Hot on the heels of Gigabyte, ASUS has also put its Thunderbolt 5 card up on its website, although there are some differences between the two. Obviously the physical appearance differs somewhat, but that's largely cosmetic. However, the one key difference is that the ASUS ThunderboltEX 5 only sports a single 6-pin PCIe power connector. ASUS still claims USB PD support of up to 130 W—a feature the company calls Flexible FastCharge—however, a single USB Type-C port is limited to a maximum of 96 W, which means you can charge your MacBook Pro at full tilt, but not some other laptops. Admittedly the 4 W discrepancy compared to the Gigabyte card is fairly minor, but the second port gets left with only 34 W, although that's still enough for charging most phones. Oddly enough, ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 card, allowed for up to 100 W on a single port.

ASUS has also implemented a single Thunderbolt 5 pin-header for the GPIO, SPI I2C and UART interfaces, plus a standard USB 2.0 header, for adding USB 2.0 support to the Thunderbolt 5 ports. Just as with the Gigabyte card, we find Intel's JHL9580 Thunderbolt 5 controller at the heart of the card and once again it uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and supports up to three DP 2.1 8K displays at 60 Hz, although ASUS mentions that this requires DSC. The card features three mini DP inputs and comes with three DP to mini DP adapters, as well as the two aforementioned USB Type-C ports. Note that if you use tree displays, you can only use two Thunderbolt devices with the card. ASUS only mentions Windows 11 64-bit support, so it looks like Windows 10 won't be getting a driver and so far it would seem neither is Linux.

Acer today announced the expansion of its Predator gaming monitor line with two new 27-inch models that promise to deliver exceptional speed and stunning visuals for enjoying the latest titles in their full glory. Both monitors bring cutting-edge technology and innovation to the forefront, catering to the needs of gamers who demand only the best performance.

Equipped with a WQHD, 360 Hz panel, and the new NVIDIA G-SYNC Pulsar technology, the Predator XB273U F5 is a gaming powerhouse and is certain to awe even the most demanding players with smooth and dynamic frames. The Predator XB273K V5 comes with a 4K UHD resolution display with 160 Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium technology to showcase crisp details and motion for enjoying games in stunning clarity. With Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) technology, users can opt to switch to FHD resolution at 320 Hz to tailor the gaming experience based on their preference.

Silkland, a tech brand specializing in cables and accessories, has released the first-ever 16K VESA-certified USB C to DisplayPort 2.1 cable to support the future of visual display technology, now available on Amazon. With support for 16K resolution, users can expect an unparalleled level of detail and realism, making the cable ideal for high-end computing, gaming, and professional applications. It is also backward compatible with 8K and 4K resolutions, ensuring a versatile and future-proof solution for all display needs.

One of the standout features of this cable is its bi-directional support, allowing it to connect USB C devices like laptops, phones, and tablets to DisplayPort monitors or connect DisplayPort devices like PC to USB C monitors. This flexibility makes it a versatile tool for a wide range of applications. Additionally, it is compatible with Thunderbolt 5/4/3, offering a plug-and-play experience with no drivers needed.

Cable Matters, a leader in developing cutting-edge connectivity solutions, introduces a USB4 20 Gbps Switch, meeting the diverse needs of today's dynamic remote workforce. This versatile, powerful device seamlessly blends performance, adaptability, and cost efficiency, offering users an unparalleled connectivity solution.

"The vision of this product grew from the needs of today's remote workforce," says Jeff Jiang, CEO of Cable Matters. "People are doing more than ever with multiple devices and require connectivity solutions that provide performance and flexibility at an affordable price." Unlike traditional switches, the USB4 20 Gbps Switch is engineered to handle two USB-C, USB4 or Thunderbolt enabled devices concurrently, effortlessly scaling to match the demands of gadget-intensive users. Users can instantly share a USB-C, USB4 or Thunderbolt monitor or docking station between two devices, and easily switch between them using either the unit's button or the included remote control.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that it has published the latest update to DisplayPort, version 2.1a. This update replaces the VESA certified DP40 ultra-high-bit-rate (UHBR) cable specification with a new VESA certified DP54 UHBR cable spec to enable up to four-lane UHBR13.5 link rate support (a maximum throughput of 54 Gbps) over a two-meter passive cable. As a result, the DisplayPort 2.1a update effectively doubles the passive cable length for UHBR13.5 GPU-to-display connections—which previously could only be supported through a DP80 UHBR cable—providing consumers with greater flexibility in their gaming or workstation setup.

VESA also announces it has published a new Automotive Extension Services protocol specification for both DisplayPort 2.1a and the latest version of VESA's Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) specification, version 1.5a. This new protocol extension provides support for automotive display functional safety as well as secure integrity and authentication for up to 16 display regions of interest. With the VESA Automotive Extension Services protocol, VESA has for the first time established a standard for vehicle displays that can enable display safety engineers to achieve ISO 26262 ASIL-D* - the holy grail of electronic safety integrity. Silicon manufacturers are already adopting VESA's Automotive Extension Services protocol today for chipsets that will be integrated in future vehicles.

VIA Labs, Inc. (VLI), a leading supplier of USB4, USB 3.2, and USB Power Delivery Controllers, today announced that the VL832 USB4 Endpoint Device Controller achieved USB4 certification from the USB Implementor's Forum (USB-IF). VIA Lab's VL832 supports USB 40 Gbps operation and is now listed on the USB-IF Integrator's List under TID: 10033.

VIA Lab VL832's USB-IF Certification represents a key milestone in the USB4 ecosystem. The certified USB4 device controller with an integrated USB 3.2 USB 10 Gbps Hub, USB 2.0 Hub, and DisplayPort output, provides essential connectivity for peripheral devices such as multi-function adapters and docking stations. In USB4 40 Gbps mode, VL832 supports full DisplayPort HBR3 bandwidth (32.4 Gbps), and the USB 20 Gbps hub can enable multiple USB 10 Gbps devices to operate at full performance on supported host platforms. Both metrics are double what was previously possible using DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which is limited to 2-lanes of DisplayPort when supporting USB 3.2 functionality.

Chinese chipmaker Montage Technology has unveiled new data center processors under its Jintide brand based on Intel's latest Emerald Rapids Xeon architecture. The 5th generation Jintide lineup offers anywhere from 16-core to 48-core options for enterprise customers needing advanced security specific to China's government and enterprise requirements. Leveraging a long-running joint venture with Intel, Jintide combines standard high-performance Xeon microarchitectures with added on-die monitoring and encryption blocks, PrC (Pre-check) and DSC (Dynamic Security Check), which are security-hardened for sensitive Chinese use cases. The processors retain all core performance attributes of Intel's vanilla offerings thanks to IP access, only with extra protections mandated by national security interests. While missing the very highest core counts, the new Jintide chips otherwise deliver similar Emerald Rapids features like 8-channel DDR5-5600 memory, 80 lanes of speedy PCIe 5.0, and elevated clock speeds over 4.0 GHz at peak. The Jintide processors have 2S scaling, which allows for dual-socket systems with up to 96 cores and 192 threads.

Pricing remains unpublished but likely carries a premium over Intel list prices thanks to the localized security customization required. However, with Jintide uniquely meeting strict Chinese government and data regulations, cost becomes secondary for target customers needing compliant data center hardware. After matching lockstep with Intel's last several leading Xeon generations, Jintide's continued iteration highlights its strategic value in enabling high-performance domestic infrastructure as China eyes IT supply chain autonomy. Intel gets expanded access to the growing Chinese server market, while Chinese partners utilize Intel IP to strengthen localized offerings without foreign dependency. It manifests the delicate balance of advanced chip joint ventures between global tech giants and rising challengers. More details about the SKUs are listed in the table below.

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced the launch of the SD5800T Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Video Docking Station. The powerful plug-and-play docking station supports up to four 4K monitors, delivers data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, provides up to 100 W of power delivery, and features 16 connectivity ports enabling users to release the potential of their premium laptops.

Providing a true plug-and-play experience with no drivers or downloads required, the SD5800T is one of the first Thunderbolt 4 docks capable of supporting Quad 4K displays, and is compatible with Windows and macOS, as well as Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C devices. Ideal for graphic designers, video editors, and animators, the 16-in-1 design includes built-in UHS-II SD and Micro SD card readers for the efficient transfer of files at ultra-fast speeds.

NVIDIA today released the latest version of its GeForce graphics drivers. The company released the GeForce 545 series drivers, a huge jump in version numbering from the GeForce 537 series. The new drivers extend NVIDIA RTX Video Super Resolution 1.5 technology down to even RTX 20-series "Turing" GPUs, besides the current RTX 30-series "Ampere" and RTX 40-series "Ada." The technology is a high-quality video upscaler that uses some of the upscaling techniques borrowed from DLSS feature-set over to video. The drivers also add optimization for the latest "Naraka: Bladepoint" patch that introduces DLSS 3 Frame Generation, as well as "Warhammer Vermintide II" DLSS 3 update. The drivers add TensorRT acceleration for Stable Diffusion. The drivers also add GeForce Experience optimal settings for over a dozen game titles. Among the issues fixed include a random black screen flicker seen on displays that use DSC (display stream compression), and incorrect monitor colors when returning from display sleep.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 545.84 WHQL

AMD today announced the Radeon PRO W7600 and W7500 graphics cards for the professional-visualization (pro-vis) market segment. These cards target the mid-range of the pro-vis segment, with segment price-band ranging between $350-950. The two are hence positioned below the W7800 and W7900 that the company launched in April. The W7600 and W7500 are based on the same RDNA3 graphics architecture as those two, and the client-segment RX 7000 series. AMD is pricing the the two new cards aggressively compared to NVIDIA. Both the W7500 and W7600 are based on the 6 nm "Navi 33" silicon.

The Radeon PRO W7600 leads today's launch, maxing out the silicon it is based on—you get 32 RDNA3 compute units, or 2,048 stream processors; 64 AI Accelerators, 32 Ray Accelerators; 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The card comes with 8 GB of 18 Gbps GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit wide memory bus. The memory does not feature ECC. The card comes with a 130 W typical power draw, with a single 6-pin PCIe power connector. It uses a slick single-slot lateral-airflow cooling solution. AMD claims 20 TFLOPs peak FP32 performance.

Teledyne LeCroy, the worldwide leader in protocol test solutions, announced that it has received Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) approval for testing DisplayPort 2.1 Link Training Tunable PHY Repeater (LTTPR) and Display Stream Compression (DSC) compliance with the quantumdata M42de Video Analyzer and Generator. These tests underwent extensive testing during industry workshops to ensure their accuracy and reliability and are now considered mandatory for compliance certification of DisplayPort 2.1 Ultra High Bit Rate (UHBR) capable devices.

The DisplayPort specification was updated to version 2.1 in October of 2022 and brought significant changes to link training and LTTPR operation. Design and test engineers are faced with incrementally more testing as DisplayPort chipsets add support for the new link training and other advanced features. "The need to drive higher video resolutions and frame rates raises the bar for vendors seeking VESA logo approval. Compliance testing is a key factor in delivering a robust DisplayPort technology ecosystem and outstanding customer experiences," said Bill Lempesis, executive director of VESA, which develops and administers the DisplayPort standard and compliance logo program. "Reaching this level of comprehensive test coverage so quickly after the DisplayPort 2.1 specification was released is only possible due to the close collaboration between test vendors like Teledyne LeCroy and our VESA member companies."

KVM switches are either one of those things you need or you don't have much use for, however Sabrent has launched a new Thunderbolt 4 based KVM switch that differs from your average KVM switch in a few ways. As any KVM switch, it allows two computers to share peripherals and displays, but it also supports up to 60 Watt USB PD charging of laptops. The latter is something Sabrent has offered on its USB-C KVM switches, but this time around the power adapter for the KVM switch handles both devices, unlike its USB-C KVM switches which required a USB-C PD charger per device, with the power being passed through the KVM switch.

The Thunderbolt 4 KVM switch lacks any traditional display outputs, relying entirely on Thunderbolt 4 for display connectivity, although DP Alt mode over USB-C is supported and each output supports up to 8K 60 Hz output with DSC 1.2 or 5K 60 Hz without DSC. The KVM switch supports three Thunderbolt 4 devices, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A devices and two inputs via Thunderbolt 4, with all USB ports supporting data speeds of up to 10 Gbps. It also comes with a switch button, which means you can hide the KVM switch out of sight and still have easy access to switch between devices. Sabrent is asking for US$299 for its Thunderbolt KVM switch, which is a steep premium over its USB-C KVM switch which is currently selling for US$119.99.

Samsung Electronics today announced the company will introduce new models in its monitor lineup, expanding its visual display leadership for the users. New offerings in the Odyssey, ViewFinity and Smart Monitor lineups at CES 2023 will deliver unmatched image quality and a range of innovative features for people looking to work, play and live through their monitor display. Samsung is revolutionizing the ultra-wide display category by launching the Odyssey Neo G9, the world's first single monitor with dual ultra-high definition resolution. This innovation is a testament to Samsung's industry-leading position in delivering the most immersive and lifelike gaming experience available on the market.

"We are introducing the future of gaming monitors with our Odyssey Neo G9, making each game more lifelike with innovative features and picture quality on a new scale," said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "CES is the perfect place to showcase our innovations that can take not only gamers but also graphic designers or TV fans to the next level while providing personalized experiences across a range of integrated smart apps."

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) announced today that it has released DisplayPort 2.1, the latest version of the DisplayPort specification, which is backward compatible with and supersedes the previous version of DisplayPort (DisplayPort 2.0). VESA has been working closely with member companies to ensure that products supporting DisplayPort 2.0 would actually meet the newer, more demanding DisplayPort 2.1 spec. Due to this effort, all previously certified DisplayPort 2.0 products including UHBR (Ultra-high Bit Rate) capable products - whether GPUs, docking station chips, monitor scalar chips, PHY repeater chips such as re-timers, or DP40/DP80 cables (including both passive and active, and using full-size DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort or USB Type-C connectors) - have already been certified to the stricter DisplayPort 2.1 spec.

Achieving a robust, end-to-end user visual experience remains the utmost priority for VESA's DisplayPort specification, whether across a native DisplayPort cable, via DisplayPort Alt Mode (DisplayPort over the USB Type-C connector), or tunneled through the USB4 link. As such, DisplayPort 2.1 has tightened its alignment with the USB Type-C specification as well as the USB4 PHY specification to facilitate a common PHY servicing both DisplayPort and USB4. In addition, DisplayPort 2.1 has added a new DisplayPort bandwidth management feature to enable DisplayPort tunneling to coexist with other I/O data traffic more efficiently over the USB4 link. This increased efficiency is on top of mandated support for VESA's visually lossless Display Stream Compression (DSC) codec and VESA's Panel Replay capability. DSC bitstream support can reduce DisplayPort transport bandwidth in excess of 67 percent without visual artifacts, while VESA's Panel Replay capability can reduce DisplayPort tunneling packet transport bandwidth in excess of 99 percent when Panel Replay operation is taking place.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the latest gaming gear at Gamescom 2022, including the AMD X670E series motherboards, AIO coolers, PSU, displays, networking products, and peripherals. Along with these products, ROG released its first music single Reality, with vocals by renowned voice actor and musician Troy Baker, more commonly known for his roles in video games like The Last of Us and Uncharted series. An anime-inspired interactive 360° music video featuring the song is available on YouTube.

ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ / PG48UQ: The 42-inch ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ is designed for immersive desktop gaming and features 4K visuals at an overclocked 138 Hz refresh rate. The OLED panel ensures the deepest hues, as well as vibrant colors thanks to a 98% DCI-P3 color gamut and Delta E < 2 color difference. An ultrafast 0.1 ms (GTG) response time ensures great viewing and gaming experiences. The larger, 48-inch ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ is ideal for those looking to play their games on an even bigger scale. ROG OLED monitors include a custom heatsink that offers more surface area for heat exchange, resulting in up to 8% lower operating temperatures compared to ROG monitors without a heatsink to ensure better OLED performance and longevity.

The M32U will be Gigabyte's fifth gaming monitor and the second not to carry the Aorus brand. Design wise it looks identical to the M32Q and the specs are very similar too, as both monitors rely on a super speed IP panel that measures 31.5-inches. The big difference here is obviously the resolution, as the M32U sports a 4K 3840x2160 panel and this time it seems like the backlight has improved slightly, as we're looking at an HDR400 certification, even though both models deliver a typical brightness of 350cd/m².

On the other hand, colour saturation isn't quite as good at 90% DCI-P3 or 123% sRGB, even though this is an 8-bit + FRC panel rather than an 8-bit panel for the M32Q. The refresh rate is up to 144 Hz for PCs and 120 Hz for consoles, with a 1 ms MPRT response time. Inputs consist of two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC and a USB-C port with DP-Alt mode.The display also has one USB 3.0 type-B input and three type-A outputs and a headphone jack and as with previous Gigabyte displays, this one supports KVM functionality. Finally we have a pair of built in 3 W speakers. No word on pricing or availability.

ASUS today announced the availability of TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A, a gaming monitor designed for PC and next-generation consoles. This 28 inch display has a Fast IPS panel and supports up to 4K 144 Hz gaming with a 1 ms gray to gray (GTG) response time as well as Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology, and it offers native 4K 120 Hz gaming without chroma subsampling on the latest consoles via HDMI 2.1. Compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC, it also supports AMD FreeSync Premium and ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB Sync) to eliminate smearing and motion blur for fluid and responsive gameplay. In addition, ASUS Variable Overdrive technology ensures consistently smooth visuals at variable frame rates.

TUF VG28UQL1A has an HDMI 2.1 port that enables native 4K 120 Hz visuals (4:4:4) when playing on the latest gaming consoles. An Auto-Low-Latency mode helps reduce input lag to ensure extremely fluid gameplay, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology prevents tearing and stuttering for a completely immersive next-gen console gaming experience. In addition, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection offers stable 144 Hz visuals, with DSC technology handling ultra high-definition video streams at high speeds so there's no perceptible loss in image quality when gaming on PC.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that Strix XG43UQ, the world's first HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor, will be available in May. Strix XG43UQ features a 43 inch 4K panel with up to a 144 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms moving picture response time (MPRT). It also includes Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology. The HDMI 2.1 port enables gamers to enjoy 4K 120 Hz gameplay on the latest consoles.

The inclusion of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology ensures smooth HDR visuals with low latency, while ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync (ELMB Sync) works simultaneously with variable refresh rate technology to eliminate smearing and motion blur for fluid and responsive gameplay. Strix XG43UQ has a maximum brightness of 1000 nits - more than three times that of OLED TVs. The monitor has a two-tone black and white finish with an all-white rear cover, and it features Aura Sync lighting technology for synchronised light effects with other Aura-enable components and peripherals.

LG Electronics (LG) is bringing new meaning to immersive gaming with its new UltraGear (model 27GN950), the world's first 4K IPS 1 millisecond Gray-to-Gray (GTG) gaming monitor. A 2020 CES Innovation Award and Red Dot Design Award winner, the 27-inch model more than lives up to UltraGear's name and reputation for gaming excellence and is a worthy successor to the brand's first 1 ms GTG IPS gaming monitor (model 27GL850) introduced last year. Featuring advanced IPS displays, LG UltraGear monitors achieve stunning speed without compromising picture quality, contributing to the brand being named the top gaming-designed monitor in the United States.

The new UltraGear monitor builds on the fast, accurate colors of its predecessor to deliver 4K resolution for maximum gaming impact. A combination of speed, high resolution and 98 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space gives gamers a total sense of immersion. And thanks to VESA Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology, the 27GN950 can deliver virtually lossless 4K UHD images in 10-bit color with a 144 Hz refresh rate via just a single DisplayPort cable.

Club 3D is proud to announce its next generation Multi Stream Transport (MST) Hub models CSV-7300 (DisplayPort 1.4 Triple Monitor 4K60Hz) and CSV-1550 (USB Type C 3.2 Gen 1 DisplayPort 1.4 Triple Monitor 4K60Hz) which will be available in the market from beginning of December.

Since Multi-Monitor-Solutions are part of Club 3D's DNA for many years, we have taken the time to develop the best available solutions with those two new MST Hubs. They both can provide 2x 4K60Hz when the source device is not supporting DSC 1.2 (Display Stream Compression). In case the source device supports DSC 1.2 all three outputs can deliver 4K60Hz. Detailed Display/Resolution charts can be found in the respective specification sheet.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that it has released version 2.0 of the DisplayPort (DP) audio/video standard. DP 2.0 is the first major update to the DisplayPort standard since March 2016, and provides up to a 3X increase in data bandwidth performance compared to the previous version of DisplayPort (DP 1.4a), as well as new capabilities to address the future performance requirements of traditional displays. These include beyond 8K resolutions, higher refresh rates and high dynamic range (HDR) support at higher resolutions, improved support for multiple display configurations, as well as improved user experience with augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) displays, including support for 4K-and-beyond VR resolutions.

The advantages of DP 2.0 are enjoyed across both the native DP connector as well as the USB Type-C connector, which carries the DP audio/video signal through DisplayPort Alt Mode. DP 2.0 is backward compatible with previous versions of DisplayPort and incorporates all of the key features of DP 1.4a, including support for visually lossless Display Stream Compression (DSC) with Forward Error Correction (FEC), HDR metadata transport, and other advanced features. The increased video bandwidth performance of DP 2.0 carried over the USB-C connector enables simultaneous higher-speed USB data transfer without compromising display performance. DP 2.0 leverages the Thunderbolt 3 physical interface (PHY) layer while maintaining the flexibility of DP protocol in order to boost the data bandwidth and promote convergence across industry-leading IO standards.

ASUS ROG at AMD's Next horizon's event introduced the world's first Display Stream Compression (DSC) capable monitor. The new, 43" behemoth makes use of industry-standard DSC to enable 144 Hz gaming at 4K resolution via a single data cable, with no need to hack image fidelity down to pieces (potentially) by usage of chroma subsampling. AMD's Navi chips will feature this technology, which is why ASUS ROG took to AMD's event to showcase the new monitor.

FreeSync 2 HDR support is guaranteed, as is a Display HDR 1000 rating for increased contrast and improved visuals for HDR content. There's 10-bit color depth available, and the display covers up to 90% of the DCI-P3 gamut. No pricing or release date have been confirmed.