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.

At Computex last week, we got a first look at Gigabyte's new TRX50 AI TOP motherboard—where TOP stands for trillions of operations per second—designed for AMD's Threadripper and Threadripper Pro CPUs. Now the company has released the full specifications of the TRX50 AI TOP and the board is packed to the brim with features. The E-ATX board is home to four PCIe x16 slots, all of which can operate in PCIe 5.0, but one can be limited to PCIe 4.0, depending on your choice of CPU. There's also four NVMe M.2 slots, with CPU dependent functionality. Other features include eight DIMM slots, but these are again CPU dependent, two 10 Gbps Ethernet interfaces via a pair of Marvell AQtion AQC113C controllers, WiFi 7 via a Qualcomm QCNCM865 module and dual audio chips, one for the rear ports and one for the front panel audio.

As this is a 2024 model, USB4 is of course also part of the package, but only one of the two USB4 supports DP Alt-mode, due to there only being one DP input. The board also has an internal USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) header for a case mounted USB-C port, a further six rear 5 Gbps USB Type-A ports, plus a pair of internal headers for a further four 5 Gbps USB Type-A ports. The board also has four SATA ports, a 16+8+4 power phase design, a 14-layer PCB, a debug display and the now common easy release features for the M.2 drive heatsinks and the graphics card. The TRX50 AI TOP also sports what Gigabyte calls "UC BIOS" which has a "User-Centred intuitive UX with Quick Access function", but there's currently no details of how this differs from previous UEFI releases from Gigabyte. There was no word on pricing.

Team Group showed off its latest portable SSDs at the 2024 Computex. We begin our tour of the Team Group booth with the T-Force M400, a portable SSD that takes advantage of the 40 Gbps USB4 interface to serve up phenomenal transfer speeds of up to 3700 MB/s reads, with up to 3400 MB/s writes. The M400 comes in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB. The T-Create P35 is a compact high-security portable SSD, which comes with native encryption, and the SSD Security Toolbox interface that protects data even against bruteforcing and BadUSB attacks. This drive packs TCG-Opal 2.0 with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The drive takes advantage of the 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, and offers transfer speeds of up to 1000 MB/s reads/writes.

The T-Create CinemaPr P31 is a high performance portable SSD meant for lossless digital cinematography. It's designed to fit with popular cinema camera rigs, as well as video rigs made of DSLRs or even smartphones. The drive features a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, and has up to 2000 MB/s of transfer speeds on tap, with enough speeds for 4K or 8K raw captures. There's also the T-Create CinemaPr R41 CFexpress 4.0 Type B, a related product with similar camera-mounting capabilities.

Kingston at the 2024 Computex showcased its latest flash storage and SSD products. The lineup is topped by the company's popular IronKey series of storage devices with enterprise-grade security, some even with on-device physical keypads to unlock the first layer of security. The IronKey VP80 has a touchscreen UI with which you set and unlock passwords. The drive takes advantage of the USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), offering sequential transfer speeds of 230 MB/s to 250 MB/s. Capacities range between 960 GB to a massive 7.68 TB. On device encryption options include XTS-AES 256-bit. The IronKey Keypad 200 is a thumb stick with a physical keypad to unlock the first ring of security. Capacities range between 8 GB to 512 GB, with interface options that include USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A, and type-C. Transfer speeds on offer are 145 MB/s to 280 MB/s. Encryption includes XTS-AES 256-bit. Lastly, there's the IronKey Vault Privacy 50. This one lacks a physical keypad, but has on-device encryption, and software level protections against password bruteforcing and BadUSB attacks.

The Kingston Swift XS1000 and XS1000 Red are a line of consumer pocket-sized portable SSDs, with a weight of just 29 g. These come in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities, take advantage of the 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2, and offer sequential transfer speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s. The Swift XS2000 is what Kingston dubs as the "vlogger's best companion." This device has similar dimensions to the XS1000, but with capacities ranging between 500 GB to 4 TB. It takes advantage of the 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface to offer sequential speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s. DataTraveler is the company's most popular USB storage brand, and Kingston is seen taking advantage of 10 Gbps and 20 Gbps USB3 interfaces for speeds in the gigabytes of second. Kingston also showed us a line of SD cards for content creators, drone photography, adventure cameras, etc., spanning the Creative React Plus V60, Canvas Go! Plus, and Canvas Select Plus lines.

MSI also brought plenty of SSD products to the Computex 2024 show, including the new SPATIUM M560 PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD based on the Phison E31T controller and Kioxia's 218-layer BiCS 3D TLC NAND, the new SPATIUM non-metal Vapor Chamber SSD Thermal Solution, and a couple of SSD accessories, including the DATAMAG Magnetic Portable SSD and the DATAVAULT SSD Enclosure.

As said, the new SPATIUM M560 PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD will use the Phison 7 nm E31T controller paired up with Kioxia 8th generation 218-layer BiCS 3D TLC NAND and offer transfer rates of up to 10,000 MB/s. The controller, according to MSI, should bring up to a 15 percent reduction in power consumption as well as "maximize bandwidths and link efficiency". It will be available in 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities, and MSI will probably have a version that will include the new SPATIUM non-metal Vapor Chamber SSD Thermal Solution which has been also showcased at the Computex 2024 show. MSI says that this is yet another world's first, which uses "a two-phase flow transition of gas and liquid with minimal signal interference, ensuring rapid and silent heat exchange." According to MSI, the new SPATIUM non-metal Vapor Chamber SSD Thermal Solution should provide up to 11 degrees lower temperature compared to a standard aluminium heatsink.

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation ("Silicon Motion"), a global leader in designing and marketing NAND flash controllers for solid-state storage devices, today launched the SM2322, the industry's fastest single-chip high-performance, low-power, and cost-effective solution for external portable SSDs, supporting up to 8 TB of storage and achieves unparalleled data transfer rates of 20 Gbps for storing and accessing large amounts of content seamlessly from AI smartphones, high-performance multimedia devices, and game consoles.

With the increase of AI-capable devices, high density and high-performance storage solutions are becoming more critical to consumers. Portable SSDs powered by the new SM2322 controller are the only solution that offers low-cost, high-density and high-performance, making it the ideal solution for these applications. Equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface with 20 Gb/s bandwidth and fully integrated hardware and software solution delivering peak sequential read and write transfer speeds of 2,100 MB/s and 2,000 MB/s, respectively, with up to 8 TB capacity, SM2322 powered high-performance portable SSDs enable an ultra-compact and lightweight form factor. The SM2322 supports the ProRes format and MFi specification for iPhone users while also being compatible with Windows, Android OS, and macOS, making it an ideal high-density, high-performance portable storage solution for AI smartphones, HD content creators, and gaming enthusiasts who require high-density, high-performance portable storage.

ASRock today introduced the W790 WS R2.0 motherboard for workstations powered by 4th Gen Intel Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 series processors in the Socket LGA4677 package. Although its model name suggests that it is a revision of the W790 WS, the new W790 WS R2.0 appears to be a lite version of the original, which removes several I/O features. To begin with, the fancy I/O shroud makes way for bare connectors, where you can see several of the connectors stripped away. While the CPU VRM appears unchanged, the VRM heatsinks used on the R2.0 are of a simpler design. The design effort behind both these changes appears to be to make the board friendly to certain kinds of rackmount chassis.

Besides the design changes, the ASRock W790 WS R2.0 loses out on Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, and only has a single 10 GbE interface instead of dual-10 GbE on the original W790 WS. These aside, the W790 WS R2.0 is still a very capable workstation motherboard for the platform it's based on. It draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS, and a 6-pin PCIe power; and uses a 22-phase CPU VRM. The board features four PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slots (x16/NC/x16/NC or x16/NC/x8/x8 or x8/x8/x8/x8), and one PCI-Express 4.0 x16 (electrical x4). The CPU socket is wired to eight memory slots, supporting quad-channel DDR5 memory, with support for DDR5 RDIMM-3DS, a total memory capacity of 2 TB, and a maximum overclocked memory speed of DDR5-6800.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce their lineup of products to be shown at the 2024 NAB Show, from April 14-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Lexar products deliver the high-speed performance that professional videographers, filmmakers, and creators demand in their cameras while also accelerating workflows.
Lexar's new Rugged Series includes the ARMOR GOLD SD UHS-II V60 Card. This card offers a max read speed of 280 MB/s and a max write speed of 210 MB/s, features an IP68 rating, and supports seamless 6K video capture. The ARMOR SILVER PRO SD UHS-II V60 Card also clocks in at a max read speed of 280 MB/s and delivers a write speed of 160 MB/s. It is also rated IP68 and supports 6K video as well. In the SSD category, the ARMOR 700 Portable SSD leverages USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 to provide max read/write speeds of 2000 MB/s1 and an IP66 rating lets users know that its design protects against both water and dust and is built to withstand up to 3-meter drops and falls.

Lexar is also excited to announce a new line of products dedicated to improving the professional workflow. The Lexar Professional PRO WORKFLOW is a 6-bay dock designed to maximize efficiency in the studio by allowing professionals to customize a solution with the modules they need. It is compatible with a range of WORKFLOW readers for CFexpress Type B and Type A 4.0 cards, SD and microSD UHS-II cards, and portable SSDs. It adopts Thunderbolt 4 and supports speeds up to 40 Gbps. The Lexar Professional PRO WORKFLOW GO is a portable solution that allows users to back up on location without a laptop. This 2-bay dock is battery-powered and supports speeds up to 10 Gbps.

PNY announces the latest addition to their line-up of the portable SSDs - RP60 Portable SSD with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C. The new RP60 Portable SSD was designed with creative wanderlusts and on-the-go professionals in mind to provide a highly portable and extremely durable data storage solution. With a compact form factor and convenient clip loop, the RP60 can easily go wherever the adventure takes you. Travel with confidence that your data is secure and protected, with the RP60's tough, outer silicone shell which makes the drive resistant to drops, water and dust Plus, experience top-tier performance with read/write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s and 1,800 MB/s3, respectively, and broad compatibility across various devices, thanks to the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C connector.

Offered in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities, the RP60 facilitates convenient storage and swift transfers of large multimedia files. Creators can access and edit high-resolution images and videos with ease for smooth editing and playback experiences. While gamers can enjoy lightning-fast installations and loading times for their extensive gaming libraries. Mainstream users too will find the RP60 Portable SSD to be an excellent choice as both a dedicated system backup drive or an everyday-use storage companion, perfect for securely storing and accessing critical work documents, projects, and large libraries of photos and movies.

Sabrent today launched the Rocket Nano V2 portable SSD series. The drive measures 15 mm x 33 mm x 73 mm in size (HxDxW), weighing just 54 g, with the included silicone sleeve, and 11.9 mm x 29.6 mm x 69.5 mm, weighing 46 g, without the sleeve. It comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, and uses a single USB type-C cable connection for both power and host connectivity.

Both USB-C to USB-C, and USB-C to USB-A cables are included in the package. At the interface level, the Sabrent Rocket Nano V2 takes advantage of 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. It offers sequential transfer speeds of up to 1500 MB/s for both reads and writes. Available now, the 1 TB variant is priced at USD $119.99, the 2 TB variant at $199.99, and the 4 TB variant at $449.99.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce the Lexar Professional SL600 Portable SSD. With spectacularly fast USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 performance of up to 2000 MB/s read and write, it's perfect for photographers, videographers, and content creators as well as business professionals looking to back up or transfer massive files on the go or shoot photos and video directly to the drive.

It features a durable, aluminium enclosure that helps protect users' files from bumps and drops while traveling or on location while also providing shock- and vibration-resistance. For further security it also comes with Lexar DataShield, a 256-bit AES encryption software so users can ensure their sensitive files remain private. It includes USB Type-C and USB Type-A cables, so it is compatible with a wide range of devices and a carabiner loop allows users to secure it to their bag.Buy the Lexar SL600 from BestBuy Canada from CA $129.99 onward

Cooler Master, a leading provider of PC components, gaming peripherals, and tech lifestyle solutions, has today announced the NR200P V2 - a redesigned new take on the classic high performance NR200P case. The V2 keeps things compact and frees up desk space without sacrificing any of the performance benefits users expect from an NR200P case, such as versatile cooling support and maximized airflow.

In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a leading innovator in PC enthusiast and gaming hardware, has launched its D5 E-ATX mid-tower PC chassis for PC builders looking for optimized airflow, sensible layout, and versatile hardware installment. With tool-less quick-release panels, a rotatable PCI-E mounting bracket, and optimized cable management, the D5 offers a PC building experience that unlocks build convenience and unparalleled performance.

The full mesh front and top panels ensure optimal cooling for the internal components. Inside is a removable cable shield on the motherboard tray, which not only discretely and effectively manages cable clutter, but also is designed to channel and concentrate airflow towards the main hardware. Offering mounting areas for a total of three front fans, three top fans, and one rear fan. There are excellent air-cooling opportunities, and liquid cooling support for both 360 mm and 280/360 mm radiators. Matching the all-black chassis aesthetic, InWin bundles a Neptune AN120 ARGB fan as a starting point for PC builders that often prefer to choose their own fans. The AN120 offers an exceptional performance-to-noise ratio at just 20.5 dBA nominal and up to 60 CFM airflow.

erial leaker @yuuki_ans on X/Twitter has released details on Intel's upcoming Barlow Rridge Thunderbolt 5 controller which will be known as the JHL9580 or JHL9540 depending on the SKU. The good news is that Intel has finally moved to PCIe 4.0 for the bus interface, which was expected due to the increased bandwidth on offer by Thunderbolt 5 over Thunderbolt 3 and 4. Barlow Ridge will use a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface to connect to the host and it appears that the earlier leak that suggested native Thunderbolt support in Arrow Lake-S might be incorrect, as there are diagrams showing Barlow Ridge connected to Arrow Lake-S CPUs.

Besides the faster bus, Thunderbolt 5 brings asymmetrical data transmission support which means that for display applications there will be a 120/40 Gbps mode, whereas for data only applications Thunderbolt 5 will deliver a symmetrical 80 Gbps mode. We should point out that this only appears to apply to the JHL9580 SKU, which also supports 40 Gbps USB4 speeds, whereas the JHL9540 for some reason remains a Thunderbolt 4 controller. That said, both of the Barlow Ridge SKUs get support for 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, something that was lacking in previous Thunderbolt implementations. There will also be support for DisplayPort 2.1 via DP Alt Mode with full UHBR20 support when used with a DP80 certified cable. Actual data transfers are limited to the 64 Gbps PCIe 4.0 interface to the host system, just like USB4, but this does at least give Thunderbolt 5 extra head room for display data even in symmetrical mode. The Barlow Ridge controllers appear to be connected directly to the Arrow Lake-S CPUs via the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, much in the same way USB4 host controllers connect to AMD's Ryzen 7000-series CPUS.

ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge computing, a global supplier of industrial PCs and motherboards, and a Titanium member of the Intel Partner Alliance, announces the launch of the new IMB-M47 industrial ATX motherboard for 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 processors. The IMB-M47 ATX motherboard delivers high-performance computing power, with multiple I/O and expansion ports, including three simultaneous independent displays, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gb/s), up to 128 GB DDR5 4800 MHz, 3x 2.5 GbE, multi-M.2 Key M, TPM 2.0, and PCIe 5.0 high-performance add-on cards for complex Edge AIoT processing tasks in industrial automation, machine vision, factory automation, and logistics.

The IMB-M47 industrial ATX motherboard supports 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core processors that utilize a high-performance hybrid architecture with up to sixteen E-cores (Efficient-cores) for multi-threaded background task management and multitasking, and up to eight P-cores (Performance-cores) for demanding single-threaded work such as graphics and video rendering. The 13th Gen Intel Core processors speed up edge applications that benefit from faster memory performance with faster DDR5 memory.

Gigabyte has revealed its first TRX50 motherboard today for AMD's Ryzen Threadripper 7000 Pro and Threadripper 7000 CPUs and to call this board feature packed, would almost be an understatement. The product page is still scant on details, but there's enough there to give us a good idea of what's on offer. The board is a full size ATX board which appears to be somewhere between a high-end consumer board and a workstation board. The heatsink layout isn't as refined as some of Gigabyte's current consumer board, which spoils the overall looks somewhat. With no less than three PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 slots and one PCIe 4.0, one has to wonder if the heatsinks covering the SSDs will be enough, considering how hot PCIe 5.0 drives can get.

The board has a further two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 4.0 x16, so there won't be any need to worry about lack of PCIe lanes per slot here. Somewhat disappointingly, the board only has four DDR5 memory slots, although quad channel support is offered, as well as support for registered DIMMs. The 12 layer PCB also houses a 16+8+4 power phase design, which might be needed based on the expected core count on some of the Threadripper 7000 series CPUs. This is also one of the first boards with onboard USB4 support, with one of the ports offering DisplayPort output, although a DP to DP connection from the graphics card to a DP input on the motherboard is still required. The board also sports a 10 Gbps and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, WiFi 7, a front header for a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port and apparently two audio chips, although the list of specs and the board feature image seem to disagree on what's on offer here. The board is likely to be available at the same time as AMD's new Threadripper CPUs.

In a recent interaction with the community on Chinese social platforms, Tony Yu, better known as Uncle Tony and serving as the General Manager of ASUS China, shed light on several questions concerning ASUS's products. One question that captured attention was about the ROG Z790 APEX motherboard, a premium offering from ASUS designed explicitly for overclocking. Tony clarified that the motherboard is currently out of production as ASUS gears up to unveil an updated version. This move is in line with industry trends, with rivals like Gigabyte and MSI also refreshing their respective Z790 lineups. The updated motherboards from ASUS are expected to align with Intel's next-generation Core series known as Raptor Lake Refresh, featuring incremental improvements such as WiFi-7 standard integration, new color options, enhanced power delivery mechanisms, and advancements in memory overclocking capabilities.

Launched initially in November of the previous year with a price tag of $699, the ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX motherboard stood out for its superior features aimed at overclocking enthusiasts. These include 24 power supply modules, dual 8Pin power connectors, AI-driven overclocking technology, and support for DDR5 memory with speeds exceeding 8000 MT/s. It also offers a plethora of connectivity options, like five M.2 interfaces, a 2.5G network card, WiFi 6E, and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, along with 60 W QC 4+ fast charging. This motherboard gained popularity in December when it was used to set a world record CPU frequency of 9008.82 MHz using an Intel i9-13900K processor. Looking forward, the next generation of Intel Core processors could enable even higher overclocking frequencies. Apart from this, Tony tantalizingly hinted that ASUS is experimenting with innovative design changes, such as introducing connectors on the reverse side of motherboards, although this feature may not debut in the APEX series.

Innovative Design Elevates Space Efficiency and Thermal Performance in the Compact, Updated Q300L V2 Cooler Master takes things up a few notches from the original MasterBox Q300L mATX case with the launch of the all-new Q300L V2 to bring out the full potential of the mATX form factor. An ongoing commitment to mATX, the innovations on the Q300L V2 are about bringing out efficiencies and delivering superior thermal performance without compromise to space and aesthetics.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Cooler Master, a global leader in PC components, has launched the Q300L V2 - a revitalized and rejuvenated successor to the original MasterBox Q300L. Taking each feature of its predecessor to new heights, the Q300L V2 boldly redefines the capabilities and performance of mATX cases.

In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a leading innovator in PC enthusiast and gaming hardware, has introduced two new colors of its DUBILI DIY chassis: Titanium Grey and Champagne gold. The DIY flatpack versions are available directly from the InWin eStores in North America and Europe.

InWin DUBILI - 'do believe' - is part of InWin's iBuildiShare initiative. DUBILI was created from the company's philosophy, which advocates for creativity for all ages and embraces the passion of PC DIY and modding enthusiasts. By allowing users access to every panel individually, each part can be modified or customized easily according to the user's personal preferences.

Transcend brought its latest flash storage and PC memory products to Computex 2023. The company, much like Kingston and Micron, appears to be focusing on the high-volume mid-range of the market that it can sell both in the retail channel and to OEMs, without too much invested on niche high-end ones. To begin with, the company showed us its DDR5 UDIMMs and RDIMMs. Nothing flashy—these stick with JEDEC-standard speeds, such as DDR5-5600 (13th Gen native speed), and DDR5-4800.

The company doesn't have PCIe Gen 5 SSDs yet, but we were shown a handful Gen 4 ones meant for the DIY retail channel, including the PCIe SSD 250H (MTE250H), with its sporty heatsink, and extensive testing for PlayStation 5 compatibility; and its alter-ego without the heatsink, the PCIe SSD 250S (MTE250S). These drives come in capacities ranging between 1 TB to 4 TB, with sequential transfer speeds of up to 7.5 GB/s reads, and up to 6.7 GB/s writes. Also shown were a set of smaller NVMe Gen 3 SSDs in the M.2-2230 and M.2-2260 form-factors, the MTE300S and MTE400S, respectively. With capacities of just 256 GB and 512 GB for the MTE300S, and 256 GB thru 1 TB for the MTE400S, these drives are probably meant for hand-held game consoles, or low-cost desktop PCs, where OEMs or SIs buy them in large quantities.

Regular readers of TPU might remember our in-depth USB4 article that we posted almost a year ago, but since then, very little has happened and ASMedia has as yet to make its ASM4242 USB4 host controller available to its partners and then ASM2464 USB4 to PCIe 4.0 bridge was suffering the same fate until May this year, when it was released to ASMedia's customers. It turns out most of it is related to USB-IF certification and the USB4 design documentation, as the certification wasn't quite ready for a third party host controller and the design documents were—shall we say—less than complete and relied too heavily on the Thunderbolt 3 spec. This meant that ASMedia had to retest and redo a lot of work they had done, due to a certain spec donator having assumed that other companies knew how it had designed its Thunderbolt products.

The good news is that we should see the ASM4242 in the market before the end of this year and ASMedia is busy testing it and its ASM2464 with a wide range of products to make sure compatibility is as good as possible. In the company suite at Computex, ASMedia was showing the ASM2464 connected to Apple's M2 silicon, as well as Intel's latest CPUs with integrated Thunderbolt 4 support. There had been some performance related issues from Apple's side, but this has apparently been resolved in a recent update from Apple. As far as Intel is concerned, there are no compatibility issues with the 13th and possibly 12th gen mobile chips, but older Thunderbolt hardware might require a firmware update, which may or may not exist. Older Intel hardware also doesn't perform as well as its most recent solutions, but it doesn't mean there will be compatibility issues outright. As for AMD, ASMedia informed TPU that there were no issues, since AMD has a USB4 implementation in its mobile products that follow the USB-IF spec.

So far it has been very quiet on the market when it comes to USB4 hubs, with most products being based on Intel Thunderbolt hardware costing Thunderbolt money. Realtek was demoing its RTS5490 "hub router controller" at Computex and it's as far as we're aware, the first USB4 hub IC that has been announced. The RTS5490 supports speeds of up to 40 Gbps and it has one upstreams and four downstreams ports. It's also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps), as well as slower USB standards. It also supports the USB PD 3.1 standard and should as such be suitable for docking stations that can deliver up to 240 W to a connected laptop.

It also has native support for DisplayPort 2.1 Alt mode and UHBR20 up to 80 Gbps for DisplayPort signals. The demo board only had an older MST controller, so it would be limited to DP 1.4, but hopefully some company is working on a DP 2.1 MST controller, as this is required to split off the DP signal to the physical ports from USB-C. We were not given any details on when the RTS5490 will be available in the market and pricing will obviously depend on what kind of extra features are being added by the device makers, as it's unlikely that the first products based on it will be simple hubs.

HP brought some of its storage products to the Computex 2023 show, including the new HP Portable SSD P900, a portable storage option that will be available in 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities, as well as plenty of color options, including Grey, Black, Silver, Green, and Pink. It also showed some storage cards and the FX900 Plus PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD.

The HP Portable SSD P900 is pretty compact at 71x52x8.6 mm and weighs just 60 g. The sequential read and write speed are at 2,000 MB/s, which pretty much tops out the Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface. The HP Portable SSD P900 will be backed by a 3-year warranty.

As COMPUTEX once again opens its door, MSI, the world leader in gaming, content creation, business & productivity, and AIoT solutions, is all geared up to dominate the show floor with a full slate of new lineup and its Best Choice Award honorees. "We are thrilled to be back at COMPUTEX," said Sam Chern, MSI Vice President of Marketing. "We expect to see users' tech experiences reinvented and MSI is at the forefront. Our COMPUTEX 2023 lineup showcases the ultimate fusion of breakthrough technology and everlasting aesthetics that surpasses all limits and indulges global users with the best possible experience like never before."

This year, MSI themes its booth around The Leap to Singularity, envisioning a future in which the technological singularity brings forth superintelligence to improve human lives. Among the highlights on display will be the Raider GE78 HX Smart Touchpad, Stealth 16 and Creator Z17 laptops powered by up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics, making them powerhouses for gamers and creators alike.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to announce massive new capacities up to 2 TB for the new Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Card GOLD Series as well as a performance enhancement for the 128-512 GB cards. Designed for professional videographers looking to capture cinema-quality video, the CFexpress Type B Card GOLD Series boasts blazing-fast performance with speeds up to 1900 MB/s read and up to 1500 MB/s write. With minimum sustained write speeds of 1300 MB/s, the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Card GOLD Series enables seamless recording from start to finish without dropping a frame, allowing professionals to get the most out of their cameras. It also features rugged durability for added protection against the elements, including extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration.

Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Card GOLD Series also offers capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB, so professional videographers can handle demanding workloads without having to constantly change cards. In addition, the 1 TB-2 TB cards are RED Approved.