Motherboard major MSI has reportedly began scaling down production of its Socket LGA1700 motherboards with DDR4 memory slots, in favor of those with the newer DDR5 slots. The move is aimed at gradually weaning the market off DDR4. The company has issued product discontinuance notices for several of its Intel 600-series and 700-series chipset motherboards that have DDR4 slots. Among the rather recently-announced products on the chopping block are the MPG Z790 Edge WiFi DDR4, Pro Z790-A WiFi DDR4, Pro Z790-P DDR4, and the DDR4 version of the MAG B760M Mortar. Meanwhile, DDR5 memory prices are on the chill, with the cheapest 16 GB (2x 8 GB) kit being priced at $60, and the cheapest 32 GB (2x 16 GB) one at $97.

In response to the increasing demand for powerful computing that can be relied on in a wide range of even the most challenging installation environments, leading industrial computing manufacturer and solution provider, OnLogic (www.onlogic.com), has unveiled their Helix 401 fanless industrial computer. The compact device is designed for use in edge computing, industry 4.0, Internet of Things (IoT), and many other emerging applications and will make its public debut at Embedded World 2023.

"You may never see them, but industrial computers are everywhere, working diligently to power technology solutions of every shape and size. These systems need to be small and reliable while still being just as powerful as high-end desktop machines," says Mike Walsh, Senior Product Manager at OnLogic. "The Helix 401 balances size and performance while providing a wide range of configuration possibilities to help users tailor it to their specific application. It's small enough to fit in your hand, similar in size to Intel's popular NUC, but capable enough to drive advanced automation solutions and power the next great smart agriculture, building automation or energy management innovation."

ASUS today announced the ExpertCenter PN64-E1, a mini PC powered by up to a 13th Gen Intel Core processor with up to DDR5-4800 memory and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. The PN64-E1 features two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, five USB ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 support, two HDMI, plus a configurable port for flexibility. In addition, the chassis provides quick access to the storage and memory modules for easy upgrades. Compared to the previous generation, the 13th Gen Intel Core processor that powers the PN64-E1 delivers up to 9% faster performance to enable smooth and efficient processing of intensive business applications. DDR5 memory offers considerably faster data speeds over DDR4, ensuring efficient productivity.

DFI, the global leader in embedded solutions, today announced their latest PCSF51 next-generation 1.8" Single Board Computer at Embedded World 2023. The 1.8" SBC powered by the revolutionary AMD Ryzen Embedded R2000 Processor, the PCSF51 features advanced graphics processing and computing capabilities in a miniature form factor. Equipped with flexible expandability and I/O versatility, this energy-efficient SBC is tailored for use in industrial applications, robotics, edge computing, AI vision systems, and more.

"By leveraging the latest AMD Ryzen Embedded R2000 Processor, we have achieved many advantages for the tiny yet powerful PCSF51," said DFI President Alexander Su. "We have a positive outlook for future Industrial Pi innovations." Compared to its previous generation GHF51 with the AMD Ryzen R1000 Processor, the latest R2000 processor built into the PCSF51 delivers upgraded performance with double the max CPU core count, scalability up to four CPU cores and eight threads, and a 50% increase in CPU power. Graphics performance is boosted by 15% with up to eight graphic compute units. The design of the PCSF51 has also been enhanced from the previous GHF51, with an easier-to-use on board power/reset and HDMI, in addition to a thinner thermal module. With rich multimedia capabilities, it can support ultra-high-resolution displays in 4K resolution.

AMD's entry-level Ryzen 3 4300G APU, which was being sold in the OEM/SI channels, is sneaking its way into the retail PIB space, with Japanese retailers listing it as a retail part. Until now, you could only get the 4300G as part of a pre-built, or as part of a retail "bundle," where they would simply pull one of these chips out of a tray, install it on an entry-level A520 or A320 chipset motherboard, and sell along with a stick of memory. The 4300G is commanding a roughly $100 (equivalent) price, which could make sense for entry-level mom-and-pop PCs.

The Ryzen 3 4300G is based on the 7 nm "Renoir" silicon, and is a Socket AM4 processor with integrated graphics. The processor has one of its two CCXs disabled, leaving you with a 4-core/8-thread CPU based on the "Zen 2" microarchitecture, that has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache shared among the four cores. The processor also features a dual-channel DDR4 memory interface, a PCI-Express Gen 3 interface, and an iGPU based on the Radeon "Vega" graphics architecture. It has a TDP of 65 W.

Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini computer solutions company, today announced a new Simply NUC branded mini PC product family called Chapel Rock. The ultracompact long life mini PC is built for several use cases, from embedded units like kiosks and vending machines, to edge devices like security systems and sensor arrays. Chapel Rock brings the same reliability and customizability as its predecessor, Chimney Rock, with upgrades like dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and the all-new 12th Gen Intel Architecture. Simply NUC is currently taking orders on Chapel Rock with units expected to ship by the end of March.

"Since launching our long life NUC product line, our customers have successfully leveraged these mini PCs for an array of applications where longer development cycles are required for validation and certifications," said Aaron Rowsell, Simply NUC CEO, "and we're thrilled to extend our long life NUC offering with Chapel Rock."

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is proud to announce the launch of four brand new motherboards - B760MZ-E PRO, B760MX2-E D4, B760MX2-E, and B760MX-E D4. These motherboards are tailored to meet the needs of a variety of target audiences, from content creators to home entertainment enthusiasts.

The B760MZ-E PRO motherboard is specifically designed for content creators who require a powerful and efficient system for photo and footage editing. This motherboard features the latest Intel B760 chipset and supports 12th/ 13th Generation Intel Core Processors. It supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 4.0, making it one of the advanced motherboards on the market. It also features 2.5 GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E module support for faster data transfer and connectivity. The B760MZ-E PRO also has a sleek design with LED ROCK ZONE and VIVID LED DJ RGB lighting, making it a stylish addition to any setup.

According to TrendForce's research, global DRAM revenue fell by 32.5% QoQ to US$12, 281 million for 4Q22. The QoQ decline for 4Q22 is larger than the QoQ decline of 28.8% for 3Q22 and comes close to the QoQ decline of 36% for the final quarter of 2008, when the global economy was in the midst of a major financial crisis. The main cause of the steep revenue drop in 4Q22 was the plummeting overall ASP. DRAM suppliers experienced a rapid accumulation of inventory in 3Q22 due to a freeze in buyers' demand. Subsequently, suppliers were much more energetic in price negotiations for 4Q22 contracts as they were struggling for market share. Among the major categories of DRAM products, server DRAM suffered the sharpest price drop in 4Q22. Contract prices of DDR4 and DDR5 server DRAM products registered QoQ drops of 23~28% and 30~35% respectively.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, today introduces two of their latest commercial motherboards, the TZ590-PRO DUO and the TZ590-PRO. Designed on Intel's Z590 single chip architecture, both TZ590-PRO series motherboards are optimized to extract the highest performance out of 10th / 11th Generation Intel Core processors.

With DDR4 RAM base and Intel 11th generation CPU, the TZ590-PRO and TZ590-PRO DUO have superior stability to handle the most demanding tasks, ideal for businesses, 3D content creators, AI integration systems and more. As ATX-based boards, the TZ590-PRO and PRO DUO offer a variety of features and functionality including 8 PCIe 3.0 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and an excellent power delivery system that provides users with seemingly limitless expansion capability. Additionally, the TZ590-PRO DUO supports up to 4 M.2 slots and 10 SATA III connectors (6 Gb/s) for reliable storage capability as well as business NAS setup.

With the new PRO and the FOCUS (E23), XMG introduces two laptop series on a similar hardware basis: Both feature Intel's Core i9-13900HX and NVIDIA graphics cards up to the GeForce RTX 4070. While the PRO 15 and PRO 17 are slightly thinner as gaming workstations and boast more extensive connectivity, the FOCUS scores at a more affordable price and is not only available in 15.6 and 17.3-inch versions, but also in a 16-inch format. For the laptops originally designed as an entry-level series, the hardware upgrades mean a significant upgrade: the FOCUS series moves closer to the PRO laptops.

The key components found in the new XMG PRO 15 and PRO 17 as well as the XMG FOCUS 15, FOCUS 16 and FOCUS 17 are almost identical. All laptops employ Intel's Core i9-13900HX with 24 cores (8 P-cores, 16 E-cores) and 32 threads. The freely configurable graphics card options each include NVIDIA's new, DLSS-3-capable GeForce RTX 4050 (FOCUS only) as well as 4060 and 4070 (FOCUS and PRO) with a maximum graphics power rating of up to 140 watts (115 watts TGP plus 25 watts Dynamic Boost 2.0). However, since the clock behaviour and the actual power consumption of the GPUs in the new generation are subject to much more restrictive, application-specific specifications from NVIDIA, the maximum values are only achieved in synthetic stress tests such as Furmark - according to the official requirements of the graphics chip manufacturer.

Getac has today announced the expansion of its flagship X600 rugged mobile workstation range with the launch of the X600 Server and X600 Pro-PCI. The new models will sit alongside the recently launched X600 and X600 Pro, creating a comprehensive lineup of rugged mobile workstations that are purpose-built to meet the demands of professionals working in challenging industries, such as defence, manufacturing and oil & gas.

X600 Server: The fully rugged mobile server
The all-new Getac X600 Server delivers a powerful commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) rugged mobile server that can be folded to a slim profile for easy transportation.

ASUS today announced three new and updated AMD-powered models in its popular Vivobook Classic series of everyday laptops: the 14-inch Vivobook 14 OLED (M1405), the 15.6-inch Vivobook 15 OLED (M1505), and the 16-inch Vivobook 16 (M1605).

These new laptops deliver a stunning visual experience. Vivobook 14 OLED and 15 OLED feature superb OLED NanoEdge Pantone Validated displays with up to a 2.8K (2880 x 1620) resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 0.2 millisecond response time. Vivobook 14 OLED and Vivobook 16 have an expansive 16:10 aspect-ratio display, while Vivobook 15 OLED has a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. The NanoEdge OLED displays offer up to a 1.000,000:1 contrast ratio with a screen-to-body ratio of up to 86.5%. All displays additionally have TÜV Rheinland low blue-light certification to ensure eye comfort during long viewing sessions.

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a world-renowned manufacturer of desktop components, laptops, desktops, AIO PCs, and storage, launches the B760 Series motherboards for the 13th Gen and 12th Gen Intel Core processors. The Intel B760 Series motherboards are ideal gaming and content creation with DDR5 and DDR4 memory support depending on model.

COLORFUL introduces the CVN B760M FROZEN WIFI D5 and CVN B760I FROZEN WIFI motherboards for gamers and enthusiasts. Coming in a compact micro-ATX and Mini-ITX form factors, both motherboards feature PCIe 5.0 x16 slot to support the latest high-end graphics cards. The CVN B760 motherboards also come with Wi-Fi 6, three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for the CVN B760M FROZEN WIFI D5 and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for the CVN B760I FROZEN WIFI Mini-ITX motherboard. COLORFUL also presents the BATTLE-AX B760M-F PRO motherboard with DDR4 memory support and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots.

ASUS today announced the latest additions to its business-friendly range of ExpertCenter desktop PCs—the all-new ExpertCenter D5 Tower (D500TE) and ExpertCenter D7 Tower (D700TE) models.

Powered by up to the latest 13th Generation Intel Core i9 processor and professional-grade NVIDIA graphics, these new ExpertCenter desktops benefit from a voluminous 27-liter case for maximum expandability. Embracing the ExpertCenter ethos, the new models are meticulously engineered to deliver professional performance, easy maintenance, enterprise-grade security and manageability. They're also built to and tested to military-grade standards of strength and resilience. Sustainability and efficiency are also cornerstones of the ExpertCenter design, from manufacturing and packaging to daily use—achieving multiple certifications for their environmental consideration.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solution innovator, today launched new high-performance TVS-h874 QuTS hero NAS models that incorporate 12th Gen Intel Core i9 sixteen-core, i7 twelve-core multi-thread processors with Intel Core Hybrid Technology for optimal computing performance and smooth multiple virtual machine (VM) operation. Integrating the reliable ZFS-based operating system, PCIe Gen 4 expandability, M.2 NVMe SSD caching, and 2.5GbE/10GbE connectivity, the TVS-h874 assists businesses in building high-performance storage environments for hosting multiple VM, application servers, and running business data backup/restore applications.

"The new TVS-h874 models adopt Intel Core Hybrid Technology, combining Performance-cores and Efficient-cores," said Andy Chuang, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "The Performance Hybrid Architecture intelligently allocates CPU cores to different tasks, thus increasing the performance of the new TVS-h874 models by 3.55 times compared with previous models."

Taiwan-based memory products OEM Datotek has been in business selling flash memory and DRAM products since 2004, with one of its most notable clients being HP. At the 2023 International CES, the company showcased its latest-generation memory products spanning not just HP-branded flash drives, but also flash drives under its own marquee, besides M.2 NVMe and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs; and PC memory spanning DDR5 and DDR4 generations. The company sells various vanilla (JEDEC spec) DDR5 and DDR4 memory modules in both standard U-DIMM and SO-DIMM form-factors. For gamers and enthusiasts, the company has the Ares line of premium DDR5 and DDR4 memory products, which come in overclocked speeds such as DDR5-6000 or DDR4-4000, including with RGB LED illumination.

Among its SSD products are a new PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD under the Ares brand, Gen 4 NVMe drives under the Ares Dark Sword brand, and various Gen 3 NVMe SSDs under the main Datotek brand. We also spotted several USB 3.2 portable SSDs, as well as 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gbps ones under the main brand. The idea here is to attract more brands for OEM partnerships the way rival Biwin makes SSD and DRAM products for various top brands (such as HP and Acer).

At the 2023 International CES, we caught a hold of Phison, makes or arguably the most popular SSD controllers, which sprung to prominence on being the first to market with PCIe Gen 4 NVMe controllers, and now hopes to repeat it with PCIe Gen 5. We'd been shown a reference-design Phison E26-powered M.2 SSD, along with some hardware specs of the controller itself. The drive itself isn't much to look at—a standard looking M.2-2280 drive with a PCI-Express 5.0 x4 host interface, and the Phison E26 controller with its shiny IHS being prominently located next to a DDR4 memory chip, and two new-generation Micron Technology 3D NAND flash memory chips.

The Phison E26 controller, bearing the long-form model number PS5026-E26, is an NVMe 2.0 spec client-segment SSD controller. It has been built on the TSMC 12 nm FinFET silicon-fabrication node. The controller features an integrated DRAM controller with support for DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory types for use as DRAM cache. Its main flash interface is 8-channel with 32 NAND chip-enable (CE) lines, support for TLC and QLC NAND flash, a dual-CPU architecture, and hardware-acceleration for AES-256, TCG-Opal, and Pyrite. The controller features Phison's 5th generation LPDC ECC and internal RAID engines. For its reference-design 2 TB TLC-based drive, Phison claims sequential transfer rates of up to 13.5 GB/s reads, with up to 12 GB/s writes. The 4K random-access performance is rated at up to 1.5 million IOPS reads, with up to 2 million IOPS writes.

TrendForce's latest analysis of the DRAM market finds that the inventory pressure on suppliers remain significant due to the persistently weak demand for consumer electronics. Among the top three DRAM suppliers, only Samsung has seen a slight drop in inventory level thanks to its highly competitive pricing strategy. To prevent DRAM prices as a whole from making another sharp dive, a few suppliers such as Micron have been cutting production. Therefore, the QoQ decline in DRAM prices are projected to shrink to around 13~18% for 1Q23. However, the slump will have yet to reach the bottom at that time. Regarding the QoQ changes in the prices of the major categories of DRAM products for 1Q23, PC DRAM and server DRAM are projected to again register a drop that is near 20%. Conversely, mobile DRAM will experience the smallest price decline because its profit margin is ready the thinnest.

Lexar extended its latest-generation ARES RGB memory enthusiast product design to the DDR4 segment, with its ARES RGB DDR4 memory series. Available in 16 GB (2x 8 GB) dual-channel kits, these modules come with an Intel XMP 2.0 profile for DDR4-4000, and come with software-controllable RGB LED illumination. Over in the DDR5 camp, we see Lexar show off its DDR5-6000 memory module that's been validated on the AMD Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4" platform, with an AMD EXPO profile that enables the advertised speeds, timings, and AMD-specific sub-timings. On Intel machines, the included XMP 3.0 profile enables the relevant timings and sub-timings besides the DDR5-6000 speed. There's a non-RGB version of the ARES DDR5 series at lower speed variants, at DDR5-5200 (JEDEC-standard SPD).

Patriot Memory is, well, a PC memory company first, and it acts like one, by bring to CES its fastest DDR5 memory offerings. The new Patriot Viper Venom RGB/non-RGB is the company's new high-end enthusiast memory product, and comes with speeds ranging between DDR5-5200 to DDR5-7400, and capacities up to 64 GB. The Viper Xtreme 5 rules the pack with capacity ranging up to 32 GB, but speeds between DDR5-7600 and the top DDR5-8000. The Viper Elite 5 is a notch below the two, and comes in speed ranges between DDR5-5600 to DDR5-6000. Intel XMP 3.0 profiles enable the advertised speeds and the click of a button.

The Signature and Signature Premium lines of DDR5 memory come in speeds of up to DDR5-5600, and cover the company's mainstream lineup. The Signature Premium includes a heatspreader, the Signature doesn't. It's good to see Patriot continue to ship DDR4 kits to the crowd that's transitioning between the two memory standards. The new Viper 4 Blackout series features a retro-Patriot style that's reminiscent of the company's DDR2 days, comes in densities of up to 64 GB, and speeds of up to DDR4-4400.

Leading global motherboard manufacturer, ASRock, proudly announces its new series of Intel B760 motherboards, including B760M Steel Legend WiFi, B760M Pro RS, and special edition B760M PG SONIC WiFi. These feature-filled motherboards are designed to bring supreme performance and the latest technologies - including up to PCI-Express 5.0 & overclocked DDR5 - to benefit more PC enthusiasts, gamers, and office/workstation builds than ever before. The B760 chipset is designed for the latest 13th Generation Intel Core 'K' or 'non-K' series processors (socket LGA1700), while also supporting the previous 12th generation.

Followed by the success and critical acclaim of the ASRock Z790 PG SONIC, the company has released another officially licensed motherboard featuring SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog: the B760M PG SONIC WiFi. Based on the mainstream Intel B760 chipset, this micro ATX motherboard features all the exciting SONIC elements in a small form factor and budget friendly design.

Intel introduced the Z790 platform to the market last year and impressed enthusiastic gamers. This year, we expect the introduction of the latest B760 platform. MSI's new B760 motherboards lineup will spring a surprise for mainstream users, attracting interest and sparking widespread discussion. Targeting the mainstream market, MSI B760 motherboards have unique designs and loaded specifications. Let's explore more about the B760 platform.

The B760 platform has lots of amazing features accompanied by MSI's MPG, MAG, and PRO Series. The mainstream users' choice - MAG Series includes black TOMAHAWK and white MORTAR motherboards. The MSI MAG Series motherboards adopted 12 Duet Rail Power System with 75 A DrMOS and 6 layer PCB with 2oz thickened copper, which provides stable currents delivered to the CPU. For expansion, the MSI MAG Series supports Lightning Gen 5 PCIe and owns up to 3 onboard M.2 Gen4 slots. To deal with the heat generated in high-loading operation, the MAG Series features premium thermal solutions including All Aluminium Design and Extended Heatsink. The M.2 slots are covered with M.2 Shield Frozr as well.

TerraMaster, a professional brand that specializes in providing innovative storage products for home, businesses and enterprises, announces the launch of the T9-450 and T12-450 high-speed network storage server featuring 10 GbE networking capabilities which are designed for professionals that require high-speed, large-capacity for applications like virtualization, databases, image and video content creation, and others.

TerraMaster T9-450 and T12-450 come in a compact design for its class making it ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses with limited space for professional data storage devices. The T9-450 and T12-450 are also designed for high-capacity storage configurations, supporting up to 20 TB HDD models and a total capacity of 180 TB and 240 TB, respectively. Its compact design and high capacity support makes the TerraMaster 450 Series ideal for creative professionals and growing businesses.

At CES, Intel is expected to launch the bulk of its 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" processor family, consisting of "locked" 65 W SKUs; along with two cheaper motherboard chipset options than the Z790—the B760 and H770. The Bx60 chipset options are sought after by the mainstream desktop crowd that likes to buy value sub-$250 processor SKUs, but over the years, motherboard manufacturers have been upscaling Bx60 chipset with premium onboard components, to target the crowd that likes to buy the upper tier of 65 W SKUs (think Core i5-13600, i7-13700, or the top i9-13900 non-K). With the 700-series chipset, however, it looks like the price for entry for the platform has just gone up. The cheapest MSI motherboard based on the B760 chipset, according to a leaked price-list, is USD $170, for a PRO-series motherboard SKU that's usually considered entry-level for MSI.

The MSI PRO B760M-A WiFi DDR4 Micro-ATX motherboard, according to this price-list, goes for $170, followed by the PRO B760-P WiFi DDR4 (ATX form-factor) at $180. From here begins MSI's Gaming series motherboards. There are as many as four MAG Mortar SKUs. At $180, you get the MAG B760M Mortar DDR4. At $190 you get the MAG B760M Mortar (DDR5) and MAG B760M Mortar DDR4 WiFi; followed by the MAG B760M Mortar WiFi (DDR5) at $200. With this series, MSI is introducing a couple of MAG Mortar MAX SKUs, which probably feature better VRM or onboard audio. The DDR4 version is priced at $220, and the DDR5 version at $230. Moving a notch up, we have the popular MAG Tomahawk SKUs, with the DDR4 version at $220, and the DDR5 version at $230. The only MPG series SKU is also the lineup's only Mini-ITX one—the MPG B760I Edge WiFi DDR4, priced at $210.

In a continuing commitment to enabling industry-leading data acceleration in heterogeneous compute environments, Achronix Semiconductor Corporation, the industry's only independent supplier of high-end FPGAs and eFPGA IP solutions, today announced the production release of its AC7t1500 FPGA and the addition of the power-efficient AC7t800 FPGA to the Achronix Tool Suite.

"The Speedster 7t product family offers unprecedented FPGA-based performance for data acceleration applications," said Steve Mensor, VP of Marketing and Business Development at Achronix. "The release of the AC7t1500 to production along with the addition of the AC7t800 in our ACE design tools gives customers multiple options from this industry-leading, high-performance family that offers FPGA programmability with ASIC-level performance. These advancements give customers confidence that they can design on a robust, validated FPGA product family that meets their high-performance and high-bandwidth needs."