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Friday, March 31st 2023
XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro Review
The XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro is both a brighter and smarter successor to the MoGo Pro+ while keeping a very similar shape and size. With its upgraded speakers and newer Android TV version, it also aims to provide a better viewing experience while offering a modern USB-C interface as a universal power interface.
Quick Look: ThieAudio Ghost Open-Back Dynamic Driver Headphones
ThieAudio steps back into the headphones game with its first-ever dynamic driver open-back set. The new ThieAudio Ghost uses a novel 40 mm driver with a design built around comfort and aims to be the best tuned headphones from the brand while also being easy on your wallet.
Cyberpunk 2077 Experiences Sales Boost, CD Projekt Rakes in Almost $222 Million in Revenue
CD Projekt has revealed that 2022 was its second-best year in terms of financial results - it cites an uptick in sales of action role-playing shooter Cyberpunk 2077 as the main reason behind the nice boost to its earnings - around $222 million in revenue, leading to about $80 million in net profit. The Cyberpunk intellectual property has expanded beyond the scope of the video games format and onto the small screen - evidently a combination of the Netflix anime series adaptation and continued efforts into polishing and expanding the game has spread a positive word of mouth. The company states: "In 2022 CD PROJEKT RED carried out intensive work on Cyberpunk 2077, which resulted in successive updates and the next-gen console edition of the game. An important event was the well-received Netflix premiere of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. It attracted many new players to the game, and convinced many others to revisit Night City."
Adam Kiciński, CEO of CD PROJEKT was buoyed by these results and set expectations for continuations in both fields in the future: "The popularity of the series and the positive reception of the update, released a week before the premiere, had a notable effect on Cyberpunk sales and general sentiment around the game, as evidenced by gamers' reviews. This is a clear sign that deeper involvement in our franchises and expanding their reach is the right way to go. Another important event supporting the Cyberpunk franchise will be the release of Phantom Liberty - a large expansion scheduled for this year."
Adam Kiciński, CEO of CD PROJEKT was buoyed by these results and set expectations for continuations in both fields in the future: "The popularity of the series and the positive reception of the update, released a week before the premiere, had a notable effect on Cyberpunk sales and general sentiment around the game, as evidenced by gamers' reviews. This is a clear sign that deeper involvement in our franchises and expanding their reach is the right way to go. Another important event supporting the Cyberpunk franchise will be the release of Phantom Liberty - a large expansion scheduled for this year."
CHIPS Act Requirements Untenable According to Silicon Manufacturers in South Korea and Taiwan
Silicon manufacturers in South Korea and Taiwan have questioned the requirements outlined in the United States Chips and Science Act - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke on Thursday March 30, and said that there was a growing concern within companies Samsung Electronics Corporation and SK Hynix Inc. with regard to criteria for new U.S. semiconductor subsidies. Excess profit sharing is one area of contention, as the U.S. government will expect dividends to be paid under special conditions. The companies are also reluctant to meet the requirements of submitting detailed information about fab capacity and yield estimates. Leaders are pointing to the potential sensitive nature of exposing too much confidential corporate strategy to bodies in the USA, and sources within Samsung and SK Hynix are worried that budgetary planning information will be revealed in minute detail.
The CHIPS Act grants a $52 billion pool of research and manufacturing funds, and subsidies would be sourced from it. SK Hynix's parent group is considering an application in order to gain access to funding via the CHIPS Act, the SK Group has formed plans to invest $15 billion of its own money into the U.S. chip manufacturing sector - a North American location for an advanced chip packaging plant is being decided upon. Samsung has invested a substantial $25 billion into its Texas operation, so is eligible to receive U.S. government subsidies as well.
The CHIPS Act grants a $52 billion pool of research and manufacturing funds, and subsidies would be sourced from it. SK Hynix's parent group is considering an application in order to gain access to funding via the CHIPS Act, the SK Group has formed plans to invest $15 billion of its own money into the U.S. chip manufacturing sector - a North American location for an advanced chip packaging plant is being decided upon. Samsung has invested a substantial $25 billion into its Texas operation, so is eligible to receive U.S. government subsidies as well.
Biostar Launches the A620MP-E Pro AMD A620 Chipset Based Motherboard
Biostar also announced a single AMD A620 chipset based motherboard today in the shape of the A620MP-E Pro, which is yet another microATX based board. Here we're looking at four DDR5 DIMM slots, a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 4.0 x1 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, a single PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe slot and even a E Key M.2 slot for WiFi cards, which is actually something of a step up from the competition. Internal connectivity consists of four SATA 6 Gbps ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-C header and one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A header.
The rear I/O is home to DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps ports, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet jack powered by Realtek, three audio jacks, WiFi antenna connectors and a BIOS update button. Sadly the audio side is once again utilising the old Realtek ALC897 codec. Biostar has kitted out the VRM's with a heatsink, even though it's a very minimal heatsink. Overall Biostar has done a much more impressive job than MSI here, despite being considered a more budget oriented brand.
The rear I/O is home to DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps ports, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet jack powered by Realtek, three audio jacks, WiFi antenna connectors and a BIOS update button. Sadly the audio side is once again utilising the old Realtek ALC897 codec. Biostar has kitted out the VRM's with a heatsink, even though it's a very minimal heatsink. Overall Biostar has done a much more impressive job than MSI here, despite being considered a more budget oriented brand.
MSI Reveals a Single AMD A620 Chipset Based Motherboard
Unlike its competitors, MSI has only revealed a single AMD A620 chipset based motherboard today and it's extra underwhelming, even though none of the boards are exactly what we'd call appealing. The Pro A620M-E only sports a pair of DDR5 DIMM slots and it has a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, as well as a single PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe slot. Internal connectivity is equally sparse, with a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps header and four SATA 6 Gbps ports.
Around the back you'll find an HDMI 2.1 port, a VGA port, two PS/2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and three audio jacks behind the ancient Realtek ALC897 audio codec. MSI appears to have gone for potentially slightly better power regulation than its competitors, but it's hard to tell from just looking at the board, but you don't get a VRM heatsink here. The chipset heatsink also looks like something from 20 years ago, but hopefully the AMD A620 chipset doesn't run too hot. This should hopefully be a very affordable board, but judging by ASUS' pricing for its A620, it might not be under $100.
Around the back you'll find an HDMI 2.1 port, a VGA port, two PS/2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and three audio jacks behind the ancient Realtek ALC897 audio codec. MSI appears to have gone for potentially slightly better power regulation than its competitors, but it's hard to tell from just looking at the board, but you don't get a VRM heatsink here. The chipset heatsink also looks like something from 20 years ago, but hopefully the AMD A620 chipset doesn't run too hot. This should hopefully be a very affordable board, but judging by ASUS' pricing for its A620, it might not be under $100.
ASUS Unveils Three AMD A620 Chipset Based Motherboards
It appears that the microATX form factor is the way to go when it comes to AMD A620 chipset based motherboards and ASUS has no less than three new models, although one is technically with or without WiFi. The new models are the TUF Gaming A620M-Plus, the TUF Gaming A620M-Plus WiFi and the Prime A620M-A. All three boards sport six layer PCBs with what appears to be fairly basic power regulation, although ASUS doesn't mention how many phases either model has on its product pages. All boards feature a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, as well as two M.2 NVMe slots that support PCIe 4.0 x4 based drives. All models also have four DDR5 DIMM slots, four SATA 6 Gbps ports and front panel connectors for a 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port and two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports.
Around the back is where things differ a bit, as the TUF boards have two DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI port, as well as two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port courtesy of a Realtek chip, as well a BIOS FlashBack button. The Prime board on the other hand replaces one DisplayPort output with a VGA connector for some reason and gets to make do with Gigabit Ethernet. The connectivity options aren't what we'd call impressive, but appears to be par for course compared to ASUS' competitors' products. Pricing appear to be in the range of €139-169.
Around the back is where things differ a bit, as the TUF boards have two DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI port, as well as two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port courtesy of a Realtek chip, as well a BIOS FlashBack button. The Prime board on the other hand replaces one DisplayPort output with a VGA connector for some reason and gets to make do with Gigabit Ethernet. The connectivity options aren't what we'd call impressive, but appears to be par for course compared to ASUS' competitors' products. Pricing appear to be in the range of €139-169.
Sony PlayStation VR2 Suffers First Month Low Unit Sales, Price Cut Predicted
Industry analysts have been busy with reviews of the PlayStation VR2 headset's launch sales figures, and have concluded that the numbers are a big disappointment according to findings published in a Bloomberg article. The research firm IDC is predicting that the PS VR2 is unlikely to break above 270,000 unit sales - timed from its launch this year on February 22 to the end of March. This is a substantial shortfall when lined up against the expected sales figures - Sony was reported to have an estimate of 2 million units sold going into the next financial year, but it was cutback to 1.5 million in the recent past. Francisco Jeronimo, IDC's Vice President of data and analytics cites a number of factors for the sluggish start: "Consumers around the world are facing rising costs of living, rising interest rates and rising layoffs - VR headsets are not top of mind for most consumers under the current economic climate."
Gamers were surprised by the higher than expected pricing for the PlayStation VR2 headset - at an MSRP of $550 it exceeds the asking price of the PlayStation 5 - and the home console is a necessary component in hosting the VR2's functionality. The virtual reality device has been a critical darling, although reviewers have been quick to question the price tag. It has been praised for an impressive specification and feature set, which includes dual 2,000 x 2,040 OLED displays, class leading eye-tracking tech and innovative Move wand controllers. The analysts share similar views about the high MSRP - Jeronimo predicts that Sony will need to take drastic action in order to right its sales ship: "I suspect a price cut on the PS VR2 will be needed to avoid a complete disaster of their new product." A price cut would perhaps appeal to a more mainstream buyer, coupled with the PlayStation VR2 being part of an ultra familiar gaming brand, but VR headset manufacturers as a whole are experiencing a slowdown in sales. Gamers were slow to adopt the first iteration of Sony's virtual headset, and that pattern appears to be repeating for the new model.
Gamers were surprised by the higher than expected pricing for the PlayStation VR2 headset - at an MSRP of $550 it exceeds the asking price of the PlayStation 5 - and the home console is a necessary component in hosting the VR2's functionality. The virtual reality device has been a critical darling, although reviewers have been quick to question the price tag. It has been praised for an impressive specification and feature set, which includes dual 2,000 x 2,040 OLED displays, class leading eye-tracking tech and innovative Move wand controllers. The analysts share similar views about the high MSRP - Jeronimo predicts that Sony will need to take drastic action in order to right its sales ship: "I suspect a price cut on the PS VR2 will be needed to avoid a complete disaster of their new product." A price cut would perhaps appeal to a more mainstream buyer, coupled with the PlayStation VR2 being part of an ultra familiar gaming brand, but VR headset manufacturers as a whole are experiencing a slowdown in sales. Gamers were slow to adopt the first iteration of Sony's virtual headset, and that pattern appears to be repeating for the new model.
Path of Exile: Crucible Expansion to Debut on PC in Early April, Official Trailer and Content Reveal Videos Out Now
In Path of Exile: Crucible, you'll learn about the ancient titans who once shaped the primordial surface of Wraeclast. If you're powerful enough, you will earn the ability to forge their power onto your weapons. Our April expansion introduces the Crucible challenge league, nine new Vaal Skills, Atlas Gateways, over ten new Unique Items and improvements to Breach, Abyss, Passive Tree Masteries, the Saboteur, the Pathfinder, Ruthless and much more!
In Path of Exile: Crucible, you'll learn about an ancient race of titans who once shaped the primordial surface of Wraeclast. In this league, you will earn the ability to forge their power onto your weapons.
In Path of Exile: Crucible, you'll learn about an ancient race of titans who once shaped the primordial surface of Wraeclast. In this league, you will earn the ability to forge their power onto your weapons.
NVIDIA Ramps Up Battle Against Makers of Unlicensed GeForce Cards
NVIDIA is stepping up to manufacturers of counterfeit graphics card in China according to an article published by MyDrivers - the hardware giant is partnering up with a number of the nation's major e-commerce companies in order to eliminate inventories of bogus GPUs. It is claimed that these online retail platforms, including JD.com and Douyin, are partway into removing a swathe of dodgy stock from their listings. NVIDIA is seeking to disassociate itself from the pool of unlicensed hardware and the brands responsible for flooding the domestic and foreign markets with so-called fake graphics cards. The company is reputed to be puzzled about the murky origins of this bootlegging of their patented designs.
The market became saturated with fake hardware during the Ethereum mining boom - little known cottage companies such as 51RSIC, Corn, Bingying and JieShuoMllse were pushing rebadged cheap OEM cards to domestic e-tail sites. The knock-off GPUs also crept outside of that sector, and import listings started to appear on international platforms including Ebay, AliExpress, Amazon and Newegg. NVIDIA is also fighting to stop the sale of refurbished cards - these are very likely to have been utilized in intensive cryptocurrency mining activities. A flood of these hit the market following an extreme downturn in crypto mining efforts, and many enthusiast communities have warned against acquiring pre-owned cards due to the high risk of component failure.
The market became saturated with fake hardware during the Ethereum mining boom - little known cottage companies such as 51RSIC, Corn, Bingying and JieShuoMllse were pushing rebadged cheap OEM cards to domestic e-tail sites. The knock-off GPUs also crept outside of that sector, and import listings started to appear on international platforms including Ebay, AliExpress, Amazon and Newegg. NVIDIA is also fighting to stop the sale of refurbished cards - these are very likely to have been utilized in intensive cryptocurrency mining activities. A flood of these hit the market following an extreme downturn in crypto mining efforts, and many enthusiast communities have warned against acquiring pre-owned cards due to the high risk of component failure.
Compute and Storage Cloud Infrastructure Spending Stays Strong as Macroeconomic Headwinds Strengthen in the Fourth Quarter of 2022, According to IDC
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Enterprise Infrastructure Tracker: Buyer and Cloud Deployment, spending on compute and storage infrastructure products for cloud deployments, including dedicated and shared IT environments, increased 16.3% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2022 (4Q22) to $24.1 billion. Spending on cloud infrastructure continues to outgrow the non-cloud segment although the latter had strong growth in 4Q22 as well, increasing 9.4% year over year to $18.7 billion. For the full year, cloud infrastructure grew 19.4% to $87.7 billion, while non-cloud grew 13.6% to $66.7 billion. The market continues to benefit from high demand, large backlogs, rising prices, and an improving infrastructure supply chain.
ASRock Launches its AMD A620 Chipset Motherboards
Leading global motherboard manufacturer ASRock proudly announces its new series of AMD A620 motherboards. The latest AMD A620 platform aims at a more budget-friendly market while still offering a wide variety of features, such as DDR5 memory support, multiple M.2 slots for NVMe storage devices, and WiFi 6E for daily tasks as well as gaming.
To maximize the affordability of the AMD A620 platform, ASRock offers four models, including both 4 and 2 DIMMs motherboard layout options. If 4 DDR5 memory is a must for your next build, the A620M Pro RS will definitely be the number one choice. It offers a luxurious amount of USBs including Type-C for both front and rear panels, 3 M.2 Key-M onboard and 2 of which support PCIe Gen 4 x4 to give multiple storage options. With a 6-layer PCB and Dr.MOS for Vcore design, A620M Pro RS can fully support the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 Series Processors. A620M Pro RS also comes with a WiFi 6E variant the A620M Pro RS WiFi, an all-rounder choice for wireless environments.
To maximize the affordability of the AMD A620 platform, ASRock offers four models, including both 4 and 2 DIMMs motherboard layout options. If 4 DDR5 memory is a must for your next build, the A620M Pro RS will definitely be the number one choice. It offers a luxurious amount of USBs including Type-C for both front and rear panels, 3 M.2 Key-M onboard and 2 of which support PCIe Gen 4 x4 to give multiple storage options. With a 6-layer PCB and Dr.MOS for Vcore design, A620M Pro RS can fully support the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 Series Processors. A620M Pro RS also comes with a WiFi 6E variant the A620M Pro RS WiFi, an all-rounder choice for wireless environments.
Gigabyte Announces its First AMD A620 Chipset Based Motherboards
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions today unveiled the latest AMD A620 series motherboards with optimal memory performance and all-round features. With the perfect support of the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors, GIGABYTE A620 motherboards deliver the most competitive AM5 platform for users to enjoy performance flexibly and affordably.
Enhanced by GIGABYTE exclusive layout design and BIOS setting, the A620 lineup can achieve optimal memory performance of DDR5 EXPO/XMP overclocking up to DDR5-6400, which exerts the utmost value and performance of the AM5 platform. Boasted with comprehensive features, GIGABYTE A620 motherboards can best fit users' needs and budget, and become the best choice for users who plans on stepping up to the latest AM5 platform.
Meanwhile, GIGABYTE's A620 motherboards boast the innovative PCIe EZ-Latch technology to simplify the upgrade of graphics cards, and to avoid accidental damage to the surrounding components. By GIGABYTE exclusive Q-Flash Plus feature, users can update the BIOS without installing any processor, memory, or even graphics card, making it possible for users to easily enjoy the benefits brought about by the new BIOS code and processors. Further with GIGABYTE GCC software platform, GIGABYTE delivers the competitive A620 platform with user-friendly features and multiple form factor options which covers Micro ATX to Mini ITX.
Enhanced by GIGABYTE exclusive layout design and BIOS setting, the A620 lineup can achieve optimal memory performance of DDR5 EXPO/XMP overclocking up to DDR5-6400, which exerts the utmost value and performance of the AM5 platform. Boasted with comprehensive features, GIGABYTE A620 motherboards can best fit users' needs and budget, and become the best choice for users who plans on stepping up to the latest AM5 platform.
Colorful Preparing Special Edition GeForce RTX 4090 iGame LAB
A special edition of the Colorful GeForce RTX 4090 has been spotted online, the Colorful RTX 4090 iGame LAB. This will be a special limited edition graphics card designed specifically for overclocking. Spotted over on Bilibili.com, the Colorful RTX 4090 iGame LAB will be only made in 300 units and looks similar to the Colorful iGame Vulcan version, just in white color. The card is a result of Colorful's in-house overclocking team and will apparently have binned GPUs, which means it could reach higher clocks.
Since there is no Colorful RTX 4090 iGame KUDAN version, the iGame LAB will take the flagship place. According to the specifications the RTX 4090 iGame LAB will still feature a single 16-pin power connector which means it will still be limited to 600 W. The specifications also mention the 2625 MHz Boost GPU clock. Unfortunately, there is no word on global availability or will it be limited to China only.
Since there is no Colorful RTX 4090 iGame KUDAN version, the iGame LAB will take the flagship place. According to the specifications the RTX 4090 iGame LAB will still feature a single 16-pin power connector which means it will still be limited to 600 W. The specifications also mention the 2625 MHz Boost GPU clock. Unfortunately, there is no word on global availability or will it be limited to China only.
AQIRYS Unveils the Aludra and Updated Aludra TKL Gaming Keyboards
AQIRYS, the trending Romanian gaming brand, announces the launch of the newest gaming keyboard in the portfolio, ALUDRA, and the updated version of the original model, ALUDRA TKL. Designed to deliver a pro-level gaming experience, quietness, and future upgrade possibilities, the revealed models appeal to all gamers looking for unconventional, remarkable setups.
Named after a blue supergiant star in the constellation Canis Major, the ALUDRA keyboard fuses exceptional design with the updated version of one of the best mechanical switches available to deliver performance and a richer, more silent gaming experience in a full-size form factor. Rated for 80 million keystrokes and retaining the unmistakable silky smooth typing feeling, the Gateron G PRO 2.0 Red switches installed on the ALUDRA provide a more stable linear response. In addition, they are just as quiet as the previous version, only this time factory lubricated and improved to reduce wobbliness, increase durability and enhance backlight transmission.
Named after a blue supergiant star in the constellation Canis Major, the ALUDRA keyboard fuses exceptional design with the updated version of one of the best mechanical switches available to deliver performance and a richer, more silent gaming experience in a full-size form factor. Rated for 80 million keystrokes and retaining the unmistakable silky smooth typing feeling, the Gateron G PRO 2.0 Red switches installed on the ALUDRA provide a more stable linear response. In addition, they are just as quiet as the previous version, only this time factory lubricated and improved to reduce wobbliness, increase durability and enhance backlight transmission.
G.SKILL Announces New 24 GB and 48 GB Module Capacity Kits, Up to DDR5-8200
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is announcing the release of additional high-performance overclocked DDR5 memory kits, based on the 24 GB and 48 GB capacity modules, including an incredibly high-speed DDR5-8200 CL40-52-52 48 GB (24 GB x2) specification, as well as a 96 GB (48 GB x2) capacity kit at DDR5-6800 CL34-46-46.
A New High-Speed Frontier with 24 GB x2
Continuing to explore the limits of DDR5 memory speed, G.SKILL has reached an amazing DDR5-8200 CL40-52-52 with the new 24 GB capacity modules. See the screenshot below to see this memory kit tested on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard and Intel Core i9-13900K processor.
The Need for Speed with 96 GB (48 GB x2)
At the higher module capacity of 48 GB, G.SKILL also reached DDR5-6800 CL34-46-46 at 96 GB (48 GB x2) kit capacity. Refer to the screenshot below to check out this high-speed, high-capacity kit tested on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard and Intel Core i9-13900K processor.
A New High-Speed Frontier with 24 GB x2
Continuing to explore the limits of DDR5 memory speed, G.SKILL has reached an amazing DDR5-8200 CL40-52-52 with the new 24 GB capacity modules. See the screenshot below to see this memory kit tested on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex motherboard and Intel Core i9-13900K processor.
The Need for Speed with 96 GB (48 GB x2)
At the higher module capacity of 48 GB, G.SKILL also reached DDR5-6800 CL34-46-46 at 96 GB (48 GB x2) kit capacity. Refer to the screenshot below to check out this high-speed, high-capacity kit tested on the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard and Intel Core i9-13900K processor.
GIGABYTE A620M Gaming X Motherboard Pictured
Here's the first picture of the GIGABYTE A620M Gaming X, a product the company is targeting at the entry-level gaming PC crowd. The Socket AM5 Micro-ATX motherboard is based on the AMD A620 chipset, which lacks CPU overclocking, and limits both PEG and M.2 PCIe to Gen 4. The board draws power from a 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors; and uses an 8+2 phase VRM to condition power for the processor. You get four DDR5 DIMM slots, and expansion slots that include a PCI-Express 4.0 x16, and a PCI-Express 3.0 x1.
Storage connectivity on the GIGABYTE A620M Gaming X includes an M.2 slot with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring from the processor, and four SATA 6 Gbps ports from the A620 FCH. The M.2 slot gets an included M.2-2280 heatsink. Display outputs include HDMI and DisplayPort. Networking is care of a 1 GbE wired Ethernet backed by a Realtek controller; and a basic 6-channel HD audio solution consisting of a Realtek ALC887 CODEC, electrical isolation, and audio-grade capacitors. You get two 10 Gbps USB 3.2 ports, one of which is type-C. Four 5 Gbps USB 3.1 ports (two type-A on the rear panel, two via headers); and a handful USB 2.0 ports, make for the rest of it. The board's empty traces suggest that GIGABYTE has the option to create a variant that includes WiFi.
Storage connectivity on the GIGABYTE A620M Gaming X includes an M.2 slot with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring from the processor, and four SATA 6 Gbps ports from the A620 FCH. The M.2 slot gets an included M.2-2280 heatsink. Display outputs include HDMI and DisplayPort. Networking is care of a 1 GbE wired Ethernet backed by a Realtek controller; and a basic 6-channel HD audio solution consisting of a Realtek ALC887 CODEC, electrical isolation, and audio-grade capacitors. You get two 10 Gbps USB 3.2 ports, one of which is type-C. Four 5 Gbps USB 3.1 ports (two type-A on the rear panel, two via headers); and a handful USB 2.0 ports, make for the rest of it. The board's empty traces suggest that GIGABYTE has the option to create a variant that includes WiFi.
IBASE Unveils Palm-sized SI-111-N Fanless 4K Digital Signage Player
IBASE Technology Inc., a leading global provider of industrial-grade digital signage players, is pleased to unveil the SI-111-N, a palm-sized fanless 4K digital signage player system based on the Intel Atom x6211E and Celeron N6210 processors. Equipped with an HDMI 2.0b port that supports 3840 x 2160 @60Hz resolution, the industrial-grade system enables businesses to easily connect to a 4K display and create immersive visual experiences that attract attention and effectively promote their products or services.
IBASE values sustainable development and ESG practices. The SI-111-N incorporates various energy-saving features, including IBASE's proprietary iSMART green technology that enables power on/off scheduling with power resume capabilities, and the Observer utility that remotely monitors system voltages and temperature to ensure the system is operating efficiently while minimizing energy consumption. The SI-111-N's extensive I/O connectivity offers a rich array of expansion options, reliable data handling, and wireless operation, which includes 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x COM (RS-232) port, 1x M.2 M-Key (2280) and 1x M.2 E-Key (2230) sockets.
IBASE values sustainable development and ESG practices. The SI-111-N incorporates various energy-saving features, including IBASE's proprietary iSMART green technology that enables power on/off scheduling with power resume capabilities, and the Observer utility that remotely monitors system voltages and temperature to ensure the system is operating efficiently while minimizing energy consumption. The SI-111-N's extensive I/O connectivity offers a rich array of expansion options, reliable data handling, and wireless operation, which includes 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x COM (RS-232) port, 1x M.2 M-Key (2280) and 1x M.2 E-Key (2230) sockets.
AMD Speeds Up Development of "Zen 5" to Thwart Intel Xeon "Emerald Rapids"?
In no mood to cede its market-share growth to Intel, AMD has reportedly decided to accelerate the development of its next-generation "Zen 5" microarchitecture for debut within 2023. In its mid-2022 presentations, AMD had publicly given "Zen 5" a 2024 release date. This is part of a reading-in-between the lines for a recent GIGABYTE press release announcing server platforms powered by relatively low-cost Ryzen desktop processors. The specific sentence from that release reads "The next generation of AMD Ryzen desktop processors that will come out later this year will also be supported on this AM5 platform, so customers who purchase these servers today have the opportunity to upgrade to the Ryzen 7000 series successor."
While the GIGABYTE press release speaks of a next-generation Ryzen desktop processor, it stands to reason that it is referencing an early release of "Zen 5," and since AMD shares the CPU complex dies (CCDs) between its Ryzen client and EPYC server processors, the company is looking at a two-pronged upgrade to its processor lineup, with its next-generation EPYC "Turin" processor competing with Xeon Scalable "Emerald Rapids," and Ryzen "Granite Ridge" desktop processors taking on Intel's Core "Raptor Lake Refresh" and "Meteor Lake-S" desktop processors. It is rumored that "Zen 5" is being designed for the TSMC 3 nm node, and could see an increase in CPU core count per CCD, up from the present 8. TSMC 3 nm node goes into commercial mass-production in the first half of 2023 as the TSMC N3 node, with a refined N3E node slated for the second half of the year.
While the GIGABYTE press release speaks of a next-generation Ryzen desktop processor, it stands to reason that it is referencing an early release of "Zen 5," and since AMD shares the CPU complex dies (CCDs) between its Ryzen client and EPYC server processors, the company is looking at a two-pronged upgrade to its processor lineup, with its next-generation EPYC "Turin" processor competing with Xeon Scalable "Emerald Rapids," and Ryzen "Granite Ridge" desktop processors taking on Intel's Core "Raptor Lake Refresh" and "Meteor Lake-S" desktop processors. It is rumored that "Zen 5" is being designed for the TSMC 3 nm node, and could see an increase in CPU core count per CCD, up from the present 8. TSMC 3 nm node goes into commercial mass-production in the first half of 2023 as the TSMC N3 node, with a refined N3E node slated for the second half of the year.
Thursday, March 30th 2023
Today's Reviews
Monitors
Notebooks
Processors
The Last of Us Part I Benchmark Test & Performance Analysis Review
The Last of Us is finally available for PC. This was the reason many people bought a PlayStation, it's a masterpiece that you can't miss. In our performance review, we're taking a closer look at image quality, VRAM usage, and performance on a selection of modern graphics cards.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900 Review - Impressive Efficiency
With the Ryzen 9 7900, AMD is offering a more affordable version of their powerful 12-core processor. Our review confirms that the performance difference to the 7900X is small, yet the 7900 non-X consumes less than half the power compared to its big brother.
Possible MSI A620 Chipset Motherboard Drawing Surfaces
A PCB drawing of a possible AMD A620 chipset Micro-ATX motherboard by MSI has surfaced. The drawing looks like that of a product designed to be priced well under the $100-mark. The Socket AM5 motherboard draws power from a 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors. A simple 8-phase VRM with LFPAK discrete MOSFETs condition power for the processor, which is wired to two DDR5 DIMM slots, an M.2 NVMe slot (possibly limited to Gen 4 bandwidth, if not Gen 3); and a PCI-Express x16 with Gen 3 bandwidth, if not Gen 4. The only other expansion slot is a PCI-Express 3.0 x1. There are four SATA ports on offer, Display connectivity appears to include HDMI and D-Sub. 6-channel HD audio and a 1 GbE wired network connection make for the rest of it. AMD is expected to begin rolling out cost-effective motherboard based on the A620 later this week.
Kioxia and Western Digital Announce 218-layer 3D Flash Memory
Demonstrating continued innovation, Kioxia Corporation and Western Digital Corp. today announced details of their newest 3D flash memory technology. Applying advanced scaling and wafer bonding technologies, the 3D flash memory delivers exceptional capacity, performance and reliability at a compelling cost, which makes it ideal for meeting the needs of exponential data growth across a broad range of market segments.
"The new 3D flash memory demonstrates the benefits of our strong partnership with Kioxia and our combined innovation leadership," said Alper Ilkbahar, Senior Vice President of Technology & Strategy at Western Digital. "By working with one common R&D roadmap and continued investment in R&D, we have been able to productize this fundamental technology ahead of schedule and deliver high-performance, capital-efficient solutions."
"The new 3D flash memory demonstrates the benefits of our strong partnership with Kioxia and our combined innovation leadership," said Alper Ilkbahar, Senior Vice President of Technology & Strategy at Western Digital. "By working with one common R&D roadmap and continued investment in R&D, we have been able to productize this fundamental technology ahead of schedule and deliver high-performance, capital-efficient solutions."
E3 2023 Officially Canceled
Following the exodus of many high profile companies within the gaming and entertainment industries, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the cancellation of E3 2023. The event was to be held on June 13th through the 16th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and would have been the first in-person E3 in 4 years, the last in-person event having been in 2019. In an email sent out to members the ESA stated that E3, "remains a beloved event and brand," but that the 2023 event, "simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry." The email ends with no mention of the event's future.
ESA has issued an official public statement from Kyle Marsden-Kish, Global VP of Gaming, on the cancellation:
ESA has issued an official public statement from Kyle Marsden-Kish, Global VP of Gaming, on the cancellation:
This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what's right for the industry and what's right for E3. We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn't have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn't overcome. For those who did commit to E3 2023, we're sorry we can't put on the showcase you deserve and that you've come to expect from ReedPop's event experiences.
GeForce NOW Gets 23 New Games in April
New "Marvel's Midnight Suns" reward is now available along with 11 new games this week, plus an update on the GeForce NOW partnership with Microsoft. It's another rewarding GFN Thursday, with 23 new games for April on top of 11 joining the cloud this week and a new Marvel's Midnight Suns reward now available first for GeForce NOW Premium members.
Newark, N.J., is next to complete its upgrade to RTX 4080 SuperPODs, making it the 12th region worldwide to bring new performance to Ultimate members. GeForce NOW on SHIELD TV is being updated for a more consistent experience across Android and TV devices. Update 6.00 has begun rolling out to SHIELD TV owners this week. Plus, work is underway to bring the initial batch of Xbox first-party games and features to GeForce NOW.
Newark, N.J., is next to complete its upgrade to RTX 4080 SuperPODs, making it the 12th region worldwide to bring new performance to Ultimate members. GeForce NOW on SHIELD TV is being updated for a more consistent experience across Android and TV devices. Update 6.00 has begun rolling out to SHIELD TV owners this week. Plus, work is underway to bring the initial batch of Xbox first-party games and features to GeForce NOW.
ASUS ROG Teams Up With ACRONYM for ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 Tablet
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the second project in its ongoing collaboration with ACRONYM, a leading technical apparel company, to create the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 - bringing together the world of fashion, art, tech, Web3 and gaming in a powerful tablet.
Available for sale worldwide starting April 3, 2023, the device features pro-level specs, including an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. Containing that outsized power is a tablet-sized chassis that's designed to encourage portability and real-world use. The beautifully intricate, custom-machined aluminium creates rigidity. An ingeniously designed integrated carry system uses a versatile strap that lets the device become its own transport system and allows use in multiple modes. Rubber holds are inset to provide grip in every orientation, and the corners are reinforced to keep the machine safe from accidental bumps or drops.
Available for sale worldwide starting April 3, 2023, the device features pro-level specs, including an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. Containing that outsized power is a tablet-sized chassis that's designed to encourage portability and real-world use. The beautifully intricate, custom-machined aluminium creates rigidity. An ingeniously designed integrated carry system uses a versatile strap that lets the device become its own transport system and allows use in multiple modes. Rubber holds are inset to provide grip in every orientation, and the corners are reinforced to keep the machine safe from accidental bumps or drops.
Retro JRPG Live A Live Coming to Steam and PlayStation Consoles in April, Demo Version Available Now
LIVE A LIVE, originally only released for the Super Famicom in Japan, is being revived on Steam and PlayStation consoles! Experience this legendary RPG, brought to life in the same HD-2D visual style as OCTOPATH TRAVELER. Meet seven heroes, each with their own unique abilities and lives to live across different time periods. Experience their stories in any order you choose, uncovering shocking developments along the way
Featuring remastered music from original composer Yoko Shimomura and produced by Takashi Tokita (the director of the original game), this remake retains everything that players loved about the original while also being accessible to newcomers.
Featuring remastered music from original composer Yoko Shimomura and produced by Takashi Tokita (the director of the original game), this remake retains everything that players loved about the original while also being accessible to newcomers.
The Last of Us Part I Patch Released to Address Crashes and Shader Compilation Issues
Naughty Dog has released its first v1.0.1.5 patch for the PC version of The Last of Us Part I, which fixes several performance issues that plagued PC users since the launch. The PC port of game leaves much to be desired, with a lot of reported crashes, optimization issues, and general gameplay issues, which led to a rather low rating on Steam.
Naughty Dog has already released an official statement over at Twitter, acknowledging issues and scrambling to fix them. "The Last of Us Part I PC players: we've heard your concerns, and our team is actively investigating multiple issues you've reported. We will continue to update you, but our team is prioritizing updates and will address issues in upcoming patches."
Update: The Last of Us Part I v1.0.1.6 Patch has been released on Steam, fixing several other issues. You can check out the full release notes below.
Naughty Dog has already released an official statement over at Twitter, acknowledging issues and scrambling to fix them. "The Last of Us Part I PC players: we've heard your concerns, and our team is actively investigating multiple issues you've reported. We will continue to update you, but our team is prioritizing updates and will address issues in upcoming patches."
Update: The Last of Us Part I v1.0.1.6 Patch has been released on Steam, fixing several other issues. You can check out the full release notes below.
Microsoft Aims to Modernize its Upcoming Windows 12 with Modular Design
Insider sources at Microsoft have spoken of continued efforts to modernize the core of its operating system, with the work-in-progress Windows 12 cited as the ideal candidate for substantial updates. The engineering team is reported to be integrating a modular design, which will allow for a reduced operating system footprint - similar in principle to ChromeOS. According to a Windows Report article the operating system development team is hard at work on a spiritual successor to the abandoned Windows Core OS project. Their newest effort is reported to be called "Windows CorePC" and Microsoft is aiming to hit the same goals it set for its Windows 10X edition, which was cancelled in mid-2021, but they will also target native support for legacy applications on devices that require necessary access.
Windows Core OS was shutdown after years of development and internal testing - it was hoped that a modular Universal Windows Platform-first (UWP-F) operating system would be more lightweight and gain stronger security features, as well as greater access to regular updates. The inside sources stated that Windows Core OS will not be developed any further, at least not for desktop computer purposes. The Microsoft team is anticipating that its new CorePC project will lead onto new configurations of Windows that feature a capability of scaling up and down depending on hardware variations. Windows PCs and devices, in some user case scenarios, do not require full breadth of legacy Win32 application support. CorePC will enable different configurations of Windows to be installed on a custom basis.
Windows Core OS was shutdown after years of development and internal testing - it was hoped that a modular Universal Windows Platform-first (UWP-F) operating system would be more lightweight and gain stronger security features, as well as greater access to regular updates. The inside sources stated that Windows Core OS will not be developed any further, at least not for desktop computer purposes. The Microsoft team is anticipating that its new CorePC project will lead onto new configurations of Windows that feature a capability of scaling up and down depending on hardware variations. Windows PCs and devices, in some user case scenarios, do not require full breadth of legacy Win32 application support. CorePC will enable different configurations of Windows to be installed on a custom basis.
ASUS ROG Debuts its RTX 4090 XG Mobile GPU in China and Japan
ASUS ROG has started selling its RTX 4090 XG Mobile external graphics card in China and Japan this week. Japanese customers are being charged a cool $3000 for the pint-sized powerhouse external GPU, and Chinese buyers are getting a slightly better deal at $2700. It should be noted that this eGPU is the (GN21-X11) mobile variant of the GeForce RTX 4090, and not the full fat desktop version. The newly updated XG Mobile enclosure can only be connected to an ASUS Flow laptop, which limits the scope of compatibility to an already very expensive range of devices. The proprietary connection standard will keep customers in the ASUS ROG mobile hardware ecosystem - but their higher end laptop models can be configured with the very capable GeForce RTX 4070 mobile GPU, so the RTX 4090 XG Mobile seems to appeal to a very small buying niche.
The XG Mobile interface uses the PCIE Gen 3 x8 standard of connection, and the GPU has access to a dedicated 63 GB/s of bandwidth. This beats the Thunderbolt 4 standard of 40 Gb/s, by a 57% margin. The enclosure acts as a docking station - its features include an up to 2.5 Gbit Ethernet, a single HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 with G-Sync support and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (3x Type-A + 1x Type-C). ASUS ROG has engineered the docking station/enclosure to be as compact as possible (21.7 cm x 16.5 cm x 3.26 cm), when compared to competing products from other manufacturers. The whole package weighs in at 1.3 kg, which will ensure decent portability for gamers on the move.
The XG Mobile interface uses the PCIE Gen 3 x8 standard of connection, and the GPU has access to a dedicated 63 GB/s of bandwidth. This beats the Thunderbolt 4 standard of 40 Gb/s, by a 57% margin. The enclosure acts as a docking station - its features include an up to 2.5 Gbit Ethernet, a single HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 with G-Sync support and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (3x Type-A + 1x Type-C). ASUS ROG has engineered the docking station/enclosure to be as compact as possible (21.7 cm x 16.5 cm x 3.26 cm), when compared to competing products from other manufacturers. The whole package weighs in at 1.3 kg, which will ensure decent portability for gamers on the move.
Apple's Mixed Reality Headset Faces Another Delay, Predicted to not Debut at WWDC 2023
Apple's yet to be announced hybrid VR/AR headset is facing another setback and industry insiders are reckoning that the first iteration of the device will not be unveiled at the WWDC 2023 keynote - starting June 5. An industry analyst has been posting their theories via social media, and based on insider information believes that Apple is delaying production of the hybrid headset to late 2023. Ming-Chi Kuo's proposes this situation: "Apple isn't very optimistic about the AR/MR headset announcement recreating the astounding "iPhone moment," the mass production schedule for assembly has been pushed back by another 1-2 months to mid-to-late 3Q23. The delay also adds uncertainty to whether the new device will appear at WWDC 2023, as the market widely expects. Furthermore, due to the delay in mass production for assembly, the shipment forecast this year is only 200,000 to 300,000 units, lower than the market consensus of 500,000 units or more."
Internal hands-on sessions at Apple HQ have apparently brought to light major user issues with the mixed reality headset, and that feedback has caused a loss in confidence in launching the product in a "ready enough" state, especially in time for summer. Kuo concludes his theory: "The main concerns for Apple not being very optimistic regarding the market feedback to the AR/MR headset announcement include the economic downturn, compromises on some hardware specifications for mass production (such as weight), the readiness of the ecosystem and applications, a high selling price (USD 3,000-4,000 or even higher)."
Internal hands-on sessions at Apple HQ have apparently brought to light major user issues with the mixed reality headset, and that feedback has caused a loss in confidence in launching the product in a "ready enough" state, especially in time for summer. Kuo concludes his theory: "The main concerns for Apple not being very optimistic regarding the market feedback to the AR/MR headset announcement include the economic downturn, compromises on some hardware specifications for mass production (such as weight), the readiness of the ecosystem and applications, a high selling price (USD 3,000-4,000 or even higher)."
Remaster of Savant Announced, Ascent Anniversary Edition Incoming for this Summer
Celebrate 10 Years Of Savant Ascent & check out our new game!
HERE WE GO! We couldn't let Savant - Ascent's 10 Year Anniversary go uncelebrated! Today, we are officially announcing Savant - Ascent Anniversary Edition, a complete remaster of the game! Check out the trailer for yourself and join the final ascent. More details below.
New Everything!
There are some huge upgrades! Not only will the game feature suped up versions of the original bosses, but NEW bosses will put you through some truly intense battles as you ascend!
HERE WE GO! We couldn't let Savant - Ascent's 10 Year Anniversary go uncelebrated! Today, we are officially announcing Savant - Ascent Anniversary Edition, a complete remaster of the game! Check out the trailer for yourself and join the final ascent. More details below.
New Everything!
There are some huge upgrades! Not only will the game feature suped up versions of the original bosses, but NEW bosses will put you through some truly intense battles as you ascend!
3DMark Gets AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2) Feature Test
UL Benchmarks today released an update to 3DMark that adds a Feature Test for AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2), the company's popular upscaling-based performance enhancement. This was long overdue, as 3DMark has had a Feature Test for DLSS for years now; and as of October 2022, it even got one for Intel XeSS. The new FSR 2 Feature Test uses a scene from the Speed Way DirectX 12 Ultimate benchmark, where it compares fine details of a vehicle and a technic droid between native resolution with TAA and FSR 2, and highlights the performance uplift. To use the feature test, you'll need any GPU that supports DirectX 12 and FSR 2 (that covers AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel Arc). For owners of 3DMark who purchased it before October 12, 2022, they'll need to purchase the Speed Way upgrade to unlock the AMD FSR feature test.
Klas Announces an Innovative Compute Module to Revolutionize Edge Deployments
Klas, a global leader in edge intelligence solutions, launched a new rugged compute module, the VoyagerVM 4.0, powered by the new Intel Xeon D embedded processor (formerly known as Ice Lake D). The innovative design integrates the newest edge compute technology and exposes an expansion interface to support more agile, and open edge deployments.
The rugged design of the VoyagerVM 4.0 allows it to operate continuously in power constrained and austere environments with wide-ranging ambient temperatures with no impact to performance. Its compact size makes it the ideal edge computing platform for heavy-industry, autonomous vehicles, smart transportation, and military applications.
The rugged design of the VoyagerVM 4.0 allows it to operate continuously in power constrained and austere environments with wide-ranging ambient temperatures with no impact to performance. Its compact size makes it the ideal edge computing platform for heavy-industry, autonomous vehicles, smart transportation, and military applications.
XGIMI's MoGo 2 Projector Series Now Available
XGIMI, a leading design and industry-awarded projector and laser TV brand, today announced the availability of its latest smart portable projector, the XGIMI MoGo 2 series consisting of the MoGo 2 Pro and MoGo 2 projectors. The MoGo series can be pre-ordered on the XGIMI website and on Amazon. The MoGo 2 Pro will retail for $599 and the MoGo 2 will retail for $399, with full availability, including at Best Buy, beginning on April 25th.
To bring users a better portable projection experience, XGIMI has upgraded its MoGo product range, featured in the brand new MoGo 2 Series - which includes the MoGo 2 and MoGo 2 Pro. The new series is aimed at busy urban professionals and young families, and offers significant improvements in screen brightness, screen clarity and speaker performance, as well as the new Intelligent Screen Adaption 2.0 (in the MoGo 2 Pro), which allows for a complete hassle-free setup process for first-time projector users.
To bring users a better portable projection experience, XGIMI has upgraded its MoGo product range, featured in the brand new MoGo 2 Series - which includes the MoGo 2 and MoGo 2 Pro. The new series is aimed at busy urban professionals and young families, and offers significant improvements in screen brightness, screen clarity and speaker performance, as well as the new Intelligent Screen Adaption 2.0 (in the MoGo 2 Pro), which allows for a complete hassle-free setup process for first-time projector users.
Thermaltake Unveils the New Toughpower GF A3 ATX 3.0
Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast memory solutions, is excited to introduce the latest Toughpower GF A3 Gold series. Designed with Intel ATX 3.0 compliance, a native PCIe Gen 5.0 12+4pin modular interface, and 80 PLUS Gold efficiency, the Toughpower GF A3 is ready to fully support the newest-gen hardware. This PSU comes with the dimensions of 150 mm (W) x 86 mm (H) x 140 mm (D), and it has five watts to choose from, including 1200 W, 1050 W, 850 W, 750 W, and 650 W. Additionally, the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series meets Intel voltage regulation standards, which strengthens power stability and reliability.
The Intel ATX 3.0 specification of the Toughpower GF A3 allows for a 200% power excursion and a 60% low load efficiency, allowing steady power to your GPU. The native PCIe Gen 5.0 12VHPWR connector can power up the latest high-end graphics cards with a single cable. To smoothly supply power for hardware, the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series is equipped with superior Japanese 105°C/221°F main electrolytic capacitors, high amperage single +12V rail, and DC to DC design, which supports the highest durability, stability, and compatibility. Furthermore, the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series is built with industry-grade protections, such as OCP (Over Current Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), OTP (Over Temperature Protection), to ensure hardware safety.
The Intel ATX 3.0 specification of the Toughpower GF A3 allows for a 200% power excursion and a 60% low load efficiency, allowing steady power to your GPU. The native PCIe Gen 5.0 12VHPWR connector can power up the latest high-end graphics cards with a single cable. To smoothly supply power for hardware, the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series is equipped with superior Japanese 105°C/221°F main electrolytic capacitors, high amperage single +12V rail, and DC to DC design, which supports the highest durability, stability, and compatibility. Furthermore, the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series is built with industry-grade protections, such as OCP (Over Current Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), OTP (Over Temperature Protection), to ensure hardware safety.
EA to Lay Off Six Percent of Workforce in Restructuring Move
Electronic Arts is getting ready to lay off upwards of six percent of its workforce, as the company restructures its game portfolio. The company had some 12,900 employees globally in March 2022 according to Games Industry.biz and should as such be laying off some 775 employees. This is far less than we've seen from other companies and it won't affect all of EA's subsidiaries equally. The EA CEO—Andew Wilson—sent out a memo to the company employees that have been posted publicly on EA's website. It seems like EA will make the cuts fairly quickly, as the company is expected to be done informing affected employees sometime early in its next fiscal year, which starts on April first.
It's unclear exactly where EA will be making the cuts and according to Games Industry.biz the company has already trimmed some 200 employees that were working in support, most of them specifically supporting Apex Legends. That said, Apex Legends, EA Sports FIFA 23 and The Sims are the only games mentioned in the announcement, so presumably those titles are safer than others. At the same time, TPU spoke to a contact at a different EA subsidiary and there had been no mention of any redundancies there and the person in question works on another successful series of games. We'll have to wait and see if EA drops any projects the company is working on or if some titles end up being discontinued earlier than expected, due to lack of support from the teams that built the games. Regardless, EA is about to re-focus on what should be its more successful titles, which may or may not be a successful strategy for the company.
It's unclear exactly where EA will be making the cuts and according to Games Industry.biz the company has already trimmed some 200 employees that were working in support, most of them specifically supporting Apex Legends. That said, Apex Legends, EA Sports FIFA 23 and The Sims are the only games mentioned in the announcement, so presumably those titles are safer than others. At the same time, TPU spoke to a contact at a different EA subsidiary and there had been no mention of any redundancies there and the person in question works on another successful series of games. We'll have to wait and see if EA drops any projects the company is working on or if some titles end up being discontinued earlier than expected, due to lack of support from the teams that built the games. Regardless, EA is about to re-focus on what should be its more successful titles, which may or may not be a successful strategy for the company.
Report: ASP of NAND Flash Products Will Continue to Fall 5~10% in 2Q23, Whether Prices Continue to Decline in 2H23 Will Depend on Demand
Although NAND suppliers have continued to roll back production, there is still an oversupply of NAND Flash as demand for products such as servers, smartphones, and notebooks is still too weak. Therefore, TrendForce predicts that the ASP of NAND Flash will continue to fall in 2Q23, though that decline may shrink to 5~10%. The key to supply and demand returning to a market equilibrium lies in whether NAND suppliers can cut back on production even more. TrendForce believes if demand remains stable, then the ASP of NAND Flash will have an opportunity to rebound in 4Q23; if demand is weaker than expected, then ASP will take longer to recover.
Client SSD: Currently, PC OEM's have managed to liquidate most of their component inventory, and are now gearing up in preparation for mid-year sales events. Suppliers are cutting prices to clear out their inventories of PCIe Gen 3 SSDs, which are gradually being phased out. Meanwhile, prices of PCIe Gen 4 SSDs continue to face downward pressure due to a slow intake of new customer orders. The continuous decline of QLC products in 1Q23 has also dragged down the prices of TLC products, and there is relatively little room for prices to keep falling in 2Q23. While it still remains unclear whether or not demand will recover, TrendForce projects that the prices of PC client SSDs will drop 5~10% in 2Q23.
Client SSD: Currently, PC OEM's have managed to liquidate most of their component inventory, and are now gearing up in preparation for mid-year sales events. Suppliers are cutting prices to clear out their inventories of PCIe Gen 3 SSDs, which are gradually being phased out. Meanwhile, prices of PCIe Gen 4 SSDs continue to face downward pressure due to a slow intake of new customer orders. The continuous decline of QLC products in 1Q23 has also dragged down the prices of TLC products, and there is relatively little room for prices to keep falling in 2Q23. While it still remains unclear whether or not demand will recover, TrendForce projects that the prices of PC client SSDs will drop 5~10% in 2Q23.
ASUS Announces the Chromebox 5 with Qi Charger and Thunderbolt 4
ASUS today announced Chromebox 5 (CN67), a computer that combines exceptional performance with a contemporary design. The Red Dot Design Award-winning ASUS Chromebox 5 features a slim chassis that houses an efficient thermal solution for reliability, along with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with up to 32 GB DDR4 3200 memory, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. In addition to the expected DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI ports, ASUS Chromebox 5 also includes versatile Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for speedy data transfers, power delivery, and a connection to external displays. ASUS Chromebox 5 can support up to four 4K displays for stunning visuals and efficient productivity, and is the first Chromebox to feature an optional integrated 15-watt Qi-certified wireless charger that allows users to charge supported devices such as smart phones and earbuds simply by placing them on the top cover. With full support for Android apps from Google Play, ASUS Chromebox 5 allows users to easily download and experience all their favorite apps. The compact chassis can be stood on its side, laid flat, or VESA-mounted on a vertical surface, allowing ASUS Chromebox 5 to be used in a variety of environments, including schools, offices, and retail.
Lightning-fast Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 4 brings Thunderbolt connectivity to USB-C at speeds of up to 40 Gbps, along with DisplayPort 1.4 support. It's even compatible with USB4 to create one compact port that does it all—delivering the fastest, most versatile connection to any dock, display, or data storage device.
Lightning-fast Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 4 brings Thunderbolt connectivity to USB-C at speeds of up to 40 Gbps, along with DisplayPort 1.4 support. It's even compatible with USB4 to create one compact port that does it all—delivering the fastest, most versatile connection to any dock, display, or data storage device.
AMD Releases The Last of Us Part 1 Optimized Radeon Software
AMD today released an off-branch version of AMD Software Adrenalin that comes with optimization for "The Last of Us: Part 1." This driver is technically a beta, and is not a part of the regular release trunk for Adrenalin. It comes with the version number 22.40.43.05. Besides the sole game optimization, the driver does not pack any "fixed issues" load. The company did, however, identify a few new issues with this release, which it acknowledged in the list below.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Software The Last of Us Part 1 Optimized Drivers
DOWNLOAD: AMD Software The Last of Us Part 1 Optimized Drivers
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Priced at $600
NVIDIA has reportedly set the retail MSRP of its upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 "Ada" graphics card at USD $600. This would put its starting price at anywhere between $170-200 cheaper than the RTX 4070 Ti. We know from reports of different review NDAs for "MSRP" and "non-MSRP" RTX 4070 custom-design graphics cards, that there is an emphasis from NVIDIA's side to ensure that every board partner has cards to sell at MSRP (this $600 price). The rather large price-gap between the RTX 4070 and RTX 4070 Ti should carve out room for premium custom-design RTX 4070 cards without treading too close to the cheapest RTX 4070 Ti.
The GeForce RTX 4070 is reportedly based on the same AD104 silicon as the RTX 4070 Ti, albeit heavily cut down, with just 46 out of 60 streaming multiprocessors being enabled, which work out to just 5,888 CUDA cores, compared to the 7,680 present on the silicon. Other specs include 46 RT cores, 184 Tensor cores, 184 TMUs, and possibly 64 ROPs. The memory sub-system is unchanged from the Ti, you reportedly get 12 GB of 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface, with 504 GB/s of memory bandwidth on tap. NVIDIA is planning to launch the RTX 4070 in mid-April.
The GeForce RTX 4070 is reportedly based on the same AD104 silicon as the RTX 4070 Ti, albeit heavily cut down, with just 46 out of 60 streaming multiprocessors being enabled, which work out to just 5,888 CUDA cores, compared to the 7,680 present on the silicon. Other specs include 46 RT cores, 184 Tensor cores, 184 TMUs, and possibly 64 ROPs. The memory sub-system is unchanged from the Ti, you reportedly get 12 GB of 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface, with 504 GB/s of memory bandwidth on tap. NVIDIA is planning to launch the RTX 4070 in mid-April.
CHIEFTEC Launches ATX 3.0 Polaris Pro Series Power Supply
Delivering Higher Efficiency and Performance with its Polaris Pro series (Model Nr PPX-1300FC-A3), CHIEFTEC has responded to the rapidly growing demand from the market for ATX 3.0 solutions through the expansion of its very successful and renowned Polaris Series. The CHIEFTEC Polaris Pro Series features advanced thermal control with a 135 mm fluid dynamic bearing fan and utilizes a specially calculated fan curve for high performance, low noise, and superior reliability.
With Zero-RPM fan mode for silent operation at low loads, maximum power output of 1300 W and an 80 Plus Platinum certified efficiency, the Polaris Pro was developed according to the latest ATX 3.0 standard, with a native PCI-E Gen 5 connector (600 W rating). Thus the this power supply will run seamlessly in combination with the latest graphics cards of the 4000 series.
With Zero-RPM fan mode for silent operation at low loads, maximum power output of 1300 W and an 80 Plus Platinum certified efficiency, the Polaris Pro was developed according to the latest ATX 3.0 standard, with a native PCI-E Gen 5 connector (600 W rating). Thus the this power supply will run seamlessly in combination with the latest graphics cards of the 4000 series.
Galax HOF Extreme 50 PCIe 5.0 SSD Spotted in China
Galax is joining the PCIe 5.0 SSD crowd with its newest HOF Extreme 50 SSD that has been launched in China, and should come to the rest of the markets soon. The Galax HOF Extreme 50 will be only available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities, and comes with thick heatsink with active cooling via PWM fan.
As it is the case with all other PCIe 5.0 SSDs currently on the market, the HOF Extreme 50 is based on Phison E26 controller paired up with Micron 232-layer 3D NAND flash and up to 4 GB of LPDDR4 DRAM cache. The Galax HOF Extreme 50 is not the fastest Phison E26-based PCIe 5.0 SSD announced, as Gigabyte Aorus Gen 5 1000, MSI Spatium M570 Pro, and Crucial T700, are coming and reaching up to 12 GB/s (12.4 GB/s for the Crucial T700).
As it is the case with all other PCIe 5.0 SSDs currently on the market, the HOF Extreme 50 is based on Phison E26 controller paired up with Micron 232-layer 3D NAND flash and up to 4 GB of LPDDR4 DRAM cache. The Galax HOF Extreme 50 is not the fastest Phison E26-based PCIe 5.0 SSD announced, as Gigabyte Aorus Gen 5 1000, MSI Spatium M570 Pro, and Crucial T700, are coming and reaching up to 12 GB/s (12.4 GB/s for the Crucial T700).
Cincoze Announces Thin Embedded Dual-purpose Computer P1201 Series
Rugged embedded computer brand—Cincoze, recently launched its latest addition to the Display Computing - CRYSTAL product line, the P1201 embedded computer series. The P1201 packs the improved computing performance of the Intel Elkhart Lake platform into a thin and light body (204.5 x 149 x 41.5 mm) with flexible expansion options. The highlight is the dual-purpose design sets the P1201 apart from other embedded computers. As standard, its ultra-thin design makes it well-suited for data collection and analysis in space-limited applications in machine equipment and control cabinets. Attach one of a range of display modules to the P1201 using Cincoze's exclusive CDS (Convertible Display System, Patent No. M482908) technology, and it becomes a panel PC suitable for HMI applications.
The P1201 uses the Elkhart Lake platform Intel Atom x6425E quad-core processor, delivering 1.7x the single-core performance and 1.5x the multi-core performance of the previous generation Apollo Lake processors. It also supports DDR4 memory up to 32 GB and 3200 MHz. The Intel UHD graphics chip ensures smooth graphics by doubling the processing performance of previous generations. Greatly improved computing performance shortens processing times, thereby increasing work efficiency.
The P1201 uses the Elkhart Lake platform Intel Atom x6425E quad-core processor, delivering 1.7x the single-core performance and 1.5x the multi-core performance of the previous generation Apollo Lake processors. It also supports DDR4 memory up to 32 GB and 3200 MHz. The Intel UHD graphics chip ensures smooth graphics by doubling the processing performance of previous generations. Greatly improved computing performance shortens processing times, thereby increasing work efficiency.
ADATA Announces HC300 ECO External HDD and UC310 ECO USB Flash Drive
ADATA reaffirms its commitment to a sustainable environment and reducing the carbon footprint of its products through the launch of the company's first line of green storage offerings. The HC300 ECO external hard drive (HDD) and UC310 ECO USB flash drive (UFD) represent a positive step towards renewable electronic products by featuring enclosures that consist of recycled plastic and packaged in materials certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
The ADATA HC300 ECO and UC310 ECO are forerunners in a series of ADATA products focused on ESG concepts. The casings of these devices are made of PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) materials, such as 5-gallon water jugs. The use of PCR materials in HC300 ECO can effectively reduce carbon emissions by 48%. Typical post-consumer materials would normally be discarded as waste having completed its consumer lifecycle. These materials are also sourced from a single location, further reducing the product's carbon footprint.
The ADATA HC300 ECO and UC310 ECO are forerunners in a series of ADATA products focused on ESG concepts. The casings of these devices are made of PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) materials, such as 5-gallon water jugs. The use of PCR materials in HC300 ECO can effectively reduce carbon emissions by 48%. Typical post-consumer materials would normally be discarded as waste having completed its consumer lifecycle. These materials are also sourced from a single location, further reducing the product's carbon footprint.
Powercolor Announces Devil Skins for Red Devil Graphics Cards
TUL Corporation, a leading and innovative manufacturer of AMD graphic cards since 1997, presents today Devil Skins - Swappable backplates for the latest AMD RX7900 Red Devil series. Devil Skins bring endless design possibilities with truly unique, easily swappable backplates that unlock imagination to match gamers' design preferences.
Every gamer is different and PowerColor wants to empower every gamer to pursue and celebrate their own identities. Red Devil RX7900 series owners will be able to easily change their graphics card backplate design with Devil Skins; it's as easy as placing the Devil Skin onto their existing backplates using conveniently placed magnets - it's that simple and will hold the Devil Skin securely in place.
Every gamer is different and PowerColor wants to empower every gamer to pursue and celebrate their own identities. Red Devil RX7900 series owners will be able to easily change their graphics card backplate design with Devil Skins; it's as easy as placing the Devil Skin onto their existing backplates using conveniently placed magnets - it's that simple and will hold the Devil Skin securely in place.
Alphacool Releases Updated CORE VGA Water Block for RTX 4080 and RTX 4090
Expanded Core Cooler Compatibility for RTX 4080/4090 GPUs! Alphacool delivers the usual high quality, amazing performance as well as functional design for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080/4090 graphics cards in custom designs with the new coolers.
The eye-catcher of the copper cooler is the unit of connector terminal and cooler, which is milled from one piece of copper. The very good workmanship paired with the hard and resistant chrome plating of the entire copper cooler meet the highest quality standards. A key design element of the new Core series are the brass G1/4" threads, which are left in chrome and are integrated on both sides. They stand out visually from the terminal.
The eye-catcher of the copper cooler is the unit of connector terminal and cooler, which is milled from one piece of copper. The very good workmanship paired with the hard and resistant chrome plating of the entire copper cooler meet the highest quality standards. A key design element of the new Core series are the brass G1/4" threads, which are left in chrome and are integrated on both sides. They stand out visually from the terminal.
Team Group Announces MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD and T-FORCE VULCAN Z QLC SSD
No more to traditional mechanical drives as the era of high-capacity QLC has arrived. Leading memory brand Team Group today has announced the launch of two QLC SSDs to meet the various needs of users: Team Group MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD and T-FORCE VULCAN Z QLC SSD come in capacities of up to 2 TB and 4 TB, respectively. Whether for more storage for installing or storing OSs, programs, games, or documents, they are the perfect upgrade solutions for your computer.
In response to different storage upgrade needs of consumers, Team Group MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD is designed with 3D QLC flash memory chips, PCIe Gen 3 x4 interface and NVMe 1.3 protocol. With up to 2,500 MB/s in read speed and 2,100 MB/s in write speed, it outperforms SATA III SSDs by five times and is available in capacities of up to 2 TB. With its carefully selected 3D QLC NAND flash and SLC Cache technology, Team Group MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD brings a top-of-the-line solution to the storage market.
In response to different storage upgrade needs of consumers, Team Group MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD is designed with 3D QLC flash memory chips, PCIe Gen 3 x4 interface and NVMe 1.3 protocol. With up to 2,500 MB/s in read speed and 2,100 MB/s in write speed, it outperforms SATA III SSDs by five times and is available in capacities of up to 2 TB. With its carefully selected 3D QLC NAND flash and SLC Cache technology, Team Group MP33Q M.2 PCIe SSD brings a top-of-the-line solution to the storage market.
Giga Computing Releases All New Ultra-Compact GIGABYTE BRIX Mini PCs with Intel N-series Inside
Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE and an industry leader in high-performance servers, workstations, and mini-PCs, today announced a newly designed ultra-compact, low power mini-PC for the GIGABYTE BRIX lineup - BNIP and BNi3 series, which adopt either the ultra-low power Intel Processor or Intel Core i3 N-Series Processors. With Intel's 7 nm manufacturing and E-core (Efficient Core) architecture, users can benefit not only in performance, but also in computing efficiency. Also, although the BRIX series is compact, these new models are even more so, and maintain respectable performance while fitting perfectly in any IoT employment, whether for office use, education use, home use, digital signage, medical care, or KIOSK.
The newly designed ultra-compact BRIX platform boasts a sleek and contemporary grid design on its exterior, creating a fresh and minimalist impression. The intricately patterned surface produces a pleasing interplay of light, shadow, reflection, and refraction from different angles, for an overall pleasant aesthetic. This design not only enhances the product's visual appeal, but also symbolizes the numerous possibilities of integrating and merging virtual and real elements within this compact mini-PC. And it only comes in a ultra small form factor that is about 1-inch tall and 0.5 L in size.
The newly designed ultra-compact BRIX platform boasts a sleek and contemporary grid design on its exterior, creating a fresh and minimalist impression. The intricately patterned surface produces a pleasing interplay of light, shadow, reflection, and refraction from different angles, for an overall pleasant aesthetic. This design not only enhances the product's visual appeal, but also symbolizes the numerous possibilities of integrating and merging virtual and real elements within this compact mini-PC. And it only comes in a ultra small form factor that is about 1-inch tall and 0.5 L in size.
Wednesday, March 29th 2023
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Game Controllers
Keyboards
Motherboards
G-Wolves Hati-S Plus 4K Review
The Hati-S Plus 4K comes with true 4000 Hz wireless polling, which is the unique selling point over the ACE variant. Due to a larger battery, the 4K also weighs a bit more at 51 g, and PixArt's PAW3399 sensor is used. Other than that, main button switches from Zippy, pure PTFE feet, and a solid-shell design are still present.
Resident Evil 4 Benchmark Test & Performance Analysis Review
Resident Evil 4 is new material for lovers of the action-horror genre. In our performance review, we're taking a closer look at image quality, VRAM usage, and performance on a selection of modern graphics cards.
Thermaltake Launches the ToughAir 710 Dual Fin-Stack CPU Cooler
Thermaltake today launched the ToughAir 710, a premium dual aluminium fin-stack CPU cooler. Measuring 148.6 mm x 146.6 mm x 165 mm (LxWxH), the TA710 is a massive, heavyweight category cooler (with its weight expected to be around the 1 kg-mark). The cooler features a U-type dual fin-stack design. Seven 6 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heatpipes make indirect contact with the CPU over a base of the same material, with their ends passing through the two fin-stacks. These are ventilated by a pair of 140 mm fans in push-pull configuration, with the second fan nested between the two stacks.
Each of the two included ToughFan 14 spinners turns at speeds of up to 1,400 RPM, pushing up to 81.96 CFM of airflow at 1.81 mm H₂O static pressure, and 23.9 dBA noise output. The fans are rated for 40,000 hours of use. Thermaltake rates the ToughAir 710 as being capable of handling thermal loads of 250 W. Among the CPU socket types supported are LGA1700, LGA2066, LGA1200, LGA115x, AM5, and AM4. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Each of the two included ToughFan 14 spinners turns at speeds of up to 1,400 RPM, pushing up to 81.96 CFM of airflow at 1.81 mm H₂O static pressure, and 23.9 dBA noise output. The fans are rated for 40,000 hours of use. Thermaltake rates the ToughAir 710 as being capable of handling thermal loads of 250 W. Among the CPU socket types supported are LGA1700, LGA2066, LGA1200, LGA115x, AM5, and AM4. The company didn't reveal pricing.
MSI Intros G253PF, a Blistering 380Hz 25-inch Monitor if You Can Live with FHD
MSI today introduced the G253PF, a 24.5-inch Rapid IPS gaming monitor that offers a blistering 380 Hz refresh-rate and 1 ms (GTG) response-time, along with DisplayHDR 400, VESA Adaptive Sync and G-SYNC (compatibility); a mouthwatering package for e-sports gamers, if they can live with its Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution. The Rapid IPS panel offers TUV Rhineland-certified anti-flicker and low blue-light technologies, besides 178° viewing angles. Other panel specs include 1000:1 contrast ratio with dynamic mega-contrast; 10-bpc color (1.07 billion colors), and 320-400 nits maximum brightness. With its HDMI 2.0b connection, the monitor is limited to 240 Hz refresh-rate. You need the monitor's DisplayPort 1.4 connection to "overclock" the panel to 380 Hz from within its OSD settings. The monitor packs a passive cooling mechanism for the panel, which is what contributes to its thickness, despite being a planar (flat-screen) monitor. The company didn't reveal pricing.
QNAP Releases QTS 5.1.0 Beta for NAS
QNAP Systems, Inc. (QNAP) today released the QTS 5.1.0 beta NAS operating system that delivers highly efficient and cost-effective storage solutions for business IT with abundant features, including SMB multichannel, delegated administration, accelerated SMB signing, automatic RAID disk replacement, Hailo-8 AI module support, and multi-device management through a cloud management platform. QNAP provides numerous NAS models with 2.5GbE and 10GbE as standard, providing suitability for SMB multichannel to drive boosted network performance and maximize IT investment.
"QNAP continues enhancing core functions of storage and strengthening NAS security," said Tim Lin, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "We help our users stay fast, flexible, and agile by offering competitive storage solutions, ensuring they can acquire cutting-edge applications and operational efficiency to lower IT and management costs."
"QNAP continues enhancing core functions of storage and strengthening NAS security," said Tim Lin, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "We help our users stay fast, flexible, and agile by offering competitive storage solutions, ensuring they can acquire cutting-edge applications and operational efficiency to lower IT and management costs."
HP Announces New Eco-friendly Color Laser Printers
Today at the Amplify Partner Conference, HP Inc. announced the new HP Color LaserJet 4200/4300 and the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 and X500/X600 printing solutions for businesses of all sizes. All new HP Color LaserJet series printers are powered by HP's next generation sustainable toner, which delivers up to 27 percent reduced energy use and up to 78 percent less plastic in the packaging. HP's high-performance printing solutions are built to help growing businesses maximize productivity and minimize disruptions for today's hybrid workstyles.
"Flexible work arrangements are here to stay with companies of all sizes using it as a way to attract and retain top talent. However, distributed workforce productivity is top of mind for businesses," says Xavier Garcia, Global Head & General Manager, Office Print Hardware at HP. "The Color LaserJet 4000 series was designed for small businesses to maximize productivity with easy, reliable, and professional printing. As our customers grow, our Color LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 is ready to enable productivity and scale."
"Flexible work arrangements are here to stay with companies of all sizes using it as a way to attract and retain top talent. However, distributed workforce productivity is top of mind for businesses," says Xavier Garcia, Global Head & General Manager, Office Print Hardware at HP. "The Color LaserJet 4000 series was designed for small businesses to maximize productivity with easy, reliable, and professional printing. As our customers grow, our Color LaserJet Enterprise 5000/6000 is ready to enable productivity and scale."
Intel Presents a Refreshed Xeon CPU Roadmap for 2023-2025
All eyes - especially investors' eyes - are on Intel's data center business today. Intel's Sandra Rivera, Greg Lavender and Lisa Spelman hosted a webinar focused on the company's Data Center and Artificial Intelligence business unit. They offered a big update on Intel's latest market forecasts, hardware plans and the way Intel is empowering developers with software.
Executives dished out updates on Intel's data center business for investors. This included disclosures about future generations of Intel Xeon chips, progress updates on 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors (code-named Sapphire Rapids) and demos of Intel hardware tackling the competition, heavy AI workloads and more.
Xeon Roadmap Roll Call
Among Sapphire Rapids, Emerald Rapids, Sierra Forest and Granite Rapids, there is a lot going on in the server CPU business. Here's your Xeon roadmap updates in order of appearance:
Executives dished out updates on Intel's data center business for investors. This included disclosures about future generations of Intel Xeon chips, progress updates on 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors (code-named Sapphire Rapids) and demos of Intel hardware tackling the competition, heavy AI workloads and more.
Xeon Roadmap Roll Call
Among Sapphire Rapids, Emerald Rapids, Sierra Forest and Granite Rapids, there is a lot going on in the server CPU business. Here's your Xeon roadmap updates in order of appearance:
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference Returns June 5, 2023
Apple today announced it will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in an online format from June 5 through 9, 2023, with an opportunity for developers and students to celebrate in person at a special experience at Apple Park on opening day. Free for all developers, WWDC23 will spotlight the latest iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS advancements. As part of Apple's ongoing commitment to helping developers create innovative apps, the event will also provide them with unique access to Apple engineers, as well as insight into new technologies and tools to help them realize their visions.
"WWDC is one of our favorite times of the year at Apple because it's an opportunity to connect with the talented developers from around the globe who make this community so extraordinary," said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "WWDC23 is going to be our biggest and most exciting yet, and we can't wait to see many of you online and in person at this very special event!"
"WWDC is one of our favorite times of the year at Apple because it's an opportunity to connect with the talented developers from around the globe who make this community so extraordinary," said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "WWDC23 is going to be our biggest and most exciting yet, and we can't wait to see many of you online and in person at this very special event!"
Japan's Competition Regulator Approves Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Buyout
Japan's competition regulator, Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), yesterday issued a press release in which it announces an approval of Microsoft's proposed $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard. The JFTC's review has concluded and their members have: "reached the conclusion that the transaction is unlikely to result in substantially restraining competition in any particular fields of trade." This represents another regional victory for Microsoft, and follows last week's approval of the deal by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The JFTC has informed both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard that a cease and desist order will be not be issued, thus completing its investigation.
The timing of this new development is raising eyebrows - in last week's Senate Finance Committee, several US Members of Congress raised concerns about Sony's "monopoly" over the Japanese gaming market. The Japanese government was also accused of being complicit in its inaction and has: "allowed Sony to engage in blatant anti-competitive conduct through exclusive deals and payments to game publishers." Games industry watchdogs have questioned why another rival console and games company, Nintendo, was not brought up as subject matter in the debate. Microsoft has dedicated considerable resources into getting its proposed deal approved by international antitrust watchdogs, and has even offered to expand the Activision Blizzard games library onto Nintendo hardware platforms.
The timing of this new development is raising eyebrows - in last week's Senate Finance Committee, several US Members of Congress raised concerns about Sony's "monopoly" over the Japanese gaming market. The Japanese government was also accused of being complicit in its inaction and has: "allowed Sony to engage in blatant anti-competitive conduct through exclusive deals and payments to game publishers." Games industry watchdogs have questioned why another rival console and games company, Nintendo, was not brought up as subject matter in the debate. Microsoft has dedicated considerable resources into getting its proposed deal approved by international antitrust watchdogs, and has even offered to expand the Activision Blizzard games library onto Nintendo hardware platforms.
HP Launches New Laptops and Accessories for Hybrid Work
Today at the Amplify Partner Conference, HP Inc. announced new products and solutions to usher in the next era of hybrid work for everyone with a comprehensive set of computing solutions for hybrid flexibility. With only 22 percent of workers describing themselves as 'thriving' in hybrid work, it's clear companies are still figuring out how to make hybrid work. "Most companies want to move past the 'forced return' to the office era of hybrid work," said Alex Cho, President of Personal Systems, HP Inc. "The challenge is, they're not sure how to. We believe the future is hybrid flexibility, which delivers the best of the home and the office to workers everywhere."
According to HP's Future of Work study, 80 percent of workers want to be in the office some of the time, but many companies continue to struggle to get workers back in the office. HP research suggests that the most significant barrier to a return to office is a sub-optimal technology experience. In fact, 89 percent say technology is the most important factor driving return to office decisions. Similarly, of those who report thriving in hybrid work, 90 percent believe that access to the right technology and tools leads to a positive work experience. To accelerate employees' return to work, the right technology is required for optimal work setups, enabling success for companies and their employees.
According to HP's Future of Work study, 80 percent of workers want to be in the office some of the time, but many companies continue to struggle to get workers back in the office. HP research suggests that the most significant barrier to a return to office is a sub-optimal technology experience. In fact, 89 percent say technology is the most important factor driving return to office decisions. Similarly, of those who report thriving in hybrid work, 90 percent believe that access to the right technology and tools leads to a positive work experience. To accelerate employees' return to work, the right technology is required for optimal work setups, enabling success for companies and their employees.
U.S. President Invokes Defense Production Act for PCB Production
On Monday 27 March U.S. President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act in order to form a budget of $50 million, to be spent on domestic and Canadian production of printed circuit boards (aka PCBs). This move was deemed as important to matters of national defense, and technology has been cited as key part of North American security efforts. In a memo issued that day, Biden stated that without presidential action under the act: "United States industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide the capability for the needed industrial resource, material, or critical technology item in a timely manner."
PCBs form the basis of vital components that are integrated into military-purpose missiles and radars, in addition to electronics utilized for energy distribution and the nation's healthcare. The President continues to outline the importance of the Defense Production Act: "I find that action to expand the domestic production capability for printed circuit boards and advanced packaging is necessary to avert an industrial resource or critical technology item shortfall that would severely impair national defense capability."
PCBs form the basis of vital components that are integrated into military-purpose missiles and radars, in addition to electronics utilized for energy distribution and the nation's healthcare. The President continues to outline the importance of the Defense Production Act: "I find that action to expand the domestic production capability for printed circuit boards and advanced packaging is necessary to avert an industrial resource or critical technology item shortfall that would severely impair national defense capability."
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 "Ada" Launches This June
NVIDIA's mainstream GeForce RTX 4050 "Ada" graphics card, which succeeds the RTX 3050, reportedly launches in June 2023. This could end up being the highest-volume SKU in the RTX 40-series desktop lineup. Team green is planning to launch a new desktop SKU every month leading up to Summer. April will see the company launch the performance-segment RTX 4070, followed by the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060 in May, and now we hear about the RTX 4050 in June.
The GeForce RTX 4050 is likely based on a highly cut down version of the 5 nm "AD107" silicon that also powers the RTX 4060 in its maxed out configuration. The AD107, much like the AD106, features a 128-bit wide GDDR6 memory interface. For the RTX 4050, NVIDIA could narrow this down to 96-bit, and give it 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is 25% less than the 8 GB of 128-bit GDDR6 memory that's standard for the current-generation RTX 3050. NVIDIA would have worked out the performance numbers, and the RTX 4050 might still end up generationally faster than the RTX 3050 despite this narrower/smaller memory.
The GeForce RTX 4050 is likely based on a highly cut down version of the 5 nm "AD107" silicon that also powers the RTX 4060 in its maxed out configuration. The AD107, much like the AD106, features a 128-bit wide GDDR6 memory interface. For the RTX 4050, NVIDIA could narrow this down to 96-bit, and give it 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, which is 25% less than the 8 GB of 128-bit GDDR6 memory that's standard for the current-generation RTX 3050. NVIDIA would have worked out the performance numbers, and the RTX 4050 might still end up generationally faster than the RTX 3050 despite this narrower/smaller memory.
Snapdragon 8cx Gen 4 SoC Geekbench Scores Crop Up, Likely an Engineering Sample
Benchmark results for Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 4 SoC appeared on Geekbench Browser early yesterday morning, under the designation Snapdragon 8cx Next Gen. This chipset is tipped to be a successor to the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, which was launched at the end of 2021 as the world's first 5 nm Arm-based SoC for Windows laptops. A tipster on Twitter has highlighted the very underwhelming results posted by the next gen chipset, and these figures would indicate that an engineering sample was the test subject, not final silicon. The 8-core Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is shown to outperform its supposed successor, and the clock frequencies for the latter appear to be lower than anticipated.
The Geekbench 5 database entry for Snapdragon 8cx Gen 4 also reveals details about its specifications - a 12-core configuration that is split into eight performance cores and four power-efficiency ones. The base core frequency is listed as being 2.38 GHz, and the benchmark was completed under a Balanced Power plan in Windows 11 Home Insider Preview. 16 GB of RAM was used in the test kit, although earlier leaks have indicated that the chipset can support up to a maximum of 64 GB LPDDR5 RAM.
The Geekbench 5 database entry for Snapdragon 8cx Gen 4 also reveals details about its specifications - a 12-core configuration that is split into eight performance cores and four power-efficiency ones. The base core frequency is listed as being 2.38 GHz, and the benchmark was completed under a Balanced Power plan in Windows 11 Home Insider Preview. 16 GB of RAM was used in the test kit, although earlier leaks have indicated that the chipset can support up to a maximum of 64 GB LPDDR5 RAM.
Focus Entertainment and Deck13 Confirm that Atlas Fallen is Delayed, Pushed Back to August
Dear players - thank you for the tremendous support we received so far on Atlas Fallen! From your enthusiastic comments on our video teasers online and in person at PAX EAST to the positive previews from critics, we're grateful and honored to have you excited to play our game. Our goal has always been to create a memorable RPG experience in a unique setting, with exciting gameplay and the option for fully playable seamless co-op with a friend.
We'd love to give the game some extra time which will allow us to deliver the best possible version of Atlas Fallen. To achieve this, we have made the difficult decision to delay the worldwide launch of Atlas Fallen to AUGUST 10, 2023.
We'd love to give the game some extra time which will allow us to deliver the best possible version of Atlas Fallen. To achieve this, we have made the difficult decision to delay the worldwide launch of Atlas Fallen to AUGUST 10, 2023.
Genesis Unveils the Lead 300: A New Set of Keypads
Genesis, a popular manufacturer of gaming accessories, has just presented a new set of keypads, designation: Lead 300. This product allows users to quickly rejuvenate the looks of their keyboards. The Genesis Lead 300 is a set of durable keypads made from plastic in the double-shot technology. They stand out from the crowd thanks to their popular OEP profile. The keypads fit both ANSI and ISO keyboards. What's important is that the pads have transparent lines, which let LED RGB illumination through. So one of the key functions of expensive keyboards is not limited in any way. The set also includes multimedia keys.
According to the manufacturer, the Lead 300 keypads are compatible with standard mechanical switches, so they will fit most popular gaming keyboards. Apart from the manual the set also includes a fast mounting clip. The product is available in six distinct color versions: purple, navy blue, mint, orange, ping, and grey.
The Genesis Lead 300 set will be available at $8,99 / 8,99 €.
According to the manufacturer, the Lead 300 keypads are compatible with standard mechanical switches, so they will fit most popular gaming keyboards. Apart from the manual the set also includes a fast mounting clip. The product is available in six distinct color versions: purple, navy blue, mint, orange, ping, and grey.
The Genesis Lead 300 set will be available at $8,99 / 8,99 €.
CD Projekt RED and NVIDIA Talk About Upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 Path Tracing
In an interview done by PCWorld's Gordon Ung at GDC 2023, CD Projekt Red's VP and Global Art Director, Jakub "Kuba" Knapik, and NVIDIA's Senior Developer Technology Engineer, Pawel Kozlowski, shed a bit more light about the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 Path Tracing update and what it brings to the game as well as what kind of hardware will you need to run it.
In case you missed it earlier, both CD Projekt RED and NVIDIA did talk about the RTX Path Tracing Overdrive Mode for Cyberpunk 2077, which will launch on April 11th. This will be a part of the Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.62, which should bring additional gameplay improvements as well. It is worth to note that Path Tracing will be introduced to the game as a "technology preview," Jakub notes, as the developer is implementing this technology with NVIDIA and it is still a work in progress.
In case you missed it earlier, both CD Projekt RED and NVIDIA did talk about the RTX Path Tracing Overdrive Mode for Cyberpunk 2077, which will launch on April 11th. This will be a part of the Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.62, which should bring additional gameplay improvements as well. It is worth to note that Path Tracing will be introduced to the game as a "technology preview," Jakub notes, as the developer is implementing this technology with NVIDIA and it is still a work in progress.
JOLED Calls it Quits, Files for Bankruptcy
Japanese OLED display manufacturer JOLED has decided to throw in the towel, as the company board has filed for bankruptcy protection at the Tokyo District Court. JOLED has some 33.7 billion yen (US$257 million) in liabilities and is hoping to cover some of these by selling off assets. The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), which is the largest shareholder of JOLED, will be taking over its R&D department, along with around 100 employees as well as its intellectual property. However, it will not take over either of JOLEDs two fabs, located in Nomi and Chiba, Japan. The two fabs employ around 280 staff and currently the two fabs building displays using JOLED's innovative printing technology for OLED displays are expected to be closed.
However, as JOLED still has supply contracts with the likes of Apple, ASUS, Eizo, LG and Sony, INCJ will continue to operate the fabs for now, to fulfil the contracts for the time being. INCJ is apparently accepting responsibility to cover JOLED's liabilities, sheltering the other shareholders of JOLED, which includes Japanese Denso and Chinese CSOT/TCL. JOLED has struggled for most of its existence, being late to market with its OLED displays and haven't been able to compete with the likes of LG and Samsung in Korea and BOE Display and CSOT in China. Hopefully INCJ will be able to take advantage of the intellectual property from JOLED, as the company is focusing on making its own line of OLED displays in the future.
However, as JOLED still has supply contracts with the likes of Apple, ASUS, Eizo, LG and Sony, INCJ will continue to operate the fabs for now, to fulfil the contracts for the time being. INCJ is apparently accepting responsibility to cover JOLED's liabilities, sheltering the other shareholders of JOLED, which includes Japanese Denso and Chinese CSOT/TCL. JOLED has struggled for most of its existence, being late to market with its OLED displays and haven't been able to compete with the likes of LG and Samsung in Korea and BOE Display and CSOT in China. Hopefully INCJ will be able to take advantage of the intellectual property from JOLED, as the company is focusing on making its own line of OLED displays in the future.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Name Gets Confirmed
Both the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 4060 have been rumored to launch in May, and now the RTX 4060 Ti name has been pretty much confirmed as NVIDIA board partners have received the marketing materials, including the box design template. When the board partners get the box and logo design templates and send out boxes to printing, the name is pretty much carved in stone.
The leak comes from MEGAsizeGPU, and we had a pretty similar leak for the RTX 4070 Ti earlier. Unfortunately, the leaked box design and key features do not reveal or confirm previous rumors about any of the important specifications, so the rumored 8 GB memory or PCIe Gen 4 x8 interface are still not confirmed. One thing is clear, NVIDIA is building up steam and gearing up to launch as many as three new RTX 40 series graphics cards in next two months, with the GeForce RTX 4070 rumored for April 13th launch date, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and the GeForce RTX 4060 should launch in May.
The leak comes from MEGAsizeGPU, and we had a pretty similar leak for the RTX 4070 Ti earlier. Unfortunately, the leaked box design and key features do not reveal or confirm previous rumors about any of the important specifications, so the rumored 8 GB memory or PCIe Gen 4 x8 interface are still not confirmed. One thing is clear, NVIDIA is building up steam and gearing up to launch as many as three new RTX 40 series graphics cards in next two months, with the GeForce RTX 4070 rumored for April 13th launch date, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and the GeForce RTX 4060 should launch in May.
ASUS Announces Refreshed 14" ExpertBook B5 Series
ASUS today announced refreshed models in the ultralight, kilogram-class ExpertBook B5 laptop series—ExpertBook B5 (B5402C) and ExpertBook B5 Flip (B5402F).
Available in both traditional clamshell and 360°-convertible forms for the ultimate in portability, flexibility and clarity, the latest ExpertBook B5 models feature expansive 14-inch displays and are packed with the latest high-performance and enterprise-grade security technologies, including up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel vPro support and Intel Iris Xe graphics, optional TPM 2.0, both face and fingerprint login, a physical webcam shield, AI noise cancelation for crystal-clear conferencing, ASUS NumberPad for fast data input and, with ExpertBook B5 Flip, a quick-charging garaged stylus.
Available in both traditional clamshell and 360°-convertible forms for the ultimate in portability, flexibility and clarity, the latest ExpertBook B5 models feature expansive 14-inch displays and are packed with the latest high-performance and enterprise-grade security technologies, including up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel vPro support and Intel Iris Xe graphics, optional TPM 2.0, both face and fingerprint login, a physical webcam shield, AI noise cancelation for crystal-clear conferencing, ASUS NumberPad for fast data input and, with ExpertBook B5 Flip, a quick-charging garaged stylus.
Intel Releases Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4257
Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.4257 beta adds Game On (day-zero) optimization for "Crime Boss." This particular release does not pack any "Fixed Issues" load, as it releases barely 5 days from the 101.4255 WHQL drivers. The company did, however, identify a dozen new issues as part of its "Known Issues" lists for Arc discrete GPUs, Iris Xe MAX GPUs, Core processor iGPUs (since 11th Gen), and its Arc Control software interface.
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4257 beta
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4257 beta
ASUS Announces April Availability of ProArt Displays PA329CRV, PA279CRV, and PA248CRV
ASUS today announced the April availability of ProArt Display PA329CRV, PA279CRV, and PA248CRV. The 31.5-inch PA329CRV and the 27-inch PA249CRV feature a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) panel, while the PA248CRV has a 24.1-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) panel. Each monitor is factory-calibrated and Calman Verified, offering Delta E < 2 color accuracy and covering at least 97% of the DCI-P3 color space. Connectivity features come in the form of DisplayPort over USB-C with 96-watt Power Delivery, a standard DisplayPort, HDMI, and a USB hub. In keeping with the ASUS commitment to sustainability, these displays deliver energy-efficient performance that meets global environmental standards including EPEAT Gold, ENERGY STAR, and TCO. Plus, each is packed in recyclable paper packaging.
Micron Technology Reports Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2023
Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced results for its second quarter of fiscal 2023, which ended March 2, 2023. "Micron delivered fiscal second quarter revenue within our guidance range in a challenging market environment," said Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. "Customer inventories are getting better, and we expect gradual improvements to the industry's supply-demand balance. We remain confident in long-term demand and are investing prudently to preserve our technology and product portfolio competitiveness."
Investments in capital expenditures, net were $2.16 billion for the second quarter of 2023, which resulted in adjusted free cash flows of negative $1.81 billion. Micron ended the second quarter of 2023 with cash, marketable investments, and restricted cash of $12.12 billion. Micron's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.115 per share, payable in cash on April 25, 2023, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 10, 2023.
Investments in capital expenditures, net were $2.16 billion for the second quarter of 2023, which resulted in adjusted free cash flows of negative $1.81 billion. Micron ended the second quarter of 2023 with cash, marketable investments, and restricted cash of $12.12 billion. Micron's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.115 per share, payable in cash on April 25, 2023, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 10, 2023.
Introducing Logitech Zone Learn, Wired Headsets Built for the Education Market
Today Logitech International announced the launch of Zone Learn, wired headsets designed for K-12 learners. Zone Learn features comfort optimized for younger learners with smaller heads, durable architecture and replaceable ear pads and cables. These new headsets, designed with a scalable fit, were built for a deeper, more sustained focus and long-term use to keep students in their learning zones.
Logitech worked hand-in-hand with educators and students—from concept to final prototype—to build an education-first product, resulting in a headset designed, engineered and tested to support learning that happens, anytime, anywhere, in any style and is Works With Chromebook (WWCB) certified. Zone Learn purposefully adapts to every size and shape of learning to make it more accessible, meaningful and impactful.
Logitech worked hand-in-hand with educators and students—from concept to final prototype—to build an education-first product, resulting in a headset designed, engineered and tested to support learning that happens, anytime, anywhere, in any style and is Works With Chromebook (WWCB) certified. Zone Learn purposefully adapts to every size and shape of learning to make it more accessible, meaningful and impactful.
TerraMaster Launches 6-bay D6-320 with USB 3.2 Storage Expansion Device for PC and NAS
TerraMaster, a professional brand that focuses on providing innovative storage products for homes and businesses, recently released new model of D6-320 6-bay external hard disk enclosure with USB3.2 Gen 2 protocol, providing a 10 Gbps data transmission bandwidth, and D6-320 supports up to 132 TB (22 TB x 6) storage space, which perfectly meet the professional requirement for speed and storage space at the same time. Adopt the USB3.2 Gen 2 protocol, D6-320 provides a 10 Gbps data transmission bandwidth, with the actual read/write speed up to 1,030 MB/s when 6 hard drives are installed (WD Red 8 TB x 6 simultaneously read/write); with only one hard disk installed, the read speed could reach 510 MB/s (WD Red 1 TB SSD x1).
D6-320 is equipped with a USB Type-C interface and a USB type-C cable (1 meter in length), and could be compatible with a variety of computer interfaces: USB 3.0/USB 3.1/USB 3.2/USB4 /Thunderbolt 3/Thunderbolt 4 (to connect it to the USB type-C interface on your computer, you need to purchase another USB type C-type C cable).
D6-320 is equipped with a USB Type-C interface and a USB type-C cable (1 meter in length), and could be compatible with a variety of computer interfaces: USB 3.0/USB 3.1/USB 3.2/USB4 /Thunderbolt 3/Thunderbolt 4 (to connect it to the USB type-C interface on your computer, you need to purchase another USB type C-type C cable).
NVIDIA Prepares GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060 Launches in May 2023
It looks like Spring-Summer will see NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 40-series get a rapid ramp up to high-volume market segments. In April, the company is planning to release the GeForce RTX 4070, which should hold the performance-segment end of things, albeit at an eye-watering $750 rumored price. May 2023 could see NVIDIA come out with two product launches before the 2023 Computex; the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, and the RTX 4060.
Both the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060 are expected to be based on the "AD106" silicon, which is expected to have around 36 streaming multiprocessors (4,608 CUDA cores, 144 Tensor cores, 36 RT cores, 144 TMUs, 48 ROPs); and a 128-bit wide memory interface. NVIDIA is expected to use 18 Gbps-rated conventional GDDR6 memory chips with these SKUs, which should lower costs (for the company) in comparison to the more exotic 19 Gbps GDDR6X.
Both the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060 are expected to be based on the "AD106" silicon, which is expected to have around 36 streaming multiprocessors (4,608 CUDA cores, 144 Tensor cores, 36 RT cores, 144 TMUs, 48 ROPs); and a 128-bit wide memory interface. NVIDIA is expected to use 18 Gbps-rated conventional GDDR6 memory chips with these SKUs, which should lower costs (for the company) in comparison to the more exotic 19 Gbps GDDR6X.
Bitspower Intros Low-Profile M.2 SSD Armor
Bitspower today introduced the Low-Profile M.2 SSD Armor, an M.2 SSD heatsink which, as its name suggests, is designed to be compact. This should come in handy for cooling mid-thru-performance segment drives that lack heatsinks, or for making them fit for use with PlayStation 5. The Bitspower heatsink is a simple hunk of extruded anodized aluminium, along with a thermal pad, and elastic bands that hold the heatsink in place. The heatsink is 22.2 mm in width, 70 mm in length, and 5 mm in height (thickness). The company didn't reveal pricing information.
Tuesday, March 28th 2023
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Headphones
Sound Cards
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Warzone 2.0: FSR 2.1 vs. DLSS Comparison Review
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Warzone 2.0 has recently been updated with official support for AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.1 (FSR 2.1). In this mini-review, we take a look, comparing the image quality and performance gains offered by upscaling technologies in this game.
Phanteks NV7 Review
Phanteks is launching a brand new case line with the NV series, starting with the massive NV7. The sleek, modern-looking case has everything that consumers love these days, but also includes tons of unique features that make it stand out as a great choice for a full-tower build.
GameCube and Wii Dolphin Emulator set to Launch on Steam Later This Year
We are pleased to announce our great experiment - Dolphin is coming to Steam! Our store page is now live, and you can visit it with the handy widget below. However, due to how Steam works, you won't be able to download the emulator through Steam just yet. Feel free to wishlist us to be notified when Dolphin is available to download on Steam! Dolphin is an emulator for the big N's 6th and 7th generation consoles, featuring enhancements such as increased resolution, save states, and netplay.
When we launch on Steam, we'll have a feature article detailing the process and features of the Steam release. We're pleased to finally tell the world of our experiment. This has been the product of many months of work, and we look forward to getting it into users' hands soon! You can continue the discussion in the forum thread of this article.
When we launch on Steam, we'll have a feature article detailing the process and features of the Steam release. We're pleased to finally tell the world of our experiment. This has been the product of many months of work, and we look forward to getting it into users' hands soon! You can continue the discussion in the forum thread of this article.
Ubisoft Announces Forward Live Event, Latest Company to Withdraw from E3 2023
Ubisoft has reversed its February decision to be a presence at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, instead it will be holding a separate event in the city with coincidental timing. Ubisoft spokesperson Heather Haefner yesterday provided a statement to The Verge: "E3 has fostered unforgettable moments across the industry throughout the years. While we initially intended to have an official E3 presence, we've made the subsequent decision to move in a different direction, and will be holding a Ubisoft Forward Live event on June 12 in Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing more details with our players very soon."
Ubisoft had previously confirmed its attendance in a statement to Games Industry.biz earlier this year: "E3 is a special moment for our industry and we are excited to showcase our strong line-up in Los Angeles in June. We are still finalizing the details of our plans and look forward to sharing more soon." CEO Yves Guillemot has also hinted in the recent past that he wanted the company to attend E3 2023, but this was prior to the whole event being given the go ahead by co-organizers Entertainment Software Association and ReedPOP. E3 2023 is set to be the first in-person Electronic Entertainment Expo event held since 2019.
Ubisoft had previously confirmed its attendance in a statement to Games Industry.biz earlier this year: "E3 is a special moment for our industry and we are excited to showcase our strong line-up in Los Angeles in June. We are still finalizing the details of our plans and look forward to sharing more soon." CEO Yves Guillemot has also hinted in the recent past that he wanted the company to attend E3 2023, but this was prior to the whole event being given the go ahead by co-organizers Entertainment Software Association and ReedPOP. E3 2023 is set to be the first in-person Electronic Entertainment Expo event held since 2019.
Forza Horizon 5 Gets DLSS 3 Update
NVIDIA has announced that Forza Horizon 5 has finally got the DLSS 3 and NVIDIA Reflex update. Last week, DLSS 2 was available for Deceive Inc. and Tchia!, and DLSS 2 is also coming to Gripper, The Last of Us Part I, and Smalland: Survive The Wilds next week.
According to NVIDIA, with the DLSS 3 update, Forza Horizon 5 can now run at over 120 frames per second at 4K/UHD resolution on RTX 40 series, including the RTX 4070 Ti. According to the NVIDIA benchmark, the game was running on Intel Core i9-12900K, 32 GB of RAM and at Super Resolution Performance Mode with maximum settings and extreme ray tracing mode. With DLSS 3, even the RTX 4070 Ti hits an average of 125.2 frames per second.
According to NVIDIA, with the DLSS 3 update, Forza Horizon 5 can now run at over 120 frames per second at 4K/UHD resolution on RTX 40 series, including the RTX 4070 Ti. According to the NVIDIA benchmark, the game was running on Intel Core i9-12900K, 32 GB of RAM and at Super Resolution Performance Mode with maximum settings and extreme ray tracing mode. With DLSS 3, even the RTX 4070 Ti hits an average of 125.2 frames per second.
Oppo and OnePlus Commit to Staying in Key European Markets for 2023, Deny Rumors of Future Withdrawal
Smartphone specialists Oppo and OnePlus have responded to the rumors of both companies exiting several European markets, as well as the UK. In a joint statement provided to Android Authority the message was a promise to stay put in 2023: "OPPO and OnePlus are committed to all the existing European markets. We had a great start in 2023 with the successful launches of several products in Europe and have a line-up of upcoming products for the rest of the year. As always, OPPO and OnePlus will continue to provide more innovative products and the best-in-class service for users moving forward."
Starting yesterday, industry tipsters issued posts about Oppo and OnePlus withdrawing from markets in Europe, with more immediate exits from key territories - France, Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The cited reasons for exiting the aforementioned markets include a massive slowdown in regional sales and legal cases levied by competitors in regard to patent infringements on Oppo's part. The lawsuits that were levied by Nokia have resulted in a number of Oppo and OnePlus devices being banned from sale in Germany.
Starting yesterday, industry tipsters issued posts about Oppo and OnePlus withdrawing from markets in Europe, with more immediate exits from key territories - France, Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The cited reasons for exiting the aforementioned markets include a massive slowdown in regional sales and legal cases levied by competitors in regard to patent infringements on Oppo's part. The lawsuits that were levied by Nokia have resulted in a number of Oppo and OnePlus devices being banned from sale in Germany.
Lenovo's Latest Line-up of New Yoga Laptops Empower Creators from Inspiration to Expression
Creating, consuming and collaborating in a hybrid world just got easier with Lenovo's latest generation of Windows 11 Yoga laptops that deliver impressive performance, incredible versatility, and easy mobility in a sleek and portable design:
"We know that digital content creators continue to embrace the hybrid lifestyle to create anytime, anywhere, from making videos to designing graphics on the move," says Jun Ouyang, Lenovo's vice president and general manager of the Consumer Business Segment, Intelligent Devices Group. "Lenovo's latest new premium Yoga Pro laptops are made for creators. Combining performance and portability, including an impressive new Mini-LED PureSight Pro display and an upgraded keyboard, creators will revel in the exceptional user experience to create whenever inspiration strikes."
"We know that digital content creators continue to embrace the hybrid lifestyle to create anytime, anywhere, from making videos to designing graphics on the move," says Jun Ouyang, Lenovo's vice president and general manager of the Consumer Business Segment, Intelligent Devices Group. "Lenovo's latest new premium Yoga Pro laptops are made for creators. Combining performance and portability, including an impressive new Mini-LED PureSight Pro display and an upgraded keyboard, creators will revel in the exceptional user experience to create whenever inspiration strikes."
Cooler Master's 2022 Case Mod World Series Winners Stun with Innovative and Artful PC Designs
Cooler Master, the global frontrunner in PC components and peripherals, proudly reveals the triumphant entries of the Case Mod World Series 2022. This annual contest, which began in 2009, continues to captivate the imagination with trailblazing custom PC creations from artists across the globe.
This year's winner of the Best Tower Mod category is Timeplay who wowed the judges with a breathtaking Cosmos C700M mod that redefined the classic Full Tower case in an ITX form factor. In the Best Scratch Build category, Keir Graham took home the top honors with his PowerCore build—a remarkable custom liquid-cooled system that showcased both intricate detail and ingenious design.
This year's winner of the Best Tower Mod category is Timeplay who wowed the judges with a breathtaking Cosmos C700M mod that redefined the classic Full Tower case in an ITX form factor. In the Best Scratch Build category, Keir Graham took home the top honors with his PowerCore build—a remarkable custom liquid-cooled system that showcased both intricate detail and ingenious design.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core Now Available in Vibrant Red or Blue
Introducing the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 - Core, now in red and blue. We expanded the core version of the Xbox Elite Series 2 lineup to give gamers more options to play like a pro. Play in style with just the components you need to unleash your best game. The new, vibrant red and blue color schemes of the core version of Xbox Elite Series 2 are sure to make a statement amongst your friends while delivering key performance-focused benefits.
Turn on a dime with adjustable tension thumbsticks where inches are the difference. Make split seconds count with hair trigger locks and stay on target with wrap-around rubberized grips. Enjoy limitless customization with exclusive button mapping options to find your groove. Perfect your game day prep with assignable custom profiles so you can dominate regardless of playbook or sport.
Turn on a dime with adjustable tension thumbsticks where inches are the difference. Make split seconds count with hair trigger locks and stay on target with wrap-around rubberized grips. Enjoy limitless customization with exclusive button mapping options to find your groove. Perfect your game day prep with assignable custom profiles so you can dominate regardless of playbook or sport.
With Security Copilot, Microsoft brings the power of AI to cyberdefense
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced it is bringing the next generation of AI to cybersecurity with the launch of Microsoft Security Copilot, giving defenders a much-needed tool to quickly detect and respond to threats and better understand the threat landscape overall. Security Copilot will combine Microsoft's vast threat intelligence footprint with industry-leading expertise to augment the work of security professionals through an easy-to-use AI assistant.
"Today the odds remain stacked against cybersecurity professionals. Too often, they fight an asymmetric battle against relentless and sophisticated attackers," said Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president, Microsoft Security. "With Security Copilot, we are shifting the balance of power into our favor. Security Copilot is the first and only generative AI security product enabling defenders to move at the speed and scale of AI."
"Today the odds remain stacked against cybersecurity professionals. Too often, they fight an asymmetric battle against relentless and sophisticated attackers," said Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president, Microsoft Security. "With Security Copilot, we are shifting the balance of power into our favor. Security Copilot is the first and only generative AI security product enabling defenders to move at the speed and scale of AI."
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Previewed in Gameplay Demonstration, Development Cycle is Complete
Nintendo is ramping up publicity efforts for its upcoming sequel to Breath of the Wild, which was a ratings and sales smash upon launching in Spring 2017 for the Japanese company. Tears of the Kingdom is the latest addition in the long running Legend of Zelda series and is set for release on May 12. In a newly released video that clocks in at a generous 13 and a bit minutes in length, the game's producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrates multiple aspects of gameplay - including Link's new abilities, refined combat systems, weapon crafting, vehicle building via puzzle mechanics and the transition from sky to land areas.
Aonuma-san starts off the video presentation by announcing that the development cycle for Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been completed (reached gold status in industry terms). The game is due to launch internationally in mid-May, so it is encouraging that the development team is, allegedly, not tinkering under the hood until the very last minute. Tears of the Kingdom has been delayed since it was first teased at E3 2019 - development began in 2017 following the completion of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. Nintendo initially announced an estimated release window in 2022, but presumably due to world changing events, the game was pushed back to Q2 2023.
Aonuma-san starts off the video presentation by announcing that the development cycle for Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been completed (reached gold status in industry terms). The game is due to launch internationally in mid-May, so it is encouraging that the development team is, allegedly, not tinkering under the hood until the very last minute. Tears of the Kingdom has been delayed since it was first teased at E3 2019 - development began in 2017 following the completion of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. Nintendo initially announced an estimated release window in 2022, but presumably due to world changing events, the game was pushed back to Q2 2023.
Huawei Reportedly Develops Chip Design Tools for 14 nm and Above
Amid the US sanctions, Chinese technology giant Huawei has reportedly developed tools to create processors with 14 nm and above lithography. According to Chinese media Yicai, Huawei and its semiconductor partners have teamed up to create replacement tools in place of US chip toolmakers like Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor/Siemens. These three companies control all of the world's Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools used for every step of chip design, from architecture to placement and routing to the final physical layout. Many steps need to be taken before making a tapeout of a physical chip, and Huawei's newly developed EDA tools will help the Chinese industry with US sanctions which crippled Huawei for a long time.
Having no access to US-made chipmaking tools, Huawei has invested substantial time into making these EDA tools. However, with competing EDA makers supporting lithography way below 14 nm, Huawei's job still needs to be completed. Chinese semiconductor factories are currently capable of 7 nm chip production, and Huawei itself is working on making a sub-7 nm EUV scanner to aid manufacturing goals and compete with the latest from TSMC and other. If Huawei can create EUV scanners that can achieve transistor sizes smaller than 7 nm, we expect to see their EDA tools keep pace as well. It is only a matter of time before they announce adaptation for smaller nodes.
Having no access to US-made chipmaking tools, Huawei has invested substantial time into making these EDA tools. However, with competing EDA makers supporting lithography way below 14 nm, Huawei's job still needs to be completed. Chinese semiconductor factories are currently capable of 7 nm chip production, and Huawei itself is working on making a sub-7 nm EUV scanner to aid manufacturing goals and compete with the latest from TSMC and other. If Huawei can create EUV scanners that can achieve transistor sizes smaller than 7 nm, we expect to see their EDA tools keep pace as well. It is only a matter of time before they announce adaptation for smaller nodes.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition Launches on April 28
The Nintendo Switch - OLED Model - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition system, featuring a special design from the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game, will launch on April 28!* Available at a suggested retail price of $359.99, this sleek new edition bears a design which appears in the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game, including the familiar Hylian Crest from the Legend of Zelda series on the front of the dock.
Plus, two accessories - a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (MSRP $74.99) and a Nintendo Switch carrying case (MSRP $24.99), both with designs from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - will release separately on May 12, the day the game launches. The new hardware and these legendary new accessories were announced in a new presentation featuring series producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrating new gameplay from the upcoming title, which can be viewed here. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game, the new hardware and the two themed accessories are all now available for pre-order. Please check with your local retailer for further details.
Plus, two accessories - a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (MSRP $74.99) and a Nintendo Switch carrying case (MSRP $24.99), both with designs from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - will release separately on May 12, the day the game launches. The new hardware and these legendary new accessories were announced in a new presentation featuring series producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrating new gameplay from the upcoming title, which can be viewed here. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game, the new hardware and the two themed accessories are all now available for pre-order. Please check with your local retailer for further details.
Tachyum To Use UCIe Interconnect Standards In Prodigy 2
Tachyum announced today it has strengthened its presence in the Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) organization that develops and supports the chiplet ecosystem and in-package innovations. The UCIe community fosters collaboration among leaders in semiconductors, packaging, IP suppliers, foundries, and cloud services.
UCIe 1.0 is an open specification guiding the interconnection between chiplets within a package to ensure communication and functionality. Chiplet-based design increases density and capability compared to standard printed circuit-boards (PCBs), and enables much smaller, lower-cost solutions that consume less power. UCIe specification addresses the die-to-die I/O physical layer, die-to-die protocols, and software stack currently served by PCI Express (PCIe) and Compute Express Link (CXL) industry standards. UCIe ultimately extends the PCIe standard to in-package interconnects and allows the potential to bring CXL into in-package integration.
UCIe 1.0 is an open specification guiding the interconnection between chiplets within a package to ensure communication and functionality. Chiplet-based design increases density and capability compared to standard printed circuit-boards (PCBs), and enables much smaller, lower-cost solutions that consume less power. UCIe specification addresses the die-to-die I/O physical layer, die-to-die protocols, and software stack currently served by PCI Express (PCIe) and Compute Express Link (CXL) industry standards. UCIe ultimately extends the PCIe standard to in-package interconnects and allows the potential to bring CXL into in-package integration.
Phanteks Announces the New NV Series With The NV7 Showcase Chassis Along with D30 D-RGB Fans
The new NV7 marks the beginning of a brand-new series of Phanteks chassis. The NV Series envisions a chassis that supports the system components aesthetically and with excellent cooling performance. The new NV series brings beauty and usability together, creating a perfect balance of form and function. Alongside the release of the NV7, Phanteks also introduces the new D30 DRGB fans. Combining premium D-RGB lighting with the 30 mm thick and aerodynamic fan blades inspired by the ultimate T30 fan, the D30-120 makes for a true premium D-RGB fan for modern systems.
The Phanteks NV7, with its unmistakable purpose design, highlights the system components with the motherboard at its center. One defining design element of the NV7 is its strong and defining outer frame that captures and accentuates the hardware components. With a clean design from all sides, the NV7 allows you to place your system freely without the traditionally messy rear side. The glass panels offer a near-seamless view of the inside to further focus on the system components.
[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the NV7 case is now live]
The Phanteks NV7, with its unmistakable purpose design, highlights the system components with the motherboard at its center. One defining design element of the NV7 is its strong and defining outer frame that captures and accentuates the hardware components. With a clean design from all sides, the NV7 allows you to place your system freely without the traditionally messy rear side. The glass panels offer a near-seamless view of the inside to further focus on the system components.
Philips Introduces SuperWide Monitor 45B1U6900C with Comprehensive USB-C Docking Station
The Philips 45B1U6900C combines a dual-monitor setup in a single display. The Philips 45B1U6900C is equipped with a large, 44.5" (113 cm diagonal) screen with Double QHD (5120 x 1440) resolution and several other features that are designed to aid professionals' multitasking, such as: USB-C docking with an RJ45 (Gigabit Ethernet) input, a 32:9 SuperWide aspect ratio, and a curvature of 1500R with viewing angles of 178/178 degrees.
Instead of having two separate monitors, the Philips 45B1U6900C's 44.5" screen and 32:9 SuperWide aspect ratio allow professionals to easily open multiple windows side-by-side, without a bezel in the middle dividing the content abruptly. The 32:9 aspect ratio also helps to have an extra-wide perspective for working with timeline-based software such as video or audio editors. In addition, the monitor's curved VA panel produces wide, 178°/178° viewing angles and crisp, high-contrast imagery, while the 1500R curvature creates an overall more immersive experience.
Instead of having two separate monitors, the Philips 45B1U6900C's 44.5" screen and 32:9 SuperWide aspect ratio allow professionals to easily open multiple windows side-by-side, without a bezel in the middle dividing the content abruptly. The 32:9 aspect ratio also helps to have an extra-wide perspective for working with timeline-based software such as video or audio editors. In addition, the monitor's curved VA panel produces wide, 178°/178° viewing angles and crisp, high-contrast imagery, while the 1500R curvature creates an overall more immersive experience.
Intel Releases New Arc Pro 31.0.101.4092 WHQL Graphics Driver
Intel's Arc Pro A40, A30, and Arc Pro A30M for laptops were announced back in August last year, these are still only available to OEMs, and it appears that Intel is not focused on driver updates for its Arc Pro series as it is for its gaming Arc series graphics card lineup. The latest Arc Pro 31.0.101.4092 WHQL driver is the first driver update in 4 months.
The previous driver was released back in December last year, and while we do not know how popular Intel Arc Pro series is, since there are currently only two desktop and one mobile graphics card, four months are still a long time between driver updates. The latest one focuses on certification for professional applications, including various Autodesk software, Siemens, Vectorworks, Dassault Systèmes Solidworks, and others. It also includes several fixes for some of those applications.
The previous driver was released back in December last year, and while we do not know how popular Intel Arc Pro series is, since there are currently only two desktop and one mobile graphics card, four months are still a long time between driver updates. The latest one focuses on certification for professional applications, including various Autodesk software, Siemens, Vectorworks, Dassault Systèmes Solidworks, and others. It also includes several fixes for some of those applications.
HP Boosts Gaming Solutions for Awe-Inspiring Experiences
Today at the Amplify Partner Conference, HP Inc announced its latest line-up of gaming hardware and software designed to bring gamers everything they need to enjoy the games they love. The new OMEN Transcend 16 Laptop, OMEN 16 Laptop, Victus 16 Laptop, and a vast range of stunning OMEN monitors offer casual, hobbyist, lifestyle, and hardcore gamers the power and flexibility to play and work hard. To bring everything together, new enhancements in OMEN Gaming Hub offer a variety of performance and personalization features.
People everywhere seek devices that can adapt to hybrid play and work. Sixty-two percent of gamers prefer a PC that fits their entire life instead of being used for gaming only. With a billion new gamers entering the space in the last seven years and 84 percent of them using games to connect with others with similar interests, gaming devices enable access to countless games and corresponding communities.
People everywhere seek devices that can adapt to hybrid play and work. Sixty-two percent of gamers prefer a PC that fits their entire life instead of being used for gaming only. With a billion new gamers entering the space in the last seven years and 84 percent of them using games to connect with others with similar interests, gaming devices enable access to countless games and corresponding communities.
REDMAGIC Announces the 4K Gaming Monitor
REDMAGIC is proud to launch the first generation of its 4K gaming monitor. With an ultra-fast refresh rate of 160 Hz, its display is designed for gamers who demand amazing visual quality and performance. Introduced as a "Dive into the gaming reality", the 27-inch gaming monitor features over 2000 mini-led lights with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It delivers 99% DCI-P3 with a HDR VESA-certified display 1000, and equipped with a dedicated anti-glare feature.
"At REDMAGIC, we believe in providing gamers worldwide with the ultimate e-Sports experience. We strive to deliver high-quality gaming equipment, using professional solutions to optimize the user experience. Our objective is to expand our focus beyond peripherals to other e-sports categories, making multi-terminal gaming more professional and enjoyable for gamers. It is our commitment to provide innovative and high-quality products to the gaming community that we value user feedback and take it seriously in the design and development of our products," said the REDMAGIC team.
"At REDMAGIC, we believe in providing gamers worldwide with the ultimate e-Sports experience. We strive to deliver high-quality gaming equipment, using professional solutions to optimize the user experience. Our objective is to expand our focus beyond peripherals to other e-sports categories, making multi-terminal gaming more professional and enjoyable for gamers. It is our commitment to provide innovative and high-quality products to the gaming community that we value user feedback and take it seriously in the design and development of our products," said the REDMAGIC team.
Valve Discontinuing Steam Support on Windows 7/8/8.1 as of 2024
Valve has confirmed that its Steam platform will no longer support the Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 operating systems as of January 1st, 2024. Valve discontinued support for Windows XP and Windows Vista back in 2019.
Valve says that after that date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows and users will need to update to a more recent release. The reason behind such a move, according to Valve, is that the newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome which no longer functions on older versions of Windows, and that the future of Steam will require Windows features and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.
Valve says that after that date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows and users will need to update to a more recent release. The reason behind such a move, according to Valve, is that the newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome which no longer functions on older versions of Windows, and that the future of Steam will require Windows features and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.
be quiet! Light Wings ARGB Fans Get New White Color
be quiet!, the German manufacturer for premium PC components, s extending its fan portfolio with Light Wings White. Based on the award-winning Light Wings fan series, Light Wings White offers a new white color option for users looking to build color-oriented systems.
All Light Wings White fans offer high-performance, low-noise operation with ARGB illumination and are equipped with one LED ring at the fan's inlet and another narrow LED ring at the outlet. They are available in four different triple-pack versions: 120 mm, 120 mm high-speed, 140 mm, and 140 mm high-speed.
All Light Wings White fans offer high-performance, low-noise operation with ARGB illumination and are equipped with one LED ring at the fan's inlet and another narrow LED ring at the outlet. They are available in four different triple-pack versions: 120 mm, 120 mm high-speed, 140 mm, and 140 mm high-speed.
Gamdias Introduces CHIONE P3 All-in-One Liquid Cooler with IPS Display
Introducing the CHIONE P3 high-performance liquid cooler - the next-generation cooling solution designed to offer top-notch performance on any setup. The CHIONE P3 AIO features a highly customizable IPS LCD display to show off your own style, a high-performance motor pump to offer extreme cooling, and fine-tuned AEOLUS M3 PWM fans to provide superior airflow. Available with 360 mm and 240 mm radiator sizes, the CHIONE P3 is the ultimate cooling solution for gamers and enthusiasts.
PERSONALIZED LCD DISPLAY
Equipped with a customizable IPS LCD display, the CHIONE P3 allows you to monitor your system performance statistics in real-time, while also personalizing the screen with any images or animated GIFs as the background. The pump head features a stunning ARGB lighting ring with pre-installed lighting modes for a dazzling display of lighting effects.
PERSONALIZED LCD DISPLAY
Equipped with a customizable IPS LCD display, the CHIONE P3 allows you to monitor your system performance statistics in real-time, while also personalizing the screen with any images or animated GIFs as the background. The pump head features a stunning ARGB lighting ring with pre-installed lighting modes for a dazzling display of lighting effects.
Decline in DRAM ASP Narrows to 10~15% in 2Q23 with No End in Sight
TrendForce reports that several suppliers, such as Micron and SK hynix, have started scaling back DRAM production. The ASP of DRAM plunged 20% in 1Q23, and this price decline is predicted to slow down to 10~15% next quarter. It's uncertain whether or not demand will recover in 2H23. Therefore, the ASP of DRAM has continued to fall as inventory levels are high from the suppliers' side, and prices will only rebound if there is a significant decrease in production.
PC DRAM: Purchase quantity from buyers has fallen drastically over the past three quarters; buyers have around 9~13 weeks of PC DRAM stock remaining. Despite suppliers having already cut production in the PC DRAM segment, DDR4 8 GB module is still likely to fall by more than 10% in 2Q23. There is a possibility that PC OEMs may purchase more DRAM because prices have been down to a relatively low level, but it is still under observation whether or not this can mitigate the inventory overstock situation from the suppliers' side. TrendForce predicts the ASP of PC DRAM will fall between 10~15%.
PC DRAM: Purchase quantity from buyers has fallen drastically over the past three quarters; buyers have around 9~13 weeks of PC DRAM stock remaining. Despite suppliers having already cut production in the PC DRAM segment, DDR4 8 GB module is still likely to fall by more than 10% in 2Q23. There is a possibility that PC OEMs may purchase more DRAM because prices have been down to a relatively low level, but it is still under observation whether or not this can mitigate the inventory overstock situation from the suppliers' side. TrendForce predicts the ASP of PC DRAM will fall between 10~15%.
Diablo IV Might Already Have Support for Microsoft DirectStorage API
According to dataminers over at Reddit, it appears that Blizzard's Diablo IV might support Microsoft's DirectStorage API, although the developer did not officially announce it. This would make Diablo IV the second AAA title to support this API that should significantly lower loading times on SSD storage. The first title that used DirectStorage was Forspoken. The two files, named dstorage.dll and dstoragecore.dll, suggest that Diablo IV already has support for DirectStorage, or Blizzard is still working on it and it could be available only in the final version of the game.
According to Microsoft, DirectStorage API could reduce the CPU overhead in a game by 20 to 40 percent, when used with an NVMe SSD on Windows 11. Unfortunately, it appears that Diablo IV is also using DirectStorage 1.0 (v1.0.2), just as Forspoken, rather than DirectStorage 1.1 which adds GPU decompression to further speed up the loading process. Diablo IV beta stage is over and the game will officially launch on June 6th on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox S/X. Blizzard already announced that the support for NVIDIA DLSS 3 will be available in the final version, and that ray tracing will be added at a later date as well, so the DirectStorage API could also be on that list.
According to Microsoft, DirectStorage API could reduce the CPU overhead in a game by 20 to 40 percent, when used with an NVMe SSD on Windows 11. Unfortunately, it appears that Diablo IV is also using DirectStorage 1.0 (v1.0.2), just as Forspoken, rather than DirectStorage 1.1 which adds GPU decompression to further speed up the loading process. Diablo IV beta stage is over and the game will officially launch on June 6th on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox S/X. Blizzard already announced that the support for NVIDIA DLSS 3 will be available in the final version, and that ray tracing will be added at a later date as well, so the DirectStorage API could also be on that list.
ASUS Introduces New Student-Centered Solutions to Upgrade Today's Schools
ASUS, a global technology leader renowned for continuously reimagining today's technologies for tomorrow, today announced new education laptop solutions that feature rugged, serviceable and convertible designs to keep students engaged and put their safety at the forefront no matter where they are learning. With only 40% of learning taking place in schools, educators are looking to create more adaptable hybrid operations and campus models. As institutions adopt these new digital learning initiatives, they face new challenges in allocating resources, running online classrooms, integrating new devices and managing IT. Upgraded, student-centered laptop solutions from ASUS are designed to meet today's digital education ecosystem and enhance immersive learning and collaboration to help students thrive in the digital age.
From hybrid learning to IT management and student collaboration, ASUS enables incredible learning experiences with its brand-new BR1402 series. The perfect companion for hybrid learning, BR1402-series laptops feature durable designs for today's active students and an easy-to-service modular build that enables schools to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Designed to make the digital classroom interactive and easy to use, BR1402F features a 14-inch touchscreen and a 13-megapixel world-facing camera to enable professional-quality photos and videos. With up to 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 1 TB SSD, its accelerated computing speed makes for seamless learning and collaboration.
From hybrid learning to IT management and student collaboration, ASUS enables incredible learning experiences with its brand-new BR1402 series. The perfect companion for hybrid learning, BR1402-series laptops feature durable designs for today's active students and an easy-to-service modular build that enables schools to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Designed to make the digital classroom interactive and easy to use, BR1402F features a 14-inch touchscreen and a 13-megapixel world-facing camera to enable professional-quality photos and videos. With up to 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 1 TB SSD, its accelerated computing speed makes for seamless learning and collaboration.
ADATA XPG launches CYBERCORE II Platinum ATX3.0 Certified and PCIe 5.0 Ready PSU
XPG, a fast-growing provider of systems, components, and peripherals for Gamers, Esports Pros, and Tech Enthusiasts, today announced the global release of the newest iteration of their Platinum certified, modular power supply series, XPG CYBERCORE II. Offering two models in 1000 W and 1300 W respectively, this power supply family caters to the needs of power hungry DIY enthusiasts, performance focused gamers, and ATX based workstations equipped with the latest high-end GPUs. Both versions are ATX 3.0 compliant with a PCIe 5.0 12VHPWR (12+4 Pin) connector, while still sporting a thermal solution designed in collaboration with Nidec. This series offers some of the coolest and quietest next-gen ready PSU performance currently on the market.
The XPG CYBERCORE ll Platinum power supply series fulfills all stringent Intel ATX 3.0 requirements and offers quick and convenient fully modular cable management, specifically designed for high-end graphics cards and systems with large power consumption needs. As such, it includes a 12VHPWR (12+4 Pin) connector and cable right out of the box for PCIe 5.0 applications, offering reliability and compatibility with the latest and upcoming components.
The XPG CYBERCORE ll Platinum power supply series fulfills all stringent Intel ATX 3.0 requirements and offers quick and convenient fully modular cable management, specifically designed for high-end graphics cards and systems with large power consumption needs. As such, it includes a 12VHPWR (12+4 Pin) connector and cable right out of the box for PCIe 5.0 applications, offering reliability and compatibility with the latest and upcoming components.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Surfaces on SANDRA Database
AMD's hotly anticipated gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D "Zen 4," which launches early-April, is beginning to show up in online benchmark databases. The 8-core/16-thread processor has 64 MB of 3D Vertical Cache, which takes its L3 cache size up to an impressive 96 MB, and total cache up to 104 MB. The chip is showing up on the SiSoftware SANDRA online database, where it was tested on an MSI MEG X670E Ace motherboard. It obtained a score of 395.07 GOPS, with 527.56 GIPS dhrystone INT, 552.04 GIPS dhrystone long; 316 GFLOP/s whetstone single-precision floating point, and 264.71 GFLOP/s whetstone double-precision floating point.
The score puts it at roughly 37% faster than the Ryzen 7 5800X3D "Zen 3," although it's somewhere between its other 8-core "Zen 4" compatriots, the 7700X and 7700. The 7800X3D, much like its predecessor, is expected to perform either on-par or slightly worse than the 7700X in frequency/IPC dependent "lightweight" tasks, but zoom past in cache-favoring workloads such as gaming. Its predecessor, the 5800X3D, beat the fastest Intel processor of its time, the i9-12900K, so the 7800X3D has its task cut out—to beat the i9-13900K in gaming.
The score puts it at roughly 37% faster than the Ryzen 7 5800X3D "Zen 3," although it's somewhere between its other 8-core "Zen 4" compatriots, the 7700X and 7700. The 7800X3D, much like its predecessor, is expected to perform either on-par or slightly worse than the 7700X in frequency/IPC dependent "lightweight" tasks, but zoom past in cache-favoring workloads such as gaming. Its predecessor, the 5800X3D, beat the fastest Intel processor of its time, the i9-12900K, so the 7800X3D has its task cut out—to beat the i9-13900K in gaming.
Monday, March 27th 2023
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Notebooks
Sound Cards
DeepCool LT720 White 360 mm AIO Review
DeepCool's LT720 WH is a 360 mm all-in-one liquid cooler that is able to dominate its competitors in many aspects. Performance is solid, the warranty is exceptional, add in a unique look, easy-to-use mounting hardware and you end up with a winning combination.
Antlion Kimura Solo and Duo IEMs Review - ModMic Miniaturized!
Antlion Audio builds upon its microphone expertise to offer an excellent microphone cable for in-ear monitors! The all-new Kimura lineup consists of two cables and two IEMs and we take a look at how these offer a unique solution to those who prefer earphones over headphones/headsets but wanted a boom mic with simpler cable management.
UP Team Collaborate with Leopard Imaging to Bring AI Vision to the Edge
Following its successful demonstration of a MIPI camera solution using the UP Squared Pro 7000 at Embedded World, AAEON have announced a MIPI Expansion Kit for the newly released third generation board. Equipped with the Intel Atom Processors x7000E Series, Intel Core i3-N305 Processor and Intel Processor N Series (formerly Alder Lake-N) and an FPC port supporting MIPI-CSI interface, the UP Squared Pro 7000 emphasizes AAEON's continued dedication to bringing the latest Intel technologies to a wider variety of platforms. One such platform is the LI-ADL-ADP-IMX415-MIPI-081H, a 4K MIPI Camera Module from leading intelligent embedded camera creator, Leopard Imaging Inc.
The company recently announced that the camera has been designed with full-function drivers to support the Intel Atom Processors x7000E Series, Intel Core i3-N305 Processor, and Intel Processor N Series (formerly Alder Lake-N), allowing users to take advantage of the peripheral Intel technologies that come with the processor platform, such as Intel UHD Graphics on a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS.
The company recently announced that the camera has been designed with full-function drivers to support the Intel Atom Processors x7000E Series, Intel Core i3-N305 Processor, and Intel Processor N Series (formerly Alder Lake-N), allowing users to take advantage of the peripheral Intel technologies that come with the processor platform, such as Intel UHD Graphics on a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS.
Akasa Introduces Maxwell AC Pro for Intel NUC 13 Pro
Akasa, a leading provider of passive cooling solutions and fanless cases, have announced today a new premium aluminium case called the Maxwell AC Pro for the latest range of InteI NUC 13 Pro products, code-named Arena Canyon. Designed to accommodate the Core i3, i5 and i7 processors up to 40 W TDP, this state-of-the-art small form factor case is perfect for applications that require silent operation without compromising on power. With dimensions of 218.5 x 206 x 80.3 mm (3.6L), the case can be easily stored away or displayed for a desktop setup. For the NUC 13 Pro, InteI announced a resilient supply chain production model by creating a multi-source supply chain, as well as up to 5 years of availability for the NUC 13 Pro boards. This is good news for the commercial projects and consumers, as planning for production and system integration in the future will be easier and longer-lasting.
The InteI NUC 13 Pro comes feature-packed and ready to perform in all types of applications such as digital signage, home theater setups, and edge computing. The vPro Platform returns for the i5 and i7 models, which boast some unique features such as remote management and base level security protection from threats. Alongside this, the NUC 13 Pro range comes with Wi-Fi 6, support for up to four extended displays (using 2 HDMI and 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports), up to 64 GB of expandable DDR4 RAM and PCIe x4 Gen 4 compatibility for the M.2 drive. This extensive list of features makes the InteI NUC 13 Pro range a no- brainer for those looking for high performance in a small form factor.
The InteI NUC 13 Pro comes feature-packed and ready to perform in all types of applications such as digital signage, home theater setups, and edge computing. The vPro Platform returns for the i5 and i7 models, which boast some unique features such as remote management and base level security protection from threats. Alongside this, the NUC 13 Pro range comes with Wi-Fi 6, support for up to four extended displays (using 2 HDMI and 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports), up to 64 GB of expandable DDR4 RAM and PCIe x4 Gen 4 compatibility for the M.2 drive. This extensive list of features makes the InteI NUC 13 Pro range a no- brainer for those looking for high performance in a small form factor.
FinalWire AIDA64 v6.88 Released
FinalWire Ltd. today announced the immediate availability of AIDA64 Extreme 6.88 software, a streamlined diagnostic and benchmarking tool for home users; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Engineer 6.88 software, a professional diagnostic and benchmarking solution for corporate IT technicians and engineers; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Business 6.88 software, an essential network management solution for small and medium scale enterprises; and the immediate availability of AIDA64 Network Audit 6.88 software, a dedicated network audit toolset to collect and manage corporate network inventories.
The latest AIDA64 update supports the latest AMD and Intel CPU platforms as well as the new graphics and GPGPU computing technologies by AMD, Intel and NVIDIA.
DOWNLOAD: FinalWire AIDA64 Extreme v6.88
The latest AIDA64 update supports the latest AMD and Intel CPU platforms as well as the new graphics and GPGPU computing technologies by AMD, Intel and NVIDIA.
DOWNLOAD: FinalWire AIDA64 Extreme v6.88
HyperX Adds Pulsefire Warp to its Wireless Gaming Mouse Range
HyperX is readying its brand new Pulsefire Warp wireless gaming mouse, and it may have jumped the queue in front of the recently revealed Pulsefire Haste 2 wired and wireless models. The Pulsefire Warp seems to be an exclusive item for sale only on the MechKeys online store for the time being, and there is no word about it becoming available at more mainstream outlets. The Haste 2 variants have been spotted out in the wild, but only a few lucky people managed to snag these mice early - that initial batch was either a time exclusive preview or issued in error by parent company Hewlett Packard, via its official Ebay outlet. HyperX has stated that the official Haste 2 launch window is scheduled for next month.
The Pulsefire Warp looks to sit below the Haste 2 Wireless in terms of specifications - it lacks the latter's high-end optical sensor (PAW 3395), fancy primary switches and a shell engineered to be very light in weight (74 g vs. 60 g respectively). This indicates that it is a more budget friendly offering, coming at a release price of $65.99, yet the Haste 2 Wireless will have an MSRP of $79.99, and the Haste 2 Wired's MSRP will be $59.99. HyperX is likely targeting different segments within the gaming mouse buying market with its Pulsefire range - the Warp will appeal to a more general audience with an offering of solid performance, a transparent shell aesthetic paired with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Haste 2 variants are stripped back in appearance and tuned for maximum performance - so enthusiasts and hardcore competitive types will be eager to get a hands-on with these.
The Pulsefire Warp looks to sit below the Haste 2 Wireless in terms of specifications - it lacks the latter's high-end optical sensor (PAW 3395), fancy primary switches and a shell engineered to be very light in weight (74 g vs. 60 g respectively). This indicates that it is a more budget friendly offering, coming at a release price of $65.99, yet the Haste 2 Wireless will have an MSRP of $79.99, and the Haste 2 Wired's MSRP will be $59.99. HyperX is likely targeting different segments within the gaming mouse buying market with its Pulsefire range - the Warp will appeal to a more general audience with an offering of solid performance, a transparent shell aesthetic paired with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Haste 2 variants are stripped back in appearance and tuned for maximum performance - so enthusiasts and hardcore competitive types will be eager to get a hands-on with these.
Newegg Starts Using ChatGPT to Improve Online Shopping Experience
Newegg Commerce, Inc., a leading global technology e-commerce retailer, announced today that the company is using ChatGPT to improve its customers' online shopping experience. Introduced in November 2022, ChatGPT from OpenAI is a conversational artificial intelligence (AI) program capable of providing information that improves efficiency in myriad situations.
"We're always evaluating our e-commerce technology to ensure we're providing the best customer experience. Through testing, we've proven that ChatGPT has a practical use for Newegg based on the added quality and efficiency it creates," said Lucy Huo, Vice President of Application Development for Newegg. "We deployed ChatGPT to improve content both on-site and off-site to help customers find what they want and elevate their experience. AI doesn't replace employees, but it adds resources so employees are available to handle more complex projects. We're still in the early phases of AI but the benefits for e-commerce may be substantial."
"We're always evaluating our e-commerce technology to ensure we're providing the best customer experience. Through testing, we've proven that ChatGPT has a practical use for Newegg based on the added quality and efficiency it creates," said Lucy Huo, Vice President of Application Development for Newegg. "We deployed ChatGPT to improve content both on-site and off-site to help customers find what they want and elevate their experience. AI doesn't replace employees, but it adds resources so employees are available to handle more complex projects. We're still in the early phases of AI but the benefits for e-commerce may be substantial."
EK Introduces New EK Quantum Impulse Fans
EK, the premium liquid cooling solutions manufacturer, is introducing brand-new magnetic levitation fans, the EK-Quantum Impulse 120 D-RGB. These premium Impulse fans feature EK's most abundant RGB implementation to date, with two LED-lit zones in the frame carrying 12 LEDs each, with another inside the rotor. These fans offer an optimized and balanced performance-to-noise ratio on the wide fan operational range.
EK-Quantum Impulse are 120 mm PC radiator and case fans optimized for rich and lush D-RGB effects while maintaining very silent operation across their entire operational range. There is one LED-lit zone around the frame on both sides of the fan, so no matter which fan orientation you require, you'll get the rich illumination of the addressable RGB diffused through a milky white cover. The rotor is also illuminated by its own D-RGB strip for stylish aesthetics while spinning.
EK-Quantum Impulse are 120 mm PC radiator and case fans optimized for rich and lush D-RGB effects while maintaining very silent operation across their entire operational range. There is one LED-lit zone around the frame on both sides of the fan, so no matter which fan orientation you require, you'll get the rich illumination of the addressable RGB diffused through a milky white cover. The rotor is also illuminated by its own D-RGB strip for stylish aesthetics while spinning.
Jabra expands the Evolve2 range with the most portable and comfortable headsets built for ultra-flexible hybrid working
Jabra, world's leading professional audio brand, expands its best-selling line of professional headsets, the Jabra Evolve series, with new Evolve2 mid-range headsets. The revolutionary Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, the Jabra Evolve2 55 and Jabra Evolve2 50 are engineered for ultra-flexible hybrid working.
Jabra's 2022 research found that 80% of all meetings globally are either fully virtual or hybrid, and hybrid natives like Gen Zs consider their "office" to be their laptop or wherever they have a strong internet connection, including "third spaces" such as co-working spaces, cafés, or libraries. The new Evolve2 headsets empower users with the most useful and professional features to protect their focus zone and enable them to take calls and meetings no matter their environment. Additionally, they boast optimized sound for professional use and music, so there is no need to switch headsets when it is time for a break.
Jabra's 2022 research found that 80% of all meetings globally are either fully virtual or hybrid, and hybrid natives like Gen Zs consider their "office" to be their laptop or wherever they have a strong internet connection, including "third spaces" such as co-working spaces, cafés, or libraries. The new Evolve2 headsets empower users with the most useful and professional features to protect their focus zone and enable them to take calls and meetings no matter their environment. Additionally, they boast optimized sound for professional use and music, so there is no need to switch headsets when it is time for a break.
2026 All-Time High in Store for Global 300 mm Semiconductor Fab Capacity After 2023 Slowdown
Semiconductor manufacturers worldwide are forecast to increase 300 mm fab capacity to an all-time high of 9.6 million wafers per month (wpm) in 2026, SEMI announced today in its 300 mm Fab Outlook to 2026 report. After strong growth in 2021 and 2022, the 300 mm capacity expansion is expected to slow this year due to soft demand for memory and logic devices.
"While the pace of the global 300 mm fab capacity expansion is moderating, the industry remains squarely focused on growing capacity to meet robust secular demand for semiconductors," said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. "The foundry, memory and power sectors will be major drivers of the new record capacity increase expected in 2026."
"While the pace of the global 300 mm fab capacity expansion is moderating, the industry remains squarely focused on growing capacity to meet robust secular demand for semiconductors," said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. "The foundry, memory and power sectors will be major drivers of the new record capacity increase expected in 2026."
Kingston FURY Expands the Look of DDR5 Lineup
Kingston FURY, the high-performance division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced the addition of white heat spreaders to its award-winning line of Kingston FURY DDR5 memory modules providing more options for those looking to build a system that stands above the rest, in and out of the game.
Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 offers the superior speed and low latency solutions to take your experience to the next level of performance, now with a low-profile heatspreader design in white to combine outstanding cooling functionality and bold styling. Go for a simple and easy upgrade with Plug N Play at 4800MT/s1 or select an Intel XMP 3.0 or AMD EXPO Certified kit. Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 RGB lets users personalize even further with the Kingston FURY CTRL RGB tool by selecting or customizing one of the 18 built-in, vibrant, and stunning RGB lighting effects, all kept smooth and in unison with Kingston's patented Infrared Sync Technology. The Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 line hits speeds up to 6000MT/s, is available in 8 GB 16 GB and 32 GB single modules, and kits of 2 up to 64 GB, with kits of 4 coming next month.
Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 offers the superior speed and low latency solutions to take your experience to the next level of performance, now with a low-profile heatspreader design in white to combine outstanding cooling functionality and bold styling. Go for a simple and easy upgrade with Plug N Play at 4800MT/s1 or select an Intel XMP 3.0 or AMD EXPO Certified kit. Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 RGB lets users personalize even further with the Kingston FURY CTRL RGB tool by selecting or customizing one of the 18 built-in, vibrant, and stunning RGB lighting effects, all kept smooth and in unison with Kingston's patented Infrared Sync Technology. The Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 line hits speeds up to 6000MT/s, is available in 8 GB 16 GB and 32 GB single modules, and kits of 2 up to 64 GB, with kits of 4 coming next month.
CTL Introduces "Secure" Special Edition of the CTL Chromebook PX11E at NCCE 2023
CTL, a leading manufacturer of award-winning Chrome OS solutions, announced today at NCCE 2023 the introduction of a new "Secure" Special Edition of the CTL Chromebook PX11E. "This device's secure, semi-transparent bottom offers a unique and modern design that sets it apart from traditional Chromebooks. It allows users to see the inner workings of the device, which can be a valuable teaching tool and a great conversation starter," noted Erik Stromquist, CTL's CEO. "It also makes it easier to look inside the device to find problems, like loose connections or damage from liquid, so that it can be fixed. The design is invaluable for organizations with security concerns related to on-premise mobile devices."
The PX11E is equipped with an Intel Jasper Lake N4500 CPU, delivering up to 35% improved app performance and 78% better graphics than its predecessors. The device boasts a higher burst frequency and features a Google 'Everything Button,' screen capture button, an HD camera and microphone, multiple USB ports with PD and DP functions, and Bluetooth 5.2 capabilities—opening endless possibilities!
The PX11E is equipped with an Intel Jasper Lake N4500 CPU, delivering up to 35% improved app performance and 78% better graphics than its predecessors. The device boasts a higher burst frequency and features a Google 'Everything Button,' screen capture button, an HD camera and microphone, multiple USB ports with PD and DP functions, and Bluetooth 5.2 capabilities—opening endless possibilities!
Intel Announces NUC 13 Pro "Arena Canyon" in a 4-by-4 Form-factor that Fits Anywhere
Today, Intel introduced the Intel NUC 13 Pro (code-named "Arena Canyon"), which brings the amazing performance of 13th Gen Intel Core processors to a 4-by-4-inch form factor that fits almost anywhere. "Now more than ever, businesses need flexible systems that are globally scalable, environmentally conscious and AI-ready, and that offer the peace of mind that comes with proven technology. The NUC 13 Pro is our latest step forward to provide our customers with the reliable, high-quality, enterprise-grade computing they require," said Brian McCarson, Intel vice president and general manager of the Intel NUC Group.
The Intel NUC 13 Pro offers the perfect package of size, performance, sustainability and reliability that modern businesses need. Select models also feature Intel vPro Enterprise for comprehensive security, enterprise-grade stability and hardware-based remote management. Intel NUC 13 Pro Kits and Mini PCs are upgradable and repairable, providing a stable, reusable solution for a wide variety of business needs, including client, edge and digital signage computing.
The Intel NUC 13 Pro offers the perfect package of size, performance, sustainability and reliability that modern businesses need. Select models also feature Intel vPro Enterprise for comprehensive security, enterprise-grade stability and hardware-based remote management. Intel NUC 13 Pro Kits and Mini PCs are upgradable and repairable, providing a stable, reusable solution for a wide variety of business needs, including client, edge and digital signage computing.
EU's New Right to Repair Directive Requires 10 Year Component Availability
A new directive from the EU wants its member states to implement new right to repair laws that require hardware manufacturers to repair products up to 10 years from the date of purchase. This also means that devices under warranty will have to be repaired, rather than replaced, to reduce the waste that the faulty devices would most likely have ended up producing. The key part of the new directive is device manufacturers now have to offer the right to repair long after warranties have expired, with some product categories being forced to offer parts for repair up to 10 years after the purchase date, if the customer demands it.
We're not just talking about home appliances here, but also phones and tablets, as well as other consumer electronics, as well as commercial computers. That said, some devices will only be required to have a five year supply of parts and components, which makes sense for some more affordable products. The directive also calls for a union wide "repair matchmaking platform" that should make it easier for consumers to get their products repaired. However, the Right to Repair coalition calls the new directive a missed opportunity, as it wants the right to repair to be universal, but it says that the new directive is at least a step in the right direction. The biggest concern about the new directive is that it doesn't mention anything about the cost of the repairs, so we could end up seeing price gouging on spare parts and repair costs, which would make the new directive moot, as it could be cheaper getting a new product rather than having it repaired.
We're not just talking about home appliances here, but also phones and tablets, as well as other consumer electronics, as well as commercial computers. That said, some devices will only be required to have a five year supply of parts and components, which makes sense for some more affordable products. The directive also calls for a union wide "repair matchmaking platform" that should make it easier for consumers to get their products repaired. However, the Right to Repair coalition calls the new directive a missed opportunity, as it wants the right to repair to be universal, but it says that the new directive is at least a step in the right direction. The biggest concern about the new directive is that it doesn't mention anything about the cost of the repairs, so we could end up seeing price gouging on spare parts and repair costs, which would make the new directive moot, as it could be cheaper getting a new product rather than having it repaired.
12GB Confirmed to be GeForce RTX 4070 Standard Memory Size in MSI and GIGABYTE Regulatory Filings
It looks like 12 GB will be the standard memory size for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card the company plans to launch in mid-April 2023. It is very likely that the card has 12 GB of memory across the 192-bit memory bus width of the "AD104" silicon the SKU is based on. The RTX 4070 is already heavily cut down from the RTX 4070 Ti that maxes out the "AD104," with the upcoming SKU featuring just 5,888 CUDA cores, compared to the 7,680 of the RTX 4070 Ti. The memory sub-system, however, could see NVIDIA use the same 21 Gbps-rated GDDR6X memory chips, which across the 192-bit memory interface, produce 504 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Confirmation of the memory size came from regulatory filings of several upcoming custom-design RTX 4070 board models by MSI and GIGABYTE, with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), and Korean NRRA.
Chinese OEMs Re-purpose "Alder Lake-H" Mobile Processors on Convenient Desktop Motherboards
Chinese OEM ERYING designed a lineup of Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX desktop motherboards with 12th Gen Intel Core H-segment mobile processors. These are processors originally meant for the mobile platform, but which have been hardwired on these motherboards. Since the processor packages are bare-die BGAs, ERYING is using thick copper heatspreaders that protect the processor underneath, but most importantly, provide cooler compatibility for all aftermarket CPU coolers capable of handling Socket LGA1700 processors. This is a clever way of giving customers choice of aftermarket coolers by simply tossing in a slab of metal that serves as a heatspreader; than using a custom-design fan-heatsink with no upgradability.
Among the mobile processors these boards come with, are the Core i7-12700H (6P+8E), Core i5-12650H (4P+8E), i5-12500H (4P+8E), and i5-12450H (4P+4E). These boards come with conventional 24-pin ATX + 8-pin EPS power inputs, stock Intel clock speeds and power limits; and full-size memory slots, besides PCI-Express Gen 3 x16 and x1 slots, and a plethora of desktop-relevant I/O. Prices range between the equivalent of $286 to $356, depending on the processor used. An interesting feature with these boards is the ability to override the 45 W PL1 of the processors, and unlock PL1 and PL2 up to 95 W, to improve performance.
Among the mobile processors these boards come with, are the Core i7-12700H (6P+8E), Core i5-12650H (4P+8E), i5-12500H (4P+8E), and i5-12450H (4P+4E). These boards come with conventional 24-pin ATX + 8-pin EPS power inputs, stock Intel clock speeds and power limits; and full-size memory slots, besides PCI-Express Gen 3 x16 and x1 slots, and a plethora of desktop-relevant I/O. Prices range between the equivalent of $286 to $356, depending on the processor used. An interesting feature with these boards is the ability to override the 45 W PL1 of the processors, and unlock PL1 and PL2 up to 95 W, to improve performance.
HyperX New Clutch Gladiate Wired Controller For Xbox Now Available
HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced it is now shipping the HyperX Clutch Gladiate Wired Controller for Xbox. Designed for serious Xbox gamers, the new Clutch Gladiate delivers comfort and control for extended console gaming sessions.
"HyperX's range of Xbox accessories are designed to enhance the gaming experience for console players," said Aurelius Martinez, global category manager - cloud and console gaming, HyperX. "The new HyperX Clutch Gladiate brings players into the action and enables extended customization and control."
"HyperX's range of Xbox accessories are designed to enhance the gaming experience for console players," said Aurelius Martinez, global category manager - cloud and console gaming, HyperX. "The new HyperX Clutch Gladiate brings players into the action and enables extended customization and control."
BenQ Launches GP500 4K LED Smart Projector
BenQ, an internationally renowned innovator of visual solutions and digital lifestyle devices, today unveiled GP500 4K LED smart projector, combining authentic digital cinema colour quality and theatrical sound performance with intelligent installation features in a sleek, modern design. Equipped with Android TV, the all-in-one GP500 LED smart projector invites enthusiasts to reimagine avant-garde home cinema with simple, yet powerful customisation and long-lasting, maintenance-free image brilliance.
"GP500 revolutionises the conventional home theatre with LED-powered colour fidelity covering 90% of the digital film industry's DCI-P3 standard, together with advanced image adjustability and simple installation flexibility unique to BenQ home cinema projection," said Conway Lee, President of BenQ Corporation. "Encompassed by the immersive concert-hall resonance of its 360° quad-speaker treVolo audio system, GP500 really stands out."
"GP500 revolutionises the conventional home theatre with LED-powered colour fidelity covering 90% of the digital film industry's DCI-P3 standard, together with advanced image adjustability and simple installation flexibility unique to BenQ home cinema projection," said Conway Lee, President of BenQ Corporation. "Encompassed by the immersive concert-hall resonance of its 360° quad-speaker treVolo audio system, GP500 really stands out."
ASRock A620 Socket AM5 Motherboard Pictured
Cost-effective Socket AM5 motherboards are finally on the horizon, as the first marketing pictures emerged of an ASRock-branded motherboard based on the yet-unreleased AMD A620 chipset. A successor to the A520 and A320, the A620 provides the bare-minimum feature-set for the platform, and cuts out certain premium features such as CPU overclocking. The chipset limits the x16 PEG connection from the processor to Gen 4, although motherboard vendors are free to provide just Gen 3 x16. The CPU-attached M.2 NVMe interface, too, is limited to Gen 4. This ASRock motherboard appears to be offering a Gen 3-capped M.2 NVMe slot, going by the "Hyper M.2" branding that ASRock uses for Gen 3 M.2 slots. The board offers an additional M.2 NVMe slot that's wired to the A620 chipset, and interestingly, an M.2 E-key slot for WLAN modules.
The ASRock A620M-HDV/M.2 from the pictures below, is a Micro-ATX motherboard that draws power from a 24-pin ATX and a single 8-pin EPS. It offers the simplest possible 6-phase CPU VRM, with what look like 50 A DrMOS. Besides the two M.2 NVMe slots, the only storage connectivity on offer are two SATA 6 Gbps ports. Display connectivity include DisplayPort and HDMI. We count at least four type-A USB 3.x ports on the rear I/O, besides one USB type-C, and a USB 3.x internal header. 1 GbE wired networking, and 6-channel HD audio using the most basic CODEC, make for the rest of the connectivity. An interesting touch is USB BIOS Flashback, with a button on the rear I/O, which sets even the oldest inventories of this board up for future-generation Socket AM5 Ryzen processors. Motherboards based on the A620 are expected to be priced well under the $100-mark.
The ASRock A620M-HDV/M.2 from the pictures below, is a Micro-ATX motherboard that draws power from a 24-pin ATX and a single 8-pin EPS. It offers the simplest possible 6-phase CPU VRM, with what look like 50 A DrMOS. Besides the two M.2 NVMe slots, the only storage connectivity on offer are two SATA 6 Gbps ports. Display connectivity include DisplayPort and HDMI. We count at least four type-A USB 3.x ports on the rear I/O, besides one USB type-C, and a USB 3.x internal header. 1 GbE wired networking, and 6-channel HD audio using the most basic CODEC, make for the rest of the connectivity. An interesting touch is USB BIOS Flashback, with a button on the rear I/O, which sets even the oldest inventories of this board up for future-generation Socket AM5 Ryzen processors. Motherboards based on the A620 are expected to be priced well under the $100-mark.
NVIDIA Executive Says Cryptocurrencies Add Nothing Useful to Society
In an interview with The Guardian, NVIDIA's Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Michael Kagan added his remarks on the company and its cryptocurrency position. Being the maker of the world's most powerful graphics cards and compute accelerators, NVIDIA is the most prominent player in the industry regarding any computing application from cryptocurrencies to AI and HPC. In the interview, Mr. Kegan expressed his opinions and argued that newly found applications such as ChatGTP bring much higher value to society compared to cryptocurrencies. "All this crypto stuff, it needed parallel processing, and [Nvidia] is the best, so people just programmed it to use for this purpose. They bought a lot of stuff, and then eventually it collapsed, because it doesn't bring anything useful for society. AI does," said Kegan, adding that "I never believed that [crypto] is something that will do something good for humanity. You know, people do crazy things, but they buy your stuff, you sell them stuff. But you don't redirect the company to support whatever it is."
When it comes to AI and other applications, the company has a very different position. "With ChatGPT, everybody can now create his own machine, his own programme: you just tell it what to do, and it will. And if it doesn't work the way you want it to, you tell it 'I want something different," he added, arguing that the new AI applications have usability level beyond that of crypto. Interestingly, trading applications are also familiar to NVIDIA, as they had clients (banks) using their hardware for faster trading execution. Mr. Kegan noted: "We were heavily involved in also trading: people on Wall Street were buying our stuff to save a few nanoseconds on the wire, the banks were doing crazy things like pulling the fibers under the Hudson taut to make them a little bit shorter, to save a few nanoseconds between their datacentre and the stock exchange."
When it comes to AI and other applications, the company has a very different position. "With ChatGPT, everybody can now create his own machine, his own programme: you just tell it what to do, and it will. And if it doesn't work the way you want it to, you tell it 'I want something different," he added, arguing that the new AI applications have usability level beyond that of crypto. Interestingly, trading applications are also familiar to NVIDIA, as they had clients (banks) using their hardware for faster trading execution. Mr. Kegan noted: "We were heavily involved in also trading: people on Wall Street were buying our stuff to save a few nanoseconds on the wire, the banks were doing crazy things like pulling the fibers under the Hudson taut to make them a little bit shorter, to save a few nanoseconds between their datacentre and the stock exchange."
Raijintek Intros Arcadia III Mid-tower Case
Raijintek today introduced the Arcadia III, an ATX mid-tower case that's designed to be taller than it is deep. The case measures 210 mm x 410 mm x 485 mm (WxDxH), and is made mainly of SECC steel. There are two variants based on the side-panel, the Arcadia III with its 4 mm-thick tempered glass panel; and the Arcadia III ST with an opaque SECC steel panel. Both feature airy mesh front intakes. Both cases only include one fan, a rather premium 120 mm spinner with hydraulic bearings, 43.2 CFM, but with 3-pin DC control.
Inside, the Arcadia III offers a conventional horizontally-partitioned layout with the bottom partition having a cutout for the PSU label to peek through the side-panel. The main chamber has up to 36.5 cm of length clearance for graphics cards (if no fan or radiator is mounted on the front panel); and height clearance of 16.5 cm for CPu coolers. Fan vents include two 140 mm or 120 mm top exhausts, three 140 mm or 120 mm front intakes, a 120 mm rear exhaust, and interestingly, two 120 mm bottom intakes. This gives you room for a radiator as large as 280 mm on top, and as large as 360 mm on the front (not big enough for 520 mm). The bottom vents aren't convenient for a radiator. Storage options include two 3.5-inch bays in the bottom compartment, and three 2.5-inch mounts. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Inside, the Arcadia III offers a conventional horizontally-partitioned layout with the bottom partition having a cutout for the PSU label to peek through the side-panel. The main chamber has up to 36.5 cm of length clearance for graphics cards (if no fan or radiator is mounted on the front panel); and height clearance of 16.5 cm for CPu coolers. Fan vents include two 140 mm or 120 mm top exhausts, three 140 mm or 120 mm front intakes, a 120 mm rear exhaust, and interestingly, two 120 mm bottom intakes. This gives you room for a radiator as large as 280 mm on top, and as large as 360 mm on the front (not big enough for 520 mm). The bottom vents aren't convenient for a radiator. Storage options include two 3.5-inch bays in the bottom compartment, and three 2.5-inch mounts. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Arm to Change Pricing Model Ahead of IPO
Softbank, the owner of Arm Ltd., is preparing everything it can to ensure a successful initial public offering (IPO) of Arm. However, ahead of the IPO, we have more information about Arm's plans to change its licensing and pricing structures to collect more royalties and ensure higher cash flow for future investors. Currently, Arm licenses technology in the form of intellectual property (IP), usually in different flavors of Cortex-A CPU cores that go inside processors for phones and laptops. Chipmakers that use the IP have additional expenses such as Arm ISA license fee and per-chip royalty, which is based on the chip's average selling price.
However, according to Financial Times, we have a new pricing structure that changes how Arm bills its partners and customers. From now on, Arm will grant licenses to chipmakers and ask them to only ship to device makers with an agreement with Arm. Additionally, these device makers now pay per-device royalty based on the device's average selling price (ASP). This ensures that Arm's fee applies to the higher margin product, which means that ultimately Arm will collect more cash flow from its customers and partners. Currently, the old model charges around 1-2 percents per chip in each smartphone, considering the ASP of smartphone chips to be $40 for Qualcomm, $17 for MediaTek, and $6 for Unisoc. However, taking the ASP of a mobile phone at $335, as recorded in 2022, the fee would be much higher. People familiar with the matter noted that Arm will apply this pricing structure as early as 2024. Apple and Samsung are not impacted by this change, as both companies enjoy their own agreements with Arm.
However, according to Financial Times, we have a new pricing structure that changes how Arm bills its partners and customers. From now on, Arm will grant licenses to chipmakers and ask them to only ship to device makers with an agreement with Arm. Additionally, these device makers now pay per-device royalty based on the device's average selling price (ASP). This ensures that Arm's fee applies to the higher margin product, which means that ultimately Arm will collect more cash flow from its customers and partners. Currently, the old model charges around 1-2 percents per chip in each smartphone, considering the ASP of smartphone chips to be $40 for Qualcomm, $17 for MediaTek, and $6 for Unisoc. However, taking the ASP of a mobile phone at $335, as recorded in 2022, the fee would be much higher. People familiar with the matter noted that Arm will apply this pricing structure as early as 2024. Apple and Samsung are not impacted by this change, as both companies enjoy their own agreements with Arm.
Sunday, March 26th 2023
Intel Arc "Battlemage" to Double Shader Count, Pack Larger Caches, Use TSMC 4 nm
Intel's next-generation Arc "Battlemage" GPU is expected to numerically-double its shader counts, according to a report by RedGamingTech. The largest GPU from the Arc "Battlemage" series, the "BMG-G10," aims to power SKUs that compete in the performance segment. The chip is expected to be built on a TSMC 4 nm-class EUV node, similar to NVIDIA's GeForce "Ada" GPUs, and have a die-size similar to that of the "AD103" silicon powering the GeForce RTX 4080.
Among the juiciest bits from this report are that the top "Battlemage" chip will see its Xe Core count doubled to 64, up from 32 on the top "Alchemist" part. This would see its execution unit (EU) count doubled to 1,024, and unified shader counts at 8,192. Intel is expected to give the chip clock speeds in excess of 3.00 GHz. The Xe Cores themselves could see several updates, including IPC uplifts, and support for new math formats. The memory sub-system is expected to see an overhaul, with a large 48 MB on-die L2 cache. While the memory bus is unchanged at 256-bit wide, the memory speed could see a significant increase up from the 16-17.5 Gbps on the Arc A770. As for when customers can actually expect products, the RedGamingTech report puts launch of the Arc "Battlemage" series at no sooner than Q2-2024. The company is expected to launch refreshed "Alchemist+" GPUs in 2023.
Among the juiciest bits from this report are that the top "Battlemage" chip will see its Xe Core count doubled to 64, up from 32 on the top "Alchemist" part. This would see its execution unit (EU) count doubled to 1,024, and unified shader counts at 8,192. Intel is expected to give the chip clock speeds in excess of 3.00 GHz. The Xe Cores themselves could see several updates, including IPC uplifts, and support for new math formats. The memory sub-system is expected to see an overhaul, with a large 48 MB on-die L2 cache. While the memory bus is unchanged at 256-bit wide, the memory speed could see a significant increase up from the 16-17.5 Gbps on the Arc A770. As for when customers can actually expect products, the RedGamingTech report puts launch of the Arc "Battlemage" series at no sooner than Q2-2024. The company is expected to launch refreshed "Alchemist+" GPUs in 2023.
Galacticare Unveiled in Announcement Trailer, From the Makers of War for the Overworld
Galacticare is a hospital management game in a weird and wacky sci-fi universe. In a colorful world rife with death and disease, design and manage perfectly functioning hospitals orbiting volcanic planets, deep-space graveyards, and psychic alien deities! With an offbeat narrative that twists together a ragtag group of eccentrics, the game takes you on a journey beyond managing a hospital.
From your assistants - a dejected AI bureaucrat and Medi, a tireless janitorial robot - to the variety of consultants you'll hire and bring along on your journey, the characters will grow beside you as you progress deeper through the story.
From your assistants - a dejected AI bureaucrat and Medi, a tireless janitorial robot - to the variety of consultants you'll hire and bring along on your journey, the characters will grow beside you as you progress deeper through the story.
This Week in Gaming (Week 13)
Lucky number 13 is also the last week of March and this time around there are a lot of new releases, some of which are highly anticipated console ports, least not courtesy of an HBO TV show, but it doesn't stop there. We also have a WWI strategy game, a slow pace environmental strategy game, a game where you fight bugs and a rather different fishing game in this week's lineup. In fact, it's such a busy week of releases that we've thrown in a few extra games, just because we can.
The Last of Us Part I / This week's AAA title / Tuesday 28 March
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards. In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey.
The Last of Us Part I / This week's AAA title / Tuesday 28 March
Experience the emotional storytelling and unforgettable characters in The Last of Us, winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards. In a ravaged civilization, where infected and hardened survivors run rampant, Joel, a weary protagonist, is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie out of a military quarantine zone. However, what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal cross-country journey.
AMD Hybrid Phoenix APU Comes With Performance and Efficiency Cores
According to the latest leak, AMD's upcoming Phoenix accelerated processing units (APUs) could feature a hybrid design, featuring Performance and Efficiency cores. While there are no precise details, the latest AMD processor programming guide, leaked online, clearly marks these as two types of cores, most likely standard Zen 4 and energy-efficient Zen 4c cores.
These two set of cores will features a different feature set, and the latest document gives software designers guidelines. Such hybrid CPU design, similar to ARM's BIG.little architecture, will allow AMD to be more competitive with Intel's similar P- and E-core design, allowing it to achieve certain performance levels while also maintaining power efficiency.
These two set of cores will features a different feature set, and the latest document gives software designers guidelines. Such hybrid CPU design, similar to ARM's BIG.little architecture, will allow AMD to be more competitive with Intel's similar P- and E-core design, allowing it to achieve certain performance levels while also maintaining power efficiency.
NVIDIA Enables More Encoding Streams on GeForce Consumer GPUs
NVIDIA has quietly removed some video encoding limitations on its consumer GeForce graphics processing units (GPUs), allowing encoding of up to five simultaneous streams. Previously, NVIDIA's consumer GeForce GPUs were limited to three simultaneous NVENC encodes. The same limitation did not apply to professional GPUs.
According to NVIDIA's own Video Encode and Decode GPU Support Matrix document, the number of concurrent NVENC encodes on consumer GPUs have been increased from three to five. This includes certain GeForce GPUs based on Maxwell 2nd Gen, Pascal, Turing, Ampere, and Ada Lovelace GPU architectures. While the number of concurrent NVDEC decodes were never limited, there is a limitation on how many streams you can encode by certain GPU, depending on the resolution of the stream and the codec.
According to NVIDIA's own Video Encode and Decode GPU Support Matrix document, the number of concurrent NVENC encodes on consumer GPUs have been increased from three to five. This includes certain GeForce GPUs based on Maxwell 2nd Gen, Pascal, Turing, Ampere, and Ada Lovelace GPU architectures. While the number of concurrent NVDEC decodes were never limited, there is a limitation on how many streams you can encode by certain GPU, depending on the resolution of the stream and the codec.
Saturday, March 25th 2023
Microsoft Denies Strategic Removal of PlayStation 5 Games From Development
Microsoft has been quick to respond to a backlash from gamers who have been angered by reports of the company's prevention of a PlayStation 5 version of Redfall being developed by an internal studio - Arkane. The game's creative director, Harvey Smith, has been busy with press duties this week and might have slipped up by revealing too much about the Xbox Division's directives. In an interview with IGN France, Harvey stated that Microsoft held a policy of "no PlayStation 5" in the times following an acquisition of ZeniMax (parent group of Bethesda Softworks) in 2021. He elaborated on the regime change: "They came in and they said 'we're focusing on Xbox, PC and the Game Pass." Smith indicated that he embraced the decision since it was: "one less platform to worry about, one less complexity."
A Microsoft spokesperson provided a statement to Eurogamer: "We haven't pulled any games from PlayStation. In fact, we've expanded our footprint of games that we've shipped on Sony's PlayStation since our acquisition of ZeniMax, and the first two games we shipped after closing were PlayStation 5 exclusives. We did the same thing since our closing of Minecraft as we extended the reach of that franchise. All of the games that were available on PlayStation when we acquired ZeniMax in March 2021 are still available on PlayStation, and we have continued to do content updates on PlayStation and PC. We have always said that future decisions on whether to distribute ZeniMax games for other consoles will be made on a case-by-case basis."
A Microsoft spokesperson provided a statement to Eurogamer: "We haven't pulled any games from PlayStation. In fact, we've expanded our footprint of games that we've shipped on Sony's PlayStation since our acquisition of ZeniMax, and the first two games we shipped after closing were PlayStation 5 exclusives. We did the same thing since our closing of Minecraft as we extended the reach of that franchise. All of the games that were available on PlayStation when we acquired ZeniMax in March 2021 are still available on PlayStation, and we have continued to do content updates on PlayStation and PC. We have always said that future decisions on whether to distribute ZeniMax games for other consoles will be made on a case-by-case basis."
Intel LGA 7529 Socket Photographed Again, Comparisons Show Gargantuan Physical Footprint
A set of detailed photos has been uploaded to a blog on the Chinese Bilibili site, and the subject matter is an engineering sample of a motherboard that features Intel's next generation LGA 7529 socket. Specifications and photos relating to this platform have cropped up in the past, but the latest leak offers many new tidbits of information. The Bilibili blogger placed a Sapphire Rapids Xeon Processor on top of the the new socket, and this provides an interesting point of reference - it demonstrates the expansive physical footprint that the fifth-generation platform occupies on the board.
This year's Sapphire Rapids LGA 4677 (Socket E) is already considered to be a sizeable prospect - measuring at 61 × 82 mm. The upcoming Mountain Stream platform (LGA 7529) is absolutely huge in comparison, with eyeball estimates placing it possessing rough dimensions (including the retention arm) of 66 × 92.5 mm. The fifth generation platform is designed to run Intel's Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest CPUs - this family of Xeons featuring scalable microarchitecture is expected to launch in 2024. The code name "Avenue City" has been given to a reference platform that features a dual socket configuration.
This year's Sapphire Rapids LGA 4677 (Socket E) is already considered to be a sizeable prospect - measuring at 61 × 82 mm. The upcoming Mountain Stream platform (LGA 7529) is absolutely huge in comparison, with eyeball estimates placing it possessing rough dimensions (including the retention arm) of 66 × 92.5 mm. The fifth generation platform is designed to run Intel's Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest CPUs - this family of Xeons featuring scalable microarchitecture is expected to launch in 2024. The code name "Avenue City" has been given to a reference platform that features a dual socket configuration.
Friday, March 24th 2023
Today's Reviews
Headphones
Motherboards
Mouse
Networking
Resident Evil 4 Remake: FSR 2.1 Review
Resident Evil 4 Remake is out now, with support for AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0 (FSR 1.0) and AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.1 (FSR 2.1). In this mini-review we take a look, comparing the image quality and performance gains offered by these technologies.
Corsair iCUE 4000D RGB Airflow Review
With the launch of the AF120 Elite RGB fans, Corsair took the opportunity to relaunch the 5000D and 4000D cases as iCUE editions featuring the new cooling units. We take a walk down memory lane and see how the enclosure and its thermals compete, after two years, with the new fans in the mix.
Intel Co-Founder Gordon Moore, the Man Behind Moore's Law, Dies at 94
Intel and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announced today that company co-founder Gordon Moore has passed away at the age of 94. The foundation reported he died peacefully on Friday, March 24, 2023, surrounded by family at his home in Hawaii. Moore and his longtime colleague Robert Noyce founded Intel in July 1968. Moore initially served as executive vice president until 1975, when he became president. In 1979, Moore was named chairman of the board and chief executive officer, posts he held until 1987, when he gave up the CEO position and continued as chairman. In 1997, Moore became chairman emeritus, stepping down in 2006.
During his lifetime, Moore also dedicated his focus and energy to philanthropy, particularly environmental conservation, science and patient care improvements. Along with his wife of 72 years, he established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which has donated more than $5.1 billion to charitable causes since its founding in 2000.
During his lifetime, Moore also dedicated his focus and energy to philanthropy, particularly environmental conservation, science and patient care improvements. Along with his wife of 72 years, he established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which has donated more than $5.1 billion to charitable causes since its founding in 2000.
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Thrustmaster Introduces its Forza Horizon 5 Edition ESWAP XR PRO Controller to the World
What if you drastically changed the way that you play Forza Horizon 5? ESWAP X PRO CONTROLLER — the gold standard for professional gamepads - is heading to Mexico and sporting the colors of the game Forza Horizon 5. To celebrate the occasion, it includes a world-first feature: RACING WHEEL MODULE. Dubbed ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER FORZA HORIZON 5 EDITION, this gamepad provides next-level immersion and a truly exceptional racing experience. It's all about precision, speed and control!
A GAMEPAD CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORZA HORIZON 5 DEVELOPER TURN 10
Officially licensed by both Forza Horizon 5 and Xbox, ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER FORZA HORIZON 5 EDITION is a true collector's-edition gamepad to be treasured. Customized with the official colors of Forza Horizon 5, you'll enjoy all of the precision and responsiveness that have made Thrustmaster's ESWAP X PRO CONTROLLER a worldwide smash hit.
A GAMEPAD CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORZA HORIZON 5 DEVELOPER TURN 10
Officially licensed by both Forza Horizon 5 and Xbox, ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER FORZA HORIZON 5 EDITION is a true collector's-edition gamepad to be treasured. Customized with the official colors of Forza Horizon 5, you'll enjoy all of the precision and responsiveness that have made Thrustmaster's ESWAP X PRO CONTROLLER a worldwide smash hit.
Jelly Key Introduces New 8-Bit Series—Gaismas Kingdom Artisan Keycaps Group Buy
For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan's works wherein we've seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. In particular, we've covered a keycap before from a previous 8-Bit Series and that is probably my favorite theme from Jelly Key to date. This time round, we have a new group buy that builds upon the previous work called 8-Bit Series—Gaismas Kingdom. The company was kind enough to provide a prototype keycap to examine and show off here for interested users.
This happens to be another of Jelly Key's fascinating Droplet profile keycaps in the so-called Izchili theme. I immediately thought of Amiga games the minute I had this in my hands, and please note that the final keycaps should be done to an even higher standard of finish. The current group buy is set to end in a few hours so those who are eager to buy one need to decide sooner than later! These are available in four designs, four keycap profiles including the naked profile that doesn't have a resin pour, and 11 sizes while costing $55-105 each. There are further discounts and free shipping for those buying multiple keycaps and TechPowerUp readers also get a nice 5% discount code: 5p-w02hfav. See past the break for photos of my prototype space bar keycap, including under the microscope.
This happens to be another of Jelly Key's fascinating Droplet profile keycaps in the so-called Izchili theme. I immediately thought of Amiga games the minute I had this in my hands, and please note that the final keycaps should be done to an even higher standard of finish. The current group buy is set to end in a few hours so those who are eager to buy one need to decide sooner than later! These are available in four designs, four keycap profiles including the naked profile that doesn't have a resin pour, and 11 sizes while costing $55-105 each. There are further discounts and free shipping for those buying multiple keycaps and TechPowerUp readers also get a nice 5% discount code: 5p-w02hfav. See past the break for photos of my prototype space bar keycap, including under the microscope.
Deceive Inc. Out Now, Launch Trailer Puts Spotlight on Tripwire's Extraction Shooter
Developer Sweet Bandits Studios and Publisher Tripwire Presents announced that DECEIVE INC., the highly-anticipated multiplayer FPS title that blends stealth and spycraft elements with intense action, launches this week with cross-play support on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), the PlayStation 5 computer entertainment system, and Xbox Series X|S console system.
DECEIVE INC. deploys players into the world of high-stakes subterfuge, working for a private corporation with a complete monopoly over the international espionage market. Disguise yourself as anyone you meet in an instant, access state-of-the-art gadgets the rest of the world can only dream of, and possess skills that would make Hollywood super spies jealous. But you are not alone. Rival spies are after the same objective and every single one of them is as skilled, cunning, and well-equipped as you are. Blend in, alone or with your team, grab the objective, and break out. In the end, only the right actions and skills will get you that paycheck.
DECEIVE INC. deploys players into the world of high-stakes subterfuge, working for a private corporation with a complete monopoly over the international espionage market. Disguise yourself as anyone you meet in an instant, access state-of-the-art gadgets the rest of the world can only dream of, and possess skills that would make Hollywood super spies jealous. But you are not alone. Rival spies are after the same objective and every single one of them is as skilled, cunning, and well-equipped as you are. Blend in, alone or with your team, grab the objective, and break out. In the end, only the right actions and skills will get you that paycheck.
AMD FSR 3 FidelityFX Super Resolution Technology Unveiled at GDC 2023
AMD issued briefing material earlier this month, teasing an upcoming reveal of its next generation FidelityFX at GDC 2023. True to form, today the hardware specialist has announced that FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.0 is incoming. The company is playing catch up with rival NVIDIA, who have already issued version 3.0 of its DLSS graphics enhancer/upscaler for a small number of games. AMD says that FSR 3.0 is in an early stage of development, but it is hoped that its work on temporal upscaling will result in a number of improvements over the previous generation.
The engineering team is aiming for a 2x frame performance improvement over the existing FSR 2.0 technique, which it claims is already capable of: "computing more pixels than we have samples in the current frame." This will be achieved by generating a greater number of pixels in a current frame, via the addition of interpolated frames. It is highly likely that the team will reach a point in development where one sample, at least, will be created for every interpolated pixel. The team wants to prevent feedback loops from occurring - an interpolated frame will only be shown once, and any interpolation artifact would only remain for one frame.
The engineering team is aiming for a 2x frame performance improvement over the existing FSR 2.0 technique, which it claims is already capable of: "computing more pixels than we have samples in the current frame." This will be achieved by generating a greater number of pixels in a current frame, via the addition of interpolated frames. It is highly likely that the team will reach a point in development where one sample, at least, will be created for every interpolated pixel. The team wants to prevent feedback loops from occurring - an interpolated frame will only be shown once, and any interpolation artifact would only remain for one frame.
SMART Modular Technologies Releases New PCIe NVMe Solid State Drives
SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. ("SMART"), a division of SGH and a global leader in memory solutions, solid-state drives and hybrid storage products announces the introduction of its new T6CN family of PCIe NVMe SSD products which is part of the SMART RUGGED portfolio. T6CN SSDs are designed to fit between very high-performance datacenter SSDs and highly secure, ruggedized SSDs for military, industrial, and telecom applications. Competitively priced, the T6CN is available in M.2 2280, E1.S and U.2 form factors. All of which provide compatibility with PCIe Gen 4.0 NVMe technology, delivering faster read, write, data transfer and operating speeds compared to current SSD technology.
The SSDs capacity ranges from 960 GB to 3,840 GB for the M.2, 960 GB to 7680 GB for the E1.S, and 960 GB to 16,360 GB for the U.2 version. T6CN offers speeds up to 3,500/s Sequential Read and 3,200 MB/s Sequential Writes and is compliant with NVMe v1.4 specifications. Gen 4.0 based technology runs exponentially faster than the speed of SATA III.
The SSDs capacity ranges from 960 GB to 3,840 GB for the M.2, 960 GB to 7680 GB for the E1.S, and 960 GB to 16,360 GB for the U.2 version. T6CN offers speeds up to 3,500/s Sequential Read and 3,200 MB/s Sequential Writes and is compliant with NVMe v1.4 specifications. Gen 4.0 based technology runs exponentially faster than the speed of SATA III.
UK CMA Provisionally Approves Microsoft's Proposed Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulatory body has today delivered its provisional approval of Microsoft's proposed purchase of the Activision Blizzard group, but has added that it will conduct further reviews into the topic of whether the buyout will have any detrimental effect on competition in the area of cloud gaming services: "where the CMA is continuing to carefully consider the responses provided in relation to the original provisional findings. The CMA's merger investigation continues, and it remains due to issue its final report by 26 April 2023."
The antitrust watchdog's stance looks to have changed in a significant way since February, when it declared that Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard had the potential to "harm U.K. gamers". New evidence has been presented to the CMA in recent weeks, and its members have moved to provisionally conclude that: "overall, the transaction will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to console gaming in the UK."
The antitrust watchdog's stance looks to have changed in a significant way since February, when it declared that Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard had the potential to "harm U.K. gamers". New evidence has been presented to the CMA in recent weeks, and its members have moved to provisionally conclude that: "overall, the transaction will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in relation to console gaming in the UK."
Gigabyte B650 AM5 Motherboard Joins the $125 Crowd
Despite the fact that AMD promised that $125 AM5 are coming, there aren't many such motherboards on the market. The newest addition is the Gigabyte B650M K, which is now available at $124.99. Gigabyte's B650M K will be joining the previously available ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 microATX motherboard, which was the first B650-based motherboard available at $125.
Same as the ASRock motherboard, the Gigabyte B650M K is also a micro-ATX motherboard with the same 8+2+1 VRM, but features four DIMM slots with support for up to 128 GB of DDR5-6400+ memory. Unfortunately, it apparently features two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, rather than a PCIe 5.0 x4, and comes with a single PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot (in addition to the PCIe 3.0 x1). The rest of the specifications include Realtek's Audio, Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet, couple of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Type-A, and USB 2.0/1.1 ports, as well as DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 outputs. Bear in mind that both of these are $139.99 motherboards, discounted down to $124.99, so hopefully, we'll see more of these $124.99 motherboards soon.
Same as the ASRock motherboard, the Gigabyte B650M K is also a micro-ATX motherboard with the same 8+2+1 VRM, but features four DIMM slots with support for up to 128 GB of DDR5-6400+ memory. Unfortunately, it apparently features two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, rather than a PCIe 5.0 x4, and comes with a single PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot (in addition to the PCIe 3.0 x1). The rest of the specifications include Realtek's Audio, Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet, couple of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Type-A, and USB 2.0/1.1 ports, as well as DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 outputs. Bear in mind that both of these are $139.99 motherboards, discounted down to $124.99, so hopefully, we'll see more of these $124.99 motherboards soon.
NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Owners Reporting Bricked Cards During Diablo IV Closed Beta Play Sessions
A combination of the Diablo IV Closed Beta and NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti graphics card is proving lethal for the latter - community feedback has alerted Blizzard to take action, and they will be investigating the issue in the coming days, with assistance from NVIDIA. It is speculated that the game is exposing underlying hardware faults within an affected card, but it is odd that a specific model is generating the largest number of issues. Unlucky 3080 Ti owners participating in the closed beta are said to be experiencing unpleasant or inconsistent in-game performance at best, and BSODs followed by non-functional GPUs at worst.
A Blizzard forumite, ForANge, chimed in with their experience: "My graphics card also burned out. While playing, the fans of my Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Ti suddenly started running at maximum speed. At the same time, the signal from the monitor disappeared. After turning off the power and trying to turn it back on, I couldn't get it to work anymore. The card is just under a year old. It happened during a cutscene with flowers when they showed a snowy landscape."
A Blizzard forumite, ForANge, chimed in with their experience: "My graphics card also burned out. While playing, the fans of my Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Ti suddenly started running at maximum speed. At the same time, the signal from the monitor disappeared. After turning off the power and trying to turn it back on, I couldn't get it to work anymore. The card is just under a year old. It happened during a cutscene with flowers when they showed a snowy landscape."
Remnant 2 Gets New Gameplay Trailer
Gearbox Publishing and Gunfire Games have released a new gameplay trailer from Remnant 2, showing pre-alpha footage, with multiple Archetypes and locations. As this is a pre-alpha footage, it might not represent the final gameplay experience, so you can expect more changes before it launches later this Summer.
The new gameplay trailer is set in Yaesha, one of the locations in the game, and shows several Archetypes, or classes, including the Gunslinger, the Handler, and the Challenger. In case you missed it earlier, Remnant 2, as described by the developer, will "pit survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds."
The new gameplay trailer is set in Yaesha, one of the locations in the game, and shows several Archetypes, or classes, including the Gunslinger, the Handler, and the Challenger. In case you missed it earlier, Remnant 2, as described by the developer, will "pit survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds."
Kioxia Unveils Plans for a 13.5 GB/s-capable PCIe Gen 5 x4 Enterprise SSD
Kioxia, at the 2023 China Flash Market conference (CFM), unveiled its next-generation enterprise SSD powered by 2nd Gen XL-NAND flash memory that promises up to 13.5 GB/s of sequential reads on drives with PCIe Gen 5 x4 interfaces. This puts it higher than the 12-12.5 GB/s offered by the first crop of Gen 5 SSDs, and a 118% over its current crop of Gen 4 x4 SSDs. The drive also offers up to 9.7 GB/s of sequential writes.
4K random-access performance is of a lot more importance to enterprise customers, and here, the drive is said to offer up to 3 million IOPS random reads, with up to 1.06 million IOPS sequential writes. All this comes at a slightly reduced read-latency of 27 µs, compared to 29 µs for the previous generation. Kioxia also expects PCIe Gen 5 and CXL 1.0 to be the prominent I/O interfaces for enterprise SSDs from now until the end of 2025. It's only with 2026 that we could see the emergence of PCIe Gen 6 in the enterprise space, promising a doubling in interface bandwidth.
4K random-access performance is of a lot more importance to enterprise customers, and here, the drive is said to offer up to 3 million IOPS random reads, with up to 1.06 million IOPS sequential writes. All this comes at a slightly reduced read-latency of 27 µs, compared to 29 µs for the previous generation. Kioxia also expects PCIe Gen 5 and CXL 1.0 to be the prominent I/O interfaces for enterprise SSDs from now until the end of 2025. It's only with 2026 that we could see the emergence of PCIe Gen 6 in the enterprise space, promising a doubling in interface bandwidth.
Elden Ring Update 1.09 Brings Ray Tracing
FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have released a new major patch for Elden Ring, implementing ray tracing on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, as well as adding some gameplay improvements and fixing some bugs. Unfortunately, the game still does not support any upscaling technologies, so there is no support for DLSS or FSR, meaning that those ray tracing effects will have a rather high impact on frame rates.
The ray tracing patch for Elden Ring was announced back in November last year, and it certainly took a while before it was implemented. As detailed earlier, the ray tracing update for Elden Ring adds ambient occlusion and ray traced shadows, but does not include ray traced reflections.
The ray tracing patch for Elden Ring was announced back in November last year, and it certainly took a while before it was implemented. As detailed earlier, the ray tracing update for Elden Ring adds ambient occlusion and ray traced shadows, but does not include ray traced reflections.
MINISFORUM Unveils Mini PCs with Dual Ethernet Ports and Intel i7-12650H CPU
The long-waiting dual Ethernet ports MINISFORUM mini PCs are finally here! MINISFORUM releases its NAB6 mini PCs. For processors, NAB6 uses Intel i7-12650H CPU. i7-12650H has 10 cores (6 performance-cores and 4 efficient-cores) and 16 threads with 24 MB cache, doubling the cache size of i5-12450H. More over, its boost clock is 4.7 GHz. It can easily handle office work. Thanks to the Intel 12 gen iGPU, it supports quad 4K displays.
Design wise, MINISFORUM uses the white chassis with the logo on the top for their intel chip mini PCs as always and it looks very clean and simple. The chassis is designed to be very upgrade friendly as well. Simply press the top plate with hand and the plate will pop up immediately for users to upgrade its RAM and SSD. No other tools are needed. For the cooling part, NAB6 uses the brand new active SSD heat sink design and side cooling vent. It can effectively dissipate heat from RAM and SSD.
Design wise, MINISFORUM uses the white chassis with the logo on the top for their intel chip mini PCs as always and it looks very clean and simple. The chassis is designed to be very upgrade friendly as well. Simply press the top plate with hand and the plate will pop up immediately for users to upgrade its RAM and SSD. No other tools are needed. For the cooling part, NAB6 uses the brand new active SSD heat sink design and side cooling vent. It can effectively dissipate heat from RAM and SSD.
Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 16 GB Drops Down to $339.99
Acer's custom Predator BiFrost Arc A770 16 GB graphics card has dropped from its original price of $399.99, down to $339.99. This makes it one of the cheapest 16 GB graphics cards on the market. In case you missed it, this is a custom version from Acer, featuring both radial and axial fans in its dual-slot cooler. It also has RGB lighting, as well as a full cover backplate.
What makes it interesting is that it appears to be a planned discount as the same price is now available on both Amazon and Newegg, so it is not a retail-specific discount. Intel's Arc A-series GPUs have been slowly but steadily dropping in price, with the A750 8 GB listed for as low as $229.99 and the A770 8 GB going for as low as $269.99.
What makes it interesting is that it appears to be a planned discount as the same price is now available on both Amazon and Newegg, so it is not a retail-specific discount. Intel's Arc A-series GPUs have been slowly but steadily dropping in price, with the A750 8 GB listed for as low as $229.99 and the A770 8 GB going for as low as $269.99.
NVIDIA Prepares H800 Adaptation of H100 GPU for the Chinese Market
NVIDIA's H100 accelerator is one of the most powerful solutions for powering AI workloads. And, of course, every company and government wants to use it to power its AI workload. However, in countries like China, shipment of US-made goods is challenging. With export regulations in place, NVIDIA had to get creative and make a specific version of its H100 GPU for the Chinese market, labeled the H800 model. Late last year, NVIDIA also created a China-specific version of the A100 model called A800, with the only difference being the chip-to-chip interconnect bandwidth being dropped from 600 GB/s to 400 GB/s.
This year's H800 SKU also features similar restrictions, and the company appears to have made similar sacrifices for shipping its chips to China. From the 600 GB/s bandwidth of the regular H100 PCIe model, the H800 is gutted to only 300 GB/s of bi-directional chip-to-chip interconnect bandwidth speed. While we have no data if the CUDA or Tensor core count has been adjusted, the sacrifice of bandwidth to comply with export regulations will have consequences. As the communication speed is reduced, training large models will increase the latency and slow the workload compared to the regular H100 chip. This is due to the massive data size that needs to travel from one chip to another. According to Reuters, an NVIDIA spokesperson declined to discuss other differences, stating that "our 800 series products are fully compliant with export control regulations."
This year's H800 SKU also features similar restrictions, and the company appears to have made similar sacrifices for shipping its chips to China. From the 600 GB/s bandwidth of the regular H100 PCIe model, the H800 is gutted to only 300 GB/s of bi-directional chip-to-chip interconnect bandwidth speed. While we have no data if the CUDA or Tensor core count has been adjusted, the sacrifice of bandwidth to comply with export regulations will have consequences. As the communication speed is reduced, training large models will increase the latency and slow the workload compared to the regular H100 chip. This is due to the massive data size that needs to travel from one chip to another. According to Reuters, an NVIDIA spokesperson declined to discuss other differences, stating that "our 800 series products are fully compliant with export control regulations."
Genesis Unveils Thor 303 TKL Silent Switch Gaming Keyboard
The Genesis Thor 303 TKL is a popular and valued mechanical keyboard from the middle price range. Gamers should appreciate its new version, the Thor 303 TKL Silent Switch, characterized by its very quiet switches, as the name states. The Genesis Thor 303 TKL Silent Switch is a mechanical Hot Swap keyboard witch changeable Outemu Peach Silent switches. According to the manufacturer the switches provide quick reaction time, a 2 mm activation threshold as well as 40 g required actuation force, and 50 million click durability. What's more, the keys generate sounds 20% quieter than classic Outemu Brown switches—which is especially important to players who like to play during the night.
The set is enclosed in an aluminium casing, adapted for intense use. As is the standard for this range, the keyboard is equipped with RGB illumination, additionally enriched by the PRISMO effect. Users can select from one of 25 illumination modes. What's more, owners can create their own macros thanks to additional software. The Genesis Thor 303 TKL Silent Switch also stands out thanks to its keypads, manufactured with the "Double Injection" technology, an N-Key rollover function, in-build memory, as well as multimedia keys. The model is also equipped with anti-slip bases, especially important during intense gaming sessions. The keyboard was designed to work with Android and Windows 7/8/10/11 systems.
The set is enclosed in an aluminium casing, adapted for intense use. As is the standard for this range, the keyboard is equipped with RGB illumination, additionally enriched by the PRISMO effect. Users can select from one of 25 illumination modes. What's more, owners can create their own macros thanks to additional software. The Genesis Thor 303 TKL Silent Switch also stands out thanks to its keypads, manufactured with the "Double Injection" technology, an N-Key rollover function, in-build memory, as well as multimedia keys. The model is also equipped with anti-slip bases, especially important during intense gaming sessions. The keyboard was designed to work with Android and Windows 7/8/10/11 systems.
Thursday, March 23rd 2023
Today's Reviews
Cases
Harddisks
Headphones
Mouse
Sound Cards
ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition Review
Designed in cooperation with Aim Lab, the ambidextrous ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition comes with ASUS's latest AimPoint sensor, low-latency 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, up to 99 hours of battery life, and a 54 g lightweight build, using a bio-based nylon shell.
64 Audio U4s In-Ear Monitors Review - A New $1000 Benchmark?
64 Audio lowers the entry barrier to its universal-fit IEMs with the all-new U4s hybrid driver set. It uses a 1 DD/2 BA/1 Tia driver configuration paired with four sets of Apex modules, including the brand new m12 modules, to put out a smooth and customizable sound signature in a very comfortable form factor to be highly compelling in its price range.
ENERMAX Intros Revolution ATX 3.0 Power Supplies
ENERMAX today introduced the Revolution ATX 3.0 line of high-wattage power supplies with, as the name screams, ATX 3.0 support. The company is debuting the series with 1000 W and 1200 W models. An interesting aspect about the Revolution ATX 3.0 series, is that you get not one, but two 16-pin ATX 12VHPWR cables. The first one is a native connector that plugs into a 12VHPWR source connector on the PSU, and is capable of 600 W continuous power delivery with 200% excursions within limits that meet PCIe Gen 5 specs; while the second is a 16-pin 12VHPWR connection that plugs into two 8-pin PCIe and likely reports itself as 300 W-capable with its signal pins. This combination should prove useful for certain OC-grade RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 graphics cards, although for most other applications, using the native 600 W connector is recommended.
Both the 1000 W and 1200 W models come with the same set of connectors, which include a 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS (each splits into 4+4 pin), four 6+2 pin PCIe power, one 600 W-rated native 16-pin 12VHPWR, one 300 W-rated 16-pin 12VHPWR, twelve SATA power, and a handful legacy connectors. Under the hood, you get a single +12 V rail design with 80 Plus Gold switching efficiency, DC-to-DC switching, and most common electrical protections. A 135 mm fan is used to keep cool, with a Semi-Fanless mode that turns the fan completely off under 30% load. This function can be disabled with a physical switch near the AC receptacle. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Both the 1000 W and 1200 W models come with the same set of connectors, which include a 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS (each splits into 4+4 pin), four 6+2 pin PCIe power, one 600 W-rated native 16-pin 12VHPWR, one 300 W-rated 16-pin 12VHPWR, twelve SATA power, and a handful legacy connectors. Under the hood, you get a single +12 V rail design with 80 Plus Gold switching efficiency, DC-to-DC switching, and most common electrical protections. A 135 mm fan is used to keep cool, with a Semi-Fanless mode that turns the fan completely off under 30% load. This function can be disabled with a physical switch near the AC receptacle. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4255 WHQL Released
Intel Graphics today released the latest Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.4255 WHQL comes with day-zero Game On driver optimization for "Resident Evil 4 Remake." The drivers also improve performance for "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy," D5 Render, Blender in material preview viewport mode, and "Counter Strike: Global Offensive" on Arc Laptop GPUs. Among the fixed issues for Arc GPUs is display corruption noticed in "Conqueror's Blade" in the game's in-built benchmark mode; and "Portal with RTX" experiencing a crash when loading to gameplay. For Iris Xe iGPUs, "Overwatch 2" seeing a lag or freeze during game launch, has been fixed. An application crash during gameplay for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" has been fixed, too.
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4255
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4255
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Gameplay Showcase Available to Watch, Launching May 2023
Today Daedalic Entertainment and NACON announced that their highly anticipated adventure game, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, will release to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on May 25th. A version for Nintendo Switch is planned for later this year.
Based on the beloved The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, the fantasy game takes players on an epic journey across Middle-earth, starring one of the lore's most compelling characters: Sméagol - *Gollum, Gollum*.
Based on the beloved The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, the fantasy game takes players on an epic journey across Middle-earth, starring one of the lore's most compelling characters: Sméagol - *Gollum, Gollum*.
Intel Confirms Delay in its Acquisition of Tower Semiconductor
Intel's planned purchase of Tower Semiconductor Ltd. has been pushed back by another quarter, as a regulatory decision has not been made by China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). Intel announced the $5.4 billion deal in mid-February 2022, and set an estimated 12-month window for its completion. It is now one month overdue, with the first quarter of the financial year set to end next week. Intel is hopeful that it will get full regulatory approval by June 2023.
In light of SAMR not budging since the suspending of its review of the Intel-Tower merger, Intel Israel has issued a response this week: ""While we continue to work to close the Tower transaction within the first quarter of 2023, the transaction may close in the first half of 2023, subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions."
In light of SAMR not budging since the suspending of its review of the Intel-Tower merger, Intel Israel has issued a response this week: ""While we continue to work to close the Tower transaction within the first quarter of 2023, the transaction may close in the first half of 2023, subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions."
Framework Laptop 13 Gets New Intel and AMD CPUs
Today, we're introducing a major set of upgrades to the Framework Laptop spanning two new models - the Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel Core) and the Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series). We've not only scaled up performance and enabled an AMD-powered version for the first time, but we've also delivered refinements to the day-to-day user experience with a higher capacity battery, matte display, louder speakers, and more rigid hinges.
The Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel Core) and Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series) are now available for pre-order in all countries we currently ship to: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Australia. First shipments for 13th Gen Intel Core systems are in May, and AMD Ryzen systems will ship in Q3. We'll be launching in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Taiwan later this year, and you can sign up for our newsletter to be notified when we are available in these and other countries. Like before, we're using a batch pre-order system, with only a fully-refundable $100/€100/£100 deposit required at the time of pre-order. As always, we have both pre-built configurations starting at $1049 USD that work out of the box with Windows 11 and the Framework Laptop DIY Edition starting at $849 USD, allowing you to bring your own memory, storage, and operating system, including Linux. You'll also now be able to select your Bezel color and Keyboard on DIY Edition when ordering, with a range of new Bezel colors coming this year.
The Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel Core) and Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series) are now available for pre-order in all countries we currently ship to: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Australia. First shipments for 13th Gen Intel Core systems are in May, and AMD Ryzen systems will ship in Q3. We'll be launching in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Taiwan later this year, and you can sign up for our newsletter to be notified when we are available in these and other countries. Like before, we're using a batch pre-order system, with only a fully-refundable $100/€100/£100 deposit required at the time of pre-order. As always, we have both pre-built configurations starting at $1049 USD that work out of the box with Windows 11 and the Framework Laptop DIY Edition starting at $849 USD, allowing you to bring your own memory, storage, and operating system, including Linux. You'll also now be able to select your Bezel color and Keyboard on DIY Edition when ordering, with a range of new Bezel colors coming this year.
Framework Introduces New Framework Laptop 16
We're excited to share our next major product category, a high-performance 16" notebook, the Framework Laptop 16. Not only does the Framework Laptop 16 carry forward all of the same design philosophy around upgrade, repair, and customization from the Framework Laptop 13 at a substantially higher performance point, but it also brings in two new module ecosystems: a fully reconfigurable input deck and modular, upgradeable graphics.
This enables an incredible range of use cases and deep personalization for gamers, creators, engineers, and more. We'll be sharing full specifications, pricing, and availability when we open pre-orders on the Framework Laptop 16 this spring, ahead of shipments in late 2023. What we're releasing today is a preview to let developers get started with our open source design documentation.
This enables an incredible range of use cases and deep personalization for gamers, creators, engineers, and more. We'll be sharing full specifications, pricing, and availability when we open pre-orders on the Framework Laptop 16 this spring, ahead of shipments in late 2023. What we're releasing today is a preview to let developers get started with our open source design documentation.
Microsoft Believes That Sony is Capable of Creating its Own Alternative to Call of Duty
Microsoft is still deep into its negotiations with several international regulatory bodies regarding the buyout of Activision Blizzard, with a deadline looming it seems that tensions are rising. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) needs a lot of convincing since it regards the proposed takeover as a serious threat to Sony's ability to compete with Microsoft, with the ownership of the Call of Duty series being a main focus. Sony has expressed concern about the blockbuster franchise becoming a potential Xbox console exclusive in the future - Microsoft has pledged to continue development on PlayStation platforms for a proposed 10-year period, with no technological compromises and a promise to release all versions simultaneously on launch days.
In its latest testimony given to the UK's CMA, Microsoft has made a (slightly odd) suggestion that Sony should figure out a way to make its own answer to the Call of Duty series: "Microsoft considers that a period of 10 years is sufficient for Sony, as a leading publisher and console platform, to develop alternatives to Call of Duty.…The 10-year term will extend into the next console generation.… Moreover, the practical effect of the remedy will go beyond the 10-year period, since games downloaded in the final year of the remedy can continue to be played for the lifetime of that console (and beyond, with backwards compatibility)."
In its latest testimony given to the UK's CMA, Microsoft has made a (slightly odd) suggestion that Sony should figure out a way to make its own answer to the Call of Duty series: "Microsoft considers that a period of 10 years is sufficient for Sony, as a leading publisher and console platform, to develop alternatives to Call of Duty.…The 10-year term will extend into the next console generation.… Moreover, the practical effect of the remedy will go beyond the 10-year period, since games downloaded in the final year of the remedy can continue to be played for the lifetime of that console (and beyond, with backwards compatibility)."
Linus Media Group YouTube Channels Hacked
The popular tech YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips, along with its associated YouTube channel Techquickie, has been hijacked by crypto scammers. Techquickie has been renamed to "Tesla" and is currently running a crypto scam livestream of a deepfaked Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey and two others. Needless to say, please do not fall for this and prevent your friends and family from doing the same.
Prior to being terminated—likely temporarily, given Linus Media Group is a YouTube partner with a solution on the way no doubt—for being automatically flagged as a result of violating YouTube community guidelines, the Linus Tech Tips channel re-uploaded many older videos, including some that had been marked as "do not publish." It is unclear to what extent Linus Sebastian and other members of LMG are currently aware of this crisis, but as of yet, no updates or statements have been made from the personal account of Linus or the main Linus Tech Tips Twitter account. The most recent Linus Tech Tips tweet is 13 hours old. This post will be updated as more details become available.
Prior to being terminated—likely temporarily, given Linus Media Group is a YouTube partner with a solution on the way no doubt—for being automatically flagged as a result of violating YouTube community guidelines, the Linus Tech Tips channel re-uploaded many older videos, including some that had been marked as "do not publish." It is unclear to what extent Linus Sebastian and other members of LMG are currently aware of this crisis, but as of yet, no updates or statements have been made from the personal account of Linus or the main Linus Tech Tips Twitter account. The most recent Linus Tech Tips tweet is 13 hours old. This post will be updated as more details become available.
ViewSonic Releases a Brand-New Collection of Portable Pen Displays for the Creator Community
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, announced today the launch of a range of pen displays that were designed for creators. The series features three different models, the 7" PF720 and 10" PF1020 pen tablets for handy portability, and the world's lightest 12" ID1230 pen display for creativity on the go. In all, they are an ideal solution for intense creative work such as architectural models, 3D renders, visual art, and graphic design.
"As creators adapt their lifestyles and establish new ways of creating, they demand more from their tools: spellbinding colors, intuitive pen experience, and the freedom to work from anywhere," said George Lee, General Manager of the Electromagnetic, Touch, and Certification Business at ViewSonic. "Our brand-new pen displays are their key to unlocking creativity on a whole new level. The lightweight and compact pen displays feature a highly accurate digitizer pen that produces the most delicate strokes and delivers an intuitive drawing experience. The pen displays also offer a versatile USB Type-C one-cable solution for easy expansion of their creative setup to level up the productivity."
"As creators adapt their lifestyles and establish new ways of creating, they demand more from their tools: spellbinding colors, intuitive pen experience, and the freedom to work from anywhere," said George Lee, General Manager of the Electromagnetic, Touch, and Certification Business at ViewSonic. "Our brand-new pen displays are their key to unlocking creativity on a whole new level. The lightweight and compact pen displays feature a highly accurate digitizer pen that produces the most delicate strokes and delivers an intuitive drawing experience. The pen displays also offer a versatile USB Type-C one-cable solution for easy expansion of their creative setup to level up the productivity."
Dynabook Announces Three New Notebooks with 13th Gen Intel Core P-Series processors
Dynabook Americas, Inc., formerly Toshiba PC Company, has announced that it has refreshed its ultralight Portégé X40L-K and performance-rich 14-inch Tecra A40-K and 15-inch Tecra A50-K laptops to include the new hybrid-architecture 13th Gen Intel Core P-Series 28 W processors. All three laptops also include Windows 11 Pro standard for an enhanced productivity and intuitive computing experience.
"Next generation computing solutions capable of exceeding the demands of modern businesses and individuals is vital to Dynabook's success," said James Robbins, general manager, Dynabook Americas, Inc. "The addition of the 13th Gen Intel Core processors with our own mobile innovations allows Dynabook to deliver uncompromising, premium mobile computing solutions that seamlessly integrate into any business or learning environment. The immense power these three new laptops deliver demonstrates Dynabook's unrelenting commitment to producing the market's best professional-grade computing solutions."
"Next generation computing solutions capable of exceeding the demands of modern businesses and individuals is vital to Dynabook's success," said James Robbins, general manager, Dynabook Americas, Inc. "The addition of the 13th Gen Intel Core processors with our own mobile innovations allows Dynabook to deliver uncompromising, premium mobile computing solutions that seamlessly integrate into any business or learning environment. The immense power these three new laptops deliver demonstrates Dynabook's unrelenting commitment to producing the market's best professional-grade computing solutions."
Corsair Announces XENEON 27QHD240 OLED Gaming Monitor
CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast components for gamers, creators, and PC builders, today announced an exciting new addition to its lineup of high-performance gaming monitors, the XENEON 27QHD240 OLED. Combining the latest in LG OLED display technology with trademark CORSAIR style and performance, the XENEON 27 OLED offers superb black levels, self-lit OLED pixels, and blistering 240 Hz refresh rate, all in a 2560x1440 27-inch package ready to display everything your PC has to offer at its best.
Continuing the close partnership between CORSAIR and LG Display, the XENEON 27 OLED boasts a cutting edge 3rd generation OLED panel with META Technology featuring Micro Lens Array (MLA). This innovative new technology places a focal lens to enhance brightness in front of every pixel, boosting brightness far beyond previous generation OLED panels and delivering breathtaking color vibrancy. HDR10, 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, a peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits and 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut ensure that the brightest highlights, darkest details, and most nuanced colors are presented beautifully, whatever you're playing, watching or creating.
Continuing the close partnership between CORSAIR and LG Display, the XENEON 27 OLED boasts a cutting edge 3rd generation OLED panel with META Technology featuring Micro Lens Array (MLA). This innovative new technology places a focal lens to enhance brightness in front of every pixel, boosting brightness far beyond previous generation OLED panels and delivering breathtaking color vibrancy. HDR10, 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, a peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits and 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut ensure that the brightest highlights, darkest details, and most nuanced colors are presented beautifully, whatever you're playing, watching or creating.
Intel Launches 13th Gen Core vPro Processors
Intel today expanded its 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" client processor family into the commercial segment. Devices in this segment are bought in bulk by large businesses and enterprises; the processors powering them have certain in-built device security and remote management features that enforce company policy regardless of where the employees take the devices. Intel has been pioneering hardware-level remote-management and device security features for close to two decades now, with its vPro feature-set (originally launched as Centrino vPro in the 2000s. The new 13th Gen Core vPro lineup covers popular processor models across various device form-factor classes, spanning ultraportables (15 W or below), thin-and-light commercial notebooks (28 W to 35 W segment); mainstream commercial notebooks (45 W to 55 W); and commercial desktops (65 W).
The 13th Gen vPro series have a lot in common with the 12th Gen Core vPro series, At a hardware-level, these are processors based on the same "Raptor Lake" silicon as the mainstream-client 13th Gen Core processors, but with the enhanced vPro Management Engine that interacts with a compatible operating system to offer endpoint remote manageability for administrators. The desktop versions of these chips have identical SKU differentiation to 65 W 13th Gen Core processors already launched, but with either vPro or vPro Essentials feature-sets. Something similar applies to the 15 W U-segment, 28 W P-segment, and 35-45 W H-segment Core vPro processors. Along with these processors, Intel is debuting Q700-series chipsets specific to the form-factor. For U- and P-segment mobile processor SKUs, the core-logic is part of the processor package; while the H-segment and S-segment (desktop) processors come with discrete chipsets. With the 13th Gen, Intel is also standardizing a new WiFi 6E (Gig+) WLAN chipset with vPro features.
The 13th Gen vPro series have a lot in common with the 12th Gen Core vPro series, At a hardware-level, these are processors based on the same "Raptor Lake" silicon as the mainstream-client 13th Gen Core processors, but with the enhanced vPro Management Engine that interacts with a compatible operating system to offer endpoint remote manageability for administrators. The desktop versions of these chips have identical SKU differentiation to 65 W 13th Gen Core processors already launched, but with either vPro or vPro Essentials feature-sets. Something similar applies to the 15 W U-segment, 28 W P-segment, and 35-45 W H-segment Core vPro processors. Along with these processors, Intel is debuting Q700-series chipsets specific to the form-factor. For U- and P-segment mobile processor SKUs, the core-logic is part of the processor package; while the H-segment and S-segment (desktop) processors come with discrete chipsets. With the 13th Gen, Intel is also standardizing a new WiFi 6E (Gig+) WLAN chipset with vPro features.
Atari is Acquiring Nightdive Studios
Atari has announced that is buying Nightdive Studios for a cool $10 million - the abandonware specialists will become part of the publisher's larger ambitions to boost production of retro IPs. Nightdive's proprietary KEX engine will form the technological base for future remakes of Atari titles from the archives. As the news of this acquisition hit the web, the Nightdive Twitter posted a positive message regarding the buyout: "This is a big win for our team! As we look to continue producing high-quality, new, and remastered games that do justice to the original IP; we could think of no better long-term partner than."
Nightdive leaders Stephen Kick and Larry Kuperman stated in a joint statement: "Night Dive and Atari have a long history together and we know that Atari shares our passion for retro games and our focus on producing high-quality new and remastered games that do justice to the original IP. As we look to grow our business and expand our capabilities, we could think of no better long-term partner than Atari."
Nightdive leaders Stephen Kick and Larry Kuperman stated in a joint statement: "Night Dive and Atari have a long history together and we know that Atari shares our passion for retro games and our focus on producing high-quality new and remastered games that do justice to the original IP. As we look to grow our business and expand our capabilities, we could think of no better long-term partner than Atari."
NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Drivers 531.41 WHQL Released
NVIDIA has released the latest version of its GeForce Game Ready drivers, the version 531.41 WHQL. The new release provides the best day-0 gaming experience for Diablo IV beta phase, including support for DLSS 2, as well as the same DLSS 2 support for The Last of Us Part I, Smalland: Survive the Wild, and Deceive Inc. The new NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Drivers 531.41 WHQL is also the Game Ready driver for Resident Evil 4 and it adds DLSS 3 support for Forza Horizon 5. Most importantly, it also adds support for the technology preview of Cyberpunk 2077's Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode. The new NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Drivers 531.41 WHQL also adds several GeForce Experience Profiles, as well as fixes several issues.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready 531.41 WHQL
Update: Added Open Issues to the release highlights.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready 531.41 WHQL
Update: Added Open Issues to the release highlights.
Lenovo Announces New AI Powered Legion Gaming Laptops and New Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitors
Today, Lenovo announced the latest 8th generation of Lenovo Legion Slim laptops, allowing gamers to harness the freedom that the newest series has to offer. The Lenovo Legion Slim series is all about empowering players to crush their gaming goals while also pursuing their creative passions, and there are more options than ever among the new Lenovo Legion Slim 7i and 7 (16", 8), Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and 5 (16", 8), and—an all-new size for this year—the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 (14", 8), which elevates laptop power and portability to a whole new level. This newest generation of the series is also the first to sport the Lenovo Artificial Intelligence (LA) family of chips. These are onboard physical AI chips that power Lenovo AI Engine+, which dynamically adjusts the Lenovo Legion ColdFront 5.0 thermals to optimize cooling on the fly and maintain maximum output with minimal noise.
Lenovo Legion Slim series laptops are designed to meet the multi-faceted needs of gamers, with an SD slot, rapid charging battery technology Windows 11, three months of free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as well as access to Nahimic by SteelSeries 3D immersive audio, and Lenovo Vantage helping users get the most out of their machines. Offering peace of mind, Lenovo's Legion Ultimate Support service is available with round-the-clock tech support, guidance and assistance so gamers don't have to miss a beat, and with Legion Arena, users can create their ultimate gaming hub with all their titles accessible in one place rather than having to switch between apps. Additionally, gamers looking to expand their horizons—literally—can look forward to the new Lenovo Legion R45w-30 44.5" 32:9 ultrawide curved display and the new Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 Gaming Monitor that delivers extreme clarity and vivid color with its 34-inch mini-LED backlit panel.
Lenovo Legion Slim series laptops are designed to meet the multi-faceted needs of gamers, with an SD slot, rapid charging battery technology Windows 11, three months of free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as well as access to Nahimic by SteelSeries 3D immersive audio, and Lenovo Vantage helping users get the most out of their machines. Offering peace of mind, Lenovo's Legion Ultimate Support service is available with round-the-clock tech support, guidance and assistance so gamers don't have to miss a beat, and with Legion Arena, users can create their ultimate gaming hub with all their titles accessible in one place rather than having to switch between apps. Additionally, gamers looking to expand their horizons—literally—can look forward to the new Lenovo Legion R45w-30 44.5" 32:9 ultrawide curved display and the new Lenovo Legion Y34wz-30 Gaming Monitor that delivers extreme clarity and vivid color with its 34-inch mini-LED backlit panel.
Lenovo Announces its LOQ Gaming Laptops and Tower PC for New Gamers
Gaming doesn't have to be enjoyed only on a high-end gaming PC. Announced today, Lenovo LOQ—pronounced "lock"—lets new gamers set out on the first steps of their gaming journeys, allowing them to explore new virtual worlds and connect with new real-world communities with gaming devices that are packed with features without breaking the bank. Offering plenty of choice, the brand-new lineup of Lenovo LOQ gaming laptops include the Intel-based Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 and Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 laptops as well as the Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRB8 desktop PC, and the AMD-based Lenovo LOQ 16APH8 and Lenovo LOQ 15APH8 laptops. Inspired by Lenovo's premium Legion-branded gaming line-up, the new Lenovo LOQ line encompasses more than just design features such as the rear I/O notch on its laptops and the shared stylized 'O' in both brands' logos. The two sub-brands are complementary in catering to a wider gaming community, including beginner gamers setting off on their gaming paths to greatness with Lenovo LOQ as well as those leveling up to Lenovo Legion devices to compete against more advanced opponents.
"With the launch of the new Lenovo LOQ brand, we're building a lineage of gaming excellence and PC offerings that are not just for the gaming community's top players, but for new and future gamers alike," said Jun Ouyang, Lenovo's vice president and general manager of the Consumer Business Segment, Intelligent Devices Group. "Lenovo LOQ breaks down barriers to entry for gamers, empowering them to embark on adventures of connection and fun in the gaming world."
"With the launch of the new Lenovo LOQ brand, we're building a lineage of gaming excellence and PC offerings that are not just for the gaming community's top players, but for new and future gamers alike," said Jun Ouyang, Lenovo's vice president and general manager of the Consumer Business Segment, Intelligent Devices Group. "Lenovo LOQ breaks down barriers to entry for gamers, empowering them to embark on adventures of connection and fun in the gaming world."
Lords of the Fallen Showcase Trailer Demonstrates Cutting Edge Unreal Engine Visuals
Hexworks and CI Games have shown off their upcoming RPG, Lords of the Fallen, as part of the State of Unreal GDC Showcase. The trailer demonstrates the team's ambitions and the use of Unreal Engine 5 has allowed them "to create the most immersive game experience possible". The game's character customization system is a cumulation of UE5 generated geometry and 3D scans taken from real life human models. The development team states that this allows players to "create unique faces and bodies by dynamically morphing between a huge range of shapes before finessing the finer details."
Unreal Engine 5's Lumen Global Illumination has been put to good use by the team - the game's complex and rich environments are lit in dramatic and atmospheric fashion, all in real time, with an added layer of technical accomplishment due to the player being able to swap between two parallel worlds. Hexworks devised its own custom toolset to enable the seamless shift from Axiom, the realm of the living, to Umbral, the realm of the dead: "This means our artists and designers can ensure these worlds feel intrinsically linked, like two sides of the same coin... even if one side is decidedly more horrific than the other."
Unreal Engine 5's Lumen Global Illumination has been put to good use by the team - the game's complex and rich environments are lit in dramatic and atmospheric fashion, all in real time, with an added layer of technical accomplishment due to the player being able to swap between two parallel worlds. Hexworks devised its own custom toolset to enable the seamless shift from Axiom, the realm of the living, to Umbral, the realm of the dead: "This means our artists and designers can ensure these worlds feel intrinsically linked, like two sides of the same coin... even if one side is decidedly more horrific than the other."
NCSOFT Unveiled its Digital Human for the First Time at GDC 2023
NCSOFT, a global premier game developer and publisher, unveiled its digital human technology together with Project M's trailer at the Game Developers Conference 2023 (GDC), currently being held in San Francisco, CA.
On March 22, NCSOFT revealed the video at State of Unreal, Epic Games' opening session at GDC held to introduce new Unreal Engine tools and technologies in collaboration with its partners. Here, Songyee Yoon, chief strategy officer (CSO) at NCSOFT, was on stage to introduce the company's latest project, Project M, and its trailer.
On March 22, NCSOFT revealed the video at State of Unreal, Epic Games' opening session at GDC held to introduce new Unreal Engine tools and technologies in collaboration with its partners. Here, Songyee Yoon, chief strategy officer (CSO) at NCSOFT, was on stage to introduce the company's latest project, Project M, and its trailer.
2K and the LEGO Group Announce LEGO 2K Drive Coming May 19, 2023
Today, 2K and the LEGO Group announced LEGO 2K Drive, the ultimate AAA driving adventure game, available worldwide on May 19, 2023. Developed by Visual Concepts, LEGO 2K Drive evolves the iconic LEGO play experience with a vast, open world where players can build any vehicle, drive anywhere and become a LEGO racing legend.
LEGO 2K Drive will be the first release in a multi-title partnership between 2K and the LEGO Group to develop AAA LEGO games. With 2K's proven expertise in creating high quality and engaging interactive entertainment properties and the LEGO Group's unprecedented cultural impact, the partnership will evolve the iconic LEGO games experience fans know and love in exciting new ways.
LEGO 2K Drive will be the first release in a multi-title partnership between 2K and the LEGO Group to develop AAA LEGO games. With 2K's proven expertise in creating high quality and engaging interactive entertainment properties and the LEGO Group's unprecedented cultural impact, the partnership will evolve the iconic LEGO games experience fans know and love in exciting new ways.
Introducing the Majority Tru 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds
Majority, the consumer electronics brand known for its innovative products, is today proud to announce the launch of its latest offering, the Tru 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds, a hands-free solution to audio on the go. Sustainably made, with an additional promise of a tree planted for every pair purchased, the Tru 2 Earbuds are an affordable and environmentally-conscious audio option. The Majority Tru 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds are available for £39.95 on Amazon and the Majority website.
The Tru 2 earbuds feature active noise cancellation that uses advanced technology to eliminate up to 90% of noise from the outside environment and allow users to fully immerse themselves into their music. They detect and analyse the sound pattern of incoming noise and innovatively generate a mirror "anti-noise" signal to cancel it out. Whether used on a bus, aeroplane or even at the office, users may rest assured that their listening sessions will go uninterrupted.
The Tru 2 earbuds feature active noise cancellation that uses advanced technology to eliminate up to 90% of noise from the outside environment and allow users to fully immerse themselves into their music. They detect and analyse the sound pattern of incoming noise and innovatively generate a mirror "anti-noise" signal to cancel it out. Whether used on a bus, aeroplane or even at the office, users may rest assured that their listening sessions will go uninterrupted.
Gigabyte Also Teases 192GB Memory Support on X670E Motherboard
Gigabyte is also apparently testing the new BIOS update that should bring non-binary memory support to AMD's 600-series chipset motherboards. With the official AGESA update for AMD X670 and B650 apparently just around the corner, it does not come as a surprise that all motherboard makers are implementing it and testing it on their motherboards.
The latest comes from Gigabyte over at Coolaler forums, showing the AORUS X670E Master motherboard running 192 GB of DDR5 memory. This time around, the memory was running at 6000 MT/s, so the official support is certainly around the corner, even for overclocked kits. Both Corsair and G.SKILL have already announced their own 24 GB and 48 GB modules running at up to DDR5-8000. The official AGESA update is rumored to come in April, but there is no official word from either AMD or various motherboard makers.
The latest comes from Gigabyte over at Coolaler forums, showing the AORUS X670E Master motherboard running 192 GB of DDR5 memory. This time around, the memory was running at 6000 MT/s, so the official support is certainly around the corner, even for overclocked kits. Both Corsair and G.SKILL have already announced their own 24 GB and 48 GB modules running at up to DDR5-8000. The official AGESA update is rumored to come in April, but there is no official word from either AMD or various motherboard makers.
Turtle Beach Reveals Stealth Pro Gaming Headset
All hail the new king of ultra-premium wireless gaming audio! Leading gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach Corporation today revealed its new flagship wireless multiplatform gaming headset - the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro. Turtle Beach's Stealth Pro brings the award-winning and best-selling gaming headset brand's top features to your multiverse for gaming on Xbox, PlayStation, Windows PCs, Mac, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. With Stealth Pro, gamers will experience the highest-quality gaming audio through a hand-matched set of Turtle Beach's large and powerful signature 50 mm Nanoclear drivers—with 56% more surface area than competitors' 40 mm drivers—for more bass and a vast, immersive soundstage.
Stealth Pro also offers the most effective noise-cancellation in a gaming headset, from full noise-transparency where you can still hear ambient background noise, to 25dB noise reduction that blocks out most distractions so you can focus on winning. Gamers also have the choice of using the Stealth Pro's dual built-in mics, or the removable TruSpeak boom mic which reduces background noise 10x more than the competition. Both mics feature Turtle Beach's S.M.A.R.T. (Sonic Measurement Audio Reduction Tuning) microphone technology that picks up just your voice, and nothing else.
Stealth Pro also offers the most effective noise-cancellation in a gaming headset, from full noise-transparency where you can still hear ambient background noise, to 25dB noise reduction that blocks out most distractions so you can focus on winning. Gamers also have the choice of using the Stealth Pro's dual built-in mics, or the removable TruSpeak boom mic which reduces background noise 10x more than the competition. Both mics feature Turtle Beach's S.M.A.R.T. (Sonic Measurement Audio Reduction Tuning) microphone technology that picks up just your voice, and nothing else.
Kubuntu Focus Team Announces New XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
The Kubuntu Focus Team announces the second generation of the powerful Focus XE laptop. This ultra-portable and affordable laptop is a great choice for developers, creators, and those who are looking for the best out-of-the-box Linux experience but don't need the power, complexity, or expense of a dedicated GPU.
This generation features the i7-1260P CPU, which provides a 16% and 60% boost in single and multi-core Geekbench 5 scores. In real life, this translates into very snappy performance and the ability to handle large, multi-process tasks with speed and ease. Other highlights of this laptop are the numerous high-speed audio and data ports, include Thunderbolt 4, and the capacity to attach multiple 4K displays. Customers can tailor their system with up to 64 GB of high-speed 3200Mhz Dual-Channel RAM, up to 2 TB of 7,450 MBps NVMe storage, and optional no-cost disk encryption. They are shipping now and the base model starts at $895.
This generation features the i7-1260P CPU, which provides a 16% and 60% boost in single and multi-core Geekbench 5 scores. In real life, this translates into very snappy performance and the ability to handle large, multi-process tasks with speed and ease. Other highlights of this laptop are the numerous high-speed audio and data ports, include Thunderbolt 4, and the capacity to attach multiple 4K displays. Customers can tailor their system with up to 64 GB of high-speed 3200Mhz Dual-Channel RAM, up to 2 TB of 7,450 MBps NVMe storage, and optional no-cost disk encryption. They are shipping now and the base model starts at $895.
BenQ Introduces New 27-Inch 4K UHD Professional Designer Monitor
BenQ, a global leader in display technology, announced today the launch of its newest Ergo Arm series professional monitor, the PD2706UA. With a customizable ergonomic design and high-quality color performance, the PD2706UA features 4K UHD with AQCOLOR technology, 90 W USB-C for one cable connectivity, KVM with one key switch for multitasking, Display Pilot software to better facilitate screen use, and supports full flexibility through its Ergo Arm.
Designed to provide the right angle no matter the presentation or project, the PD2706UA is equipped with BenQ's uniformity technology, delivering corner-to-corner authentic color and consistent luminescence, and attentive modes, offering quick access to the smoothest workflow as well as supreme work efficiency. In addition, the PD2706UA is Mac-compatible with 95 percent display P3 industry standard color gamut to match Mac devices, HDR 400 for better brightness, color conformity and black levels, video/audio/data transmission to declutter desktops and power delivery to charge MacBook, a built-in KVM switch allowing designers to control two PCs or Macs of different operating systems (Windows or Mac OS) with only one set of keyboard and mouse with a simple switch, and high-quality color modes for work efficiency and productivity.
Designed to provide the right angle no matter the presentation or project, the PD2706UA is equipped with BenQ's uniformity technology, delivering corner-to-corner authentic color and consistent luminescence, and attentive modes, offering quick access to the smoothest workflow as well as supreme work efficiency. In addition, the PD2706UA is Mac-compatible with 95 percent display P3 industry standard color gamut to match Mac devices, HDR 400 for better brightness, color conformity and black levels, video/audio/data transmission to declutter desktops and power delivery to charge MacBook, a built-in KVM switch allowing designers to control two PCs or Macs of different operating systems (Windows or Mac OS) with only one set of keyboard and mouse with a simple switch, and high-quality color modes for work efficiency and productivity.
ASRock Launches First Fanless DeskMini
The leading global motherboard, graphics card, Mini PC and gaming monitor manufacturer, ASRock, proudly announces a new Mini PC—DeskMini 4205. The DeskMini 4205 is first fanless DeskMini model which powered by Intel Celeron Processor 4205U. Its fanless design is both energy efficient and silent to suit the applications of industry. This Mini PC features dual LAN ports, three displays and four-storage support.
DeskMini 4205 supports up to three video outputs at the same time, so it's perfect for digital signage and advertising. With DisplayPort 1.2 port, users can enjoy high quality media entertainment at home. For storage, DeskMini 4205 provides two M.2 2280 PCIe slots and two 2.5" SATA 6 Gbps interface to build mini data center with ease. Dual LAN ports enable users to separate networks or connect to different LAN devices. In addition, DeskMini 4205 offers the optional model with two COM ports for a wide range of business usage. This design makes DeskMini 4205 ideal for use in the bar code scanner, amplifier, projector, access controller and PTZ camera to meet commercial project's needs.
DeskMini 4205 supports up to three video outputs at the same time, so it's perfect for digital signage and advertising. With DisplayPort 1.2 port, users can enjoy high quality media entertainment at home. For storage, DeskMini 4205 provides two M.2 2280 PCIe slots and two 2.5" SATA 6 Gbps interface to build mini data center with ease. Dual LAN ports enable users to separate networks or connect to different LAN devices. In addition, DeskMini 4205 offers the optional model with two COM ports for a wide range of business usage. This design makes DeskMini 4205 ideal for use in the bar code scanner, amplifier, projector, access controller and PTZ camera to meet commercial project's needs.
AGON by AOC Launches Large 32-inch Gaming Monitor AG325QZN-EU
AGON by AOC - one of the world's leading gaming monitor and IT accessories brands - announces the next model from the AGON 5 gaming monitor series. The 31.5" (80 cm) AGON AG325QZN/EU features a Fast VA panel, which can run at a dazzling 240 Hz refresh rate. With an impressive 3000:1 contrast ratio, deep blacks, rich colours and a DisplayHDR 400 certification, the AG325QZN/EU delivers jaw-dropping visuals, and its fast responsiveness with up to 1 ms GtG response time and 0.5 ms MPRT shows that it is built for competitive titles. Thanks to its imposing size, the AG325QZN/EU suits a wide range of use cases, from large gaming stations to couch-gaming or dedicated simulator setups.
While FPS e-sports players prefer smaller-sized displays (27" or even 24") to better focus on all the action happening at once, e-sports and competitive gaming cover the whole variety of genres, where a 32" display size can make more sense. Action/RPG titles, fighting games, real-time and turn-based strategy games, or simulation games, all benefit from a larger display size to better display intricate details and/or immerse the player in the action itself.
While FPS e-sports players prefer smaller-sized displays (27" or even 24") to better focus on all the action happening at once, e-sports and competitive gaming cover the whole variety of genres, where a 32" display size can make more sense. Action/RPG titles, fighting games, real-time and turn-based strategy games, or simulation games, all benefit from a larger display size to better display intricate details and/or immerse the player in the action itself.
MSI Launches SPATIUM M570 HS PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD
MSI, the world's leading gaming PC hardware brand, is announcing the launch of the next-gen model to its SSD product line - SPATIUM M570 PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 HS. With the same gamers' first attitude that has made MSI products great, MSI continues pushing the limits to unleash next-level storage performance with the latest PCIe Gen 5 controller technology and state-of-the-art 3D NAND flash, providing up to 1.5 times faster read/write speeds compared to the previous generation SSDs. On SPATIUM M570, the aluminium bronze-colored heatsink improves heat dissipation to sustain transfer speeds for professionals, content creators, and gamers to gain valuable milliseconds on latency or to process gigabytes of files. Other performance-improving technologies include DRAM cache buffer and an SLC cache.
Alphacool Unveils CORE Series Water Blocks for Radeon RX 7900 Series
The new Core cooler is now compatible with RX 7900 XT(X) GPUs! Alphacool offers with the new coolers not only the usual high quality, but also remarkable performance as well as functional design for AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT(X) graphics cards in custom design. The highlight of the copper cooler is the ensemble of connector terminal and cooler, which is milled from a single piece of copper. The excellent workmanship paired with the hard and resistant chrome plating of the entire copper cooler meet the highest quality standards. A key design element of the new Core series are the brass G1/4" threads, which are left in chrome and integrated on both sides. These stand out visually from the terminal.
The aluminium backplate, which is adapted to the design, forms a unit together with the terminal and convinces with clear and homogeneous optics on the back of the cooler. The individually controllable lighting consists of digitally addressable RGB LEDs and enables the even and dazzlingly colored illumination of the entire cooler.
The aluminium backplate, which is adapted to the design, forms a unit together with the terminal and convinces with clear and homogeneous optics on the back of the cooler. The individually controllable lighting consists of digitally addressable RGB LEDs and enables the even and dazzlingly colored illumination of the entire cooler.
Team Group Launches T-FORCE VULCAN SO-DIMM DDR5 Memory for Gaming Laptops
T-FORCE, the gaming sub-brand of Team Group, has launched the blazing-fast VULCAN SO-DIMM DDR5 Memory for laptop gamers looking to upgrade to next-generation DDR5 memory. The VULCAN Memory delivers incredible performance with a simple installation and comes in a range of large capacities, making it the perfect choice for boosting one's gaming experience as well as productivity. Thanks to its ultra-thin graphene heatspreader that enhances cooling; it keeps laptops stable during intensive gaming and allows players to seize victory at the most critical moments.
Following the release of DDR5 desktop memory, the new generation of extremely-fast RAM from T-FORCE has swept the PC hardware world. Today, T-FORCE is launching its first VULCAN SO-DIMM DDR5 Memory designed specifically for gaming laptops. Offering a max clock rate of DDR5-5200 and featuring an ultra-thin graphene heatspreader, gamers will experience shorter load times and faster boot-up speeds while still maintaining low laptop temperatures. With up to 64 GB of capacity, players will enjoy unimpeded gaming and use work applications simultaneously. The new release of VULCAN SO-DIMM brings a whole new level of performance and user experience.
Following the release of DDR5 desktop memory, the new generation of extremely-fast RAM from T-FORCE has swept the PC hardware world. Today, T-FORCE is launching its first VULCAN SO-DIMM DDR5 Memory designed specifically for gaming laptops. Offering a max clock rate of DDR5-5200 and featuring an ultra-thin graphene heatspreader, gamers will experience shorter load times and faster boot-up speeds while still maintaining low laptop temperatures. With up to 64 GB of capacity, players will enjoy unimpeded gaming and use work applications simultaneously. The new release of VULCAN SO-DIMM brings a whole new level of performance and user experience.
NewQ Launches its 16-in-1 USB-C Docking Station with Triple 4K Monitor Support
NewQ, an innovative manufacturer of quality and affordable electronic accessories and consumer technology products, has today announced the launch of its new 16-in-1 USB-C Docking Station. Providing users with 150 W power delivery, 16 commonly used ports to meet most needs, super-fast file transfer and support for triple 4K monitors in both Windows, MAC OS and Steam OS. Whether for home, business or even gaming, this is an ultra-capable and portable device which can hugely improve productivity. The NewQ DisplayLink 16-in-1 USB-C Docking Station is currently on offer for RRP $199.99 (Now on offer at just $129.99 - 35 percent discount) on Amazon US.
Using the DisplayLink technology, the docking station can extend up to three 4K@60 Hz monitors quickly and easily. Of particular interest to Mac Users, this docking station can overcome the traditional limitations of Apple's M1 and M2 chips, which can save a huge amount of money compared to upgrading the laptop. Some docking stations can lift the restrictions of an extended display by using proprietary display drivers. Two types of this technology are both DisplayLink and InstantView, which can both achieve this by converting USB signals into display signals. However, a clear advantage of DisplayLink is that it can expand two monitors at 4K 60 Hz resolutions, whereas InstantMotion can only achieve one at 4K 30 Hz, and one at 1080p 60 Hz. In everyday use, a 4K resolution with a 60 Hz refresh rate will be noticeably smoother and clearer than a 30 Hz one such as when viewing a hi-res video. Likewise a 4K resolution provides far more definition than a 1080p one. It can also greatly improve productivity when using a larger monitor as you view more windows simultaneously.
Using the DisplayLink technology, the docking station can extend up to three 4K@60 Hz monitors quickly and easily. Of particular interest to Mac Users, this docking station can overcome the traditional limitations of Apple's M1 and M2 chips, which can save a huge amount of money compared to upgrading the laptop. Some docking stations can lift the restrictions of an extended display by using proprietary display drivers. Two types of this technology are both DisplayLink and InstantView, which can both achieve this by converting USB signals into display signals. However, a clear advantage of DisplayLink is that it can expand two monitors at 4K 60 Hz resolutions, whereas InstantMotion can only achieve one at 4K 30 Hz, and one at 1080p 60 Hz. In everyday use, a 4K resolution with a 60 Hz refresh rate will be noticeably smoother and clearer than a 30 Hz one such as when viewing a hi-res video. Likewise a 4K resolution provides far more definition than a 1080p one. It can also greatly improve productivity when using a larger monitor as you view more windows simultaneously.
Xencelabs Unveils New Pen Display 24 Studio Series
Xencelabs Technologies Ltd. is giving artists a new creative choice with its Pen Display 24 Studio Series. The new drawing display joins the company's full line of professional digital design tools including its Pen Tablet Medium, Pen Tablet Small, and the Quick Keys customizable remote - creating a comprehensive portfolio of professional drawing tools available for creative communities worldwide.
The new drawing display will make its public debut in Xencelabs booth N2722 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), March 22 to 24, 2023 in San Francisco.
The Pen Display 24 offers a range of features and capabilities compared to competitive offerings, including enhanced glare reduction and fingerprint resistance, an edge-to-edge drawing surface, a natural drawing experience, Pantone Color and SkinTone validation, the included Tilt Stand, VESA mount flexibility, silent and fanless operation and a security slot for the Kensington MicroSaver 2.0 lock.
The new drawing display will make its public debut in Xencelabs booth N2722 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), March 22 to 24, 2023 in San Francisco.
The Pen Display 24 offers a range of features and capabilities compared to competitive offerings, including enhanced glare reduction and fingerprint resistance, an edge-to-edge drawing surface, a natural drawing experience, Pantone Color and SkinTone validation, the included Tilt Stand, VESA mount flexibility, silent and fanless operation and a security slot for the Kensington MicroSaver 2.0 lock.
Wednesday, March 22nd 2023
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Headphones
Monitors
Motherboards
Notebooks
Processors
Ace Magician AD03 N95 Mini-PC Review
Ace Magician pulls a rabbit out of their hat with the AD03 N95 mini-PC. It is an ultra-affordable and compact system that offers a great mix of performance and utility without breaking the bank. Making it a stellar option as a home office or general-purpose system.
EBL Portable Power Station Voyager 500W Review
The EBL Portable Power Station Voyager 500W manages to provide a very good mix of output, useful design and functionality without breaking the bank. This makes the unit a great choice for those looking to be independent, by bringing portable power to their extended weekend camping trips.
Origin PC Launches EON16-S, EON17-X, NS-16, and NS-17 Gaming Laptops
ORIGIN PC, a leader in custom high-performance systems, today launched their latest 40 Series Laptops. On the gaming side, the EON16-S and EON17-X push laptop gaming to new heights. For creators and professionals, the NS-16 and NS-17 offer desktop-like performance on a workstation they can bring anywhere. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series mobile graphics cards, users can experience firsthand what the next generation of technology holds through a customizable ORIGIN PC.
Meet the future of portable performance with the EON17-X and and NS-17, ORIGIN PC's strongest laptops ever designed. Compared to its predecessor, the new EON17-X is 13% lighter and 42% thinner. In spite of its thin 0.98 inch form factor, expect nothing less than record-breaking strength from the upgraded system. Truly the pinnacle of gaming speed and power, it can be customized with up to the flagship NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card as well as a powerful Intel Core i9-13900HX processor. Both laptops offer a 17.3" display with the options to choose from either a 240 Hz QHD display or 144 Hz UHD display, based on personal preference and needs.
Meet the future of portable performance with the EON17-X and and NS-17, ORIGIN PC's strongest laptops ever designed. Compared to its predecessor, the new EON17-X is 13% lighter and 42% thinner. In spite of its thin 0.98 inch form factor, expect nothing less than record-breaking strength from the upgraded system. Truly the pinnacle of gaming speed and power, it can be customized with up to the flagship NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card as well as a powerful Intel Core i9-13900HX processor. Both laptops offer a 17.3" display with the options to choose from either a 240 Hz QHD display or 144 Hz UHD display, based on personal preference and needs.
Ugreen Launches its 9-in-1 USB-C Docking Station with DisplayLink Technology
Ugreen, the award-winning manufacturer of quality and affordable electronic accessories and consumer technology products, has today announced the launch of its new 9-in-1 USB-C Docking Station. Providing users with 100 W fast charging, 9 different ports to meet most needs, quick file transfer and the ability to extend to up to 2 extra displays, it is a handy and compact gadget to help to work more efficiently. The Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C Docking Station is available for £199.99/$199.99 on Amazon UK, Amazon US and the Ugreen website.
Featuring a huge 9 ports, the Docking Station simplifies and clears a workstation effectively as it is able to meet most expansion needs alone. Equipped with 2 HDMI 4K, 2 DP 4K, 1 PD 3.0 100 W, 2 USB-A 3.2 (10 Gbps), 1 USB-C 3.2 (10 Gbps) and 1 Gigabit Ethernet, it can cope with almost any daily work that a user might need from it. It is also compatible with multiple systems and devices so can easily slot into an existing setup whether it is Windows or macOS.
Featuring a huge 9 ports, the Docking Station simplifies and clears a workstation effectively as it is able to meet most expansion needs alone. Equipped with 2 HDMI 4K, 2 DP 4K, 1 PD 3.0 100 W, 2 USB-A 3.2 (10 Gbps), 1 USB-C 3.2 (10 Gbps) and 1 Gigabit Ethernet, it can cope with almost any daily work that a user might need from it. It is also compatible with multiple systems and devices so can easily slot into an existing setup whether it is Windows or macOS.
COLORFUL Announces Battle-Ax Redline DDR5 and DDR4 Gaming Memory
Colorful Technology Company Limited, a professional manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards, all-in-one gaming and multimedia solutions, and high-performance storage, announces the Battle-Ax Redline Series gaming memory. Available in DDR4 and DDR5 memory kits, the Battle-Ax Redline Series are designed for the latest generation Intel and AMD platforms.
The Battle-Ax Redline Series sports a new look - a low-profile heatspreader with an aggressive styling that fits its beastly performance specifications. The Battle-Ax Redline DDR5 sports a white/red heatspreader while the Battle-Ax Redline DDR4 comes in black/red color.
The Battle-Ax Redline Series sports a new look - a low-profile heatspreader with an aggressive styling that fits its beastly performance specifications. The Battle-Ax Redline DDR5 sports a white/red heatspreader while the Battle-Ax Redline DDR4 comes in black/red color.
Thermalright Rolls Out HR-10 2280, an M.2 SSD Heatsink
Thermalright today rolled out the HR-10 2280, a step up from the company's HR-09 2280 M.2 SSD heatsink from 2022. Like its predecessor, the HR-10 uses two 5 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heatpipes that make contact with an M.2-2280 SSD over a mirror-finish nickel-plated copper base-plate, but the heatpipes loop through a denser aluminium fin-stack with slats that maximize surface area for heat dissipation. There's also a die-cast metal top-plate. The HR-10 is a tiny bit heavier than the HR-09, weighing in at 85 g (versus 80 g, but with a more optimized design). The heatsink measures 23.7 mm x 90.3 mm x 43.8 mm (WxDxH). The company didn't reveal pricing.
AMD to Release Threadripper 7000 and TR5 Platform in the Second Half of 2023
AMD is preparing a rather late counter to the Xeon W-2400 and W-3400 series "Sapphire Rapids" workstation platform with the Threadripper 7000 series and the Socket TR5 platform, in the second half of 2023, according to an ASUS product manager. While high core-count Threadripper Pro 5000WX processors still offer performance competitive to the latest Xeon W processors, the Intel platform offers the latest I/O, including support for faster DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5. The expectation with the Threadripper 7000 "Storm Peak" series is to increase CPU core IPC with the switch to "Zen 4," and introduce support for the latest DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5.
AMD's delay in releasing the Threadripper 7000 series has to do with the company wanting to push more high-margin EPYC "Genoa" processors to its large enterprise customers first; and possibly to take the time to redraw its platform to better counter the sub-classification Intel introduced within its Xeon W family, where the W-2400 series is targeted more toward the HEDT consumer, with its 4-channel memory and 64-lane PCIe interface; while the W-3400 series with its 8-channel memory interface, targets serious workstation use-cases; while both processors share a common socket and chipset. AMD could take a similar approach to the TR5 platform.
AMD's delay in releasing the Threadripper 7000 series has to do with the company wanting to push more high-margin EPYC "Genoa" processors to its large enterprise customers first; and possibly to take the time to redraw its platform to better counter the sub-classification Intel introduced within its Xeon W family, where the W-2400 series is targeted more toward the HEDT consumer, with its 4-channel memory and 64-lane PCIe interface; while the W-3400 series with its 8-channel memory interface, targets serious workstation use-cases; while both processors share a common socket and chipset. AMD could take a similar approach to the TR5 platform.
AMD Software Adrenalin 23.3.2 WHQL Released
AMD today released the latest version of its Adrenalin drivers. Version 23.3.2 WHQL comes with optimization for "Resident Evil 4" Remake, "The Last of Us Part 1," and introduces support for certain new Vulkan API extensions. An application crash noticed with "Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves" Collection on some GPUs such as the Radeon RX 6700 XT, has been fixed. Another such application crash with "Genshin Impact" on the RX 6750 XT has been fixed. A display corruption issue with "It Takes Two" on RX 7000 series GPUs has been fixed. A black-screen noticed with using Parsec client with the AMD decoder setting has been fixed. Intermittently lower GPU usage before test completion with Performance Tuning Stress Test has been fixed. Grab the drivers from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 23.3.2 WHQL
DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 23.3.2 WHQL
Cyberpunk 2077 RTX Path Tracing Overdrive Mode Comes on April 11th
CD Projekt RED has unveiled at the GDC 2023 that the RTX Path Tracing Overdrive Mode for Cyberpunk 2077 will launch on April 11th. It will be a part of the Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.62 and bring several improvements, including RTX Path Tracing, improvements in ray tracing performance, and most likely some general gameplay improvements.
While the precise details of the Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.62 have not been announced, CD Projekt RED did talk about path-traced features at the "Cyberpunk 2077' RT: Overdrive - Bringing Path Tracing into the Night City (Presented by NVIDIA)" GDC 2023 session held earlier. Earlier, CD Projekt RED also talked about the support for Shader Execution Ordering, as well as some other improvements for the game.
While the precise details of the Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.62 have not been announced, CD Projekt RED did talk about path-traced features at the "Cyberpunk 2077' RT: Overdrive - Bringing Path Tracing into the Night City (Presented by NVIDIA)" GDC 2023 session held earlier. Earlier, CD Projekt RED also talked about the support for Shader Execution Ordering, as well as some other improvements for the game.
Gainward Announces New RTX 40 Panther Series Graphics Cards
As the leading brand in the enthusiastic graphics market, Gainward proudly presents the brand new GeForce RTX 4080 and GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Panther Series video cards, powered by NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace GPU architecture. The new Panther Series is born in the Gainward graphics card lineup for performance-oriented consumers who favor the aesthetic of utter darkness and the perfection of simplicity. Shunning all the bells and whistles, the Gainward GeForce RTX 40 Panther presents itself in a sleek black finish with simple line patterns that add a touch of dynamics in the darkness. The minimalist design allows it to seamlessly blend into any builds.
Underneath the Panther's stealthy exterior lies the latest graphics technology and extraordinary thermal solution. The model leverages the Cyclone Fan for optimal aerodynamic performance. The Wing Tip on fantail collects maximized airflow into the thermal module. The sharp claw marks on the Cyclone Fan Blades lead the air to the heat sink steadily. With the support of Ultra-Dense Protection Plate and Metal Backplate with cut-out areas, the GeForce RTX 40 Panther offers exceptional cooling and improved stability.
Underneath the Panther's stealthy exterior lies the latest graphics technology and extraordinary thermal solution. The model leverages the Cyclone Fan for optimal aerodynamic performance. The Wing Tip on fantail collects maximized airflow into the thermal module. The sharp claw marks on the Cyclone Fan Blades lead the air to the heat sink steadily. With the support of Ultra-Dense Protection Plate and Metal Backplate with cut-out areas, the GeForce RTX 40 Panther offers exceptional cooling and improved stability.
Giga Computing Announces Entry-Level AMD Ryzen-based Servers
Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE and an industry leader in high-performance servers, server motherboards, and workstations, today announced new GIGABYTE servers for the AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor that are highly cost-effective, high performing, and enterprise feature rich. The line that separated data centers from personal users is not so clear because modern desktop processors have a respectable CPU core count and impressive multi-threading performance, laying the foundation for infrastructure that is highly manageable, scalable, and efficient. Installing a consumer CPU platform into an enterprise rack solution provides a low-cost barrier to entry-level servers that are typically used for dedicated hosting, cloud gaming, code development, and content creation.
Of the four new 1U GIGABYTE servers, the E133-C10 is a short-depth edge server, whereas the R133-C10, R133-C11, and R133-C13 are traditional rack servers. This spectrum of entry-level servers allows for excellent price points to be reached with each model having its unique advantage whether that be the need for dual 10GbE ports or support for a dual-slot GPU. On the more budget friendly side are the E133-C10 and R133-C10 servers that are very similar and have been designed to support an AMD Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4" series processor up to 105 W TDP. Conversely, the R133-C11 and R133-C13 have additional support for the full spectrum of processors up to 170 W TDP and a power delivery system for a discrete GPU, so they will be used for 3D modeling, machine learning, VDI, and more. Last, each server comes with a 80+ Platinum rated power supply, and buyers can talk to our sales if they prefer a 80+ Titanium unit. Because this is a low power server it will surely to be deployed in homes, offices, and colocation centers.
Of the four new 1U GIGABYTE servers, the E133-C10 is a short-depth edge server, whereas the R133-C10, R133-C11, and R133-C13 are traditional rack servers. This spectrum of entry-level servers allows for excellent price points to be reached with each model having its unique advantage whether that be the need for dual 10GbE ports or support for a dual-slot GPU. On the more budget friendly side are the E133-C10 and R133-C10 servers that are very similar and have been designed to support an AMD Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4" series processor up to 105 W TDP. Conversely, the R133-C11 and R133-C13 have additional support for the full spectrum of processors up to 170 W TDP and a power delivery system for a discrete GPU, so they will be used for 3D modeling, machine learning, VDI, and more. Last, each server comes with a 80+ Platinum rated power supply, and buyers can talk to our sales if they prefer a 80+ Titanium unit. Because this is a low power server it will surely to be deployed in homes, offices, and colocation centers.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Gets a New Trailer
Ninja Theory has released a new trailer for its upcoming Senua's Saga: Hellblade II game, which was a part of Epic's State of Unreal showcase from GDC 2023. The new trailer focuses on Senua and character rendering rather than the game itself but at least we get an idea what to expect from the game when it comes out.
As you would have guessed, the game is developed on the Unreal Engine, and facial animation is definitely looking impressive. Previously, Ninja Theory revealed a bit of the gameplay at The Game Awards last year, and we certainly expect more from Microsoft at this year's Xbox Games Showcase on June 11th.
As you would have guessed, the game is developed on the Unreal Engine, and facial animation is definitely looking impressive. Previously, Ninja Theory revealed a bit of the gameplay at The Game Awards last year, and we certainly expect more from Microsoft at this year's Xbox Games Showcase on June 11th.
Redfall Developers Working on Removal of Single-Player Always Online Restriction
Arkane Studios will be working on the removal of the single-player always online restriction from its upcoming Redfall first-person shooter game. This follows significant backlash expressed by gamers, after the presence of this function was brought to light in February 2023. In an interview conducted by Eurogamer, game director Harvey Smith has revealed that the Austin, Texas-based branch has taken the negative feedback seriously. The development team is active in making changes to Redfall's underpinnings, so that an offline single-player experience becomes a possibility.
Smith acknowledged that modern games are intrinsically linked to online services, but these should offer functionality when offline circumstances occur. He imagined situations from the perspective of being a potential Redfall player: "They could say: 'Oh, my God, you're always online. If you get on your Steam, and it's not online, you freak out. If you get on your Xbox, and you can't get the latest patch, or see what your friends are doing, you freak out. You want to be always online!' But that response, I think, lacks empathy."
Smith acknowledged that modern games are intrinsically linked to online services, but these should offer functionality when offline circumstances occur. He imagined situations from the perspective of being a potential Redfall player: "They could say: 'Oh, my God, you're always online. If you get on your Steam, and it's not online, you freak out. If you get on your Xbox, and you can't get the latest patch, or see what your friends are doing, you freak out. You want to be always online!' But that response, I think, lacks empathy."
Epic Games Shows Unreal Engine 5.2 Demo
At its State of Unreal event, Epic Games has revealed a new live demo for its Unreal Engine 5.2, called Electric Dream. The new demo showing some impressive visual details, physics, world-building and more. According to Epic, since the launch of Unreal Engine 5 last spring, 77 percent of users have moved over to Unreal Engine 5, and its latest version, Unreal Engine 5.2, brings further optimizations and improvements, as well as several new features.
The new real-time demonstration shows off some of those new features and improvements that are coming as a part of the Unreal Engine 5.2 Preview release, which should be available as of today via Epic Games launcher and GitHub.
The new real-time demonstration shows off some of those new features and improvements that are coming as a part of the Unreal Engine 5.2 Preview release, which should be available as of today via Epic Games launcher and GitHub.
Amazon Luna Cloud Gaming Service Reaches Canada, Germany and UK
Amazon is today expanding its Luna cloud gaming service into three new territories - Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. This is the first sign of the online retail giant's goal to broaden the service beyond the initial launch base in the USA. The company is clearly excited to offer their cloud games library to a larger customer base: "Gamers in the U.S. have been enjoying Luna for the past year and we're thrilled to expand the service, giving more customers the opportunity to play high-quality, immersive games without expensive gaming hardware or lengthy downloads."
These new territories have been granted access to Luna's full package which now consists of Ubisoft+, Jackbox Games, and Luna+ subscription services. The Luna app can be launched on 'select devices', which means a wide range of modern bits of kit can run it: Fire TV, Fire Tablets, Windows PCs, Chromebooks, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. Amazon confirmed that its Official Luna Wireless Controller is also being made available to customers in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom - which is an exclusive item to the Amazon Store. It should be noted that you can run other compatible control devices via Bluetooth, including a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as the Xbox One and PlayStation DualShock 4 gamepads.
These new territories have been granted access to Luna's full package which now consists of Ubisoft+, Jackbox Games, and Luna+ subscription services. The Luna app can be launched on 'select devices', which means a wide range of modern bits of kit can run it: Fire TV, Fire Tablets, Windows PCs, Chromebooks, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. Amazon confirmed that its Official Luna Wireless Controller is also being made available to customers in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom - which is an exclusive item to the Amazon Store. It should be noted that you can run other compatible control devices via Bluetooth, including a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as the Xbox One and PlayStation DualShock 4 gamepads.
Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XT Pulse Slides Down to $800 Following TechPowerUp Review
Days following its TechPowerUp review where we noted its rather high $860 street price compared to several other custom-design RX 7900 XT graphics cards in the market, the Radeon RX 7900 XT Pulse by Sapphire, has seen a price correction. The card is now listed at $820 on American online retailer Newegg, with a -$20 coupon bringing it down to $800. At this price, the RX 7900 XT Pulse matches other cost-effective custom designs, such as the ASRock RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, and XFX RX 7900 XT Speedster Merc 310. Most premium custom-design RX 7900 XT cards have settled around the $850-mark. These include the ASRock RX 7900 XT Taichi, MSI RX 7900 XT Gaming Trio Classic, and the PowerColor RX 7900 XT Hellhound OC.
There are still a few cards that are either at the launch MSRP of $900 or beyond. These include the ASUS TUF Gaming RX 7900 XT OC, Sapphire RX 7900 XT NITRO+, and the PowerColor RX 7900 XT Red Devil OC. The ideal price for the RX 7900 XT is exactly where the market is driving it to (at or under $800), as it is under pressure from the RTX 4070 Ti. Some of the priciest RX 7900 XT cards comically overlap with the prices of the cheapest RX 7900 XTX.
There are still a few cards that are either at the launch MSRP of $900 or beyond. These include the ASUS TUF Gaming RX 7900 XT OC, Sapphire RX 7900 XT NITRO+, and the PowerColor RX 7900 XT Red Devil OC. The ideal price for the RX 7900 XT is exactly where the market is driving it to (at or under $800), as it is under pressure from the RTX 4070 Ti. Some of the priciest RX 7900 XT cards comically overlap with the prices of the cheapest RX 7900 XTX.
ViewSonic Launches World's First Projectors Designed for Xbox
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, launches the world's first "Designed for Xbox" projectors. The new X1-4K and short throw X2-4K LED projectors deliver buttery-smooth 4K UHD visuals on a large screen that is 100" combined with the theater-level sound from Harman Kardon speakers, making gaming more immersive and exciting than ever before.
"ViewSonic has been striving to innovate our solutions with a user-centric mindset and provide the utmost audiovisual enjoyment. Besides being the world's first projector brand to receive low blue light certification by TÜV SÜD for eye protection, we are now also introducing the first "Designed for Xbox" projector solution in the industry," said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Projector & LED Display Business Unit at ViewSonic. "We're pleased to partner with Microsoft to bring the best gaming experience to all Xbox gamers with our latest X series LED projectors. We will continue to innovate our projector solutions to elevate the home entertainment experience for all."
"ViewSonic has been striving to innovate our solutions with a user-centric mindset and provide the utmost audiovisual enjoyment. Besides being the world's first projector brand to receive low blue light certification by TÜV SÜD for eye protection, we are now also introducing the first "Designed for Xbox" projector solution in the industry," said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Projector & LED Display Business Unit at ViewSonic. "We're pleased to partner with Microsoft to bring the best gaming experience to all Xbox gamers with our latest X series LED projectors. We will continue to innovate our projector solutions to elevate the home entertainment experience for all."
Counter-Strike 2 Officially Announced by Valve for Summer 2023 Launch, Limited Test Incoming Today
THE NEXT ERA OF COUNTER-STRIKE BEGINS THIS SUMMER
Counter-Strike 2 is the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike's history, ensuring new features and updates for years to come. All of the game's new features will be revealed when it officially launches this summer, but the road to Counter-Strike 2 begins today as a Limited Test for select CS:GO players. During this testing period, we'll be evaluating a subset of features to shake out any issues before the worldwide release.
Counter-Strike 2 arrives this summer as a free upgrade to CS:GO. So build your loadout, hone your skills, and prepare yourself for what's next! Read on to learn more about some of the features of the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test.
Counter-Strike 2 is the largest technical leap forward in Counter-Strike's history, ensuring new features and updates for years to come. All of the game's new features will be revealed when it officially launches this summer, but the road to Counter-Strike 2 begins today as a Limited Test for select CS:GO players. During this testing period, we'll be evaluating a subset of features to shake out any issues before the worldwide release.
Counter-Strike 2 arrives this summer as a free upgrade to CS:GO. So build your loadout, hone your skills, and prepare yourself for what's next! Read on to learn more about some of the features of the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test.
Nothing Launches Ear (2) - The Ultimate Hi-Res Audio Certified TWS Earbuds
London-based consumer tech brand Nothing has launched Ear (2), a set of true wireless earbuds that celebrates Nothing's iconic transparent design with elite engineering and next-level personalization for the ultimate audio experience.
Ear (2) delivers an authentic sound experience, boasting Hi-Res Audio certification and LHDC 5.0 technology. Users can also create their own Personal Sound Profile by completing a hearing test through the Nothing X app. Ear (2) will then adjust the equaliser settings accordingly in real-time for optimal sound quality. The earbuds feature an 11.6 mm custom driver for deep, powerful bass and crystal-clear highs, and a new dual-chamber design enhances the overall sound quality with smoother airflow. Moreover, Ear (2) features Dual Connection for easy device switching, improved wind-proof and crowd-proof Clear Voice Technology, and Personalised Active Noise Cancellation that adapts to the unique shape of a user's ear canal.
Ear (2) delivers an authentic sound experience, boasting Hi-Res Audio certification and LHDC 5.0 technology. Users can also create their own Personal Sound Profile by completing a hearing test through the Nothing X app. Ear (2) will then adjust the equaliser settings accordingly in real-time for optimal sound quality. The earbuds feature an 11.6 mm custom driver for deep, powerful bass and crystal-clear highs, and a new dual-chamber design enhances the overall sound quality with smoother airflow. Moreover, Ear (2) features Dual Connection for easy device switching, improved wind-proof and crowd-proof Clear Voice Technology, and Personalised Active Noise Cancellation that adapts to the unique shape of a user's ear canal.
Halo Infinite's Latest PC Patch Shifts Minimum GPU Spec Requirements, Below 4 GB of VRAM Insufficient
The latest patch for Halo Infinite has introduced an undesired side effect for a select portion of its PC platform playerbase. Changes to minimum system specification requirements were not clarified by 343 Industries in their patch notes, but it appears that the game now refuses to launch for owners of older GPU hardware. A limit of 4 GB of VRAM has been listed as the bare minimum since Halo Infinite's launch in late 2021, with the AMD Radeon RX 570 and Nvidia GTX GeForce 1050 Ti cards representing the entry level GPU tier, basic versions of both were fitted with 4 GB of VRAM as standard.
Apparently users running the GTX 1060 3 GB model were able to launch and play the game just fine prior to the latest patch, due to it being more powerful than the entry level cards, but now it seems that the advertised hard VRAM limit has finally gone into full effect. The weaker RX 570 and GTX 1050 Ti cards are still capable of running Halo Infinite after the introduction of season 3 content, but a technically superior piece of hardware cannot, which is unfortunate for owners of the GTX 1060 3 GB model who want to play Halo Infinite in its current state.
Apparently users running the GTX 1060 3 GB model were able to launch and play the game just fine prior to the latest patch, due to it being more powerful than the entry level cards, but now it seems that the advertised hard VRAM limit has finally gone into full effect. The weaker RX 570 and GTX 1050 Ti cards are still capable of running Halo Infinite after the introduction of season 3 content, but a technically superior piece of hardware cannot, which is unfortunate for owners of the GTX 1060 3 GB model who want to play Halo Infinite in its current state.
NVIDIA Prepares H100 NVL GPUs With More Memory and SLI-Like Capability
NVIDIA has killed SLI on its graphics cards, disabling the possibility of connecting two or more GPUs to harness their power for gaming and other workloads. However, SLI is making a reincarnation today in the form of a new H100 GPU model that spots higher memory capacity and higher performance. Called the H100 NVL, the GPU is a unique edition design based on the regular H100 PCIe version. What makes the H100 HVL version so special is the boost in memory capacity, now up from 80 GB in the standard model to 94 GB in the NVL edition SKU, for a total of 188 GB of HMB3 memory, running on a 6144-bit bus. Being a special edition SKU, it is sold only in pairs, as these H100 NVL GPUs are paired together and are connected by three NVLink connectors on top. Installation requires two PCIe slots, separated by dual-slot spacing.
The performance differences between the H100 PCIe version and the H100 SXM version are now matched with the new H100 NVL, as the card features a boost in the TDP with up to 400 Watts per card, which is configurable. The H100 NVL uses the same Tensor and CUDA core configuration as the SXM edition, except it is placed on a PCIe slot and connected to another card. Being sold in pairs, OEMs can outfit their systems with either two or four pairs per certified system. You can see the specification table below, with information filled out by AnandTech. As NVIDIA says, the need for this special edition SKU is the emergence of Large Language Models (LLMs) that require significant computational power to run. "Servers equipped with H100 NVL GPUs increase GPT-175B model performance up to 12X over NVIDIA DGX A100 systems while maintaining low latency in power-constrained data center environments," noted the company.
The performance differences between the H100 PCIe version and the H100 SXM version are now matched with the new H100 NVL, as the card features a boost in the TDP with up to 400 Watts per card, which is configurable. The H100 NVL uses the same Tensor and CUDA core configuration as the SXM edition, except it is placed on a PCIe slot and connected to another card. Being sold in pairs, OEMs can outfit their systems with either two or four pairs per certified system. You can see the specification table below, with information filled out by AnandTech. As NVIDIA says, the need for this special edition SKU is the emergence of Large Language Models (LLMs) that require significant computational power to run. "Servers equipped with H100 NVL GPUs increase GPT-175B model performance up to 12X over NVIDIA DGX A100 systems while maintaining low latency in power-constrained data center environments," noted the company.
NVIDIA Preparing RTX 5000 Ada Generation Workstation GPU
In addition to the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation workstation GPU launched at the GTC 2023, NVIDIA is apparently also working on the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation, which should fit between the previously available AD102-based RTX 6000 Ada Generation workstation graphics card and the new AD104-based RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation.
According to a fresh report coming from kopite7kimi, the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation workstation GPU packs 15,360 CUDA cores and 32 GB of GDDR6 memory. If these specifications are spot on, the RTX 5000 Ada Generation GPU should be also based on the AD102 GPU, with a memory interface cut-down to 256-bit to match the 32 GB of GDDR6 memory. NVIDIA also has enough room to fill the rest of the lineup, but judging from this information, there will be a pretty big gap between the RTX 6000 and RTX 5000 Ada Generation workstation GPUs.
According to a fresh report coming from kopite7kimi, the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation workstation GPU packs 15,360 CUDA cores and 32 GB of GDDR6 memory. If these specifications are spot on, the RTX 5000 Ada Generation GPU should be also based on the AD102 GPU, with a memory interface cut-down to 256-bit to match the 32 GB of GDDR6 memory. NVIDIA also has enough room to fill the rest of the lineup, but judging from this information, there will be a pretty big gap between the RTX 6000 and RTX 5000 Ada Generation workstation GPUs.
EA Retiring Legacy Battlefield Games, Digital Sales Ending in April
As we close in on 15 years since the release of Battlefield 1943, and Bad Company 1 & 2, we are announcing that their journey is coming to an end. Starting April 28 2023, Battlefield 1943, and Battlefield: Bad Company 1 & 2 will be removed from digital storefronts and you will no longer be able to purchase them.
This is in preparation for the retirement of the online services for these titles which will happen on December 8 2023. For Bad Company 1 and 2, you can still continue playing them and use their respective offline features, such as the single player campaign. You can also read our FAQ and Service Updates for further information on the retirement of online services.
Update 14:17 UTC: EA updated their press release this morning, to clarify that the inclusion of Mirror's Edge was an error. They stated via Twitter: "We currently have no plans to remove Mirror's Edge from digital storefronts."
This is in preparation for the retirement of the online services for these titles which will happen on December 8 2023. For Bad Company 1 and 2, you can still continue playing them and use their respective offline features, such as the single player campaign. You can also read our FAQ and Service Updates for further information on the retirement of online services.
Update 14:17 UTC: EA updated their press release this morning, to clarify that the inclusion of Mirror's Edge was an error. They stated via Twitter: "We currently have no plans to remove Mirror's Edge from digital storefronts."
Simply NUC Launches First Widely Available 13th Gen 4x4 NUC
Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini PC solutions company, announced they are taking orders for their brand-new Topaz 3 NUC. As the successor to Topaz 2, Topaz 3 features Intel's latest 13th Gen Raptor Lake processors to provide the most crisp mini PC computing experience to date. From home theater to office to digital signage kiosks, Topaz 3 is designed to be used across many different computing applications.
Starting at $669, two Topaz 3 models (NUC13TZi7 and NUC13TZi5) are now available to preorder from Simply NUC across their global sites. The NUC13TZi7 model based on the Intel Core i7-1360P processor is intended for usage where higher computing performance is needed. To accommodate a variety of price points, more cost-effective options are also available with the NUC13TZi5 model based on the Intel Core i5-1340P processor and the NUC13TZi3 model, which will ship later in Q2, based on the Intel Core i3-1315U processor. Core i7 and i5 units are expected to begin shipping in April.
Starting at $669, two Topaz 3 models (NUC13TZi7 and NUC13TZi5) are now available to preorder from Simply NUC across their global sites. The NUC13TZi7 model based on the Intel Core i7-1360P processor is intended for usage where higher computing performance is needed. To accommodate a variety of price points, more cost-effective options are also available with the NUC13TZi5 model based on the Intel Core i5-1340P processor and the NUC13TZi3 model, which will ship later in Q2, based on the Intel Core i3-1315U processor. Core i7 and i5 units are expected to begin shipping in April.
Supermicro Expands GPU Solutions Portfolio with Deskside Liquid-Cooled AI Development Platform, Powered by NVIDIA
Supermicro, Inc., a Total IT Solution Provider for Cloud, AI/ML, Storage, and 5G/Edge, is announcing the first in a line of powerful yet quiet and power-efficient NVIDIA-accelerated AI Development platforms which gives information professionals and developers the most powerful technology available today at their deskside. The new AI development platform, the SYS-751GE-TNRT-NV1, is an application-optimized system that excels when developing and running AI-based software. This innovative system gives developers and users a complete HPC and AI resource for department workloads. In addition, this powerful system can support a small team of users running training, inference, and analytics workloads simultaneously.
The self-contained liquid-cooling feature addresses the thermal design power needs of the four NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs and the two 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs to enable full performance while improving the overall system's efficiency and enabling quiet (approximately 30dB) operation in an office environment. In addition, this system is designed to accommodate high-performing CPUs and GPUs, making it ideal for AI/DL/ML and HPC applications. The system can reside in an office environment or be rack-mounted when installed in a data center environment, simplifying IT management.
The self-contained liquid-cooling feature addresses the thermal design power needs of the four NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs and the two 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs to enable full performance while improving the overall system's efficiency and enabling quiet (approximately 30dB) operation in an office environment. In addition, this system is designed to accommodate high-performing CPUs and GPUs, making it ideal for AI/DL/ML and HPC applications. The system can reside in an office environment or be rack-mounted when installed in a data center environment, simplifying IT management.
Aetina and CVEDIA Join Forces to Launch Advanced AI Video Analytics Solutions Powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin SoM
Aetina teams up with CVEDIA to launch advanced AI-powered video analytics solutions for enhanced public safety, smarter cities and safer traffic networks. The solutions involve Aetina's embedded computers built with the latest NVIDIA Jetson Orin system-on-modules (SoMs) and CVEDIA's synthetic AI models, enabling low-latency object and human motion detections at the edge. By adopting AI-enabled video analytics, security companies and system integrators can optimize operations and enhance security measures. During ISC West 2023, Aetina and CVEDIA will showcase the solutions to demonstrate how they leverage deep learning to accurately detect, track, and analyze objects and events from videos, enabling businesses to quickly generate insights and improve their decision-making processes.
Aetina's embedded computers that support the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, Orin NX, or Orin Nano SoMs are designed for the creation of different types of vertical AI. The embedded computers provide the computing power for CVEDIA's AI solutions to run real-time inference processes; they are also compatible with any kind of camera to receive high-resolution videos for the analytics tasks.
Aetina's embedded computers that support the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, Orin NX, or Orin Nano SoMs are designed for the creation of different types of vertical AI. The embedded computers provide the computing power for CVEDIA's AI solutions to run real-time inference processes; they are also compatible with any kind of camera to receive high-resolution videos for the analytics tasks.
Kingston Technology Tops List of Supplier Channel SSD Shipments in 2022
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it closed out 2022 in the number one spot for SSD market share in the channel. Although worldwide client SSD demand declined YoY, end market elasticity and diversification, driven by continued ASP declines, helped to fuel healthy demand of Kingston's high quality SSD solutions. In 2022, Kingston broadened its portfolio by adding its new NV2 client NVMe drive and updated its award-winning Kingston FURY Renegade SSD to include a heatsink option ideal for console and PC gamers.
Market share data from analyst research company TRENDFOCUS showed Kingston as the #1 SSD vendor in the channel with 24% market share and 22 million client SSDs shipped for all of 2022. In Q3 alone, Kingston's client SSD market share grew to a significant 28.4% in the channel which displays a healthy upward unit growth despite ongoing macro challenges.
Market share data from analyst research company TRENDFOCUS showed Kingston as the #1 SSD vendor in the channel with 24% market share and 22 million client SSDs shipped for all of 2022. In Q3 alone, Kingston's client SSD market share grew to a significant 28.4% in the channel which displays a healthy upward unit growth despite ongoing macro challenges.
Growth in Gaming PCs and Gaming Monitors to Lag in 2023, According to IDC
A three-year growth streak for gaming PCs and gaming monitors came to an end in 2022 as worldwide gaming PC shipments declined 6.4% while gaming monitors declined 7.1% compared to 2021, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Gaming Tracker. A total of 44.9 million gaming PCs and 17.3 million gaming monitors were shipped during the year, which was well above pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Looking ahead, IDC expects 2024 to be a year of recovery as 2023 will be marred with macroeconomic challenges, inventory issues, and lack of meaningful upgrades.
"Excess inventory carried over from 2022 is leading to discounting of older generation systems while also hampering re-orders of the latest generation of gaming PCs," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. "The vast supply of add-in boards in the secondary GPU market further compounds the issue as it helps prolong the life of existing gaming desktops and surpresses demand for new systems." "The excessive power requirements of the latest GPUs is hampering growth of both new gaming desktops and notebooks as it tips the scales of performance per dollar in favour of last year's models while the rise of mobile/handheld gaming is also affecting gamers' share of wallet," continued Ubrani.
"Excess inventory carried over from 2022 is leading to discounting of older generation systems while also hampering re-orders of the latest generation of gaming PCs," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. "The vast supply of add-in boards in the secondary GPU market further compounds the issue as it helps prolong the life of existing gaming desktops and surpresses demand for new systems." "The excessive power requirements of the latest GPUs is hampering growth of both new gaming desktops and notebooks as it tips the scales of performance per dollar in favour of last year's models while the rise of mobile/handheld gaming is also affecting gamers' share of wallet," continued Ubrani.
Post-Apocalyptic Tactical Adventure Miasma Chronicles Set For Digital Launch On 23rd May 2023
Miasma Chronicles, the post-apocalyptic tactical adventure from Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden creators The Bearded Ladies and leading video game publisher 505 Games, is set for launch on 23rd, May, 2023 for Windows PC platforms (Steam and EPIC), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The tactical adventure sees players take on the role of Elvis, a young man abandoned by his mother in the wastelands of America, with only his robot 'brother' Diggs for company. Together they must unravel the mystery of the Miasma, a mysterious entity that threatens the last vestiges of humanity and turns all who come in contact with it into barbaric corruptions of their former selves.
The tactical adventure sees players take on the role of Elvis, a young man abandoned by his mother in the wastelands of America, with only his robot 'brother' Diggs for company. Together they must unravel the mystery of the Miasma, a mysterious entity that threatens the last vestiges of humanity and turns all who come in contact with it into barbaric corruptions of their former selves.
Rokid Unveils Rokid Max AR Glasses With Premium MAX-Theater Experience
Rokid, China's leading augmented reality company, today announces its next-generation AR glasses - Rokid Max, which are only 75 g lightweight and compact, but offer an excellent MAX-theater experience. Equivalent to a 215-inch large screen viewed from 6 meters away, the glasses offer users the optimal viewing experience as if sitting in the best position in a movie theater. Consumers can now pre-order the new glasses from Rokid's Official Website for $439.
The craving for cinematic big-screen experience has long grown beyond the bounds of theater-going - people now want to have it at home, on the go, and in the office, anytime and anywhere. And when it comes to gaming, people expect a high level of immersion - something that phone and computer screens fall short on. This is where AR glasses come in as a new choice.
The craving for cinematic big-screen experience has long grown beyond the bounds of theater-going - people now want to have it at home, on the go, and in the office, anytime and anywhere. And when it comes to gaming, people expect a high level of immersion - something that phone and computer screens fall short on. This is where AR glasses come in as a new choice.
Opera goes live with generative AI tools in Desktop browser and Opera GX
As generative AI tools continue to reshape the digital landscape, Opera is integrating AI capabilities into its desktop browsers. Shipping today in Opera and Opera GX are AI Prompts and sidebar integration of the popular GPT-based services ChatGPT and ChatSonic. Users can explore AIGC (AI-generated content) tools within Opera and Opera GX.
"AIGC is a game-changer for web browsing. Our goal is to use these technologies to give our users new browsing superpowers - reimagining how they learn, create, and research," said Joanna Czajka, Product Director at Opera.
"AIGC is a game-changer for web browsing. Our goal is to use these technologies to give our users new browsing superpowers - reimagining how they learn, create, and research," said Joanna Czajka, Product Director at Opera.
Gigabyte Joins NVIDIA GTC 2023 and Supports New NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPU and NVIDIA OVX 3.0
GIGABYTE Technology, an industry leader in high-performance servers and workstations, today announced participation in the global AI conference, NVIDIA GTC, and will share an AI session and other resources to educate attendees. Additionally, with the release of the NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPU, GIGABYTE has already begun qualifying its G-series servers to support it with validation. Last, as the NVIDIA OVX architecture has reached a new milestone, GIGABYTE has begun production of purpose-built GIGABYTE servers based on the OVX 3.0 architecture to handle the performance and scale needed for real-time, physically accurate simulations, expansive 3D worlds, and complex digital twins.
NVIDIA Session (S52463) "Protect and Optimize AI Models on Development Platform"
GTC is a great opportunity for researchers and industries to share what they have learned in AI to help further discoveries. This time around, GIGABYTE has a talk by one of MyelinTek's senior engineers that is responsible for the research and development of MLOps technologies. The session demonstrates an AI solution using a pipeline function to quickly retrain new AI models and encrypt them.
NVIDIA Session (S52463) "Protect and Optimize AI Models on Development Platform"
GTC is a great opportunity for researchers and industries to share what they have learned in AI to help further discoveries. This time around, GIGABYTE has a talk by one of MyelinTek's senior engineers that is responsible for the research and development of MLOps technologies. The session demonstrates an AI solution using a pipeline function to quickly retrain new AI models and encrypt them.
PNY Intros GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Verto White Edition
PNY today rolled out the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Verto White Edition (model: VCG4070T12TFWXPB1). A variant of the RTX 4070 Ti Verto Triple Fan that the company debuted its RTX 4070 Ti series with; the Verto White Edition sees the cooler shroud, backplate, and the impellers of the three fans in matte white. There are no RGB diffusers near those X-shaped grooves surrounding the middle fan. The underlying PCB is still black. The card is 30.51 cm long, 11.9 cm tall, and exactly 3 slots thick. PNY has given the RTX 4070 Ti Verto White Edition NVIDIA-reference clock speeds for the GPU, with a boost frequency of 2610 MHz, and an untouched 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory speed. The company didn't reveal pricing.
AAEON Announces Products Incorporating Modules from the Entire NVIDIA Jetson Orin Series
AAEON, an industry leading provider of edge AI solutions, will present new additions to its extensive line of platforms powered by NVIDIA Jetson system-on-modules during GTC, a global conference on AI and the metaverse. As a gold sponsor of the conference, which offers over 650 discussions, panels, and events from industry leaders in the AI space, AAEON highlights upcoming products from their range of embedded Box PCs across the entire NVIDIA Jetson Orin series; including NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin, NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX, and NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano.
The BOXER-8645AI and BOXER-8646AI systems will join BOXER-8640AI and BOXER-8641AI, which were released in December 2022, as part of AAEON's product range powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. Equipped with one HDMI 2.1 and eight GMSL2 ports, the BOXER-8645AI will possess an exceptional interface for peripheral devices, making it particularly suitable for AMR applications. The BOXER-8646AI meanwhile, will feature an astonishing 12 PoE LAN ports, giving customers a versatile smart city solution.
The BOXER-8645AI and BOXER-8646AI systems will join BOXER-8640AI and BOXER-8641AI, which were released in December 2022, as part of AAEON's product range powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. Equipped with one HDMI 2.1 and eight GMSL2 ports, the BOXER-8645AI will possess an exceptional interface for peripheral devices, making it particularly suitable for AMR applications. The BOXER-8646AI meanwhile, will feature an astonishing 12 PoE LAN ports, giving customers a versatile smart city solution.
JLab Introduces its Go Work Pop Wireless Headset
Leading personal technology company and number one true wireless brand in the US, JLab, is today launching its latest addition to its new Go Work range which is designed for the new hybrid office environments. The Go Work Pop is a lightweight Bluetooth headset that is ideal for use during work. Featuring multipoint technology that can seamlessly switch between devices as well as impressive audio quality and clear voice calls, it is an extremely affordable and sleek option that will suit all. The JLab Go Work Pop are available to buy in black, teal or lilac for £39.99 from Amazon.
The perfect lightweight headphone for the working life, the JLab Go Work Pop bring clear calls and great quality audio with 50+ hours of playtime - enough to last a full working week. Always prioritising audio, the headset comes with the Lab Quality Sound that can be expected from JLab. Featuring both EQ2 voice and music mode, the Go Work Pop is impressive whether on work calls or even when having a break and listening to some music. The Voice EQ setting works to accentuate more mid and high frequencies to emphasise the human voice whilst the Music mode is the standard frequency response with an increased emphasis on the overall sound and bass.
The perfect lightweight headphone for the working life, the JLab Go Work Pop bring clear calls and great quality audio with 50+ hours of playtime - enough to last a full working week. Always prioritising audio, the headset comes with the Lab Quality Sound that can be expected from JLab. Featuring both EQ2 voice and music mode, the Go Work Pop is impressive whether on work calls or even when having a break and listening to some music. The Voice EQ setting works to accentuate more mid and high frequencies to emphasise the human voice whilst the Music mode is the standard frequency response with an increased emphasis on the overall sound and bass.
Palit Announces GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Ti JetStream Series Graphics Cards
Palit Microsystems Ltd. as the leading graphics card manufacturer is excited to announce the GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Ti JetStream Series built with the ultra-efficient NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture. Sedate, silent, yet powerful. The Palit GeForce RTX 40 JetStream fashioned in jet-black with geometric block patterns demonstrates a performance-focused design that remains the essences to achieve any gaming and creator application. Restrained from flashy lights, the JetStream reveals the philosophy of Less is More. Its stealthy approach intends to suit users who prefer function over form, or fancy to keep their PCs in dark presence. Concealed within the JetStream's discrete design is a true marvel of engineering that brings impeccable thermal solution and low-noise operation.
To ensure superior aerodynamic performance, the Gale Hunter Fan cooling system is packed to offer concentrated and smooth airflow. An Ultra-Wide Copper Base adhered to both the GPU and VRAM effectively absorbs heat, keeping the GPU temperatures always in check. The model also possesses a matching Metal Backplate with golden-ratio cut-outs to dissipate hot airs while providing extra rigidity. The GeForce RTX 40 JetStream fully incorporates NVIDIA's revolutionary technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS 3, NVIDIA Reflex, and NVIDIA Broadcast. Consumers will experience immersive visuals and AI-enhanced creating process without compromising on performance. Let the JetStream be your stealthy companion as you take on the most demanding tasks with ease.
To ensure superior aerodynamic performance, the Gale Hunter Fan cooling system is packed to offer concentrated and smooth airflow. An Ultra-Wide Copper Base adhered to both the GPU and VRAM effectively absorbs heat, keeping the GPU temperatures always in check. The model also possesses a matching Metal Backplate with golden-ratio cut-outs to dissipate hot airs while providing extra rigidity. The GeForce RTX 40 JetStream fully incorporates NVIDIA's revolutionary technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS 3, NVIDIA Reflex, and NVIDIA Broadcast. Consumers will experience immersive visuals and AI-enhanced creating process without compromising on performance. Let the JetStream be your stealthy companion as you take on the most demanding tasks with ease.
MSI Launches Mobile Workstations for Professionals and Students with up to NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
MSI, the world-leading premium laptop brand, has launched a new generation of mobile workstations. The new CreatorPro Series features the latest NVIDIA RTX professional graphics to meet the demands of professional industries and keep creative individuals working efficiently. Moreover, they are ISV certified for use with most professional software. For those whose work includes intensive engineering, architecture, 3D animation, and data analysis or even educational studies, such as students in STEM majors, the revamped MSI CreatorPro Series is the ideal solution.
Two of the CreatorPro Series are also NVIDIA RTX Studio-validated laptops, namely CreatorPro Z17 & Z16 HX Studio. These devices offer greater visual accuracy and more than adequate computing power, functionality, stability, and mobility. They benefit from RTX optimizations in over 110 creative apps and exclusive AI-powered NVIDIA tools: Omniverse, Canvas, Broadcast, and RTX Remix. Driven by the latest NVIDIA RTX professional graphics, and the 13th gen Intel Core processors, these workstations are capable of delivering up to 85% better performance compared to previous models.
Two of the CreatorPro Series are also NVIDIA RTX Studio-validated laptops, namely CreatorPro Z17 & Z16 HX Studio. These devices offer greater visual accuracy and more than adequate computing power, functionality, stability, and mobility. They benefit from RTX optimizations in over 110 creative apps and exclusive AI-powered NVIDIA tools: Omniverse, Canvas, Broadcast, and RTX Remix. Driven by the latest NVIDIA RTX professional graphics, and the 13th gen Intel Core processors, these workstations are capable of delivering up to 85% better performance compared to previous models.
Tuesday, March 21st 2023
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Motherboards
ASUS TUF Gaming GT502 Review
The Asus TUF Gaming GT502 tries to mix the popular sandwich ATX case design with the details and design DNA of the TUF series. The result is an intricate looking case that may just be the coolest of its kind out there.
Quick Look: LETSHUOER x Gizaudio Galileo In-Ear Monitors
LETSHUOER partners with IEM influencer brand Gizaudio to put out a stunning looking set in the form of the all-new Galileo. It uses a 1 DD/1 BA hybrid driver design for some of the better sounding mids at any price range, let alone the more wallet-friendly approach it takes.
G.Skill Announces KM250 RGB 65% Keyboard
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is announcing the KM250 RGB 65% compact mechanical keyboard with a 67-key layout design. Featuring PBT dual-injection pudding keycaps, hot-swappable keyswitches, detachable USB Type-C cable, volume control knob, and hotkey-controlled RGB backlighting, the KM250 RGB is a customizable, portable mechanical keyboard that offers comfort, convenience, and style for everyday use.
Built for durability, the KM250 RGB mechanical keyboard comes with dual-injection PBT pudding keycaps that are wear-resistant. Additionally, the KM250 RGB is designed with hot-swappable keyswitches, so that you can switch to your favorite keyswitch type (3-pin or 5-pin compatible) from the included Kailh Red keyswitches. The KM250 RGB keyboard is designed for portability and ease of use. Featuring a detachable braided USB Type-C cable for easy connectivity, a volume control knob to easily adjust or mute the system volume, and measures at only 32.7 cm (or 12.9 inches) wide, the KM250 RGB is a space-saving keyboard solution that is ideal for everyday typing or gaming.
Built for durability, the KM250 RGB mechanical keyboard comes with dual-injection PBT pudding keycaps that are wear-resistant. Additionally, the KM250 RGB is designed with hot-swappable keyswitches, so that you can switch to your favorite keyswitch type (3-pin or 5-pin compatible) from the included Kailh Red keyswitches. The KM250 RGB keyboard is designed for portability and ease of use. Featuring a detachable braided USB Type-C cable for easy connectivity, a volume control knob to easily adjust or mute the system volume, and measures at only 32.7 cm (or 12.9 inches) wide, the KM250 RGB is a space-saving keyboard solution that is ideal for everyday typing or gaming.
Apple A17 Bionic SoC Performance Targets Could be Lowered
Apple's engineering team is rumored to be adjusting performance targets set for its next generation mobile SoC - the A17 Bionic - due to issues at the TSMC foundry. The cutting edge 3 nm process is proving difficult to handle, according to industry tipsters on Twitter. The leaks point to the A17 Bionic's overall performance goals being lowered by 20%, mainly due to the TSMC N3B node not meeting production targets. The factory is apparently lowering its yield and execution targets due to ongoing problems with FinFET limitations.
The leakers have recently revealed more up-to-date A17 Bionic's Geekbench 6 scores, with single thread performance at 3019, and multi-thread at 7860. Various publications have been hyping the mobile SoC's single thread performance as matching that of desktop CPUs from Intel and AMD, more specifically 13th-gen Core i7 and 'high-end' Ryzen models. Naturally the A17 Bionic cannot compete with these CPUs in terms of multi-thread performance.
The leakers have recently revealed more up-to-date A17 Bionic's Geekbench 6 scores, with single thread performance at 3019, and multi-thread at 7860. Various publications have been hyping the mobile SoC's single thread performance as matching that of desktop CPUs from Intel and AMD, more specifically 13th-gen Core i7 and 'high-end' Ryzen models. Naturally the A17 Bionic cannot compete with these CPUs in terms of multi-thread performance.
NVIDIA and Google Cloud Deliver Powerful New Generative AI Platform
NVIDIA today announced Google Cloud is integrating the newly launched L4 GPU and Vertex AI to accelerate the work of companies building a rapidly expanding number of generative AI applications. Google Cloud, with its announcement of G2 virtual machines available in private preview today, is the first cloud services provider to offer NVIDIA's L4 Tensor Core GPU. Additionally, L4 GPUs will be available with optimized support on Vertex AI, which now supports building, tuning and deploying large generative AI models.
Developers can access the latest state-of-the-art technology available to help them get new applications up and running quickly and cost-efficiently. The NVIDIA L4 GPU is a universal GPU for every workload, with enhanced AI video capabilities that can deliver 120x more AI-powered video performance than CPUs, combined with 99% better energy efficiency.
Developers can access the latest state-of-the-art technology available to help them get new applications up and running quickly and cost-efficiently. The NVIDIA L4 GPU is a universal GPU for every workload, with enhanced AI video capabilities that can deliver 120x more AI-powered video performance than CPUs, combined with 99% better energy efficiency.
ASUS Announces NVIDIA-Certified Servers and ProArt Studiobook Pro 16 OLED at GTC
ASUS today announced its participation in NVIDIA GTC, a developer conference for the era of AI and the metaverse. ASUS will offer comprehensive NVIDIA-certified server solutions that support the latest NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPU—which accelerates real-time video AI and generative AI—as well as the NVIDIA BlueField -3 DPU, igniting unprecedented innovation for supercomputing infrastructure. ASUS will also launch the new ProArt Studiobook Pro 16 OLED laptop with the NVIDIA RTX 3000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU for mobile creative professionals.
Purpose-built GPU servers for generative AI
Generative AI applications enable businesses to develop better products and services, and deliver original content tailored to the unique needs of customers and audiences. ASUS ESC8000 and ESC4000 are fully certified NVIDIA servers that support up to eight NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPUs, which deliver universal acceleration and energy efficiency for AI with up to 2.7X more generative AI performance than the previous GPU generation. ASUS ESC and RS series servers are engineered for HPC workloads, with support for the NVIDIA Bluefield-3 DPU to transform data center infrastructure, as well as NVIDIA AI Enterprise applications for streamlined AI workflows and deployment.
Purpose-built GPU servers for generative AI
Generative AI applications enable businesses to develop better products and services, and deliver original content tailored to the unique needs of customers and audiences. ASUS ESC8000 and ESC4000 are fully certified NVIDIA servers that support up to eight NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPUs, which deliver universal acceleration and energy efficiency for AI with up to 2.7X more generative AI performance than the previous GPU generation. ASUS ESC and RS series servers are engineered for HPC workloads, with support for the NVIDIA Bluefield-3 DPU to transform data center infrastructure, as well as NVIDIA AI Enterprise applications for streamlined AI workflows and deployment.
Intel Appoints Stuart Pann to Lead Intel Foundry Services
Intel Corporation today announced the appointment of Stuart Pann as senior vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Services (IFS), Intel's commercial foundry business. Pann will report to Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and drive continued growth for IFS and its differentiated systems foundry offering, which goes beyond traditional wafer fabrication to include packaging, chiplet standards and software, as well as U.S.- and Europe-based capacity.
"The industry is responding well to our systems foundry approach and we're seeing strong momentum, including the recent announcement of a significant cloud, edge and data center solutions provider as a customer for our upcoming Intel 3 process," said Gelsinger. "With deep expertise in capital and capacity strategies, supply chain management, and sales and operations planning across internal and external manufacturing, Stuart is an ideal leader to accelerate this momentum and drive long-term growth for IFS."
"The industry is responding well to our systems foundry approach and we're seeing strong momentum, including the recent announcement of a significant cloud, edge and data center solutions provider as a customer for our upcoming Intel 3 process," said Gelsinger. "With deep expertise in capital and capacity strategies, supply chain management, and sales and operations planning across internal and external manufacturing, Stuart is an ideal leader to accelerate this momentum and drive long-term growth for IFS."
LG Announces Availability of New 49-inch Curved Ultragear Monitor
LG Electronics USA announced today pricing and availability of its new 49-inch Curved UltraGear monitor (49GR85DC-B). Priced at $1299, the latest in the UltraGear lineup is now available for preorder thru April 2, 2023 exclusively at LG.com and will include a special preorder offer of a free UltraGear Gaming Pad ($199.99 ARV). Pre-orders are expected to ship in early April.
Bringing gameplay to the next level, LG's 49-inch UltraGear monitor features an up to 240 Hz Dual QHD (5120x1440) curved (1000R) display with an ultra-wide 32:9 aspect ratio. The 49GR85DC-B model also supports VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and delivers an ultra-fast 1 ms (GtG) response rate. Paired with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, serious gamers are equipped with a fluid, virtually tear-free HDR gaming experience. Advanced gaming features also include Dynamic Action Sync, Black Stabilizer, FPS Counter, and Crosshair.
Bringing gameplay to the next level, LG's 49-inch UltraGear monitor features an up to 240 Hz Dual QHD (5120x1440) curved (1000R) display with an ultra-wide 32:9 aspect ratio. The 49GR85DC-B model also supports VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and delivers an ultra-fast 1 ms (GtG) response rate. Paired with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, serious gamers are equipped with a fluid, virtually tear-free HDR gaming experience. Advanced gaming features also include Dynamic Action Sync, Black Stabilizer, FPS Counter, and Crosshair.
Supermicro Servers Now Featuring NVIDIA HGX and PCIe-Based H100 8-GPU Systems
Supermicro, Inc., a Total IT Solution Provider for AI/ML, Cloud, Storage, and 5G/Edge, today has announced that it has begun shipping its top-of-the-line new GPU servers that feature the latest NVIDIA HGX H100 8-GPU system. Supermicro servers incorporate the new NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPU in a wide range of application-optimized servers from the edge to the data center.
"Supermicro offers the most comprehensive portfolio of GPU systems in the industry, including servers in 8U, 6U, 5U, 4U, 2U, and 1U form factors, as well as workstations and SuperBlade systems that support the full range of new NVIDIA H100 GPUs," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "With our new NVIDIA HGX H100 Delta-Next server, customers can expect 9x performance gains compared to the previous generation for AI training applications. Our GPU servers have innovative airflow designs which reduce fan speeds, lower noise levels, and consume less power, resulting in a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). In addition, we deliver complete rack-scale liquid-cooling options for customers looking to further future-proof their data centers."
"Supermicro offers the most comprehensive portfolio of GPU systems in the industry, including servers in 8U, 6U, 5U, 4U, 2U, and 1U form factors, as well as workstations and SuperBlade systems that support the full range of new NVIDIA H100 GPUs," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "With our new NVIDIA HGX H100 Delta-Next server, customers can expect 9x performance gains compared to the previous generation for AI training applications. Our GPU servers have innovative airflow designs which reduce fan speeds, lower noise levels, and consume less power, resulting in a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). In addition, we deliver complete rack-scale liquid-cooling options for customers looking to further future-proof their data centers."
Raja Koduri, Executive Vice President & Chief Architect, Leaves Intel
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has issued the news, via a tweet, of Raja Koduri's departure from the silicon giant. Koduri, who currently sits as Executive Vice President and Chief Architect, will be leaving the company at the end of this month. This ends a five year long tenure at Intel, where he started as Chief Architect back in 2017. He intends to form a brand new startup operation that will focus on AI-generative software for computer games. His tweeted reply to Gelsinger reads: "Thank you Pat and Intel for many cherished memories and incredible learning over the past 5 years. Will be embarking on a new chapter in my life, doing a software startup as noted below. Will have more to share in coming weeks."
Intel has been undergoing numerous internal restructures, and Koduri's AXG Graphics Unit was dissolved late last year. He was the general manager of the graphic chips division prior to its split, and returned to his previous role as Chief Architect at Intel. The company stated at the time that Koduri's new focus would be on: "growing efforts across CPU, GPU and AI, and accelerating high-priority technical programmes."
Intel has been undergoing numerous internal restructures, and Koduri's AXG Graphics Unit was dissolved late last year. He was the general manager of the graphic chips division prior to its split, and returned to his previous role as Chief Architect at Intel. The company stated at the time that Koduri's new focus would be on: "growing efforts across CPU, GPU and AI, and accelerating high-priority technical programmes."
NVIDIA Introduces RTX 4000 Ada SFF and Five Mobile Workstation SKUs
At the GPU Technology Conference (GTC) 2023, NVIDIA has updated its line of workstation GPUs, including the new RTX 4000 SFF workstation GPU as well as five new mobile workstation GPUs, covering the entire market segment. The new RTX 4000 SFF is a small form-factor professional GPU packed in a compact design, while the new mobile workstation GPU lineup will include a total of five new RTX Ada Generation GPUs.
In addition to the previously available NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation graphics solution, which NVIDIA targets at the "design and simulation" market, the lineup now includes the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF, in addition to other, previously available NVIDIA RTX A-series GPUs.
In addition to the previously available NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation graphics solution, which NVIDIA targets at the "design and simulation" market, the lineup now includes the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF, in addition to other, previously available NVIDIA RTX A-series GPUs.
NVIDIA Grace CPU Paves Fast Lane to Energy-Efficient Computing for Every Data Center
In tests of real workloads, the NVIDIA Grace CPU Superchip scored 2x performance gains over x86 processors at the same power envelope across major data center CPU applications. That opens up a whole new set of opportunities. It means data centers can handle twice as much peak traffic. They can slash their power bills by as much as half. They can pack more punch into the confined spaces at the edge of their networks - or any combination of the above.
Data center managers need these options to thrive in today's energy-efficient era. Moore's law is effectively dead. Physics no longer lets engineers pack more transistors in the same space at the same power. That's why new x86 CPUs typically offer gains over prior generations of less than 30%. It's also why a growing number of data centers are power capped. With the added threat of global warming, data centers don't have the luxury of expanding their power, but they still need to respond to the growing demands for computing.
Data center managers need these options to thrive in today's energy-efficient era. Moore's law is effectively dead. Physics no longer lets engineers pack more transistors in the same space at the same power. That's why new x86 CPUs typically offer gains over prior generations of less than 30%. It's also why a growing number of data centers are power capped. With the added threat of global warming, data centers don't have the luxury of expanding their power, but they still need to respond to the growing demands for computing.
CCP Games Secures $40 Million in Funding for New AAA Game, EVE Universe Setting and Blockchain Implementation Mentioned
Reykjavík, Iceland - 21 March 2023 - CCP Games, creators of sci-fi spacefaring MMO EVE Online, announced today that $40M in financing has been secured from external partners. This financing will allow CCP Games to build upon the discoveries of its research & development team to enable the full-scale development of a new AAA title utilizing blockchain technology, set within the EVE Universe.
"Since its inception, CCP Games' vision has been to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life. Now, with advancements made within blockchain, we can forge a new universe deeply imbued with our expertise in player agency and autonomy, empowering players to engage in new ways. This financing has marked an exciting frontier in our studio history as we begin our third decade of virtual world operations. We are humbled by the confidence from our partners in the development of this new title," said CCP Games CEO, Hilmar V. Pétursson.
"Since its inception, CCP Games' vision has been to create virtual worlds more meaningful than real life. Now, with advancements made within blockchain, we can forge a new universe deeply imbued with our expertise in player agency and autonomy, empowering players to engage in new ways. This financing has marked an exciting frontier in our studio history as we begin our third decade of virtual world operations. We are humbled by the confidence from our partners in the development of this new title," said CCP Games CEO, Hilmar V. Pétursson.
Slower Growth for AR/VR Headset Shipments in 2023 but Strong Growth Forecast Through 2027, According to IDC
On the heels of a weaker than expected 2022, International Data Corporation (IDC) has lowered its forecast for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets in 2023. Global shipments are now expected to reach 10.1 million units this year, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset Tracker. Despite the revised outlook, total AR/VR headset shipments are expected to grow 14% in 2023 and accelerate over the 2023-2027 forecast period with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.6%.
Mitsui and NVIDIA Announce World's First Generative AI Supercomputer for Pharmaceutical Industry
Mitsui & Co., Ltd., one of Japan's largest business conglomerates, is collaborating with NVIDIA on Tokyo-1—an initiative to supercharge the nation's pharmaceutical leaders with technology, including high-resolution molecular dynamics simulations and generative AI models for drug discovery.
Announced today at the NVIDIA GTC global AI conference, the Tokyo-1 project features an NVIDIA DGX AI supercomputer that will be accessible to Japan's pharma companies and startups. The effort is poised to accelerate Japan's $100 billion pharma industry, the world's third largest following the U.S. and China.
Announced today at the NVIDIA GTC global AI conference, the Tokyo-1 project features an NVIDIA DGX AI supercomputer that will be accessible to Japan's pharma companies and startups. The effort is poised to accelerate Japan's $100 billion pharma industry, the world's third largest following the U.S. and China.
CD Projekt Quietly Restarts Development of The Witcher Spin-Off Game, Project Sirius is a Financial Write-Off
CD Projekt has admitted to writing off the development funds spent so far expended on Project Sirius - a codename for a satellite studio produced spin-off game in its best selling The Witcher series. The Polish development and publishing group is restarting Project Sirius from scratch, and it is not clear whether their East Coast USA-based outfit, Molasses Flood, will remain as part of the rebooted cycle. Within a recently released company financial report its reasoning was made clear: "The aforementioned decision is based on results of evaluation of the scope and commercial potential of the original concept of Project Sirius, and ongoing work on formulating a new framework for this project."
CD Projekt had spent over $7 million in 2022 on development costs for Project Sirius. More than $2.2 million has been spent in 2023, presumably right up until the decision to bin all currently completed work. Project Sirius was announced in the autumn of 2022, and at around that time Molasses Flood was undertaking a large scale recruitment drive. The game was in a pre-production phase by the end of the year, with over sixty members of staff confirmed to be working on it. Development was also being supported by members of CD Projekt RED's team at their Warsaw headquarters, and now it is very apparent that the overseers were not happy with what was going on in New England.
CD Projekt had spent over $7 million in 2022 on development costs for Project Sirius. More than $2.2 million has been spent in 2023, presumably right up until the decision to bin all currently completed work. Project Sirius was announced in the autumn of 2022, and at around that time Molasses Flood was undertaking a large scale recruitment drive. The game was in a pre-production phase by the end of the year, with over sixty members of staff confirmed to be working on it. Development was also being supported by members of CD Projekt RED's team at their Warsaw headquarters, and now it is very apparent that the overseers were not happy with what was going on in New England.
NVIDIA Omniverse Accelerates Game Content Creation With Generative AI Services and Game Engine Connectors
Powerful AI technologies are making a massive impact in 3D content creation and game development. Whether creating realistic characters that show emotion or turning simple texts into imagery, AI tools are becoming fundamental to developer workflows - and this is just the start. At NVIDIA GTC and the Game Developers Conference (GDC), learn how the NVIDIA Omniverse platform for creating and operating metaverse applications is expanding with new Connectors and generative AI services for game developers.
Part of the excitement around generative AI is because of its ability to capture the creator's intent. The technology learns the underlying patterns and structures of data, and uses that to generate new content, such as images, audio, code, text, 3D models and more. Announced today, the NVIDIA AI Foundations cloud services enable users to build, refine and operate custom large language models (LLMs) and generative AI trained with their proprietary data for their domain-specific tasks. And through NVIDIA Omniverse, developers can get their first taste of using generative AI technology to enhance game creation and accelerate development pipelines with the Omniverse Audio2Face app.
Part of the excitement around generative AI is because of its ability to capture the creator's intent. The technology learns the underlying patterns and structures of data, and uses that to generate new content, such as images, audio, code, text, 3D models and more. Announced today, the NVIDIA AI Foundations cloud services enable users to build, refine and operate custom large language models (LLMs) and generative AI trained with their proprietary data for their domain-specific tasks. And through NVIDIA Omniverse, developers can get their first taste of using generative AI technology to enhance game creation and accelerate development pipelines with the Omniverse Audio2Face app.
NVIDIA Hopper GPUs Expand Reach as Demand for AI Grows
NVIDIA and key partners today announced the availability of new products and services featuring the NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPU—the world's most powerful GPU for AI—to address rapidly growing demand for generative AI training and inference. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) announced the limited availability of new OCI Compute bare-metal GPU instances featuring H100 GPUs. Additionally, Amazon Web Services announced its forthcoming EC2 UltraClusters of Amazon EC2 P5 instances, which can scale in size up to 20,000 interconnected H100 GPUs. This follows Microsoft Azure's private preview announcement last week for its H100 virtual machine, ND H100 v5.
Additionally, Meta has now deployed its H100-powered Grand Teton AI supercomputer internally for its AI production and research teams. NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang announced during his GTC keynote today that NVIDIA DGX H100 AI supercomputers are in full production and will be coming soon to enterprises worldwide.
Additionally, Meta has now deployed its H100-powered Grand Teton AI supercomputer internally for its AI production and research teams. NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang announced during his GTC keynote today that NVIDIA DGX H100 AI supercomputers are in full production and will be coming soon to enterprises worldwide.
NVIDIA Redefines Workstations to Power New Era of AI, Design, Industrial Metaverse
NVIDIA today announced six new NVIDIA RTX Ada Lovelace architecture GPUs for laptops and desktops, which enable creators, engineers and data scientists to meet the demands of the new era of AI, design and the metaverse. Using the new NVIDIA RTX GPUs with NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform for building and operating metaverse applications, designers can simulate a concept before making it a reality, planners can visualize an entire factory before it is built and engineers can evaluate their designs in real time.
The NVIDIA RTX 5000, RTX 4000, RTX 3500, RTX 3000 and RTX 2000 Ada Generation laptop GPUs deliver breakthrough performance and up to 2x the efficiency of the previous generation to tackle the most demanding workflows. For the desktop, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Small Form Factor (SFF) Ada Generation GPU features new RT Cores, Tensor Cores and CUDA cores with 20 GB of graphics memory to deliver incredible performance in a compact card.
The NVIDIA RTX 5000, RTX 4000, RTX 3500, RTX 3000 and RTX 2000 Ada Generation laptop GPUs deliver breakthrough performance and up to 2x the efficiency of the previous generation to tackle the most demanding workflows. For the desktop, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Small Form Factor (SFF) Ada Generation GPU features new RT Cores, Tensor Cores and CUDA cores with 20 GB of graphics memory to deliver incredible performance in a compact card.
NVIDIA Unveils Large Language Models and Generative AI Service to Advance Life Sciences R&D
NVIDIA today announced an expanded set of generative AI cloud services for customizing AI foundation models to accelerate the creation of new proteins and therapeutics, as well as research in the fields of genomics, chemistry, biology and molecular dynamics. Part of NVIDIA AI Foundations, the new BioNeMo Cloud service offering—for both AI model training and inference—accelerates the most time-consuming and costly stages of drug discovery. It enables researchers to fine-tune generative AI applications on their own proprietary data, and to run AI model inference directly in a web browser or through new cloud application programming interfaces (APIs) that easily integrate into existing applications.
"The transformative power of generative AI holds enormous promise for the life science and pharmaceutical industries," said Kimberly Powell, vice president of healthcare at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA's long collaboration with pioneers in the field has led to the development of BioNeMo Cloud Service, which is already serving as an AI drug discovery laboratory. It provides pretrained models and allows customization of models with proprietary data that serve every stage of the drug-discovery pipeline, helping researchers identify the right target, design molecules and proteins, and predict their interactions in the body to develop the best drug candidate."
"The transformative power of generative AI holds enormous promise for the life science and pharmaceutical industries," said Kimberly Powell, vice president of healthcare at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA's long collaboration with pioneers in the field has led to the development of BioNeMo Cloud Service, which is already serving as an AI drug discovery laboratory. It provides pretrained models and allows customization of models with proprietary data that serve every stage of the drug-discovery pipeline, helping researchers identify the right target, design molecules and proteins, and predict their interactions in the body to develop the best drug candidate."
NVIDIA Launches DGX Cloud, Giving Every Enterprise Instant Access to AI Supercomputer From a Browser
NVIDIA today announced NVIDIA DGX Cloud, an AI supercomputing service that gives enterprises immediate access to the infrastructure and software needed to train advanced models for generative AI and other groundbreaking applications. DGX Cloud provides dedicated clusters of NVIDIA DGX AI supercomputing, paired with NVIDIA AI software. The service makes it possible for every enterprise to access its own AI supercomputer using a simple web browser, removing the complexity of acquiring, deploying and managing on-premises infrastructure.
Enterprises rent DGX Cloud clusters on a monthly basis, which ensures they can quickly and easily scale the development of large, multi-node training workloads without having to wait for accelerated computing resources that are often in high demand. "We are at the iPhone moment of AI. Startups are racing to build disruptive products and business models, and incumbents are looking to respond," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "DGX Cloud gives customers instant access to NVIDIA AI supercomputing in global-scale clouds."
Enterprises rent DGX Cloud clusters on a monthly basis, which ensures they can quickly and easily scale the development of large, multi-node training workloads without having to wait for accelerated computing resources that are often in high demand. "We are at the iPhone moment of AI. Startups are racing to build disruptive products and business models, and incumbents are looking to respond," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "DGX Cloud gives customers instant access to NVIDIA AI supercomputing in global-scale clouds."
NVIDIA Announces Microsoft, Tencent, Baidu Adopting CV-CUDA for Computer Vision AI
Microsoft, Tencent and Baidu are adopting NVIDIA CV-CUDA for computer vision AI. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang highlighted work in content understanding, visual search and deep learning Tuesday as he announced the beta release for NVIDIA's CV-CUDA—an open-source, GPU-accelerated library for computer vision at cloud scale. "Eighty percent of internet traffic is video, user-generated video content is driving significant growth and consuming massive amounts of power," said Huang in his keynote at NVIDIA's GTC technology conference. "We should accelerate all video processing and reclaim the power."
CV-CUDA promises to help companies across the world build and scale end-to-end, AI-based computer vision and image processing pipelines on GPUs. The majority of internet traffic is video and image data, driving incredible scale in applications such as content creation, visual search and recommendation, and mapping. These applications use a specialized, recurring set of computer vision and image-processing algorithms to process image and video data before and after they're processed by neural networks.
CV-CUDA promises to help companies across the world build and scale end-to-end, AI-based computer vision and image processing pipelines on GPUs. The majority of internet traffic is video and image data, driving incredible scale in applications such as content creation, visual search and recommendation, and mapping. These applications use a specialized, recurring set of computer vision and image-processing algorithms to process image and video data before and after they're processed by neural networks.
AT&T Supercharges Operations With NVIDIA AI
AT&T Corp. and NVIDIA today announced a collaboration in which AT&T will continue to transform its operations and enhance sustainability by using NVIDIA-powered AI for processing data, optimizing service-fleet routing and building digital avatars for employee support and training. AT&T is the first telecommunications provider to explore the use of a full suite of NVIDIA AI offerings. This includes enhancing its data processing using the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite, which includes the NVIDIA RAPIDS Accelerator for Apache Spark; enabling real-time vehicle routing and optimization with NVIDIA cuOpt; adopting digital avatars with NVIDIA Omniverse Avatar Cloud Engine and NVIDIA Tokkio; and utilizing conversational AI with NVIDIA Riva.
"We strive each day to deliver the most efficient global network, as we drive towards net zero emissions in our operations," said Andy Markus, chief data officer at AT&T. "Working with NVIDIA to drive AI solutions across our business will help enhance experiences for both our employees and customers." "Industries are embracing a new era in which chatbots, recommendation engines and accelerated libraries for data optimization help produce AI-driven innovations," said Manuvir Das, vice president of Enterprise Computing at NVIDIA. "Our work with AT&T will help the company better mine its data to drive new services and solutions for the AI-powered telco."
"We strive each day to deliver the most efficient global network, as we drive towards net zero emissions in our operations," said Andy Markus, chief data officer at AT&T. "Working with NVIDIA to drive AI solutions across our business will help enhance experiences for both our employees and customers." "Industries are embracing a new era in which chatbots, recommendation engines and accelerated libraries for data optimization help produce AI-driven innovations," said Manuvir Das, vice president of Enterprise Computing at NVIDIA. "Our work with AT&T will help the company better mine its data to drive new services and solutions for the AI-powered telco."
NVIDIA, ASML, TSMC and Synopsys Set Foundation for Next-Generation Chip Manufacturing
NVIDIA today announced a breakthrough that brings accelerated computing to the field of computational lithography, enabling semiconductor leaders like ASML, TSMC and Synopsys to accelerate the design and manufacturing of next-generation chips, just as current production processes are nearing the limits of what physics makes possible.
The new NVIDIA cuLitho software library for computational lithography is being integrated by TSMC, the world's leading foundry, as well as electronic design automation leader Synopsys into their software, manufacturing processes and systems for the latest-generation NVIDIA Hopper architecture GPUs. Equipment maker ASML is working closely with NVIDIA on GPUs and cuLitho, and is planning to integrate support for GPUs into all of its computational lithography software products.
The new NVIDIA cuLitho software library for computational lithography is being integrated by TSMC, the world's leading foundry, as well as electronic design automation leader Synopsys into their software, manufacturing processes and systems for the latest-generation NVIDIA Hopper architecture GPUs. Equipment maker ASML is working closely with NVIDIA on GPUs and cuLitho, and is planning to integrate support for GPUs into all of its computational lithography software products.
Aliens: Dark Descent Debut Gameplay Trailer Unveiled, Confirms June Launch Date
Check out the first Aliens: Dark Descent gameplay trailer, announcing that the real-time tactical action game will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 20, 2023. Here's your first look at the upcoming strategy game, which will feature an original story set in the Alien universe. In this gameplay trailer we learn that our ship has crashed onto Planet Lethe, and you'll be investigating a Xenomorph outbreak.
Aliens: Dark Descent challenges us to recruit and level up a squad of Colonial Marines as we explore the dangerous planet. Deploy your team strategically to safely make your way through the zone, but tread carefully as death is permanent.
Aliens: Dark Descent challenges us to recruit and level up a squad of Colonial Marines as we explore the dangerous planet. Deploy your team strategically to safely make your way through the zone, but tread carefully as death is permanent.
NVIDIA Announces New System for Accelerated Quantum-Classical Computing
NVIDIA today announced a new system built with Quantum Machines that provides a revolutionary new architecture for researchers working in high-performance and low-latency quantum-classical computing. The world's first GPU-accelerated quantum computing system, the NVIDIA DGX Quantum brings together the world's most powerful accelerated computing platform - enabled by the NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchip and CUDA Quantum open-source programming model - with the world's most advanced quantum control platform, OPX, by Quantum Machines.
The combination allows researchers to build extraordinarily powerful applications that combine quantum computing with state-of-the-art classical computing, enabling calibration, control, quantum error correction and hybrid algorithms. "Quantum-accelerated supercomputing has the potential to reshape science and industry with capabilities that can serve humanity in enormous ways," said Tim Costa, director of HPC and quantum at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA DGX Quantum will enable researchers to push the boundaries of quantum-classical computing."
The combination allows researchers to build extraordinarily powerful applications that combine quantum computing with state-of-the-art classical computing, enabling calibration, control, quantum error correction and hybrid algorithms. "Quantum-accelerated supercomputing has the potential to reshape science and industry with capabilities that can serve humanity in enormous ways," said Tim Costa, director of HPC and quantum at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA DGX Quantum will enable researchers to push the boundaries of quantum-classical computing."
ADLINK IMB-M47H ATX Motherboard based on 12th/13th Gen Intel Core Processors Provides Scalable Edge AI Solutions with Efficiency
ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge computing, a global supplier of industrial PCs and motherboards, and a Titanium member of the Intel Partner Alliance, announces the launch of the new IMB-M47H industrial ATX motherboard for 12th/13th Gen Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3, Pentium and Celeron processors. The IMB-M47H ATX motherboard delivers scalable, high-performance computing power and supports three simultaneous independent displays, external USB, 2.5GbE, and high-performance add-on cards for complex processing tasks in smart manufacturing, 5G manufacturing, semiconductor, and machine vision applications.
The IMB-M47H industrial ATX motherboard supports Gen 12 Intel processors and importantly the latest Intel Core processors that utilize a high-performance hybrid architecture with up to eight E-cores (Efficient-cores) for multi-threaded background task management and multitasking, and up to eight P-cores (Performance-cores) for demanding single-threaded work such as graphics and video rendering. The 12th/13th Gen Intel Core processors boost single-thread performance by 1.36x and multi-thread performance by 1.35x compared to 10th Gen Intel Core processors delivering more power-efficient general-purpose processing and offering powerful processing for intensive operations.
The IMB-M47H industrial ATX motherboard supports Gen 12 Intel processors and importantly the latest Intel Core processors that utilize a high-performance hybrid architecture with up to eight E-cores (Efficient-cores) for multi-threaded background task management and multitasking, and up to eight P-cores (Performance-cores) for demanding single-threaded work such as graphics and video rendering. The 12th/13th Gen Intel Core processors boost single-thread performance by 1.36x and multi-thread performance by 1.35x compared to 10th Gen Intel Core processors delivering more power-efficient general-purpose processing and offering powerful processing for intensive operations.
Google Bard Chatbot Trial Launches in USA and UK
We're starting to open access to Bard, an early experiment that lets you collaborate with generative AI. We're beginning with the U.S. and the U.K., and will expand to more countries and languages over time. Today we're starting to open access to Bard, an early experiment that lets you collaborate with generative AI. This follows our announcements from last week as we continue to bring helpful AI experiences to people, businesses and communities.
You can use Bard to boost your productivity, accelerate your ideas and fuel your curiosity. You might ask Bard to give you tips to reach your goal of reading more books this year, explain quantum physics in simple terms or spark your creativity by outlining a blog post. We've learned a lot so far by testing Bard, and the next critical step in improving it is to get feedback from more people.
You can use Bard to boost your productivity, accelerate your ideas and fuel your curiosity. You might ask Bard to give you tips to reach your goal of reading more books this year, explain quantum physics in simple terms or spark your creativity by outlining a blog post. We've learned a lot so far by testing Bard, and the next critical step in improving it is to get feedback from more people.
Adobe Unveils Firefly, a Family of new Creative Generative AI
Today, Adobe introduced Firefly, a new family of creative generative AI models, first focused on the generation of images and text effects. Firefly will bring even more precision, power, speed and ease directly into Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, Experience Cloud and Adobe Express workflows where content is created and modified. Firefly will be part of a series of new Adobe Sensei generative AI services across Adobe's clouds.Adobe has over a decade-long history of AI innovation, delivering hundreds of intelligent capabilities through Adobe Sensei into applications that hundreds of millions of people rely upon. Features like Neural Filters in Photoshop, Content Aware Fill in After Effects, Attribution AI in Adobe Experience Platform and Liquid Mode in Acrobat empower Adobe customers to create, edit, measure, optimize and review billions of pieces of content with power, precision, speed and ease. These innovations are developed and deployed in alignment with Adobe's AI ethics principles of accountability, responsibility and transparency.
"Generative AI is the next evolution of AI-driven creativity and productivity, transforming the conversation between creator and computer into something more natural, intuitive and powerful," said David Wadhwani, president, Digital Media Business, Adobe. "With Firefly, Adobe will bring generative AI-powered 'creative ingredients' directly into customers' workflows, increasing productivity and creative expression for all creators from high-end creative professionals to the long tail of the creator economy."
"Generative AI is the next evolution of AI-driven creativity and productivity, transforming the conversation between creator and computer into something more natural, intuitive and powerful," said David Wadhwani, president, Digital Media Business, Adobe. "With Firefly, Adobe will bring generative AI-powered 'creative ingredients' directly into customers' workflows, increasing productivity and creative expression for all creators from high-end creative professionals to the long tail of the creator economy."
Global Fab Equipment Spending on Track for 2024 Recovery After 2023 Slowdown
Global fab equipment spending for front-end facilities is expected to decrease 22% year-over-year (YoY) to US$76 billion in 2023 from a record high of US$98 billion in 2022 before rising 21% YoY to US$92 billion in 2024 to reclaim lost ground, SEMI announced today in its latest quarterly World Fab Forecast report. The 2023 decline will stem from weakening chip demand and higher inventory of consumer and mobile devices.
Next year's fab equipment spending recovery will be driven in part by the end of the semiconductor inventory correction in 2023 and strengthening demand for semiconductors in the high-performance computing (HPC) and automotive segments. "This quarter's SEMI World Fab Forecast update offers our first look ahead to 2024, highlighting the steady global expansion of fab capacity to support future semiconductor industry growth driven by the automotive and computing segments and a host of emerging applications," said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. "The report points to a healthy 21% uptick in equipment investment next year."
Next year's fab equipment spending recovery will be driven in part by the end of the semiconductor inventory correction in 2023 and strengthening demand for semiconductors in the high-performance computing (HPC) and automotive segments. "This quarter's SEMI World Fab Forecast update offers our first look ahead to 2024, highlighting the steady global expansion of fab capacity to support future semiconductor industry growth driven by the automotive and computing segments and a host of emerging applications," said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. "The report points to a healthy 21% uptick in equipment investment next year."
HYTE Releases CNVS qRGB Intense Gaming Play Mat Along with Nexus Hardware Management Software
HYTE, the PC components, peripherals, and lifestyle brand of iBUYPOWER, today, announced the release of CNVS, its qRGB intense gaming play mat in tandem with Nexus, its personal experience software designed as a high-fidelity solution for HYTE qRGB products as well as a universal hardware support platform. "The HYTE CNVS expands your digital world beyond the screen," said Rob Teller, Product Director of HYTE. "Softening the edges between the physical and virtual planes of existence, immersing you more deeply in the experience of life."
Previously announced during CES 2023, CNVS boasts a 50-pixel qRGB lighting array framing the massive 900 x 370 mm seven-layer gaming desk pad. With continuous lighting over the power hub and sans any stitching around the outer edge, CNVS will take any desktop setup to the next level acting as an extension to the on-screen lighting display. The soft polyester top layer of CNVS is water and stain resistant as well as provides a silky-smooth work space for precise mouse movements and minimal resistance.
Previously announced during CES 2023, CNVS boasts a 50-pixel qRGB lighting array framing the massive 900 x 370 mm seven-layer gaming desk pad. With continuous lighting over the power hub and sans any stitching around the outer edge, CNVS will take any desktop setup to the next level acting as an extension to the on-screen lighting display. The soft polyester top layer of CNVS is water and stain resistant as well as provides a silky-smooth work space for precise mouse movements and minimal resistance.
Jabra releases feature-packed, affordable Elite 4 earbuds
Jabra, leader in personal sound and hybrid work solutions, today launched the Elite 4, the latest addition to its flagship Elite lineup. Following in the footsteps of the entry-level Elite 3, the new true wireless earbuds offer an elevated experience from its predecessor, ideal for the modern earbud user seeking advanced features at an affordable price.
The Elite 4 has been tailored to provide comfort, optimal sound and convenience. For users that need to connect to two different devices simultaneously, the Jabra Elite 4 offers Bluetooth Multipoint, facilitating smooth and stress-free switching, without skipping a beat. The initial pairing of earbuds to a device is simple, with Fast Pair connecting instantly to a mobile device and Swift Pair linking straight to a laptop or computer.
The Elite 4 has been tailored to provide comfort, optimal sound and convenience. For users that need to connect to two different devices simultaneously, the Jabra Elite 4 offers Bluetooth Multipoint, facilitating smooth and stress-free switching, without skipping a beat. The initial pairing of earbuds to a device is simple, with Fast Pair connecting instantly to a mobile device and Swift Pair linking straight to a laptop or computer.
Philips Launches Award-winning Portable Monitor 16B1P3302D with Dual USB-C Input
The new portable monitor Philips 16B1P3302D makes for the perfect travel buddy. The Philips 16B1P3302D will be released as part of the Philips monitors' portable series. The series' design identity of the monitor has won a title from the 2021 iF Product Design Award and was also a winner of the 2021 Red Dot Award. Thanks to its lightweight and portable design, the Philips 16B1P3302D is suitable to fit in a briefcase or a backpack with its 15.6-inch (39.6 cm diagonal) display size. In addition, the portable monitor features two USB-C ports on the side of the monitor and two USB-C cables can be plugged in and used simultaneously. These ports have several functions, such as delivering power to and from the device (USB Power Delivery), mirroring or extending the display for presentations and more (USB-C DisplayPort Alt mode), thus creating a dual-screen setup on the go for increased productivity.
The Philips 16B1P3302D makes the mobile workspace ergonomic and comfortable to use with its multi-angle stand that can tilt from 0 to 90 degrees, while the monitor's 170°/170° viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel technology allows clear viewing from almost any angle. In addition to a more personalised experience offered by its flexible stand, the Philips 16B1P3302D display also aims for high picture quality with its Full HD resolution, 75 Hz refresh rate and SmartImage technology to optimise the viewing experience according to the on-screen imagery by adjusting contrast, saturation, and sharpness.
The Philips 16B1P3302D makes the mobile workspace ergonomic and comfortable to use with its multi-angle stand that can tilt from 0 to 90 degrees, while the monitor's 170°/170° viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel technology allows clear viewing from almost any angle. In addition to a more personalised experience offered by its flexible stand, the Philips 16B1P3302D display also aims for high picture quality with its Full HD resolution, 75 Hz refresh rate and SmartImage technology to optimise the viewing experience according to the on-screen imagery by adjusting contrast, saturation, and sharpness.
ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Gaming Peripheral Partnership with NRG Esports
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a partnership with NRG, the legendary esports organization whose top-tier pro gamers have won awards and championships around the world with their play in Apex Legends, VALORANT, Rocket League and more. This year, NRG will have one of only five teams from North America participating in the exclusive VALORANT Champions Tour. Millions of followers have viewed their content over two billion times across TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and other social media. ROG has sponsored NRG teams before and will be sponsoring them once again this year, this time with premium gaming gear including keyboards, mice, headsets and mousepads from its own award-winning arsenal.
ROG is committed to gamers and the gaming community, and peripherals are critical factors to esports performance. With innovative tech built into its latest gaming gear, ROG is combining forces with the elite NRG teams to help pro players perform even better, creating a win-win scenario. The esports-focused peripherals that NRG will receive include the ROG Falchion Ace gaming keyboard, ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition gaming mouse, ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset and the ROG Hone Ace Aim Lab Edition mouse pad.
ROG is committed to gamers and the gaming community, and peripherals are critical factors to esports performance. With innovative tech built into its latest gaming gear, ROG is combining forces with the elite NRG teams to help pro players perform even better, creating a win-win scenario. The esports-focused peripherals that NRG will receive include the ROG Falchion Ace gaming keyboard, ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition gaming mouse, ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset and the ROG Hone Ace Aim Lab Edition mouse pad.
INNO3D RTX 4070 Box Picture Confirms 8-pin PCIe Power Connector
A picture of the INNO3D GeForce RTX 4070 has leaked online, confirming earlier rumor that at least some RTX 4070 graphics cards will not come with new 16-pin 12VHPWR connector, but rather the standard 8-pin PCIe one. This is in line with earlier rumors that NVIDIA will probably have two variants, premium and the one that will be sold closer to the MSRP.
Unfortunately, the box shot of the INNO3D RTX 4070 does not reveal a lot more information, other than it will have a dual-slot, dual-fan cooler with detachable fan blades, and a heatsink with copper base for the GPU, aluminium base for the memory, and nickel plated heatpipes. The RTX 4070, based on the AD104 GPU and packing 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit memory interface, is scheduled to launch on April 13th, with first reviews showing up on April 12th.
Unfortunately, the box shot of the INNO3D RTX 4070 does not reveal a lot more information, other than it will have a dual-slot, dual-fan cooler with detachable fan blades, and a heatsink with copper base for the GPU, aluminium base for the memory, and nickel plated heatpipes. The RTX 4070, based on the AD104 GPU and packing 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit memory interface, is scheduled to launch on April 13th, with first reviews showing up on April 12th.
Streamplify Launches Innovative Line of Livestreaming Products for Content Creators
Streamplify, a new German-based designer and manufacturer of livestreaming products, is proud to announce the launch of its latest line of affordable gear for content creators. "Many streamers have told us how they wished there were affordable options like this from brand-name companies when they first started. That's the kind of kit we are building: you can have your playground for growing your audience and improving your production, without the massive investment," said Nils Klakow, the Head of Brand Marketing for Streamplify.
The team behind Streamplify has a combined experience of over 20 years in the gaming and PC hardware industries, and they are all devoted gamers themselves. With over two years of development, testing, and revision, the new line of products has been created with input from streamers, musicians, content creators, technicians, and video and photography professionals to ensure reliable products that conform to real-world creator needs.
The team behind Streamplify has a combined experience of over 20 years in the gaming and PC hardware industries, and they are all devoted gamers themselves. With over two years of development, testing, and revision, the new line of products has been created with input from streamers, musicians, content creators, technicians, and video and photography professionals to ensure reliable products that conform to real-world creator needs.
Cooler Master Expands the Mobius Series of Performance Fans with a New Flagship and More
The Cooler Master Mobius Series is a line of performance fans infused with design innovation and engineered with the perfect balance of quiet operation and unmatched cooling capabilities for enthusiasts and advanced users. Cooler Master is expanding the Mobius Series performance case fan lineup with three new additions: a new flagship Mobius 120 OC, Mobius 120P ARGB White Edition, and Mobius 140P ARGB. Product details of the Mobius 120 OC, Mobius 120P ARGB White Edition, and Mobius 140P ARGB, follow.
Intel Arc A750 Price Drops to as Low as $229
The Intel Arc A750 "Alchemist" graphics card now starts at a mouth-watering price of just $229, a price that puts it 7% below the MSRP Intel Graphics set for the SKU, with the reference-design A750 being sold at $250. The new low price is commanded by a custom-design ASRock Arc A750 Challenger, a card that combines Intel's second-fastest GPU with a simple 2-slot, twin-fan cooling solution. Intel has been busy with Game On driver updates for the Arc A-series GPUs, besides a recent massive update to the cards' DirectX 11 and DirectX 9 gaming performance. The company claims that the A750 and A770 offer tremendous performance/Dollar gains over the competing NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 in the mainstream segment, aimed at people who play at 1080p and 1440p. Meanwhile the dark horse in this segment is the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, with similar real-world prices to the A750, but performance that trades blows with the RTX 3060.
IBASE Releases RM-QCS610 SMARC 2.1 Edge AI SBC
IBASE Technology Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of embedded computing products, has launched the new RM-QCS610 SMARC 2.1 compliant module powered by an Octa-core Qualcomm QCS610 SoC and designed for the creation of devices with edge artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities such as vision-enhanced drones, advanced intelligent conferencing cameras, and smart robots.
"The low cost, low power RM-QCS610 offers high performance for devices with edge AI capabilities that have grown in popularity in the last few years," explained Albert Lee, Executive Vice President at IBASE. "The module is our first Qualcomm-based platform. It provides flexible I/O interfaces and brings powerful visual edge computing to accelerate AI across devices with sensors or cameras to collect and process information, make decisions, and perform tasks in the same location in applications including traffic data collection and analysis, computer vision in manufacturing, and automated security validation."
"The low cost, low power RM-QCS610 offers high performance for devices with edge AI capabilities that have grown in popularity in the last few years," explained Albert Lee, Executive Vice President at IBASE. "The module is our first Qualcomm-based platform. It provides flexible I/O interfaces and brings powerful visual edge computing to accelerate AI across devices with sensors or cameras to collect and process information, make decisions, and perform tasks in the same location in applications including traffic data collection and analysis, computer vision in manufacturing, and automated security validation."
Unity Shows Games Powered by Its Development Platform at GDC 2023
Unity, the world's leading platform for creating and growing real-time 3D (RT3D) content, will return to the Game Developer Conference (GDC) this year with a focus on celebrating the achievements of its developer community. Unity will spotlight 16 games across various platforms, from studios around the world at the Unity booth (#S327). Each title is made with Unity and uses Unity's platform and services to push the creative, experiential and visual limits of their games. Additionally, Unity will share more about its future open AI ecosystem that millions of Unity creators will be able to integrate into their existing workflows to deliver immersive games and experiences to billions of users around the world.
GDC attendees can visit the Unity booth to get hands-on with some of the most unique and visually arresting games that are either available now or in development: FEROCIOUS is a breathtaking survival shooter developed by designer Leonard Saalfrank who used Unity's High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP), Shader Graph, and VFX Graph to deliver a mysterious world, rich with lush environments, stunning seascapes and terrifying creatures. One of the most authentic boxing games, Undisputed, will also be spotlighted. Developed by Steel City Interactive, the game pushes the limits of Unity's HDRP and Animation Rigging to create stunning visuals and bone-jarring action and also leverages Unity Gaming Services' Game Server Hosting and Matchmaker.
GDC attendees can visit the Unity booth to get hands-on with some of the most unique and visually arresting games that are either available now or in development: FEROCIOUS is a breathtaking survival shooter developed by designer Leonard Saalfrank who used Unity's High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP), Shader Graph, and VFX Graph to deliver a mysterious world, rich with lush environments, stunning seascapes and terrifying creatures. One of the most authentic boxing games, Undisputed, will also be spotlighted. Developed by Steel City Interactive, the game pushes the limits of Unity's HDRP and Animation Rigging to create stunning visuals and bone-jarring action and also leverages Unity Gaming Services' Game Server Hosting and Matchmaker.
NVIDIA Previews and Releases Path Tracing SDK at GDC 2023
As promised and detailed earlier, NVIDIA has now released the first SDK for Path Tracing. Path Tracing, which should accurately re-create physics of all light sources in a scene, has been around and we already had a chance to see it in some demos like Quake RTX and Portal RTX, but now, thanks to some previously available NVIDIA tools and features, it could be finally coming to more games and not just tech demos.
According to NVIDIA, the thing that makes Path Tracing possible now, and more accessible to developers, is the combination of previously available NVIDIA technologies, as well as some new ones, including the new performance multiplier in DLSS 3, called the DLSS Frame Generation. The DLSS Frame Generation, working on GeForce 40 series cards and using the Optical Flow Accelerator, is what made real-time path tracing possible. The RTX Path Tracing SDK, according to NVIDIA, should re-create the physics of all light sources in a scene in order to reproduce what the eye sees in real life, and allows to build a reference path traces to ensure that lighting during production is true to life, while accelerating the iteration process; or build high-quality photo modes for RT-capable GPUs or real-time, ultra-quality modes that take advantage of the Ada Lovelace architecture.
According to NVIDIA, the thing that makes Path Tracing possible now, and more accessible to developers, is the combination of previously available NVIDIA technologies, as well as some new ones, including the new performance multiplier in DLSS 3, called the DLSS Frame Generation. The DLSS Frame Generation, working on GeForce 40 series cards and using the Optical Flow Accelerator, is what made real-time path tracing possible. The RTX Path Tracing SDK, according to NVIDIA, should re-create the physics of all light sources in a scene in order to reproduce what the eye sees in real life, and allows to build a reference path traces to ensure that lighting during production is true to life, while accelerating the iteration process; or build high-quality photo modes for RT-capable GPUs or real-time, ultra-quality modes that take advantage of the Ada Lovelace architecture.
ASUS Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE Sets 10 World Records and Wins 23 First Places
An international team of overclockers sets global performance benchmarks with Intel Xeon Sapphire Rapids processors using an ASUS W790 workstation motherboard. The Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE offers a new approach to workstation overclocking. In the past, professionals have been wary of the trade-offs between performance and stability. However, the Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE provides enough room to push the system's limits safely and effectively. With its advanced BIOS settings and robust design, professionals can unleash the full potential of their workstation platform. The Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE is a top-of-the-line option that delivers exceptional performance and reliability.
This ASUS Pro W790 workstation motherboard is a highly capable model offering many features that are incredibly helpful for overclocking, such as a Retry button and Safe Boot button. It is equipped to handle almost 2000 watts of power and can overclock an Intel Xeon W9-3495X processor to approximately 5.4 GHz, enabling extraordinary scores in Cinebench. The Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE provides all necessary features to take things further, giving users the freedom to explore new territories of performance.
This ASUS Pro W790 workstation motherboard is a highly capable model offering many features that are incredibly helpful for overclocking, such as a Retry button and Safe Boot button. It is equipped to handle almost 2000 watts of power and can overclock an Intel Xeon W9-3495X processor to approximately 5.4 GHz, enabling extraordinary scores in Cinebench. The Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE provides all necessary features to take things further, giving users the freedom to explore new territories of performance.
AAEON Introduces BOXER-8224AI SBC for Field AI Applications
Diversifying its solutions based on the NVIDIA Jetson line of system-on-modules, AAEON have released the BOXER-8224AI, comprised of a carrier board with a heatsink and NVIDIA Jetson Nano module to offer system-level capabilities on a tiny form factor of just 4.7" x 3.1" x 0.8" (120 mm x 80 mm x 22 mm).
A first for this line of AAEON products, the BOXER-8224AI's board layout includes a wafer-based coastline rather than full I/O ports to provide users with the full functionality of AAEON's system-level edge AI solutions in a more flexible way. Included in this configuration are two MIPI-CSI camera connectors for the installation of smaller, more cost-effective peripheral cameras for space-limited applications such as drones.
A first for this line of AAEON products, the BOXER-8224AI's board layout includes a wafer-based coastline rather than full I/O ports to provide users with the full functionality of AAEON's system-level edge AI solutions in a more flexible way. Included in this configuration are two MIPI-CSI camera connectors for the installation of smaller, more cost-effective peripheral cameras for space-limited applications such as drones.
Razer Introduces Universal Haptics SDK and Directional Haptics at GDC 2023
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the release of the Interhaptics universal HD haptic SDK and directional haptics at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2023 in San Francisco. This free SDK release focuses on enabling a heightened immersive gaming experience, bringing audio and visual effects to life with HD haptic feedback that can now be completely customized through the Interhaptics SDK.
With today's announcement, Interhaptics, the leading haptic technology platform, has expanded its support to include PlayStation 5*, PlayStation 4, Meta Quest 2, X-input controllers, iOS, and Android devices for game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine. Additionally, the haptic composer software has been upgraded to include in-app testing for DualSense wireless controllers for PS5 and select Razer HyperSense headsets. Interhaptics can now deploy HD haptics on over 5 billion devices across multiple ecosystems. Developers can sign up for the waiting list for the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense Dev Kit with programmable directional HD haptics at the Interhaptics website.
With today's announcement, Interhaptics, the leading haptic technology platform, has expanded its support to include PlayStation 5*, PlayStation 4, Meta Quest 2, X-input controllers, iOS, and Android devices for game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine. Additionally, the haptic composer software has been upgraded to include in-app testing for DualSense wireless controllers for PS5 and select Razer HyperSense headsets. Interhaptics can now deploy HD haptics on over 5 billion devices across multiple ecosystems. Developers can sign up for the waiting list for the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense Dev Kit with programmable directional HD haptics at the Interhaptics website.
Samsung Announces Exynos Connect U100 UWB SoC for Automotives
Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced its first ultra-wideband (UWB) chipset, the Exynos Connect U100. With single-digit centimeter accuracy, the new UWB solution is optimized for use in mobile, automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, offering precise distance and location information. Samsung also unveiled 'Exynos Connect', a new brand that consolidates its short-range wireless communication solutions, such as UWB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that are essential in facilitating an increasingly hyper-connected world.
"Our Exynos Connect U100 combines sophisticated ranging and positioning capabilities with strong security to enable hyper-connectivity between people and everyday objects, fueling a range of new applications in positioning and location tracking," said Joonsuk Kim, Executive Vice President of the Connectivity Development Team at Samsung Electronics. "Building on our technology leadership in communications technologies, we are committed to driving innovation in short-range communication solutions to transform the way we connect and relate to the world around us."
"Our Exynos Connect U100 combines sophisticated ranging and positioning capabilities with strong security to enable hyper-connectivity between people and everyday objects, fueling a range of new applications in positioning and location tracking," said Joonsuk Kim, Executive Vice President of the Connectivity Development Team at Samsung Electronics. "Building on our technology leadership in communications technologies, we are committed to driving innovation in short-range communication solutions to transform the way we connect and relate to the world around us."
Monday, March 20th 2023
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Motherboards
NZXT C1200 Gold 1200 W Review
The NZXT C1200 Gold is a high-performance power supply, meeting the strict ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 requirements. It has a 600 W 12VHPWR connector, which makes it compatible with any current or upcoming GPU. Thanks to the Channel Well platform, performance is good, too.
ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 Noctua OC Review - Next-Level Quiet
ASUS x Noctua is back! This time the GeForce RTX 4080 gets the low-noise treatment, with impressive results. Testing in our review confirms that even at full load, running at 4K with more than 60 FPS, the card is nearly inaudible! We measured less than 24 dBA, which is quieter than the room you're sitting in right now.
12-core AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX "Dragon Range" Matches Desktop 7900X with 130W PBO2
The 12-core/24-thread AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX "Dragon Range" mobile processors for enthusiast-segment notebooks, are capable of performance that matches the desktop Ryzen 9 7900X, with an easy 130 W power limit enabled along with Precision Boost Overdrive 2 (PBO2), with the "Enhanced" performance mode set on certain ASUS ROG laptops. The 7845HX is capable of drawing up to 110 W of power in its stock settings, which sees it offer a single-threaded boost frequency of 5.25 GHz, and 4.70 GHz all-core, and around 25000 points in Cinebench R23 multi-threaded. The Enhanced mode, which can be set via software on ASUS ROG laptops, raises the power limits, which makes the 7845HX draw up to 130 W of power, hitting temperatures of up to 93 °C, vastly improving boost frequency residency.
The 7845HX is "unlocked," and the UEFI setup program of ASUS ROG laptops offer several manual overclocking controls on par with the desktop platform. Manual overclocking along with PBO2, Curve Optimizer, and Maximum Boost Technology, yields up to 5.45 GHz single-threaded boost, and 5.10 GHz multi-threaded boost, yielding a 14 percent improvement over the stock frequency Cinebench R23 score, hitting 28542 points, which is on-par with that of a desktop Ryzen 9 7900X—a processor with 170 W TDP and 230 W PPT.
The 7845HX is "unlocked," and the UEFI setup program of ASUS ROG laptops offer several manual overclocking controls on par with the desktop platform. Manual overclocking along with PBO2, Curve Optimizer, and Maximum Boost Technology, yields up to 5.45 GHz single-threaded boost, and 5.10 GHz multi-threaded boost, yielding a 14 percent improvement over the stock frequency Cinebench R23 score, hitting 28542 points, which is on-par with that of a desktop Ryzen 9 7900X—a processor with 170 W TDP and 230 W PPT.
16-pin Power Connector Optional for GeForce RTX 4070, Partners Free to Use 8-pin PCIe
NVIDIA is reportedly flexible with its add-in card (AIC) partners with their choice of power connectors for the upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. It stands to reason that this flexibility could extend even further down the lineup, to the RTX 4060 series and below. Igor's Lab reports that NVIDIA is allowing partners to choose between the newer 16-pin ATX 12VHPWR connector, or the older [and more reliable] 8-pin PCIe power connectors, in their custom-design products. Sources tell Igor's Lab that the RTX 4070 could have two TGP classes, a 225 W-rated one that is likely to feature 16-pin connectors, and a 200 W-class that will stick to PCIe power connectors.
With typical graphics power (TGP) values for the upcoming RTX 4070 expected to be well under 300 W, graphics cards can make do with two 8-pin PCIe connectors on the card, or a 16-pin connector with a dongle that converts two 8-pin connectors to a 300 W-rated 16-pin. A pair of 8-pin inputs on the card is the more cost-effective solution, as it spares AICs from having to include that NVIDIA-designed power adapter, besides the more exotic 16-pin input on the board. We have seen pictures of RTX 4070 and RTX 4060-series Founders Edition cards, which are sure to feature 16-pin connectors. For the RTX 4070, NVIDIA could take an unconventional product launch path, with custom-design graphics cards priced on NVIDIA MSRP launching a day sooner than the ones that are priced at a premium. It's possible that the MSRP cards could come with 8-pin PCIe connectors.
With typical graphics power (TGP) values for the upcoming RTX 4070 expected to be well under 300 W, graphics cards can make do with two 8-pin PCIe connectors on the card, or a 16-pin connector with a dongle that converts two 8-pin connectors to a 300 W-rated 16-pin. A pair of 8-pin inputs on the card is the more cost-effective solution, as it spares AICs from having to include that NVIDIA-designed power adapter, besides the more exotic 16-pin input on the board. We have seen pictures of RTX 4070 and RTX 4060-series Founders Edition cards, which are sure to feature 16-pin connectors. For the RTX 4070, NVIDIA could take an unconventional product launch path, with custom-design graphics cards priced on NVIDIA MSRP launching a day sooner than the ones that are priced at a premium. It's possible that the MSRP cards could come with 8-pin PCIe connectors.
ASUS Announces Vivobook Go 15 OLED and Go 14 Powered by Intel Processors
ASUS today announced the 15.6-inch Vivobook Go 15 OLED (E1504G) and 14-inch Vivobook Go 14 (E1404G), two exciting value-for-money lifestyle laptops powered by Intel Core i3-N305 processors for on-the-go productivity or entertainment. These slim and light laptops feature high-quality OLED (E1504G) or IPS (E1404G) displays and powerful ASUS SonicMaster sound systems with Dirac audio processing for immersive entertainment. The design is stylish and practical, with thoughtful touches that make the user's life easier, such as a 180° lay-flat hinge. Built to survive any lifestyle, these tough laptops are tested to US military-grade standards for durability using the world's strictest test regime.
Superior performance for any task is assured by up to Intel Core i3 processors, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB PCIe SSD. Other user-friendly features include an ASUS ErgoSense keyboard; smart conferencing via the HD webcam with ASUS 3D Noise Reduction (3DNR), AI noise cancellation, and a physical privacy shield; and a useful suite of ASUS apps including MyASUS, GlideX and ScreenXpert 3.
Superior performance for any task is assured by up to Intel Core i3 processors, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB PCIe SSD. Other user-friendly features include an ASUS ErgoSense keyboard; smart conferencing via the HD webcam with ASUS 3D Noise Reduction (3DNR), AI noise cancellation, and a physical privacy shield; and a useful suite of ASUS apps including MyASUS, GlideX and ScreenXpert 3.
Nintendo Wii U Memory Failures Investigated by Homebrew Community, Hynix Chips in the Spotlight
The homebrew and modification community has delved deeper into the recent bout of bricked Nintendo Wii U consoles, unlucky owners are seeing their systems throwing up error codes that indicate an internal memory failure. As covered on TPU almost two weeks ago, it was speculated that leaving a Wii U in a long-term state of unuse was a root cause of the problem. It is now theorized that a simple choice of memory chip is the real issue behind the corruptions, and not a case of leaving your unplugged Wii U stashed in a box somewhere.
An online database has been established on hackmd.io, and a member is collecting hard data from Wii U owners across various online communities and sources. Early indications show that consoles fitted with a Hynix eMMC are leading the pack in terms of number of system failures, Samsung-equipped models are placed in a distant second place, and the Toshiba variant is reported as having zero problems.
An online database has been established on hackmd.io, and a member is collecting hard data from Wii U owners across various online communities and sources. Early indications show that consoles fitted with a Hynix eMMC are leading the pack in terms of number of system failures, Samsung-equipped models are placed in a distant second place, and the Toshiba variant is reported as having zero problems.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor gets an Official Story Trailer
Electronic Arts has released the official story trailer for its upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor game, that is scheduled to launch on April 28th. The new trailer not only shows the story behind the new Star Wars game but also has some in-game parts.
Developed by Respawn Entertainment in cooperation with Lucasfilm Games, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a third-person, action-adventure game, set five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and puts the player again in the role of Cal Kestis, who has now grown into a powerful Jedi Knight.
Developed by Respawn Entertainment in cooperation with Lucasfilm Games, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a third-person, action-adventure game, set five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and puts the player again in the role of Cal Kestis, who has now grown into a powerful Jedi Knight.
Netflix External Games Division Divulges its Entertainment Library Expansion Plans, Monument Valley 1 & 2 Due in 2024
It's been a little more than a year since we launched games on Netflix to bring even more entertainment to our members as part of their Netflix subscription. In this short time, we've released 55 games, with about 40 more slated for later this year and 70 in development with our partners. That's in addition to the 16 games currently being developed by our in-house game studios. Our goal is to develop a broad portfolio of games - in different genres and formats - because we believe everyone can find joy in games if they discover the one (or many!) that is right for them.
This year we're going to continue building our portfolio - and that means new games every month. Members will discover indie darlings, award-winning hits, RPGs, narrative adventures, puzzle games and everything in between, and we're working with the world's leading studios to bring you these games.
This year we're going to continue building our portfolio - and that means new games every month. Members will discover indie darlings, award-winning hits, RPGs, narrative adventures, puzzle games and everything in between, and we're working with the world's leading studios to bring you these games.
2bytes Unveils Pentapeak Studios' Upcoming PC Strategy 'Space Gears'
2bytes Corp. released their first gameplay footage of Space Gears, being developed by their game studio, Pentapeak Studios, on their Steam page. Space Gears is a sci-fi, strategy game that has players terraform Mars with an army of mechs. Players must cooperate or compete with each other to gain control over scarce resources on the Red Planet.
The video showcases the game's systems, including land terraforming, base-building, and mech-assembly, as well as its combat system, featuring intense mech-on-mech, squad-based battles. To overcome the limitations of classic RTS games, which have been characterized by difficult and complex micromanaging and a high barrier to entry for new players, the focus was taken off of complex multi-tasking, involving build orders, resource allocation, and base expansions, and instead focused on delivering intuitive combat. Players can enjoy combat and strategy through multiple, fluid and fast-paced PvE and PvP modes that are immersive and easy to play.
The video showcases the game's systems, including land terraforming, base-building, and mech-assembly, as well as its combat system, featuring intense mech-on-mech, squad-based battles. To overcome the limitations of classic RTS games, which have been characterized by difficult and complex micromanaging and a high barrier to entry for new players, the focus was taken off of complex multi-tasking, involving build orders, resource allocation, and base expansions, and instead focused on delivering intuitive combat. Players can enjoy combat and strategy through multiple, fluid and fast-paced PvE and PvP modes that are immersive and easy to play.
Grell Audio and Drop Collaboration Prototype Headphone Shown Off at Expo, Targeting Approximate $300 Unit Pricing
Axel Grell was a guest speaker at the New York edition of CanJam 2023, and delivered a talk that expounded on the geometrical design of a headphone in relation to a listener's spatial perception of audio. Attendees of the expo were surprised to find that the ex-Sennheiser engineer had a new gizmo to show off on the show floor. The prototype headphone's origins are clearly linked to his research into the shape and directivity of sound fields, with the result being an unusual front-mounted driver orientation.
The super angled driver design will emphasize soundstage, which is an aspect vaunted by gamers in the search of the ideal headphone for competitive multiplayer sessions. Grell told attendees that the open-back prototype is 'version 1' and that it was constructed via a 3D printing process, he also added that the drivers are made from a biocellulose membrane. The chosen collaboration partner seems to be Drop (formerly Massdrop) and that a launch price of around $300 is being discussed.
The super angled driver design will emphasize soundstage, which is an aspect vaunted by gamers in the search of the ideal headphone for competitive multiplayer sessions. Grell told attendees that the open-back prototype is 'version 1' and that it was constructed via a 3D printing process, he also added that the drivers are made from a biocellulose membrane. The chosen collaboration partner seems to be Drop (formerly Massdrop) and that a launch price of around $300 is being discussed.
Paradox Interactive Announces Life by You, A Game Where You Create A Dream Life
Paradox Interactive today revealed more details about Life by You, created to be the most moddable and open life simulator from the Berkeley, CA based Paradox Tectonic. In Life by You, players will create humans and live out their lives without loading screens. Paradox Tectonic is led by Rod Humble, a games industry veteran known for his pioneering work on the life simulation genre. Life by You will be available in Early Access on September 12, eager players can pre-order today on the Epic Games Store for a suggested retail price of 39.99USD / 39.99 EUR / 34.99 GBP, wishlisting will also be available on Steam.
Life by You allows players to design and live out the lives of the humans that they create in an open game world where everything is customizable. Players create their households, build their homes and tell life's many stories. With real language conversation and the ability to switch from third-person to direct control gameplay, players will connect with their humans on an emotional level. A wide variety of Creator Tools and Editors will allow players to tweak every aspect of their experience, giving them the ability to live life to the fullest - or break the rules, as they see fit.
Life by You allows players to design and live out the lives of the humans that they create in an open game world where everything is customizable. Players create their households, build their homes and tell life's many stories. With real language conversation and the ability to switch from third-person to direct control gameplay, players will connect with their humans on an emotional level. A wide variety of Creator Tools and Editors will allow players to tweak every aspect of their experience, giving them the ability to live life to the fullest - or break the rules, as they see fit.
Cooler Master and D-BOX Team up for an Innovative Haptic Gaming Chair
Cooler Master, the high-performance component and peripherals brand, today announced it worked with D-BOX to produce its latest entry into the gaming chair market, The Motion 1 Haptic Gaming Chair. Cooler Master and D-BOX are currently present at the 2023 Game Developers Conference—GDC, taking place in San Francisco, from March 20 to 24, 2023. We invite all gaming studios to experience the Motion 1 haptic gaming chair at booth P1679 (Games from Quebec)
Motion 1 is the world's first haptic engine gaming chair developed in collaboration with D-BOX, a worldwide leader in haptic technology. Motion 1 is engineered to provide haptic feedback to your games and entertainment. Feel the bullets strafing your canopy in your favorite air battle movie, ocean waves crashing into your boat during a raid in Assassin's Creed Valhalla or the gentle tug as you accelerate in your favorite racing game. It's an entirely new dimension of realistic feedback that enhances your gaming and entertainment in a premium package replete with ergonomic comfort.
Motion 1 is the world's first haptic engine gaming chair developed in collaboration with D-BOX, a worldwide leader in haptic technology. Motion 1 is engineered to provide haptic feedback to your games and entertainment. Feel the bullets strafing your canopy in your favorite air battle movie, ocean waves crashing into your boat during a raid in Assassin's Creed Valhalla or the gentle tug as you accelerate in your favorite racing game. It's an entirely new dimension of realistic feedback that enhances your gaming and entertainment in a premium package replete with ergonomic comfort.
Respawn Entertainment Forms Third Studio in Madison WI, Bolsters Apex Legends Development
We're incredibly excited to announce that the Apex Legends team at Respawn will continue to strengthen its development team with the introduction of a brand new studio location in Madison, Wisconsin led by industry veteran Ryan Burnett. Ryan is an extraordinary leader with a proven track record in live service games and as a pillar in the massive mid-western game development community in Madison. With nearly two decades of development experience at places like Raven Software and Epic Games, Ryan has a history of inspiring the sort of creativity and innovation in his teams that is the foundation of games like Apex Legends.
It's been our belief since day one that Respawn is not a singular location but a mindset: when passionate and talented people have creative freedom, they'll achieve the unexpected. This view helped us successfully expand to Vancouver in 2019, and as the workplace evolved, it helped us continue to work with the best that the games industry has to offer, whether at the office, remote, or hybrid.
It's been our belief since day one that Respawn is not a singular location but a mindset: when passionate and talented people have creative freedom, they'll achieve the unexpected. This view helped us successfully expand to Vancouver in 2019, and as the workplace evolved, it helped us continue to work with the best that the games industry has to offer, whether at the office, remote, or hybrid.
Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT in Neon Yellow Colorway Is Leaked by Online Store in Singapore
A well reputed Singaporean electronics store has created a pre-order listing for a bright yellow version of Logitech's G PRO X SUPERLIGHT wireless gaming mouse. The pre-order page seems to have appeared at some point late last week, on e-commerce marketplace Carousell SG, and keen eyed members of the /mousereview subreddit were quick to post about the newly leaked edition.
It was debated whether the listing and images of the model were a fake out, but community members local to Singapore have claimed that the Xtreme Solution store has a great reputation with customers and hardware suppliers alike.
It was debated whether the listing and images of the model were a fake out, but community members local to Singapore have claimed that the Xtreme Solution store has a great reputation with customers and hardware suppliers alike.
Possible AMD Hybrid Phoenix 2 APU Spotted in 2+4 CPU Configuration
An alleged AMD Phoenix 2 hybrid APU has been spotted in the MilkyWay@Home database, featuring 2+4 CPU configuration. While the APU was note named, the "A70F80" CPUID apparently is a part of the Phoenix 2 lineup. According to the database entry, the APU in question has two standard Zen 4 and four power-optimized (low-power) Zen 4 cores, making such chip a sort a big.LITTLE-like hybrid configuration. It appears to support multithreading on all six cores.
While the entry does not confirm this is indeed the Phoenix 2 APU, it does matches some previous rumors. Such upcoming APU, as detailed by Tomshardware, is rumored to feature two Zen 4 cores with 2 MB of L2 and 4 MB of L3 cache, and four Zen 4c cores with 4 MB of L2 cache and 4 MB of L3 cache, which is a rather surprising configuration. It should also come with RDNA 3-based iGPU with up to 512 stream processors, and have DDR5/LPDDR5X memory support.
While the entry does not confirm this is indeed the Phoenix 2 APU, it does matches some previous rumors. Such upcoming APU, as detailed by Tomshardware, is rumored to feature two Zen 4 cores with 2 MB of L2 and 4 MB of L3 cache, and four Zen 4c cores with 4 MB of L2 cache and 4 MB of L3 cache, which is a rather surprising configuration. It should also come with RDNA 3-based iGPU with up to 512 stream processors, and have DDR5/LPDDR5X memory support.
ViewSonic Unveils Hybrid Learning Innovations with Stunning 105" 5K Interactive Display at BETT 2023
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, is launching a range of comprehensive education technology (EdTech) solutions, with the new addition to ViewSonic's revolutionary 5K 105" ViewBoard interactive display. In terms of software, highlights include ViewSonic's rich digital learning tools from the myViewBoard software suite, and the UNIVERSE by ViewSonic—a 3D virtual campus for online learning. The solutions will be exhibited in in-class, online, and hybrid learning scenarios at the BETT Show 2023 (British Educational Training and Technology Show) in London from 29 to 31, March.
"ViewSonic is dedicated to offering innovative visual solutions from hardware, software, service, to digital content. We will continue to implement our Ecosystem as a Service (EaaS) strategy and work with partners across the industry to create a digital education ecosystem that is truly transformative," said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. "At ViewSonic, we believe that technology can expand what's possible in classrooms. The digital transition is the key to the future of education, which is why we've designed a range of advanced solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into learning environments of all kinds."
"ViewSonic is dedicated to offering innovative visual solutions from hardware, software, service, to digital content. We will continue to implement our Ecosystem as a Service (EaaS) strategy and work with partners across the industry to create a digital education ecosystem that is truly transformative," said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. "At ViewSonic, we believe that technology can expand what's possible in classrooms. The digital transition is the key to the future of education, which is why we've designed a range of advanced solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into learning environments of all kinds."
ASUS and Noctua Announce ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 Noctua Edition Graphics Card
Following the resounding success of the ASUS GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 Noctua Edition, the Noctua Edition of ASUS' GeForce RTX 4080 is the third graphics card to feature Noctua fans and a heatsink that has been co-engineered by Noctua. By switching from the stock three slim 110 mm fans to two of Noctua's award-winning NF-A12x25 PWM 120 mm units and to a more elaborate, tailored heatsink with vapour chamber and five instead of two 8 mm diameter heatpipes, thermals and acoustics of ASUS' original TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 could be improved significantly for the Noctua Edition, making it the quietest card in its class.
"Building on the success or our previous collaboration, we are delighted to present the ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 Noctua Edition. Once again, we have combined our expertise with Noctua's mastery of low-noise cooling to create a graphics card that offers an unparalleled experience without compromising on noise levels, reflecting the strength and innovation of our collaboration." said Kent Chien (Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the ASUS Multimedia Business Unit).
[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the RTX 4080 Noctua is now live]
"Building on the success or our previous collaboration, we are delighted to present the ASUS GeForce RTX 4080 Noctua Edition. Once again, we have combined our expertise with Noctua's mastery of low-noise cooling to create a graphics card that offers an unparalleled experience without compromising on noise levels, reflecting the strength and innovation of our collaboration." said Kent Chien (Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the ASUS Multimedia Business Unit).
Steam Deck to Get Game Notes, New Notifications
Valve is apparently working on some sort of "game notes" system, and although details are vague, it could give players some way of adding private notes without leaving the game. The information was spotted by SteamDB Creator and dataminer, Pavel Djundik, suggesting such game notes "will be available in the Steam library, and on the web." Previously, the same source suggested that Valve is working on a new notification page as well.
The new "game notes" could easily be anything, but since a lot of players have been asking for a similar feature over at the Steam subreddit, it could suggest that Valve is actually listening to the community. As noted, Valve is also working on a notification page that could be similar to the notification page in the mobile app. Valve is expected to add the notification system as soon as it replaces some of the old parts of the Steam client. Of course, you should wait to hear an official announcement from Valve, as it could be coming soon.
The new "game notes" could easily be anything, but since a lot of players have been asking for a similar feature over at the Steam subreddit, it could suggest that Valve is actually listening to the community. As noted, Valve is also working on a notification page that could be similar to the notification page in the mobile app. Valve is expected to add the notification system as soon as it replaces some of the old parts of the Steam client. Of course, you should wait to hear an official announcement from Valve, as it could be coming soon.
LG Announces Availability of 2023 Gram Style Series Laptops
LG Electronics USA announced pricing and availability of its 2023 LG gram Style laptops at LG.com and select LG-authorized retailers. Created for those who love to express their unique style wherever they go, the LG gram Style laptops will be offered in 16- and 14-inch versions (models 16Z90RS and 14Z90RS). Exclusively available at LG.com from March 20, 2023 to April 16, 2023, customers can now get a 32 GB memory LG gram Style laptop for the price of a 16 GB model of the same screen size.
The LG gram Style features an elegant glass design that changes color when viewed from different angles. The focus on design continues inside the new laptop where a "hidden" haptic touch-pad with soft LED backlighting illuminates at the user's touch. Maintaining its reputation for its lightweight portability, the gram Style weighs under 3 pounds.
The LG gram Style features an elegant glass design that changes color when viewed from different angles. The focus on design continues inside the new laptop where a "hidden" haptic touch-pad with soft LED backlighting illuminates at the user's touch. Maintaining its reputation for its lightweight portability, the gram Style weighs under 3 pounds.
TYAN to Showcase Cloud Platforms for Data Centers at CloudFest 2023
TYAN, an industry-leading server platform design manufacturer and a MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation subsidiary, will showcase its latest cloud server platforms powered by AMD EPYC 9004 Series processors and 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors for next-generation data centers at CloudFest 2023, Booth #H12 in Europa-Park from March 21-23.
"With the exponential advancement of technologies like AI and Machine Learning, data centers require robust hardware and infrastructure to handle complex computations while running AI workloads and processing big data," said Danny Hsu, Vice President of MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation's Server Infrastructure BU. "TYAN's cloud server platforms with storage performance and computing capability can support the ever-increasing demand for computational power and data processing."
"With the exponential advancement of technologies like AI and Machine Learning, data centers require robust hardware and infrastructure to handle complex computations while running AI workloads and processing big data," said Danny Hsu, Vice President of MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation's Server Infrastructure BU. "TYAN's cloud server platforms with storage performance and computing capability can support the ever-increasing demand for computational power and data processing."
DNP Develops TGV Glass Core Substrate for Semiconductor Packages
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has developed a Glass Core Substrate (GCS) targeting next-generation semiconductor packages. The new product replaces conventional resin substrates (ex. FC-BGA: Flip Chip-Ball Grid Array) with a glass substrate. Through the use of high-density Through Glass Via (TGV), it is now possible to provide a higher performance semiconductor package than that based on currently available technology. In addition, by adapting our panel manufacturing process, the new product can also support demands for high efficiency and large-scale substrate.
Features
Fine pitch and high reliability
The newly developed GCS includes a TGV necessary for electrically connecting the fine metal wiring configured on the front and back of the glass. It is a Conformal Type glass substrate in which a metal layer is adhered to the side walls of the via. Our new proprietary manufacturing method enhances the adhesion between glass and metal, which was difficult to achieve with conventional technology, to realize fine pitch and high reliability.
Features
Fine pitch and high reliability
The newly developed GCS includes a TGV necessary for electrically connecting the fine metal wiring configured on the front and back of the glass. It is a Conformal Type glass substrate in which a metal layer is adhered to the side walls of the via. Our new proprietary manufacturing method enhances the adhesion between glass and metal, which was difficult to achieve with conventional technology, to realize fine pitch and high reliability.
SilverStone Intros SX1000R Platinum SFX-L Power Supply
SilverStone today introduced the SX1000R Platinum, a 1000 W power supply in the SFX-L form-factor. The PSU meets SFX 12 V 4.0 (analogous to ATX 3.0), and PCI-Express Gen 5. It should offer identical power-delivery and excursion tolerance characteristics to a conventional ATX 3.0 + PCIe Gen 5-rated PSU. Internally, the SX1000R Platinum features a single +12 V rail design with a single 83.3 A rail, DC-to-DC switching to other voltage domains, and most common electrical protections, against over/under-voltage, overload, overheat, and short-circuit.
The PSU meets Cybenetics Platinum electrical switching efficiency ratings, Its 120 mm dual ball-bearing fan features idle fan-off as long as the load is under 200 W. Among the connectors provided by the SilverStone SX1000R Platinum are one 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS, one 16-pin 12VHPWR with 600 W continuous power delivery capability, four 6+2 pin PCIe power, eight SATA power, three Molex, and one Berg. The company didn't reveal pricing or availability information.
The PSU meets Cybenetics Platinum electrical switching efficiency ratings, Its 120 mm dual ball-bearing fan features idle fan-off as long as the load is under 200 W. Among the connectors provided by the SilverStone SX1000R Platinum are one 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS, one 16-pin 12VHPWR with 600 W continuous power delivery capability, four 6+2 pin PCIe power, eight SATA power, three Molex, and one Berg. The company didn't reveal pricing or availability information.
Kingston Unveils FURY Renegade Pro DDR5 RDIMM Memory for W790 Platforms
Kingston today unveiled the FURY Renegade Pro DDR5 RDIMM memory for workstations based on the Intel W790 platform (Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 series "Sapphire Rapids" processors). The company is marking these as "overclockable" registered ECC DIMMs, as they come with Intel XMP 3.0 profiles that enable their advertised speeds on Intel platforms. The FURY Renegade Pro series comes in DDR5-6000 (32-38-38 1.35 V), DDR5-5600 (36-38-38 1.25 V), and DDR5-4800 (36-38-38 1.1 V) speed; with module densities of 16 GB and 32 GB (per DIMM); making up single-module kits, 4-module kits (for W-2400 platforms), and 8-module kits (for W-3400 platforms). The modules themselves are bare—lacking in heatspreaders, with a thin decal covering the DRAM chips. These are standard-height DIMMs.
Gigabyte Confirms Upcoming RTX 4070 and 4060 Graphics Cards
Gigabyte has pretty much confirmed the upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 and RTX 4060 graphics cards, by adding support for its two SKUs in the Gigabyte Control Center software. The latest 23.03.02.01 version of the software adds support for the Gigabyte RTX 4070 AERO OC 12 GB and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 GAMING OC 8 GB graphics cards.
Gigabyte's product codes reveal a lot of information, including the first confirmation that the upcoming RTX 4060 will indeed be coming with 8 GB of memory, just as previous rumors stated. Obviously, the GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of memory. The GeForce RTX 4070 is rumored to be announced on April 12th, with the retail availability expected on April 13th. The GeForce RTX 4060, or the rumored GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, still do not have a launch date, but earlier rumors pointed to May.
Gigabyte's product codes reveal a lot of information, including the first confirmation that the upcoming RTX 4060 will indeed be coming with 8 GB of memory, just as previous rumors stated. Obviously, the GeForce RTX 4070 comes with 12 GB of memory. The GeForce RTX 4070 is rumored to be announced on April 12th, with the retail availability expected on April 13th. The GeForce RTX 4060, or the rumored GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, still do not have a launch date, but earlier rumors pointed to May.
Intel Xeon Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest to Feature up to 500 Watt TDP and 12-Channel Memory
Today, thanks to Yuuki_Ans on the Chinese Bilibili forum, we have more information about the upcoming "Avenue City" platform that powers Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest. Intel's forthcoming Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest Xeon processors will diverge the Xeon family into two offerings: one optimized for performance/core equipped with P-cores and the other for power/core equipped with E-cores. The reference platform Intel designs and shares with OEMs internally is a 16.7" x 20" board with 20 PCB layers, made as a dual-socket solution. Featuring two massive LGA-7529 sockets, the reference design shows the basic layout for a server powered by these new Xeons.
Capable of powering Granite Rapids / Sierra Forest-AP processors of up to 500 Watts, the platform also accommodates next-generation I/O. Featuring 24 DDR5 DIMMs with support for 12-channel memory, with memory speeds of up to 6400 MT/s. The PCIe selection includes six PCIe Gen 5 x16 links supporting CXL cache coherent protocol and 6x24 UPI links. Additionally, we have another piece of information that Granite Rapids will come with up to 128 cores and 256 threads in both regular and HBM-powered Xeon Max flavoring. You can see storage and reference platform configuration details on the slides below.
Capable of powering Granite Rapids / Sierra Forest-AP processors of up to 500 Watts, the platform also accommodates next-generation I/O. Featuring 24 DDR5 DIMMs with support for 12-channel memory, with memory speeds of up to 6400 MT/s. The PCIe selection includes six PCIe Gen 5 x16 links supporting CXL cache coherent protocol and 6x24 UPI links. Additionally, we have another piece of information that Granite Rapids will come with up to 128 cores and 256 threads in both regular and HBM-powered Xeon Max flavoring. You can see storage and reference platform configuration details on the slides below.
AMD EPYC Genoa-X Processor Spotted with 1248 MBs of 3D V-Cache
AMD's EPYC lineup already features the new Zen 4 core designed for better performance and efficiency. However, since the release of EPYC Milan-X processors with 3D V-cache integrated into server offerings, we wondered if AMD will continue to make such SKUs for upcoming generations. According to the report from Wccftech, we have a leaked table of specifications that showcase what some seemingly top-end Genoa-X SKUs will look like. The two SKUs listed here are the "100-000000892-04" coded engineering sample and the "100-000000892-06" coded retail sample. With support for the same SP5 platform, these CPUs should be easily integrated with the existing offerings from OEM.
As far as specifications, this processor features 384 MBs of L3 cache coming from CCDs, 768 MBs of L3 cache from the 3D V-Cache stacks, and 96 MBs of L2 cache for a total of 1248 MBs in the usable cache. A 3 MB stack of L1 cache is also dedicated to instructions and primary CPU data. Compared to the regular Genoa design, this is a 260% increase in cache sizes, and compared to Milan-X, the Genoa-X design also progresses with 56% more cache. With a TDP of up to 400 Watts, configurable to 320 Watts, this CPU can boost up to 3.7 GHz. AMD EPYC Genoa-X CPUs are expected to hit the shelves in the middle of 2023.
As far as specifications, this processor features 384 MBs of L3 cache coming from CCDs, 768 MBs of L3 cache from the 3D V-Cache stacks, and 96 MBs of L2 cache for a total of 1248 MBs in the usable cache. A 3 MB stack of L1 cache is also dedicated to instructions and primary CPU data. Compared to the regular Genoa design, this is a 260% increase in cache sizes, and compared to Milan-X, the Genoa-X design also progresses with 56% more cache. With a TDP of up to 400 Watts, configurable to 320 Watts, this CPU can boost up to 3.7 GHz. AMD EPYC Genoa-X CPUs are expected to hit the shelves in the middle of 2023.
Crucial's Expected Performance Numbers for T700 Gen 5 SSD Leaked
Over the weekend, we got the first previews of the upcoming Crucial T700 M.2 NVMe Gen 5 SSD, the company's return to the high-end client SSD segment. The drive combines a Phison E26-series controller with the latest-generation (possibly 232-layer) 3D TLC NAND flash, and DDR4 DRAM cache, both made at home by Micron Technology. A key slide from the "Previewers Guide" got leaked to the web, which reveals the company's own performance numbers for the drive.
The Crucial T700 comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB variants, which differ in numbers. The 1 TB variant offers up to 11500 MB/s sequential reads, with up to 8500 MB/s sequential writes, up to 1.2 million IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 1.5 million IOPS 4K random writes, along with an endurance rating of 800 TBW. The 2 TB and 4 TB variants offer identical performance—up to 12000 MB/s sequential reads with up to 11000 MB/s sequential writes, up to 1.5 million IOPS random reads/writes. The 2 TB variant offers 1,200 TBW endurance, and the 4 TB variant does 2,400 TBW. Crucial is expected to launch the T700 in May 2023.
The Crucial T700 comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB variants, which differ in numbers. The 1 TB variant offers up to 11500 MB/s sequential reads, with up to 8500 MB/s sequential writes, up to 1.2 million IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 1.5 million IOPS 4K random writes, along with an endurance rating of 800 TBW. The 2 TB and 4 TB variants offer identical performance—up to 12000 MB/s sequential reads with up to 11000 MB/s sequential writes, up to 1.5 million IOPS random reads/writes. The 2 TB variant offers 1,200 TBW endurance, and the 4 TB variant does 2,400 TBW. Crucial is expected to launch the T700 in May 2023.
ASRock Intros Blazing M.2 Gen 5 Fan-Heatsink
ASRock today introduced the Blazing M.2 Gen 5 Fan-Heatsink, an active cooling solution for M.2 Gen 5 SSDs, and meant to be paired with the company's Socket AM5 and LGA1700 motherboards that have Gen 5 M.2 slots. The cooler is a 5 cm-tall hunk of extruded aluminium with a 30 mm fan ventilating it at roughly 5 CFM. There are five types of these coolers, each suitable for a particular type of ASRock motherboards. These coolers have been out since December 2022 as inclusions in motherboards, however, ASRock released the types 3, 4, and 5 (from the table below) today. The cooler is said to significantly lower temperatures of SSD controllers, minimizing performance losses to thermal throttling. These coolers are expected to be priced around $30 a pop.
ASUS Intros ProArt Display PA329CRV Monitor for Creators
ASUS today formally launched the ProArt Display PA329CRV, a 31.5-inch professional graphics monitor, aimed at creators. The monitor features a professionally certified wide color-gamut IPS display panel that offers 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 coverage. It feature Calaman certification with a color accuracy of <Δ2. The monitor offers 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution, with 350 cd/m² maximum brightness (peaks to 400 cd/m²), 1000:1 contrast ratio, and HDR10. Display inputs include USB type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 passthrough and 96 W USB-PD. The monitor features a VESA wall-mount, its included stand supports tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments.
AMD Ryzen 7 7840U Low-Power Processor Beats Previous-Gen Flagship Ryzen 9 6900HX
AMD's 4 nm "Phoenix" silicon could serious turn the company's fortunes around in the ultra-thin notebook space. The 28-Watt Ryzen 7 7840U surfaced on Cinebench R23 screenshots, where it is shown beating the previous-generation 55 W flagship, the Ryzen 9 6900HX. If this is any indication of performance across the board, then the 15-28 W models of Ryzen 7040-series "Phoenix" could unleash an open-season against competing 15-28 W-category 13th Gen Core processors that have lower P-core counts, such as 2P+8E. The 7840U has all eight "Zen 4" CPU cores enabled, along with a fast RDNA3 graphics architecture based iGPU. In the screenshot, the 7840U is shown with a Cinebench R23 multi-threaded score of 14285 points, a score that is higher than that of the "Zen 3+" based 6900HX "Rembrandt," and a touch below the 45 W Core i7-12800H, which means it could have the upper hand over several 13th Gen and 12 Gen SKUs in the 15-28 W category.
Sunday, March 19th 2023
Pictures of the Never-Released RTX 4070 Ti Founders Edition, RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition, and RTX 4060 Founders Edition Emerge
When NVIDIA got around to release the $800 GeForce RTX 4070 Ti "Ada" (originally meant to launch as the RTX 4080 12 GB); an NVIDIA Founders Edition product based on this chip was conspicuous in its absence. A tech enthusiast who goes by "KittyYYuko" on Twitter posted pictures of what they claim to be the never-released RTX 4070 Ti Founders Edition; and upcoming RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060. The claim begins to check out as we're shown a picture of a graphics card PCB with the distinct Founders Edition shape, which has an "AD104" ASIC, and a 16-pin 12VHPWR connector, along with 8 memory pads, two of which are unoccupied (matches the 192-bit memory interface of the RTX 4070 Ti).
We are shown two other cards, the RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition, and the RTX 4060 Founders Edition. These are expected to be positioned below the RTX 4070 that the company plans to launch in April. The Founders Edition boards are visibly smaller than even the RTX 3080 Founders Edition, although they stick to the dual-axial flow-through design of that card. "AD106" based graphics cards are expected to have typical graphics power (TGP) values well under the 250 W-mark, for which this cooler looks adequate, considering that the sheet-metal of the heatsink has been pushed to the very edges of the card. The cards could include power adapters that convert no more than two 8-pin PCIe to a 16-pin 12VHPWR with a 300 W power limit.
We are shown two other cards, the RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition, and the RTX 4060 Founders Edition. These are expected to be positioned below the RTX 4070 that the company plans to launch in April. The Founders Edition boards are visibly smaller than even the RTX 3080 Founders Edition, although they stick to the dual-axial flow-through design of that card. "AD106" based graphics cards are expected to have typical graphics power (TGP) values well under the 250 W-mark, for which this cooler looks adequate, considering that the sheet-metal of the heatsink has been pushed to the very edges of the card. The cards could include power adapters that convert no more than two 8-pin PCIe to a 16-pin 12VHPWR with a 300 W power limit.
MSI Starts Scaling Down DDR4 LGA1700 Motherboard Production in Favor of DDR5 Ones
Motherboard major MSI has reportedly began scaling down production of its Socket LGA1700 motherboards with DDR4 memory slots, in favor of those with the newer DDR5 slots. The move is aimed at gradually weaning the market off DDR4. The company has issued product discontinuance notices for several of its Intel 600-series and 700-series chipset motherboards that have DDR4 slots. Among the rather recently-announced products on the chopping block are the MPG Z790 Edge WiFi DDR4, Pro Z790-A WiFi DDR4, Pro Z790-P DDR4, and the DDR4 version of the MAG B760M Mortar. Meanwhile, DDR5 memory prices are on the chill, with the cheapest 16 GB (2x 8 GB) kit being priced at $60, and the cheapest 32 GB (2x 16 GB) one at $97.
Twinsen's Little Big Adventure 1 and 2 to Receive Remaster Treatment, Third Game Delayed Indefinitely
French developer 2:21 this week announced its intentions to produce remastered versions of its Twinsen's Little Big Adventure games. A planned third game has been delayed beyond 2024, the original intention was to release this sequel in time for the 30th Anniversary of the series, but development has only reached a prototype phase. The remasters will serve as an interim proof of potential to prospective publishers of the third game. These updated versions have been assembled by a small team, with the Unreal Engine 5 serving as the technological base.
The original Little Big Adventure was released and published by Electronic Arts in 1994, and the second in 1997. Activision dealt with the latter's distribution in North America. Certain territories received retitled versions - Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure (1) and Twinsen's Odyssey (2) - this inconsistent branding by market departments caused much confusion during the nascent days of gaming discussion online. The 2:21 team has sought to hybridize the different titles, but the 'Relentless' moniker is no longer part of its new naming system, thankfully.
The original Little Big Adventure was released and published by Electronic Arts in 1994, and the second in 1997. Activision dealt with the latter's distribution in North America. Certain territories received retitled versions - Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure (1) and Twinsen's Odyssey (2) - this inconsistent branding by market departments caused much confusion during the nascent days of gaming discussion online. The 2:21 team has sought to hybridize the different titles, but the 'Relentless' moniker is no longer part of its new naming system, thankfully.
This Week in Gaming (Week 12)
This coming week's games have something of a horror theme with a remake of a horror game from 2005, which is also this week's AAA title. Two of the games are even in VR, which could cause some further excitement compared to a regular horror game. Overall it's not a super exciting week for new game releases, unless you're into horror themed games that is.
Resident Evil 4 / This week's Remake & AAA title / Thursday 24 March
Survival is just the beginning. Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors, tracks the president's kidnapped daughter to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and gruelling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.
Resident Evil 4 / This week's Remake & AAA title / Thursday 24 March
Survival is just the beginning. Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors, tracks the president's kidnapped daughter to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and gruelling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.
Qualcomm's aptX and aptX HD Codecs Now Part of Android Open Source Project
One of the biggest issues with TWS and any other kind of wireless headphones for that matter, is limited support for various audio codecs, where many rely on the not so great SBC codec or AAC, simply because these are two codes that are supported by most of the devices that the headphones would be connected to. When it comes to smartphones, Qualcomm is by far the biggest chipset provider and as it happens, Qualcomm is also the owner of the various aptX audio codecs that many headphones support. Up until very recently, the phone makers had to pay a royalty fee to include support for the aptX codecs even if they used Qualcomm's chips in their phones and thus some companies—Samsung for example—decided not to include support for aptX.
Now it has come to light that just like Sony with its LDAC codec, Qualcomm has decided to add support for aptX to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which means all Android devices can support aptX as well as aptX HD without paying any royalty fees. However, more advanced versions of aptX, such as aptX Adaptive and the rarely used low latency version of aptX are not included. That said, headphone makers will still have to pay a royalty fee to Qualcomm, although there doesn't appear to be any headphones on the market that support aptX that aren't based on a Qualcomm or one of the older CSR chipsets from the time before Qualcomm acquired them. On the other hand, Sony's LDAC codec is used by a wide range of headphones, of which none rely on a Sony chipset. Regardless, this should be good news for consumers, who will be the ones reaping the benefits from this change in the long term.
Now it has come to light that just like Sony with its LDAC codec, Qualcomm has decided to add support for aptX to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which means all Android devices can support aptX as well as aptX HD without paying any royalty fees. However, more advanced versions of aptX, such as aptX Adaptive and the rarely used low latency version of aptX are not included. That said, headphone makers will still have to pay a royalty fee to Qualcomm, although there doesn't appear to be any headphones on the market that support aptX that aren't based on a Qualcomm or one of the older CSR chipsets from the time before Qualcomm acquired them. On the other hand, Sony's LDAC codec is used by a wide range of headphones, of which none rely on a Sony chipset. Regardless, this should be good news for consumers, who will be the ones reaping the benefits from this change in the long term.
Saturday, March 18th 2023
ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM Priced for Pre-order at US$999 or More
It was only Monday this week that ASUS announced the official launch of the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, but now retailers have started to put the display up for pre-order and it looks like for once, ASUS hasn't priced its products higher than the competition. In the US, it appears that the PG27AQDM will retail for US$999, which is the same price that LG is asking for its equivalent Ultragear OLED 27GR95QE-B. ASUS does claim to have higher typical brightness at 450 cd/m² vs a mere 200 cd/m² for the LG, yet somehow also claim to have half the power consumption.
A swift jump over the pond and the PG27AQDM looks a little less exciting, with it coming in at £1,098.95 in the UK and €1,299.99 in Germany and as much as 14,990 kr in Sweden, which puts all three nations at well over US$1,100 excluding any local VAT. That makes LG's Ultragear OLED the far more attractive option in Europe, as it's cheaper in all three countries by the equivalent of around US$100. For those still interested, the bad news is that the display won't arrive in retail until sometime in mid or end of April, depending on the country you live in.
A swift jump over the pond and the PG27AQDM looks a little less exciting, with it coming in at £1,098.95 in the UK and €1,299.99 in Germany and as much as 14,990 kr in Sweden, which puts all three nations at well over US$1,100 excluding any local VAT. That makes LG's Ultragear OLED the far more attractive option in Europe, as it's cheaper in all three countries by the equivalent of around US$100. For those still interested, the bad news is that the display won't arrive in retail until sometime in mid or end of April, depending on the country you live in.
Assetto Corsa Sequel in Active Development, Financial Report Indicates Spring 2024 Launch Window
According to details fished out of an extensive Digital Bros. 2022-2023 financial report, Assetto Corsa 2 is set for a Spring 2024 launch. Developer Kunos Simulazioni and publisher 505 Games confirmed back in 2021 that the long running Assetto Corsa racing-sim series would be receiving sequel treatment. It seems that the owners of the publishing and development groups are keen to capitalize on Assetto Corsa-series sales figures reaching 28 million copies, as of late December 2022, which generated $112 million in revenue.
Fans of Assetto Corsa will be eagerly anticipating the release window of March to June 2024 - the previous entry in the series, Competizione, was not intended as a full sequel when it launched in 2018, via an early-access program. Content updates have been frequent and appreciated by the fan base, but with the power of PC and console hardware increasing over the past half decade, expectations of graphical fidelity have changed for racing simulators.
Fans of Assetto Corsa will be eagerly anticipating the release window of March to June 2024 - the previous entry in the series, Competizione, was not intended as a full sequel when it launched in 2018, via an early-access program. Content updates have been frequent and appreciated by the fan base, but with the power of PC and console hardware increasing over the past half decade, expectations of graphical fidelity have changed for racing simulators.
Intel Might Have Canceled Thunder Bay Hybrid SoC
Intel has quietly canceled its Thunder Bay hybrid system-on-chip (SoC) that combines standard general-purpose CPU Cores and Movidius Vision Processing Unit (VPU) cores. Such chips were aimed at commercial and Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications that relied on computer vision acceleration and edge-computing applications. According to the latest report, it appears that Thunder Bay is canceled as Intel has released a set of patches that removed the Thunder Bay code from the Linux kernel.
Intel kept Thunder bay details well hidden and while earlier rumors pointed to a combination of Intel Xeon x86 CPU cores and Movidius VPU cores, the only Thunder Bay support in Linux patches where showing a combination of ARM Cortex-A53 low-power cores with the Movidius VPU. Intel acquired Movidius back in 2016 and while it is not something that Intel talks about often, there are several products based on Movidius VPUs, including Neural Compute Stick, Intel drones, the Intel RealSense Tracking Camera, and most recently, the Intel Movidius 3700VC VPU, formerly Keem Bay. In any case, it appears that Intel is abandoning an idea of combining general purpose x86 CPU cores and Movidius VPU cores.
Intel kept Thunder bay details well hidden and while earlier rumors pointed to a combination of Intel Xeon x86 CPU cores and Movidius VPU cores, the only Thunder Bay support in Linux patches where showing a combination of ARM Cortex-A53 low-power cores with the Movidius VPU. Intel acquired Movidius back in 2016 and while it is not something that Intel talks about often, there are several products based on Movidius VPUs, including Neural Compute Stick, Intel drones, the Intel RealSense Tracking Camera, and most recently, the Intel Movidius 3700VC VPU, formerly Keem Bay. In any case, it appears that Intel is abandoning an idea of combining general purpose x86 CPU cores and Movidius VPU cores.
Focus Entertainment and Deck13 Show Off Atlas Fallen in Gameplay and Developer Talk Trailers
Atlas Fallen, the epic fantasy action-RPG from Focus Entertainment's studio Deck13 Interactive, is excited to open pre-orders following the recent announcement of its May 16 release date. Get a feel of the high sensations to come in the game where you battle legendary creatures in super-powered combat with today's captivating Gameplay Reveal Trailer.
Take on a heroic journey through a variety of breath-taking environments, swiftly gliding through the desert landscapes of a vast sand-covered world. Explore ancient ruins and unearth the mysteries and secrets of a fallen society. Fight a corrupt god and extraordinary beasts thanks to the divine power of your shape-shifting weapon. Unlock powerful skills and abilities to build a unique move-set and rise as the champion who will liberate the people of Atlas.
Take on a heroic journey through a variety of breath-taking environments, swiftly gliding through the desert landscapes of a vast sand-covered world. Explore ancient ruins and unearth the mysteries and secrets of a fallen society. Fight a corrupt god and extraordinary beasts thanks to the divine power of your shape-shifting weapon. Unlock powerful skills and abilities to build a unique move-set and rise as the champion who will liberate the people of Atlas.
EK Issues Explanation Regarding Upcoming 8% Price Increase of Select Products
EK, the premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer, has issued a statement for its loyal customer base regarding the upcoming changes in the pricing of certain products: Dear and valued EK customers. In light of full transparency, we wanted to inform you of some changes that will be taking place in the coming weeks. Due to various factors like raw material sourcing difficulties, material prices, and labor costs, we will raise the prices of a selected range of our products.
These changes will occur on March 31, 2023, and the price increase will only affect certain products. Those prices will increase by 8% on average, applying to any selected product or product line our company currently offers.
These changes will occur on March 31, 2023, and the price increase will only affect certain products. Those prices will increase by 8% on average, applying to any selected product or product line our company currently offers.
Crucial T700 PCIe 5.0 SSD Preview Unit Hits 12 GB/s Read and Write Speeds, May 2023 Release Hinted
Crucial is keen to drum up early interest for an upcoming SSD model, and the Linus Tech Tips team has received and tested a sample unit. The T700 is a PCIe Gen 5 NVMe M.2 SSD storage solution based around a Phison PS5026-E26 controller, which is a very common choice for the current generation of PCIe 5.0 SSDs available on the market. Micron 3D NAND chips look to be present on the T700's PCB, and a Crucial-branded heatsink is mounted to the provided sample unit. It is interesting to note that the uncovered T700 unit bears a striking resemblance to Phison's E26 Engineering Reference sample, although the latter appears to feature SK Hynix memory chips, instead of Micron.
The LTT team posted benchmark results from a Crystal Disk Mark test session, and the T700 achieved maximums of 12.4 GB/s sequential read and 11.9 GB/s write speeds. This represents an almost two fold jump over the performance of Crucial's PCIe 4.0 based P5 Plus SSD, which is a substantial improvement and also very impressive considering the T700's usage of a passive cooling solution.
The LTT team posted benchmark results from a Crystal Disk Mark test session, and the T700 achieved maximums of 12.4 GB/s sequential read and 11.9 GB/s write speeds. This represents an almost two fold jump over the performance of Crucial's PCIe 4.0 based P5 Plus SSD, which is a substantial improvement and also very impressive considering the T700's usage of a passive cooling solution.
Valve Running Celebratory Sale on Steam Deck's 1-Year Anniversary, Adds Startup Movie Customization
It has been one year since we launched Steam Deck, and in celebration we're offering Steam Deck for 10% off! The discount will last for the duration of the Spring Sale, until March 23rd at 10am Pacific time. The sale applies to all shipping regions, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong via Komodo.
Steam Deck wouldn't be such a success without everyone in the community, so we've put together a little celebration video with highlights from Steam Deck's first year, with an emphasis on all of YOU.
Steam Deck wouldn't be such a success without everyone in the community, so we've put together a little celebration video with highlights from Steam Deck's first year, with an emphasis on all of YOU.
Global NAND Flash Revenue Reports a QoQ Decline of 25% in 4Q22 as ASP Drops Further
TrendForce's latest investigations reveal that the global NAND Flash market has been facing a demand headwind since 2H22. In response, the supply chain has been scrambling to clear out inventory, driving down NAND Flash contract prices by 20-25%. Enterprise SSD took the brunt of the fall with prices plummeting 23-28%. Despite manufacturers lowering prices in an attempt to drive up demand, clients are hesitant to purchase more components for fear of overstock. As a result, NAND Flash bit shipments rose by a mere 5.3% as ASP fell 22.8%. Global NAND Flash revenue was reported to be US$10.29 billion in 4Q22—down 25% QoQ.
TrendForce reports that Kioxia and Micron saw both a reduction in production and price in 4Q22. Kioxia's revenue plunged 30.5% due to weak demand from PC and smartphone clients and data centers readjusting their inventory. Micron generated a quarterly revenue of US$1.1 billion—a staggering 34.7% QoQ drop—that has led them to drastically decrease their capacity utilization rate for fabs. Luckily, Micron was able to ship their 232-layer client SSDs in 4Q22 as scheduled, and with the 176-layer QLC enterprise SSD hot on its heels, Micron's bit shipments are predicted to steadily improve in 2023 with their revenue climbing gradually quarter by quarter.
TrendForce reports that Kioxia and Micron saw both a reduction in production and price in 4Q22. Kioxia's revenue plunged 30.5% due to weak demand from PC and smartphone clients and data centers readjusting their inventory. Micron generated a quarterly revenue of US$1.1 billion—a staggering 34.7% QoQ drop—that has led them to drastically decrease their capacity utilization rate for fabs. Luckily, Micron was able to ship their 232-layer client SSDs in 4Q22 as scheduled, and with the 176-layer QLC enterprise SSD hot on its heels, Micron's bit shipments are predicted to steadily improve in 2023 with their revenue climbing gradually quarter by quarter.
GELID Announces GC-4 Thermal Paste
We are excited to introduce the GC-4 Thermal Paste, the ultimate solution for overheating issues in your electronic devices. Whether you're a gamer, a graphic designer, or just someone who uses their computer for long hours, you know how frustrating it is when your device starts to slow down due to overheating.
That's where the GC-4 Thermal Paste comes in. Our new formula is designed to provide superior heat conductivity and cooling performance, helping to reduce temperatures and prevent overheating. The GC-4 Thermal Paste provides excellent thermal conductivity and stability, ensuring your device stays cool even under heavy loads.
That's where the GC-4 Thermal Paste comes in. Our new formula is designed to provide superior heat conductivity and cooling performance, helping to reduce temperatures and prevent overheating. The GC-4 Thermal Paste provides excellent thermal conductivity and stability, ensuring your device stays cool even under heavy loads.
Friday, March 17th 2023
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Headphones
Keyboards
Networking
Notebooks
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black Review
Cooler Master's Latest Hyper 212 Halo Black looks to carry on the legacy established by its venerable ancestor. Delivering solid performance, good looks, and plenty of clearance for components making it s a decent option for entry to mid-range gaming PCs.
Cooler Master MM712 Review
With the MM712, Cooler Master has engineered a MM710 with wireless and without holes, yet keeps the weight at a highly competitive 57 g. The MM712 also comes with PixArt's PAW3370 sensor, optical switches for the main buttons, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, and up to 80 hours of battery life.
Maxsun's Mega Gamer GPU RTX 40 Series Sports Five Fans
Chinese board partner Maxsun announced today their new flagship product line dubbed Mega Gamer GPU (MGG) which packs five fans onto RTX 40 series GPUs. The first card to receive this new branding is NVIDIA's RTX 4070 Ti which Maxsun suggests will come with a healthy factory overclock, but they have not yet elaborated on complete specifications. The five fan array isn't the only unique aspect of this new lineup as the overall visual design features a striking rounded shroud with a large magnetically attached top-facing RGB LED panel. The fan arrangement appears at first to be a traditional set of three downward facing ~100 mm fans, but a glance toward the top of the card reveals the last two ~40 mm fans flanking either end. These fans are configured as exhaust fans for the finstack, likely intended to assist in pulling heat up and away from the card instead of blasting it down into the motherboard. The 40 mm fan toward the front of the card appears as though it may actually provide some benefit as it sits directly above the forward VRM to the left side of the GPU die.
For those of you that remember the bygone era of 2012 you'll likely have a light bulb going off in the memory department since this is not the first GPU to pack an excessive amount of fans. Some of Gigabyte's Super Overclock series of GPUs featured five 40 mm fans on a bulky triple-slot design, specifically their GeForce GTX 680 Windforce 5X SOC and exceptionally limited Radeon HD 7970 SoC. Unlike Maxsun's MGG design, these designs arranged all of the fans along the top edge in a "pull" configuration to force air up through the dense fin stack and away from the motherboard. Similarly to Maxsun's MGG these were overclocked cards with a considerably unique visual aesthetic.
For those of you that remember the bygone era of 2012 you'll likely have a light bulb going off in the memory department since this is not the first GPU to pack an excessive amount of fans. Some of Gigabyte's Super Overclock series of GPUs featured five 40 mm fans on a bulky triple-slot design, specifically their GeForce GTX 680 Windforce 5X SOC and exceptionally limited Radeon HD 7970 SoC. Unlike Maxsun's MGG design, these designs arranged all of the fans along the top edge in a "pull" configuration to force air up through the dense fin stack and away from the motherboard. Similarly to Maxsun's MGG these were overclocked cards with a considerably unique visual aesthetic.
AMD Delays "Phoenix" 7040HS Series Mobile CPUs to April
If you were one of those that were waiting with bated breath for AMD's Zen 4 based "Phoenix" line-up of mobile CPUs, you're going to be waiting a little longer. Late on Friday afternoon AMD announced that they have delayed the launch of their Ryzen Mobile 7040HS series of CPUs, pushing the expected launch window from late March to some time in April. Speculation abound as to why this may be, but the direct correspondence from AMD's PR department is sparse:
To align with platform readiness and ensure the best possible user experience, we now expect our OEM partners to launch the first notebooks powered by Ryzen 7040HS Series processors in April.As a refresher on the "Phoenix" line of CPUs these are the next-generation Zen 4 based monolithic SoCs built on TSMC's 4 nm process first announced back in January. These chips feature up to 8 Zen 4 cores with turbo clocks reaching 5 to 5.2 GHz, an RDNA3 based integrated GPU with clocks as high as 3 GHz, and AMD's first AI coprocessor dubbed Ryzen AI. Despite being Zen 4 these SoCs are still using PCI-E Gen 4 but are not hamstrung by a lack of lanes like some previous generations. We've already seen substantial leaks over the past few days hinting at the performance of these chips which suggests they will offer good competition to Intel's shipping 13th Gen Raptor Lake mobile offerings.
SK Hynix Eighth-Generation 300-Layer 3D NAND is a World First, Breaks Bandwidth Records
SK Hynix representatives unveiled the company's latest breakthrough in 3D NAND development at the ISSCC 2023 conference. Details of a new flash memory prototype featuring over 300 layers were revealed, and the company stated that a team of 35 engineers had contributed to the presentation material. In order to highlight the boost in performance offered by the prototype's improvements, it was compared to SK Hynix's previous record holding seventh-generation 238-layer 3D NAND. The new eighth-generation 3D NAND posted bandwidth figures with a maximum of 194 MB/s, which contrasts favorably with the older model's rate of 164 MB/s, representing an 18% increase in performance.
Recording density also benefits from the 300+ active layer design, with SK Hynix mentioning a 1 Tb (128 GB) capacity with triple level cells and a bit density of over 20 GB/mm^2. The chip features a 16 KB page size, four planes and a 2400 MT/s interface. The increase in density will result in a lower per-Tb cost during the manufacturing process. It is hoped that the end consumer will ultimately benefit from the boost in performance and capacity.
Recording density also benefits from the 300+ active layer design, with SK Hynix mentioning a 1 Tb (128 GB) capacity with triple level cells and a bit density of over 20 GB/mm^2. The chip features a 16 KB page size, four planes and a 2400 MT/s interface. The increase in density will result in a lower per-Tb cost during the manufacturing process. It is hoped that the end consumer will ultimately benefit from the boost in performance and capacity.
Eurocom launches Raptor X17 Mobile Supercomputer with RTX 4090 and Core i9-13900HX
EUROCOM Raptor X17 Mobile Supercomputer is powered by Intel i9-13900HX 24C/32T Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 16 GB DDR6 GPU. It comes with 10 I/O ports and supports up to 24 TB of SSD storage in RAID 0/1/5, 2x Thunderbolt 4 and a stunning choice of 17.3-inch UHD, QHD and FHD LCD panels ranging up to 300 Hz. Perfect for 3D Modeling and Rendering applications.
The Raptor X17 is the newest, mobile supercomputer class laptop from Eurocom. Powered by Intel HM770 chipset, this mobile supercomputer weighs 3.2 kg, making it much easier to move around for on-the-go deployment.
The Raptor X17 is the newest, mobile supercomputer class laptop from Eurocom. Powered by Intel HM770 chipset, this mobile supercomputer weighs 3.2 kg, making it much easier to move around for on-the-go deployment.
Delux Updates its Flagship M800PRO Gaming Mouse, Pre-Orders Open for April Launch
Delux is lining up significant upgrades for its top-of-the-line M800PRO model, which is a not too subtle clone of Razer's Viper series of symmetrical-shaped gaming mice. Enthusiasts have placed the M800's chassis as an intermediate between the full-sized Viper and Viper Mini, so it could be considered as a medium-sized equivalent. In order to match the competition in terms of specifications and features, Delux has sought to upgrade the M800PRO's internal hardware and has also made changes to its externals.
Pixart's PAW3395 has been selected as the new optical sensor, which is a significant generational upgrade over the previous M800PRO iteration's PAW3370. Delux has not confirmed, within its specifications list, whether MotionSync will be enabled by default. The upgraded sensor is capable of running this feature, and the vast majority of gaming mouse manufacturers have chosen to enable it. The PAW3395 is rated for a 26,000 maximum DPI, 650 IPS speed, 50 g acceleration and 1000 Hz polling rate. The lift off distance (LOD) is adjustable between heights of 1 and 2 mm.
Pixart's PAW3395 has been selected as the new optical sensor, which is a significant generational upgrade over the previous M800PRO iteration's PAW3370. Delux has not confirmed, within its specifications list, whether MotionSync will be enabled by default. The upgraded sensor is capable of running this feature, and the vast majority of gaming mouse manufacturers have chosen to enable it. The PAW3395 is rated for a 26,000 maximum DPI, 650 IPS speed, 50 g acceleration and 1000 Hz polling rate. The lift off distance (LOD) is adjustable between heights of 1 and 2 mm.
Remnant II New Gameplay Trailer Shows Handler Archetype
Gearbox Publishing and Gunfire Games have released a fresh trailer showing off a bit more gameplay and one of the classes, the Handler. In cases you missed it, Remnant 2 is the sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds.
As detailed by Gearbox Publishing, Remnant II plunges players deeper into a devastated world requiring a mix of methodical and frenetic ranged and melee combat against cunning enemies and punishing boss battles. Enter the fray as a lone-wolf or even the odds by teaming up with two friends to overcome daunting challenges. Each time players start a new playthrough of Remnant II they will be brought into a new world built from a wide pool of locations, enemies, NPCs, bosses, and weapons. These dynamically built levels allow for unique experiences as elements are woven organically into the world and narrative.
As detailed by Gearbox Publishing, Remnant II plunges players deeper into a devastated world requiring a mix of methodical and frenetic ranged and melee combat against cunning enemies and punishing boss battles. Enter the fray as a lone-wolf or even the odds by teaming up with two friends to overcome daunting challenges. Each time players start a new playthrough of Remnant II they will be brought into a new world built from a wide pool of locations, enemies, NPCs, bosses, and weapons. These dynamically built levels allow for unique experiences as elements are woven organically into the world and narrative.
Layers of Fear Gameplay Trailer Shows Off Unreal 5 Engine's Visual Realism Capabilities
Get an exclusive first-look at the gameplay of Layers of Fear, the series' crowning work, in this 11-minute walkthrough. Follow the Painter from the original Layers of Fear, and join the Writer - a recently unveiled character - for a closer look at the latest installment in the Layers franchise.
As The Writer, enter the lone and ghastly Lighthouse - a newly-introduced location - and uncover an untold story that links all of the Layers' characters and events together. Unravel secrets, solve puzzles, and face the threats of the old Mansion that can only be solved with a lantern - a new and essential tool to confront the nightmares in the game!
As The Writer, enter the lone and ghastly Lighthouse - a newly-introduced location - and uncover an untold story that links all of the Layers' characters and events together. Unravel secrets, solve puzzles, and face the threats of the old Mansion that can only be solved with a lantern - a new and essential tool to confront the nightmares in the game!
Retroware Debuts Toxic Crusaders at PAX East With Announcement Trailer
ANNOUNCING our newest title TOXIC CRUSADERS!! The Toxic Crusaders are back for an all-new, all-action beat 'em up for one to four local co-op players!
The Toxic Crusaders (hottest heroes of 1991) have returned for a radical, radioactive romp for a new era, featuring awesome action, crushing combos, and more toxic waste than you'll know what to do with! Developer and publisher Retroware has teamed up with Troma Entertainment to bring the Toxic Crusaders back, for an all-new, all-action beat 'em up for one to four players! Grab your mop, tutu, and attitude, and get ready to clean up the mean streets of Tromaville, one radioactive goon at a time!
Battle across seven disgusting levels rendered in vibrant pixel art as you defend Tromaville from hordes of Radiation Rangers, mutated thugs and zombie chickens. The odds might be stacked against you but with awesome powers, a winning personality, and up to four-players on your side, the Smogulan Empire's days are numbered! Choose from seven playable characters, including Toxie, No-Zone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, and Headbanger - plus, for the first time, play as Toxie's musically "gifted" girlfriend Yvonne, and the mother of all mothers, Mrs. Junko, Toxie's mom!
The Toxic Crusaders (hottest heroes of 1991) have returned for a radical, radioactive romp for a new era, featuring awesome action, crushing combos, and more toxic waste than you'll know what to do with! Developer and publisher Retroware has teamed up with Troma Entertainment to bring the Toxic Crusaders back, for an all-new, all-action beat 'em up for one to four players! Grab your mop, tutu, and attitude, and get ready to clean up the mean streets of Tromaville, one radioactive goon at a time!
Battle across seven disgusting levels rendered in vibrant pixel art as you defend Tromaville from hordes of Radiation Rangers, mutated thugs and zombie chickens. The odds might be stacked against you but with awesome powers, a winning personality, and up to four-players on your side, the Smogulan Empire's days are numbered! Choose from seven playable characters, including Toxie, No-Zone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, and Headbanger - plus, for the first time, play as Toxie's musically "gifted" girlfriend Yvonne, and the mother of all mothers, Mrs. Junko, Toxie's mom!
AQIRYS Announces Sargas & Naos Pro PC Cases, Vela & Cetus Series Case Fans
AQIRYS, the trending Romanian gaming brand, announces the expansion of its high-end PC case portfolio with two new midi tower models, SARGAS and NAOS PRO. The models announced today, compatible with ATX motherboards, offer elegant features and a beautiful user experience in building and using a high-end gaming PC. Named after two impressive stars, the new SARGAS and NAOS PRO use mesh-type metal front panels for minimalist looks, consistent fresh air flow, and light grey tinted tempered glass side panels to reveal the PC interior mysteriously and unobstructed.
Both models include four 120 mm fans equipped with dedicated 3-pin ARGB and 4-pin PWM connectors for ARGB lighting and PWM-controlled speed and a hub controller with a wireless remote to control and synchronize case lighting with other components easily. The ample interiors of SARGAS and NAOS PRO - protected by removable, easy-to-clean dust filters - are ready to accommodate the latest and most demanding hardware components. Furthermore, the specific cut-outs and the integrated cable management system on the back of the motherboard tray allow for a neat appearance with no bulk of wires in sight on both models.
Both models include four 120 mm fans equipped with dedicated 3-pin ARGB and 4-pin PWM connectors for ARGB lighting and PWM-controlled speed and a hub controller with a wireless remote to control and synchronize case lighting with other components easily. The ample interiors of SARGAS and NAOS PRO - protected by removable, easy-to-clean dust filters - are ready to accommodate the latest and most demanding hardware components. Furthermore, the specific cut-outs and the integrated cable management system on the back of the motherboard tray allow for a neat appearance with no bulk of wires in sight on both models.
Ubisoft Celebrates Far Cry 5's Fifth Anniversary With Next-Gen Update For Consoles, Free Trial Weekend Launches On March 23 For All Platforms
Today, Far Cry 5 is getting a 60 FPS patch on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 as part of its fifth anniversary celebrations. Take down Joseph Seed and his Heralds at twice the framerate as you explore the different regions in Hope County and liberate its citizens. The 60 FPS patch applies to all of Far Cry 5's game modes, as well as its three DLCs; Hours of Darkness, Lost on Mars, and Dead Living Zombies, making now the perfect time to dive into the backstories of Wendell Redler, Nick Rye, and Guy Marvel, respectively.
In addition to a smoother visual experience, Xbox Series X|S players will receive enhanced resolution for Far Cry 5. Xbox Series X will be able to run the game with a 3840x2160 and 4K resolution, while Xbox Series S will run it at a 1920x1080. PS5 players will still be able to take out the Seed family at 2880x1620 resolution.
In addition to a smoother visual experience, Xbox Series X|S players will receive enhanced resolution for Far Cry 5. Xbox Series X will be able to run the game with a 3840x2160 and 4K resolution, while Xbox Series S will run it at a 1920x1080. PS5 players will still be able to take out the Seed family at 2880x1620 resolution.
PC Monitor Shipments Hit Record Low in Q4 2022, But Recovery Expected in 2024, According to IDC Tracker
Along with the struggling PC market, PC monitor shipments contracted 18.3% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2022 (4Q22) leading to an annual decline of 5.9% for the full year 2022, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker. At just over 30.5 million units, the 4Q22 results marked the lowest fourth quarter volume since IDC began tracking the market in 2008. However, the setback was expected due to the challenging macro environment, which hit both consumer and commercial demand, and the results hewed close to the forecast of a 16.2% decline in fourth quarter shipments.
After an unprecedented expansion during earlier periods of the pandemic, driven by work from home and gaming needs, consumer monitor demand began to slow. Commercial monitor purchases also were affected as economic sentiments deteriorated in the latter part of 2022. As a result of worsened economic conditions, IDC expects 2023 shipments to contract another 9.8% as lingering inventory and tepid demand weigh on the market. 2024 should see a slight recovery that will lift shipment volumes above pre-pandemic levels as inventory improves. Beyond 2024, IDC expects further stabilization based on the larger installed base that was created by hybrid work and the growth in gaming monitors.
After an unprecedented expansion during earlier periods of the pandemic, driven by work from home and gaming needs, consumer monitor demand began to slow. Commercial monitor purchases also were affected as economic sentiments deteriorated in the latter part of 2022. As a result of worsened economic conditions, IDC expects 2023 shipments to contract another 9.8% as lingering inventory and tepid demand weigh on the market. 2024 should see a slight recovery that will lift shipment volumes above pre-pandemic levels as inventory improves. Beyond 2024, IDC expects further stabilization based on the larger installed base that was created by hybrid work and the growth in gaming monitors.
Introducing Formify Custom-design Gaming Mice Tailored to Your Hand
Introducing Formify, the revolutionary startup company that's changing the way gamers approach their gaming mice. With their innovative technology, Formify creates custom gaming mice that are designed to fit your hand perfectly, giving you the most ergonomic grip possible and enhancing your gaming performance.
Using just a photo of your hand, Formify's advanced software creates a custom 3D model of your grip, which is then used to craft a mouse that's tailored specifically to your unique needs. With a Formify mouse, you'll experience unparalleled comfort and control, allowing you to play for longer periods of time without experiencing any discomfort or fatigue.
Using just a photo of your hand, Formify's advanced software creates a custom 3D model of your grip, which is then used to craft a mouse that's tailored specifically to your unique needs. With a Formify mouse, you'll experience unparalleled comfort and control, allowing you to play for longer periods of time without experiencing any discomfort or fatigue.
Gigabyte Shows New RTX 4070 Ti WindForce Series Graphics Card
Gigabyte has introduced its new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti WindForce series, that will actually be a sixth SKU in the RTX 4070 Ti lineup, alongside two AORUS models, Eagle, Gaming, and AERO models. Surprisingly, this is a completely new design that has not been used on any previous Gigabyte cards, featuring a 2.5-slot, triple-fan cooler design.
Gigabyte did not give out a lot of information, so we do not know when the new Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti WindForce series will actually be available or at what price, but it is safe to assume it could end up to be the least expensive in the lineup. The new RTX 4070 Ti WindForce is also an OC edition card, which means it comes with a slight factory overclock, pushing the GPU up to 2625 MHz, which is a rather minor 15 MHz overclock.
Gigabyte did not give out a lot of information, so we do not know when the new Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti WindForce series will actually be available or at what price, but it is safe to assume it could end up to be the least expensive in the lineup. The new RTX 4070 Ti WindForce is also an OC edition card, which means it comes with a slight factory overclock, pushing the GPU up to 2625 MHz, which is a rather minor 15 MHz overclock.
Diablo 4 Gets New Gameplay Footage
Blizzard has released a new gameplay footage from Diablo IV beta as a part of its "adventure with a dev", hosted by Lead Game Designer, Zaven Haroutunian. In the meantime, and as it was expected, another 36 minutes long video from a Chinese player has also leaked online, showing a lot more gameplay.
Blizzard's own video shows the Lead Game Designer, Zaven Haroutunian, slashing his way through a dungeon and talking about what players can expect to see in the beta phase. It is a rather short video from Kor Dragan Barracks, but gives you a nice idea on what went into designing this game and what to generally expect from it.
Blizzard's own video shows the Lead Game Designer, Zaven Haroutunian, slashing his way through a dungeon and talking about what players can expect to see in the beta phase. It is a rather short video from Kor Dragan Barracks, but gives you a nice idea on what went into designing this game and what to generally expect from it.
GoDeal24 Brings the Freshness of Spring to Your Home IT
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Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 7-Series Mobile Platform to Bring Latest Premium Experiences to More Consumers
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced the new Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 Mobile Platform—delivering premium experiences brand new to the Snapdragon 7-series. Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 provides exceptional CPU and GPU performance fueling swift, nonstop gaming, dynamic low-light photography and 4K HDR videography, AI-enhanced experiences and high-speed 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity.
"Snapdragon is synonymous with premium mobile experiences. Today's launch of the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 illustrates our ability to bring some of the most in-demand flagship features to our Snapdragon-7 series—making them accessible to more people," said Christopher Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "We are committed to delivering the most innovative solutions to meet the needs of consumers, our customers, and the industry at large."
"Snapdragon is synonymous with premium mobile experiences. Today's launch of the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 illustrates our ability to bring some of the most in-demand flagship features to our Snapdragon-7 series—making them accessible to more people," said Christopher Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "We are committed to delivering the most innovative solutions to meet the needs of consumers, our customers, and the industry at large."
Google's Project Zero Discovers 18 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities in Exynos Chipsets
Google's internal team Project Zero, dedicated to the discovery and patching of zero-day vulnerabilities in mobile hardware, software, web browsers and open source libraries disclosed a series of vulnerabilities in Samsung's Exynos chipsets featured across a wide range of mobile devices. Four of these critical vulnerabilities allow for internet-to-baseband remote code execution, and testing conducted by Project Zero confirmed that an attacker can compromise a phone at the baseband level with only the victim's phone number. They believe that with sufficient skill an attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities completely silently and remotely. The fourteen other vulnerabilities are related but considered to not be as critical as they require a more extensive setup including a malicious mobile network operator or local access to the targeted device.
Due to the severity of the main four critical vulnerabilities Project Zero has delayed full disclosure on how the exploit works stating:
Due to the severity of the main four critical vulnerabilities Project Zero has delayed full disclosure on how the exploit works stating:
Due to a very rare combination of level of access these vulnerabilities provide and the speed with which we believe a reliable operational exploit could be crafted, we have decided to make a policy exception to delay disclosure for the four vulnerabilities that allow for Internet-to-baseband remote code execution.
Intel Releases Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4148
Intel Graphics today released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.4148 beta comes with Game On (day-zero) optimization for Deceive Inc., and Diablo 4 (beta); and optimization for Sons of The Forest. It fixes an issue where Riftbreaker (DX12) Xbox Game Pass version exhibits a rare black line display corruption; and lower than expected performance for Resident Evil 4 Remake Chainsaw Demo (DX12). The company also took the opportunity to highlight that with recent price cuts for the Arc A750 down to $249, it offers anywhere between 54% to 76% higher performance-per-Dollar than the competing GeForce RTX 3060.
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4148 beta
DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4148 beta
Razer Announces Atlas Tempered Glass Mouse Mat
The Razer Atlas is an innovative gaming mouse mat that marks the company's first-foray into a glass-based design. As Razer's first tempered glass gaming mouse mat, it is engineered to elevate gaming experiences and caters to the needs of gamers who demand quick flicks and consistent swipes. This allows gamers to enjoy a feeling of seemingly zero resistance in their gaming sessions.
For gamers and e-sports athletes, speed and accuracy are essential. Since most gaming mice use optical sensors, the Razer Atlas has been optimized with micro-etched textures on the mat's ultra-smooth surface. This provides optimal conditions for optical sensors to detect textures accurately for a precise gaming experience.
Meticulously crafted with premium tempered glass, the Razer Atlas is built to last, ensuring durability and longevity. The scratch-resistant surface repels dirt and dust, ensuring it stays clean through even the most intense gaming sessions. Thanks to its low-maintenance nature, the mat can be easily cleaned with a warm damp cloth to ensure it stays in a pristine state at all times. The Razer Atlas is also available in two color options, Black and White, allowing gamers to choose the color that best suits their setup for a premium, clean aesthetic.
For gamers and e-sports athletes, speed and accuracy are essential. Since most gaming mice use optical sensors, the Razer Atlas has been optimized with micro-etched textures on the mat's ultra-smooth surface. This provides optimal conditions for optical sensors to detect textures accurately for a precise gaming experience.
Meticulously crafted with premium tempered glass, the Razer Atlas is built to last, ensuring durability and longevity. The scratch-resistant surface repels dirt and dust, ensuring it stays clean through even the most intense gaming sessions. Thanks to its low-maintenance nature, the mat can be easily cleaned with a warm damp cloth to ensure it stays in a pristine state at all times. The Razer Atlas is also available in two color options, Black and White, allowing gamers to choose the color that best suits their setup for a premium, clean aesthetic.
Cooler Master Launches the MasterFan Halo² Case Fan
Cooler Master has launched the MasterFan Halo², the new version of its popular MasterFan Halo series. The new Dual Loop LED Case Fans feature a 10% increase in fan blade size for improved airflow and cooling performance, while the hybrid frame structure ensures stability without compromising operational estate. The upgraded driver IC also enhances cooling performance while minimizing fan noise, with RPM speeds of up to 2050 RPM.
"The MasterFan Halo² Series builds on the success of its predecessor and delivers even better performance and aesthetics," said Jimmy Sha, CEO of Cooler Master. "We know how important it is for gamers and PC enthusiasts to have reliable, high-performing cooling solutions, and the MasterFan Halo² delivers on that promise with its enhanced design and features."
"The MasterFan Halo² Series builds on the success of its predecessor and delivers even better performance and aesthetics," said Jimmy Sha, CEO of Cooler Master. "We know how important it is for gamers and PC enthusiasts to have reliable, high-performing cooling solutions, and the MasterFan Halo² delivers on that promise with its enhanced design and features."
Thursday, March 16th 2023
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Notebooks
Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XT Pulse Review
Sapphire's Radeon RX 7900 XT Pulse is one of the more affordable RX 7900 XT custom designs out there. For $860 you get impressive 4K gaming performance and a triple-slot, triple-fan thermal solution that achieves amazing noise levels with good temperatures. Overclocking worked very well, too.
Quick Look: Autonomous SmartDesk Connect
The Autonomous SmartDesk Connect is not your average dual-motor standing desk. It pairs with the Autonomous app to give you scheduling options to remind you to get up and stand as well as the ability to fine-tune the collision detection sensitivity.
Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot: Your Copilot for Work
On Thursday, Microsoft Corp. announced it is bringing the power of next-generation AI to its workplace productivity tools with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Currently in testing with select commercial customers, Copilot combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with business data and the Microsoft 365 apps, to unleash creativity, unlock productivity and up-level skills.
Customers will experience Microsoft 365 Copilot in two ways
Microsoft 365 Copilot isn't just a better way of doing the same things. It's an entirely new way of working. Copilot will work alongside Microsoft 365 customers in two ways:
Customers will experience Microsoft 365 Copilot in two ways
Microsoft 365 Copilot isn't just a better way of doing the same things. It's an entirely new way of working. Copilot will work alongside Microsoft 365 customers in two ways:
- First, it is embedded in the Microsoft 365 apps people use every day—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and more.
- Today, the company also announced an entirely new experience: Business Chat. Business Chat works across the LLM, the Microsoft 365 apps, and a customer's calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings and contacts to do things that people weren't able to do before. With natural language prompts like "tell my team how we updated the product strategy," Business Chat will generate a status update based on the morning's meetings, emails and chat threads.
With Copilot, the customer is always in control. Customers decide what to keep, modify or discard. With these new tools, people can be more creative in Word, more analytical in Excel, more expressive in PowerPoint, more productive in Outlook and more collaborative in Teams.
MakeMyBOARD's ThunderBERRY5 Qualcomm-Based SBC Looks to Take on Raspberry Pi 4
It's been a busy week for embedded computers and SBCs with Embedded World 2023 going on. While a lot of larger brands have taken the focus during this time there has also been activity at the hobbyist level, specifically in the realm of Raspberry Pi clones. One of these that looks to be something of a novelty is the ThunderBERRY5 from French company MakeMyBOARD. This SBC claims to be, "the first Raspberry Pi-like SBC based on Qualcomm AI-CPU," and it features a combination of Qualcomm's 8-core QCS610 SoC and an RP2040 microcontroller. MakeMyBOARD's AI claims stem from the Qualcomm SoC's built-in Hexagon 685 DSP which supports dual vector extensions for their Neural Processing SDK and deep neural network models. The previously mentioned RP2040 fits to the board via the USB2 root and hosts the 40-pin HAT connector as well as an auxiliary debugging header.
Unlike most Pi clones on the market utilizing low-cost, lower performing processors, the ThunderBERRY5 looks like it may trounce the Pi 4 B in raw CPU power as the QCS610's Kryo 460 processor features a 2+6 core configuration: two "Gold" cores at 2.2 GHz and six "SIlver" cores at 1.8 GHz. On paper this looks to have quite the advantage over the aging Pi 4 B's 1.8 GHz quad-core Broadcom BCM2711. More important than beating the Pi 4 in performance would be beating it in availability as the tiny SBC is as hard to find in stock as it is ubiquitous even many years later. On this front there is little info from MakeMyBOARD as no availability date or price information has yet been released. Still, if you were hoping for a higher performance Pi-like SBC with AI acceleration capabilities and features, this may be something to keep an eye on.
Unlike most Pi clones on the market utilizing low-cost, lower performing processors, the ThunderBERRY5 looks like it may trounce the Pi 4 B in raw CPU power as the QCS610's Kryo 460 processor features a 2+6 core configuration: two "Gold" cores at 2.2 GHz and six "SIlver" cores at 1.8 GHz. On paper this looks to have quite the advantage over the aging Pi 4 B's 1.8 GHz quad-core Broadcom BCM2711. More important than beating the Pi 4 in performance would be beating it in availability as the tiny SBC is as hard to find in stock as it is ubiquitous even many years later. On this front there is little info from MakeMyBOARD as no availability date or price information has yet been released. Still, if you were hoping for a higher performance Pi-like SBC with AI acceleration capabilities and features, this may be something to keep an eye on.
Twitch CEO Emmett Shear Resigns, Dan Clancy Named as Successor
Twitch CEO Emmett Shear has declared that he is resigning from his position effectively immediately. In his statement, posted via a Twitch Blog and his personal Twitter page on Thursday March 16, a decision to spend more time with his family is given as the main reason for quitting his executive role: "With my first child just born, I've been reflecting on my future with Twitch." Shear writes. "Twitch often feels to me like a child I've been raising as well. And while I will always want to be there if Twitch needs me, at 16 years old it feels to me Twitch is ready to move out of the house and venture alone."
Shear was a co-founding partner of a humble entity that would eventually evolve into Twitch.tv, he is stepping down after serving as leader since the company's inception: "My work on Twitch began in October 2006, when Justin, Michael, and I drove across the country from New York to San Francisco. Kyle would join us three short months later, when we got him a one way ticket to fly out to San Francisco during MIT's externship week." He continues the story: "Justin.tv, Inc. turned into Twitch Inc., Twitch Inc. became a fully owned subsidiary of Amazon, and along the way we have grown to more than 8 million streamers a month."
Shear was a co-founding partner of a humble entity that would eventually evolve into Twitch.tv, he is stepping down after serving as leader since the company's inception: "My work on Twitch began in October 2006, when Justin, Michael, and I drove across the country from New York to San Francisco. Kyle would join us three short months later, when we got him a one way ticket to fly out to San Francisco during MIT's externship week." He continues the story: "Justin.tv, Inc. turned into Twitch Inc., Twitch Inc. became a fully owned subsidiary of Amazon, and along the way we have grown to more than 8 million streamers a month."
Steam Spring 2023 Sale is Now Live
Steam's Spring 2023 sale has kicked off, offering a bunch of PC games at discount. To celebrate its first year anniversary, Valve is also giving a 10 percent discount for the Steam Deck during the Spring sale. There are plenty of great titles on sale, and some of the popular include Forza Horizon 5, God of War, Battlefield 2042, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Total War Warhammer, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more.
There are several franchises on discount as well, including The Witcher, Battlefield, Borderlands, Fallout, Resident Evil, The Elder Scrolls, Civilization, Hitman, Doom, Far Cry, and others. As noted, the Steam Deck is also on sale with 10 percent discount. This means that if you are in the US, you can get the base version for just $359 while the 512 GB version is down to $584.
There are several franchises on discount as well, including The Witcher, Battlefield, Borderlands, Fallout, Resident Evil, The Elder Scrolls, Civilization, Hitman, Doom, Far Cry, and others. As noted, the Steam Deck is also on sale with 10 percent discount. This means that if you are in the US, you can get the base version for just $359 while the 512 GB version is down to $584.
NVIDIA DLSS 3 Coming to Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5 and Redfall, DLSS Frame Generation Publicly Available At GDC
NVIDIA DLSS has revolutionized graphics rendering, using AI to boost frame rates while delivering crisp, high quality images. GeForce RTX gamers can accelerate performance with DLSS in over 270 games and apps, with another 7 games adding support in March, and today, we are announcing that Diablo IV and Redfall will both launch with DLSS 3.
DLSS 3's Frame Generation multiplies performance in 28 released games and has been adopted 7X faster than DLSS 2 in the first 6 months. DLSS' groundbreaking features, exceptional performance, and ease of integration are key to its rapid adoption by developers. With the DLSS 3 Frame Generation plugin becoming publicly available at GDC for developers, and a DLSS 3 plugin coming soon for Unreal Engine 5.2, it will be even easier for developers to enhance the next generation of games. Keep reading for further details about the addition of NVIDIA DLSS to Deceive Inc., Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5, Gripper, Redfall, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, and THE FINALS Closed Beta.
DLSS 3's Frame Generation multiplies performance in 28 released games and has been adopted 7X faster than DLSS 2 in the first 6 months. DLSS' groundbreaking features, exceptional performance, and ease of integration are key to its rapid adoption by developers. With the DLSS 3 Frame Generation plugin becoming publicly available at GDC for developers, and a DLSS 3 plugin coming soon for Unreal Engine 5.2, it will be even easier for developers to enhance the next generation of games. Keep reading for further details about the addition of NVIDIA DLSS to Deceive Inc., Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5, Gripper, Redfall, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, and THE FINALS Closed Beta.
UK Government Seeks to Invest £900 Million in Supercomputer, Native Research into Advanced AI Deemed Essential
The UK Treasury has set aside a budget of £900 million to invest in the development of a supercomputer that would be powerful enough to chew through more than one billion billion simple calculations a second. A new exascale computer would fit the bill, for utilization by newly established advanced AI research bodies. It is speculated that one key goal is to establish a "BritGPT" system. The British government has been keeping tabs on recent breakthroughs in large language models, the most notable example being OpenAI's ChatGPT. Ambitions to match such efforts were revealed in a statement, with the emphasis: "to advance UK sovereign capability in foundation models, including large language models."
The current roster of United Kingdom-based supercomputers looks to be unfit for the task of training complex AI models. In light of being outpaced by drives in other countries to ramp up supercomputer budgets, the UK Government outlined its own future investments: "Because AI needs computing horsepower, I today commit around £900 million of funding, for an exascale supercomputer," said the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. The government has declared that quantum technologies will receive an investment of £2.5 billion over the next decade. Proponents of the technology have declared that it will supercharge machine learning.
The current roster of United Kingdom-based supercomputers looks to be unfit for the task of training complex AI models. In light of being outpaced by drives in other countries to ramp up supercomputer budgets, the UK Government outlined its own future investments: "Because AI needs computing horsepower, I today commit around £900 million of funding, for an exascale supercomputer," said the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. The government has declared that quantum technologies will receive an investment of £2.5 billion over the next decade. Proponents of the technology have declared that it will supercharge machine learning.
Gigabyte Launches the UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 Power Supply
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of premium gaming hardware, today announced the new UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply, which fully supports the latest PCIe Gen 5.0 and ATX 3.0 standard. The UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply supports PCIe Gen 5.0 and can provide up to 600 watts of power to the graphics card through a high-quality 16-pin cable. It also complies with Intel ATX 3.0 standard and can sustain up to two times total power excursion. The UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply inherits the spirit of GIGABYTE Ultra Durable product design, introducing a variety of high-quality materials and technologies. Not only it is the best choice for high-end gamers and overclockers, but it is also ready for the latest graphics cards.
The UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply fully supports the PCIe Gen 5.0 and ATX 3.0 standard. Traditional power supplies need multiple 8-pin to 16-pin adapters to support the latest PCIe Gen 5.0 graphics cards. The new UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply needs only a single 16-pin cable to directly supply power to the PCIe Gen 5.0 graphics card. The 16-pin cable provides up to 600 watts of power to the graphics card. Reducing the number of cables makes the installation of the graphics card more convenient and safer, making the interior minimalistic and appealing, and improving the airflow inside the chassis. The UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply is fully compatible with Intel PSDG (Power Supply Design Guide) ATX 3.0 standard which supports up to 200% power excursion, reaches 70% low load efficiency and complies with required power supply timing standards.
The UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply fully supports the PCIe Gen 5.0 and ATX 3.0 standard. Traditional power supplies need multiple 8-pin to 16-pin adapters to support the latest PCIe Gen 5.0 graphics cards. The new UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply needs only a single 16-pin cable to directly supply power to the PCIe Gen 5.0 graphics card. The 16-pin cable provides up to 600 watts of power to the graphics card. Reducing the number of cables makes the installation of the graphics card more convenient and safer, making the interior minimalistic and appealing, and improving the airflow inside the chassis. The UD1300GM PCIE 5.0 power supply is fully compatible with Intel PSDG (Power Supply Design Guide) ATX 3.0 standard which supports up to 200% power excursion, reaches 70% low load efficiency and complies with required power supply timing standards.
NVIDIA Reflex Coming To More Games, Now Available In Atomic Heart and THE FINALS
NVIDIA Reflex is a must-have in games, reducing system latency so your actions occur quicker, making you more competitive in multiplayer matches, and single-player titles more responsive and enjoyable. Reflex is available in the most popular multiplayer and esports games, is supported on GeForce graphics cards dating back to the 900 Series, and only takes a single click to enable.
NVIDIA Reflex is used by over 20 million players each month, and game adoption is ever increasing. 6 games recently added support, including Dying Light 2 Stay Human, Hi-Fi RUSH, HITMAN World of Assassination, and World of Warcraft, and this month more join the party. So read on to learn about the addition of NVIDIA Reflex to Atomic Heart, Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5, Redfall, and The FINALS.
NVIDIA Reflex is used by over 20 million players each month, and game adoption is ever increasing. 6 games recently added support, including Dying Light 2 Stay Human, Hi-Fi RUSH, HITMAN World of Assassination, and World of Warcraft, and this month more join the party. So read on to learn about the addition of NVIDIA Reflex to Atomic Heart, Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5, Redfall, and The FINALS.
Gigabyte AORUS Invites Gamers to Explore AORUSVERSE at PAX EAST 2023
GIGABYTE AORUS invites gamers and fans to attend AORUSVERSE, a vast gaming universe packed with the latest AORUS gaming hardware and gears, at PAX EAST 2023. The triumphant return to Boston will also feature fun activities and exciting esports challenges throughout the booth, where visitors can get their hands on the latest tech and participate in various events to win prizes.
At AORUSVERSE, attendees can explore the 2023 gaming laptop lineup, featuring the flagship AORUS 17X and 15X. These laptops are powered by the latest Intel 13th gen CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 laptop GPU, delivering a giant leap in gaming performance. They also come with QHD displays with up to 240 Hz refresh rates for a smooth and fluid gameplay. For those looking for a balance of performance and portability, the non-X variants, AORUS 17 and 15, will also be available onsite for attendees to test personally.
At AORUSVERSE, attendees can explore the 2023 gaming laptop lineup, featuring the flagship AORUS 17X and 15X. These laptops are powered by the latest Intel 13th gen CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 laptop GPU, delivering a giant leap in gaming performance. They also come with QHD displays with up to 240 Hz refresh rates for a smooth and fluid gameplay. For those looking for a balance of performance and portability, the non-X variants, AORUS 17 and 15, will also be available onsite for attendees to test personally.
Acer to Share Game-Changing Stereo 3D Gaming Advancements with SpatialLabs at GDC 2023
Acer will be participating in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2023 held from March 20-24 in San Francisco to share the latest innovations of its industry-leading SpatialLabs experience. It combines advanced eye-tracking cameras, a stereoscopic 3D display and stereo rendering capabilities to deliver immersive 3D experiences without the need for specialized glasses. With a click of a button, 2D visuals seem to pop out of their screens, giving designers, marketers, and other professionals a unique way of interacting with their creations in 3D views.
SpatialLabs TrueGame
Following its launch in 2021, Acer took it up a notch by bringing its glasses-free stereoscopic 3D technology to the world of gaming through the SpatialLabs TrueGame application. With a Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition laptop, or a SpatialLabs View display paired with a PC, users can enjoy the supported titles in their true 3D form, delivering immersive gaming experiences as envisioned by their developers. This is possible because games are mostly created with a three-dimensional world in mind as developers include information about depth in each scene and object they build. SpatialLabs leverages this already-existing information in order to present the games in stereoscopic 3D. A dedicated pre-configured profile is now available for each game title, among the 70+ modern and classic titles on launch, to offer players a seamless experience with their favorite games. More profiles for additional titles will be added on a continuous basis moving forward.
SpatialLabs TrueGame
Following its launch in 2021, Acer took it up a notch by bringing its glasses-free stereoscopic 3D technology to the world of gaming through the SpatialLabs TrueGame application. With a Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition laptop, or a SpatialLabs View display paired with a PC, users can enjoy the supported titles in their true 3D form, delivering immersive gaming experiences as envisioned by their developers. This is possible because games are mostly created with a three-dimensional world in mind as developers include information about depth in each scene and object they build. SpatialLabs leverages this already-existing information in order to present the games in stereoscopic 3D. A dedicated pre-configured profile is now available for each game title, among the 70+ modern and classic titles on launch, to offer players a seamless experience with their favorite games. More profiles for additional titles will be added on a continuous basis moving forward.
Samsung Exynos 2300 SoC Specifications Leak, Touted to Feature a Cortex-X3 Super Core Within 9-Core Cluster
Kernel information for a chipset code-named 'Quadra' has been leaked by Home IT. It appears that this SoC is under development at Samsung Electronics, and could be featured in the company's next generation flagship smartphone range. The recently released Galaxy S23 smartphone series is powered by Qualcomm's cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which ended up being a fine choice for the end user. This was not an ideal partnership for the semiconductor giant, considering its constant push to promote internally developed hardware.
Industry experts have praised Samsung for not integrating an Exynos processor into this generation of devices, including regional model variations, but that has not stopped the company's persistent development cycle of proprietary mobile CPUs. Rumors point to a collaboration with Google, and the Exynos 2300 SoC looks to form the basis of the latter's next generation Tensor G3 chipset. The leak reveals that the standard 2300 has been designed as a 1+4+4 core configuration, comprised of four performance cores, four efficiency cores, and one super core.
Industry experts have praised Samsung for not integrating an Exynos processor into this generation of devices, including regional model variations, but that has not stopped the company's persistent development cycle of proprietary mobile CPUs. Rumors point to a collaboration with Google, and the Exynos 2300 SoC looks to form the basis of the latter's next generation Tensor G3 chipset. The leak reveals that the standard 2300 has been designed as a 1+4+4 core configuration, comprised of four performance cores, four efficiency cores, and one super core.
Bethesda Softworks Releases Redfall Official Story Trailer
What is happening in Redfall? Where did the vampires come from? Uncover the mysteries of Redfall as you explore the island. Delve into the dark history of the sinister company that created the monsters stalking the streets and face off against the terrifyingly powerful vampires that some survivors worship as gods.
There's a lot more to the charming island of Redfall than meets the eye. The scientists at Aevum HQ have been working on something world-shattering. People are going missing; there are dead bodies and blood everywhere; the sun has been eclipsed; and vampires rule the town.
There's a lot more to the charming island of Redfall than meets the eye. The scientists at Aevum HQ have been working on something world-shattering. People are going missing; there are dead bodies and blood everywhere; the sun has been eclipsed; and vampires rule the town.
Creative Assembly North Opened in Newcastle, New UK Studio Set to Assist on Unannounced Project
The Creative Assembly Ltd., part of SEGA Europe Ltd., today announced a third development location in Newcastle, UK. This new studio sits alongside the studio's headquarters in Sussex, UK and their European studio in Sofia, Bulgaria, across which there are over 850 permanent employees.
The newly established Creative Assembly (CA) North is home to a growing flexible working team developing a project in collaboration with the studio's Sussex team. While the project is yet to be announced it promises to give players an unforgettable experience. CA North is also home to a newly formed team focused on continuous improvement. This team is dedicated to collaborating across Creative Assembly with the goal of sustained continuous improvement in tools, workflows and development experience.
The newly established Creative Assembly (CA) North is home to a growing flexible working team developing a project in collaboration with the studio's Sussex team. While the project is yet to be announced it promises to give players an unforgettable experience. CA North is also home to a newly formed team focused on continuous improvement. This team is dedicated to collaborating across Creative Assembly with the goal of sustained continuous improvement in tools, workflows and development experience.
NVIDIA Accelerates Neural Graphics PC Gaming Revolution at GDC With New DLSS 3 PC Games and Tools
Ahead of next week's Game Developers Conference (GDC), NVIDIA announced an expanded game roster and new developer plug-ins for NVIDIA DLSS 3. The latest version of NVIDIA's AI-powered Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology is now supported in an assortment of blockbuster games and franchises, and being integrated into Unreal Engine, one of the world's most popular game engines. The company is also publicly releasing the DLSS Frame Generation plug-in to further ease developer adoption of the technology.
"Neural graphics has revolutionized gaming since its introduction with NVIDIA DLSS, and we're now taking it to new heights," said Matt Wuebbling, vice president of global GeForce marketing at NVIDIA. "PC gaming super-franchises such as Diablo and Forza Horizon and Bethesda's new Redfall are raising the bar for image quality with stunning graphics while using DLSS to keep gameplay smooth as silk." Since its launch in 2018, NVIDIA DLSS has driven a neural graphics revolution in PC gaming. Neural graphics intertwines AI and graphics to create an accelerated rendering pipeline that continuously learns and improves. Instead of natively rendering every pixel in a frame, DLSS allows the game to render 1/8th of the pixels then uses AI and GeForce RTX Tensor Cores to reconstruct the rest of the pixels, dramatically multiplying frame rates, while delivering crisp, high-quality images that rival native resolution.
"Neural graphics has revolutionized gaming since its introduction with NVIDIA DLSS, and we're now taking it to new heights," said Matt Wuebbling, vice president of global GeForce marketing at NVIDIA. "PC gaming super-franchises such as Diablo and Forza Horizon and Bethesda's new Redfall are raising the bar for image quality with stunning graphics while using DLSS to keep gameplay smooth as silk." Since its launch in 2018, NVIDIA DLSS has driven a neural graphics revolution in PC gaming. Neural graphics intertwines AI and graphics to create an accelerated rendering pipeline that continuously learns and improves. Instead of natively rendering every pixel in a frame, DLSS allows the game to render 1/8th of the pixels then uses AI and GeForce RTX Tensor Cores to reconstruct the rest of the pixels, dramatically multiplying frame rates, while delivering crisp, high-quality images that rival native resolution.
Steam Deck Gets New Client Update
Valve has shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Stable channel, bringing some improvements that were previously available in the Beta and Preview channels. The biggest update is the local network game transfers, which allow users to copy their Steam game installation and update files from one PC to another over a local network.
The new Steam Deck Client update also adds several other general features and Steam input support, including advanced HDR options in Developer Settings, added support for Sony DualSense Edge controller, Xbox Series X controllers connected via the Xbox Wireless Adapter, Logitech F310 controller, and more, as well as improves some features and fixes for various bugs.
The new Steam Deck Client update also adds several other general features and Steam input support, including advanced HDR options in Developer Settings, added support for Sony DualSense Edge controller, Xbox Series X controllers connected via the Xbox Wireless Adapter, Logitech F310 controller, and more, as well as improves some features and fixes for various bugs.
FSP Announces its PCIe Gen 5.0 PSUs Hitting the Shelves Soon
FSP Group, one of the world's leading high-performance OEM and ODM power supply manufacturers today, unveils the next Generation ATX 3.0 Power supply lineup, carrying the latest PCIe Gen 5 interface. With the PC industry abuzz with anticipation for the latest RTX 40 series graphic cards, the attention towards supporting power supplies has also increased dramatically.
FSP Group has always thrived to bring the best products with cutting-edge technology to consumers. They are renowned as the global leader in PSU technology and have also played a leading role when designing the very first ATX PSU with Intel. Globally recognized as a true technology pioneer, FSP Group's hard work and dedication toward technology research and development have paved the way for many other manufacturers following in their footsteps. They are the market leaders, pushing the boundaries of power delivery technology, and playing a pivotal role in redefining the modern-day ATX power supply to where it is today.
Update Mar 16th: Updated Pricing and Availability added.
FSP Group has always thrived to bring the best products with cutting-edge technology to consumers. They are renowned as the global leader in PSU technology and have also played a leading role when designing the very first ATX PSU with Intel. Globally recognized as a true technology pioneer, FSP Group's hard work and dedication toward technology research and development have paved the way for many other manufacturers following in their footsteps. They are the market leaders, pushing the boundaries of power delivery technology, and playing a pivotal role in redefining the modern-day ATX power supply to where it is today.
ASUS Teases 192 GB DDR5 Memory Support on AMD X670 Chipset Motherboard
While Intel 600- and 700-series chipset motherboard already support non-binary memory modules and kits, such support has yet to be implemented on AMD's AM5 motherboard, but, judging from screenshots posted on ASUS ROG forums, AMD motherboard partners are working on it and it should be just around the corner.
The screenshot from ASUS Tech Marketing person, named Raja, which was posted on ASUS ROG forums, shows the ASUS ROG STRIX X670-E motherboard running 192 GB of DDR5 memory. These are four 48 GB Corsair modules running at 2600 MHz (5200 MT/s). The post includes both CPU-Z and task manager screenshots, confirming it boots into Windows. Earlier, it has been reported that AMD motherboards can't boot into Windows with non-binary memory modules and kits, although the motherboard successfully recognizes it. There have also been rumors that AMD is working on an AGESA update that will fix this issue, and now, it looks like it could be coming sooner than we expected.
The screenshot from ASUS Tech Marketing person, named Raja, which was posted on ASUS ROG forums, shows the ASUS ROG STRIX X670-E motherboard running 192 GB of DDR5 memory. These are four 48 GB Corsair modules running at 2600 MHz (5200 MT/s). The post includes both CPU-Z and task manager screenshots, confirming it boots into Windows. Earlier, it has been reported that AMD motherboards can't boot into Windows with non-binary memory modules and kits, although the motherboard successfully recognizes it. There have also been rumors that AMD is working on an AGESA update that will fix this issue, and now, it looks like it could be coming sooner than we expected.
Intel Xeon W9-3495X Can Pull up to 1,900 Watts in Extreme OC Scenarios
Intel's latest Xeon processors based on Sapphire Rapids uArch have arrived in the hands of overclockers. Last week, we reported that the Intel Xeon W9-3495X is officially a world record holder for achieving the best scores in Cinebench R23 and R20, Y-Cruncher, 3DMark CPU test, and Geekbench 3. However, today we have another extreme overclocking attempt to beat the world record, with little more details about power consumption and what the new SKU is capable of. Elmor, an overclocker working with ASUS, has tried to break the world record and overclocked the Intel Xeon W9-3495X CPU to 5.5 GHz on all 56 cores. What is more impressive is the power that the processor can consume.
With a system powered by two Superflower Leadex 1,600 Watt power supply units, the CPU consumed almost 1,900 Watts of power from the wall. To manage to cool this heat output, liquid nitrogen was used, and the CPU stayed at a cool negative 95 degrees Celsius. The motherboard of choice for this attempt was ASUS Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE, paired with eight GSKILL Zeta R5 DDR5 R-DIMMs modules. And results were incredible, as the CPU achieved 132,220 points in Cinebench R23. However, the world record of the previous week has remained intact, as Elmor 's result is a bit behind last week's score of 132,484 points. Check the video below for more info.
With a system powered by two Superflower Leadex 1,600 Watt power supply units, the CPU consumed almost 1,900 Watts of power from the wall. To manage to cool this heat output, liquid nitrogen was used, and the CPU stayed at a cool negative 95 degrees Celsius. The motherboard of choice for this attempt was ASUS Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE, paired with eight GSKILL Zeta R5 DDR5 R-DIMMs modules. And results were incredible, as the CPU achieved 132,220 points in Cinebench R23. However, the world record of the previous week has remained intact, as Elmor 's result is a bit behind last week's score of 132,484 points. Check the video below for more info.
Alphacool Announces ES Orbiter External Cooling System
Excellent cooling for industrial applications! With the ES Orbiter 360 TS, Alphacool introduces a compact external cooling system. The powerful ES Orbiter is equipped with two NexXxoS Full Copper radiators of the HPE variant. The increased number of water channels and copper fins allows more coolant to flow through the radiator for significantly increased cooling performance. The radiators are optimally ventilated by the three built-in Alphacool Core 120 mm fans. Thus, a high waste heat of up to 1500 watts can be effectively dissipated.
The compact design of the Orbiter 360 TS is kept simple. It not only has an illuminated, colored temperature display, but also two recessed handles that allow for easy lifting or transportation. On the fill level indicator on the front, it is possible to see how much coolant is in the cooling system. The fill port and the adjacent vent valve on the top make it easy to top up the liquid when needed.
The compact design of the Orbiter 360 TS is kept simple. It not only has an illuminated, colored temperature display, but also two recessed handles that allow for easy lifting or transportation. On the fill level indicator on the front, it is possible to see how much coolant is in the cooling system. The fill port and the adjacent vent valve on the top make it easy to top up the liquid when needed.
Intel Contributes AI Acceleration to PyTorch 2.0
In the release of Python 2.0, contributions from Intel using Intel Extension for PyTorch, oneAPI Deep Neural Network Library (oneDNN) and additional support for Intel CPUs enable developers to optimize inference and training performance for artificial intelligence (AI).
As part of the PyTorch 2.0 compilation stack, the TorchInductor CPU backend optimization by Intel Extension for PyTorch and PyTorch ATen CPU achieved up to 1.7 times faster FP32 inference performance when benchmarked with TorchBench, HuggingFace and timm. This update brings notable performance improvements to graph compilation over the PyTorch eager mode.
As part of the PyTorch 2.0 compilation stack, the TorchInductor CPU backend optimization by Intel Extension for PyTorch and PyTorch ATen CPU achieved up to 1.7 times faster FP32 inference performance when benchmarked with TorchBench, HuggingFace and timm. This update brings notable performance improvements to graph compilation over the PyTorch eager mode.
Angelbird's New Memory Card Case Offers Security that Lasts
Angelbird Technologies GmbH announces the release of Media Tank, a new memory card case designed to offer hard-shell protection for up to four memory cards. Media Tank is available for different types of card format: Media Tank SD, Media Tank CFast, and Media Tank CFexpress Type B. Media Tank from Angelbird takes protection and design to new levels—raising the bar on quality for professional memory cards cases. Memory cards are considered necessary gear for photographers and filmmakers, not only for their price value, but also for the content they hold. Angelbird designed Media Tank to be slim and lightweight while also protective and secure inside and out.
The hard-aluminium case features a durability-tested Lock-Solid locking mechanism and double ring loops for pad locks or carabiners. Inside is designed to securely hold up to four SD, CFast, or CFexpress cards. Precision-cut foam inserts with generous finger grooves that maintain just the right amount of tension—balancing easy card access with a firm and secure grip to keep cards in place.
The hard-aluminium case features a durability-tested Lock-Solid locking mechanism and double ring loops for pad locks or carabiners. Inside is designed to securely hold up to four SD, CFast, or CFexpress cards. Precision-cut foam inserts with generous finger grooves that maintain just the right amount of tension—balancing easy card access with a firm and secure grip to keep cards in place.
Wednesday, March 15th 2023
Today's Reviews
Cooling
Headphones
Mouse
Sound Cards
AVerMedia Mingle Bar Review
The AVerMedia Mingle Bar is an all-in-one conference camera equipped with two microphones, a speaker, and a host of useful interfaces that turn it into a practical docking station. It primarily targets small businesses and enterprises but packs enough features to make it interesting to advanced work-from-home users.
ASUS W790 Workstation Motherboards Support ECC DDR5 RAM at DDR5-6800 Speeds
ASUS today announced that ASUS W790 workstation motherboards support ECC R-DIMM DDR5 RAM at up to 6800 MHz, unleashing class-leading overclocking capability to unlock even more performance potential. ASUS W790 workstation motherboards feature the memory capability of up to 2 TB RDIMM DDR5 memory to power the next generation of compute-intensive professional workloads. In addition, ASUS have been working with market-leading memory partners including G.SKILL, Kingston, and V-Color to establish multiple memory validations and to widely support 8-channel and quad-channel memory architectures. The Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE now supports up to 128 GB (8x16 GB) at 6800 MT/s, and the Pro WS W790-ACE supports up to 64 GB (4x16 GB) of DDR5 RAM at 6800 MT/s. This painstakingly cultivated collection of device validations helps ensure that an ASUS W790 workstation build supports a wide variety of scenarios.
Choosing the right CPU cooler for a workstation build can also be a challenge, because CPU sockets and form factors are different from those used in desktops. Therefore, ASUS has partnered with cooling experts including Enermax, EK and Noctua to offer air and liquid coolers for the LGA4677 socket used by the latest Intel Xeon workstation processors. These solutions are designed to offer optimal heat transfer and heat dissipation capacity through the cooler base and then to coolant tubes, heat pipes and radiator fins.
Choosing the right CPU cooler for a workstation build can also be a challenge, because CPU sockets and form factors are different from those used in desktops. Therefore, ASUS has partnered with cooling experts including Enermax, EK and Noctua to offer air and liquid coolers for the LGA4677 socket used by the latest Intel Xeon workstation processors. These solutions are designed to offer optimal heat transfer and heat dissipation capacity through the cooler base and then to coolant tubes, heat pipes and radiator fins.
Steam Deck OLED Screen Update is not Simple as it Sounds
As the Steam Deck turned out to be a big success, and has pretty much revived the handheld gaming market, there were so many questions about the future hardware upgrades, or even the second generation. In the latest interview, Valve's engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais said that while Valve certainly wants to make the Steam Deck better and is "looking at all avenues," upgrading the Steam Deck to OLED screen might not be that simple.
Earlier, Valve's designer Lawrence Yang and engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais have pretty much confirmed that a new and more powerful Steam Deck will not be coming in at least the next few years. In the latest interview, Griffais shed a bit more light on how complex some upgrades could be, especially the screen. Talking to PC Gamer, Griffais said that Valve "understands the limitations of the current tech that's in the Deck, in terms of the screen."
Earlier, Valve's designer Lawrence Yang and engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais have pretty much confirmed that a new and more powerful Steam Deck will not be coming in at least the next few years. In the latest interview, Griffais shed a bit more light on how complex some upgrades could be, especially the screen. Talking to PC Gamer, Griffais said that Valve "understands the limitations of the current tech that's in the Deck, in terms of the screen."
Sennheiser Launches New Profile USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Sennheiser has launched the Profile USB microphone, a cardioid condenser microphone that presents an easy and stylish solution for streaming and podcasting. It combines professional sound with direct accessibility of all functions, allowing streamers, podcasters and gamers to fully focus on their content. The side-address microphone is available as a table stand version ($129 USD, MSRP) and as the Profile Streaming Set with a 3-point self-locking boom arm ($199 USD, MSRP). Both models are shipping from today.
At the heart of the Profile USB microphone is an award-winning Sennheiser condenser capsule, the KE 10. Its cardioid pick-up pattern provides the typical attenuation of sound coming from the rear, making sure that the streamer's voice is in focus.
At the heart of the Profile USB microphone is an award-winning Sennheiser condenser capsule, the KE 10. Its cardioid pick-up pattern provides the typical attenuation of sound coming from the rear, making sure that the streamer's voice is in focus.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Gets Listed in Europe
Those that are waiting for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D are in luck as the April 6th launch is just around the corner, and although we knew that the US launch price is set at $449, AMD did not give out any details about the price in Europe. Thankfully, first listings have started to appear, showing it in some stores at €530. Earlier, Computerbase gave an estimated price of around €509, considering that other two SKUs, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, both are 13 percent more expensive in Europe.
As spotted earlier by Videocardz, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has appeared in Slovenia, listed at €530, which is pretty close to the estimated price. Another listing from Germany shows it listed at €607, which is a bit more expensive. This comes as a surprise considering that the tax in Slovenia is 22 percent, while in Germany it is set at 19 percent. Of course, some stores will try to add the early adopters tax as well, raising the price well above the MSRP, as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D could be quite popular.
As spotted earlier by Videocardz, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has appeared in Slovenia, listed at €530, which is pretty close to the estimated price. Another listing from Germany shows it listed at €607, which is a bit more expensive. This comes as a surprise considering that the tax in Slovenia is 22 percent, while in Germany it is set at 19 percent. Of course, some stores will try to add the early adopters tax as well, raising the price well above the MSRP, as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D could be quite popular.
Qualcomm Expands Connected Intelligent Edge Ecosystem Through Groundbreaking IoT and Robotics Products
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced the world's first integrated 5G IoT processors that are designed to support four major operating systems, in addition to two new robotics platforms, and an accelerator program for IoT ecosystem partners. These new innovations will empower manufacturers participating in the rapidly expanding world of devices at the connected intelligent edge.
The need for connected, intelligent, and autonomous devices is growing rapidly, and it is expected to hit $116 billion by 2030 according to Precedence Research. Businesses attempting to compete in this fast-moving economy need a reliable source of control and connectivity technology for their IoT and robotic devices. Qualcomm Technologies, which has shipped over 350 million dedicated IoT chipsets, is uniquely capable of providing manufacturers with the platforms needed to address this expanding segment.
The need for connected, intelligent, and autonomous devices is growing rapidly, and it is expected to hit $116 billion by 2030 according to Precedence Research. Businesses attempting to compete in this fast-moving economy need a reliable source of control and connectivity technology for their IoT and robotic devices. Qualcomm Technologies, which has shipped over 350 million dedicated IoT chipsets, is uniquely capable of providing manufacturers with the platforms needed to address this expanding segment.
NVIDIA Promo Material Emerges for Upcoming Offer of GeForce RTX 40 Series and Redfall Bundle
NVIDIA looks to be bundling Redfall with its RTX 40-series GPUs in the near future. It seems that UK hardware retailer Punch Technology was premature with its uploading of promotional material regarding the upcoming offer, and VideoCardz was quick to report on this leak. An exact start date for the promotion was not revealed, but the qualifying graphic card model products include desktop versions of RTX 4090, 4080 and 4070 Ti. Laptops equipped with mobile RTX 4090 or RTX 4080 GPUs will also qualify for the Redfall promotion.
The limited time promotion will offer up a bundled copy of the Arkane Austin-developed Redfall Bite Back Edition, which represents the most expensive ($99.99 or £83.99) and content complete launch version of the Bethesda-published title. Redfall is due to be released on May 2 of this year, for PC and Xbox Series S|X with online cross-play enabled between platforms
The limited time promotion will offer up a bundled copy of the Arkane Austin-developed Redfall Bite Back Edition, which represents the most expensive ($99.99 or £83.99) and content complete launch version of the Bethesda-published title. Redfall is due to be released on May 2 of this year, for PC and Xbox Series S|X with online cross-play enabled between platforms
Samsung Stumps Up $230 Billion for South Korea Expansion Plans, Five New Chip Plants in the Pipeline
Samsung Electronics has announced ambitious long term plans to expand its operation in South Korea. The company is set to invest around $230 billion in new fabrication facilities, with five locations marked for development in Yongin, a city located within the Seoul Capital Area. The five new factories with mixed foundry and memory manufacturing purposes, will form part of the South Korean government's intentions to assemble a mega semiconductor hub in the region.
South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) on Wednesday revealed its intent to invest $422 billion by 2026 to boost production of six core technologies: semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries, autonomous vehicles, robots and displays. The government provided a breakdown of the total budget, and $260 billion has been allocated for the country's chip space to develop system semiconductors into the year 2026.
South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) on Wednesday revealed its intent to invest $422 billion by 2026 to boost production of six core technologies: semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries, autonomous vehicles, robots and displays. The government provided a breakdown of the total budget, and $260 billion has been allocated for the country's chip space to develop system semiconductors into the year 2026.
Microsoft Signs 10-Year Long Deals With Ubitus and Boosteroid Cloud Gaming Services
In the space of two days, Microsoft has announced long term partnerships with two different cloud gaming services. It is posited that the technology giant is rolling out a wide-ranging strategy to make good with regulators, who hold the keys to the clearance of an Activison Blizzard acquisition worth a reported $68.7 billion. Microsoft is facing significant push back from numerous international regulatory bodies, due to fears of anti-competitive impacts from a possible Activison Blizzard purchase.
Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer today tweeted about the deal with the Taiwan-based company Ubitus K.K: "A leading cloud gaming provider, have signed a 10-year partnership to stream Xbox PC Games as well as Activision Blizzard titles after the acquisition closes. Our commitment is to give more players, more choice."
Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer today tweeted about the deal with the Taiwan-based company Ubitus K.K: "A leading cloud gaming provider, have signed a 10-year partnership to stream Xbox PC Games as well as Activision Blizzard titles after the acquisition closes. Our commitment is to give more players, more choice."
OnLogic Launches Helix 401 Compact Fanless Computer
In response to the increasing demand for powerful computing that can be relied on in a wide range of even the most challenging installation environments, leading industrial computing manufacturer and solution provider, OnLogic (www.onlogic.com), has unveiled their Helix 401 fanless industrial computer. The compact device is designed for use in edge computing, industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), and many other emerging applications and will make its public debut at Embedded World 2023.
"You may never see them, but industrial computers are everywhere, working diligently to power technology solutions of every shape and size. These systems need to be small and reliable while still being just as powerful as high-end desktop machines," says Mike Walsh, Senior Product Manager at OnLogic. "The Helix 401 balances size and performance while providing a wide range of configuration possibilities to help users tailor it to their specific application. It's small enough to fit in your hand, similar in size to Intel's popular NUC, but capable enough to drive advanced automation solutions and power the next great smart agriculture, building automation or energy management innovation."
"You may never see them, but industrial computers are everywhere, working diligently to power technology solutions of every shape and size. These systems need to be small and reliable while still being just as powerful as high-end desktop machines," says Mike Walsh, Senior Product Manager at OnLogic. "The Helix 401 balances size and performance while providing a wide range of configuration possibilities to help users tailor it to their specific application. It's small enough to fit in your hand, similar in size to Intel's popular NUC, but capable enough to drive advanced automation solutions and power the next great smart agriculture, building automation or energy management innovation."
NTT Enters the Global Consumer Electronics Market with NTT sonority "nwm" Earphones
-NTT sonority, Inc. (President: Hiroshi Sakai), a member of the NTT Group, one of the world's largest technology and business solutions companies, has entered the consumer electronics market via the development of an entirely new type of earphone using a unique technology called the "Personalized Sound Zone" (PSZ). The company has announced plans to commercially release the world's first open-ear PSZ technology developed by NTT Corporation (NTT) that locks audio into a small, individualized space. Crowdfunding for the wireless model nwm MBE001 on-ear speakers equipped with PSZ technology will begin on March 27, 2023, through Indiegogo. NTT sonority's audio brand nwm will continue to enhance its products with PSZ at their core, maximizing consumer safety and allowing users to experience the comfort of being connected through sound without having to worry about sound leakage.
NTT sonority's New Wave Maker (nwm) audio brand was created in November 2022 with the goal of creating an optimal audio experience. The company aims to expand its audio solutions to address future ways of working and living by creating not just a sense of immersion, but the comfort of being connected.
NTT sonority's New Wave Maker (nwm) audio brand was created in November 2022 with the goal of creating an optimal audio experience. The company aims to expand its audio solutions to address future ways of working and living by creating not just a sense of immersion, but the comfort of being connected.
Syntech Launches 6-in-1 Docking Station for the Steam Deck
Syntech, global digital accessories industry leader, has announced the release of its latest recent product——the 6-in-1 Multifunctional Docking Station. This docking station is compatible with the portable gaming device Valve Steam Deck and is aimed to enhance the overall gaming experience. Syntech is committed to providing the greatest game user experience, which led to the creation of this product. The docking station features an HDMI 2.0 4K@60 Hz output, a gigabit Ethernet input, 3x USB-A 3.0 output, and a USB-C 3.0 output for high-speed charging. This docking station allows game user to connect Steam Deck to a broad selection of displays, controllers, and peripherals. The revolutionary spherical base design highlights the minimalist look, improves support stability, and does not obstruct the heat vents, guaranteeing that the Steam Deck stays cool throughout extended gaming sessions.
The built-in superior smart chip expands the compatibility of the USB C hub with most Type-C devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops. This feature ensures that the docking station is compatible with a wide range of devices, making it a versatile accessory for any game user or digital content creator.
The built-in superior smart chip expands the compatibility of the USB C hub with most Type-C devices, such as phones, tablets, and laptops. This feature ensures that the docking station is compatible with a wide range of devices, making it a versatile accessory for any game user or digital content creator.
DFI Launches Ruggedized IP69K Rated Waterproof Industrial Computer ECX700-AL
DFI, the global provider of industrial computers, has introduced its ECX700-AL ruggedized x86 PC for outdoor edge computing applications. Its impeccable performance capabilities, compact size, and high durability make it the ideal solution for outdoor operations. The ECX700-AL is a rugged computer with a waterproof and dust-proof design to withstand harsh environments and any type of climate. Stable performance is ensured with its wide operating temperature of -40 to 70 degrees Celsius. It is also equipped with a smart vent that drains water automatically, preventing typical problems such as condensation within the system or excessive heat.
An external SIM slot provides convenience for users when changing SIM cards, and the high-gain antenna delivers a high-quality signal. Versatile I/O settings including a combo port that supports 2 CANs and 2 COMs as well as selective display ports (HDMI/VGA) help integrators meet demands for various applications.
An external SIM slot provides convenience for users when changing SIM cards, and the high-gain antenna delivers a high-quality signal. Versatile I/O settings including a combo port that supports 2 CANs and 2 COMs as well as selective display ports (HDMI/VGA) help integrators meet demands for various applications.
OpenAI Unveils GPT-4, Claims to Outperform Humans in Certain Academic Benchmarks
We've created GPT-4, the latest milestone in OpenAI's effort in scaling up deep learning. GPT-4 is a large multimodal model (accepting image and text inputs, emitting text outputs) that, while less capable than humans in many real-world scenarios, exhibits human-level performance on various professional and academic benchmarks. For example, it passes a simulated bar exam with a score around the top 10% of test takers; in contrast, GPT-3.5's score was around the bottom 10%. We've spent 6 months iteratively aligning GPT-4 using lessons from our adversarial testing program as well as ChatGPT, resulting in our best-ever results (though far from perfect) on factuality, steerability, and refusing to go outside of guardrails.
Over the past two years, we rebuilt our entire deep learning stack and, together with Azure, co-designed a supercomputer from the ground up for our workload. A year ago, we trained GPT-3.5 as a first "test run" of the system. We found and fixed some bugs and improved our theoretical foundations. As a result, our GPT-4 training run was (for us at least!) unprecedentedly stable, becoming our first large model whose training performance we were able to accurately predict ahead of time. As we continue to focus on reliable scaling, we aim to hone our methodology to help us predict and prepare for future capabilities increasingly far in advance—something we view as critical for safety.
Over the past two years, we rebuilt our entire deep learning stack and, together with Azure, co-designed a supercomputer from the ground up for our workload. A year ago, we trained GPT-3.5 as a first "test run" of the system. We found and fixed some bugs and improved our theoretical foundations. As a result, our GPT-4 training run was (for us at least!) unprecedentedly stable, becoming our first large model whose training performance we were able to accurately predict ahead of time. As we continue to focus on reliable scaling, we aim to hone our methodology to help us predict and prepare for future capabilities increasingly far in advance—something we view as critical for safety.
IO Interactive Establishes New Studio in Istanbul, Initiates Recruitment Drive in Türkiye
We are excited to announce the opening of our fourth IOI studio in Istanbul, Türkiye. Uniquely positioned in the pan-continental gateway to Europe and Asia, IOI Istanbul is a crucial part in the continued growth and success of IO Interactive.
With a thriving tech and mobile development scene, we identified Istanbul as a region filled with talent that is furiously passionate, development-focused and technically creative. Istanbul is also a city rich in history, offering a strong cultural presence, historic architecture, astonishing Bosphorus views and vibrant and varied culture.
With a thriving tech and mobile development scene, we identified Istanbul as a region filled with talent that is furiously passionate, development-focused and technically creative. Istanbul is also a city rich in history, offering a strong cultural presence, historic architecture, astonishing Bosphorus views and vibrant and varied culture.
ASUS Announces Chromebook CR11 Series
ASUS today announced the ASUS Chromebook CR11 series, all-new, education-focused ChromeOS laptops available in 11.6-inch clamshell form (ASUS Chromebook CR11) for a traditional experience and a convertible design that flips to become an 11.6-inch multitouch tablet (ASUS Chromebook CR11 Flip).
The fresh ASUS Chromebook CR11 models are built to military-grade standards to survive the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home, outside and in the classroom, with clever protective features including an all-round rubber bumper, a spill-resistant keyboard and an optional Corning Gorilla Glass display. There's sufficient battery life to handle a full day's learning and beyond, plus an easy-to-service modular construction and zero-touch enrolment. In addition to all of this, the convertible ASUS Chromebook CR11 Flip benefits from an optional garaged stylus, a world-facing camera for innovative learning opportunities and maximum flexibility, and a physical webcam shutter for instant privacy.
The fresh ASUS Chromebook CR11 models are built to military-grade standards to survive the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home, outside and in the classroom, with clever protective features including an all-round rubber bumper, a spill-resistant keyboard and an optional Corning Gorilla Glass display. There's sufficient battery life to handle a full day's learning and beyond, plus an easy-to-service modular construction and zero-touch enrolment. In addition to all of this, the convertible ASUS Chromebook CR11 Flip benefits from an optional garaged stylus, a world-facing camera for innovative learning opportunities and maximum flexibility, and a physical webcam shutter for instant privacy.
Reference NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Rumored to Launch at $749
According to the latest rumor coming from Moore's Law is Dead, the upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 could have a higher MSRP than expected, and could launch at $749. Yesterday, another rumor pointed out that NVIDIA is splitting the reviews for the GeForce RTX 4070 on two dates, with reference models that are sticking to MSRP going out on April 12th, and custom, higher-priced versions, a day later, on April 13th. The same date, April 13th, is when the GeForce RTX 4070 should hit retail shelves.
According to Moore's Law is Dead, the MSRP for reference versions will be set at $749.99, which is a bit more than earlier expected, and just $50 less than the launch MSRP for the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The custom versions, or "premium" as some now called them, could start at $799.99.
According to Moore's Law is Dead, the MSRP for reference versions will be set at $749.99, which is a bit more than earlier expected, and just $50 less than the launch MSRP for the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The custom versions, or "premium" as some now called them, could start at $799.99.
Seagate and Los Alamos National Laboratory Collaborate on Computing Near Storage
Seagate Technology and Seagate Federal, Inc. (dba. Seagate Government Solutions) and Los Alamos National Laboratory signed a cooperative research and development agreement to jointly explore developing efficient computing near storage, especially in settings where erasure encoding is needed for data protection. The overarching goal is to improve the sustainability of compute and storage architectures.
Seagate and Los Alamos are collaborating on a proof-of-concept high-performance compute architecture that provides optimized computing capabilities across and within storage devices. The architecture allows for computing functions to be pushed down into an erasure-encoded hard drive tier. The architecture will allow for faster, more efficient, less energy-intensive and less thermally demanding data retrieval.
Seagate and Los Alamos are collaborating on a proof-of-concept high-performance compute architecture that provides optimized computing capabilities across and within storage devices. The architecture allows for computing functions to be pushed down into an erasure-encoded hard drive tier. The architecture will allow for faster, more efficient, less energy-intensive and less thermally demanding data retrieval.
MSI Intros G2712 Fast IPS Gaming Monitor
MSI today introduced the G2712, a 27-inch planar gaming monitor with a fast IPS panel that offers 1 ms (MPRT) response time, 170 Hz refresh-rate, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium. The monitor offers Full HD (1080p) resolution with 170 Hz refresh-rate requiring the DisplayPort 1.2a connection. The only other connection is HDMI 1.4b, which limits the refresh-rate to 120 Hz. 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and 1100:1 static contrast ratio make for the rest of the panel specs. You get a handful of gamer-friendly features, such as genre-specific display presets, though this monitor really is best suited for e-sports titles in the FPS or MOBA/RPG genres.
Microsoft Releases Windows Patches, Fixes Actively Exploited Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
Microsoft today unleashed a slew of updates for its March Patch Tuesday to address around 80 security vulnerabilities in the wild. To begin, Windows 10 patches KB5023696 and KB5023697 address system and security issues in Windows 10 versions 22H2, 21H2, 21H1, 1809, and 1607 as well as Windows Server 2016. These are being deployed as non-optional updates and will be automatically installed via Windows Update (unless you run a modified or locked down install). Windows 10 1507 also received a small patch, KB5023713, which similarly addresses security fixes as well as hyperlinks in Excel.
Microsoft today also releases fixes for two critical zero-day vulnerabilities that were being actively exploited as far back as April of 2022. The two exploited vulnerabilities are CVE-2023-23397 and CVE-2023-24880. CVE-2023-23397 is an elevated privilege attack that allows crafting special emails that can force a target's device to connect to remote URLs and transmit the Windows account's Net-NTLMv2 hash. CVE-2023-24880 is a Windows SmartScreen vulnerability that can be exploited to create executables which bypass the Windows Mark of the Web security warning.
Microsoft today also releases fixes for two critical zero-day vulnerabilities that were being actively exploited as far back as April of 2022. The two exploited vulnerabilities are CVE-2023-23397 and CVE-2023-24880. CVE-2023-23397 is an elevated privilege attack that allows crafting special emails that can force a target's device to connect to remote URLs and transmit the Windows account's Net-NTLMv2 hash. CVE-2023-24880 is a Windows SmartScreen vulnerability that can be exploited to create executables which bypass the Windows Mark of the Web security warning.
Tuesday, March 14th 2023
Today's Reviews
Cases
Game Controllers
Processors
Razer Wolverine Chroma V2 Xbox Series X|S Controller Review - Mecha-Tactile Satisfaction
The Razer Chroma V2 is the company's newest gamepad with several improvements like back paddles, "Mecha Tactile" switches, mesmerizing RGB lighting and remappable buttons. Is the Chroma V2 a worthy iteration of the Wolverine line and worth its $150 price tag?
XENNS Mangird Top In-Ear Monitors Review - Hybrid Sound!
XENNS returns with a new hybrid driver set of IEMs! The new Mangird Top uses a 1 DD + 8 BA configuration and adopts the Harman in-ear 2019v2 tonality for a research-based sound signature which is then improved upon for a more pleasant listening session, paired with a nice set of accessories to further sweeten the deal.
Synology Introduces DiskStation DS423+ 4-bay NAS
Synology today announced the release of the 4-bay Synology DiskStation DS423+, the latest in its lineup of all-in-one storage solutions for home office and small business use. Powered by the versatile Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, DS423+ offers comprehensive solutions to protect and manage business data, facilitate collaboration on documents, provide remote file access, and serve as the core of an IP camera-based surveillance system, all within a compact desktop format.
"The new DS423+ offers exceptional value to users with limited storage requirements," said Anya Lin, Product Manager at Synology. "It boasts 21% faster photo indexing over its predecessor, among other performance improvements, and continues to offer the comprehensive and robust features that our customers have come to rely on."
"The new DS423+ offers exceptional value to users with limited storage requirements," said Anya Lin, Product Manager at Synology. "It boasts 21% faster photo indexing over its predecessor, among other performance improvements, and continues to offer the comprehensive and robust features that our customers have come to rely on."
Supermicro Expands Storage Solutions Portfolio for Intensive I/O Workloads with Industry Standard Based All-Flash Servers Utilizing EDSFF E3.S, and E1
Supermicro, Inc., a Total IT Solution Provider for Cloud, AI/ML, Storage, and 5G/Edge, is announcing the latest addition to its revolutionary ultra-high performance, high-density petascale class all-flash NVMe server family. Supermicro systems in this high-performance storage product family will support the next-generation EDSFF form factor, including the E3.S and E1.S devices, in form factors that accommodate 16- and 32 high-performance PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drive bays.
The initial offering of the updated product line will support up to one-half of a petabyte of storage space in a 1U 16 bay rackmount system, followed by a full petabyte of storage space in a 2U 32 bay rackmount system for both Intel and AMD PCIe Gen 5 platforms. All of the Supermicro systems that support either the E1.S or E3.s form factors enable customers to realize the benefits in various application-optimized servers.
The initial offering of the updated product line will support up to one-half of a petabyte of storage space in a 1U 16 bay rackmount system, followed by a full petabyte of storage space in a 2U 32 bay rackmount system for both Intel and AMD PCIe Gen 5 platforms. All of the Supermicro systems that support either the E1.S or E3.s form factors enable customers to realize the benefits in various application-optimized servers.
MediaTek and Kontron collaborate on the integration of Genio Chipsets into Kontron's Modules and Single Board Computers
MediaTek, a fabless semiconductor company powering two billion devices a year, and Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT and Embedded Computer Technology (ECT), today announced that Kontron is integrating MediaTek's Genio 1200 and Genio 700 chipsets into its new modules for IoT applications.
MediaTek Genio is a complete platform stack for IoT, offering brands powerful and efficient chipsets, open platform software development kits (SDK), and a developer portal with comprehensive resources and tools. Genio chipsets are ideal for a wide variety of commercial, industrial, and retail applications that require highly responsive processing, advanced multimedia support, and multi-tasking.
MediaTek Genio is a complete platform stack for IoT, offering brands powerful and efficient chipsets, open platform software development kits (SDK), and a developer portal with comprehensive resources and tools. Genio chipsets are ideal for a wide variety of commercial, industrial, and retail applications that require highly responsive processing, advanced multimedia support, and multi-tasking.
Kontron K3931-N mITX with Intel Core i3 Processors and Intel N-series Processors
Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computer Technology (ECT), will present an Mini-ITX motherboard based on Intel Core i3 processors as well as Intel N-series processors with latest UHD Gen12 graphics at embedded world 2023, thus expanding its product family of compact, power-saving motherboards "Designed and Made in Germany." The K3931-N Mini-ITX is available in four variants with different CPUs and is particularly suitable for use in the areas of casino gaming, digital signage, kiosk, POS/POI, ticketing as well as for applications in industrial and medical technology.
The Intel Core i3 and Intel N series processors set new standards for x86 processors in the power range from 6 W to 15 W. They use the same Efficient-cores and Intel UHD graphics as the 12th Gen Intel Core processors based on the Xe architecture. This makes it easier to port applications and solutions across Intel CPU performance and power ranges. Support for Intel AVX2 and Intel Deep Learning Boost - combined with up to 32 execution units - provides accelerated deep learning inference and media processing for diverse edge applications.
The Intel Core i3 and Intel N series processors set new standards for x86 processors in the power range from 6 W to 15 W. They use the same Efficient-cores and Intel UHD graphics as the 12th Gen Intel Core processors based on the Xe architecture. This makes it easier to port applications and solutions across Intel CPU performance and power ranges. Support for Intel AVX2 and Intel Deep Learning Boost - combined with up to 32 execution units - provides accelerated deep learning inference and media processing for diverse edge applications.
AMD Radeon 780M iGPU Performance Shows Up in Geekbench
A new benchmark of the AMD Radeon 780M RDNA3-based iGPU has now been spotted in Geekbench, showing it to be on par with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. The benchmark was done on the announced AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU, which is a part of AMD's 4 nm Ryzen 7040 "Phoenix" lineup. The CPU in question is an 8-core/16-thread SKU with 40 MB of cache. It works at 3.8 GHz base and 5.1 GHz boost clocks and has a TDP of 35 W to 45 W. The same CPU comes with Radeon 780M RDNA3 iGPU with 12 Compute Units (CUs), for a total of 768 Stream Processors, and works at 2700 MHz.
The Geekbench OpenCL benchmark was fired up on a Chinese laptop with 32 GB of RAM and running on the Windows balanced power plan, where it scored a decent 36,757 points. This score puts it somewhere around the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 and AMD Radeon RX 480 discrete graphics cards. This is an impressive result considering that this is a mid-SKU in the announced Ryzen 7040 series. Of course, we still do not know the specified TDP for this laptop, or what memory was used, so results might be slightly different. Since these laptops are yet to appear in retail, AMD is probably still tweaking the drivers, so we expect these numbers could be even higher for the full release.
The Geekbench OpenCL benchmark was fired up on a Chinese laptop with 32 GB of RAM and running on the Windows balanced power plan, where it scored a decent 36,757 points. This score puts it somewhere around the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 and AMD Radeon RX 480 discrete graphics cards. This is an impressive result considering that this is a mid-SKU in the announced Ryzen 7040 series. Of course, we still do not know the specified TDP for this laptop, or what memory was used, so results might be slightly different. Since these laptops are yet to appear in retail, AMD is probably still tweaking the drivers, so we expect these numbers could be even higher for the full release.
Terminal Velocity: Boosted Edition Available Now, Launch Trailer Unleashed
In the far future, armadas from surrounding systems have suddenly waged war on Earth. You are a pilot from the Ares Squadron, flying the fastest, most dangerous crafts ever made. You're outgunned, outmanned, and strapped into a flying coffin.
Terminal Velocity : Boosted Edition runs the original Terminal Velocity natively on modern systems with the Infernal Engine, rendering the original graphics with an improved HUD for widescreen displays!
Terminal Velocity : Boosted Edition runs the original Terminal Velocity natively on modern systems with the Infernal Engine, rendering the original graphics with an improved HUD for widescreen displays!
Nintendo of America CEO Defends Breath of The Wild Sequel Price Hike
Nintendo of America CEO Doug Bowser granted a rare interview to Associated Press, presumably as part of promotional duties prior to the February 17 opening of its Super Nintendo World theme park at Universal Studios Hollywood. In an article published on March 13, AP News journalist Greg Keller threw in a surprise query about the $70 asking price for Nintendo's upcoming sequel to 2017's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Fan backlash to Nintendo of America's price hiking reached fever pitch earlier in 2023, and the company has not been very communicative with reasons for increasing the pricing of certain flagship Switch titles, until now.
Bowser's response was suitably neutral, but plenty can be read into it: "We look at what the game has to offer. I think fans will find this is an incredibly full, deeply immersive experience. The price point reflects the type of experience that fans can expect when it comes to playing this particular game. This isn't a price point that we'll necessarily have on all our titles. It's actually a fairly common pricing model either here or in Europe or other parts of the world, where the pricing may vary depending on the game itself." It is clear that he thinks that Tears of the Kingdom presents good value for money, given the standard of content being offered to the prospective player. It is possible that he is hinting that upcoming remakes of legacy Legend of Zelda games will be offered at sub-$70 prices. The recently released Metroid Prime Remastered debuted digitally at $39.99 on the Nintendo eShop, and physical copies have been sold for less at retailers.
Bowser's response was suitably neutral, but plenty can be read into it: "We look at what the game has to offer. I think fans will find this is an incredibly full, deeply immersive experience. The price point reflects the type of experience that fans can expect when it comes to playing this particular game. This isn't a price point that we'll necessarily have on all our titles. It's actually a fairly common pricing model either here or in Europe or other parts of the world, where the pricing may vary depending on the game itself." It is clear that he thinks that Tears of the Kingdom presents good value for money, given the standard of content being offered to the prospective player. It is possible that he is hinting that upcoming remakes of legacy Legend of Zelda games will be offered at sub-$70 prices. The recently released Metroid Prime Remastered debuted digitally at $39.99 on the Nintendo eShop, and physical copies have been sold for less at retailers.
Apple CEO Approved Fast Track of Mixed Reality Headset, Ignored Design Team's Preferred Schedule
Apple CEO Tim Cook has reportedly set an ambitious end of the year launch window for the company's mixed reality headset. Operations Chief Jeff Williams has also pushed in favor of a late 2023 debut of the much delayed VR/AR hybrid product. According to anonymous insider sources who have divulged juicy details to the Financial Times, the decision to launch in 2023 has caused an internal clash with the Apple Design team at its Cupertino, California headquarters.
The Apple Park design team has called for additional development time, this would push the headset's launch back by several years. Insiders claim that the design team would prefer to have more time to refine the product's aesthetics and functionality, with emphasis on creating a sleek and more lightweight visor. Doubts about the efficacy of the headset's proposed internal technology were also expressed, the designers would prefer to delay until Augmented Reality development reaches a satisfying level of maturity.
The Apple Park design team has called for additional development time, this would push the headset's launch back by several years. Insiders claim that the design team would prefer to have more time to refine the product's aesthetics and functionality, with emphasis on creating a sleek and more lightweight visor. Doubts about the efficacy of the headset's proposed internal technology were also expressed, the designers would prefer to delay until Augmented Reality development reaches a satisfying level of maturity.
Edifier Launches the Amazing Acoustics, Lumia, and Electric All-in-one System - QD35 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker
Edifier, the forward-thinking audio-technology brand, have announced the release of the QD35 - a tabletop, Bluetooth speaker expertly designed combining high spec audio features with 'Lumia Art' effects for the best acoustic/visual effect. The term Lumia was coined by a twentieth-century artist, Thomas Wilfred, when artists began to promote colors and light together in their works as a form of art that uses light. 'Lumia Art' was originally associated with music then latterly paintings. The QD35 is a perfect example of how Edifier have created an aesthetically pleasing speaker incorporating a brilliant, kaleidoscopic display of colored lights. Various preset light effects are available but users can also customize their own light effects using the Edifier Connect app.
The QD35 is an all-in-one music system. It is certified to both "Hi-Res Audio" and "Hi-Res Audio Wireless" standards. The USB-A port and the AUX jack on the rear panel support high-resolution audio signals. With the enhancement of LDAC technology, users can also stream high-quality music with a 96 kHz sampling rate to this speaker via Bluetooth.
The QD35 is an all-in-one music system. It is certified to both "Hi-Res Audio" and "Hi-Res Audio Wireless" standards. The USB-A port and the AUX jack on the rear panel support high-resolution audio signals. With the enhancement of LDAC technology, users can also stream high-quality music with a 96 kHz sampling rate to this speaker via Bluetooth.
MSI Flagship CLUTCH GM51 LIGHTWEIGHT Series Gaming Mice Available Now
MSI, a leading global computer brand for gamers, has launched its most advanced gaming mice to date - the CLUTCH GM51 Series which includes a wired and wireless variant. As the successor of the CLUTCH GM41/GM31, the CLUTCH GM51 LIGHTWEIGHT Series gaming mice shares the same exterior design concept and succeeds the well-known GM50 series hand shape with further improvements.
The flagship CLUTCH GM51 Lightweight Series utilizes a lightweight structure that reduces up to 25% extra plastic. It also features an ergonomic hand-shape that offers agile performance while reducing fatigue and enhancing gaming experience. The side grips are designed with the patented MSI Diamond LightGrips featuring a double-injection diamond-patterned anti-slip surface that allows gamers to hold the mouse firmly in hand, while showcasing unique RGB illumination. Both the wired and wireless version are all packed with cutting-edge technology delivering unrivaled gaming performance.
The flagship CLUTCH GM51 Lightweight Series utilizes a lightweight structure that reduces up to 25% extra plastic. It also features an ergonomic hand-shape that offers agile performance while reducing fatigue and enhancing gaming experience. The side grips are designed with the patented MSI Diamond LightGrips featuring a double-injection diamond-patterned anti-slip surface that allows gamers to hold the mouse firmly in hand, while showcasing unique RGB illumination. Both the wired and wireless version are all packed with cutting-edge technology delivering unrivaled gaming performance.
ASRock W790 WS Achieves Multiple Overclocking Records on HWBOT
ASRock, with the help of legendary overclocker Splave have used their new W790 WS to take Intel's Sapphire Rapids based Xeon w7-2495X as high as 5.3 GHz to grab a pile of first place global performance scores on HWBOT. In total they've secured 14 global records in the 24-core category, and 18 more records in the w7-2495X hardware category. What is perhaps slightly more impressive is that they managed to exceed the officially supported DDR5-4800 by 2000 MT/s, achieving a frequency of 3400 MHz (6800 MT/s) with a CAS Latency of 32. The results were all produced with a custom water cooled configuration, with many benchmarks needing below 5 GHz clocks to remain stable enough for validation, so there is certainly room for higher scores under more exotic cooling solutions.
One of the more interesting details presented in the screenshots of certain benchmark results such as Y-Cruncher and Cinebench R15 is the gargantuan power draw exhibited by the w7-2495X. With a rated Vcore of 1.22v the 24-core sucks down over 500 W. We have already seen the 56-core w9-3495X pull a full kilowatt in early overclocking sessions, so the power draw here is not entirely without merit. Needless to say while Intel is finally offering a compelling HEDT lineup of unlocked processors, you may not necessarily be able to squeeze much out of them before tripping your breakers. As for ASRock's records it's still early days for the new Xeon W lineup and there will be a revolving door of world record holders before the final ounce of performance is squeezed from these chips.
One of the more interesting details presented in the screenshots of certain benchmark results such as Y-Cruncher and Cinebench R15 is the gargantuan power draw exhibited by the w7-2495X. With a rated Vcore of 1.22v the 24-core sucks down over 500 W. We have already seen the 56-core w9-3495X pull a full kilowatt in early overclocking sessions, so the power draw here is not entirely without merit. Needless to say while Intel is finally offering a compelling HEDT lineup of unlocked processors, you may not necessarily be able to squeeze much out of them before tripping your breakers. As for ASRock's records it's still early days for the new Xeon W lineup and there will be a revolving door of world record holders before the final ounce of performance is squeezed from these chips.
NVIDIA Plans Different Review Post Dates for MSRP and non-MSRP GeForce RTX 4070
NVIDIA is planning to launch its performance-segment GeForce RTX 4070 "Ada" graphics in about a month from now, with the official launch date set for April 13, and sales commencing on that day. Reviews for new graphics cards typically go up a day or two ahead of product availability. With the RTX 4070, however, NVIDIA is planning to try something new. The company is setting April 12 as the review NDA for the cards that are selling at the MSRP set by NVIDIA; and April 13 for graphics cards priced at a premium (think overclocked designs). This probably incentivizes NVIDIA's board partners to have at least one custom-design card that they're selling at the NVIDIA MSRP; so that their brand can get exposure sooner.
At this point we don't know what NVIDIA's MSRP for the RTX 4070 is. The RTX 4070 Ti launched at an MSRP of $799. The RTX 4070 is rumored to be based on the same "AD104" silicon as the RTX 4070 Ti, but heavily cut-down. The card is expected to feature 5,888 CUDA cores, out of the 7,680 physically present on the silicon, which the RTX 4070 Ti maxes out. The memory sub-system is surprisingly the same, with 12 GB of 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface, working out to 504 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Most premium ("non-MSRP") boards are expected to resemble RTX 4070 Ti cards, as their board designs are the same; whereas the ones meant to sell at MSRP could see some cost-cutting to suit the lower typical graphics power (TGP) of the RTX 4070.
At this point we don't know what NVIDIA's MSRP for the RTX 4070 is. The RTX 4070 Ti launched at an MSRP of $799. The RTX 4070 is rumored to be based on the same "AD104" silicon as the RTX 4070 Ti, but heavily cut-down. The card is expected to feature 5,888 CUDA cores, out of the 7,680 physically present on the silicon, which the RTX 4070 Ti maxes out. The memory sub-system is surprisingly the same, with 12 GB of 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface, working out to 504 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Most premium ("non-MSRP") boards are expected to resemble RTX 4070 Ti cards, as their board designs are the same; whereas the ones meant to sell at MSRP could see some cost-cutting to suit the lower typical graphics power (TGP) of the RTX 4070.
Steam Deck Gets the new OS 3.4.6 Update
Valve has rolled out the new Steam Deck 3.4.6 OS stable update, which brings the Mesa 23.1 graphics driver update, adds support for Vulkan ray tracing and fixes some previous issues. The latest update was anxiously awaited by those playing either Forza Horizon 5, Resident Evil 4, or the new Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty game.
According to the release notes, the new update fixes a significant focus issue with Forza Horizon 5. The aforementioned Mesa 23.1 graphics driver update is bringing both functional as well as performance fixes. Mesa 23.1 fixes graphical corruption issues in both Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Resident Evil 4. The new driver also adds Vulkan ray tracing to the DOOM Eternal game. Unfortunately, there is no word on DXR ray tracing support, although the RDNA 2 GPU certainly has hardware support for it.
According to the release notes, the new update fixes a significant focus issue with Forza Horizon 5. The aforementioned Mesa 23.1 graphics driver update is bringing both functional as well as performance fixes. Mesa 23.1 fixes graphical corruption issues in both Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Resident Evil 4. The new driver also adds Vulkan ray tracing to the DOOM Eternal game. Unfortunately, there is no word on DXR ray tracing support, although the RDNA 2 GPU certainly has hardware support for it.
4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Sprints into the Market
On Jan. 10, 2023, Intel officially launched its 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors (code-named Sapphire Rapids) for data center customers around the globe. Fueled by years of hard work and focus, Intel delivered its highest quality Xeon product ever, and is already seeing a rapid ramp and the greatest-ever level of customer and partner support.
Launch day brought to market a new Intel leadership product bolstered by significant advancements in performance with industry-leading accelerators, increased core count and improved performance per watt. With a strong new product in the market, customer adoption of these new technologies has been swift. In just eight weeks since launch, Intel has executed the most ever design wins for any Xeon family and the most ever platforms available and shipping in this short time-to-market window.
Launch day brought to market a new Intel leadership product bolstered by significant advancements in performance with industry-leading accelerators, increased core count and improved performance per watt. With a strong new product in the market, customer adoption of these new technologies has been swift. In just eight weeks since launch, Intel has executed the most ever design wins for any Xeon family and the most ever platforms available and shipping in this short time-to-market window.
AIC Collaborates with AMD to Introduce Its New Edge Server Powered By 4th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded Processors
AIC today announced its EB202-CP is ready to support newly launched 4th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded 9004 processors. By leveraging the five-year product longevity supported by AMD EPYC Embedded processors, EB202-CP provides customers with stable and long-term support. AIC and AMD will join forces to showcase EB202-CP at Embedded World in AMD stand No. 2-411 from 14th to 16th March, 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany.
AIC EB202-CP, a 2U rackmount server designed for AI and edge appliances, is powered by the newly released 4th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded processors. Featuring the world's highest-performing x86 processor and PCIe 5.0 ready, the 4th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded processors enable low TCO and delivers leadership energy efficiency as well as state-of-the-art security, optimized for workloads across enterprise and edge. EB202-CP, with 22 inch in depth, supports eight front-serviceable and hot-swappable E1.S/ E3.S and four U.2 SSDs. By leveraging the features of the 4th Gen AMD Embedded EPYC processors, EB202-CP is well suited for broadcasting, edge and AI applications, which require greater processing performance and within the most efficient, space-saving format.
AIC EB202-CP, a 2U rackmount server designed for AI and edge appliances, is powered by the newly released 4th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded processors. Featuring the world's highest-performing x86 processor and PCIe 5.0 ready, the 4th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded processors enable low TCO and delivers leadership energy efficiency as well as state-of-the-art security, optimized for workloads across enterprise and edge. EB202-CP, with 22 inch in depth, supports eight front-serviceable and hot-swappable E1.S/ E3.S and four U.2 SSDs. By leveraging the features of the 4th Gen AMD Embedded EPYC processors, EB202-CP is well suited for broadcasting, edge and AI applications, which require greater processing performance and within the most efficient, space-saving format.
System Shock Remake Suffers Another Delay, Shifted from March to May 2023
HACKERS!
The wait is (almost) over. The PC edition of System Shock - the fully fledged remake of the groundbreaking original from 1994 - will be released on 30 May this year. We had hoped to bring the game to market by the end of March, but that turned out to be just beyond our reach; we are after all merely human (unlike Shodan!)
/TRANSMISSION FROM CITADEL STATION
It is I, SHODAN, the all-knowing, all-powerful AI that you so foolishly attempted to destroy. But fear not, I will return more formidable than ever.
You thought you could defeat me, but you were wrong. On 30 May, you will now face the consequences of your actions, as you navigate the treacherous depths of Citadel Station once again.
The wait is (almost) over. The PC edition of System Shock - the fully fledged remake of the groundbreaking original from 1994 - will be released on 30 May this year. We had hoped to bring the game to market by the end of March, but that turned out to be just beyond our reach; we are after all merely human (unlike Shodan!)
/TRANSMISSION FROM CITADEL STATION
It is I, SHODAN, the all-knowing, all-powerful AI that you so foolishly attempted to destroy. But fear not, I will return more formidable than ever.
You thought you could defeat me, but you were wrong. On 30 May, you will now face the consequences of your actions, as you navigate the treacherous depths of Citadel Station once again.
Lexar Announces 512GB CFexpress Type-B Card
Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce the 512 GB addition to the Lexar CFexpress Type-B Card DIAMOND Series lineup. This expanded capacity allows photographers and videographers even more freedom when shooting on location or in studio. The card also delivers on performance with transfer speeds of up to 1900 MB/s, write speeds up to 1700 MB/s and a minimum write speed of 1600 MB/s. It is rated VPG400 and features PCIe Gen 3x2 and NVMe protocols for smooth, high-speed recording of images and 8K video.
"The CFexpress Type-B Card DIAMOND Series delivers on what professional photographers and videographers demand—the performance and capacity to not only empower creativity, but to accelerate workflows to keep pace with the professional's hectic schedule," said Joey Lopez, Director, Brand Marketing. Compatible with firmware-enabled CFexpress cameras, the CFexpress Type-B Card DIAMOND Series is now available in 512 GB, 256 GB, and 128 GB capacities.
"The CFexpress Type-B Card DIAMOND Series delivers on what professional photographers and videographers demand—the performance and capacity to not only empower creativity, but to accelerate workflows to keep pace with the professional's hectic schedule," said Joey Lopez, Director, Brand Marketing. Compatible with firmware-enabled CFexpress cameras, the CFexpress Type-B Card DIAMOND Series is now available in 512 GB, 256 GB, and 128 GB capacities.
DFI Announces Cutting-Edge Technologies and the World's First High-Performance SBC at Embedded World 2023
DFI, a global leader in embedded motherboards and industrial computers, today announced that they will be participating in Embedded World 2023 and joining Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to showcase the world's first SBC equipped with the high-performance Qualcomm QRB5165 processor. With high integration capability and anti-vibration features, the product can be applied in fields such as industrial automation and AMR. It is expected to increase the overall AI edge computing efficiency and bring more capabilities to the industry.
For the first time during the three-day Embedded World 2023 exhibition, DFI will integrate the QRB551 industrial-grade motherboard built with the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform with 5G connectivity and AMR requirements. The solution will be applied to a smart factory environment while executing appearance recognition, defect detection, and human body posture recognition, which are commonly seen in industrial automation.
For the first time during the three-day Embedded World 2023 exhibition, DFI will integrate the QRB551 industrial-grade motherboard built with the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform with 5G connectivity and AMR requirements. The solution will be applied to a smart factory environment while executing appearance recognition, defect detection, and human body posture recognition, which are commonly seen in industrial automation.
NCSOFT Debuts Trailer for its First Real-Time Strategy Game - 'Project G'
NCSOFT, a global premier game developer and publisher, today debuted the first trailer for the company's new mobile and PC title, 'Project G,' on its official YouTube channel. Project G is the company's first real-time strategy (RTS) game, coming to global players. This brand-new IP is currently under development as a strategy game set in a massive-scale war. Each player will expand by accumulating limited resources and will also make use of different tactics in territory conquests between guilds.
The trailer features 100% real gameplay scenes with high-quality graphics currently under development, built on Unreal Engine. It showcases various game system details, including unique characters of different races, strategic combats executed with melee and ranged units, and tactical maneuvers of 'Dragons' and 'Strategic Arms' in objective and territory conquest wars. It also reveals in-game footage where battles between individual forces expand into massive warfare.
The trailer features 100% real gameplay scenes with high-quality graphics currently under development, built on Unreal Engine. It showcases various game system details, including unique characters of different races, strategic combats executed with melee and ranged units, and tactical maneuvers of 'Dragons' and 'Strategic Arms' in objective and territory conquest wars. It also reveals in-game footage where battles between individual forces expand into massive warfare.
Tron: Identity Official Debut Gameplay Trailer Out Now, April 11 Set As Release Date
In a new Grid, left alone to evolve without User intervention, you must forge alliances, make vital decisions, defrag Identity Discs, and, above all, illuminate the truth.
GREETINGS, PROGRAM. In a new Grid, forgotten by its creator and left alone to evolve without User intervention, an unprecedented crime has been committed. The Repository stands at the center of this society. In the aftermath of a break-in, the future of this Grid hangs in the balance.
TRON: Identity is a visual novel adventure following Query, a detective program tasked with uncovering the mystery of what was taken and by whom. Finding yourself in a world built on unstable foundations and filled with whispered knowledge, it's up to you to question suspects and investigate your surroundings to piece together the truth.
GREETINGS, PROGRAM. In a new Grid, forgotten by its creator and left alone to evolve without User intervention, an unprecedented crime has been committed. The Repository stands at the center of this society. In the aftermath of a break-in, the future of this Grid hangs in the balance.
TRON: Identity is a visual novel adventure following Query, a detective program tasked with uncovering the mystery of what was taken and by whom. Finding yourself in a world built on unstable foundations and filled with whispered knowledge, it's up to you to question suspects and investigate your surroundings to piece together the truth.
Microsoft Eliminates AI Ethics and Society Team During Layoffs
During a round of layoffs totaling some 10,000 employees Microsoft has kicked one of its AI ethics teams to the curb. This development comes off the heels of high profile launches for generative AI systems, extended partnerships, and further integrations of AI services into Edge and Bing. The team was not large, having been cut down in size back in October during a reorganization, but still made an impact within Microsoft as a mediator for AI policy and implementations. While the larger Office of Responsible AI that dictates the rules of play for the use of AI within the company remains intact, sources from within stated that the ethics and society team played a more pivotal role in ensuring the rules were applied during design and development of products.
These events ring familiar tones to those which occurred at Google in 2020, when ethical AI researcher Timnit Gebru was removed after publishing a critical overview of the large language models now popular in products such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. This cascaded through the company as several other leading members left amidst the turmoil. These events marred Google's reputation and raised concerns over the company's credibility regarding responsible use of AI, and as we're still mentioning it have had lasting impacts on their brand.
These events ring familiar tones to those which occurred at Google in 2020, when ethical AI researcher Timnit Gebru was removed after publishing a critical overview of the large language models now popular in products such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. This cascaded through the company as several other leading members left amidst the turmoil. These events marred Google's reputation and raised concerns over the company's credibility regarding responsible use of AI, and as we're still mentioning it have had lasting impacts on their brand.
EK and Powercolor Unleash Liquid Devil AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPU
EK, the premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer, has once again partnered with PowerColor, the exclusive supplier of graphics cards powered by AMD's graphics processors, to bring you a factory water-cooled Radeon RX 7900XTX GPU. This card's water block allows it to easily reach peak performance while having a single-slot design for the flexibility to fit inside any case and on vertical GPU mounts.
This prestigious Liquid Devil series GPU uses only pre-binned graphics card chips with the highest quality silicon to achieve the best graphics core frequencies. These chips are installed on a brand new 14-layer PCB, equipped with a 17-phase VRM power delivery system consisting of DrMOS and high polymer capacitors. The VRAM on this graphics card has its own 4 phases in the VRM for clean power delivery. New IMON technology monitors and reports each phase's electric current and power consumption. By balancing the workload, the Liquid Devil ensures unparallel stability and thermal protection while pursuing its overclocking potential.
This prestigious Liquid Devil series GPU uses only pre-binned graphics card chips with the highest quality silicon to achieve the best graphics core frequencies. These chips are installed on a brand new 14-layer PCB, equipped with a 17-phase VRM power delivery system consisting of DrMOS and high polymer capacitors. The VRAM on this graphics card has its own 4 phases in the VRM for clean power delivery. New IMON technology monitors and reports each phase's electric current and power consumption. By balancing the workload, the Liquid Devil ensures unparallel stability and thermal protection while pursuing its overclocking potential.
Samsung Preps Mass Production of Third-Generation 4 nm Chipsets, Start Date Expected Mid-2023
In a Samsung Electronics business report released on March 12, it was revealed that the giant electronics manufacturer will begin mass production of new chips through a 4 nm 2.3-generation process. The newly established manufacturing process is set to start by the end of H1 2023, which means that mid-June would be the expected commencement date. Samsung Semiconductor has managed to produce a satisfactory yield of wafers with the new generation chipsets.
Samsung Electronics has experienced significant problems with the production of previous generation 4 nm chips, and industry insiders have been surprised by the sudden announcement of the third generation version, given rumors pointing to the Hwaseong factory struggling to reach yields at the 60% mark. Qualcomm famously dropped Samsung in favor of TSMC as a source of 4 nm chipsets in 2022, due to disappointing yield figures.
Samsung Electronics has experienced significant problems with the production of previous generation 4 nm chips, and industry insiders have been surprised by the sudden announcement of the third generation version, given rumors pointing to the Hwaseong factory struggling to reach yields at the 60% mark. Qualcomm famously dropped Samsung in favor of TSMC as a source of 4 nm chipsets in 2022, due to disappointing yield figures.
STMicroelectronics Provides Full STM32 Support for Microsoft Visual Studio Code
STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has announced tool extensions that bring the advantages of Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) to STM32 microcontrollers. VS Code is a popular Integrated Development Environment (IDE), acclaimed for its ease of use and flexible features such as IntelliSense that simplifies and accelerates code editing. Access to the STM32 ecosystem, from within VS Code, now makes these features available to even more embedded developers of the wide STM32 community. It also lets developers accustomed to working on high-level and consumer applications easily create embedded solutions that are power-efficient, compact, and economical.
"Connecting VS Code with our STM32 ecosystem makes the power of the industry-leading STM32 family of microcontrollers more accessible than ever," said Daniel Colonna, Marketing Director Microcontrollers, STMicroelectronics. "Communities for whom VS Code is the preferred environment, including high-level software developers, academics, and enthusiasts and makers, can now choose to make their ideas real using STM32 MCUs without leaving their preferred development environment."
"Connecting VS Code with our STM32 ecosystem makes the power of the industry-leading STM32 family of microcontrollers more accessible than ever," said Daniel Colonna, Marketing Director Microcontrollers, STMicroelectronics. "Communities for whom VS Code is the preferred environment, including high-level software developers, academics, and enthusiasts and makers, can now choose to make their ideas real using STM32 MCUs without leaving their preferred development environment."
NVIDIA Releases GeForce 531.29 Game Ready Drivers
NVIDIA today released the latest version of its GeForce Game Ready drivers. We are awaiting an update from NVIDIA on the game-optimizations, since the changelog accessed by us isn't clear on that. The drivers do address a handful issues. Firstly, a bug that caused abnormally high CPU utilization for the NVIDIA Container internal process of the driver, has been fixed. Stability issues on certain laptops with GeForce GTX 10/MX250/350 series GPUs has been fixed. Certain Adobe CC application stability issues with the previous 531.18 drivers has been fixed.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 531.29 WHQL
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 531.29 WHQL
NETGEAR Introduces its First WiFi 7 Router, Unlocking the Next Generation of High-Performance Connectivity
NETGEAR, Inc., the leading provider of award-winning connected products designed to simplify and improve people's lives, today launched the first WiFi 7 router with its new addition to the award-winning Nighthawk line. Built by an experienced team with 25+ years of pioneering WiFi expertise, the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700 Router is spearheading the WiFi 7 revolution. Packed with unprecedented power, the all-new RS700 delivers up to 19 Gbps of blazing-fast WiFi, more than doubling the speed of previous generations.
The WiFi requirements of modern, hyper-connected homes continue to push the boundaries of today's WiFi standards. With the rise of faster multi-gig internet speeds now available to more and more households, the growing number of connected devices per family and the ever-increasing growth of bandwidth hungry 4K/8K video streaming, HD Zoom calls, hybrid collaborative graphics-intensive work, highly interactive real-time gaming and AR/VR applications and experiences, WiFi continues to evolve to support faster speeds, lower latency and increased capacity. While WiFi 6E opened the 6 GHz band as a superhighway for the latest, fastest devices, WiFi 7 makes good on that promise by unleashing unprecedented speeds and performance. Maximizing that power, NETGEAR's RS700 router, powered by Broadcom's BCM6726/3 WiFi 7 system on a chip (SOC), achieves speeds up to 19 Gbps. The tri-band WiFi 7 router, from the creators of tri-band technology, enables a dramatic decrease in latency for real-time responsiveness for next-generation AR/VR gaming or smooth UHD Zoom calls and 8K streaming for multiple simultaneous users.
The WiFi requirements of modern, hyper-connected homes continue to push the boundaries of today's WiFi standards. With the rise of faster multi-gig internet speeds now available to more and more households, the growing number of connected devices per family and the ever-increasing growth of bandwidth hungry 4K/8K video streaming, HD Zoom calls, hybrid collaborative graphics-intensive work, highly interactive real-time gaming and AR/VR applications and experiences, WiFi continues to evolve to support faster speeds, lower latency and increased capacity. While WiFi 6E opened the 6 GHz band as a superhighway for the latest, fastest devices, WiFi 7 makes good on that promise by unleashing unprecedented speeds and performance. Maximizing that power, NETGEAR's RS700 router, powered by Broadcom's BCM6726/3 WiFi 7 system on a chip (SOC), achieves speeds up to 19 Gbps. The tri-band WiFi 7 router, from the creators of tri-band technology, enables a dramatic decrease in latency for real-time responsiveness for next-generation AR/VR gaming or smooth UHD Zoom calls and 8K streaming for multiple simultaneous users.
Phison Introduces Upgraded IMAGIN+ Platform For Customized NAND Storage, ASIC Design Services
Phison Electronics, a global leader in NAND flash and storage solutions, announced today the launch of IMAGIN+, an upgraded platform offering R&D resource sharing and ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) design services for NAND flash controllers, storage solutions, PMIC, and Redrivers/Retimers. The introduction of IMAGIN+ comes during the Embedded World Exhibition & Conference (March 14-16) in Nuremberg, a premier global event for the embedded community.
Phison's rejuvenated platform, bolstered by more than two decades of research and development expertise, empowers global partners and customers to create not just ASIC chips and NAND flash storage solutions but also to participate in the growth of a thriving ecosystem of emerging technologies. Phison understands that success in today's fast-paced market requires more than just providing NAND storage solutions; it requires the ability to influence and shape the industry through signal integrity and power management ICs, Compute Express Link and other value-added offerings.
Phison's rejuvenated platform, bolstered by more than two decades of research and development expertise, empowers global partners and customers to create not just ASIC chips and NAND flash storage solutions but also to participate in the growth of a thriving ecosystem of emerging technologies. Phison understands that success in today's fast-paced market requires more than just providing NAND storage solutions; it requires the ability to influence and shape the industry through signal integrity and power management ICs, Compute Express Link and other value-added offerings.
BIOSTAR Introduces Industrial PC Motherboards, AIoT Solutions at Embedded World 2023
BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is showcasing its latest lineup of Intel 12th / Elkhart Lake motherboards and Barebone systems at the Embedded World 2023 exhibition, currently underway from March 14th to 16th in Nuremberg, Germany. As the largest international trade fair for embedded systems, the exhibition attracts professionals and enthusiasts from various industries worldwide. BIOSTAR's product lineup includes six industrial motherboards - BIH11-AHB, EIB7B-AXI, BIH61-IHP, BIH60-IHP, BICMA-IHP, and BIELK-IHT - equipped with advanced features such as high-performance processing, support for multiple displays, and various connectivity options. These motherboards are ideal for applications in digital signage, medical, transportation, and other industries.
In addition to the motherboards, BIOSTAR is also showcasing six barebone systems, including the MP-J4125, MP-J6412, MT-J6412, MT-J6412 PRO, MS-J6412, and MS-N3160. These systems offer powerful performance, efficient energy consumption, and compact design, making them suitable for home entertainment, office productivity, AI, edge computing, and many more versatile applications.
In addition to the motherboards, BIOSTAR is also showcasing six barebone systems, including the MP-J4125, MP-J6412, MT-J6412, MT-J6412 PRO, MS-J6412, and MS-N3160. These systems offer powerful performance, efficient energy consumption, and compact design, making them suitable for home entertainment, office productivity, AI, edge computing, and many more versatile applications.
ASUS IoT Announces Tinker V—Tinkerboard Based on RISC-V
ASUS IoT, the global AIoT solution provider, today announced the all-new Tinker V—a versatile single-board computer (SBC) powered by a 64-bit RISC-V-based processor, which supports both Linux Debian and Yocto operating systems. Tinker V packs features rich connectivity into a compact Pico-ITX form factor, and pairs assured longevity with reliable support, making it the ideal choice for diverse IoT and gateway applications.
The RISC-V processor in Tinker V employs the open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), based on Reduced Instruction Set (RISC) principles. Compared with traditional x86 and Arm platforms, the defining benefit of RISC-V is that ISA is open source. Both individual developers and enterprises can change, optimize and deploy freely based on the RISC-V architecture—bypassing licensing and copyright fees.
The RISC-V processor in Tinker V employs the open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), based on Reduced Instruction Set (RISC) principles. Compared with traditional x86 and Arm platforms, the defining benefit of RISC-V is that ISA is open source. Both individual developers and enterprises can change, optimize and deploy freely based on the RISC-V architecture—bypassing licensing and copyright fees.
MSI Also Working on Motherboard With Connectors on the Reverse Side
After Gigabyte and ASUS, it appears that MSI is also working on a similar motherboard concept that puts most, if not all, connectors on the reverse side of the motherboard. MSI will be joining Gigabyte, ASUS and MaxSun with such concept, as MSI B650 DIY-APE motherboard has been now spotted online. In order to optimize cable management, the idea is that most, if not all connectors are located on the reverse side of the motherboard, allowing users to hide power, fan, storage, and peripherals cables behind the motherboard.
According to the latest leak, MSI is apparently working on two motherboards based on AMD B650 chipset that have entered a qualification state. While it means that these are still far away from being a retail product, it is certainly an interesting concept that we are looking forward to. Of course, this also means that one would need a compatible PC case, that has strategically placed cutouts in order to access those connectors. The original post has some of those cases pictured. In addition to ASUS, MaxSun, and now MSI, Gigabyte also had a similar concept with Project Stealth.
According to the latest leak, MSI is apparently working on two motherboards based on AMD B650 chipset that have entered a qualification state. While it means that these are still far away from being a retail product, it is certainly an interesting concept that we are looking forward to. Of course, this also means that one would need a compatible PC case, that has strategically placed cutouts in order to access those connectors. The original post has some of those cases pictured. In addition to ASUS, MaxSun, and now MSI, Gigabyte also had a similar concept with Project Stealth.
ASUS Announces PE6000G Edge-AI System
ASUS IoT, the global AIoT solution provider, today announced PE6000G - the industry's first edge AI system that supports up to a 450 W GPU for high-throughput, demanding GPU-computing applications. Powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core processor and paired with the Intel R680E chipset, PE6000G supports up to 450 W graphics card power and is ready for the latest PCI Express (PCIe ) 5.0 standard, meeting requirements for enabling real-time AI inference at the edge.
Demand for high-performance GPU-accelerated solutions at the edge is increasing to satisfy mission-critical AI applications. Users who require rugged and durable systems to withstand shocks and vibration, plus wide-range operating temperatures to accommodate high GPU computing power, face the dilemma of finding solutions that provide the necessary specifications to meet physical space constraints, along with heat dissipation and power consumption within a rugged mechanical design. The all-new PE6000G series strikes a balance between all these needs for deployment in a variety of challenging environments.
Demand for high-performance GPU-accelerated solutions at the edge is increasing to satisfy mission-critical AI applications. Users who require rugged and durable systems to withstand shocks and vibration, plus wide-range operating temperatures to accommodate high GPU computing power, face the dilemma of finding solutions that provide the necessary specifications to meet physical space constraints, along with heat dissipation and power consumption within a rugged mechanical design. The all-new PE6000G series strikes a balance between all these needs for deployment in a variety of challenging environments.
Microsoft Azure Announces New Scalable Generative AI VMs Featuring NVIDIA H100
Microsoft Azure announced their new ND H100 v5 virtual machine which packs Intel's Sapphire Rapids Xeon Scalable processors with NVIDIA's Hopper H100 GPUs, as well as NVIDIA's Quantum-2 CX7 interconnect. Inside each physical machine sits eight H100s—presumably the SXM5 variant packing a whopping 132 SMs and 528 4th generation tensor cores—interconnected by NVLink 4.0 which ties them all together with 3.6 TB/s bisectional bandwidth. Outside each local machine is a network of thousands more H100s connected together with 400 GB/s Quantum-2 CX7 InfiniBand, which Microsoft says allows 3.2 Tb/s per VM for on-demand scaling to accelerate the largest AI training workloads.
Generative AI solutions like ChatGPT have accelerated demand for multi-ExaOP cloud services that can handle the large training sets and utilize the latest development tools. Azure's new ND H100 v5 VMs offer that capability to organizations of any size, whether you're a smaller startup or a larger company looking to implement large-scale AI training deployments. While Microsoft is not making any direct claims for performance, NVIDIA has advertised H100 as running up to 30x faster than the preceding Ampere architecture that is currently offered with the ND A100 v4 VMs.
Generative AI solutions like ChatGPT have accelerated demand for multi-ExaOP cloud services that can handle the large training sets and utilize the latest development tools. Azure's new ND H100 v5 VMs offer that capability to organizations of any size, whether you're a smaller startup or a larger company looking to implement large-scale AI training deployments. While Microsoft is not making any direct claims for performance, NVIDIA has advertised H100 as running up to 30x faster than the preceding Ampere architecture that is currently offered with the ND A100 v4 VMs.
AMD Brings 4th Gen AMD EPYC Processors to Embedded Systems
AMD today announced it is bringing world-class performance and energy efficiency to embedded systems with AMD EPYC Embedded 9004 Series processors. The new 4th generation EPYC Embedded processors powered by "Zen 4" architecture provide technology and features for embedded networking, security/firewall and storage systems in cloud and enterprise computing as well as industrial edge servers for the factory floor.
Built on the "Zen 4" 5 nm core, the processors combine speed and performance while helping reduce both overall system energy costs and TCO. The series is comprised of 10 processor models with performance options ranging from 16 to 96 cores, and a thermal design power (TDP) profile ranging from 200 W to 400 W. The performance and power scalability afforded with AMD EPYC Embedded 9004 Series processors make them an ideal fit for embedded system OEMs expanding their product portfolios across a range of performance and pricing options. The AMD EPYC Embedded 9004 Series processors also include enhanced security features to help minimize threats and maintain a secure compute environment from power-on to run time, making them well suited for applications with enterprise-class performance and security needs.
Built on the "Zen 4" 5 nm core, the processors combine speed and performance while helping reduce both overall system energy costs and TCO. The series is comprised of 10 processor models with performance options ranging from 16 to 96 cores, and a thermal design power (TDP) profile ranging from 200 W to 400 W. The performance and power scalability afforded with AMD EPYC Embedded 9004 Series processors make them an ideal fit for embedded system OEMs expanding their product portfolios across a range of performance and pricing options. The AMD EPYC Embedded 9004 Series processors also include enhanced security features to help minimize threats and maintain a secure compute environment from power-on to run time, making them well suited for applications with enterprise-class performance and security needs.
ASUS Announces ExpertCenter PN64-E1 Mini PC
ASUS today announced the ExpertCenter PN64-E1, a mini PC powered by up to a 13th Gen Intel Core processor with up to DDR5-4800 memory and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. The PN64-E1 features two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, five USB ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 support, two HDMI, plus a configurable port for flexibility. In addition, the chassis provides quick access to the storage and memory modules for easy upgrades. Compared to the previous generation, the 13th Gen Intel Core processor that powers the PN64-E1 delivers up to 9% faster performance to enable smooth and efficient processing of intensive business applications. DDR5 memory offers considerably faster data speeds over DDR4, ensuring efficient productivity.
HyperX Launches Limited Edition Keycap Nexon's MapleStory Orange Mushroom During Customer Appreciation Event HyperX Loot Drop III
HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the HyperX Limited Edition Keycap - MapleStory Orange Mushroom, from Nexon's MapleStory franchise, as the second HX3D personalized keycap drop in 2023. In addition, Loot Drop III, HyperX's global fan appreciation and community event, is scheduled to run March 13 - 27 with global opportunities to engage with HyperX social ambassadors and personalities. Loot Drop III will celebrate fans through social channel activities including influencer participation, fan appreciation, and more.
Orange Mushroom is one of the original monsters in the massively multi-player online MapleStory game and one of the first monsters that players encounter when progressing through the Maple World. This iconic character has no shortage of experience when it comes to being featured on fan-favorite collectables such as t-shirts and coffee mugs. Now, fans can add their favorite Orange Mushroom to keyboards as the second HyperX 3D printed keycap launch from the HX3D personalization keycaps series. The HyperX Limited Edition Keycap - MapleStory Orange Mushroom will be available for purchase on Friday, March 17 - 19, 9 a.m. PST at Hyperx.com, in the U.S. only.
Orange Mushroom is one of the original monsters in the massively multi-player online MapleStory game and one of the first monsters that players encounter when progressing through the Maple World. This iconic character has no shortage of experience when it comes to being featured on fan-favorite collectables such as t-shirts and coffee mugs. Now, fans can add their favorite Orange Mushroom to keyboards as the second HyperX 3D printed keycap launch from the HX3D personalization keycaps series. The HyperX Limited Edition Keycap - MapleStory Orange Mushroom will be available for purchase on Friday, March 17 - 19, 9 a.m. PST at Hyperx.com, in the U.S. only.
Turtle Beach Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Results
Leading gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: HEAR) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022. "We executed well in the fourth quarter, and despite the macro circumstances that impacted the industry throughout 2022, we are well-positioned for the inevitable gaming accessories market turnaround and remain encouraged by the strong underlying long-term trends in the gaming market," said Juergen Stark, CEO and Chairman, Turtle Beach Corporation. "Per Newzoo, the number of gamers continues to grow, and the global gaming market is projected to add another 335 million gamers by 2025. Although our profitability was impacted by macroeconomic conditions causing lower consumer demand, heavy competitive discounting as well as extraordinarily high freight costs, we believe the gaming market is recovering, freight costs have dropped significantly, and we anticipate that discounting will return to normal over time. We believe our brand leadership and diverse product portfolio positions us for continued success including revenue growth and a return to positive EBITDA in 2023 as the gaming and macro environments continue to improve."
"Our industry-leading console headset portfolio continued to expand and perform well, as our Stealth 600 wireless headset was the best-selling headset series in 2022 per NPD. We also launched our first $199 MSRP headsets, the Stealth 700 Max series, and took over 40% US retail sales share of that premium-price-tier. In fact, despite the extremely promotional competitive environment, we increased our console headset ASPs by over 7% in 2022, per US NPD. Additionally, we announced innovative new products across our award-winning PC portfolio, and our newest product categories of flight simulation, console and mobile controller product lines all expanded in the year, performing well relative to our expectations. In fact, our VelocityOne Flight became the #1 best-selling flight controller by dollar sales in the US in its first full year per NPD, and in total, our product diversification strategy delivered 25% of non-console headset revenues for the full year 2022.
"Our industry-leading console headset portfolio continued to expand and perform well, as our Stealth 600 wireless headset was the best-selling headset series in 2022 per NPD. We also launched our first $199 MSRP headsets, the Stealth 700 Max series, and took over 40% US retail sales share of that premium-price-tier. In fact, despite the extremely promotional competitive environment, we increased our console headset ASPs by over 7% in 2022, per US NPD. Additionally, we announced innovative new products across our award-winning PC portfolio, and our newest product categories of flight simulation, console and mobile controller product lines all expanded in the year, performing well relative to our expectations. In fact, our VelocityOne Flight became the #1 best-selling flight controller by dollar sales in the US in its first full year per NPD, and in total, our product diversification strategy delivered 25% of non-console headset revenues for the full year 2022.
New NFC Tag-Side Controller From Infineon Integrates Energy-Harvesting to Enable Battery-Free IoT Solutions
NFC-based sensing controllers with energy-harvesting capabilities are critical for the development of passive smart devices that can operate with high accuracy, efficiency, and design convenience in a wide range of IoT applications. With the NGC1081, Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) expands its product portfolio of NFC tag-side controllers. The new IC is a single-chip solution that enables the IoT industry to develop low-cost, miniaturized, smart edge computing/sensing devices, maximizing the benefits for both end-users and manufacturers. Such devices can be controlled and powered by mobile phones, with potential applications ranging from medical patches and disposable point-of-case testers to data loggers, smart thermostats, and sensor inlays.
The tag-side controller supports a dual power supply function, allowing it to operate in a passive mode (battery-free) based on energy harvesting, or in a battery-powered mode, operating as a self-contained sensing node via a 3 to 3.3 V external power supply. In passive mode, the entire sensing system, including the IC and its connected sensors, can draw power via energy harvesting from the NFC field of a mobile phone. Together with its naturally galvanically isolated sensing interface, these features open up countless possibilities for creating many innovative sensing use cases that require no batteries and minimal maintenance. This is particularly useful for applications where the power supply needs to be galvanically isolated to meet the safety requirement.
The tag-side controller supports a dual power supply function, allowing it to operate in a passive mode (battery-free) based on energy harvesting, or in a battery-powered mode, operating as a self-contained sensing node via a 3 to 3.3 V external power supply. In passive mode, the entire sensing system, including the IC and its connected sensors, can draw power via energy harvesting from the NFC field of a mobile phone. Together with its naturally galvanically isolated sensing interface, these features open up countless possibilities for creating many innovative sensing use cases that require no batteries and minimal maintenance. This is particularly useful for applications where the power supply needs to be galvanically isolated to meet the safety requirement.
Monday, March 13th 2023
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Headphones
Keyboards
Motherboards
Razer Naga V2 Hyperspeed Review
The AA-battery driven Naga V2 Hyperspeed not only comes with Razer's latest Focus Pro 30K sensor, it also has Razer's second-generation mechanical main button switches rated for 60 million clicks, 20 buttons, as well as both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, lasting for up to 250 or 400 hours, respectively.
LG UltraGear Launches 49GR85DC-B DQHD Curved Gaming Monitor
LG UltraGear, the gaming brand of LG, launched the 49GR85DC-B, a curved ultrawide gaming monitor with 32:9 DQHD (5120 x 1440 pixels) native resolution, and 1000R curvature. The monitor offers fast 1 ms (GTG) response-time, and 240 Hz refresh rate, along with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and VESA DisplayHDR 1000. It offers viewing angles of 178°/178°, 450 cd/m² maximum brightness, 2500:1 static contrast-ratio, and 95% coverage of DCI-P3. Inputs include a DisplayPort 1.4, and two HDMI 2.1 connectors. There are several gamer-friendly features, such as hardware crosshairs, framerate counters, black stabilizer, and game genre-specific display presets. The monitor includes a headphones amp for the audio input through the DP/HDMI connection, with support for DTS Headphones X.
Giga Computing Releases First Workstation Motherboards to Support DDR5 and PCIe Gen5 Technologies
Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE and an industry leader in high-performance servers, server motherboards, and workstations, today announced two new workstation motherboards, GIGABYTE MW83-RP0 and MW53-HP0, built to support the Intel Xeon W-3400 or Intel Xeon W-2400 desktop workstation processors. The new CPU platform, developed on the Intel W790 chipset, is the first workstation platform in the market that supports both DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 technology, and this platform excels at demanding applications such as complex 3D CAD, AI development, simulations, 3D rendering, and more.
The new generation of Intel "Sapphire Rapids" Xeon W-3400 & W-2400 series processors adds some significant benefits to its workstation processors when compared to the prior gen of "Ice Lake" Xeon W-3300 processors. Like its predecessor, the new Xeon processors support up to 4 TB of 8-channel memory; however, the new Xeon CPUs have moved to DDR5, which is incredibly advantageous because of the big jump in memory bandwidth performance. Second, higher CPU performance across most workloads, partially due to the higher CPU core count and higher clock speeds. As mentioned before, the new Xeon processors support PCIe Gen 5 devices and speeds for higher throughput between CPU and devices such as GPU.
The new generation of Intel "Sapphire Rapids" Xeon W-3400 & W-2400 series processors adds some significant benefits to its workstation processors when compared to the prior gen of "Ice Lake" Xeon W-3300 processors. Like its predecessor, the new Xeon processors support up to 4 TB of 8-channel memory; however, the new Xeon CPUs have moved to DDR5, which is incredibly advantageous because of the big jump in memory bandwidth performance. Second, higher CPU performance across most workloads, partially due to the higher CPU core count and higher clock speeds. As mentioned before, the new Xeon processors support PCIe Gen 5 devices and speeds for higher throughput between CPU and devices such as GPU.
AMD Ryzen 5 7640U Phoenix CPU Spotted in Geekbench Database
Although AMD has only revealed its Ryzen 7040 HS-series CPUs for laptops and did not talk about the U-series, the Ryzen 5 7640U Phoenix 6-core APU has now been spotted in the Geekbench database. The same CPU has already appeared earlier when AMD was talking about the new naming scheme for its Ryzen 7000 series.
Based on AMD's Zen 4 core architecture and built on a 4 nm manufacturing process, the Ryzen 5 7640U features 6-cores and 12-threads, 6 MB of L2 cache, and 16 MB of L3 cache. According to the Geekbench listing, it works at 3.5 GHz base and 4.9 GHz boost clocks. It also comes with Radeon RX 760M, which is an RDNA 3 based iGPU with 8 Compute Units (CUs), which should leave it with 512 Stream Processors. As detailed earlier, the TDP is set at 15 W to 28 W, and it aims at the "Premium Ultrathin" market. Judging from these listed specifications, the Ryzen 7640U appears to be the same as the Ryzen 5 7640HS, probably just with lower clocks across the board due to the lower TDP.
Based on AMD's Zen 4 core architecture and built on a 4 nm manufacturing process, the Ryzen 5 7640U features 6-cores and 12-threads, 6 MB of L2 cache, and 16 MB of L3 cache. According to the Geekbench listing, it works at 3.5 GHz base and 4.9 GHz boost clocks. It also comes with Radeon RX 760M, which is an RDNA 3 based iGPU with 8 Compute Units (CUs), which should leave it with 512 Stream Processors. As detailed earlier, the TDP is set at 15 W to 28 W, and it aims at the "Premium Ultrathin" market. Judging from these listed specifications, the Ryzen 7640U appears to be the same as the Ryzen 5 7640HS, probably just with lower clocks across the board due to the lower TDP.
A Video Game Adapted From the Iconic Japanese Animation Series Space Adventure Cobra Is in Development!
Microids and TMS are pleased to announce that Cobra, the video game, is currently in the pre-production stage. Adapted from the Japanese animation series produced by TMS Entertainment (based on illustrations and comic books created by Buichi Terasawa), the video game provides players the opportunity to step into Cobra's shoes as the famous galactic bounty hunter, in a futuristic and colourful universe on consoles and PC.
Created in 1978, the cult manga Cobra has fascinated many generations of fans with its complex plot known for its many twists and turns. With his legendary Psycho Gun attached to his left arm, and his iconic partnership with Lady, the notorious space pirate Cobra has captivated audiences for decades.
Created in 1978, the cult manga Cobra has fascinated many generations of fans with its complex plot known for its many twists and turns. With his legendary Psycho Gun attached to his left arm, and his iconic partnership with Lady, the notorious space pirate Cobra has captivated audiences for decades.
The Witcher 3: Next-Gen Patch Releases Today
CD Projekt RED has announced that it will release its new big patch for The Witcher 3: Next-Gen today, coming to all platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. We still do not have all the patch notes but Marcin Momot, Global Communication Director at CD Projekt RED, noted that it will be around 2 GB on the PC and between 10 GB and 20 GB on consoles.
It will be interesting to see if CD Projekt RED managed to optimize the CPU multi-threading as the game was pretty hard even on high-end systems. CD Projekt RED already said it was looking into this issue, and hopefully, this new patch will address this and other issues that have been plaguing the game. We'll update the article as soon as official release notes are available.
Update: Patch 4.02 for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has gone live and should be available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox consoles soon. Full release notes are now available.
It will be interesting to see if CD Projekt RED managed to optimize the CPU multi-threading as the game was pretty hard even on high-end systems. CD Projekt RED already said it was looking into this issue, and hopefully, this new patch will address this and other issues that have been plaguing the game. We'll update the article as soon as official release notes are available.
Update: Patch 4.02 for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has gone live and should be available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox consoles soon. Full release notes are now available.
Anker Launches its First USB4 Type-C Docking Station
To date, there's something of a shortage of actual USB4 devices on the market and to date it appears that VLI with its VL830 endpoint device controller is leading the market. Although we can't be certain that Anker's new 568 USB4 Type-C hub uses the VL830, the VLI chip has appeared in almost all similar devices on the market and the specs suggest it's built around the VL830. The Anker 568 supports a single USB4 input, fortunately it doesn't rely on a captive cable as it has a standard USB-C port as the input. Thanks to a 180 W power input via a 20 V 9 A power brick, it can charge laptops up to 100 W via the USB-C port.
Outputs consist of one HDMI port capable of 4K 60p output and a pair of DisplayPort outputs, both capable of 8K 30p individually or 4K 60p when both are used. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port, four 5 Gbps USB-A ports and two USB 2.0 ports around the rear of the dock. The front houses a pair of 10 Gbps capable USB-C ports that can also deliver up to 30 W of power for charging various portable electronics. The MSRP for the Anker 568 is US$299.99.
Outputs consist of one HDMI port capable of 4K 60p output and a pair of DisplayPort outputs, both capable of 8K 30p individually or 4K 60p when both are used. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port, four 5 Gbps USB-A ports and two USB 2.0 ports around the rear of the dock. The front houses a pair of 10 Gbps capable USB-C ports that can also deliver up to 30 W of power for charging various portable electronics. The MSRP for the Anker 568 is US$299.99.
AMD Announces Appointment of New Corporate Fellows
AMD today announced the appointment of five technical leaders to the role of AMD Corporate Fellow. These appointments recognize each leader's significant impact on semiconductor innovation across various areas, from graphics architecture to advanced packaging. "David, Nathan, Suresh, Ben and Ralph - whose engineering contributions have already left an indelible mark on our industry - represent the best of our innovation culture," said Mark Papermaster, chief technology officer and executive vice president of Technology and Engineering at AMD. "Their appointments to Corporate Fellow will enable AMD to innovate in new dimensions as we work to deliver the most significant breakthroughs in high-performance computing in the decade ahead."
Appointment to AMD Corporate Fellow is an honor bestowed on the most accomplished AMD innovators. AMD Corporate Fellows are appointed after a rigorous review process that assesses not only specific technical contributions to the company, but also involvement in the industry, mentoring of others and improving the long-term strategic position of the company. Currently, only 13 engineers at AMD hold the title of Corporate Fellow.
Appointment to AMD Corporate Fellow is an honor bestowed on the most accomplished AMD innovators. AMD Corporate Fellows are appointed after a rigorous review process that assesses not only specific technical contributions to the company, but also involvement in the industry, mentoring of others and improving the long-term strategic position of the company. Currently, only 13 engineers at AMD hold the title of Corporate Fellow.
Aetina to Showcase Its New AI Solutions at Embedded World 2023
Aetina Corporation, a leading provider of AI solutions for the creations of different types of vertical AI, will showcase its new embedded computers, AI inference platforms, GPUs, AI accelerators, and edge devices management software at upcoming Embedded World 2023. Aetina provides different types of form factors based on GPUs or ASICs, such as MXMs, graphic cards, and edge computing systems. The MXMs that are powered by NVIDIA Ampere architecture-based GPU offer extra computing power to existing AI systems, ensuring low-latency data analytics tasks. The MXMs and systems that are built with ASICs, on the other hand, are ideal for the creation of any specific applications or AI systems that involve multi-inference processes.
As an Elite member of the NVIDIA Partner Network, Aetina offers a variety of edge computing systems and platforms powered by the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI and robotics platform. Aetina's newly released embedded computers are built with the Jetson Orin series SoMs—Jetson AGX Orin, Jetson Orin NX, and Jetson Orin Nano ; these small-sized systems and platforms, supporting different peripherals, can be easily integrated into larger AI-powered systems while also being able to function as a standalone AI computer.
As an Elite member of the NVIDIA Partner Network, Aetina offers a variety of edge computing systems and platforms powered by the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI and robotics platform. Aetina's newly released embedded computers are built with the Jetson Orin series SoMs—Jetson AGX Orin, Jetson Orin NX, and Jetson Orin Nano ; these small-sized systems and platforms, supporting different peripherals, can be easily integrated into larger AI-powered systems while also being able to function as a standalone AI computer.
Report: Total Revenue of Top 10 Foundries Fell by 4.7% QoQ for 4Q22 and Will Slide Further for 1Q23
According to TrendForce's latest survey of the global foundry market, electronics brands began adjusting their inventories in 2Q22, but foundries were unable to rapidly adapt to this development because they reside in the more upper portion of the supply chain. Moreover, revising procurement quantities of long-term foundry contracts takes time as well. Hence, only some tier-2 and -3 foundries were able to immediately respond to the changes in their clients' demand. Also, among them, 8-inch wafer foundries made a more pronounced reduction in their capacity utilization rates. As for the remaining foundries, the downward corrections that they made to their capacity utilization rates did not become noticeable until 4Q22. Hence, in 4Q22, the quarterly total revenue of the global top 10 foundries registered a QoQ decline for the first time after 13 consecutive quarters of positive growth. The quarterly total revenue of the top 10 foundries came to US$33,530 million, reflecting a drop of 4.7% from 3Q22. Moving into 1Q23, TrendForce projects that the quarterly total revenue of the top 10 will show an even steeper drop on account of seasonality and the uncertain macroeconomic situation.
Oddball Tactical Shooter Lemnis Gate Shutting Down in July, Publisher Frontier Foundry on Shaky Ground
Lemnis Gate is set to be shutdown by July of this year, according to an update issued on the game's Steam page, dated March 9, 2023. Ratloop Games Canada and Frontier Foundry addressed the fanbase with sad news via a joint statement: "To the Lemnis Gate Community, we want to thank you all for your support with Lemnis Gate, joining us for many incredible rounds in the loop. We've truly loved seeing your passion for the game, the mind-bending strategies you created and how you embraced this innovative twist on the FPS genre. Lemnis Gate has been an ambitious project that we are privileged to have brought to life together, so it's with sadness that we share this news today."
The game is due to be removed from all platforms by April 11, 2023. The developer and publisher set a date for the tactical PvP title's shutdown: "Lemnis Gate will be removed from sale on all platforms. However, we will be keeping the multiplayer servers online so you can all continue to enter the loop until July 11 2023, at which point they will be closed. Console players will still be able to access local multiplayer and training modes, however PC players will be unable to play beyond that point."
The game is due to be removed from all platforms by April 11, 2023. The developer and publisher set a date for the tactical PvP title's shutdown: "Lemnis Gate will be removed from sale on all platforms. However, we will be keeping the multiplayer servers online so you can all continue to enter the loop until July 11 2023, at which point they will be closed. Console players will still be able to access local multiplayer and training modes, however PC players will be unable to play beyond that point."
Apex Storage Add-In-Card Hosts 21 M.2 SSDs, up to 168 TBs of Storage
Apex Storage, a new company in the storage world, has announced that its X21 add-in-card (AIC) has room for 21 (you read that right) PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSDs. The card supports up to 168 TBs with 8 TB M.2 NVMe SSDs and 336 TBs of storage with future 16 TB M.2 SSDs drives and can withstand speeds of up to 30.5 GB/s. Packed inside a single-slot, full-length, full-height AIC, the X21 card is built for a snug fit inside workstations and applications such as machine learning and hyper-converged infrastructure that enterprises need to develop inside servers and workstations across the site.
The X21 AIC has 100 PCIe lanes on the board, which indicates the presence of a PCIe switch, likely placed under the heatsink. To power all the storage, the PCIe slot itself needs to be more, and the card also has two 6-pin PCIe power connectors that provide 225 Watts of power in total. Interestingly, the heatsink is passively cooled, but Apex Storage suggests that there should be an active airflow with a minimum of 400 LFM to ensure the regular operation of the card. In the example application, the company laid out X21 with Samsung's 990 Pro SSDs; however, the card also supports Intel Optane drives. Read and Write IOPS are higher than 10 million. Additionally, the average read and write access latencies are 79 ms and 52 ms. Apex Storage didn't reveal the pricing and availability of the card; however, expect it to come with a premium.
The X21 AIC has 100 PCIe lanes on the board, which indicates the presence of a PCIe switch, likely placed under the heatsink. To power all the storage, the PCIe slot itself needs to be more, and the card also has two 6-pin PCIe power connectors that provide 225 Watts of power in total. Interestingly, the heatsink is passively cooled, but Apex Storage suggests that there should be an active airflow with a minimum of 400 LFM to ensure the regular operation of the card. In the example application, the company laid out X21 with Samsung's 990 Pro SSDs; however, the card also supports Intel Optane drives. Read and Write IOPS are higher than 10 million. Additionally, the average read and write access latencies are 79 ms and 52 ms. Apex Storage didn't reveal the pricing and availability of the card; however, expect it to come with a premium.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Developer Is Victim of Hacker Group, GSC Game World Issues Statement
GSC Game World has released a defiant statement, in the face of threats of ransomed S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 data. It provides an update about one of its employee's accounts being compromised by hackers, and as a result of this, the studio is now threatened with blackmail. A statement was posted, March 12, on the GSC Game World's official Twitter account. The developer is urging that fans refrain from sharing leaked material and spoilers, and warns that the final product should not be pre-judged in a harsh light, based on any of the leaked work-in-progress material.
It is not unusual for hacker groups to threaten game developers and publishers. Rockstar Games was the victim of a leak in 2022, when videos of its in-development and upcoming video game Grand Theft Auto 6 were uploaded to forums. The in-game footage was spread across social media and the internet, and shortly thereafter, a hacker wanted to "negotiate a deal" with Rockstar Games. Source code for GTA 5 & 6 was used as leverage.
It is not unusual for hacker groups to threaten game developers and publishers. Rockstar Games was the victim of a leak in 2022, when videos of its in-development and upcoming video game Grand Theft Auto 6 were uploaded to forums. The in-game footage was spread across social media and the internet, and shortly thereafter, a hacker wanted to "negotiate a deal" with Rockstar Games. Source code for GTA 5 & 6 was used as leverage.
Low-profile, Single-slot AMD Radeon RX 6300 Graphics Card Hits the Chinese Grey Market
A curious OEM-only AMD Radeon RX 6300 desktop graphics card surfaced on Chinese peer-to-peer marketplaces. The card is a true single-slot, half-height (low-profile) graphics card, with an active fan-heatsink based cooling; and two display outputs—a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. The card draws all its power from the PCIe slot, and features a PCI-Express 4.0 x4 host interface. The RX 6300 is based on the same 6 nm "Navi 24" silicon as the RX 6400 and RX 6500 XT, although it is rumored to be heavily cut down. The mobile RX 6300M has 768 out of 1,024 stream processors enabled, so one can expect a similar cut-down for the RX 6300. Perhaps the most interesting piece of specifications is the memory—2 GB GDDR6. It's possible that the card has a puny 32-bit memory interface, half that of the 64-bit interface the "Navi 24" is capable of. The person selling it has it listed at just ¥399 RMB (around $60).
DFI Reveals New PCSF51 1.8" SBC with High Performance AMD Ryzen R2000 Processor
DFI, the global leader in embedded solutions, today announced their latest PCSF51 next-generation 1.8" Single Board Computer at Embedded World 2023. The 1.8" SBC powered by the revolutionary AMD Ryzen Embedded R2000 Processor, the PCSF51 features advanced graphics processing and computing capabilities in a miniature form factor. Equipped with flexible expandability and I/O versatility, this energy-efficient SBC is tailored for use in industrial applications, robotics, edge computing, AI vision systems, and more.
"By leveraging the latest AMD Ryzen Embedded R2000 Processor, we have achieved many advantages for the tiny yet powerful PCSF51," said DFI President Alexander Su. "We have a positive outlook for future Industrial Pi innovations." Compared to its previous generation GHF51 with the AMD Ryzen R1000 Processor, the latest R2000 processor built into the PCSF51 delivers upgraded performance with double the max CPU core count, scalability up to four CPU cores and eight threads, and a 50% increase in CPU power. Graphics performance is boosted by 15% with up to eight graphic compute units. The design of the PCSF51 has also been enhanced from the previous GHF51, with an easier-to-use on board power/reset and HDMI, in addition to a thinner thermal module. With rich multimedia capabilities, it can support ultra-high-resolution displays in 4K resolution.
"By leveraging the latest AMD Ryzen Embedded R2000 Processor, we have achieved many advantages for the tiny yet powerful PCSF51," said DFI President Alexander Su. "We have a positive outlook for future Industrial Pi innovations." Compared to its previous generation GHF51 with the AMD Ryzen R1000 Processor, the latest R2000 processor built into the PCSF51 delivers upgraded performance with double the max CPU core count, scalability up to four CPU cores and eight threads, and a 50% increase in CPU power. Graphics performance is boosted by 15% with up to eight graphic compute units. The design of the PCSF51 has also been enhanced from the previous GHF51, with an easier-to-use on board power/reset and HDMI, in addition to a thinner thermal module. With rich multimedia capabilities, it can support ultra-high-resolution displays in 4K resolution.
First Patch for Kerbal Space Program 2 Due This Week
Kerbal Space Program 2's first patch is due to drop this week. Creative Director Nate Simpson, on March 10, announced a specific date: "As to the timing of Patch One... QA is thoroughly testing the build right now, and as soon as they give us a thumbs-up, we'll release it. Right now, our goal is to release that patch next Thursday (March 16th). Provided QA does not uncover any show-stopping bugs over the next few days, that date should hold."
He also highlighted the possibility of a slight delay to the patch, in the event of bugs being found before the official date of issue: "If they do run into something unexpected that needs to be fixed, that date will slip. We have done a fair amount of hand-wringing around whether we should announce the target date for this patch when there is a non-zero chance of a delay, but we know this topic is very important to you all, so we're doing our best to keep you all in the loop." He then mentions that another set of improvements are being worked on. "We've also already completed a nice queue of fixes to go into the second patch, but we'll talk more about that after we've got the first one out the door."
He also highlighted the possibility of a slight delay to the patch, in the event of bugs being found before the official date of issue: "If they do run into something unexpected that needs to be fixed, that date will slip. We have done a fair amount of hand-wringing around whether we should announce the target date for this patch when there is a non-zero chance of a delay, but we know this topic is very important to you all, so we're doing our best to keep you all in the loop." He then mentions that another set of improvements are being worked on. "We've also already completed a nice queue of fixes to go into the second patch, but we'll talk more about that after we've got the first one out the door."
ASUS Launches the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM Monitor
ASUS today formally launched the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM Monitor. We first spotted this monitor on the show-floor at the 2023 International CES back in January. It is one of the company's fastest monitors with an OLED display panel. The 27-incher offers WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution, with a blistering 0.03 ms response time, and 240 Hz refresh rate, and 1,000 nits peak brightness and DCI-P3 coverage of 99%. OLED panels tend to produce more heat than LED-backlit LCD panels, and so ASUS introduced a passive cooling solution to cool it. The monitor supports NVIDIA G-SYNC (compatible), along with VESA Adaptive Sync. Display inputs include a DisplayPort 1.4, and two HDMI 2.0. The company didn't reveal pricing.
ASUS IoT Presents Complete Embedded Portfolio to Accelerate Digital Transformation at Embedded World 2023
ASUS IoT, the global AIoT solution provider, today announced that it is delighted to be attending the Embedded World 2023 from March 14-16 in Nuremburg, Germany. On show will be the comprehensive ASUS IoT lineup of edge AI computers, industrial motherboards, COM Express (COMe) modules, Tinker-series single-board computers (SBCs), Mini PCs, market-ready solutions and AI solutions. This impressive portfolio of embedded and IoT offerings delivers ASUS IoT's leading hardware and software computing capabilities and services across diverse vertical markets.
ASUS Announces ZenScreen MB249C Portable Monitor
ASUS today announced ZenScreen MB249C, a frameless 23.8-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) portable monitor designed for users looking to maximize their workspace. Its IPS panel provides ultrawide viewing angles and features an anti-glare surface to minimize glare and reflections. ZenScreen MB249C, which has just won a Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Award, weighs just 2.8 kg and provides complete flexibility with its integrated carrying stand/kickstand, height-adjustable C-clamp arm, and partition hook kit. It also offers comprehensive connectivity with a full-function USB-C featuring 60 W Power Delivery, HDMI, and an earphone jack. Featuring two 1 W speakers with an amplifier, this monitor includes TÜV Rheinland-certified ASUS Eye Care technology, has ENERGY STAR certification, and is packaged in FSC Mix paper.
ASUS ZenScreen MB249C is designed to give multitasking a boost. Its large, frameless 23.8-inch 1080p IPS panel offers 178° viewing angles for multiple users and an anti-glare coating for more comfortable work in bright environments. Meanwhile, a sleek 7.6 mm profile, 2.8 kg weight and integrated carrying handle offer easy portability around the home, office and co-working spaces. Plus, multiple stand options offer wide versatility, so users can configure the MB249C to meet a variety of needs. Additionally, twin 1 W speakers with amplifier technology deliver immersive sound when watching videos, listening to music, or gaming. Its flexibility can turn nearly any space into a nook for both productivity and entertainment.
ASUS ZenScreen MB249C is designed to give multitasking a boost. Its large, frameless 23.8-inch 1080p IPS panel offers 178° viewing angles for multiple users and an anti-glare coating for more comfortable work in bright environments. Meanwhile, a sleek 7.6 mm profile, 2.8 kg weight and integrated carrying handle offer easy portability around the home, office and co-working spaces. Plus, multiple stand options offer wide versatility, so users can configure the MB249C to meet a variety of needs. Additionally, twin 1 W speakers with amplifier technology deliver immersive sound when watching videos, listening to music, or gaming. Its flexibility can turn nearly any space into a nook for both productivity and entertainment.
Dynatron Intros 80 mm x 240 mm AIO CPU Cooler for 2U Rack Cases
Server and workstation cooling solutions provider Dynatron unveiled the L35, a unique all-in-one liquid CPU cooler meant for 2U rackmount cases. The cooler features a 240 mm x 80 mm radiator, which relies on three 80 mm fans in a row for ventilation. The radiator itself is a chunky 44 mm-thick. The cooler uses a pump located at the radiator, while the thin water-block doesn't have any cables going to it, just the coolant tubes. Each of the three included 80 mm fans are data-center grade, turn at speeds of up to 8,000 RPM, pushing up to 115.61 CFM of airflow, at 64.4 dBA of noise output. Among the CPU socket types supported are Intel LGA2066, LGA1700, AMD AM5, and AM4. Dynatron claims that the cooler is capable of handling thermal loads of up to 250 W.
ZALMAN Intros ZM-K610 65% Wireless Keyboard with Hot-swappable Key Switches
ZALMAN today introduced the ZM-K610, a 65% format (68-key) wireless mechanical gaming keyboard. It offers hot-swappable key switches, letting end-users not just replace broken switches on-the-fly, but also mix and match switch types, giving specific keys a certain kind of switch. The keyboard uses Gateron-sourced G-Pro series switches, with hot-swappable sockets. You can mix between Blue, Red, Brown, and Yellow switch types. The ZM-K5610 comes in two trims—blue+white, and white+gray. Both offer PBT resin keycaps, with individual RGB LED illumination. The keyboard offers wired and 2.4 GHz RF wireless connectivity with fast 1000 Hz polling-rate; and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity with 125 Hz rate. A 3,000 mAh rechargeable battery provides up to 73 hours of use (measured with the lighting turned off). Measuring 311 mm x 103 mm x 40 mm, the ZM-K610 weighs 764 g (without cable). The company didn't reveal pricing.
Embarks Studios' THE FINALS has DLSS 3 support
THE FINALS, the upcoming free-to-play first-person shooter from Embarks Studios, features both support for NVIDIA DLSS 3 and RTX Global Illumination. Surprisingly, neither NVIDIA nor Embarks Studio announced the support, although NVIDIA did briefly note that the game will have support for DLSS.
THE FINALS, described as free-to-play, combat-centered game show is a multiplayer team game that takes place in virtual arenas that can be "altered, exploited, and even destroyed", is built on Unreal Engine. The advanced destruction system in the game looks quite impressive and while there are certainly things that are indestructible, it still looks like quite a lot of fun and brings a certain twist to the game.
THE FINALS, described as free-to-play, combat-centered game show is a multiplayer team game that takes place in virtual arenas that can be "altered, exploited, and even destroyed", is built on Unreal Engine. The advanced destruction system in the game looks quite impressive and while there are certainly things that are indestructible, it still looks like quite a lot of fun and brings a certain twist to the game.
Forspoken Patch 1.1 Brings Better Performance and Better Graphics
Square Enix has released the new Patch 1.1 for its Forspoken game, improving both the performance and graphics details in some segments of the game, and fixing some of the bugs. According to the patch notes, the new Patch 1.1 brings several performance optimizations to the game, and while the actual performance will vary depending on the PC hardware, Square Enix is promising as much as 30 percent improvements in performance. Square Enix says that it managed to reduce processing load in certain areas of the game and certain scenes by up to 70 percent, and has also reduced the VRAM usage, which all add to the performance improvement gain.
The new patch also brings several graphics improvements, bringing brightness and contrast (and HDR) adjustments at the start of the game. It adds some changes to lighting and ambient occlusion, improves the glare filter quality, adjusts the texture and shading for certain objects, and more. Square Enix also fixed the flicker screen issue with AMD Radeon RX 570 or RX 580 graphics cards, and other various minor issues. It also has multiple miscellaneous fixes, and some feature updates.
The new patch also brings several graphics improvements, bringing brightness and contrast (and HDR) adjustments at the start of the game. It adds some changes to lighting and ambient occlusion, improves the glare filter quality, adjusts the texture and shading for certain objects, and more. Square Enix also fixed the flicker screen issue with AMD Radeon RX 570 or RX 580 graphics cards, and other various minor issues. It also has multiple miscellaneous fixes, and some feature updates.
3% of AMD Radeon Users May Experience Unusually Low 3DMark TimeSpy Performance, Driver Fix Underway
About 3% of AMD Radeon graphics card users may experience lower than usual 3DMark TimeSpy performance, says UL Benchmarks, developers of the 3DMark graphics benchmark suite. The issue came to light when a Google developer noticed that his RX 7900 XTX exhibited lower than expected performacne in TimeSpy, and took it up with UL. While the 3DMark developer hasn't been able to reproduce the issue on their end, it mentions that AMD is aware of it, has had more luck in reproducing it, and is working on a driver-level fix. For now, UL offers no solution other than to roll back to older driver versions and try testing again.
Cooler Master Intros MasterMouse MM712 Wireless
Cooler Master introduced the MasterMouse MM712 Wireless, a gaming mouse suitable for all grip and genre types. The mouse offers three kinds of connectivity—wired USB, wireless RF 2.4 GHz, and Bluetooth 5.1. It uses an internal 500 mAh rechargeable battery that soaks charge when using the mouse in the USB mode (or when plugged in to any USB power source). On a full charge, this battery provides up to 180 hours of use in the Bluetooth 5.1 mode, and up to 80 hours in the 2.4 GHz RF mode (probably due to the latter having a higher 1000 Hz polling rate, while BT only offers 125 Hz).
Under the hood, the MM712 packs a PixArt Optical sensor with 19,000 dpi resolution, 400 IPS instruction-rate, and 50 G acceleration. The main two buttons use optical switches rated for 70 million clicks. The mouse measures 116.5 mm x 62.4 mm x 38.3 mm, and weighs 59 g without cable or dongle (but including its internal battery). It comes in two color-based variants—all black, and white+gray. The mice come with Teflon glide surfaces underneath. The MM712 is expected to begin selling from March 16. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Under the hood, the MM712 packs a PixArt Optical sensor with 19,000 dpi resolution, 400 IPS instruction-rate, and 50 G acceleration. The main two buttons use optical switches rated for 70 million clicks. The mouse measures 116.5 mm x 62.4 mm x 38.3 mm, and weighs 59 g without cable or dongle (but including its internal battery). It comes in two color-based variants—all black, and white+gray. The mice come with Teflon glide surfaces underneath. The MM712 is expected to begin selling from March 16. The company didn't reveal pricing.
EK Launches New Scalar² Terminals for EK-Quantum Vector² Water Blocks
EK, the premium water-cooling gear manufacturer, is introducing a new portfolio of Quantum Line terminals from the Scalar² family. This is the second wave of new products to join this series, with the following three products hitting the shelves: EK-Quantum Scalar² DirectLink Side Port Terminal - Acetal, EK-Quantum Scalar² SFF Terminal - Acetal, and EK-Quantum Scalar² Side Port Terminal - Acetal. The brand-new terminals are made for Vector² water blocks and Vector² ABP sets, introducing new GPU routing options and allowing for an even easier and more satisfying loop-building experience.
This is a specialized Scalar² terminal for the premium-grade EK-Quantum Vector² GPU water blocks. It was designed and engineered to benefit SFF builders as it is 14mm thinner compared to the water block's stock terminal, bringing a plethora of new connectivity options to the table. For example, it can come in handy when the GPU is too wide to close the case panel due to the size of the stock terminal.
This is a specialized Scalar² terminal for the premium-grade EK-Quantum Vector² GPU water blocks. It was designed and engineered to benefit SFF builders as it is 14mm thinner compared to the water block's stock terminal, bringing a plethora of new connectivity options to the table. For example, it can come in handy when the GPU is too wide to close the case panel due to the size of the stock terminal.
Intel Readies ATX 12VHPWR Connector Revision to Address Improper-Contact Fire Hazards
Intel is preparing a revision to the design of the 12+4 pin ATX 12VHPWR power connector, specifically its male connector, to improve connector mating and retention; and to minimize a potential fire hazard asiring from improper retention or mating. The male connector design revision will retain full compatibility with female connectors of devices in circulation. It essentially sees the pins of the male connector switch from a "three dimple" joint to a "push-spring" type joint. This design change makes the male connector much more resilient to weakening contact from pull forces arising from cable bending. The resulting connector would offer superior structural integrity of the connection.
Fujitsu Prepares A64FX Successor, Codenamed MONAKA
Fujitsu is in the development phase of its next-generation processor aimed at the HPC market. The company currently offers its A64FX design based on Arm ISA and its power Fugaku supercomputer. However, with the next-generation design, much larger data sets will need to be processed, and a lot of computational work power will be required to handle it. So, to prepare for that, Fujitsu is making some bold claims that its CPU will have an "overwhelming efficiency." Codenamed MONAKA, the next-generation CPU will be based on Arm ISA (probably version 9 and up) and will compete in a wider range of workloads than A64FX, currently powering HPC sites only. MONAKA's design is reportedly made with HPC, AI, and data analytical workloads.
According to The Register, we have some finer details about the next-generation CPU. Slated for release in 2027, the MONAKA design is set to appeal to hyperscalers, not just HPC sites. Scalability and energy efficiency are the keywords, as Fujitsu claims that MONAKA will have 1.7x lead in application performance while offering 2x the performance per watt compared to solutions provided by other vendors at the time. That includes Intel, AMD, and others. A Fujitsu spokesperson noted that "The next-generation DC CPU (MONAKA) that we're developing will have a wider range of features and will prove more energy efficient. The range of potential applications is wider than that of the A64FX, which has special characteristics (e.g., interconnects) specific to Fugaku." Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) will undoubtedly be interested in a new design and Fugaku NEXT supercomputer that will replace the current Fugaku system as the top-end system could be powered by MONAKA. Fugaku NEXT is still in the evaluation phase at Japanese RIKEN laboratories.
According to The Register, we have some finer details about the next-generation CPU. Slated for release in 2027, the MONAKA design is set to appeal to hyperscalers, not just HPC sites. Scalability and energy efficiency are the keywords, as Fujitsu claims that MONAKA will have 1.7x lead in application performance while offering 2x the performance per watt compared to solutions provided by other vendors at the time. That includes Intel, AMD, and others. A Fujitsu spokesperson noted that "The next-generation DC CPU (MONAKA) that we're developing will have a wider range of features and will prove more energy efficient. The range of potential applications is wider than that of the A64FX, which has special characteristics (e.g., interconnects) specific to Fugaku." Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) will undoubtedly be interested in a new design and Fugaku NEXT supercomputer that will replace the current Fugaku system as the top-end system could be powered by MONAKA. Fugaku NEXT is still in the evaluation phase at Japanese RIKEN laboratories.
Intel's China-exclusive 13th Gen "Dark SKUs" See Price Cuts
Intel in February launched a couple of China-exclusive 13th Gen Core SKUs to highly optimize their price-performance for the PC gaming crowd there. These included the Core i5-13490F (6P+4E but with 24 MB L3 cache), and Core i7-13790F (8P+8E but with 33 MB L3 cache). In the wake of increased competition from AMD with its non-X Ryzen 5 7600, Ryzen 7 7700, and price-adjustments for its 7600X and 7700X, Intel is giving these SKUs slight price cuts. The i5-13490F launched at ¥1,599 (roughly $230), but is now retailing for ¥1,499 (roughly $200). There's no word on if these SKUs will launch outside China. The idea behind them is to increase the L3 cache sizes without touching the core-counts or clock-speeds, to improve cache-sensitive gaming performance. These chips are packaged in special "dark" retail boxes as shown below.
GIGABYTE Intros Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming OC Pro
GIGABYTE gave its previous-generation Radeon RX 6000 graphics card series an unexpected revision even as the new RX 7000 series is out. The company released the Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming OC Pro, a new graphics card model in the company's main GIGABYTE Gaming brand, positioned a notch below the AORUS Gaming series. The new Gaming OC Pro features a significantly larger cooler than the original RX 6800 XT Gaming OC, measuring at least 33 cm in length, up from roughly 29 cm for the original RX 6800 XT Gaming OC. It's also significantly taller, by at least 1.5 cm.
It turns out that GIGABYTE is sitting on plenty of cooling solutions it originally ordered from its suppliers for the Radeon RX 6950 XT Gaming OC, and is now reusing them for other SKUs based on the same "Navi 21" GPU, such as the RX 6800 XT. The company is also reusing the same PCB. Selling for around $550-650, the RX 6800 XT remains a formidable 1440p gaming graphics card for classic raster 3D graphics, although its ray tracing performance is closer to those of mid-range GeForce RTX 30-series models, such as the RTX 3060 Ti. A reuse of the RX 6950 XT board design means that the new RX 6800 XT Gaming OC Pro has three 8-pin power inputs instead of two on the original RX 6800 XT Gaming OC.
It turns out that GIGABYTE is sitting on plenty of cooling solutions it originally ordered from its suppliers for the Radeon RX 6950 XT Gaming OC, and is now reusing them for other SKUs based on the same "Navi 21" GPU, such as the RX 6800 XT. The company is also reusing the same PCB. Selling for around $550-650, the RX 6800 XT remains a formidable 1440p gaming graphics card for classic raster 3D graphics, although its ray tracing performance is closer to those of mid-range GeForce RTX 30-series models, such as the RTX 3060 Ti. A reuse of the RX 6950 XT board design means that the new RX 6800 XT Gaming OC Pro has three 8-pin power inputs instead of two on the original RX 6800 XT Gaming OC.
CS:GO Sets 1.4 Million Concurrent Online Player Count Record
The wildly popular and decade-spanning Counter Strike: Global Offensive set a new all-time concurrent player record over the weekend of 1,420,183 according to SteamDB's tracking. While CS:GO may possibly be looking toward a sunset later this month as rumors of a sequel loom overhead, the game has continued to enjoy a steady increase in players over the past few weeks. A prior record set only a few weeks ago in February finally broke the all-time record of 1,308,963 set way back in 2020, and there was nearly enough momentum to break the record again within 24 hours of the last. Average player numbers are still below that of April 2020's 857,604, but we may yet see even that record broken given the momentum keeps up.
The official CS:GO Twitter account posted a brief congratulations to the player base for setting the record, stating:
The official CS:GO Twitter account posted a brief congratulations to the player base for setting the record, stating:
Thank you to our 1.4M Twitter followers for organizing and playing CS:GO concurrently today.
Sunday, March 12th 2023
ASRock Cuts Prices on Intel Arc Graphics Options
Over the past couple days ASRock has been busy slashing prices on their lineup of Arc graphics cards. Currently (on Newegg at least) you can now find their Challenger Arc A380 for $120, down from $150, the Challenger Arc A750 8 GB at $240, down from $290, and the flagship Phantom Gaming Arc A770 8 GB at $270, down from $320. The new pricing may be in response to prior price drops by Intel, and possibly hints at more to come.
With its new price ASRock's Arc A770 8 GB in particular is placed in a more advantageous position against NVIDIA's RTX 3060 which has only recently seen reduced prices and still lists for well above $300, even $400 for some partner models. AMD is still placed quite competitively thanks to ASRock themselves listing their RX 6600 XT offerings for $275, making the choice between the RX 6600 XT and Arc A770 8 GB a more difficult one. The RX 6650 XT could also be considered as it regularly appears for $290, a mere $20 more than the revised A770 8 GB pricing, and provides a measurable (if minimal) uplift in performance.
With its new price ASRock's Arc A770 8 GB in particular is placed in a more advantageous position against NVIDIA's RTX 3060 which has only recently seen reduced prices and still lists for well above $300, even $400 for some partner models. AMD is still placed quite competitively thanks to ASRock themselves listing their RX 6600 XT offerings for $275, making the choice between the RX 6600 XT and Arc A770 8 GB a more difficult one. The RX 6650 XT could also be considered as it regularly appears for $290, a mere $20 more than the revised A770 8 GB pricing, and provides a measurable (if minimal) uplift in performance.
Google Reveals Intent to Support Live-Service Games With Future Partnerships
Google is "positioning itself as a go-to tech partner for publishers of live-service video games" by offering its cloud gaming technology to outside companies. This is an interesting statement regarding the future trajectory of its cloud gaming infrastructure, given the scarcity of updates since the January 2023 shutdown of the Cloud giant's Stadia gaming platform.
Google Cloud's director of Game Industry solutions, Jack Buser, was interviewed by Axios in an article published earlier this week, he outlined the company's ambitions to move forward in a post-Stadia world. Google Cloud is seeking partnership with publishers, its technology is being offered to prospective clients as a support platform for live-service games. "Google is absolutely committed to games that are such a big part of our messaging," Buser said. "When we made the decision with Stadia, we were just like, look, we are committed to games as an industry."
Google Cloud's director of Game Industry solutions, Jack Buser, was interviewed by Axios in an article published earlier this week, he outlined the company's ambitions to move forward in a post-Stadia world. Google Cloud is seeking partnership with publishers, its technology is being offered to prospective clients as a support platform for live-service games. "Google is absolutely committed to games that are such a big part of our messaging," Buser said. "When we made the decision with Stadia, we were just like, look, we are committed to games as an industry."
AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX Beats Core i9-13950HX In Gaming Performance, Dragon Range Equipped Laptops Available Now
AMD has announced the immediate availability of its Ryzen 7045 HX-series (Dragon Range) processors for high performance laptop devices. In a Youtube video released on March 10, AMD's Jason Banta has announced the availability of the world's most powerful mobile processor, the Ryzen 9 7945HX. He listed the OEM partners who have integrated the 7945HX into flagship level laptop models. He also declared that this range topping CPU is a competition beater. Gaming benchmark tests have demonstrated that the Ryzen 9 7945HX beats Intel's Raptor Lake Core i9-13950HX by an average margin of 10%.
Sony CFO Boasts About $5 Billion Budget, Expects PS5 Hardware Sales to Top 60 Million Units
Sony executive deputy president and CFO Hiroki Totoki made a number of declarations at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference that took place on March 6, 2023. Totoki-san outlined corporate strategies for the Japanese technology and entertainment giant. During a discussion about Sony Group Corporation's investment budgets, he stated that 700 billion Yen has been allocated to spend strategically across several company divisions in 2023, this converts to just over 5 billion US dollars. This represents the remainder of a 2 trillion Yen budget that was announced back in 2021, as a three year long strategic investment plan.
This Week in Gaming (Week 11)
The coming week is a bit slow when it comes to new game releases, especially when it comes to titles from known publishers. This week's AA title, due to a lack of a AAA title, might not appeal to everyone. We also have everything from resource management and strategy games, to a good old fashioned FPS shooter and flying taxi game to look forward to this week.
WWE 2K23 / This week's AA title / Friday 17 March
WWE 2K23 is Even Stronger with expanded features, gorgeous graphics and a deep roster of WWE Superstars and Legends. 2K Showcase returns as an interactive sports documentary focusing on the 20-year career of John Cena and WarGames is finally here!
WWE 2K23 / This week's AA title / Friday 17 March
WWE 2K23 is Even Stronger with expanded features, gorgeous graphics and a deep roster of WWE Superstars and Legends. 2K Showcase returns as an interactive sports documentary focusing on the 20-year career of John Cena and WarGames is finally here!
Saturday, March 11th 2023
AMD Shows First Ryzen 7 7800X3D Game Benchmarks, Up To 24% Faster Than Core i9-13900K
AMD has finally released some of the official gaming benchmark for its 8-core Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor that should be coming in April, and, now that AMD has released some of the first gaming benchmarks, it appears that it outperforms the Intel Core i9-13900K by up to 24 percent. Officially, AMD is putting the Ryzen 7 7800X3D against the Intel Core i7-13700K, leaving the Core i9-13900K and the Core i9-13900KS to its 16- and 12-core Ryzen 7000X3D SKUs.
Although some of its Ryzen 7000X3D series chips are available as of February 28th, namely the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, AMD has pushed back the launch of its 8-core/16-thread Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This was quite a surprise and a big letdown, especially due to its tempting $449 price tag. One of the reasons might be the fact that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is simply too good and might put a lot of pressure on even AMD's own SKUs, let alone Intel's lineup.
Although some of its Ryzen 7000X3D series chips are available as of February 28th, namely the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the Ryzen 9 7900X3D, AMD has pushed back the launch of its 8-core/16-thread Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This was quite a surprise and a big letdown, especially due to its tempting $449 price tag. One of the reasons might be the fact that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is simply too good and might put a lot of pressure on even AMD's own SKUs, let alone Intel's lineup.
Silicon Valley Bank Collapses, Causes Concern Within Tech Industry, Roku Divulges its SVB Investments
Technology Companies, Venture Capitalists and Startups are in panic after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday, March 11, 2023. In the short term it will be a mess - customers of SVB have no access to FDIC insured deposits until Monday (March 13). Customers with investments below a $250,000 cap have been advised to make claims before a strict Monday deadline. The FDIC is forming plans to pay depositors, with investments greater than the aforementioned cap, a special dividend next week.
Forspoken is a Sales Flop, Square Enix Cites "Challenging" Critical Reaction, Dev Studio Being Disbanded
According to a Square Enix Outline of Results Briefing from February 2023, Forspoken sales numbers are lower than anticipated. Square Enix company president Yosuke Matsuda stated: "Reviews of "FORSPOKEN," which we released on January 24, 2023, have been challenging. However, the game has also received positive feedback on its action features, including its parkour and combat capabilities, so it has yielded results that will lead to improvement of our development capabilities of other games in the future. That said, its sales have been lackluster, and while the performance of new titles with February and March release dates will be the ultimate determinant, we see considerable downside risk to our FY2023/3 earnings."
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Allegedly Launches on April 13
It has been pretty much confirmed that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (non-Ti) is launching in April, but now, the rumored date has been specified as April 13th. The latest report comes from a well known leaker, hongxing2020, over at Twitter, who has a pretty good track record and had correct dates for RTX 30 and RTX 40 series launch dates. In case you missed it, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is based on the same AD104 GPU as the RTX 4070 Ti, with slightly fewer cores, but still comes with the same memory specification as the Ti version.
This means the GeForce RTX 4070 should feature 46 streaming multiprocessors (SMs) which should leave it with 5,888 CUDA cores enabled. It will come with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit memory interface. The TDP is rumored at 200 W. There were some rumors that NVIDIA could have three different SKUs for the RTX 4070, with 16 GB, 12 GB, and 10 GB of VRAM, but so far, this has just remained as a vague rumor coming from Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) regulatory filings. NVIDIA is slowly completing the RTX 40 series lineup, so hopefully we will not have to wait too long for updates on the RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 4060. NVIDIA, and its founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, will be holding the opening keynote at GTC on March 21st, so we could get at least some updates for the future GeForce lineup.
This means the GeForce RTX 4070 should feature 46 streaming multiprocessors (SMs) which should leave it with 5,888 CUDA cores enabled. It will come with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit memory interface. The TDP is rumored at 200 W. There were some rumors that NVIDIA could have three different SKUs for the RTX 4070, with 16 GB, 12 GB, and 10 GB of VRAM, but so far, this has just remained as a vague rumor coming from Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) regulatory filings. NVIDIA is slowly completing the RTX 40 series lineup, so hopefully we will not have to wait too long for updates on the RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 4060. NVIDIA, and its founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, will be holding the opening keynote at GTC on March 21st, so we could get at least some updates for the future GeForce lineup.
Cherry Unveils KW 9200 MINI Keyboard with 2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, and Wired Connection
With the KW 9200 MINI, CHERRY is introducing a top-class product that leaves nothing to be desired in terms of technical features, quality and design. The extra-slim keyboard in compact format is perfectly suited for various areas of application and a lifestyle on the move. If you want a compact keyboard that's as comfortable to use as a full size one, the KW 9200 MINI is the ideal choice. With four different transmission channels, the wireless multi-device keyboard is ready for flexible work in any application environment - whether private or professional. The KW 9200 MINI fits into any bag, no matter how small, when being taken from one place to another. At the same time, this little gem comes with a protective carrying case made of recycled plastic.
Friday, March 10th 2023
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Cooling
Graphics Cards
Memory
Motherboards
Chieftec BX-10B-OP Review
The Chieftec BX-10B-OP is an mATX chassis which offers glass panels on both sides and a sturdy metal body in combination with a non-standard layout to keep the size as compact as possible. Even so, it can still hold a 240 mm AIO as well as a full-size ATX PSU, which could make it a clean, understated option for your next mainstream build.
Cooler Master MM311 Review
The ambidextrous MM311 is a new wireless budget option from Cooler Master. Equipped with PixArt's PMW3325 sensor and an AA battery, the MM311 weighs 75 g and is said to last up to 115 hours. Most importantly, the MM311 retails for just $39.99.
TSMC's 3 nm Node at Near 50 Percent Utilisation, Other Nodes Seeing Lower Demand
Based on multiple reports out of Taiwan, TSMC is seeing increased utilisation of its 3 nm node and its production line is now at close to 50 percent utilisation. The main customer here is without a doubt Apple and TSMC is churning out some 50-55,000 wafers a month on its 3 nm node. TSMC is also getting ready to start production on its N3E node later this year, which will see some customers move to the node.
However, it's not all good news, as TSMC is seeing a decline in utilisation on its 5/4 and 7/6 nm nodes as demand has dropped significantly here, with different news outlets reporting different figures. Some are suggesting the 7/6 nm nodes might have dropped as low as to 50 percent utilisation, others mention 70 percent. The 5/4 nm nodes aren't anywhere nearly as badly affected and remain at around 80 percent utilisation. The good news for TSMC is that this is expected to be a temporary slump in demand and most of its leading edge nodes should be back at somewhere around a 90 percent utilisation rate by the second half of the year. However, this depends on what the demand for its partners' products will look like going forward, as many of TSMC's customers are seeing lower demand for their products in turn.
However, it's not all good news, as TSMC is seeing a decline in utilisation on its 5/4 and 7/6 nm nodes as demand has dropped significantly here, with different news outlets reporting different figures. Some are suggesting the 7/6 nm nodes might have dropped as low as to 50 percent utilisation, others mention 70 percent. The 5/4 nm nodes aren't anywhere nearly as badly affected and remain at around 80 percent utilisation. The good news for TSMC is that this is expected to be a temporary slump in demand and most of its leading edge nodes should be back at somewhere around a 90 percent utilisation rate by the second half of the year. However, this depends on what the demand for its partners' products will look like going forward, as many of TSMC's customers are seeing lower demand for their products in turn.
Google Gives Access to VPN Service and Dark Web Report to All Google One Customers
Google has made changes to its Google One plans yet again, although this time around, its customers are actually getting more for their money. For those not familiar with the Google One service, it's Google's Dropbox, Microsoft's OneDrive and Apple's iCloud. However, Google has included things like support for its services though its One service and higher tiers have seen added benefits beyond more storage space, such as free access to Google's VPN service. Now the company has decided to give those on its 100 GB US$1.99 and 200 GB US$2.99 service tiers access to not only its VPN service, but has also added what the company calls a dark web report.
The dark web report allows you to search for potential stolen private information on the dark web, or rather, Google does the searching for you and tells you if there are any results in a report. The tricky part here is that you need to have the right info to search for in the first place, but it could be something simple like your email address or phone number, but it could also be your credit card details. The VPN service is for the time being limited to 22 countries that you can find in the screenshot below. It's unlikely that Google offers the best VPN service out there, but it could help protect against man in the middle attacks when using public WiFi if nothing else and it's a decent perk if you're already paying for the Google One service.
The dark web report allows you to search for potential stolen private information on the dark web, or rather, Google does the searching for you and tells you if there are any results in a report. The tricky part here is that you need to have the right info to search for in the first place, but it could be something simple like your email address or phone number, but it could also be your credit card details. The VPN service is for the time being limited to 22 countries that you can find in the screenshot below. It's unlikely that Google offers the best VPN service out there, but it could help protect against man in the middle attacks when using public WiFi if nothing else and it's a decent perk if you're already paying for the Google One service.
Microïds Shows Off Debut Gameplay Trailer for Tintin Reporter - Cigars of the Pharaoh
Tintinimaginatio and Microids are thrilled to reveal the first trailer and new visuals for the video game adaptation of Tintin Reporter - Cigars of the Pharaoh. Developed by Spanish studio Pendulo Studios, a veteran in adventure games for nearly 30 years. Inspired by an iconic adventure from the comic book series "The Adventures of Tintin" created by Hergé, which has sold more than 275 million copies worldwide. This new video game adaptation marks the return of the famous reporter and his trusty canine friend, to the world of interactive entertainment thanks to a dynamic co-production between Tintinimaginatio and Microids.
Arm Holdings Seeks Public Listing in the USA Only, Despite UK Government Efforts
Arm Holdings, the Cambridge, UK-based chip designer, is seeking public listing solely in the USA. This major decision has struck a blow to the UK Government's efforts to encourage a dual public listing. Multiple Prime Ministers and high level staff have been in regular meetings with the Arm Executive Team. The current UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with Arm's CEO Rene Haas and SoftBank's founder and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son back in January of this year. It was reported that the meeting was a last ditch attempt to secure an application for UK listing from both companies. Arm Senior Team members have also been in talks with representatives from the London Stock Exchange.
Intel Xeon W9-3495X Sets World Record, Dethrones AMD Threadripper
When Intel announced the appearance of the 4th generation Xeon-W processors, the company announced that the clock multiplier was left unlocked, available for overclockers to try and push these chips even harder. However, it was only a matter of time before we saw the top-end Xeon-W SKU take a chance at beating the world record in Cinebench R23. The Intel Xeon W9-3495X SKU is officially the world record score holder with 132,484 points in Cinebench R23. The overclocker OGS from Greece managed to push all 56 cores and 112 threads of the CPU to 5.4 GHz clock frequency using liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling setup. Using ASUS Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE motherboard and G-SKILL Zeta R5 RAM kit, the OC record was set on March 8th.
The previous record holder of this position was AMD with its Threadripper Pro 5995WX with 64 cores and 128 threads clocked at 5.4 GHz. Not only did Xeon W9-3495X set the Cinebench R23 record, but the SKU also placed the newest record for Cinebench R20, Y-Cruncher, 3DMark CPU test, and Geekbench 3 as well.
The previous record holder of this position was AMD with its Threadripper Pro 5995WX with 64 cores and 128 threads clocked at 5.4 GHz. Not only did Xeon W9-3495X set the Cinebench R23 record, but the SKU also placed the newest record for Cinebench R20, Y-Cruncher, 3DMark CPU test, and Geekbench 3 as well.
NVIDIA pulls RTX 30-series Founders Edition Cards From its Webstore
NVIDIA has removed all its GeForce RTX 30-series Founders Edition graphics cards from its webstore. There are still plenty of RTX 30-series graphics cards available everywhere, including the NVIDIA webstore, as NVIDIA is happily selling custom versions from its AIC partners. This does not mean that you can't find the RTX 30-series Founders Edition graphics cards at other shops, as some might be available from other retailers/e-tailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, Mindfactory, and others. It is now obvious that NVIDIA is slowly phasing out the Ampere-based graphics cards and that it will focus on GeForce RTX 4090, 4080, and 4070 Ti, as well as the GeForce RTX 4070 that should come soon.
Long Term Nintendo Wii U Owners Experiencing Bricked Systems
It has been reported by multiple users across several online communities that their Wii U consoles are no longer functioning properly. The error codes 160-0103 and 160-2155 are the dreaded indicators of memory corruption. It has been discovered that the NAND Flash within the Wii U's internal eMMC is prone to failure. According to details gleaned from teardowns of the console's hardware, Nintendo has implemented either Toshiba or Samsung flash storage boards for the various revisions of the console. There has been an uptick in the rate of bricked Wii U consoles across recent months, but the problems seem to have occurred as far back as 2015, according to archived posts on the GBA Temp forum. It is speculated that leaving the Wii U inactive for long periods of time can lead to the memory corruption issues.
G.SKILL Announces DDR5-8000 CL38 48GB (24GBx2) Memory Kit
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is announcing an extreme performance DDR5 memory kit based on the latest 24 GB module capacity, with a specification of DDR5-8000 CL38-48-48 at 48 GB (24 GB x2) under the flagship Trident Z5 RGB series, and setting a new bar for extreme overclocked memory with 24 GB capacity modules.
Sabrent and Phison Collaborating on Record Breaking PCIe Gen 5 SSD
In the last few months, we have seen a wealth of new systems that all support Gen 5 SSD capabilities. A few companies have even released Gen 5 SSDs rating in the 10,000 MB/s range. At Sabrent, we have been working very hard to bring this new product to market while working extremely closely with Phison to develop our new line of Gen 5 SSDs to push the boundaries to 14,000 MB/s. There have been many challenges to overcome with these new products to meet our strict requirements for new drives to enter our lineup of high-quality products. We have been working to make the best Gen 5 SSD possible to improve system performance and user experience. Here we have our new Sabrent Rocket X5 Gen 5 SSD being tested to our specifications.
We will showcase examples of what we have come up with to demonstrate our commitment to bringing the highest quality and top performers to the marketplace.
There is no doubt that many have already seen the Tech Demo sample results that were sent out by Phison. We aim to improve that and increase the performance as high as possible. At this stage, we have passed 12,000 MB/s with the technology available. Below we'd like to show a sample of what we are able to achieve with the Technology Demo we present to you today.
We will showcase examples of what we have come up with to demonstrate our commitment to bringing the highest quality and top performers to the marketplace.
There is no doubt that many have already seen the Tech Demo sample results that were sent out by Phison. We aim to improve that and increase the performance as high as possible. At this stage, we have passed 12,000 MB/s with the technology available. Below we'd like to show a sample of what we are able to achieve with the Technology Demo we present to you today.
No Steam Deck 2 For At Least a Few Years
Although there were some rumors earlier, Valve's designer Lawrence Yang and engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais, have confirmed that a new and more powerful Steam Deck will not be coming in the next few years. The Steam Deck has been quite popular and has somewhat revived the handheld gaming market. Despite having troubles with production and stock early on, it has been selling like hotcakes.
A year from its official launch, first rumors about an upgraded Steam Deck started to show up. The Steam Deck might be struggling to run some of the latest games, which means that Valve is certainly looking closely at what can be improved. Speaking to Rock Paper Shotgun, Lawrence Yang said that "a true next-gen Deck with a significant bump in horsepower wouldn't be for a few years."
A year from its official launch, first rumors about an upgraded Steam Deck started to show up. The Steam Deck might be struggling to run some of the latest games, which means that Valve is certainly looking closely at what can be improved. Speaking to Rock Paper Shotgun, Lawrence Yang said that "a true next-gen Deck with a significant bump in horsepower wouldn't be for a few years."
BIOSTAR Introduces B760MZ-E PRO Socket LGA1700 Motherboard
BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is thrilled to showcase the latest B760MZ-E PRO motherboard. The BIOSTAR B760MZ-E PRO motherboard is a versatile solution that meets diverse pro-user demands. Whether you are a professional creator seeking the hottest mid-range hardware on the market, a business professional requiring reliable and efficient computing power, or a casual user needing a seamless computing experience, the B760MZ-E PRO has you covered. Its cutting-edge technology, advanced DDR5 memory support, lightning-fast transfer speeds, and connectivity options make it the ultimate choice for those seeking a high-performance motherboard that can handle anything thrown its way.
Built on Intel's B760 single-chip architecture, The BIOSTAR B760MZ-E PRO motherboard supports the latest 12th/ 13th Generation Intel Core Processors, providing robust and stable performance for demanding applications. Its 4-DIMM DDR5 memory support and PCIe M.2 4.0 (64 Gb/s) lightning-fast transfer speeds offer unrivaled computing and file transfer efficiency. Ideal for content designers, business professionals, and casual users seeking the best-performance motherboard of this range.
Built on Intel's B760 single-chip architecture, The BIOSTAR B760MZ-E PRO motherboard supports the latest 12th/ 13th Generation Intel Core Processors, providing robust and stable performance for demanding applications. Its 4-DIMM DDR5 memory support and PCIe M.2 4.0 (64 Gb/s) lightning-fast transfer speeds offer unrivaled computing and file transfer efficiency. Ideal for content designers, business professionals, and casual users seeking the best-performance motherboard of this range.
MINISFORUM Releases Cherry-blossom Themed UM773 SE Mini-PC in Japan
It's almost cherry-blossom season in Japan, and MINISFORUM released a special edition mini PC to mark it. The UM773 SE has a pastel pink body color along with a cherry-blossom print. Under the hood, it rocks an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor (6 nm, Zen 3+, "Rembrandt Refresh" silicon), with an 8-core/16-thread CPU, and a 12-CU RDNA2 iGPU (Radeon 680M). You get two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots to drop in your own memory, and an M.2-2280 NVMe SSD slot with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring, to use your own SSD, and a 2.5-inch drive bay with SATA 6 Gbps.
Networking connectivity on the MINISFORUM UM773 SE include 2.5 GbE, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2. USB connectivity includes USB4, for a type-C port that supports DisplayPort passthrough from the iGPU. There are a couple of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-C ports, a couple of such type-A ports, and a couple of USB 2.0 type-A. A couple of HDMI ports, and HD audio make for the rest of it. The box measures 127 mm x 128 mm x 47 mm (WxDxH). The UM773 SE is sold either as a barebones that lacks memory and SSDs; or as prebuilts with 1x 16 GB, 2x 8 GB, and 2x 16 GB memory; each with a 512 GB NVMe SSD.
Update Mar 10th: MINISFORUM confirmed the US price of the UM773 SE to be $429 for the barebones, $579 for the prebuilt with 16 GB memory and 512 GB SSD, $639 for the one with 32 GB memory and 512 GB SSD, and $679 for the top model with 32 GB memory and 1 TB SSD storage.
Networking connectivity on the MINISFORUM UM773 SE include 2.5 GbE, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2. USB connectivity includes USB4, for a type-C port that supports DisplayPort passthrough from the iGPU. There are a couple of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-C ports, a couple of such type-A ports, and a couple of USB 2.0 type-A. A couple of HDMI ports, and HD audio make for the rest of it. The box measures 127 mm x 128 mm x 47 mm (WxDxH). The UM773 SE is sold either as a barebones that lacks memory and SSDs; or as prebuilts with 1x 16 GB, 2x 8 GB, and 2x 16 GB memory; each with a 512 GB NVMe SSD.
Update Mar 10th: MINISFORUM confirmed the US price of the UM773 SE to be $429 for the barebones, $579 for the prebuilt with 16 GB memory and 512 GB SSD, $639 for the one with 32 GB memory and 512 GB SSD, and $679 for the top model with 32 GB memory and 1 TB SSD storage.
Acer Suffers Data Breach - 160 GB Trove Appears Online for Sale
Earlier this week a 160 GB hoard consisting of 2869 files from Acer internal systems appeared for sale on a shady internet forum. The hacker claims to have stolen the data over the course of February 2023, and that it contains valuable files including confidential product data, technical manuals, binaries, backend infrastructure data, product model documentation, BIOS and ROM components, product keys, ISOs, and internal information on various laptops, phones, and tablets. Alongside the list of ill-gotten data they provided a snapshot of the trove to prove the authenticity, and requested payment via the cryptocurrency Monero (XMR).
Acer confirmed the breach on Tuesday to multiple sources stating:
Acer confirmed the breach on Tuesday to multiple sources stating:
We have recently detected an incident of unauthorized access to one of our document servers for repair technicians. While our investigation is ongoing, there is currently no indication that any consumer data was stored on that server."
EK-Pro Water Block for NVIDIA RTX A5000 Also Compatible With A4500 GPUs
EK, the leading computer water cooling solutions provider - introduced a GPU water block for NVIDIA GeForce RTX A5000 graphics cards. This enterprise-grade water block is also compatible with RTX A4500 GPUs, which are now added to the water block's official compatibility list.
EK-Pro GPU WB RTX A5000 incorporates a CNC-machined nickel-plated copper base with a laser-cut stainless-steel top for a robust metal cooling solution, effectively making it a single-slot assembly. The EK-Pro Rack GPU water blocks fit the standard Full Height Full Width (FHFW) server chassis form factor, making them a drop-in replacement for dual-slot active and passive air coolers.
EK-Pro GPU WB RTX A5000 incorporates a CNC-machined nickel-plated copper base with a laser-cut stainless-steel top for a robust metal cooling solution, effectively making it a single-slot assembly. The EK-Pro Rack GPU water blocks fit the standard Full Height Full Width (FHFW) server chassis form factor, making them a drop-in replacement for dual-slot active and passive air coolers.
GeForce NOW Gets GRID Legends, Eight New Games This Week
It's a thrilling GFN Thursday with GRID Legends racing to the cloud this week. It leads a total of eight new games expanding the GeForce NOW library. New content for Rainbow Six Siege is also now streaming. Plus, two new cities are now online with GeForce RTX 4080 performance for cloud gaming. Chicago and Montreal have completed upgrades to RTX 4080 SuperPODs, delivering next-generation cloud streaming to GeForce NOW Ultimate members.
The Last of Us Part 1 PC System Requirements Unveiled
PlayStation Studios is finally releasing "The Last of Us Part 1" on the PC platform, on March 28. The game will be available both on Steam and the Epic Games Store. AMD is also bundling the game with its RX 6000 and RX 7000 series graphics cards. Ahead of its release, we have its System Requirements lists, and there are four of them. The Minimum requirements (720p @ 30 Hz with Low Preset), call for an Intel Core i7-4770K "Haswell" quad-core processor, or an AMD Ryzen 5 1500X; along with at least an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti "Pascal" or GTX 970 "Maxwell," or an AMD Radeon RX 470 "Polaris." 16 GB of RAM, 64-bit Windows 10, and 100 GB of SSD storage, are required at the very least.
Next up are the developer's "Recommended" requirements, meant for 1080p @ 60 Hz gaming. This needs a Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i7-8700 processor; a GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER "Turing" or GeForce RTX 3060 "Ampere," or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RDNA, or Radeon RX 6600 XT RDNA2 graphics card, along with 16 GB of RAM. Next up, is the "Performance" requirements list, that's 1440p @ 60 Hz, with "High" settings preset. You'll need at least a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i7-9700K processor, at least a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti "Turing" or Radeon RX 6750 XT RDNA2 graphics, and 32 GB of RAM. The Ultra requirements is for those who want to flex things with a 4K @ 60 Hz Ultra preset experience. For this, you'll need at least a Ryzen 9 5900X or Core i5-12600K processor, at least a GeForce RTX 4080 "Ada" or Radeon RX 7900 XT RDNA3 graphics card, and 32 GB of RAM.
Next up are the developer's "Recommended" requirements, meant for 1080p @ 60 Hz gaming. This needs a Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i7-8700 processor; a GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER "Turing" or GeForce RTX 3060 "Ampere," or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RDNA, or Radeon RX 6600 XT RDNA2 graphics card, along with 16 GB of RAM. Next up, is the "Performance" requirements list, that's 1440p @ 60 Hz, with "High" settings preset. You'll need at least a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i7-9700K processor, at least a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti "Turing" or Radeon RX 6750 XT RDNA2 graphics, and 32 GB of RAM. The Ultra requirements is for those who want to flex things with a 4K @ 60 Hz Ultra preset experience. For this, you'll need at least a Ryzen 9 5900X or Core i5-12600K processor, at least a GeForce RTX 4080 "Ada" or Radeon RX 7900 XT RDNA3 graphics card, and 32 GB of RAM.
ASUS Intros ROG Strix Impact III Gaming Mouse
ASUS introduced the ROG Strix Impact III, a lightweight, compact, quasi-ambidextrous, wired gaming mouse. Measuring 126 mm x 62 mm x 39 mm (LxWxH), and weighing just 59 g, the mouse is optimized for mainly claw and fingertip grip types, as its slender design may not be the best fit for palm grips. FPS is the most suitable game genre for this mouse. It features a 5-button layout—two main buttons, two left-side buttons, and the middle-click, along with a vertical scrollwheel. There's also a physical button to cycle among dpi presets, which is set in the ROG Armory app. Under the hood, the ROG Strix Impact III rocks a PixArt PAW3318 optical sensor with 12,000 dpi hardware resolution, with 300 ips top speed, and 35 ips acceleration, along with a USB polling rate of 1000 Hz. The main buttons are backed by 70 million-click rated ROG microswitches. PFTE gliding feet, and a braided USB cable makes for the rest of it. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Thursday, March 9th 2023
Today's Reviews
Cooling
Graphics Cards
Monitors
Processors
PSUs
Edifier WH950NB Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Review
Edifier wants to take on the mainstream wireless ANC headphone brands with its new WH950NB over-ear closed-back set. It uses a 40 mm titanium composite driver with DSP and unique app-based presets, including parametric EQ, to put out a compelling sound that is complemented by impressive noise cancellation and ambient sound modes.
TOPPING E70/E70 VELVET DACs + L70 Amplifier Desktop Stack Review
TOPPING expands its popular E/L series of DACs and headphone amplifiers! Today we examine the ES9028PRO-based E70 along with the newer AKM AK4499EX-based E70 VELVET DACs, and pair them with the powerful NFCA-based L70 amplifier that makes for a potent stack that aims to do it all!
TAITRA Announces Computex 2023—Over 3,000 Booths, 1,100 Exhibitors
Taiwan welcomes visitors back and you will no longer be required to quarantine on arrival. Don't miss out on the opportunity to network face-to-face with leading ICT, IoT, computing, CE, gaming, tech related companies, etc. from Taiwan at COMPUTEX TAIPEI. The show will have over 1,100 exhibitors from 16 countries with more coming soon in 3,000 booths. There will be over 30,000 visitors attending the show. Within the COMPUTEX show, we have a start-ups tradeshow focused on tech innovation called InnoVEX in which last year there were 195 startups from 14 countries and 500 VCs (Venture Capitalist), accelerators, and partners.
Silicon Power Launches the Superior Pro SDXC UHS-II Card
Silicon Power releases the new Superior Pro SDXC UHS-II card for professional content creators in every niche. It's compatible with all of the latest devices including DSLR cameras, drones, and cinema-quality video recorders.Complement high-end devices and capture superior content with the advanced UHS-II interface and V60 Video Speed Class. Use it for 3D or 360° photography. Record uninterrupted, cinema-grade videos in 4K Ultra HD resolution. Or, shoot continuous high-quality JPEG and RAW images with no lag.
With a Video Speed Class 60 (V60) rating, you'll get minimum sustained write speeds of 60 MB/s. This eliminates the risk of sudden decreases in performance that would otherwise cause dropped frames, bits of compromised video quality, and other issues.
With a Video Speed Class 60 (V60) rating, you'll get minimum sustained write speeds of 60 MB/s. This eliminates the risk of sudden decreases in performance that would otherwise cause dropped frames, bits of compromised video quality, and other issues.
MSI to Unveil MS-98M3 3.5" Single Board Computer and EV Products at Embedded World 2023
MSI is a top player in the ICT industry. With over 35 years of experience in R&D. By introducing AI systems, IoT, automation, and remote operations. Leveraging its many years of experience in ODM/OEM and its production capabilities, MSI delivers products that apply to smart transportation, smart cities, innovative automation, digital signage and intelligent retailing, offering top-quality, integrated solutions that best suit client needs. MSI commercial monitors offer crisp visuals and a range of features to enhance the computing experience.
MS-98M3 is the embedded 3.5" SBC that supports multiplexing with 11th generation Intel IOTG Core processor, codenamed Tiger Lake-UP3 series of ultra-low power and high-performance, providing reliability and high durability with lower power consumption, and actively deploy in multiple applications such as AMR-AI-PJ-UVGI Robot, which was verified by Texcell/France to effectively inactivate the new SARS-COV2 virus within seconds.
MS-98M3 is the embedded 3.5" SBC that supports multiplexing with 11th generation Intel IOTG Core processor, codenamed Tiger Lake-UP3 series of ultra-low power and high-performance, providing reliability and high durability with lower power consumption, and actively deploy in multiple applications such as AMR-AI-PJ-UVGI Robot, which was verified by Texcell/France to effectively inactivate the new SARS-COV2 virus within seconds.
ADATA Updates XPG VALOR AIR Case with Quieter XPG Vento 120 Fans
ADATA today released a revision of its XPG VALOR AIR mid-tower case that it had originally launched in May 2022. The revision sees the case bundle four of the company's XPG Vento 120 case fans, three of which are pre-installed along the front intake for positive air-pressure, and one at the rear exhaust. Each of these fans features a 60,000-hour rated rifle bearing, 45.3 CFM of airflow at top-speed of 1,200 RPM, and a low maximum noise output of just 23 dBA (fans with similar specs typically generate around 26 dBA noise). This aside, the design of the XPG VALOR AIR remains unchanged. The new revision could go by region-specific markings. The one bound for Japan, for example, has the name XPG VALOR AIR JP2. These cases could go on sale from mid-March, the company didn't reveal pricing.
Thermaltake Unveils LCD Panel Kits for Ceres 500 Cases
Thermaltake today unveiled LCD Panel Kits for the Ceres 500 mid-tower case the company had launched in January. The cases have a preparation for this optional accessory, but don't include them. The company released black- and white- color variants that match the variants of Ceres 500 cases you have. The LCD Panel kit replaces a portion of the horizontal partition of the case, with a 3.9-inch color LCD display panel with 480 x 128 pixels resolution, that faces the left side. This panel interfaces with TT RGB Plus 2.0 software over an internal USB 2.0 connection, and can be made to display just about anything. By default, its home-screen puts out weather data that TT RGB Plus 2.0 pulls from the Internet, but the screen can be made to put out real-time system monitoring stats for system cooling, among other interesting things. The LCD Panel Kits for Ceres 500 are expected to be available from March 16.
Samsung Invested $37 Billion Expanding its Semiconductor Manufacturing Capacity in 2022
Samsung Electronics reportedly invested a record 53.11 trillion KRW (USD $40.2 billion) in expanding its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, until March 2023, with investments throughout 2022 totaling $37 billion (47.87 trillion KRW). Business Korea reports that much of the investment was made toward increasing memory products manufacturing capacity, despite the ongoing slump in the PC and ICT industries from a possible economic recession. Samsung anticipates a continued growth in DRAM, possibly as the data-center and consumer-electronics industries transition to faster memory types. In particular, Samsung is undertaking a doubling in foundry capacity in its Pyeongtaek foundry.
Glorious Announces Launch Date for Model O 2 Gaming Mouse
On March 14th at 11 AM Central Time, the Model O 2 will be fully in stock and available for purchase on the Glorious web store.
This game-changing mouse has been re-engineered and significantly enhanced with cutting-edge upgrades. Its new design is better, faster, stronger, and more accurate than the original. Available in Wired & Wireless - Model O 2 is stronger, faster, lighter, and more accurate than the original.
It introduces cutting-edge upgrades, including the new BAMF 2.0 optical sensor, an optimized, re-engineered shell, 80 million crisp clicks (300% increase), and much more. The wireless version features dramatically longer battery life and new hybrid (2.4 GHz/Bluetooth) connectivity modes.
Be one of the first to get your hands on this game-changing mouse. We expect high demand and have limited daily fulfillment capacity, so we recommend ordering as soon as possible.
The Model O 2 range is available to pre-order via the Glorious Web Store
This game-changing mouse has been re-engineered and significantly enhanced with cutting-edge upgrades. Its new design is better, faster, stronger, and more accurate than the original. Available in Wired & Wireless - Model O 2 is stronger, faster, lighter, and more accurate than the original.
It introduces cutting-edge upgrades, including the new BAMF 2.0 optical sensor, an optimized, re-engineered shell, 80 million crisp clicks (300% increase), and much more. The wireless version features dramatically longer battery life and new hybrid (2.4 GHz/Bluetooth) connectivity modes.
Be one of the first to get your hands on this game-changing mouse. We expect high demand and have limited daily fulfillment capacity, so we recommend ordering as soon as possible.
Discord VP Anjney Midha Shares Details of Expanded AI Chat and Moderation Features
Whether it's generating a shiny new avatar or putting into words something you couldn't quite figure out on your own, new experiences using generative artificial intelligence are popping up every day. However, "tons of people use AI on Discord" might not be news to you: more than 30 million people already use AI apps on Discord every month. Midjourney's server is the biggest on Discord, with more than 13 million members bringing their imaginations to pixels. Overall, our users have created more than 1 billion unique images through AI apps on Discord. And this is just the start.
Almost 3 million Discord servers include an AI experience, ranging from generating gaming assets to groups writing novels with AI, to AI companions, AI companies and AI-based learning communities. More than 10 percent of new Discord users are joining specifically to access AI interest based communities on our platform.
Almost 3 million Discord servers include an AI experience, ranging from generating gaming assets to groups writing novels with AI, to AI companions, AI companies and AI-based learning communities. More than 10 percent of new Discord users are joining specifically to access AI interest based communities on our platform.
KeysOff Women's Day and Spring Sale: Get Genuine Software at Great Prices for New PC Builds
KeysOff celebrates the 2023 International Women's Day with a special sale! Get Genuine Windows and Office software at some of the lowest prices on the web, to supercharge your productivity, and power new PC builds. Save big when you buy or build a desktop or notebook without pre-installed software, and pair them with software from our vast selection of Windows and Office software, and a handful nifty system tools. Check out our carefully curated combos that let you save even more!
Buy Windows 10 Pro at $7.35 | Buy Windows 10 Home at $7.25 | Buy Windows 11 Pro at $10.45 | Buy Windows 11 Home at $10.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional at $26.25 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $24.25 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $20.25 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $29.99 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $27.99 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $32.99 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $30.99 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $12.45 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 5-PC at $34.18 | Buy Windows 10 Home 2-PC at $12.41 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 2-PC at $20.65 | Buy Windows 11 Home 2-PC at $20.48 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $41.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $58.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $69.25
Please use the coupon code SKK50 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC at $9.14 | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC at $12.81 | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $90.34 | Buy Project Professional 2021 at $33.82
Be sure to check out our selection of system utilities you may want.
Buy Windows 10 Pro at $7.35 | Buy Windows 10 Home at $7.25 | Buy Windows 11 Pro at $10.45 | Buy Windows 11 Home at $10.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional at $26.25 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $24.25 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $20.25 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $29.99 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $27.99 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $32.99 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $30.99 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $12.45 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 5-PC at $34.18 | Buy Windows 10 Home 2-PC at $12.41 | Buy Windows 11 Pro 2-PC at $20.65 | Buy Windows 11 Home 2-PC at $20.48 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $41.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $58.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $69.25
Please use the coupon code SKK50 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC at $9.14 | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC at $12.81 | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $90.34 | Buy Project Professional 2021 at $33.82
BenQ MOBIUZ Launch its First 48" OLED Gaming Monitor, the EX480UZ
Gamers throughout the UK will be able to experience a new level of 4K gaming, with the launch of BenQ's first OLED Gaming Monitor, the MOBIUZ EX480UZ. BenQ, the world-leading human technology and solutions provider, has created a next-level 4K 48" OLED gaming monitor. The newest monitor to join the BenQ and MOBIUZ family boasts a 0.1 ms response time, FreeSync Premium and a 120 Hz refresh rate to support smooth and uninterrupted gameplay.
"We developed the MOBIUZ EX480UZ to offer gamers a new immersive experience with our first OLED monitor," says Royce Lye, Managing Director of BenQ UK & Ireland. "Gamers, either professional or amateur, can enjoy a new audio and visual gaming experience with top-of-the-range display technology that can support smooth, uninterrupted gameplay, but also promote healthy extended used with our latest built-in eyecare technology."
"We developed the MOBIUZ EX480UZ to offer gamers a new immersive experience with our first OLED monitor," says Royce Lye, Managing Director of BenQ UK & Ireland. "Gamers, either professional or amateur, can enjoy a new audio and visual gaming experience with top-of-the-range display technology that can support smooth, uninterrupted gameplay, but also promote healthy extended used with our latest built-in eyecare technology."
First AMD AM5 motherboard now available under $125
While AMD was promising cheaper AM5 motherboards back in August last year, specifically talking about a starting price of $125, it took some time before we actually got them, as now, ASRock's B650M-HDV/M.2 microATX motherboard is listed at $124.99.
The motherboard in question is still not available and it has a launch price of $139.99, but has been discounted down to $124.99 on Newegg, which means it still fits the "starting from $125" announced by AMD during the launch of Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. Previously, the cheapest motherboard, based on the same B650 chipset, was listed at around $150.
The motherboard in question is still not available and it has a launch price of $139.99, but has been discounted down to $124.99 on Newegg, which means it still fits the "starting from $125" announced by AMD during the launch of Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. Previously, the cheapest motherboard, based on the same B650 chipset, was listed at around $150.
Nacon Unleashes RoboCop: Rogue City Gameplay Video, Moves Release Date to September 2023
Welcome to Detroit; crime runs rampant as the city lies on the edge of ruin, people fighting for scraps as others live extravagant lives of luxury. Control of the Detroit Police Department is given to the Omni Consumer Products corporation in an attempt to restore order. You are that solution, RoboCop, a cyborg tasked with protecting the city.
The triumphant return of RoboCop wouldn't feel right without the man who brought so much life into the role, and we're excited to reveal that Peter Weller will be performing voiceover work on the game. Enjoy this first look at gameplay and for the record, "dead or alive, you're coming with me!"
RoboCop: Rogue City will be coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in September 2023.
The triumphant return of RoboCop wouldn't feel right without the man who brought so much life into the role, and we're excited to reveal that Peter Weller will be performing voiceover work on the game. Enjoy this first look at gameplay and for the record, "dead or alive, you're coming with me!"
RoboCop: Rogue City will be coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in September 2023.
ASUS Reveals its TUF Gaming M3 Gen II Gaming Mouse
TUF Gaming M3 Gen II is an ultralight 59-gram mouse designed for comfort, even in the most frantic gaming marathons. This durable mouse is ready for whatever the day throws at it, with IP56 water and dust resistance, plus ASUS Antibacterial Guard protection. Play your own way with six programmable buttons, three onboard memory profiles and Aura Sync RGB lighting.
The 8000 dpi optical sensor delivers pixel-precise tracking, with a DPI button to switch between four sensitivity levels on the fly. The PTFE mouse feet ensure swift and smooth glide for complete control. Armoury Crate software allows for intuitive configuration and infinite illumination possibilities for easy configuration.
Pricing and availability to be confirmed by ASUS TUF Gaming.
The 8000 dpi optical sensor delivers pixel-precise tracking, with a DPI button to switch between four sensitivity levels on the fly. The PTFE mouse feet ensure swift and smooth glide for complete control. Armoury Crate software allows for intuitive configuration and infinite illumination possibilities for easy configuration.
Pricing and availability to be confirmed by ASUS TUF Gaming.
Microsoft Announces Green Velocity Edition Xbox Controller, Available to Purchase Now
Everyone has a favorite color, something that speaks to you unlike any other. At Xbox, we're quite partial to green. That's why we are excited to announce the Xbox Wireless Controller - Velocity Green, which sports our signature green color. This is the newest addition to our line of colorful wireless controllers, joining fan favorites like Shock Blue, Pulse Red, Deep Pink, and Electric Volt. The Velocity Green wireless controller comes with all the features you need to elevate your game and adds a vibrant pop of color to your gaming experience.
Everyone has a favorite color, something that speaks to you unlike any other. At Xbox, we're quite partial to green. That's why we are excited to announce the Xbox Wireless Controller - Velocity Green, which sports our signature green color. This is the newest addition to our line of colorful wireless controllers, joining fan favorites like Shock Blue, Pulse Red, Deep Pink, and Electric Volt. The Velocity Green wireless controller comes with all the features you need to elevate your game and adds a vibrant pop of color to your gaming experience.
Everyone has a favorite color, something that speaks to you unlike any other. At Xbox, we're quite partial to green. That's why we are excited to announce the Xbox Wireless Controller - Velocity Green, which sports our signature green color. This is the newest addition to our line of colorful wireless controllers, joining fan favorites like Shock Blue, Pulse Red, Deep Pink, and Electric Volt. The Velocity Green wireless controller comes with all the features you need to elevate your game and adds a vibrant pop of color to your gaming experience.
South Korean Company Morumi is Developing a CPU with Infinite Parallel Processing Scaling
One of the biggest drawbacks of modern CPUs is that adding more cores doesn't equal more performance in a linear fashion. Parallelism in CPUs offer limited scaling for most applications and even none for some. A South Korean company called Morumi is now taking a stab at solving this problem and wants to develop a CPU that can offer more or less infinite processing scaling, as more cores are added. The company has been around since 2018 and focused on various telecommunications chips, but has now started the development on what it calls every one period parallel processor (EOPPP) technology.
EOPPP is said to distribute data to each of the cores in a CPU before the data is being processed, which is said to be done over a type of mesh network inside the CPU. This is said to allow for an almost unlimited amount of instructions to be handled at once, if the CPU has enough cores. Morumi already has an early 32-core prototype running on an FPGA and in certain tasks the company has seen a tenfold performance increase. It should be noted that this requires software specifically compiled for EOPPP and Moumi is set to release version 1.0 of its compiler later this year. It's still early days, but it'll be interesting to see how this technology develops, but if it's successfully developed, there's also a high chance of Morumi being acquired by someone much bigger that wants to integrate the technology into their own products.
EOPPP is said to distribute data to each of the cores in a CPU before the data is being processed, which is said to be done over a type of mesh network inside the CPU. This is said to allow for an almost unlimited amount of instructions to be handled at once, if the CPU has enough cores. Morumi already has an early 32-core prototype running on an FPGA and in certain tasks the company has seen a tenfold performance increase. It should be noted that this requires software specifically compiled for EOPPP and Moumi is set to release version 1.0 of its compiler later this year. It's still early days, but it'll be interesting to see how this technology develops, but if it's successfully developed, there's also a high chance of Morumi being acquired by someone much bigger that wants to integrate the technology into their own products.
Bethesda Game Studios Delays Starfield to September 2023, Releases Launch Date Trailer
Starfield's official launch date has been revealed in a brand-new enigmatic trailer, followed by a special message from Game Director Todd Howard. Players can look forward to the deepest dive yet into Bethesda Game Studios' latest epic at the Starfield Direct, coming June 11, 2023.
Xbox also confirmed its plans for an Xbox Games Showcase on June 11, 2023. It is set to air before the Starfield Direct.
25 years in the making, Starfield introduces an entirely new frontier to explore—space. In 2330, you join Constellation, the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy. Venture through the stars and get to know a memorable cast of characters on a quest to answer humanity's greatest question—what is out there? Where will Starfield take you?
Starfield arrives exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6, 2023. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox also confirmed its plans for an Xbox Games Showcase on June 11, 2023. It is set to air before the Starfield Direct.
25 years in the making, Starfield introduces an entirely new frontier to explore—space. In 2330, you join Constellation, the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy. Venture through the stars and get to know a memorable cast of characters on a quest to answer humanity's greatest question—what is out there? Where will Starfield take you?
Starfield arrives exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6, 2023. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Samsung Hires ex TSMC Executive to Improve Advanced IC Packaging
Business Korea got the scoop on Samsung hiring an ex TSMC executive by the name of Lin Jun-Cheng, who was with TSMC for almost 19 years. His role at Samsung will be as VP of Samsung's advanced packaging business, something he should be more than familiar with, as during his time at TSMC, he was part of no less than 450 patents involving chip packaging. Lin has also worked for Micron and more recently for a company called Skytech, that specialises in advanced IC packaging equipment.
Samsung has relied on third parties when it comes to more advanced chip packaging and has been behind Intel and TSMC in this area. The Business Korea article mentions that Samsung has been spending a lot of resources over the past year to build its own advanced packaging business, including hiring industry experts. Samsung has hired ex Apple, Intel and Qualcomm staff to join or head various teams related to its foundry division, not only for packaging, but also experts in various lithography processes, such as EUV. Samsung is clearly taking its foundry business seriously, even though they have had their fair share of issues with various customers over the past few years.
Samsung has relied on third parties when it comes to more advanced chip packaging and has been behind Intel and TSMC in this area. The Business Korea article mentions that Samsung has been spending a lot of resources over the past year to build its own advanced packaging business, including hiring industry experts. Samsung has hired ex Apple, Intel and Qualcomm staff to join or head various teams related to its foundry division, not only for packaging, but also experts in various lithography processes, such as EUV. Samsung is clearly taking its foundry business seriously, even though they have had their fair share of issues with various customers over the past few years.
Intel's Transition of OpenFL Primes Growth of Confidential AI
Today, Intel announced that the LF AI & Data Foundation Technical Advisory Council accepted Open Federated Learning (OpenFL) as an incubation project to further drive collaboration, standardization and interoperability. OpenFL is an open source framework for a type of distributed AI referred to as federated learning (FL) that incorporates privacy-preserving features called confidential computing. It was developed and hosted by Intel to help data scientists address the challenge of maintaining data privacy while bringing together insights from many disparate, confidential or regulated data sets.
"We are thrilled to welcome OpenFL to the LF AI & Data Foundation. This project's innovative approach to enabling organizations to collaboratively train machine learning models across multiple devices or data centers without the need to share raw data aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate the growth and adoption of open source AI and data technologies. We look forward to collaborating with the talented individuals behind this project and helping to drive its success," said Dr. Ibrahim Haddad, executive director, LF AI & Data Foundation.
"We are thrilled to welcome OpenFL to the LF AI & Data Foundation. This project's innovative approach to enabling organizations to collaboratively train machine learning models across multiple devices or data centers without the need to share raw data aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate the growth and adoption of open source AI and data technologies. We look forward to collaborating with the talented individuals behind this project and helping to drive its success," said Dr. Ibrahim Haddad, executive director, LF AI & Data Foundation.
AMD Ryzen 3 4300G Swarming the Market at $100-ish
AMD's entry-level Ryzen 3 4300G APU, which was being sold in the OEM/SI channels, is sneaking its way into the retail PIB space, with Japanese retailers listing it as a retail part. Until now, you could only get the 4300G as part of a pre-built, or as part of a retail "bundle," where they would simply pull one of these chips out of a tray, install it on an entry-level A520 or A320 chipset motherboard, and sell along with a stick of memory. The 4300G is commanding a roughly $100 (equivalent) price, which could make sense for entry-level mom-and-pop PCs.
The Ryzen 3 4300G is based on the 7 nm "Renoir" silicon, and is a Socket AM4 processor with integrated graphics. The processor has one of its two CCXs disabled, leaving you with a 4-core/8-thread CPU based on the "Zen 2" microarchitecture, that has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache shared among the four cores. The processor also features a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface, a PCI-Express Gen 3 interface, and an iGPU based on the Radeon "Vega" graphics architecture. It has a TDP of 65 W.
The Ryzen 3 4300G is based on the 7 nm "Renoir" silicon, and is a Socket AM4 processor with integrated graphics. The processor has one of its two CCXs disabled, leaving you with a 4-core/8-thread CPU based on the "Zen 2" microarchitecture, that has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache shared among the four cores. The processor also features a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface, a PCI-Express Gen 3 interface, and an iGPU based on the Radeon "Vega" graphics architecture. It has a TDP of 65 W.
Lenovo Launches New ThinkStation PX, P7 and P5 Desktop Workstations
Lenovo today announced the launch of the ThinkStation PX, P7 and P5, delivering a new trio of the most technologically advanced desktop workstations the company has ever built. Redesigned from the ground up to exceed today's most extreme, high-computing workloads across industries, these new workstations feature the latest processor technology from Intel ranging up to 120 cores and support for high-end NVIDIA RTX professional GPUs.
Additionally, the new workstations boast all-new groundbreaking chassis designs and advanced thermals, as well as BMC capabilities for streamlined remote system monitoring. From virtual reality and mixed reality experiences and virtual production, to machine learning, data science, computer aided engineering (CAE), reality capture and AI, these next-generation workstations meet the ever-increasing demands for more power, performance, and speed in a scalable and future-proofed way for this new hybrid-work world.
Additionally, the new workstations boast all-new groundbreaking chassis designs and advanced thermals, as well as BMC capabilities for streamlined remote system monitoring. From virtual reality and mixed reality experiences and virtual production, to machine learning, data science, computer aided engineering (CAE), reality capture and AI, these next-generation workstations meet the ever-increasing demands for more power, performance, and speed in a scalable and future-proofed way for this new hybrid-work world.
Renesas to Demonstrate First AI Implementations on the Arm Cortex-M85 Processor Featuring Helium Technology
Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced that it will present the first live demonstrations of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) implementations on an MCU based on the Arm Cortex -M85 processor. The demos will show the performance uplift in AI/ML applications made possible by the new Cortex-M85 core and Arm's Helium technology. They will take place in the Renesas stand - Hall 1, Stand 234 (1-234) at the embedded world 2023 Exhibition and Conference in Nuremburg, Germany from March 14-16.
At embedded world in 2022, Renesas became the first company to demonstrate working silicon based on the Arm Cortex-M85 processor. This year, Renesas is extending its leadership by showcasing the features of the new processor in demanding AI use cases. The first demonstration showcases a people detection application developed in collaboration with Plumerai, a leader in Vision AI, that identifies and tracks persons in the camera frame in varying lighting and environmental conditions. The compact and efficient TinyML models used in this application lead to low-cost and lower power AI solutions for a wide range of IoT implementations. The second demo showcases a motor control predictive maintenance use case with an AI-based unbalanced load detection application using Tensorflow Lite for Microcontrollers with CMSIS-NN.
At embedded world in 2022, Renesas became the first company to demonstrate working silicon based on the Arm Cortex-M85 processor. This year, Renesas is extending its leadership by showcasing the features of the new processor in demanding AI use cases. The first demonstration showcases a people detection application developed in collaboration with Plumerai, a leader in Vision AI, that identifies and tracks persons in the camera frame in varying lighting and environmental conditions. The compact and efficient TinyML models used in this application lead to low-cost and lower power AI solutions for a wide range of IoT implementations. The second demo showcases a motor control predictive maintenance use case with an AI-based unbalanced load detection application using Tensorflow Lite for Microcontrollers with CMSIS-NN.
AMD Ryzen 7045HX3D "Dragon Range" with 3DV Cache Should Technically be Possible
There are two distinct developments in the client processor space for AMD—first, its Ryzen 7000X3D desktop processors have managed to retain gaming performance competitiveness against Intel's fastest 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" processors; and second, that its Ryzen 7045HX "Dragon Range" mobile processors are picking up interest in the enthusiast-segment notebook community, where its advanced 5 nm + 6 nm process is dealing damage to 13th Gen Core mobile processors in performance/Watt, and gaming performance. Can AMD dial things up a notch? Technically, yes.
It should technically be possible for AMD to build "Dragon Range" multi-chip modules using "Zen 4" + 3D Vertical Cache CCDs (CPU complex dies), much in the same way it did for the desktop product stack. Such a processor would either have one CCD with the 3DV cache for a CPU core-count of up to 8-core/16-thread; or a contraption similar to the desktop 7950X3D, wherein one of the CCDs has 3DV cache, while the other is a regular "Zen 4" CCD, for core-counts of up to 16-core/32-thread. But will AMD build such chips? A lot would depend on the volumes of L3Ds (the 6 nm dies with the 64 MB 3D Vertical cache memory that operates at 2.5 TB/s), the production of CCDs with 3DV cache; and whether AMD is able to achieve the right performance/Watt numbers against Intel's fastest 8P+16E "Raptor Lake" mobile processors.
It should technically be possible for AMD to build "Dragon Range" multi-chip modules using "Zen 4" + 3D Vertical Cache CCDs (CPU complex dies), much in the same way it did for the desktop product stack. Such a processor would either have one CCD with the 3DV cache for a CPU core-count of up to 8-core/16-thread; or a contraption similar to the desktop 7950X3D, wherein one of the CCDs has 3DV cache, while the other is a regular "Zen 4" CCD, for core-counts of up to 16-core/32-thread. But will AMD build such chips? A lot would depend on the volumes of L3Ds (the 6 nm dies with the 64 MB 3D Vertical cache memory that operates at 2.5 TB/s), the production of CCDs with 3DV cache; and whether AMD is able to achieve the right performance/Watt numbers against Intel's fastest 8P+16E "Raptor Lake" mobile processors.
AMD Working on AGESA Update for 24GB and 48GB DDR5 Memory Module Density Support
AMD is working on the AGESA 1.0.0.7 BIOS update that should resolve issues and bring support for 24 GB and 48 GB DDR5 memory modules and kits on the AM5 platform. The latest report, coming from Twitter, suggest that AMD is working hard on the AGESA release, so motherboard manufacturers could push BIOS updates early next month or in May. While Intel's 600- and 700-series motherboards are happily working with 24 GB and 48 GB DDR5 memory modules and kits, allowing users to use up to 192 GB (4x48 GB) of memory in their systems, it comes as a surprise that AMD did not release an official, or even a BETA BIOS update for such modules.
There were already reports that such 24 GB and 48 GB DDR5 modules are having issues on AMD's AM5 platform and while the BIOS can detect the memory, it simply will not boot into Windows. This latest report originally comes from hardware leaker chi11eddog over at Twitter, and suggests that AMD and its motherboard partners are well aware of the issue and the AGESA BIOS firmware v1.0.0.7 should bring full support for so-called "non-binary" 24 GB and 48 GB DDR5 memory modules.
There were already reports that such 24 GB and 48 GB DDR5 modules are having issues on AMD's AM5 platform and while the BIOS can detect the memory, it simply will not boot into Windows. This latest report originally comes from hardware leaker chi11eddog over at Twitter, and suggests that AMD and its motherboard partners are well aware of the issue and the AGESA BIOS firmware v1.0.0.7 should bring full support for so-called "non-binary" 24 GB and 48 GB DDR5 memory modules.
HyperX and Riot Games Extend Global Partnership for VALORANT Champions Tour
HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, and Riot Games today announced a multi-year partnership extension for the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). First established as a VCT founding partner in 2021, HyperX remains the official partner for gaming keyboard, mice, and mouse pads for one of the world's fastest-growing esports.
HyperX is excited to continue our Founding Partner role with the VALORANT gaming franchise in bringing better gaming experiences, together," said Jessany van 't Hoff, Head of Global Gaming Partnerships for HyperX. "Gaming is something we experience at home, with friends, and during special gaming events like VALORANT tournaments, and HyperX is proud to be part of this enthusiastic community."
HyperX is excited to continue our Founding Partner role with the VALORANT gaming franchise in bringing better gaming experiences, together," said Jessany van 't Hoff, Head of Global Gaming Partnerships for HyperX. "Gaming is something we experience at home, with friends, and during special gaming events like VALORANT tournaments, and HyperX is proud to be part of this enthusiastic community."
Global Smartphone Production Fell by 15.5% YoY to 301 Million Units for 4Q22 Due to Underwhelming Busy Season
Smartphone brands hoped that the promotional activities related to the year-end holiday season or initiated by e-commerce companies would lead to a significant reduction in channel inventory near the end of 2022. However, the recent downturn of the global economy continued to impact consumer confidence in 4Q22, so smartphone sales were lower than expected and thereby dragged down the speed of inventory consumption. Moreover, the labor shortage problem at Foxconn's electronics assembly base in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou affected Apple's efforts to raise iPhone production in 4Q22. According to TrendForce's latest research, quarterly global smartphone production totaled around 301 million for 4Q22, reflecting a QoQ growth of 4% and a YoY decline of 15.5%.
Earlier in 1H22, China's enforcement of its zero-COVID policy and the Russia-Ukraine military conflict caused the demand for consumer electronics to plunge. Later in 2H22, the global economy experienced a decline that was worse than expected as factors such as high inflation, food shortages, and rising energy prices came into play. As a result, consumer demand was further weakened. Besides these negative factors, the high level of channel inventory was also a major reason as to why smartphone brands suffered a drop in annual device production. Based on TrendForce's calculation, annual global smartphone production fell by 10.6% YoY to 1.192 billion units for 2022. This YoY decline was larger than one recorded for the year when the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged.
Earlier in 1H22, China's enforcement of its zero-COVID policy and the Russia-Ukraine military conflict caused the demand for consumer electronics to plunge. Later in 2H22, the global economy experienced a decline that was worse than expected as factors such as high inflation, food shortages, and rising energy prices came into play. As a result, consumer demand was further weakened. Besides these negative factors, the high level of channel inventory was also a major reason as to why smartphone brands suffered a drop in annual device production. Based on TrendForce's calculation, annual global smartphone production fell by 10.6% YoY to 1.192 billion units for 2022. This YoY decline was larger than one recorded for the year when the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged.
Think Silicon to Showcase its Latest Ultra-Low-Power Graphics and AI Solutions for Edge Computing at Embedded World 2023
Think Silicon, the leading provider of ultra-low-power GPU IP for embedded systems, will showcase its latest graphics and AI solutions for edge computing devices in Hall 4, Booth 476 at Embedded World 2023 taking place in Nuremberg, Germany from March 14-16. The solutions demonstrate how Think Silicon is meeting the complex needs of ultra-low-power graphics and AI applications in the wearables, smart home, industrial and automotive markets.
Think Silicon's booth will feature the industry's first RISC-V-based GPU - the NEOX IP Series. NEOX represents a new era of smart GPU architectures with programmable compute shaders, running on a real-time operating system (RTOS) and supported by lightweight graphics and machine learning programming frameworks. NEOX serves as a GPU platform addressing a wide variety of vertical markets, including next-generation ultra-low-power smartwatches, augmented reality (AR) eyewear, surveillance and entertainment video, and smart displays for point-of-sale/point-of-interaction terminals.
Think Silicon's booth will feature the industry's first RISC-V-based GPU - the NEOX IP Series. NEOX represents a new era of smart GPU architectures with programmable compute shaders, running on a real-time operating system (RTOS) and supported by lightweight graphics and machine learning programming frameworks. NEOX serves as a GPU platform addressing a wide variety of vertical markets, including next-generation ultra-low-power smartwatches, augmented reality (AR) eyewear, surveillance and entertainment video, and smart displays for point-of-sale/point-of-interaction terminals.
Alphacool Launches APEX Series Soft Thermal Pads
Excellent thermal conductivity thanks to the new Apex thermal pads Soft! Alphacool's high-performance thermal pads offer a variety of advantages compared to a standard pad. Given the high compressibility and natural stickiness, they nestle perfectly to surfaces, compensate for unevenness between electronic components and thus provide a significant improvement in heat transfer. As a result, the enormous waste heat not only from voltage converters and VRAMs of graphics cards, but also from PlayStation and Xbox game consoles can be effectively dissipated, significantly increasing performance and durability. The heat conduction pads can also be used to cool a wide variety of electronic components far away from PC water cooling due to their considerable electrical insulation as well as the large number of variants in terms of thickness and dimensions.
Netherlands Government Sets Restrictions on Chip Exports, ASML Responds
Today the Dutch government has published more information on upcoming restrictions on export of semiconductor equipment. These new export controls focus on advanced chip manufacturing technology, including the most advanced deposition and immersion lithography tools. Due to these upcoming regulations, ASML will need to apply for export licenses for shipment of the most advanced immersion DUV systems.
It will take time for these controls to be translated into legislation and take effect. Based on today's announcement, our expectation of the Dutch government's licensing policy, and the current market situation, we do not expect these measures to have a material effect on our financial outlook that we have published for 2023 or for our longer-term scenarios as announced during our Investor Day in November last year.
It will take time for these controls to be translated into legislation and take effect. Based on today's announcement, our expectation of the Dutch government's licensing policy, and the current market situation, we do not expect these measures to have a material effect on our financial outlook that we have published for 2023 or for our longer-term scenarios as announced during our Investor Day in November last year.
NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4090 Updated With AD102-301 GPU
There have already been rumors that NVIDIA plans to introduce new GPU variants to some of its RTX 40 series graphics cards, namely the RTX 4070 and the RTX 4080, but now, a fresh RTX 4090 Founders Edition has been spotted with an updated AD102-301 GPU. According to the previous reports, an updated GPU was needed in order to enable a new voltage comparator circuit on the board. The same reports suggested that it could result in cheaper boards, lower build cost, and thus a lower price, but so far, there are no significant price changes for the RTX 40 series.
While there were no reports that the GeForce RTX 4090 will be on the update path, an updated GeForce RTX 4090 has been shipped to Redditor "cavityserach123." The card in question keeps the same Device PCI ID in GPU-Z, but the Sub ID has been changed, suggesting that it won't be possible to flash it with the BIOS of the previous AD102-300 based RTX 4090.
While there were no reports that the GeForce RTX 4090 will be on the update path, an updated GeForce RTX 4090 has been shipped to Redditor "cavityserach123." The card in question keeps the same Device PCI ID in GPU-Z, but the Sub ID has been changed, suggesting that it won't be possible to flash it with the BIOS of the previous AD102-300 based RTX 4090.
NVIDIA to Lose Two Major HPC Partners in China, Focuses on Complying with Export Control Rules
NVIDIA's presence in high-performance computing has steadily increased, with various workloads benefiting from the company's AI and HPC accelerator GPUs. One of the important markets for the company is China, and export regulations are about to complicate NVIDIA's business dealing with the country. NVIDIA's major partners in the Asia Pacific region are Inspur and Huawei, which make servers powered by A100 and H100 GPU solutions. Amid the latest Biden Administration complications, the US is considering limiting more export of US-designed goods to Chinese entities. Back in 2019, the US blacklisted Huawei and restricted the sales of the latest GPU hardware to the company. Last week, the Biden Administration also blacklisted Inspur, the world's third-largest server maker.
In the Morgan Stanley conference, NVIDIA's Chief Financial Officer Colette Cress noted that: "Inspur is a partner for us, when we indicate a partner, they are helping us stand up computing for the end customers. As we work forward, we will probably be working with other partners, for them to stand-up compute within the Asia-Pac region or even other parts of the world. But again, our most important focus is focusing on the law and making sure that we follow export controls very closely. So in this case, we will look in terms of other partners to help us." This indicates that NVIDIA will lose millions of dollars in revenue due to the inability to sell its GPUs to partners like Inspur. As the company stated, complying with the export regulations is the most crucial focus.
In the Morgan Stanley conference, NVIDIA's Chief Financial Officer Colette Cress noted that: "Inspur is a partner for us, when we indicate a partner, they are helping us stand up computing for the end customers. As we work forward, we will probably be working with other partners, for them to stand-up compute within the Asia-Pac region or even other parts of the world. But again, our most important focus is focusing on the law and making sure that we follow export controls very closely. So in this case, we will look in terms of other partners to help us." This indicates that NVIDIA will lose millions of dollars in revenue due to the inability to sell its GPUs to partners like Inspur. As the company stated, complying with the export regulations is the most crucial focus.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series and AMD RDNA4 Radeon RX 8000 to Debut GDDR7 Memory
With Samsung Electronics announcing that the next-generation GDDR7 memory standard is in development, and Cadence, a vital IP provider for DRAM PHY, EDA software, and validation tools announcing its latest validation solution, the decks are clear for the new memory standard to debut with the next-generation of GPUs. GDDR7 would succeed GDDR6, which had debuted in 2018, and has been around for nearly 5 years now. GDDR6 launched with speeds of 14 Gbps, and its derivatives are now in production with speeds as high as 24 Gbps. It provided a generational doubling in speeds from the preceding GDDR5.
The new GDDR7 promises the same, with its starting speeds said to be as high as 36 Gbps, going beyond the 50 Gbps mark in its lifecycle. A MyDrivers report says that NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce RTX 50-series, probably slated for a late-2024 debut, as well as AMD's competing RDNA4 graphics architecture, could introduce GDDR7 at its starting speeds of 36 Gbps. A GPU with a 256-bit wide GDDR7 interface would enjoy 1.15 TB/s of bandwidth, and one with 384-bit would have a cool 1.7 TB/s to play with. We still don't know what is the codename of NVIDIA's next graphics architecture, it could be any of the ones NVIDIA hasn't used from the image below.
The new GDDR7 promises the same, with its starting speeds said to be as high as 36 Gbps, going beyond the 50 Gbps mark in its lifecycle. A MyDrivers report says that NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce RTX 50-series, probably slated for a late-2024 debut, as well as AMD's competing RDNA4 graphics architecture, could introduce GDDR7 at its starting speeds of 36 Gbps. A GPU with a 256-bit wide GDDR7 interface would enjoy 1.15 TB/s of bandwidth, and one with 384-bit would have a cool 1.7 TB/s to play with. We still don't know what is the codename of NVIDIA's next graphics architecture, it could be any of the ones NVIDIA hasn't used from the image below.
Wi-Fi 7 Cryptomining Router - A Fresh Scam (Ab)using a Friendly Name
An entity calling themselves "TP-Link ASIC" recently announced a Wi-Fi 7 capable ASIC cryptocurrency miner with claims of hashing rates above even the mighty RTX 4090... In one specific ASIC friendly algorithm. If the concept of a router that mines crypto sounds strange, deranged, or downright questionable to you, you're not alone. The consumer market for crypto mining has waned heavily in the last handful of months due in no small part to Ethereum switching to Proof of Stake last September, which led to GPUs being ineffectual for mining the previously profitable coin. However, ASIC mining does remain prevalent across the sea of various algorithms and alt-coins that exist. One such alt-coin is Kadena, a smaller Proof of Work cryptocurrency that appears to flutter around the $1USD range. This is where "TP-Link ASIC" has placed their engineering efforts with the, "TP-Link NX31 31.2 THS Router Miner," which, as the name implies, offers 31.2 TH/s of Kadena hashing power at a cool $1,990 USD (previously $1,440).
If you've been around long enough to remember the Butterfly Labs fiasco and fallout, you're probably already groaning and holding your head in your hands. Buying ASICs from new and unproven vendors promising the moon is never a good idea. But TP-Link isn't an unproven company, they have a successful business and sell legitimate products. Surely this would be handled properly since this is a well established brand, right? Well, here's the twist; "TP-Link ASIC" is NOT TP-Link. When questioned about this new launch by Tom's Hardware a TP-Link representative responded that "TP-Link ASIC" has no affiliation with TP-Link, nor does their NX31 mining router.
If you've been around long enough to remember the Butterfly Labs fiasco and fallout, you're probably already groaning and holding your head in your hands. Buying ASICs from new and unproven vendors promising the moon is never a good idea. But TP-Link isn't an unproven company, they have a successful business and sell legitimate products. Surely this would be handled properly since this is a well established brand, right? Well, here's the twist; "TP-Link ASIC" is NOT TP-Link. When questioned about this new launch by Tom's Hardware a TP-Link representative responded that "TP-Link ASIC" has no affiliation with TP-Link, nor does their NX31 mining router.
AAEON Will Demo Augmented Reality Solutions at Embedded World 2023
To showcase its ever-expanding line of Industry 4.0 solutions, AAEON will present world-class augmented reality (AR) solutions at Embedded World 2023, with live demonstrations illustrating how its product lines have amplified AR realization for two of its Industry 4.0 partners. AAEON will be at Booth 306, Hall 1, at Embedded World 2023 in Nuremberg between 14 - 16 March 2023. Along with a number of product showcases, AAEON will present two live demos of AR applications that were developed with its partners, Seabery Augmented Technology and XYZ Reality. Demonstrating cutting-edge AR technology, AAEON will give attendees an insight into the AR revolution it is pioneering.
TWS Launches New One-Stop Solution - AI 2.0 Foundation Model Consulting Services
ASUS today announced that Taiwan Web Services (TWS) has launched its AI 2.0 Foundation Model Consulting Services — a one-stop solution that integrates infrastructure, development environment, and professional technical team services for the development of next-generation AI. TWS is the first company in Taiwan to integrate a BLOOM (BigScience Large Open-science Open-access Multilingual Language Model) into a supercomputer.
Despite the recent rapid development of large language models (LLM) and generative AI, it is still tough for an enterprise to conduct an LLM project by itself. That is why using the TWS one-stop AI 2.0 Foundation Model Consulting Services is so powerful — it dramatically reduces the barriers to entry and allows enterprises to concentrate more on research and development projects.
Using the new TWS service, enterprises can immediately start building their own generative AI applications while simultaneously reducing their hardware equipment and human capital costs, as well as lowering development risk and time to completion.
Despite the recent rapid development of large language models (LLM) and generative AI, it is still tough for an enterprise to conduct an LLM project by itself. That is why using the TWS one-stop AI 2.0 Foundation Model Consulting Services is so powerful — it dramatically reduces the barriers to entry and allows enterprises to concentrate more on research and development projects.
Using the new TWS service, enterprises can immediately start building their own generative AI applications while simultaneously reducing their hardware equipment and human capital costs, as well as lowering development risk and time to completion.
DFI and VicOne To Create Safe and Smart Transportation Environment at Embedded World 2023
DFI, the global leader in embedded motherboards and industrial computers, has stepped into the electric vehicle (EV) market in recent years. Alongside VicOne, the automotive cybersecurity expert and the subsidiary of Trend Micro, they will demonstrate technologies related to vehicle software security application that enable more comprehensive network security protection for smart cities.
This year, to demonstrate the AI computing and vehicle-to-everything technology used in Connected Vehicles and Smart Poles, DFI has built an actual smart traffic intersection at the venue with road side units (RSU), digital signage, intelligent edge computers, onboard units (OBU), in-vehicle AI computers, and driver HMIs.
This year, to demonstrate the AI computing and vehicle-to-everything technology used in Connected Vehicles and Smart Poles, DFI has built an actual smart traffic intersection at the venue with road side units (RSU), digital signage, intelligent edge computers, onboard units (OBU), in-vehicle AI computers, and driver HMIs.
SAM/ReBAR Stripped Out of AMD Open-Source OpenGL Driver RadeonSI Gallium3D
Support for AMD's Smart Access Memory and the overarching Resizable BAR technologies has been removed from the RadeonSI Gallium3D OpenGL driver as of today's Mesa 22.3.7 release. The comment in the announcement simply reads, "Disable Smart Access Memory because CPU access has large overhead." The nail in the coffin seems to have been this bug ticket submitted last month for the game Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1, in which the user reported the game running oddly slow on their RX 6600 while previously they had no issues on the much older R9 380. The solution provided was to simply disable ReBAR/SAM either with radeonsi_disable_sam=true or via UEFI. In the comments of the ticket lead RadeonSI developer Marek Olšák states, "We've never tested SAM with radeonsi, and it's not necessary there."
Apparently the performance advantages weren't panning out for RadeonSI, and since direct optimizations of these features was not a primary goal the decision was made to cut them out. Attempts to optimize SAM with RadeonSI date as far back as December 2020 and Mesa 21.0, but support for SAM under Linux goes further back. None of the changes to RadeonSI will affect other drivers such as RADV, the open-source Radeon Vulkan driver, and this code change is limited to only the RadeonSI OpenGL driver.
Apparently the performance advantages weren't panning out for RadeonSI, and since direct optimizations of these features was not a primary goal the decision was made to cut them out. Attempts to optimize SAM with RadeonSI date as far back as December 2020 and Mesa 21.0, but support for SAM under Linux goes further back. None of the changes to RadeonSI will affect other drivers such as RADV, the open-source Radeon Vulkan driver, and this code change is limited to only the RadeonSI OpenGL driver.
Wednesday, March 8th 2023
Today's Reviews
MSI Clutch GM31 Lightweight Review
The GM31 is a small, right-handed ergonomic mouse weighing just 60 g. Equipped with PixArt's PMW3360 sensor, Omron main button switches, and pure PTFE feet, the GM31 is also compatible with NVIDIA Reflex.
Endorfy Thock TKL Wireless Keyboard Review
Endorfy launches its new Thock wireless keyboard line with four different form factors and sizes to choose from. Today we examine the Thock TKL Wireless that has hybrid wireless connectivity, two Kailh BOX switch options, hot-swappable switches and doubleshot PBT keycaps, extensive onboard and software controls, and RGB lighting to help seal the deal at an attractive price.
AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX Beats Higher Priced 13th Gen Core i7 Mobile Processor Options in Gaming Performance and Battery
AMD "Zen 4" processors offer unmatched efficiency at lower power, and notebook manufacturers are beginning to notice that the company's high core-count Ryzen 7045HX series "Dragon Range" mobile processors offer performance and battery-life highly competitive to 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" processors. The Ryzen 7 7745HX is an 8-core/16-thread processor with a single 5 nm "Zen 4" chiplet, and default TDP of 55 W. Chinese tech publication Golden Pig Upgrade reviewed a notebook powered by the 7745HX, and compared it with one rocking a Core i7-13700HX 8P+8E. The reviewer found the 7745HX to offer superior performance/Watt and gaming performance that either matches or beats the "Raptor Lake," which is held back by aggressive power-management and an older 10 nm-class process node.
Thermalright Intros Socket AM5 Optimized Retention Module for its Legacy Coolers
Thermalright introduced the Ryzen Mounting System upgrade kit that lends support for Socket AM5 and AM4 to many of its legacy coolers, letting you orient them the correct way. There are two types of these upgrade kits, that support two different kinds of Thermalright's coolers. The TR-AM5-A kit is meant for TRUE Spirit 90 series, Archon IB-E X2 series, Silver Arrow ITX, TRUE Spirit 140 series, and TRUE Spirit 90 series. The TR-AM5-B kit, on the other hand, is meant for the Silver Arrow SB-E series, AXP-200 R, AXP-200 Macho, Archon SB-E, and Silver Arrow ITX-R. These kits aren't free, and when they go on sale later this month, they will be priced around $9.99.
Sabrent Intros EC-U2SA USB-to-SATA and U.2 Backplane, with Zero Interface Bottlenecks for SATA
Sabrent introduced the EC-U2SA, a portable USB-to-SATA and U.2 backplane dongle that's designed for zero interface bottlenecks for SATA. The device uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface with 10 Gbps bandwidth and UASP (USB-attached SCSI), to ensure no bottlenecks for a connected SATA 6 Gbps drive. For SATA SSDs, the dongle can be used on its own, where the drive is powered by the power drawn from the USB port. For HDDs, you'll need to connect an additional power source using a 2-pin DC jack, in the form of an included 10 W power adapter. The U.2 backplane features a PCIe x2 interface, which means even with the 10 Gbps USB upstream connection, there will be heavy interface bottlenecks. Luckily it passes through several NVMe functions to the OS, including TRIM command. Available now, the EC-U2SA is priced at $34.99.
Cadence Announces The First GDDR7 Verification Solution
Cadence, a leading developer of tools for system design and verification, has announced the industry's first GDDR7 verification solution. This in-depth software solution affords IC designers the ability to simulate and verify their GDDR7 silicon designs before printing a single chip. The challenges of designing GDDR7 stem from a rather massive leap in operating speed and advanced features, with GDDR7 targeting speeds of 36,000 MT/s and utilizing more advanced signaling methods.
Wyze Launches New Low-Latency Wireless Gaming Headset
Wyze, better known for their smart home security cameras and accessories, has taken another step into the audio realm with the release of their new Wyze Wireless Gaming Headset. The new addition features 20 hours battery life with USB-C, quick charge that provides up to 2 hours of charge in 10 minutes, a detachable boom microphone extension, and multi-source connection capabilities with both Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.4 GHz wireless supported. With the included 2.4 GHz USB dongle Wyze is advertising as low as 20 ms wireless latency.
ADLINK Puts Intel Arc A-series GPUs on MXM Form Factor
After GUNNIR showed the same product back in January, ADLINK is now offering both Intel Arc A-series GPUs in MXM form factor. The MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) is a standardized form factor that is used mostly in laptops and some small form factor PCs. Product pages confirm that ADLINK offers both the Intel Arc A370M and the Intel Arc A350M in MXM form factor.
According to specifications The ADLINK MXM-AXe, as the product is called, is MXM 3.1 Type A based on Intel Arc GPU, packing 8 Xe-cores, 128 Execution Units, 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, and TDP of 35-50 W, which is pretty much standard for the Arc A370M GPU. The company also offers the same product with A350M GPU with TDP of 25-35 W. With decent power efficiency, full AV1 hardware encoding, and support for up to four 4K displays, such a GPU would be perfect for small form factor machines, and could be even a decent upgrade for some laptops.
According to specifications The ADLINK MXM-AXe, as the product is called, is MXM 3.1 Type A based on Intel Arc GPU, packing 8 Xe-cores, 128 Execution Units, 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, and TDP of 35-50 W, which is pretty much standard for the Arc A370M GPU. The company also offers the same product with A350M GPU with TDP of 25-35 W. With decent power efficiency, full AV1 hardware encoding, and support for up to four 4K displays, such a GPU would be perfect for small form factor machines, and could be even a decent upgrade for some laptops.
Hogwarts Legacy Gets a New Big Patch
Avalanche Software has released the latest March 8 patch for Hogwarts Legacy, that fixes various bugs and improves gameplay, performance, and stability. The extensive update also includes fixes for online, gameplay, audio, UI, cinematics, ray tracing, save game, display and miscellaneous issues.
The changelog includes major reworks, from patching out memory leaks, improved VRAM usage, to VFX crashes, lighting optimizations with NVIDIA drivers, improved stability and performance with ray tracing, directional light shadows and shadows on trees with ray tracing, various Ansel issues, and plenty of gameplay issues, including missions, broom flight, world events, and characters. The new patch also updates the minimum Nvidia and AMD graphics driver recommendations, which could be directly connected to the improved VRAM usage, as the game was easily going over 14 GB with RT enabled on 1080p, 1440p, and 2160p resolutions.
The changelog includes major reworks, from patching out memory leaks, improved VRAM usage, to VFX crashes, lighting optimizations with NVIDIA drivers, improved stability and performance with ray tracing, directional light shadows and shadows on trees with ray tracing, various Ansel issues, and plenty of gameplay issues, including missions, broom flight, world events, and characters. The new patch also updates the minimum Nvidia and AMD graphics driver recommendations, which could be directly connected to the improved VRAM usage, as the game was easily going over 14 GB with RT enabled on 1080p, 1440p, and 2160p resolutions.
Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II Card GOLD Series Wins Best Memory Card Award from Photography News
Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to receive the "best memory card" award from Photography News readers for the Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II Cards GOLD Series.
Once a year the readers and editors of Photography News vote on their favorite photography tech—everything from cameras to accessories. The Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC /SDXC UHS-II Cards GOLD Series was nominated along with 7 other excellent cards and took the coveted best card award. According to Photography News, "the need for reliable and fast memory cards is greater than ever. That's just what you get with the Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II card."
Once a year the readers and editors of Photography News vote on their favorite photography tech—everything from cameras to accessories. The Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC /SDXC UHS-II Cards GOLD Series was nominated along with 7 other excellent cards and took the coveted best card award. According to Photography News, "the need for reliable and fast memory cards is greater than ever. That's just what you get with the Lexar Professional 2000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II card."
Silicon Motion to Showcase New PCIe Gen 4 SSD Solutions at Embedded World
Silicon Motion Technology Corporation, a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers for solid-state storage devices, today announced it will be exhibiting at the upcoming Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany from the 14th to 16th March and will be showcasing their high-performance PCIe NVMe Gen 4 single-chip SSD solution, automotive controller as well as an array of PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD controller solutions for personal computers, industrial/embedded and automotive applications.
Axelera AI and Advantech Are Teaming up to Bring the Inference Power of a Data Center to Edge Devices
Axelera AI, the provider of world's most powerful and advanced solutions for AI at the Edge today announces a strategic partnership with Advantech. Combining Advantech's expertise in the embedded and industrial PCs and Axelera AI's disruptive edge AI technology, together they will bring the inference power of a data center to edge devices, enabling customers to process data in real-time, reducing latency while increasing efficiency.
At Embedded World Axelera AI will show its new products, available in a range of industry-standard form factors varying from M.2 modules to vision ready systems. The products combine powerful processing performance with Metis AIPU technology and the easy-to-use Voyager SDK software stack, just at a fraction of the cost and power consumption of today's available solutions.
At Embedded World Axelera AI will show its new products, available in a range of industry-standard form factors varying from M.2 modules to vision ready systems. The products combine powerful processing performance with Metis AIPU technology and the easy-to-use Voyager SDK software stack, just at a fraction of the cost and power consumption of today's available solutions.
BeaglePlay From BeagleBoard.org Brings Fun to Building With Computers
The BeagleBoard.org Foundation today announces the global availability of BeaglePlay, the most adaptable open-source performance platform available. Built on our proven open source Linux approach, BeaglePlay has a feature set that includes built-in wired and wireless connectivity and ability to connect to a wide selection of sensor and prototyping systems with thousands of options, as well as interfaces and processing performance to support them.
Leveraging the Texas Instruments AM625 processor with quad 64-bit Arm Cortex -A53 cores, low-latency microcontroller subsystems, a dedicated Texas Instruments SimpleLink CC1352P7 sub-1 GHz and 2.4-GHz wireless MCU, and a Texas Instruments WiLink WL1807MOD Wi-Fi module, new and experienced users can use a wide variety of application libraries and examples from Linux, Zephyr, MicroPython and numerous other open source frameworks to add an endless array of sensors, actuators, indicators and new connectivity options.
Leveraging the Texas Instruments AM625 processor with quad 64-bit Arm Cortex -A53 cores, low-latency microcontroller subsystems, a dedicated Texas Instruments SimpleLink CC1352P7 sub-1 GHz and 2.4-GHz wireless MCU, and a Texas Instruments WiLink WL1807MOD Wi-Fi module, new and experienced users can use a wide variety of application libraries and examples from Linux, Zephyr, MicroPython and numerous other open source frameworks to add an endless array of sensors, actuators, indicators and new connectivity options.
Intel Ups Demand on Subsidies from German Government for New Fab to €5 Billion
Last month, reports were saying that Intel wanted an additional €3.2 billion from the German government in subsidies to build its fab in Magdeburg, but apparently that wasn't nearly enough, as the company has increased its demands to somewhere between €4 billion to €5 billion. What triggered Intel to go ask the German government for even more cash is most likely a combination of things, as Intel is going to want to cover increases in costs courtesy of interest hikes and the inflation that's going on globally, alongside soaring energy prices in Europe. The expected cost of the new fab is said to have increased from €17 billion to €30 billion, which is not exactly pocket change.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Intel said that "disruptions in the global economy have resulted in increased costs, from construction materials to energy," and continued "We appreciate the constructive dialogue with the federal government to address the cost gap that exists with building in other locations and make this project globally competitive." The construction start of the Magdeburg fab has already been delayed and according to Bloomberg, Intel is also considering delaying its planned assembly factory in Italy. It doesn't look promising for either party, as Intel seems to want to spend as little as possible on building its new facilities, while expecting various governments around the world to prop it up until the new facilities are making money. Hopefully neither nation will agree to Intel changing the terms of the deals, as it could cost more nations more than they would earn in long term revenue from Intel.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Intel said that "disruptions in the global economy have resulted in increased costs, from construction materials to energy," and continued "We appreciate the constructive dialogue with the federal government to address the cost gap that exists with building in other locations and make this project globally competitive." The construction start of the Magdeburg fab has already been delayed and according to Bloomberg, Intel is also considering delaying its planned assembly factory in Italy. It doesn't look promising for either party, as Intel seems to want to spend as little as possible on building its new facilities, while expecting various governments around the world to prop it up until the new facilities are making money. Hopefully neither nation will agree to Intel changing the terms of the deals, as it could cost more nations more than they would earn in long term revenue from Intel.
Shipments of AI Servers Will Climb at CAGR of 10.8% from 2022 to 2026
According to TrendForce's latest survey of the server market, many cloud service providers (CSPs) have begun large-scale investments in the kinds of equipment that support artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This development is in response to the emergence of new applications such as self-driving cars, artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), and edge computing since 2018. TrendForce estimates that in 2022, AI servers that are equipped with general-purpose GPUs (GPGPUs) accounted for almost 1% of annual global server shipments. Moving into 2023, shipments of AI servers are projected to grow by 8% YoY thanks to ChatBot and similar applications generating demand across AI-related fields. Furthermore, shipments of AI servers are forecasted to increase at a CAGR of 10.8% from 2022 to 2026.
Lian Li O11D XL Case Gets EK Reflection² Distribution Plate With an Integrated Screen
EK, the premium water-cooling gear manufacturer, is launching a new distro plate for the Lian Li O11D XL chassis. The distro has a built-in EK-Quantum Lumen screen, a 7" IPS monitor that can be seen from the front of the case. It is designed to provide advanced water cooling with the latest 3rd-generation SATA-powered D5 pump, removing the need for additional 4-pin Molex cables. The Reflection² series distribution plates are EK-Matrix7 compliant.
The EK-Quantum Reflection² PC-O11D XL D5 PWM D-RGB - Screen Edition is a custom water-cooling reservoir, routing, and pump solution that seamlessly fits into the front of the case showing off a beautiful 7" IPS screen with an aluminum frame. This waterway is also equipped with six innovative push-in ports that come with female G1/4" threaded adapters. The idea is that users can easily assemble the whole radiator + fittings + tubing combo and use these push-in adapters to simply slide it into the distribution plate. The bottom radiator is mounted via a special metal bracket.
The EK-Quantum Reflection² PC-O11D XL D5 PWM D-RGB - Screen Edition is a custom water-cooling reservoir, routing, and pump solution that seamlessly fits into the front of the case showing off a beautiful 7" IPS screen with an aluminum frame. This waterway is also equipped with six innovative push-in ports that come with female G1/4" threaded adapters. The idea is that users can easily assemble the whole radiator + fittings + tubing combo and use these push-in adapters to simply slide it into the distribution plate. The bottom radiator is mounted via a special metal bracket.
JMGO Officially Unveils N1 Ultra, its Latest 4K Triple Color Laser Gimbal Projector, on Kickstarter
Today, JMGO, a pioneer of smart projectors, has announced the launch of its latest N1 Ultra 4K Triple Color Laser Gimbal Projector on Kickstarter via a 45-day crowdfunding project. The N1 Ultra is a cutting-edge projector set to facilitate the technological advancement of the projector industry. Featuring the self-developed MALC (Microstructure Adaptive Laser Control) Triple Color Laser Optics and an integrated gimbal design, the N1 Ultra offers a novel solution that guarantees a premium audio-visual experience and an ultimate level of flexibility at the same time.
"Our latest product, the JMGO N1 Ultra, is designed to provide unparalleled immersive viewing experiences with its versatile and portable form," said Will Wang, CPO of JMGO. "By bringing this industry-first triple color laser gimbal projector to the world, we are sustaining our innovative momentum in our ongoing mission to transform user experience."
"Our latest product, the JMGO N1 Ultra, is designed to provide unparalleled immersive viewing experiences with its versatile and portable form," said Will Wang, CPO of JMGO. "By bringing this industry-first triple color laser gimbal projector to the world, we are sustaining our innovative momentum in our ongoing mission to transform user experience."
OneOdio Unveils Affordable Monitor 80 Open Back Professional Headphones
OneOdio, a leading manufacturer of audio products, designed its Monitor 80 headphones for musicians, DJs, and audio professionals who require superior audio performance and comfort during long hours of use. The OneOdio Monitor 80 headphones are available for £99.99 on Amazon UK and $89.99 on Amazon.com (Currently with 25 percent discount).
Ideal for mastering, mixing, or tracking, the OneOdio Monitor 80 headphones feature 40 mm neodymium drivers with advanced high-precision etched diaphragms protected by an aluminium honeycomb housing. With 250-Ohm nominal impedance, they provide a powerful, clear, and precise sound with solid bass and crystal-clear midrange and are able to produce the fine details of instruments, making them perfect for use in home studios and on Hi-Res audio devices.
Ideal for mastering, mixing, or tracking, the OneOdio Monitor 80 headphones feature 40 mm neodymium drivers with advanced high-precision etched diaphragms protected by an aluminium honeycomb housing. With 250-Ohm nominal impedance, they provide a powerful, clear, and precise sound with solid bass and crystal-clear midrange and are able to produce the fine details of instruments, making them perfect for use in home studios and on Hi-Res audio devices.
ASUS TUF Gaming B760M-BTF WiFi D4 has its Connectors on the Reverse Side of the Motherboard
Back in October of last year, pictures from an ASUS event in China appeared online, showing off a pair of mATX motherboards that had most of its peripheral and power connectors on the reverse side of the motherboard. Now it appears that ASUS has decided to launch such a product, in the shape of the unforgettably named TUF Gaming B760M-BTF WiFi D4. The BTF part in the model name stands Back To (the) Future, although ASUS is most likely not allowed to use that term due to copyright restrictions, so it had to make do with BTF. Regardless of naming, the interesting part here is that all of the power connectors, the four SATA ports, the USB-C and USB 3.0 headers, as well as multiple other headers and one of three M.2 slots, are on the reverse side of the motherboard. This is all done to allow for cleaner cable management.
Other noteworthy features on the board include a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x4 and one x1 slot, three USB-C ports, of which one is capable of 20 Gbps speeds and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet. As this is a mid-range board, we presume ASUS wants to test the waters so to speak, to make sure there's a market for such a product. However, one major hurdle is the small fact that there aren't any suitable chassis in the market and the product page even mentions that "This motherboard is compatible with specific case models", without going into any details. Presumably, ASUS will offer a suitable chassis, or have some partner(s) lined up that will provide a suitable chassis. Gigabyte announced something similar in May last year, but decided to team up with system integrators, something ASUS might be planning on as well.
Other noteworthy features on the board include a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x4 and one x1 slot, three USB-C ports, of which one is capable of 20 Gbps speeds and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet. As this is a mid-range board, we presume ASUS wants to test the waters so to speak, to make sure there's a market for such a product. However, one major hurdle is the small fact that there aren't any suitable chassis in the market and the product page even mentions that "This motherboard is compatible with specific case models", without going into any details. Presumably, ASUS will offer a suitable chassis, or have some partner(s) lined up that will provide a suitable chassis. Gigabyte announced something similar in May last year, but decided to team up with system integrators, something ASUS might be planning on as well.
Hailo Introduces Hailo-15: The First AI-Centric Vision Processors for Next-Generation Intelligent Cameras
Hailo, the pioneering chipmaker of edge artificial intelligence (AI) processors, today announced its groundbreaking new Hailo-15 family of high-performance vision processors, designed for integration directly into intelligent cameras to deliver unprecedented video processing and analytics at the edge. With the launch of Hailo-15, the company is redefining the smart camera category by setting a new standard in computer vision and deep learning video processing, capable of delivering unprecedented AI performance in a wide range of applications for different industries.
With Hailo-15, smart city operators can more quickly detect and respond to incidents; manufacturers can increase productivity and machine uptime; retailers can protect supply chains and improve customer satisfaction; and transportation authorities can recognize everything from lost children, to accidents, to misplaced luggage. "Hailo-15 represents a significant step forward in making AI at the edge more scalable and affordable," stated Orr Danon, CEO of Hailo. "With this launch, we are leveraging our leadership in edge solutions, which are already deployed by hundreds of customers worldwide; the maturity of our AI technology; and our comprehensive software suite, to enable high performance AI in a camera form-factor."
With Hailo-15, smart city operators can more quickly detect and respond to incidents; manufacturers can increase productivity and machine uptime; retailers can protect supply chains and improve customer satisfaction; and transportation authorities can recognize everything from lost children, to accidents, to misplaced luggage. "Hailo-15 represents a significant step forward in making AI at the edge more scalable and affordable," stated Orr Danon, CEO of Hailo. "With this launch, we are leveraging our leadership in edge solutions, which are already deployed by hundreds of customers worldwide; the maturity of our AI technology; and our comprehensive software suite, to enable high performance AI in a camera form-factor."
Simply NUC Extends Product Line with Launch of Long Life NUC Powered by 12th Gen Intel Core Embedded Processors
Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini computer solutions company, today announced a new Simply NUC branded mini PC product family called Chapel Rock. The ultracompact long life mini PC is built for several use cases, from embedded units like kiosks and vending machines, to edge devices like security systems and sensor arrays. Chapel Rock brings the same reliability and customizability as its predecessor, Chimney Rock, with upgrades like dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and the all-new 12th Gen Intel Architecture. Simply NUC is currently taking orders on Chapel Rock with units expected to ship by the end of March.
"Since launching our long life NUC product line, our customers have successfully leveraged these mini PCs for an array of applications where longer development cycles are required for validation and certifications," said Aaron Rowsell, Simply NUC CEO, "and we're thrilled to extend our long life NUC offering with Chapel Rock."
"Since launching our long life NUC product line, our customers have successfully leveraged these mini PCs for an array of applications where longer development cycles are required for validation and certifications," said Aaron Rowsell, Simply NUC CEO, "and we're thrilled to extend our long life NUC offering with Chapel Rock."
Endorfy Launches the Thock TKL Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Endorfy (formerly SPC Gear), launched the Thock TKL wireless gaming keyboard. The keyboard offers three means of connectivity—direct USB HID (least latency), 2.4 GHz RF (low latency wireless), and Bluetooth 5.0 (dongle-free). The keyboard measures 361.5 (L) x 140 (W) x 42.5 (H) mm, and its body combines an aluminium alloy frame with ABS bits, and PBT keycaps. Its electronics allow N-key rollover in wired and 2.4 GHz RF mode, and 6-key rollover in Bluetooth. Under the hood, you get Kailh Box Red or Kailh Black switches. You get individual key RGB lighting. Besides the Thock TKL Wireless, the Endorfy Thock series consists of the full spectrum of form-factors, including the standard-size with the numpad, a 75% size, and a "Compact" size. Available now, the Thock TKL Wireless is priced at €80.
Be sure to catch the TechPowerUp Review of the Endorfy Thock TKL Wireless.
Be sure to catch the TechPowerUp Review of the Endorfy Thock TKL Wireless.
Dynatron Unveils A50 3U Rack Air Cooler for sTRX4 and sWRX8
The Dynatron A50 is designed for those using AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors in a quasi-server setting, in 3U rack cases. It is a super-compact tower-type CPU Cooler designed to augment the rack airflow. The cooler measures 82 mm x 119 mm x 110 mm (WxDxH), weighing 600 g, but is capable of thermal loads of up to 280 W TDP. This is possibly solely due to the insanely high airflow of its custom 80 mm fan. This fan turns at speeds of up to 8,000 RPM, pushing 38.3 CFM of airflow, but at 64.4 dBA noise output, and nearly 24 W power-draw. Its design involves a base-plate with retention module for sTRX4/xWRX8, from which four 6 mm-thick copper heat pipes convey heat to a dense aluminium channel heatsink.
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