 Comments)

Sapphire over the weekend officially launched its cost-effective custom-design Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics card, the Pulse Radeon Vega 56 (model: 11276-02), which began appearing on European e-tailers late-January. The card combines a custom-design short-length PCB that's roughly the length of AMD's reference R9 Fury board; with a beefy custom-design cooling solution that features two large aluminium fin-stacks, ventilated by a pair of 100 mm double ball-bearing fans.

The card offers out of the box clock speeds of 1208 MHz core, 1512 MHz boost, and 800 MHz (1.60 GHz HBM2 effective) memory, against AMD reference clock speeds of 1138 MHz core and 1474 MHz boost. At its given clock, the memory bandwidth on offer is 409.6 GB/s. The "Vega 10" silicon is configured with 3,584 stream processors, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The card draws power from a pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors, display outputs include three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0. Sapphire intended for this SKU to ideally occupy a close-to-reference price-point, a notch below its Nitro+ series, however in the wake of the crypto-currency wave, market-forces will decide its retail price.

CORSAIR Announces Partnership with German Esports Organization BIG

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Feb 4th, 2018 23:11 Discuss (6 Comments)

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced its title sponsorship with BIG, an esports organization based in Berlin, Germany. BIG has been making waves in the Counter-Strike community ever since its inception in January 2017, and has since proven to be one of the best CS:GO teams in the world, achieving multiple top placements and receiving invites to every recent major tournament. BIG burst onto the scene with a top 8 finish at the PGL Major Krakow, before landing two podium finishes at DreamHack Denver and Esports World Convention late in 2017. CORSAIR will be outfitting BIG with performance gaming keyboards, mice, and mouse pads to continue their triumph both in their home country and across the globe.

"Millions of dedicated gamers worldwide compete to get better every day, yet only a few manage to reach the top to play against the best teams and players in the world," said Daniel Finkler, CEO of BIG. "Ensuring you have the right equipment to compete is essential to keep up with the best. With CORSAIR on our side, we've equipped our team with the fastest performance gaming peripherals to give us the edge, and are proud to represent CORSAIR with our professional esports athletes."

G.SKILL Ripjaws 2666 MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM Review

Review Memory

So you've got a nice shiny mITX X299 board and need some nice new DIMMs? Look no further! I've got a kit here with a base spec of 2666 MHz (that means no XMP needed), making it the perfect match for your new i9 CPU's default speeds, or with a CPU overclock (since memory overclocking affects CPU overclocking at times on this platform).

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Backblaze Releases Hard Drive Stats for 2017, HGST Most Reliable

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Feb 2nd, 2018 14:40 Discuss (68 Comments)

Overview
At the end of 2017 we had 93,240 spinning hard drives. Of that number, there were 1,935 boot drives and 91,305 data drives. This post looks at the hard drive statistics of the data drives we monitor. We'll review the stats for Q4 2017, all of 2017, and the lifetime statistics for all of the drives Backblaze has used in our cloud storage data centers since we started keeping track.

Hard Drive Reliability Statistics for Q4 2017
At the end of Q4 2017 Backblaze was monitoring 91,305 hard drives used to store data. For our evaluation we remove from consideration those drives which were used for testing purposes and those drive models for which we did not have at least 45 drives (read why after the chart). This leaves us with 91,243 hard drives. The table below is for the period of Q4 2017.

NDRC, Samsung to Sign MOU That Could Moderate DRAM Prices, Increase Production

Feb 2nd, 2018 14:33 Discuss (11 Comments)

PC hardware enthusiasts all over (but particularly in our own forums) have been adamant in how this is one of the worst times to be building a new system. And it's true; the DIY market is a mess right now, as our own btarunr mentioned in his latest editorial; so much so, that in a full reversal of years and years of experience, users might now actually be better served in the $/performance department by buying their systems from boutique retailers, than by acquiring all of the parts separately. It's a mad, mad world out there, for a multitude of reasons; but one such reason is DRAM pricing. And fortunately, it seems that China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is on the verge of signing a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Samsung that might help the DRAM market as a whole.

Ubisoft Gets Serious On Far Cry 5 Season Pass: Zombies, Forests and Mars

Feb 2nd, 2018 14:06 Discuss (34 Comments)

Ubisoft has seemingly taken the "no holds barred" approach to the Season Pass and DLC packages for its upcoming Far Cry 5 game. Building upon one of its most well recognized franchises, Ubisoft has apparently (if allegedly, for now; we'll see when the actual content drops) for a CD Projekt Red-esque approach to DLC. Whereas before DLC options were relatively mundane and wouldn't set anyone's world on fire (except for Far Cry 3's expansion Blood Dragon), the company today announced that the Season Pass for Far Cry 5 will include three distinct environments for players to do battle in, alongside access to a digital copy of Far Cry 3 Classic Edition (the one with Vaas and the definition of insanity, yes).

Swiftech Releases Brand-New Apogee SKF Flagship Waterblock

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Feb 2nd, 2018 13:52 Discuss (10 Comments)

Rouchon Industries Inc., dba Swiftech, today announced the release of their new Apogee SKF flagship waterblock. With overwhelming success from our Limited Edition Apogee SKF "Heirloom Series" which truly allowed customers to "Make it personal", we are now extremely proud to introduce the Apogee SKF - which follows in the footsteps of the award winning high performance Apogee XL2 featuring customization options that allows users to go beyond their limits. This new technology is at least one generation ahead of the competition and will be the foundation of Swiftech's next generation CPU waterblocks.

The Apogee SKF also features an entirely new cooling engine made of 125 micron (less than 5 thousandths of an inch!) thick slotted fins. The center piece is also customizable/replaceable. Out of the box, the Apogee SKF is compatible with all current and upcoming CPU's: From Intel's LGA 115x, 2011, 2011-v3 and 2066, to AMD's legacy AM2/3, AM4 and upcoming SP3/TR4.

Square Enix Puts Final Fantasy XV Up for Pre-order and Releases Benchmark Tool

Feb 2nd, 2018 12:20 Discuss (13 Comments)

Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition will be released on March 6, but hardcore fans can pre-order the game now through Steam, Origin, or the Microsoft Store. The $49.99 price tag remains the same independent of the place of purchase. However, the preorder bonus differs hugely. Consumers who pre-order through Steam will receive the "FFXV Fashion Collection" which contains a collection of four t-shirts with different buffs for Noctis to wear. The buffs include strength enhancement, HP recovery rate acceleration, critical hit rate boost, and maximum HP increase. Microsoft Store preorders, on the other hand, come with a "FFXV Powerup pack" that provides players with a sleek Dodanuki sword which reduces enemy defense with each slash, 10 phoenix downs, and 10 elixirs. Origin seems to draw the short straw this time around. The Origin preorder bonus is the "FFXV Decal Selection" comprised of different decals to modify the cosmetics of the Regalia car.

Square Enix has graciously released a benchmark application to help future Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition players configure the game to get the best performance out of their systems. The zip file weighs around 3.37 GB and is available for download right here at TechPowerUp, or, if you don't like our servers for some unfathomable reason... from the developer's website. The benchmark only runs on 64-bit versions of Windows and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6 to be present on the system. Users also need to have a graphics card that supports DirectX 11 and a monitor with a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720. Unfortunately, NVIDIA SLI and AMD Crossfire configurations are not supported at this time. The application lets users choose between the Lite, Standard, and High quality presets and resolutions from 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160. The entire run takes around 6 minutes and 30 seconds. The score and performance evaluation are provided at the end of the run.

Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia Releases on April 19

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Feb 2nd, 2018 10:39 Discuss (10 Comments)

Throughout the sceptred isle of Britain the kings of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales plot their paths to dominance against each other, and the Viking horde. On 19th April there will be war, when A Total War Saga: THRONES OF BRITANNIA releases worldwide.

A Total War Saga: THRONES OF BRITANNIA will be available as a digital download or as a Limited Edition boxed product available in some territories. The Limited Edition comes in an embossed Steelbook inspired by ornately decorated Anglo Saxon helmets of the period, such as the famously reconstructed Sutton Hoo. The Limited Edition also includes a double-sided poster featuring a detailed campaign map and a set of collectible art cards celebrating five of the most prominent in-game faction leaders.

Skype Now Available as a Snap for Linux Users

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Feb 2nd, 2018 10:25 Discuss (8 Comments)

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, announces today that Skype is now available as a snap, the universal Linux app packaging format. Available as of today, the release means that Skype can deliver its communication service to a wider range of Linux users, including millions on Ubuntu. Skype is used by millions of users globally to make free video and voice calls, send files, video and instant messages and to share both special occasions and everyday moments with the people who matter most.

Skype has turned to snaps to ensure its users on Linux, are automatically delivered to its latest version upon release. And with snaps' roll-back feature, whereby applications can revert back to the previous working version in the event of a bug, Skype's developers can ensure a seamless user experience. The Skype snap will work natively on all Linux distributions that support snaps, including Linux Mint, Manjaro, Debian, Arch Linux, OpenSUSE, Solus, and Ubuntu. This Skype desktop application is compatible across the wide range of Linux platforms, opening it up to an increased range of devices and to millions of users.

ZOTAC ZBOX Pico PI225 Wins The Coveted 2018 iF Design Award

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Feb 2nd, 2018 10:17 Discuss (1 Comment)

ZOTAC Technology, a Hong Kong based and a global manufacturer of innovation, is excited to announce that the world's smallest Mini PC, the ZBOX pico PI225,was a winner of the prestigious 2018 iF Design Awards in the Product Computer category. Following winning several world-renowned awards for design and innovation, including the major European Hardware Awards 2017 and Computex d&i Awards. In 2016 and 2017, the recognition of ZBOX pico PI225 with iF Design Awards is a key reaffirmation that ZOTAC is a pioneer not only in engineering but also design expertise.

The ZBOX pico PI225 was recognized by the iF International Forum Design GmbH among 6,400 entries from 54 countries and won over the jury, made up of independent experts from all over the world, with its world ranking pico size and flexible and powerful desktop performance. Just a bit taller than a typical 2.5-inch SSD drive, the super-compact mini pc powered by an Intel Apollo Lake dual-core processor provides a symphony of silent performance, capitalizing on a completely fanless design. Encouraged by the recognition of the company's design expertise, ZOTAC will remain dedicated to rigorous standards and the relentless pursuit of excellence in design and innovation.

Teamgroup "T-Force Xtreem", "T-Force Nighthawk RGB" Win iF Design Awards

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Feb 2nd, 2018 09:33 Discuss (6 Comments)

With extremely excellent and charming design, TEAMGROUP T-FORCE XTREEM and T-FORCE NIGHTHAWK RGB Gaming Modules won iF Design Award 2018! Not only increased the winning records of these two products but also fully demonstrated the design capabilities in addition to quality and performance.

The German iF Design Award, which is like the Academy Award of the Design Industry, is an internationally renowned product design award founded in 1953. It is also one of the world's top design quality indicators. In 2018, iF Awards included 63 leading international jury members, with 6,402 entries from 54 countries. T-FORCE XTREEM and T-FORCE NIGHTHAWK RGB stood out from the best of the best. This outstanding result proves that T-FORCE Gaming Memory products have not only top performance but also the stunning strength to earn the spotlight on the global stage of design.

Ozone Gaming Presents The New Ground Level Pro Series

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Feb 2nd, 2018 09:27 Discuss (0 Comments)

The Ground Level Pro series with reinforced edges becomes the perfect mat series for any Gamer regardless of its location or play style. The new mousepad series features anti-fray stitched edges, increasing their strength and durability. Adding an antislip rubber base and a smooth heat-treated surface we get a flawless performance regardless the game you play.

Cutting edge design
Ground Level Pro Series comes in 2 different mousepad, with the same specifications but different sizes.

Microsoft Cloud Growth Fuels Second quarter Results

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Feb 2nd, 2018 04:01 Discuss (0 Comments)

Microsoft Corp. today announced the following results for the quarter ended December 31, 2017:

Revenue was $28.9 billion and increased 12%
Operating income was $8.7 billion and increased 10%
GAAP net loss was $(6.3) billion and non-GAAP net income was $7.5 billion
GAAP diluted loss per share was $(0.82) and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.96
GAAP results include a $13.8 billion net charge related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)

"This quarter's results speak to the differentiated value we are delivering to customers across our productivity solutions and as the hybrid cloud provider of choice," said Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft. "Our investments in IoT, data, and AI services across cloud and the edge position us to further accelerate growth."

AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.1 Beta

Feb 2nd, 2018 03:53 Discuss (0 Comments)

AMD today released its latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition. Version 18.2.1 Beta adds optimization for "Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age." It also corrects a bug with AMD FreeSync which caused it to switch between minimum and maximum refresh-rate range, causing a stutter. FreeSync compatibility with Samsung CF791 displays, was also improved. It also corrects a game launch issue with "Sid Meier's Civilization V" on hybrid graphics systems. Radeon Chill compatibility is improved with games that use the Vulkan API (such as "Doom" and "Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus." Texture and artifact glitches were corrected in games such as "NFS: Payback" and "Hyperdimension Neptunia."

DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.2.1

ASUS MAXIMUS IX CODE Review

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The ASUS MAXIMUS IX CODE features everything you might want on a premium board. However, built around the Intel Z270 chipset, it must answer a question: are four cores enough in 2018?

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Apple Reports First Quarter Results

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Feb 1st, 2018 22:13 Discuss (1 Comment)

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2018 first quarter ended December 30, 2017. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $88.3 billion, an increase of 13 percent from the year-ago quarter and an all-time record, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $3.89, up 16 percent, also an all-time record. International sales accounted for 65 percent of the quarter's revenue.

"We're thrilled to report the biggest quarter in Apple's history, with broad-based growth that included the highest revenue ever from a new iPhone lineup. iPhone X surpassed our expectations and has been our top-selling iPhone every week since it shipped in November," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We've also achieved a significant milestone with our active installed base of devices reaching 1.3 billion in January. That's an increase of 30 percent in just two years, which is a testament to the popularity of our products and the loyalty and satisfaction of our customers."

"Thanks to great operational and business performance, we achieved all-time record profitability during the quarter, with EPS up 16 percent," said Luca Maestri, Apple's CFO. "Cash flow from operations was very strong at $28.3 billion, and we returned $14.5 billion to investors through our capital return program."

Synology Launches Their 16-bay RackStation RS2818RP+ NAS

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Feb 1st, 2018 17:52 Discuss (1 Comment)

Synology Inc. today launched RackStation RS2818RP+, a 3U 16-bay NAS providing large storage capacity with affordable total cost of ownership (TCO) for small and medium-sized businesses. RS2818RP+ is Synology's first 3U RackStation NAS in the Plus Series product line, supporting up to 16 drive bays with up to 192TB raw capacity. The storage capacity can be further expanded up to 336TB when connecting to one RX1217(RP), providing on-the-fly volume expansion.

"One of the common challenges for modern small and medium-sized businesses is finding a storage solution that can store large amounts of data while having the flexibility to scale when business grows," said Jason Fan, Product Manager at Synology Inc. "RS2818RP+ offers large storage capacity with affordable TCO. It is ideal to serve as a centralized backup target, a file server or a hub-and-spoke backup target for distributed businesses."

Red Dead Redemption 2 Delayed, Will Hit Platforms October 26th 2018

Feb 1st, 2018 14:24 Discuss (23 Comments)

Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption 2 has just seen an announced delay on its launch window. Previously slated for a Spring 2018 release, the sequel to Rockstar's famed, highly successful western Red Dead Redemption thus sees a push back from its previously planned calendar release. Gamers who expected to pick up a game that might tide them over through the summer now see their options reduced - tangibly so.

In a blog post this morning, Rockstar attributed the decision towards a "more polish is needed" scenario, which really isn't all that unexpected, considering the scale the game is expected to have. Release dates were something sacred, back in the days; not so much nowadays, as the general consensus seems to be that it's better late and working, than now and broken. To somewhat mend users' broken hearts, Rockstar also released some screenshots alongside the announcement, as if taunting players with that which they now know will take them longer to experience.

Windows 10 Finally Surpasses Windows 7 in Global Market Share - StatCounter

Feb 1st, 2018 14:14 Discuss (62 Comments)

According to web analytics company StatCounter, January 2018 was the year of the OS world's "flippening" - where Windows 10 finally surpassed the old, trusty Windows 7 in users' systems. According to the firm, Windows 10 in January was present in 42.78% of the worldwide desktop market share, just a hair above Windows 7's 41.86%. Windows 8.1 stands as the ugly duckling, with only 8.72 percent of the market still holding on to that OS.

Now, granted, one analytics company does not a trend make; there are a myriad of factors that might explain discrepancies between different companies' estimates. however, the fact remains that this is the first time Windows 10 is reported to have surpassed Windows 7 in terms of pure number of live systems. Also to take into account is that even in analytics firms that don't display these results, Windows 10 is clearly gaining traction against Windows 7 - one needs only look at the trendlines for both OSes on NetMarketShare, for instance, to see that there's a clear, positive momentum for WIndows 10 when compared to Windows 7. It's only a matter of time until all firms report the same, really. Still, this news comes years later than what Microsoft had hoped for with Windows 10; adoption of the OS hasn't been quite as predicted by the company. Still, Microsoft's ongoing work on the software, clear roadmap and support efforts seem to be paying off.

Akitio Presents Their All-New Thunder3 RAID Station

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Feb 1st, 2018 12:28 Discuss (2 Comments)

Akitio, creators of premium, high quality, external storage solutions, today announced an important expansion of their storage product offerings - to integrate hard drives into select Akitio storage enclosures. The expansion creates a new line of products for Akitio as previously the company sold only unpopulated enclosures. The first Akitio enclosure that will be available with drives will be the new Akitio Thunder3 RAID Station and it will be populated with two Seagate 2TB Iron Wolf Pro drives. Akitio also plans to offer higher capacity drives and also incorporate them into other Akitio enclosures.

This new product expansion makes Akitio products even more flexible than they already were by offering consumers and businesses the option of purchasing either a fully populated, plug and play storage solution or an empty enclosure and installing their own drives.

Kensington Launches the SD4700P Universal USB-C and USB 3.0 Docking Station

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Feb 1st, 2018 12:18 Discuss (5 Comments)

Kensington understands that no business wants to be tied to USB 3.0 technology as it is being replaced by faster and better protocols, while at the same time recognizing that it isn't practical for an organization to incur the expense and loss of productivity to replace every legacy device with one that supports USB-C. So we are pleased to announce the release of the SD4700P Universal USB-C and USB 3.0 Docking Station (K38240, SRP $219.99), which gives organizations full support for both USB-C and USB 3.0 devices from laptops using both Windows and macOS.

"At Kensington, we value the trust that consumers and organizations have placed in us since we introduced the first Universal Docking Station. As technologies improve, we are committed to providing our customers with new solutions that leverage the latest enhancements to boost productivity and performance," says Fred Wu, Global Product Manager Kensington. "The Universal USB-C and USB 3.0 Docking Station is a great example of that because it protects an organization's investment in existing technology by supporting USB 3.0, while offering complete access to the latest USB-C technology."

D-Link Launches New Industrial-Grade DIS-100G and DIS-200G Series Switches

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Feb 1st, 2018 11:57 Discuss (1 Comment)

D-Link today launched the DIS-100G Series Industrial Unmanaged Ethernet Switches and DIS-200G Series Layer 2 Gigabit Industrial Smart Managed Ethernet Switches. The DIS-100G and DIS-200G are ideal product portfolios that provide an affordable, reliable, and powerful Ethernet solution. With a wide range of operating temperatures, a fanless design, and an IP30-rated metal enclosure, the switches were designed to be robust and withstand harsh environments. Dual power input ensures consistent power and operation, and alarm relay support allows for constant power supply monitoring and diagnostics. Their reliability and compliance with various industrial standards make the switches ideal for applications in city surveillance, ITS, and factory automation.

The compact DIS-100G Series Unmanaged Ethernet Switches include the DIS-100G-5W, DIS-100G-5SW, and PoE-ready DIS-100G-5PSW. The DIS-100G interfaces are equipped with 10/100/1000BASE-T ports, SFP port, and PoE to provide a wide selection of port densities and bandwidths. Installation is flexible, as the switches can be mounted on a DIN rail or on a wall using a wall plate. Plug-and-Play without setup and easy installation lower operation expenses.

CI Games Silently Removes Denuvo 4.0 from Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3

Feb 1st, 2018 11:44 Discuss (15 Comments)

CI Games finally released the long-awaited multiplayer update for Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 last week. Although not mentioned publicly in the patch notes, the Polish publisher also eliminated the Denuvo protection from the game. For those readers who don't keep up with the Warez scene, Russian cracker BALDMAN cracked Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 one month after its release. Many would agree that there wasn't any point in keeping the anti-tamper tech in the game. But now, with it gone completely, DSOGaming re-tested the game to see whether there were any performance gains without Denuvo.

To make a long story short, the DSOGaming team noticed a significant reduction in the game's loading time. However, they weren't completely certain if the reduction was a product of the removal of Denuvo or game optimizations done by the developer. The previous performance issues still haunted the game, and there were zero improvement in graphics performance. This was expected to a certain degree taking into account that Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 is a GPU intensive title after all. It might be a different story with games like Watch_Dogs 2 or Assassin's Creed Origins, since they are more demanding on the processor. Now, we just have to wait until Ubisoft removes Denuvo from them.

CORSAIR Launches New T2 ROAD WARRIOR Gaming Chair

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Feb 1st, 2018 09:39 Discuss (15 Comments)

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the launch of the new CORSAIR T2 ROAD WARRIOR gaming chair, as well a new version of the CORSAIR T1 RACE gaming chair, updated for 2018. Created for comfort, no matter how long you play, the T2 ROAD WARRIOR boasts a wide seat, tall back, and deep cushion that supports you through the most demanding gaming sessions.

Finished in premium perforated PU leather with two-layer embedded color accents, T2 ROAD WARRIOR is available in five different colors to match any setup, while rollerblade-style wheels ensure smooth movement on most floors, including carpet. Built around a solid steel skeleton and sturdy cast aluminum chair base, adjustable in eight different ways, and assembled in minutes, the T2 ROAD WARRIOR is a gaming chair for the long haul.

ARCTIC Introduces the Freezer 33 eSports ONE Color Options

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Feb 1st, 2018 08:35 Discuss (5 Comments)

ARCTIC adds a new model to its successful Freezer 33 series: the Freezer 33 eSports ONE. This powerful CPU cooler impresses with its high cooling capacity, the simple mounting system, and a new look with colourful BioniX fans. The cooler's offset heat pipes distribute the heat ideally into the heat sink fins. The special thermal coating of the aluminium fins leads to an optimised heat dissipation and in combination with the offset heat pipes an improved cooling performance.

The BioniX F120 gaming fan distinguishes itself through a very quiet operation, an optimal airflow, and an extended life span. PWM Sharing Technology regulates the fan speed in a wide speed range from 200 to 1,800 rpm. In sum, the Freezer 33 eSports ONE is a quiet tower CPU cooler for high demands that gives top notch performance up to 200 W TDP, it is compatible with Intel and AMD sockets and available in four colour options.

Samsung Electronics Announces Fourth Quarter and FY 2017 Results

Feb 1st, 2018 03:21 Discuss (8 Comments)

One of the industry's giants is having a strong showing, with a grand total of $64.17 billion in revenue and $14 billion in profits for Q4 2017. These results were buoyed by earnings increases across almost all of Samsung's sectors: the Consumer Electronics, Device Solutions, and Display Panel sectors registered strong growth. The only outlier was IT & Mobile Communications, where the company fell short for the second consecutive quarter (likely has something to do with splash damage from Samsung's still too close for comfort, exploding failures).

Samsung is expecting stable NAND demand alongside increased DRAM demand for datacenters. Samsung is citing "strong market conditions" for its semiconductor revenue (particularly considering DRAM pricing and volume), and says that what would be, under normal circumstances, a slow quarter due to low seasonality of its semiconductor business was somewhat compensated by Samsung's acquisition of new China clients (I wonder if this has anything to do with mining ASICs...) There's also no mention of Samsung's entry into the OLED TV market, with the company instead choosing to focus on its Quantum Dot technology, higher resolution panels, and higher diagonals as the method of choice to attract new buyers. The full press release follows.

AAEON's FWS-2360 is The Network Appliance You've Been Waiting For

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Feb 1st, 2018 03:00 Discuss (0 Comments)

AAEON, an ASUS company and a leading developer of network solutions, releases the FWS-2360, a desktop network security appliance with the added assurance of Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) and the speed and efficiency of fiber cable ports. Compact and highly extendable, the ready-to-go white box solution is tailor made for SOHO businesses, domestic networks, and vCPE and edge applications.

In addition to its pair of fiber/copper SFP GbE ports are four conventional GbE ports and two Mini-card slots to accommodate WiFi and 4G LTE expansion. The system's inbuilt bypass function also ensures that network traffic will continue to flow in the event of software complications or loss of power. Further expansion capabilities are provided by an mSATA socket and a SATA III Port with a 2.5" HDD Bay, giving customers a choice of mass storage possibilities.

Plextor Intros M8V Series Value SATA SSDs