Gigabyte's new Stealth series of motherboards has to date only had a single product, the Z690 Aorus Elite Stealth, but now, Gigabyte has added its first Stealth board for AMD CPUs. The B650E Aorus Stealth Ice not only has all of its connectors on the back of the board, but it also has a white/silver PCB with a similarly coloured front and back cover. Apart from the DIMM slots, all connectors are also in somewhat matching colours, although judging by the pictures, the colours don't quite match on all the connectors and slots. That aside, the B650E Aorus Stealth Ice is a pretty competent board, as long as you're not interested in adding anything more than a graphics card and some NVMe SSDs, as it has zero additional PCIe expansion slots. It's a rather bold move by Gigabyte, but at the same time, most gamers and consumers don't tend to add PCIe devices to their computers outside of additional storage these days.

Besides the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, you get two M.2 sockets wired to the CPU, one PCIe 5.0—with its own, larger heatsink—and one PCIe 4.0, as well as a third PCIe 4.0 M.2 socket via the chipset. There's also support for four SATA 6 Gbps drives if more storage is needed. Gigabyte has also added an internal HDMI 1.4 port that's limited to 1080p30, which is intended to be used with Gigabyte's LCD Edge View display. Other connectivity on the back of the PCB includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) port, a USB 3.2 (5 Gbps) pin-header as well as the usual USB 2.0, fan headers and LED headers that you'd expect from a modern motherboard. The VRM design is a 12+2+2 design with a 60 Amp DrMOS configuration for the 12+2 phases for the CPU and GPU.

There appear to be an ever increasing amount of gaming monitors on the market these days and the latest addition from Gigabyte is using a 4K SuperSpeed IPS panel. The Gigabyte M27UA sports a 27-inch display as the name suggests and it should be a typical 8-bit + FRC panel with a 95 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, a 400 cd/m² typical brightness and a 5 ms grey to grey response time. The M27UA also offers a 160 Hz refresh rate which is in line with the best IPS gaming monitors out there and it's AMD FreeSync Premium certified. On the software side of things we find typical Gigabyte inclusions like Aim Stabilizer Sync, Black Equalizer 2.0, built in cross hairs, night vision and an FPS counter, as well as Gigabyte's OSD Sidekick which allows you to adjust the monitor settings from an app in Windows.

Gigabyte has equipped the M27UA with two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, a USB Type-C with DP Alt mode support and USB PD at 18 W (no, that's not a typo). The Type-C port together with one USB 3.2 Type-B port and three USB 3.2 Type-A ports enable KVM functionality—there's even a dedicated KVM button at the back of the monitor. A headphone jack rounds off the connectivity options and there's also a pair of built in 3 Watt speakers. In addition to KVM, there's also support for Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture. The supplied stand offers height and tilt adjustment, but not swivel or pivot. One upside of this monitor is the relatively low power consumption of 34 Watts. There's no word on availability or pricing from the company.

Intel's upcoming Core Ultra "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processor introduces a new socket, the LGA1851, alongside the new Intel 800-series desktop chipset. We now have some idea what the 151 additional pins on the new socket are used for, thanks to a leaked platform map on the ChipHell forums, discovered by HXL. Intel is expanding the number of PCIe lanes from the processor. It now puts out a total of 32 PCIe lanes.

From the 32 PCIe lanes put out by the "Arrow Lake-S" processor's system agent, 16 are meant for the PCI-Express 5.0 x16 PEG slot to be used for discrete graphics. Eight are used as chipset bus, technically DMI 4.0 x8 (these are eight lanes that operate at Gen 4 speed for 128 Gbps per direction of bandwidth). There are now not one, but two CPU-attached M.2 NVMe slots possible, just like on the AMD "Raphael" and "Granite Ridge" processors. What's interesting, though, is that not both are Gen 5. One of these is Gen 5 x4, while the other is Gen 4 x4.

Philips, or rather its brand licence partner MMD—which is a division of TPV—has launched a new gaming monitor under its Evnia brand, namely the 32M2N8800. The model name doesn't really give away much about the specs, but what we're looking at is a 31.5-inch 4K QD-OLED display with a 240 Hz refresh rate. The panel is VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 certified and ClearMR 13000. Like most displays of this type it has a 10-bit panel with a 0.03 ms grey to grey response time and 99 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. The Evnia display also features a range of gaming mode features like a smart crosshair and various game mode settings. There's also support for picture by picture and picture in picture.

Connectivity wise, it's sadly stuck with DisplayPort 1.4, as well as a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. There's also a built-in USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) hub with two USB Type-A ports, of which one supports the older USB battery charging 1.2 standard, which delivers 5 V at up to 1.5 A. There's also a 3.5 mm audio output jack and the display is also equipped with Philips' Ambiglow LED backlight on four sides. The stand supports height, swivel and tilt adjustments. The Evnia 32M2N8800 is expected to retail for around US$1000, based on pricing in Hong Kong.

ASRock this week introduced the Radeon RX 6500 XT 8 GB Phantom Gaming graphics card. The RX 6500 XT comes with a reference memory size of 4 GB over the tiny 64-bit GDDR6 memory bus of the "Navi 24" silicon it's based on, but ASRock decided to double this, probably using high-density 32 Gbit memory chips, or two sets of 16 Gbit chips piggybacking each other. The card is spruced up with Phantom Gaming styling, is 24 cm long, standard height, and 2 slots thick. The cooling solution features an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that's ventilated by a pair of fans. Power is drawn from a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. Display outputs include one each of DisplayPort 1.4, and HDMI 2.1 with VRR. This isn't the first RX 6500 XT with 8 GB, Sapphire has had an 8 GB Pulse graphics card in its lineup for a while now. ASRock didn't reveal the pricing of this card.

While it was keen to show off its earlier released Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 (GC553G2) USB and Live Gamer 4K 2.1 (GC575) PCIe HDMI 2.1 capture cards which have recently got a big firmware update, giving them 4K144 capture, support for 5.1 multi-channel audio, and support for Windows 11 Dynamic Lighting, AVerMedia had a lot of other new things to show at the Computex 2024 show, including the new Premium Go Series, which includes the world's first Capture Dock, the X'tra Go GC515, the Elite Go GC313Pro and Core Go GC313 GaN charger and capture device, new AVerMedia Streaming Center software, and a couple of NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX-based Box PCs for edge AI.

As said, the new AVerMedia Premium Go Series kicks off with the X'tra Go GC515, which is the world's first Capture Dock for various handheld devices. The Xtra Go GC515 does exactly what you think it does, and that is record 4K30 or 1080p120 footage from a handheld gaming device with just a simple click and without a computer. It is compatible with popular models like Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and probably most other handheld consoles. Of course, since it does not require a PC, it records everything on a microSD card. The Premium Go Series also features GaN chargers with video capture capability, including the Elite Go GC313Pro, a 100 W charger with HDMI 4K60 output, USB-C 1080p60 capture, and an ability to charge multiple device. There is also the Core Go GC313 GaN charger and capture device, which allows users to display their video signal on a monitor at up to 4K60 via HDMI while the device is charging.

ASUS today announced the unveiling of a groundbreaking lineup of displays at Computex 2024. These all-new monitors include the stunning ProArt Display 5K and 8K professional range, flexible ZenScreen displays and wellness-focused ASUS VU displays. These cutting-edge screens are designed to boost professional content creation, hybrid work, entertainment and well-being - ready to provide unrivalled windows of clarity on the exciting new era of AI-powered computing.

ASUS ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV: Redefining your 5K dream
The all-new ASUS ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV is a 27-inch 5K high-PPI professional monitor, featuring a stunning 5120 x 2880 resolution and 218 high-PPI display for unparalleled clarity and color accuracy. With 99% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB wide color gamut, it ensures true-to-life color reproduction. It features ASUS LuxPixel technology that includes an anti-glare and low reflection (AGLR) coating for a paper-like screen effect. Unlike a traditional matte finish, which can soften images, this special formulation provides exceptional pixel color fidelity and sharp details for extended creative session. Calman Verified and factory calibrated for Delta E < 2 color accuracy, it's trusted for precise color grading.

At Computex 2024, Sparkle has unveiled its latest product aimed at streamers, the Streamer 4K60. This innovative PCIe video capture card is engineered to cater to the demands of high-quality video production. Sparkle has seamlessly integrated many advanced features into this remarkable device, ensuring that content creators and streamers can unleash their creativity without compromise. The Streamer 4K60 boasts the ability to capture ultra-high-definition video at a smooth 60 frames per second in 4K resolution or even 120 frames per second in 1080p resolution. Its dual HDMI input support facilitates video passthrough and enables users to explore the realms of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) and cooperative streaming functionalities. Furthermore, this cutting-edge device effortlessly combines HDR10 support, a robust metal cover design for durability, and comprehensive software compatibility with popular platforms like OBS and XSplit. For connection to the PC, it requires a PCIe 2.0 x1 connector. For video passthrough and video input, HDMI 2.1 is used. The card is priced at 299 USD and will be available in late July or early August.

MSI has become something of a major player in the gaming monitor market and the company had a range of new OLED and QD-OLED models on display at Computex 2024. Let's start with the biggest buzzword model, the MEG 321URX QD-OLED which MSI claims is the world's first true AI gaming monitor. The so-called AI engine is supposed to help gamers lose less with features like AI Skysight which scans the game's mini map in real time for threats and then points them out to the player. There's also the ability to display certain stats on the monitor's "SpectrumBar" which is an RGB light strip below the monitor. Looking at the actual specs we find a next-gen 31.5-inch, 4K QD-OLED display panel with 240 Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 ms grey to grey response time. There was no mention of any HDR certification for this model.

Connectivity wise many of you will not be happy to see DisplayPort 1.4 as the main input, although it also has two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB Type-C with DP Alt-mode support that also offers 98 Watts of USB PD charging, one USB 2.0 Type-B input, two USB 2.0 Type-A outputs and a headphone jack. KVM support is part of the package and MSI states it has improved the cooling by using a graphene film and a custom heatsink so the QD-OLED panel should run cooler than competing products. The MEG 321URX finally comes with OLED Care 2.0 which MSI claims will "significantly reduce the chances of OLED screen burn-in" according to the information provided at the show. According to TFTCentral, it will cost US$1700, but there's no availability date as yet.

This might be the gaming monitor some of you have been waiting for, as Cooler Master has pulled out all the stops with its GP57ZS monitor that the company was showing at Computex. Apart from being a massive 57-inches, the monitor offers dual 4K resolution, or 7680 x 2160 pixels, which are lit up by a 2304-zone Mini LED backlight. We've seen similar displays from both Samsung and Acer. Cooler Master is clearly using the same VA panel as the previously mentioned companies and you also get the same 1000R curvature here, which means the GP57ZS isn't going to be for everyone. Cooler Master didn't provide any refresh rate details, nor the types of inputs that will be on offer.

In addition to this, Cooler Master also showed off a pair of new 27-inch models, both sporting a 2560 x 1440 resolution. The cheaper GM27QP gets a 1500R curved 160 Hz VA panel and HDR400 support, as well as a DP 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 inputs. It also gets to make do with basic Adaptive Sync VRR, but it does have gaming features like crosshair, an FPS counter and black stabilisation. The more premium GP27QP on the other hand gets a flat display panel of unknown type with a 240 Hz refresh rate, which is illuminated by an 1152 zone Mini LED backlight. Typical brightness is 350 nits and the contrast ratio is 2500:1, but the display is also HDR1000 certified. Connectivity is seriously upgraded here with two DP 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 inputs, as well as a USB Type-C input that also delivers 96 Watts of USB PD power. In addition to this, there's also a USB Type-B input and three USB Type-A outputs. For some reason it seems like Cooler Master has stuck with Adaptive Sync on this model too, but this model does at least gain support for Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture support.

Acer today announced three new gaming monitors in its Predator lineup, designed to appeal to professional gamers and gaming enthusiasts who want reliable machines for everyday use. The new models include the Predator X27U F3, Predator X34 X5, and Predator X32 X3 featuring brilliant OLED displays, high refresh rates, and ultra-smooth performance.

These powerhouse monitors are NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible to eliminate stuttering, flicker, and visual artifacts for a smooth and tear-free experience. The monitors also seamlessly integrate AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to eliminate ghosting, provide fluidity and ensure that every frame is rendered flawlessly. With true 10-bit color depth, they deliver cinematic visuals with stunning contrast and vibrant colors further enhanced by DCI-P3 99% color gamut and Delta E<1 color accuracy. In addition, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 ensures deep blacks and incredible brightness for lifelike visuals.

In response to the unstoppable AI trend, MSI, the global leader in AI PCs, gaming and AIoT solutions, is set to display our revolution: the AI era of computing, spanning AI-driven hardware to transformative software solutions in the prestige event. MSI's booth at COMPUTEX 2024 will run the gamut, featuring the novel AI-ready PCs, exclusive offline text-to-image tool AI ARTIST, diverse GPU platform servers G4101 and G4201, the newly debuted S2301 CXL memory expansion server and so much more.

On top of that, our award-winning lineup covers: AI laptop, MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, COMPUTEX Best Choice Golden Award Winner; MSI Claw, honored with both the 2024 COMPUTEX Best Choice Award and the Red Dot Design Award, along with the Modern AM273Q AI PC, recipient of the Best Choice Award. "In the AI era of computing, MSI remains committed to meeting the diverse needs of our global clientele. We are confident that our range of AI-enhanced hardware, software, and solutions will help individuals and businesses create new value within the AI realm," said Sam Chern, MSI Marketing Vice President. Prepare to be dazzled as you step into MSI's booth #M0806 and uncover the infinite possibilities of our full AI lineup.

VIA Labs, Inc. (VLI), a leading supplier of USB4, SuperSpeed USB, USB Power Delivery Controllers, and now Display Controllers, today announced the start of mass production and immediate availability for the VIA Labs VL605 USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter. The VL605 Protocol Converter achieved USB-IF certification for USB Power Delivery 3.1 with support for Extended Power Range (EPR) and HDMI 2.1 FRL certification and is now listed on the USB-IF Integrator's List under TID: 10462.

VIA Lab VL605 is an innovative single-chip USB-C to HDMI 2.1 Protocol Converter supporting modern display features and a highly integrated, low-power design. It's optimized for USB-C video dongles and multifunction docks and integrates a two-port USB PD 3.1 controller that supports pass-through charging at up to 240W when EPR is enabled. A single VL605 can convert a DisplayPort input to HDMI 2.1 at up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz while simultaneously charging the connected host. VL605 supports HDR and is compatible with Adaptive Sync from the DisplayPort standard and AMD's FreeSync technology, seamlessly converting these into HDMI 2.1's VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). Products incorporating VL605 can enhance gaming experiences with higher quality and smoother visuals while expanding peripheral connectivity and enjoying faster charging.

ASUS today introduced the NUC 14 Performance, which as its name suggests, is geared for performance. This is essentially a twin of the ROG NUC, but without the flashy ROG styling, and a broader range of hardware options. The top-spec NUC 14 Performance combines an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H "Meteor Lake" processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 desktop GPU, however other processor and graphics options include the Core Ultra 7 155H processor, and RTX 4060 desktop GPU. You can't opt out of a discrete GPU, for that you'll need to opt for the NUC 14 Pro+, which only packs a Core Ultra 185H, and presents its Arc iGPU, but the I/O of that NUC will be significantly different.

Back to the ASUS NUC 14 Performance, and the box measures 270 mm X 180 mm X 50 mm (WxDxH), weighing just 800 g. You're supposed to add your own memory and storage, the NUC features two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory; and an M.2-2280 slot with PCIe Gen 4 x4 wiring. Network connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3; 2.5 GbE wired LAN. The main high-bandwidth I/O connection is Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps), which doubles up as USB4 40 Gbps, with a USB-C port that also supports DisplayPort 1.4 passthrough from the discrete GPU; a couple of 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB 2.0 ports for input devices, additional DP 1.4 ports from the GPU, and an HDMI 2.1. The NUC 14 Performance comes with a 330 W power brick. The company didn't reveal pricing, but pricing is expected in the USD $2,200 to $2,500 range.

ASUS today announced a new generation of AI-powered computing at its online-only Next Level. AI Incredible. launch event, dedicated to the launch of the ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507). Powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, the device is the company's first Copilot+ PC, with Windows AI features and a collection of exclusive ASUS AI apps that aim to improve the user's work and play.

"As ASUS embarks on this journey, marked by the launch of our first AI PC, we stand at the beginning of a new era of personal computing." ASUS Co-CEO S.Y. Hsu said, speaking at the event, "The launch of our first Copilot+ PC powered by Snapdragon X Elite is an important milestone for us, and we believe that these devices are the future of consumer PCs and will drastically change the way we will work, study, create, and play."

ASUS introduced the Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT DUAL OC graphics cards. The two join ASUS's rather slim RX 7900 series custom-design lineup, which until now only included the TUF Gaming OC products for the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX. ASUS's common board design for the cards it's launching, features a large cooler shroud, a tall, yet triple-slot board design, and a cooling solution that uses an aluminium fin-stack heatsink that uses no more than two Axial-Tech fans, hence the name DUAL OC. We've seen this exact board design on some of the RTX 30-series "Ampere" DUAL OC products, so ASUS may probably be carrying over the design, with suitable changes for compatibility with the "Navi 31" GPU.

Both the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT DUAL OC cards feature a milder factory overclock compared to the company's TUF Gaming OC products. The RX 7900 XTX DUAL OC does 2455 MHz Game clock (compared to 2365 MHz reference); while the RX 7900 XT DUAL OC offers 2075 MHz Game clocks compared to 2025 MHz AMD reference. It's also interesting to note here, that the RX 7900 XTX/XT DUAL OC cards feature a significantly different board design than the RX 7900 GRE DUAL OC, which features a design closer to that of the RX 7800 XT DUAL OC. Both the RX 7900 XT DUAL OC and RX 7900 XTX DUAL OC feature triple 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and display I/O that includes three DisplayPort 2.1, and one HDMI 2.1. Besides the minimal RGB, the cards offer dual-BIOS, with the Q-BIOS running them at reference speeds, and with a tighter fan curve. The card measures 32.3 cm in length, 14.7 cm in height, and is no more than 3 slots thick. The company didn't reveal pricing.

AVerMedia Technologies, a leader in digital audiovisual solutions, today announced a firmware update for its well-received HDMI 2.1 USB Capture Card, Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1. The update gives users three new features - including 5.1 multi-channel audio pass-through and capture - fulfilling some highly wished-for upgrades of the capture card, making it even more powerful.

"We're constantly listening to our customers to ensure that we're bringing nothing but the best to the table," said Michael Kuo, President and CEO of AVerMedia. "Now, with the three added features, creators can take their content creation and gaming experience to greater heights."

AMD's next-generation Ryzen 9000 "Strix Point" mobile processor, which succeeds the current Ryzen 8040 "Hawk Point" and Ryzen 7040 "Phoenix," is confirmed to feature a CPU core-configuration of 12-core/24-thread, according to a specs-leak by HKEPC citing sources among notebook OEMs. It appears like Computex 2024 will be big for AMD, with the company preparing next-gen processor announcements across the desktop and notebook lines. Both the "Strix Point" mobile processor and "Granite Ridge" desktop processor debut the company's next "Zen 5" microarchitecture.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from "Zen 5" is that AMD has increased the number of CPU cores per CCX from 8 in "Zen 3" and "Zen 4," to 12 in "Zen 5." While this doesn't affect the core-counts of its CCD chiplets (which are still expected to be 8-core), the "Strix Point" processor appears to use one giant CCX with 12 cores. Each of the "Zen 5" cores has a 1 MB dedicated L2 cache, while the 12 cores share a 24 MB L3 cache. The 12-core/24-thread CPU, besides the generational IPC gains introduced by "Zen 5," marks a 50% increase in CPU muscle over "Hawk Point." It's not just the CPU complex, even the iGPU sees a hardware update.

The biggest benefit of the GeForce RTX 4060 "Ada" being based on the tiny AD107 silicon, and needing just four memory chips, is its tiny PCB footprint. This allows low-profile RTX 4060 graphics cards, as board partners found out. The GALAX RTX 4060 low-profile graphics card just made its debut in the Japan—a huge market for SFF and low-profile desktop PC hardware. The card is 18.2 cm long, and is exactly 6.9 cm tall, or what constitutes half-height. The card is 2 slots thick, and uses an aluminium fin-stack cooling solution that uses a trio of 40 mm fans.

Despite its limited PCB real-estate, the low-profile GALAX RTX 4060 wires out four display connectors—two each of DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1a. The card draws power from a single 8-pin PCIe power connector at the tail-end of the card (so you might need a little extra clearance there). The most striking aesthetic aspect of the card is its all-white PCB, which combined with the white cooler shroud and fans, contrast the fin-stack heatsink. Out of the box, the card comes with its full-height bracket, which can be replaced with the included low-profile bracket. GALAX isn't the only brand with low-profile RTX 4060 cards, there are also such cards from ASUS and GIGABYTE.

For those unhappy with the resolution of most ultrawide displays on the market, Acer's new addition to its Predator line should please most of you, as it has a DUHD resolution which is better known as 7680 x 2160 pixels, aka dual 4K. The Predator Z57 also sports a 2304 zone MiniLED backlight which equals 1152 zones on a standard 4K display. Thanks to the MiniLED backlight, the Predator Z57 also gets a VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification. However, the 120 Hz VA display panel might not be to everyone's liking, alongside the 1000R curvature.

Other features include support for AMD FreeSync Premium, 98 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB Type-C port with 90 W USB-PD support, integrated KVM support, but seemingly no support for DP 2.1. The stand offers height, tilt and swivel adjustments and the display also sports a pair of built in 10 W speakers. Acer hasn't released the full specs of the display, but it retails for US$1,999.99 and can be ordered from Acer in the US now with Europe seemingly following shortly.

Acer today announced the new Nitro 14 and Nitro 16 gaming laptops, powered by AMD Ryzen 8040 Series processors with Ryzen AI[1]. With up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060[2] Laptop GPUs supported by DLSS 3.5 technology, both are backed by NVIDIA's RTX AI platform, providing an array of capabilities in over 500 games and applications, enhanced by AI. Gamers are immersed in their 14- and 16-inch NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible panels with up to WQXGA (2560x1600) resolution.

Whether in call or streaming in-game, Acer PurifiedVoice 2.0 harnesses the power of AI to block out external noises, while Acer PurifiedView keeps users always front and center of all the action. Microsoft Copilot in Windows (with a dedicated Copilot key) helps accelerate everyday tasks on these AI laptops, and with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included with every device, players will enjoy hundreds of high-quality PC games. To seamlessly take command of device performance and customizations, one click of the NitroSense key directs users to the control center and the library of available AI-related functions through the new Experience Zone.

MSI today introduced the MAG 274UPF E2, a 27-inch monitor offering 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution, and a high refresh-rate thanks to its Rapid IPS panel. From the looks of it, this is a "lite" variant of the MPG 274URF that the company unveiled earlier this week, since the two appear to feature the same body design, and mostly the same specs sheet, with the exception of Quantum Dot and USB-C PD single cable input for the MPG display.

The supposedly more affordable MAG 274UPF E2 still gives you 4K Ultra HD with an impressive 160 Hz refresh-rate, and 0.5 ms (GTG) response time, VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, VESA Adaptive Sync support, 178° viewing angles, and wide color gamut with its 10 bpc (1.07 billion colors) palette. Display inputs are similar to the MPG 274URF, with a DisplayPort 1.4a (needed for 4K @ 160 Hz), two HDMI 2.1, and USB-C. Unlike with the MPG 274URF, the USB-C input on the MAC 274UPF doesn't support 65 W PD, and hence single-cable operation isn't possible, you'll need to plug in the display to its own AC source. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Intel Core Ultra "Lunar Lake-MX" will be the company's bulwark against Apple's M-series Pro and Max chips, designed to power the next crop of performance ultraportables. The MX codename extension denotes MoP (memory-on-package), which sees stacked LPDDR5X memory chips share the package's fiberglass substrate with the chip, to conserve PCB footprint, and give Intel greater control over the right kind of memory speed, timings, and power-management features suited to its microarchitecture. This is essentially what Apple does with its M-series SoCs powering its MacBooks and iPad Pros. Igor's Lab scored the motherlode on the way Intel has restructured the various components across its chiplets, and the various I/O wired to the package.

When compared to "Meteor Lake," the "Lunar Lake" microarchitecture sees a small amount of "re-aggregation" of the various logic-heavy components of the processor. On "Meteor Lake," the CPU cores and the iGPU sat on separate tiles—Compute tile and Graphics tile, respectively, with a large SoC tile sitting between them, and a smaller I/O tile that serves as an extension of the SoC tile. All four tiles sat on top of a Foveros base tile, which is essentially an interposer—a silicon die that facilitates high-density microscopic wiring between the various tiles that are placed on top of it. With "Lunar Lake," there are only two tiles—the Compute tile, and the SoC tile.

With the XMG FUSION 15 and CORE 15, XMG unveils its first 15.3-inch laptops in 16:10 format. The two compact devices, which are very similar except for a few details, differ primarily regarding their CPUs: the FUSION 15 is powered by Intel's Core i9-14900HX or i7-14650HX and either an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or 4070, while the CORE 15 combines an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS with an RTX 4060. Apart from that, the gaming laptops, which weigh around 2 kg and are 21.9 mm high, offer a WQXGA display with a brightness of 500 nits and an almost entirely aluminium chassis with a clean and elegant design.

The design language of the XMG FUSION 15 (E24) and the XMG CORE 15 (M24) focuses on understated elegance. The laptops share an identical, black anodised and torsion-resistant aluminium chassis. At 342.5 x 245 x 21.9 mm, these two 15.3-inch devices are very compact, while a reduced weight of just 2.0 kg (XMG CORE 15) or 2.1 kg (XMG FUSION 15) offers good portability.

MeLE, designers of mini PCs, and industrial PCs, unveiled the Fanless Stick PC PCG02 Pro. Measuring 146 mm x 61 mm x 20 mm (LxWxH), this thing is about the size of two smartphones duct-taped together, but weighing as much as one (since there's no battery inside). Under the hood is an Intel N100 "Alder Lake-N" processor, which features one "Gracemont" E-core cluster for a 4-core/4-thread CPU, and an Intel Xe LP-based iGPU with 24 execution units. The N100 in the MeLE PCG02 Pro is wired to 8 GB or 16 GB of LPDDR4X-4266 memory. Storage is in the form of 128 GB or 256 GB of eMMC. The device comes with Windows 11 Home single language pre-installed.

The Fanless Stick PC PCG02 Pro comes with an impressive set of connectivity for its size. Networking options include Wi-Fi 5 ac + Bluetooth 5.1, and a 1 GbE wired Ethernet. Display outputs include two HDMI 2.1, which can power a pair of 4K Ultra HD displays at 60 Hz, each. USB connectivity includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) type-A ports; and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) type-C. There is a second type-C port used for power input through any USB PD 3.0 source that can deliver 25 W. A power adapter is included. Depending on the memory- and storage size opted for, the Fanless Stick PC PCG02 Pro is priced between USD $270 to $290. It can power a range of applications between home-entertainment (it's completely fanless), through digital signage, or even most office applications.