The HPC research projects DEEP-SEA, IO-SEA and RED-SEA are wrapping up this month after a three-year project term. The three projects worked together to develop key technologies for European Exascale supercomputers, based on the Modular Supercomputing Architecture (MSA), a blueprint architecture for highly efficient and scalable heterogeneous Exascale HPC systems. To achieve this, the three projects collaborated on system software and programming environments, data management and storage, as well as interconnects adapted to this architecture. The results of their joint work will be presented at a co-design workshop and poster session at the EuroHPC Summit (Antwerp, 18-21 March, www.eurohpcsummit.eu).

Monokei is not a well-known name on the keyboard market, but its latest Monokei Systems certainly caught our attention at the CES 2024 show in Las Vegas. In addition to the new Monokei Systems, which is a modular low-profile mechanical keyboard, the company had its previous Monokei Standard keyboard on display as well, in both standard and Yuji and Megumi Edition designed by Jujutsu Kaisen.

As said, the star of the show is the Monokei Systems, a low-profile, modular, mechanical and wireless 75% keyboard with a choice between Kailh Choc v2 Silent or Choc v2 Tactile switches. The modular part is quite interesting as you can change pretty much everything, including switches, keycaps, gasket socks, top and bottom case and faceplate, all aluminium, can be easily replaced as these are held magnetically. You can even replace a PCB, which means endless possibilities and future upgrades. Monokei also offers new Series 2 keycaps as an optional purchase. The standard options are Cupertino Silver and Stockholm Night colors. As it is a 75% design there are no special keys other than a dial up knob.

At CES 2024 in Las Vegas, case maker InWin displayed several innovative new models for custom PC builds. The company continues its reputation for eye-catching designs with the debut of the adjustable flatpack POC One case and highly modular Mini Mod-II and Mod-III chassis. The POC One features interlocking panels for easy snap-together assembly, an advancement over the original April-launched POC line. It includes repositionable top or side handles for portable or horizontal setups. Using a mix of aluminium, other metals, and acrylic, the POC One initially comes in black/orange or blue/silver styles. Despite its minimalist flatpack form, it fits full-size components like 335 mm long triple-slot GPUs, 140 mm tall CPU coolers, and standard ATX power supplies. Three PCIe slots and an included riser allow vertical graphics card mounting.

Modularity takes center stage in Framework's latest laptop innovation—the Laptop 16—showcased at their CES 2024 booth. The TechPowerUp team was there to look at the modules that the company showed. As a bigger brother to their popular Laptop 13, the 16-inch model amps up the modularity with new expansion systems for unrivaled customizability. The showstopper is the laptop's graphics modularity, realizing the long-sought dream of upgradeable discrete GPUs in a laptop. Gamers and creators can swap graphics modules to keep up with the latest technology. The laptop also introduces a modular keyboard deck with interchangeable parts for full input flexibility. Framework's expansive modularity translates to sustainability. Components can be reused, reducing e-waste. The company is open-sourcing designs and engaging partners to participate in the ecosystem.

Starting at $1399 for the DIY edition, the choice is either AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPUs, along with Radeon RX 7700S graphics configured at 100 Watt TGP. A variety of modules and various keyboard positions can be seen in the pictures below, including the configuration with LED matrix spacer, color shifting spacer, different color screen bezels, and much more. Additional modules like SD Card expansion module are coming soon as well.

The SG10 is an ambitious product designed to push the boundaries of fanless technology and create a gaming case capable of cooling high-performance CPUs and GPUs without the use of fans. This project collaboration between Streacom and Calyos is also aimed at showcasing the application of loop heat pipe technology in PC cooling and represents the first step in creating a viable mainstream high-performance solid-state alternative to water cooling solutions.

The spiritual successor to the SG10 began life as a Kickstarter project launched by Calyos as the NSG S0, and whilst having extensive expertise in cooling, the additional challenges of consumer product manufacturing proved to be a stumbling block. A search ensued to find a partner with suitable experience to get the project back on track, and with experience in both case manufacturing and fanless cooling, Streacom was the natural fit. As can be understood just by glancing at the image, the SG10 represents a complete redesign of the NSG S0. Not a single asset or component was carried over from the original case. This includes the Evaporator that pumps the coolant around the loop and the Condenser that radiates the heat, both core components that make this performance possible. Everything has been entirely re-engineered and improved far beyond the original specification and performance.

This is likely our last Framework Laptop 16 Deep Dive before we start shipping, and those of you who ordered one can dive deep on your own. We began mass production of Mainboards last week, which we'll hold onto as we resolve the last few remaining open items to begin full system manufacturing. You may be thinking, do we really need a deep dive on connectors? The answer is a resounding "Yes!"—as connectors are surprisingly among the most complex and critical parts of building a product that is slim, durable, high performance, and easy to repair. Connectors are the electrical and mechanical interfaces between modules in the system.

They are what actually makes the product modular! Each connector needs to be easy to engage, hard to accidentally disengage during vibration or drop, robust across repeated re-connections, thin enough to fit within a tiny space, electrically sound from a signal integrity and power perspective, readily manufacturable, and cheap. Our most complicated connectors are made up of dozens of tiny formed metal parts in plastic or metal shells. Given the complexity, our preference is always to find well-proven off-the-shelf connectors. However, occasionally we run into unique interconnect scenarios that don't match anything out there. In these instances, we're forced to customize our own solutions. With Framework Laptop 16, we developed two of these to enable our new module ecosystems.

DeepCool, a pioneer in cutting-edge PC hardware, proudly introduces the MORPHEUS Modular ATX+ case—a game-changer designed for seasoned case modders and everyday PC building enthusiasts alike. The MORPHEUS redefines modularity, providing the flexibility to seamlessly switch between single and dual chamber configurations, complete with a vertical GPU mount and Gen 4 riser cable for an elevated user experience.

Embrace a new era of modularity with DeepCool's internally reconfigurable ATX+ chassis—the MORPHEUS. Offering unparalleled compatibility and a spacious layout, the MORPHEUS caters to the discerning tastes of DIY modders and casual PC enthusiasts. Break free from the monotony of fixed system layouts with the MORPHEUS. Effortlessly transition between the classic single chamber configuration and the dynamic dual chamber layout with a simple switch of a few parts. The package includes everything needed for the shift, including a vertical GPU mount with a Gen 4.0 riser cable.

Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Power, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast Memory solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the Toughpower TF3 1550 W, a high-end ATX 3.0 PSU designed to fully power up high-performance systems. The two advanced native PCIe 12V-2x6 modular interfaces compatible with 12+4-pin cable enables more stable support for next-gen hardware with its new technology. With its superior 80 Plus Titanium efficiency and specifications that are more strict than Intel's standards, the Toughpower TF3 1550 W can provide overclockers high-quality and stable power for their PC builds.

The TF3 1550 W meets Intel ATX 3.0 standards, supporting up to 200% total power excursion, 300% GPU power excursion, and 70% low load efficiency. Additionally, the TF3 1550 W has great GPU compatibility, it includes two native PCIe 12V-2X6 connectors that can connect to the latest RTX 40 series, and also supports 8-pin PCIe cables for AMD GPUs & other RTX GPUs. There is an extra jumper accessory in the package that can deliver electricity to the system without connecting to the motherboard, and it can be very helpful if you install more than one power supply.

Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Power, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast Memory solutions, is excited to announce the launch of The Tower 200 Bumblebee Mini Chassis, a new-color version of the beloved The Tower series. The Tower 200 is a Mini-ITX case with a vertical case design and exceptional thermal efficiency. Though this chassis comes in a compact size, it can support the length of a 4090 graphics card and a 280 mm radiator. With the addition of a new vibrant yellow hue, The Tower 200 series now comes in six colors: Black, Snow, Turquoise, Racing Green, Matcha Green, and Bumblebee, allowing you to easily choose an ideal The Tower 200 to fit your style.

The Tower 200 Bumblebee has the same vertical body design as its predecessors, providing users more space flexibility with its smaller footprint. Like the productive spirit of a bumblebee, The Tower 200 Bumblebee is a tiny but mighty case that offers superior hardware support and exceptional cooling performance. The Tower 200 can accommodate a graphics card with a length of up to 380 mm such as the latest 4090 GPU and a standard-size power supply of up to 220 mm enabling you to choose the high-performance components you want. Additionally, The Tower 200 can house a CPU cooler with a maximum height of 200 mm, support an AIO radiator up to 280 mm, and is preinstalled with two CT140 PC Cooling Fans, allowing The Tower 200 Bumblebee to maintain a low interior temperature at all times.

Yesterday we pre-announced that we're developing an SD Expansion Card. Normally we don't announce a product until we've fully locked the feature-set, brought up the necessary suppliers and manufacturing environment, completed most of the engineering and a substantial level of testing and validation, and are on a high confidence path to a specific release date at a specific price. This is because development of brand new products requires charting a course into the unknown. We set a target for what the product will be from the start, but as we proceed and learn, we often need to adjust the schedule, scope, and cost, and sometimes even need to outright pause or cancel development. Announcing just before shipping is how most companies operate to reduce churn and public uncertainty, but it means the product development process ends up extremely opaque.

We decided we're going to treat this one product on our roadmap a little differently. A full-size SD Expansion Card is consistently the most requested Expansion Card by the community, which makes it a great one to open up. We're just at the start of the process now, and Hyelim on our Marketing team is creating a new YouTube series to share updates and insights as we go through the New Product Introduction (NPI) process. Take a look at the first video (below) and let us know what you think as we complete (or don't complete) the product.

Framework products are now available to order in three more countries: Italy, Spain, and Belgium! That includes Framework Laptop 13, Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders, and the range of modules and parts in the Framework Marketplace. We have Italian, Spanish, and Belgian keyboard layouts available as well. This brings the total number of countries we're in up to 12 (US, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Australia, Italy, Spain, Belgium) and we're still on track to open ordering in Taiwan later this summer. We know there are more of you out there who want upgradeable, repairable, customizable products, and we're continuing to build the infrastructure to expand to more of the world. We prioritize countries based both on the operational complexity and on community interest. The best way to help us gauge demand is by signing up for the waitlist for your country.

13th Gen Intel Core now in stock
We've shipped out the last batch of pre-orders, and the Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel Core) is now in stock and shipping from inventory, including for shipments to the three new countries. This means after placing an order, your laptop will ship within five business days from our warehouse in Taiwan. If you're past the point of repair on your current system and are looking for a high-performance, upgradeable, repairable notebook, check out the reviews from The Verge, Tom's Guide, and Ars Technica to figure out if a Framework Laptop 13 is for you.

CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gear and systems for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, today unveiled the CORSAIR Platform:6, a highly versatile modular desk for gamers, content creators, and working professionals. With decades of experience in creating the high-performance desktop and streaming gear that their customers use on their desks every day, CORSAIR and its subsidiary Elgato are uniquely positioned to understand and provide exactly what those customers need in a gaming and work space. Combining premium materials, a high degree of customization, and a multitude of quality-of-life features such as adjustable height and plentiful cable management, the Platform:6 sets the highest standard for an expandable, feature-rich computer desk.

The Platform:6 supports today's many diverse lifestyles, from the hardcore PC gamer to the remote worker in need of an organized workspace in the home. A six-foot wide surface area, which can be expanded even further, provides ample space for high-end PCs, full streaming setups, and an array of accessories. With multiple configurations offering a wide selection of features such as motorized adjustable height, choice of surface material, and an expandable rail system, customers will be able to design the perfect Platform:6 using CORSAIR's online configurator to fit their needs and their space, or choose from several predefined bundles for the best value.

Inventec, a global leader in high-powered servers headquartered in Taiwan, is launching its cutting-edge C805G6 server for data centers based on AMD's newest 4th Gen EPYC platform—a major innovation in computing power that provides double the operating efficiency of previous platforms. These innovations are timely, as the industry worldwide faces converse challenges—on one hand, a growing need to reduce carbon footprints and power consumption, while, on the other hand, the push for ever higher computing power and performance for AI. In fact, in 2022 MIT found that improving a machine learning model tenfold will require a 10,000-fold increase in computational requirements.

Addressing both pain points, George Lin, VP of Business Unit VI, Inventec Enterprise Business Group (Inventec EBG) notes that, "Our latest C805G6 data center solution represents an innovation both for the present and the future, setting the standard for performance, energy efficiency, and security while delivering top-notch hardware for powering AI workloads."

We're extreme optimists by the nature of our mission, but the response to the Framework Laptop 16 pre-order launch last week was beyond anything we could have imagined. We expected to sell the first five batches over the course of a few months. Instead, we sold through them in 12 hours. The currently open pre-order batch will ship in Q1 2024, and we're working with our suppliers to ensure we have the production capacity to avoid pre-order timing going deeper into 2024. AMD was also able to provide more game codes for Starfield Premium Edition to let us continue offering it for additional pre-orders that include a Radeon RX 7700S (while quantities last).

A couple of great write-ups and videos went live alongside the launch. First, Sean Hollister at The Verge shared his detailed thoughts from an exclusive hands-on with a pre-production Framework Laptop 16, stating "I am staggered that Framework 16 even exists". AMD also prepared a video featuring Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions & Marketing, explaining how we partnered to make it exist! Watch this featurette below.

Cooler Master, a leading innovator in PC Hardware, today announced the launch of its GX III Gold series of power supply units (PSUs). Available at 650 W, 750 W, and 850 W, these PSUs feature a sleek, streamlined design, a highly durable 12VHPWR cable and ATX 3.0 compatibility, supporting the most powerful graphics cards in the industry.

Designed for power users, enthusiasts and custom builders, the GX III Gold builds on the legacy of Cooler Master's GX series. This innovative PSU offers all-new material and structural design, fully modular cabling and optimized thermal performance. Boasting 80 Plus Gold and efficiency certifications, as well as 80 Plus Titanium-level efficiency at light loads, the GX III Gold series is the best PSU in its class.

We're excited to share that Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are now open, with configurations powered by the latest AMD Ryzen CPUs and AMD Radeon GPUs. This is truly a notebook like no other: thin and refined, while empowering you with desktop PC-level customization, repairability, and upgradability, including a fully reconfigurable input deck and modular discrete graphics. Prices start at $1399 USD for DIY Edition and $1699 USD for pre-built systems with Ryzen 7 7840HS, and adding an AMD Radeon RX 7700S Graphics Module brings starting prices to $1799 and $2099 USD.

Pre-orders that include a Graphics Module with an eligible AMD Radeon GPU will receive a free download code for one of the biggest games of the year: Starfield Premium Edition. Quantities are limited, and we'll be sending out the code prior to the game's early access launch.

ASUS today announced BR1402 series, the world's first 2-in-1 ruggedized 14-inch laptops aimed at K-12 education—and designed for the need of modern students and hybrid learning. Available in both traditional clamshell form (BR1402C) and a convertible design that flips 360° to become a versatile multitouch tablet (BR1402F), the all-new BR1402-series laptops are built to military-grade standards and packed with clever protective features to help students through their learning journey.

BR1402 series are also loaded with essentials for the demands of hybrid study, enabling education to flow seamlessly from the classroom into the home and beyond. To empower a full day's study, these laptops include up to 10-hour battery life, full-function USB-C, up to WiFi 6 for speedy connectivity and a modular design to ensure easy maintenance and upgrades.

At Computex 2023 InWin showcased a chassis concept that has been something of a holy grail in case design for the last couple decades: a fully modular case. By fully modular InWin means that each compartment of the chassis is its own accessory module that can be attached at any 90 degree intersection with tool free interlocks. This allows somebody to effectively build an infinite computer case if they so desired. The case is broken up into three base modules: Mod-I is the motherboard tray with nine expansion slots, some front I/O, and a couple 120/140 mm fan mounts at the front and top. Mod-II has the mount for the PSU, and Mod-III can host 3.5 inch storage bays, a full size GPU, or fans with three more 120/140 mm fan mounts. The rest of the case, being the outer panels, face plates, and covers, are sized to fit around the outer dimensions of these modules so no matter what configuration you assemble there is a combination of glass and steel panels that fit and can enclose the case.

InWin offers two default configurations for buyers to choose from: ModFree - Base Edition and ModFree - Deluxe Edition. The Base Edition includes one Mod-I and Mod-II frame pieces with glass and steel side panels for a relatively basic mid-tower setup, while the Deluxe Edition adds a Mod-III fan housing to both the front and top with accompanying side panels. The third option is to simply configure whatever you like from the available modules. InWin is also working on a unique concept for the Mod-II chassis piece that adds a motherboard tray, vented wooden side and wood-color accent plates to create a very stylish ITX chassis called the ModFree mini.

2023. There are three cases that Lian Li is presenting: O11D EVO XL, O11D EVO RGB, O11 Vision, and SUP 01. Starting off with the O11D EVO XL, it is a versatile e-ATX case designed to house cutting-edge hardware, with the added flexibility of being set up in a reverse configuration. This case allows for placing a GPU next to the motherboard, either upright or flipped, in either standard or reverse setups. It is also equipped with an adaptable I/O module that can be mounted at various points for optimal user-friendliness. Furthermore, the O11D XL comes with a detachable support column on the front left, providing unimpeded visual access to the case's interior. It also boasts a motherboard tray that can be adjusted in height for three different cooling arrangements, even accommodating up to three 420 radiators simultaneously.

After a three year hiatus, In Win Development Inc. (InWin), will rejoin COMPUTEX 2023 in full force. This year, InWin will showcase its growing range of high performance AIO cooling solutions, professional-grade cooling fans, new ATX 3.0 power supplies, updates to its iBuildiShare initiative, and exciting collaborative products with some of the PC industry's top brands.

Chilling New Products
See InWin's latest MR and TR series AIO liquid coolers that can really take the heat, chilling even the hottest chips down to the core. Cooling enthusiasts are in for a treat with the introduction of the new InWin Neptune fan series that's destined to cool the hottest of hardware!

Chinese RISC-V developers Milk-V Technology and SOPHGO recently announced their collaborative open source Milk-V Pioneer developer motherboard and workstation based on the SOPHON SG2042 RISC-V server SoC. The SOPHON SG2042 is a 64-core, 2 GHz SoC based on T-Head Semiconductor's XuanTie C920 64-bit processor design which features clusters of one to four cores, each a 12-stage out-of-order multiple issue superscalar pipeline, and a 128-bit vector engine based on the preliminary RISC-V V Extension version 0.7.1. The SG2042 packs in 64+64 KB (I+D) L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core cluster, 64 MB of L3 system cache, a quad-channel DDR4 controller, and 32 lanes of PCI-E Gen 4. The SG2042 contains no integrated graphics solution.

The Milk-V Pioneer incorporates this highly threaded RISC-V SoC with a modular and expandable standard mATX motherboard featuring four DIMM slots with support for up to 128 GB of DDR4, three full-length PCI-E slots wired for Gen 4 x8, two M.2 M-Key PCI-E Gen 3 x4, one M.2 E-Key for PCI-E 3.0 x1 and USB 2.0, eight USB 3.2 10 Gbps ports, five SATA 6 Gbps ports, and a pair of 2.5G Ethernet ports. The bulk of this I/O runs off an ASMedia ASM 2824 PCI-E switch, however the PCI-E Gen 4 ports run directly off the SG2024 SoC. Milk-V Pioneer is also being offered as a prebuilt small form factor workstation which puts the board into a small portable chassis called the Pioneer Box. The Pioneer Box includes 64 GB of DDR4-3200, 1 TB M.2 SSD, an Intel X520-T2 10G network card, an AMD Radeon R5 230 graphics card for display, and a 350 W power supply.

Dutch social enterprise Fairphone is proud to announce the launch of its latest device, Fairbuds XL, once again pioneering more sustainable ways to make electronics. Fairbuds XL are the company's first modular audio device. The headphones are the next step in Fairphone's journey to develop fair and long-lasting audio
devices, after launching its first generation earbuds in 2021.

By introducing Fairbuds XL, Fairphone is applying its market-leading experience in making sustainable, repairable smartphones. The headphones are produced with the same values used to make all Fairphone devices - focus on people and planet. Like all Fairphone devices, the headphones are designed to last. The modular construction and spare parts make them easy to repair, which lets users enjoy and keep their device for longer. Fairbuds XL allow for the replacement of parts that can wear over time, such as the ear cushions. The long-term use of electronics isn't only great for the user experience, it also helps reduce their environmental footprint.

Opera is unveiling Opera One today. Opera One is the early access version of a completely redesigned browser that is planned to replace the flagship Opera browser for Windows, MacOS, and Linux later this year. Based on Modular Design, Opera One transforms the way you interact with your browser, delivering a liquid navigation experience which is more intuitive to the user. With today's release, Opera One also becomes the first major Chromium-based browser with a multithreaded compositor that brings the UI to life like never before. Opera One also introduces Tab Islands, a new, more intuitive way of interacting with and managing multiple tabs. This news from the company comes just weeks after announcing its first generative AI features, including AI Prompts, as well as access to ChatGPT and ChatSonic in the sidebar.

Introducing the first implementation of Modular Design
Opera has a history of reinventing itself to address the changing needs of its users as well as the evolving nature of the web. With Opera One, the browser has been redesigned according to Modular Design. The new design philosophy, which is being presented today for the first time, will allow Opera to over time build a more powerful and feature-rich browser that is ready for a generative AI-based future. The Opera browser is thus beginning its metamorphosis into a browser that will dynamically adapt to the user's needs by bringing only the key features to the foreground: the relevant modules within Opera One will adjust automatically based on context, providing the user with a more liquid and effortless browsing experience.

Insider sources at Microsoft have spoken of continued efforts to modernize the core of its operating system, with the work-in-progress Windows 12 cited as the ideal candidate for substantial updates. The engineering team is reported to be integrating a modular design, which will allow for a reduced operating system footprint - similar in principle to ChromeOS. According to a Windows Report article the operating system development team is hard at work on a spiritual successor to the abandoned Windows Core OS project. Their newest effort is reported to be called "Windows CorePC" and Microsoft is aiming to hit the same goals it set for its Windows 10X edition, which was cancelled in mid-2021, but they will also target native support for legacy applications on devices that require necessary access.

Windows Core OS was shutdown after years of development and internal testing - it was hoped that a modular Universal Windows Platform-first (UWP-F) operating system would be more lightweight and gain stronger security features, as well as greater access to regular updates. The inside sources stated that Windows Core OS will not be developed any further, at least not for desktop computer purposes. The Microsoft team is anticipating that its new CorePC project will lead onto new configurations of Windows that feature a capability of scaling up and down depending on hardware variations. Windows PCs and devices, in some user case scenarios, do not require full breadth of legacy Win32 application support. CorePC will enable different configurations of Windows to be installed on a custom basis.

What if you drastically changed the way that you play Forza Horizon 5? ESWAP X PRO CONTROLLER — the gold standard for professional gamepads - is heading to Mexico and sporting the colors of the game Forza Horizon 5. To celebrate the occasion, it includes a world-first feature: RACING WHEEL MODULE. Dubbed ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER FORZA HORIZON 5 EDITION, this gamepad provides next-level immersion and a truly exceptional racing experience. It's all about precision, speed and control!

A GAMEPAD CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORZA HORIZON 5 DEVELOPER TURN 10
Officially licensed by both Forza Horizon 5 and Xbox, ESWAP XR PRO CONTROLLER FORZA HORIZON 5 EDITION is a true collector's-edition gamepad to be treasured. Customized with the official colors of Forza Horizon 5, you'll enjoy all of the precision and responsiveness that have made Thrustmaster's ESWAP X PRO CONTROLLER a worldwide smash hit.