TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

The stage is set and the anticipation palpable as DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO adds new names to its latest lineup of fighters. Power and speed are often worthless without precision and timing. These new characters are well aware of that. In the DRAGON BALL universe, you have encountered characters who seamlessly blend both speed and power, creating a formidable fusion of strength and agility. However, among all of them, some make their raw strength or rapid movements their defining trait. The newly revealed characters are charted below.

Producer Jun Furutani revealed more details about the game's mechanics
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO (https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/dragon-ball-sparking-zero) brings back enhanced gameplay elements that the franchise has been known and cherished for, making battles even more spectacular, faster, impressive and authentic to the anime. Evolved features such as "Skill Count", "Revenge Counter" and "Vanishing Assaults" have been added, giving chances for players to counterattack their foes, and add more strategy to their fights. As you discover more about DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, ask yourself: will you prefer raw, overwhelming power or lightning-fast agility?https://tpucdn.com/img/KgA7UZE0o747LIMW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KgA7UZE0o747LIMW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/B51bAtLAVeveGInU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B51bAtLAVeveGInU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/m5VaMJiFK0vX32Ip_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/m5VaMJiFK0vX32Ip.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ntz9cTBeiHr5H4uQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ntz9cTBeiHr5H4uQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320626/bandai-namco-showcases-dragon-ball-sparking-zero-gameplay)

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[NextPowerUP]

Mobile tech tipster, Revegnus (https://twitter.com/Tech_Reve/status/1770437398784287223), has highlighted an interesting Samsung presentation slide—according to machine translation, the company's electronics division is already responding to an anticipated growth of "client-side large language model" service development. This market trend will demand improved Universal Flash Storage (UFS) interface speeds—Samsung engineers are currently engaged in: "developing a new product that uses UFS 4.0 technology, but increases the number of channels from the current 2 to 4." The upcoming "more advanced" UFS 4.0 storage chips could be beefy enough to be utilized alongside next-gen mobile processors in 2025. For example; ARM is gearing up "Blackhawk (https://www.techpowerup.com/317948/arm-confirms-existence-of-next-gen-cortex-x-blackhawk-unit)," the Cortex-X4's successor—industry watchdogs reckon that the semiconductor firm's new core is designed to deliver "great Large Language Model (LLM) performance" on future smartphones. Samsung's roadmap outlines another major R&D goal, but this prospect is far off from finalization—their chart reveals an anticipated 2027 rollout. The slide's body of text included a brief teaser: "at the same time, we are also actively participating in discussions on the UFS 5.0 standard."https://tpucdn.com/img/wQdTIx61zek2LWyw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wQdTIx61zek2LWyw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eVRCc0sVnxlVq7CS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eVRCc0sVnxlVq7CS.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Skydance New Media, helmed by award-winning writer and director Amy Hennig, and Marvel Games today shared new details on their upcoming narrative-driven action-adventure game, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. A new trailer gives fans a sneak peek into an original story that takes players on a WWII-era adventure with an ensemble of four heroes playable at different points in the game.

As the game's narrative unfolds, players will assume the role of four central characters: a young Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America; Azzuri, T'Challa's grandfather and the WWII-era Black Panther; Gabriel Jones, a U.S. soldier and member of the Howling Commandos; and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris.https://tpucdn.com/img/8rAN4IzLPThg5h2l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8rAN4IzLPThg5h2l.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4FtDhYx3vWOFqhQP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4FtDhYx3vWOFqhQP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JX6fkH6vVnvMsyRh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JX6fkH6vVnvMsyRh.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320624/marvel-1943-rise-of-hydra-reveals-new-story-trailer)

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[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft has filed for a new and even potentially groundbreaking patent (https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/75/8d/1f/d219185f479741/US20240070960A1.pdf) that could transform the way ray tracing graphics are processed, especially when video memory (VRAM) is scarce. The patent proposes a technique to minimize the memory footprint of ray tracing graphics, tackling the escalating concerns about the growing memory demands for ray tracing and path tracing. The innovation outlined in Microsoft's patent employs a dynamic level of detail (LOD) approach to adaptively modify the quality of ray tracing effects based on accessible resources. The patent portrays the ray tracing pipeline as an acceleration structure that can be streamlined using this LOD system. The cornerstone of this optimization is a residency map that aligns with a bounding volume hierarchy of objects. The graphics processing system can then utilize this map to ascertain the suitable quality level for objects at any given moment. This methodology enables a more reasonable allocation of resources, guaranteeing that the most crucial objects receive the highest quality rendering. At the same time, less important elements can be rendered at lower quality to conserve memory.

Microsoft's patent could have far-reaching ramifications for the design and performance of upcoming GPUs. By implementing this novel LOD system, GPUs with more modest VRAM capacities, such as those with 8 GB, could provide ray tracing performance on par with higher-end models boasting larger memory buffers, given enough compute capacity. This advancement could pave the way for more budget-friendly GPUs that still deliver adequate ray tracing capabilities, making the technology more accessible. Moreover, the adaptive nature of the LOD system could contribute to a more reliable performance across diverse scenarios, as the GPU would be capable of adjusting to the available resources in real time. Microsoft's patent could emerge as a game-changer in the realm of GPU design and performance, and we are now waiting to see if any real-world implementations appear.https://tpucdn.com/img/oKFguIOfRmPuSh6g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oKFguIOfRmPuSh6g.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bCdXXmwt1d1Qfv9Q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bCdXXmwt1d1Qfv9Q.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

According to Bloomberg's latest investigation, Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) have submitted patents on the self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) pattern etching technique (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_patterning) to enable SMIC to achieve 5 nm semiconductor production. The two Chinese giants have been working with the Deep Ultra Violet (DUV) machinery to develop a pattern etching technique allowing SMIC to produce a node compliant with the US exporting rules while maintaining the density improvements from the previously announced 7 nm node. In the 7 nm process, SMIC most likely used self-aligned dual patterning (SADP) with DUV tools, but for the increased density of the 5 nm node, a doubling to SAQP is required. In semiconductor manufacturing, lithography tools take multiple turns to etch the design of the silicon wafer.

Especially with smaller nodes getting ever-increasing density requirements, it is becoming challenging to etch sub-10 nm designs using DUV tools. That is where Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) tools from ASML come into play. With EUV, the wavelengths of the lithography printers are 14 times smaller than DUV, at only 13.5 nm, compared to 193 nm of ArF immersion DUV systems. This means that without EUV, SMIC has to look into alternatives like SAQP to increase the density of its nodes and, as a result, include more complications and possibly lower yields. As an example, Intel tried to use SAQP in its first 10 nm nodes to reduce reliance on EUV, which resulted in a series of delays and complications, eventually pushing Intel into EUV. While Huawei and SMIC may develop a more efficient solution for SAQP, the use of EUV is imminent as the regular DUV can not keep up with the increasing density of semiconductor nodes. Given that ASML can't ship its EUV machinery to China, Huawei is supposedly developing its own EUV machines (https://www.techpowerup.com/302620/huawei-prepares-euv-scanner-for-sub-7-nm-chinese-chips), but will likely take a few more years to show.https://tpucdn.com/img/MQZtmTUX3hydOCf6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MQZtmTUX3hydOCf6.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Optoma, a world-leading manufacturer of large display solutions and the No. 1 4K UHD brand and the No. 1 DLP brand worldwide and in the Americas, announces three high brightness WUXGA laser projectors for the professional installation market, the ZU607TST, ZU607T, and ZU707T. With 6,000, 6,500 and 7,000 lumens of brightness, respectively, the projectors deliver stunning brightness, versatility, flexible installation, and life-like images, ideal for any professional environment.

Versatile for a variety of end-user scenarios, the ZU607T and ZU707T WUXGA laser projector series brings incredibly bright images to spaces including large venues, higher education classrooms and lecture halls, museums, houses of worship, digital signage, and immersive installations. For professionals seeking a short throw alternative, the ZU607TST has a 0.58:1 short throw ratio for up to 300-inch images, ideal for any challenging installation set-up.https://tpucdn.com/img/4ErUOSvPZRGz1721_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4ErUOSvPZRGz1721.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320773/optoma-expands-line-of-high-brightness-wuxga-professional-laser-projectors)

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[NextPowerUP]

Dynabook Americas, Inc., the gold standard for long-lasting, professional-grade laptops, today announces that it is now taking preorders for the highly anticipated E11 Series of 11.6-inch Windows 11 Pro laptops and 2-in-1 convertibles specifically engineered for education. Building upon the success of Dynabook's education business, these new K-12 student laptops offer robust features and versatility and are designed to enhance the educational experience, while better preparing students for higher education and their careers.

Shipping with plenty of time for setup and deployment for the 2024-2025 school year, Dynabook E11 laptops and E11W 2-in-1s offer unparalleled performance and durability, ensuring they meet the dynamic needs of K-12 students. With a focus on affordability and enhanced functionality, these laptops are poised to elevate hybrid learning environments.https://tpucdn.com/img/wSFTaP9ohhDV8HK8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wSFTaP9ohhDV8HK8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/U5Of21h7kZAUvdnh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U5Of21h7kZAUvdnh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7hHZPsST93usEMxZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7hHZPsST93usEMxZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cl4YjOLwGiJYmjwi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cl4YjOLwGiJYmjwi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nbLsw5aD7jKT2pta_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nbLsw5aD7jKT2pta.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320772/dynabook-e11-series-windows-11-pro-laptops-and-2-in-1s-for-k-12-education-now-available)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel and Arm have signed a memorandum of understanding that finalizes the Emerging Business Initiative, their collaboration to support the startup community. The initiative builds on the April 2023 multi-generation agreement to enable chip designers to build low-power compute system-on-chips (SoCs) on the Intel 18A process. Together, the companies will provide essential intellectual property (IP) and manufacturing support, while also making financial assistance available, to foster innovation and growth for startups developing a range of devices and servers built on Arm-based SoCs and manufactured by Intel Foundry. The Emerging Business Initiative was announced last month at Intel Foundry Direct Connect in San Jose, California.

"Intel Foundry and Arm share the belief that for technology to benefit everyone, the building blocks of innovation must be available to anyone. Startups play a crucial role in bringing the great promise of transformations like AI to reality. The Emerging Business Initiative provides a path for new companies to leverage leading-edge Arm-based SoCs and Intel Foundry's global manufacturing capabilities to make their ideas real," said Stuart Pann, Intel senior vice president and general manager of Foundry Services.https://tpucdn.com/img/ChzGul7wuvWCPJ10_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ChzGul7wuvWCPJ10.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320771/intel-and-arm-team-up-to-power-startups)

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[NextPowerUP]

Team Group, the global leading provider of premium storage solutions, announced the launch of two new lightweight solutions today: the PD20M Mag Portable SSD, exclusively designed by Team Group and MagSafe compatible, and the ULTRA CR-I MicroSD Memory Card Reader. Starting the year strong with leading technology and innovative product design capabilities, Team Group continues to provide users with novel and compact solutions to meet diverse application needs.

The Team Group PD20M Mag External SSD is a storage device exclusively developed by Team Group, MagSafe compatible, making it a perfect fit for mobile devices. It has excellent portability, weighing only 40 g and measuring 70 mm in length, 62 mm in width, and ultra-thin at just 8.2 mm. With a maximum storage capacity of 2 TB, it is capable of continuous 4K 60 FPS recording for up to 144 minutes when recording in ProRes format. The PD20M Mag External SSD utilizes a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C interface, is compatible with the Apple iPhone 15 Pro series, and supports Thunderbolt interface ports. Whether connecting to a desktop or laptop running Windows or macOS, it can achieve a maximum transfer speed of 20 Gbps, effortlessly and efficiently handling user data transfer needs.https://tpucdn.com/img/FuBk4DGzDHT4Bft9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FuBk4DGzDHT4Bft9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4EVZvDuf5HCuzzBE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4EVZvDuf5HCuzzBE.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320770/team-group-unveils-ultra-cr-i-microsd-memory-card-reader)

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[NextPowerUP]

Perfect Fitting - in white? The new Eiszapfen high-end version complements the popular fitting series. Alphacool's Eiszapfen are characterized by high flow, attractive design and solid manufacturing. They are developed and produced without compromise, which guarantees a secure and stable fit for HardTubes. To ensure their longevity and to preserve the colors permanently, a special coating is applied to the surface to prevent the color from flaking off. The uniqueness of the Alphacool connectors is emphasized further by the distinctive logo on each fitting. The white Alphacool Eiszapfen L-connectors rotatable G1/4 male to G1/4 female are offered in packs of 4 and are, like the Alphacool Eiszapfen 13 mm HardTube screw-on grommet 90° rotatable G1/4 and the Alphacool Eiszapfen 16 mm HardTube screw-on grommet 90° rotatable G1/4, now available in the online store.https://tpucdn.com/img/cxsUz1408oo3GcBg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cxsUz1408oo3GcBg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DnjKMiR5VwqBxxxS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DnjKMiR5VwqBxxxS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/irkaUdCIvPMuBPvy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/irkaUdCIvPMuBPvy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oHKG3CHFxgOxGXOb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oHKG3CHFxgOxGXOb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/h1SOOQbo6LcDpjXw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/h1SOOQbo6LcDpjXw.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

GameSir, a leading brand in gaming peripherals, introduces the GameSir Nova Lite, a revolutionary multi-platform gaming controller that redefines the gaming experience. Featuring cutting-edge technology, including anti-drift Hall effect sticks and tri-mode connectivity, these controllers offer unparalleled precision, versatility, and affordability. Embracing the motto "Just In Game", GameSir is dedicated to providing gamers with a superior gaming experience through its exceptionally cost-effective controllers. The Nova Lite is available for £29.99/$24.99 from Amazon UK, Amazon and the GameSir website.

The GameSir Nova Lite offers an affordable yet exceptional gaming experience. Equipped with Hall effect sticks, analogue triggers, 20 Hz Turbo function and 2 motors in the grips, it caters to gamers' requirements without compromising on performance or quality. The Nova Lite is also featured packed with anti-drift GameSir Hall effect sticks for long lifespan and tri-mode connectivity for hassle-free gaming. The Lite also includes a 20 Hz turbo function with customizable buttons, providing a convenient way to enhance gameplay with faster response times. In addition, the Nova Lite includes a multi-function M button, offering control over vibration intensity, ABXY layout, and sticks' dead zone to seamlessly adjust various settings as and when required with ease.https://tpucdn.com/img/5mhvYXCEaGRf5FnT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5mhvYXCEaGRf5FnT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/au01hAXhx7dJRPDc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/au01hAXhx7dJRPDc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9FycX7EqQXnk3XMt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9FycX7EqQXnk3XMt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fIXDqydSDJlWbuOJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fIXDqydSDJlWbuOJ.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to the 13th and luckiest week of the year, which is also the last week of March and Easter Week in many countries. Fortunately, we're still getting a ton of new games this week, most of which are released on Tuesday for some strange reason. This week's major release is from strategy game experts Paradox Interactive and it's one of several strategy games this week. The remaining game releases this week includes a cosy MMO, robots, a new take on a city builder, some familiar faces that are up to no good as usual, some necromancing, divine heroes and a spice grinder.

Millennia (https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/games/millennia/about) / This week's major release / Tuesday 26 March
Create your own nation in Millennia, a historical turn-based 4X game that challenges your strategic prowess across 10,000 years of history, from the dawn of humanity to our possible futures. Set the course of history and experience different timelines in every playthrough as you write an epic story through your actions. Lead your people through times of crisis and ages of discovery, face great challenges and opportunities, and build a civilization that prospers through the ages. Steam Link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1268590/Millennia/)https://tpucdn.com/img/nIDQc439AdCNs0ol_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nIDQc439AdCNs0ol.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6SrnboJJu4VrfWse_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6SrnboJJu4VrfWse.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YG1Gknuvfk9TbPsy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YG1Gknuvfk9TbPsy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4ld8yrkDmXvdFmJA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4ld8yrkDmXvdFmJA.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Hooded Horse (https://hoodedhorse.com/) has announced that the early access launch of upcoming turn-based strategy game Breachway (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2118810/Breachway/) is delayed until July. The development team at Edgeflow Studio wants to take some extra time to add additional features, polish existing ones, and ensure the initial launch offering is as strong as it can be. Breachway recently had a successful run during the February 2024 edition of Steam Next Fest, becoming one of the top 50 most-played demos in an event that featured over 1,000 games and breaking the 100,000 wishlists (https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2118810/view/4170966494042727556) threshold.

Hooded Horse is committed to ensuring its development partners get all the time they need to fully realize their creative visions and is proud to support its games through every twist and turn. Further information on Breachway's new release timetable will be shared at a later date. Breachway will release into early access for PC via Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2118810/Breachway/), GOG (https://www.gog.com/en/game/breachway), and the Epic Games Store (https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/breachway-aa1bbf) in 2024.https://tpucdn.com/img/FJQEerk6ZD7OTw9d_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FJQEerk6ZD7OTw9d.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hGZUdVUtYZddBV9b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hGZUdVUtYZddBV9b.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HDL2BXx5VstfJEbz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HDL2BXx5VstfJEbz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/njwtK7737FXYNGN5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/njwtK7737FXYNGN5.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

KeysOff celebrates the onset of Spring with the 2024 Spring Sale. Spring-clean your IT setup, whether it's just a single PC, or a home-office with up to five. Get Windows 11 Pro, the most powerful PC operating system, for just $15.03. Office 2021 Professional Plus, the most powerful productivity suite, can be had for just $30.53. Better yet, combine the two for $40.69. Save more when you buy multipacks. Check out great deals on other editions of Windows and Office, and their combos.

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Check out great deals on system utilities you may want.Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320708/keysoff-presents-spring-sale-on-genuine-software-up-to-62-off)

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[NextPowerUP]

Qualcomm's "Windows on Snapdragon, a Platform Ready for your PC Games (https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/windows-on-snapdragon-a-platform-ready-for-your-pc-games-presented-by-qualcomm-technologies/903916)" GDC presentation attracted a low number of attendees according to The Verge's Sean Hollister (https://www.theverge.com/24107331/qualcomm-gdc-2024-snapdragon-on-windows-games) (senior editor). The semiconductor firm is readying its Snapdragon X Elite mobile chipset family for launch around mid-2024—prototypes and reference devices (https://www.techpowerup.com/320240/qualcomm-snapdragon-x-elite-benchmarked-against-intel-core-ultra-7-155h) have been popping up lately. Leaked Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge specs (https://www.techpowerup.com/320192/snapdragon-x-elite-powered-samsung-galaxy-book-4-edge-to-compete-with-m3-macbooks-in-pricing) suggest that Qualcomm's ARM-based solution is ready to take on Apple's M3 chipset series. Gaming is not a major priority for many owners of slimline notebooks, but Apple has made efforts (https://www.techpowerup.com/309893/apple-game-porting-toolkit-brings-directx-12-titles-to-macos) to unleash some of its silicon's full potential in that area. Snapdragon Studios' GDC showcase outlined a promising future for their X Elite chips—according to Hollister's coverage of the GDC session, Qualcomm's principal engineer told "game developers (that) their titles should already work on a wave of upcoming Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops—no porting required."

Issam Khalil's presentation covered three different porting paths: x64 emulation, ARM64, and a hybrid approach (via an "ARM64EC" driver). He demonstrated tools that will be available for games developers to start enabling titles on Windows + Snapdragon platforms. The Snapdragon X Elite is capable of running x86/64 games at "close to full speed" via emulation, as claimed in presentation slides. Khalil posits that developers are not required to change the code or assets of their games to achieve full speed performance. Adreno GPU drivers have been prepped for DX11, DX12, Vulkan, and OpenCL—mapping layers (https://github.com/microsoft/D3D9On12) were utilized to grant support for DX9 and OpenGL (up to v4.6). Specific titles were not highlighted as fully operational on Snapdragon X Elite-based devices, but the team has spent time combing through "top games" on Steam.https://tpucdn.com/img/q030q1w4lJsUl6bX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q030q1w4lJsUl6bX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6m20RY28b4ELEqJr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6m20RY28b4ELEqJr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/maeZd4Mo2RXrVQch_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/maeZd4Mo2RXrVQch.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Without making much noise, AMD lifted the memory overclocking limits of the Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics card with its latest Adrenalin 24.3.1 WHQL drivers, TechPowerUp found. The changelog is a bit vague and states "The maximum memory tuning limit may be incorrectly reported on AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics products."—we tested it. The RX 7900 GRE has been around since mid-2023, but gained prominence as the company gave it a global launch in February 2024, to help AMD better compete with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super. Before this, the RX 7900 GRE had started out its lifecycle as a special edition product confined to China, and its designers had ensured that it came with just the right performance positioning that didn't end up disrupting other products in the AMD stack. One of these limitations had to do with the memory overclocking potential, which was probably put in place to ensure that the RX 7900 GRE has a near-identical total board power as the RX 7800 XT.

Shortly after the global launch of the RX 7900 GRE, and responding to drama online, AMD declared the limited memory overclocking range a bug and promised a fix. The overclocking limits are defined in the graphics card VBIOS (https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/266155/powercolor-rx7900gre-16384-230906), so increasing those limits would mean shipping BIOS updates for over a dozen SKUs from all the major vendors, and requiring users to upgrade it by themselves. Such a solution isn't very practical, so AMD implemented a clock limit override in their new drivers, which reprograms the power limits on the GPU during boot-up. Nicely done, good job AMD!https://tpucdn.com/img/Pbfsr82sGbTR51ue_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Pbfsr82sGbTR51ue.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IpHtIKQBwffV6hg4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IpHtIKQBwffV6hg4.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320715/amd-24-3-1-drivers-unlock-rx-7900-gre-memory-oc-limits-additional-performance-boost-tested)

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[NextPowerUP]

Assassin's Creed Mirage (https://assassinscreedmirage.com/) was envisioned as an homage to its franchise—a celebration of how it began and what it accomplished between 2007's Assassin's Creed and 2023's Mirage. Beginning as an idea for a DLC expansion that would take Eivor to the Middle East, it grew into a standalone prequel starring Basim, the enigmatic Hidden One from Valhalla. Developed as a shorter experience by Ubisoft Bordeaux, the return-to-roots game presented a distinctive set of challenges, which are explored in the March 22 GDC (https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/between-legacy-and-modernity-creating-an-homage-game-to-the-15-year-old-assassins-creed-franchise/899490) talk "Between Legacy and Modernity: Creating an Homage Game to the 15-Year-Old Assassin's Creed Franchise."

During the talk, Creative Director Stéphane Boudon and Lead Producer Fabian Salomon discuss the game's beginnings, its growth into a "remoot"—that is, something between a remake and a reboot - and how a streamlined approach helped them make tough choices and focus the game on the Assassin experience. To find out more, we spoke with Boudon and Salomon about some of the early concepts behind the game, a few features that didn't make the cut, and how Mirage re-introduced and redefined stealth as a gameplay pillar.https://tpucdn.com/img/yXMOrkvNA0H7XGON_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yXMOrkvNA0H7XGON.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kh7Om9dYiNbpqbyi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kh7Om9dYiNbpqbyi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mnVeyQ5Ey4MhwziL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mnVeyQ5Ey4MhwziL.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320701/ubisoft-at-gdc-how-assassins-creed-mirage-grew-from-dlc-to-full-game)

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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA completed its last round of GeForce NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPU refreshes at the very end of January (https://www.techpowerup.com/318529/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4080-super-starts-selling-at-usd-999)—new evidence suggests that another wave is scheduled for imminent release. MEGAsizeGPU (https://twitter.com/Zed__Wang/status/1770710099520024971) has acquired and shared a tabulated list of new Ada Lovelace GPU variants—the trusted leaker's post presents a timetable that was supposed to kick off within the second half of this month. First up is the GeForce RTX 4070 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4070.c3924) GPU, with a current designation of AD104-251—the leaked table suggests that a new variant, AD103-175-KX, is due very soon (or overdue). Wccftech (https://wccftech.com/nvidia-readies-new-ada-gpu-skus-geforce-rtx-4070-4060-ti-4060-graphics-cards/) pointed out that the new ID was previously linked to NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4070-super.c4186) SKU. Moving into April, next up is the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4060-ti-8-gb.c3890)—jumping from the current AD106-351 die to a new unit; AD104-150-KX. The third adjustment (allegedly) affects the GeForce RTX 4060 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4060.c4107)—going from AD107-400 to AD106-255, also timetabled for next month. MEGAsizeGPU reckons that Team Green will be swapping chips, but not rolling out broadly adjusted specifications—a best case scenario could include higher CUDA, RT, and Tensor core counts. According to VideoCardz, the new die designations have popped up in freshly released official driver notes—it is inferred that the variants are getting an "under the radar" launch treatment.https://tpucdn.com/img/FpHFLqBiXlVMVtS5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FpHFLqBiXlVMVtS5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cyAzfg9oO7oBG3Ct_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cyAzfg9oO7oBG3Ct.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ty5svARCB4awOVRU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ty5svARCB4awOVRU.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Hi everyone, we're thrilled for our PC community to join Aloy on her journey as she braves the Forbidden West—a majestic but dangerous frontier that conceals mysterious new threats. That's right, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition has launched on PC. Horizon Forbidden West continues six months after the events of the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn. Vicious superstorms rage. The land is dying. Machine hunter Aloy has traveled west to investigate the source of a mysterious blight that ravages the remnants of humanity. In these uncharted lands, she will meet strange new tribes and face ever more deadly colossal machines. Together with old friends and new companions, she must brave this awe-inspiring frontier to find the answers she needs, halt the biosphere's imminent collapse, and save life on Earth.

Unlocked frame rates, ultra-wide support up to 48:9 resolutions and performance-enhancing technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 3 AI-powered upscaling and frame generation allow PC players to experience Aloy's journey in its full glory on compatible hardware. NVIDIA DLAA is available to help maximize image quality. The game also comes with NVIDIA Reflex, reducing system latency and improving gameplay responsiveness. Intel XeSS and AMD FSR 2.2 upscaling is also supported. The team at Nixxes (https://www.nixxes.com/) is working on an update to add AMD FSR 3 with frame generation.https://tpucdn.com/img/xlTD3d6M76GnN94i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xlTD3d6M76GnN94i.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KqxSxdQ3ebcMU4uQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KqxSxdQ3ebcMU4uQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Cj04gy0efexkAHIN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Cj04gy0efexkAHIN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O9apxxhogV1UovMn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O9apxxhogV1UovMn.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Dr. Lisa Su introduced AMD's "next-gen AMD Ryzen" processor series during a recent presentation at the Beijing AI PC Innovation Summit—this announcement confirms that Team Red's RDNA 3+ (AKA 3.5) graphics technology is destined to arrive (on board) with the launch of "Strix Point" processors. Product roadmaps remain unchanged—when compared to slides from last December (https://www.techpowerup.com/316437/amd-announces-xdna-2-npu-architecture-for-next-gen-strix-point-mobile-processors-arriving-in-2024)—AMD still anticipates a 2024 launch window. China has been introduced to current-gen "Hawk Point" Ryzen 8040 mobile and 8000G (AM5) desktop processors—key AMD personnel presented a variety of products, including region-specific budget options (https://www.techpowerup.com/320689/amd-debuts-ryzen-7-8700f-ryzen-5-8400f-skus-at-beijing-ai-pc-summit).

David Wang, SVP of GPU Technology and Engineering R&D, covered the RDNA 3+ and XDNA 2 architectures (very briefly) during his on-stage appearance—he dedicated most of his attention to current-gen "Hawk Point" processors. The Strix Point integrated solution—a GFX1150 target—has been linked to "RDNA 3.5" for a while, a lot of this information was gleaned from publicly visible AMD patch notices. The latest Team Red software engineering activities indicate that Zen 5 CPU enablement (https://www.techpowerup.com/320510/amd-zen-5-znver5-cpu-enablement-spotted-in-change-notes) is nearing a possible finish line.https://tpucdn.com/img/YYby5eXCOSYaueLy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YYby5eXCOSYaueLy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Fuc9O89NvUFPoK08_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Fuc9O89NvUFPoK08.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZSspussvZDKCGKur_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZSspussvZDKCGKur.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Obsidian Entertainment's Alpha Protocol (https://www.obsidian.net/games/alpha-protocol) was removed from Valve's Steam store back in 2019, due to an expiration of music rights. The Irvine, California-headquartered developer has worked quietly on a re-release of their third-person sci-fi espionage ARPG (originally launched back in 2010) alongside Sega and GOG. A DRM-free version is now available to purchase on CD Projekt's digital distribution platform—in upgraded form; involved parties have sought to improve performance on modern PCs. An achievements system has been added, along with support for all sorts of present day controller inputs (PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox). A cloud save feature has been implemented as well, but more goodies could be on the way—as teased in Raycevick's featurette (viewable below).

The team at GOG has admitted (to PC Gamer (https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/5-years-after-it-was-yanked-off-stores-gogs-bringing-underrated-spy-rpg-alpha-protocol-in-from-the-cold-with-fewer-crashes-and-new-achievements/)) that it took longer than expected to get Alpha Protocol relaunched—the "very long release" is the product of half a year of work. Zuzanna Rybacka—Communication Specialist at GOG/Projekt—stated that the game's relaunch is part of their initiative of: "going back to our core, to bringing back classics…basically, our point (is) to not let all those games that would go to perish, and make them accessible for younger generations." The store's main message/vibe of "Good Old Games" has been diluted in recent years, due to a platforming of very modern titles—GOG started to pivot back to that core philosophy two years ago, with a "return to its roots (https://www.pcgamer.com/gog-is-returning-to-its-good-old-games-roots/)." The reappearance of Alpha Protocol is only one example of their fortified campaign to bring back classic games.https://tpucdn.com/img/EuHSvykyDjdWluex_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EuHSvykyDjdWluex.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tImjRP1vYlB6X3Ny_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tImjRP1vYlB6X3Ny.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wTN8WefDcLYX82Fy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wTN8WefDcLYX82Fy.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

A team of academic researchers has uncovered a critical vulnerability in Apple M-series CPUs targeting data memory-dependent prefetcher (DMP) that could allow attackers to extract secret encryption keys from Macs. The flaw, called GoFetch, is based on the microarchitecture design of the Apple Silicon, which means that it cannot be directly patched and poses a significant risk to users' data security. The vulnerability affects all Apple devices powered by M-series chips, including the popular M1 and M2 generations. The M3 generation can turn a special bit off to disable DMP, potentially hindering performance. The DMP, designed to optimize performance by preemptively loading data that appears to be a pointer, violates a fundamental requirement of constant-time programming by mixing data and memory access patterns. This creates an exploitable side channel that attackers can leverage to extract secret keys.

To execute the GoFetch attack, attackers craft specific inputs for cryptographic operations, ensuring that pointer-like values only appear when they have correctly guessed bits of the secret key. By monitoring the DMP's dereference behavior through cache-timing analysis, attackers can verify their guesses and gradually unravel the entire secret key. The researchers demonstrated successful end-to-end key extraction attacks on popular constant-time implementations of both classical and post-quantum cryptography, highlighting the need for a thorough reevaluation of the constant-time programming paradigm in light of this new vulnerability.https://tpucdn.com/img/5wpEZVKxWrL3v5qt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5wpEZVKxWrL3v5qt.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320693/apple-m-series-cpus-affected-by-gofetch-unpatchable-cryptographic-vulnerability)

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[NextPowerUP]

Thermaltake today introduced the S250 TG ARGB, a mid-tower case with a unique expansion slot feature, and the ability to mount large 420 mm radiators. The case comes in two color variants—black and white. It is characterized by a large mesh intake along the front, with three pre-installed 140 mm ARGB-illuminated fans. These can make way for a large 420 mm x 140 mm radiator, or something smaller. The case features a conventional horizontally-partitioned layout. The upper compartment with the motherboard tray offers room of up to 40 cm for graphics cards (with nothing in the way, or at least 32 cm with a radiator in place); and CPU coolers up to 16.5 cm in height. The PSU bay in the bottom compartment has clearance for 22 cm.

Right next to the motherboard tray are two 120 mm fan mounts that point toward right side panel, which is perforated in that area. You can mount another 240 mm x 120 mm radiator here. The top panel has an additional three 120 mm vents, and a 360 mm x 120 mm radiator can be mounted here. A unique aspect of this case is that its 7 expansion slots can be rotated 90° to create vertical slots, so you can vertically mount a graphics card that's as thick as 5 slots (think ASUS x Noctua RTX 4080). The drive cage in the bottom compartment holds two 3.5-inch drives, or two 2.5-inch drives, there are two additional 2.5-inch mounts. The left side panel is made of 4 mm-thick tempered glass. Front-panel connectivity includes two type-A USB 3.2 ports, and a 4-pole headset jack. The case measures 218 mm x 462 mm x 490 mm (W x D x H). The company didn't reveal pricing.https://tpucdn.com/img/mrbAFlBkz4ByiBxH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mrbAFlBkz4ByiBxH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/M8Ettp9WP9uzwhRm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/M8Ettp9WP9uzwhRm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SifnVW1QVcR0MYr9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SifnVW1QVcR0MYr9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lnTTLSzYO0lEDmEN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lnTTLSzYO0lEDmEN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aLpfRPv4VtbdDlZS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aLpfRPv4VtbdDlZS.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, proudly presents the CVN B650M GAMING FROZEN motherboard. This motherboard is our first AMD AM5 motherboard that supports the AMD Ryzen 7000 Series and the latest AMD Ryzen 8000 Series processors that feature the groundbreaking AMD Ryzen AI technology as well as support for AVX-512.

The CVN B650M GAMING FROZEN supports the latest AMD Ryzen 8000G Series APUs with AMD Ryzen AI technology. It also supports the AMD Ryzen 7000 and AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D Series processors with 3D V-Cache Technology, as well as support for the future AM5 processors. AMD Ryzen AI brings the power of personal computing closer to you on an AI PC, unlocking a whole new level of efficiencies for work, collaboration, and innovation so that you can stay connected better with the world around you.https://tpucdn.com/img/2TROpVtP7fWchF0b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2TROpVtP7fWchF0b.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3xaVTqnHMyimOvAY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3xaVTqnHMyimOvAY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/W57l93bnOZ017lih_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/W57l93bnOZ017lih.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/u4vQ7wBdDX6jXgW5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/u4vQ7wBdDX6jXgW5.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

While Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud Drive are beloved by many, they can end up costing you hundreds over a lifetime. If you're looking for a more sustainable storage solution, you should check out Koofr. With a one-time payment, you can own a 1 TB cloud for life and it's on sale at StackSocial for $129.99 (reg. $810) with code KOOFR.

Koofr is a high-rated cloud storage platform with 290+ positive reviews. Most buyers rave about its incredible lifetime value, and we'd have to agree: With other cloud storage solutions, you're paying around $10 each month which adds up to $120 every year; while, with Koofr, you only have to pay $129.99 once for lifetime use (https://stacksocial.com/sales/koofr-cloud-storage-plans-lifetime-subscription-1tb?utm_source=techpowerup.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=koofr-cloud-storage-plans-lifetime-subscription-1tb&utm_term=scsf-587144&utm_content=a0xRn0000005LYWIA2&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er) with code KOOFR at checkout. Your 1 TB cloud is capable of holding around 250,000 photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million document pages. If this seems like an excess, remember that this space is intended to cover your needs for life.https://tpucdn.com/img/uF1fCrUTeqkwO72W_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uF1fCrUTeqkwO72W.jpg)
Stop renting your cloud storage and own 1 TB for life with Koofr, now $129.99 (reg. $810) (https://stacksocial.com/sales/koofr-cloud-storage-plans-lifetime-subscription-1tb?utm_source=techpowerup.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=koofr-cloud-storage-plans-lifetime-subscription-1tb&utm_term=scsf-587144&utm_content=a0xRn0000005LYWIA2&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er) with code KOOFR at checkout.Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320662/this-dropbox-alternative-is-only-usd-129-99-for-lifetime-use)

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[NextPowerUP]

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, introduces its next generation of video conferencing monitors. The VG2457V and VG2757V-2K docking monitors are available in 24- and 27-inch sizes and were developed with exceptional video conferencing features for enhanced productivity and security.

The VG2457V and VG2757V-2K come with Zoom and Windows Hello certified, 5MP pop-up webcam, which offers convenient facial recognition for a password-free, safe, single user sign-on and reliable video conferencing. Additional features include adjustable LED lighting, microphone, and front-facing 5 W speakers to ensure clear audio and optimal visual positioning. Both these monitors offer immense flexibility and functionality, whether working from home or in the office.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ja5YiTJGdsdtOFfv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ja5YiTJGdsdtOFfv.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320935/viewsonic-launches-vg2457v-and-vg2757v-2k-monitors-with-videoconferencing-features)

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[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft, Intel, and AMD are attempting to jumpstart demand in the PC industry again, under the aegis of the AI PC—devices with native acceleration for AI workloads. Both Intel and AMD have mobile processors with on-silicon NPUs (neural processing units), which are designed to accelerate the first wave of AI-enhanced client experiences on Windows 11 23H2. Microsoft's bulwark with democratizing AI has been Copilot, as a licensee of Open AI GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Dali, and other generative AI tools from the Open AI stable. Copilot is currently Microsoft's most heavily invested application, with its most capital and best minds mobilized to making it the most popular AI assistant. Microsoft even pushed for the AI PC designator to PC OEMs, which requires them to have a dedicated Copilot key akin to the Start key (we'll see how anti-competition regulators deal with that).

The problem with Microsoft's tango with Intel and AMD to push AI PCs, is that Copilot doesn't really use an NPU, not even at the edge—you input a query or a prompt, and Copilot hands it over to a cloud-based AI service. This is about to change, with Microsoft announcing that Copilot will be able to run locally on AI PCs. Microsoft identified several kinds of Copilot use-cases that an NPU can handle on-device, which should speed up response times to Copilot queries, but this requires the NPU to have at least 40 TOPS of performance. This is a problem for the current crop of processors with NPUs. Intel's Core Ultra "Meteor Lake" has an AI Boost NPU with 10 TOPS on tap, while the Ryzen 8040 "Hawk Point" is only slightly faster, with a 16 TOPS Ryzen AI NPU. AMD has already revealed that the XDNA 2-based 2nd Generation Ryzen AI NPU in its upcoming "Strix Point" processors will come with over 40 TOPS of performance, and it stands to reason that the NPUs in Intel's "Arrow Lake" or "Lunar Lake" processors are comparable in performance; which should enable on-device Copilot.https://tpucdn.com/img/KCGeBYC6wjcvjBSf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KCGeBYC6wjcvjBSf.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

MSI today introduced the MAG 274UPF E2, a 27-inch monitor offering 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution, and a high refresh-rate thanks to its Rapid IPS panel. From the looks of it, this is a "lite" variant of the MPG 274URF (https://www.techpowerup.com/320829/msi-outs-mpg-274urf-qd-4k-160-hz-gaming-monitor) that the company unveiled earlier this week, since the two appear to feature the same body design, and mostly the same specs sheet, with the exception of Quantum Dot and USB-C PD single cable input for the MPG display.

The supposedly more affordable MAG 274UPF E2 still gives you 4K Ultra HD with an impressive 160 Hz refresh-rate, and 0.5 ms (GTG) response time, VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, VESA Adaptive Sync support, 178° viewing angles, and wide color gamut with its 10 bpc (1.07 billion colors) palette. Display inputs are similar to the MPG 274URF, with a DisplayPort 1.4a (needed for 4K @ 160 Hz), two HDMI 2.1, and USB-C. Unlike with the MPG 274URF, the USB-C input on the MAC 274UPF doesn't support 65 W PD, and hence single-cable operation isn't possible, you'll need to plug in the display to its own AC source. The company didn't reveal pricing.https://tpucdn.com/img/TPCU5IuHCXcsGfLt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TPCU5IuHCXcsGfLt.jpg)

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GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, proudly introduced the new AORUS and HWiNFO co-branded proprietary OSD feature, which demonstrates again GIGABYTE's devotion to delivering premium PC user experience. ⁠GIGABYTE collaborated with HWiNFO in 2023 to launch a co-branded version featuring the exclusive AORUS theme.

Taking user experience as the top priority, GIGABYTE aims further to provide all PC users with a neat and friendly OSD (On-Screen Display) function with easy setup. Consequently, GIGABYTE deepened its partnership with HWiNFO to introduce the AORUS and HWiNFO co-branded OSD feature with no need for additional software installation. It can display values as text or graphs in an overlay or independent window, as well as within full-screen applications or games. This provides users with another convenient and free-of-charge option other than existing OSD software in the market.https://tpucdn.com/img/ittEZxwTK3pBz98U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ittEZxwTK3pBz98U.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Nv9QMLMQZHHBMPOR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Nv9QMLMQZHHBMPOR.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320930/new-aorus-and-hwinfo-co-branded-osd-takes-your-pc-experience-to-the-next-level)

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Microsoft, in a patent application, revealed that it is developing a new pixel dimming technology that allows software to control the brightness of specific regions of a compatible display, to greatly enhance realism. Put simply, this is a means for software to tell a display to increase the brightness of specific pixels of a display, while dimming others.

This is accomplished more easily on some display types, such as OLED, where each pixel is its own source of illumination. LCDs rely on backlit illumination from usually no more than a hundred LEDs, and so they're not capable of this technology, at least the way Microsoft describes it. Patent applications tend to have oversimplified language, and here, Microsoft describes how a component called an EM gate driver sends a PWM signal to pixels to adjust their brightness. All modern displays rely on the concept of PWM to adjust brightness, where the number of pulses of energy in a time period define how bright a display gets; and so Microsoft's language is rather vague. What's important, though, is that the company is claiming that it found a way to dim individual pixels. The patent application was originally filed in 2022, but published on March 21, 2024.https://tpucdn.com/img/whVR9swBJYwHsa51_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/whVR9swBJYwHsa51.jpg)

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NetEase Games and Marvel Games are excited to announce their latest collaboration: Marvel Rivals, a cooperative, Super Hero team-based PVP shooter! Players can assemble an ever-evolving all-star squad of Super Heroes and Super Villains, while battling with unique super powers across a dynamic lineup of destructible maps from across the Marvel Multiverse. Marvel Rivals is in development for PC by a NetEase team composed of global talent, who previously worked on hit franchises such as Call of Duty and Battlefield.

"We are overjoyed to bring Marvel Rivals to players around the world. We have always loved Marvel's universe and its characters, and we are so excited to be developing this game," said the Marvel Rivals Producer Stephen Wu. "This is the game we want to make, and we feel very lucky to be the team who made all of this come true."https://tpucdn.com/img/l8vyBDDWdS42HJSZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l8vyBDDWdS42HJSZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fyCpn4D4z2HnvblX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fyCpn4D4z2HnvblX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mAQmvbpuRO3ZNerF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mAQmvbpuRO3ZNerF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FoFHrUH74sZ6oxBy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FoFHrUH74sZ6oxBy.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/320926/marvel-rivals-pvp-shooter-boasts-incredible-lineup-of-marvel-characters)

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