TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

Sabrent USA was in a boastful mood yesterday, and proceeded to gloat on Twitter about an upcoming gargantuan storage solution: "At Sabrent, we run on the cutting edge of technology. Working with Apex, we received one of these new cards and currently running it through tests. We call this the Sabrent Apex X21 Destroyer. 21X 8 TB SSDs for 168 TB of storage on single card!" The company has revealed that it is collaborating with Apex Solutions on the single PCIe card offering, but the smattering of text and two photos uploaded to Twitter are just teaser material for the moment. There have been no reports of preview units getting sent to potential testers or hardware influencers. Sabrent and Apex will continue to tweak and evaluate.

The Destroyer is formed of already existing parts, namely Apex Solution's own x21 NVMe mounting platform card (https://www.apexstoragedesign.com/apexstoragex21), and twenty-one of Sabrent's Rocket 4 Plus SSD 8 TB NVMe 4.0 Gen 4 PCIe M.2 Internal SSD model (SB-RKT4P-8TB). A single Apex x21 card will set you back $2800, and the 8 TB Rocket 4 Plus SSD is currently discounted to $1099 (from $1499). That grand total comes to a whopping $25,879, and extra expenses are expected in the form of adequate cooling solutions and a hardware controller capable of managing that unruly gang of SSDs. Sabrent is expected to post updates about finalized fittings, features and exact pricing in the near future.https://tpucdn.com/img/Gi6zcIlRCp5lkqmU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Gi6zcIlRCp5lkqmU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AgzInBkRiEYXID32_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AgzInBkRiEYXID32.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3buNsVl3QSh4ltMd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3buNsVl3QSh4ltMd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TrALd77UqoajS49z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TrALd77UqoajS49z.jpg)

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Elon Musk AI-Powered Empire Expands Again, X.AI Startup Incorporated in Nevada
Elon Musk has formed a new AI-focused company, as reported by the Wall Street Journal yesterday. The entity dubbed with the name X.AI was incorporated via a filing (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23778277-nevada-incorporation-of-xai) in Nevada last month, and Musk appears to be listed as the company's only director with Jared Birchall joining him under the role of secretary. Birchall heads the Musk family office, Excession LLC, and he serves as CEO of Neuralink - a neurotechnology company that was co-founded by Musk back in 2016. It is widely speculated that Birchall serves as a type of fixer - go watch the TV series "Ray Donovan" if you would like to observe a crude example - in corporate affairs.

Reports emerged earlier this week, with Musk being at the forefront of a massive purchase of GPUs (https://www.techpowerup.com/307149/bulk-order-of-gpus-points-to-twitter-tapping-big-time-into-ai-potential) destined to arrive shortly at his data centers - this impressive chunk of hardware is speculated to power AI-related number crunching at Twitter in the near future. The founding of X.AI could provide another home for a portion of the 10,000 GPU order, but industry insiders firmly believe that Twitter will need to tool up quickly for its new AI-driven endeavor - the GPUs will likely be set to work on a ChatBot system to underpin the social media platform. Musk has already recruited researchers from DeepMind and setup a lab for them at one of his operations. It remains to be seen how the X.AI startup will run alongside efforts at other Musk-owned companies - it is theorized that he wants to beat OpenAI at their own game, and compete with similar undertakings at Google, Microsoft and Amazon.https://tpucdn.com/img/qR3f1cyzQDNmdfSD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qR3f1cyzQDNmdfSD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uy8HPnynTe1yrJwt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uy8HPnynTe1yrJwt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TZVNKmrpUJfTW6uQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TZVNKmrpUJfTW6uQ.jpg)

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Activision, Bungie and Ubisoft Cracking Down on Input Device Hardware Modifications
The Call of Duty RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team announced earlier this month that their newly updated system was capable of detecting "third-party hardware devices that alter the Call of Duty gameplay experience" - this makes reference to a plethora of gaming input modification devices including the Cronus Zen (https://www.cronusmax.com/)/Max, XIM Apex and FPS Boost Strike Pack. All readily available from direct stores, Amazon and various e-tailers. These hardware modules are hooked up to a gamepad or mouse plus keyboard combination, and allow the user to bypass the legitimate control input detection on the host hardware, be it a games console or PC. Stock scripts and macros can be utilized - for example - to boost in-game aim assist to unprecedented levels, mitigate weapon recoil, and add support for mouse and keyboard in otherwise non-compatible games. Anti-cheat software suites have been unable to detect the extra layer of code, since it runs on an external device - until now.

CoD's security team elaborates on their cheat spotter: "Since our previous progress report, TeamRICOCHET has developed and tested a detection for third-party hardware devices that alter the Call of Duty gameplay experience. These devices act as a passthrough for controllers on PC and console and, when used improperly or maliciously, can provide a player with the ability to gain an unfair gameplay advantage, such as reducing or eliminating recoil. Testing is complete: This detection is deployed globally on all platforms. Users across PC or console who are detected to be using third-party hardware devices to impact the Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0 gameplay experience will first see a warning about the improper use of these devices..."https://tpucdn.com/img/T8Y6dJTsNpiZFOct_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/T8Y6dJTsNpiZFOct.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mjTuI8dz50Pbx8p3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mjTuI8dz50Pbx8p3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4PbuccKlQcXXB4Y7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4PbuccKlQcXXB4Y7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jUf8YBD0A7MWtFMz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jUf8YBD0A7MWtFMz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iZNc70nw5H685Dxj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iZNc70nw5H685Dxj.jpg)
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Intel Compares Arc A750 with RTX 3060 With Latest Driver Update
Intel has released a couple of new performance slides for the Arc A750, claiming better performance per dollar than RTX 3060 with the latest driver update. Intel has been pushing hard to improve its Arc GPU drivers, both fixing issues, bringing Game On support, and performance improvements. The latest Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4311 beta update brought several Game On optimizations as well as some performance uplifts (https://www.techpowerup.com/307268/intel-arc-gpu-graphics-drivers-101-4311-released), mostly focused on the Arc A750 and DirectX 12, ranging from 4 percent up to 63 percent, depending on the game and the resolution.

Although the Arc A750 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory has less memory than the RTX 3060 which comes with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, bear in mind that the Arc A750 has a 256-bit memory interface compared to a 192-bit one on the RTX 3060 12 GB graphics card, leaving it with a higher 512 GB/s maximum memory bandwidth. The Intel Arc A750 is also less expensive, retailing at $249, compared to RTX 3060 12 GB, which sells at around $350.https://tpucdn.com/img/x7zTHnkDQNfD7ahT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/x7zTHnkDQNfD7ahT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3JpcR3qsYC0OupKs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3JpcR3qsYC0OupKs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/T6Vi2aE8LDSNSzNq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/T6Vi2aE8LDSNSzNq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rk819pF1GZCZl7GK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rk819pF1GZCZl7GK.jpg)
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The Last of Us Part 1 Gets New v1.0.3.0 Patch
Naughty Dog has released the newest patch for the PC version of The Last of Us Part 1, v1.0.3.0, mostly focused on audio, UI, and visual fixes. It adds new Audio Compatibility options, with audio output mode and latency setting, and fixes quite a few issues that were noticed in the game.

Surprisingly it fixes some issues on Steam Deck, and also issues seen with AMD FSR 2 and NVIDIA DLSS. There is an extensive list of fixes for various issues. Naughty Dog was keen to note that they are still watching reports for future improvements and patches and actively optimizing, working on game stability, and implementing additional fixes.https://tpucdn.com/img/ccvm1PlYziGPJtnc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ccvm1PlYziGPJtnc.jpg)
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Anker Emergency Power Supplies and Solar Power Generators: Why You Need Them, and Why They're Better than Engine-Gensets
An unexpected power outage can be your worst experience as it disrupts your daily routine. We live in an era where we cannot imagine life without electricity. However, power blackouts can be commonplace during natural disasters or other scenarios. Such a situation leaves you to be without power for long periods. The best defense in such a situation is to have your own power backup solution. So, in this article, we would like to teach you about what is emergency power supply and why you may need it during a power cut.https://tpucdn.com/img/ltunHCb3prMl2p46_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ltunHCb3prMl2p46.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/f6sWE6AtcPoBHxle_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f6sWE6AtcPoBHxle.jpg)
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ASUS ROG Ally Could Launch Sooner Than Expected
ASUS is keeping the hype up for its upcoming ROG Ally handheld console, and now it has confirmed the worldwide release and teased that it could come sooner than anyone expected, which is pretty impressive. Announced on April 1st, the ASUS ROG Ally has impressive specifications, running on yet to be detailed AMD 4 nm custom APU based on Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU architecture.

The ASUS ROG Ally measures at 280 x 133 x 39 mm and weighs 608 grams, making it shorter, narrower, thinner, and lighter than its competitor, Valve's Steam Deck. It has a 7-inch display with 1920x1080 resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, 5 ms response time, and 500 nits of brightness. According to earlier hands-on previews of the prototype from Dave2D and LinusTechTips, ASUS did a great job with the dual-fan cooling solution, making it very quite. It will also have a dedicated PCIE Gen 3 x8 XG connector, which allows it to connect to the recently launched XG Mobile GPU, an external RTX 4090 GPU which retails at $1999.99 in the US. Linus also noted that the ROG Ally will offer 50 percent higher performance at 15 W and twice the performance at 35 W, compared to the Steam Deck. As noted, ASUS has now confirmed that the ROG Ally will launch worldwide, and that it might be sooner that we expect, linking to Best Buy for those that live in North America.https://tpucdn.com/img/GGzNO9hP4qok29Xb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GGzNO9hP4qok29Xb.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Noctua has showcased its NH-U14S DX-4677 air cooler in action, cooling down Intel's 56-core Xeon W9-3495X at full load and drawing 700 W of power. While all-in-one (AiO) liquid coolers are popular these days, Noctua aim to show that air coolers are more than capable on handling even the most high-end CPUs, even at continuous load and without throttling.

While the video does not show the full details of the CPU settings, it is still an impressive feat, especially considering the high power draw, which suggest that the CPU was pushed way beyond its default settings for demonstration. The setup includes the aforementioned Intel's 56-core Xeon W9-3495X CPU, running on ASUS Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE motherboard with SK Hynix DDR5 EC8 RDIMM, and powered by Seasonic's PX-1600 PSU.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ceu0ey9Qi6PB79tX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ceu0ey9Qi6PB79tX.jpg)
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The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Official PC System Requirements Revealed
Daedalic Entertainment has published the official PC system requirements for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, and these are quite high, especially considering that the game has been delayed several times and that it will be available for Nintendo Switch. Even though game has opened up pre-orders on Steam earlier today (https://www.techpowerup.com/307287/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-open-for-pre-orders-premium-precious-edition-revealed), many users are wary that the game might be another unoptimized PC port, specifically due to its high RAM and graphics card requirements.

Developed by Daedalic Entertainment and co-published by Daedalic Entertainment and NACON, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be available on May 25, 2023 on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and at a later date on Nintendo Switch. As far as PC system requirements are concerned, you'll need at least an Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and either an GTX 1080 or RTX 2060 graphics card, and this will get you 1080p resolution at medium preset and no ray tracing. For recommended requirements that will run the game at 1440p with ray tracing and DLSS Quality, you'll need an Intel Core i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 2600 CPU, a hefty 32 GB of RAM, and an RTX 3080 graphics card. The game will have both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 support, and need 45 GB of storage space.https://tpucdn.com/img/XinBFhRGxth8NcSG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XinBFhRGxth8NcSG.jpg)
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KeysOff Big Software Sale Rolls On, Some of the Lowest Prices on the Web for Genuine Software
KeysOff Big Software Sale rolls on into the Spring. Refresh your home or small-office IT setup with some of the lowest prices on the web for genuine software. Get Genuine Windows 11 Pro at just $10.45, or as low as $10.32 a pop in multi-key packs. Pair it with the most powerful productivity suite, Genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus, at just $26.25 on its own, or as low as $13.85 in 5-PC multi-key pack. Check great deals on other editions of Windows and Office to save even more!

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Please use the coupon code SKK62 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
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(PR) Square Enix Exhibits 25 Minutes of Final Fantasy XVI Gameplay Footage
In just over two months, players will finally get their hands on Final Fantasy XVI, the next mainline installment of the Final Fantasy series. The game follows Clive Rosfield as he harnesses powerful Eikons to overcome his tragic destiny. Today's State of Play not only explores intricate details of the story and world lore, but also gives a first glimpse into the game's party combat and colossal battles with new Eikons.

We hope today's broadcast was exciting for everyone, both for fans keeping up with Final Fantasy XVI updates, and those who are hearing about the game for the first time. Get a deeper look at combat, stunning Eikon battles, and the world of Valisthea before FFXVI arrives on PS5 June 22.https://tpucdn.com/img/1Ej1ifCgczJcmHtl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1Ej1ifCgczJcmHtl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/n7i31mPWoOzK2MwT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/n7i31mPWoOzK2MwT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SVEGGJgm1vw47nzF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SVEGGJgm1vw47nzF.jpg)
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NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Confirmed as Headline Speaker at Computex 2023
Taiwan's External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) has announced the keynote speaker for Computex 2023 - NVIDIA co-founder and current CEO Jensen Huang is confirmed as the main host of the opening ceremony event. The forthcoming computer trade show will have a general opening on May 30, with a keynote address delivered by Huang scheduled for the day before. Computex 2023 is set to be hosted at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (Hall 1 & Hall 2) until June. Co-organizer TAITRA boasts (https://www.techpowerup.com/305721/taitra-announces-computex-2023-over-3-000-booths-1-100-exhibitors) that 1000 exhibitors (from 17 nations) will participate in show floor activities. 3000 individual booths will be setup for exploration by prospective attendees.

Huang is one of several key electronics company CEOs announced as participants in conference events. He joins key representatives from firms such as Qualcomm, Acer, NXP Semiconductors and Supermicro. NVIDIA's leader was named in Time's 100 List of Most Influential People for the year 2021, and is a winner of numerous other awards, so it is no wonder that he gets top billing at Computex 2023. Attendees have a lot to look forward to, not limited to a (potentially) dynamic keynote speech delivered by Huang, since this year's show will be an open door affair. A return to proceedings last experienced in 2019, prior to global shutdowns.https://tpucdn.com/img/IqWSbyUXkMO5OnOE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IqWSbyUXkMO5OnOE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/M9uquxmgfS5XSIp1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/M9uquxmgfS5XSIp1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YxWSj7Rc9zzayQtG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YxWSj7Rc9zzayQtG.jpg)

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(PR) The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Open for Pre-Orders, Premium Precious Edition Revealed
Hello everyone, today we are thrilled to announce that Steam pre-orders have started! We are also happy to share more about The Lord of the Rings: Gollum : Precious Edition, which includes some premium perks for fans of Tolkien's Middle-earth. You can join Gollum's unshakeable quest for the One Ring on May 25th, 2023.

The Precious Edition was put together with Tolkien fans in mind. Daedalic Entertainment and NACON have gone above and beyond to curate a captivating package that includes over 100 stunning art pieces, a lore compendium to deepen your Middle-earth knowledge, additional Sindarin lines for the game's Elves, which will make you feel like you are properly east of the Misty Mountains, and more! With a focus on immersing players in the world of Middle-earth, this edition is sure to delight fans and gamers alike.https://tpucdn.com/img/9WiBidpDWbx3uAzC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9WiBidpDWbx3uAzC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lmy4TZCoq9o8Hdh8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lmy4TZCoq9o8Hdh8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UZNuuAasFqu0gJBv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UZNuuAasFqu0gJBv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gq0kbDmZ4aYwmvVO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gq0kbDmZ4aYwmvVO.jpg)
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Component Suppliers Suggest That NVIDIA is Taking a Relaxed Approach with RTX 40-Series Production
Two of NVIDIA's providers of Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) services are of the opinion that Team Green is happy to stay the course with its Ada Lovelace GPU production schedule. The backend providers Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) and King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) have not been given any new instructions with regard to shifts (up or down) in component assembly output. It is theorized that NVIDIA is aiming to clear any stock backlogs of graphics card models featuring previous generation architecture - namely the second gen GeForce RTX 30-series, built on Ampere.

The retail demand for the newly released GeForce RTX 4070 cards has been mild (https://www.techpowerup.com/307220/no-shortage-of-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-cards-at-msrp-in-the-usa), to say the least - with plenty of inventory remaining on the shelves in the States. Critical reception of the midweight GeForce RTX GPU has also been middling - many have advised that budget conscience buyers should potentially look elsewhere. The market for discrete graphics card is in a fairly healthy state at the moment, with major production issues and fractured supply chains becoming lesser concerns for electronics manufacturers. NVIDIA has the advantage of being a market leader, and seems to be quite content with proceedings - but their analysts are very likely keeping an eye on the RTX 4070 sales figures. Its products are out and readily available - no need to change direction too sharply.https://tpucdn.com/img/qHbUZRIUbqEw5O0K_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qHbUZRIUbqEw5O0K.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2VBS56VgSpzOkyUK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2VBS56VgSpzOkyUK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Be5XCvQJwW67yek4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Be5XCvQJwW67yek4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VMIqauHq6hS34iX0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VMIqauHq6hS34iX0.jpg)

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(PR) Warframe|The Duviri Paradox Arrives April 26 on All Platforms
The Duviri Paradox is an entirely new way to play Warframe - no matter where you are in your journey. Whether you're a seasoned Tenno or entering the Origin System for the very first time, an astonishing new experience awaits you April 26 on all platforms. The most astonishing chapter in Warframe's sprawling cinematic narrative now has an official release date. Open to all players - regardless of where they're at in their journey - The Duviri Paradox is more than just an open world, it's a brand new way to experience Warframe

Assume the role of The Drifter and explore the vast, color-shifting Planes of Duviri through a gritty new Cinematic Quest. But be careful, Tenno. Your attempts to wrest control of this new open world will not go unnoticed by the despotic Dominus Thrax, whose emotions transform the fabric of Duviri itself. Fly high atop your loyal Kaithe solo, or Squad up with fellow Tenno to take on spectacular new threats like the fearsome Orowyrm. Will you restore Duviri before the next Spiral?https://tpucdn.com/img/7H1pezJUO1BluaZB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7H1pezJUO1BluaZB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7IPVja8V6Q4DgS2p_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7IPVja8V6Q4DgS2p.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3C02PEJcy1ofOfVS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3C02PEJcy1ofOfVS.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Western Digital has declared (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230402005076/en/Western-Digital-Provides-Information-on-Network-Security-Incident) that its My Cloud online service has been compromised by a group of hackers late last month: "On March 26, 2023, Western Digital identified a network security incident involving Western Digital's systems. In connection with the ongoing incident, an unauthorized third party gained access to a number of the Company's systems. Upon discovery of the incident, the Company implemented incident response efforts and initiated an investigation with the assistance of leading outside security and forensic experts. This investigation is in its early stages and Western Digital is coordinating with law enforcement authorities."

The statement, issued on April 4, continues: "The Company is implementing proactive measures to secure its business operations including taking systems and services offline and will continue taking additional steps as appropriate. As part of its remediation efforts, Western Digital is actively working to restore impacted infrastructure and services. Based on the investigation to date, the Company believes the unauthorized party obtained certain data from its systems and is working to understand the nature and scope of that data. While Western Digital is focused on remediating this security incident, it has caused and may continue to cause disruption to parts of the Company's business operations."https://tpucdn.com/img/ql70gpBKg41t3T7v_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ql70gpBKg41t3T7v.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TWV3Y6cplSzOd6ag_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TWV3Y6cplSzOd6ag.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/09avOPTm55CPxC0D_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/09avOPTm55CPxC0D.jpg)
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(PR) ASUS Announces ProArt GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Ti Graphics Cards
Graphics cards are most famously used for gaming, but gamers are far from the only folks who eagerly anticipate each new generation of GPUs. The highly specialized hardware in graphics cards offers potent parallel processing power, and professionals put it to work in fields like artificial intelligence, finance, game development, manufacturing, and robotics. While creators in these fields often use the same hardware as gamers, the needs of these two groups of users aren't identical.

To give these professionals options better suited for their lines of work, we're excited to announce the very first ProArt graphics cards: the ProArt GeForce RTX 4080 and ProArt GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. Tuned for quiet operation, styled for professional contexts, and slimmed down for wide chassis compatibility, these graphics cards are built from the ground up to serve the needs of creators.https://tpucdn.com/img/1UAhiseEGpBL05Bs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1UAhiseEGpBL05Bs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ij23keS0X9OfcRu0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ij23keS0X9OfcRu0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/19qqC6Mtz3AtGAkJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/19qqC6Mtz3AtGAkJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/F0kepdDHKwQGnvIn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/F0kepdDHKwQGnvIn.jpg)
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(PR) ASUS Shows New ProArt Products at 2023 NAB Show Centennial
ASUS today announced the ASUS ProArt Power Up Next-Gen Production exhibition at the 2023 NAB Show Centennial in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada from April 16-19. ASUS ProArt will be announcing several new products at the show, including the ProArt Cinema PQ07 and ProArt Display PA24US professional monitors, as well as the first ASUS ProArt graphics cards.

There will also be product demos of cutting-edge ProArt on-set, VFX, post-production, and video editing solutions at the booth. Attendees at the 2023 NAB Show Centennial will also be able to attend ProArt Masters' Talks featuring industry experts from Portrait Displays, Glassbox Technology, and Puget Systems. The sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including color management, virtual production workflows, and computing power behind next-generation productions.https://tpucdn.com/img/WbNnsrHbqvFnrENv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WbNnsrHbqvFnrENv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lNRubUECfxu5OZvh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lNRubUECfxu5OZvh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6k8rnRWfh5CraJjL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6k8rnRWfh5CraJjL.jpg)
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Half Life 2 Path Tracing Mod Highly Praised for Adding Extra Visual Flair
A Half Life 2 modder, Igor Zdrowowicz, has managed to integrate path tracing into the game - with striking results, even at an early stage in development. His project - codenamed "HL2RTX" - has been in-progress for a handful of months, and the modder has managed to integrate a ray tracing system into Valve's classic shooter (sort of) via NVIDIA's RTX Remix SDK. That package has become open source only very recently, so Zdrowowicz stated that a Portal RTX-derived binary was the tool of choice.

NVIDIA's Lightspeed Studios has already created an impressive RTX conversion of Valve's fan favorite puzzle-platform game Portal (2007), and modders have been poring over the underlying technology and update technique processes. A number of old favorites, running on past iterations of the Source Engine (DirectX 8 and 9), are getting the amateur mod community sprucing up treatment. It is posited that Zdrowowicz will have an easier time with his current conversion project, thanks to an official release of NVIDIA's RTX Remix toolkit (albeit in early access).https://tpucdn.com/img/aWOZKIdz6jXH7pc7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aWOZKIdz6jXH7pc7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/C0HnteQJDzLeFAQR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/C0HnteQJDzLeFAQR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VKPDKXDYS4bsFBux_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VKPDKXDYS4bsFBux.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sO5CO3bm0dNuJ8yL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sO5CO3bm0dNuJ8yL.jpg)
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(PR) Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores Arriving April 19 on PS5
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores launches April 19 on PS5! This expansion sees Aloy pursue a sinister threat in the untamed wilds of Los Angeles, now a treacherous volcanic archipelago. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores takes Aloy to the ruins of Los Angeles. The past millennia has seen the metropolis wracked by tectonic and volcanic activity. The result: a dangerous archipelago populated by deadly machines. Among these islands, a large settlement of Quen fight to survive.

Aloy's journey continues in Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores - an expansion which sees the fierce Nora hunter pursue a sinister threat in the untamed wilds of a far-future, volcanic Los Angeles which has been wracked by violent tectonic activity. Pre-orders for Burning Shores, which launches on the PlayStation 5 console on April 19, 2023, are available as of today.https://tpucdn.com/img/wcM0VwXZdpWdfNrR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wcM0VwXZdpWdfNrR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lGW73CT9nC21wag6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lGW73CT9nC21wag6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vMJNJm2kX7owFsQa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vMJNJm2kX7owFsQa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rIvmUTiscRtgoOLi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rIvmUTiscRtgoOLi.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

BLUETTI, the leader in the clean energy storage industry, will launch its new AC60 & B80, the smallest solar generator with expandability, in the middle of May, 2023. The latest innovation comes as BLUETTI noticed a gap in its market: Though there are many power stations, small ones comes with less capacity while high capacity comes in big and heavy structure. What about a power station that combines flexibility and extensible capacity to meet different needs in different scenarios? Enter the BLUETTI AC60 and B80 (https://bit.ly/3mGOr56)!

The BLUETTI AC60 (https://bit.ly/3mGOr56) is a solar generator with a 600 W inverter and a 403 Wh LFP battery that can add B80 for capacity boosting. With a compact size (11.4 x 8.1 x 9.2 inches) and lightweight (18.9 lbs), it is portable enough to carry outdoors. Equipped with 7 different outlets including two AC outputs, one USB-C port with Power Delivery with up to 100 W, one cigarette lighter port, two USB-A ports and a wireless charging pad, the AC60 can charge various devices. While it features a 600 W pure sine wave inverter, it is able to carry a device of 1200 W for a short period in its Power Lifting Mode.

Unleash Outdoor Possibilities with the BLUETTI AC60 Solar Power Generator (https://bit.ly/3mGOr56)https://tpucdn.com/img/YFsOnHtWDyMQeQDj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YFsOnHtWDyMQeQDj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LuwN2jZQRwONujHT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LuwN2jZQRwONujHT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Q6pBly4STatkVYJ6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Q6pBly4STatkVYJ6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MZxBPKHKrNhlQdJg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MZxBPKHKrNhlQdJg.jpg)
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(PR) MINISFORUM Unveils the New Venus Series Mini PC UM560XT with Ryzen 5 5600H
MINISFORUM, a leading provider of compact computing solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the Venus series UM560XT Mini PC, powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H mobile processor. With its small form factor of only 128 x 126.6 x 46.5 mm, the UM560XT is a truly compact Mini PC that is perfect for various usage scenarios.

Featuring built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, the UM560XT allows users to connect wirelessly, providing convenient connectivity options. The device is equipped with two HDMI (4K@60hz) ports and a USB Type-C (4K@60hz) port, enabling high-definition video output for an immersive visual experience. Moreover, the UM560XT comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Professional, allowing users to quickly get started with their computing tasks. The UM560XT supports dual-channel DDR4 memory and three-screen display, providing users with a seamless and efficient computing experience. Its small size combined with powerful performance makes it an ideal choice for various scenarios such as home office, entertainment, and gaming.https://tpucdn.com/img/5rwFFDupP5xyJUrT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5rwFFDupP5xyJUrT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1qI9mNwKnCFB8tvF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1qI9mNwKnCFB8tvF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lUEiks3Q7LKwlKMZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lUEiks3Q7LKwlKMZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2unMwyv89SYPyVmP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2unMwyv89SYPyVmP.jpg)
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(PR) Capcom Details Full Content for Exoprimal Ahead of July Launch
Exoprimal is an online, team-based action game that pits humanity's cutting-edge exosuit technology against history's most ferocious beasts - dinosaurs. Exosuits are grouped into different roles, and players will pilot these exosuits to hold firm against overwhelming dinosaur swarms in online-only, team-based action game modes. The year is 2040...Sudden dinosaur outbreaks have engulfed the globe in a crisis that threatens humanity's very existence. Dino Survival, the main game mode, sees two teams of five players competein a variety of PvE and PvP missions. Players will be transported to the scene of the latest dinosaur outbreak and follow the new generation AI known as Leviathan's guidance to complete objectives. The team that completes the mission first will emerge victorious.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Exoprimal open beta test. Our team gained a great deal of data from exofighter survey responses and social media. We'll put this feedback to good use and make Exoprimal the best game it can be! While the open beta allowed players to experience some of the missions available in the Dino Survival mode, Exoprimal's full release will feature the following content for players to enjoy.https://tpucdn.com/img/TjUapqanLjed4B3s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TjUapqanLjed4B3s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SUOkL04HLxqf9PyJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SUOkL04HLxqf9PyJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2ltZEQDs3D3dcLdF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2ltZEQDs3D3dcLdF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GRI1B4ULEat6d2Ev_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GRI1B4ULEat6d2Ev.jpg)
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(PR) ZOTAC Debuts ZBOX Edge MI351, First Slimline Mini PC to Pack N100/Alder Lake-N Chipset
Introducing the ZBOX Edge MI351, a compact low-profile mini PC that delivers the essential performance for everyday computing at home, office, or business. With its included VESA mounting bracket, the MI351 provides the flexibility needed to mount the system nearly anywhere. Powerful at its thinnest - At only 28 mm (1.12 inches) thin, the ZBOX Edge MI351 provides the performance while leaving a lot desk space left to use. Despite its compact size, the ZBOX Edge MI351 comes equipped with a versatile array of ports to take on a wide range of connectivity and add-ons.

PERFORMANCE OVER THE EDGE
Featuring an Intel N-Series (formerly Alder Lake-N) Processor and fast DDR5 memory support, the ZBOX Edge MI351 is responsive to everyday tasks, and its low power draw makes it a perfect gateway to power anything from IoT-enabled applications and POS systems to home theaters.https://tpucdn.com/img/CfxKAN7K8uQFnv8e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CfxKAN7K8uQFnv8e.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WkGnrzmXjvN4nrgE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WkGnrzmXjvN4nrgE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/K0DGgHijw14VsF0Z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/K0DGgHijw14VsF0Z.jpg)
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Windows 11 File Explorer Gets Extra Photo Gallery Layer
Microsoft has introduced a handy new feature within the Windows 11 File Explorer application - an update was released last week (Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23434), and it adds a Photo Gallery feature layer. It does not look too far removed from the operating system's standard photo/picture viewer, as well as the discontinued (as of 2012) Windows Photo Gallery app - although the latter offered a wide range of image organization, photo editing and photo sharing functionalities.

Microsoft's Amanda Langowski (Head of Insider Program) and Brandon LeBlanc (Senior Program Manager) go into further detail (https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/04/14/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-23435/) about the latest addition in an official Windows blog: "We are introducing Gallery, a new feature in File Explorer designed to make it easy to access your photo collection. The set of content shown in Gallery is the same as what you'll see in the All Photos view in the Photos app."https://tpucdn.com/img/NdkbkkWMrD4Hpll6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NdkbkkWMrD4Hpll6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KrFzInOF5qODj2sy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KrFzInOF5qODj2sy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LoaTbvQmcffHDVAq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LoaTbvQmcffHDVAq.jpg)
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TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.53.0 Released
Today, we are releasing the latest version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z, the popular graphics sub-system information and diagnostic utility. Version 2.53.0 adds support for a large number of new and rare GPUs. Among the NVIDIA GPUs support is added for include the GeForce RTX 4070, RTX 4090, RTX 4080, RTX 4060, and RTX 4050; pro-vis RTX 6000 Ada, RTX 3060 Laptop GPU (based on GA104), RTX 3050 Laptop GPU 6 GB, RTX 2050; and compute accelerators Hopper H100 PCIe AIC, and a rare engineering sample of the RTX 2080 Ti. From the AMD camp, support is added for Radeon RX 7600S, Radeon Pro W6900X, Pro V620, and the iGPU of Ryzen "Mendocino" laptop processors. From the Intel side, we've added support for Intel "Raptor Lake-HX," "Alder Lake-N," "Alder Lake-U," and the UHD P750 iGPU found with certain "Rocket Lake" processors.

DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z v2.53.0 (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-gpu-z/)https://tpucdn.com/img/bX2JQkZFmOYZFUfe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bX2JQkZFmOYZFUfe.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Deep Silver's intended hype train, has been derailed slightly today, for its forthcoming zombie splattering blockbuster ARPG shooter Dead Island 2. A launch trailer was uploaded to the game's official YouTube channel this afternoon, in hope of generating more pre-release internet interest. The uptick in marketing efforts has gained some gaming community attention, but leaked gameplay footage was uploaded to YouTube only hours before the debuting of the official launch video. A streamer identifying as Lucas Cosmico is reported to have played a pre-release version of Dead Island 2 last night, and proceeded to stream the opening moments of the single player campaign - 30 minutes of gameplay footage is still accessible on their YouTube channel at the time of writing, but potential legal action is likely to result in a takedown order.

The Dead Island 2 development cycle has not been a pleasant experience for those involved, according to multiple news pieces reported across the project's lifespan of more than a decade. Several studios have worked on the game, but publisher Deep Silver sought to remove the involvement of Yager and Sumo Digital at different stages of development. Dambuster Studios was declared, by THQ Nordic back in 2019, as the final resting place for Dead Island 2's production push. The Nottingham, UK-based studio happens to be a subsidiary of Deep Silver - the studio was offloaded to D.S. by Crytek in 2014, following substantial financial difficulties.https://tpucdn.com/img/Dt7eTWOgZSEfxy36_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Dt7eTWOgZSEfxy36.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JpOlNASihwBxRVg4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JpOlNASihwBxRVg4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kQZsqw1KMosg0wA5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kQZsqw1KMosg0wA5.jpg)
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Report Suggests Samsung and LG Pushing Wider Adoption of LED Wall Displays at Cinemas
Samsung and LG are among an number of tech companies reportedly pushing for radical changes in the cinema viewing experience. In a piece published by the Hollywood Reporter last week, new behind-the-scenes information has come to light about an effort to replace the (some will say tried and true) traditional cinema theater projection system with LED walls. The vast majority of international theater chains rely on a front projection method (via a back of the booth), and very few locations have a more state-of-the-art LED display-based system in place. The Culver Theater (naturally located in Culver City, CA) is one of a hundred cinemas worldwide to possess a Samsung Onyx LED display - although the tech on show is said to be of an older standard. Industry insiders have been invited to attend demonstrations of a newer generation LED wall technology destined for cinemas in the future, and early impressions are purported to be mixed.

A cinema-based LED wall display functions in a similar way to how a modern LED-based flat screen TV works - although on a much greater massive scale - with particular benefits of the technology resulting in fantastic performance in terms of high dynamic range and peak brightness. The main downside of having a tightly packed array of large LED panels is the resultant heat output - critics of the technology state that it will be difficult to implement an adequate cooling system (through air conditioning) to tame the wall's temperature increasing properties. The power required to operate the LED panel array (plus required cooling solution) is said to be much higher than that of an old-fashioned projector's relatively modest draw from the electricity supply. An LED wall will also completely negate the traditional placement of loudspeakers behind a cinema's front-placed screen - and sound engineers will need to explore a different method of front audio channel output within the context of a next generation LED theater room.https://tpucdn.com/img/qTINPT3bNMdFEoBs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qTINPT3bNMdFEoBs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AstpYQ3PLw76dtY0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AstpYQ3PLw76dtY0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eW5PQWzkp6VGd4sh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eW5PQWzkp6VGd4sh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xTnsIUG25rm9BA6P_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xTnsIUG25rm9BA6P.jpg)
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(PR) GameSir Launches New T4 Kaleid Transparent Wired RGB Gaming Controller
GameSir, a leading provider of innovative, high quality gaming peripherals today announces the launch of its new T4 Kaleid RGB gaming controller. Equipped with special motion aim/steer technology, users can enjoy their favourite games with motion control, or through regular analogue stick gameplay. The GameSir T4 Kaleid is available on the GameSir website now at a discounted rate of $41.99/£41.99 (RRP £41.99) and AliExpress for £37/$43. It will also be available on Amazon.com and Amazon UK at the end of April for $41.99/£41.99/€57.99.

Boasting Hall-Effect magnetic sensing joysticks providing anti-drift technology, the T4 Kaleid is a durable controller that retains its precision over the course of its use. Joy-con drift can greatly impact gaming, so users of the T4k can rest assured that their controller will not be affected by the wear down caused by continued heavy usage.https://tpucdn.com/img/RPKgf9DZ2mJ9M2ee_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RPKgf9DZ2mJ9M2ee.jpg)
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Sega Purchases Angry Birds Game Developer for $776 Million
Today Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings Incorporated declared its intention to fully acquire Finnish development studio Rovio Entertainment Oyj in a buyout valued at a cool $776 million. The Helsinki-based developer, responsible for creating the Angry Birds video game franchise, has agreed to Sega Sammy's terms - and Rovio share values have climbed as a result of this announcement. The deal is expected to be finalized in the late summer or early autumn of this year, and signals an ambition on Sega's part to gain prominence in the mobile gaming world. Rovio had previously turned down a proposed takeover by Playtika - an Israeli company specializing in digital entertainment - for $735 million, late last month.

Angry Birds was the first mobile game to be downloaded one billion times, according to figures released by Rovio, so Sega has acquired a solid intellectual property that has also expanded into the movie world (two animated features) and endless merchandising avenues (toys, clothing and other accessories). Commenting on the buyout, Haruki Satomi, President and Group CEO, Representative Director of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. said: "Among the rapidly growing global gaming market, the mobile gaming market has especially high potential, and it has been Sega's long-term goal to accelerate its expansion in this field."https://tpucdn.com/img/A1neanEtDVMCYFb0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/A1neanEtDVMCYFb0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Dz3BiAjWFgmTcOR0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Dz3BiAjWFgmTcOR0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Q8uLPcBflOidnAAf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Q8uLPcBflOidnAAf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3uYd5jdAGxkzxI4F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3uYd5jdAGxkzxI4F.jpg)
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(PR) Kingston Technology Ships 100 Million Overclockable Memory Modules
Kingston FURY, the high-performance division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it has shipped more than 100 million overclockable modules. In 2002, Kingston entered the enthusiast market with a line of high-performance memory modules under the Kingston HyperX name. Over the next 19 years Kingston grew the HyperX name within the enthusiast and gaming space until its sale of the peripheral line to HP in 2021. Continuing the incredible success of the HyperX memory products, Kingston rebranded its high-performance component lines into Kingston FURY, investing resources and knowledge from its core business to create the next generation of enthusiast products. Today, the engineering expertise behind the numerous overclocking records and awards continues into a new era of leading-edge, high-performance, enthusiast and gaming solutions.

Since its inception, Kingston has taken pride in its testing innovations and industry-leading product reliability. Back in 2005, Kingston was granted a U.S patent on a proprietary, first of its kind, dynamic burn-in tester. This ensured the utmost reliability in server memory modules used in the world's largest data centres. Earlier this year, Kingston broadened its portfolio by adding the Kingston FURY Renegade Pro DDR5 RDIMM which provides overclockable server-class DDR5 memory for creators, engineers, and data science professionals to meet the requirements of the latest applications. Its award-winning line of Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 and Renegade DDR5 memory modules also received a makeover with the introduction of white heat spreaders to empower users to choose the colour that best fits their individual style.https://tpucdn.com/img/nGioBUFSu5tRByyP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nGioBUFSu5tRByyP.jpg)
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(PR) SimplyNUC Unveils Everglades 2 Rugged NUC Starting at $299
Introducing Everglades 2, the latest rugged NUC from Simply NUC. Loaded with Intel's N5105 Celeron Processor, support for up to 32 GB of DDR4 memory, and up to 16 TB of storage, Everglades 2 is here to raise the bar in cost-effective performance, delivering feature-rich technology, where you need it, when you need it.

The Everglades 2 NUC from Simply NUC comes equipped with an Intel Jasper Lake Celeron N5105 processor, providing reliable, cost-effective performance in a lightweight, space-saving form factor, making it perfect for many usages. Despite its small size, Everglades 2 is loaded with I/O. From its two HDMI ports and single DisplayPort to its six Type-A and single Type-C USB ports, Everglades 2 supports all the peripherals you need to get the job done.https://tpucdn.com/img/spfOCWaYv7JeMMbL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/spfOCWaYv7JeMMbL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/furH0VyJhHwJGbBp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/furH0VyJhHwJGbBp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kqwKetudLThaS1dv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kqwKetudLThaS1dv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BncovEQ7IV9oTKGa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BncovEQ7IV9oTKGa.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Wartales 1.0 is out now! Wartales launches out of Early Access with a new region, new content, community requests and more! Attention mercenaries! The 1.0 Release update has finally arrived, but before we get into the fun stuff we just wanted to take a moment to thank you, our wonderful community, for your support throughout the Early Access period.

From our AMAs to Q&As together, hearing your thoughts and feedback, as well as seeing our vision and plans for the game evolve thanks to your involvement, we've thoroughly enjoyed our journey with you and are incredibly proud to be able to share this moment with you all. We really can't thank you enough! Now let's jump into what's new…https://tpucdn.com/img/M0DsaQqVfrTKnvVS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/M0DsaQqVfrTKnvVS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/l7GL6O0xORq0ccyO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l7GL6O0xORq0ccyO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6npjXCb2VC4hLtP1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6npjXCb2VC4hLtP1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CWOHZX2OOETUceQM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CWOHZX2OOETUceQM.jpg)
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Anker Emergency Power Supplies and Solar Power Generators: Why You Need Them, and Why They're Better than Engine-Gensets
An unexpected power outage can be your worst experience as it disrupts your daily routine. We live in an era where we cannot imagine life without electricity. However, power blackouts can be commonplace during natural disasters or other scenarios. Such a situation leaves you to be without power for long periods. The best defense in such a situation is to have your own power backup solution. So, in this article, we would like to teach you about what is emergency power supply and why you may need it during a power cut.https://tpucdn.com/img/ltunHCb3prMl2p46_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ltunHCb3prMl2p46.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/f6sWE6AtcPoBHxle_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f6sWE6AtcPoBHxle.jpg)
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AMD 96-Core EPYC 9684X Zen 4 Genoa-X CPU Shows Up for Sale in China
The second-hand market in China is always full of gems, but we never expected to see an unreleased 5 nm 96-core EPYC 9684X Genoa-X CPU with 1152 MB of L3 cache. According to the seller, the CPU is "almost new" and in working condition.

In case you missed it earlier, AMD is working on 5 nm Genoa-X EPYC CPUs which will feature up to 96 Zen 4 cores in 5 nm with over 1 GB of L3 cache per socket. These are scheduled to release this year, optimized for technical computing and databases. AMD is also working on Siena CPUs, which should also come this year, featuring up to 64 Zen 4 cores with optimized performance-per-watt, meant for intelligent edge and telco markets.https://tpucdn.com/img/akvJZ6A9VJ01C2oC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/akvJZ6A9VJ01C2oC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TYilpyy5x1jUgk4q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TYilpyy5x1jUgk4q.jpg)

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AMD Phoenix APU Laptops Launching in Late April/Early May
According to the latest information, it appears that first laptops with AMD Ryzen 7040 series APUs, code name Phoenix, will launch in late April, with U-series coming in May. AMD has previously delayed the Phoenix APUs in order to "align with platform readiness and ensure the best possible user experience," the first notebooks powered by Ryzen 7040HS series processors are expected in April.

According to Golden Pig Upgrade from Bilibili, at least the Ryzen 7840HS will launch on April 30th, and the 7840U SKU is probably expected on May 1st. As noted, AMD has announced the 7040 HS- and H-series SKUs, and has previously briefly mentioned the 15 W U-series SKUs, but has not officially unveiled any specifications. So far, three 7040 U-series SKUs have leaked online. Hopefully, AMD will share a bit more details by the end of this month.https://tpucdn.com/img/ItqdWzLyyYATGJtF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ItqdWzLyyYATGJtF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xTzYtBjAetfOxo5u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xTzYtBjAetfOxo5u.jpg)

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(PR) HyperX Announces New Chargeplay Charging Station for Switch Joy-Con Controllers
HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the new ChargePlay Quad 2 Charging Station for Nintendo Switch. Designed specifically for the Nintendo Switch, the ChargePlay Quad 2 Joy-Con Charging Station offers improved charging time, making it an ideal choice for charging Joy-Cons.

"HyperX continues to enhance its range of console accessories to provide better gaming experiences for players across different platforms," said Aurelius Martinez, global category manager - cloud and console gaming, HyperX. "The new HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 ensures players' equipment is fully charged and ready for lengthy gaming sessions."https://tpucdn.com/img/ePMtLgl9LgloMUiw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ePMtLgl9LgloMUiw.jpg)
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(PR) Sharkoon Launches 20-Year Anniversary Limited Edition Mouse Mat
In 2023, the PC-gaming manufacturer Sharkoon celebrates its 20-year anniversary. Since the founding of Sharkoon on 17 April 2003, the fast-paced PC and gaming industry has seen constant change, with countless trends that have come and gone. It was this flow of trends that inspired Sharkoon to always respond flexibly, with a constantly fresh range of products, in order to meet the prevailing needs for the growing scene of gaming and case modding. Thanks to this flair for innovation and its continual responsiveness to its customers, the manufacturer from the German region of Hesse is now present across the whole world. The 20-year success story began with a small glow in the PC cases of enthusiastic modding pioneers: an illuminated PC case cable that was soon to become the first commercial Sharkoon product known as the "Luminous IDE Round Cable".https://tpucdn.com/img/vlBFgHFGKlGZu4cZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vlBFgHFGKlGZu4cZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nDfhQeZAbfcagYyX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nDfhQeZAbfcagYyX.jpg)
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(PR) Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Edition CPU Cooler and MasterFan MF120 Halo² Fan Now Available
Over the years, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 series has established itself as a leading choice for aftermarket CPU cooling, earning a reputation as one of the most popular custom CPU coolers available. The company has continuously modernized the series by integrating advanced heatsink and fan technologies. With the introduction of the Hyper 212 Halo, Cooler Master has implemented a significant design and technology overhaul, taking the series to new heights.

The Hyper 212 Halo Series boasts the innovative Halo² fan, a refined version of its predecessor. The hardware is adorned with color accents, available in black or white options. The 4 heat pipe tower now sports a matching color treatment and a coordinating top cover showcasing the signature logo, creating a cohesive and stylish design.https://tpucdn.com/img/pluoIjg26pfQOP5x_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pluoIjg26pfQOP5x.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hVp63F9y6fjzKP2w_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hVp63F9y6fjzKP2w.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/o8dFha4fZt9nwBwi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/o8dFha4fZt9nwBwi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O3ZDvrbvSqy8BdW6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O3ZDvrbvSqy8BdW6.jpg)
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(PR) Seagate Announces Strategic Collaboration with QNAP
At the NAB 2023 conference, Seagate Technology, a world leader in data storage infrastructure solutions, and QNAP Systems Inc., a leading network attached storage (NAS) vendor, announced their integrated portfolio of edge to cloud enterprise storage solutions. Developed to help small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) and content creators manage data from edge to cloud, the portfolio delivers a range of innovative enterprise-scale solutions that include Seagate's IronWolf Pro Hard Drives (HDD), QNAP's high-capacity NAS solutions with Exos E series JBOD systems and Seagate Lyve Cloud.

"Businesses that use data at the edge often rely on NAS devices to store their data. As that data capacity increases and requires optimal protection, businesses are faced with the challenge of backing up data off site," said BS Teh, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Seagate. "Seagate and QNAP have come together to address this challenge with an entire portfolio of secure mass capacity data solutions to help SMBs address pain points and address the rising costs of data storage and management."https://tpucdn.com/img/D4tPIDUyTPywxzJ8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D4tPIDUyTPywxzJ8.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

The Penitent One awakens as Blasphemous 2 joins him once again in an endless struggle against The Miracle. Dive into a perilous new world filled with mysteries and secrets to discover, and tear your way through monstrous foes that stand between you and your quest to end the cycle one and for all. The second scripture in the Blasphemous series portends the return of The Penitent One, with a story that continues from the free Wounds of Eventide DLC for the original game, where The Heart in the sky heralded the return of The Miracle and foretold the birth of a new miracle child.

Awakened in a strange new land, and displaced from his final resting place, The Penitent One is thrust back into the endless cycle of life, death, and resurrection, with no other option than to explore this perilous new world and uncover its long-forgotten secrets. Hordes of grotesque enemies stand in your way, awaiting final judgement by the brutal hand of the Penitent One, with titanic twisted bosses also lurking in the darkness, waiting for their chance to return you to the grave from whence you came. Taking them down won't be easy, but with Blasphemous 2 offering more chances to customize and improve your skill set, along with several new unique weapons to wield with righteous zeal and unending fury, victory might just be within grasp. Ultimately, only one thing is certain… Penance Never Endshttps://tpucdn.com/img/cAWJ1HFydbR2Bu43_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cAWJ1HFydbR2Bu43.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rss8eAJJv5VataK2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rss8eAJJv5VataK2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nT58BuCbGE2NPLkP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nT58BuCbGE2NPLkP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ipOXkP0FHfNNghPO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ipOXkP0FHfNNghPO.jpg)
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AMD Radeon 780M RDNA 3 iGPU Gets Benchmarked
A tech reviewer, ETA PRIME, managed to get its hands on the ASUS TUF A15 laptop, based on the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS APU, and run some benchmarks on the integrated Radeon 780M RDNA 3 iGPU, showing that it is capable of delivering playable framerates in some popular games at 1080p resolution. The Ryzen 9 7940HS is an 8-core/16-thread Zen 4 APU with a base clock of 4.0 GHz and a maximum boost clock of 5.2 GHz. It features the Radeon 780M RDNA 3 iGPU with 12 CUs (768 stream processors) working at 2800 MHz. The APU in the ASUS TUF A15 laptop was paired up with 32 GB of DDR5-5600 memory. The system comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, but the review was focused on the AMD Radeon 780M.

In 3DMark Fire Strike and Time Spy benchmark, the Radeon 780M GPU was 12 and 15 percent faster than the Radeon 680M, despite the other system being equipped with faster LPDDR5 memory. ETA PRIME was also keen to note that the early driver was obviously not ready, and it did crash in some games, so the performance could be even higher when the official driver is released. ETA PRIME benchmarked a couple of popular games with the CPU limited to 80 W, resulting in playable framerates in most of the games at 1080p and medium to high graphics settings. Bear in mind that the system was tested in Performance Mode set via ASUS Armory Crate software. According to ETA PRIME, the integrated GPU was easily overclocked up to 3 GHz, and it would crash at 3.25 GHz, which shows great promise and might be more stable with the final launch driver.https://tpucdn.com/img/BwTVg3tc570Vhynm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BwTVg3tc570Vhynm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8LdzlqXn3LFlejs2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8LdzlqXn3LFlejs2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KTAKoCnMtAQ1cPVS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KTAKoCnMtAQ1cPVS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2VzPneNewgvvoxFM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2VzPneNewgvvoxFM.jpg)
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(PR) Gigabyte Extends Its Leading GPU Portfolio of Servers
Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE and an industry leader in high-performance servers, server motherboards, and workstations, today announced a lineup of powerful GPU-centric servers with the latest AMD and Intel CPUs, including NVIDIA HGX H100 servers with both 4-GPU and 8-GPU modules. With growing interest in HPC and AI applications, specifically generative AI (GAI), this breed of server relies heavily on GPU resources to tackle compute-heavy workloads that handle large amounts of data. With the advent of OpenAI's ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, large GPU clusters are being deployed with system-level optimization to train large language models (LLMs). These LLMs can be processed by GIGABYTE's new design-optimized systems that offer a high level of customization based on users' workloads and requirements.

The GIGABYTE G-series servers are built first and foremost to support dense GPU compute and the latest PCIe technology. Starting with the 2U servers, the new G293 servers can support up to 8 dual-slot GPUs or 16 single-slot GPUs, depending on the server model. For the ultimate in CPU and GPU performance, the 4U G493 servers offer plenty of networking options and storage configurations to go alongside support for eight (Gen 5 x16) GPUs. And for the highest level of GPU compute for HPC and AI, the G393 & G593 series support NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs. All these new two CPU socket servers are designed for either 4th Gen AMD EPYC processors or 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZZbdXczidvDZ3kZ2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZZbdXczidvDZ3kZ2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/H1qU8AGIGIb6y8GE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/H1qU8AGIGIb6y8GE.jpg)
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(PR) Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed Arriving Next Week, Fanbase Shocked by Expansion's Early Release
The final DLC in the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass launches for the Nintendo Switch system on April 25. The trailer gives viewers a glimpse into the scenario of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass Vol. 4 - Future Redeemed. Set before the events of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 game, players join a cast of new and familiar characters in an original story scenario that connects all three installments in the Xenoblade Chronicles series. Future Redeemed also features new battle mechanics, such as Unity Combo, where two characters can attack in unison.

In Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Aionios is the backdrop to an endless conflict between two opposing nations: Keves and Agnus. Through a chance encounter, a group of six soldiers hailing from both rival nations resolve to put aside their differences and work together to expose a new threat - far greater than that of their ceaseless battle. Players can join Noah, Mio and their friends as they traverse epic landscapes, battle ferocious creatures and fight to break the never-ending cycle of violence that binds their homelands.https://tpucdn.com/img/eFLVL67jufTvWUv4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eFLVL67jufTvWUv4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IWu9seeWDmZTD6Kv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IWu9seeWDmZTD6Kv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/md8sXhyVMEyU6xlx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/md8sXhyVMEyU6xlx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/B8bJqdil0tuafhXS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B8bJqdil0tuafhXS.jpg)
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Reports Suggest MacBook Air Models Rocking M3 Chipset Incoming, But Delayed Beyond WWDC 2023
Conflicting reports are flying around about Apple's next generation MacBook Air lineup, mostly surrounding suggestions of a firm release date or debut reveal at WWDC 2023. 9to5Mac claims that its insider sources have pointed to a new range of M3 chipset powered MacBook Air extra thin laptops offered up in two different screen sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch. An insider claimed last month that Apple's upcoming laptop lineup was in an advanced stage of production, and was far along enough to warrant an "imminent" launch window. A Taiwanese publication (https://money.udn.com/money/story/11162/7104489?from=edn_maintab_index) has presented new evidence this week, and it posits that Apple could drop M3 chipset-based laptops from announcement presentations organized for this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, which is set to take place from June 5 to 9.

According to the financial section of Taiwan's UDN news site, Apple's key decision makers could be in favor of fielding laptops based on its current generation M2 SoC, instead of an entry-level M3-based range, due to delays and changes in priority for the N3B node at TSMC foundries. This is seen as an odd move given reports from earlier this month of Apple requesting for a reduction in factory output (https://www.techpowerup.com/306793/apple-reportedly-halted-m2-chip-production-as-mac-shipments-tanked) for its M2 chips, following a slump in demand. Apple could be changing its strategy with regards to the alleged surplus of M2 silicon - the article theorizes that the company will spend more time fitting the older generation chipsets into a new range of laptops and desktop computers. An M3-based product line could be delayed into late 2023, and it is alleged that TSMC has been instructed to concentrate mostly on the manufacture of Apple's Bionix A17 mobile chipset (https://www.techpowerup.com/306240/apple-a17-bionic-soc-performance-targets-could-be-lowered) via the cutting edge 3 nm FinFet technology process (N3B) - earmarked to debut on the iPhone 15 Pro in autumn 2023.https://tpucdn.com/img/od0XdpqbLdSauqlF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/od0XdpqbLdSauqlF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Kz7TpeYcqPGK3XaX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Kz7TpeYcqPGK3XaX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/izoCuxLjUtJ2OoCK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/izoCuxLjUtJ2OoCK.jpg)

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(PR) EK Water Blocks EK-Pro Line Gets New Barb Fittings
EK, the premium water-cooling gear manufacturer, is continuing the path of expanding the EK-Pro Line of products aimed at workstations and servers. The EK-Pro Barb fittings allow users to quickly and easily interconnect their water-cooling products in their work computers. These fittings come in G1/4 and G1/8 thread sizes and are compatible with 6 and 10-mm inner diameter soft tubes. EK-Pro Barb G1/4 fittings are soft-tube fittings designed for use with soft tubings like EPDM, PVC, Norprene, or silicon. They are available in two dimensions, one compatible with 6-mm and the other with 10-mm inner diameter soft tubing. They feature G1/4 threads that are typically used in PC and workstation water-cooling. These fittings are made of nickel-plated CNC-machined brass with quality O-rings. They can be tightened down by hand or using a spanner/wrench.https://tpucdn.com/img/pH0i7XTwCDib3LKK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pH0i7XTwCDib3LKK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cnP6lrFBDhL0GwCY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cnP6lrFBDhL0GwCY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/af1tcpASCfJY7q4X_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/af1tcpASCfJY7q4X.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

New store page, new trailer... new EVERYTHING for our upcoming puzzle-adventure game Firmament...Firmament will release on May 18th! Firmament is a new puzzle-adventure game by the legendary game studio behind the best-selling games Myst and Riven. Featuring deep storytelling and world-building, discover the story of this seemingly abandoned world as you explore and unlock the mysteries of 3 unique Realms… and beyond!

EXPLORE THE WORLD
Featuring a unique steampunk aesthetic, Firmament invites you to explore the legendary deep world-building Cyan Worlds is known for. Firmament is a fantastic visual feast, with thrilling new sights to see around every corner. At the same time, the world of Firmament feels completely plausible; as though it were constructed with a bigger purpose in mind… A purpose you will be compelled to discover as you play.https://tpucdn.com/img/GPb1fG27dJYOCvzC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GPb1fG27dJYOCvzC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/X6zc13xGzcFbWRfY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/X6zc13xGzcFbWRfY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/G08u4SbB8f91Vcq7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/G08u4SbB8f91Vcq7.jpg)
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NVIDIA Stock Value Climbs Due To Rising Interest in AI Hardware
Financial analysts at HSBC, the largest bank in Europe, have become very excited this week about NVIDIA's stock prospects. They have established that the American multinational technology company is set to grow due to an increased demand globally for hardware relating to artificial intelligence (AI) processing. HSBC's team of analysts have raised the recommendation on Nvidia stock (NASDAQ:NVDA) to "Buy" from "Reduce" - the reason being that AI business segments are on the rise and NVIDIA is well positioned to meet demand which: "more than offsets our previous concerns over a datacenter slowdown and rising inventory levels."

HSBC's price target on NVIDIA stock has more than doubled to $355 per share (from the previous $175), and the analysts claim that their past estimates were wrong and undervalued because of wider market trends in the server business: "We were too focused on the slowdown in datacenters, but what really surprised us was its pricing power on AI chips." Hence the analysts' call to double the NVIDIA stock target, in anticipation of excellent fiscal performance going into 2024. News reports point out an immediate 4.1% jump in stock following HSBC's recommendations. The chipmaker's shares have surged up to 140%, its highest position in a year, from a low period in October 2022.https://tpucdn.com/img/YS09QsuQi53hyLLV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YS09QsuQi53hyLLV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oBxxj3FLvRk0b2Ya_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oBxxj3FLvRk0b2Ya.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/w2wotMwntYjzdpqt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/w2wotMwntYjzdpqt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bL88WbCIfQhtkYFO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bL88WbCIfQhtkYFO.jpg)

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Differing Core Clusters Revealed in Leak, Phoenix-Based Gen 4 Hinted
A technology tipster has been dropping multiple tidbits this week about Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile chipset - this follows a leak (from a different source, going back to mid-April) about the next generation Adreno 750 GPU getting tuned up (https://www.techpowerup.com/307222/snapdragon-8-gen-3-gpu-could-be-50-more-powerful-than-current-gen-adreno-740) for a battle against Apple's Bionic A17 in terms of graphics benchmarks. The latest leak points to the GPU being clocked at 900 MHz, rather than the rumored higher figure of 1.0 GHz speed (garnered from tests at Qualcomm's labs). The focus has now turned to the next generation flagship Snapdragon's CPU aspect, with information emerging about core clock speeds and multiple cluster configurations.

Revegnus suggests that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SD8G3) chipset will be packing a large primary core in the shape of Arm's Cortex-X4 CPU with a reported maximum clock speed of 3.40 GHz. Leaks from the past have posited that the SD8G3 would feature a fairly standard 1x Large + 5x Big + 2x Small CPU core layout (with clocks predicted to be: large Cortex X4 at 3.2 GHz, big Cortex-A720, at 3.0 GHz and small Cortex-A520 at 2.0 GHz). An insider source has provided Revegnus with additional information (https://twitter.com/Tech_Reve/status/1648643521124122624?cxt=HHwWgIDS3YWjlOEtAAAA) about two different CPU core configurations - 1+5+2 and 2+4+2 - it is theorized that smartphone manufacturers will be offered the latter layout as an exclusive option for special edition flagship phones. The more powerful 2+4+2 variant is said to sacrifice a big core (A720) in favor of a dual Cortex X4 headliner, although the resultant thermal output of twin large cores could prove to be problematic.https://tpucdn.com/img/CtfY0nN7z0FRS76M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CtfY0nN7z0FRS76M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/opkoN5lDh8vQ7E8r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/opkoN5lDh8vQ7E8r.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/c09nFixn7CyeUxFQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/c09nFixn7CyeUxFQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PbUkZ8nG9ZhetK6n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PbUkZ8nG9ZhetK6n.jpg)
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(PR) Intel Dives into the Future of Cooling
Extending Moore's Law means putting more transistors on an integrated circuit and, increasingly, adding more cores. Doing so improves performance but requires more energy. Over the past decade, Intel estimates it has saved 1,000 terawatt hours of electricity through the improvements its engineers have made to processors. These advances are complemented by cooling technologies - fans, in-door coolers, direct-to-chip cooling - that further manage heat, conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.

These cooling features require up to 40% of a data center's energy consumption. As Intel looks to increase performance in the future, improvements need to be accomplished in an energy-efficient way, and air cooling may not be the solution. Fortunately, Intel is working with the liquid cooling industry - from tank vendors to fluid providers to its own labs - to create innovative solutions where computing components are in direct contact with a heat-conducting fluid. Some of the solutions seem squarely in the realm of science fiction, like 3D vapor chambers embedded in coral-shaped heat sinks. Or tiny jets, adjusted by artificial intelligence, that shoot cool water over hot spots in the chip to remove heat. All are being explored in thermal labs at Intel.https://tpucdn.com/img/glYKlmLGq4o3QrJn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/glYKlmLGq4o3QrJn.jpg)
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(PR) NZXT Announces New-Generation Kraken and Kraken Elite Coolers and RGB H Series Cases
NZXT, a leader in PC gaming hardware and services, today announces the release of the Kraken and Kraken Elite. This new generation of popular coolers offers NZXT's coveted design and high-quality cooling while displaying essential data via NZXT CAM, a free software allowing users to monitor, control, and customize their NZXT products.

These new products are the latest versions of their award-winning all-in-one liquid CPU coolers series, the Kraken X-3 and Kraken Z-3 series. The Kraken Elite offers a 2.36" LCD screen with higher resolution and frame rate, better viewing angle, and higher color accuracy. This screen can display data from NZXT CAM and static or animated images with more clarity. The Kraken features a 1.54" LCD screen that can display system temperatures and static images from NZXT CAM.https://tpucdn.com/img/J9FyBVxXAD79g5XM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/J9FyBVxXAD79g5XM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/26ijmIKwsjRsadpw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/26ijmIKwsjRsadpw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/e9b5c5q7jvbLut82_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/e9b5c5q7jvbLut82.jpg)
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(PR) ASML Announces 2023 First Quarter Financial Results
Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2023 first quarter results.

The company reported Q1 net sales of €6.7 billion, with gross margin of 50.6%, and net income of €2.0 billion. Quarterly net bookings in Q1 2023 were at €3.8 billion of which €1.6 billion is EUV. ASML expects Q2 2023 net sales between €6.5 billion and €7.0 billion and a gross margin between 50% and 51%. ASML expects 2023 net sales to grow over 25% compared to 2022.https://tpucdn.com/img/Wn3NF8qJ5LAOjrMV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Wn3NF8qJ5LAOjrMV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/loHO04g8xdRFglLT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/loHO04g8xdRFglLT.jpg)
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(PR) AMD Joins AWS ISV Accelerate Program
AMD announced it has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program, a co-sell program for AWS Partners - like AMD - who provide integrated solutions on AWS. The program helps AWS Partners drive new business by directly connecting participating ISVs with the AWS Sales organization.

Through the AWS ISV Accelerate Program, AMD will receive focused co-selling support from AWS, including, access to further sales enablement resources, reduced AWS Marketplace listing fees, and incentives for AWS Sales teams. The program will also allow participating ISVs access to millions of active AWS customers globally.https://tpucdn.com/img/67RwkmocmVMcyNu8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/67RwkmocmVMcyNu8.jpg)
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(PR) Origin PC Unveils Bespoke Workstations and GPU Servers Powered by Intel Xeon W-3400 Series
ORIGIN PC, a leader in custom high-performance systems, announced today the availability of new Intel Xeon W-3400 processors for their L-Class and R-Class systems. Improve your productivity and workflows with top of the line workstations crafted with the latest premier hardware. Whether it's for anything from content creation to artificial intelligence work, bring in the versatile power of Intel's advanced computing speed and efficiency. Access clock speeds up to 4.8 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Max, up to 56 cores in a single socket, 105 MB of L3 cache, support for up to 4 TB of memory capacity, and up to 112 CPU PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes.

Get up to 28% single thread or 120% multi thread increased performance, when compared to the previous generation of Xeon processors, and deliver the best results for your business or profession. The Intel Xeon W-3400 processors push forward with various new technologies, DDR5 memory support, and security features. Stay up to date and stay prepared - customize your ORIGIN PC so that it's ready for any future needs within your industry or increases in workload demand.https://tpucdn.com/img/4O7JzxbcI6it33Qc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4O7JzxbcI6it33Qc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/U0SPB82TQVozCRCP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U0SPB82TQVozCRCP.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

The European Union yesterday (April 18) has announced a substantial investment of $47 billion (€43 billion) as part of its already established plan to support native semiconductor industries. The European Parliament and EU member states have agreed upon new measures to boost the supply of semiconductors in Europe, as the bloc navigates a solution to reduce its dependency on manufacturers located in Asian territories. Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union, released his own statement about the agreement: "We have a deal on EU Chips Act! In a geopolitical context of de-risking, Europe is taking its destiny into its own hands. By mastering the most advanced semiconductors, EU will become an industrial powerhouse in markets of the future."

China and Taiwan are currently the dominant nations in the field of manufacture and export of semiconductor products. The European Union is also playing catch-up with North America, where the United States Chips and Science Act (https://www.techpowerup.com/306696/chips-act-requirements-untenable-according-to-silicon-manufacturers-in-south-korea-and-taiwan) has been effect since last summer - around $280 billion in new funding will be meted out over time to boost domestic research and development, as well as manufacturing of semiconductors in the USA. Governing bodies around the world are shoring up domestic silicon-based manufacturing efforts in order to reduce reliance on products sourced from Asia - where supply chain issues and manufacturing delays have caused global shortages of essential electronic goods.https://tpucdn.com/img/WAyp589SCWaaLORQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WAyp589SCWaaLORQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/765uwCmN1ndsjV30_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/765uwCmN1ndsjV30.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/k6N7674VjzuUzUGl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/k6N7674VjzuUzUGl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WJ4iyna52RfjhQme_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WJ4iyna52RfjhQme.jpg)
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InnoLux Goes IGZO for its Upcoming Gaming Display Panels
IGZO or Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide is a type of semiconducting material that has been used in displays by Sharp since 2012, although mainly for mobile devices courtesy of being more power efficient compared to standard IPS panels. There doesn't seem to have been much interest by other players in the display industry to use the material. However, at Touch Taiwan, InnoLux showed off no less than two new display panels relying on IGZO, both targeting gamers. Both panels measure 27-inches and support HDR 600. The 2560 x 1440 model is capable of a massive 480 Hz, a refresh rate that was only possible using TN panels to date.

The second display panel offers 3840 x 2160 resolution at 240 Hz, which isn't unique on the market, but as these IGZO panels are based around IPS rather than VA technology, they shouldn't suffer from the dreaded ghosting that many VA panels suffer from. InnoLux was very sparse on other technology details, but both panels have a 98 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage and the QHD display has a grey to grey response time of 3 ms, whereas the 4K variant is a bit higher at 5 ms. Both panels looked stunning and this might be what many gamers have been waiting for, at least as a stop gap before OLED displays become more affordable.https://tpucdn.com/img/wyTtGez5ahjXWUf7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wyTtGez5ahjXWUf7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Je7RQ8VlelouMuq9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Je7RQ8VlelouMuq9.jpg)

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MSI Releases GeForce RTX 3060 Ti SUPER 3X with SUPRIM Cooler
MSI released the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti SUPER 3X graphics card. This is basically the company using up left over inventory of its TriFrozr SUPRIM cooling solutions with an SKU that's likely to sell in higher volumes. Underneath the cooler is a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti "Ampere" GPU with GDDR6X memory type, instead of the GDDR6 that's standard to the RTX 3060 Ti. The board design of the SUPER 3X is identical to that of the MSI RTX 3070 SUPRIM, which means the company is reusing both the cooler and PCB to create this product. The backplate of the card even features leftover SUPRIM branding.

The MSI RTX 3060 Ti SUPER 3X offers identical clock speeds to the company's RTX 3060 Ti G6X Gaming X Trio graphics card, with 1845 MHz boost frequencies, compared to 1665 MHz reference. The GDDR6X memory ticks at 19 Gbps, which over the 256-bit memory interface yields an impressive 608 GB/s memory bandwidth that's on par with the RTX 3070 Ti. From the looks of it, the MSI RTX 3060 Ti SUPER 3X is a China-exclusive product.https://tpucdn.com/img/B8SWK7xapBXl40B2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B8SWK7xapBXl40B2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/raCGX1tBIY3zQ2De_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/raCGX1tBIY3zQ2De.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VnviySJoZ2dVfuCs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VnviySJoZ2dVfuCs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mfmA2MAmNWbreAw5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mfmA2MAmNWbreAw5.jpg)

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AUO's 17.3-inch Micro LED Display is Not Consumer Ready
Micro LED displays are being touted as something akin to the holy grail of display technology, but it seems like we still have some way to go before the first consumer devices are ready to launch, at least based on what we saw today at Touch Taiwan. AUO actually had multiple Micro LED displays on display at the trade show, but it appears as if there are still some technical hurdles to overcome before we'll see these products in retail. AUO was demoing a laptop prototype with a 17.3-inch Micro LED display, although the display lacked a read cover and depending on the mode used, the entire display ended up being semi transparent. This somewhat depended on the angle you looked at the display, but the idea here was to use for some kind of AR applications, or to take advantage of bright lights behind the display, courtesy of its high transmittance of up to 50 percent.

The fly in the ointment here is that the display, as well as a smaller 14.6-inch sibling—that's foldable—only supports 1280 x 720 resolution. It doesn't matter how good the technology is, if we're going to be limited to a display resolution from the early 2000's, as it simply won't sell in a modern device today. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the only issue with AUO's Micro LED displays, as the display on the demo laptop also had a lot of dead pixels. We're not talking five or six here, but more like 50 or 60 and due to the low resolution of the display, they were very easy to see, as they showed up as dark dots when certain graphics were displayed. It's not all that noticeable in the pictures below, but it was very obvious when looking at the display. We were told that this is something AUO is working on solving, alongside bringing higher resolution displays to market. As such, it seems like we might still be a few years away from getting Micro LED displays in any real products.https://tpucdn.com/img/4E8KKuNFTmALUPf5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4E8KKuNFTmALUPf5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UdBJ58mjdbZNn0t9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UdBJ58mjdbZNn0t9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YRVHeDtyhUcsRjbw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YRVHeDtyhUcsRjbw.jpg)

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AUO Shows Pair of AmLED Gaming Notebook Displays at Touch Taiwan
It wasn't just desktop displays that AUO was having on display at Touch Taiwan, as the company was also showing off a pair of brand new AmLED gaming notebook displays at the show. AmLED is AUO's version of mini LED and the first of the two displays is a 16-inch unit with 2560 x 1600 resolution, a 240 Hz refresh rate and a brightness of up to 1000 cd/m². Unfortunately it was impossible to get a good photo of it, as no matter what we tried, we ended up getting flicker on the final photos.

The second AmLED gaming display on show, was a larger 18-inch model, with the same 2560 x 1600 resolution, but an unspecified refresh rate, albeit with the same 1000 cd/m² brightness. Here AUO also claims a million to one contrast ratio and a 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the latter something the 16-inch model also sports. As per the pictures below, the 18-inch model was only running at 60 FPS at the show, but it's unclear if this is the maximum refresh rate of this panel or not.https://tpucdn.com/img/f5oXNNorpQGldmH3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f5oXNNorpQGldmH3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uL46YVZ7XhYT0wcn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uL46YVZ7XhYT0wcn.jpg)

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(PR) The Callisto Protocol Gets Extremely Gory Dismemberment Mode, Update Also Adds Cutscene Skipping Function
Striking Distance Studios introduces the latest content update for The Callisto Protocol: "We're thankful for all of the feedback our community has shared with us! Starting today, with Update 5.01, you can skip cutscenes, improving replayability and making speed-runs even faster. We're also introducing Dismemberment Mode with Update 5.01! Introducing the new Dismemberment Mode! Get ready to tear your enemies apart limb by limb and feel the excitement of seeing instant dismemberment as you fight your way through Black Iron Prison."

The Callisto Protocol, a new sci-fi survival horror game from the creator of Dead Space, is available now on PC and Consoles. Built by a team of industry veterans led by iconic game director Glen Schofield, The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation take on survival horror that fuses brutal combat with a deeply human story in a terrifying sci-fi world. Set on Jupiter's dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, The Callisto Protocol challenges players to escape the maximum security Black Iron Prison and uncover the terrifying secrets of the United Jupiter Company. Players will need to search their surroundings and adapt their tactics, using a unique blend of shooting and close-quarters combat to survive a mysterious outbreak that has thrown Callisto into chaos.https://tpucdn.com/img/SGC343VQlTnBEnUT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SGC343VQlTnBEnUT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KzIncgfVTGoNJCt8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KzIncgfVTGoNJCt8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cawQDbPrFeRn8oMp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cawQDbPrFeRn8oMp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jHS3qExfdIrMk5zV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jHS3qExfdIrMk5zV.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC ("SIE") announced today it has entered into an agreement with ProbablyMonsters Inc. to acquire Firewalk Studios, a studio of industry-leading creatives developing an original AAA multiplayer game for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and PC. Firewalk will collaborate alongside world-class development teams, including Bungie and Haven Interactive Studios, to define a new generation of live service experiences for PlayStation gamers.

Based in Bellevue, WA, Firewalk was formed in 2018 as part of ProbablyMonsters, an independent AAA game company founded by CEO Harold Ryan (former CEO, President and Chairman at Bungie) that builds sustainable game teams focusing on original AAA games. Firewalk's team of best-in-class developers, led by industry veterans Tony Hsu (Studio Head, previously GM and SVP of Destiny at Activision) and Ryan Ellis (Game Director, previously Creative Director at Bungie), have years of collective expertise on some of gaming's most successful and impactful multiplayer titles. ProbablyMonsters and Firewalk announced an exclusive publishing partnership with SIE in April 2021 and now Firewalk will be the 20th studio to join PlayStation Studios.https://tpucdn.com/img/H6AnhzS7beHq9DDg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/H6AnhzS7beHq9DDg.jpg)
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(PR) Cooler Master's Hyper 622 Halo Provides Double the Cooling
Cooler Master, a global frontrunner in cutting-edge cooling technologies, today announced the Hyper 622 Halo, a new entry in the longstanding Hyper Series that propels Cooler Master's innovative and high-performance technology to new heights.

"I am thrilled to introduce the Hyper 622 Halo, a true testament to Cooler Master's commitment to innovation and uncompromising quality," said Jimmy Sha, CEO of Cooler Master. "This groundbreaking dual tower design not only doubles the cooling power, but also exemplifies our mission to empower enthusiasts and gamers with the ultimate performance and customization options."https://tpucdn.com/img/4YBhAyK7pCjYV9KQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4YBhAyK7pCjYV9KQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/C4YlufC8hELHp9d7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/C4YlufC8hELHp9d7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CfBuHwaAG2cB5Bqk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CfBuHwaAG2cB5Bqk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ojroSkfszbOUD97v_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ojroSkfszbOUD97v.jpg)
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Immortals of Aveum Gets Gameplay Trailer, System Requirements Detailed
Immortals of Aveum just got a nice gameplay "first look" trailer, showing some impressive graphics and gameplay for this fantasy first-person magic shooter from Electronic Arts and Ascendant Studios. EA has also published a new blog post detailing the technology used in the game, as well as revealing first PC system requirements.

Immortals of Aveum will be one of the first AAA games developed on Unreal Engine 5.1, featuring some impressive lighting, video, and physics effects. It uses Nanite and Lumen features of the UE 5.1, new micropolygon geometry and global illumination and reflections systems. It also makes use of World Partition, UE 5's method of loading segments of the environment, which will allow for larger play areas.https://tpucdn.com/img/jQpcLZgGQXS2WNKT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jQpcLZgGQXS2WNKT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rlqirh6vE86g0XWu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rlqirh6vE86g0XWu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9ZFRMp0tIjSX0lPz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9ZFRMp0tIjSX0lPz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JNG2tF9lPZjPTVDV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JNG2tF9lPZjPTVDV.jpg)
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Intel XeSS Provides 71% FPS Uplift in Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt RED, the developer of Cyberpunk 2077, has advertised including various super sampling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and now Intel XeSS supersampling. With the inclusion of XeSS version 1.1, Intel's Arc Alchemist graphics cards can record a significant performance uplift. Thanks to the Intel game blog, we compare XeSS enabled versus XeSS disabled, measuring the ability to play Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p Ultra settings with medium ray tracing enabled. The FPS comparison was conducted with Intel Arc A750 Limited Edition GPU, which was paired with Intel Core i9-13900K and 32 GB of RAM.

With XeSS off, the A750 GPU struggled and only reached 39 FPS. However, with XeSS set to performance, the number jumped to 67 FPS, making for a smooth user experience and gameplay. This is a 71% performance uplift, enabled by a new update in the game. Interestingly, Intel XeSS is computed on Arc's XMX Units, while NVIDIA and AMD compute their super sampling on shader units.https://tpucdn.com/img/5chdg9a2Rlk3wy25_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5chdg9a2Rlk3wy25.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QXFC5HbWgQxCowHy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QXFC5HbWgQxCowHy.jpg)

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(PR) Acer to bring Redfall to Predator Gaming PCs Through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on May 2
Acer today announced it has worked with Bethesda Softworks and Microsoft to bring the much-anticipated action title Redfall to all new Acer Predator Windows 11 gaming laptop and desktop owners via a free, one-month offer of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Redfall is an open-world, single player and co-op FPS from Arkane Austin, the award-winning team behind Prey and Dishonored, that brings the studio's signature gameplay to this story-driven, action shooter and will be available on Predator gaming PCs beginning May 2, 2023, through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.https://tpucdn.com/img/cA1Ab4f81haDirHs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cA1Ab4f81haDirHs.jpg)
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(PR) Acer Adds Aspire Vero Laptop and Vero Projector to the Vero Line
Acer today announced the latest offerings in its eco-friendly Vero range of products, including the Acer Aspire Vero 15 (AV15-53P) laptop and the Acer Vero PL3510ATV laser projector, both of which are designed to equip businesses and consumers with high-performing, power-saving technology while providing more options to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Aspire Vero 15 laptop is powered by 13th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics, engineered to let the Intel Evo laptop do even more at once. The multi-awarded Aspire Vero line reduces CO2 emissions through the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in its chassis without sacrificing durability. It also features a 15-inch FHD IPS display, Acer VeroSense for battery management, and a 1440p QHD webcam that comes with Acer PurifiedView and Acer PurifiedVoice collaboration technology. Acer also launched the Acer Vero PL3510ATV projector, built with a Full HD resolution, 4,800 ANSI lumens diode, and a 30,000-hour lamp life for long-lasting brightness. The laser projector's power-saving design also saves up to 48% more energy compared with lamp-based projectors, ultimately reducing its total cost of ownership and carbon footprint through an extended product lifespan. In line with Acer's Earthion platform, the latest Vero products integrate PCR plastic on their chassis and utilize recyclable packaging.https://tpucdn.com/img/sOiLzRjFOhe4IiQh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sOiLzRjFOhe4IiQh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/l8ymQdg1diWWMk4U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l8ymQdg1diWWMk4U.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Yham6tNMPNaKpqLp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Yham6tNMPNaKpqLp.jpg)
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Google Merges its AI Subsidiaries into Google DeepMind
Google has announced that the company is officially merging its subsidiaries focused on artificial intelligence to form a single group. More specifically, Google Brain and DeepMind companies are now joining forces to become a single unit called Google DeepMind. As Google CEO Sundar Pichai notes: "This group, called Google DeepMind, will bring together two leading research groups in the AI field: the Brain team from Google Research, and DeepMind. Their collective accomplishments in AI over the last decade span AlphaGo, Transformers, word2vec, WaveNet, AlphaFold, sequence to sequence models, distillation, deep reinforcement learning, and distributed systems and software frameworks like TensorFlow and JAX for expressing, training and deploying large scale ML models."

As a CEO of this group, Demis Hassabis, a previous CEO of DeepMind, will work together with Jeff Dean, now promoted to Google's Chief Scientist, where he will report to the Sundar. In the spirit of a new role, Jeff Dean will work as a Chief Scientist at Google Research and Google DeepMind, where he will set the goal for AI research at both units. This corporate restructuring will help the two previously separate teams work together on a single plan and help advance AI capabilities faster. We are eager to see the upcoming developments these teams accomplish.https://tpucdn.com/img/u5UNXv1Y6BxAyxtZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/u5UNXv1Y6BxAyxtZ.jpg)

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AMD Software Adrenalin 23.4.2 WHQL Released
AMD today released the latest version of its Adrenalin drivers. Version 23.4.2 WHQL adds optimization for "Dead Island 2" and "Boundary." With "Dead Island 2," one can expect up to 14 percent improved performance at when measured with RX 7900 series GPUs; and up to 15% increase in performance at 4K when measured with RX 6000 series GPUs. Among the handful issues fixed with this release include blocky water corruption with "Red Dead Redemption 2" when using the Vulkan API, missing text in Google Earth VR, intermittent application crashes after enabling render previews in Unreal Engine 5, and an installer bug that caused a black screen to appear on some display configurations after a driver update.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 23.4.2 WHQL (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/amd-radeon-graphics-drivers/)https://tpucdn.com/img/6uAfOhCa1YYLGToL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6uAfOhCa1YYLGToL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5NyG5RdaITkqwaNN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5NyG5RdaITkqwaNN.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

We've known from a recent report (https://www.techpowerup.com/307120/intel-meteor-lake-could-bring-back-l4-caches) that "Meteor Lake" introduces an L4 cache, and now we are learning that it is codenamed "Adamantine," and serves functions resembling that of a passive interposer. Intel's upcoming "Meteor Lake" microarchitecture will power the company's first disaggregated processor for the client segment.

A disaggregated processor is different from an MCM (such as "Clarkdale"), since finer components that make up the processor that otherwise can't exist on their own packages without extreme latency, are made to share a single package via a high-speed interconnect. This disaggregation is purely for economic reasons, so the company needn't use the latest (and most expensive) foundry node for the entire processor, but ration it to the specific components that benefit the most from it. Unlike AMD client processors that disaggregate the CPU cores and the remaining processor I/O into two kinds of chiplets, Intel "Meteor Lake" will see the breaking up of not just CPU cores (compute tile), but also the iGPU on its own tile, besides the platform I/O on separate tiles still.https://tpucdn.com/img/DSxaKdrKRsUsBKTG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DSxaKdrKRsUsBKTG.jpg)
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(PR) Warframe|The Duviri Paradox Showcased by Digital Extremes
The PARADOX UNFOLDS BEFORE YOU. A Mad King, a mysterious Drifter, and a color-shifting unreality as sublime as it is deadly combine in the latest addition to Warframe's ever-expanding universe, The Duviri Paradox! A landscape out of time and space - whether you are just starting with Warframe or have been playing for years, The Duviri Paradox will be available to all players. From the very beginning of your journey, all Tenno can choose to begin at the ending and play The Duviri Paradox. Experience it for yourself this April on all platforms and play through a brand new Cinematic Quest, a whole new space in the Origin System and Endless Mission varieties, as well as loads of new Customizations to personalize your Operator, Drifter and Warframes!

Depending on the mood of its ruler, Dominus Thrax, the color-shifting world of Duviri will appear differently - painting the swirling skies a poisonous green shade for Envy, or unleashing a wrathful red firestorm in Anger. As The Drifter, you are suspended in a never-ending cycle of life, death and rebirth for Thrax's entertainment. Each Spiral will present you with its own set of unique challenges, and lead you across some of the most varied and beautiful landscapes ever seen in Warframe.https://tpucdn.com/img/SxrMDH538N3iCR3X_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SxrMDH538N3iCR3X.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fv9M9etNBaAaU3D8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fv9M9etNBaAaU3D8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AY70W9NOAIHWAqLX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AY70W9NOAIHWAqLX.jpg)
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Samsung Hit With $303 Million Fine, Sued Over Alleged Memory Patent Infringements
Netlist Inc. an enterprise solid state storage drive specialist has been awarded over $303 million in damages by a federal jury in Texas on April 21, over apparent patent infringement on Samsung's part. Netlist has alleged that the South Korean multinational electronics corporation had knowingly infringed on five patents, all relating to improvements in data processing within the design makeup of memory modules intended for high performance computing (HPC) purposes. The Irvine, CA-based computer-memory specialist has sued Samsung in the past - with a legal suit filed at the Federal District Court for the Central District of California.

Netlist was seemingly pleased by the verdict reached at the time (2021) when the court: "granted summary judgements in favor of Netlist and against Samsung for material breach of various obligations under the Joint Development and License Agreement (JDLA), which the parties executed in November 2015. A summary judgment is a final determination rendered by the judge and has the same force and effect as a final ruling after a jury trial in litigation."https://tpucdn.com/img/Uoqc3ZawDa4Jba39_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Uoqc3ZawDa4Jba39.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/y7LA8iqcrNdqHzny_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y7LA8iqcrNdqHzny.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YPxAlzjRewNwtrFs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YPxAlzjRewNwtrFs.jpg)
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(PR) Square Enix Unearths Old Crime Puzzler - The Portopia Serial Murder Case, Remaster Features AI Interaction
At the turn of the 1980s, most PC adventure games were played using only the keyboard. In those days, adventure games didn't use action menus like more modern games, but simply presented the player with a command line where they could freely input text to decide the actions that characters would take and proceed through the story. Free text input systems like these allowed players to feel a great deal of freedom. However, they did come with one common source of frustration: players knowing what action they wanted to perform but being unable to do so because they could not find the right wording. This problem was caused by the limitations of PC performance and NLP technology of the time.

40 years have passed since then, and PC performance has drastically improved, as have the capabilities of NLP technology. Using "The Portopia Serial Murder Case" as a test case, we'd like to show you the capabilities of modern NLP and the impact it can have on adventure games, as well as deepen your understanding of NLP technologies.https://tpucdn.com/img/VfEj5PSikElNsVma_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VfEj5PSikElNsVma.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2XcOulKnHj4KjspP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2XcOulKnHj4KjspP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZOZb7u9DViZm5qNA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZOZb7u9DViZm5qNA.jpg)
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FT Claims Arm Engineers Working on Proprietary Chip
The Financial Times this weekend has published details about an interesting development project that is currently in-the-works at British semiconductor specialist firm Arm Ltd. The article states that several executives in the industry have divulged (anonymously) that Arm's engineering team is designing a proprietary chip - these insider sources opine that this new creation could be one of the company's most advanced undertakings. The SoftBank-owned chipmaker is having a bumper year in terms of financial success and has invested in its future - it is speculated that their own semiconductor design will be showcased as a prototype product to potential new clients - with the main goal being to drum up more business and growth. Parent group SoftBank is likely pushing for maximum profit margins as it prepares Arm for an initial public offering (IPO) (https://www.techpowerup.com/306478/arm-to-change-pricing-model-ahead-of-ipo) this year.

Arm's modus operandi involves partnering up with other chip manufacturers in order to license out its semiconductor intellectual properties. In turn these partners are expected to deal with the overall design and manufacturing processes of chips (plus sales of). Arm has teamed up with foundries TSMC (https://www.techpowerup.com/165345/tsmcs-28-nm-based-arm-cortex-a9-test-chip-reaches-beyond-3-ghz) and Samsung in the past to create prototypes for software testing purposes, but not much has been heard about those proofing projects in the following years. In an unusual turn (from certain industry perspectives) from its traditional working methodologies, it seems that Arm is embracing a different approach by producing its own compelling designs, with the hope of demonstrating greater potential to customers. FT's sources have provided evidence that Arm has expanded its operations and that a newly formed "solutions engineering" team is focused on prototyping new silicon for usage in mobile hardware and related devices.https://tpucdn.com/img/aXAjlKKpGBAnzFJO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aXAjlKKpGBAnzFJO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Kygnp9timIKKa7oA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Kygnp9timIKKa7oA.jpg)
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This Week in Gaming (Week 17)
As we're heading into the last week of April, we have a much anticipated AAA title launching, which involves light sabres and thus shouldn't be too hard to guess. Other games this week include forest rangers, lights and shadows, dead things that are evil and much more. Something for almost everyone in other words, we hope.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (https://www.starwars.com/games-apps/star-wars-jedi-survivor) / This week's AAA title / Friday 28 April
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal's increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness.https://tpucdn.com/img/y688MxmKmg6uNkrT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y688MxmKmg6uNkrT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IQbSuxq2c6s1uF7C_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IQbSuxq2c6s1uF7C.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dv7miwMETeWCeSKU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dv7miwMETeWCeSKU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1IlsdH27PzWO61k5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1IlsdH27PzWO61k5.jpg)
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(PR) Paradox Interactive Presents Victoria 3 - Voice of the People Expansion, Out May 22 on PC & Mac
Voice of the People adds more Radicals, Reactionaries, and Reformers. In a century of dramatic political upheaval, many world leaders had to deal with influential and charismatic figures - dynamic political personalities who forcefully advocated for social and economic progress or tried to resist the tides of history in favor of tradition. Voice of the People, a new Immersion Pack for Victoria 3, challenges you to handle some of history's greatest political agitators, coming May 22.

In Voice of the People, the new Agitator system is highlighted with the addition of dozens of historical figures who break convention and build political power behind the force of their personality. Meet intellectuals like Mikhail Bakunin, conservative militarists like Georges Boulanger, and voices for freedom like Frederick Douglas in this addition to Paradox Interactive's critically acclaimed historical society simulation.https://tpucdn.com/img/eESBXo4nhL2VJp1j_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eESBXo4nhL2VJp1j.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/crcPZpn0w70m2aS6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/crcPZpn0w70m2aS6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wrxrmQDWns2IikZ6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wrxrmQDWns2IikZ6.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Seagate is celebrating the debut shipment of very sophisticated storage solutions to a preferred client (dealing in the cloud data center sector). These 30+ terabyte hard drives are based on heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology - the American data storage company is setting up its next generation Corvault range with the thermal magnetic recording methodology. The first shipment of HAMR-based drives is reported to consist of final qualification samples, but Seagate is anticipating that fully verified equipment - after trial customers give this new product lineup a thumbs-up - will be generating revenue in the coming weeks.

According to a transcript (https://seekingalpha.com/article/4595431-seagate-technology-holdings-plc-stx-q3-2023-earnings-call-transcript) of a recent Seagate financial meeting conference call, CEO Dave Mosley mentioned a dip in business as well as a costly legal settlement (https://www.techpowerup.com/307555/seagate-handed-usd-300-million-us-government-fine-accused-of-breaking-rules-with-hdd-exports-to-huawei), but expects company fortunes to rise due to client uptake of breakthrough storage technologies: "Beyond this cycle, we remain excited about the long-term opportunities presented by the secular growth of data and the relevance of mass capacity storage as new data-centric applications emerge and more workloads migrate to the cloud. We continue to make strong progress on our industry-leading technology road map, including launching HAMR-based products this quarter, which we believe put us in outstanding longer-term position."https://tpucdn.com/img/3jrUIPCX6k8RYzpK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3jrUIPCX6k8RYzpK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZdMSSvXJxWUlvhbc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZdMSSvXJxWUlvhbc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ngBJZ6L2uXsuznpz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ngBJZ6L2uXsuznpz.jpg)
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(PR) Atari Adding More Classics to its Retro Games Library
Atari - one of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers - announced, on April 19, the acquisition of more than 100 PC and console titles from the 1980s and 1990s. The collection includes notable games from the Bubsy, Hardball, Demolition Racer series, as well as the 1942: Pacific Air War, F-117A, and F-14 air combat series. Atari will seek to expand digital and physical distribution of the classic titles, create new games based on the IP, and explore brand and merchandising collaborations.

"This is a deep catalog that includes groundbreaking and award-winning titles from Accolade, Infogrames and Microprose," said Atari CEO Wade Rosen. "Many of these titles are a part of Atari history, and fans can look forward to seeing many of these games re-released in physical and digital formats, and in some cases, even ported to modern consoles." Atari also acquired the trademark to the Accolade and GTI brands. Accolade was a well-respected US-based video game developer and publisher from 1984 until 2000.https://tpucdn.com/img/bbn8kw1rNVQietKO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bbn8kw1rNVQietKO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vVxhVRPioImummbt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vVxhVRPioImummbt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Bk8EmPCmiZFTTLkW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Bk8EmPCmiZFTTLkW.jpg)
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Japanese Retailer Runs Fascinating Promo, Free Intel A750 GPU With Purchase of GeForce RTX 4090
NTT-X, a retailer in Japan is advertising a strange promotion to its moneyed customers - a free Intel Arc A750 Limited Edition GPU with every purchase of an ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB OC Edition graphics card. You would normally expect a couple of extra digital download codes for video games as some sort of bonus incentive, but NTT-X has chosen a non-traditional approach to getting fancy silicon into clients' hands. The shop is selling the high-end ASUS card for just over $2300 (converted from the value in Japanese Yen), and mid-range Intel board will set you back roughly $350 (when sold separately). It seems that PC hardware prices in Japan tend to be higher when compared to USA market trends.

It is not really clear if this particular hardware outlet is experiencing slow sales for top-end RTX GeForce 40 series cards simply because of high asking prices, or it is having difficulty in shifting the Alchemist card due to wavering hardware buyer perception. Super enthusiasts with plenty of cash to spare on cutting edge tech will tend to purchase the best stuff available - perhaps NTT-X are offering their target audience a chance to construct a secondary or tertiary computer. These additional PCs could host the promotional Intel Arc A750 graphics card, with the retailer gaining further sales via customers buying more components for another build, be it for a compact computer or home theater/media center PC.https://tpucdn.com/img/pROJoiXCwlmwrmeA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pROJoiXCwlmwrmeA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eQR5SMlQ9BSTWGNv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eQR5SMlQ9BSTWGNv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bMrJvvwlqOh7MC89_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bMrJvvwlqOh7MC89.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wPyLNWD8nJxD8Aow_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wPyLNWD8nJxD8Aow.jpg)

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Google Bard AI Chatbot Smart Enough to Assist in Software Coding
Alphabet Incorporated's Google AI division has today revealed a planned update for its Bard conversational artificial intelligence chatbot. The experimental generative artificial intelligence software application will become capable of assisting people in the writing of computer code - the American multinational technology company hopes that Bard will be of great to help in the area of software development. Paige Bailey, a group product manager at Google Research has introduced the upcoming changes: "Since we launched Bard, our experiment that lets you collaborate with generative AI, coding has been one of the top requests we've received from our users. As a product lead in Google Research - and a passionate engineer who still programs every day - I'm excited that today we're updating Bard to include that capability."

The Bard chatbot was made available (https://www.techpowerup.com/306206/google-bard-chatbot-trial-launches-in-usa-and-uk), on a trial basis, to users in the USA and UK last month. Google's AI team is reported to be under great pressure to advance the Bard chatbot into a suitably powerful state in order to compete with its closest rival - Microsoft Corporation. The Seattle-based giant has invested heavily into Open AI's industry leading ChatGPT application. Google's latest volley against its rivals shows that Bard's has become very sophisticated - so much so that the app is able to chew through a variety of programming languages. Bailey outlines these features in the company's latest blog: "Starting now, Bard can help with programming and software development tasks, including code generation, debugging and code explanation. We're launching these capabilities in more than 20 programming languages including C++, Go, Java, Javascript, Python and Typescript. And you can easily export Python code to Google Colab - no copy and paste required." Critics of AI-driven large language models have posited that the technology could potentially eliminate humans from the job market - it will be interesting to observe the coder community's reaction to Google marketing of Bard as a helpful tool in software development.https://tpucdn.com/img/FId0FEUW8ftin9qe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FId0FEUW8ftin9qe.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Gss7KB0t4m52zp95_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Gss7KB0t4m52zp95.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GUCgocMYyT0NHgbO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GUCgocMYyT0NHgbO.jpg)

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Microsoft Xbox Marketing Exec Responds to Accusations of Unsatisfactory Hi-Fi Rush Sales
Video game industry expert Jeff Grubb made some interesting remarks during a live recording of his Game Mess Decides podcast - yesterday's episode included plenty of talk about the Xbox and PC platform exclusive Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-based action game. The Tango Gameworks developed title was first announced on January 25 of this year, and in an unusual move for Xbox (plus Bethesda Softworks) the colorfully cel-shaded action adventure experience was released worldwide that same day. According to Grubb this obtuse bit of marketing strategy has not paid off well, in pure unit sales figures, from the parent company's perspective: "(Hi-Fi Rush) didn't make the money it needed to make." Bethesda has stated that the game had achieved a maximum player base number in the 2 million range (by March 1) - this likely includes a significant chunk of customers accessing Hi-Fi Rush through the Game Pass subscription service. Exact sales figures for Japanese studio-developed title in terms of digital sales have not been divulged.

Grubb continued his stream of inside knowledge: "Based on what I've heard, it just straight up didn't make the money it needed to make. It got good reviews, and the buzz was good, so where do you put the blame for something like that?" Several online publications (https://insider-gaming.com/hi-fi-rush-microsoft-expectations/) and games industry tipsters on social media (https://twitter.com/JezCorden/status/1649359538032705538?cxt=HHwWhIC8tdvw2eMtAAAA) have since pounced to spread Grubb's words - so much so that it was enough to grab the attention of one Aaron Greenberg, vice president of Xbox Games marketing. In a response to criticisms aimed at the gaming divisions poor marketing effort he stated: "Hi-Fi Rush was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations. We couldn't be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release." Greenberg was thanked for providing a response, yet hindsight is 20/20 - could a traditional physical release of the game have helped boost paying customer uptake? The sensitive matter of a wider console release is another interesting topic of conversation - Tango Gameworks has multi-platform development experience (https://www.techpowerup.com/307166/ghostwire-tokyo-the-spiders-thread-out-now-free-update-for-pc-and-modern-console-versions) and Hi-Fi Rush would appear to be a very suitable game for a PlayStation-oriented audience. Microsoft has received criticism (https://www.techpowerup.com/306440/microsoft-denies-strategic-removal-of-playstation-5-games-from-development) for making (over time) its Bethesda game lineup exclusive to the Xbox ecosystem (Game Pass and Windows included).https://tpucdn.com/img/6MRWpYZPhwvhCD7l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6MRWpYZPhwvhCD7l.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tA1i1sRnDlJYl2Pv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tA1i1sRnDlJYl2Pv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QMEiw2YF6S8iMhZL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QMEiw2YF6S8iMhZL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/U5ju71mZJrPniHcF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U5ju71mZJrPniHcF.jpg)

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(PR) Diablo IV Final Beta Test Announced, Server Slam Event Starting May 12
HELP US GEAR UP FOR LAUNCH DURING THE DIABLO IV SERVER SLAM - Calling all wanderers! In preparation for the launch of Diablo IV on June 6, we must enlist your demon-cleansing services for one final task: Server Slam. From May 12, 12 p.m.-May 14, 12 p.m. PDT, everyone can come to Sanctuary's defense on Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4—along with couch co-op for consoles and cross-play and cross-progression for all platforms—against the armies of the Burning Hells to help us test the durability of our servers.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING SERVER SLAM
Server Slam will give players one final weekend in Hell to experience a fraction of what Diablo IV has to offer, while simultaneously testing the capabilities of our servers prior to launch. The Prologue and entirety of Act I will be your canvas to paint with the remains of slain demons. Fractured Peaks, the first Zone, is yours to navigate as you please. Traverse its rugged landscape as Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Rogue, or Sorcerer, unleashing devastating power upon foes, and honing your unique skillset in the process.https://tpucdn.com/img/VzyUUDr1hqQJbNLw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VzyUUDr1hqQJbNLw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GiX7PHz8B0XAcKRr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GiX7PHz8B0XAcKRr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TtKDXKCRYAFcJt7J_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TtKDXKCRYAFcJt7J.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2023 -- The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, today announced the launch of the TLA+ Foundation to promote the adoption and development of the TLA+ programming language and its community of TLA+ practitioners. Inaugural members include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle and Microsoft. TLA+ is a high-level language for modeling programs and systems, especially concurrent and distributed ones. TLA+ has been successfully used by companies to verify complex software systems, reducing errors and improving reliability. The language helps detect design flaws early in the development process, saving time and resources.

TLA+ and its tools are useful for eliminating fundamental design errors, which are hard to find and expensive to correct in code. The language is based on the idea that the best way to describe things precisely is with simple mathematics. The language was invented decades ago by the pioneering computer scientist Leslie Lamport, now a distinguished scientist with Microsoft Research. After years of Lamport's stewardship and Microsoft's support, TLA+ has found a new home at the Linux Foundation.https://tpucdn.com/img/T9yaH2kILztOdswX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/T9yaH2kILztOdswX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rLGdXm4KFQpNxU3Z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rLGdXm4KFQpNxU3Z.jpg)
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Report Suggests Microsoft to Demo Xbox Products at UK Government Endorsed Event, Coincides with Competition Watchdog Verdict
The Sky UK news network has gathered intel from industry and government sources about an industry event that is due to take place next week at a very famous location - 10 Downing Street - the residence of the UK's Prime Minister. Sky News has been informed that Microsoft has been invited to attend the showcase by the UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) industry organization - best described as the main trade body for the nation's games and interactive entertainment sector. The American technology behemoth is expected to display and demonstrate their Xbox gaming product range in front of top politicians and key entertainment industry figures. There is no mention of representatives from Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) being invited to attend in a similar capacity. The timing of this UKIE organized event (to take place on April 26) is highly controversial as it will coincide with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority's statutory deadline to deliver a Phase-2 verdict on Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulatory body has already delivered a provisional approval (https://www.techpowerup.com/306403/uk-cma-provisionally-approves-microsofts-proposed-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard) of the aforementioned deal, but stated that it required more time to investigate the potential for irregularities in competition within the cloud gaming sector. The Phase-2 verdict, due to be delivered next week, is anticipated to include the antitrust watchdog's finalized judgement on cloud gaming market affairs. Sky's insider sources in the city of London have speculated that Microsoft could face a humiliating situation at the 10 Downing-hosted party, if by coincidence the CMA changes its opinion on the Activision Blizzard takeover bid. If the competition regulator stays consistent with its (earlier) provisional decision, Microsoft could be criticized for its extensive courting of government organizations - not only in the UK, but around the world.https://tpucdn.com/img/goWXID3emdy8SqTb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/goWXID3emdy8SqTb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9l4SxPrK6kRnzINe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9l4SxPrK6kRnzINe.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cseIpCScee1f3aQm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cseIpCScee1f3aQm.jpg)

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(PR) Valve's DOTA 2 Becomes Jumbo-Sized with New Frontiers Update
Sometimes Dota gameplay patches are small. Sometimes they can get pretty big. This one... is huge. It's got all the things you were probably expecting - balance changes, new items, hero reworks, UI improvements. But we also included a few changes you probably weren't expecting, like a new hero attribute type and - brace yourself - the map is now 40% bigger.

But all these new gameplay features won't matter if the match you get into isn't a good one. So we're also shipping some much-needed matchmaking improvements. Excited? Confused? Head on over to the New Frontiers update page (https://www.dota2.com/newfrontiers?v=2) for all the details. But don't head over just yet, read this sentence first: The Berlin major is on April 26th, and Fantasy/Player Cards are now available. Okay, now go. Here's the link (https://www.dota2.com/newfrontiers?v=2) again.https://tpucdn.com/img/q1kluRPFutYs5Xd4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q1kluRPFutYs5Xd4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EN1ELXxCoVdbfghf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EN1ELXxCoVdbfghf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6HjKJ0Zhoy4bL8Rn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6HjKJ0Zhoy4bL8Rn.jpg)
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(PR) Unrecord Police Bodycam Tactical FPS Revealed, Dev Team Claim Preview Gameplay Footage is Authentic
Unrecord is a single-player FPS that tells the story of a tactical police officer from the perspective of his body camera. As you work to solve a complex case, you'll need to use your tactical and detective skills to succeed. Unrecord is a tactical shooter where players can expect an immersive and narrative experience. Unrecord features complex dialogues, innovative gameplay mechanics, tough moral dilemmas, and a unique shooting system. The storyline in Unrecord can be compared to a detective novel or a thriller. The player will have to investigate several criminal cases and confront a diverse cast of characters. The game's plot and presentation will be central to the gameplay experience, and players can anticipate a range of gameplay sequences as well as numerous plot twists. Wishlist Unrecord now (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2381520/Unrecord/) to stay up to date on the latest news and updates! Read on for a post-reveal and response to questions and concerns from players. Yes, it's a game.

1. Scam or Real Gameplay Footage?
There have been many doubts raised about the authenticity of the gameplay. The game is developed on Unreal Engine 5, and the game footage is captured from an executable and played using a keyboard and mouse. It is not a VR game. In reality, it seems rather flattering to compare the graphics of Unrecord to reality, but fortunately, we know that a game first focuses on gameplay and universe on which we primarily concentrate. Considering the high production costs of a video game and our global reputation at stake, if Unrecord were a scam, it would be a blockbuster scam. Therefore, it is logically not one. We do not use any real videos or external rendering to Unreal Engine for the creation of Unrecord. Unrecord is (un)real.https://tpucdn.com/img/iJnFyS0KqqvW48hH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iJnFyS0KqqvW48hH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NbyX2VLSirLzOsjC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NbyX2VLSirLzOsjC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4QuxCktfrkQORz9E_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4QuxCktfrkQORz9E.jpg)
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GoDeal24 Software Flash Sale: Prices of Genuine Software You Need at Prices You Want
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[NextPowerUP]

SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The company recorded revenues of 5.088 trillion won, operating loss of 3.402 trillion won (with operating margin of negative 67%), and net loss of 2.586 trillion won (with net profit margin of negative 51%) in the first quarter of 2023.

"As the memory chip downturn continued through the first quarter, the company posted a sequential drop in revenues and widened operating loss on sluggish demand and falling products prices," SK hynix said. "But we expect revenues to rebound in the second quarter after bottoming out in the first, driven by a gradual increase in sales volume."https://tpucdn.com/img/kupEiraamih12A1E_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kupEiraamih12A1E.jpg)
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(PR) Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update Adds Regions of Oceania & Antarctica
Experience the vast regions of Oceania and the magnificence of Antarctica in Microsoft Flight Simulator's latest World update. Explore some of the most exotic regions on Earth in World Update XIII. Microsoft Flight Simulator is thrilled to add to the beauty of the simulator with fascinating new landscapes. Known as both a continent and a geographic region, and straddling the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Hemispheres, Oceania is comprised of remote coral islands, long stretches of white sand beaches, towering volcanoes, vast interior sweeps of uninhabited rainforest, and populated cities boasting modern architectural wonders. Antarctica is a dream destination for aviators with adventure, intrigue, and boundless vistas of pristine coastal and inland glaciated terrain.

Microsoft Flight Simulator's World Update XIII includes Polynesia (Hawaii and Easter Island), Melanesia (Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Indonesia's West Papua, and the Solomon Islands), the Galapagos Islands and key regions of Antarctica, notably the Antarctic Peninsula. The update provides a total of 13 countries and 28 non-sovereign territories, many with improved resolution that will allow pilots to experience stunning new vistas throughout these regions. The release is based on the latest aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and digital elevation modelling data. There is an updated height field for Hawaii and features the city of Honolulu with dozens of handmade buildings.https://tpucdn.com/img/w382skVE6qW05jt8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/w382skVE6qW05jt8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Jy4YVMalZY1RPEer_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Jy4YVMalZY1RPEer.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/q2dCGrgSe8ASkv2b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q2dCGrgSe8ASkv2b.jpg)
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(PR) Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome Ready to Pre-Order
Where were you in 1998? Perhaps listening to Cher's Believe, watching Titanic, playing with your Tamagotchi and relaxing on your inflatable couch? Or were you playing the Age of Empires DLC The Rise of Rome? This beloved evolution of the first Age of Empires game has taken on a new form and joined the Definitive Edition era in the Return of Rome DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

Yes, you read that correctly, Age of Empires content available in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Bringing the civilizations and action of ancient worlds to AoE II: DE. Purchasers will be able to switch to Return of Rome in the game's main screen and take on fresh challenges.https://tpucdn.com/img/xqlGCuxwLD02sQFD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xqlGCuxwLD02sQFD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/feABdv2INXUuYvUr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/feABdv2INXUuYvUr.jpg)
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Nier: Automata Sold 7.5 Million Copies, Creator Evasive Over Possible Sequel
The official NieR Series Twitter account declared a sales milestone this week, and showed a great appreciation for its fanbase: "You'll be delighted to hear more than 7.5 million copies of NieR: Automata have been sold or shipped to date. Thank you for your love and support!" PlatinumGames' action role-playing game has accumulated very decent numbers over a six year period - NieR: Automata first arrived on PlayStation 4 and PC back in March of 2017. Thanks to highly favorable reviews from the computer game press, and word of mouth spread throughout the gaming community, the unlikely spin-off (from the Drakengard series) has become an enduring classic. It also helps that NieR: Automata broke free from being a PS4 and PC timed exclusive, and later on found its way onto the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

It is probably safe to assume that NieR: Automata has made a return on its production budget, so talk naturally turns to the prospects of a hypothetical third entry in the series. PlatinumGames and the game's creator, Yoko Taro, have remained very tight-lipped about a possible continuation. The normally eccentric video game director took a more straightforward approach when sharing good news about his game's healthy sales figures: "It seems that 7.5 million copies have been sold. It's so awesome that it makes me dizzy. I can't exceed this number for the rest of my life…I can only thank everyone who supported me!" Taro has taken a more evasive stance when dealing with questions regarding a third Nier title.https://tpucdn.com/img/NJjhyjj8UtNv1rmR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NJjhyjj8UtNv1rmR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8SODCKQMtTpwst6h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8SODCKQMtTpwst6h.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JrLM3rT5d43c3O4P_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JrLM3rT5d43c3O4P.jpg)

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Intel Meteor Lake Desktop CPUs Spotted in Presentation, Leak Indicates Core i3 and i5 Only
Following on from yesterday's news of Meteor Lake's "Adamantine" L4 cache (https://www.techpowerup.com/307670/adamantine-l4-cache-confirmed-on-intel-meteor-lake-acts-as-a-passive-interposer) another leaky bit of information has popped up. A tipster on Twitter, Bionic_squash, has uploaded a slide (https://twitter.com/SquashBionic/status/1650747143416860674) from a supposedly official Intel presentation document, and it shows a small selection of Meteor Lake-S and Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs, as well as the refreshed Raptor Lake-S series. The majority of recent leaks have pointed to laptop variants (https://www.techpowerup.com/307050/intel-14th-gen-core-lineup-confirmed-to-be-meteor-lake-cpu-range) of Intel's fourteenth generation Core lineup, and not much has emerged about a desktop-dedicated range in a while - prompting further murmurs about Team Blue canning that side of things. The Meteor Lake-S family is still in the works according to the leaked chart and industry experts reckon that a product launch is due later in the year.

By looking closely at the chart, it shows that the Meteor Lake-S desktop processors are limited to 35 and 65 W TDPs, meaning that Core i3 and i5 lines are the only offerings within the 14th generation desktop lineup. Performance enthusiasts will need to look at the 15th gen Arrow Lake-S lineup - where the big i7 and i9 CPUs (up to 125 W) sit, or the refreshed Raptor Lake lineup which also offers a wide range of options - from i3 up to i9. Industry experts are a bit puzzled about Meteor Lake's prospects in the desktop processor sector - when considering a (speculated) skew to more entry-level and mid-range minded customers. Will Intel lose out by not offering more powerful variants, or are they working on a refreshed 14th generation product lineup for 2025?https://tpucdn.com/img/SQI9wqt07ja1eZQE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SQI9wqt07ja1eZQE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JuJSFI692nH6ID50_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JuJSFI692nH6ID50.jpg)

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NetEase Not Taking Blizzard to Court, One Man Seeking $43.5 Million Settlement
According to a recent news article released by Chinese news group Sina Technology, NetEase has filed a lawsuit against its former publishing partner Blizzard Entertainment, to the tune of (around) $43.5 Million. The Chinese Internet technology company is seeking compensation, in the form of a very large refund, following Blizzard's total exit from the nation's online gaming sector - its server infrastructure in China was shut down in January (https://www.techpowerup.com/303991/blizzard-is-closing-its-servers-in-china-today-china-market-future-uncertain) of this year. The closing of Blizzard-related services represented a very abrupt end to a 14-year long relationship between the two online gaming specialists - press coverage at the time presented a tense situation involving many major disagreements - the partnership was broken because of unfavorable terms on Blizzard's part.

NetEase posits that it had to compensate its customer base through refunds from its own reserves, after the sudden shutdown of Blizzard's hugely popular MMO - World of Warcraft, and other online multiplayer game series including Overwatch, Hearthstone, Diablo and Starcraft. A significant chunk of the $43.5 million settlement is said to cover the company's cost in refunding part of its customer base - somewhere in the range of 1.12 million players - for discontinued games and services. NetEase is also reported to be seeking damages for broken license agreements, unsold merchandise inventory and the loss of access to future Blizzard intellectual properties.

Update Apr 25th: According to an article from PC Gamer, published today (https://www.pcgamer.com/netease-is-not-suing-blizzardthe-chinese-court-system-confused-one-angry-man-with-a-corporate-behemoth/), NetEase is not taking Blizzard to court. It turns out that a serial litigator, Yang Jun, has included NetEase as an appellant in his filed legal documents - under another company name, The9, an apparently defunct former licensing partner. PC Gamer has been informed that Yang Jun has sued NetEase in the past, and that his latest batch of legal documents have been amended to reflect that he is the lone party in demanding a financial settlement from Blizzard.https://tpucdn.com/img/4gzZ6id6x1Xt04a1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4gzZ6id6x1Xt04a1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FmJOTlzXBOCyzzJL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FmJOTlzXBOCyzzJL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nTig9C3qKDk6A5pg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nTig9C3qKDk6A5pg.jpg)

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(PR) Razer Announces Collaboration With Roblox, Themed Hardware Collection Launching April 28
Welcome to an immersive experience that is ever-changing—and yours for the making. Explore infinite worlds, connect with friends, and discover new things with an exclusive line of Razer | Roblox gear as you take the plunge into a new horizon of endless possibilities. Launching on 28 April, 4PM BST.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. LIMITLESS PERFORMANCE
Welcome to an immersive experience that is ever-changing—and yours for the making. Explore infinite worlds, connect with friends, and discover new things with an exclusive line of Razer | Roblox gear as you take the plunge into a new horizon of endless possibilities.https://tpucdn.com/img/e9GBNkDbQ6Zl1t7V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/e9GBNkDbQ6Zl1t7V.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Z1hg1r2IdDTgRu6T_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Z1hg1r2IdDTgRu6T.jpg)
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(PR) Returnal and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Get NVIDIA DLSS 3 Support
Each week we're bringing you the latest news on games launching with NVIDIA DLSS and advanced ray tracing. Last week, the list of supported DLSS games and apps surpassed 290, and this week we're adding even more games! Today, Returnal upgrades its DLSS integration to DLSS 3, giving GeForce RTX 40 Series players even higher frame rates in the fast-paced shooter, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum shows off its DLSS and ray tracing tech in a new trailer, and another 3 games add support for DLSS 2. Read on to learn more.

The Returnal: DLSS 3 upgrade launches today. Returnal (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1649240/Returnal/), Sony and Housemarque's critically acclaimed third-person roguelike shooter, launched on PC in February, featuring out of the box support for DLSS 2 and ray tracing. After crash-landing on a shape-shifting world, players must guide astronaut Selene through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her escape. Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she's defeated - forced to restart her journey every time she dies.https://tpucdn.com/img/KV7UF7rMDpD7bPV8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KV7UF7rMDpD7bPV8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aInUVQ9eNl8P1v1O_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aInUVQ9eNl8P1v1O.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce the ROG Ally, an incredibly powerful new Windows 11 gaming handheld. Powered by a cutting-edge AMD Ryzen Z1 series processor, the Ally can breeze through AAA games and indie titles with ease. A bright and high-refresh-rate touchscreen ensures that gamers see their content clearly even when gaming outdoors. The Ally is easy to carry and handle all day, thanks to its lightweight 608 g design and ergonomic handholds.

Featuring an all-new purpose-built APU - an AMD Ryzen Z1 series processor with RDNA 3 graphics - the ROG Ally is primed to deliver never-before-seen levels of handheld gaming performance. Gamers who enjoy lighter indie titles, or more graphically intensive AAA games, can do it all with the Ally. Making all this possible is also ROG's Zero Gravity thermal system, which uses a dual-fan system with ultrathin heatsink fins and high-friction heat pipes to ensure the Ally stays cool in any orientation.https://tpucdn.com/img/WbNhzXz7jSm2OPsx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WbNhzXz7jSm2OPsx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/b3yQ2QplkBPv971l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b3yQ2QplkBPv971l.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/87DWXdMyIC9NxqUK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/87DWXdMyIC9NxqUK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ricvDjT4ttykiNaZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ricvDjT4ttykiNaZ.jpg)
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A Plague Tale: Requiem Verified on Steam Deck
Asobo Studio and Focus Entertainment have announced via Twitter that their smash hit survival adventure game - A Plague Tale: Requiem - is now officially verified on Steam Deck. Valve has bestowed a verified badge upon the critically acclaimed sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019), and the official Twitter for the series posted about that confirmation yesterday (https://twitter.com/APlagueTale/status/1650510066569576449?cxt=HHwWgoCwgaWK5ectAAAA), along with a witty tagline: "They say "keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer", so make sure to bring the rats with you wherever you go!"

A Plague Tale: Requiem has been granted "Great on Deck" status, but early user feedback indicates that the survival horror game is still not fully optimized for Steam Deck's hardware - stuttering in-game performance and crashes are being reported by early adopters. Asobo's flagship title has been quite demanding on home console systems and PCs alike - so it is not surprising that Valve's handheld is struggling through the technical showcase. Many hope that the development team will get onto optimization work, pronto.https://tpucdn.com/img/s4bSGsC9rNQ9RgWC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s4bSGsC9rNQ9RgWC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4NzGLZosFYWksjcu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4NzGLZosFYWksjcu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/v5FsrpfYG8yJAsxn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/v5FsrpfYG8yJAsxn.jpg)
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Intel Sapphire Rapids Sales Forecasted to Slow Down, Microsoft Cuts Orders
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, an industry analyst known for making accurate predictions about Apple, we have some new information regarding Intel's Sapphire Rapids Xeon processors. As Kuo notes, Intel's major Cloud Service Provider (CSP) client, Microsoft, has notified the supply chain that the company is cutting orders of Sapphire Rapids Xeons by 50-70% in the second half of 2023. Interestingly, Intel's supply chain has notified the company to cut chip orders by around 50% amidst weak server demand. This comes straight after Intel's plans to start shipping Sapphire Rapids processors in the second quarter of 2023 and deliver the highly anticipated lineup to customers.

Additionally, Kuo has stated that Intel isn't only competing for clients with AMD but also with Arm-based CPUs. Microsoft also plans to start buying Arm-based server processors made by Ampere Computing in the first half of 2024. This will reduce Microsoft's dependence on x86 architecture and induce higher competition in the market, especially if other CSPs follow.https://tpucdn.com/img/olQlW7ypJoikeWJq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/olQlW7ypJoikeWJq.jpg)

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ASUS ROG Ally Powered by AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Clocks 71 FPS in DOOM Eternal
ASUS ROG Ally, the company's handheld game console that started out as an April Fool's joke before being announced as a serious product development and ASUS's answer to the Steam Deck, is a lean-mean gaming machine powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (https://www.techpowerup.com/307758/amd-introduces-ryzen-z1-series-processors-expanding-the-zen-4-lineup-into-handheld-game-consoles) processor. Announced earlier today, the Z1 Extreme is a highly power-optimized version of the 4 nm "Phoenix" silicon that packs an 8-core/16-thread CPU based on the "Zen 4" microarchitecture, along with its full-config iGPU based on the latest RDNA3 graphics architecture, with 12 CU (768 stream processors), and an LPDDR5 memory interface.

On the ROG Ally, the Z1 Extreme is configured with a 1.70 GHz CPU clock-speed, along with a 2.10 GHz iGPU engine clock. Multiplayer Italy went hands-on with the ROG Ally, and showed off a gameplay of "DOOM Eternal," where the ROG Ally pumps out 71 FPS, with an SoC power-draw of 25.7 W, and an SoC temperature of just 56°C. ASUS and AMD are expected to give the ROG Ally the full spectrum of software-level optimizations suitable for the device, such as dynamic resolution (Radeon Boost), which should hold frame-rates above 60 FPS at all times.https://tpucdn.com/img/CtGMT0Z14n16L7r1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CtGMT0Z14n16L7r1.jpg)

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(PR) Cadence and TSMC Collaborate on N16 79 GHz mmWave Design Reference Flow to Accelerate Radar, 5G and Wireless Innovation
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. today announced that it has collaborated with TSMC to optimize the Cadence Virtuoso platform for the 79 GHz mmWave design reference flow on TSMC's N16 process. With this latest development in Cadence and TSMC's long history of collaboration, joint customers now have access to a complete 79 GHz mmWave design reference flow on the N16 process for developing optimized, highly reliable, next-generation RFIC designs for use in radar, 5G and other wireless applications for the mobile, automotive, healthcare and aerospace markets. Customers have already started using the corresponding TSMC PDKs for RFIC design work.

The Cadence RFIC solution that supports TSMC's N16 process technology features automation capabilities to help customers spend less time integrating critical RF functionality into their designs. The solution supports all aspects of RF design, including passive device modeling, assisted layout automation, block-level optimization and EM signoff simulations.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZeJIQ0TbhGvxeVcU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZeJIQ0TbhGvxeVcU.jpg)
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MSI Releases UEFI Update for its X670 and B650 Motherboards That Cuts Boot Times in Half
It seems like the long boot times that have plagued MSI's X670 and B650 motherboards might soon be nothing but a bad memory, as the company has issued UEFI updates for its motherboards that are said to cut the boot times in half. The company has added what it calls "Memory Context Restore" in the new UEFI releases, which speeds up the boot times significantly. MSI didn't provide any details as to what the feature does, but according to a post on MSI's forum, it is meant to avoid retraining of the RAM and is a feature that MSI had offered on past AMD platforms.

The chart below shows the boot times using two 16 GB DDR5-6000 modules from Kingston with EXPO and with Memory Context Restore enabled, the boot time goes from 43 to 22 seconds. The specific test system was using MSI's own MAG X670E Tomahawk WiFi motherboard, paired with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU.If you have an MSI X670 or B650 motherboard and want to take advantage of the new improved boot times, head over to MSI's website and downloaded the latest UEFI version for your motherboard.https://tpucdn.com/img/pTG8wrQHbHM8GX51_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pTG8wrQHbHM8GX51.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/a08FvWS7SPD2lUnA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/a08FvWS7SPD2lUnA.jpg)

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AOC Q24G2A QHD 24-Inch Gaming Monitor Coming to European Markets
The Q24G2A/BK is an apparent best selling model in the Chinese gaming monitor market, and AOC has decided to make its popular 23.8-inch 1440p gaming-focused screen available to European customers. It is slightly unusual for a small monitor to feature such a high pixel density (123 pixels per inch), thanks to the 2560×1440 QHD specification - but buoyant sales figures in China indicate that the region's gamers favor higher resolutions within a compact frame. AOC is now motivated enough to bring the IPS-based Q24G2A to a western audience - where tastes could be different - although there is no word about any upcoming availability in North American territories.

The western equivalent of China's popular Q24G2 model (launched in that region last year) has been updated and fitted with a pair of internal stereo speakers (rated at 2 W each), and the overall aesthetic is quite familiar - the Q24G2A/BK looks to share the same chassis (plus stand) with the cheaper/lower spec 24G2U/BK model. AOC is touting an MSRP of €249 for its European customers, and that pricing is a bit eyebrow raising - larger 27-inch IPS QHD gaming monitors sit comfortably in this price bracket. Pixel density enthusiasts could favor the smaller AOC since it beats out the twenty-seven inchers in terms of sharpness (123 vs 108 PPI). It is speculated that AOC has sourced the Q24G2A/BK's IPS-ADS panel from BOE Technology.https://tpucdn.com/img/wXnT6RFoJqXICOvL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wXnT6RFoJqXICOvL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WDhG8BZR3Bnx8biq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WDhG8BZR3Bnx8biq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XX7vbvs2m1q3E9If_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XX7vbvs2m1q3E9If.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IxrMDQ3qlaN04Wvs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IxrMDQ3qlaN04Wvs.jpg)
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NVIDIA Wants to Set Guardrails for Large Language Models Such as ChatGPT
ChatGPT has surged in popularity over a few months, and usage of this software has been regarded as one of the fastest-growing apps ever. Based on a Large Language Model (LLM) called GPT-3.5/4, ChatGPT uses user input to form answers based on its extensive database used in the training process. Having billions of parameters, the GPT models used for GPT can give precise answers; however, sometimes, these models hallucinate. Given a question about a non-existing topic/subject, ChatGPT can induce hallucination and make up the information. To prevent these hallucinations, NVIDIA, the maker of GPUs used for training and inferencing LLMs, has released a software library to put AI in place, called NeMo Guardrails.

As the NVIDIA repository states: "NeMo Guardrails is an open-source toolkit for easily adding programmable guardrails to LLM-based conversational systems. Guardrails (or "rails" for short) are specific ways of controlling the output of a large language model, such as not talking about politics, responding in a particular way to specific user requests, following a predefined dialog path, using a particular language style, extracting structured data, and more." These guardrails are easily programmable and can stop LLMs from outputting unwanted content. For a company that invests heavily in the hardware and software landscape, this launch is a logical decision to keep the lead in setting the infrastructure for future LLM-based applications.https://tpucdn.com/img/aK6jV0Q4JEIjljlh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aK6jV0Q4JEIjljlh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RnBotl3KQyYbaYQn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RnBotl3KQyYbaYQn.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Following the release of the company's first headset officially licensed by PlayStation, the GXT 488 Forze for PS4, in 2020; Leading digital lifestyle accessories brand, Trust Electronics Ltd, today announces the brand new GXT 498 Forta Gaming Headset for PS5 consoles. Officially licensed for PS5 consoles, the Forta is well and truly a new generation headset for this top-of-the-range console. The Trust Forta Wired is available in Black and White from Smyths Toys and Very for £39.99.

Following in the footsteps of the Forze headset, which was the #1 best sold gaming headset along with receiving an average of 4.4 star reviews by end consumers†; the Forta marks an exciting new addition to Trust Gaming's portfolio. Specifically designed to work with PS5 consoles, the headset not only matches gamer's favourite consoles in style, but has unique features which provide them with their best gaming experience yet.https://tpucdn.com/img/EWkAyvWRtuLNYweP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EWkAyvWRtuLNYweP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ETG3Gw2lOupsFN7S_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ETG3Gw2lOupsFN7S.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SLFnQRYrAC0Ls8f6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SLFnQRYrAC0Ls8f6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pfF7LYk3uKbdxTtQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pfF7LYk3uKbdxTtQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SrB98FIvCeCLh3Bi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SrB98FIvCeCLh3Bi.jpg)
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(PR) AMD Introduces Ryzen Z1 Series Processors, Expanding the "Zen 4" Lineup into Handheld Game Consoles
Today, AMD introduced the new Ryzen Z1 Series processors, the ultimate high-performance processor for handheld PC gaming consoles. The Ryzen Z1 Series features two high performance processors, the Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme, both offering industry-leading gaming experiences, uncompromising battery life, and featuring AMD RDNA 3 architecture-based graphics. AMD is partnering with Asus to launch the first Ryzen Z1 Series device with the Asus ROG Ally, a premium handheld PC console, featuring up to a Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor.

"At AMD, we're continually advancing the next generation of gaming experiences, from consoles to desktops to on-the-go handheld devices," said Jason Banta, corporate vice president and general manager, Client OEM at AMD. "Ryzen Z1 processors deliver gamers an elite gaming experience and extreme portability in exciting gaming form factors."https://tpucdn.com/img/493bZvZtfE31b8vR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/493bZvZtfE31b8vR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HMvSyMIVHvWfMrmk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HMvSyMIVHvWfMrmk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/V7E90NCZ7ow6QAvv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V7E90NCZ7ow6QAvv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BejixgENdVtY6d6u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BejixgENdVtY6d6u.jpg)
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(PR) CORSAIR Launches MP600 Mini and MP600 Core XT M.2 NVMe SSDs
CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast components for gamers, creators, and PC builders, today announced the launch of two new PCIe Gen 4 M.2 Solid State Drives—the MP600 MINI and the MP600 CORE XT. These drives extend the CORSAIR SSD range to an ultra-compact M.2 2230 form factor, and a new highly competitive combination of price and performance, allowing a new wave of device upgrades.

The MP600 MINI brings CORSAIR M.2 SSD performance to its smallest ever size, with the M.2 2230 form factor measuring just 22 mm x 30 mm. The MP600 MINI is compatible with popular handheld gaming systems, such as the Valve Steam Deck, as well as thin and light machines where space is at a premium, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and 9. With an impressive 1 TB of capacity and PCIe Gen 4 performance of up to 4,800 MB/sec read and 4,800 MB/sec write, the MP600 MINI is an ideal performance and storage upgrade for data hungry small-form-factor devices, whether it's to store a growing game collection, or essential files.https://tpucdn.com/img/1pylMhGCLdYdZBW1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1pylMhGCLdYdZBW1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rpTx1pJydPU41oE5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rpTx1pJydPU41oE5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1yesWW8qlh31q40W_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1yesWW8qlh31q40W.jpg)
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(PR) Samsung and Microsoft Open Free-to-Play Gaming Zones in New York, London
Samsung Electronics introduced a new free-to-play "Gaming Zone" with Samsung screens in collaboration with Xbox at Microsoft Experience Centers (MEC) in London and New York. In June of 2022, Microsoft's Xbox joined Samsung Gaming Hub, the world's first smart TV platform to include the Xbox App on Smart TVs. With this partnership, Samsung Gaming Hub users are now able to stream over 100 high-quality games through the Xbox App by subscribing to "Xbox Game Pass."

To bring the experience to more gamers, Samsung Electronics has teamed up with Microsoft to introduce a dedicated space where gamers can play their favorite Xbox games on the Samsung Gaming Hub. Multiple Samsung Smart TVs and gaming monitors have been installed in the MEC to provide an exciting and unique gaming experience. The Gaming Zone in both London and New York City across the Microsoft Experience Centers on Regent Street and Fifth Avenue, now have three dedicated gaming areas incorporating a wide range of Samsung gaming screens for everyone to enjoy - either as a seasoned gamer or those new to cloud gaming.https://tpucdn.com/img/muhTVt1XIwMMrs9X_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/muhTVt1XIwMMrs9X.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Smp30Ckqid0u3562_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Smp30Ckqid0u3562.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/d9CmmEcsgzm7thFC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/d9CmmEcsgzm7thFC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ktQTccYmevooIgKu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ktQTccYmevooIgKu.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD today released the latest version of its Adrenalin drivers. Version 23.4.3 WHQL comes with optimization for "Star Wars: Jedi Survivor." It also comes with fixes for display corruption in "World War Z: Aftermath" when using the Vulkan API; and longer than expected shader compilation times with "The Last of Us: Part 1." AMD has disabled the Factory Reset feature in the installer to fix issues noticed during PC upgrades. In the meantime, AMD recommends using the AMD Cleanup Utility during PC upgrades. Some glaring bugs with "Hogwarts Legacy" with Radeon RX 580 "Polaris" are being addressed with the developer.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 23.4.3 WHQL (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/amd-radeon-graphics-drivers/)https://tpucdn.com/img/Zpp25mOgge1EXygx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Zpp25mOgge1EXygx.jpg)
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(PR) CORSAIR Announces Multi-Year Partnership With Top Gaming Streamer NICKMERCS
CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gear for gamers and content creators, today announced a multi-year partnership with world-famous gaming streamer Nick "NICKMERCS" Kolcheff. One of gaming's most recognizable personalities and Twitch's most subscribed gamer playing competitive, modern titles, NICKMERCS and his loyal MFAM community consistently deliver high-energy streams and engaging content for fans around the world.

Extending across all of CORSAIR's sub brands, the partnership will see NICKMERCS play and stream exclusively using performance gaming gear from CORSAIR, elite controllers from SCUF GAMING, streaming hardware from Elgato and gaming PCs from Origin PC. The partnership goes far beyond hardware exclusivity though, with substantial collaboration in new product development, merchandising, and community activations.https://tpucdn.com/img/sYZTcqJwzAy3WM4y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sYZTcqJwzAy3WM4y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8P3UBHfpZRFMjtmx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8P3UBHfpZRFMjtmx.jpg)
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(PR) Exascend Launches Industrial-Grade SD and MicroSD Cards
Exascend, Inc., a leading provider of custom flash storage solutions, announces its latest SD300 series industrial-grade SD and microSD cards, designed to meet the increasing storage demands of the internet of things (IoT) and edge applications. Built with 176-layer 3D TLC NAND technology and ruggedized for harsh environments, the compact and removable storage solutions are ideal for edge IoT applications such as gateways, industrial drones, factory robots, surveillance cameras and infotainment systems.

Exascend's SD300 series features proprietary hardware and firmware designs, allowing it to operate in a wide temperature range of -40°C to 85°C and resist shock, vibration, and humidity. With a mean time to failure of two million hours, the SD300 memory cards are built to handle significant workloads, incorporating advanced technologies such as LDPC ECC, wear leveling, and pseudo SLC (specifically for 8- and 16-GB cards) to deliver sustained performance, low storage latency, and high endurance. Additionally, the SD300 comes equipped with a SMART (self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology) tool that helps monitor card health status and ensure reliable operation.https://tpucdn.com/img/kN0zWj8QdLWfuP4f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kN0zWj8QdLWfuP4f.jpg)
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(PR) Intel Reports First-Quarter 2023 Financial Results: Client and Server Businesses Down 38-39% Each
Intel Corporation today reported first-quarter 2023 financial results. "We delivered solid first-quarter results, representing steady progress with our transformation," said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO. "We hit key execution milestones in our data center roadmap and demonstrated the health of the process technology underpinning it. While we remain cautious on the macroeconomic outlook, we are focused on what we can control as we deliver on IDM 2.0: driving consistent execution across process and product roadmaps and advancing our foundry business to best position us to capitalize on the $1 trillion market opportunity ahead."

David Zinsner, Intel CFO, said, "We exceeded our first-quarter expectations on the top and bottom line, and continued to be disciplined on expense management as part of our commitment to drive efficiencies and cost savings. At the same time, we are prioritizing the investments needed to advance our strategy and establish an internal foundry model, one of the most consequential steps we are taking to deliver on IDM 2.0."https://tpucdn.com/img/UaA0sJvMKKlqz4ZU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UaA0sJvMKKlqz4ZU.jpg)
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AYANEO 2S Revealed, Packs Ryzen 7 7840U With Improved Cooling
AYANEO hosted a product showcase stream on their YouTube channel which went deep into the technical details of their upcoming AYANEO 2S refresh to last year's AYANEO 2. The new handheld console features some major improvements under the hood which include AMD's Ryzen 7 7840U with Radeon 780M graphics, LPDDR5X-7500 and a cooling system redesign. The Ryzen 7 7840U is similar to the recently announced Ryzen Z1 Extreme that the ASUS ROG Ally can be equipped with, both SoCs bringing 8 "Zen 4" cores and a 12CU RDNA3 graphics engine down to a TDP of 15 W. The cooling system for this SoC has been upgraded to a triple heatpipe array soldered to a copper heatspreader which AYANEO is dubbing their "3+1" cooling design. They claim the new design drops SoC load temperatures by as much as 11.6C, and that it has 33% more surface area compared to the previous generation AYANEO 2. AYANEO also claims optimizations to the fit and finish with the body and trigger assemblies being improved to better fit the hand as well as aid in ease of disassembly. Other specifications have remained mostly unchanged such as the 7-inch 1920x1200 IPS display, 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB base configuration SSD.https://tpucdn.com/img/lprlY1kRcEB5Llkl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lprlY1kRcEB5Llkl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JNtnHvbACL6cvOsp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JNtnHvbACL6cvOsp.jpg)
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Bethesda Reveals Redfall's Official PC Hardware Requirements, NVIDIA Releases Exclusive Launch Trailer
With the launch of Redfall set for early next week, Bethesda has kindly provided some prepwork to consider in advance - a breakdown of the crossover shooter's PC specification requirements (minimum, recommended and ultra) as well as all available accessibility settings and options (https://bethesda.net/en/article/4qBx10FCug76XKXxPID0No/redfall-accessibility-guide). They fail to mention any resolution or framerate targets, so it will be up to PC gamers to investigate the nitty-gritty numbers on the day of Redfall's release (May 2). As part of the whole promo campaign (https://www.techpowerup.com/305968/nvidia-promo-material-emerges-for-upcoming-offer-of-geforce-rtx-40-series-and-redfall-bundle) NVIDIA has decided to unleash a gameplay trailer (see below) of the game running on a high end PC fitted with a (presumed) high-end GeForce RTX 40-series graphics card.

Redfall's PC audience will get to flex their graphical muscles more so when compared to unfortunate current gen Xbox owners - Bethesda and developer Arkane Studios have recently admitted that their supernatural shooter will be restricted to 30 FPS Quality Mode (https://www.techpowerup.com/307158/redfall-graphics-performance-restricted-to-30-fps-quality-mode-on-xbox-series-x-s-at-launch) on Series X and S consoles at launch. A higher framerate performance mode is promised in the future - via a game update - but the Microsoft-owned publisher has not set a more specific release window for the upgrade. The middle and high-tier specifications on PC seem to be quite reasonable, so Redfall is not expected to be a stuttering mess on arrival.https://tpucdn.com/img/5DSmVCGecSjbpIFl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5DSmVCGecSjbpIFl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IoVQhhmOB6tGkzKz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IoVQhhmOB6tGkzKz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tWDfyq5YQzrZmwdR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tWDfyq5YQzrZmwdR.jpg)
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Intel Announces Deepak Patil as New Leader of GPU Division
Intel has appointed Deepak Patil as the new corporate vice president and general manager of its Accelerated Computing Systems and Graphics (AXG) group. Patil is set to succeed Raja Koduri in this leadership role - company CEO Pat Gelsinger was the first person to announce news (last month) of Koduri's departure from Intel (https://www.techpowerup.com/306229/raja-koduri-executive-vice-president-chief-architect-leaves-intel). At the time of his leaving Team Blue, Koduri's official job title was "Executive Vice President and Chief Architect" so the wording of his successor's executive ranking is slightly different. Patil is the current chief technology and strategy officer at the Intel Data Center and AI Group, and was previously senior vice president at Dell APEX USA. He will be taking over directly from interim AXG division leader Jeff McVeigh.

The official Intel statement regarding its new leadership appointment states: "Intel will deliver competitive accelerated computing products and build scalable systems with easy-to-program software on a predictable cadence. Deepak Patil will serve as the CVP and General Manager of the Accelerated Computing Systems and Graphics (AXG) group. Deepak recently held the position of DCAI Chief Technology and Strategy Officer. Having held senior engineering leadership positions across the high-tech industry, including being a founding member of Microsoft Azure and leading Dell's APEX as-a-service business, he understands the important role that software and open ecosystems play in enabling application developers and service providers to bring innovative solutions to market, at scale."https://tpucdn.com/img/nkBJD40aT9UnfNxy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nkBJD40aT9UnfNxy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MHLoR8CpSphUNitl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MHLoR8CpSphUNitl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8wrXVkKIVFiD2B90_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8wrXVkKIVFiD2B90.jpg)
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(PR) Bandai Namco Debuts Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Gameplay Footage
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, the latest high-octane action game by FromSoftware, Inc. and Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. will release globally on August 25. Combining the 25 years of experience developing the ARMORED CORE franchise and action games in the Elden Ring, and Dark Souls franchise, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is full of mech action, including fast-paced battles, in-depth customization, and thrilling boss fights. The game is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, and is now available to pre-order at participating retailers and on Bandai Namco Store.

A mysterious new substance called "Coral" was discovered on the remote planet, Rubicon 3. As an energy source, this substance was expected to dramatically advance humanity's technological and communications capabilities. Instead, it caused a catastrophe that engulfed the planet and the surrounding stars in flames and storms, forming a Burning Star System. Almost half a century later, Coral has resurfaced on Rubicon 3, a planet now contaminated and sealed off by the catastrophe. Extra-terrestrial corporations and resistance groups fight over control of the substance. The player infiltrates Rubicon as an independent mercenary and finds themselves in a struggle over the substance with the corporations and other factions.https://tpucdn.com/img/ydm4r3tkVonRvfnd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ydm4r3tkVonRvfnd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fBfMDaLsFeyF3AYh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fBfMDaLsFeyF3AYh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DRDstQzwb5GrPG9n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DRDstQzwb5GrPG9n.jpg)
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AMD Releases Second Official Statement Regarding Ryzen 7000X3D Issues
AMD has today released another statement to the press, following on from controversy surrounding faulty Ryzen 7000X3D series processors - unlucky users are reporting hardware burnouts resulting from voltage-assisted overclocking. TPU has provided coverage of this matter this week, and made light of AMD's first statement yesterday (https://www.techpowerup.com/307808/amd-releases-first-statement-on-ryzen-7000x3d-series-burn-out-issues). AMD ensures customers that it has fully informed ODM partners (motherboard manufacturers) about up-to-date and correct voltages for the Ryzen processor family - yet user feedback (via online hardware discussions) suggests that standard Ryzen 7000 models are also being affected by the burnout issue - this side topic has not been addressed by AMD (at the time of writing). This second statement repeats the previous one's recommendation that affected users should absolutely make contact with AMD Support personnel:
AMD Statement"We have root caused the issue and have already distributed a new AGESA that puts measures in place on certain power rails on AM5 motherboards to prevent the CPU from operating beyond its specification limits, including a cap on SOC voltage at 1.3 V. None of these changes affect the ability of our Ryzen 7000 Series processors to overclock memory using EXPO or XMP kits or boost performance using PBO technology. We expect all of our ODM partners to release new BIOS for their AM5 boards over the next few days. We recommend all users to check their motherboard manufacturers website and update their BIOS to ensure their system has the most up to date software for their processor.

Anyone whose CPU may have been impacted by this issue should contact AMD customer support (https://www.amd.com/en/support/contact-email-form). Our customer service team is aware of the situation and prioritizing these cases."https://tpucdn.com/img/szKJjwdozdRLgC34_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/szKJjwdozdRLgC34.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TURhKh6ERcu8KYKA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TURhKh6ERcu8KYKA.jpg)
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(PR) Bosch Plans to Acquire U.S. Chipmaker TSI Semiconductors
Bosch is expanding its semiconductor business with silicon carbide chips. The technology company plans to acquire assets of the U.S. chipmaker TSI Semiconductors, based in Roseville, California. With a workforce of 250, the company is a foundry for application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs. Currently, it mainly develops and produces large volumes of chips on 200-millimeter silicon wafers for applications in the mobility, telecommunications, energy, and life sciences industries. Over the next years, Bosch intends to invest more than 1.5 billion USD in the Roseville site and convert the TSI Semiconductors manufacturing facilities to state-of-the-art processes. Starting in 2026, the first chips will be produced on 200-millimeter wafers based on the innovative material silicon carbide (SiC).

In this way, Bosch is systematically reinforcing its semiconductor business, and will have significantly extended its global portfolio of SiC chips by the end of 2030. Above all, the global boom and ramp-up of electromobility are resulting in huge demand for such special semiconductors. The full scope of the planned investment will be heavily dependent on federal funding opportunities available via the CHIPS and Science Act as well as economic development opportunities within the State of California. Bosch and TSI Semiconductors have reached an agreement to not to disclose any financial details of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval.https://tpucdn.com/img/QL3eWTm8X0J9BO8m_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QL3eWTm8X0J9BO8m.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Facebook's parent company, Meta, has announced that revenues generated by advertisement sales have improved fortunes, following on from three quarters of consistent slumps. It has reported an operating profit of $5.7 billion for the first quarter of 2023, this announcement arrives as a surprise to business analysts - their calculations predicted yet another decline in advertising sales for Q1 '23. Mark Zuckerberg - co-founder, executive chairman and CEO of Meta Platforms - has informed his investors that artificial intelligence-assisted systems have directed more user traffic to its social media platforms. Reels and Instagram have experienced the most user population growth, thanks to Meta's AI-driven recommendation system boosting engagement by 24% for the latter platform. The company's leader stated that AI-related operations are set to expand into generative tasking, visual creation tools (for Instagram) and business chatbots.

Meta is continuing to streamline its operations in 2023 - Zuckerberg has previously outlined plans for a year of "efficiency" with extensive plans already underway to reduce company-wide headcounts. 10,000 positions are set to be cut this year, and press coverage from last week revealed that Meta's gaming divisions being hit hard (https://www.techpowerup.com/307620/meta-layoff-phase-hits-vr-studio-ready-at-dawn-one-third-of-staff-reportedly-released-from-duty) in terms of layoffs. Reports suggest that a third of the team at Ready at Dawn, an Oculus Rift-oriented development studio, were let go throughout that period. The social media and technology let go of 13,000 employees last year due to reduced profits margins. A return to better fortunes has not resulted in an immediate slowdown of headcount reduction - Meta is expected to carry on implementing its 2023 efficiency initiative.https://tpucdn.com/img/hSpdwAOKE2lqYdxF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hSpdwAOKE2lqYdxF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZlIqYgdaldrN4IU1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZlIqYgdaldrN4IU1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VIU6gNe15LzAVqDn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VIU6gNe15LzAVqDn.jpg)

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(PR) Razer Announces the 2023 BlackShark V2 Pro Gaming Headset
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today proudly unveiled the 2023 update to their most popular esports headset, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro. This ultimate wireless headset is optimized for performance with cutting-edge audio, durable comfort, and ultra-fast connectivity. Boasting a new innovative Razer HyperClear Super Wideband Mic, built-in Pro-Tuned FPS Profiles, 70-hour battery life, Type C charging capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, and more, the enhanced 2023 BlackShark V2 Pro has been designed in collaboration with some of the world's top esports players, including Hakis (Alliance), Shotzzy (OpTic Gaming), Dexter (MOUZ), Refsgaard (Ninjas in Pyjamas), & Stax (DRX).

"The iconic BlackShark headset is a longtime staple among esports pros and gamers for a reason," said Barrie Ooi, Head of Razer's PC Gaming Division. "And for this new version, we worked closely with pro gamers and embraced our 'For Gamers. By Gamers' philosophy to further refine the fundamentals of an esports class headset while introducing upgrades that we know gamers are looking for."https://tpucdn.com/img/BHDtTnIhLGlESHkk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BHDtTnIhLGlESHkk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ShkC02Mlf1axuLWw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ShkC02Mlf1axuLWw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TyK2HOEAVkKJYGd9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TyK2HOEAVkKJYGd9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/75YzPBcpO90QbVB2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/75YzPBcpO90QbVB2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/K5SgV0GG3Elfj4ZB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/K5SgV0GG3Elfj4ZB.jpg)
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(PR) Patriot Announces Release of V90 SDXC UHS-II U3 Class 10 SD Card
PATRIOT, a global leader in performance memory, SSDs, and flash storage solutions, is proud to launch its newest high-performance SD line with the V90 SDXC UHS-II U3 Class 10 SD Card, built for professional photographers and digital filmmakers.

The Patriot V90 features optimized performance to support 4K/8K Ultra-HD shots, high-speed burst mode shots, and best-quality video recording with quick read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of up to 260 MB/s. In addition, the Patriot V90 is designed and tested for top-class durability to withstand the toughest conditions, with a waterproof, shockproof, temperature-proof, and dustproof exterior to protect critical visual captures. The Patriot V90 is now available at major retailers worldwide with capacities of 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.https://tpucdn.com/img/gicEolw4Dp4vjnrf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gicEolw4Dp4vjnrf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/c3iBCufQ26QDtsKr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/c3iBCufQ26QDtsKr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IyKqYrL3lwdNsikw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IyKqYrL3lwdNsikw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Lpigji490gp0iXvJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Lpigji490gp0iXvJ.jpg)
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(PR) Age of Wonders 4 Arriving Next Week, Paradox Interactive Urges Fans to Pre-Order
A brand new Age of Wonders is almost here! The newest installment in the iconic fantasy strategy game series from Triumph Studios, Age of Wonders 4, will launch on May 2, 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Rule a Fantasy Realm of your Own Design! Powerful Wizard Kings have returned to the realms to reign as gods among mortals. Claim and master the Tomes of Magic to evolve your people, and prepare for an epic battle that will determine the ages to come. Explore new magical realms in Age of Wonders' signature blend of 4X strategy and turn-based tactical combat. Control a faction that grows and changes as you expand your empire with each turn. Experience an endlessly replayable experience, where each game adds a new chapter to your ever-growing saga.

Aric Rex Ruler & Athlan Imperial Armour Set
Rulers! We are happy to announce that Age of Wonders 4 is finally available for pre-order on all supported platforms. Don't miss the chance to rule a fantasy realm of your own design! Pre-order (https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/games/age-of-wonders-4/about?_gl=1*1nve6yk*_up*MQ..*_ga*MzE4Mzc5MTg1LjE2ODI2MDkyMjY.*_ga_31BKSB2CWS*MTY4MjYwOTIyNi4xLjAuMTY 4MjYwOTIyNi4wLjAuMA..) today to claim an additional ruler and armor set: Aric Rex, a Tigran High King, and his elegant Lion Plate armor, Imperial Cape and Athlan Crown. The game now is available in two editions: Standard and Premium, which includes an Expansion pass. Regardless of which edition you buy, a special pre-order bonus will be waiting for you in the game after the release.https://tpucdn.com/img/5Sm6Py9dklmQeyvf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5Sm6Py9dklmQeyvf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/c6pCxr07Bmc6qeyD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/c6pCxr07Bmc6qeyD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vl9GKKXnw3q2n1T3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vl9GKKXnw3q2n1T3.jpg)
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Microsoft Boss Continues Tirade Against UK Market Regulator, Following Blocking of Activision Blizzard Takeover
Brad Smith, vice chair and president at Microsoft has been doing the rounds with the UK press, and the incensed executive continues to express anger about the nation's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) preventing his company's proposed buyout of Activision Blizzard. The UK antitrust watchdog yesterday blocked the deal on the grounds that a merging of (already massive) games publishers could result in a potentially catastrophic skew in Microsoft's favor within the fast growing cloud gaming market sector. The CMA's latest findings suggest that the takeover would "lead to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come." This verdict comes as a major blow to Microsoft's gaming division following a number of victories - including Japan's competition regulator approving (https://www.techpowerup.com/306599/japans-competition-regulator-approves-microsofts-activision-blizzard-buyout) the takeover bid late last month. The company's gaming division (Xbox Game Studios) is awaiting verdicts from the EU commission and US Federal Trade Commission.

In a business-themed podcast (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lbd3) interview (conducted by the BBC), Microsoft boss Brad Smith declared that the UK government's blocking of the merger represented a bad move "for Britain" in terms of attracting international business. Microsoft has been operating in country for four decades, and Smith casts doubt on that relationship - in his opinion - the mega corporation has experienced its "darkest day" in the region: "It does more than shake our confidence in the future of the opportunity to grow a technology business in Britain than we've ever confronted before. People are shocked, people are disappointed, and people's confidence in technology in the UK has been severely shaken." Smith insists that fledgling companies should look elsewhere to start a base of operations: "There's a clear message here - the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom."https://tpucdn.com/img/epYto7As9DHGLPGl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/epYto7As9DHGLPGl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XLedn2iCwyP6koMn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XLedn2iCwyP6koMn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/petR5btqrO5ROyXR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/petR5btqrO5ROyXR.jpg)
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SK Hynix Believes the Memory Chip Market Has Hit Rock Bottom
Yesterday SK Hynix reported its Q1 2023 results (https://www.techpowerup.com/307782/sk-hynix-reports-first-quarter-2023-financial-results) and to say that they were abysmal is being kind, as the company reported a 3.4 trillion won operating loss, or just over US$2.5 billion. That's no small hit to take for any company, especially when it's only the performance for a single quarter. However, SK Hynix is apparently trying to see its situation from a positive perspective and believes that the memory chip market will rebound in the second half of this year. The positive outlook isn't just based on what SK Hynix believes though, as various analysts and securities companies believe in an upswing in the second half of the year.

That said, Micron, one of SK Hynix main competitors, has a more drab outlook for the remainder of 2023 and is expecting a tough year ahead. SK Hynix is expecting production cuts by itself, Micron and Samsung to start to take effect sometime in the second quarter this year, which should see inventory drop to more normal levels for all three companies. SK Hynix is also expecting to see a higher demand for DDR5 DRAM later this year, especially in the mobile and server market space. Finally, SK Hynix is hoping that its customers will buy higher density memory products this year, replacing older, lower density solutions, be that DRAM or NAND flash related. SK Hynix is expecting to launch its Gen 5 10 nm DRAM and 238-layer NAND sometime next year, which the company is also hoping will bring more income to its coffers, but the company still has to make it through the rest of 2023 first.https://tpucdn.com/img/y4G1mC0IaTBVtCrO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y4G1mC0IaTBVtCrO.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS today unveiled the TUF Gaming A620-PRO WiFi, a Socket AM5 motherboard based on the entry-level AMD A620 chipset. When ASUS debuted its A620 motherboard lineup, it lacked a product in the ATX form-factor, and its top motherboard model at the time was the Micro-ATX TUF Gaming A620M-Plus WiFi. The new A620-PRO WiFi is feature-packed, and looks like a product from a segment above. It draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, and 8+4 pin EPS, and although you don't get CPU overclocking support with this chipset, there's plenty of CPU power delivery for even 12-core and 16-core processors. A 13-phase VRM conditions power for the processor.

The Socket AM5 is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, and two CPU-attached M.2 NVMe slots, each with PCI-Express 4.0 x4 wiring. A PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot (electrical Gen 3 x2), and two Gen 3 x1 slots wired to the A620 FCH, make for the rest of the expansion feature-set. Besides the CPU-attached M.2 NVMe slots, you get four SATA 6 Gbps ports from the A620 chipset for storage. Display connectivity includes a DisplayPort and HDMI. Networking connectivity consists of a 2.5 GbE wired Ethernet driven by a Realtek 8125 series controller; and 802.11ax (WiFi 6), with Bluetooth 5.3 (possibly an Intel WLAN module). USB ports include two 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A, two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A and type-C, and four 5 Gbps ports via two internal USB 3.2 headers or internal ports, besides a handful USB 2.0 headers. The onboard audio solution is driven by an entry-level Realtek ALC892 CODEC, with 7.1-channel analog jacks. The motherboard offers USB BIOS Flashback. The company didn't reveal pricing.https://tpucdn.com/img/XRwfzOGHyrF08IGB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XRwfzOGHyrF08IGB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HdkO71VUfyKxo0lb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HdkO71VUfyKxo0lb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6jBRSXxjIK0UPZ7M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6jBRSXxjIK0UPZ7M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VTs2y9PVN4tLaGCK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VTs2y9PVN4tLaGCK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cLPNn2P443N9jLR8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cLPNn2P443N9jLR8.jpg)

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(PR) GeForce NOW Gets Nine New Games, Including Resident Evil Titles
Horror descends from the cloud this GFN Thursday with the arrival of publisher Capcom's iconic Resident Evil series. They're part of nine new games expanding the GeForce NOW library of over 1,600 titles.

New RTX 4080 SuperPODs are now live in Miami, Portland, Ore., and Stockholm. Follow along with the server rollout process, and make the Ultimate upgrade for unbeatable cloud gaming performance. The Resident Evil series makes its debut on GeForce NOW with Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.https://tpucdn.com/img/JFZDamA2ocgTcr0E_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JFZDamA2ocgTcr0E.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kiLTGKwOq33tHWUJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kiLTGKwOq33tHWUJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/j7ANHtdZNKmd9MwG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j7ANHtdZNKmd9MwG.jpg)
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Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4335 Released
Intel today released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.4335 Beta comes with optimization for "Star Wars: Jedi Survivor," "The Swordsmen X: Survival," and "Redfall." There are no new issues fixed with this release of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, but the company identified a number of issues spanning its Arc discrete GPUs, Iris Xe MAX discrete GPUs, and the iGPUs powering Intel Core processors (11th Gen onward). Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4335 beta (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/intel-arc-graphics-drivers/)https://tpucdn.com/img/u1UMVWOXmsJXOI7M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/u1UMVWOXmsJXOI7M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HxfiGEmIy1OVV4Ud_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HxfiGEmIy1OVV4Ud.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/h3nXMCvLQB3k4wGB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/h3nXMCvLQB3k4wGB.jpg)
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(PR) TSMC Certifies Ansys Multiphysics Solutions for TSMC's N2 Silicon Process
Ansys and TSMC continue their long-standing technology collaboration to announce the certification of Ansys' power integrity software for TSMC's N2 process technology. The TSMC N2 process, which adopts nanosheet transistor structure, represents a major advancement in semiconductor technology with significant speed and power advantages for high performance computing (HPC), mobile chips, and 3D-IC chiplets. Both Ansys RedHawk-SC and Ansys Totem are certified for power integrity signoff on N2, including the effects of self-heat on long-term reliability of wires and transistors. This latest collaboration builds on the recent certification of the Ansys platform for TSMC's N4 and N3E FinFLEX processes.

"TSMC works closely with our Open Innovation Platform (OIP) ecosystem partners to help our mutual customers achieve the best design results with the full stack of design solutions on TSMC's most advanced N2 process," said Dan Kochpatcharin, head of the Design Infrastructure Management Division at TSMC. "Our latest collaboration with Ansys RedHawk-SC and Totem analysis tools allows our customers to benefit from the significant power and performance improvements of our N2 technology while ensuring predictively accurate power and thermal signoff for the long-term reliability of their designs."https://tpucdn.com/img/Bvqk3YGjPtKQbGW5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Bvqk3YGjPtKQbGW5.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

As market share of Apple's ARM based Mac computers has increased, so too have efforts to compromise them by previously uninterested hacker groups. A recent string of malware created specifically for macOS has shown that these groups are turning their gaze toward the generally well protected Mac ecosystem. One of these new malware threats, discovered by Jamf Threat Labs and dubbed 'RustBucket,' acts as a simple third-party PDF viewer. The application itself does nothing malicious until a specific PDF is opened which includes an encoded key that triggers a connection to be made between the attacker's server and the victim's Mac, and a small malicious payload to be downloaded. The initial payload begins running system recon commands to determine the machine information, and then downloads a third stage payload which gives the attackers further access to the underlying operating system. All stages after the user opens the PDF are run silently in the background. The PDF viewer used as the catalyst for this hack does require manually overriding Apple's Gatekeeper as it carries no signature, so the obvious step to mitigate this attack is to not use third-party apps or services aside from those curated on Apple's App Store.

The second macOS malware of the week was discovered by Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs (CRIL) being offered for a paltry $1,000 USD per month on a Telegram channel, with the malware going by the name "Atomic macOS Stealer" or "AMOS." This malware has capabilities to scrape keychain passwords, system information, files from the desktop and documents folders, the macOS user password, browser auto-fills, passwords, cookies, wallets, and stored credit card info. The malware is especially adapted to go after cryptowallets with Cyble citing examples such as Electrum, Binance, Exodus, Atomic, and Coinomi. Cyble notes that they've seen the malware receiving active development to improve its capabilities and the threat actors even offering management software and web panels for keeping track of victimized machines, all with a logging system that dumps to Telegram. The current attack vector is a simple Golang.dmg file which installs the malware, so this does appear to require direct machine access. However once installed, "AMOS" does its handiwork without detection and sends a compressed file off to the attacker's server with all the information it collected.https://tpucdn.com/img/oHATBFLUlTddkhMZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oHATBFLUlTddkhMZ.jpg)

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(PR) Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded Gets Super Duper Update, Free Trial on Steam This Weekend
The Grounded team is excited to bring Update 1.2.0 to the community this week. Rightfully titled The Super Duper update, this massive update brings with it many quality-of-life changes, more than a hundred new items to craft, a brand new Base Coziness feature, and wasps, a new terrifying creature to fight. But first, let's dive into the Super Duper… an item duplication machine!

THE SUPER DUPER UPDATE
Item Duplication - The Super Duper is a new piece of equipment installed in the Oak Lab. Players will find the Super Duper machine the next time they visit BURG.L! This machine will allow players to duplicate specific equipment and items using Raw Science. To use the Super Duper, players must locate Duper Discs throughout the yard. The first disc unlocks operation of the machine, while the other discs grant the player the ability to unlock duping of higher-tier equipment and items. It can even duplicate trinkets, unique items, and upgrade stones. Making this even more helpful for players, any item duplicated will include all of the item's Smithing upgrades, saving a lot of time for when you and your friends need to gear up quickly and get back to adventuring.https://tpucdn.com/img/T6ia30YbDoIxNiv2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/T6ia30YbDoIxNiv2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PBA0FX6jG7Mx6X3l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PBA0FX6jG7Mx6X3l.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bbGXe0l2v35GoTJn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bbGXe0l2v35GoTJn.jpg)
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AMD Marketing Highlights Sub-$500 Pricing of 16 GB Radeon GPUs
AMD's marketing department this week continued its battle to outwit arch rival NVIDIA in GPU VRAM pricing wars - Sasa Marinkovic, a senior director at Team Red's gaming promotion department, tweeted out a simple and concise statement yesterday: "Our @amdradeon (https://twitter.com/amdradeon) 16 GB gaming experience starts at $499." He included a helpful chart that lines up part of the AMD Radeon GPU range against a couple of hand-picked NVIDIA GeForce RTX cards, with emphasis on comparing pricing and respective allotments of VRAM. The infographic indicates AMD's first official declaration of the (last generation "Big Navi" architecture) RX 6800 GPU bottoming out at $499, an all time low, as well as hefty cut affecting the old range topping RX 6950 XT - now available for $649 (an ASRock version is going for $599 at the moment (https://www.newegg.com/asrock-radeon-rx-6950-xt-rx6950xt-pg-16go/p/N82E16814930088)). The RX 6800 XT sits in-between at $579, but it is curious that the RX 6900 XT did not get a slot on the chart.

AMD's latest play against NVIDIA in the video memory size stake is nothing really new - earlier this month (https://www.techpowerup.com/307110/amd-plays-the-vram-card-against-nvidia) it encouraged potential customers to select one of its pricey current generation RX 7900 XT or XTX GPUs. The main reason being that the hefty Radeon cards pack more onboard VRAM than equivalent GeForce RTX models - namely the 4070 Ti and 4080 - therefore future-proofed for increasingly memory hungry games. The latest batch of marketing did not account for board partner variants of the (RDNA3-based) RX 7900 XT GPU selling for as low as $762 this week (https://www.techpowerup.com/307786/amd-radeon-rx-7900-xt-price-cuts-continue-now-as-low-as-usd-762).https://tpucdn.com/img/kMa7x8LdDZWCMcCZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kMa7x8LdDZWCMcCZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hKLB7PMO0pCjZ7gX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hKLB7PMO0pCjZ7gX.jpg)https://tpucdn.com/img/eSwmlOkCXCc33arH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eSwmlOkCXCc33arH.jpg)
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(PR) Grim Fantasy Adventure "Bramble: The Mountain King" Out Now on PC and Consoles
Bramble The Mountain King is a grim adventure set in a world inspired by dark, Nordic fables. Explore the beautiful yet dangerous and twisted land of Bramble in your endeavor to rescue your sister. Traverse a wondrous landscape and survive deadly encounters with Bramble's many hideous creatures. Not everything in Bramble is exactly how it seems - in this strange land with creatures big and small, you must be careful when to approach and when to hide. Many hungry and spiteful beasts lurk in these forests and caves. Watch your step....

Dimfrost Studio and Merge Games: "Throughout the game, you will meet and defeat monsters in the form of bosses. These scenes will be violent and bloody. Some of the monsters may have human traits, but all are monsters/creatures in Nordic folklore. In addition, you will be able to see dead creatures or animals in magical forests, these create storytelling around the trolls' everyday life. Some fantasy creatures have bodies that resemble the human shape, sometimes they appear semi-nude or wearing revealing clothing."https://tpucdn.com/img/L8sLOYix6pgDQdqY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/L8sLOYix6pgDQdqY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XLk3iLB7mNZs7t5V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XLk3iLB7mNZs7t5V.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8oBodMwm49HQ09ne_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8oBodMwm49HQ09ne.jpg)
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AOKZOE Introduces A1 Pro Handheld Gaming Console, Powered by AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU
AOKZOE is trying to drum up interest for its latest handheld gaming console - the A1 Pro - with a countdown to a type of early bird sale starting tomorrow. Early adopters will be offered a special starter price of just $799 for the baseline version, and that cost of entry will climb to $999 later on at retail. AOKZOE boasts that the A1 Pro is the first handheld gaming device to pack an AMD 7 7840U APU - a customized version of this SoC (AMD Z1 processor series (https://www.techpowerup.com/307758/amd-introduces-ryzen-z1-series-processors-expanding-the-zen-4-lineup-into-handheld-game-consoles)) is set to debut as part of the ASUS ROG Ally (https://www.techpowerup.com/307768/asus-rog-announces-the-rog-ally-its-first-windows-11-gaming-handheld) handheld system. The current AOKZOE A1 model is powered by an older AMD Ryzen 7 6800U APU, which sat at the heart of various laptops and mobile gaming devices in 2022. This year's A1 Pro models are powerful enough to take on Valve's Steam Deck (and the previously mentioned ROG Ally) thanks to impressive internal specifications - AOKZOE reckons that the Pro upgrade offer a 20% performance leap over previous gen devices (6800U).

The Zen 4-based Ryzen 7 7840U APU, part of the "Phoenix" range of mobile processors, is available in all configurations of the A1 Pro - the base model gets 32 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage, and the headliner has 64 GB of memory and 2 TB of storage. AOKZOE states that the A1 Pro utilizes the LPDDR5-6400 RAM and PCIe 3.0 x4 standards - their handheld system is also capable of running M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 drives. The A1 Pro features an 8-inch FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS display - its nearest rivals have smaller 7-inch screens. Hardcore game controller enthusiasts will be happy to discover that hall effect sensor technology has been integrated into the new handheld's pair of analog sticks.https://tpucdn.com/img/VErx7j2qTvJr89xf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VErx7j2qTvJr89xf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/euVUvy04K4QNWqI0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/euVUvy04K4QNWqI0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5eBMfvk2D3duIPEy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5eBMfvk2D3duIPEy.jpg)
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KeysFan Celebrates Labor Day with Special Prices on Genuine Software
KeysFan celebrates Labor Day this May 1, with special discounts on genuine, globally-valid software to power your next-generation desktop PC builds. Your battlestation is the labor of your love, why give it overpriced software, when you can have some of lowest prices on the web? Get Genuine Windows 11 Pro at just $10.25, cheaper when bought in multi-PC packs. Give it the most powerful productivity suite, Office 2021 Professional Plus, at just $25.25. Better yet, bundle the two for just $31.99. Check out great deals on other editions of Windows, Office, and their combos, and save even more when you buy their multi-PC packs.

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $25.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-office-2021-pro-plus-key-for-1-pc.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $40.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/2-office-2021-pro-plus-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $57.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/3-office-2021-pro-plus-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $68.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/office-2021-professional-plus-key-5pcs.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $23.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-office-2019-pro-plus-key-1pc.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $19.85 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-office-2016-professional-plus-key-1-pc.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $37.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-office-2021-home-and-business-for-mac.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Office 2019 Home and Business for Mac at $33.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-office-2019-home-and-business-for-mac.html?ksf=skf23)

Buy Windows 11 Pro at $10.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-microsoft-windows-11-pro-key.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 2-PC at $20.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-11-pro-2-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $7.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-key.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $12.25 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-key-2-pcs.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 11 Home at $9.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-11-home-key-1-pc.html?ksf=skf23) |Buy Windows 11 Home 2-PC at $19.45 (https://www.keysfan.com/win-11-home-2-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Home at $7.18 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-key.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Home 2-PC at $12.21 (https://www.keysfan.com/win-10-home-2-pcs.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional at $28.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/w10-o21-spring-bundle.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional at $26.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/w10-o19-spring-bundle.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional at $31.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/w11-o21-spring-bundle.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional at $29.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/w11-o19-spring-bundle.html?ksf=skf23)

Please use the coupon code SKF50 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC at $12.81 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2021-1-pc.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC at $9.14 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2019-1-pc.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Windows Server 2019 Standard at $16.06 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-server-2019-standard.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Project Professional 2021 at $33.82 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-project-professional-2021.html?ksf=skf23) | Buy Visio Professional 2021 at $30.23 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-visio-professional-2021-key.html?ksf=skf23)https://tpucdn.com/img/ft8dqIpCCRoZ25L3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ft8dqIpCCRoZ25L3.jpg)
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Base Model ASUS ROG Ally Said to Cost US$599.99
If something seems too good to be true, then it often is and the earlier rumoured price point (https://www.techpowerup.com/307862/asus-rog-ally-powered-by-amd-ryzen-z1-extreme-priced-at-usd-700) of the "vanilla" ASUS ROG Ally at US$499.99 was apparently one such instance. Pricing information from serial Twitter leaker SnoopyTech suggests it will instead be priced at US$599.99, which seems a lot more realistic. Aside from using the 6-core CPU with a more limited GPU, the cheaper ROG Ally will also see its internal storage cut in half to 256 GB, compared to 512 GB for the "Extreme" version.

The rest of the specs appear to be identical, with both models sporting 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, the 7-inch, 120 Hz 1080p display and possibly even the same 40 Whr battery pack. At US$70 more than the equivalent Steam Deck, it might be a tough sell, especially as it's only US$100 to upgrade to the fully featured version, a much smaller cost increase compared to each of the Steam Deck SKUs, where you're looking at spending more to get more. It could simply be that this is a sales tactic by ASUS, to push most of its potential customers to buy the more expensive model.https://tpucdn.com/img/7auKMbOnu7qjh4OR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7auKMbOnu7qjh4OR.jpg)

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43rd Symposium on VLSI Technology & Circuits to Focus on Multi-chiplet Devices and Packaging Innovations as Moore's Law Buckles
The 43rd edition of the Symposium on VLSI Technology & Circuits, held annually in Kyoto Japan, is charting the way forward for the devices of the future. Held between June 11-16, 2023, this year's symposium will see structured presentations, Q&A, and discussions on some of the biggest technological developments in the logic chip world. The lead (plenary) sessions drop a major hint on the way the wind is blowing. Leadning from the front is an address by Suraya Bhattacharya, Director, System-in-Package, A*STAR, IME, on "Multi-Chiplet Heterogeneous Integration Packaging for Semiconductor System Scaling."

Companies such as AMD and Intel read the tea-leaves, that Moore's Law is buckling, and it's no longer economically feasible to build large monolithic processors at the kind of prices they commanded a decade ago. This has caused companies to ration their allocation of the latest foundry node to only the specific components of their chip design that benefit the most from the latest node, and identify components that don't benefit as much, and disintegrate them into separate dies build on older foundry nodes, which are then connected through innovative packaging technologies.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ud3hFPXCwIr5ZPkq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ud3hFPXCwIr5ZPkq.jpg)
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(PR) Kubuntu Focus Announces the Focus Ir14 Laptop
Today the Kubuntu Focus team announces their latest Linux laptop: The Focus Ir14 developed in partnership with Carbon Systems of Santa Rosa, CA. This laptop is an affordable, enterprise-ready system designed to exude quality everywhere the customer looks and touches. This is the fourth Focus model featuring Kubuntu LTS and the KDE Plasma interface.

This 3-pound laptop has a 14-inch, 450-nit, narrow-bezel 1920×1200 display with 100% sRGB color reproduction. It also features a centered precision touchpad, all-alloy construction, 6 hours of battery life, and can charge from a USB-C display cable. Systems are built to order and can be customized with up to 64 GB of 3200 MHz dual-channel RAM, 4 TB of storage in a dual-disk setup, and optional no-cost full-disk encryption. Prices start at $895.https://tpucdn.com/img/4YVgaD8DTQLneSqr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4YVgaD8DTQLneSqr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/C8Gv57JVMUfpE3Bu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/C8Gv57JVMUfpE3Bu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WUnEnXB82cYKfaJt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WUnEnXB82cYKfaJt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MjhsOx0GftMbFDH2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MjhsOx0GftMbFDH2.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

A press release (dated April 27) states: "We plan to release Debian 12.0 "Bookworm" on June 10. If you want to celebrate it, please consider attending a Debian release party, or hosting your own! See wiki.debian.org/ReleasePartyBookworm (https://wiki.debian.org/ReleasePartyBookworm) for more information. The release process typically takes the whole day and the release isn't done until the early hours of Sunday UTC."

Full Freeze Date
With the release date set, it's time to announce the Full Freeze date: Wednesday May 24. This means that from that moment on, every package requires a manual unblock by the release team if it needs to migrate to bookworm. Please note that, as with all freezes, the newrules apply for all packages that haven't migrated to testing yet (not only for uploads after the freeze). For all uploads, please review the Freeze Policy once again to make sure you know what is appropriate at this phase of the release.https://tpucdn.com/img/UIrd27DjFY9fNQ9E_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UIrd27DjFY9fNQ9E.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fsdxkpdYTGfim6S5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fsdxkpdYTGfim6S5.jpg)
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AMD Ryzen 7000X3D Power Consumption Spiking Beyond 100 W in Idle Mode
According to investigations undertaken by Igor's Lab (https://www.igorslab.de/en/extreme-load-peaks-measured-for-amds-ryzen-7000-cpus-also-in-idle/) and Hardware Busters this week it seems that AMD's problematic lineup (https://www.techpowerup.com/307890/amd-releases-second-official-statement-regarding-ryzen-7000x3d-issues) of Ryzen 7000 & Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs are consuming unexpected levels of power in short bursts when running in idle mode. In conducting more in-depth tests over the past few days, Igor Wallossek and (outgoing TPU PSU expert (https://www.techpowerup.com/307593/techpowerup-is-hiring-a-power-supply-psu-reviewer)) Aristeidis Bitziopoulos have both found that that the aforementioned AMD processors are producing (to the testers' slight concern) power spikes in situations involving minimal computing activity. It is not currently known whether the sharp climbs in power consumption are in any way related to the burnout issues experienced by unlucky overclockers this week.

Aris/crmaris (at Hardware Busters (https://hwbusters.com/cpu/amd-ryzen-7000-series-burn-issues-our-investigation-based-on-real-data/)) says that he has tested many of the affected processors in the past, but was not privy to any major problems relating to burnout or power consumption spikes. By running new tests this week, using his own Powenetics v2 board, Aris has found out that: "There are some interesting facts here, which I didn't pay much attention to during the reviews because I only look at the average values and not the peak ones in idle. In the 7950X3D, there is a high spike during idle at 130 W, which is unjustified because the peak CPU load is only 3.53%. Even with the Curve Optimized enabled and a -15 setting, the idle power spike is close to 125 W, so something is happening there. On the 7800X3D, the spike during idle stays low, but this is not the case for the 7900X, which has an idle power spike at 109 W, while the peak CPU load at idle was at 5.12%, so these 109 W are not justified, either."https://tpucdn.com/img/cVrBTsHzpgZfGq3X_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cVrBTsHzpgZfGq3X.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/L32r3zlitYJLxWAJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/L32r3zlitYJLxWAJ.jpg)
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Microsoft Ends Feature Support for Windows 10 22H2
Microsoft has confirmed that the current version of Windows 10 - 22H2 - will be the final one. A company product manager revealed this information yesterday in a Windows IT Pro Blog entry (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/windows-client-roadmap-update/ba-p/3805227) posted alongside a mass of articles on Microsoft's Tech Community site. As covered on TPU (https://www.techpowerup.com/283340/microsoft-clears-way-for-windows-11-windows-10-support-to-end-october-14th-2025) almost two years ago, Microsoft had given advance notice that it was terminating support for Windows 10 on October 14th 2025 - for both Home and Pro versions of the operating system. Windows 11 was released later on in 2021, and thus became the priority OS product for the North American tech firm.

Yesterday's blog reiterates key information from the past, and details an interim update cycle (albeit small): "Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date. Existing (enterprise) releases will continue to receive updates beyond that date based on their specific lifecycles." Microsoft has proceeded to update the lifecycle page entry (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro) for Windows 10 Home and Pro in line with the latest announcement. The product manager (in his blog) recommends that current Windows 10 users move to 11 as soon as possible, in order to enjoy a continued stream of feature updates.https://tpucdn.com/img/SupgcG6At5J8I1Q7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SupgcG6At5J8I1Q7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sa1nIOCaHLXqMSNT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sa1nIOCaHLXqMSNT.jpg)

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(PR) Stardock Integrates AlienGPT into Galactic Civilizations IV
Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova is a 4X turn-based strategy game set in the 24th century where you take on the role of leading a spacefaring civilization that has just developed faster-than-light (FTL) travel. You begin the game with only your home planet and must research new technologies, explore the known galaxy, and colonize new worlds while keeping your people at home happy. At the same time, you will engage in trade, diplomacy, intrigue and war with other alien civilizations. Thanks to the invention of hyperdrive, your people are now ready to discover new worlds, encounter alien civilizations, and learn about the dark history that encompasses them all.

Stardock has released the latest sequel of its award-winning space strategy game series today into early access. Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova sees the player as the ruler of a united home world that has just discovered faster-than-light travel. Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova continues a 30-year trend of innovation in the series. This latest sequel introduces AI-generated content OpenAI's ChatGPT technology allowing players to create their own civilizations that uses AI to create the lore, conversation dialogs, quests and more. The game also uses AI, trained on decades of Stardock's alien art to deliver custom graphics for their custom civilization.https://tpucdn.com/img/kpr0alrWfFpwnQSO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kpr0alrWfFpwnQSO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KDyhKuU5EqsGsWg8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KDyhKuU5EqsGsWg8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YXYCOOfnnr9CRVPl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YXYCOOfnnr9CRVPl.jpg)
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Latest Steam Client Beta Update Adds Many Fun and Flexible New Features
Steam Client Beta updates do not normally attract much attention - Valve's iterative patch notes for the digital service application read in a mostly mundane way - but this week's trial system upgrade has turned heads. Valve has managed to introduce some interesting new features with this latest update - the in-game overlay system has been overhauled so users are offered the option to pin related windows over/on top of an active game session. Players are granted multiple options in the adjustment of overlay window opacity levels - so web browsers, document apps and image browsers can be customized to best suit the in-game experience. Users will also be happy to discover that they can now watch their favorite movies, TV shows or streaming platform within the same screen space as their chosen game - no need to minimize and arrange multiple app windows or shift everything across multiple monitor setups. The screenshot manager has been enhanced to a greater degree - Valve states (https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/3686801719529689368) that: "it's responsive, you can choose from large or small thumbnails, view recent screenshots rather than by game, and you can manage online screenshots as well as local screenshots".

A new Notes App has been introduced via the latest Steam Client Beta update - users can now jot down their thoughts and observations during game sessions. Valve boasts that the application offers: "rich text formatting, the ability to have multiple notes per game, and can even be used in offline mode." The blog also provides explanations of other handy features and improvements: "The new toolbar gives you access to anything you may need in the middle of a game - friends chat, achievements progress, guides, discussions, a browser, and more. We've picked a couple windows by default, and you can pick and personalize the pieces of content you'd like to see in your overlay - settings are saved between games. This toolbar can be switched between an icon view and a list view in Settings. The Game Overview is your one-stop shop to see what's going on with the game since you last played it. For example, it shows what achievements you have in progress, which friends are playing the same game, top guides, news, and more."https://tpucdn.com/img/Ae13ytqYRh1aXnQG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ae13ytqYRh1aXnQG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rfTqprORbaYhdYBA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rfTqprORbaYhdYBA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PLafJ2GXZQ6ciH8V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PLafJ2GXZQ6ciH8V.jpg)
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(PR) Dotemu Reveals Remaster of Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Definitive Edition Coming Soon
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a unique mix of puzzle, strategy and RPG: Plan your every move and combine your attacks to defeat your enemies in matching puzzle inspired battle scenarios, upgrade your heroes and creatures to unleash increasingly devastating attacks onto your opponents, and let the strategic thinker in you lead your troops to victory. Originally developed by Capybara Games, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is getting a Definitive Edition including its DLC, refreshed character portraits, many quality-of-life improvements and an expanded, fully reworked and re-balanced online mode!

Greetings Mighty Warriors! We are more than thrilled to announce the return of Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, the legendary puzzle RPG game, in a Definitive Edition. Five mighty heroes, scattered across five different regions of Ashan, battle their way through their respective homelands to unravel a demonic plot and save the world from Chaos. Put your tactical skills to the test, piece together crazy combos to break the enemies' lines, and lead your troops to victory.https://tpucdn.com/img/Xm06zElnTu3NEvPd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Xm06zElnTu3NEvPd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kh7mnmvVwJacCS0i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kh7mnmvVwJacCS0i.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FkH9nT0Mo4ItAO5l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FkH9nT0Mo4ItAO5l.jpg)
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Philips Introduces Ultra Fast Evnia 280 Hz FHD 24.5-inch Gaming Monitor
Philips has revealed its debut model in the Evnia 5000 range of gaming monitors - 25M2N5200P. The Dutch electronics firm has already released a diverse lineup (https://www.techpowerup.com/305004/philips-announces-evnia-42m2n8900-premium-42-inch-gaming-monitor) of premium screens (https://www.techpowerup.com/305006/philips-announces-the-evnia-34m2c8600-34-inch-qd-oled-gaming-monitor-with-ambiglow) for enthusiast gaming-types, but the relatively young games-oriented Evnia brand is now expanding into more mainstream territory with its 5000 series - the dark slate (gray-colored) chassis distinguishes this lineup from the more sophisticated offerings (usually finished in white). Philips is readying its new 25M2N5200P ultra fast gaming monitor for release in Europe next month, coming in at more budget conscious price of €299. This 24.5-inch sized mid-tier model is fitted with a snappy IPS panel rated for a maximum refresh rate of 280 Hz (in overclock mode).

Speedy gaming enthusiasts will be happy to learn that the FHD (1920 x 1080) Fast IPS-type panel accommodates a 0.5 ms MPRT response time. The 25M2N5200P appears to be quite a unique case when compared to equivalent competitors - AMD FreeSync Premium adaptive synchronization and motion blur reduction (MBR) can be enabled in parallel which provides the end user with a fast and smooth in-game experience, free of major image ghosting issues. Philips will be offering customers who prefer VA panel technologies an alternative model called the 25M2N3200W, set for release in European markets within the next few months.https://tpucdn.com/img/RZlmVvZMniPHR2SU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RZlmVvZMniPHR2SU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/e5fmn084NP9GHQjG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/e5fmn084NP9GHQjG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JOI1gLQvk61nHsOV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JOI1gLQvk61nHsOV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6eoXJ7jf6WkFqzJn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6eoXJ7jf6WkFqzJn.jpg)
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Sony Sold 6.3 Million PS5s Last Quarter and 19.1 Million Units During FY22
Sony has had a very good year when it comes to PlayStation 5 sales, as the company sold no less than 19.1 million units in FY22, which exceeded the forecasted volume of 18 million units by a fair margin. Sony's financial year runs from April to March, so the first three months of 2023 was the last three months of its FY22, during which the company sold no less than 6.1 million consoles. That's up from a mere two million units in the last quarter of FY21, which is no small increase and shows the popularity of the PS5. Sony also mentioned that they've caught up with demand and are able to deliver PS5s to customers without the need to pre-order or having to wait for their orders to arrive, in almost all locations globally. As for FY23, Sony is hoping to sell even more consoles, with a target of 25 million units. To date, Sony has sold around 38.4 million PlayStation 5 consoles.

That said, it's not all good news, as game sales were down from US$70.5 million to US$68 million a year ago quarter to quarter and dropped from 303.2 million to 264.2 million FY21 vs FY22. Sony also lost some four million users of its PlayStation Network service, but the company saw a slight increase in its PS Plus subscription base. Sony saw a boost in revenue in its Gaming and Networking Services business unit from US$4.9 billion in FY21 to US$7.9 billion in FY22. As a whole, Sony had sales of some US$29 billion, or 3.9 trillion Yen if you prefer, despite struggling with a weak Yen vs. the US Dollar.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZSYxBvNg26iMKhn0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZSYxBvNg26iMKhn0.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Detectives, we've arrived! At long last, The Last Case of Benedict Fox is here! Go on, enter the world of limbo, and discover the reason for your father's demise. For your final preparations, watch our launch trailer (see below). Mesmerized? Hold your demon companion close, and run toward the mansion!

Before we leave, we just want to say a huge thank you to our family and friends for their support throughout our game development journey. We feel grateful for their patience and love as it allowed us the opportunity to create a game that we always dreamt of making. And we would love to thank you, our fans, for all your support and encouragement ever since our reveal last year. We had so much fun with this game, and we hope you will too.https://tpucdn.com/img/BtRZDJLGSJOPWDnu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BtRZDJLGSJOPWDnu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vxRy7zshKBFJ9rKA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vxRy7zshKBFJ9rKA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OxMnWRCELatDsJTj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OxMnWRCELatDsJTj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/F4ibIS6qd709yRTY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/F4ibIS6qd709yRTY.jpg)
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SilverStone Unveils ALTA F2, its 2023 Flagship Full-tower Case
SilverStone today unveiled the ALTA F2, its flagship gaming PC case. The case features a unique internal layout that maximizes component cooling using stack-effect cooling. The motherboard tray is rotated 90° such that its I/O faces the top of the case, while airflow from three large 180 mm Air Penetrator 184i PRO fans with air-channeling surfaces, direct air drawn from the bottom of the case onto almost all surfaces inside the case. There are three ways to orient your graphics card. The first of course sees it installed directly onto the motherboard, with its I/O facing the top, the next one sees it rotated, with its I/O still facing the top, but its fan vents facing the side-panel. The third and most unique orientation, sees the graphics card installed with its I/O pointing to the rear, but tilted sideways at a 11-degree angle.

The bottom chamber of the case is mostly empty, and serves as an air source for the 180 mm intake fans, but there are four 3.5-inch/2.5-inch mounts, should you want a handful drives located there. Three additional 2.5-inch drives can be mounted along spots on the motherboard tray, while four 3.5-inch drives can be mounted in a cage located in the front side. You get a total of 17 expansion slot possibilities—9 along the motherboard tray, 4 with a portion of it rotated, and 4 toward the rear.https://tpucdn.com/img/sygp8MI6Gr5iq09f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sygp8MI6Gr5iq09f.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XOMVbt6uqCWccYVk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XOMVbt6uqCWccYVk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PIjDnQmLUEg2FYoc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PIjDnQmLUEg2FYoc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/b5e4lQ5JSO4E6Q92_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b5e4lQ5JSO4E6Q92.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/afJqSuxEC3aCWMRC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/afJqSuxEC3aCWMRC.jpg)
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(PR) v-color Introduces Manta XPrism 48GB DDR5-8200 CL38 Kit
v-color Technology Inc., an industry leader in cutting-edge memory solutions, proudly unveils the game-changing 48 GB (24 GB x2) DDR5-8200 38-52-52-130 Manta XPrism RGB Extreme OC Memory in a range of 7200 to 8200 MHz kits. This state-of-the-art memory module is meticulously designed to cater to the evolving needs of gamers, overclockers, and enthusiasts who demand top-notch performance, reliability, and aesthetics.

The Manta XPrism RGB 48 GB (24 GB x2) DDR5-8200 CL38 Extreme OC Memory is crafted with the latest technological advancements, delivering unbeatable speed and efficiency. Featuring a 48 GB memory capacity and a staggering 8200 MHz frequency, this DDR5 memory module is poised to transform the performance of any high-end gaming or workstation system.https://tpucdn.com/img/aziAQANm5oChK12W_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aziAQANm5oChK12W.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uOZS1J6NitpxIERp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uOZS1J6NitpxIERp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PbGhnuCDhOMn2sXq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PbGhnuCDhOMn2sXq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QqAf9XlSW1fwoIFQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QqAf9XlSW1fwoIFQ.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD has reportedly signed up with Samsung Electronics to shift some of its 4 nm processor silicon fabrication from TSMC. The apex Taiwan-based foundry is reportedly operating at capacity for its 4 nm-class nodes, with customers such as Apple and Qualcomm sourcing 4 nm mobile SoCs on the node, leaving AMD with limited allocation and/or bargaining power with TSMC. The company relies on 4 nm for its Ryzen 7040 series "Phoenix" mobile processors, and is in the process of adapting its design from Samsung's 4 nm-class nodes (of there are five for AMD to choose from). Switching to Samsung probably gives AMD more scalability, particularly given that "Phoenix" has missed its release timeline, leaving AMD with the 5 nm + 6 nm Ryzen 7045 series "Dragon Range" MCM in the premium segments, and older 6 nm 7035 series "Rembrandt-R" in the mainstream and ultraportable segments, but nothing "apt" to compete against "Raptor Lake-U" and "Raptor Lake-P."https://tpucdn.com/img/byt9fFTdqqtbUcaf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/byt9fFTdqqtbUcaf.jpg)

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(PR) Microsoft Flight Simulator Offers New Aircraft Bundle - Expert Series ATR 42-600 & ATR 72-600
Microsoft Flight Simulator (https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/microsoft-flight-simulator) has been updated with the first entry into a brand-new series of highly authentic and accurate aircraft called "Expert Series". The ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 are being released together in this bundle and will provide an incredible and authentic aviation experience. ATR, short for "Regional Transport Aircraft" in both French and Italian, was formed through the combined efforts of Aerospatiale (known as Airbus today) of France and Aeritalia (now known as Leonardo) of Italy specifically to create this aircraft. The ATR line has seen a wide range of uses, including commercial passenger, cargo, and military.

The ATR 42-600
The 42-600 is a twin-engine commuter airliner with a high-wing turboprop, that can seat up to 50 passengers. It took its first flight in March of 2010 and was introduced into service in late 2012. Distinctive in appearance with elegant lines and curves, it boasts thoroughbred performance in the air and can operate out of a wide variety of airfields. The 42-600 is an advanced iteration of the ATR 42, a family of regional airliners first conceived in the early 1980s. Named "42" due to the number of seats of the original version, the aircraft was designed to be a highly efficient airframe optimized for commuter lines.https://tpucdn.com/img/rF8cSR1EIH29yHnI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rF8cSR1EIH29yHnI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/B3IMA7eAggljtN2i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B3IMA7eAggljtN2i.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/B2DaDfzW1jXoxfc9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B2DaDfzW1jXoxfc9.jpg)
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Sony and Square Enix Unveil Final Fantasy XVI Themed PS5 DualSense Controller and Console Faceplate
Sony PlayStation and Square Enix are engaged in the process of hyping up blockbuster action role-player Final Fantasy XVI, set for a worldwide release on June 22, and have recently announced some visually striking accessories and interesting hardware bundles - as part of the promotional cycle and eventual release of the sixteenth (mainline) Final Fantasy game installment. Their Japanese marketing teams are collaborating on a custom design PlayStation 5 DualSense controller and console faceplate/cover bearing Final Fantasy XVI-based artwork. The controller's Midnight Black + gold accenting combo creates a very macho aesthetic, which stands in sharp contrast to some of the recent special edition (https://www.techpowerup.com/308056/xbox-and-opi-collaborate-on-summer-themed-special-edition-controller) Xbox controllers in terms of color and finish.

The special edition controller and console plate will be sold separately and are scheduled to launch alongside the game and related console bundles on June 22. These Final Fantasy XVI-themed accessories could be exclusive to the Japanese domestic market - Sony and Square Enix have issued information related to pricing in Yen (¥8980 & ¥7980 respectively), and their North American and European sites only make mention of the standard white PS5 console (https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/1651360910764818433) FFXVI bundle being available on the game's launch day.https://tpucdn.com/img/FH747itKfgGvj2sN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FH747itKfgGvj2sN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CnvD0ALSkXZYbUsd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CnvD0ALSkXZYbUsd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uiTWKddFjqaf1rzs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uiTWKddFjqaf1rzs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DqbO1kw5rq3RMNcA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DqbO1kw5rq3RMNcA.jpg)
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Intel Confirms "Core Ultra" Branding For Upcoming Meteor Lake Product Rollout
Intel has made it official that its upcoming Meteor Lake CPU lineup will proudly sport a new branding scheme - as reported on TPU much earlier today (https://www.techpowerup.com/308035/intel-to-introduce-core-ultra-brand-extension-with-meteor-lake-igpu-packs-128-eu), rumors indicated that Intel would be rolling out "Core Ultra" brand extensions across a range of SKUs. The "i" in some model identifiers such as i3, i5, i7, and i9 are now confirmed to be (in part) replaced with "Ultra" - an Ashes of the Singularity benchmark leak (https://www.ashesofthesingularity.com/benchmark#/benchmark-result/4adb4521-b865-40ab-9b11-c8ee987e722f) identified a CPU called "Core Ultra 5 1003H" early on last week, and that information soon spread across many online hardware news outlets and communities.

Bernard Fernandes, director of global communications at Intel Corp. today addressed the rumors and leaks via Twitter and confirms that a new branding scheme is incoming: "Yes, we are making brand changes as we're at an inflection point in our client roadmap in preparation for the upcoming launch of our Meteor Lake processors. We will provide more details regarding these exciting changes in the coming weeks!" He makes sure to not directly mention the "Ultra Core" branding in his tweet, but it is heavily implied that he's referring to the discardation and eventual replacement of Intel's classic "i" labelling system.https://tpucdn.com/img/mK6nWM38PsIgthyx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mK6nWM38PsIgthyx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Y3puBiLEUkckOrEG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Y3puBiLEUkckOrEG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tWLSGTUfDuajkn6D_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tWLSGTUfDuajkn6D.jpg)

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Receives First Patch on PC Today, Respawn Entertainment Issues Apology Message
Respawn Entertainment, the Star Wars division at Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm Games have today released their first patch for the PC version of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - some folks must have been working like mad over the weekend in order to address some of the problems encountered (https://www.techpowerup.com/307861/star-wars-jedi-survivor-has-major-cpu-and-gpu-issues) shortly after the game's launch last Friday (April 28). The EA Star Wars Twitter account issued a statement regarding the initial batch of patches for all platforms affected: "Today a patch has become available for the PC version of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and tomorrow (5/2) we'll also be issuing a patch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. We are hard at work on patches that will further improve performance and fix bugs across all platforms. There are more updates to come across all platforms, and we will share that timing when it is available."

The patch notes for today's PC update only mention "performance improvements for non-raytraced rendering" so it seems the developers have a lot more work to do over the coming weeks. The situation on current generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles looks to largely the same, and tomorrow's fix list is extensive (the same problems have already been addressed on PC with today's patch). TPU's own resident reviewer extraordinaire went in-depth and explored (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/star-wars-jedi-survivor-benchmark-test-performance-analysis/) Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's technical issues this weekend - part of W1zzard's conclusion was very unkind: "We're now paying $70 to beta-test an unpolished turd that they call an AAA game—not the first time this year. I'm starting to wonder if these companies aren't slowly eroding their customer base by delivering broken products over and over again."https://tpucdn.com/img/FSQiEIk34pnWxOzk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FSQiEIk34pnWxOzk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9zGCHqDFiNkFrnrz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9zGCHqDFiNkFrnrz.jpg)
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AMD Ryzen 7040HS and 7040H "Phoenix" Laptop CPUs Get Tested
AMD is late in releasing its Phoenix Zen 4 lineup of mobile APUs - the original April launch (https://www.techpowerup.com/307385/amd-phoenix-apu-laptops-launching-in-late-april-early-may) has been missed, and laptops bearing Ryzen 7000HS & H-series are expected to arrive at some point this month. Preview hardware has made its way into the hands of testers, and one particular outlet - Golden Pig Upgrade (https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qM411G7Lp/), a content creator on the Chinese Bilibili video site - has performed benchmark tests. He seems to be the first reviewer to get hands-on time with AMD Ryzen 7040 Phoenix APUs, and his findings point to class leading performance results in terms of graphical capabilities - the 7840HS (https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-7-7840h) (packing a Radeon 780M RDNA3 iGPU) is compared to the Rembrandt-based 7735H, as well as a pair of Intel Raptor Lake CPUs - the 13700H and 13500H models.

AMD's newest Phoenix APU is the group leader in GPU performance stakes, but the jump up from the last-gen Rembrandt (RDNA2 iGPU) chip is not all that significant. VideoCardz (https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-phoenix-fp8-and-fp7-packages-pictured-ryzen-7040hs-and-7040h-series-share-the-same-specs) reckons that the Radeon 780M integrated GPU is roughly equivalent to an NVIDIA GeForce MX550 dGPU and not far off from a GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics card (in terms of benchmark performance). According to AMD's internal documentation the RDNA 3 core architecture utilized in Phoenix APUs is referred to as "2.5" so this perhaps explains why the 780M is not doing laps around its older silbing(s).https://tpucdn.com/img/2FDPC0vgd7wOLeTW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2FDPC0vgd7wOLeTW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GUqzDw6y7wwhgMyA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GUqzDw6y7wwhgMyA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HgviqULxVRbnHMG2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HgviqULxVRbnHMG2.jpg)
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(PR) Xbox and OPI Collaborate on Summer Themed Special Edition Controller
Summer is just around the corner, and Xbox is turning up the heat by teaming up with one of the most iconic nail brands, OPI, to bring a fresh polish to the Xbox controller. Last year we partnered with OPI to launch a gaming-inspired palette for Spring (https://news.xbox.com/2022/01/04/xbox-opi-nail-polish-collection-spring-2022/) and this time around we're flipping the script and releasing an exclusive Xbox Wireless Controller that's inspired by OPI nail colors. The all-new Sunkissed Vibes OPI Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller (https://www.xbox.com/accessories/controllers/sunkissed-vibes-opi-special-edition) features four stunning summer-shades, inspired by OPI's new Summer Make the Rules collection (sold separately) to help players unlock the ultimate summer glow up this season.

Turn up the heat with the Sunkissed Vibes Special Edition controller and make every day a beach day. Get things started by painting your thumbnails with OPI's Sanding in Stilettos as a picture-perfect complement to the shimmery, pearlescent melon top case. Or level up your look and match the bold, glossy D-pad with a splash of OPI's Flex on the Beach. More daring gamers can drop all inhibitions and embrace the controller's pastel back case, bumpers, and thumbsticks by channeling OPI's Surf Naked blue. And as a finishing touch, revel in the summertime brightness of the Xbox button and triggers inspired by the all work, all play attitude of OPI's Summer Monday-Fridays.https://tpucdn.com/img/m0r96kvj4aAMZLAO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/m0r96kvj4aAMZLAO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hoyjZ1NzTXx4v5NA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hoyjZ1NzTXx4v5NA.jpg)
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Report Suggests AMD Ryzen Threadripper 8000 "Shimada Peak" HEDT CPUs Prepped for 2025 Launch
DigiTimes has been informed that many of TSMC's customers are likely to postpone usage of the foundry's 3 nm process node into 2024 or beyond, due to a slowdown in the PC hardware market - insider sources suggest that AMD will be sticking with 4 nm and 6 nm nodes for many of its future CPU lineups. The next generation Zen 5-based family is expected to launch in 2024 - which aligns with information issued by AMD via financial reports - a roadmap (https://twitter.com/harukaze5719/status/1651816556874317824) (based on DigiTime's findings) points to AMD offering a range of mainstream desktop (Granite Ridge) and laptop/mobile CPUs (Fire Range).

No high-end desktop (HEDT) options are marked for release in 2024, and DigiTimes reckons that AMD is planning to release Zen 5-based Ryzen Threadripper processors in the following year. The codename for the Ryzen Threadripper 8000-series seems to be "Shimada Peak" and industry experts think that these HEDT CPUs will eventually succeed the Threadripper "Storm Peak" 7000 (https://www.techpowerup.com/302416/amd-ryzen-threadripper-7000wx-storm-peak-only-by-q3-2023) family (due for launch later in 2023) - a shared socket design is also a likelihood due to AMD wanting to stretch out the lifespan of mounting connection standards by avoiding costly decisions - their sTRX4/SP3r3 socket only survived for one generation.https://tpucdn.com/img/ApsntuqjeHDy2U18_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ApsntuqjeHDy2U18.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1RODoPs4BWoIQ8hb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1RODoPs4BWoIQ8hb.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

According to the latest report from Reuters, Arm Ltd has filled the documents for its initial public offering (IPO) efforts in hopes of getting publically traded later this year. The stock exchange of choice is Nasdaq, where Softbank plans to list Arm's shares publicly. Seeking to raise anywhere between 8-10 billion US Dollars, the company's market capitalization has yet to be determined. If any factor is to go by, NVIDIA tried to acquire Arm Ltd for 40 billion US Dollars, which ultimately failed due to regulators rejecting the deal.

As a reminder, Arm is changing its licensing model to boost royalties, which we reported about here (https://www.techpowerup.com/306478/arm-to-change-pricing-model-ahead-of-ipo). Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Barclays, and Mizuho Financial Group guide the IPO efforts.https://tpucdn.com/img/qbrCdIuzPQ1U38pH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qbrCdIuzPQ1U38pH.jpg)

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Acer Arc A770 Predator Drops to $339 Once Again
Acer's Arc A770 Predator has once again been discounted down to $339, making it the least expensive graphics card with 16 GB of VRAM. While AMD marketing is advertising its 16 GB graphics cards with price starting at $499, comparing it to NVIDIA, Intel Arc lineup was not on their list.

Acer Arc A770 Predator BiFrost is one of the rare custom Arc A770 graphics cards on the market with fully enabled ACM-G10 GPU and 16 GB of VRAM. It has been previously discounted down to $339 in March, but quickly got back up to $399.99. Now, Acer has once again launched the sale over at Newegg.com and Amazon.com, pulling it back down to $339.99. It has a hybrid dual-fan cooler, combining blower-type and standard fans. It needs two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and has a slightly factory overclock of 100 MHz, with GPU base clock of 2.2 GHz.https://tpucdn.com/img/xGpI8hG7FdUsKfc9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xGpI8hG7FdUsKfc9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BIEGe1siRznVK5fk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BIEGe1siRznVK5fk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Lt5JddKvTvdfvgPQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Lt5JddKvTvdfvgPQ.jpg)

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MIT Researchers Grow Transistors on Top of Silicon Wafers
MIT researchers have developed a groundbreaking technology that allows for the growth of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials directly on fully fabricated silicon chips, enabling denser integrations. Conventional methods require temperatures of about 600°C, which can damage silicon transistors and circuits as they break down above 400°C. The MIT team overcame this challenge by creating a low-temperature growth process that preserves the chip's integrity, allowing 2D semiconductor transistors to be directly integrated on top of standard silicon circuits. The new approach grows a smooth, highly uniform layer across an entire 8-inch wafer, unlike previous methods that involved growing 2D materials elsewhere before transferring them to a chip or wafer. This process often led to imperfections that negatively impacted device and chip performance.

Additionally, the novel technology can grow a uniform layer of TMD material in less than an hour over 8-inch wafers, a significant improvement from previous methods that required over a day for a single layer. The enhanced speed and uniformity of this technology make it suitable for commercial applications, where 8-inch or larger wafers are essential. The researchers focused on molybdenum disulfide, a flexible, transparent 2D material with powerful electronic and photonic properties ideal for semiconductor transistors. They designed a new furnace for the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process, which has separate low and high-temperature regions. The silicon wafer is placed in the low-temperature region while vaporized molybdenum and sulfur precursors flow into the furnace. Molybdenum remains in the low-temperature region, while the sulfur precursor decomposes in the high-temperature region before flowing back into the low-temperature region to grow molybdenum disulfide on the wafer surface.https://tpucdn.com/img/c5zBLrBcBl8BkYkx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/c5zBLrBcBl8BkYkx.jpg)
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Late-May Launch of GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Sets Up Direct Clash with Radeon RX 7600 XT
NVIDIA is preparing a late-May 2023 launch of its upcoming GeForce RTX 4060 Ti performance segment graphics card. A list of key dates associated with the launch was leaked to the web, which states that the company is planning a late-May product launch, with market availability of the card slated within May 2023, ahead of Computex. A late-May launch would set the RTX 4060 Ti up for a direct clash with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which has a launch date confirmed for May 25th (https://www.techpowerup.com/307843/amd-radeon-rx-7600-xt-launches-on-may-25). Interestingly, while there's some clarity on the launch of the RTX 4060 Ti (PG190 SKU 361), the more affordable RTX 4060 (PG173 SKU 371) remains shrouded in mystery. Given how successful the current RTX 3060 is in the market, NVIDIA would want to avoid clubbing the launches of the two 4060-series SKUs, and may give the RTX 4060 an exclusive launch during or after Computex.https://tpucdn.com/img/Y1ZRPzsdDfIzO7Tm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Y1ZRPzsdDfIzO7Tm.jpg)

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Intel to Introduce Core Ultra Brand Extension with "Meteor Lake," iGPU Packs 128 EU
Intel is planning a major change in its client processor brand extensions with its next-generation mobile processors codenamed "Meteor Lake." The company is working to introduce the new Core Ultra brand extensions, where "Ultra" replaces the "i" in extensions such as i3, i5, i7, and i9 in some processor models. An example of such a brand extension would be the "Core Ultra 5 1003H." Ashes of the Singularity benchmark leaks of the processors surfaced on social media.

The benchmark also detects 128 EU (1,024 unified shaders) for the iGPU powering "Meteor Lake." If true, this iGPU could offer performance that's in the league of an Arc A380 discrete GPU, with some performance lost to the shared memory setup compared to the A380 with its dedicated graphics memory. The iGPU clock speed is detected to be 2.10 GHz, and having 4 MB of L2 cache, the last-level cache local to the Graphics Tile. The detection string for the iGPU as reported by its OpenCL ICD reads "Intel(R) Graphics i gfx-driver-ci-master-13736 DCH RI (1024S 128C SM3.0 2.1GHz, 4MB L2, 12.7GB)."https://tpucdn.com/img/E6Ax5Mt5I2mTUqVx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/E6Ax5Mt5I2mTUqVx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WMzKDVzNcPR1bKmI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WMzKDVzNcPR1bKmI.jpg)

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Samsung Claims 60-70% Yields for its 3 nm Node
Samsung Electronics is engaged in stiff competition with TSMC for chip manufacturing orders for 3 nm, its first semiconductor foundry node to implement GAA-FET technology, after nearly a decade of FinFET-based nodes. SF3, a 3 nm GAA-FET node, enters mass-production later this year. Samsung is claiming wafer yields in the range of 60-70% in the development phases of the node. This number is crucial to attract customers as they base their wafer orders squarely on yields first, and cost-per-wafer next.

Samsung is trying to rebuild confidence among chip designers after the 2022 controversy (https://www.techpowerup.com/292262/samsung-employees-being-investigated-for-fabricating-yields) over its engineering "fabricating" yield numbers to customers to win their business. Samsung also stated that with 2023-2024 being dominated by 3 nm-class nodes, namely SF3 (3GAP), and its refinement the SF3P (3GAP+), the company will begin introducing its 2 nm class nodes in 2025-2026. Samsung's current customers for its 3 nm node include unnamed HPC processor designer, and a mobile AP (application processor) designer.https://tpucdn.com/img/jrjAltmMHRnzdNwx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jrjAltmMHRnzdNwx.jpg)

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Fire at TSMC Arizona Plant a Minor Episode, North Taiwan Facility Damaged in Separate Incident
TSMC has confirmed to Taiwan News this weekend that a fire at its Phoenix-general area, Arizona semiconductor plant (https://www.techpowerup.com/301853/tsmc-announces-updates-for-tsmc-arizona) was only "limited to an outside trash chute and immediately extinguished" - the chipmaker was responding to an afternoon incident from Friday (April 28). A worker took photos of black smoke rising from a section of the brand new factory, the employee then proceeded to share their snaps online via a discussion board. A local firefighting crew extinguished the blaze soon after evacuating workers from the affected area, a preliminary investigation conducted by the emergency responders found that the fire originated from a waste/refuse chute. A root cause has not yet been identified according to the newspaper's article.

The Arizona plant was not the only TSMC location to play host to an unexpected incident this week - reports from Wednesday (https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202304260016) (April 26) state that a fire broke out during the (preceding) evening/night at a company facility in North Taiwan. No injuries or casualties were reported following a response by firefighters who had the situation under control soon after 9 pm - TSMC believes that the fire started at around 19:30. The incomplete factory is situated within Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Park, and is set to bolster the company's existing advanced 3D IC package manufacturing efforts. Part of the facility will also be setup as a component testing lab. TSMC has declared that it is conducting an investigation into the incident at its Zhunan, Miaoli County location.https://tpucdn.com/img/fdahrUQxhjsZDWeE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fdahrUQxhjsZDWeE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yXKF7Sor99Ba5d7M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yXKF7Sor99Ba5d7M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GHcnjuxNp9KoRdNO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GHcnjuxNp9KoRdNO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dLxr5wDrGmhpKY7K_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dLxr5wDrGmhpKY7K.jpg)

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AMD EPYC 8004 Data Center "Siena" CPUs Certified for General SATA and PCI Support
Keen-eyed hardware tipster momomo_us this week spotted (https://twitter.com/momomo_us/status/1652309308661727234) that an upcoming AMD data center "Siena Dense" CPU has received verification, in the general sense, for SATA and PCI support - courtesy of the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO). The information dump was uploaded to SATA-IO's online database on April 6 of this year - under the heading: "AMD EPYC 8004 Series Processors." As covered by TPU mid-way through this month the family of enterprise-grade processors, bearing codename Siena, is expected to be an entry-level alternative to the EPYC Genoa-X (https://www.techpowerup.com/307386/amd-96-core-epyc-9684x-zen-4-genoa-x-cpu-shows-up-for-sale-in-china) range, set for launch later in 2023.

The EPYC Siena series is reported to arrive with a new socket type - SP6 (LGA 4844) - which is said to be similar in size to the older Socket SP3. The upcoming large "Genoa-X" and "Bergamo" processors will sit in the already existing Socket SP5 (LGA 6096) - 2022's EPYC Genoa lineup makes use of it already. AMD has not made its SP6 socket official to the public, but industry figures have been informed that it can run up to 64 "Zen 4" cores. This new standard has been designed with more power efficient tasks in mind - targeting intelligent edge and telecommunication sectors. The smaller SP6 socket will play host to CPUs optimized for as low as 70 W operation, with hungrier variants accommodated up to 225 W. This single platform solution is said to offer 6-channel memory, 96 PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes, 48 lanes for CXL V1.1+, and 8 PCIe Gen 3.0 lanes.https://tpucdn.com/img/LhTKdhVHF32cjnKd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LhTKdhVHF32cjnKd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BtJ8UknoWLmfv6fD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BtJ8UknoWLmfv6fD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EvqnIU4DgSFwI5lX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EvqnIU4DgSFwI5lX.jpg)

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(PR) Layers of Fear Gets Another Unreal Engine 5 Showcase
Experience the visually stunning world of Layers of Fear, one of the first games to utilize the power of Unreal Engine 5 and advanced technological tools. Come with us on an immersive journey as we explore how we incorporated these cutting-edge features to bring you one of the most visually striking horror games out there. With the latest engine, we expedited the development process and introduced a host of technical novelties that make this game a spectacular visual treat. The Lumen, Ray Tracing, and Niagara effects helped us create visuals and effects that are beyond words and feel lifelike.

The canvas awaits its final brushstrokes. The stage calls for its lead actor. The novel needs its final chapter. It's time to face your fears. One. Last. Time. The series, which has left a mark on narrative-driven first-person psychological horror games, returns to tell its final spine-chilling story in Layers of Fear.. The series' crowning work is the definitive way to experience the critically acclaimed franchise as it features Layers of Fear and Layers of Fear 2, as well as all DLCs (including the new 'The Final Note' DLC that will give you a new perspective on the Layers of Fear storyline) and the never-before-told story of The Writer, which will tie everything together. Built on Unreal Engine 5, Layers of Fear supports Ray Tracing, HDR and 4K resolution to make the stunning visuals, and your nightmarish experience, as immersive and realistic as possible.https://tpucdn.com/img/CAogHLaCwl5cHlZi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CAogHLaCwl5cHlZi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/57is5j9YcalFPYa1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/57is5j9YcalFPYa1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qqiKpvPhplecKUKB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qqiKpvPhplecKUKB.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Respawn Entertainment boss Vince Zampella has been engaged in press duties for the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/star-wars-jedi-survivor-benchmark-test-performance-analysis/) marketing cycle this week, and is likely having to field questions about the sci-fi action adventure's poor technical performance on PC (https://www.techpowerup.com/307861/star-wars-jedi-survivor-has-major-cpu-and-gpu-issues) and consoles alike. In an interview conducted by Barron's Magazine a few days ago, Zampella was probably relieved to have the focus shift to a happier topic - the Titanfall franchise. He seemed to be quite open to the prospect of making a third game: "I hate to say yes, then people latch onto that, and then skewer you when it doesn't come. But I would love to see it happen is the real answer." His studio was founded in order to develop the (multiplayer only) first-person shooter Titanfall (2014), a platform exclusive on PC/Origin and Xbox One. Prior to starting Respawn Entertainment in 2010, Zampella and colleague Jason West were lead designers on the mainline Call of Duty series at Infinity Ward/Activision.

A sequel to the original Titanfall arrived in late 2016 to rave reviews from the press and hardcore fans of the series - the inclusion of a single player campaign was considered to be a highlight - this story campaign borrowed gameplay ideas (to the surprise of many) from Valve's Half Life series, and added time traveling elements to an already mind-bending mobility system. In an unfortunate move for Zampella and Respawn, publisher Electronic Arts decided to launch Titanfall 2 during a very busy release window - the main competition at the time being Activision's Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and (EA's own) Battlefield 1. A mainstream crowd proceeded to ignore the Titanfall sequel thanks to poor marketing on EA's part and a crowded games market - sales figures were underwhelming, even with a PS4 version, and the game was heavily discounted within a couple of months of release. Respawn moved on to create a spin-off multiplayer shooter - the smash hit free-to-play battle royale Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series.https://tpucdn.com/img/CEH0OGoU5YrgW3ue_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CEH0OGoU5YrgW3ue.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O3pyQsMEICpmHCam_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O3pyQsMEICpmHCam.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dgNUlb0gQhNVdfCp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dgNUlb0gQhNVdfCp.jpg)
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This Week in Gaming (Week 18)
As we leave the month of April behind us and move into May, we kick off the new month with a AAA horror first person shooter from Bethesda. The first week of May also brings a AAA 4X title, giant turtles, a Halo like game that adds an RTS element, multiple adventure titles and a game that's all about running away from conscription in the Russian army. Not a bad start to the month of May, if we may say so.

Redfall (https://bethesda.net/en/game/redfall) / This month's AAA title / Tuesday 2 May
The town of Redfall is under siege by a legion of vampires who have cut the island off from the outside world. Trapped with a handful of survivors, slay alone or squad up in open-world FPS action.https://tpucdn.com/img/4bD1w08lup95w72P_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4bD1w08lup95w72P.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Xst78tSMWUsp4tMS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Xst78tSMWUsp4tMS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oFK9jEFz395Prnfr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oFK9jEFz395Prnfr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eYHGZYCQ9bu5XDUd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eYHGZYCQ9bu5XDUd.jpg)
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Microsoft to Shrink Surface Accessories Lineup Due to Poor Profits
According to the Nikkei, Microsoft is cutting production for a wide range of its Surface accessories, i.e. keyboards, mice, docking solutions, headsets etc. This is despite the fact that the company has invested heavily into its Surface brand of computers and accessories over the past decade. This is said to be in response to the poor performance of the business unit in Microsoft's last financial report. The Nikkei mentioned that Microsoft is suspending all standalone keyboards in the Surface series and it seems like Microsoft is also looking at calling it quits when it comes to its own branded accessories, or there won't at least be any new models from the company in the foreseeable future.

Microsoft used to be a significant competitor in the keyboard, mouse and webcam market, but with increasing competition from more brands, it seems like the company has been having a hard time making a niche for itself in what can only be said to be a crowded market. Consumer expectations have also changed and most people don't want membrane keyboards any more and are instead buying more expensive mechanical keyboards. Microsoft has also been late to market with many of its Surface computers and have delivered overpriced and underwhelming products, which in turn has led to fewer sales of both the computers and the matching accessories. We'll have to wait and see if Microsoft makes an official announcement as to what will happen to its Surface brand of products, but right now it doesn't look like there's a very bright future for the Surface line of products as a whole.https://tpucdn.com/img/qA9qm4VAufV5pf1U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qA9qm4VAufV5pf1U.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Hi gamers! I'm Samuel, the PD of Chrono Studio. To all who have been eagerly awaiting Chrono Odyssey, we are thrilled to finally unveil our second trailer giving you an in-depth look at the gameplay itself. At Chrono Studio, we are more than just developers - we are avid gamers who share a passion for epic titles and we believe that MMORPGs are more than just games - they are gateways to unforgettable experiences formed through shared adventures and challenges. Our vision for Chrono Odyssey is to continue the legacy of beloved MMORPGs that have stood the test of time.

At first glance Chrono Odyssey may seem like your typical MMORPG, but what sets Chrono Odyssey apart from the rest is its unparalleled graphics, made by the UE5 engine and our accumulated expertise. We have also elevated combat to new heights by incorporating the Chrono (time) element, which serves as the core of the game's universe, as well as the real-time MMO content enjoyed by hundreds of players to provide a dynamic social experience unlike any other.https://tpucdn.com/img/Krrf8KbDRl4sazZh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Krrf8KbDRl4sazZh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xUQ2t25e81SndziY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xUQ2t25e81SndziY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qBfmHlz2zXbVObS4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qBfmHlz2zXbVObS4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LaD0nTIIv2198S3I_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LaD0nTIIv2198S3I.jpg)
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Apple Ending Support for Thunderbolt Display and 1st Gen iPad Air
Apple hardware hoarders do exist - a friend told me that he'd only just replaced a 2013 vintage 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro this month - these folks continue to enjoy repairs or miscellaneous services at Apple Stores and authorized service providers on some products. Unfortunately there is potential bad news for preservationist owners of the original Thunderbolt Display (https://www.techpowerup.com/149359/apple-introduces-worlds-first-thunderbolt-display) and the first generation iPad Air tablet (https://www.techpowerup.com/113905/apple-unveils-the-ipad?cp=3) - a leaked internal memo suggests that Apple has decided to add these two antiques to their end-of-life (EOL) device list, according to MacRumors (https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/02/thunderbolt-display-obsolete-list/). Apple's Thunderbolt Display was released back in the summer of 2011, the company boasted that its fancy 27-inch 1440p monitor was the world's first display with Thunderbolt I/O technology (at the time), the asking price was $999. Alongside its requisite Thunderbolt I/O port (designed to connect to compatible Mac Notebooks), the monitor had a number of other spiffy features including an in-built 720p webcam, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

Apple stopped making the Thunderbolt Display in 2016, and customers had to wait another six years for a successor to turn up - the Studio Display (https://www.techpowerup.com/292756/apple-unveils-all-new-mac-studio-studio-display) launched alongside the Mac Studio in March 2022. The original (1st gen) iPad Air was released on November 1 in 2013. It was the first entry in the iPad tablet family to feature a thinner design - its standard (non-Air) predecessors were a bit chunkier in comparison. It was discontinued in March of 2016, and Apple has so far released five generations of iPad Air products - last year's model debuted with the ARM-based M1 chipset (https://www.techpowerup.com/292757/apple-introduces-new-ipad-air-featuring-m1-processor).https://tpucdn.com/img/wBBb5WgPmGlEs5i1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wBBb5WgPmGlEs5i1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ed9ztV4UNzmtjtD1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ed9ztV4UNzmtjtD1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FXSteS1BOa8tOfTc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FXSteS1BOa8tOfTc.jpg)

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(PR) Framework Details Framework Laptop 13 With Ryzen 7040 Series
When we announced the Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series) last month at the Framework Next Level Event, we were only able to share a very limited set of information on what is powering it. With the processors now officially unveiled by AMD, we're able to share much more detail. We're using Ryzen 5 7640U and Ryzen 7 7840U processors, both of which offer incredible CPU and GPU performance. These are both pre-orderable today, with batches shipping as early as Q3 this year.

The Ryzen 5 7640U processor has 6 CPU cores clocked at a base frequency of 3.5 GHz and up to a max boost of 4.9 GHz, while the Ryzen 7 7840U has an amazing 8 cores and 16 processing threads clocked at a base of 3.3 GHz and up to 5.1 GHz max boost. These are all Zen 4 cores, which feature AMD's fastest processor technology ever. These chips are fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process node, meaning that even with such high performance, they are also extremely efficient. We've designed the thermal system to be able to handle the processors at up to 28 W continuous load if you need to do some heavy crunching too.https://tpucdn.com/img/gw9tl0SBmRjpxVum_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gw9tl0SBmRjpxVum.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ghLMAayqIabO1KCN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ghLMAayqIabO1KCN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RT6RHBDIEVkviwUk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RT6RHBDIEVkviwUk.jpg)
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(PR) Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons - Out This Summer
Series icons Billy and Jimmy Lee are joined by Marian, returning as a fully realized, firearm-wielding ranged fighter, and newcomer Uncle Matin, a riot-shield-wielding powerhouse. Tag in and out as the classic Lee duo or switch it up with different characters. With two-player local co-op, the action quadruples as you and a friend clean up the mean streets.

Prepare to throw down the Double Dragon way in this fresh addition to the iconic beat 'em up franchise. It's the year 199X, and nuclear war has devastated New York City leaving its citizens to fight for survival as riots and crime engulf the streets. The city has been overtaken by criminal gangs who terrorize its ruins as they fight for total dominance. Unwilling to endure these conditions any longer, young Billy and Jimmy Lee take it upon themselves to drive the gangs out of their city.https://tpucdn.com/img/OoKj418Jq9lXrcEa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OoKj418Jq9lXrcEa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TYMQXgkW3mgkG8IL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TYMQXgkW3mgkG8IL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wwMMMczugVjvVZlS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wwMMMczugVjvVZlS.jpg)
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(PR) Sabrent Introduces Rocket CFX Type B Memory Card Range
The new Sabrent Rocket CFX Type B (CF-XXIT) memory cards are here to give you the performance, endurance, and capacity you deserve. These cards come in at up to 2 TB with read/write speeds of up to 1,800/1,700 MB/s and sustained writes of up to 1,300 MB/s so that you are never slowed down. Massive IOPs let you quickly access any and all of your files rapidly. Capture and work with your HD content - videos, photographs, audio, and more - at high speeds, all in a convenient form factor. Don't settle for inferior storage media for your professional videography and photography needs.

Match your artistic vision. Revel in your element. Sabrent hardware is selected for performance, power efficiency, and reliability. These memory cards contain SSD-quality hardware with a powerful controller and fast flash memory for the smoothest takes. Features such as TRIM, LDPC, ECC, SmartRefresh, and wear-leveling keep your storage fast and enduring. Lose yourself in the moment and capture your vision. Who has time to deal with undependable, slow storage? Get the quality you deserve. Get Sabrent.https://tpucdn.com/img/g1S82c0ELnx8p9tv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/g1S82c0ELnx8p9tv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xq8bte7sbGzit6x0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xq8bte7sbGzit6x0.jpg)
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Microsoft is Back to its Old Ways—Links in Office Will Open in MS Edge Browser, Ignoring Browser Preference
Windows OS users have been critical of Microsoft's strategy of prioritizing its Edge browser for a while now, and more angry feedback is expected following an announcement (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/stay-in-your-flow-with-microsoft-365-on-microsoft-edge-b0e1a1c1-bd62-462c-9ed5-5938b9c649f0?) that updates to Microsoft 365 Outlook and Teams applications will change how things work with regards to link clicking. Discerning users of Windows have adjusted preferences so that clicked links will always open in their web browser of choice (e.g Chrome, Firefox, Opera etc.). Microsoft will be adjusting behaviors in its Outlook and Teams apps, so links are set to open in Microsoft Edge by default. The changes are advertised as a positive for customers using Windows 10 & 11, as well as Office applications: "Microsoft is always striving to improve and streamline our product experiences—offering a new way to use the classic Microsoft Outlook app on Windows and the Microsoft Edge web browser."

This week's support message explains the upcoming situation shift: "If you have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, browser links from the Outlook app will open in Microsoft Edge by default, right alongside the email they're from in the Microsoft Edge sidebar pane. This allows you to easily access, read, and respond to the message using your matching authenticated profile. No more disruptive switching—just your email and the web content you need to reference, in a single, side-by-side view. And we're always optimizing the sidebar in Microsoft Edge to give you useful content and tools while you're browsing so you don't have to toggle back and forth between windows or even other tabs—whether you're shopping online or working in a Microsoft 365 web app." Outlook will be the first application to get updated with the "handy new feature," and the Teams app will be adjusted later this year.https://tpucdn.com/img/fbIplAOiF9ZTVcxh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fbIplAOiF9ZTVcxh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EICLMrqQbbWRRVZk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EICLMrqQbbWRRVZk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EAz0k24yujdqURZd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EAz0k24yujdqURZd.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

AMD today released its Ryzen 7040U series "Zen 4" mobile processors for the Ultraportable segment. These are processors with a 15 W TDP that's configurable up to 30 W by notebook designers to enable better boost frequency residency. AMD technically announced its entire Ryzen 7040 series at the 2023 International CES, but put out details for only the 7040HS series with a 28 W to 45 W TDP targeting thin-and-light and mainstream notebook form-factors. This would be the first time we're seeing details of the 7040U series. The company announced that processors in the 7040U series are shipping to notebook manufacturers, but it did not put out a specific date on which you can buy notebooks powered by these processors.

The Ryzen 7040U series consists of four processor models (SKUs). The lineup is led by the Ryzen 7 7840U, followed by the Ryzen 5 7640U, the Ryzen 5 7540U, and has the Ryzen 3 7440U at the entry level. All four processor models offer the latest "Zen 4" CPU cores and RDNA3 graphics. The Ryzen 7 7840U packs an 8-core/16-thread CPU clocked at 3.30 GHz with up to 5.10 GHz boost frequency. The Ryzen 5 7640U has a 6-core/12-thread CPU clocked at 3.50 GHz with up to 4.90 GHz boost. The Ryzen 5 7540U differs from the 7640U not just in slightly lower CPU clock speeds—3.20 GHz with up to 4.90 GHz boost—but also the lack of the XDNA Ryzen AI feature. The Ryzen 3 7440U has a leaner CPU still, with just 4-core/8-thread, clocked at 3.00 GHz with up to 4.70 GHz boost, half the shared L3 cache size of the other three models, and a lack of Ryzen AI.https://tpucdn.com/img/QGT977vZGAoqZmic_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QGT977vZGAoqZmic.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iTpB4J70xEOAxorX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iTpB4J70xEOAxorX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lOALiBU99S4T5JCk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lOALiBU99S4T5JCk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/q56BRAW0dP9ViyJM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q56BRAW0dP9ViyJM.jpg)
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Retail Leak of Custom GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Models Reconfirms Standard 8 GB VRAM Config
NVIDIA is expected to roll out its RTX 4060 Ti GPU (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4060-ti.c3890) series later this month (https://www.techpowerup.com/308036/late-may-launch-of-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-sets-up-direct-clash-with-radeon-rx-7600-xt) but the American hardware giant has not issued any official material about these cards - leaks have so far become the only sources of specification and configuration information. A launch price of $450 (https://www.techpowerup.com/307412/nvidia-to-target-usd-450-price-point-with-geforce-rtx-4060-ti) is mooted, and the low-to-midrange RTX 4060 Ti is likely to sport NVIDIA's AD106 GPU (based on its Ada Lovelace graphics architecture). Previous leaks (https://www.techpowerup.com/307854/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-and-rtx-4060-come-with-8gb-leaked-msi-prebuilt-listing) have indicated that this variant will be offered in an 8 GB VRAM configuration with a 128-bit memory interface, although TPU hardware archivist (T4C Fantasy) reckons that NVIDIA's board partners can opt for larger pools of video memory (https://www.techpowerup.com/307349/colorful-custom-rtx-4060-ti-gpu-clocks-outed-8-gb-vram-confirmed).

A retailer in Russia (https://www.marvel.ru/search/?q=RTX4060Ti&message_bot=nospam+5) has released (possibly in error) catalog listings for four upcoming Palit branded GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card models. The board partner seems to be offering two sets of its Dual and StormX designs - in normal and overclocked variations - but all of these models share the bog standard VRAM allocation of 8 GB, paired with the usual 128-bit memory interface. Palit's Dual cooler design is currently available on its RTX 4070-based (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/palit-rtx-4070-dual-oc.b11058) models, but the StormX cooling solution design has not been applied to any 40 series cards so far - the upcoming RTX 4060 Ti cards will debut a (likely) smaller StormX shroud, heatsink and fan combination.https://tpucdn.com/img/3kDlmASbrfPkCObz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3kDlmASbrfPkCObz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5InKzetImAHUd03b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5InKzetImAHUd03b.jpg)

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(PR) Age of Empires IV Season Five Public Update Preview Arriving Tomorrow
From May 4th through 15th, owners of Age of Empires IV on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1466860/view/3705942560774052946) will have an opportunity to dive into all the amazing content, updates and changes coming in Season Five! The Age of Empires IV Public Update Preview (PUP) presents an opportunity for our incredible players to get hands-on experience with exciting changes ahead of major updates. They also provide an opportunity to give feedback and help us prepare for upcoming major releases. PUP builds will generally contain new features, content, balance changes and bug fixes.

A New Game Mode, Team Voice Chat, Trade Updates and More!
Among the content highlighted in this PUP is Empire Wars, a new, quick-to-action game mode where players start with a burgeoning empire, ready to dive into combat or advance to the next Age! Players begin the match with a variety of pre-built buildings and villagers already tasked on resource collection. Not only that, but you'll be able to try out three news maps before they officially go live, including Golden Heights, Migration, and Volcanic Island!https://tpucdn.com/img/nkxOeC9UoHsm33eP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nkxOeC9UoHsm33eP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HaZnzTEYBbr7eOnf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HaZnzTEYBbr7eOnf.jpg)
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(PR) NEO Semiconductor Launches Ground-Breaking 3D X-DRAM Technology, A Game Changer in the Memory Industry
NEO Semiconductor, a leading developer of innovative technologies for 3D NAND flash and DRAM memory, today announced the launch of its ground-breaking technology, 3D X-DRAM. This development is the world's first 3D NAND-like DRAM cell array that is targeted to solve DRAM's capacity bottleneck and replace the entire 2D DRAM market. Relevant patent applications were published with the United States Patent Application Publication on April 6, 2023.

"3D X-DRAM will be the absolute future growth driver for the Semiconductor industry," said Andy Hsu, Founder and CEO of NEO Semiconductor and an accomplished technology inventor with more than 120 U.S. patents. "Today I can say with confidence that Neo is becoming a clear leader in the 3D DRAM market. Our invention, compared to the other solutions in the market today, is very simple and less expensive to manufacture and scale. The industry can expect to achieve 8X density and capacity improvements per decade with our 3D X-DRAM."https://tpucdn.com/img/hEhmBrc4se1BJISX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hEhmBrc4se1BJISX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ga0M7rYJGxwJ9Ox9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ga0M7rYJGxwJ9Ox9.jpg)
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(PR) Solidigm Synergy 2.0 Software Offers New Features to Optimize and Personalize Storage Performance
Solidigm, a leading global provider of innovative NAND flash memory solutions, has announced the launch of Solidigm Synergy 2.0 software. The Solidigm Synergy software suite improves overall system performance and delivers a better user experience than hardware alone can provide. This free download includes two elements, both optional, but highly recommended: the Solidigm Synergy Driver, which automatically improves the performance of Solidigm SSDs, and the Solidigm Synergy Toolkit, which offers useful SSD health reporting and tools for SSDs from any manufacturer.

Solidigm is the only company today that is investing in a solution with software built on top of the SSD that understands system behavior and adapts based on the user's needs. The latest Solidigm Synergy software improves the PC user experience for all SSD users. It increases performance where it matters most on Solidigm SSDs, and offers a host of useful drive management features for all SSDs, regardless of manufacturer. Solidigm is combining breakthrough SSD products with revolutionary software solutions and plans to introduce further innovations to deliver additional improvements to end-users.https://tpucdn.com/img/E721ysHBgHnrbwK7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/E721ysHBgHnrbwK7.jpg)
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(PR) Drop Introduces Exclusive MOMOKA Zoo65 Mechanical Keyboard
HIGH-QUALITY INTEGRATIONS-ONLY HERE - We're proud to be the first to offer the Zoo65 as a prebuilt-in a host of configurations (https://drop.com/buy/momoka-zoo65-keyboard-drop-exclusive?) you won't find anywhere else. We've assembled six Zoo65 boards with our own exclusive keycap sets - DCX Jasmine, DCX Dolch and DCX Permafrost - available in either a tactile or linear switch configuration.

A ZOO OF HIGH-QUALITY CONFIGURATIONS—ONLY HERE - Originally sold as a kit, MOMOKA's Zoo65 Keyboard garnered a veritable stampede of fans with its exceptional build quality and attention to detail. Now, here on Drop, we're proud to be the first to offer the Zoo65 as a prebuilt—in a host of configurations you won't find anywhere else. That's right: we've assembled our own zoo of Zoo65 boards for a total of six typing experiences topped off with our own exclusive keycap sets.https://tpucdn.com/img/IcBQnz6Imzak5fix_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IcBQnz6Imzak5fix.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Uslof3D965HRCWbg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Uslof3D965HRCWbg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BkPdyUjIIU8OZwCq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BkPdyUjIIU8OZwCq.jpg)
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Returns to Top Spot According to April Steam Hardware Survey
Valve has released the tabulated results and statistics of its April Steam Hardware and Software Survey (https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/Steam-Hardware-Software-Survey-Welcome-to-Steam) - the key take away from last month's user generated data is that NVIDIA's trusty GeForce GTX 1650 GPU is once again the most popular graphics card. It dethrones last month's winner - the NVIDIA RTX 3060 (https://www.techpowerup.com/306959/most-popular-graphics-card-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-steam-hardware-survey) graphics card which falls to third place where it sits below the second place GTX 1060 GPU. The RTX 3060 experienced an almost 6% decline in usership from the previous month, and the GTX 1650's userbase grew by 2% in the same period of time. It is interesting to note that the entry for the GTX 1650 encompasses both desktop and laptop variants, while the RTX 3060 gets divided into two separate entries on Valve's survey - the desktop version sits at third place and its laptop-oriented sibling trails slightly behind with a placement at position number four. NVIDIA absolutely dominates the field with lots of its budget and midrange cards (across several older generations) - AMD and Intel barely make it into the top 25 with a small sprinkling of iGPUs and one discrete model (Radeon RX 580) placed at position 24.

April's survey shows that Intel processors remain a favorite for many Steam users with a 67.14% share, and AMD follows in second place with a 32.84% share. AMD CPU popularity is on the rise (when compared to previous months) so a more even share of the market could be on the cards, if an upward trend continues. System RAM enthusiasts were upgrading to a smaller degree last month: 52.19% are on 16 GB, and 16.1 percent are on 32 GB - indicating slight declines (from March) of 4.73% and 6.61% respectively. The majority of users prefer to stick with Windows 10 64-bit - that OS has a 61.21% share, but its popularity has dropped by 12.74% within the survey period. Windows 11 64-bit is gaining ground with a 10.98% increase from March to April, and it sits at second place with a 33.39% share of the OS userbase. As always, the results indicated by the monthly Steam Hardware and Software survey are not considered to be pinpoint accurate due to the random nature of user responses, but overall and general trends can be discerned from the data on hand.https://tpucdn.com/img/sumVrkotr928oRie_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sumVrkotr928oRie.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ECXhyjgZiy8HdINC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ECXhyjgZiy8HdINC.jpg)

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CISA Warns About Mirai Botnet Exploit on Some TP-Link Routers
Owners of TP-Link routers ought to heed a warning from the US government's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), as at least one router model from the company is vulnerable to known exploits. The exploit is actively targeted by Mirai botnet operators and it allows for injection of commands that could allow them to take over the routers via remote code execution (RCE) software. The router from TP-Link that is known to be vulnerable to the exploits is the Archer AX-21, a fairly recent entry level AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 model that is sold globally by the company.

The specific exploit for the Archer AX-21 is tracked as CVE-2023-1389 and is affecting all Archer AX-21 routers with a firmware version older than 1.1.4 2023019, as it's said to address the vulnerabilities. Users who have linked their router to a TP-Link cloud account and allow for automatic updates should already have had their router firmware automatically updated, but everyone else should update their router firmware as soon as possible. There have already been reports of the exploit being actively used by the Mirai botnet to take over routers in Eastern Europe as of the middle of last month, but further parts of the world aren't spared from attacks either by now. Routers might often be devices that are forgotten in a corner somewhere, but it's important to keep the firmware up to date, especially as they are increasingly becoming the target of hackers.https://tpucdn.com/img/kHgXCIKnwYniUCC6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kHgXCIKnwYniUCC6.jpg)

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AMD Confirms 7040HS Phoenix APUs Shipped to OEMs
AMD has already announced that its Ryzen 7040HS laptop processors will be shipping in April, missing its original March date. As these are still nowhere to be seen on retail/e-tail shelves, AMD has now confirmed these chips have shipped to OEMs, and it is just a matter of time before these laptops become available.

Speaking to Tom's Hardware, AMD representative confirmed that the company has start to ramp production of Ryzen 7040 series chips, started shipping those chips last quarter, and the first Ryzen 7040HS systems should hit retail/e-tail "over the next several weeks". As said, it appears that AMD's original statement regarding the delay was about shipping those chips to OEMs, rather than OEMs shipping actual products.https://tpucdn.com/img/TtNDS8esr34LqojG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TtNDS8esr34LqojG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hEEP9eTE16De1A6a_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hEEP9eTE16De1A6a.jpg)
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More Radeon RX 7000 Series Graphics Cards Spotted in ROCm 5.6
A bunch of unreleased AMD Radeon RX 7000 series graphics card have been spotted in ROCm 5.6 pull request, including the Radeon RX 7950 XTX, 7950 XT, 7800 XT, 7700 XT, 7600 XT, and 7500 XT. AMD has not yet launched its mainstream Radeon RX 7000 graphics cards, but according to the latest pull request, there are several unreleased graphics cards in for both high-end and mainstream segments. While the pull request has been removed from GitHub, it has been saved on Reddit. So far, it appears that AMD's RDNA 3 Radeon 7000 series lineup will be based on just three GPUs, Navi 33, Navi 32, and the Navi 31.

According to the list, we can expect a high-end refresh with Radeon RX 7950 XTX/XT version, also based on Navi 31 GPU. The list also shows that the Radeon RX 7800 series will be the only one based on the Navi 32 GPU, at least for now, while the Navi 33 GPU should cover the entire mainstream lineup, including the Radeon RX 7700 series, Radeon RX 7600 series, and the Radeon RX 7500 series. The list only includes XT versions, while non-XT should show up later, as it was the case with the Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards. AMD's President and CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, already confirmed during Q1 2023 earnings call that mainstream Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs based on RDNA 3 architecture will launch during this quarter (https://www.techpowerup.com/308134/amd-ceo-dr-lisa-su-confirms-mainstream-rdna3-gpus-in-q2-2023), and earlier rumors suggest we might see them at Computex 2023.https://tpucdn.com/img/f4Mbsd8tHvgIIIo7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f4Mbsd8tHvgIIIo7.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces its partnership with leading esports organisation Method. This year long partnership will see Kingston Technology support Method with the latest hardware and technology solutions to help them excel in their competitive gaming endeavors.

UK Based Method is a global top guild in World of Warcraft, as well as a world class MMO and RPG gaming organisation. The team has achieved numerous accolades, including winning the Race to World First an impressive twelve times, and have a large following in the RPG gaming community. With this partnership, Kingston Technology will work closely with Method to provide them with top-of-the-line hardware and technical support to help them achieve even greater success in the upcoming year.https://tpucdn.com/img/9hMpIkLp7Cilyx7i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9hMpIkLp7Cilyx7i.jpg)
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Intel "Emerald Rapids" Doubles Down on On-die Caches, Divests on Chiplets
Finding itself embattled with AMD's EPYC "Genoa" processors, Intel is giving its 4th Gen Xeon Scalable "Sapphire Rapids" processor a rather quick succession in the form of the Xeon Scalable "Emerald Rapids," bound for Q4-2023 (about 8-10 months in). The new processor shares the same LGA4677 platform and infrastructure, and much of the same I/O, but brings about two key design changes that should help Intel shore up per-core performance, making it competitive to EPYC "Zen 4" processors with higher core-counts. Semi Analysis compiled a nice overview of the changes, the two broadest points of it being—1. Intel is peddling back on the chiplet approach to high core-count CPUs, and 2., that it wants to give the memory sub-system and inter-core performance a massive performance boost using larger on-die caches.

The "Emerald Rapids" processor has just two large dies in its extreme core-count (XCC) avatar, compared to "Sapphire Rapids," which can have up to four of these. There are just three EMIB dies interconnecting these two, compared to "Sapphire Rapids," which needs as many as 10 of these to ensure direct paths among the four dies. The CPU core count itself doesn't see a notable increase. Each of the two dies on "Emerald Rapids" physically features 33 CPU cores, so a total of 66 are physically present, although one core per die is left unused for harvesting. So the maximum core-count possible commercially is 32 cores per die, or 64 cores per socket. "Emerald Rapids" continues to be based on the Intel 7 process (10 nm Enhanced SuperFin), probably with a few architectural improvements for higher clock-speeds.https://tpucdn.com/img/K55yPGEa3573OJO4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/K55yPGEa3573OJO4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1yoGmEfkpDIXcWeY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1yoGmEfkpDIXcWeY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nmgGRjjnu2WBJgEt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nmgGRjjnu2WBJgEt.jpg)
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NVIDIA Claims its AV1 Video Encoder is Superior to AMD and Intel's Alternatives
In a blog post, NVIDIA claims that its AV1 video encoder is vastly superior in terms of quality, compared to both AMD and Intel's alternatives. The still shot provided by NVIDIA to show its superior quality over its competitors, was encoded at 4K60p, obviously using the AV1 codec. Nvidia used its own GeForce RTX 4080 card and compared it to an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and an Intel Arc A770, with all three cards encoding the video at 12 Mbps using the latest release of OBS Studio.

It just so happens that OBS Studio 29.1 added support for AV1 over the Enhanced Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) and now allows for live streaming using AV1 to YouTube. This is also the main reason for the NVIDIA blog post, as prior to this release, it wasn't possible to stream using AV1 in OBS Studio. NVIDIA has been known for the quality of its video encoder for quite some time, but we'd like to see some independent testing before we give NVIDIA the win here, especially as the company has only provided a single screenshot as proof of its superiority.https://tpucdn.com/img/IRw8WLVinJpLQ3Ym_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IRw8WLVinJpLQ3Ym.jpg)

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AMD's Radeon RX 7800 XT Spotted in Geekbench Vulkan Test
AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 7800 XT has made an appearance online, having been tested in Geekbench. The entire system appears to be some kind of internal test system at AMD, as it's listed as "Advanced Micro Devices X670_E7" on Geekbench. The system consists of an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU paired with what should be 64 GB of RAM and oddly enough running Debian Linux. It's also entirely possible that this is a fake submission, which makes somewhat sense considering the weak performance. The Radeon RX 7800 XT was tested using the Vulkan test in Geekbench and you can find the numbers below.

Overall, the card scored 113,819 points in the Vulkan test, which is close to what an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT scores on an older Ryzen 7 5700X system with 32 GB of RAM, so not too much should be read into the performance figures here. However, this gives us the first indication that AMD is readying its RX 7800 XT GPUs—assuming it's a real submission—which may or may not be announced at Computex later this month. However, there have been rumours that the RX 7800 XT has been pushed back, with the lower-end cards launching first, but we don't have long until we find out at least.https://tpucdn.com/img/QmfHevZr5Sq47Q8w_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QmfHevZr5Sq47Q8w.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

The ASUS ROG Ally handheld games console emerged last month (https://www.techpowerup.com/307768/asus-rog-announces-the-rog-ally-its-first-windows-11-gaming-handheld) and it was revealed to pack some impressive "custom" AMD hardware - the two companies have boasted that the collaboration has resulted in two special SoCs - the Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme (https://www.techpowerup.com/307758/amd-introduces-ryzen-z1-series-processors-expanding-the-zen-4-lineup-into-handheld-game-consoles). Silicon enthusiasts were quick to point out that the Z1 series sported similar specifications to mobile/ultra-portable chipsets in AMD's 7040U family - in particular the Ryzen 7 7840U looks almost identical to its gaming equivalent (Ryzen Z1 Extreme). Andrew E. Freedman at Tom's Hardware (https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amds-ryzen-7040u-and-z1-chips-for-handhelds-are-nearly-identical) was curious and motivated enough to request clarification (about this situation) from AMD. Team Red were happy to respond and acknowledged the apparent similarities between the gaming and laptop chipset ranges, but also stated that Z1 APUs have been tweaked by company engineers to a certain degree.

Matthew Hurwitz, a client PR manager at AMD, provided a response to the Tom's Hardware-issued query: "The Ryzen Z1 series are purpose-built with handheld gaming in mind. To accomplish this, AMD engineers had to validate entirely new power ranges and optimize the voltage curves specifically for this use case - this optimization and validation work should not be trivialized. So while the technology building blocks (like 'Zen 4' and RDNA 3) are similar between the 7040 and Z1 series, the resulting models have very distinct characteristics customized for their use cases. In addition, the AMD Ryzen AI engine is not available on AMD Ryzen Z1 series processors." Hurwitz also confirmed that AMD's XDNA AI engine is merely disabled (so not removed at hardware level) on the two Z1 APUs - this feature is only enabled on the range-topping Ryzen 7 7840U model and mid-range Ryzen 5 7640U. So yes, there are small differences but AMD and ASUS have probably saved some money on development costs by creating and adopting the "slightly adjusted" Z1 SoC series.https://tpucdn.com/img/rbui33KjMX4Ma5Eq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rbui33KjMX4Ma5Eq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nT3J55aNoaIbmmYj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nT3J55aNoaIbmmYj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8DdYIN3wqYQWG5wc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8DdYIN3wqYQWG5wc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/t74AHXGUT9OUWzOE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t74AHXGUT9OUWzOE.jpg)

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(PR) Valve Improves Steam Search System, Makes it Easier For Store Users to Find Games
Store Quick-Search now includes developer pages and tags, also it will be better at handling of misspelled words. Today, we rolled out an update to the Steam store search to add more ways for players to search. Recently we've noticed more players searching for particular store hubs, tags, or developers so we've updated Steam store search to handle those destinations. For these new results, we'll show a new format with a subtle background generated from images of the most popular games in that result. Let's take a quick look at all the recent search updates...

Search for Developers, Publishers, and Franchises
Additionally, players can now search directly for your developer or publisher if you have set up a homepage. For more about developer and publisher homepages, please see: partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/creator_homepage (https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/creator_homepage). Looking for a particular developer or publisher on Steam? Excited about a specific gaming franchise? Now those appear in the quick search results too. Looking for "Bethesda" games? Or perhaps you want to browse all the "Star Wars" or "Final Fantasy" games. Now you can!https://tpucdn.com/img/V7z5NtLquUsoH5R1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V7z5NtLquUsoH5R1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mpxpgFBLIhQZpaRc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mpxpgFBLIhQZpaRc.jpg)
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Hogwarts Legacy Sold 15 Million Copies and Made Over $1 Billion
Hogwarts Legacy has become one of the most popular games ever released and has sold over 15 million copies, making over $1 billion in sales, which earned it a place in the company's earnings call. The numbers will keep growing as the game is launching on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One today, and the Nintendo Switch version is coming in July.

The result does not come as a big surprise considering it sold over 12 million copies and made $850 million in the first two weeks from the launch. The newest result makes it one of the best selling games of 2023, at least so far. The result also makes Hogwarts Legacy the fifth $1 billion-plus gaming franchise from WB Games, joining Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, Lego games, and DC.https://tpucdn.com/img/545huRGiAvfcPYvI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/545huRGiAvfcPYvI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rsVpSGb0ZLNVENge_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rsVpSGb0ZLNVENge.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/izJm6ydIaEagDvvk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/izJm6ydIaEagDvvk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GzaxfuzNoiQqXYxb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GzaxfuzNoiQqXYxb.jpg)
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(PR) AMD Shares Reminder of Radeon RX 7900 Series & FSR 2 Maximizing Ray Tracing Performance
Real-time ray tracing (RT), using Microsoft DirectX ray tracing (DXR) and Vulkan Ray Tracing, adds a new level of incredible realism to games through effects like ray-traced reflections, shadows, ambient occlusion, and global illumination. Ray tracing is used in many of the latest games such as The Callisto Protocol, F1 22, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Returnal to maximize graphics fidelity and deliver the ultimate visual experience.

AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (AMD FSR 2) is the cutting-edge temporal upscaling technology designed to produce incredible image quality and boost framerates in supported games. AMD Radeon RX 7900 Series graphics feature advanced AMD RDNA 3 compute units with 2nd generation ray tracing accelerators to help deliver incredible RT performance in games.https://tpucdn.com/img/aHZjeun2Q0ph09fg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aHZjeun2Q0ph09fg.jpg)
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Palit GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU Specs Leaked - Boost Clocks of Up to 2685 MHz & 18 GB/s GDDR6 Memory
More leaks are emerging from Russia regarding NVIDIA's not-yet-officially-confirmed RTX 4060 Ti GPU family - two days ago Marvel Distribution (RU) released details (https://www.techpowerup.com/308154/retail-leak-of-custom-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-models-reconfirms-standard-8-gb-vram-config) of four upcoming Palit custom design cards, again confirming the standard RTX 4060 Ti GPU configuration of 8 GB VRAM (plus 128-bit memory bus). Earlier today hardware tipster momomo_us managed to track down some more pre-launch time info (rumors point to late May), courtesy of another Russian e-retailer (extremecomp.ru (https://extremecomp.ru/search/?q=4060Ti)). The four Palit Dual and StormX custom cards from the previous leak are spotted again, but this new listing provides a few extra details.

Palit's four card offerings share the same basic specification of 18 GB/s GDDR6 memory, pointing to a maximum theoretical bandwidth of up to 288 GB/s - derived from the GPU's confirmed 8 GB 128-bit memory interface. The standard Dual variant appears to have a stock clock speed of 2310 MHz, the StormX and StormX OC models are faster at 2535 MHz and 2670 MHz (respectively), and the Dual OC is the group leader with 2685 MHz. The TPU database's (speculative) entry for the reference NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4060-ti.c3890) has the base clock listed as 2310 MHz, and the boost clock at 2535 MHz - so the former aligns with the Palit Dual model's normal mode of operation (its boost clock number is unknown), and the latter lines up with the standard StormX variant's (presumed) boost mode. Therefore the leaked information likely shows only the boosted clock speeds for Palit's StormX, StormX OC and Dual OC cards.https://tpucdn.com/img/tFe83JVu7PcVdzqu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tFe83JVu7PcVdzqu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/csfBr5R5O639bfZd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/csfBr5R5O639bfZd.jpg)

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(PR) Hyperkin's "Xenon" Xbox 360-Style Wired Controller Available for Pre-Order
Secure a time machine to 2005. The Xenon is a replica of the official Xbox 360 Controller - licensed with Designed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10|11 PCs, priced at $49.99. Pre-orders begin at MIDNIGHT PDT / May 5th via HyperkinStore.com (http://HyperkinStore.com). Announced in November of last year, the Xenon is a replica of the official Xbox 360 Controller. The Xenon is named after the codename of the Xbox 360's first console iteration. Although a replica of the official Xbox 360 controller, the Xenon will include some modern amenities for the Xbox Series X|S. It will initially come in four colors: black, white, pink and red.

Hyperkin has recreated the Xbox 360 Controller as an officially Xbox-licensed controller. The Xenon features precision analog triggers, a share button for Xbox Series X|S, vibration feedback for realistic experiences, a 3.5 mm headset jack, and a detachable 10 ft. Type-C cable. The Xenon takes you back to 2005, when you and your buds spent nights filled with fun, competition, and bonds that last to this day. You've come full circle.https://tpucdn.com/img/AQIo7A5R8M7T3pT6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AQIo7A5R8M7T3pT6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/i82AjiBZGnBgLDWV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/i82AjiBZGnBgLDWV.jpg)
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(PR) LIAN LI Launches V3000 PLUS White GGF Edition Case
Lian Li has updated the impressive V3000 Plus case (https://www.techpowerup.com/301224/lian-li-launches-the-v3000-plus-case-offering-endless-possibilities) to a beautiful new white finish. The Lian Li V3000 Plus (https://lian-li.com/product/v3000-plus/) White is the ideal choice for the enthusiast who wants plenty of space to build a custom white gaming PC. Boasting an impressive ability to facilitate three different modes of interior layout, this case is an ideal foundation for a wide range of builds.

New Look for an Old Favorite
The Lian Li V3000 Plus White keeps the same outstanding styling found on its black counterpart. The V3000 Plus has kept the impressive glass panels on each side, but made them crystal clear, alongside changing the finish to a pure white. Thanks to these two factors combined, you can build a clean gaming PC that highlights your components.https://tpucdn.com/img/G36qEaN0gfANm9ek_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/G36qEaN0gfANm9ek.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/e09XySae7oQ7zRZ8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/e09XySae7oQ7zRZ8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8os3uK1WQQo7vKRx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8os3uK1WQQo7vKRx.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft's official Xbox Twitter account has today announced that its official range of Xbox Series console storage expansion cards has been reduced in price: "Think of all the new games you'll be able to download and play now ????. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card is now available starting at a lower price: xbx.lv/41e8t57 (http://xbx.lv/41e8t57)." It is slightly odd that Seagate itself has not announced this lowering of gaming product MSRPs, but today's changes only affect the US market - European and UK listings feature the old prices (at the time of writing). It is not clear whether this discount is a permanent or temporary thing, but the latter is a more likely situation given rumors from last month.

It is very possible that Seagate is reacting to new competition - last month a Best Buy listing revealed that Western Digital is lining up (https://www.techpowerup.com/306770/wd-plans-to-muscle-in-on-xbox-series-x-s-storage-expansion-card-scene) to provide third party storage expansion cards for Xbox Series console owners. The leak of WD's incoming offerings indicated that it would be undercutting its arch rival in terms of pricing, at least with the single model that leaked (1 TB at $179.99) - Seagate has a timed exclusive agreement with Microsoft/Xbox for the licensed production/selling of proprietary cards. The officially sanctioned price drop brings the cards to more reasonable value levels, but Xbox owners have largely agreed that MSRPs were inflated from the beginning. The entry-level 512 GB Seagate model now costs $89.99 (a $50 reduction), the 1 TB model is now available at $149.99 (a $70 reduction) and the top-end 2 TB model gets the largest price slash (of $120) which brings it down to $279.99. Seagate appears to be undercutting WD's BLACK C50 1 TB model (if the Best Buy info leak price was accurate) by $30 with the official 1 TB storage expansion card.https://tpucdn.com/img/OvLkqlcf6iraocOW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OvLkqlcf6iraocOW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FLGp7gs7BUWriwSJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FLGp7gs7BUWriwSJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CtZbMTxC8ZPEJHu8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CtZbMTxC8ZPEJHu8.jpg)
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GoDeal24 International Labor Day Sale Brings You Genuine Software at Some of the Lowest Prices
GoDeal24 celebrates the 2023 International Labor Day with a flash sale that brings genuine, globally valid software to you at some of the lowest prices on the web. Get Genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus at just $24.25 and free yourself from annual 365 subscription payments. Save more when you buy multi-PC packs. Don't need the latest and greatest? Choose from Office 2019 and Office 2016 at lower prices. Windows 11 Pro is the most advanced PC operating system, and can be had at just $10.25. Save even more when you combine your preferred edition of Windows and Office.

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AMD Could be Resurrecting Ryzen 3000G APU Series
AMD is reported to be reissuing its old Zen+ (12 nm) tech in order to meet demand for cheaper, lower-end systems in China, according to information released by Board Channels this week. The insider source claims that a new production order has been placed for Ryzen 3000G series APUs (requesting up to 30,000 units) and these processors are likely to be sold as part of hardware bundles with (similar vintage) low-end AM4-based motherboards - for example the B450 and A320 series, these older boards are still popular budget choices in China and readily available. The leak does not mention whether AMD is choosing to issue completely new hardware or if it is simply reproducing its 2019-era SKUs.

AMD released two Ryzen 3000G models back in 2019 - the 3400G and 3200G, both are quad-core Picasso APUs although the latter is lacking in simultaneous multithreading. It is not clear whether the super low budget AMD Athlon 3000G model will be included as part of the alleged 30K unit order. The 3000G series' onboard iGPUs (based on AMD's first generation Vega architecture) are likely preferred by the budget-conscious buyer since a discrete graphics card is not an essential part of builds intended for an office setting or a simple/functional home computer setup.https://tpucdn.com/img/DX5BIRgRDFV3kV3t_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DX5BIRgRDFV3kV3t.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/imPjymLgxAHQkrMm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/imPjymLgxAHQkrMm.jpg)

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Intel to Demonstrate PowerVia on E-Core Processor Built with Intel 4 Node
At VLSI Symposium 2023, scheduled to take place between June 11-16, Intel is set to demonstrate its PowerVia technology working efficiently on an E-Core chip built using the Intel 4 node. Conventional chips have power and signal interconnects distributed across multiple metal layers. PowerVia, on the other hand, dedicates specific layers for power delivery, effectively separating them from the signal routing layers. This approach allows for vertical power delivery through a set of power-specific Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs) or PowerVias, which are essentially vertical connections between the top and bottom surfaces of the chip. By delivering power directly from the backside of the chip, PowerVia reduces power supply noise and resistive losses, optimizing power distribution and improving overall energy efficiency. PowerVia is set to make a debut in 2024 with Intel 20A node.

For VLSI Symposium 2023 talk, the company has prepared a paper that highlights a design made using Intel 4 technology and implements E-Cores only in a test chip. The document states: "PowerVia Technology is a novel innovation to extend Process Scaling by having Power Delivery on the backside. This paper presents the pre and post silicon findings from implementing an Intel E-Core in PowerVia Technology. PowerVia enabled standard cell utilization of greater than 90 percent in large areas of the core while showing greater than 5 percent frequency benefit in silicon due reduced IR drop. Successful Post silicon debug is demonstrated with slightly higher but acceptable throughput times. The thermal characteristics of the PowerVia testchip is inline with higher power densities expected from logic scaling."https://tpucdn.com/img/WLARrz8XwaWLYjKV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WLARrz8XwaWLYjKV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IZ88YIC7Z7zlTYRA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IZ88YIC7Z7zlTYRA.jpg)
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Hogwarts Legacy Gets Performance and Visual Improvements With the Latest Patch
Avalanche Software has released quite a big patch for Hogwarts Legacy, improving visual, performance, gameplay, and general stability. In addition to more than 500 bug fixes, it also brings the new Arachnophobia Mode.

Performance-wise, the newest patch resolves general crashes on the PC and various memory leaks, brings plenty of optimizations, fixes ray tracing issues, and more. It also updates minimum driver recommendation for NVIDIA graphics cards, updates NVIDIA DLSS to v3.1.2, AMD FSR to v2.2, and Intel XeSS to v1.1.https://tpucdn.com/img/qaUdOoScP4GQ2ncC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qaUdOoScP4GQ2ncC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RvcffKyRV4qz2r9b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RvcffKyRV4qz2r9b.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7i6GJQRxoyOoXNP9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7i6GJQRxoyOoXNP9.jpg)
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(PR) Acer Announces Q1 2023 Financial Results
Acer Inc. announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2023. Consolidated revenues reached NT$52.46 billion, gross profits reached NT$5.36 billion and maintained a margin of 10.2%, while inventory was further reduced to NT$39.46 billion in value. Operating income was NT$239 million and net income was NT$515.17 million with earnings-per-share (EPS) of NT$0.17. According to third-party data, Acer's PC market share held up at about the same level as during the first quarter last year.

Acer expects its business to have reached a low point in the first quarter, and that moving on, the computer and displays business will start to regain business momentum. Meanwhile, Acer's multiple businesses are gaining traction; based on the business progress, several more businesses will go public during 2023.https://tpucdn.com/img/nERICVAFxKWHfgKZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nERICVAFxKWHfgKZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eOYPtPRM48RYqKbd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eOYPtPRM48RYqKbd.jpg)
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ASRock Preparing At Least Three Custom RX 7600 Versions
According to leaked details, it appears that ASRock is preparing at least three custom versions of the upcoming Radeon RX 7600 graphics card, including Phantom Gaming, Challenger, and Steel Legend series. The list of ASRock custom Radeon RX 7600 graphics cards comes from the ECC listing, and these three are listed among some other yet to be announced graphics cards.

As you can see from the list below, ASRock will have three Radeon RX 7600 versions, all of which are factory-overclocked. The Phantom Gaming version should be a more premium model, while the Challenger and Steel Legend should be closer to MSRP. The Steel Legend is a novelty in ASRock's graphics card lineup, and we expect a similar silver design found on ASRock's Steel Legend motherboards. The list also includes the recently announced Radeon RX 7900 XT Taichi White and a low profile Intel Arc A380 graphics card.https://tpucdn.com/img/KR8sk1zA1FFHDb13_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KR8sk1zA1FFHDb13.jpg)

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(PR) Minisforum Introduces New Intel N Processors Mini PC
MINISFORUM is proud to unveil its latest series of office solutions, the Venus Series UN100 and UN305 Mini-PCs. These devices are designed to offer a superior office experience in a compact form factor, powered by advanced Intel N series processors (Intel N100 & Intel Core i3-N305) that provide significant performance improvements over entry-level products.

With up to 16 GB of LPDDR5-4800 on-board memory, M.2-2280 SATA SSD storage, and an expansion slot for a 2.5-inch hard drive and a TF card, UN100 and UN305 deliver quiet, energy-efficient, and reliable operation. The all-metal unibody design, manufactured using advanced CNC machining technology with a 0.6 L volume (136 mm long x 121 mm width x 39 mm height), offers a sleek and elegant appearance while maintaining exceptional portability without compromising on performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/t7jpc833RCIiPw5x_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t7jpc833RCIiPw5x.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gVDiQAV1OO3H2Bs9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gVDiQAV1OO3H2Bs9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yhdYo9zhQfxmdUFs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yhdYo9zhQfxmdUFs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TwiOVquI8oRYwEcf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TwiOVquI8oRYwEcf.jpg)
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(PR) Apple Reports Second Quarter Results
Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2023 second quarter ended April 1, 2023. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $94.8 billion, down 3 percent year over year, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $1.52, unchanged year over year.

"We are pleased to report an all-time record in Services and a March quarter record for iPhone despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, and to have our installed base of active devices reach an all-time high," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We continue to invest for the long term and lead with our values, including making major progress toward building carbon neutral products and supply chains by 2030."https://tpucdn.com/img/IerFkD0JATSrb9QY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IerFkD0JATSrb9QY.jpg)
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(PR) Silicon Motion Announces Results for the Period Ended March 31, 2023
Silicon Motion Technology Corporation ("Silicon Motion", the "Company" or "we") today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. For the first quarter of 2023, net sales (GAAP) decreased sequentially to $124.1 million from $200.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Net income (GAAP) decreased to $10.2 million, or $0.30 per diluted American Depositary Share ("ADS") (GAAP), from net income (GAAP) of $23.5 million, or $0.71 per diluted ADS (GAAP), in the fourth quarter of 2022.

For the first quarter of 2023, net income (non-GAAP) decreased to $11.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted ADS (non-GAAP), from net income (non-GAAP) of $41.1 million, or $1.22 per diluted ADS (non-GAAP), in the fourth quarter of 2022.https://tpucdn.com/img/IRBy1agz4Bh0iNHX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IRBy1agz4Bh0iNHX.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

GlobalFoundries (GF) today announced the appointment of Hui Peng Koh as vice president and general manager of the company's semiconductor manufacturing facility in Malta, New York. Building on her experience in leading the 1,200 strong engineering team in Malta for the last three years, Ms. Koh is stepping up to lead GF's most advanced U.S. fab that supports a wide range of customers. She succeeds long time GF executive and industry veteran Peter Benyon who will retire in early July 2023 after more than 40 years in the semiconductor industry including being part of the GF team since the acquisition of Chartered Semiconductor in 2011.

Ms. Koh, an accomplished leader with more than 23 years of semiconductor manufacturing experience, currently serves as vice president of manufacturing engineering at GF. Prior to her current role, she was the director of lithography and held various leadership positions at the company's Malta facility. Previously, she served in several technology development roles at GF's Singapore campus. Ms. Koh earned her master's degree in materials engineering from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.https://tpucdn.com/img/UCcuovLYMRtZf83n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UCcuovLYMRtZf83n.jpg)
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(PR) Retro Throwback PS1-Style Horror Game "The Tartarus Key" Launching on May 31
A dark and stormy night, a group of strangers, and one seriously strange house... The Tartarus Key reveals its mysteries when it launches on May 31st for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox! It's been a long road getting to this point, and we're so excited to finally be able to share our game with you. The Tartarus Key is our love letter to classic horror thrillers of the PSOne era and beyond, and we hope you'll enjoy your stay inside its walls more than Alex does. (Hard to blame someone for being a little sour when they've just been kidnapped, we suppose!) You'll also be able to nab the game's original soundtrack on launch day, composed by the amazingly talented Josie Brechner (https://www.josiebrechner.com/).

Thank you to everyone for your support so far! If you haven't already, why not try downloading the game's free demo? It contains the story's opening act, and sets the stage for what's to come. Don't forget to wishlist the game as well if you haven't already! What's going on with this place? Who's behind the cameras following Alex's every move? What's up with those strange things she keeps seeing out of the corner of her eye? You'll find out very soon...



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(PR) Apricorn Launches Aegis NVX Hardware-Encrypted USB Storage Device, Boasts Read/Write Speeds of 1 GB/s
Apricorn (https://apricorn.com/), the leading manufacturer of software-free, 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted USB drives, today announced the release of the USB 10Gbs Aegis NVX. Employing proprietary architecture, The Aegis NVX is the first Apricorn encrypted device to feature an NVMe SSD inside. Initial capacity offerings will be 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB, with a price range of $339.00 - $739.00 (https://apricorn.com/aegis-nvx/) MSRP.

The NVX was conceived to address the immediate protection of raw data delivered directly from its source at high speeds, such as high-definition video cameras with the capability to write to an external SSD via USB C or HDMI. The NVX's high-speed read/write capabilities at 1,000 MB/s are sought after in the fields of military intelligence, digital forensics, filmmaking and healthcare where write speeds over 600 Mb/s are critical.https://tpucdn.com/img/5edQSwiEOHQsSiFv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5edQSwiEOHQsSiFv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/t3JexA4PVialeFY4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t3JexA4PVialeFY4.jpg)
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