Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Motherboards
Mouse
Processors
News Archive
Thursday, October 31st 2019
XFX Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC III Ultra Review
The XFX RX 5700 XT THICC III Ultra is a brand new triple-fan design from the company, which runs higher clocks, too. XFX listened to criticism and improved the memory cooling plate, reducing temperatures and noise levels significantly, which makes the THICC III one of the quietest RX 5700 XT cards out there.
iBUYPOWER Gaming RDY L20IRG201 (Ryzen 3900X + RTX 2070 Super) Review
iBUYPOWER looks to impress by delivering exceptional performance without an excessively high price tag. Sprinkle in some RGB lighting, 3 years of support, and a 1 TB SSD and you have what could be considered a winning combination.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare Rakes in $600 million on Opening Weekend
Activision's latest blockbuster in the Call of Duty franchise has been announced to have brought in something to the tune of $600 million to the company's coffers. That's a whole lot of money - but remember we're talking about an actual finished Call of Duty game that includes a single-player campaign. Yearly installments have proven to not do any harm to Call of Duty - it remains one of the biggest entertainment launches every year, which is part of the reason why Activision has three development studios constantly working on the franchise, with three-year development cycles for each title (this particular release was created by Infinity Ward). That's a big level of commitment, and it usually shows in the finished quality of the games.
The game has overtaken all previous releases in the franchise for this current generation of consoles (and PC). Reasons for that surely include the reference to one of the franchises most beloved entries, the homonymous Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and the return of Captain Price, but surely the presence of a single-player campaign and the absence of any microtransactions pulled their weight in this release success. If there were any doubts on Call of Duty keeping its momentum, they have to be postponed to next year's release.
The game has overtaken all previous releases in the franchise for this current generation of consoles (and PC). Reasons for that surely include the reference to one of the franchises most beloved entries, the homonymous Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and the return of Captain Price, but surely the presence of a single-player campaign and the absence of any microtransactions pulled their weight in this release success. If there were any doubts on Call of Duty keeping its momentum, they have to be postponed to next year's release.
Venom Launch the Sabre Stereo Gaming Headset
Venom has announced the launch of the Sabre Stereo Gaming Headset, a new premium gaming headset for use with a wide variety of formats including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and PC, due to go on sale November 1st 2019. Already well established for their range of great-value gaming headsets, the Sabre offers gamers a distinctly higher-end experience at the price of £29.99, without the exorbitant price point typically associated with a headset of such distinction.
Delivering quality and features unrivalled at the price point, the Sabre looks, feels and sounds every inch a premium product, from the quality metal, self-adjusting headband which adapts to the users head size, greatly cushioned foam ear-cups for sustained comfort, even for glasses and piercing wearers. Powerful 50 mm Neodymium Drivers offer superbly rich audio and chat quality whether you're gaming, listening to music or watching movies.
Delivering quality and features unrivalled at the price point, the Sabre looks, feels and sounds every inch a premium product, from the quality metal, self-adjusting headband which adapts to the users head size, greatly cushioned foam ear-cups for sustained comfort, even for glasses and piercing wearers. Powerful 50 mm Neodymium Drivers offer superbly rich audio and chat quality whether you're gaming, listening to music or watching movies.
Antec Announces NeoECO ZEN 80 PLUS Gold Power Supply Series
Antec Inc., leading provider of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself market, broadens their offer of power supplies with the new line NeoEco Gold Zen. The 80 PLUS GOLD rating and the 500 W, 600 W and 700 W models with Continuous Power make this series a great and affordable choice.
The PSU line is now commercially available from US$69.99 for NE500G Zen, US$79.99 for NE600G Zen, and US$89.99 for NE700G Zen. These PSUs achieve up to 92 per cent efficiency, so you can reduce your electricity bill up to 20 per cent. The series features a half-bridge LLC design with a synchronous rectification based on a DC-DC topology. Japanese capacitors ensure the tightest DC stability and regulation, for reliability that you and your system can count on. The NeoEco Zen Gold is engineered according to the newest PSU guideline ATX12V 2.4 and is compatible with the latest generation of CPUs.
The PSU line is now commercially available from US$69.99 for NE500G Zen, US$79.99 for NE600G Zen, and US$89.99 for NE700G Zen. These PSUs achieve up to 92 per cent efficiency, so you can reduce your electricity bill up to 20 per cent. The series features a half-bridge LLC design with a synchronous rectification based on a DC-DC topology. Japanese capacitors ensure the tightest DC stability and regulation, for reliability that you and your system can count on. The NeoEco Zen Gold is engineered according to the newest PSU guideline ATX12V 2.4 and is compatible with the latest generation of CPUs.
Thermaltake Releases High-Frequency TOUGHRAM RGB DDR4 Memory Kits
Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Cooling, Gaming Gear and Enthusiast Memory solutions, today announced the release of the Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB DDR4 Memory Series which comes in new frequencies of 4,000 MHz, 4,266 MHz and 4,400 MHz 2x8 GB modules, supported by Intel and AMD platforms. Featuring 10-layer PCB construction, 2oz copper inner layers and 10μ gold fingers, the TOUGHRAM RGB enhances overclocking performance and betters gaming experiences. The high-frequency memory kits are constructed with higher standard chips, which have been tested to achieve higher and more stable overclocks. Our latest module 4,400 MHz and 4,000 MHz was tested with Intel's Core i7 platform, ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE and MAXIMUS XI HERO motherboards and remained stable under load.
Thermaltake CEO Kenny Lin is excited to launch the newest addition to the TOUGRAM RGB Series. "We are glad to embrace the new era of high-frequency memory. With the rapid rise of esports, higher frequency ram is essential for faster and smoother performance. Level up your gameplay with the next level TOUGHRAM RGB DDR4 16 GB Memory Kit in 4,000 MHz, 4,266 MHz, 4,400 MHz." stated Thermaltake CEO Kenny Lin.
Thermaltake CEO Kenny Lin is excited to launch the newest addition to the TOUGRAM RGB Series. "We are glad to embrace the new era of high-frequency memory. With the rapid rise of esports, higher frequency ram is essential for faster and smoother performance. Level up your gameplay with the next level TOUGHRAM RGB DDR4 16 GB Memory Kit in 4,000 MHz, 4,266 MHz, 4,400 MHz." stated Thermaltake CEO Kenny Lin.
Intel Ice Lake-SP and Cooper Lake-SP Details Leaked
Brainbox, a Korean media outlet, has gathered information on Intel's newest Ice Lake and Cooper Lake server processors from a presentation ASUS held for its server lineup. With Cooper Lake-SP paving the way for the first server CPU model to be released on the new "Whitley" platform, it is supposed to launch in Q2 of 2020. Cooper Lake-SP comes with TDP of 300 W and will be available with configurations of up to 48 cores, but there also should be a 56 core model like the Xeon Platinum 9282, that has a TDP of 400 W. Cooper Lake-SP supports up to 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes, 8 channel memory (16 DIMMs in total) that goes up to 3200 MHz and four Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI) links.
Ice Lake-SP, built on the new 10 nm+ manufacturing process, is coming in soon after Cooper Lake-SP release, with a launch window in Q3 of 2020. That is just few months apart from previous CPU launch, so it will be a bit hard to integrate the launches of two rather distinct products. As far as the specifications of Ice Lake-SP goes, it will have up to 38 core for the top end model, within 270 W TDP. It supports 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes with three UPI links. There is also 8 channel memory support, however this time there is an option to use 2nd generation Optane DC Persistent Memory. Both CPU uArches will run on the new LGA 4189 on the P+ socket.
Ice Lake-SP, built on the new 10 nm+ manufacturing process, is coming in soon after Cooper Lake-SP release, with a launch window in Q3 of 2020. That is just few months apart from previous CPU launch, so it will be a bit hard to integrate the launches of two rather distinct products. As far as the specifications of Ice Lake-SP goes, it will have up to 38 core for the top end model, within 270 W TDP. It supports 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes with three UPI links. There is also 8 channel memory support, however this time there is an option to use 2nd generation Optane DC Persistent Memory. Both CPU uArches will run on the new LGA 4189 on the P+ socket.
AMD CEO Lisa Su Talks About 3rd Gen Ryzen Boost Issue in Q3 Earnings Call
AMD CEO Dr Lisa Su in response to a question, spoke about 3rd generation Ryzen processor boost issue. Dr. Su was responding to a question by Mitch Steves of RBC Capital on whether she had comments on "the software side" of 3rd gen Ryzen, and articles in the press still popping up about them despite AMD's fix. This was interpreted by the AMD CEO as a question specific to the Precision Boost controversy surrounding 3rd gen Ryzen chips, in which processors would seldom/never hit the advertised maximum boost frequency. AMD tried to address this by issuing updates to its processor microcode under AGESA Combo 1.0.0.3 ABBA, distributed through motherboard BIOS updates. The new microcode is supposed to increase the maximum turbo clock-speeds for "the vast majority" of users.
In her response, Dr. Su began by stating that the company is pleased with the sales of these processors. She then mentioned that AMD is working with its motherboard partners and ODM partners to "improve the optimization of the maximum boost frequency." She notes that the issue has been "largely addressed over the last couple of weeks" (referring to 1.0.0.3 ABBA). She goes on to state that AMD sees its response to the boost issues as more of an "optimization," rather than a "major update," possibly trying to allay investor fears that AMD is firefighting a costly problem with its products. "We're going to continue to improve the platform," she adds, possibly referencing the upcoming AGESA 1.0.0.4 Patch B microcode that's beginning to ship out by motherboard vendors. The earnings call can be accessed here. The specific question can be found at 47:00.
In her response, Dr. Su began by stating that the company is pleased with the sales of these processors. She then mentioned that AMD is working with its motherboard partners and ODM partners to "improve the optimization of the maximum boost frequency." She notes that the issue has been "largely addressed over the last couple of weeks" (referring to 1.0.0.3 ABBA). She goes on to state that AMD sees its response to the boost issues as more of an "optimization," rather than a "major update," possibly trying to allay investor fears that AMD is firefighting a costly problem with its products. "We're going to continue to improve the platform," she adds, possibly referencing the upcoming AGESA 1.0.0.4 Patch B microcode that's beginning to ship out by motherboard vendors. The earnings call can be accessed here. The specific question can be found at 47:00.
Western Digital Announces Financial Results for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020
Western Digital Corp. today reported revenue of $4.0 billion for its first fiscal quarter ended October 4, 2019. The operating loss was $129 million with a net loss of $276 million, or ($0.93) per share. Excluding certain non-GAAP adjustments, the company achieved non-GAAP operating income of $235 million and non-GAAP net income of $101 million, or $0.34 per share.
In the year-ago quarter, the company reported revenue of $5.0 billion, operating income of $686 million and net income of $511 million, or $1.71 per share. Non-GAAP operating income in the year-ago quarter was $1.1 billion and non-GAAP net income was $906 million, or $3.04 per share. The company's first fiscal quarter of 2020 was a 14-week fiscal quarter, compared to a 13-week fiscal quarter for the year-ago quarter.
In the year-ago quarter, the company reported revenue of $5.0 billion, operating income of $686 million and net income of $511 million, or $1.71 per share. Non-GAAP operating income in the year-ago quarter was $1.1 billion and non-GAAP net income was $906 million, or $3.04 per share. The company's first fiscal quarter of 2020 was a 14-week fiscal quarter, compared to a 13-week fiscal quarter for the year-ago quarter.
Wednesday, October 30th 2019
Today's Reviews
Accessories
CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
- NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super ComputerBase (de)
- MSI GTX 1660 Super Gaming X Guru3D
- Palit GTX 1660 Super GamingPro OC Guru3D
- Zotac GTX 1660 Super AMP Guru3D
- Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super Gaming OC Guru3D
- Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super Gaming OC Hexus.net
- NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super HotHardware
- Palit GTX 1660 Super GamingPro OC KitGuru
- Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super Gaming OC KitGuru
- Palit GTX 1660 Super StormX OC Club (ru)
- Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super Aorus OC The FPS Review
- MSI GTX 1660 Super Gaming X Tweaktown
Keyboards
Biostar Racing X570GT Review
X570 has been the most comprehensive launch in recent AMD history, with dozens of motherboards available. From E-ATX to Mini-ITX, there are many options for every form factor, except Micro ATX, for which only two boards exist. Today I'm looking at one of them, the Biostar Racing X570GT!
Synology DS620slim 6-bay NAS Review
The Synology DS620slim is one of the most compact NAS servers available today. It supports up to six HDD/SSDs for plenty of storage if you equip it with large-capacity drives. We measured power consumption to be low, and the same goes for its operating noise.
GIGABYTE Outs AORUS RGB Memory with AORUS Memory Boost Feature
GIGABYTE expanded its AORUS RGB DDR4 memory family with two new kits that introduce a proprietary performance enhancement dubbed AORUS Memory Boost. Exclusive to GIGABYTE's AORUS-branded motherboards (listed below), and requiring a BIOS update to use, AORUS Memory Boost is a toggle that runs the memory at a clock-speed and timing combination that's a notch above its highest Intel XMP profile. For example, the memory kits debuting with the feature today feature an XMP 2.0 profile for DDR4-3600. Flicking on AORUS Memory Boost runs them at DDR4-3733, in essence making it an additional memory profile that's exclusive to GIGABYTE motherboards.
The memory kits being launched today are GP-AR36C18S8K2HU416R and GP-AR36C18S8K2HU416RD. The former is 2x 8 GB (16 GB) dual-channel, while the latter is 2x 8 GB (16 GB) with two dummy modules. These dummy modules fill up vacant DIMM slots, look and light up like real modules, and could boost the aesthetics of your build without having you spend on two additional real modules. Out of the box, the memory modules (real ones) in these kits run at DDR4-2667 with 19-19-19-43 on Intel processors and 20-19-19-43 on AMD ones. The included DDR4-3600 XMP profile has timings of 18-19-19-39. GIGABYTE didn't mention how AORUS Memory Boost affects timings. Out of the box, the module voltage is 1.2 V, and the XMP profile dials it up to 1.35 V. The dummies work with whatever module voltage you specify in the BIOS, and interface with GIGABYTE RGB Fusion software. The company didn't reveal pricing.
The memory kits being launched today are GP-AR36C18S8K2HU416R and GP-AR36C18S8K2HU416RD. The former is 2x 8 GB (16 GB) dual-channel, while the latter is 2x 8 GB (16 GB) with two dummy modules. These dummy modules fill up vacant DIMM slots, look and light up like real modules, and could boost the aesthetics of your build without having you spend on two additional real modules. Out of the box, the memory modules (real ones) in these kits run at DDR4-2667 with 19-19-19-43 on Intel processors and 20-19-19-43 on AMD ones. The included DDR4-3600 XMP profile has timings of 18-19-19-39. GIGABYTE didn't mention how AORUS Memory Boost affects timings. Out of the box, the module voltage is 1.2 V, and the XMP profile dials it up to 1.35 V. The dummies work with whatever module voltage you specify in the BIOS, and interface with GIGABYTE RGB Fusion software. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Glorious PC Gaming Race Intros Model D Gaming Mouse
Glorious PC Gaming race, which gave us the category-defining Model O lightweight gaming mouse, unveiled its new, affordable, and ergonomic sibling, the Model D. The company didn't put out detailed specs, except talking about its biggest attributes. To begin with, the mouse appears to be either ambidextrous or quasi-ambidextrous (having two buttons on its left side). You get an on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment button. Illumination includes RGB LED lighting diffusers along the sides, and the scroll-wheel. The mouse comes in four trims: black, white, and their sub-trims, glossy and matte. Its most important spec is its weight, which tips the scales under 69 g. Priced at USD $49.99, it's slated to come out some time this December.
Crucial Intros 2 TB Version of its BX500 Series SATA SSD
Crucial has started shipping a 2 TB version of its famous, budget/minded BX500 Series of SATA SSDs. As pricing on NAND density has come down, it makes sense that budget solutions start to increase their capacities as well, since there is no longer a premium on new, advanced technologies. The Crucial BX500 2 TB model features the same 3D TLC NAND as the other capacities in Crucial's portfolio: 96-layer 3D TLC NAND flash memory mated to an SMI SM2258XT DRAM-less controller.
Since it maintains the communication protocol (SATA), and the hardware is virtually unchanged except for higher densities, don't expect improved performance: the 2 TB drive is still rated for up to 540 MB/s reads and up to 500 MB/s writes. Pricing is set at $214 (or €241) for the 2 TB model, which means price per GB stands at roughly $0.10.
Since it maintains the communication protocol (SATA), and the hardware is virtually unchanged except for higher densities, don't expect improved performance: the 2 TB drive is still rated for up to 540 MB/s reads and up to 500 MB/s writes. Pricing is set at $214 (or €241) for the 2 TB model, which means price per GB stands at roughly $0.10.
MSI Announces New GeForce GTX 16 SUPER Series Graphics Cards
As the world's most popular GAMING graphics card vendor, MSI is proud to announce its brand-new graphics card line-up based on NVIDIA's Turing architecture with outstanding performance. Equipped with excellent thermal solutions, MSI GeForce GTX 16 SUPER series are designed to provide higher core and memory clock speeds for increased performance in games.
MSI's GAMING series delivers the top notch in-game and thermal performance that gamers have come to expect from MSI. With a solid and sharp design, VENTUS XS provides a great balance with strong dual fan cooling and outstanding performance. The AERO ITX is a great option for gamers looking to include Turing power into a small form factor build. With this comprehensive line-up there is plenty of choice for any build. Both MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER and GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER will have GAMING, VENTUS XS and AERO ITX models with various differences.
MSI's GAMING series delivers the top notch in-game and thermal performance that gamers have come to expect from MSI. With a solid and sharp design, VENTUS XS provides a great balance with strong dual fan cooling and outstanding performance. The AERO ITX is a great option for gamers looking to include Turing power into a small form factor build. With this comprehensive line-up there is plenty of choice for any build. Both MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER and GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER will have GAMING, VENTUS XS and AERO ITX models with various differences.
Maingear Announces VYBE 9900KS Edition Gaming Desktop
Today, MAINGEAR is pleased to announce that the all-new Intel 9th Gen Core i9-9900KS flagship processor is now available across its product line of award-winning custom gaming PCs and workstations. Created to be the ultimate gaming processor, the i9-9900KS features up to 5.0 GHz all-core turbo frequency across 8 cores and 16 threads — gamers looking for the ultimate power boost need look no further. MAINGEAR products featuring the i9-9900KS offer an unmatched level of performance that takes your gaming and streaming experience to the next level!
To celebrate this amazing achievement in processing power, MAINGEAR is offering the i9-9900KS in select desktop configurations, like the award-winning VYBE, with a Limited Edition VYBE 9900KS Edition — in extremely limited quantities. Powered by an 8-core Intel Core i9-9900KS, this special offering is a top-tier gaming machine and the best way to experience the incredible performance the i9-9900KS has to offer. The VYBE 9900KS Edition combines this monstrous processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, ASUS ROG Ryujin 360 RGB AiO CPU Liquid Cooler with color display that helps users keep temperatures low and all-white VYBE chassis.
To celebrate this amazing achievement in processing power, MAINGEAR is offering the i9-9900KS in select desktop configurations, like the award-winning VYBE, with a Limited Edition VYBE 9900KS Edition — in extremely limited quantities. Powered by an 8-core Intel Core i9-9900KS, this special offering is a top-tier gaming machine and the best way to experience the incredible performance the i9-9900KS has to offer. The VYBE 9900KS Edition combines this monstrous processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, ASUS ROG Ryujin 360 RGB AiO CPU Liquid Cooler with color display that helps users keep temperatures low and all-white VYBE chassis.
Team Group Updates Product Stack, Extends 32GB DIMMs to More Product Lines
TEAMGROUP releases large-capacity memory Elite / Elite PLUS DDR4 32 GB for audio and video creator upgrade selections. ELITE DDR4 and Elite PLUS DDR4 are both 1.2 V memory module and massive 32 GB Kit capacity. In response to the trend of live streaming and the increasing number of digital contents, there are many other high-quality products available for creators with a full range of upgrade options.
The improvement of the specifications of built-in memory and hard drive is very important for meeting creators' needs for computer upgrades. TEAMGROUP releases the large capacity memory Elite/Elite PLUS DDR4 32 GB; it also works with MP34 M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive that has the new generation PCIe Gen3 x4 high speed interface and the latest NVMe1.3 protocol. Even under multitask processing, 1 TB of high capacity and up to 3000/2600 MB/s of excellent read/write speed can still provide stable and smooth use experience.
The improvement of the specifications of built-in memory and hard drive is very important for meeting creators' needs for computer upgrades. TEAMGROUP releases the large capacity memory Elite/Elite PLUS DDR4 32 GB; it also works with MP34 M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive that has the new generation PCIe Gen3 x4 high speed interface and the latest NVMe1.3 protocol. Even under multitask processing, 1 TB of high capacity and up to 3000/2600 MB/s of excellent read/write speed can still provide stable and smooth use experience.
India's Largest Nuclear Power Plant Denies Rumors of Cybersecurity Breach Stopping a Reactor
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is India's largest, with two operational 1,000 MWe reactors, and four more under construction, making up a nameplate capacity of 6,000 MWe (electrical output) when fully built. Last Saturday (26th October), unit 2 was taken offline due to an "SG level low" (steam generator level low) error. This event, roughly coinciding with Twitter chatter on an alleged cyber-attack on the plant's computers on Tuesday, spread panic. Twitter threads from cyber-security handles chronicle a possible DTrack malware attack that gained access to the plant's domain controller.
On Tuesday, state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), which operates KKNPP, put out a press-release denying these rumors. In the press release, plant spokesperson R. Ramdoss states that the plant's computers are isolated from the Internet, and that an external cyberattack is "impossible." He stated that Unit 2 was taken offline due to a mechanical problem in its turbine hall (levels of steam being too low to turn the turbine). It's important to understand that a "Unit" in power plant jargon is a combination of a reactor and its turbine hall. The reactor splits atoms to heat water and make steam, the turbine hall uses this steam to make electricity. A "unit" being offline doesn't necessary mean that its reactor is, but that it's simply not putting out power to the grid. Ramdoss stated that as of Tuesday, units 1 and 2 were putting out 1,000 MWe and 600 MWe, respectively.
Update (late-Wednesday, 10/30): NPCIL retracted its earlier statement denying a cyber-attack, and released another press-release, stating that one of its PCs in the plant's administrative block that was exposed to the Internet, was infected by malware, and is being cleaned. This PC is isolated from the plant's internal network that operates the various critical systems. The investigation also revealed that the plant's internal computers are unaffected. The new press-release is pictured above. From the looks of it, the operational error on Saturday is unrelated to the cyber-attack.
On Tuesday, state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), which operates KKNPP, put out a press-release denying these rumors. In the press release, plant spokesperson R. Ramdoss states that the plant's computers are isolated from the Internet, and that an external cyberattack is "impossible." He stated that Unit 2 was taken offline due to a mechanical problem in its turbine hall (levels of steam being too low to turn the turbine). It's important to understand that a "Unit" in power plant jargon is a combination of a reactor and its turbine hall. The reactor splits atoms to heat water and make steam, the turbine hall uses this steam to make electricity. A "unit" being offline doesn't necessary mean that its reactor is, but that it's simply not putting out power to the grid. Ramdoss stated that as of Tuesday, units 1 and 2 were putting out 1,000 MWe and 600 MWe, respectively.
Terra Master Unveils the Cost-effective F2-210 2-bay NAS
TerraMaster, a professional brand that specializes in providing innovative storage products, including network attached storage and direct attached storage, is thrilled to share with everyone its undisputed budget offering for the NAS market. The TerraMaster F2-210 is built with quality in mind but offers a comprehensive feature set for the unbeatable price of $149.99. The TerraMaster F2-210 is perfect for new NAS users or SOHO usage that need a centralized storage solution but don't want to break the bank. With the F2-210, experience a full NAS experience at less cost so you can focus on what you need to do. The TerraMaster F2-210 has an MSRP of $149.99
TerraMaster builds the F2-210 around the ARM v8 quad-core processor. This CPU is used by many competing product but only TerraMaster is offering it at this price range. With speeds up to 1.40 GHz, users can enjoy performance of up to 114 MB/s for both read and write, perfect for file sharing amongst multiple devices or backing up your important data and memories. Use the TerraMaster as a media entertainment server for your 4K video files and enjoy real-time transcoding so you can enjoy your files with any devices. The F2-210 will handle most functions with no problem and easily repay itself in a year with savings in multi-device cloud backup account or live-streaming service accounts.
TerraMaster builds the F2-210 around the ARM v8 quad-core processor. This CPU is used by many competing product but only TerraMaster is offering it at this price range. With speeds up to 1.40 GHz, users can enjoy performance of up to 114 MB/s for both read and write, perfect for file sharing amongst multiple devices or backing up your important data and memories. Use the TerraMaster as a media entertainment server for your 4K video files and enjoy real-time transcoding so you can enjoy your files with any devices. The F2-210 will handle most functions with no problem and easily repay itself in a year with savings in multi-device cloud backup account or live-streaming service accounts.
AMD "Renoir" APU 3DMark 11 Performance Figures Allegedly Surface
AMD "Renoir" is the company's next-generation APU that improves iGPU and CPU performance over the current 12 nm "Picasso" APU. An AMD "Renoir" APU engineering sample running on a "Celadon-RN" platform prototyping board, was allegedly put through 3DMark 11, and its performance numbers surfaced on Reddit, in three data-sets corresponding with three hardware configurations. In the first one, dubbed "config 1," the CPU is clocked at 1.70 GHz, the iGPU at 1.50 GHz, and the system memory at DDR4-2667. In "config 2," the CPU runs at 1.80 GHz, and the iGPU and memory frequencies are unknown. In "config 3," the CPU runs at 2.00 GHz, the iGPU at 1.10 GHz, and the memory at DDR4-2667. Raw benchmark output from 3DMark 11 Performance preset are pasted for each of the configs below (in that order). The three mention 3DMark database result IDs, but all three are private when we tried to look them up.
The "config 1" machine scores 3,547 points in the performance preset of 3DMark 11. It's interesting to note here that the iGPU clock is significantly higher than that of "Picasso." In "config 2," a 3DMark performance score of 3,143 points is yielded. The CPU clock is increased compared to "config 1," but the score is reduced slightly, which indicates a possible reduction in iGPU clocks or memory speed, or perhaps even the iGPU's core-configuration. In "config 3," we see the highest CPU clock speed at 2.00 GHz, but a reduced iGPU clock speed at 1.10 GHz. This setup scores 2,374 points in the 3DMark performance preset, a 33% drop from "config 1," indicating not just reduced iGPU clocks, but possibly also reduced CU count. "Renoir" is expected to combine "Zen 2" CPU cores with an iGPU that has the number-crunching machinery of "Vega," but with the display- and multimedia-engines of "Navi."
The "config 1" machine scores 3,547 points in the performance preset of 3DMark 11. It's interesting to note here that the iGPU clock is significantly higher than that of "Picasso." In "config 2," a 3DMark performance score of 3,143 points is yielded. The CPU clock is increased compared to "config 1," but the score is reduced slightly, which indicates a possible reduction in iGPU clocks or memory speed, or perhaps even the iGPU's core-configuration. In "config 3," we see the highest CPU clock speed at 2.00 GHz, but a reduced iGPU clock speed at 1.10 GHz. This setup scores 2,374 points in the 3DMark performance preset, a 33% drop from "config 1," indicating not just reduced iGPU clocks, but possibly also reduced CU count. "Renoir" is expected to combine "Zen 2" CPU cores with an iGPU that has the number-crunching machinery of "Vega," but with the display- and multimedia-engines of "Navi."
Samsung Delivers a New Computing Experience with Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion
Samsung Electronics today introduced Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion at the Samsung Developer Conference 2019 (SDC19), two premium laptops offering ultra-portable and ultra-powerful computing experiences to meet the unique needs of modern professionals for their always on-the-go lifestyles. Today's on-the-go consumers need PCs that deliver maximum productivity, while being mobile enough to take wherever you're going. Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion were built for that and more, offering a seamless continuity across multiple devices.
"Consumers often have to choose between mobility and high-performance hardware when choosing a laptop," said YoungGyoo Choi, Senior Vice President of, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion eliminate the need to compromise by offering powerful performance with unparalleled portability and display innovation."
"Consumers often have to choose between mobility and high-performance hardware when choosing a laptop," said YoungGyoo Choi, Senior Vice President of, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "Galaxy Book Flex and Galaxy Book Ion eliminate the need to compromise by offering powerful performance with unparalleled portability and display innovation."
Microsoft Details DirectX Raytracing Tier 1.1, New DirectX 12 Features
Microsoft detailed feature additions to the DirectX 12 3D graphics API, and an expansion of its DirectX Ray-tracing (DXR) API to Tier 1.1. The updated APIs will be included with the Windows 10 major update that's scheduled for the first half of 2020 — the features are accessible already for developers in Windows Insider preview builds. DXR 1.1 is the first major update to the API since its Q4-2018 launch, and adds three major features. To begin with, it brings support for extra shaders to an existing ray-tracing PSO (pipeline-state object), increasing the efficiency of dynamic PSO additions. Next up, is ExecuteIndirect for Raytracing support, described by Microsoft as "enabling adaptive algorithms where the number of rays is decided on the GPU execution timeline." This could be a hint what to expect from NVIDIA's next-generation GPUs that are expected for next year. Lastly, the API introduces support for Inline Raytracing, which gives developers more control over ray traversal and scheduling.
Over in the main DirectX 12 API, Microsoft is introducing support for Mesh Shaders, which brings about systemic changes to the graphics pipeline. "Mesh shaders and amplification shaders are the next generation of GPU geometry processing capability, replacing the current input assembler, vertex shader, hull shader, tessellator, domain shader, and geometry shader stages," writes Microsoft in its blog post. DirectX Sampler Feedback contributes toward memory management by allowing games to better understand which texture assets are more frequently accessed and need to remain resident.
Over in the main DirectX 12 API, Microsoft is introducing support for Mesh Shaders, which brings about systemic changes to the graphics pipeline. "Mesh shaders and amplification shaders are the next generation of GPU geometry processing capability, replacing the current input assembler, vertex shader, hull shader, tessellator, domain shader, and geometry shader stages," writes Microsoft in its blog post. DirectX Sampler Feedback contributes toward memory management by allowing games to better understand which texture assets are more frequently accessed and need to remain resident.
AMD Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results
AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) today announced revenue for the third quarter of 2019 of $1.80 billion, operating income of $186 million, net income of $120 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.11. On a non-GAAP(*) basis, operating income was $240 million, net income was $219 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.18.
"Our first full quarter of 7 nm Ryzen, Radeon and EPYC processor sales drove our highest quarterly revenue since 2005, our highest quarterly gross margin since 2012 and a significant increase in net income year-over-year," said Dr. Lisa Su, AMD president and CEO. "I am extremely pleased with our progress as we have the strongest product portfolio in our history, significant customer momentum and a leadership product roadmap for 2020 and beyond."
"Our first full quarter of 7 nm Ryzen, Radeon and EPYC processor sales drove our highest quarterly revenue since 2005, our highest quarterly gross margin since 2012 and a significant increase in net income year-over-year," said Dr. Lisa Su, AMD president and CEO. "I am extremely pleased with our progress as we have the strongest product portfolio in our history, significant customer momentum and a leadership product roadmap for 2020 and beyond."
Tuesday, October 29th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
Motherboards
Mouse
Networking
SSD
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Gaming X Review
The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Gaming X comes with a large dual-fan cooler that makes it the quietest GTX 1660 Super we've reviewed today. It also comes with the highly popular idle-fan stop feature. Temperatures are good, too, and a backplate is included as well.
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Super Gaming OC Review
Gigabyte designed an upscale-looking GeForce GTX 1660 Super using a heavy heatsink and triple fans with idle fan-stop to boot. It also comes with the largest factory overclock and largest power limit increase of all the GTX 1660 Super cards we've tested today.
ASUS GeForce GTX 1660 Super Phoenix Review
The ASUS GeForce GTX 1660 Super is priced at just $230, matching NVIDIA MSRP pricing. Physically the card is very compact, measuring just 17.5 x 12 cm, which ensures it will fit into all cases. Unfortunately the small size limits what the cooler can do in terms of heat and noise.
Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Super GamingPro OC Review
Palit's GeForce GTX 1660 Super GamingPro OC is just $5 more expensive than the NVIDIA MSRP, yet offers a dual-fan cooler that delivers good temperatures. For the small price increase, you even get a backplate, something other cards in this price range don't include.
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 Super AMP Review
ZOTAC brings us a practical GeForce GTX 1660 Super graphics card that comes with a factory overclock and just enough features to get your gaming rig up and going without it breaking the bank - the price increase over MSRP is $20.
EVGA Unveils its GeForce GTX 16-series SUPER Graphics Card Lineup
The EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER and GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER gaming cards were designed to bring the best cooling and the best overclocking to new performance levels and price points. Now the new GeForce GTX SUPER Series has ultra-fast GDDR6 memory, bringing you performance that's up to 50% faster than the original GTX 16 Series and up to 2X faster than previous-generation 10 Series GPUs. It's time to gear up and get SUPER.
GeForce GTX SUPER Series graphics cards are powered by the NVIDIA Turing GPU architecture. Turing shaders enable awesome performance increases on today's games. Get 1.4X power efficiency over the previous generation for a faster, cooler, and quieter gaming experience.
GeForce GTX SUPER Series graphics cards are powered by the NVIDIA Turing GPU architecture. Turing shaders enable awesome performance increases on today's games. Get 1.4X power efficiency over the previous generation for a faster, cooler, and quieter gaming experience.
Sharkoon Announces the TG6 RGB Mid-tower Chassis
Sharkoon Technologies is an international supplier of PC components and peripherals, offering performance at a reasonable price. Sharkoon introduces a new midi ATX tower, the TG6 RGB. This PC case combines the chic look of glass with a spacious interior, where a water-cooling system will find enough room. In addition, the installed components are put perfectly into the scene by the four pre-installed 120 millimeter fans with their multi-layered RGB illumination.
The four pre-installed 120 millimeter addressable RGB fans provide the necessary airflow. Three of them are in the front of the case and one in the back. Thanks to the new, modular frame design, no screws are visible on the fans. The rubberized contact points and the aerodynamic fan blades provide quiet running and a high rate of airflow. Optionally, three additional 120 millimeter or two 140 millimeter fans can be installed under the top panel. In order to protect the fans and hardware from dust and dirt, the top, bottom and front panels all have removable filters, the top panel filter being attached magnetically.
The four pre-installed 120 millimeter addressable RGB fans provide the necessary airflow. Three of them are in the front of the case and one in the back. Thanks to the new, modular frame design, no screws are visible on the fans. The rubberized contact points and the aerodynamic fan blades provide quiet running and a high rate of airflow. Optionally, three additional 120 millimeter or two 140 millimeter fans can be installed under the top panel. In order to protect the fans and hardware from dust and dirt, the top, bottom and front panels all have removable filters, the top panel filter being attached magnetically.
Inno3D Releases its GeForce GTX 16-series SUPER Graphics Cards
INNO3D, a leading manufacturer of pioneering high-end multimedia components and various innovations is excited to announce the new INNO3D GeForce GTX 1660 and 1650 SUPER. Continuing with the success of the RTX 2060 Twin X2 and RTX 2060 SUPER Twin X2 OC, our engineers decided it was only logical to launch the new GTX 16 SUPER series with the same excellent performing coolers while also adding the fan favourite Compact version to the 16 SUPER series. However, our engineers went one step further this time and developed the Twin X2 OC RGB! Read on…
Remember the efficiently designed cooler with two large 9 cm fans? Now picture that with a display of RGB lighting up the fins of the cooler complimenting your proudly built PC rig. The cooler not only looks great, it is super effective in cooling and means business as it delivers excellent performance for today's most popular games. The dual 9 cm fan has the best balance of noise and cooling performance for its size. The cooling system comprise of 3 heatpipes with aluminium extrusion and a large heatsink to disperse heat quickly and efficiently.
Remember the efficiently designed cooler with two large 9 cm fans? Now picture that with a display of RGB lighting up the fins of the cooler complimenting your proudly built PC rig. The cooler not only looks great, it is super effective in cooling and means business as it delivers excellent performance for today's most popular games. The dual 9 cm fan has the best balance of noise and cooling performance for its size. The cooling system comprise of 3 heatpipes with aluminium extrusion and a large heatsink to disperse heat quickly and efficiently.
Colorful Unveils its GeForce 16-series SUPER Graphics Cards
Colorful Technology Company Limited, professional manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards, high-performance storage solutions and gaming PCs is proud to introduce the latest graphics card for upgraders and mainstream gamers with the announcement of the latest COLORFUL graphics card powered by NVIDIA GTX 16 SUPER Series.
The new COLORFUL iGame GTX 1660 SUPER Series offers an excellent upgrade for gamers using older-generation graphics card and are looking to upgrade their gaming experience with the latest NVIDIA Turing architecture powering the GeForce GTX 16 series graphics cards from COLORFUL. Experience excellent gaming performance on popular games with COLORFUL GTX 16 SUPER Series featuring ultra-fast GDDR6 memory and enjoy the latest technical innovations from NVIDIA to compliment your gameplay with GameReady drivers and GeForce Experience as well as improved performance in Creators-compatible apps that leverage dedicated GPU performance to accelerate content creation as well as acceleration for streaming software.
The new COLORFUL iGame GTX 1660 SUPER Series offers an excellent upgrade for gamers using older-generation graphics card and are looking to upgrade their gaming experience with the latest NVIDIA Turing architecture powering the GeForce GTX 16 series graphics cards from COLORFUL. Experience excellent gaming performance on popular games with COLORFUL GTX 16 SUPER Series featuring ultra-fast GDDR6 memory and enjoy the latest technical innovations from NVIDIA to compliment your gameplay with GameReady drivers and GeForce Experience as well as improved performance in Creators-compatible apps that leverage dedicated GPU performance to accelerate content creation as well as acceleration for streaming software.
ZOTAC Unveils its GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Graphics Cards
ZOTAC Technology, a global manufacturer of innovation, is pleased to expand the GeForce GTX line of graphics cards with the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX SUPER series featuring GDDR6 ultra-fast memory. Powered by the new NVIDIA Turing GPU architecture, the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER series feature two super compact VR ready models and is up to 20% faster than the original GTX 1660 and up to 1.5X faster than the previous-generation GTX 1060 6 GB.
The ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER AMP is factory overclocked out of the box for faster performance. Featuring a full body length aluminium array heatsink, dual 90 mm fans, a dynamic layout of copper heatpipes, and a powerful design in color neutral to match any PC system color scheme. At just up to 8.3 inches or 209.6 mm, it is still a super compact design.
The ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER AMP is factory overclocked out of the box for faster performance. Featuring a full body length aluminium array heatsink, dual 90 mm fans, a dynamic layout of copper heatpipes, and a powerful design in color neutral to match any PC system color scheme. At just up to 8.3 inches or 209.6 mm, it is still a super compact design.
NVIDIA Outs GeForce Software 441.08 with Updates to NULL, ReShade Support, Image Sharpening
NVIDIA today released the GeForce Software 441.88 WHQL drivers with a few major feature updates. To begin with, the drivers add support for the freshly minted GeForce GTX 1660 Super. NVIDIA updated NULL (NVIDIA Ultra-Low Latency), an input-lag reduction feature, with support for G-Sync. You can now use the two together to make the input latency "cost" of G-Sync practically "free." Next up, NVIDIA updated Freestyle and Ansel with support for ReShade filters, with some riders. You can't use custom ReShade filters in competitive games, but can use some official ReShade filters. Lastly, NVIDIA enhanced its Image Sharpening features to reduce its performance cost, and added support for DirectX 11 - something the competing Radeon Image Sharpening feature lacks.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Software 441.08 WHQL
The change-log follows.
The change-log follows.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Graphics Card: GDDR6 Makes A World of Difference
NVIDIA today released the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER graphics card at USD $229, just $10 more than the GTX 1660. The card has identical specifications to the GTX 1660, with 1,408 CUDA cores, 88 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It even has the same GPU clock speeds, at 1530 MHz core with 1750 MHz GPU Boost. The not-so-secret sauce lending it a major performance boost is memory - GDDR6. Armed with 6 GB of 14 Gbps GDDR6 memory, faster than even what the GTX 1660 Ti ships with, NVIDIA is able to shore up performance of the GTX 1660 by near two figures. The GTX 1660 Super is probably designed to preempt AMD's Radeon RX 5500 series. A purely partner-driven launch, the GTX 1660 SUPER is available from today, in custom-design boards from nearly all NVIDIA partners.
We've reviewed five GeForce GTX 1660 Super cards today: ASUS Phoenix, Gigabyte Gaming OC, MSI Gaming X, Palit GamingPro OC and Zotac AMP.
We've reviewed five GeForce GTX 1660 Super cards today: ASUS Phoenix, Gigabyte Gaming OC, MSI Gaming X, Palit GamingPro OC and Zotac AMP.
Kojima Productions: Death Stranding is Coming to PC
Kojima Productions, a Japanese video game developer and maker of popular video game series "Metal Gear", has announced that they will release highly anticipated game Death Stranding on November 8th for PlayStation 4. Another important note is that Kojima Productions also plans to launch a PC version of the Death Stranding game, however it will be delayed to "early Summer" of 2020, without a specific date to look out for.
WD Introduces Storage Optimized for Public Safety, AI and Smart City Deployments
Western Digital Corp., today addressed head-on the need to optimize storage for video and AI analytics at the network edge. The increased use of smart cameras and ever-rising video resolutions are driving the requirement for on-camera storage. Western Digital introduced the WD Purple SC QD101 Ultra Endurance microSD card designed specifically for equipment makers, resellers and installers in the mainstream security camera market. In addition, the company announced a compelling new addition to the hard disk drive portfolio, WD Purple 14 TB HDD for surveillance, which is compatible with wide range of security systems.
According to IHS Markit Technology, global professional video surveillance camera shipments are expected to grow from 140 million to 224 million between 2018 and 2023, and those with onboard storage are expected to grow by an average of approximately 17 percent per year. 4K-compliant cameras are expected to grow from 3.6 percent of all network cameras shipped in 2018 to over 24 percent by 2023, and the up to 5.7X increase in bits generated by 4K vs.1080p video illustrates a fast-growing demand for more storage.
According to IHS Markit Technology, global professional video surveillance camera shipments are expected to grow from 140 million to 224 million between 2018 and 2023, and those with onboard storage are expected to grow by an average of approximately 17 percent per year. 4K-compliant cameras are expected to grow from 3.6 percent of all network cameras shipped in 2018 to over 24 percent by 2023, and the up to 5.7X increase in bits generated by 4K vs.1080p video illustrates a fast-growing demand for more storage.
NVIDIA Launches the New Shield TV
NVIDIA today raised the bar higher still for streaming media players — unveiling the next generation of SHIELD TV, which delivers unmatched levels of home entertainment, gaming and AI capabilities right into the living room, starting at $149.
The two new SHIELD models — SHIELD TV and SHIELD TV Pro — provide exceptional visual and sound experiences. Their new Tegra X1+ processor, delivering up to 25 percent more performance than its predecessor, helps bring to life Dolby Vision for ultra-vivid imagery and Dolby Atmos for extraordinary audio. Its computational prowess dramatically improves picture quality by using AI to upscale HD video streams into 4K resolution.
The two new SHIELD models — SHIELD TV and SHIELD TV Pro — provide exceptional visual and sound experiences. Their new Tegra X1+ processor, delivering up to 25 percent more performance than its predecessor, helps bring to life Dolby Vision for ultra-vivid imagery and Dolby Atmos for extraordinary audio. Its computational prowess dramatically improves picture quality by using AI to upscale HD video streams into 4K resolution.
Monday, October 28th 2019
Today's Reviews
Accessories
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Headphones
SSD
Sennheiser GSP 670 Review
If you're after a wireless gaming headset but were holding out until Sennheiser releases one, the wait is now officially over. Meet the Sennheiser GSP 670, a headset that's going to knock your socks off with its price, but also tries really hard to justify it by offering top-of-the-line performance.
EK Waterblocks Unveils EK-Classic Distribution Plate for Lian Li PC-O11D Case
EK the leader in custom loop liquid cooling products is proud to announce the launch of a custom designed front mounted distribution plate as part of the EK-Classic Line. This distroplate (waterway), with the full product name of EK-Classic DP Front PC-O11D D-RGB + SPC PWM, is specifically designed to provide a comprehensive water cooling solution for the most popular water cooling case on the market, the Lian Li PC-O11D. It embodies the EK-Classic ideals of budget-conscious SPC pump and simplistic design, offering affordable solution for incredible aesthetics.
This front-mounted distribution plate simplifies the water cooling build process for beginner PC builders who targeting the use of hard tubing. Using this distro plate requires little to no bending with straight runs to the waterway. It offers an all in one solution that includes a pump and reservoir while being fitted with multiple industry-standard G1/4" threaded inlet and outlets. It is able to support one CPU and up to two GPUs and a top-mounted radiator.
This front-mounted distribution plate simplifies the water cooling build process for beginner PC builders who targeting the use of hard tubing. Using this distro plate requires little to no bending with straight runs to the waterway. It offers an all in one solution that includes a pump and reservoir while being fitted with multiple industry-standard G1/4" threaded inlet and outlets. It is able to support one CPU and up to two GPUs and a top-mounted radiator.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES and TSMC Announce Resolution of Global Disputes Through Patent Cross-Licensing
GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GF) and TSMC today announced they are dismissing all litigation between them as well as those that involve any of their customers. The companies have agreed to a broad life-of-patents cross-license to each other's worldwide existing semiconductor patents as well as those patents that will be filed during the next ten years as both companies continue to invest significantly in semiconductor research and development. This resolution guarantees GF and TSMC freedom to operate and ensures that their respective customers will continue to have access to each foundry's complete array of technologies and services.
"We are pleased to have quickly reached this settlement that acknowledges the strength of our respective intellectual property. Today's announcement enables both of our companies to focus on innovation and to better serve our clients around the world," said Thomas Caulfield, CEO of GF. "This agreement between GF and TSMC secures GF's ability to grow and is a win for the entire semiconductor industry which is at the core of today's global economy."
"We are pleased to have quickly reached this settlement that acknowledges the strength of our respective intellectual property. Today's announcement enables both of our companies to focus on innovation and to better serve our clients around the world," said Thomas Caulfield, CEO of GF. "This agreement between GF and TSMC secures GF's ability to grow and is a win for the entire semiconductor industry which is at the core of today's global economy."
Silicon Lottery Announces Plans to Bin AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and Intel Core i9 9900KS Chips
If you're one to pay more bucks for the same silicon in a bid to decrease risk of having a lower-performing overclocker than is possible with the latest AMD and Intel chips, this post is for you. Silicon Lottery has announced (absolutely expected) plans to bin AMD and Intel's latest high-performance processors starting this November.
AMD's Ryzen 9 3950X and Intel's Core i9 9900KS will be up for grabs in the website with guaranteed maximum clocks for you to peruse and then seat in your motherboard of choice. Just wait a little while longer for them to become available, since AMD's own Ryzen 9 3950X isn't yet available in the retail channel. Intel's own Core i9 9900KS has just been announced though, with availability just two days from now, on October 30th. So if you want to skip the hassle (or fun, as you see it) of finding just the right settings for your CPU of choice, keep refreshing Silicon Lottery's page. Availability is expected to be extremely limited on either part.
AMD's Ryzen 9 3950X and Intel's Core i9 9900KS will be up for grabs in the website with guaranteed maximum clocks for you to peruse and then seat in your motherboard of choice. Just wait a little while longer for them to become available, since AMD's own Ryzen 9 3950X isn't yet available in the retail channel. Intel's own Core i9 9900KS has just been announced though, with availability just two days from now, on October 30th. So if you want to skip the hassle (or fun, as you see it) of finding just the right settings for your CPU of choice, keep refreshing Silicon Lottery's page. Availability is expected to be extremely limited on either part.
TSMC: 5 nm on Track for Q2 2020 HVM, Ramping Faster than 7 nm
TSMC vice chairman and CEO C.C. Wei announced the company's plans for 5 nm are on track, which means High Volume manufacturing (HVM) on the node is expected to be achieved by 2Q 2020. The company has increased expenditures in ramping up its various nodes from an initially projected $10 billion to something along the lines of $14 billion - 15 billion; the company is really banking on quick uptake and design wins on its most modern process technologies - and the increased demand that follows.
TSMC's 5 nm process (N5) will use extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) in many more layers than its N7+ and N6 processes, with up to 14 layers being etched in the N5 silicon compared to five and six, respectively, for its "older" N7+ and N6 processes. As the company increases capital expenditure in acquiring EUVL-capable equipment that sets up its production nodes for the market they foresee will just gobble up the chips in 2020, the company is optimistic they can achieve growth in the 5-10% number.
TSMC's 5 nm process (N5) will use extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) in many more layers than its N7+ and N6 processes, with up to 14 layers being etched in the N5 silicon compared to five and six, respectively, for its "older" N7+ and N6 processes. As the company increases capital expenditure in acquiring EUVL-capable equipment that sets up its production nodes for the market they foresee will just gobble up the chips in 2020, the company is optimistic they can achieve growth in the 5-10% number.
Philips Announces the Brilliance 272P7VUBN Monitor: 27" 4K, IPS, 60 Hz, 5 ms, 350 nits - $349
After introducing a 32" Brilliance monitor some time ago, Phillips is now bringing another lowcost 4K monitor that boasts a very impressive feature/price ratio. The new Brilliance 272P7VUBN monitor cuts the diagonal on the previous release to 27", but maintains most other specs, including the 4K resolution (with the expected increase in pixels per inch to 163) and the same IPS panel. The monitor remains just shy of a HDR 400 rating (350 nits maximum) and keeps the 60 Hz refresh rates and 5 ms response time, but those are features that are well in-line with casual gamers who want to make the move towards a higher, 4K resolution. Besides, the 60 Hz refresh rate is likely the best one to take advantage of with the current crop of graphics cards on the market - at least for the most recent and demanding titles.
The panel features a 178º angle of view and 1.07 billion colors reproduce 122% of the sRGB color gamut as well as 103% of the NTSC color gamut. The Brilliance 272P7VUBN also ships factory-calibrated to a Delta E < 2 accuracy. Height, tilt, and swivel are available, as well as a 90 degree rotation capability. I/O stands at 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 2.0a, 1x USB Type-C (with DP 1.2, 65 W PD, data), as well as a 2-port USB 3.0 hub and 1x 3.5 mm headphone port.
The panel features a 178º angle of view and 1.07 billion colors reproduce 122% of the sRGB color gamut as well as 103% of the NTSC color gamut. The Brilliance 272P7VUBN also ships factory-calibrated to a Delta E < 2 accuracy. Height, tilt, and swivel are available, as well as a 90 degree rotation capability. I/O stands at 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 2.0a, 1x USB Type-C (with DP 1.2, 65 W PD, data), as well as a 2-port USB 3.0 hub and 1x 3.5 mm headphone port.
Intel Announces Core i9-9900KS, World's Best Processor for Gaming Made Better
Intel today announced full details and availability for the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS Special Edition processor. Delivering up to 5.00 GHz all-core turbo frequency out of the box for the ultimate gaming experience, the 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS will be available beginning Oct. 30, with recommended customer price starting at $513. This special edition processor will be available for a limited time only and can be found at retailers worldwide.
"Intel has raised the bar for desktop gaming with the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS Special Edition processor. Based on the 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K architecture, it's the world's best gaming desktop processor made even better and created specifically for extreme gamers who want the most performance possible. This processor demonstrates another innovation milestone for Intel, following last year's limited edition 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8086K," said Frank Soqui, Intel vice president and general manager of the Desktop, Workstation and Channel Group. The i9-9900KS processor is unlocked and boasts eight cores and 16 threads, up to 4.00 GHz base frequency, 127 W TDP, 16 MB Intel Smart Cache, and up to 40 platform PCIe lanes for gaming and overclocking.
"Intel has raised the bar for desktop gaming with the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS Special Edition processor. Based on the 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K architecture, it's the world's best gaming desktop processor made even better and created specifically for extreme gamers who want the most performance possible. This processor demonstrates another innovation milestone for Intel, following last year's limited edition 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8086K," said Frank Soqui, Intel vice president and general manager of the Desktop, Workstation and Channel Group. The i9-9900KS processor is unlocked and boasts eight cores and 16 threads, up to 4.00 GHz base frequency, 127 W TDP, 16 MB Intel Smart Cache, and up to 40 platform PCIe lanes for gaming and overclocking.
GoodOffer24 Presents Halloween Sale on Genuine Office and Windows
This Halloween, spook your friends with a better gaming rig than theirs, by budgeting more on your hardware. GoodOffer24 lets you do just that, by offering you genuine, globally-valid licenses of Windows 10 and Office at deeply discounted prices. As part of its Halloween 2019 Sale, GoodOffer24 has increased its discounts exclusively to TechPowerUp readers. Genuine, globally-valid licenses to Windows 10 Pro can be had for $11.38, and Office 2019 Professional Plus for $42.56, a fraction of what you'd pay for an annual subscription for Office 365. Combos of Windows 10 Pro and Office 2019 Professional Plus are great to set up new home PC builds, and go for as low as $46.11. Find other interesting products below. GoodOffer24 uses PayPal and other popular gateways, so your payment instruments are secure.
Apply the coupon code JGohw25 at checkout on the following items to shave 25% off on the list prices and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro at $11.38 | Buy Windows 10 Pro Twin Pack at $19.50 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $28.19 | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC at $13.29 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 Professional Plus at $33.69 | Buy Windows 10 Home + Office 2016 Professional Plus at $31.92
Don't forget to apply the coupon code JGohw40 at checkout on the following items to shave 40% off and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $42.56 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $46.11 | Buy Windows 10 Home + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $44.69
Apply the coupon code JGohw25 at checkout on the following items to shave 25% off on the list prices and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro at $11.38 | Buy Windows 10 Pro Twin Pack at $19.50 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $28.19 | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC at $13.29 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 Professional Plus at $33.69 | Buy Windows 10 Home + Office 2016 Professional Plus at $31.92
Don't forget to apply the coupon code JGohw40 at checkout on the following items to shave 40% off and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $42.56 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $46.11 | Buy Windows 10 Home + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $44.69
Streacom Outs the UM2 Universal CPU Mount for its Fanless Heatsink Cases
Fanless mini-PC case maker Streacom introduced the UM2 Universal CPU Mount accessory, which lets you use the company's FC5, FC8, FC9 and FC10 cases with some of the newer CPU socket types. Streacom specializes in cases in which the body panels double up as a passive heatsink to cool the CPU, with a base and heatsinks transferring heat to the panels. The UM2 Universal CPU Mount uses oval shaped metal arms that you can orient across square (LGA115x), rectangular (AM4), or even trapezoid socket mount hole patterns, future-proofing these cases. The UM2 replaces the stock upper-mount your case comes with, hence its name. Streacom hasn't revealed pricing or availability.
Intel Powers-on the First Xe Graphics Card with Dev Kits Supposedly Shipping
Intel is working hard to bring its first discrete GPU lineup triumphantly, after spending years with past efforts to launch the new lineup resulting in a failure. During its Q3 earnings call, some exciting news was presented, with Intel's CEO Bob Swan announcing that "This quarter we've achieved power-on exit for our first discrete GPU DG1, an important milestone." By power on exit, Mr. Swan refers to post-silicon debug techniques that involve putting a prototype chip on a custom PCB for testing and seeing if it works/boots. With a successful test, Intel now has a working product capable of running real-world workloads and software, that is almost ready for sale.
Additionally, the developer kit for the "DG1" graphics card is supposedly being sent to various developers over the world, according to European Economy Commission listings. Called the "Discrete Graphics DG1 External FRD1 Accessory Kit (Alpha) Developer Kit" this bundle is marked as a prototype in the alpha stage, meaning that the launch of discrete Xe GPUs is only a few months away. This confirming previous rumor that Xe GPUs will launch in 2020 sometime mid-year, possibly in July/August time frame.
Additionally, the developer kit for the "DG1" graphics card is supposedly being sent to various developers over the world, according to European Economy Commission listings. Called the "Discrete Graphics DG1 External FRD1 Accessory Kit (Alpha) Developer Kit" this bundle is marked as a prototype in the alpha stage, meaning that the launch of discrete Xe GPUs is only a few months away. This confirming previous rumor that Xe GPUs will launch in 2020 sometime mid-year, possibly in July/August time frame.
Razer Announces Tartarus Pro Keypad with Analog Optical Switches
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Razer Tartarus Pro. The newest member of Razer's renowned Tartarus keypad family is the first keypad fitted with analog optical switches designed to provide gamers with superior control in games. The Tartarus Pro is equipped with Razer Analog Optical Switches, enabling the keypad to measure how deep each key is pressed. This allows the Tartarus Pro to emulate analog input similar to controller thumbsticks. Additionally, gamers can adjust the actuation point between 1.5 mm for a faster keystroke, or up to 3.6 mm for a deeper, and more deliberate press.
At the heart of the Razer Analog Optical Switches, an infrared light beam passes through switch stem, while a sensor measures the depth of the switch based on how much light passes through. As such, the switches can register scaling levels of input in the same keystroke. This lets advanced users take advantage of dual-function keys to bind two functions to each key - one that triggers on a partial keystroke, and another on a full keystroke. With dual-function keys, the Razer Tartarus Pro can help ease complex key presses and level up the gaming experience by adapting to the user's playstyle and requirement.
At the heart of the Razer Analog Optical Switches, an infrared light beam passes through switch stem, while a sensor measures the depth of the switch based on how much light passes through. As such, the switches can register scaling levels of input in the same keystroke. This lets advanced users take advantage of dual-function keys to bind two functions to each key - one that triggers on a partial keystroke, and another on a full keystroke. With dual-function keys, the Razer Tartarus Pro can help ease complex key presses and level up the gaming experience by adapting to the user's playstyle and requirement.
Overwatch 2 Supports PvE, Coming to BlizzCon
Blizzard's upcoming hero-shooter "Overwatch 2" will support a PvE game mode in addition to the usual PvP, according to an ESPN ESports report citing a source at BlizzCon. The game will reportedly feature at least one new hero, several new hero talents, and at least one 4-player PvE story mission set in Rio de Janeiro. There's a new game mode called "Push," debuting with a new map based on Toronto. The PvE mission and the Push game mode will be available to play to attendees at the 2019 BlizzCon expo, which opens this Friday (November 1), in Anaheim CA. Blizzard is also expected to announce "Diablo 4" at the show.
Sunday, October 27th 2019
Intel "Tiger Lake-U" Processors Could Support LPDDR5 Memory
Intel's Core "Tiger Lake" microarchitecture could be a point of transition between DDR4 and DDR5 for the company. Prototypes of devices based on the ultra-compact "Tiger Lake-Y" SoC were earlier shown featuring LPDDR4X memory, although a new device, possibly a prototyping platform, in the regulatory queue with the Eurasian Economic Commission describes itself as featuring a "Tiger Lake-U" chip meant for thin and light notebooks and convertibles. This device features newer LPDDR5 memory, according to its regulatory filing.
LPDDR5 succeeds LPDDR4X as the industry's next low-power memory standard, offering data-rates of up to 6,400 MT/s (versus up to 4,266 MT/s of LPDDR4X), and consumes up to 30 percent less power. This prototype at the EEC is sure to be using unreleased LPDDR5 memory chips as DRAM majors Samsung and SK Hynix plan to ship their DDR5-based memory solutions only by the end of this year, although mass-production of the chips have already started at Samsung, in PoP form-factors. A successor to the 10th generation Core "Ice Lake," "Tiger Lake" will be Intel's second CPU microarchitecture designed for its 10 nm silicon fabrication node.
LPDDR5 succeeds LPDDR4X as the industry's next low-power memory standard, offering data-rates of up to 6,400 MT/s (versus up to 4,266 MT/s of LPDDR4X), and consumes up to 30 percent less power. This prototype at the EEC is sure to be using unreleased LPDDR5 memory chips as DRAM majors Samsung and SK Hynix plan to ship their DDR5-based memory solutions only by the end of this year, although mass-production of the chips have already started at Samsung, in PoP form-factors. A successor to the 10th generation Core "Ice Lake," "Tiger Lake" will be Intel's second CPU microarchitecture designed for its 10 nm silicon fabrication node.
Raijintek Intros EOS 360 RBW Liquid CPU Cooler
Raijintek unveiled the EOS 360 RBW all-in-one, closed-loop, liquid CPU cooler. Characterized by a CPU water-block design that's sure to bring back memories of your Beyblade collection, it provides a slightly larger-than-usual rectangular copper base with a 0.12 mm micro-fin lattice. The pump is integrated with the 360 mm x 120 mm radiator, has a pressure head of 1.5 m, noise output of up to 30 dBA at maximum speed, and features a ceramic-axis bearing that lends it a service life of 50,000 hours. The radiator features 12 coolant channels, is made of aluminium, and is 29 mm thick. The three included 120 mm fans take in 4-pin PWM input for their main function, and 5 V ARGB for the lighting, spin between 800 to 1,800 RPM, feature hydraulic bearings with 40,000-hour service life, and push up to 75 CFM of air with 28 dBA noise output, each. Among the CPU sockets supported are AM4, LGA115x, and LGA2066. It is priced at USD $70 (MSRP).
MSI Outs AM4 Motherboard BIOS Updates with AGESA Combo 1.0.0.4 Patch B
MSI, the world leading gaming motherboard manufacturer, takes initiative to release BIOS updates for AMD motherboards. This latest AMD Combo PI version 1.0.0.4 Patch B (SMU v46.54) has a massive improvement at all points concerning debugs and optimization for the previous version. Specifically, optimized system boot up procedure allows users to shorten boot time and speed up the boot process. Compared to previous 1.0.0.3 version, the boot speed entering into BIOS is faster by 20%.
At the moment, the BIOS for X570 motherboards will be ready for users to download and update in the end of October. The updated BIOS version supports Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G running in X570 platform. On the other hand, it also supports RAID function including SATA- and NVMe-based drives for X570 motherboards. We are still working hard on other existing lineup of 300- and 400-series motherboard and will be released soon in November.
At the moment, the BIOS for X570 motherboards will be ready for users to download and update in the end of October. The updated BIOS version supports Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G running in X570 platform. On the other hand, it also supports RAID function including SATA- and NVMe-based drives for X570 motherboards. We are still working hard on other existing lineup of 300- and 400-series motherboard and will be released soon in November.
Anidees RGB VGA Cooler Adds Airflow and Bling to Your Graphics Card
Anidees released the RGB VGA Cooler, which isn't strictly what its name means - it isn't a replacement to your graphics card's cooling solution, but rather a supplement. You install it on a slot below your graphics card, and it boosts airflow to it. The accessory takes up two expansion slots in your system, needs at least a PCIe x4 slot (for leverage, not power), and fastens into your case like any add-on card.
A shroud on the accessory suspends three 80 mm fans that each spin at speeds of up to 1,600 RPM, pushing 11.14 CFM of air, at a noise output of 19.3 dBA. You control the speed and lighting of the fans through an included RF remote control. You can additionally control it via software by plugging the cooler to a 4-pin fan header on your motherboard (just for its PWM signal). It relies on a SATA power input as its main source of power. You can also synchronize the lighting of the three fans by plugging it to a standard 3-pin ARGB header, to control it via popular RGB software that support the standard. The Anidees RGB VGA Cooler measures 30 cm in length, and is about 2 slots thick. It weighs 560 g. The company didn't reveal pricing.
A shroud on the accessory suspends three 80 mm fans that each spin at speeds of up to 1,600 RPM, pushing 11.14 CFM of air, at a noise output of 19.3 dBA. You control the speed and lighting of the fans through an included RF remote control. You can additionally control it via software by plugging the cooler to a 4-pin fan header on your motherboard (just for its PWM signal). It relies on a SATA power input as its main source of power. You can also synchronize the lighting of the three fans by plugging it to a standard 3-pin ARGB header, to control it via popular RGB software that support the standard. The Anidees RGB VGA Cooler measures 30 cm in length, and is about 2 slots thick. It weighs 560 g. The company didn't reveal pricing.
ASUS Rolls Out the TUF Gaming VG249Q Monitor
ASUS rolled out the TUF Gaming VG249Q, a 24-inch gaming monitor boasting of 144 Hz refresh-rate and an IPS panel, with Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution. The monitor offers an extremely low response time of 1 ms (GTG) for an IPS panel. It also supports VESA Adaptive Sync / FreeSync, Extremely Low Motion Blur, and a feature that increases contrast in darker areas of the scene, called Shadow Boost. Other panel specs include 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, dynamic mega-contrast, and TUV Rheinland-certified flicker-free brightness adjustment, and low blue-light illumination. Its stand allows panel tilt, rotation (to portrait), and height adjustments. Display inputs include DisplayPort, HDMI, and D-Sub. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Saturday, October 26th 2019
Today's Reviews
Headphones
Motherboards
Networking
Outer Worlds Benchmark Test & Performance Analysis
The Outer Worlds has the potential to become one of the biggest RPG titles in 2019. For their new sci-fi game, Obsidian Entertainment successfully drew inspiration from Fallout, Mass Effect, Skyrim and Dragon Age. We tested performance on 23 graphics cards in three resolutions, including 4K Ultra HD.
Crucial Unveils the X8 Portable SSD
Micron's consumer storage solutions arm Crucial unveiled the X8 Portable SSD. The Crucial X8 is a lightweight, portable flash-based storage device that comes in capacities of 500 GB and 1 TB, and offers sequential transfer speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s reads. It leverages USB 3.1 gen 2 (10 Gbps) and UASP, and supports USB type-C. A type-C to type-A adapter is included in the package, but runs the drive at 5 Gbps. The drive requires USB 3.1 and isn't compatible with USB 2.0/1.1. This is because it needs 1.5 A of current, which older generation USB ports typically can't provide. A single cable with USB-C connectors on both ends handles both power and host connectivity.
Under the hood, the X8 is essentially a Crucial P1 M.2 NVMe SSD wired to an ASMedia-made USB-to-PCIe bridge chip. The X8 supports TRIM command if the volume is formatted in NTFS. Out of the box, it comes in a camera-friendly exFAT format with GPT. The drive is hence compatible with PCs (Windows 7 or later and GPT-aware *nix), Macs, the iPad Pro, Chromebooks, and Android devices that have USB 3.1. Although not certified, The Crucial X8 also works with Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and Crucial provides support on how to get the drive to work with these consoles, making it a formidable portable game drive given its sequential read speed. The drive is roughly the size of a 4-inch smartphone, and can survive drops onto carpet up to a height of 7.5 feet (2.28 m). It's not water-resistant. Backed by a 3-year warranty, the 1 TB variant (CT1000X8SSD9) is priced at $164.95, and the 500 GB variant (CT500X8SSD9) at $119.95.
Under the hood, the X8 is essentially a Crucial P1 M.2 NVMe SSD wired to an ASMedia-made USB-to-PCIe bridge chip. The X8 supports TRIM command if the volume is formatted in NTFS. Out of the box, it comes in a camera-friendly exFAT format with GPT. The drive is hence compatible with PCs (Windows 7 or later and GPT-aware *nix), Macs, the iPad Pro, Chromebooks, and Android devices that have USB 3.1. Although not certified, The Crucial X8 also works with Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and Crucial provides support on how to get the drive to work with these consoles, making it a formidable portable game drive given its sequential read speed. The drive is roughly the size of a 4-inch smartphone, and can survive drops onto carpet up to a height of 7.5 feet (2.28 m). It's not water-resistant. Backed by a 3-year warranty, the 1 TB variant (CT1000X8SSD9) is priced at $164.95, and the 500 GB variant (CT500X8SSD9) at $119.95.
Friday, October 25th 2019
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
ID-Cooling SE 224 RGB Review
ID-Cooling's SE 224 RGB bares its fangs at the competition. This entry-level offering brings tasteful RGB lighting, reliable performance, and acceptable noise levels to the table, so it is not a paper tiger by any means.
Microsoft Bags DOD's $10 Billion JEDI Cloud Contract Edging Out Amazon
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) Friday awarded a USD $10 billion contract to Microsoft to build the JEDI Cloud (Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure), a massive piece of connected IT infrastructure that seeks greater electronic integration within the U.S. Military, and prepare it for emerging forms of warfare. According to the New York Times, Amazon was the front-runner for the contract, having executed similar infrastructure contracts for the CIA. The NYT comments that President Donald Trump's spat with The Washington Post, a paper owned by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, could have affected Amazon's bid. Some of the biggest American cloud companies participated in the bidding, which include Amazon AWS, Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Oracle.
TechPowerUp and Cooler Master Present Gaming Gear Giveaway: Headset Stands, Keyboards, Mice, Headsets
TechPowerUp and Cooler Master bring you a giveaway that will be music to your ears. Three lucky winners stand to win a Cooler Master GS750, which is quite literally, a stand...for your headset, but it also wirelessly charges your Qi-compatible smartphone and game controllers, packs an onboard external sound card that puts out 7.1 surround sound; is a 2-port USB 3.1 type-A hub, so plugging in flash drives doesn't involve gymnastics; and matches the RGB lighting of your battlestation with synchronized lighting of its own! The GS750 isn't the only piece of Cooler Master engineering you stand to win.
The first randomly-selected lucky winner gets a Cooler Master GS750 headset stand, a Cooler Master MK850 premium mechanical gaming keyboard, an MH750 gaming headset, and a MM710 gaming mouse (one of each). The second lucky winner gets the Cooler Master GS750 headset stand and MH751 gaming headset (one of each). The third lucky winner gets a Cooler Master GS750 headset stand. Open worldwide (wherever legal), entries for the Giveaway close on November 1. To participate, simply fill up a short form that helps us get back to you if you've won.
For more details, and to participate, visit this page.
The first randomly-selected lucky winner gets a Cooler Master GS750 headset stand, a Cooler Master MK850 premium mechanical gaming keyboard, an MH750 gaming headset, and a MM710 gaming mouse (one of each). The second lucky winner gets the Cooler Master GS750 headset stand and MH751 gaming headset (one of each). The third lucky winner gets a Cooler Master GS750 headset stand. Open worldwide (wherever legal), entries for the Giveaway close on November 1. To participate, simply fill up a short form that helps us get back to you if you've won.
For more details, and to participate, visit this page.
TechPowerUp and Colorful SL500 960GB Glacial Blue SSD Giveaway: The Winner
TechPowerUp and Colorful brought you a chance to bring home the SL500 960 GB SATA SSD, a neat little addition to your battlestation as a game folder drive; with the added bling of its "Glacial Blue" metallic body finish. The drive combines a Maxiotech MAS0902 controller with 3D QLC NAND flash memory, offering sequential speeds of up to 560 MB/s reads and up to 470 MB/s writes. Without further ado, the Winner!
- John from Texas, USA
BIOSTAR Extends Ryzen 9 3950X Support to Even its A320 Chipset Motherboards
On a charm offensive, motherboard maker BIOSTAR revealed that it will extend support for the upcoming 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X even to its cheapest motherboards based on AMD's entry-level A320 chipset. Support for the processor will be added through a UEFI firmware update that should go live on the company website soon, and downloadable from the support section of each motherboard's product page. BIOSTAR's list of motherboards for the 3950X includes almost its entire socket AM4 motherboard lineup, spanning the A320, B350, X370, B450, X470, and X570 chipsets. A spokesperson for BIOSTAR confirmed to us that this wasn't a typo on the company website.
Intel Core i9-10980XE "Cascade Lake-X" Benchmarked
One of the first reviews of Intel's new flagship HEDT processor, the Core i9-10980XE, just hit the web. Lab501.ro got their hands on a freshly minted i9-10980XE and put it through their test bench. Based on the "Cascade Lake-X" silicon, the i9-10980XE offers almost identical IPC to "Skylake-X," but succeeds the older generation with AI-accelerating DLBoost instruction-set, an improved multi-core boosting algorithm, higher clock speeds, and most importantly, a doubling in price-performance achieved by cutting the cores-per-Dollar metric by half, across the board.
Armed with 18 cores, the i9-10980XE is ahead of the 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X in rendering and simulation tests, although not by much (for a chip that has 50% more cores). This is probably attributed to the competing AMD chip being able to sustain higher all-core boost clock speeds. In tests that not only scale with cores, but are also hungry for memory bandwidth, such as 7-zip and Media, Intel extends its lead thanks to its quad-channel memory interface that's able to feed its cores with datasets faster.
Armed with 18 cores, the i9-10980XE is ahead of the 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X in rendering and simulation tests, although not by much (for a chip that has 50% more cores). This is probably attributed to the competing AMD chip being able to sustain higher all-core boost clock speeds. In tests that not only scale with cores, but are also hungry for memory bandwidth, such as 7-zip and Media, Intel extends its lead thanks to its quad-channel memory interface that's able to feed its cores with datasets faster.
Micron Memory Sets New DDR4 Overclocking World Record
Ballistix, Micron's global brand of high-performance gaming memory, has set a new overclocking world record for the fastest DDR4 memory frequency at 6024 MT/s. Leveraging performance-tuned Micron die and the innovation behind the new Ballistix Elite 4000 memory, the ASUS motherboard R&D team set the record using liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling and the following system setup: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X processor; ASUS X570 ROG CROSSHAIR VIII IMPACT motherboard; Ballistix Elite DDR4 4000 8 GB memory.
"We're thrilled to have partnered with Ballistix to achieve this new world record," said Albert Chang, general manager of the motherboard BU for ASUS. "Both overclocking teams worked tirelessly to fine-tune BIOS settings on our newly-released ROG CROSSHAIR VIII IMPACT board to unleash the capabilities of the Micron die. Setting the new world record of 6024 MT/s with Ballistix Elite 4000 memory on our new ROG AMD X570 motherboard is a powerful demonstration of the engineering excellence ASUS ROG and Micron bring to the gaming ecosystem." The record-breaking frequency is posted on HWBOT, and the valid CPU-Z screenshot can be found here.
"We're thrilled to have partnered with Ballistix to achieve this new world record," said Albert Chang, general manager of the motherboard BU for ASUS. "Both overclocking teams worked tirelessly to fine-tune BIOS settings on our newly-released ROG CROSSHAIR VIII IMPACT board to unleash the capabilities of the Micron die. Setting the new world record of 6024 MT/s with Ballistix Elite 4000 memory on our new ROG AMD X570 motherboard is a powerful demonstration of the engineering excellence ASUS ROG and Micron bring to the gaming ecosystem." The record-breaking frequency is posted on HWBOT, and the valid CPU-Z screenshot can be found here.
TSMC Begins 3 nm Fab Construction
TSMC has been very aggressive with its approach to silicon manufacturing, with more investments into its R&D that now match or beat the capex investments of Intel. That indicates a strong demand for new technologies and TSMC's strong will not drop out of the never-ending race for more performance and smaller node sizes.
According to the sources over at DigiTimes, TSMC has acquired as much as 30 hectares of land in the Southern Taiwan Science Park to begin the construction of its fabs that are supposed to start high-volume manufacturing 3 nm node in 2023. Construction of 3 nm manufacturing facilities are set to begin in 2020 when TSMC will lay the groundwork for the new fab. The 3 nm semiconductor node is expected to be TSMC's third attempt at EUV lithography, right after the 7 nm+, and 5 nm nodes which are also based on EUV technology.
According to the sources over at DigiTimes, TSMC has acquired as much as 30 hectares of land in the Southern Taiwan Science Park to begin the construction of its fabs that are supposed to start high-volume manufacturing 3 nm node in 2023. Construction of 3 nm manufacturing facilities are set to begin in 2020 when TSMC will lay the groundwork for the new fab. The 3 nm semiconductor node is expected to be TSMC's third attempt at EUV lithography, right after the 7 nm+, and 5 nm nodes which are also based on EUV technology.
Micron Brings 3D XPoint Technology to Market With the World's Fastest SSD
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a breakthrough in nonvolatile memory technology with the introduction of the world's fastest SSD, the Micron X100 SSD. The Micron X100 SSD is the first solution in a family of products from Micron targeting storage- and memory-intensive applications for the data center. These solutions will leverage the strengths of 3D XPoint technology and usher in a new tier in the memory-to-storage hierarchy with higher capacity and persistence than DRAM, along with higher endurance and performance than NAND.
"Micron's innovative X100 product brings the disruptive potential of 3D XPoint technology to the data center, driving breakthrough performance improvements for applications and enabling entirely new use cases," said Micron Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer Sumit Sadana. "Micron is the only vertically-integrated provider of DRAM, NAND and 3D XPoint solutions in the world, and this product continues the evolution of our portfolio towards higher value solutions that accelerate artificial intelligence capabilities, drive faster data analytics and create new insights for our customers."
"Micron's innovative X100 product brings the disruptive potential of 3D XPoint technology to the data center, driving breakthrough performance improvements for applications and enabling entirely new use cases," said Micron Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer Sumit Sadana. "Micron is the only vertically-integrated provider of DRAM, NAND and 3D XPoint solutions in the world, and this product continues the evolution of our portfolio towards higher value solutions that accelerate artificial intelligence capabilities, drive faster data analytics and create new insights for our customers."
Intel Introduces Tremont Microarchitecture
Today at the Linley Fall Processor Conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Intel revealed the first architectural details related to Tremont. Intel's newest and most advanced low-power x86 CPU architecture, Tremont offers a significant performance boost over prior generations. "Tremont is Intel's most advanced low-power x86 architecture to date. We focused on a range of modern, complex workloads, while considering networking, client, browser and battery so that we could raise performance efficiently across the board. It is a world-class CPU architecture designed for enhanced processing power in compact, low-power packages," Stephen Robinson, Intel Tremont Chief Architect.
Tremont next-generation low-power x86 microarchitecture delivers significant IPC (instructions per cycle) gains gen-over-gen compared with Intel's prior low-power x86 architectures. Designed for enhanced processing power in compact, low-power packages, Tremont-based processors will enable a new generation of innovative form factors for client devices, creative applications for the internet of things (IoT), efficient data center products and more.
Tremont next-generation low-power x86 microarchitecture delivers significant IPC (instructions per cycle) gains gen-over-gen compared with Intel's prior low-power x86 architectures. Designed for enhanced processing power in compact, low-power packages, Tremont-based processors will enable a new generation of innovative form factors for client devices, creative applications for the internet of things (IoT), efficient data center products and more.
Intel Reports Third-Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Intel Corporation today reported third-quarter 2019 financial results. "We've been on a multi-year journey to reposition Intel's portfolio to take advantage of the exponential growth of data. Our third-quarter financial performance underscores our progress as our data-centric businesses turned in their best performance ever, making up almost half our total revenue in a record quarter," said Bob Swan, Intel CEO. "Our priorities are accelerating growth, improving our execution and deploying capital for attractive returns.We now expect to deliver a fourth record year in a row."
Intel today announced its board of directors has approved a $20 billion increase in its stock repurchase program authorization. In the third quarter, the company generated approximately $10.7 billion in cash from operations, paid dividends of $1.4 billion and used $4.5 billion to repurchase 92 million shares of stock. Third-quarter revenue of $19.2 billion was $1.2 billion higher than July guidance and set an all-time quarterly record,driven by record data-centric revenue, up 6 percent YoY. PC-centric revenue was in-line with expectations, down 5 percent compared to last year.
Intel today announced its board of directors has approved a $20 billion increase in its stock repurchase program authorization. In the third quarter, the company generated approximately $10.7 billion in cash from operations, paid dividends of $1.4 billion and used $4.5 billion to repurchase 92 million shares of stock. Third-quarter revenue of $19.2 billion was $1.2 billion higher than July guidance and set an all-time quarterly record,driven by record data-centric revenue, up 6 percent YoY. PC-centric revenue was in-line with expectations, down 5 percent compared to last year.
Thursday, October 24th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Monitors
Motherboards
Mouse
MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming Z Trio Review
MSI's GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gaming Z Trio comes with super-fast 16 Gbps Samsung memory chips which overclock very well, reaching almost 2.3 GHz. The large triple-slot, triple-fan cooler, which has fan-stop, runs extremely quietly and will almost be inaudible during heavy gaming.
Western Digital Introduces Next-Level Storage Solutions for NAS Environments
Western Digital today introduced an array of purpose-built storage solutions for small businesses and home offices leveraging NAS environments. The solutions include the first-ever WD Red SSDs, which enhance performance and caching abilities in a hybrid NAS environment, as well as a 14 TB capacity for the WD Red and WD Red Pro HDDs.
With the increase in virtualization, 10GbE (10 Gigabit Ethernet) and higher connectivity speeds are becoming an essential feature set in modern NAS systems. To help minimize a performance bottleneck, SSD speeds are crucial. To fully support the requirements of these environments, storage device durability, speed and capacity remain heavily in demand. Building on the proven reliability of Western Digital's WD Red product portfolio, the solutions are built to transform pain points to profits for the end user. When utilized as a caching solution in a NAS system, the WD Red SA500 SSD helps to boost performance while the new higher capacity WD Red and WD Red Pro HDDs offer more storage space in the same NAS device.
With the increase in virtualization, 10GbE (10 Gigabit Ethernet) and higher connectivity speeds are becoming an essential feature set in modern NAS systems. To help minimize a performance bottleneck, SSD speeds are crucial. To fully support the requirements of these environments, storage device durability, speed and capacity remain heavily in demand. Building on the proven reliability of Western Digital's WD Red product portfolio, the solutions are built to transform pain points to profits for the end user. When utilized as a caching solution in a NAS system, the WD Red SA500 SSD helps to boost performance while the new higher capacity WD Red and WD Red Pro HDDs offer more storage space in the same NAS device.
AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.2 Drivers
AMD has released the Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.2 beta drivers. These drivers bring improved support for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," which sees up to 18% better performance on the Ultra preset when using a Radeon RX 5700 XT. "The Outer Worlds" also sees improved support and sees 8% better performance at the Very High preset again on the Radeon RX 5700 XT. Improved support and better performance are always welcome; however, this release also offers some much-needed fixes, including application hang in Borderlands 3, which will likely make quite a few gamers happy. For a full list of fixes and known issues, check the full change-log below. Otherwise, you can grab the new driver from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.2 Beta
The change-log for 19.10.2 follows.
The change-log for 19.10.2 follows.
NVIDIA to Implement ReShade Post-Processing Injector at Driver Level
NVIDIA is taking a somewhat unusual step in that it's integrating a popular tool at a driver level. ReShade has become well--known throughout the gaming community due to the way it can add - sometimes critically - to many games, whether it be purely in an aesthetics, filter-like level (which really takes no toll on performance), or by adding features that were never developed into the engine, such as ambient occlusion, SMAA anti-aliasing, depth-of-field, and others.
The fact that NVIDIA is integrating it on a driver-level will likely do much in putting the tool even more in the eyes of PC gamers. For now, there is no word on whether the available ReShade tools will be available on a manual-import basis, but it's likely these will be curated by NVIDIA's own engineers. You can also likely forget some of the more advanced features of the tool - NVIDIA only talks about "hundreds of filters" being made available, which seems to bypass any other image-enhancing capabilities of the tool other than color grading, contrast enhancements, and such. The new driver with ReShade support will be available next week alongside NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER launch. NVIDIA confirmed that ReShade filters will be supported through GeForce Experience using NVIDIA Freestyle and Ansel technologies.
The fact that NVIDIA is integrating it on a driver-level will likely do much in putting the tool even more in the eyes of PC gamers. For now, there is no word on whether the available ReShade tools will be available on a manual-import basis, but it's likely these will be curated by NVIDIA's own engineers. You can also likely forget some of the more advanced features of the tool - NVIDIA only talks about "hundreds of filters" being made available, which seems to bypass any other image-enhancing capabilities of the tool other than color grading, contrast enhancements, and such. The new driver with ReShade support will be available next week alongside NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER launch. NVIDIA confirmed that ReShade filters will be supported through GeForce Experience using NVIDIA Freestyle and Ansel technologies.
HyperX Achieves Major Shipping Milestones - Over 10 Million Gaming Headsets, One Million Keyboards and 65 Million Memory Modules
HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced it has sold over 10 million gaming headsets as it begins shipping its newest lifestyle headset, the Cloud MIX Rose Gold Edition. Since developing the first HyperX Cloud gaming headset in 2014, HyperX has produced 30 headset models, establishing itself as a leading PC and console gaming headset brand and moving into the lifestyle market with its Cloud MIX line of headsets. In addition, HyperX leads market share for PC compatible headsets according to latest NPD data.
HyperX also achieved milestones in two additional categories by shipping over one million gaming keyboards and 65 million memory modules. HyperX Alloy mechanical gaming keyboards launched with Cherry MX switches and now HyperX continues to build its gaming keyboard lineup with the release of the HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical gaming keyboard, including proprietary mechanical key switches. HyperX memory products include FURY and Predator DDR4 branded memory modules and include RGB modules with customizable LED lighting using NGENUITY software.
HyperX also achieved milestones in two additional categories by shipping over one million gaming keyboards and 65 million memory modules. HyperX Alloy mechanical gaming keyboards launched with Cherry MX switches and now HyperX continues to build its gaming keyboard lineup with the release of the HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical gaming keyboard, including proprietary mechanical key switches. HyperX memory products include FURY and Predator DDR4 branded memory modules and include RGB modules with customizable LED lighting using NGENUITY software.
Intel to Halve Prices of 7th and 9th Gen "Skylake-X" HEDT Processors
In a bid to clear out inventories of its 7th and 9th generation Core X HEDT processors based on the "Skylake-X" silicon, Intel is preparing to halve prices of leftover inventory in the retail channel. The move is triggered by the company's own recent launch of the 10th generation Core i9 "Cascade Lake-X" processors that are compatible with existing socket LGA2066 motherboards. With "Cascade Lake-X," Intel halved the Dollars-per-core metric across the board (i.e. doubled the performance-per-Dollar), resulting in its top 18-core i9-10980XE being priced under the $1000-mark, half of what the i9-9980XE once commanded.
With prices of Core X "Skylake-X" chips being halved, you can expect the market to be flooded with 7th and 9th generation chips that are priced marginally lesser than their 10th gen "Cascade Lake-X" siblings. The single-thread performance (IPC) is identical between the three generations. All that's changed with "Cascade Lake-X" is the introduction of the DLBoost instruction-set that speeds up AI applications (irrelevant to gamers), and an improved Turbo Boost algorithm that spreads boost clocks across more cores, including Favored Cores capability that will come alive with Windows 10 2H19 update. If you've been on one of the cheaper 8-core or 10-core LGA2066 chips, your upgrade options just increased.
With prices of Core X "Skylake-X" chips being halved, you can expect the market to be flooded with 7th and 9th generation chips that are priced marginally lesser than their 10th gen "Cascade Lake-X" siblings. The single-thread performance (IPC) is identical between the three generations. All that's changed with "Cascade Lake-X" is the introduction of the DLBoost instruction-set that speeds up AI applications (irrelevant to gamers), and an improved Turbo Boost algorithm that spreads boost clocks across more cores, including Favored Cores capability that will come alive with Windows 10 2H19 update. If you've been on one of the cheaper 8-core or 10-core LGA2066 chips, your upgrade options just increased.
NVIDIA Readies GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER with GDDR6 Memory for Late November
It turns out that the GeForce GTX 1660 Super will be joined by another "Super" SKU by NVIDIA, the GeForce GTX 1650 Super, according to a VideoCardz report. Slated for a November 22 launch, the GTX 1650 Super appears to be NVIDIA's response to the Radeon RX 5500, which is being extensively compared to the current GTX 1650 in AMD's marketing material. While the core-configuration of the GTX 1650 Super is unknown, NVIDIA is giving it 4 GB of GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface, with a data-rate of 12 Gbps, working out to 192 GB/s of memory bandwidth. In comparison, the GTX 1650 uses 8 Gbps GDDR5 and achieves 128 GB/s memory bandwidth.
It remains to be seen just how much the improved memory subsystem helps the GTX 1650 Super catch up to the RX 5500, given that a maxed out TU117 silicon only has 128 more CUDA cores on offer, and AMD is claiming a 37% performance lead over the current GTX 1650 for its RX 5500. One possible way it can create the GTX 1650 Super is by tapping into the larger "TU116" silicon with 1/3rd of its memory interface disabled, and fewer CUDA cores than the GTX 1660. We'll know more in the run up to November 22.
It remains to be seen just how much the improved memory subsystem helps the GTX 1650 Super catch up to the RX 5500, given that a maxed out TU117 silicon only has 128 more CUDA cores on offer, and AMD is claiming a 37% performance lead over the current GTX 1650 for its RX 5500. One possible way it can create the GTX 1650 Super is by tapping into the larger "TU116" silicon with 1/3rd of its memory interface disabled, and fewer CUDA cores than the GTX 1660. We'll know more in the run up to November 22.
Samsung Begins Mass-production of 12GB LPDDR4X uMCP Memory Chips
Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass producing the industry's first 12-gigabyte (GB) low-power double data rate 4X (LPDDR4X) UFS-based multichip package (uMCP). The announcement was made as part of the company's annual Samsung Tech Day at its Device Solutions' America headquarters in San Jose, California.
"Leveraging our leading-edge 24-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR4X chips, we can offer the highest mobile DRAM capacity of 12 GB not only for high-end smartphones but also for mid-range devices," said Sewon Chun, executive vice president of Memory Marketing at Samsung Electronics. "Samsung will continue to support our smartphone-manufacturing customers with on-time development of next-generation mobile memory solutions, bringing enhanced smartphone experiences to many more users around the globe."
"Leveraging our leading-edge 24-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR4X chips, we can offer the highest mobile DRAM capacity of 12 GB not only for high-end smartphones but also for mid-range devices," said Sewon Chun, executive vice president of Memory Marketing at Samsung Electronics. "Samsung will continue to support our smartphone-manufacturing customers with on-time development of next-generation mobile memory solutions, bringing enhanced smartphone experiences to many more users around the globe."
Team Group Launches the Team Elite 32GB DDR4-2400 Module
Team Group launched its first 32 GB memory module, the Team Elite TED432G2400C1601. This is a dual-rank DIMM with eight 32 Gbit DRAM chips, with a rated clock-speed of DDR4-2400, and timings of 16-16-16-39, and module voltage of 1.20 V. The module features a simple black PCB of standard height (32 mm), and comes without any heatspreader or heatsink.
Team Group is also selling a 64 GB (2x 32 GB) dual-channel kit with two of these DIMMs, which bears the SKU TED464G2400C16DC01. To use these modules, you'll need either a 9th generation or 10th generation Intel Core processor, or 3rd generation AMD Ryzen, as 32 GB dual-rank DIMMs are unlikely to be supported by older processors. Team Group is backing these modules with lifetime warranty, and is likely to price the 32 GB single-module at USD $150, and the dual-channel kit at $300.
Team Group is also selling a 64 GB (2x 32 GB) dual-channel kit with two of these DIMMs, which bears the SKU TED464G2400C16DC01. To use these modules, you'll need either a 9th generation or 10th generation Intel Core processor, or 3rd generation AMD Ryzen, as 32 GB dual-rank DIMMs are unlikely to be supported by older processors. Team Group is backing these modules with lifetime warranty, and is likely to price the 32 GB single-module at USD $150, and the dual-channel kit at $300.
Wednesday, October 23rd 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Keyboards
Motherboards
Processors
ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G 1 TB M.2 NVMe Review
The ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G is the first M.2 SSD with adjustable RGB lighting effects. It not only looks great, but performs well, too. Thanks to 3.3 GB/s read and 2.3 GB/s writes, delivered real-life performance is comparable to the fastest NVMe SSDs on the market.
SK hynix Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results
SK hynix Inc. today announced financial results for its third quarter 2019 ended on September 30, 2019. The consolidated third quarter revenue was 6.84 trillion won while the operating profit amounted to 473 billion won and the net income 495 billion won. Operating margin and net margin for the quarter was 7%.
The revenue in the third quarter increased by 6% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) as demand began to pick up. However, the operating profit fell by 26% QoQ as DRAM unit cost reduction was not enough to offset the price drop. DRAM bit shipments increased by 23% QoQ as the Company actively responded to the new products in the mobile market and purchases from some data center customers also increased. DRAM prices remained weak during the quarter, leading to a 16% drop in the average selling price, with the decline smaller than the previous quarter.
The revenue in the third quarter increased by 6% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) as demand began to pick up. However, the operating profit fell by 26% QoQ as DRAM unit cost reduction was not enough to offset the price drop. DRAM bit shipments increased by 23% QoQ as the Company actively responded to the new products in the mobile market and purchases from some data center customers also increased. DRAM prices remained weak during the quarter, leading to a 16% drop in the average selling price, with the decline smaller than the previous quarter.
Razer Introduces the Tetra Headset
Razer today released the Razer Tetra, an ultra-lightweight chat headset with pro-grade microphone for crystal-clear team communication on all platforms including PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobile devices.
The Razer Tetra is a single-ear console chat headset, designed for gamers wishing to enjoy their home audio set-up but still communicate with their teammates. Lots of gamers have an extensive surround sound speaker system set-up to enjoy immersive movie and game audio, and while many use a headset for game sound and communications, some prefer the big sound experience from their media systems. With today's multiplayer games, communication with teammates is key. The Razer Tetra delivers crystal-clear communications even in the loudest of audio set-ups. The cardioid microphone is tuned for a focused voice-pickup range, reducing ambient noises from the sides and back, giving superior voice clarity over traditional chat headsets. An in-line volume control gives gamers full access to all important settings during the battle at the touch of a finger, with a volume slider and mic-mute function to tune the audio during play.
The Razer Tetra is a single-ear console chat headset, designed for gamers wishing to enjoy their home audio set-up but still communicate with their teammates. Lots of gamers have an extensive surround sound speaker system set-up to enjoy immersive movie and game audio, and while many use a headset for game sound and communications, some prefer the big sound experience from their media systems. With today's multiplayer games, communication with teammates is key. The Razer Tetra delivers crystal-clear communications even in the loudest of audio set-ups. The cardioid microphone is tuned for a focused voice-pickup range, reducing ambient noises from the sides and back, giving superior voice clarity over traditional chat headsets. An in-line volume control gives gamers full access to all important settings during the battle at the touch of a finger, with a volume slider and mic-mute function to tune the audio during play.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Launching October 29th, $229 With GDDR6
NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER, the first non raytracing-capable Turing-based SUPER graphics card from the company, is set to drop on October 29th. Contrary to other SUPER releases though, the GTX 1660 SUPER won't feature a new GPU ship brought down from the upwards performance tier. This means it will make use of the same TU116-300 as the GTX 1660 with 1408 CUDA cores, not the 1536 CUDA count of the GTX 1660 Ti. Instead, NVIDIA has increased performance of this SUPER model by endowing it with GDDR6 memory.
The new GDDR6 memory ticks at 14 Gbps, which gives it an advantage over the GTX 1660 Ti model which will still cost more than it. When all is said and done, the GTX 1660 SUPER will feature memory bandwidth in the range of 336 GB/s, significantly more than the GTX 1660 Ti's 288 GB/s, and a huge differentiating factor from the 192 GB/s of the GTX 1660. Of course, the fewer CUDA core resources compared to the GTX 1660 Ti mean it should still deliver lower performance than that graphics card. This justifies its price-tag set at $229 - $20 higher than the GTX 1660, but $50 less than the GTX 1660 Ti.
The new GDDR6 memory ticks at 14 Gbps, which gives it an advantage over the GTX 1660 Ti model which will still cost more than it. When all is said and done, the GTX 1660 SUPER will feature memory bandwidth in the range of 336 GB/s, significantly more than the GTX 1660 Ti's 288 GB/s, and a huge differentiating factor from the 192 GB/s of the GTX 1660. Of course, the fewer CUDA core resources compared to the GTX 1660 Ti mean it should still deliver lower performance than that graphics card. This justifies its price-tag set at $229 - $20 higher than the GTX 1660, but $50 less than the GTX 1660 Ti.
ASRock Announces Update to Three of Its X299 Motherboards: X299 Creator, X299 Steel Legend and X299 Taichi CLX
ASRock is proud to announce the sequel to its popular X299 line of motherboards by updating not one but three models which includes the X299 Creator which is targeted at content creators, the X299 Steel Legend for mainstream users, and the X299 Taichi CLX which has all the bells and whistles of a high-end desktop motherboard. These new motherboards are set to enter the peak of an Intel-based market and provide uncompromised power and specs for every user.
AOC Launches the AG273QX Gaming Monitor: 27" VA, 2560 x 1440, 165 Hz, FreeSync 2, HDR 400
AOC today launched the AG273QX, a flat panel gaming monitor (meaning there is no curve, which makes sense due to the usual 16:9 aspect ratio). The AG273QX sports a 27" diagonal with a VA panel, sporting a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a 165 Hz refresh rate. This refresh rate is mated with support for AMD's FreeSync 2, which makes an appearance due to this monitor also being HDR capable - though at the lowest end of the spectrum, with its HDR 400 certification. With its 1 ms response time, this monitor seems to have all the claims to fame. Sadly, it only sticks to the Adobe sRGB color space with 99% coverage - no DCIP-3 here.
FreeSync 2 HDR means this monitor supports low-latency HDR tone mapping, and LFC (Low Framerate Compensation). AOC are pushing this as a 3-side frameless design, which means that the display should go all the way towards the bezels. If you want to carry this monitor to LAN parties, there's a carrying handle, and the monitor also sports double headset holders in the design. There's an RGB lighting ring on the back of the panel. Connectivity-wise this monitor sports a 4x USB 3.0 HUB, 1x Headphone out, and video inputs are taken care of by 1x VGA, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, and 1x HDMI 2.0. The AOC AGON AG273QX will be available in November 2019 at an MSRP of £439 / €489.
FreeSync 2 HDR means this monitor supports low-latency HDR tone mapping, and LFC (Low Framerate Compensation). AOC are pushing this as a 3-side frameless design, which means that the display should go all the way towards the bezels. If you want to carry this monitor to LAN parties, there's a carrying handle, and the monitor also sports double headset holders in the design. There's an RGB lighting ring on the back of the panel. Connectivity-wise this monitor sports a 4x USB 3.0 HUB, 1x Headphone out, and video inputs are taken care of by 1x VGA, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, and 1x HDMI 2.0. The AOC AGON AG273QX will be available in November 2019 at an MSRP of £439 / €489.
Fractal Design Introduces the Ion SFX Gold PSUs in 550 W and 650 W Capacities
Fractal Design today introduced the Ion SFX Gold PSU - a modular, high-performance power supply that brings the enhanced cable flexibility and superior output quality of the critically acclaimed Ion series to the SFX-L form factor.
The diminutive footprint of the Ion SFX houses a surprisingly large 120 mm fan for better airflow and quieter operation - partly thanks to its semi-passive Zero RPM mode that ensures the fan spins only when needed. The Ion SFX Series also features Fractal Design's revolutionary new guru UltraFlex DC cabling, an extremely high strand-count wire with specially formulated insulation affording all the efficiency and current capacity of competing products but with significantly less bulk. UltraFlex cables bend and twist effortlessly to eliminate the inherent hassles of traditional rigid power supply wiring to make installation and cable-routing easier than ever before.
The diminutive footprint of the Ion SFX houses a surprisingly large 120 mm fan for better airflow and quieter operation - partly thanks to its semi-passive Zero RPM mode that ensures the fan spins only when needed. The Ion SFX Series also features Fractal Design's revolutionary new guru UltraFlex DC cabling, an extremely high strand-count wire with specially formulated insulation affording all the efficiency and current capacity of competing products but with significantly less bulk. UltraFlex cables bend and twist effortlessly to eliminate the inherent hassles of traditional rigid power supply wiring to make installation and cable-routing easier than ever before.
Intel files an Anti-trust Case Against SoftBank-owned Tech Firm
Intel filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Fortress Investment Group, a firm owned by Japan's SoftBank, over alleged malpractices with their patents. Intel alleges that the company stockpiled patents to make a living out of IP disputes with other companies, including Intel. The complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose alleges that Fortress bought up over 1,000 U.S. technology patents, some of which include patents from NXP Semiconductors. It's now using these patents to get Intel to pay up a royalty on every processor sold since 2011. SoftBank bought Fortress in 2017 for USD $3.3 billion as part of a massive takeover of the tech world. One of SoftBank's other priced possessions include ARM.
The lawsuit alleges a motive behind Fortress's behavior. "One way in which Fortress has tried to turn around its performance and justify SoftBank's investment in it is through increased speculation on patent assertions," the lawsuit says. Intel accused Fortress of patent-trolling, alleging that the company's move to soak up tech patents constitutes anti-competitive behavior as it's driven by the idea that the patents would cost less than what other tech companies would pay up to avert an IP lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges a motive behind Fortress's behavior. "One way in which Fortress has tried to turn around its performance and justify SoftBank's investment in it is through increased speculation on patent assertions," the lawsuit says. Intel accused Fortress of patent-trolling, alleging that the company's move to soak up tech patents constitutes anti-competitive behavior as it's driven by the idea that the patents would cost less than what other tech companies would pay up to avert an IP lawsuit.
Pull the Plug on Unity Engine Telemetry with This Utility Under Development
Unity Engine powers a lot of games across platforms. The game engine includes a telemetry module that dials home every few minutes (depending on the game), pushing usage data and crash reports (if any). Some games, such as "Kerbal Space Program," allow you to opt-out from this telemetry, but even then the engine is known to dial home at game startup and at longer intervals, with far less amount of data.
TechPowerUp Forums member by the night and software developer by the day "R-T-B" created a nifty utility that can modify your game to completely strip it off Unity Engine telemetry, called UnityAnalyticsKiller. "Stop spying on my kerbals," reads the utility's GitHub page, describing UnityAnalyticsKiller as a game library replacement along with a ReadMe with some basic instructions. You can also inspect its source and build it by yourself if you're curious. R-T-B invites gamers and developers to test the utility and offer feedback in the TechPowerUp Forums thread here.
DOWNLOAD: UnityAnalyticsKiller by R-T-B
TechPowerUp Forums member by the night and software developer by the day "R-T-B" created a nifty utility that can modify your game to completely strip it off Unity Engine telemetry, called UnityAnalyticsKiller. "Stop spying on my kerbals," reads the utility's GitHub page, describing UnityAnalyticsKiller as a game library replacement along with a ReadMe with some basic instructions. You can also inspect its source and build it by yourself if you're curious. R-T-B invites gamers and developers to test the utility and offer feedback in the TechPowerUp Forums thread here.
DOWNLOAD: UnityAnalyticsKiller by R-T-B
Intel 10 nm Ice Lake is Alive: Server and Desktop Support Added to the Linux Kernel
There were many rumors about Intel's 10 nm CPUs, many of them indicating that Intel will not manufacture 10 nm CPUs for desktop users, due to the 10 nm manufacturing process being in a bad shape. Those rumors were later countered by Intel, claiming that 10 nm is doing very well on improving yields and that we will see desktop CPUs based on the new node very soon.
Thanks to the Linux kernel mailing list (LKML), we now know that support for Ice Lake desktop and server CPUs has been added. A Patch titled "Add more CPU model number for Ice Lake" has many details about variants of Ice Lake with names like Ice Lake X for server Xeon CPU, Ice Lake D for Xeon D CPUs, Ice Lake L for mobile, and regular Ice Lake for desktop series of CPUs. This confirms Intel's claims that Ice Lake is on its way to desktop and server users in the near future. Possible launch date on these CPUs would be sometime in 2020, when Xe graphics cards are launched in July/August, so Intel could bundle both processors on the same 10 nm node.
Thanks to the Linux kernel mailing list (LKML), we now know that support for Ice Lake desktop and server CPUs has been added. A Patch titled "Add more CPU model number for Ice Lake" has many details about variants of Ice Lake with names like Ice Lake X for server Xeon CPU, Ice Lake D for Xeon D CPUs, Ice Lake L for mobile, and regular Ice Lake for desktop series of CPUs. This confirms Intel's claims that Ice Lake is on its way to desktop and server users in the near future. Possible launch date on these CPUs would be sometime in 2020, when Xe graphics cards are launched in July/August, so Intel could bundle both processors on the same 10 nm node.
Intel Gemini Lake Refresh Coming This November
Intel is preparing to debut its next generation Pentium Silver and Celeron "Gemini Lake Refresh" low-power processors in November 2019. The latest company roadmap slide detailing low-power SoC rollout, sourced by FanlessTech, pinned their launch sometime between week 45-47 (November). These are two key variants of this silicon, J and N. The J variant targets low-power desktops and AIOs, while the N variant targets notebooks, tablets, and other portables.
"Gemini Lake Refresh" SoCs are built on Intel's latest 14 nm node, and pack up to four "Goldmont Plus" CPU cores, and the same Intel UHD graphics, but offer significantly higher clock-speeds on both the CPU cores and the iGPU. Leading the pack is the Pentium Silver J5040, clocked at 2.00 GHz with up to 3.20 GHz boost. This chip succeeds the J5005, which ticks at 1.50 GHz with 2.80 GHz boost. The table below details the other J and N series models with the clock-speeds and core-counts.
"Gemini Lake Refresh" SoCs are built on Intel's latest 14 nm node, and pack up to four "Goldmont Plus" CPU cores, and the same Intel UHD graphics, but offer significantly higher clock-speeds on both the CPU cores and the iGPU. Leading the pack is the Pentium Silver J5040, clocked at 2.00 GHz with up to 3.20 GHz boost. This chip succeeds the J5005, which ticks at 1.50 GHz with 2.80 GHz boost. The table below details the other J and N series models with the clock-speeds and core-counts.
Tuesday, October 22nd 2019
Today's Reviews
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Mouse
Networking
Notebooks
InWin 309 Review
The InWin 309 clocks in at a hefty $250 dollars and does not really offer too much out of the ordinary when it comes to the internal feature set. However, the four InWin aRGB-equipped EGO fans are the main focus, and the impressive 144 LED 8x18 matrix front panel is not only cool to look at, but also well implemented and highly functional.
Zowie S2 Black Review
Zowie finally released the acclaimed S series with their signature black matte coating. In this review, we'll see what else may have changed under the hood, and whether this PixArt PMW3360-equipped mouse is worth your money in today's market.
Razer Announces Raptor Monitor: 27" IPS, 2560 x 1440, 144 Hz, HDR 400, AMD FreeSync
Razer announced their intro into the monitor market with the Raptor. The Raptor is a 27" diagonal monitor sporting an IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. That many pixels tick along at a rate of 144 Hz and 1 ms response time - which is made fluid and jitter-free with recourse to AMD's FreeSync. Additionally, the panel sports the lowest available HDR certification in the form of HDR 400, with brightness levels of 420 nits.
Razer is quoting a 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut on the "edge-to-edge" monitor. The Raptor also features support for Razer's Chroma and a RGB LED on the base of the aluminium stand, which incorporates a built-in CNC cable management solution running through the back. The Razer Raptor can now be pre-purchased for $699.
Razer is quoting a 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut on the "edge-to-edge" monitor. The Raptor also features support for Razer's Chroma and a RGB LED on the base of the aluminium stand, which incorporates a built-in CNC cable management solution running through the back. The Razer Raptor can now be pre-purchased for $699.
Xiaomi Launches Mi Surface Display Gaming Monitors
Xiaomi, the China-based electronics juggernaut that has carved itself into most markets with its aggressive price/performance ratios, has just announced two new gaming monitors in its new Mi Surface Display lineup. First up is a 34", 21:9 UltraWide monitor with a resolution of 3440 x 1440. This one also carries a 144 Hz refresh rate monitor with support for AMD FreeSync (which might also mean it is G-Sync compatible). This same panel offers a 1500R curvature, which is somewhat treated as a must in larger diagonal 21:9 monitors, and Xiaomi is quoting a 5 ms GtG response time, which, paired with the 144 Hz refresh rate, should be more than enough for all but the most seriously competitive gamers.
Color coverage is being quoted at 121% of the sRGB color gamut. The bezels are reportedly around the 2mm mark in the 34" model. The stand and the monitor's connection is ensured by a magnetic clasp. The 34" monitor is being joined by a 1080p, 24" monitor as well, of which there were no additional details being shared. Connectivity details also weren't shared at time of writing. Xiaomi's new Mi Surface Display 34" is priced at 2,499 Yuan (around $352).
Color coverage is being quoted at 121% of the sRGB color gamut. The bezels are reportedly around the 2mm mark in the 34" model. The stand and the monitor's connection is ensured by a magnetic clasp. The 34" monitor is being joined by a 1080p, 24" monitor as well, of which there were no additional details being shared. Connectivity details also weren't shared at time of writing. Xiaomi's new Mi Surface Display 34" is priced at 2,499 Yuan (around $352).
AMD Announces Integration With Microsoft's Secured-Core PC Initiative
In today's world, computer security is becoming very important due the exponential increase in malware and ransomware attacks. Various studies have shown that a single malicious attack can cost companies millions of dollars and can require significant recovery time. With the growth of employees working remotely and connected to a network considered less secure than traditional corporate network, employee's computer systems can be perceived as a weak security link and a risk to overall security of the company. Operating System (OS) and independent hardware vendors (IHV) are investing in security technologies which will make computers more resilient to cyberattacks.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce 440.97 WHQL Game Ready Drivers
NVIDIA today released the latest version of its GeForce Software suite. Version 440.97 WHQL comes game-ready for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," and "The Outer Worlds," including SLI support for the latter on "Turing" GPUs. SLI support is also added for "The Darwin Project." The drivers also introduce G-SYNC support for OpenGL and Vulkan games and applications.
Among the bugs fixed are crash-to-desktop (CTD) on FIFA 19 and FIFA 20; random flickering in "Apex Legends," CTD on "Star Wars: Battlefront II," an application crash with "Growtopia," missing objects in "Tradesmen," flickering in the character-selection screen in "World of Warcraft," a ghosting effect when moving the brush tool in Cinema 4D; a game crash with "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" in DirectX 12 mode, color corruption in "Forza 4," and problems with boosting GeForce GTX 970M. Grab the drivers from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 440.97 WHQL
The change-log follows.
Among the bugs fixed are crash-to-desktop (CTD) on FIFA 19 and FIFA 20; random flickering in "Apex Legends," CTD on "Star Wars: Battlefront II," an application crash with "Growtopia," missing objects in "Tradesmen," flickering in the character-selection screen in "World of Warcraft," a ghosting effect when moving the brush tool in Cinema 4D; a game crash with "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" in DirectX 12 mode, color corruption in "Forza 4," and problems with boosting GeForce GTX 970M. Grab the drivers from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 440.97 WHQL
Kingston Revamps microSD and SD Card Lineup with Canvas Select Plus
Kingston Digital Europe Co LLP, the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it is shipping the new Canvas Select Plus microSD and SD card lineup. With the addition of Canvas Select Plus, Kingston moves to replace the original Canvas Select card lineup with new higher-speed, higher-capacity models making them essential for smart phones and digital cameras.
Kingston's Canvas Select Plus line of Flash memory cards are built to maximise the user experience with faster speeds, more reliability and higher capacities up to 512 GB. Canvas Select Plus helps move high-quality content faster as it reaches Class 10 UHS-I speeds up to 100 MB/s, perfect for heavy workloads such as loading apps faster, transferring high-resolution photos, and recording and editing full length HD videos.
Kingston's Canvas Select Plus line of Flash memory cards are built to maximise the user experience with faster speeds, more reliability and higher capacities up to 512 GB. Canvas Select Plus helps move high-quality content faster as it reaches Class 10 UHS-I speeds up to 100 MB/s, perfect for heavy workloads such as loading apps faster, transferring high-resolution photos, and recording and editing full length HD videos.
Future AMD GPU Architecture to Implement BFloat16 Hardware
A future AMD graphics architecture could implement BFloat16 floating point capability on the silicon. Updates to AMD's ROCm libraries on GitHub dropped a big hint as to the company implementing the compute standard, which has significant advantages over FP16 that's implemented by current-gen AMD GPUs. BFloat16 offers a significantly higher range than FP16, which caps out at just 6.55 x 10^4, forcing certain AI researchers to "fallback" to the relatively inefficient FP32 math hardware. BFloat16 uses three fewer significand bits than FP16 (8 bits versus 11 bits), offering 8 exponent bits, while FP16 only offers 5 bits. BFloat16 is more resilient to overflow and underflow in conversions to FP32 than FP16 is, since BFloat16 is essentially a truncated FP32. The addition of BFloat16 is more of a "future-proofing" measure by AMD. Atomic operations in modern 3D game rendering are unlikely to benefit from BFloat16 in comparison to FP16. BFloat16, however, will pay huge dividends to the AI machine-learning community.
New NVIDIA EGX Edge Supercomputing Platform Accelerates AI, IoT, 5G at the Edge
NVIDIA today announced the NVIDIA EGX Edge Supercomputing Platform - a high-performance, cloud-native platform that lets organizations harness rapidly streaming data from factory floors, manufacturing inspection lines and city streets to securely deliver next-generation AI, IoT and 5G-based services at scale, with low latency.
Early adopters of the platform - which combines NVIDIA CUDA-X software with NVIDIA-certified GPU servers and devices - include Walmart, BMW, Procter & Gamble, Samsung Electronics and NTT East, as well as the cities of San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Early adopters of the platform - which combines NVIDIA CUDA-X software with NVIDIA-certified GPU servers and devices - include Walmart, BMW, Procter & Gamble, Samsung Electronics and NTT East, as well as the cities of San Francisco and Las Vegas.
GIGABYTE Unveils AORUS Gen4 AIC Adapter Just in Time for TRX40
Just in time for AMD's 3rd generation Ryzen Threadripper processors and the AMD TRX40 chipset, GIGABYTE launched the AORUS Gen4 AIC Adapter, an add-on card that converts a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 upstream link to four M.2-22110 slots with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring, each. This isn't the first card of this kind, but is certified to work with PCIe gen 4.0 SSDs. The TRX40 platform provides at least two PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slots, from which one can be allocated to your graphics cards, and the other to a fast storage solution like this, so you can use your motherboard's NVMe RAID features. The card is backwards compatible with older generations of PCIe.
The card features a large copper heatsink that cools the drives under the airflow of a fan. The PCB of this card features a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 interface, four M.2-22110 slots with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring, each, and a controller that uses eight thermal diodes to sense drive temperatures and accordingly adjust the speed of the 50 mm lateral-flow fan that pushes air through the heatsink and out of the rear panel. The card also has four LEDs that provide link+activity indication. It meets the electrical specification of PCI-Express gen 4.0, and features gen 4.0 re-drivers. An aluminium alloy shroud and back-plate with brushed-metal finish and diamond-cut edges make for the rest of it. We expect this card to be priced around USD $130. A credible source tells us that the card will also be included with some of GIGABYTE's premium TRX40 motherboards.
The card features a large copper heatsink that cools the drives under the airflow of a fan. The PCB of this card features a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 interface, four M.2-22110 slots with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring, each, and a controller that uses eight thermal diodes to sense drive temperatures and accordingly adjust the speed of the 50 mm lateral-flow fan that pushes air through the heatsink and out of the rear panel. The card also has four LEDs that provide link+activity indication. It meets the electrical specification of PCI-Express gen 4.0, and features gen 4.0 re-drivers. An aluminium alloy shroud and back-plate with brushed-metal finish and diamond-cut edges make for the rest of it. We expect this card to be priced around USD $130. A credible source tells us that the card will also be included with some of GIGABYTE's premium TRX40 motherboards.
Monday, October 21st 2019
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Monitors
Motherboards
Networking
Cooler Master MP510 Mouse Pad Review
The MP510 is a unique mouse pad from Cooler Master. It features a highly durable Cordura fabric as its top material, which is a smooth nylon blend. It has a splash-proof surface, stitched edges, and a logo that glows in the dark.
EK Unveils EK-Quantum Momentum Monoblock for ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero
EK, the a premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer based in Europe, is releasing an AMD AM4 socket based monoblock belonging to the Quantum Line of products, the EK-Quantum Momentum ROG Crosshair VIII Hero D-RGB. This monoblock is engineered specifically for the ROG Crosshair VIII Hero motherboard. The addressable D-RGB LED in the monoblock is compatible with ASUS Aura Sync RGB control, thus offering a full lighting customization experience for every single diode at any given time.
This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for Ryzen AMD processors and the monoblock is compatible with the X570 based ROG Crosshair VIII Hero motherboard. This monoblock uses the latest generation of EK cooling engine used on the Quantum Lineup to ensure the best possible CPU cooling while not reducing flow to other components. This water block directly cools the AMD4 socket type CPU, as well as the voltage regulation (MOSFET) module. Liquid flows directly over all critical areas, providing the enthusiasts with a great solution for high and stable overclocks. Like with every EK monoblock, the EK-Quantum Momentum ROG Crosshair VIII Hero D-RGB features high flow design and it can be easily used with the system using weaker water pumps or lower pump speed settings as well. The Momentum monoblock also comes with sophisticated D-RGB (addressable) lightning which connects to a standard 3-pin 5 V D-RGB header.
This is a complete all-in-one (CPU and motherboard) liquid cooling solution for Ryzen AMD processors and the monoblock is compatible with the X570 based ROG Crosshair VIII Hero motherboard. This monoblock uses the latest generation of EK cooling engine used on the Quantum Lineup to ensure the best possible CPU cooling while not reducing flow to other components. This water block directly cools the AMD4 socket type CPU, as well as the voltage regulation (MOSFET) module. Liquid flows directly over all critical areas, providing the enthusiasts with a great solution for high and stable overclocks. Like with every EK monoblock, the EK-Quantum Momentum ROG Crosshair VIII Hero D-RGB features high flow design and it can be easily used with the system using weaker water pumps or lower pump speed settings as well. The Momentum monoblock also comes with sophisticated D-RGB (addressable) lightning which connects to a standard 3-pin 5 V D-RGB header.
TerraMaster Announces F5-422 5-Bay NAS Featuring 10GbE LAN
TerraMaster, a professional brand that specializes in providing innovative storage products, including network attached storage and direct attached storage, is announcing today the availability of its new storage solution for SME, professional and power users. The TerraMaster F5-422 features a powerful hardware configuration to bring excellent performance where it matters; for professionals and SME applications looking to maximize shared storage. Thanks to the introduction of the 10 GbE LAN, the TerraMaster F5-422 can deliver data faster. Backed by TerraMaster's latest TOS operating system, the F5-422 delivers an excellent feature set to any use. The TerraMaster F5-422 has an MSRP of $599.99 USD.
The F5-422 features a quad-core 1.50 GHz Intel CPU which has a boost clock of 2.30 GHz. 4 GB of DDR3 memory compliment the processor as well as built-in AES NI encryption. For maximum accessibility, the F5-422 features a 10 GbE port as well as 2x 1 GbE LAN, the F5-422 can be made available to a wide number of users without the bottleneck of traditional single LAN connections. The TerraMaster F5-422 is rated up to 670 MB/s write speeds and 650 MB/s read performance on a 5x 6 TB Seagate IronWolf RAID5 setup. Perfect for professionals like video editors working with 4K videos or others that need rapid access to large data with strict speed requirements.
The F5-422 features a quad-core 1.50 GHz Intel CPU which has a boost clock of 2.30 GHz. 4 GB of DDR3 memory compliment the processor as well as built-in AES NI encryption. For maximum accessibility, the F5-422 features a 10 GbE port as well as 2x 1 GbE LAN, the F5-422 can be made available to a wide number of users without the bottleneck of traditional single LAN connections. The TerraMaster F5-422 is rated up to 670 MB/s write speeds and 650 MB/s read performance on a 5x 6 TB Seagate IronWolf RAID5 setup. Perfect for professionals like video editors working with 4K videos or others that need rapid access to large data with strict speed requirements.
Kingston Technology Also Releases Enterprise-Grade Data Center 450R SSD
Kingston Digital Europe Co LLP, the flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it is shipping the Data Center 450R (DC450R) Enterprise SSD, a high performance 6 Gbps SATA SSD with 3D TLC NAND, designed for read-centric application workloads. This streamlined server SSD delivers on performance while providing exceptional I/O and latency predictability, a requirement now amongst Data Center Class SSDs. Built to Kingston's strict QoS requirements, the DC450R is designed to ensure performance consistency over a wide range of read intensive and read caching workloads.
Kingston's DC450R is designed for workloads that require 24/7 uptime and reliability, such as Content Delivery Networks (CDN), edge computing applications and a wide array of software-defined storage architectures. DC450R presents a specifically focused feature set that enables data centers to select the most cost effective SSD for their workloads. Businesses require results as they deliver on products, solutions and service level agreements (SLAs) and DC450R provides system builders and Cloud providers with a high performance, economical SSD standard they can count on.
Kingston's DC450R is designed for workloads that require 24/7 uptime and reliability, such as Content Delivery Networks (CDN), edge computing applications and a wide array of software-defined storage architectures. DC450R presents a specifically focused feature set that enables data centers to select the most cost effective SSD for their workloads. Businesses require results as they deliver on products, solutions and service level agreements (SLAs) and DC450R provides system builders and Cloud providers with a high performance, economical SSD standard they can count on.
Kingston Digital Introduces New KC600 SATA SSD
Kingston Digital Europe Co LLP, the flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it is shipping the KC600 SATA SSD. Designed for use in desktop and notebook workloads, KC600 is a full-capacity SSD that provides remarkable performance. It comes in a 2.5" form factor using the SATA Rev 3.0 interface with backwards compatibility.
KC600 is optimized for functional system responsiveness with incredible boot, loading and transfer times. It supports a full-security suite that includes AES-XTS 256-bit hardware-based encryption, TCG Opal 2.0 and eDrive, allowing users to protect and secure their data. KC600 will be available in capacities up to 2 TB utilizing the latest 3D TLC NAND technology and has read/write speeds up to 550/520 MB/s, respectively. It is offered as both a stand-alone SSD or as a bundle kit which provides everything needed for an easy desktop or notebook upgrade installation.
KC600 is optimized for functional system responsiveness with incredible boot, loading and transfer times. It supports a full-security suite that includes AES-XTS 256-bit hardware-based encryption, TCG Opal 2.0 and eDrive, allowing users to protect and secure their data. KC600 will be available in capacities up to 2 TB utilizing the latest 3D TLC NAND technology and has read/write speeds up to 550/520 MB/s, respectively. It is offered as both a stand-alone SSD or as a bundle kit which provides everything needed for an easy desktop or notebook upgrade installation.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Gets a VR Port
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is another addition in the Zelda universe that its fans enjoyed. Being playable on only on Nintendo Switch, and Wii U, so far its audience has been limited to people with access to one of the Nintendo's consoles. However, that is about to change. There is new port of the Zelda: Breath of the Wild, that runs on PC at 4K resolution, with unlocked framerate giving players possibility of achieving more than 60 frames per second, and is playable in VR.
Thanks to a YouTube channel BSoD Gaming, we have footage of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running in VR mode. With a PC powered by Intel Core i7 8700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card, this Zelda game is running above 60 FPS at 4K resolution (around 80-100 FPS). VR mode is being handled easily due to the game being not so graphically demanding, so there will be plenty of people who should be able to experience VR mode without too much trouble.
Thanks to a YouTube channel BSoD Gaming, we have footage of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running in VR mode. With a PC powered by Intel Core i7 8700K and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card, this Zelda game is running above 60 FPS at 4K resolution (around 80-100 FPS). VR mode is being handled easily due to the game being not so graphically demanding, so there will be plenty of people who should be able to experience VR mode without too much trouble.
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Beats Intel Core i9-10980XE by 24% in 3DMark Physics
AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9 3950X socket AM4 processor beats Intel's flagship 18-core processor, the Core i9-10980XE, by a staggering 24 percent at 3DMark Physics, according to a PC Perspective report citing TUM_APISAK. The 3950X is a 16-core/32-thread processor that's drop-in compatible with any motherboard that can run the Ryzen 9 3900X. The i9-10980XE is an 18-core/36-thread HEDT chip that enjoys double the memory bus width as the AMD chip, and is based on Intel's "Cascade Lake-X" silicon. The AMD processor isn't at a tangible clock-speed advantage. The 3950X has a maximum boost frequency of 4.70 GHz, while the i9-10980XE isn't much behind, at 4.60 GHz, but things differ with all-core boost.
When paired with 16 GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory, the Ryzen 9 3950X powered machine scores 32,082 points in the CPU-intensive physics tests of 3DMark. In comparison, the i9-10980XE, paired with 32 GB of quad-channel DDR4-2667 memory, scores just 25,838 points as mentioned by PC Perspective. Graphics card is irrelevant to this test. It's pertinent to note here that the 3DMark physics test scales across practically any number of CPU cores/threads, and the AMD processor could be benefiting from a higher all-core boost frequency than the Intel chip. Although AMD doesn't mention a number in its specifications, the 3950X is expected to have an all-core boost frequency that's north of 4.00 GHz, as its 12-core sibling, the 3900X, already offers 4.20 GHz all-core. In contrast, the i9-10980XE has an all-core boost frequency of 3.80 GHz. This difference in boost frequency, apparently, even negates the additional 2 cores and 4 threads that the Intel chip enjoys, in what is yet another example of AMD having caught up with Intel in the IPC game.
When paired with 16 GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory, the Ryzen 9 3950X powered machine scores 32,082 points in the CPU-intensive physics tests of 3DMark. In comparison, the i9-10980XE, paired with 32 GB of quad-channel DDR4-2667 memory, scores just 25,838 points as mentioned by PC Perspective. Graphics card is irrelevant to this test. It's pertinent to note here that the 3DMark physics test scales across practically any number of CPU cores/threads, and the AMD processor could be benefiting from a higher all-core boost frequency than the Intel chip. Although AMD doesn't mention a number in its specifications, the 3950X is expected to have an all-core boost frequency that's north of 4.00 GHz, as its 12-core sibling, the 3900X, already offers 4.20 GHz all-core. In contrast, the i9-10980XE has an all-core boost frequency of 3.80 GHz. This difference in boost frequency, apparently, even negates the additional 2 cores and 4 threads that the Intel chip enjoys, in what is yet another example of AMD having caught up with Intel in the IPC game.
GIGABYTE Threadripper TRX40 AORUS Motherboard Teased
AMD is going to launch its premium HEDT Threadripper CPUs, based on 7 nm manufacturing process, as soon as November 5th arrives. To prepare for the launch, manufacturers like GIGABYTE have been working hard to bring new CPUs to life, by integrating AMD's new chipsets into the new motherboard models. Dubbed "Castle Peak" and "Sharkstooth", the two new CPU variants will be accompanied by TRX40, TRX80 and WRX80 chipsets, each enabling additional features.
We now got a hold of the first picture of what appears to be GIGABYTE's AORUS motherboard based on TRX40 chipset. Coming in with the E-ATX form factor, this motherboard is similar in size with the previous X399 AORUS Xtreme model. It features four PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and eight slots that support four-channel DDR4 memory, so it is likely that TRX40 chipset is meant only for such configuration, with TRX80 and WRX80 chipsets being reserved for eight-channel memory configurations. Another thing to note is the presence of chipset fan, indicating that the TDP of these chipsets is high and it needs to be actively cooled in normal use cases. If you remember, plenty of X570 boards have a fan on chipset as well due to their TDP.
We now got a hold of the first picture of what appears to be GIGABYTE's AORUS motherboard based on TRX40 chipset. Coming in with the E-ATX form factor, this motherboard is similar in size with the previous X399 AORUS Xtreme model. It features four PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and eight slots that support four-channel DDR4 memory, so it is likely that TRX40 chipset is meant only for such configuration, with TRX80 and WRX80 chipsets being reserved for eight-channel memory configurations. Another thing to note is the presence of chipset fan, indicating that the TDP of these chipsets is high and it needs to be actively cooled in normal use cases. If you remember, plenty of X570 boards have a fan on chipset as well due to their TDP.
Sunday, October 20th 2019
SK hynix Develops 1Znm 16Gb DDR4 DRAM
SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has developed 1Znm 16Gb (Gigabits) DDR4 (Double Data Rate 4) DRAM. As 16Gb is the industry's largest density for a single chip, the total memory capacity per wafer is also the largest of the existing DRAMs. The productivity of this product has improved by about 27% compared to the previous generation, 1Y nm. It does not require highly expensive extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, which gives it a competitive edge cost-wise.
The new 1Z nm DRAM also supports a data transfer rate of up to 3,200 Mbps, which is the fastest data processing speed in DDR4 interface. The Company significantly increased its power efficiency, successfully reducing power consumption by about 40% compared to modules of the same density made with 1Y nm 8 Gb DRAM.
The new 1Z nm DRAM also supports a data transfer rate of up to 3,200 Mbps, which is the fastest data processing speed in DDR4 interface. The Company significantly increased its power efficiency, successfully reducing power consumption by about 40% compared to modules of the same density made with 1Y nm 8 Gb DRAM.
Saturday, October 19th 2019
U.S. Legislators Including AOC Come Down Hard on Activision-Blizzard on Blitzchung Ban
Three Congresspersons and two Senators, in a letter to Activision-Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick, came down hard on the company's decision to ban and withdraw prize winnings of Hong Kong gamer Ng Wai Chung aka "Blitzchung." In the letter, the legislators unleashed scathing criticism of the company's decision to place its market-access to China above its expectations as an American business to spread the core American values of freedom and liberty around the world. Among these legislators are Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congressmen Mike Gallagher and Tom Malinowski; and Senators Marco Rubio and Ron Wyden.
"Your company benefits from China's growing market for e-sports, along with an investment from Tencent, one of China's largest technology firms. As you and your company are no doubt aware, the Chinese government uses the size and strength of its economy to suppress opinion with which it disagrees. Last week alone, the Chinese government targeted Apple for hosting an app to help peaceful demonstrators evade repression and the NBA because one team's general manager tweeted in support of Hong Kong protests," the letter reads.
"Your company benefits from China's growing market for e-sports, along with an investment from Tencent, one of China's largest technology firms. As you and your company are no doubt aware, the Chinese government uses the size and strength of its economy to suppress opinion with which it disagrees. Last week alone, the Chinese government targeted Apple for hosting an app to help peaceful demonstrators evade repression and the NBA because one team's general manager tweeted in support of Hong Kong protests," the letter reads.
Friday, October 18th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
Motherboards
Mouse
Processors
Thermaltake A700 TG Review
The Thermaltake A700 TG is an uncompromising full-tower chassis that offers extremes in many areas, from material mix to liquid-cooling capabilities or even just sheer size and weight. While that comes at a price, it is refreshing to see its over-the-top approach in-line with pricing - you definitely get what you pay for.
Free Game Alert: "Observer" and "Alan Wake's American Nightmare" Free in the Epic Games Store, Halloween Sale Launched
Free games are always hard to pass, so if you are craving some meaty releases to tide you over until something new and fresh that catches your fancy comes along, this Epic Games Store might (and might not) be for you. From October 17th through October 24th, the digital storefront so many love to hate is offering two generally well thought-off games i the form of Observer and Alan Wake's American Nightmare.
Whether you crave a meaty, cyberpunk-inspired detective story in Observer, or a not so meaty, all-hell-broken-lose experience set in the excellent Alan Wake universe, you can drop by your Epic Games Store Launcher (we know you have it installed, come on) and just add them to your cart for free. They're yours to keep forever. And if you don't have the Epic Games Store launcher, perhaps you should. Observer might very well make it worth all the hassle of downloading and clicking through a menu three or four times. And as a very relevant footnote, the Epic Games Store has just started its Halloween Sale, which goes from today, October 18th, through November 1st. You can find some older games discounted up to 70%, with the discount decreasing somewhat linearly according to release date.
Whether you crave a meaty, cyberpunk-inspired detective story in Observer, or a not so meaty, all-hell-broken-lose experience set in the excellent Alan Wake universe, you can drop by your Epic Games Store Launcher (we know you have it installed, come on) and just add them to your cart for free. They're yours to keep forever. And if you don't have the Epic Games Store launcher, perhaps you should. Observer might very well make it worth all the hassle of downloading and clicking through a menu three or four times. And as a very relevant footnote, the Epic Games Store has just started its Halloween Sale, which goes from today, October 18th, through November 1st. You can find some older games discounted up to 70%, with the discount decreasing somewhat linearly according to release date.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, 3970X and 3990X Launch Dates Leaked
The folks over at Videocardz managed to snag some impressive information on AMD-s upcoming Threadripper lineup - their launch dates. According to the tech publication, a source within AMD provided information regarding previously-set dates for paper and hardware launches that stand at November 5th for the formal announcement of the next generation HEDT CPUs, followed by lifted embargos on reviews and actual product availability come November 19th. Apparently, AMD will only launch the Threadripper 3960X and 3970X come November 5th (remember remember the 5th of November), with a product announcement for the Threadripper 3990X which will only be launched in January 2020.
AMD will also formally unveil their next-gen Threadripper TRX40 platformon November 5th (which won't be compatible with previous-gen Threadrippers). This makes sense - CPUs without a platform to pin them onto doesn't seem like a conscientious business decision. No information was available on clockspeeds and core counts at this time, though the Threadripper 3960X, the base of the new lineup, is expected to sport 24 cores and 48 threads of Zen 2 goodness.
AMD will also formally unveil their next-gen Threadripper TRX40 platformon November 5th (which won't be compatible with previous-gen Threadrippers). This makes sense - CPUs without a platform to pin them onto doesn't seem like a conscientious business decision. No information was available on clockspeeds and core counts at this time, though the Threadripper 3960X, the base of the new lineup, is expected to sport 24 cores and 48 threads of Zen 2 goodness.
G.SKILL Announces Extreme Low Latency DDR4-4000 CL15 32GB Memory Kits
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is delighted to announce an extreme low-latency, high-speed DDR4 memory kit at DDR4-4000 CL15-16-16-36 in a 32 GB (8 GB x4) capacity configuration under the classic Trident Z and the RGB-enabled Trident Z Royal memory series. Once again, these extraordinary memory kits are manufactured using high-performance Samsung B-die ICs to achieve the world's lowest latency of CL15 at DDR4-4000.
At G.SKILL, we are always searching for the ultimate memory kit, tuned not only for speed, but also for efficiency. This means pushing for lower latency timings. Previously, the best CAS latency that memory kits at the DDR4-4000 level could achieve was at CL17. This is surpassed by the new DDR4-4000 CL15-16-16-36 32 GB (8 GB x4) memory kit running under 1.5 V, shown validated on the MSI MEG Z390 ACE motherboard and Intel Core i7-9700K processor in the screenshot below.
At G.SKILL, we are always searching for the ultimate memory kit, tuned not only for speed, but also for efficiency. This means pushing for lower latency timings. Previously, the best CAS latency that memory kits at the DDR4-4000 level could achieve was at CL17. This is surpassed by the new DDR4-4000 CL15-16-16-36 32 GB (8 GB x4) memory kit running under 1.5 V, shown validated on the MSI MEG Z390 ACE motherboard and Intel Core i7-9700K processor in the screenshot below.
URCDKeys Lets You Stretch Your Gaming PC Hardware Budget with Discounted Software
URCDKeys is your go-to online store for genuine, globally-valid licenses to popular software your gaming PC can't do without. With simmering PC hardware prices, it makes sense to save money on the one component whose quality won't change with price - your Windows license. URCDKeys is selling genuine, globally-valid Windows 10 Pro licenses for just USD $11.46, exclusively to TechPowerUp readers. Office 2016 Profesional Plus is another piece of software your home desktop is incomplete without. Those assignments aren't going to make themselves! URCDKeys helps you save big by letting you have a genuine, lifetime-valid license to Office 2016 Professional Plus for just $29.51, which is fraction of what you'd pay for an annually-recurring Office 365 license. Do take a moment to check out all the cool Microsoft products, security software, games, and in-game items you can buy from URCDKeys to save even more!
Don't forget to apply the TechPowerUp-exclusive coupon TP20 at checkout to shave 20% off and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro from URCDKeys at $11.46 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus from URCDKeys for $29.51
Don't forget to apply the TechPowerUp-exclusive coupon TP20 at checkout to shave 20% off and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro from URCDKeys at $11.46 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus from URCDKeys for $29.51
XIGMATEK Unveils the ZEUS Spectrum Edition Open Tower Chassis
XIGMATEK unveiled the ZEUS, a premium open-air tower-type chassis. The case consists of a highly adaptable metal frame clad with tempered glass panels on three sides, and detachable panels on nearly all sides. This has the makings of a new trend with PC cases where towers aren't cuboidal, and have a somewhat trapezoid or poligonal shape that orients the motherboard tray at an angle, so it receives active air-flow from more directions. Alienware likely started this trend with its 2017 Area 51 desktop, which Jonsbo copied with its TR03 from earlier this week. The XIGMATEK ZEUS has room for a standard ATX (or smaller) motherboard, room for graphics cards up to 32 cm in length, and CPU coolers up to 16 cm in height.
Storage options on the XIGMATEK ZEUS include two 2.5-inch drive bays just below the top panel, one 3.5-inch and one 2.5-inch drive mounts behind the motherboard tray. Cooling options include three 120 mm front intakes that can hold onto a 360 mm x 120 mm radiator, three 120 mm top exhausts that can hold onto another 360 mm x 120 mm radiator, a 120 mm exhaust on the upward-facing rear panel, and another 120 mm exhaust on the downward facing rear panel. Front panel connectivity includes two USB 3.1 type-A ports, and separate headphones/mic jacks. The case measures 755 mm x 220 mm x 595 mm (LxWxH). The company didn't reveal pricing.
Storage options on the XIGMATEK ZEUS include two 2.5-inch drive bays just below the top panel, one 3.5-inch and one 2.5-inch drive mounts behind the motherboard tray. Cooling options include three 120 mm front intakes that can hold onto a 360 mm x 120 mm radiator, three 120 mm top exhausts that can hold onto another 360 mm x 120 mm radiator, a 120 mm exhaust on the upward-facing rear panel, and another 120 mm exhaust on the downward facing rear panel. Front panel connectivity includes two USB 3.1 type-A ports, and separate headphones/mic jacks. The case measures 755 mm x 220 mm x 595 mm (LxWxH). The company didn't reveal pricing.
Intel Could Unveil First Discrete 10 nm GPUs in mid-2020
According to the sources close to DigiTimes, Intel will unveil its first discrete 10 nm graphics cards named "Xe" very soon, with the first wave of Xe GPUs expected to arrive some time in 2020. Said to launch mid year, around July or August, Intel will start selling initial Xe GPU models of the long awaited product to consumers, in hope of gaining a share in the massive market using GPU for acceleration of all kinds of tasks.
Perhaps one of the most interesting notes DigiTimes reported is that "... Intel's GPUs have already received support from the upstream supply chain and has already been integrated into Intel's CPUs to be used in the datacenter and AI fields.", meaning that AIB partners already have access to first 10 nm graphics chips that are ready for system integration. First generation of Xe graphics cards will cover almost whole GPU market, including PC, datacenter, and AI applications where NVIDIA currently holds the top spot.
Perhaps one of the most interesting notes DigiTimes reported is that "... Intel's GPUs have already received support from the upstream supply chain and has already been integrated into Intel's CPUs to be used in the datacenter and AI fields.", meaning that AIB partners already have access to first 10 nm graphics chips that are ready for system integration. First generation of Xe graphics cards will cover almost whole GPU market, including PC, datacenter, and AI applications where NVIDIA currently holds the top spot.
Microsoft Pushes Intel "Haswell" Microcode Update to Harden Against MDS
Microsoft started deploying microcode updates to some of Intel's older Core, Pentium, and Celeron processor generations through Windows Update. The latest Cumulative Update packages chronicled under "KB4497165" apply to machines running Intel's 4th generation Core "Haswell" processors, and low-power Pentium and Celeron chips based on "Apollo Lake," "Gemini Lake," "Valley View," and "Cherry View" microarchitectures.
The microcode update provides firmware-level hardening against four major variants of the MDS class of security vulnerabilities, namely CVE-2019-11091 (MDS Uncacheable Memory), CVE-2018-12126 (Microarchitectural Store Buffer Data Sampling), CVE-2018-12127 (Microarchitectural Load Port Data Sampling), and CVE-2018-12130 (Microarchitectural Fill Buffer Data Sampling).
The microcode update provides firmware-level hardening against four major variants of the MDS class of security vulnerabilities, namely CVE-2019-11091 (MDS Uncacheable Memory), CVE-2018-12126 (Microarchitectural Store Buffer Data Sampling), CVE-2018-12127 (Microarchitectural Load Port Data Sampling), and CVE-2018-12130 (Microarchitectural Fill Buffer Data Sampling).
AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.1 WHQL
AMD late Thursday released the Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.1 WHQL. These drivers are identical to the Adrenalin 19.10.1 Beta drivers released earlier this month, with the only difference being WHQL certification. AMD is picking up the pace with WHQL releases of Radeon Software, as more OEMs are implementing Radeon RX 5700-series and upcoming RX 5500-series GPUs, and prefer WHQL-signed drivers. The 19.10.1 drivers introduce support for AMD's new Radeon RX 5500 series graphics cards based on its new 7 nm "Navi 11" silicon, along with fixes for "Borderlands 3" running in DirectX 12 mode, optimization for "GRID," and fixes certain display problems with high refresh-rate settings.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.1 WHQL
Change-log for 19.10.1 follows.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 19.10.1 WHQL
Thursday, October 17th 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
Game Controllers
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
Motherboards
Notebooks
Team Group Cardea II 1 TB NVMe SSD Review
The Team Group Cardea II M.2 NVMe SSD comes with a large pre-installed heatsink that adds excellent cooling capability to prevent any sort of thermal throttling. Another highlight is the good sustained write performance, which ends up at over 1 GB/s even though TLC flash is used.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Delayed, Still Coming in 2020
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has been delayed, according to developer Hardsuit Labs (Paradox Interactive makes a cameo here as publisher). The game, which builds upon the original Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines released way back in 2004, aims to provide a "deep, branching storyline; fascinating and amazingly acted characters; the rich universe of the World of Darkness" that can additionally be played in either first or third person perspective. According to the developer, pushing for a Q1 2020 release would mean compromise in those areas, as well as in polish for the final version of the game.
Of course, one other reason for the delay might be the fact that Q1 2020 is already jam-packed with heavy-hitting franchises and games such as the hugely awaited Cyberpunk 2077, the remastered Final Fantasy 7, The Last of us 2, and Doom Eternal, just to name a few. Perhaps the developer (and publisher Paradox Interactive) saw history in danger of repeating itself with the release of the original Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, which went toe to toe with Half Life 2, Halo 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - not the best time to launch a game. That decision eventually led to the shuttering of then-developer Troika Games. Expect the game to still drop around 2020, though no firm release date was set alongside the delay announcement.
Of course, one other reason for the delay might be the fact that Q1 2020 is already jam-packed with heavy-hitting franchises and games such as the hugely awaited Cyberpunk 2077, the remastered Final Fantasy 7, The Last of us 2, and Doom Eternal, just to name a few. Perhaps the developer (and publisher Paradox Interactive) saw history in danger of repeating itself with the release of the original Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, which went toe to toe with Half Life 2, Halo 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - not the best time to launch a game. That decision eventually led to the shuttering of then-developer Troika Games. Expect the game to still drop around 2020, though no firm release date was set alongside the delay announcement.
TSMC Reports Third Quarter Results
TSMC today announced consolidated revenue of NT$293.05 billion, net income of NT$101.07 billion, and diluted earnings per share of NT$3.90 (US$0.62 per ADR unit) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.
Year-over-year, third quarter revenue increased 12.6% while net income and diluted EPS both increased 13.5%. Compared to second quarter 2019, third quarter results represented a 21.6% increase in revenue and a 51.4% increase in net income. All figures were prepared in accordance with TIFRS on a consolidated basis.
Year-over-year, third quarter revenue increased 12.6% while net income and diluted EPS both increased 13.5%. Compared to second quarter 2019, third quarter results represented a 21.6% increase in revenue and a 51.4% increase in net income. All figures were prepared in accordance with TIFRS on a consolidated basis.
AMD to Release Ryzen 7 3750X Processor?
AMD's latest Product Master guide (since taken down but immortalized in the interweb) has a surprise in store for AMD's Ryzen 7 desktop CPU lineup. Sandwiched in-between the Ryzen 7 3700X and the Ryzen 7 3800X, a new entry has reared its head, in the form of the Ryzen 7 3750X. The new CPU is specified to keep the same 105 W TDP of its elder sibling Ryzen 7 3800X, instead of keeping the Ryzen 7 3700X's 65 W TDP. Technically, this is possible to achieve in both pricing and performance: the Ryzen 7 3750X, if it ever is launched (it could be a specific release for system integrators or other interested parties outside the usual mainstream desktop suspects) could sport increased base clocks compared to the Ryzen 7 3700X's 3.6 GHz base / 4.4 GHz boost clocks... But not easily, considering the Ryzen 7 3800X starts at 3.9 GHz base / 4.5 GHz boost. It's possible to release the 3750X with a 200 MHz boost on base clocks and the same 4.4 GHz boost, but does it make any sense to do so?
It could - even if with some forced optimism - should AMD price it closer to the Ryzen 7 3700X than to the Ryzen 7 3800X. The $329 and $399 prices for those CPUs, respectively, leave a gap that could be filled by the Ryzen 7 3750X at around the $349 mark, for example. It's likely most users would be making the jump from the 65 W CPU than dropping less cash compared to the 3800X, so AMD's margins per sale would definitely improve. At the same time, this could be a way for AMD to cope with TSMC's 7 nm increase in lead-times and lower availability of CPUs by moving stock from the 65 W CPU to the pricier 3750X in parts that can actually run at those frequencies. Driving their lineup's ASP up ensures AMD can keep a steady stream of income should availability decline - less parts sold at a greater price can shore up some of the lost cash influx.
It could - even if with some forced optimism - should AMD price it closer to the Ryzen 7 3700X than to the Ryzen 7 3800X. The $329 and $399 prices for those CPUs, respectively, leave a gap that could be filled by the Ryzen 7 3750X at around the $349 mark, for example. It's likely most users would be making the jump from the 65 W CPU than dropping less cash compared to the 3800X, so AMD's margins per sale would definitely improve. At the same time, this could be a way for AMD to cope with TSMC's 7 nm increase in lead-times and lower availability of CPUs by moving stock from the 65 W CPU to the pricier 3750X in parts that can actually run at those frequencies. Driving their lineup's ASP up ensures AMD can keep a steady stream of income should availability decline - less parts sold at a greater price can shore up some of the lost cash influx.
Biostar Announces the Racing X570GTA Motherboard
BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, is proud to launch a new addition to its 4th generation of RACING motherboards with the powerful yet humble BIOSTAR RACING X570GTA. Built with designers and content creators in mind, the RACING X570GTA combines a set of onboard features to ensure that quality content can be produced with a system that users can rely on. The BIOSTAR RACING X570GTA is tastefully designed with the iconic BIOSTAR RACING GEN 4 features and grey lightning strikes that represents the lightning-fast performance and ultra-responsives that gives gamers the competitive edge to take their gaming experience to the next level.
The BIOSTAR RACING X570GTA, equipped with the latest X570 chipset for AMD socket AM4, brings support for 3rd Gen Ryzen processors, an essential tool for content creators. While designers rely on high performance and responsiveness to render videos or 3D content, which is supported by the RACING X570GTA PCI-e 4.0 lanes (offering bandwidth of 64 GB/s and compatibility for the latest as well as previous generation graphics cards), the users can rest assured their investment in high-end hardware is secured with the BIOSTAR's exclusive Iron Slot Protection on the x16 lanes which helps handle heavier graphics cards, prevent bending, and extend the longevity of the slots. In addition, PCI-e 4.0 also opens the door to PCI-e M.2 4.0, the latest storage interface which delivers the highest bandwidth (64 GB/s) and offers lower latency, making launching programs such as video and photo editing software, and accessing heavy files a flash.
The BIOSTAR RACING X570GTA, equipped with the latest X570 chipset for AMD socket AM4, brings support for 3rd Gen Ryzen processors, an essential tool for content creators. While designers rely on high performance and responsiveness to render videos or 3D content, which is supported by the RACING X570GTA PCI-e 4.0 lanes (offering bandwidth of 64 GB/s and compatibility for the latest as well as previous generation graphics cards), the users can rest assured their investment in high-end hardware is secured with the BIOSTAR's exclusive Iron Slot Protection on the x16 lanes which helps handle heavier graphics cards, prevent bending, and extend the longevity of the slots. In addition, PCI-e 4.0 also opens the door to PCI-e M.2 4.0, the latest storage interface which delivers the highest bandwidth (64 GB/s) and offers lower latency, making launching programs such as video and photo editing software, and accessing heavy files a flash.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X a 24-core Chip the Range Starts With
With its 3rd generation Ryzen Threadripper "Castle Peak" HEDT processor family, AMD isn't bothering with 16-core models as the company's mainstream desktop socket AM4 platform already offers those many cores with the upcoming Ryzen 9 3950X. The lineup will begin with the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X, which is the 24-core/48-thread part. The model number "3950X" is already taken up by the 16-core socket AM4 chip. Confirmation of this came from an "Ashes of the Singularity" screenshot that references an "AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 24-core Processor."
AMD's decision to start the lineup at 24 cores is interesting, as it looks to keep up its competitiveness against Intel, which recently launched its 10th generation "Cascade Lake-X" Core i9 HEDT processor series, with all parts priced under $1000, including the range-topping 18-core/36-thread one. It remains to be seen if the Threadripper 3960X can beat it while holding onto a sub-$1,000 price. The previous-generation 24-core 2970WX beat the i9-9980XE in some rendering and simulation tests that scaled with cores and which weren't too heavy on memory bandwidth. With its 3rd generation Threadripper series, AMD is eliminating a key memory bottleneck, giving each core on the chip an equal access to the processor's monolithic quad-channel memory interface.
AMD's decision to start the lineup at 24 cores is interesting, as it looks to keep up its competitiveness against Intel, which recently launched its 10th generation "Cascade Lake-X" Core i9 HEDT processor series, with all parts priced under $1000, including the range-topping 18-core/36-thread one. It remains to be seen if the Threadripper 3960X can beat it while holding onto a sub-$1,000 price. The previous-generation 24-core 2970WX beat the i9-9980XE in some rendering and simulation tests that scaled with cores and which weren't too heavy on memory bandwidth. With its 3rd generation Threadripper series, AMD is eliminating a key memory bottleneck, giving each core on the chip an equal access to the processor's monolithic quad-channel memory interface.
ARCTIC Launches the Freezer 50 TR ARGB CPU Cooler for Ryzen Threadripper
ARCTIC, a leading manufacturer of low-noise PC coolers and components, today launched the latest in its well-respected Freezer series of CPU coolers, the Freezer 50 TR. An extremely powerful cooler for AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors, the ARCTIC Freezer 50 TR is a dual tower CPU cooler with eight heatpipes and two ARCTIC P-fans (for optimal airflow in push-pull configuration). As the first cooler of the Freezer family that comes equipped with Addressable RGB, it combines high performance with striking design.
"With the Freezer 50 TR, the target was simple yet hard to reach: we had to be the best air cooler in the market and be able to cope with the amazing wattage that the Threadripper can pull out," said Vincent Andre, Technical Director at ARCTIC. "Countless hours of design, simulation and testing were necessary, but I think we have reached our target. With A-RGB integration, the Freezer 50 TR is not only the most powerful ARCTIC air cooler to date, it's also the first ever with lighting effects."
"With the Freezer 50 TR, the target was simple yet hard to reach: we had to be the best air cooler in the market and be able to cope with the amazing wattage that the Threadripper can pull out," said Vincent Andre, Technical Director at ARCTIC. "Countless hours of design, simulation and testing were necessary, but I think we have reached our target. With A-RGB integration, the Freezer 50 TR is not only the most powerful ARCTIC air cooler to date, it's also the first ever with lighting effects."
Lamptron Unveils SM436 Sync Edition PCI RGB-Fan and LED-Controller
In times of Tempered Glass, not only the cooling performance and volume development of the PCs want to be adapted to their own and changing requirements, but also the RGB lighting suitable for the hardware. The Lamptron SM436 Sync Edition PCI RGB & Fan Controller offers not only extensive functionality, but also high compatibility. It runs up to four fans with or without PWM control and RGB products with or without digital RGB LEDs. The separate LC display can be attached to PCI slots, which can be admired by a transparent side section made of hard or acrylic glass. The control is operated by an infrared remote control.
Intel and Wargaming Join Forces to Deliver Ray Tracing to World of Tanks
Intel has been very serious about its efforts in computer graphics lately, mainly because of its plans to launch a dedicated GPU lineup and bring new features to the graphics card market. Today, Intel and Wargaming, a maker of MMO titles like World of Tanks, World of Warships, and World of Warplanes, partnered to bring ray tracing feature to the Wargaming's "Core" graphics engine, used in perhaps one of the best-known MMO title - World of Tanks.
Joint forces of Intel and Wargaming developers have lead to the implementation of ray tracing, using only regular software techniques without a need for special hardware. Being hardware agnostic, this implementation works on any graphics card that can run DirectX 11, as the "Core" engine is written in DirectX 11 API. To achieve this, developers had to make a solution that uses CPU's resources for fast, multi-threaded bounding volume hierarchy which then feeds the GPU's compute shaders for ray tracing processing, thus making the ray tracing feature entirely GPU shader/core dependent. Many features are reworked with emphasis put on shadow quality. In the images below you can see exactly what difference the new ray-tracing implementation makes, and you can use almost any graphics card to get it. Wargaming notes that "some FPS" will be sacrificed if ray tracing is turned on, so your GPU shouldn't struggle too much.
Joint forces of Intel and Wargaming developers have lead to the implementation of ray tracing, using only regular software techniques without a need for special hardware. Being hardware agnostic, this implementation works on any graphics card that can run DirectX 11, as the "Core" engine is written in DirectX 11 API. To achieve this, developers had to make a solution that uses CPU's resources for fast, multi-threaded bounding volume hierarchy which then feeds the GPU's compute shaders for ray tracing processing, thus making the ray tracing feature entirely GPU shader/core dependent. Many features are reworked with emphasis put on shadow quality. In the images below you can see exactly what difference the new ray-tracing implementation makes, and you can use almost any graphics card to get it. Wargaming notes that "some FPS" will be sacrificed if ray tracing is turned on, so your GPU shouldn't struggle too much.
iBUYPOWER Announces New MR Series of Cases
iBUYPOWER, a leading manufacturer of custom gaming PCs, today announced its new MR Series of PC cases, expanding upon the company's signature Slate, Trace and Element series of cases.
The Slate MR, Trace MR and Element MR all feature a black, partial-mirror finish on the front and side tempered glass panels. This custom finish gives the illusion of a mirror and reflects its surroundings when systems are off and no lighting is visible. When the enclosure is illuminated by the four addressable RGB (ARGB) fans included with each MR case, users will have a clear view of the internal components of their PC.
The Slate MR, Trace MR and Element MR all feature a black, partial-mirror finish on the front and side tempered glass panels. This custom finish gives the illusion of a mirror and reflects its surroundings when systems are off and no lighting is visible. When the enclosure is illuminated by the four addressable RGB (ARGB) fans included with each MR case, users will have a clear view of the internal components of their PC.
Wednesday, October 16th 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Monitors
Motherboards
MSI Trident X 9th (Intel Core i7-9700K + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080) Review
MSI's Trident X 9th series of gaming PCs delivers uncompromising entertainment thanks to a design that offers not only high performance, but low noise levels as well, making it perfect for the living room where it will quickly become a focal point due to the RGB lighting.
Philips Introduces the Productivity-Geared 346B1C Monitor: 34" VA, 3440 x 1440, Curved 21:9
Philips today introduced their latest productivity-geared monitor in the form of the 346B1C. The 34" panel is of the VA type, ensuring great viewing angles without any form of color degradation. The WQHD resolution of 3440 x 1440 means maximum resolution, which can be better put to use in the 21:9 curved format of the display, allowing you to seamlessly work across two different windows (like this news editor is doing right now, really). The 346B1C features a USB-C dock so that you can have a seamless workflow from your portable environment to the big screen. It also sports split-screen views and an integrated multi-client KVM switch, so two PCs can use the same monitor, keyboard and mouse.
There's Adaptive-Sync (which should add some gaming chops to the monitor), flicker-free tech and LowBlue Mode for comfort. The stand features support for 180º swivel, tilt, and height-adjustments, and there's VESA support (though that's a given nowadays). The Philips 346B1C will be available this November for £539.
There's Adaptive-Sync (which should add some gaming chops to the monitor), flicker-free tech and LowBlue Mode for comfort. The stand features support for 180º swivel, tilt, and height-adjustments, and there's VESA support (though that's a given nowadays). The Philips 346B1C will be available this November for £539.
Jonsbo Introduces the TR03, a Triangular Case With RGB Lighting
Jonsbo, who have recently reentered the American market, have launched their latest PC case, which sees a departure from the norm (in a seen-before sort of way, though). The TR03 is a triangular case, eschewing the usual boxy design of 90% of the market. The TR03 is made of aluminium, for the outside and steel on the innards to achieve structural integrity, and features tempered glass side panels for showing off your hardware - like any enthusiast case true to its name should.
The TR03 supports radiators up to 360 mm, CPU coolers up to 175 mm, PSUs up to 185 mm and graphics cards up to 460 mm, so you known you won't have to make forced decisions regarding your hardware configuration on account of this case. The interior of the case is modular, and can be rearranged in a number of ways to display your hardware vertically or horizontally, and pre-designed mounts for your custom water tank mean you won't have to worry about your hardware's integrity. It supports up to ATX motherboards, has mounts for 3x 2.5" SSD + 3x 3.5" HDD or 5x 2.5" SSDs. It also features supports for up to ten fans. No word on pricing at time of writing, but you should expect this case to be in the upper echelon of pricing for the company.
The TR03 supports radiators up to 360 mm, CPU coolers up to 175 mm, PSUs up to 185 mm and graphics cards up to 460 mm, so you known you won't have to make forced decisions regarding your hardware configuration on account of this case. The interior of the case is modular, and can be rearranged in a number of ways to display your hardware vertically or horizontally, and pre-designed mounts for your custom water tank mean you won't have to worry about your hardware's integrity. It supports up to ATX motherboards, has mounts for 3x 2.5" SSD + 3x 3.5" HDD or 5x 2.5" SSDs. It also features supports for up to ten fans. No word on pricing at time of writing, but you should expect this case to be in the upper echelon of pricing for the company.
ASRock AMD B550AM Gaming Motherboard Spied
Here is the first picture of a motherboard based on AMD's upcoming mid-range desktop motherboard chipset, the AMD "B550A," the ASRock B550AM Gaming. The board was spied inside a pre-built desktop at a Best Buy store. This is the first time we've seen the mid-range chipset being referenced as "B550A" and not "B550." The "A" may not be part of the motherboard's model name as the "M" denotes Micro-ATX and usually succeeds the chipset model in ASRock's nomenclature. The B550(A) will be an important chipset for AMD as it will enable motherboards priced under the $150 mark that support AMD's 3rd generation Ryzen processor's I/O natively.
While the X570 is an in-house development by AMD, the B550 is sourced from ASMedia, and is expected to be a new version of the "Promontory-LP" silicon. The only thing that sets this chip apart from the 400-series "Promontory-LP" is PCI-Express gen 3.0 certification. The chipset talks to the AM4 SoC over a PCI-Express 3.0 x4 link, and puts out up to 8 PCI-Express gen 3.0 downstream lanes. A 3rd gen Ryzen processor on a B550 motherboard still puts out PCI-Express gen 4.0 connectivity, which means you get one PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, and one M.2 slot with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring. The rest of the chipset's I/O will be similar to the 400-series, which includes six SATA 6 Gbps ports, up to two 10 Gbps USB 3.1 ports, up to four 5 Gbps USB 3.1 ports, and eight USB 2.0/1.1 ports. If the AM4 SoC installed is a 3rd gen Ryzen, then you'll get a couple more 10 Gbps USB 3.1 ports. AMD partners could use the opportunity to launch some of the more upscale B550 motherboards with the latest 2.5 GbE wired LAN, and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6.
Update (16/10): We learn later down in the referenced Reddit thread, including from comments by AMD's Robert Hallock, that the B550A is a rebranded B450 targeted at OEMs. The B550 (non-A) is what is the upcoming chipset detailed in this article.
While the X570 is an in-house development by AMD, the B550 is sourced from ASMedia, and is expected to be a new version of the "Promontory-LP" silicon. The only thing that sets this chip apart from the 400-series "Promontory-LP" is PCI-Express gen 3.0 certification. The chipset talks to the AM4 SoC over a PCI-Express 3.0 x4 link, and puts out up to 8 PCI-Express gen 3.0 downstream lanes. A 3rd gen Ryzen processor on a B550 motherboard still puts out PCI-Express gen 4.0 connectivity, which means you get one PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, and one M.2 slot with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring. The rest of the chipset's I/O will be similar to the 400-series, which includes six SATA 6 Gbps ports, up to two 10 Gbps USB 3.1 ports, up to four 5 Gbps USB 3.1 ports, and eight USB 2.0/1.1 ports. If the AM4 SoC installed is a 3rd gen Ryzen, then you'll get a couple more 10 Gbps USB 3.1 ports. AMD partners could use the opportunity to launch some of the more upscale B550 motherboards with the latest 2.5 GbE wired LAN, and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6.
Bitspower Launches New Summit M CPU Block with OLED Display for Intel and AMD Platforms
Following the success of their Touchaqua-branded Summit MS OLED CPU block earlier this year, which was for Intel platforms only at that time, Bitspower have decided to add the OLED display to their main brand in the form of the new Summit M CPU water block. The design is a departure from the squared-off Summit MS, with a smaller form factor that also increases CPU socket compatibility to the red camp out of the box. The OLED display is housed on a metal top plate, with an acrylic body enabling side views of the coolant, a temperature sensor enabling readout on the display, as well as the integrated dRGB LEDs for lighting options compatible with ASUS AURA Sync, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light Sync, and ASRock Polychrome.
The cooling engine uses a nickel-plated copper base plate, with 0.3 mm CNC-machined fins and microchannels that are part of a split central-inlet flow promising high coolant flow directly over the fins to remove as much heat from the CPU as possible. This is similar to the vast majority of CPU block designs in practice, but manufacturers tend to experiment with the flow schematic to see if they can do better, so time will tell how the Summit M fares on the TechPowerUp test bench. In the meantime, it is available for direct purchase from the Bitspower store for 4500 NTD (~$150 USD) before any applicable taxes and shipping costs.
The cooling engine uses a nickel-plated copper base plate, with 0.3 mm CNC-machined fins and microchannels that are part of a split central-inlet flow promising high coolant flow directly over the fins to remove as much heat from the CPU as possible. This is similar to the vast majority of CPU block designs in practice, but manufacturers tend to experiment with the flow schematic to see if they can do better, so time will tell how the Summit M fares on the TechPowerUp test bench. In the meantime, it is available for direct purchase from the Bitspower store for 4500 NTD (~$150 USD) before any applicable taxes and shipping costs.
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Gaming X and Ventus XS Pictured
MSI is ready with its premium Gaming X and affordable Ventus XS custom board designs for NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce GTX 1660 Super GPU. These boards are largely identical to the GTX 1660 Ti down to the PCB design, as the GTX 1660 Super is essentially a GTX 1660 with GDDR6 memory instead of GDDR5, yet positioned a notch below the GTX 1660 Ti owing to fewer CUDA cores (1,408 vs. 1,536).
The MSI GTX 1660 Super Gaming X retains its brushed metal finish, RGB LED embellishments, and premium appeal of the GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X. The Ventus XS, too retains its compact dimensions. This time around, though, MSI gave the plastic back-plate a faux brushed-aluminium finish. The Ventus XS comes in a standard variant that sticks to NVIDIA-reference clock-speeds, and an OC Edition with a mild factory-overclock. The Gaming X has the highest factory-overclock from MSI for this SKU.
The MSI GTX 1660 Super Gaming X retains its brushed metal finish, RGB LED embellishments, and premium appeal of the GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X. The Ventus XS, too retains its compact dimensions. This time around, though, MSI gave the plastic back-plate a faux brushed-aluminium finish. The Ventus XS comes in a standard variant that sticks to NVIDIA-reference clock-speeds, and an OC Edition with a mild factory-overclock. The Gaming X has the highest factory-overclock from MSI for this SKU.
PCI-Express Gen 6.0 Specification to Finalize by 2021
With 64 Gbps bandwidth per lane, 256 Gbps in x4, and a whopping 1 Tbps in x16 (128 GB/s per direction), PCI-Express 6.0 will debut in 2021 as 5G adoption hits critical mass in markets across the globe, to support server nodes, high-bandwidth network infrastructure, and lighting fast I/O for HPC and AI applications. Development of the new standard is already underway, with the specification having achieved a pre-release version 0.3, according to the PCI-SIG, the body that develops and maintains the PCI IP.
Further development, prototyping, and testing of the standard will run through 2020 as drafts of the standard are dispatched to interested parties. With the specification published in 2021, the first devices implementing it could arrive the following year. Granted, very few devices need 1 Tbps bandwidth, but the exercise of doubling bandwidth every 3 or so years has its maximum impact on devices that only have wiring for one PCIe lane, and directly impacts bandwidth of other I/O specifications that are derived from PCIe, such as USB, Thunderbolt, CXL, etc.
Further development, prototyping, and testing of the standard will run through 2020 as drafts of the standard are dispatched to interested parties. With the specification published in 2021, the first devices implementing it could arrive the following year. Granted, very few devices need 1 Tbps bandwidth, but the exercise of doubling bandwidth every 3 or so years has its maximum impact on devices that only have wiring for one PCIe lane, and directly impacts bandwidth of other I/O specifications that are derived from PCIe, such as USB, Thunderbolt, CXL, etc.
Possible XFX Radeon RX 5500 THICC II Pictured
These could very well be the first pictures of a custom-design Radeon RX 5500 graphics card. Pictures of the purported XFX Radeon RX 5500 THICC II made it to the web courtesy VideoCardz. It's very likely that this is the RX 5500 looking at its power-connectivity, which includes just a single 8-pin PCIe input. An RX 5700-series product would at least feature an 8+6-pin input design. The display I/O is also peculiar, with not one but two dual-link DVI-D connectors (no analog pins on either), and one each of DisplayPort and HDMI. The card has the same design language as its THICC series siblings from the RX 5700-series.
The cooling solution uses two shrouds (the front shroud and the back-plate) that meet in the middle in symmetry. Two fans ventilate an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that features two or three 8 mm-thick copper heat pipes. The cooler is longer than the card itself. Based on the 7 nm "Navi 11" silicon, the Radeon RX 5500 features 22 RDNA compute units working out to 1,408 stream processors, boost frequencies of up to 1848 MHz, and up to 8 GB of GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface.
The cooling solution uses two shrouds (the front shroud and the back-plate) that meet in the middle in symmetry. Two fans ventilate an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that features two or three 8 mm-thick copper heat pipes. The cooler is longer than the card itself. Based on the 7 nm "Navi 11" silicon, the Radeon RX 5500 features 22 RDNA compute units working out to 1,408 stream processors, boost frequencies of up to 1848 MHz, and up to 8 GB of GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface.
NZXT Joins the ASRock Phantom Gaming Alliance with H510i Variant
NZXT joined the ASRock Phantom Gaming bandwagon with a special edition variant of its popular H510i mid-tower case. The case ships with the characteristic gaming-centric design language of the motherboard maker with streaks of red and silver accenting a gray background. These streaks dominate the opaque right side panel, and make up both the opaque and see-through parts of the left side panel. The signature NZXT vertical divider is painted in ASRock's favorite shade of red. A prominent Phantom Gaming logo dominates the front panel. The front connectivity, located at the top, includes a USB 3.1 type-C, USB 3.1 type-A, and a headset jack. Slated for November 1st market availability, the NZXT H510i Phantom Gaming edition is priced at USD $109.
TSMC Extends 16 nm Lead Time, Possibly Because the Fab is Swamped
TSMC has increased its 7 nm delivery time by as much as three times because of extra demand from customers who want their products made on 7 nm manufacturing process. While we thought the struggles with the delivery of 7 nm will only be present for that node, it turns out that TSMC is facing some issues with the delivery of its 16 nm node as well.
There is no clear indication of why is TSMC having issues meeting demand for its 16 nm node, just now. What might be the reason is that a large number of manufacturers are still designing and manufacturing their products on 16 nm, as it is quite cheaper than smaller nodes, so the 16 nm manufacturing facilities may be "overloaded". Another possible reason is that wafer output faced some issues that are now affecting both the 7 and 16 nm node delivery time being extended. That can be anything from a small power cut to a large issue like contamination of cleanrooms where processors are made.
There is no clear indication of why is TSMC having issues meeting demand for its 16 nm node, just now. What might be the reason is that a large number of manufacturers are still designing and manufacturing their products on 16 nm, as it is quite cheaper than smaller nodes, so the 16 nm manufacturing facilities may be "overloaded". Another possible reason is that wafer output faced some issues that are now affecting both the 7 and 16 nm node delivery time being extended. That can be anything from a small power cut to a large issue like contamination of cleanrooms where processors are made.
Tuesday, October 15th 2019
Today's Reviews
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Mouse
Notebooks
Processors
ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 Review
With power hungry chipsets and powerful CPUs, the new X570 chipset has a slew of design challenges to overcome to squeeze the most out of the new platform. The ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX/TB3 promises to harness that performance in a tiny Mini-ITX package.
EK Water Blocks Unveils EK-AC Radeon RX 5700 +XT D-RGB Water Block
EK, the leading premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is releasing the EK-AC Radeon RX 5700 +XT D-RGB water block as a part of the Fluid Gaming lineup. This water block is compatible with reference design AMD Radeon RX 5700 and 5700 XT graphics cards as well. One of the current best-buy graphics cards just got a best-buy block made of aluminium to make the ultimate combo for budget-oriented buyers that value silence and maximum performance with enhanced reliability and longevity.
This aluminium water block directly cools the GPU, 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, and VRM (voltage regulation module) as cooling liquid is channeled directly over these critical areas. The base of the block is made of high-quality aluminium while the top is made of glass-like acrylic material. The entire water block is lit up with D-RGB (Addressable) LED. Sealing is ensured by high-quality EPDM O-Rings with the standoffs already pre-installed allowing for a safe and easy installation procedure.
This aluminium water block directly cools the GPU, 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, and VRM (voltage regulation module) as cooling liquid is channeled directly over these critical areas. The base of the block is made of high-quality aluminium while the top is made of glass-like acrylic material. The entire water block is lit up with D-RGB (Addressable) LED. Sealing is ensured by high-quality EPDM O-Rings with the standoffs already pre-installed allowing for a safe and easy installation procedure.
AMD Announces New Radeon Embedded E9000 Series GPU Models
The AMD Embedded business provides SoCs and discrete GPUs that enable casino gaming companies to create immersive and beautiful graphics for the latest in casino gaming platforms, which are adopting the same high-quality motion graphics and experiences seen in modern consumer gaming devices. AMD Embedded provides casino and gaming customers a breadth of solutions to drive virtually any gaming system. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 SoC brings CPU and GPU technology together in one package, providing the capability to run up to four 4K displays from one system. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1000 SoC is a power efficient option while providing up to 4X better CPU and graphics performance per dollar than the competition.
Beyond SoCs, AMD also offers embedded GPUs to enable stunning, immersive visual experiences while supporting efficient thermal design power (TDP) profiles. AMD delivers three discrete GPU classes to customers with the AMD Embedded Radeon ultra-high-performance embedded GPUs, the AMD Embedded Radeon high-performance embedded GPUs and the AMD Embedded Radeon power-efficient embedded GPUs. These three classes enable a wide range of performance and power consumption, but most importantly offer features that the embedded industry demands including planned longevity, enhanced support and support for embedded operating systems.
Beyond SoCs, AMD also offers embedded GPUs to enable stunning, immersive visual experiences while supporting efficient thermal design power (TDP) profiles. AMD delivers three discrete GPU classes to customers with the AMD Embedded Radeon ultra-high-performance embedded GPUs, the AMD Embedded Radeon high-performance embedded GPUs and the AMD Embedded Radeon power-efficient embedded GPUs. These three classes enable a wide range of performance and power consumption, but most importantly offer features that the embedded industry demands including planned longevity, enhanced support and support for embedded operating systems.
NVIDIA Leads the Edge AI Chipset Market but Competition is Intensifying: ABI Research
Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to the edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) chipset industry. In 2019, the AI industry is witnessing the continual migration of AI workloads, particularly AI inference, to edge devices, including on-premise servers, gateways, and end-devices and sensors. Based on the AI development in 17 vertical markets, ABI Research, a global tech market advisory firm, estimates that the edge AI chipset market will grow from US $2.6 billion in 2019 to US $7.6 billion by 2024, with no vendor commanding more than 40% of the market.
The frontrunner of this market is NVIDIA, with a 39% revenue share in the first half of 2019. The GPU vendor has a strong presence in key AI verticals that are currently leading in AI deployments, such as automotive, camera systems, robotics, and smart manufacturing. "In the face of different use cases, NVIDIA chooses to release GPU chipsets with different computational and power budgets. In combination with its large developer ecosystem and partnerships with academic and research institutions, the chipset vendor has developed a strong foothold in the edge AI industry," said Lian Jye Su, Principal Analyst at ABI Research.
NVIDIA is facing stiff competition from Intel with its comprehensive chipset portfolio, from Xeon CPU to Mobileye and Movidius Myriad. At the same time, FPGA vendors, such as Xilinx, QuickLogic, and Lattice Semiconductor, are creating compelling solutions for industrial AI applications. One missing vertical from NVIDIA's wide footprint is consumer electronics, specifically smartphones. In recent years, AI processing in smartphones has been driven by smartphone chipset manufacturers and smartphone vendors, such as Qualcomm, Huawei, and Apple. In smart home applications, MediaTek and Amlogic are making their presence known through the widespread adoption of voice control front ends and smart appliances.
The frontrunner of this market is NVIDIA, with a 39% revenue share in the first half of 2019. The GPU vendor has a strong presence in key AI verticals that are currently leading in AI deployments, such as automotive, camera systems, robotics, and smart manufacturing. "In the face of different use cases, NVIDIA chooses to release GPU chipsets with different computational and power budgets. In combination with its large developer ecosystem and partnerships with academic and research institutions, the chipset vendor has developed a strong foothold in the edge AI industry," said Lian Jye Su, Principal Analyst at ABI Research.
NVIDIA is facing stiff competition from Intel with its comprehensive chipset portfolio, from Xeon CPU to Mobileye and Movidius Myriad. At the same time, FPGA vendors, such as Xilinx, QuickLogic, and Lattice Semiconductor, are creating compelling solutions for industrial AI applications. One missing vertical from NVIDIA's wide footprint is consumer electronics, specifically smartphones. In recent years, AI processing in smartphones has been driven by smartphone chipset manufacturers and smartphone vendors, such as Qualcomm, Huawei, and Apple. In smart home applications, MediaTek and Amlogic are making their presence known through the widespread adoption of voice control front ends and smart appliances.
Sharkoon Announces the RGB FLOW Chassis
Sharkoon Technologies is an international supplier of PC components and peripherals, offering performance at a reasonable price. Sharkoon now presents a new midi ATX tower, the RGB FLOW. The case catches attention with its minimalistic design, highlighted by the two integrated addressable RGB strips. Enough room is also available inside the case, where up to six fans or, alternatively, correspondingly large radiators can be installed. In addition, Sharkoon ensures various installation possibilities for HDDs and SSDs.
While the RGB strips on the front and side panels provide a stream of light, the right amount of airflow is provided by the fine mesh grille on the front panel together with the pre-installed 120-millimeter fan. To optimize this, there are four further locations ready for fan installation: a 120 millimeter fan at the front, two under the top panel and one more at the rear of the case. There is still enough space for radiators. A 360 millimeter model with a height of up to 6.4 centimeters will fit behind the front panel, and a 280 millimeter model with a height of up to 5.5 centimeters will fit in the top of the case. Dust filters on the front, top and bottom panels protect the hardware from dust and dirt. All the filters can be easily removed for quick and easy cleaning.
While the RGB strips on the front and side panels provide a stream of light, the right amount of airflow is provided by the fine mesh grille on the front panel together with the pre-installed 120-millimeter fan. To optimize this, there are four further locations ready for fan installation: a 120 millimeter fan at the front, two under the top panel and one more at the rear of the case. There is still enough space for radiators. A 360 millimeter model with a height of up to 6.4 centimeters will fit behind the front panel, and a 280 millimeter model with a height of up to 5.5 centimeters will fit in the top of the case. Dust filters on the front, top and bottom panels protect the hardware from dust and dirt. All the filters can be easily removed for quick and easy cleaning.
TechPowerUp and Colorful Present SL500 960GB SSD Giveaway
TechPowerUp in partnership with Colorful bring you a sweet chance to win a Colorful SL500 960 GB SATA SSD. One lucky winner from anywhere in the world (where legal) stands a chance to win one of these drives in the icy cool "Glacier Blue" trim. The drive combines a Maxiotech MAS0902 controller with 3D QLC NAND flash memory, and could be a perfect game directory drive, especially with some of the season's AAA titles needing well over 100 GB of disk space. The SL500 offers decent performance measured at 560 MB/s reads with 470 MB/s writes. Open from today, the Giveaway accepts entries till October 25, 2019. To participate, simply fill a short form that lets us contact you if you've won, and Like TPU & Colorful on Facebook. All the best!
For more information and to participate, visit this page.
For more information and to participate, visit this page.
InWin Announces Unique, Ultra-Light PC Chassis with Colorful Covers
InWin is excited to announce its new "Alice" PC Chassis. Gathering inspiration from the classic story, Alice in Wonderland, InWin is taking PC builders on a journey where imagination reigns supreme!
The Alice chassis combines a durable and sturdy, yet ultra-light-weight frame with a variety of vivid colors. For those that are bold enough to enjoy something different than a traditional, heavy case, the Alice chassis showcases an explosion of possible color choices and intricate designs to create something totally distinct.
The Alice chassis combines a durable and sturdy, yet ultra-light-weight frame with a variety of vivid colors. For those that are bold enough to enjoy something different than a traditional, heavy case, the Alice chassis showcases an explosion of possible color choices and intricate designs to create something totally distinct.
Razer Introduces the World's First Optical Laptop Keyboard
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the world's first optical keyboard designed for laptops. Razer was the first to introduce a low-profile mechanical laptop keyboard in 2016 and has now brought next-generation optical switches to the Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop. The low-profile keyboard has been designed for gaming enthusiasts who demand near instant actuation, satisfying tactile feedback, and rapid-fire inputs.
The new optical laptop switch harnesses the power of light to instantly capture key actuations. Under every key, an infrared light beam is used to detect when a key is pressed (actuation), allowing for much greater precision and speed versus conventional laptop keyboards. The result is a groundbreaking keyboard with an actuation point of only 1 mm at 55 g of actuation force with 50% more travel, allowing players to input more commands in less time in the heat of battle.
The new optical laptop switch harnesses the power of light to instantly capture key actuations. Under every key, an infrared light beam is used to detect when a key is pressed (actuation), allowing for much greater precision and speed versus conventional laptop keyboards. The result is a groundbreaking keyboard with an actuation point of only 1 mm at 55 g of actuation force with 50% more travel, allowing players to input more commands in less time in the heat of battle.
CORSAIR Announces New Models of CORSAIR ONE and CORSAIR ONE PRO Desktops
CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the availability of several new models of its signature CORSAIR ONE family of gaming PCs. The latest to join the CORSAIR ONE lineup are the CORSAIR ONE i145, the CORSAIR ONE i164, and the new range-topping CORSAIR ONE PRO i182. Every new CORSAIR ONE system is powered by a liquid-cooled 9th-gen Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card, housed in an incredibly compact and unique chassis.
Since its debut in 2017, the CORSAIR ONE has become the preeminent high-performance compact gaming PC. The CORSAIR ONE's ingenious compact design allows every system to pack the advanced hardware of a high-end PC into a mere 12 liters of volume, thanks to a patented convection-assisted liquid cooling system that expels hot air through the top of the chassis to keep temperatures low. The CORSAIR ONE's striking aesthetic is accented by subtly integrated RGB light pipes on either side, fully customizable through CORSAIR iCUE software.
Since its debut in 2017, the CORSAIR ONE has become the preeminent high-performance compact gaming PC. The CORSAIR ONE's ingenious compact design allows every system to pack the advanced hardware of a high-end PC into a mere 12 liters of volume, thanks to a patented convection-assisted liquid cooling system that expels hot air through the top of the chassis to keep temperatures low. The CORSAIR ONE's striking aesthetic is accented by subtly integrated RGB light pipes on either side, fully customizable through CORSAIR iCUE software.
Monday, October 14th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Monitors
Mouse
Notebooks
Silverstone Lucid LD03 Review
Silverstone's Lucid series has always focused on a unique material mix and elaborate design. The same holds true for the LD03, which aims to combine tinted tempered glass panels with support for large graphics cards and CPU coolers, in a compact ITX case.
Abkoncore Introduces the Helios 500 Sync PC Case
Introducing the Abkoncore Helios 500 SYNC middle tower PC case for the DYI, PC enthusiast and PC gamer alike. Cool front tempered glass design with large side ventilation intakes for fresh air enabled by the two 200 mm large RGB SYNC Hurricane Spectrum cooling fans. The body is built out of 0.65 mm SECC steel with side tempered glass for best viewing your hardware.
Ready to accommodate your high wattage power supplies up to 220 mm long. Mainboard support for ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX. Space for long graphics cards up to 355 mm, large CPU coolers up to 178 mm high and liquid cooling systems up to 360 mm large. Total air cooling support locations: Front 3x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm or 2x 200 mm, included 2x 200 mm Hurricane Spectrum RGB SYNC. Top cooling space: 2x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm and rear exhaust space: 1x120mm or 1x 140 mm, built in 1x120 Hurricane Spectrum RGB SYNC included.
Ready to accommodate your high wattage power supplies up to 220 mm long. Mainboard support for ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX. Space for long graphics cards up to 355 mm, large CPU coolers up to 178 mm high and liquid cooling systems up to 360 mm large. Total air cooling support locations: Front 3x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm or 2x 200 mm, included 2x 200 mm Hurricane Spectrum RGB SYNC. Top cooling space: 2x 120 mm or 2x 140 mm and rear exhaust space: 1x120mm or 1x 140 mm, built in 1x120 Hurricane Spectrum RGB SYNC included.
Intel Clarifies on 10nm Desktop CPUs: Still on the Table, Likely in 2021
Intel in a quick rebuttal to the earlier reports from Monday, clarified that desktop processors based on the 10 nm silicon fabrication node are still on the company's roadmap. "We continue to make great progress on 10 nm, and our current roadmap of 10 nm products includes desktop," the company said in its one-liner. Monday's reports predicted a horror story where Intel would drag its 14 nm "Skylake" derived microarchitecture through to 2022, at which point it would be 7 years old.
The Tom's Hardware report that posts the statement, however, pins 14 nm to still last till 2021, if not the 2022 date predicted in the HardwareLuxx report. Intel will sell "Comet Lake" through 2020, succeeded by "Rocket Lake," which takes up much of 2021. Towards the end of 2021, Intel will release a desktop processor based on its matured 10 nm++ silicon fabrication node, which will lead the company into 2022, when it finally launches 7 nm EUV-based desktop chips.
The Tom's Hardware report that posts the statement, however, pins 14 nm to still last till 2021, if not the 2022 date predicted in the HardwareLuxx report. Intel will sell "Comet Lake" through 2020, succeeded by "Rocket Lake," which takes up much of 2021. Towards the end of 2021, Intel will release a desktop processor based on its matured 10 nm++ silicon fabrication node, which will lead the company into 2022, when it finally launches 7 nm EUV-based desktop chips.
EVGA Announces GeForce RTX 2070 Super Ultra+ Series with Overclocked Memory
Introducing the EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ULTRA+ series - now with 10%+ Memory Speed. Available in FTW3 and XC versions, these new cards offer nearly 500 GB/s of GDDR6 memory bandwidth giving you even more performance in the latest gaming titles. The new GeForce RTX SUPER Series cards deliver everything you need to rule your game. They're powered by the Turing architecture and feature more cores and higher clocks. This gives you up to 25% faster performance than the original RTX 20 Series and 6X the performance of previous-generation 10 Series GPUs.
See every game come alive with super-fast ray tracing that delivers physically accurate shadows, reflections, and lighting. And tap into Tensor Cores for super-powerful AI-processing. Advanced memory, performance boosts, and processing technologies make these GPUs the perfect weapon for hardcore gamers. Gear up and get super powers.
See every game come alive with super-fast ray tracing that delivers physically accurate shadows, reflections, and lighting. And tap into Tensor Cores for super-powerful AI-processing. Advanced memory, performance boosts, and processing technologies make these GPUs the perfect weapon for hardcore gamers. Gear up and get super powers.
NETGEAR Expands the Orbi Family with New Dual Band Mesh System- Slim and Sleek Design with Powerful WiFi
NETGEAR, the leading provider of performance mesh WiFi networking systems, is today introducing the latest addition to the popular Orbi Whole Home WiFi System. This new Orbi Dual Band Mesh WiFi System (RBK13) which consists of one router and one or more satellites is best suited to cover a medium to large sized home from 3,000 sq. ft. or higher to provide reliable WiFi for streaming and gaming. This new Orbi Mesh WiFi offering also features NETGEAR Armor cybersecurity to keep your home safe from online threats and Circle Smart Parental Controls to manage screen time.
The latest addition to the Orbi Whole Home WiFi System product family combines performance with style delivering combined speeds up to 1.2 Gbps for households with a large number of internet-connected devices. The new compact and modern design will blend subtly with a home's décor inconspicuously sitting on a shelf, counter or entertainment center. The setup is made easy and completed in minutes through the Orbi app from your Android or iOS mobile device, which also enables management of the home WiFi. Orbi works with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant enabling voice management of frequently used functions like enabling guest WiFi.
The latest addition to the Orbi Whole Home WiFi System product family combines performance with style delivering combined speeds up to 1.2 Gbps for households with a large number of internet-connected devices. The new compact and modern design will blend subtly with a home's décor inconspicuously sitting on a shelf, counter or entertainment center. The setup is made easy and completed in minutes through the Orbi app from your Android or iOS mobile device, which also enables management of the home WiFi. Orbi works with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant enabling voice management of frequently used functions like enabling guest WiFi.
Intel Scraps 10nm for Desktop, Brazen it Out with 14nm Skylake Till 2022?
In a shocking piece of news, Intel has reportedly scrapped plans to launch its 10 nm "Ice Lake" microarchitecture on the client desktop platform. The company will confine its 10 nm microarchitectures, "Ice Lake" and "Tiger Lake" to only the mobile platform, while the desktop platform will see derivatives of "Skylake" hold Intel's fort under the year 2022! Intel gambles that with HyperThreading enabled across the board and increased clock-speeds, it can restore competitiveness with AMD's 7 nm "Zen 2" Ryzen processors with its "Comet Lake" silicon that offers core-counts of up to 10.
"Comet Lake" will be succeeded in 2021 by the 14 nm "Rocket Lake" silicon, which somehow combines a Gen12 iGPU with "Skylake" derived CPU cores, and possibly increased core-counts and clock speeds over "Comet Lake." It's only 2022 that Intel will ship out a truly new microarchitecture on the desktop platform, with "Meteor Lake." This chip will be built on Intel's swanky 7 nm EUV silicon fabrication node, and possibly integrate CPU cores more advanced than even "Willow Cove," possibly "Golden Cove."
"Comet Lake" will be succeeded in 2021 by the 14 nm "Rocket Lake" silicon, which somehow combines a Gen12 iGPU with "Skylake" derived CPU cores, and possibly increased core-counts and clock speeds over "Comet Lake." It's only 2022 that Intel will ship out a truly new microarchitecture on the desktop platform, with "Meteor Lake." This chip will be built on Intel's swanky 7 nm EUV silicon fabrication node, and possibly integrate CPU cores more advanced than even "Willow Cove," possibly "Golden Cove."
TechPowerUp Announces NVCleanstall - Customize Your NVIDIA Driver Installation
TechPowerUp today announced NVCleanstall, its latest original software designed to give PC enthusiasts and gamers unparalleled control over the installation of NVIDIA GeForce software. Besides the actual driver for your GeForce graphics processor, NVIDIA GeForce software includes close to a dozen optional components, not all of which can be opted out of in the "Custom" installation screen of NVIDIA's installer. Among these are Telemetry, which regularly sends your usage data to NVIDIA, and drivers for stereoscopic 3D, Shield, etc. These components may not all be useless or harmful, but aren't strictly required for your GPU to work and render graphics like it should. NVIDIA treats many of these software components as an extension of the product itself.
NVCleanstall has a clean user interface that begins with a screen that lets you choose the software version you want. It can either fetch the latest software from the Internet for you, or lets you select a downloaded NVIDIA GeForce software package (installer binary) from your PC, or lets you fetch a specific driver version you want from the Internet. You are then presented with an exhaustive list of components to install, categorized under the main components, and GeForce Experience. You can also select from our curated presets if you're not sure. In the following page, the app prepares your installation. In this screen, you can select from useful additional tweaks, including disabling the installer's own telemetry, scripting an unattended install, and pre-checking the "clean install" option in the NVIDIA driver installer. After that, NVCleanstall spawns the NVIDIA installer to install what you selected in NVCleanstall, or take you to the customized driver files. NVCleanstall has been put through months of rigorous testing from our community of PC enthusiasts. The app gives you not just greater control over your NVIDIA software, but also reduces the disk usage and memory footprint of your NVIDIA software.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp NVCleanstall 1.0.0
NVCleanstall has a clean user interface that begins with a screen that lets you choose the software version you want. It can either fetch the latest software from the Internet for you, or lets you select a downloaded NVIDIA GeForce software package (installer binary) from your PC, or lets you fetch a specific driver version you want from the Internet. You are then presented with an exhaustive list of components to install, categorized under the main components, and GeForce Experience. You can also select from our curated presets if you're not sure. In the following page, the app prepares your installation. In this screen, you can select from useful additional tweaks, including disabling the installer's own telemetry, scripting an unattended install, and pre-checking the "clean install" option in the NVIDIA driver installer. After that, NVCleanstall spawns the NVIDIA installer to install what you selected in NVCleanstall, or take you to the customized driver files. NVCleanstall has been put through months of rigorous testing from our community of PC enthusiasts. The app gives you not just greater control over your NVIDIA software, but also reduces the disk usage and memory footprint of your NVIDIA software.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp NVCleanstall 1.0.0
NVIDIA's Lightspeed Studios Aim to Remaster Games With RTX Effects
NVIDIA's efforts with Quake 2 RTX haven't gone unnoticed in the community, providing a distinct overhaul in image quality to the now decades-old game. Raytracing and its global illumination capabilities have already been well explored in this publication, and its effect in older games - the ones that already run remarkably well in modern hardware - has been well documented, with some third party solutions (such as ReShade) including the effect to great measure in a number of games that haven't been built from the ground-up for raytracing.
The new Lightspeed Studios from NVIDIA aims to bring Quake 2 RTX-like improvements to other games. A job posting from the company dated from the end of September seems to make it clear that the company is looking to increase the number of games with RTX support in this way. Read on after the break for the description in the job listing.
The new Lightspeed Studios from NVIDIA aims to bring Quake 2 RTX-like improvements to other games. A job posting from the company dated from the end of September seems to make it clear that the company is looking to increase the number of games with RTX support in this way. Read on after the break for the description in the job listing.
TP-LINK Launches the Archer AX10 Wi-Fi 6 Router for Under €100
TP-LINK has made available through retailers a budget Wi-Fi router that promises to slightly democratize the ax protocol for the masses. The new Archer AX10 seems to be no slouch in terms of bang for the buck: it's a Wi-Fi 6-enabled router that packs most technologies you'd be looking for from a standard user point of view. There's support for beamforming technology so that the signal is focused towards the devices that are actually connected to the router (which are balanced via OFDMA tech, meaning the router can better handle simultaneous connections), improving signal strength and reducing interference. Thanks to that and the pure speeds of the ax protocol, the AX10 can provide signal speeds of up to 1201 Mb/s on the 5 GHz band. A quad antenna design serves to ensure ample coverage and signal integrity.
The AX10 has a triple core ARM processor operating at 1.5 GHz, aided by 256 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash memory for the firmware. 4x Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1x WAN connection that also delivers a maximum speed of 1 Gigabit should enable most of the wired connections you need. And best of all: the router will be available for less than €100.
The AX10 has a triple core ARM processor operating at 1.5 GHz, aided by 256 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash memory for the firmware. 4x Gigabit Ethernet ports and 1x WAN connection that also delivers a maximum speed of 1 Gigabit should enable most of the wired connections you need. And best of all: the router will be available for less than €100.
Razer Announces the Raion Arcade Fightpad
Razer has announced the Raion, an arcade fightpad for PS4 and PC, with top tier tournament features giving players the control and accuracy of a fullsize fightstick in the palm of their hands.
Designed from the ground up for the fighting game community, the Raion features a 6-button layout on the face of the fightpad, a tactile 8-way D-pad, and the traditional shoulder and trigger buttons. This layout offers a greater variety of input options for both standard and 'claw' grip style players. A competition mode disables extra buttons to ensure uninterrupted gaming and the PS4 touchpad has all the console functions players expect from their controller.
Designed from the ground up for the fighting game community, the Raion features a 6-button layout on the face of the fightpad, a tactile 8-way D-pad, and the traditional shoulder and trigger buttons. This layout offers a greater variety of input options for both standard and 'claw' grip style players. A competition mode disables extra buttons to ensure uninterrupted gaming and the PS4 touchpad has all the console functions players expect from their controller.
Silicon Power Unveils the P34A60 M.2 NVMe SSD
The new P34A60 is an affordable storage solution that doesn't skimp on performance. It's designed for novice users, DIY system builders, purpose-built system manufacturers, and simply those who are looking to upgrade their PC. But with a PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 interface, read speeds up to 2,200 MB/s, and write speeds up to 1,600 MB/s, this SSD is anything but basic.
The P34A60 supports NVMe 1.3, which demands better performance vectors than AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface), including scalable bandwidth, increased IOPS, and low latency. In addition, HMB (Host Memory Buffer) architecture, which allows the host driver to allocate system memory (RAM) for exclusive use by the SSD, results in higher efficiency. It's this teamwork that provides optimum performance.
The P34A60 supports NVMe 1.3, which demands better performance vectors than AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface), including scalable bandwidth, increased IOPS, and low latency. In addition, HMB (Host Memory Buffer) architecture, which allows the host driver to allocate system memory (RAM) for exclusive use by the SSD, results in higher efficiency. It's this teamwork that provides optimum performance.
Intel's Gargantuan Next-gen Enterprise CPU Socket is LGA4677
Intel has finalized design of its next-generation Xeon Scalable enterprise CPU socket for its "Sapphire Rapids" processors. Called LGA4677, the socket succeeds LGA3647, and is bound for a 2021 market release. Intel will have transitioned to its advanced 7 nm EUV silicon fabrication node on the CPU front, and has adopted an "enterprise-first" strategy for the node. LGA4677 will be designed to handle the extremely high bandwidth of PCI-Express Gen 5, which doubles bandwidth over PCIe gen 4.0, and adds several enterprise-specific features Intel is rolling out in advance as part of its CXL interconnect. These details, along with a prototype LGA4189 socket, was revealed at an exhibit by TE Connectivity, a company that manufactures the socket. The additional pin-count could enable Intel to not just deploy PCI-Express Gen 5, but also expand I/O in other directions, such as more memory channels, dedicated Persistent Memory I/O, etc.
Give the Gift of a Windows 10 Upgrade This Holiday with EKOffers
EKOffers lets you not just upgrade your Windows 7 operating system to Windows 10 Pro with massive discounts, but also lets you stock up on genuine, globally-valid licenses that you can give away this Holiday. At just USD $13.48 for TechPowerUp readers, Windows 10 Pro is a "must give" this Holiday as many of your friends or relatives could be still on Windows 7, which gets discontinued come January. Office 2019 Professional Plus is another great gifting idea for your coworkers or buddies going to college. EKOffers has it stocked for $54.75. EKOffers accepts PayPal so your payment instruments stay secure. It's affiliated to GB2Deal, another great site that lets you stock up on gifts for techies, gamers, and kids.
Don't forget to use the TechPowerUp-exclusive discount coupon TP20 at checkout for the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro from EKOffers for $13.48 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus from EKOffers for $54.75 | Check out GB2Deal for More Gifting Ideas
Don't forget to use the TechPowerUp-exclusive discount coupon TP20 at checkout for the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro from EKOffers for $13.48 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus from EKOffers for $54.75 | Check out GB2Deal for More Gifting Ideas
Intel Core i3-10100 Put Through SANDRA, Beats i3-9100 by 31% in Multimedia Tests
Intel's 10th generation Core desktop processor lineup, based on the 14 nm "Comet Lake" silicon, will begin with the Core i3-10100 succeeding the Core i3-9100 and i3-8100. To squeeze the most out of the microarchitecture that's essentially identical to "Skylake," Intel has decided to enable HyperThreading across the Core processor family, which means the i3-10100 is a 4-core/8-thread chip. Interestingly, Intel has given it just 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It's likely that the slightly beefed up i3-103xx will be differentiated with 8 MB of L3 cache. The chip has the same 3.60 GHz nominal frequency, and an unknown degree of Turbo Boost. The current-gen i3-9100 features Turbo Boost, so it's likely that its successor will also get the feature.
A SiSoft SANDRA online database entry for the i3-10100 surfaced, where it has an overall score of 382.61 MPix/s using multimedia tests, a significal step up from the roughly 290 MPix/s of the i3-9100 (a 31 percent performance increase). This increase in performance can be attributed to HyperThreading, as SANDRA's multimedia tests leverage it efficiently. Intel is expected to launch the Core i3-10100 around the $120 mark, competing with AMD's Ryzen 3 3200G.
A SiSoft SANDRA online database entry for the i3-10100 surfaced, where it has an overall score of 382.61 MPix/s using multimedia tests, a significal step up from the roughly 290 MPix/s of the i3-9100 (a 31 percent performance increase). This increase in performance can be attributed to HyperThreading, as SANDRA's multimedia tests leverage it efficiently. Intel is expected to launch the Core i3-10100 around the $120 mark, competing with AMD's Ryzen 3 3200G.
Sunday, October 13th 2019
Corsair Readies Carbide 110Q Entry-level Quiet Mid-tower
Corsair is ready with its new entry-level mid-tower, the Carbide 110Q. The 110 series succeeds the company's 100R and 100Q that have been around for years. The main design change is the reduction in number of 5.25-inch bays from two to one, to free up more room inside. The front fascia has a more pronounced faux brushed metal appearance. The internal layout of this case is identical to the 100-series, with the addition of two 2.5-inch mounts behind the motherboard tray, and the 2-bay 3.5-inch drive cage being detachable. The "Q" brand extension in 110Q denoted "quiet," and the case's various panels have noise absorbing foam lining. The front panel connectivity has been moved from front to the top, and includes a mobile-style headphones+mic jack, and two USB 3.1 type-A ports. The Carbide 110Q could succeed the 100Q around the $60 mark.
Friday, October 11th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Harddisks
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Flashing Radeon RX 5700 with RX 5700 XT BIOS: Guide & Performance Review
AMD's Radeon RX 5700 has been engineered for maximum efficiency, which forced AMD to compromise in terms of performance. We demonstrate how a simple BIOS flash can unleash the card, delivering performance almost on par with the much more expensive Radeon RX 5700 XT.
Confirmed: NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super to Make Use of GDDR6 Memory
Videocardz have snagged some ZOTAC box renders (for an AMP and non-AMP model), and these all but confirm some rumors that have been circulating through the interwebs: NVIDIA's GTX 1660 SUPER will make use of a GDDR6 memory subsystem to increase bandwidth and competitiveness against AMD's lineup. As GDDR6 memory pricing falls, it makes sense that NVIDIA trickles it down across its product stack as a relatively inexpensive way to improve performance - a move that is well in line with their SUPER lineup policy.
Next-Gen Intel Core i3 to Sport Hyper Threading?
TUM_APISAK has done of his well-regarded snoopings again, and this one could have relevant information for the democratization of threads in next-gen Intel products. Intel has been slowly (as they can) increasing the amount of cores and threads in their respective product lines across i3, i5, and i7 CPUs after AMD's Ryzen onslaught. Luckily, from two core, four-thread Core i3 of a few years ago, we now seem to be entering a new era for entry-level computing, with a new SiSoftware benchmark seemingly showing an Intel next-gen "Comet Lake" Core i3 CPU sporting 4 physical threads with Hyper Threading enabled (so, basically, the equivalent of Skylake Core i7's from just three years ago).
The benchmark submission lists what appears to be a four-core, eight-thread Core i3-10100. It sports a 3.6 GHz base clock, which likely isn't final, so take that frequency with a grain of salt. This shuffle in the low-end definitely means an upscale in Intel's more powerful lineups, with HyperThreading likely being active for all of their product stack across Comet Lake - 4C, 8T Core i3; 6C, 12T Core i5; 8C, 16T Core i7; and a likely 10C, 20T Core i9 10900K that straddles the line between consumer and HEDT platforms. Of course, remember these are still built upon the 14 nm process, give or take a few "+" symbols, so don't expect too much in terms of energy efficiency gains.
The benchmark submission lists what appears to be a four-core, eight-thread Core i3-10100. It sports a 3.6 GHz base clock, which likely isn't final, so take that frequency with a grain of salt. This shuffle in the low-end definitely means an upscale in Intel's more powerful lineups, with HyperThreading likely being active for all of their product stack across Comet Lake - 4C, 8T Core i3; 6C, 12T Core i5; 8C, 16T Core i7; and a likely 10C, 20T Core i9 10900K that straddles the line between consumer and HEDT platforms. Of course, remember these are still built upon the 14 nm process, give or take a few "+" symbols, so don't expect too much in terms of energy efficiency gains.
CHERRY Introduces the New STREAM Keyboard
Cherry introduces the new STREAM keyboard, the perfect workhorse for professional work environments. With the many satisfied users of the original STREAM in mind, Cherry has upgraded the keyboard with extended functionality, a modern look, and
CHERRY has equipped the STREAM KEYBOARD with its own proven SX scissor technology, giving the keyboard a comfortable typing feel and uncompromising precision. During development, special attention was paid to the typing sound; compared to the previous model - which was already very quiet - the noise level has been reduced even further. This makes the STREAM KEYBOARD the best choice for open-plan offices with numerous workstations, where employee productivity benefits from a low-noise environment.
CHERRY has equipped the STREAM KEYBOARD with its own proven SX scissor technology, giving the keyboard a comfortable typing feel and uncompromising precision. During development, special attention was paid to the typing sound; compared to the previous model - which was already very quiet - the noise level has been reduced even further. This makes the STREAM KEYBOARD the best choice for open-plan offices with numerous workstations, where employee productivity benefits from a low-noise environment.
Quick Look: HyperX Doubleshot PBT Pudding Keycaps (White)
We took a close look at HyperX's new keyboard, the Alloy Origins, earlier this week, and were left impressed with it. The company had sent along also a set of their new replacement keycap set for us to check out, and this seemed like a great product to trial out a shorter article format to cover products that otherwise would not merit multi-page reviews. Let us know what you feel about such posts, and if you would like us to expand coverage accordingly.
The HyperX-branded PBT plastic keycaps with doubleshot injected legends use the so-called "pudding" construction, with the top 1/3 of the keycap sides only left opaque to allow for more light to go through. The black and white set was originally sold beginning late last year, and there must have been enough demand for HyperX to dedicate a new SKU for an all-white edition. Read past the break for more on the new keycap set, including fit and finish on the Alloy Origins keyboard too.
The HyperX-branded PBT plastic keycaps with doubleshot injected legends use the so-called "pudding" construction, with the top 1/3 of the keycap sides only left opaque to allow for more light to go through. The black and white set was originally sold beginning late last year, and there must have been enough demand for HyperX to dedicate a new SKU for an all-white edition. Read past the break for more on the new keycap set, including fit and finish on the Alloy Origins keyboard too.
GoodOffer24 Autumn 2019 Sale Brings Never Before Seen Prices on Windows and Office
GoodOffer24 announced the Autumn 2019 Sale that brings you genuine, globally-valid Windows and Office licenses at never before seen prices. Discounts as deep as 90 percent over prevalent market prices for Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home lets you shave at least $80 off your gaming desktop build or upgrade from Windows 7, letting you spend that money elsewhere, such as an RGB LED overhaul, or cooling improvements, or even a bunch of AAA games (GoodOffer24 has them, too). Windows 10 Pro can be had for as low as USD $11.38, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC for $13.29 per license. No home desktop is complete without Office, and the latest Office 2019 Professional Plus can be had at just $49.65 for a genuine, lifetime, and globally-valid license. The formidable Office 2016 Professional Plus goes for an even deeper discount, for just $28.19. Find interesting combinations of Windows and Office that let you save even more, below.
Don't forget to apply the coupon code JGAU25 on the following items for the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro for $11.38 | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC for $13.29 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-pack for $19.50 | Buy Windows 10 Home for $11.87 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 Professional Plus for $33.69 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus for $28.19
Apply the coupon code JGAU30 to shave 30% off on the list prices and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus for $49.65 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus for $53.80 | Buy Windows 10 Home + Office 2019 Professional Plus for $52.14
Don't forget to apply the coupon code JGAU25 on the following items for the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro for $11.38 | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC for $13.29 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-pack for $19.50 | Buy Windows 10 Home for $11.87 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 Professional Plus for $33.69 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus for $28.19
Apply the coupon code JGAU30 to shave 30% off on the list prices and avail the prices you see here.
Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus for $49.65 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus for $53.80 | Buy Windows 10 Home + Office 2019 Professional Plus for $52.14
CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX Memory Breaks 5000MHz Barrier on AMD Ryzen Processors
CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced a new kit of its award-winning CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 Memory, becoming the first commercially available high-frequency DRAM to break the 5,000 MHz barrier. This record-setting Micron-based memory is available now in a 2x 8 GB kit, reaching its full potential in select MSI X570 motherboards running 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Desktop Processors.
VENGEANCE LPX once again sets a new milestone in the world of performance memory, continuing to deliver on its long-standing tradition of excellence thanks to the partnership between CORSAIR, MSI, and AMD. The new modules have been specifically designed and fully tested to achieve their record-breaking maximum frequency of 5,000 MHz on the Ryzen 3000 platform in MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE, MSI MEG X570 ACE, MSI MEG X570 UNIFY, and PRESTIGE X570 CREATION motherboards using their included automated overclocking utilities.
VENGEANCE LPX once again sets a new milestone in the world of performance memory, continuing to deliver on its long-standing tradition of excellence thanks to the partnership between CORSAIR, MSI, and AMD. The new modules have been specifically designed and fully tested to achieve their record-breaking maximum frequency of 5,000 MHz on the Ryzen 3000 platform in MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE, MSI MEG X570 ACE, MSI MEG X570 UNIFY, and PRESTIGE X570 CREATION motherboards using their included automated overclocking utilities.
Intel Discontinues Almost the Entire 7th Generation Core Desktop Processor Series
Intel late Thursday, through a product change notification, announced the discontinuation of almost its entire 7th generation Core "Kaby Lake" desktop processor series. This includes most chips across the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Pentium, and Celeron desktop chips based on the 14 nm+ "Kaby Lake-S" silicon, across both retail boxed and tray packages. These chips formed Intel's main product lineup through 2017, and had to be quickly succeeded by the 8th generation "Coffee Lake" with the advent of AMD Ryzen. To clear out its inventory, Intel will accept discontinuance orders for these chips until April 2020. A discontinuance order can only be placed by a customer who has previously ordered these exact chips. The last of these orders will be shipped out by October 2020.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare System Requirements Revealed
Ahead of its October 25 release, NVIDIA got hold of the system requirements for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," the month's hottest AAA release. NVIDIA is an extensive technical partner for the game's development, and the game is expected to feature NVIDIA RTX real-time ray-tracing at launch, along with support for NVIDIA Highlights and Ansel, although there's no mention of DLSS from NVIDIA. The game supports Windows 7, and isn't restricted to Windows 10. It calls for a whopping 175 GB of disk space. The bare minimum system requirements for a 1080p experience includes 8 GB of RAM, Intel Core i3-4130 or AMD FX-6300 processors, and GeForce GTX 670 or current-gen GTX 1650 graphics.
The recommended system requirements for 1080p 60 FPS without ray-tracing are Core i5-2500K or Ryzen 5 1600X processor, 12 GB of RAM, and either GTX 970 or current-gen GTX 1660 graphics. For 1080p 60 FPS with ray-tracing, the requirements climb up to RTX 2060 graphics. At the same resolution with 144 FPS frame-rate, "High" preset, and "competitive" performance that won't let you down in an online MP situation, you'll need at least a GeForce RTX 2070 Super, 16 GB of system RAM, and either Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 7 1800X processor. For 4K 60 FPS with ray-tracing, a high-end experience, you'll need at least an RTX 2080 Super graphics card, and either Core i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 2700X processor. The NVIDIA article doesn't mention AMD Radeon graphics cards. In the absence of ray-tracing, you can probably use an RX 590 for 1080p 60 FPS, RX 5700 for 1080p 144 FPS or 1440p 60 FPS.
The recommended system requirements for 1080p 60 FPS without ray-tracing are Core i5-2500K or Ryzen 5 1600X processor, 12 GB of RAM, and either GTX 970 or current-gen GTX 1660 graphics. For 1080p 60 FPS with ray-tracing, the requirements climb up to RTX 2060 graphics. At the same resolution with 144 FPS frame-rate, "High" preset, and "competitive" performance that won't let you down in an online MP situation, you'll need at least a GeForce RTX 2070 Super, 16 GB of system RAM, and either Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 7 1800X processor. For 4K 60 FPS with ray-tracing, a high-end experience, you'll need at least an RTX 2080 Super graphics card, and either Core i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 2700X processor. The NVIDIA article doesn't mention AMD Radeon graphics cards. In the absence of ray-tracing, you can probably use an RX 590 for 1080p 60 FPS, RX 5700 for 1080p 144 FPS or 1440p 60 FPS.
DeepCool Announces Gamer Storm Castle 360EX White CPU Cooler
Deepcool is a company established with the vision - to provide the finest PC DIY solution for the worldwide customers by constantly seeking innovative breakthroughs. Rooted in its success in the previous AIO liquid coolers, today Deepcool launches Castle 360EX in white version -- CASTLE 360EX WHITE. CASTLE 360EX WHITE is equipped with Deepcool's exclusive Anti-leak Technology. The technology helps the system achieve automated pressure balance, which will significantly improve operation safety of AIO liquid cooling systems.
Intel Discontinues Omni-Path Enabled Xeon Processors
Intel's Omni-Path technology has been used primarily in high performance computing market, in order to provide high speed interconnect between Intel Xeon CPUs, with speeds reaching around 100 Gbps. Accompanied by different design and system integration that Omni-Path uses, it was a bit difficult to integrate into server system, while not adding much value that other technologies couldn't match or beat.
Because of these reasons, Intel is now discontinuing its last product capable of utilizing Omni-Path - the first generation Xeon Scalable CPUs. Carrying the suffix "F", these CPUs had an extra connector sticking out of CPU's PCB to enable the Omni-Path functionality (see images bellow). There were eight CPUs manufactured in total that had this extra feature, consisting out of two Xeon Platinum and six Xeon Gold CPUs, which have now reached end of life. Intel states that focus from these CPUs has shifted to other technologies like silicon photonics, which provides much greater speed reaching 100s of gigabits per second. Intel already demonstrated transceivers capable of reaching 400 Gb/s speeds with the magic of light, which will become available in 1H 2020.
Because of these reasons, Intel is now discontinuing its last product capable of utilizing Omni-Path - the first generation Xeon Scalable CPUs. Carrying the suffix "F", these CPUs had an extra connector sticking out of CPU's PCB to enable the Omni-Path functionality (see images bellow). There were eight CPUs manufactured in total that had this extra feature, consisting out of two Xeon Platinum and six Xeon Gold CPUs, which have now reached end of life. Intel states that focus from these CPUs has shifted to other technologies like silicon photonics, which provides much greater speed reaching 100s of gigabits per second. Intel already demonstrated transceivers capable of reaching 400 Gb/s speeds with the magic of light, which will become available in 1H 2020.
Thursday, October 10th 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Motherboards
Processors
Scythe Fuma 2 Review
The Scythe Fuma 2 is a compact dual-tower cooler that manages to deliver exceptional performance while also being nearly silent and fitting where other massive coolers cannot due to its 154.5 mm height. Truly like a ninja, the Fuma 2 is hiding in the shadows, poised to strike down its competition.
Sennheiser Launches GSP370 Wireless Gaming Headset, 100 Hours of Battery Life
Sennheiser today launched the GSP370 gaming headset, which will allow you to immerse yourself in virtual worlds for as many as 100 hours between charges. Sennheiser have managed to improve power efficiency of the GSP370 over their current flagship, the GSP670, by more than five times - that one headset only lasts between 16 and 20 hours for each full charge. And this battery efficiency didn't come at the cost of maximum output levels - the 117dB SPL makes sure of that.
There's a noise-canceling mic in the headset, and memory foam pads appeal to comfort and extended gaming sessions. The GPS370 is compatible with PC, Mac, and PlayStation 4 (and Xbox as well with the headphone adapters or newer controllers) and is available on Sennheiser's website starting today for $199.95. Data transmission is taken care of by Bluetooth 5.0 (in a dongle adapter) and there's a micro USB charging cable in the box, which is enough to power the headset for usage even if its battery runs completely dry. Sennheiser will also include its GSA 50 headset hanger, which normally sells for $38, for free.
There's a noise-canceling mic in the headset, and memory foam pads appeal to comfort and extended gaming sessions. The GPS370 is compatible with PC, Mac, and PlayStation 4 (and Xbox as well with the headphone adapters or newer controllers) and is available on Sennheiser's website starting today for $199.95. Data transmission is taken care of by Bluetooth 5.0 (in a dongle adapter) and there's a micro USB charging cable in the box, which is enough to power the headset for usage even if its battery runs completely dry. Sennheiser will also include its GSA 50 headset hanger, which normally sells for $38, for free.
Mad Catz Announces the R.A.T.AIR Gaming Mouse - Wireless Power for £200
Mad Catz announced the shipping of their most advanced wireless mouse yet, the R.A.T.AIR. A flagship innovation in the evolution of the R.A.T. range, the R.A.T.AIR offers uncompromising wireless gameplay, thanks to cutting-edge electrical capacitor technology meaning no lag, no batteries and peerless performance.
Available to purchase today across select European territories, the R.A.T.AIR offers the ultimate solution for casual and competitive gamers alike. Comprised of two individual components, the R.A.T.AIR ships with the mouse itself as well as the innovative Activation Board. Plugging into the gamers' PC via USB, the Activation Board provides constant power to the mouse itself wirelessly, using best-in-class capacitor technology. Allowing the mouse to operate with no need for batteries, the Activision Board is so powerful, that the R.A.T.AIR even remains powered for a limited amount of time when lifted from the board itself, crucial for those who value 'lift-off' play. For those who steadfastly demand a wired connection, gamers can quickly unplug the connection to the Activation Board and directly connect the mouse to wired USB, offering a hybrid solution for all.
Available to purchase today across select European territories, the R.A.T.AIR offers the ultimate solution for casual and competitive gamers alike. Comprised of two individual components, the R.A.T.AIR ships with the mouse itself as well as the innovative Activation Board. Plugging into the gamers' PC via USB, the Activation Board provides constant power to the mouse itself wirelessly, using best-in-class capacitor technology. Allowing the mouse to operate with no need for batteries, the Activision Board is so powerful, that the R.A.T.AIR even remains powered for a limited amount of time when lifted from the board itself, crucial for those who value 'lift-off' play. For those who steadfastly demand a wired connection, gamers can quickly unplug the connection to the Activation Board and directly connect the mouse to wired USB, offering a hybrid solution for all.
CORSAIR Updates Headset Lineup with New VOID ELITE and HS PRO Headsets
CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the new VOID ELITE and HS PRO series of gaming headsets, updating the celebrated VOID and HS Series with improved audio, microphones, and comfort. Whether you're looking for immersive 7.1 surround sound, multi-platform compatibility, low-latency wireless, dynamic RGB lighting, or any combination thereof, you'll find it in one of the many new CORSAIR headsets now available.
The CORSAIR VOID family of gaming headsets has become synonymous with quality gaming audio, lasting comfort, and superb build quality, and the new VOID ELITE series continues this with a range of updates. New custom-tuned 50 mm neodymium audio drivers with an expanded frequency range of 20Hz-30,000Hz have been designed from the ground up to produce stunning clarity over a wider range alongside booming bass, while 7.1 surround sound puts you in the middle of the action with immersive virtual multi-channel audio.
The CORSAIR VOID family of gaming headsets has become synonymous with quality gaming audio, lasting comfort, and superb build quality, and the new VOID ELITE series continues this with a range of updates. New custom-tuned 50 mm neodymium audio drivers with an expanded frequency range of 20Hz-30,000Hz have been designed from the ground up to produce stunning clarity over a wider range alongside booming bass, while 7.1 surround sound puts you in the middle of the action with immersive virtual multi-channel audio.
AMD TRX40 Chipset Not Compatible with 1st and 2nd Gen Threadrippers
AMD is giving finishing touches to its 3rd generation Ryzen Threadripper HEDT processor lineup, and the first wave of these chips, starting with a 24-core model, will launch alongside the AMD TRX40 chipset. It turns out that the chipset won't be compatible with 1st and 2nd generation Ryzen Threadripper processors. The upcoming 3rd generation Threadripper chips won't be backwards-compatible with the AMD X399 chipset, either. We've been hearing from reliable sources rumors of this segmentation from AMD for a few days now, and tech journalist ReHWolution just tweeted its confirmation having obtained info on upcoming motherboards from a leading brand.
The underlying reason between this restriction remains a mystery. We know that the EPYC "Rome" MCM is pin-compatible with first-generation EPYC "Naples" chips due to the fact that the newer chips are drop-in compatible with older servers via a BIOS update. The TR4 socket, too, is nearly identical to SP3r2, but for four out of eight memory channels being blanked out. It remains to be seen if for TRX40 motherboards, AMD re-purposed these unused pins for something else, such as additional PCIe connectivity or more electrical pins. We'll find out in November, when AMD is expected to launch these chips.
The underlying reason between this restriction remains a mystery. We know that the EPYC "Rome" MCM is pin-compatible with first-generation EPYC "Naples" chips due to the fact that the newer chips are drop-in compatible with older servers via a BIOS update. The TR4 socket, too, is nearly identical to SP3r2, but for four out of eight memory channels being blanked out. It remains to be seen if for TRX40 motherboards, AMD re-purposed these unused pins for something else, such as additional PCIe connectivity or more electrical pins. We'll find out in November, when AMD is expected to launch these chips.
ROCCAT Kone Pure Ultra Available in Asia and EU October 11th
ROCCAT, Turtle Beach's Hamburg, Germany-based PC accessories division today announced the release of the Kone Pure Ultra PC gaming mouse. The Kone Pure Ultra is your favorite mouse, reborn with the latest tech and a new ultra-light weight design. ROCCAT's Kone Pure has become a mouse of choice for many performance-focused gamers, and the Kone Pure Ultra keeps the original ergonomic shape of its predecessor, including the strategic button placement, crisp "click" feeling, and beloved Titan Wheel, but with a much lighter weight coming in at a low 66 grams, making it one of the lightest PC gaming mice on the market. The Kone Pure Ultra is also updated with the latest features, including ROCCAT's Owl-Eye 16K sensor, 1,000hz polling rate, onboard memory for programmable Macros and profiles, and more. The Kone Pure Ultra is available at participating retailers across Asia, the UK, and Europe for a MSRP of 69.99€/59.99£ and will be available in the U.S. this winter for a MSRP of $69.99.
"The Kone is part of ROCCAT's heritage, so each time we release a new version, we always want to make sure we're satisfying our loyal Kone Pure users, as well as enticing new gamers," said René Korte, General Manager for PC Products at Turtle Beach. "Everything gamers love about the Kone Pure is there and upgraded in the Kone Pure Ultra, and we don't have any doubt that this is one of the best gaming mice available, made even better."
"The Kone is part of ROCCAT's heritage, so each time we release a new version, we always want to make sure we're satisfying our loyal Kone Pure users, as well as enticing new gamers," said René Korte, General Manager for PC Products at Turtle Beach. "Everything gamers love about the Kone Pure is there and upgraded in the Kone Pure Ultra, and we don't have any doubt that this is one of the best gaming mice available, made even better."
TP-Link Introduces Two Highly Affordable AX Routers
TP-Link, a leading global provider of consumer and business networking products, today introduced two highly affordable WiFi routers, Archer AX3000 and Archer AX1500. Both support the newest 802.11ax wireless standard, also known as Wi-Fi 6. TP-Link's next-generation AX routers provide much stronger and more reliable WiFi coverage throughout the home at a price more consumers can afford.
"Wi-Fi 6 technology is redefining the home, leaving previous generations of WiFi routers in the dust," said Louis Liu, CEO at TP-Link USA. "With our new Wi-Fi 6 routers, Walmart customers can experience up to 3-times faster speeds, connect more devices than ever before and dramatically reduce network congestion compared to the previous AC Wi-Fi 5 standard. Now, every household can enjoy the benefits of blazing fast, high capacity WiFi without breaking the bank." With the increase of WiFi-dependent devices, these AX routers are the perfect solution for modern living. TP-Link is committed to delivering more affordable solutions that meet the increasing bandwidth demands in today's homes.
"Wi-Fi 6 technology is redefining the home, leaving previous generations of WiFi routers in the dust," said Louis Liu, CEO at TP-Link USA. "With our new Wi-Fi 6 routers, Walmart customers can experience up to 3-times faster speeds, connect more devices than ever before and dramatically reduce network congestion compared to the previous AC Wi-Fi 5 standard. Now, every household can enjoy the benefits of blazing fast, high capacity WiFi without breaking the bank." With the increase of WiFi-dependent devices, these AX routers are the perfect solution for modern living. TP-Link is committed to delivering more affordable solutions that meet the increasing bandwidth demands in today's homes.
Blizzard's Account Deletion Mechanism Conveniently Breaks Down
In the wake of the Blitzchung ban controversy, clamors for "#BoycottBlizzard" are growing in gaming boards and social networks, with some angry gamers even deleting their Blizzard Battle.net accounts. Under GDPR, any EU consumer is entitled to delete their accounts with an online service, and have their data scrubbed. On Wednesday evening, however, users found themselves being unable to do so. The user authentication system (which authenticates that a request to delete the account is legitimate), has conveniently broken down, preventing people from deleting their accounts. Some see this as a deliberate attempt by Blizzard to cauterize its userbase while the controversy dies down. Blizzard's customer support for the Americas tweeted that this is "an issue" with the account deletion mechanism and that Blizzard's engineers are "looking into it," with no ETA mentioned.
PC Version of Red Dead Redemption 2 now Available for Pre-Order
Highly anticipated version of Red Dead Redemption 2 for PC is now available for pre-order. Launching on November 5th, this game will be available for pre-purchase starting from today until October 22nd, when the pre-order period will end. For now, ordering is exclusive to the Rockstar Games Launcher, Rockstar's version of Steam/Epic Store for its own games.
For all pre-purchases, Rockstar has prepared a heap of extra bonuses. For starters, users can choose any two games from the selection of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto:Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Bully: Scholarship Edition, L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition, Max Payne 3: The Complete Edition, for free. Additionally, every pre-purchase made through Rockstar Game Launcher will result in a free upgrade to the premium edition of Red Dead Redemption 2, where ultimate and special edition will get a $20 discount if users want to upgrade. Furthermore, there are additional bonuses that include Outlaw Survival Kit for Story Mode, War Horse for Story Mode, Le Trésor des Morts Treasure Map for Story Mode, Cash Bonus for Story Mode, 50 gold Bars for Red Dead Online. To add thing up, PC port of RDR2 will feature updated graphics to harness the power PC graphics cards offer with features like HDR for better visual effects.
For all pre-purchases, Rockstar has prepared a heap of extra bonuses. For starters, users can choose any two games from the selection of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto:Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Bully: Scholarship Edition, L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition, Max Payne 3: The Complete Edition, for free. Additionally, every pre-purchase made through Rockstar Game Launcher will result in a free upgrade to the premium edition of Red Dead Redemption 2, where ultimate and special edition will get a $20 discount if users want to upgrade. Furthermore, there are additional bonuses that include Outlaw Survival Kit for Story Mode, War Horse for Story Mode, Le Trésor des Morts Treasure Map for Story Mode, Cash Bonus for Story Mode, 50 gold Bars for Red Dead Online. To add thing up, PC port of RDR2 will feature updated graphics to harness the power PC graphics cards offer with features like HDR for better visual effects.
TSMC September 2019 Revenue Report
TSMC today announced its net revenues for September 2019: On a consolidated basis, revenues for September 2019 were approximately NT$102.17 billion, a decrease of 3.7 percent from August 2019 and an increase of 7.6 percent from September 2018. Revenues for January through September 2019 totaled NT$752.75 billion, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to the same period in 2018.
Wednesday, October 9th 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Input Devices
Monitors
Dark Project ME1 Review
The Dark Project ME1 is a lightweight right-handed ergonomic gaming mouse with a familiar shape for those who know their mice. It features a PixArt PMW3360 top optical sensor, Huano switches rated for 20 million clicks, and RGB lighting.
Intel Mobility Xe GPUs to Feature Up to Twice the Performance of Previous iGPUs
Intel at the Intel Developer Conference 'IDC' 2019 in Tokyo revealed their performance projections for mobility Xe GPUs, which will supersede their current consumer-bound UHD620 graphics under the Gen 11 architecture. The company is being vocal in that they can achieve an up to 2x performance uplift over their previous generation - but that will likely only take place in specific scenarios, and not as a rule of thumb. Just looking at Intel's own performance comparison graphics goes to show that we're mostly looking at between 50% and 70% performance improvements in popular eSports titles, which are, really, representative of most of the gaming market nowadays.
The objective is to reach above 60 FPS in the most popular eSports titles, something that Gen 11 GPUs didn't manage with their overall IPC and dedicated die-area. We've known for some time that Intel's Xe (as in, exponential) architecture will feature hardware-based raytracing, and the architecture is being developed for scalability that goes all the way from iGPUs to HPC platforms.
The objective is to reach above 60 FPS in the most popular eSports titles, something that Gen 11 GPUs didn't manage with their overall IPC and dedicated die-area. We've known for some time that Intel's Xe (as in, exponential) architecture will feature hardware-based raytracing, and the architecture is being developed for scalability that goes all the way from iGPUs to HPC platforms.
MSI Confirms Upcoming TRX40 Platform, Lists Creator TRX40 Motherboard
MSI today inadvertently confirmed preparations for the release of TRX40-based motherboards, which will allow for AMD's next-gen, Zen 2-based Threadripper CPUs to slot in quite nicely in a bed of silicon. Via a promo page for new motherboard purchases, where MSI listed the eligible motherboards for a $25 Steam rebate after purchase, the company listed a number of their already-known motherboard quantities... And the new Creator TRX40. This is a new series of motherboards from MSI, first populated by the X299 motherboards, which caters to expandability and storage capabilities so as to accelerate content creation and production.
The reference to the Creator TRX40 has already been silently deleted in MSI's page.
The reference to the Creator TRX40 has already been silently deleted in MSI's page.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order System Requirements Outed
The upcoming single-player Star Wars Jedi: Fallen order will be a tall calling for Respawn. Few franchises are as loved as Star Wars, and this one will definitely leave a mark in the company's legacy. It's unlikely EA will "pull an EA" on the studio even if it flops, though: Apex Legends remains an incredibly successful release form Respawn Entertainment, and it should be enough to hold EA's reins - at least for a while.
The system requirements for the highly-awaited, story-driven single-player game have been outed, and they're in the usual side of things. Minimum requirements call for an AMD FX-6100 or an Intel Core i3-3220, paired with 8 GB of RAM and an AMD Radeon HD 7750 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 - alongside 65 GB of storage. The recommended specs are relatively standard as well, and nothing to throw users in an upgrade fit... We're looking at an AMD AMD Ryzen 7 1700 or an Intel i7-6700K, 16 GB of system RAM, An AMD RX Vega 56 or NVIDIA GTX 1070 graphics cards. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order drops on November 15th.
The system requirements for the highly-awaited, story-driven single-player game have been outed, and they're in the usual side of things. Minimum requirements call for an AMD FX-6100 or an Intel Core i3-3220, paired with 8 GB of RAM and an AMD Radeon HD 7750 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 - alongside 65 GB of storage. The recommended specs are relatively standard as well, and nothing to throw users in an upgrade fit... We're looking at an AMD AMD Ryzen 7 1700 or an Intel i7-6700K, 16 GB of system RAM, An AMD RX Vega 56 or NVIDIA GTX 1070 graphics cards. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order drops on November 15th.
G.SKILL Releases New DDR4 32GB Module Specs with Memory Kits Up to 256GB
G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and gaming peripherals, is announcing new high-capacity, high-performance memory kit specifications based on 32 GB modules across several memory series, including Trident Z Royal DDR4-3200 CL16 256 GB (32 GB x8), Trident Z Royal DDR4-4000 CL18 128 GB (32 GB x4), Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 CL18 128 GB (32 GB x4), and Trident Z Neo DDR4-3800 C18 64 GB (32 GB x2). Built with the latest high-density 16Gb components, these DDR4 memory kits are the perfect choice for pushing the performance limits of high memory capacity.
With the availability of higher density memory at the consumer level, G.SKILL memory is pushing the performance boundary to DDR4-3200 on current HEDT platforms with up to 8 modules of 32 GB for a total of 256 GB. As shown in the screenshot below, the Trident Z Royal DDR4-3200 CL16 256 GB (32GBx8) is validated on the latest X299-based ASUS ROG Rampage VI Extreme Encore motherboard and the Intel Core i9-9820X processor. Such extremely high-capacity memory kits are the ideal choice for powerful workstations or for systems running multiple virtual machines.
With the availability of higher density memory at the consumer level, G.SKILL memory is pushing the performance boundary to DDR4-3200 on current HEDT platforms with up to 8 modules of 32 GB for a total of 256 GB. As shown in the screenshot below, the Trident Z Royal DDR4-3200 CL16 256 GB (32GBx8) is validated on the latest X299-based ASUS ROG Rampage VI Extreme Encore motherboard and the Intel Core i9-9820X processor. Such extremely high-capacity memory kits are the ideal choice for powerful workstations or for systems running multiple virtual machines.
Adobe Pulls the Plug on Venezuela, Thousands of CC Users Cut off From Their Apps
With U.S. economic sanctions on Venezuela taking effect, Adobe discontinued its Creative Cloud (CC) subscription service in the country, stranding thousands of creators without their creative apps. Adobe switched to SaaS-only in several markets and the only legal way for creators to use popular Adobe apps such as Photoshop, Premier, Acrobat, Lightroom, and Illustrator, is through CC. Much like Steam, CC is a DRM platform that lets you subscribe to Adobe apps on monthly or annual payment plans, and provides you with the latest versions of the apps, with regular updates. You also get access to cloud-storage an asset library, and a social network of creators.
Adobe's exit from Venezuela isn't sudden, the company has given Venezuelan creators until October 28th to download any content stored on their accounts. From October 29th, Adobe's servers will longer respond to requests from Venezuela. This also means Creative Cloud apps will break. CC authenticates users by dialing home each time an app is launched. If a user is falling behind on subscription payments or if the app can't reach Adobe servers, they are usually given a 14-day grace period before the app stops working. Executive Order 13884 signed by President Trump strips Venezuela of all U.S. businesses, which would include payment processors such as Visa and MasterCard.
Adobe's exit from Venezuela isn't sudden, the company has given Venezuelan creators until October 28th to download any content stored on their accounts. From October 29th, Adobe's servers will longer respond to requests from Venezuela. This also means Creative Cloud apps will break. CC authenticates users by dialing home each time an app is launched. If a user is falling behind on subscription payments or if the app can't reach Adobe servers, they are usually given a 14-day grace period before the app stops working. Executive Order 13884 signed by President Trump strips Venezuela of all U.S. businesses, which would include payment processors such as Visa and MasterCard.
AMD-made PlayStation 5 Semi-custom Chip Has Ray-tracing Hardware (not a software solution)
Sony's next-generation PlayStation 5 could land under many Christmas trees...in the year 2020, as the company plans a Holiday 2020 launch for the 4K-ready, 8K-capable entertainment system that has a semi-custom chip many times more powerful than the current generation, to support its lofty design goals. By late-2020, Sony calculates that some form of ray-tracing could be a must-have for gaming, and is working with its chip designer AMD to add just that - hardware-acceleration for ray-tracing, and not just something that's pre-baked or emulated over GPGPU.
Mark Cerny, a system architect at Sony's US headquarters, in an interview with Wired, got into the specifics of the hardware driving the company's big platform launch for the turn of the decade. "There is ray-tracing acceleration in the GPU hardware," he said, adding "which I believe is the statement that people were looking for." Besides raw processing power increases, Sony will focus on getting the memory and storage subsystems right. Both are interdependent, and with fast NAND flash-based storage, Sony can rework memory-management to free up more processing resources. AMD has been rather tight-lipped about ray-tracing on its Radeon GPUs. CEO Lisa Su has been dismissive about the prominence of the tech saying "it's one of the many technologies these days." The company's mid-2019 launch of the "Navi" family of GPUs sees the company skip ray-tracing hardware. The semi-custom chip's GPU at the heart of PlayStation 5 was last reported to be based on the same RDNA architecture.
Mark Cerny, a system architect at Sony's US headquarters, in an interview with Wired, got into the specifics of the hardware driving the company's big platform launch for the turn of the decade. "There is ray-tracing acceleration in the GPU hardware," he said, adding "which I believe is the statement that people were looking for." Besides raw processing power increases, Sony will focus on getting the memory and storage subsystems right. Both are interdependent, and with fast NAND flash-based storage, Sony can rework memory-management to free up more processing resources. AMD has been rather tight-lipped about ray-tracing on its Radeon GPUs. CEO Lisa Su has been dismissive about the prominence of the tech saying "it's one of the many technologies these days." The company's mid-2019 launch of the "Navi" family of GPUs sees the company skip ray-tracing hardware. The semi-custom chip's GPU at the heart of PlayStation 5 was last reported to be based on the same RDNA architecture.
Valve Offices Burgled, Thief Does Away with $40,000 Worth Equipment and Games
A man broke into the offices of Valve Software in September, and did away with $40,000 worth equipment and game keys. He was caught on camera trying to sell these keys at a Game Stop store. 32-year-old Shawn Shaputis already had six warrants for his arrest out on him when he broke into the Bellevue WA offices of one of the world's largest game distribution companies. The suspect is still at large, and is summoned to appear before court. Should he fail to show up, additional warrants for arrest will be put out. Valve Software owns Steam, the world's largest online game distribution platform.
Blizzard Employees Protest Company's Blitzchung Ban
Blizzard employees protested the company's decision to ban Hearthstone player "Blitzchung" from an event for his opinions on the ongoing situation in Hong Kong SAR. Some employees covered up a portion of a floor decal in the company's office that read "Think Globally," and "Every Voice Matters," in protest. Blizzard's MMORPGs are "massively" popular in China, with Chinese Internet giant Tencent holding an equity stake. Some see the move to ban "Blitzchung" as the company "bending the knee" to China by taking a position on the situation in Hong Kong, instead of remaining neutral. The picture of a ruled piece of paper covering up the company floor decal with duct tape was tweeted by former Blizzard employee and eSports industry observer Kevin Hovdestad.
MSI Brings the New Alpha Series, the First 7nm Technology Gaming Laptop
MSI, the world's No.1 gaming brand, has just announced its latest Alpha 15 gaming laptop. Armed with the new AMD Radeon RX 5500M graphics, the Alpha 15 is the first gaming laptop to feature 7 nm technology, bringing cutting-edge hardware to the mainstream. MSI even created a dedicated category and a new logo for the unique yet innovative segment. The new logo takes form of a thunderbird with rising wings, representing strength, innovation and prosperity. Being the first and dominant of its kind, MSI has presented the new beast with the name "Alpha".
As typical MSI gaming tradition, the laptop also packs ample gaming features from powerful cooling system, per-key RGB keyboard, Giant Speaker, High-Res audio, and more. Gamers who purchase the Alpha 15 via selected channels will also be eligible for a complimentary copy of either Borderlands 3 or Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint."
As typical MSI gaming tradition, the laptop also packs ample gaming features from powerful cooling system, per-key RGB keyboard, Giant Speaker, High-Res audio, and more. Gamers who purchase the Alpha 15 via selected channels will also be eligible for a complimentary copy of either Borderlands 3 or Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint."
Micron Tapes Out 128-layer 3D NAND Flash Memory
Micron Technology has taped out its 4th generation 3D NAND flash memory with 128 layers. This paves the way for mass production and product implementations in 2020. The 4th gen 3D NAND by Micron continues to use a CMOS-under-array design, but with Replacement Gate (RG) Technology instead of Floating Gate, which Micron and the erstwhile IMFlash Technology had been using for years. Micron is currently mass-producing 96-layer 3D NAND flash, and TLC remains the prominent data-storage physical layer despite the advent of QLC (4 bits per cell).
Micron comments that this 4th gen 128-layer 3D NAND will be a stopgap restricted to a select few applications, and may not see the kind of adoption as its current 96-layer chips. The company appears to be more focused on its evolution, possibly the 5th generation 3D NAND, which are expected to bring tangible cost-per-bit gains for the company, as it transitions to a newer silicon fabrication node, and implements even newer technologies besides RG. "We achieved our first yielding dies using replacement gate or "RG" for short. This milestone further reduces the risk for our RG transition. As a reminder, our first RG node will be 128 layers and will be used for a select set of products. We don't expect RG to deliver meaningful cost reductions until FY2021 when our second-generation RG node is broadly deployed. Consequently, we are expecting minimal cost reductions in NAND in FY2020. Our RG production deployment approach will optimize the ROI of our NAND capital investments," said Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO and president of Micron.
Micron comments that this 4th gen 128-layer 3D NAND will be a stopgap restricted to a select few applications, and may not see the kind of adoption as its current 96-layer chips. The company appears to be more focused on its evolution, possibly the 5th generation 3D NAND, which are expected to bring tangible cost-per-bit gains for the company, as it transitions to a newer silicon fabrication node, and implements even newer technologies besides RG. "We achieved our first yielding dies using replacement gate or "RG" for short. This milestone further reduces the risk for our RG transition. As a reminder, our first RG node will be 128 layers and will be used for a select set of products. We don't expect RG to deliver meaningful cost reductions until FY2021 when our second-generation RG node is broadly deployed. Consequently, we are expecting minimal cost reductions in NAND in FY2020. Our RG production deployment approach will optimize the ROI of our NAND capital investments," said Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO and president of Micron.
AMD Launches Ryzen 9 3900 and Ryzen 5 3500X Processors
AMD Tuesday expanded its 3rd generation Ryzen desktop processor lineup with two new product additions, the 12-core/24-thread Ryzen 9 3900, and the 6-core/12-thread Ryzen 5 3500X. Both chips are particularly interesting given their naming. The 3900 is a slightly subdued twin of the company's current flagship, the 3900X, with a small amount of clock speed traded off for a huge drop in TDP. This chip ticks at 3.10 GHz with 4.30 GHz boost, compared to 3.80/4.60 GHz frequencies of the 3900X. Its TDP, however, is rated at just 65 W, compared to 105 W of the 3900X. You get 512 KB of dedicated L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache.
The Ryzen 5 3500X is another interesting part, in which the "X" makes a world of difference from the Ryzen 5 3500. Whilst the 3500 is a 6-core/6-thread part devoid of SMT, the 3500X is 6-core/12-thread (features SMT), has the same exact 3.60 GHz nominal clocks as the popular Ryzen 5 3600, but a slightly lower 4.10 GHz boost frequency, compared to 4.20 GHz of the 3600. The Ryzen 5 3500X is expected to be marginally cheaper than the 3600, at around $189, and is currently only being offered to OEMs and system integrators in China. The company hasn't finalized pricing for the 3900, yet.
The Ryzen 5 3500X is another interesting part, in which the "X" makes a world of difference from the Ryzen 5 3500. Whilst the 3500 is a 6-core/6-thread part devoid of SMT, the 3500X is 6-core/12-thread (features SMT), has the same exact 3.60 GHz nominal clocks as the popular Ryzen 5 3600, but a slightly lower 4.10 GHz boost frequency, compared to 4.20 GHz of the 3600. The Ryzen 5 3500X is expected to be marginally cheaper than the 3600, at around $189, and is currently only being offered to OEMs and system integrators in China. The company hasn't finalized pricing for the 3900, yet.
Tuesday, October 8th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Motherboards
Mouse
Processors
FSP Dagger Pro 650 W Review
The 650 W FSP Dagger Pro cannot compare to the SFX competition because its performance is not on par with the EVGA 650 GM, which is also based on an FSP platform and costs the same as the Dagger. As such, you should only buy the Dagger if you need two EPS connectors since the EVGA 650 GM only has one.
DOOM Eternal Delayed to March 2020
In heartbreaking news to slayers prepping for the hotly anticipated addition to the franchise, DOOM Eternal, id Software announced that the game's release has been delayed to the 20th of March, 2020, from its earlier 22nd November 2019 release. In its announcement, id Software put quality-assurance as the main reason behind the delay. The developer assured gamers that the game will be worth the additional 5 months of wait. id also announced a few updates, namely Invasion Mode, a gameplay mode that allows you to "invade" another player's game as a playable demon, a Nintendo Switch version that follows the other platforms, and the availability of DOOM 64 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
Noctua Introduces Chromax.black CPU Coolers
Noctua today introduced the long awaited all-black versions of its award-winning NH-D15, NH-U12S and NH-L9i CPU coolers. Staying true to the successful formula of the original models, the new chromax.black versions with their black fans and black coated heatsinks combine the same signature quiet cooling performance with a sleek stealth look. The NH-D15 chromax.black and NH-U12S chromax.black will initially be exclusively available in a Linus Tech Tips limited edition that includes extra orange anti-vibration pads and custom fan stickers.
"Our customers have been asking us for all-black coolers for a long time, but we're soldering the fins to the heatpipes in order to guarantee optimal performance over many years of usage and this production process is difficult to combine with coatings," explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "It took a lot of time and engineering work to find an appropriate coating material and production process that gave us satisfactory thermal performance and consistent visual appearance. Now, we're proud with the end result and confident that the new chromax.black coolers will meet the high standards Noctua users have come to expect."
"Our customers have been asking us for all-black coolers for a long time, but we're soldering the fins to the heatpipes in order to guarantee optimal performance over many years of usage and this production process is difficult to combine with coatings," explains Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "It took a lot of time and engineering work to find an appropriate coating material and production process that gave us satisfactory thermal performance and consistent visual appearance. Now, we're proud with the end result and confident that the new chromax.black coolers will meet the high standards Noctua users have come to expect."
The End of a Collaboration: Intel Announces Discontinuation of Kaby Lake-G with AMD Radeon Vega Graphics
The marriage of Intel and AMD IPs in the form of the Kaby Lake-G processors was met with both surprised grunts from the company and a sense of bewilderment at what could come next. Well, we now know what came next: Intel hiring several high-level AMD employees on the graphics space and putting together its own motley crew of discrete GPU developers, who should be putting out Intel's next-gen high-performance graphics accelerators sometime next year.
The Kaby Lake-G processors, however, showed promise, pairing both Intel's (at the time) IPC dominance and AMD's graphics IP performance and expertise on a single package by placing the two components in the same substrate and connecting them via a PCIe link. A new and succinct Intel notice on the Kaby Lake-G page sets a last order time (January 31, 2020, as the last date for orders, and July 31, 2020, as the date of last shipments), and explains that product market shifts have moved demand from Kaby Lake-G products "to other Intel products". Uptake was always slow on this particular collaboration - most of it, we'd guess, because of the chips' strange footprint arrangement for embedding in systems, which required custom solutions that had to be designed from scratch. And with Intel investing into their own high-performance graphics, it seems clear that there is just no need to flaunt their previous collaborations with other companies in this field. Farewell, Intel-AMD Kaby Lake-G. We barely knew you.
The Kaby Lake-G processors, however, showed promise, pairing both Intel's (at the time) IPC dominance and AMD's graphics IP performance and expertise on a single package by placing the two components in the same substrate and connecting them via a PCIe link. A new and succinct Intel notice on the Kaby Lake-G page sets a last order time (January 31, 2020, as the last date for orders, and July 31, 2020, as the date of last shipments), and explains that product market shifts have moved demand from Kaby Lake-G products "to other Intel products". Uptake was always slow on this particular collaboration - most of it, we'd guess, because of the chips' strange footprint arrangement for embedding in systems, which required custom solutions that had to be designed from scratch. And with Intel investing into their own high-performance graphics, it seems clear that there is just no need to flaunt their previous collaborations with other companies in this field. Farewell, Intel-AMD Kaby Lake-G. We barely knew you.
XFX Launches the Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC III Ultra
XFX today finally launched their thick, custom version of the AMD Navi-powered RX 5700 XT. The new RX 5700 XT THICC III Ultra features a triple-slot (well, 2.7 slots, but who's counting but we?) cooling solution with three cooling fans, thus upping the ante compared to previous XFX THICC graphics cards. XFX boasts hat their THICC III Ultra features a peak Boost clock of 2025 MHz, and typical Boosts in the area of 1935 MHz (a 10.3% increase compared to AMD's reference specs).
The THICC design philosophy stands the test of time here, with the card mainly being black colored, with some silver accents. A thick aluminium fin-stack fed by a copper baseplate and copper heat pipes ensure a constant heat transfer from the GPU chip to the fin-stack array, which now sees three fans working overtime to dissipate all that framerate-produced heat - fed by a pair of 8-pin connectors.
The THICC design philosophy stands the test of time here, with the card mainly being black colored, with some silver accents. A thick aluminium fin-stack fed by a copper baseplate and copper heat pipes ensure a constant heat transfer from the GPU chip to the fin-stack array, which now sees three fans working overtime to dissipate all that framerate-produced heat - fed by a pair of 8-pin connectors.
TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.26.0 Released
Today we released the latest version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z, the popular graphics subsystem information, monitoring, and diagnostic utility. Version 2.26.0 adds support for new GPUs, introduces new features, and fixes problems with existing ones. To begin with, support is added for AMD Radeon RX 5500 and RX 5500M, TU104-based NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (non-Super), and Quadro P520. Fake detection has been added for various "Kepler" based GTX 10-series knockoffs.
With this release we fixed an application crash during BIOS extraction on nearly all NVIDIA GPUs. Another crash that appears when the application is launched on machines with AMD "Navi" GPUs without drivers installed. The ASUS ROG skin has been fixed to properly show the "Close" button in the bottom. We also improved the memory junction temperature tooltip on AMD "Navi" to denote that the hottest chip's junction temperature is being reported, and not an average across all chips. Last version's AMD Navi fan-stop fix has been reverted since AMD fixed the issue since their 19.9.1 drivers. PCIe and CrossFire state detection has been fixed for AMD "Navi" and "Vega 20" based graphics cards. Grab it from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.26.0
The change-log follows.
With this release we fixed an application crash during BIOS extraction on nearly all NVIDIA GPUs. Another crash that appears when the application is launched on machines with AMD "Navi" GPUs without drivers installed. The ASUS ROG skin has been fixed to properly show the "Close" button in the bottom. We also improved the memory junction temperature tooltip on AMD "Navi" to denote that the hottest chip's junction temperature is being reported, and not an average across all chips. Last version's AMD Navi fan-stop fix has been reverted since AMD fixed the issue since their 19.9.1 drivers. PCIe and CrossFire state detection has been fixed for AMD "Navi" and "Vega 20" based graphics cards. Grab it from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.26.0
Arctic Releases the Liquid Freezer II Series AIO CPU Coolers
ARCTIC, a leading manufacturer of low-noise PC coolers and components, today launches its new Liquid Freezer II series of AIO water coolers. Designed for high performance, the second generation Liquid Freezer includes four product versions: Liquid Freezer II 120, Liquid Freezer II 240, Liquid Freezer II 360, and Liquid Freezer II 280.
For the Liquid Freezer II series, ARCTIC has incorporated an in-house developed, energy-efficient PWM-controlled pump with a copper bottom plate that operates with extreme efficiency and quiet. At low loads, the pump reduces rotational speed, thereby lowering power consumption. The 40 mm fan on the pump provides consistent cooling for the motherboard voltage converter, while the sealed water circuit is maintenance-free.
For the Liquid Freezer II series, ARCTIC has incorporated an in-house developed, energy-efficient PWM-controlled pump with a copper bottom plate that operates with extreme efficiency and quiet. At low loads, the pump reduces rotational speed, thereby lowering power consumption. The 40 mm fan on the pump provides consistent cooling for the motherboard voltage converter, while the sealed water circuit is maintenance-free.
Montech Releases New Z3 ARGB 3 Pack System Fan
Montech, a new enthusiast PC Case, Power and Cooling solutions brand based in Taiwan introduces their new high performance Z3 ARGB 3-in-1 120 mm system fan pack. The Z3 ARGB comes with 3 120 mm ARGB system fans, 1 Remote Control Fan Hub, and Remote controller. The Z3 ARGB lighting system is not only controllable through the Remote Control Fan Hub but is also compatible with Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and ASRock's ARGB ready mainboards. This makes the Z3 ARGB extremely flexible with all solutions on the market.
The Montech Z3's ARGB Dual Ring lighting system provides ARGB lighting in both the fan hub, and fan frame for dual lighting effects. The Z3 ARGB is a 3 in 1 ARGB system fan solution, each box contains 3 120 mm ARGB system fans, the Remote Control Fan Hub and Remote controller. The Z3 ARGB simultaneously supports ARGB (addressable RGB) control from the Remote Control Fan Hub, Mainboard ARGB software and PC case LED/Reset controls. Users can freely swap between 3 different control modes on the fly.
The Montech Z3's ARGB Dual Ring lighting system provides ARGB lighting in both the fan hub, and fan frame for dual lighting effects. The Z3 ARGB is a 3 in 1 ARGB system fan solution, each box contains 3 120 mm ARGB system fans, the Remote Control Fan Hub and Remote controller. The Z3 ARGB simultaneously supports ARGB (addressable RGB) control from the Remote Control Fan Hub, Mainboard ARGB software and PC case LED/Reset controls. Users can freely swap between 3 different control modes on the fly.
Team Group Releases AMD X570-optimized Memory and PCIe Gen 4 SSD
The world's leading memory brand, TEAMGROUP releases T-FORCE DARK Z α DDR4 Gaming Memory and CARDEA ZERO Z440 PCI-E Gen4 x4 M.2 Solid State Drive, which are specially made for AMD RYZEN 3000 processor series and the latest X570 platform. With the release of AMD RYZEN 3000 series worldwide, T-FORCE's invincible gaming performance offers the best DDR4 memory and SSD for AMD's next generation platform. The excellent overclocking capability and platform compatibility are created to perfectly release the potential performance of the latest AMD processors.
T-FORCE DARK Z α DDR4 Gaming Memory is an AMD memory specially made for AMD's latest Ryzen 3000 series processor and X570 motherboard. In order to satisfy gamers' experience with AMD 3000 series processor and X570 platform, DARK Z α uses high quality IC chips that are selected through rigorous testing process. With excellent overclocking capability and perfect compatibility, this DDR4 memory can provide extremely superior performance on the new generation platform of AMD. The body of T-FORCE DARK Z α DDR4 Gaming Memory is designed based on the concept of an armored knight. The sacred war rope offers a more complete protection. The tasteful black color is forever classic.Electrolytic anodizing process and metal electroforming logo design are used to echo with T-FORCE logo's energetic tech armor.
T-FORCE DARK Z α DDR4 Gaming Memory is an AMD memory specially made for AMD's latest Ryzen 3000 series processor and X570 motherboard. In order to satisfy gamers' experience with AMD 3000 series processor and X570 platform, DARK Z α uses high quality IC chips that are selected through rigorous testing process. With excellent overclocking capability and perfect compatibility, this DDR4 memory can provide extremely superior performance on the new generation platform of AMD. The body of T-FORCE DARK Z α DDR4 Gaming Memory is designed based on the concept of an armored knight. The sacred war rope offers a more complete protection. The tasteful black color is forever classic.Electrolytic anodizing process and metal electroforming logo design are used to echo with T-FORCE logo's energetic tech armor.
TerraMaster Announces the F2-210 2-Bay NAS Priced Under $150
TerraMaster, a professional brand that specializes in providing innovative storage products, including network attached storage and direct attached storage, recently released an affordable storage solution for home and SOHO users that offers great value and performance especially for those looking at a sub-$200 product.
If you're a first-time NAS user or a power user looking for an affordable solution for file-sharing for the home, the TerraMaster F2-210 offers everything you expect from a entry-level NAS for less whether it's for simple file storage to cloud sharing to media and entertainment. TerraMaster has you covered. The F2-210 2-bay NAS storage is optimized for affordable yet optimal use for file sharing and multimedia and entertainment use. Its price position makes it one of the most powerful 2-bay NAS solution at its price bracket. The TerraMaster F2-210 has an MSRP of $149.99.
If you're a first-time NAS user or a power user looking for an affordable solution for file-sharing for the home, the TerraMaster F2-210 offers everything you expect from a entry-level NAS for less whether it's for simple file storage to cloud sharing to media and entertainment. TerraMaster has you covered. The F2-210 2-bay NAS storage is optimized for affordable yet optimal use for file sharing and multimedia and entertainment use. Its price position makes it one of the most powerful 2-bay NAS solution at its price bracket. The TerraMaster F2-210 has an MSRP of $149.99.
Intel Readies "The Element" - a Next-Generation of Modular PCs
Yesterday Intel hosted an event in London, where it held a presentation and demonstration of new concept product. Simply called "The Element", this new products tries to introduce the concept of modular computing, where you can basically swap out parts and replace them with ease, to users of PCs who wanted this to happen for a long time.
If anyone remembers Razer's project Christine, which unfortunately didn't take off, this product should be of no surprise to them. The Element is a complete PC consisting out of CPU, RAM and Storage, with a PCIe slot attached to it. Featuring plenty of IO options like Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi, The Element is a complete solution for computing. For the demo Intel soldered a BGA Xeon CPU with room for two SODIMM slots for memory and two M.2 ports for storage expansion, all cooled by a blower fan directly cooling the CPU heatsink. Power is supplied from PCIe slot (75 Watts) and 8 pin connector which would come from a regular PSU. There is also an option for the card to be powered by a 19 V power source if external power brick is provided.
If anyone remembers Razer's project Christine, which unfortunately didn't take off, this product should be of no surprise to them. The Element is a complete PC consisting out of CPU, RAM and Storage, with a PCIe slot attached to it. Featuring plenty of IO options like Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi, The Element is a complete solution for computing. For the demo Intel soldered a BGA Xeon CPU with room for two SODIMM slots for memory and two M.2 ports for storage expansion, all cooled by a blower fan directly cooling the CPU heatsink. Power is supplied from PCIe slot (75 Watts) and 8 pin connector which would come from a regular PSU. There is also an option for the card to be powered by a 19 V power source if external power brick is provided.
MSI Announces the MEG X570 Unify Motherboard
As AMD launched the 3rd Gen Ryzen processors and immediately gained lots of attention recently, MSI also released a bunch of motherboards for various use. To fulfill different gamers offer diversified options, MSI is pleased to introduce our new MEG X570 UNIFY motherboard into gaming market. Belonging to the top gaming segment MEG series, MEG X570 UNIFY is our brand new premium product with modest and pure black design, emphasizing on the true value of the motherboard instead of fancy LED decoration.
By eliminating all the redundant RGB LED from the motherboard and adopting the UV black printing, the heatsink shows the gleam and the shining reflection of the dragon to symbolize a mysterious and high quality image. For MEG X570 UNIFY motherboard, MSI put great efforts on those essential parts concerned by those enthusiast gamers, enhancing not only the thermal but also power solution to run with the AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen processors. Emphasizing the ultimate performance, MEG X570 UNIFY also brings astonishing overclocking records to enthusiast gamers. With AMD Ryzen 9 3900X processor, it is an incredible result to push CPU frequency to 5857 MHz, which is by far the top 1 of all records.
By eliminating all the redundant RGB LED from the motherboard and adopting the UV black printing, the heatsink shows the gleam and the shining reflection of the dragon to symbolize a mysterious and high quality image. For MEG X570 UNIFY motherboard, MSI put great efforts on those essential parts concerned by those enthusiast gamers, enhancing not only the thermal but also power solution to run with the AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen processors. Emphasizing the ultimate performance, MEG X570 UNIFY also brings astonishing overclocking records to enthusiast gamers. With AMD Ryzen 9 3900X processor, it is an incredible result to push CPU frequency to 5857 MHz, which is by far the top 1 of all records.
Monday, October 7th 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Monitors
Motherboards
HyperX Alloy Origins Keyboard Review
HyperX launches their latest keyboard, the Alloy Origins, to coincide with the retail release of their own custom mechanical switches. Featuring the HyperX Red linear switch, the Alloy Origins RGB keyboard has extensive lighting and functionality in a svelte package, and at an attractive price!
NZXT H210i Review
NZXT managed to put itself on the map with the H-Series of enclosures and is now aiming to use that momentum by offering a refresh of its iconic cases. The H210i is the most compact member of the family intended for ITX motherboards.
Intel Cuts Prices of iGPU-devoid 9th Gen Core F and KF SKUs by up to 20 Percent
Intel Monday revised prices of select 9th generation Core "Coffee Lake Refresh" desktop processor models. These price cuts target the "F" and "KF" brand extensions, which denote a lack of integrated graphics. The price cuts range from 5 percent to 20 percent, and cover key fast-moving SKUs popular with the DIY gaming PC crowd that likes to pair these chips with discrete graphics cards. The entry-level Core i3-9100F gets the biggest cut of the lot. The 4-core/4-thread chip is now selling for USD $97, a 20 percent cut from its $122 MSRP.
Other noteworthy cuts include the popular Core i5-9400F 6-core/6-thread processor, which is now going for $157, compared to its $182 original price. This chip has seen sub-$160 pricing in promotional sales on popular e-tailers such as Newegg. The Core i7-9700F and i7-9700KF are the other popular SKUs among the premium gaming PC build crowd. The two 8-core/8-thread chips are now priced at $298 and $349, respectively. Leading the pack is the Core i9-9900KF, which is going for $463, a small 5% saving over the i9-9900K which you can spend elsewhere, such as slightly faster RAM.
Other noteworthy cuts include the popular Core i5-9400F 6-core/6-thread processor, which is now going for $157, compared to its $182 original price. This chip has seen sub-$160 pricing in promotional sales on popular e-tailers such as Newegg. The Core i7-9700F and i7-9700KF are the other popular SKUs among the premium gaming PC build crowd. The two 8-core/8-thread chips are now priced at $298 and $349, respectively. Leading the pack is the Core i9-9900KF, which is going for $463, a small 5% saving over the i9-9900K which you can spend elsewhere, such as slightly faster RAM.
AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.10.1 with Support for Radeon RX 5500 and RX 5500M
AMD today released a newest update to its Radeon Adrenalin driver. Dubbed version 19.10.1, the new release brings many new bug fixes and improvements to the table. For starters it will enable support for the newly released Radeon RX 5500 an 5500M desktop and mobile graphics cards, so now the buyers of these cards will have a driver from day one to start their experience smoothly. Additionally, support for the upcoming game "GRID", set to release on October 11th, is also included with this driver release.
Download the Adrenalin 19.10.1 Driver here.
The change-log follows.
Download the Adrenalin 19.10.1 Driver here.
TSMC Starts Shipping its 7nm+ Node Based on EUV Technology
TSMC today announced that its seven-nanometer plus (N7+), the industry's first commercially available Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology, is delivering customer products to market in high volume. The N7+ process with EUV technology is built on TSMC's successful 7 nm node and paves the way for 6 nm and more advanced technologies.
The N7+ volume production is one of the fastest on record. N7+, which began volume production in the second quarter of 2019, is matching yields similar to the original N7 process that has been in volume production for more than one year.
The N7+ volume production is one of the fastest on record. N7+, which began volume production in the second quarter of 2019, is matching yields similar to the original N7 process that has been in volume production for more than one year.
Intel Marketing Tries to Link Stability to Turbo Boost
There is no correlation between CPU frequency boosting behavior and system stability. Intel today launched its "10th generation" Core X HEDT processors, with core-counts ranging between 10 to 18, priced between $590 and $978. Based on the 14 nm "Cascade Lake-X" silicon, these chips have the same exact IPC as "Skylake" circa 2015, but offer nearly double the number of cores to the Dollar compared to the 9th generation Core X series; and add a couple of useful instruction sets such as DLBoost, which accelerates DNN training/building; a few more AVX-512 instructions, and an updated Turbo Boost Max 3.0 algorithm. The chips offer clock-speed bumps over the previous generation.
Intel's main trade-call for these processors? Taking another stab at AMD for falling short on boost frequency in the hands of consumers. "The chip that hits frequency benchmarks as promised, our new #CoreX -series processor, provides a stable, high-performance platform for visual creators everywhere," reads the Intel tweet, as if to suggest that reaching the "promised" clock speed results in stability. AMD was confronted with alarming statistics of consumers whose 3rd generation Ryzen processors wouldn't reach their advertised boost frequencies. The company released an updated AGESA microcode that fixed this.
Intel's main trade-call for these processors? Taking another stab at AMD for falling short on boost frequency in the hands of consumers. "The chip that hits frequency benchmarks as promised, our new #CoreX -series processor, provides a stable, high-performance platform for visual creators everywhere," reads the Intel tweet, as if to suggest that reaching the "promised" clock speed results in stability. AMD was confronted with alarming statistics of consumers whose 3rd generation Ryzen processors wouldn't reach their advertised boost frequencies. The company released an updated AGESA microcode that fixed this.
Samsung Develops Industry's First 12-Layer 3D-TSV Chip Packaging Technology
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced that it has developed the industry's first 12-layer 3D-TSV (Through Silicon Via) technology. Samsung's new innovation is considered one of the most challenging packaging technologies for mass production of high-performance chips, as it requires pinpoint accuracy to vertically interconnect 12 DRAM chips through a three-dimensional configuration of more than 60,000 TSV holes, each of which is one-twentieth the thickness of a single strand of human hair.
The thickness of the package (720 µm) remains the same as current 8-layer High Bandwidth Memory-2 (HBM2) products, which is a substantial advancement in component design. This will help customers release next-generation, high-capacity products with higher performance capacity without having to change their system configuration designs. In addition, the 3D packaging technology also features a shorter data transmission time between chips than the currently existing wire bonding technology, resulting in significantly faster speed and lower power consumption.
The thickness of the package (720 µm) remains the same as current 8-layer High Bandwidth Memory-2 (HBM2) products, which is a substantial advancement in component design. This will help customers release next-generation, high-capacity products with higher performance capacity without having to change their system configuration designs. In addition, the 3D packaging technology also features a shorter data transmission time between chips than the currently existing wire bonding technology, resulting in significantly faster speed and lower power consumption.
HyperX Branded Switches Now Shipping on Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced that HyperX keyboard switches and the HyperX Alloy Origins gaming keyboard are now available and shipping globally. The first HyperX keyboard switch released to the market is a linear HyperX Red mechanical switch, built for performance and longevity with a shorter actuation point and 80 million click rating. The HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical keyboard is the first full-sized gaming keyboard built with HyperX switches, and features RGB exposed backlit keys for brighter illumination with radiant lighting effects and five adjustable brightness levels to enhance gaming, day or night.
Alloy Origins includes an aluminium body with an aircraft-grade brushed finish for durability and stability, plus a space-saving layout to maximize desktop real estate for ultimate mouse movement. Alloy Origins comes with HyperX NGENUITY software with advanced customization features for lighting and macros, including simple customizable per-key lighting effects. The USB Type-C to USB Type-A keyboard cable is also detachable.
Alloy Origins includes an aluminium body with an aircraft-grade brushed finish for durability and stability, plus a space-saving layout to maximize desktop real estate for ultimate mouse movement. Alloy Origins comes with HyperX NGENUITY software with advanced customization features for lighting and macros, including simple customizable per-key lighting effects. The USB Type-C to USB Type-A keyboard cable is also detachable.
Kingston Technology Ships 13.3 Million SSDs in 1H 2019
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it shipped over 13.3 million SSDs in the first half of 2019, according to data compiled by market research firm TrendFocus. The astounding amount places Kingston as the third-largest supplier of SSDs in the world behind semiconductor manufacturers Samsung and Western Digital, showing its strength and position in the market place as the world's leading third-party SSD maker. Kingston's total accounted for a whopping 11.3 percent of the total number of SSDs shipped globally during the first half of the year among all manufacturers.
"TrendFocus' research shows continued growth in total SSD shipments for all categories this year," said Don Jeanette, Vice President, TrendFocus. "Our research finds that client SSDs make up the majority portion of units shipped while NVMe PCIe also saw gains due to demand in hyperscale environments. The storyline for the first half of 2019 is NAND shipments are increasing and pricing has bottomed out, thus driving SSD demand."
"TrendFocus' research shows continued growth in total SSD shipments for all categories this year," said Don Jeanette, Vice President, TrendFocus. "Our research finds that client SSDs make up the majority portion of units shipped while NVMe PCIe also saw gains due to demand in hyperscale environments. The storyline for the first half of 2019 is NAND shipments are increasing and pricing has bottomed out, thus driving SSD demand."
MSI Announces the Creator X299 and X299 Pro 10G Motherboards
In recent years, MSI aims at motherboards in content creation market for the ever-increasing number of creators and the popularity. Together with the new launch of Intel Core X-Series processors, we are proud to introduce three new motherboards to anticipate every creator's need from high loading operation to general graphic design. For the high-end processors and X299 platform, MSI all aluminium design ensures CPU to run at full speed for the best performance. Larger heatsinks contains more surface for heat dissipation to cool down CPU while high-loading operation.
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2: Super Speed USB 20G: For all types of designers, large data and files transfer is always troublesome as it takes plenty of waiting time. All new MSI X299 motherboards support the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Super Speed USB 20G solution powered by ASMedia to meet creators' requirement. Transfer speed enhances to incredibly 4 times faster than USB 3.2 Gen1 solution so that designers can save time on backup and other essential data transfer processes. "We are pleased to have a strong and close relationship with MSI. ASMedia Technology Inc. offers the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Super Speed USB 20G solution to the market and continues working closely with top motherboard vendor MSI," said Chewei Lin, President of ASMedia.
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2: Super Speed USB 20G: For all types of designers, large data and files transfer is always troublesome as it takes plenty of waiting time. All new MSI X299 motherboards support the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Super Speed USB 20G solution powered by ASMedia to meet creators' requirement. Transfer speed enhances to incredibly 4 times faster than USB 3.2 Gen1 solution so that designers can save time on backup and other essential data transfer processes. "We are pleased to have a strong and close relationship with MSI. ASMedia Technology Inc. offers the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Super Speed USB 20G solution to the market and continues working closely with top motherboard vendor MSI," said Chewei Lin, President of ASMedia.
ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Strix Arion Portable SSD
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix Arion, an external solid-state drive (SSD) enclosure that lets gamers create their own high-speed mobile storage solution. Compatible with M.2 NVM Express (NVMe) SSDs with 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280 form factors and featuring USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, ROG Strix Arion enables transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps for ultrafast performance when working with media and other large files. To ensure sustained performance with no throttling, the enclosure is made from aluminium alloy and features integrated thermal pads for effective heat dissipation.
ROG Strix Arion features an innovative design that lets gamers quickly and easily install an SSD without a screwdriver. Sporting futuristic looks with ASUS Aura Sync lighting effects, the enclosure blends perfectly with any gaming setup. ROG Strix Arion comes with a protective holder with a detachable hook for hanging as well as both USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables to ensure out-of-the-box connectivity with a wide range of PCs and devices.
ROG Strix Arion features an innovative design that lets gamers quickly and easily install an SSD without a screwdriver. Sporting futuristic looks with ASUS Aura Sync lighting effects, the enclosure blends perfectly with any gaming setup. ROG Strix Arion comes with a protective holder with a detachable hook for hanging as well as both USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables to ensure out-of-the-box connectivity with a wide range of PCs and devices.
Intel Announces 10th Gen Core X Series and Revised Pricing on Xeon-W Processors
Intel today unveiled its latest lineup of Intel Xeon W and X-series processors, which puts new classes of computing performance and AI acceleration into the hands of professional creators and PC enthusiasts. Custom-designed to address the diverse needs of these growing audiences, the new Xeon W-2200 and X-series processors are targeted to be available starting November, along with a new pricing structure that represents an easier step up for creators and enthusiasts from Intel Core S-series mainstream products.
Intel is the only company that delivers a full portfolio of products precision-tuned to handle the sustained compute-intensive workloads used by professional creators and enthusiasts every day. The new Xeon W-2200 and X-series processors take this to the next level, as the first high-end desktop PC and mainstream workstations to feature AI acceleration with the integration of Intel Deep Learning Boost. This offers an AI inference boost of 2.2 times more compared with the prior generation. Additionally, this new lineup features Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, which has been further enhanced to help software, such as for simulation and modeling, run as fast as possible by identifying and prioritizing the fastest available cores.
Intel is the only company that delivers a full portfolio of products precision-tuned to handle the sustained compute-intensive workloads used by professional creators and enthusiasts every day. The new Xeon W-2200 and X-series processors take this to the next level, as the first high-end desktop PC and mainstream workstations to feature AI acceleration with the integration of Intel Deep Learning Boost. This offers an AI inference boost of 2.2 times more compared with the prior generation. Additionally, this new lineup features Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, which has been further enhanced to help software, such as for simulation and modeling, run as fast as possible by identifying and prioritizing the fastest available cores.
AMD Introduces Radeon RX 5500 Series Graphics Cards
Today, AMD announced the Radeon RX 5500 series graphics products, harnessing groundbreaking RDNA gaming architecture to deliver the ultimate in high-performance, high-fidelity 1080p gaming. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 series includes the Radeon RX 5500 graphics card that will be available in desktop PCs from leading manufacturers and graphics cards from board partners, as well as the Radeon RX 5500M GPU for notebook PCs. Top system providers worldwide are embracing the new products, with HP and Lenovo planning to offer Radeon RX 5500 graphics cards in their high performance desktop gaming PCs beginning this November, and Acer planning to offer systems with the cards beginning this December. In addition, later this month MSI is expected to launch the world's first gaming notebook powered by AMD Ryzen processors and Radeon RX 5500M GPUs.
"Based on feedback and insights from global gaming communities, gamers rank graphics as the most critical component for speed and performance," said Johnson Jia, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Business of Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "That's why the Lenovo Legion T730 and T530 gaming towers and the IdeaCentre T540 Gaming desktop pack in AMD's latest Radeon RX graphics - satisfying players' need for high-fidelity visuals and lightning-fast frame-rates to fully immerse into their gameplay." "MSI Alpha 15 is a new chapter for us, and we're excited to partner with AMD to combine the latest 7 nm technology found in the Radeon RX 5500M GPU and MSI's gaming DNA for our gamers," said Charles Chiang, CEO of MSI.
"Based on feedback and insights from global gaming communities, gamers rank graphics as the most critical component for speed and performance," said Johnson Jia, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Business of Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "That's why the Lenovo Legion T730 and T530 gaming towers and the IdeaCentre T540 Gaming desktop pack in AMD's latest Radeon RX graphics - satisfying players' need for high-fidelity visuals and lightning-fast frame-rates to fully immerse into their gameplay." "MSI Alpha 15 is a new chapter for us, and we're excited to partner with AMD to combine the latest 7 nm technology found in the Radeon RX 5500M GPU and MSI's gaming DNA for our gamers," said Charles Chiang, CEO of MSI.
URCDKeys Sets You Up for the Winter with Discounted Genuine Windows 10 Pro
With Fall upon us, everyone is gearing up for the weather ahead, including a power-packed gaming PC build that can keep you indoors. URCDKeys sets you up with genuine, heavily discounted essential software, so you can get your new gaming build running, or upgrade your Windows 7 before Microsoft pulls the plug on support this Winter. Windows 10 Pro is the preferred operating system for PC enthusiasts as it provides a lot more pro-user features. URCDKeys is selling genuine, globally-valid licenses for USD $11.46 after applying an exclusive discount code. Office is another software no home PC build is complete without, gaming or otherwise. URCDKeys has got your back with a genuine lifetime license to Office 2016 Professional Plus for just $29.51. URCDKeys is also stocked up on other editions of Windows and Office, games, and in-game content. Your payment instruments are secured by PayPal.
Be sure to apply the TechPowerUp-exclusive discount code TP20 at checkout to avail the prices you see here!
Buy Windows 10 Pro from URCDKeys at $11.46 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus from URCDKeys at $29.51
Be sure to apply the TechPowerUp-exclusive discount code TP20 at checkout to avail the prices you see here!
Buy Windows 10 Pro from URCDKeys at $11.46 | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus from URCDKeys at $29.51
AMD Zen 3 Could Bid the CCX Farewell, Feature Updated SMT
With its next-generation "Zen 3" CPU microarchitecture designed for the 7 nm EUV silicon fabrication process, AMD could bid the "Zen" compute complex or CCX farewell, heralding chiplets with monolithic last-level caches (L3 caches) that are shared across all cores on the chiplet. AMD embraced a quad-core compute complex approach to building multi-core processors with "Zen." At the time, the 8-core "Zeppelin" die featured two CCX with four cores, each. With "Zen 2," AMD reduced the CPU chiplet to only containing CPU cores, L3 cache, and an Infinity Fabric interface, talking to an I/O controller die elsewhere on the processor package. This reduces the economic or technical utility in retaining the CCX topology, which limits the amount of L3 cache individual cores can access.
This and more juicy details about "Zen 3" were put out by a leaked (later deleted) technical presentation by company CTO Mark Papermaster. On the EPYC side of things, AMD's design efforts will be spearheaded by the "Milan" multi-chip module, featuring up to 64 cores spread across eight 8-core chiplets. Papermaster talked about how the individual chiplets will feature "unified" 32 MB of last-level cache, which means a deprecation of the CCX topology. He also detailed an updated SMT implementation that doubles the number of logical processors per physical core. The I/O interface of "Milan" will retain PCI-Express gen 4.0 and eight-channel DDR4 memory interface.
This and more juicy details about "Zen 3" were put out by a leaked (later deleted) technical presentation by company CTO Mark Papermaster. On the EPYC side of things, AMD's design efforts will be spearheaded by the "Milan" multi-chip module, featuring up to 64 cores spread across eight 8-core chiplets. Papermaster talked about how the individual chiplets will feature "unified" 32 MB of last-level cache, which means a deprecation of the CCX topology. He also detailed an updated SMT implementation that doubles the number of logical processors per physical core. The I/O interface of "Milan" will retain PCI-Express gen 4.0 and eight-channel DDR4 memory interface.
iBUYPOWER Announces Snowblind as First Individually Sold PC Case
To commemorate its 20th Anniversary, iBUYPOWER has announced the availability of two of its signature cases, the Snowblind Element and Snowblind S. After years of inquiries from the DIY PC community, iBUYPOWER will offer its iconic cases featuring the world's first mass-produced transparent LCD side panel as a standalone product.
"Offering our Snowblind series to the DIY PC enthusiast community is the next step of accessibility for iBUYPOWER," said Darren Su, Executive Vice President of iBUYPOWER. "By offering one of the most iconic cases in the market as a standalone product when the Snowblind has traditionally only been available as a pre-built system, we are broadening our horizons within the PC and gaming industry while we celebrate 20 years of successful business."
"Offering our Snowblind series to the DIY PC enthusiast community is the next step of accessibility for iBUYPOWER," said Darren Su, Executive Vice President of iBUYPOWER. "By offering one of the most iconic cases in the market as a standalone product when the Snowblind has traditionally only been available as a pre-built system, we are broadening our horizons within the PC and gaming industry while we celebrate 20 years of successful business."
NVIDIA Could Launch Next-Generation Ampere GPUs in 1H 2020
According to the sources over at Igor's Lab, NVIDIA could launch its next generation of GPUs, codenamed "Ampere", as soon as first half of the 2020 arrives. Having just recently launched GeForce RTX Super lineup, NVIDIA could surprise us again in the coming months with replacement for it's Turing lineup of graphics cards. Expected to directly replace high-end GPU models that are currently present, like GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080 Super, Ampere should bring many performance and technology advancements a new graphics card generation is usually associated with.
For starters, we could expect a notable die shrink to take place in form of 7 nm node, which will replace the aging 12 nm process that Turing is currently being built on. This alone should bring more than 50% increase in transistor density, resulting in much more performance and lower power consumption compared to previous generation. NVIDIA's foundry of choice is still unknown, however current speculations are predicting that Samsung will manufacture Ampere, possibly due to delivery issues that are taking place at TSMC. Architectural improvements should take place as well. Ray tracing is expected to persist and get enhanced with possibly more hardware allocated for it, along with better software to support the ray tracing ecosystem of applications.
For starters, we could expect a notable die shrink to take place in form of 7 nm node, which will replace the aging 12 nm process that Turing is currently being built on. This alone should bring more than 50% increase in transistor density, resulting in much more performance and lower power consumption compared to previous generation. NVIDIA's foundry of choice is still unknown, however current speculations are predicting that Samsung will manufacture Ampere, possibly due to delivery issues that are taking place at TSMC. Architectural improvements should take place as well. Ray tracing is expected to persist and get enhanced with possibly more hardware allocated for it, along with better software to support the ray tracing ecosystem of applications.
Sunday, October 6th 2019
Red Dead Redemption 2 to be Epic Games Store Exclusive for a Month
Rockstar Games revealed that its hotly anticipated PC version of "Red Dead Redemption 2" will launch across three digital platforms. Pre-orders for the game will open on Rockstar Games Launcher on October 9th. At launch on November 5th, the game will be available on the Epic Games Store. This "exclusivity" will remain for a month, when in December, the game becomes available on Steam. Both Steam and Epic Games Store form concentric DRM layers to the Rockstar Games Launcher, and the game will be available on this launcher throughout, including pre-orders. Buyers are expected to be drawn to Epic Games Store or Steam to take advantage of regional pricing.
Antec Announces DP501 White Gaming Chassis
Antec Inc., a leading provider of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself market, announces a white version of the Dark Phantom DP501. The case delivers a combination of understated Gaming looks, versatile build options with an affordable price. Its aesthetics will appeal to gamers and enthusiasts who prefer a functional appearance. The DP501 White features an understated ARGB blade on the front panel which makes it the perfect choice for Gamers and Enthusiasts who prefer a plain design over flashy elements, while its mesh design provides better systematic airflow. The DP501 White will soon reach store shelves and online retail outlets in US with a competitive MSRP of 84.99 USD (DP501 Black: 69.99 USD).
Both models feature a robust cooling system to be prepared for demanding gaming action. The white mid-tower comes with four pre-installed white 120 mm fans (fan in the rear features white LED). The chassis offers space for additional two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans on the top. The frame measures 443 x 210 x 484 mm (D x W x H) and supports ATX, ITX and Micro-ATX motherboards as well as graphics cards with a maximum length of 360 mm and power supplies with a maximum length of 160 mm.
Both models feature a robust cooling system to be prepared for demanding gaming action. The white mid-tower comes with four pre-installed white 120 mm fans (fan in the rear features white LED). The chassis offers space for additional two 120 mm or two 140 mm fans on the top. The frame measures 443 x 210 x 484 mm (D x W x H) and supports ATX, ITX and Micro-ATX motherboards as well as graphics cards with a maximum length of 360 mm and power supplies with a maximum length of 160 mm.
Friday, October 4th 2019
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Motherboards
Networking
Processors
ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) Review
Another high-end X570 board, this time from ASUS! The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII HERO (WiFi) boasts a massive VRM and loads of overclocking aids. In such a competitive price bracket, this X570 board will have to bring something special to the table, so can it deliver?
Red Dead Redemption 2 Coming to PC This November
Rockstar Games announced that its smash-hit western sim "Red Dead Redemption 2" will release on the PC platform on November 5. Pre-orders for the game will open on October 9th via the Rockstar Games Launcher. The game is among the best selling console titles on the two platforms it debuted on - PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, roughly a year ago on October 26 2018. Rockstar Games also announced that besides PC, the game will debut on Google's Stadia platform. The publisher announced available on no other PC DRM platform (such as Steam or Epic Games Store), probably because it wants to establish Rockstar Games Launcher as its main point of sale for PC.
Intel 10th Gen Core X "Cascade Lake-X" Pricing and Specs Detailed
Ahead of their October 7th product launch and November availability, we have confirmation of the specifications and pricing of Intel's 10th generation Core X "Cascade Lake-X" HEDT processors in the LGA2066 package. These chips feature compatibility with existing socket LGA2066 motherboards with a UEFI BIOS update, although several motherboard manufacturers are launching new products with some of the latest connectivity options, such as 2.5 GbE wired Ethernet, and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 WLAN.
The 10th generation Core X HEDT processor family is based on the new 14 nm++ "Cascade Lake" silicon, which comes with hardware fixes against several classes side-channel vulnerabilities, and introduces an updated instruction-set that includes more AVX-512 instructions, and the new DLBoost instruction. DLBoost leverages new fixed-function hardware on silicon to accelerate AI deep-learning neural-set building and training by up to 5 times. Intel's first wave of 10th gen Core X lineup is rather slim, with just four processor models. The company did away with the Core i7 brand extension, as core-counts in the mainstream desktop segment have already reached 8-core. The lineup now begins at 10-core/20-thread, with the chip's full 48-lane PCI-Express and 4-channel DDR4 interfaces enabled across the board. All models feature the "XE" brand extension, and feature unlocked base-clock multipliers.
The 10th generation Core X HEDT processor family is based on the new 14 nm++ "Cascade Lake" silicon, which comes with hardware fixes against several classes side-channel vulnerabilities, and introduces an updated instruction-set that includes more AVX-512 instructions, and the new DLBoost instruction. DLBoost leverages new fixed-function hardware on silicon to accelerate AI deep-learning neural-set building and training by up to 5 times. Intel's first wave of 10th gen Core X lineup is rather slim, with just four processor models. The company did away with the Core i7 brand extension, as core-counts in the mainstream desktop segment have already reached 8-core. The lineup now begins at 10-core/20-thread, with the chip's full 48-lane PCI-Express and 4-channel DDR4 interfaces enabled across the board. All models feature the "XE" brand extension, and feature unlocked base-clock multipliers.
AMD Ryzen CPUs to Get Plenty of Microcode Improvements
According to Planet 3DNow, owners of AMD's Ryzen CPUs will receive a new microcode update said to feature many performance fixes and improvements that bring additional features. Dubbed AGESA 1.0.0.4, the new microcode improvement should bring over 100 new features that don't just include bug fixes, but also additional features.
Leaked by MSI's "Insider Show" YouTube series host Eric Van Beurden, he revealed that new microcode will arrive next month after getting tested by motherboard manufacturers for stability and compatibility with existing models of motherboards. Unfortunately, Van Beurden didn't reveal anything specific about what features will be present with the new AGESA microcode update, however we can expect to see plenty of new additions, and possibly higher CPU performance that further firmware optimizations bring.
Leaked by MSI's "Insider Show" YouTube series host Eric Van Beurden, he revealed that new microcode will arrive next month after getting tested by motherboard manufacturers for stability and compatibility with existing models of motherboards. Unfortunately, Van Beurden didn't reveal anything specific about what features will be present with the new AGESA microcode update, however we can expect to see plenty of new additions, and possibly higher CPU performance that further firmware optimizations bring.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019
Today's Reviews
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Notebooks
Processors
CORSAIR Hydro X Series XD5 Pump/Reservoir Combo Review
We add to our detailed coverage of CORSAIR's Hydro X series of custom watercooling products with their XD5 pump/reservoir combo unit. It uses the ever-reliable Xylem D5 PWM pump paired to a polished nylon reservoir and continues the trend of a user-friendly installation and rich feature set for the money.
EVGA X299 Motherboards are Built For Intel Core X-Series 10000 Processor Family
EVGA X299 motherboards immediately set the bar for performance, cooling and stability. Since then, EVGA has improved the cooling, reinvented the modern motherboard BIOS, and continued to shock the enthusiast world with the EVGA X299 DARK. And these boards are only just getting started. With the release of Intel's Core X-Series 10000 Processor Family, EVGA X299 Motherboards are ready and waiting for them. Current owners need only update the motherboard BIOS for full compatibility; new owners can boot into the motherboard BIOS and update the BIOS with their brand-new CPUs.
EIZO Introduces Limited Edition Foris Nova Dsplay: 21" 4K OLED, HDR, and 60Hz
EIZO today announced a limited edition monitor that's sure to attract attention: likely positive due to its feature-set, likely negative due to its small diagonal. The Foris Nova is built fully in aluminium and packs an impressive amount of features for the admittedly small diagonal: the 21" display is a 4K OLED one with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 330 nits maximum brightness and 1.07 billion colors. That small diagonal does have its benefits though: the pixel density is a very impressive (for desktop monitors) 204 pixels per inch. The 60 Hz refresh rate is nothing to glow at, but the 0.4 ms response time surely point to an amazing 60 Hz gaming experience.
There is HDR certification in the form of HDR10 and the royalty-free Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), and connectivity is taken care of by 2x HDMI ports that support Deep Color and the HDCP 2.2 and 1.4 copy protection protocols. There are two 1 W speakers, VESA support,1x headphone jack and 1x line-out mini jack. The production is limited to only 500 units, and the Foris Nova will be available from November 1st in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. No word on pricing - EIZO is asking users to contact them directly for orders and pricing. That serves as a warning, if any more were needed: this won't come cheap.
There is HDR certification in the form of HDR10 and the royalty-free Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), and connectivity is taken care of by 2x HDMI ports that support Deep Color and the HDCP 2.2 and 1.4 copy protection protocols. There are two 1 W speakers, VESA support,1x headphone jack and 1x line-out mini jack. The production is limited to only 500 units, and the Foris Nova will be available from November 1st in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. No word on pricing - EIZO is asking users to contact them directly for orders and pricing. That serves as a warning, if any more were needed: this won't come cheap.
Microsoft Partners With Spotify in XBOX Game Pass
Microsoft today announced a new partnership with Spotify for new users of their Xbox Game Pass service. The new partnership is only open for U.S. and U.K residents, though - anyone else will have to pony up for both services, if interested. In essence, should you upgrade your existing Xbox Live subscription to Xbox Game Pass (either on PC or console), which you can currently do for just $1, you will also get access to Spotify's Premium plan for a long 6 months. Fuel for thought and whatever you feel like doing - just diving into one of the more than 100 entries into Microsoft's Game Pass, or the millions of songs available with Spotify.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce Hotfix Driver Version 436.51
NVIDIA today released an hotfix driver for their GeForce Suite. version 436.51 includes fixes specific for FIFA 19, FIFA 20 and Star Wars: Battlefront II, where these games would randomly crash to desktop; and also for Apex Legends, where the screen would intermittently flicker during gameplay. Other than that, there are no other changes compared to their latest Game Ready Drivers, version 436.48. Follow the NVIDIA link in the source to download this latest software suite, which apparently isn't being distributed over GeForce Experience.
GIGABYTE Launches X299X Motherboards
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today launched the X299X Series Motherboards based on the newly upgraded X299 chipset. With up to a 16-phase digital power design, GIGABYTE X299X motherboards raise the bar for performance on enthusiast grade Intel Core X processors. Coupled with an 8-DIMM Quad Channel DDR4 design with up to 256 GB memory support, the motherboards enable users to easily handle memory intensive tasks such as file conversion, video editing, and more. The new X299X stack features a trio of high-end models, the X299X DESIGNARE 10G, X299 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE, and the X299X AORUS MASTER, presenting users the most advanced tools for content creation, 3D modeling, audio/visual editing, and projects that require large-scale system resources, while also scratching that gaming itch for users who want to kick back and relax.
The GIGABYTE X299X lineup stands out with all-new power designs, thermal solutions, ultra-efficient data transmission for storage devices, and workstation graphics card certification. Features such as the lightning-quick Intel Thunderbolt 3 transmission interface, 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps network connectivity, multi-display configuration, M.2 Thermal Guard, PCIe slot armor, Smart Fan 5 and other GIGABYTE exclusive technology, enable users to put together their dream build so they can focus on sharpening their craft.
The GIGABYTE X299X lineup stands out with all-new power designs, thermal solutions, ultra-efficient data transmission for storage devices, and workstation graphics card certification. Features such as the lightning-quick Intel Thunderbolt 3 transmission interface, 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps network connectivity, multi-display configuration, M.2 Thermal Guard, PCIe slot armor, Smart Fan 5 and other GIGABYTE exclusive technology, enable users to put together their dream build so they can focus on sharpening their craft.
Colorful Launches the iGame GeForce RTX 2060 Super Neptune Lite OC
Colorful today unveiled the iGame GeForce RTX 2060 Super Neptune Lite OC, a liquid-cooled performance-segment graphics card that's possibly the most overkill custom-design implementation of the RTX 2060 Super. The idea behind this card is to ensure the GPU runs at temperatures below 65°C even under stress, along with a relaxed power-limit, so the GPU can enjoy some of its highest boost frequencies. The card offers dual-BIOS, and the higher power-limit is enabled with the secondary "Turbo" BIOS. Out of the box, the card ticks at 1650 MHz boost, but a software-based one-click OC runs it at 1815 MHz. The memory is untouched at 14 Gbps (GDDR6-effective).
The star attraction with the Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2060 Super Neptune Lite OC is its closed-loop all-in-one liquid cooling solution. It uses a pump-block to pull heat from not just the GPU, but also the card's memory and VRM over a secondary base-plate. There's no additional fan on the card. The block is plumbed to a 120 mm x 120 mm radiator, which is ventilated by a single 120 mm PWM fan. A full-length back-plate is included. The card draws power from a pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors (clearly overkill for the card's 175 W TDP). Display outputs include three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0b. The card is of standard height, and is 28 cm in length. Colorful didn't reveal pricing.
The star attraction with the Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2060 Super Neptune Lite OC is its closed-loop all-in-one liquid cooling solution. It uses a pump-block to pull heat from not just the GPU, but also the card's memory and VRM over a secondary base-plate. There's no additional fan on the card. The block is plumbed to a 120 mm x 120 mm radiator, which is ventilated by a single 120 mm PWM fan. A full-length back-plate is included. The card draws power from a pair of 8-pin PCIe power connectors (clearly overkill for the card's 175 W TDP). Display outputs include three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0b. The card is of standard height, and is 28 cm in length. Colorful didn't reveal pricing.
Intel Submits USB4 Support to the Linux Kernel
As we are nearing the launch of USB4, which will feature Thunderbolt 3 like speeds of up to 40 Gbps, PCIe and DisplayPort support within USB-C form factor, there are already drivers showing up to support the new standard and ensure the launch and transition to the newest USB version will go smoothly.
According to the finds of Phoronix, Intel's open-source engineers have been working on a patch to support the new standard in the Linux kernel. Being based on Thunderbolt 3, the bring-up of USB4 isn't very difficult as it allows for a lot of code reuse, making things easier for kernel developers. Only 22 patches were submitted that resulted in under 4,000 lines of new code in total. For now, the support is in the stage of a pull request, so it should go mainstream very soon, most likely with the release of Linux kernel 5.5, if other features like power management are worked out soon.
According to the finds of Phoronix, Intel's open-source engineers have been working on a patch to support the new standard in the Linux kernel. Being based on Thunderbolt 3, the bring-up of USB4 isn't very difficult as it allows for a lot of code reuse, making things easier for kernel developers. Only 22 patches were submitted that resulted in under 4,000 lines of new code in total. For now, the support is in the stage of a pull request, so it should go mainstream very soon, most likely with the release of Linux kernel 5.5, if other features like power management are worked out soon.
Microsoft Unveils First Intel "Lakefield" Device and Surface Lineup with 10th Gen Core
Today, at a launch event in New York City, Microsoft previewed the Surface Neo, a category-defining device co-engineered with Intel. The dual-screen device will be powered by Intel's unique processor, code-named "Lakefield," that features an industry-first architecture combining a hybrid CPU with Intel's Foveros 3D packaging technology. It offers device-makers more flexibility to innovate on design, form factor and experience.
"The innovation we've achieved with Lakefield gives our industry partners the ability to deliver on new experiences, and Microsoft's Neo is trailblazing a new category of devices. Intel is committed to pushing the boundaries of computing by delivering key technology innovations for partners across the ecosystem," said Gregory Bryant, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group.
"The innovation we've achieved with Lakefield gives our industry partners the ability to deliver on new experiences, and Microsoft's Neo is trailblazing a new category of devices. Intel is committed to pushing the boundaries of computing by delivering key technology innovations for partners across the ecosystem," said Gregory Bryant, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group.
Wednesday, October 2nd 2019
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Memory
Motherboards
Networking
Mushkin Redline DDR4-3200 MHz CL16 2x8GB Review
Memory prices are finally back in a reasonable range, and there is no shortage of affordable high-performance DDR4 kits to choose from. That's why Mushkin went old school with the new Redline DDR4 3200 MHz kit. A bright red heat spreader and eye catching profile combined with a reasonable price tag make the Mushkin Redline a great choice for the RGB LED averse that still want a little spice in their build.
Cooler Master Launches ELV8 Universal Graphics Card Holder
Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative computer components introduces the ELV8 Universal Graphics Card Holder. Featuring vibrant RGB lighting, the ELV8 features a sleek design alternative to the traditional vertical GPU holder. The ELV8 features an elegant design equipped with an addressable RGB strip that illuminates the aesthetics of your PC build. Designed to enhance overall user experience, the ELV8 is compatible with major motherboard manufacturers and can sync with RGB-ready software.
The GPU holder is designed to attach to the motherboard's PCI-E slot, allowing a wide range of case compatibility. The ELV8's adjustable supporter bracket accommodates graphics cards of all sizes, allowing builders the freedom of choice. The ELV8 prevents the GPU from potential long-usage damage, including possible bending and sagging. Additionally, the GPU holder reduces stress on the motherboard PCI-E slot by supporting the GPU's overall weight.
The GPU holder is designed to attach to the motherboard's PCI-E slot, allowing a wide range of case compatibility. The ELV8's adjustable supporter bracket accommodates graphics cards of all sizes, allowing builders the freedom of choice. The ELV8 prevents the GPU from potential long-usage damage, including possible bending and sagging. Additionally, the GPU holder reduces stress on the motherboard PCI-E slot by supporting the GPU's overall weight.
Intel's STORM Presents SAPM Paper on Hardware-Based Protection Against Side-Channel Execution Flaws
Intel's STrategic Offensive Research & Mitigations (STORM) department, which the company set up back in 2017 when it learned of side-channel attack vulnerabilities in its CPUs, have penned a paper detailing a proposed solution to the problem. Intel's offensive security research team counts with around 60 workers who focus on proactive security testing and in-depth investigations. Of that group, STORM is a subset of around 12 individuals who specifically work on prototyping exploits to show their practical impact. The solution proposed by this group is essentially a new memory-based hardware fix, going by the name of SAPM (Speculative-Access Protected Memory). The new solution would implement a resistant hardware fix in the CPU's memory that essentially includes blocks for known speculative-access hacks, such as the ones that hit Intel CPUs hard such as Meltdown, Foreshadow, MDS, SpectreRSB and Spoiler.
For now, the proposed solution is only at a "theory and possible implementation options" level. It will take a long time for it to find its way inside working Intel CPUs - if it ever does, really, since for now, it's just a speculative solution. A multitude of tests have to be done in order for its implementation to be approved and finally etched into good old silicon. Intel's STORM says that the SAPM approach would carry a performance hit; however, the group also calculates it to be "potentially lesser" than the current impact of all released software mitigations. Since the solution doesn't address every discovered side-channel attack specifically, but addresses the type of back-end operations that concern these attacks, the team is confident this solution would harden Intel CPUs against (most of) both known and not-yet-known speculative execution hacks.
For now, the proposed solution is only at a "theory and possible implementation options" level. It will take a long time for it to find its way inside working Intel CPUs - if it ever does, really, since for now, it's just a speculative solution. A multitude of tests have to be done in order for its implementation to be approved and finally etched into good old silicon. Intel's STORM says that the SAPM approach would carry a performance hit; however, the group also calculates it to be "potentially lesser" than the current impact of all released software mitigations. Since the solution doesn't address every discovered side-channel attack specifically, but addresses the type of back-end operations that concern these attacks, the team is confident this solution would harden Intel CPUs against (most of) both known and not-yet-known speculative execution hacks.
Acer ConceptD Monitors for Creators Now Available
Acer America announced today that its new 27-inch ConceptD monitors are now available in the United States. These monitors were designed for creators, including graphic designers, filmmakers, architects and engineers. The ConceptD CP7271K P and ConceptD CP3271K P support creative professionals with the premium performance required for color-critical and graphic-intensive projects.
Color accuracy, resolution and the ability to work with HDR content are top priorities for creative professionals who need a monitor that can display finely detailed design concepts and 3D content. Those who work with video require a high refresh rate, critical for ensuring blur-free images.
Color accuracy, resolution and the ability to work with HDR content are top priorities for creative professionals who need a monitor that can display finely detailed design concepts and 3D content. Those who work with video require a high refresh rate, critical for ensuring blur-free images.
SteelSeries Announces Sensei Ten Gaming Mouse
SteelSeries today announced the release of the Sensei 10 gaming mouse. The Sensei Ten features the company's new TrueMove Pro sensor, co-designed in partnership with PixArt. The collaboration speaks of a resulting sensor that manages to capture perfect 1:1 movement, a precision of 18,000 CPI and a 450 inches-per-second (IPS) tracking speed. There is compensation for angled mouse movements, preventing acceleration or deceleration of the mouse movement should you apply a slight angle to your wrist for angled drops, tilt slams and quick flicks.
The Sensei ten sports a neutral, ambidextrous design with eight total keys, on-board memory for storing up to five profile settings and device configurations, and the mechanical switches have been rated for 60 million clicks. References to a high-grade polymer design and a two-zone RGB lighting system round out the features. The SteelSeries Sensei Ten is now available for £69.99 or €79.99.
The Sensei ten sports a neutral, ambidextrous design with eight total keys, on-board memory for storing up to five profile settings and device configurations, and the mechanical switches have been rated for 60 million clicks. References to a high-grade polymer design and a two-zone RGB lighting system round out the features. The SteelSeries Sensei Ten is now available for £69.99 or €79.99.
AMD and Microsoft Announce New 15 Inch Thin and Light Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
Today, AMD and Microsoft announced the first-ever 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop powered by new AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processors. A significant, multi-year co-engineering program between AMD and Microsoft at the silicon, platform, and software levels created this 15" Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 with a perfect balance of performance, battery life, and sleek and lightweight design. Combining world-class compute and graphics performance with a fully optimized, rearchitected system software stack including AMD Radeon FreeSync display technology, Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 is designed for creative professionals, students, gamers on the go, and business users who value the large screen experience alongside portability. The custom AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processors and optimized software highlight the latest example in the multi-year collaboration between AMD and Microsoft, first established more than a decade ago for the Microsoft Xbox and now spanning from Azure to Surface to xCloud and Project Scarlett.
Alphacool Unveils Eisblock Aurora Plexi GPX-A Water Blocks for Radeon RX 5700 Series
Alphacool today unveiled the Eisblock Aurora Plexi GPX-A line of full-coverage water blocks for a range of custom-design AMD Radeon RX 5700 series graphics cards. The lineup includes a model for the Sapphire RX 5700 XT Nitro+, one for the PowerColor Red Devil and Red Dragon models of RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT, and one for the MSI RX 5700 XT Gaming X. The common element between the three is a combination of nickel-plated copper primary material, mated with a clear acrylic top. The three weigh roughly 1.2 kg, and feature mount hole spacing aligning with PCBs from the three brands. Available now, the blocks cost 109.94€ a piece.
The Sapphire-specific model is compatible only with the RX 5700 XT Nitro+, and measures 260 mm x 141 mm x 23 mm (LxHxW). The PowerColor-specific model, which supports the common PCB PowerColor uses across its Red Devil and Red Dragon models based on the RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT, measures 238 mm x 143 mm x 23 mm. The MSI-specific model is the longest among the three, measuring 293 mm x 139.3 mm x 22.5 mm, supporting the RX 5700 XT Gaming X. All three support standard G 1/4" fittings.
The Sapphire-specific model is compatible only with the RX 5700 XT Nitro+, and measures 260 mm x 141 mm x 23 mm (LxHxW). The PowerColor-specific model, which supports the common PCB PowerColor uses across its Red Devil and Red Dragon models based on the RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT, measures 238 mm x 143 mm x 23 mm. The MSI-specific model is the longest among the three, measuring 293 mm x 139.3 mm x 22.5 mm, supporting the RX 5700 XT Gaming X. All three support standard G 1/4" fittings.
Intel Readies the i225-V "Foxville" Low-cost 2.5 Gbps Ethernet PHY
Intel is readying the i225-V "Foxville," its new generation of low-cost Ethernet PHY controllers for client-segment motherboards and notebooks. With it, the company will be mainstreaming 2.5 Gbps as the client-segment wired-networking standard, after nearly 15 years of 1 GbE dominance. The i225-V is expected to feature in the upcoming wave of socket LGA2066 motherboards for Intel's "Cascade Lake-X" HEDT processors, followed by the company's 400-series chipset that launches alongside the "Comet Lake-S" MSDT processors. The i225-V isn't the first of its kind, with the likes of Realtek and Broadcom having already launched 2.5 GbE PHYs. The Intel chip, however, is expected to mainstream the standard as it's currently the most popular GbE PHY brand with the success of the i219-V and i218-V.
Much like the i219-V, the i225-V is a low-cost PHY that relies on PCH-based Ethernet MAC and its proprietary PCIe-based bus that runs at half the data-rate of PCIe. This is precisely why the i219-V doesn't feature on AMD motherboards, but rather its pricier sibling, the i211-AT, which comes with an integrated MAC and a standard PCIe interface. Both chips are known to offer identical throughput performance, however, the i211-AT edges ahead with some features such as TCP segmentation, direct cache access, etc. The i219-V sells for as little as $1.5 per chip in high-volume reels to motherboard manufacturers, and the i225-V is expected to be priced roughly similar. In contrast, the i211-AT goes for almost $3.25 a pop. Intel is yet to publish documentation that details software features of the i225-V, but the Linux community is already on the job at developing drivers. 2.5 GbE uses existing Cat5E/Cat6 cabling requirements as 1 GbE, and hence has a better chance at mainstreaming compared to 10 GbE, which has been around for a decade, with little success in the client segment.
Much like the i219-V, the i225-V is a low-cost PHY that relies on PCH-based Ethernet MAC and its proprietary PCIe-based bus that runs at half the data-rate of PCIe. This is precisely why the i219-V doesn't feature on AMD motherboards, but rather its pricier sibling, the i211-AT, which comes with an integrated MAC and a standard PCIe interface. Both chips are known to offer identical throughput performance, however, the i211-AT edges ahead with some features such as TCP segmentation, direct cache access, etc. The i219-V sells for as little as $1.5 per chip in high-volume reels to motherboard manufacturers, and the i225-V is expected to be priced roughly similar. In contrast, the i211-AT goes for almost $3.25 a pop. Intel is yet to publish documentation that details software features of the i225-V, but the Linux community is already on the job at developing drivers. 2.5 GbE uses existing Cat5E/Cat6 cabling requirements as 1 GbE, and hence has a better chance at mainstreaming compared to 10 GbE, which has been around for a decade, with little success in the client segment.
Logitech G Introduces PRO X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Logitech G, a brand of Logitech and leading innovator of gaming technologies and gear, today unveiled the Logitech G PRO X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. This new keyboard features multiple switch types including Clicky, Linear and Tactile in a tenkeyless design to fit the needs of current and aspiring esports pros.
"I loved the original PRO keyboard, but really wanted a version with clicky switches," said Broken Blade, TSM League of Legends. "Now that I have a PRO keyboard with blue switches, I can't wait to use this in our next tournament." Designed to the exacting standards of the world's top esports professionals, the PRO X gaming keyboard is built to provide esports professionals and competitive gamers with competition-grade reliability and features designed to enhance gaming without getting in the way.
"I loved the original PRO keyboard, but really wanted a version with clicky switches," said Broken Blade, TSM League of Legends. "Now that I have a PRO keyboard with blue switches, I can't wait to use this in our next tournament." Designed to the exacting standards of the world's top esports professionals, the PRO X gaming keyboard is built to provide esports professionals and competitive gamers with competition-grade reliability and features designed to enhance gaming without getting in the way.
Tuesday, October 1st 2019
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Fractal Design Ion+ Series 760 W Review
The Fractal Design Ion+ 760P is a very quiet high-performance power supply of fine build quality. Its highly flexible cables, which lack in-line caps, make cable routing and management considerably easier. Costing about as much as PSUs with lower efficiency certifications, it also won't drain your wallet.
Patriot P200 1 TB Review
Priced at just $89.99 for the 1 TB version, the Patriot P200 is the perfect solution for users wanting large affordable storage to keep all their games on SSD. Even though it's based on TLC, sustained write performance is amazing, and there is no visible speed drop.
BitFenix Announces the Nova Mesh TG 4 ARGB Chassis
The BitFenix NOVA MESH TG is the rebirth of the popular BitFenix NOVA with re-engineered designs and features to offer the best balance of performance, looks and ease of use. NOVA MESH TG represents not only BitFenix's long standing theme of simple elegance, but also the dedication towards offering a well rounded PC chassis. The core of the NOVA MESH TG is its clean design, well balanced between a perfectly organized interior structure and the sleek exterior design complemented with smoked tempered glass side panel. Its design boasts of multiple features that enhance the ease of installation and use such as the, user friendly installation, noise dampening material, removable high density mesh dust filter and dual chamber design.
BitFenix NOVA MESH TG is an all-rounder offering great airflow coupled with modern elegant design which makes it an ideal choice for most user scenarios. With clean interior, optimized airflow and extensive compatibility, the NOVA MESH offers a great balance in performance and looks in it's class. It is specifically design with ease of use in mind with easy installation and maintenance features. All this is topped off with a Tempered Glass side panel to show off the core components of the system.
BitFenix NOVA MESH TG is an all-rounder offering great airflow coupled with modern elegant design which makes it an ideal choice for most user scenarios. With clean interior, optimized airflow and extensive compatibility, the NOVA MESH offers a great balance in performance and looks in it's class. It is specifically design with ease of use in mind with easy installation and maintenance features. All this is topped off with a Tempered Glass side panel to show off the core components of the system.
Intel 10th Gen Core X "Cascade Lake" HEDT Processors Launch on October 7
October 7 promises to be an action-packed day, with not just AMD's launch of its Radeon RX 5500 series graphics card, but also Intel's 10th generation Core X "Cascade Lake" HEDT processors in the LGA2066 package. With AMD having achieved near-parity with Intel on IPC, the focus with the 10th generation Core X will be on price-performance, delivering double the number of cores to the Dollar compared to the previous generation. Intel will nearly halve the "Dollars per core" metric of these processors down to roughly $57 per core compared to $103 per core of the 9th generation Core X. This means the 10-core/20-thread model that the series starts with, will be priced under $600.
The first wave of these processors will include the 10-core/20-thread Core i9-10900XE, followed by the 12-core/24-thread i9-10920XE around the $700-mark, the 14-core/28-thread i9-10940XE around the $800-mark, and the range-topping 18-core/28-thread i9-10960XE at $999, nearly half that of the previous-generation i9-9980XE. There is a curious lack of a 16-core model. These chips feature a 44-lane PCI-Express gen 3.0 root complex, a quad-channel DDR4 memory interface supporting up to 256 GB of DDR4-2933 memory (native speed), and compatibility with existing socket LGA2066 motherboards with a BIOS update. The chips also feature an updated AES-512 ISA, the new DLBoost instruction set with a fixed-function hardware that accelerates neural net training by 5 times, and an updated Turbo Boost Max algorithm. Intel will extensively market these chips to creators and PC enthusiasts. October 7 will see a paper-launch, followed by November market-availability.
The first wave of these processors will include the 10-core/20-thread Core i9-10900XE, followed by the 12-core/24-thread i9-10920XE around the $700-mark, the 14-core/28-thread i9-10940XE around the $800-mark, and the range-topping 18-core/28-thread i9-10960XE at $999, nearly half that of the previous-generation i9-9980XE. There is a curious lack of a 16-core model. These chips feature a 44-lane PCI-Express gen 3.0 root complex, a quad-channel DDR4 memory interface supporting up to 256 GB of DDR4-2933 memory (native speed), and compatibility with existing socket LGA2066 motherboards with a BIOS update. The chips also feature an updated AES-512 ISA, the new DLBoost instruction set with a fixed-function hardware that accelerates neural net training by 5 times, and an updated Turbo Boost Max algorithm. Intel will extensively market these chips to creators and PC enthusiasts. October 7 will see a paper-launch, followed by November market-availability.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce 436.48 Game Ready Drivers
NVIDIA today released its latest GeForce software suite. Version 436.48 WHQL of these drivers come game-ready for the week's biggest AAA game release, Tom Clancy's "Ghost Recon: Breakpoint," and "Asgard's Wrath." The drivers also add support for the HTC VIVE Cosmos VR headset. Among the fixes with this release are an application crash with Tom Clancy's "The Division 2" in DirectX 12 mode, an error when trying to invoke GeForce Experience Freestyle or Ansel via hotkeys in games that use the Vulkan API, game crashes with "UBOAT," missing objects in "Tradesmen OS3DE," and a ghosting effect observed in Maxon Cinema 4D in with certain brushes. Grab the driver from the link below.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 436.48 WHQL
The change-log follows.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 436.48 WHQL
Cooler Master Debuts New CPU Air Cooler MasterAir MA620M
Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative computer components introduces the MasterAir MA620M CPU Air Cooler. Continuing the renowned MasterAir Series, the MA620M are dual aluminium towers equipped with a newly designed cross-platform mounting system to provide maximum air cooling.
Peak Performance, Unique Aesthetic
The MA620M features a unique dual tower heatsink with enlarged fins and utilizes 6 copper heat pipes for optimal air flow and cooling performance. Inspired by a stealth-like aesthetic design, the MA620M employs unique lighting effects across the top cover of the cooler, powered by addressable RGB.
Peak Performance, Unique Aesthetic
The MA620M features a unique dual tower heatsink with enlarged fins and utilizes 6 copper heat pipes for optimal air flow and cooling performance. Inspired by a stealth-like aesthetic design, the MA620M employs unique lighting effects across the top cover of the cooler, powered by addressable RGB.
AMD to Unveil Radeon RX 5500 on October 7
It turns out that the Radeon RX 5500 is arriving a lot sooner than expected, with VideoCardz reporting an October 7th product launch for the card. It's also being reported that the SKU will launch as the Radeon RX 5500 XT, with board partner GIGABYTE being ready with half a dozen custom-design cards, all of which with 8 GB of memory. In a separate report, VideoCardz also confirmed that the RX 5500 series will be based on the latest "Navi" family of GPUs that use the company's latest RDNA architecture, and will be built on the 7 nm silicon fabrication process. What's more, the RX 5500 will reportedly use 8 GB of modern GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit wide memory bus. A WCCFTech report predicts the RX 5500 (XT) will feature 22 RDNA compute units, which works out to 1,408 stream processors.
With these specs, we can see where AMD is going with the RX 5500 (XT). The company wants a viable successor to the Radeon RX 580 or even the RX 590, which it can sell around the $200-250 price-range, competing with a spectrum of NVIDIA GPUs, including the GeForce GTX 1650 and the GTX 1660. The card would target 1080p AAA gaming with high-thru-ultra settings, and 1080p eSports gaming at high refresh-rates. NVIDIA is already preparing a response to the RX 5500 in the form of the GTX 1650 Super and the GTX 1660 Super, which come with beefed up specs.
With these specs, we can see where AMD is going with the RX 5500 (XT). The company wants a viable successor to the Radeon RX 580 or even the RX 590, which it can sell around the $200-250 price-range, competing with a spectrum of NVIDIA GPUs, including the GeForce GTX 1650 and the GTX 1660. The card would target 1080p AAA gaming with high-thru-ultra settings, and 1080p eSports gaming at high refresh-rates. NVIDIA is already preparing a response to the RX 5500 in the form of the GTX 1650 Super and the GTX 1660 Super, which come with beefed up specs.
IBASE Unveils Compact AMD Ryzen SBC Featuring Four Independent 4K Display Outputs
IBASE Technology Inc., a world leading provider of industrial computers and embedded computing solutions, releases the IB918 AMD Ryzen 3.5-inch Disk-Size SBC based on the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000/R1000 SoC. The IB918 allows system designers to create feature rich systems targeting panel PC, kiosk, POS, medical display and industrial applications.
Generating stunning 4K Ultra High-Definition resolution for sharper images provided by the integrated Vega GPU, IB918 can drive up to four independent displays via two HDMI (2.0a), a 24-bit dual channel LVDS and an eDP graphics output. It has two SO-DIMM sockets supporting fast data transfers with up to 32 GB DDR4-2400 memory and ECC for data integrity. Flexible I/O connectivity and expansion ports come in the form of one USB 2.0, four USB 3.1, one SATA III, four COM, a 12 V~24V DC input and two M.2 sockets (M/E Key).
Generating stunning 4K Ultra High-Definition resolution for sharper images provided by the integrated Vega GPU, IB918 can drive up to four independent displays via two HDMI (2.0a), a 24-bit dual channel LVDS and an eDP graphics output. It has two SO-DIMM sockets supporting fast data transfers with up to 32 GB DDR4-2400 memory and ECC for data integrity. Flexible I/O connectivity and expansion ports come in the form of one USB 2.0, four USB 3.1, one SATA III, four COM, a 12 V~24V DC input and two M.2 sockets (M/E Key).
ENERMAX Announces LIQMAX III ARGB CPU Cooler
ENERMAX, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance PC hardware products, launches a new All-In-One CPU liquid cooler, LIQMAX III ARGB, designed to display fascinating addressable RGB lighting effects by synchronizing with ASUS Aura Sync, ASRock Polychrome, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion and MSI Mystic Light Sync. Available in 120 mm, 240 mm and 360 mm, LIQMAX III ARGB series is compatible with both Intel and AMD CPU sockets (except socket TR4/SP3).
The premium Aurabelt water block and hub-lighting RGB fan can present 16.8 million RGB lighting illumination by synchronizing with motherboards that have 5 V addressable RGB header. Users can select the preferred lighting styles via the Addressable RGB motherboard software. In addition, the 360 mm radiator version comes along with a control box which allows users to adjust the preferred lighting effects (10 pre-set effects), colors, brightness and speed without software needed.
The premium Aurabelt water block and hub-lighting RGB fan can present 16.8 million RGB lighting illumination by synchronizing with motherboards that have 5 V addressable RGB header. Users can select the preferred lighting styles via the Addressable RGB motherboard software. In addition, the 360 mm radiator version comes along with a control box which allows users to adjust the preferred lighting effects (10 pre-set effects), colors, brightness and speed without software needed.
Gaming PCs and Monitors Achieve Double Digit Growth in Q2 2019: IDC
Global shipments of gaming desktops, notebooks, and monitors reached 10.4 million units in the second quarter of 2019 (2Q19), up 16.5% year over year, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Gaming Tracker. A combination of better comparisons against an abysmal 2018, easing CPU shortages, and improved GPU inventory helped the overall market achieve growth.
Gaming notebooks continued to hold the largest share of the gaming device market in 2Q19 and grew 12.7% year over year, boosted by the launch of models that support ray tracing along a wide spectrum of price points. Gaming desktops, which saw a string of tough quarters from 2018 thru the first quarter of 2019, finally recovered with shipments growing 3.3% year over year due to an improved supply of Intel CPUs, an easing of previously excessive GPU inventory, and a revamped pricing structure for ray tracing-capable GPUs. Fears of additional price hikes due to Chinese import tariffs also played a role, boosting overall device shipments in the U.S. Finally, demand for gaming monitors remained strong, posting a record high quarter in volume and continuing to outpace the other two categories in terms of year-over-year growth.
Gaming notebooks continued to hold the largest share of the gaming device market in 2Q19 and grew 12.7% year over year, boosted by the launch of models that support ray tracing along a wide spectrum of price points. Gaming desktops, which saw a string of tough quarters from 2018 thru the first quarter of 2019, finally recovered with shipments growing 3.3% year over year due to an improved supply of Intel CPUs, an easing of previously excessive GPU inventory, and a revamped pricing structure for ray tracing-capable GPUs. Fears of additional price hikes due to Chinese import tariffs also played a role, boosting overall device shipments in the U.S. Finally, demand for gaming monitors remained strong, posting a record high quarter in volume and continuing to outpace the other two categories in terms of year-over-year growth.
Kioxia, Formerly Toshiba Memory, Officially Begins Operations
Kioxia Holdings Corporation, formerly Toshiba Memory Holdings Corporation, today announced that it is officially operating under its new corporate identity, effective immediately. "Kioxia's official brand launch is an important step in both our evolution as an independent company and our commitment to lead the industry into the new era of memory," said Stacy J. Smith, executive chairman of Kioxia Holdings Corporation. "The company will build on its history as a world leader in memory solutions to not only meet the memory demands of the future, but to also fulfill our mission to uplift the world with memory."
With its official launch, Kioxia has unveiled its new corporate logo and brand identity. The silver of Kioxia's new logo will be the company's official corporate color, meant to represent the superior quality of its memory technology. In addition to silver, the company will have communication colors including, light blue, magenta, light green, orange, yellow and light gray.
With its official launch, Kioxia has unveiled its new corporate logo and brand identity. The silver of Kioxia's new logo will be the company's official corporate color, meant to represent the superior quality of its memory technology. In addition to silver, the company will have communication colors including, light blue, magenta, light green, orange, yellow and light gray.
Windows 10 2H19 Update to Have "Favored Core" Awareness, Increase Single-threaded Performance
The next big update to Windows 10, slated for some time later this year, will have awareness to "favored cores." This leverages the ability of some of the latest processors to tell the operating system which of its cores are marginally "better" than the other, so it could push more of its single-threaded workloads to that core, for the highest boost clocks. Not all cores on a multi-core processor die are created equal, due to minor variations in manufacturing. Intel processors featuring Turbo Boost Max 3.0, as well as AMD Ryzen processors, have the ability to tell the operating system which of its cores are "better" than the other, which core is the "best" on the die, which is the "best" in a particular CCX (in case of "Zen" chips), and so on.
The best cores on a silicon are called "favored cores," and proper OS-level optimization could improve performance on 1-4 threaded workloads by "up to 15 percent," according to Intel. This, however, requires the processor to support Turbo Boost Max 3.0, which currently only HEDT processors do in the Intel camp. Over in the AMD front, Microsoft introduced more awareness to the multi-CCX and multi-die design of "Zen" processors with Windows 10 1903, and schedules workloads to make the most out of Zen's multi-core topology. "Zen" processors are able to report their best cores per CCX, per die, and per package, and the Ryzen Master software already displays this information, however, Windows hasn't been able to exploit favored cores. This will change with the upcoming major Windows 10 update.
The best cores on a silicon are called "favored cores," and proper OS-level optimization could improve performance on 1-4 threaded workloads by "up to 15 percent," according to Intel. This, however, requires the processor to support Turbo Boost Max 3.0, which currently only HEDT processors do in the Intel camp. Over in the AMD front, Microsoft introduced more awareness to the multi-CCX and multi-die design of "Zen" processors with Windows 10 1903, and schedules workloads to make the most out of Zen's multi-core topology. "Zen" processors are able to report their best cores per CCX, per die, and per package, and the Ryzen Master software already displays this information, however, Windows hasn't been able to exploit favored cores. This will change with the upcoming major Windows 10 update.
Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 iGPU Beats AMD RX Vega 10: Benchmarks
Intel is taking big strides forward with its Gen11 integrated graphics architecture. Its performance-configured variant, the Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7, featured in the Core i7-1065G7 "Ice Lake" processor, is found to beat AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 iGPU, found in the Ryzen 7 2700U processor ("Raven Ridge"), by as much as 16 percent in 3DMark 11, a staggering 23 percent in 3DMark FireStrike 1080p. Notebook Check put the two iGPUs through these, and a few game tests to derive an initial verdict that Intel's iGPU has caught up with AMD's RX Vega 10. AMD has since updated its iGPU incrementally with the "Picasso" silicon, providing it with higher clock speeds and updated display and multimedia engines.
The machines tested here are the Lenovo Ideapad S540-14API for the AMD chip, and Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL with the i7-1065G7. The Iris Plus G7 packs 64 Gen11 execution units, while the Radeon RX Vega 10 has 640 stream processors based on the "Vega" architecture. Over in the gaming performance, and we see the Intel iGPU 2 percent faster than the RX Vega 10 at Bioshock Infinite at 1080p, 12 percent slower at Dota 2 Reborn 1080p, and 8 percent faster at XPlane 11.11.
The machines tested here are the Lenovo Ideapad S540-14API for the AMD chip, and Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL with the i7-1065G7. The Iris Plus G7 packs 64 Gen11 execution units, while the Radeon RX Vega 10 has 640 stream processors based on the "Vega" architecture. Over in the gaming performance, and we see the Intel iGPU 2 percent faster than the RX Vega 10 at Bioshock Infinite at 1080p, 12 percent slower at Dota 2 Reborn 1080p, and 8 percent faster at XPlane 11.11.
GlobalFoundries to Go Public in 2022
GlobalFoundries is planning to sell a minority stake in the company through an IPO (initial public offering) in 2022, company CEO Tom Caulfield told the Wall Street Journal. In February, it was reported that with the discontinuation of the 7 nm development and sale of certain facilities, the perception was made that GloFo was looking to be acquired by another semiconductor company. The same course of actions could have also served as prelude to taking the company public, and as it turns out, GloFo is heading toward the latter.
TimesUnion comments that the decision to discontinue 7 nm development and shedding some assets slowed down development of future technologies, but returned the company to profitability, so it could be put up for an IPO. Caulfield didn't comment on what is the size of the stake sale, but the source comments it could be aimed at alleviating the strain on GloFo's original investors, the Abu Dhabi government, which has invested over $21 billion in the company over the past 10 years. GlobalFoundries was formed as AMD spun off its semiconductor business in 2009, with seed capital from the Abu Dhabi government. Over the decade, the company built fabs in New York state, and acquired fabs across Vermont, and Singapore, along with tech acquisition from IBM.
TimesUnion comments that the decision to discontinue 7 nm development and shedding some assets slowed down development of future technologies, but returned the company to profitability, so it could be put up for an IPO. Caulfield didn't comment on what is the size of the stake sale, but the source comments it could be aimed at alleviating the strain on GloFo's original investors, the Abu Dhabi government, which has invested over $21 billion in the company over the past 10 years. GlobalFoundries was formed as AMD spun off its semiconductor business in 2009, with seed capital from the Abu Dhabi government. Over the decade, the company built fabs in New York state, and acquired fabs across Vermont, and Singapore, along with tech acquisition from IBM.
Karen Walker Joins Intel as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Karen Walker, a veteran of more than 20 years of global technology industry marketing, will join Intel as senior vice president and chief marketing officer (CMO), effective Oct. 23. Walker will oversee Intel's global marketing group and be responsible for building and strengthening Intel's brand, supporting growth strategies, cultivating opportunities in new and existing markets, and increasing demand for Intel's products and solutions globally.
"Karen is a truly world-class CMO," said Bob Swan, Intel's CEO. "She has deep experience with many of our most valued customers and a keen understanding of what it will take to play an even larger role in their success. We are excited to have Karen on our leadership team."
"Karen is a truly world-class CMO," said Bob Swan, Intel's CEO. "She has deep experience with many of our most valued customers and a keen understanding of what it will take to play an even larger role in their success. We are excited to have Karen on our leadership team."
TSMC Files Complaints Against GlobalFoundries for Infringement of 25 Patents
TSMC, the world's leading global innovator in semiconductor manufacturing, filed multiple lawsuits on September 30, 2019 against GlobalFoundries in the United States, Germany and Singapore for its ongoing infringement of 25 TSMC patents by at least its 40nm, 28nm, 22nm, 14nm, and 12nm node processes. In the complaints, TSMC demands injunctions to stop GlobalFoundries' manufacture and sale of infringing semiconductor products. TSMC also seeks substantial monetary damages from GlobalFoundries for its sale of infringing semiconductor products and unlawful use of TSMC's patented semiconductor technologies.
The 25 TSMC patents in the complaints relate to a diverse set of technologies, including FinFET designs, shallow trench isolation techniques, double patterning methods, advanced seal rings and gate structures, and innovative contact etch stop layer designs. These specific technologies cover the core features of mature and advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes. The patents at issue comprise just a small portion of TSMC's extensive portfolio that numbers more than 37,000 granted patents worldwide. TSMC was ranked one of the top 10 companies for U.S. patent grants last year, for the third consecutive year.
The 25 TSMC patents in the complaints relate to a diverse set of technologies, including FinFET designs, shallow trench isolation techniques, double patterning methods, advanced seal rings and gate structures, and innovative contact etch stop layer designs. These specific technologies cover the core features of mature and advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes. The patents at issue comprise just a small portion of TSMC's extensive portfolio that numbers more than 37,000 granted patents worldwide. TSMC was ranked one of the top 10 companies for U.S. patent grants last year, for the third consecutive year.
Sep 1st, 2024 12:16 EDT
change timezone
Latest GPU Drivers
New Forum Posts
- anyone buy a high end gpu from a mining rig? got screwed, or was happy? (26)
- What is the best GPU manufacturer? (76)
- Unknown "rx 580's" not posting or crashing under load (8)
- Is BD PROCHOT only blocked after exiting Throttlestop? (16)
- Your PC ATM (34840)
- QHD 100Hz monitor $160 (3)
- What Windows is overall the best to you and why? (247)
- DTS DCH Driver for Realtek HDA [DTS:X APO4 + DTS Interactive] (1967)
- PC still keep rebooting with the error "Reported by component: Processor Core Error Source: Machine Check Exception Error Type: Cache Hierarchy Error (17)
- HELP: PC Won't Turn On (3)
Popular Reviews
- Star Wars Outlaws Performance Benchmark Review - 35 GPUs Tested
- Kingston NV3 Review - Much Improved Over NV2
- Star Wars Outlaws: DLSS vs. FSR vs. XeSS Comparison Review
- Granzon GAISC Digital CPU Water Block Review
- Black Myth: Wukong Handheld Performance Benchmark Review - Steam Deck and ROG Ally Tested
- Montech HyperFlow ARGB 360 AIO Review
- Black Myth Wukong In-Game Performance Benchmark Review - 35 GPUs Tested
- Yeyian Mirage X Review
- Black Myth Wukong: DLSS vs. FSR vs. XeSS Comparison Review
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Review - The New Flagship
Controversial News Posts
- Intel Stock Swandives 25% in Friday Trading Spooked by Quarterly Results (188)
- AnandTech Shuts Down, an Icon of Tech News and Reviews Rides into the Sunset (137)
- Puget Systems Releases CPU Failure Report: AMD CPUs Achieve Higher Failure Rate Than Intel 13th and 14th Generation (127)
- "Sinkclose" Vulnerability Affects Every AMD CPU Dating Back to 2006 (122)
- AMD Ryzen Branch Prediction Optimizations Now Available to Windows 11 23H2 (120)
- Intel Ships 0x129 Microcode Update for 13th and 14th Generation Processors with Stability Issues (119)
- Steam Survey July 2024 Update: Windows 10 Usage Records Uptick, Windows 11 Drops (115)
- AMD Readies Ryzen 5 5500X3D Socket AM4 Processor with 3D V-Cache (109)