TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

It looks like the end of the console-exclusive era is marching ever forward. On the one hand, more game studios are embracing simultaneous launch strategies, as was recently emphasized by both Square Enix (https://www.techpowerup.com/328407/the-console-exclusive-era-draws-to-a-close-as-square-enix-joins-ubisoft-in-simultaneous-release-strategy) and Ubisoft (https://www.techpowerup.com/326980/ubisoft-shakes-up-assassins-creed-shadows-launch-with-day-1-steam-release-and-no-season-pass) adopting multi-platform simultaneous launches for Fantasian Neo Dimension and Assassin's Creed Shadows, respectively. The latest game to join this trend is Outer Worlds 2 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1449110/The_Outer_Worlds_2), which will launch on all platforms—Xbox Series S|X, Windows, PlayStation 5, and even Game Pass—simultaneously in late 2025. The surprising bit about the multi-platform launch of The Outer Worlds 2 is that Microsoft purchased Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds, leading many to believe that future games in the franchise would be Xbox/Windows-first. While the original Outer Worlds was released after Microsoft bought Obsidian, the launch contract predates the acquisition, so it also had a simultaneous launch, regardless of Microsoft's ownership.

In addition to the swathe of new games embracing multiple simultaneous platform launches, Jez Cordon (https://x.com/JezCorden/status/1867407921199362372), executive editor at Windows Central and well-regarded source for gaming rumors, recently also sparked rumors with a post on X suggesting that no future games developed by Microsoft or its subsidiary studios will be permanent console exclusives. In a reply to a comment criticizing Microsoft for seemingly keeping some games on Xbox and others not, Cordon said "They don't. They're all coming to PlayStation over time."https://tpucdn.com/img/kXIKC6ZgR7PoMAEp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kXIKC6ZgR7PoMAEp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/anYaj3Sli5tjLTEb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/anYaj3Sli5tjLTEb.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329889/rumors-of-end-to-xbox-only-exclusives-swirl-as-more-game-studios-embrace-simultaneous-launch-strategy)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329889/rumors-of-end-to-xbox-only-exclusives-swirl-as-more-game-studios-embrace-simultaneous-launch-strategy)

[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to the second to last full week of the year of 2024 and hopefully the last week in the office for most of you. This week's major release revolves around Xenomorphs, but unfortunately requires a VR-headset, but if you've been nice, maybe Santa will bring you one? The rest of this week's new releases turns you into an animal detective, being in charge of a pirate ship, being a young car mechanic in Poland in the 90's, a viking adventure in the netherworld and finally trying to solve some late night crimes in the Victorian era.

Alien: Rogue Incursion (https://alienrogueincursion.com/) / This week's major release / Thursday 19 December / VR Game
Experience the universe of the Alien films like never before: in terrifyingly immersive single-player VR. An all-new action-horror entry into the classic franchise, Alien: Rogue Incursion transforms you into Zula Hendricks-the ex-Colonial Marine hellbent on exposing Weyland-Yutani's black-site experiments-on an extremely dangerous mission to the uncharted planet Purdan. With her synth companion Davis 01 for guidance, Zula must infiltrate the infested Gemini Exoplanet Solutions research facility and survive the ever-present threat of the most cunning Xenomorphs ever encountered, with both skilled stealth and serious firepower at her disposal. And when the threat she discovers has extinction-level consequences, Zula suddenly finds herself with humanity's fate on her shoulders. Steam link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1850050/Alien_Rogue_Incursion/)https://tpucdn.com/img/oHmozGznURY1Bw9v_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oHmozGznURY1Bw9v.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TUBc3FGWllVH93dp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TUBc3FGWllVH93dp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6hfjaUAty3TCPS1g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6hfjaUAty3TCPS1g.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ohcUXG1n9NXhSrJV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ohcUXG1n9NXhSrJV.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329881/this-week-in-gaming-week-51)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329881/this-week-in-gaming-week-51)

[NextPowerUP]

There is no shortage of mini PC enthusiasts who simply do not require excessive computing horsepower. For such people with modest performance demands, the Acemagic V1 mini PC will likely be an excellent choice. Measuring just 3.9 x 3.9x 1.18 inches, the V1 mini PC is truly compact indeed.

However, as indicated previously, the V1 mini PC sports extremely humble internals. The system is powered by the Intel N150 processor, which boasts 4 cores and 4 threads with a paltry 6 watt TDP. While by no means performant enough for hefty workloads, the N150 should likely be more than enough to power through e-mails, web browsing, content consumption and the like. Interestingly, the V1 does feature active cooling, which is surely welcome, but it may disappoint those expecting the V1 to be a fanless system.https://tpucdn.com/img/UU9k0RqT5ZxelhOV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UU9k0RqT5ZxelhOV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O6WFau4nK38IffEv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O6WFau4nK38IffEv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/McMUcidOydEyZWc5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/McMUcidOydEyZWc5.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329869/acemagic-unveils-v1-mini-pc-with-compact-0-33-liter-chassis)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329869/acemagic-unveils-v1-mini-pc-with-compact-0-33-liter-chassis)

[NextPowerUP]

Modders never rest. From one wild experiment to the next, nothing can escape the relentless creativity—sometimes for no reason and often with excess—of a modder. PenBar, a Chinese entity, has introduced a new janky-looking gaming laptop dubbed the BBook AI Original Edition, which is basically a Sony PlayStation 5 stuffed into a laptop-shaped enclosure with a display slapped on top.

Unsurprisingly, the whole project required a substantial number of modifications. Even then, there is barely any true laptop functionality in the product. For starters, the system cannot be used unless plugged into a wall, and for good reason - there is no battery inside. Oh and also, the keyboard doesn't work during gaming. And neither does the mouse. But at least, there is indeed an entire PlayStation 5 inside, with exactly the same specifications, of course.https://tpucdn.com/img/IEOnq9dKslDGrk8R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IEOnq9dKslDGrk8R.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ck7k6jYLxFmtgQ4y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ck7k6jYLxFmtgQ4y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9KxxDfwLNPQvCIDV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9KxxDfwLNPQvCIDV.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329870/usd-2-750-playstation-5-laptop-modders-rework-ps5-into-17-inch-4k-laptop)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329870/usd-2-750-playstation-5-laptop-modders-rework-ps5-into-17-inch-4k-laptop)

[NextPowerUP]

Dynabook has introduced the Protégé X30W powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 165H processor. At first glance, that hardly seems impressive, but a closer look at the device reveals that the laptop weighs a feather-light 989 grams, or roughly 2.2 lbs. The device is also a convertible, which means that the hinge allows for 360° rotation, effectively converting the laptop into a tablet.

Apart from its lightweight design, there is little else about the laptop that is worth noting. The highest-end variant sports a Core Ultra 7 165H, which is a plenty-powerful chip, featuring 6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores for a total of 14 cores and 22 threads, since the Crestmont cores do not support Hyper-Threading. An 8-core Arc iGPU handles the graphics, and delivers decent performance that nearly matches the RTX 2050 Mobile in certain cases. The system features up to 32 GB of DDR5-5200 memory, and up to a 2 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD.https://tpucdn.com/img/qP1MLukVvtLMgyXj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qP1MLukVvtLMgyXj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wbzU8KujsUVxMiFt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wbzU8KujsUVxMiFt.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329871/dynabook-introduces-989-gram-port-g-laptop-with-meteor-lake-cpus)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329871/dynabook-introduces-989-gram-port-g-laptop-with-meteor-lake-cpus)

[NextPowerUP]

It's an open secret by now that NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5000 series GPUs are on the way, with an early 2025 launch on the cards. Now, preliminary details about the RTX 5070 Ti (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5070-ti.c4243) have leaked, revealing an increase in both VRAM and TDP and suggesting that the new upper mid-range GPU will finally address the increased VRAM demand from modern games. According to the leak from Wccftech, the RTX 5070 Ti will have 16 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, up from 12 GB on the RTX 4070 Ti (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4070-ti.c3950), as we previously speculated (https://www.techpowerup.com/329123/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-ti-specs-leak-same-die-as-rtx-5080-300-w-tdp). Also confirming previous leaks, the new sources confirm that the 5070 Ti will use the cut-down GB203 chip, although the new leak points to a significantly higher TBP of 350 W. The new memory configuration will supposedly run on a 256-bit memory bus and run at 28 Gbps for a total memory bandwidth of 896 GB/s, which is a significant boost over the RTX 4070 Ti.

Supposedly, the RTX 5070 Ti will also see a bump in total CUDA cores, from 8448 in the RTX 4070 Ti to 8960 in the RTX 5070 Ti. The new RTX 5070 Ti will also switch to the 12V-2x6 power connector, compared to the 16-pin connector from the 4070 Ti. NVIDIA is expected to announce the RTX 5000 series graphics cards at CES 2025 in early January, but the RTX 5070 Ti will supposedly be the third card in the 5000-series launch cycle. That said, leaks suggest that the 5070 Ti will still launch in Q1 2025, meaning we may see an indication of specs at CES 2025, although pricing is still unclear.https://tpucdn.com/img/edP9uWDCnQTHRekL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/edP9uWDCnQTHRekL.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329873/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-ti-leak-tips-more-vram-cores-and-power-draw)

[NextPowerUP]

Although it was revealed back in March (https://www.techpowerup.com/320614/sk-hynix-platinum-p51-14-gb-s-pcie-gen-5-ssd-revealed) this year, SK hynix new Platinum P51 PCIe 5.0 has only just now launched in South Korea and the specs have been boosted since March. The official sequential read speed is now rated at 14.7 GB/s vs. 13.5 GB/s in March and likewise, the sequential write speed has increased to 13.4 GB/s from 11.5 GB/s. We're also looking at a random IOPS read speed of up to 2,300k and random write IOPS of up to 2,400k. This compares really favourably compared to Phison E26 based SSDs, especially the random IOPS are very impressive.

However, it's not all good news, as the endurance tops out at 1200 TBW on the 2 TB SKU, which is pretty much what every other modern SSD offers today and somewhat disappointing considering that we're looking at SK hynix 238 layer 3D TLC NAND here. The 2 TB SKU is also the largest size available for now and the Platinum P51 will also come in 1 TB and 500 GB flavours. Another not so great, is the 10 W power consumption, even though SK hynix claims it's industry leading, but we know that this isn't true, as the Silicon Motion SM2508 controller is more power efficient than that. The drive has already been quickly benchmarked by South Korean hardware site Quasar Zone and it delivers in terms of the claimed speeds from the manufacturer, at least according to the CrystalDiskMark numbers. No pricing has tipped up as yet, so we'll have to wait to see how competitive the drive will be in an already crowded market. However, it's worth keeping in mind that SK hynix tends to charge a premium for its SSDs over many of its competitors.

Update Dec 14th: The 2 TB SKU has a retail price of 473,000 Korean Won (https://prod.danawa.com/info/?pcode=72823133), which equals about US$330, making it prohibitively expensive at the moment, even compared to most other PCIe 5.0 SSDs on the market. The 1 TB SKU comes in at 279,000 Korean Won, or about US$195. The Korean prices include 10% VAT/sales tax.https://tpucdn.com/img/glmTi3hj4vllWBRx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/glmTi3hj4vllWBRx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GI3lVeI4pGXSOtzk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GI3lVeI4pGXSOtzk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uLrGOlFgeMjys216_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uLrGOlFgeMjys216.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/i5oMec4sHZvsi3Ah_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/i5oMec4sHZvsi3Ah.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lKfNYtZdtZuNwVBA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lKfNYtZdtZuNwVBA.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329823/sk-hynix-platinum-p51-launches-in-south-korea)

[NextPowerUP]

At this point, it's basically taken for granted that Lenovo will be launching its cut-down Legion Go S (https://www.techpowerup.com/329830/fresh-lenovo-legion-go-s-design-leak-reveals-colorways-and-mystery-steam-button) gaming handheld at CES 2025, and a fresh leak from Evan Blass via The Verge points to another Legion Go handheld—a direct replacement for the current-generation Go—launching alongside the Go S. While the Go S will supposedly be powered by the less powerful AMD Ryzen Z2G and its Radeon 680M iGPU, the full-fat Legion Go 2 will likely use a more powerful processor and iGPU, suggesting that a Ryzen Z2 Extreme SoC is on the way.

Perhaps the most compelling thing about the new Legion Go handheld, though is that it will reportedly feature an OLED display. Despite the new display tech, though, the Legion Go 2 will supposedly have the same display size, detachable controllers, and FPS mode, although the images shared by Blass show significantly rounder controller edges, which should make the chunky handheld less cumbersome to hold. The leaks make no mention of SteamOS or a Steam button for the Legion Go 2, suggesting that it will still be a Windows-first gaming handheld, and the Legion Space button is still present on the face of the Legion Go 2 featured in the leaks.https://tpucdn.com/img/Fu6JhfTMHjglRf71_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Fu6JhfTMHjglRf71.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tY7nOghKOAGCcaaN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tY7nOghKOAGCcaaN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EtdMWlNaxUx9Wd0l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EtdMWlNaxUx9Wd0l.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329849/lenovo-legion-go-2-leaked-with-oled-display-and-amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-soc)

[NextPowerUP]

On the morning of the launch of Warframe 1999, the ambitious 90s-themed update and story expansion for sci-fi-fantasy looter-shooter Warframe, Digital Extremes published the update notes for Warframe 1999, which launched in the morning of December 13. Warframe 1999 introduces a new tile-set, called Höllvania, alongside its companion cinematic quest, which will send players back in time to discover the Protoframes and help find the Protoframe creator, Albrecht Entrati. Players will form part of an underground resistance team alongside the Protoframes, although players will not play as the Protoframes or even their own Warframes in 1999. Instead, players will travel to Höllvania and complete the new Hex quest as Drifter. Höllvania has its own seasons, and players will enter the new area in winter.

The update also adds new quests and mission types in the new map, which see players hunt down and stop the Techrot and Scaldra in a number of classic Warframe game modes, including assassination, exterminate, and Warframe's first PvPvE mode. Along with the new game modes, there is also a new Warframe—appropriately called Cyte-09, sticking with the 90s theme—who looks to be something of an all-rounder, thanks to his abilities. Cyte-09 also drops with his own signature rifle, the Reconifex, which applies a heat effect and reload speed buff on timed reloads, and the Vesper77 secondary, which appears to be a critical-based sidearm that highlights weak points when aiming down the sights. There are also a number of changes coming to Warframe's core gameplay, including the introduction of the Atomicycle motorcycle, which will be available for all open maps, and the long-awaited Nyx and Trinity reworks. Find out more about the more minor changes in the full Warframe 1999 patch notes (https://www.warframe.com/updates/pc/38-0-0).https://tpucdn.com/img/H0ztn9mHKa3JWsGh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/H0ztn9mHKa3JWsGh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/C59WmA9hdIiipn5V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/C59WmA9hdIiipn5V.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/k2vKEd9FHQbapGW4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/k2vKEd9FHQbapGW4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/farFTYWqEx11Nss8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/farFTYWqEx11Nss8.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329844/warframe-1999-launch-introduces-swathe-of-new-content-and-new-cinematic-quest)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329844/warframe-1999-launch-introduces-swathe-of-new-content-and-new-cinematic-quest)

[NextPowerUP]

Minisforum is an easily recognizable brand that is well-regarded for its lineup of mini PCs. The MS-A1 is one such mid-range offering that boasts an AM5 socket, and the product is now available to configure with the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X with a 100 W TDP, which happens to be an absolute monstrosity of a desktop CPU with hefty cooling requirements.

The system was already available with a Ryzen 7 8700G, which was most likely performant enough for most people. The MS-A1 does not feature dedicated graphics, which is why the Ryzen 7 8700G was a great choice thanks to its relatively potent iGPU. However, it is no surprise that there are many workloads that demand raw CPU power over anything else, and the MS-A1 with the Ryzen 9 9950X will be an excellent option for such demanding scenarios. That said, since the system does not feature discrete graphics, the Radeon 610M iGPU found in the 9950X will simply not be able to keep up with any GPU-intensive workloads.https://tpucdn.com/img/dBhmYJEVeNHSgxjf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dBhmYJEVeNHSgxjf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FrElW6jlp4aJH0sN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FrElW6jlp4aJH0sN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MjQUAoe8E1nQeNAH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MjQUAoe8E1nQeNAH.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329829/minisforum-ms-a1-mini-pc-finally-gets-the-16-core-ryzen-9-9950x-treatment)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329829/minisforum-ms-a1-mini-pc-finally-gets-the-16-core-ryzen-9-9950x-treatment)

[NextPowerUP]

Laptops powered by Intel's Lunar Lake family of processors have been seeping out slowly but steadily into the market. Samsung has no intention of sitting idle either, and has lifted the curtains on its Galaxy Book 5 Pro with an impressive AMOLED display and a battery life claim of a stupendous 25 hours. The laptop will be launched in South Korea on January 2, and a global rollout should follow thereafter.

Basically, the Book 5 Pro is the more affordable sibling of the Book 5 Pro 360. As the sharp-eyed amongst you may have already guessed, the Book 5 Pro does not feature the 360° hinge, which allowed the Book 5 Pro 360 to function as a convertible. Now, of course, a lot of people simply do not care about having convertible functionality, and the newly announced notebook is likely targeted at them.https://tpucdn.com/img/XZtN1nRpjTYsh4Bd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XZtN1nRpjTYsh4Bd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oZEQx4tX84di7iwb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oZEQx4tX84di7iwb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TCJcXX9o1W9jXTO8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TCJcXX9o1W9jXTO8.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329831/samsung-introduces-lunar-lake-powered-galaxy-book-5-pro-with-25-hour-battery-life)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329831/samsung-introduces-lunar-lake-powered-galaxy-book-5-pro-with-25-hour-battery-life)

[NextPowerUP]

We have already witnessed a multitude of rumors surrounding the Legion Go S gaming handheld. The product is expected to boast an AMD Ryzen Z2 chip, which, unfortunately, will be based on the older Zen 3+ architecture and features a Radeon 680M iGPU. The system will include 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and an 8-inch, 1200p IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. As for pricing, the Legion Go S is expected to cost around €600, and most likely cheaper outside of Europe, putting it in the ballpark of the Steam Deck OLED. Now, leaker Evan Blass has shared a few more images of the device, further revealing a few more details.

Firstly, the image reveals the colorways that the Legion Go S will be available in: black and white. Interestingly, the image also reveals what appears to be a button that is dedicated for Steam, which, so far, we have only seen in the Steam Deck. As VideoCardz notes, there is no concrete information at the moment regarding the purpose of the button. It is possible that the Legion Go S might run SteamOS, although the button might also exist to simply open up Steam. Unfortunately, the leak gives us no further information regarding the product. The Legion Go S is expected to see the light of day at CES 2025, which, luckily for us, happens to be just around the corner.https://tpucdn.com/img/6qwptx7uJ6X92Kel_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6qwptx7uJ6X92Kel.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sKdUQZgj6GqwrvNK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sKdUQZgj6GqwrvNK.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329830/fresh-lenovo-legion-go-s-design-leak-reveals-colorways-and-mystery-steam-button)

[NextPowerUP]

As expected, a new trailer for Borderlands 4 officially launched at The Game Awards this week, and, although it has poured cold water on speculation of the return of Gaige (https://www.techpowerup.com/329585/borderlands-4-game-awards-trailer-expected-to-divulge-details-on-returning-character), the DLC vault hunter from Borderlands 2, there are some intriguing details in the trailer. For starters, we got a look at what looks to be the next Borderlands villain—or maybe even villains—and it looks like the inter-faction conflicts will play a much larger role in Borderlands 4, with larger-scale conflicts at least being part of the lore, if not the actual gameplay.

The new Game Awards trailer picks up where the previous teaser trailer left off, as teased by Gearbox CEO, Randy Pitchford, but it turns out the robotic arm didn't belong to Gaige, the mechromancer, as previously suspected. Instead, the character picking up the mask at the start of the new trailer appears to be the cruel leader of some sort of robotic bandit militia preparing to do battle against an army of soldiers or drones, who bear some similarities to the Eridian from past Borderlands games and are being led by a single general, who also seems to be a main villain in the game—perhaps some invading force looking to exploit the planet. The resulting conflict between the two rival factions is on a larger scale than we've seen in previous Borderlands games, although there have always been inter-faction conflicts in Borderlands games. Of course, new enemies and factions aren't the only details included in the new Borderlands 4 trailer.https://tpucdn.com/img/8hRZXhW1CCtIDLJy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8hRZXhW1CCtIDLJy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ujKnZQnhmnGFUupi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ujKnZQnhmnGFUupi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YAIIdg3DV5wvXLtH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YAIIdg3DV5wvXLtH.jpg)

Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329839/borderlands-4-trailer-quashes-returning-vault-hunter-speculation-reveals-large-scale-conflict-and-pod-racers)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329839/borderlands-4-trailer-quashes-returning-vault-hunter-speculation-reveals-large-scale-conflict-and-pod-racers)

[NextPowerUP]

The HDMI Forum confirmed the development of the next-generation HDMI standard with increased bandwidth. According to various media reports, including Videocardz and Dday, the press release from HDMI Forum indicates the possibility of new cables or refinement of existing specifications. Moreover, it could mean we will have new HDMI 2.2 specs. The current HDMI 2.1 specifications, established in 2017, provide bandwidth up to 48 Gbps and support native non-DSC configurations for 4K at 144 Hz and 8K at 30 Hz. When combined with Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology, the current standard can handle up to 10K at 120 Hz. A bandwidth increase could enable higher resolutions and refresh rates without DSC compression.

This development of new HDMI specifications is due to the emergence of other display interface standards such as DisplayPort 2.1, which offers up to 80 Gbps over UHBR20. AMD's Radeon RX 7000 series and Intel's recently launched Arc Battlemage GPUs support UHBR 13.5 while the Radeon PRO supports UHBR20. The HDMI Forum is scheduled to release these new specifications on January 6th, one day before the official CES 2025 opening event on January 7th. With the launch of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 and AMD's Radeon RX 8000 series at CES 2025, it would be interesting to see if the latest graphics cards will support the HDMI 2.2 specs.https://tpucdn.com/img/1CFuDWuzIBh5cnSL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1CFuDWuzIBh5cnSL.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329841/next-gen-hdmi-specifications-to-be-announced-in-january-before-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Ubisoft recently, and after a long period of reluctance, decided to add Steam achievements to some of its Assassin's Creed games it had launched on Steam. This comes shortly after Ubisoft launched Assassin's Creed Mirage to Steam with achievements already baked-in. Now, Assassin's Creed Unity (https://store.steampowered.com/app/289650/Assassins_Creed_Unity/), Black Flag (https://store.steampowered.com/app/242050/Assassins_Creed_IV_Black_Flag/), Revelations (https://store.steampowered.com/app/201870/Assassins_Creed_Revelations/), and Syndicate (https://store.steampowered.com/app/368500/Assassins_Creed_Syndicate/) all join AC Mirage in the Steam Achievements family. Putting the cherry on top of the achievement pie, any achievements already earned while playing the Steam versions of these Assassin's Creed games will retroactively apply to your Steam account.

The recently added Steam achievements are all pretty standard fare, with each game getting in the neighborhood of 50-60 achievements, except for AC Revelations, which only has 48 achievements. Where Ubisoft previously almost spitefully neglected its Steam audience, with many Assassin's Creed and other AAA games only coming to Steam long after their initial launch—largely without support for achievements and other advanced features—the game developer has seemingly realized the value of Steam as a platform.https://tpucdn.com/img/mz0HL9UrH8w5hOus_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mz0HL9UrH8w5hOus.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ELmJxfFmFwMAFzXw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ELmJxfFmFwMAFzXw.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329780/ubisoft-adds-steam-achievements-to-swathe-of-assassins-creed-games)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329780/ubisoft-adds-steam-achievements-to-swathe-of-assassins-creed-games)

[NextPowerUP]

At The Game Awards, Saber Interactive, in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, revealed Turok: Origins, a new evolution of the classic dinosaur-hunting game franchise that began nearly 30 years ago. Developed and published by Saber, this fast-paced, third-person, sci-fi shooter, featuring both solo and cooperative action for up to three players, will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Watch the debut trailer now and get your very first look at the epic gameplay and spectacle of Turok: Origins.

Turok: Origins revives the legendary game franchise's action and spirit while bringing it forward into the modern era with a completely new look, story, and gameplay. Players will take on the role of fierce Turok warriors to face off against ferocious dinosaurs and a terrifying alien threat that seeks to destroy all human life in the galaxy. Fans can unleash devastating attacks on enemies with weapons and abilities, and harness fallen enemies' DNA to upgrade their arsenal. Players will embark on a high-stakes adventure - solo or with friends - to unravel mysteries that hold the key to saving humanity.https://tpucdn.com/img/9PYzCw6IDG1aeXGr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9PYzCw6IDG1aeXGr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NEgmDTiXwFzQGKfv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NEgmDTiXwFzQGKfv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/q72mVWdQpTLal7ZT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q72mVWdQpTLal7ZT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rT2BAi7D8hYDNf8f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rT2BAi7D8hYDNf8f.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329833/saber-interactive-brings-back-legendary-franchise-with-turok-origins)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329833/saber-interactive-brings-back-legendary-franchise-with-turok-origins)

[NextPowerUP]

The call to go beyond the stars is here once again, and it's bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever. We just revealed a first gameplay trailer for The Outer Worlds 2 during The Game Awards 2024, promising a fresh adventure in a brand-new colony next year. No really, we know we're not supposed to promise things in marketing, but the setting is completely new, so this is all factual. Just don't break the colony again. We're looking at each of you who sent the Hope into the sun in the last game.

In true Obsidian Entertainment fashion, you carve your path through Arcadia, a colony teeming with factions, intrigue, and chaos. It's also home of skip drive technology and where the fate of the entire colony - and the galaxy - rests. As a daring, undeniably good-looking, and questionably competent Earth Directorate agent, you're tasked with uncovering the source of devastating rifts threatening the entire galaxy. Talk about stakes (not to be confused with raptidon steaks, those are very different)! The choice of how to deal with the rifts is up to you. "Your worlds, your way," as we say at Obsidian.https://tpucdn.com/img/fNxzYfMw6gFyAFNl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fNxzYfMw6gFyAFNl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7cPu3ugtp779z26C_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7cPu3ugtp779z26C.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/moQZZmasuQ8LiJgB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/moQZZmasuQ8LiJgB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1CF3BUgS2gKHudnt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1CF3BUgS2gKHudnt.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329832/the-outer-worlds-2-gets-new-trailer-at-the-game-awards-coming-in-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329832/the-outer-worlds-2-gets-new-trailer-at-the-game-awards-coming-in-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel's ambitious plan to challenge AMD and NVIDIA in the AI accelerator market may still be a little questionable, according to recent comments from interim co-CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus at the Barclays 22nd Annual Global Technology Conference. The company's "Falcon Shores" project, which aims to merge Gaudi AI capabilities with Intel's data center GPU technology for HPC workloads, received surprising commentary from Holthaus. "We really need to think about how we go from Gaudi to our first generation of Falcon Shores, which is a GPU," she stated, before acknowledging potential limitations. "And I'll tell you right now, is it going to be wonderful? No, but it is a good first step."

Intel's pragmatic approach to AI hardware development was further highlighted when Holthaus addressed the company's product strategy. Rather than completely overhauling their development pipeline, she emphasized the value of iterative progress: "If you just stop everything and you go back to doing like all new product, products take a really long time to come to market. And so, you know, you're two years to three years out from having something." The co-CEO advocated for a more agile approach, stating, "I'd rather have something that I can do in smaller volume, learn, iterate, and get better so that we can get there." She acknowledged the enduring nature of AI market opportunities, particularly noting the current focus on training while highlighting the potential in other areas: "Obviously, AI is not going away. Obviously training is, you know, the focus today, but there's inference opportunities in other places where there will be different needs from a hardware perspective."https://tpucdn.com/img/gwXpgBoZPqlZy9pn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gwXpgBoZPqlZy9pn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eAmjCcjOMSbpDQFZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eAmjCcjOMSbpDQFZ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329828/intel-co-ceo-dampens-expectations-for-first-gen-falcon-shores-gpu)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329828/intel-co-ceo-dampens-expectations-for-first-gen-falcon-shores-gpu)

[NextPowerUP]

This evening at The Game Awards 2024 show, Square Enix announced that FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is set for a PC launch on January 23, 2025. Pre-orders are now live on Steam and Epic Games stores.

The PC version introduces new features and customizations to take full advantage of the platform:

LIGHTING - Lighting has been adjusted, and the game's overall rendering of light is significantly improved. The updated areas and cutscenes present with even greater beauty and clarity than before.
FRAMERATE AND RESOLUTION - NVIDIA DLSS support means that frame rates can be enhanced and image quality upscaled. There is now also support for variable refresh rate (VRR).
TEXTURES - The Level of Detail (LoD) for background models and MIP maps for background textures can both be freely configured in the options settings. With this background polygon density and texture density can be set higher than was previously possible, allowing for gameplay with higher-quality graphics.

https://tpucdn.com/img/OVaxm0vTikTy7fwr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OVaxm0vTikTy7fwr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/56SpCX9d9KPQ1B1M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/56SpCX9d9KPQ1B1M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VWP5Wob6CNqB7eW1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VWP5Wob6CNqB7eW1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SNzdAXRJKHbvaDzp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SNzdAXRJKHbvaDzp.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329827/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-coming-to-pc-on-january-23-2025-gets-new-trailer-and-system-requirements)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329827/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-coming-to-pc-on-january-23-2025-gets-new-trailer-and-system-requirements)

[NextPowerUP]

CD Projekt RED pulled out a rabbit out of its hat, revealing the first trailer for the upcoming The Witcher IV title. The new trailer is pre-rendered in a custom build of Unreal Engine 5, which CD Projekt RED is now using instead of its own in-house engine, as announced earlier. More interestingly, it is pre-rendered on an "unannounced NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU." CD Projekt RED teamed up with Platige Image, who were responsible for intro cinematics in the previous Witcher games.

The trailer, which is almost six minutes long, follows Ciri, which confirms earlier rumors that the game might focus on Ciri as the main character. As detailed by CD Projekt RED, the trailer shows Ciri's new abilities and tools, as well as a small part of the story, a witcher contract set in a remote village. CD Projekt RED is promising that The Witcher IV will be "the most immersive and ambitious open-world Witcher game to date."https://tpucdn.com/img/yCWAprSxAIUOSsCm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yCWAprSxAIUOSsCm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2cxaIQu21chrfD98_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2cxaIQu21chrfD98.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CTutjD8OLsUOn4PO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CTutjD8OLsUOn4PO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Q78nSBSvWq1ofZwx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Q78nSBSvWq1ofZwx.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329826/the-witcher-iv-gets-new-trailer-at-the-game-awards-pre-rendered-on-unannounced-nvidia-rtx-gpu)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329826/the-witcher-iv-gets-new-trailer-at-the-game-awards-pre-rendered-on-unannounced-nvidia-rtx-gpu)

[NextPowerUP]

Days of Arm-Qualcomm legal disputes continue, and with new day we get new updates. Gerard Williams III, CEO and founder of Nuvia, also one of the main brains behind Qualcomm's Oryon cores inside Snapdragon X processors, testified before the court that the chip design contains minimal Arm IP despite using the company's instruction set architecture. Williams estimated that "one percent or less" of the final design originated from Arm's IP. Despite Qualcomm using Arm ISA license, the company has very little Arm IP in its SoCs. Most of the Snapdragon X design has been done within Qualcomm's labs, in addition to Nuvia. Williams, who co-founded Nuvia in 2019, explained that while their processors use Arm's Armv8 instruction set, the core design was largely developed from scratch. Nuvia initially secured two non-transferable licenses from Arm: a Technology License Agreement (TLA) and an Architecture License Agreement (ALA).

These agreements allowed the company to develop custom cores while implementing Arm's instruction set. The development team created their own proprietary microarchitecture, including custom data paths and cache systems, rather than using Arm's existing designs. The controversy erupted when Qualcomm acquired Nuvia and announced plans to use the cores in PC processors rather than the initially intended datacenter applications. Arm demanded a renegotiation of licensing terms following the acquisition, which Qualcomm refused, arguing that its existing ALA covered Nuvia's designs. The dispute escalated when Arm revoked Nuvia's licenses in 2022 and terminated Qualcomm's Architecture License Agreement this October (https://www.techpowerup.com/328004/arm-plans-to-cancel-qualcomms-license-issues-60-day-notice). Arm is now seeking the destruction of all Nuvia designs (https://www.techpowerup.com/329948/arm-refutes-custom-chip-production-ambitions-wants-to-destroy-qualcomms-nuvia-ip) developed before the merger, arguing that the licensing agreements couldn't be transferred through acquisition. Qualcomm builds a case on TLA not being violated since the designs are mostly custom, so we have to see how the ruling proceeds. Arm wants to "hurt" Qualcomm with ALA revoking, and perhaps the final case ends with a settlement, given that Qualcomm is one of Arm's biggest customers.https://tpucdn.com/img/BG8pszm5sUiDugQS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BG8pszm5sUiDugQS.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330003/qualcomm-argues-less-than-1-of-arm-ip-is-inside-nuvia-cores-in-snapdragon-x-chips)

[NextPowerUP]

Popular router manufacturer TP-Link is being investigated by US authorities over an alleged connection to cyberattacks emanating from the PRC. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Commerce, Justice and Defense departments are all investigating the company and the Commerce Department has gone as far as issuing a subpoena to TP-Link. The WSJ states that TP-Link holds close to a 65 percent market share in the US consumer router market, which puts the company in a unique market position.

The end results of the investigations, assuming either US authority finds any wrongdoings, could lead to TP-Link being banned from selling its routers in the US. A spokeswoman for TP-Link in the US issued the following statement to the WSJ "We welcome any opportunities to engage with the U.S. government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the U.S. market, U.S. consumers, and addressing U.S. national security risks".https://tpucdn.com/img/L89MB858wVCeY50p_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/L89MB858wVCeY50p.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330002/us-authorities-investigating-tp-link-over-connection-to-china-backed-cyberattacks)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330002/us-authorities-investigating-tp-link-over-connection-to-china-backed-cyberattacks)

[NextPowerUP]

Axelera AI - a leading edge-inference company - and Arduino, the global leader in open-source hardware and software, today announced a strategic partnership to make high-performance AI at the edge more accessible than ever, building advanced technology solutions based on inference and an open ecosystem. This furthers Axelera AI's strategy to democratize artificial intelligence everywhere.

The collaboration will combine the strengths of Axelera AI's Metis AI Platform with the powerful SOMs from the Arduino Pro range to provide customers with easy-to-use hardware and software to innovate around AI. Users will enjoy the freedom to dictate their own AI journey, thanks to tools that provide unique digital in-memory computing and RISC-V controlled dataflow technology, delivering high performance and usability at a fraction of the cost and power of other solutions available today.https://tpucdn.com/img/FQvDAatKUoIBX60R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FQvDAatKUoIBX60R.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330001/axelera-ai-partners-with-arduino-for-edge-ai-solutions)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330001/axelera-ai-partners-with-arduino-for-edge-ai-solutions)

[NextPowerUP]

According to Tweakers, AMD's Radeon RX 7900 GRE graphics card has reached end-of-life status, as confirmed by multiple AMD board partners they have contacted. The announcement comes just months after the card's expansion into European markets following its initial 2023 exclusive launch in China. Tweakers report that the supply of the RX 7900 GRE is rapidly declining across retail channels. While ASUS models remain somewhat available, the manufacturer has informed Tweakers that deliveries are currently "limited." AMD has not responded to their multiple requests for comment regarding the discontinuation. The RX 7900 GRE offers compelling specifications that position it as a slightly scaled-down variant of the more premium RX 7900 XT.

Built on AMD's RDNA 3 architecture, the card features 80 CUs and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and operates at a 260 W TDP. The timing of this discontinuation is particularly interesting as AMD prepares to unveil its next-generation RDNA 4-based Radeon RX 8000 series. Perhaps AMD is trying to flush out its remaining inventory to make room for its Radeon RX 8000 series GPUs, which should mainly target the middle-range of the next-generation GPU families, including competition like NVIDIA with "Blackwell" and Intel with "Battlemage." With the new card scheduled to appear during AMD's CES keynote on January 6 in Las Vegas, we have to wait and see what products AMD puts out before analyzing why AMD decided to EOL its Radeon RX 7900 GRE.https://tpucdn.com/img/JxhBsPHBll6rhrha_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JxhBsPHBll6rhrha.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330000/amd-radeon-rx-7900-gre-china-edition-gpu-reaches-end-of-life)

[NextPowerUP]

MSI has unveiled a new performance-enhancing feature for its AM5 socket motherboards to improve DDR5 memory latency. Some latency issues that emerged following AMD's AGESA 1.2.0.2a microcode update, which added support for AMD's Ryzen 9000X3D processors, are now fixed. MSI has baked in its BIOS tuning to develop a new "Latency Killer" feature, which can be found in the advanced menu section, specifically within the overclocking submenu in BIOS of MSI X870E/X870 gaming motherboards like MEG X870E GODLIKE and MPG X870E CARBON WIFI. Users have three options to choose from: Auto, Enabled, and Disabled. While the default behavior of the Auto setting remains unclear, it is believed to be initially disabled to ensure system stability.

Recent benchmark testing of Uniko's Hardware (https://x.com/unikoshardware/status/1858516232024301945) using AIDA64 has demonstrated promising results, showing an eight nanosecond improvement in memory latency when the new feature is activated. The test was conducted using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor paired with an MPG X870E Carbon WiFi motherboard and DDR5-8000 CL38 memory, running in High-Efficiency mode at its maximum preset. Some Reddit users (https://www.reddit.com/r/MSI_Gaming/comments/1h30qr2/highefficiency_mode_vs_latency_killer/) with AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D on MSI Tomahawk X870 reported seeing 10-12 ns improvement from enabling the "Latency Killer." MSI motherboards complement its Latency Killer feature with additional memory optimization tools in the BIOS, including EXPO / A-XMP profiles, Memory Try It presets, High-Efficiency Mode, and comprehensive manual overclocking options for enthusiasts seeking maximum performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/Uy370XG72HRa50rO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Uy370XG72HRa50rO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dXF5DVzqqpKpXU4z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dXF5DVzqqpKpXU4z.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NheddCW8DeNIL7IF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NheddCW8DeNIL7IF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lAMq5L3J916wRums_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lAMq5L3J916wRums.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329999/msi-releases-memory-latency-killer-for-amd-ryzen-9000-series-cpus-up-to-12-ns-lower-memory-latency)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329999/msi-releases-memory-latency-killer-for-amd-ryzen-9000-series-cpus-up-to-12-ns-lower-memory-latency)

[NextPowerUP]

Rapidus Corporation, a manufacturer of advanced logic semiconductors, today announced the delivery and installation of ASML's EUV lithography equipment at its Innovative Integration for Manufacturing (IIM-1) foundry, an advanced semiconductor development and manufacturing fab currently under construction in Chitose, Hokkaido. To commemorate the installation, a ceremony was held at Portom Hall in the New Chitose Airport.

This is a significant milestone for Japan's semiconductor industry, marking the first time that an EUV lithography tool will be used for mass production in the country. In addition to the EUV lithography machinery, Rapidus will install additional complementary advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, as well as full automated material handling systems in its IIM-1 foundry to optimize 2 nm generation gate-all-around (GAA) semiconductor manufacturing.https://tpucdn.com/img/91wuXIZUIOmv4GCp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/91wuXIZUIOmv4GCp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hV8NVSIkDTOyTClv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hV8NVSIkDTOyTClv.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329998/rapidus-installs-japans-first-asml-nxe-3800e-euv-lithography-machine)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329998/rapidus-installs-japans-first-asml-nxe-3800e-euv-lithography-machine)

[NextPowerUP]

As promised earlier, Archetype Entertainment, an Austin-based video game studio comprised of veteran AAA developers, including the legendary RPG creator James Ohlen, has released the new gameplay trailer for its new EXODUS game, called "EXODUS: The Traveler's Creed." Running at two minutes flat, the trailer shows what appears to be a Mass Effect-like third-person action RPG game, with some interesting twist to the gameplay.

In case you missed it, Archetype Entertainment was established back in 2019 as a division game developer and publisher Wizards of the Coast, and, in addition to James Ohlen, an ex-BioWare veteran, the studio also includes other RPG developers from Naughty Dog, 343 Industries, Electronic Arts, Blizzard, and other studios. In EXODUS, their new game, "humanity has fled a dying Earth, finding a new home in a hostile galaxy - here, we are the underdogs fighting for survival," putting the user in the role of "The Traveler", humanity's last hope. Set in an original sci-fi universe, the game is built around the impact of Time Dilation, where days in the different galaxy are decades back home, which will somehow impact the choices you make in the game and more, so it will be interesting to see how it is used in the game.https://tpucdn.com/img/LpaOSfazx4Ft4ySq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LpaOSfazx4Ft4ySq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CjAQExFyAR4TQgC6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CjAQExFyAR4TQgC6.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329996/archetype-entertainments-exodus-sci-fi-rpg-gets-new-gameplay-trailer)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329996/archetype-entertainments-exodus-sci-fi-rpg-gets-new-gameplay-trailer)

[NextPowerUP]

Nanya Technology's Board of Directors today has approved a strategic partnership with PieceMakers Technology, Inc. ("PieceMakers") to jointly develop customized ultra-high-bandwidth memory solutions. As part of the collaboration, Nanya Technology will subscribe to a cash capital increase of up to NT$ 660 million, purchasing up to 22 million common shares at NT$ 30 per share in PieceMakers. Upon completion of the capital increase, Nanya Technology is expected to acquire up to approximately 38% stakes of PieceMakers.

To meet the growing demand for high-performance memory driven by AI and edge computing, this collaboration will combine Nanya Technology's 10 nm-class DRAM innovation with PieceMakers' expertise in customized DRAM design to develop high-value, high-performance, and low-power customized ultra-high-bandwidth memory solutions, unlocking new opportunities in AI and high-performance computing markets.https://tpucdn.com/img/bFeTjsEYOXH5jU7u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bFeTjsEYOXH5jU7u.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329995/nanya-technology-partners-with-piecemakers-to-develop-customized-ultra-high-bandwidth-memory)

[NextPowerUP]

Bethesda has released the big Update 2 for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle game with additional fixes, including the big fix where the Game Slot appears damaged or completely missing, as this issue was apparently plaguing many users. Update 2 also reduces stutter from duplicated frames during cutscenes, as well as fixes to prevent "double vision" getting stuck on screen when Indy has almost drowned.

There are also several PC specific fixes including the one for where NVIDIA Frame Generation wasn't activated properly with HDR, a fix for NVIDIA Low Latency Mode performance issues when used with Frame Generation, a fix for global illumination being completely disabled on graphics cards below minimum VRAM requirement, issues with Lighting when Path Tracing is set to Medium or High Quality, and more. The Update 2 should also fix major performance issues when NVIDIA DLSS is enabled. There are several gameplay fixes which you can check out below. All of these NVIDIA-specific issues are still somewhat present and some users over at Reddit are still experiencing issues (https://old.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/1hgebf0/indiana_jones_and_the_great_circle_update_2/). Some users are reporting several workarounds, including a clean installation of drivers, or enabling and disabling Frame Generation, DLSS, HDR, and other settings.https://tpucdn.com/img/CqePBD87u5XJF3wd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CqePBD87u5XJF3wd.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329993/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-gets-new-patch-2-update)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329993/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-gets-new-patch-2-update)

[NextPowerUP]

Acer has jumped the gun and listed its ACER Predator Orion 7000 systems with the upcoming NVIDIA RTX 50 series graphics cards, namely the GeForce RTX 5080 and the GeForce RTX 5090. In addition, the listing confirms that the GeForce RTX 5080 will come with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory, while the GeForce RTX 5090 will get 32 GB of GDDR7 memory.

The ACER Predator Orion 7000 gaming PC was announced back in September, together with Intel's Core Ultra 200 series, and it does not come as a surprise that this high-end pre-built system will now be getting NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards. In case you missed previous rumors, the GeForce RTX 5080 is expected to use the GB203-400 GPU with 10,752 CUDA cores, and come with 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit memory interface. The GeForce RTX 5090, on the other hand, gets the GB202-300 GPU with 21,760 CUDA cores and packs 32 GB of GDDR7 memory.https://tpucdn.com/img/3oy4tCe3M80zTzhu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3oy4tCe3M80zTzhu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pL3YScXXqB4Xbysu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pL3YScXXqB4Xbysu.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329992/acer-leaks-geforce-rtx-5090-and-rtx-5080-gpu-memory-sizes-confirmed)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329992/acer-leaks-geforce-rtx-5090-and-rtx-5080-gpu-memory-sizes-confirmed)

[NextPowerUP]

The U.S. Department of Commerce will award GlobalWafers America and MEMC, LLC, U.S. subsidiaries of Taiwan-based GlobalWafers Co., Ltd., up to $406 million in direct funding under the CHIPS Incentives Program's Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities.

The award will support planned investments of $4 billion in advanced semiconductor wafer manufacturing facilities in Sherman, Texas and St. Peters, Missouri. The Department will disburse the funds based on GWA's and MEMC's completion of project milestones over a multi-year timeframe.https://tpucdn.com/img/WaG8EIzocm5MqXa2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WaG8EIzocm5MqXa2.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329991/globalwafers-awarded-usd-406m-via-u-s-chips-act-to-boost-300mm-wafer-supply)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329991/globalwafers-awarded-usd-406m-via-u-s-chips-act-to-boost-300mm-wafer-supply)

[NextPowerUP]

In October, we reported that Asahi Linux had made (https://www.techpowerup.com/327611/latest-asahi-linux-brings-aaa-windows-games-to-apple-m1-macbooks-with-intricate-graphics-driver-and-translation-stack) some pretty substantial progress in getting Linux working on Apple Silicon, with a custom GPU driver counting itself as the first OpenGL 3.0 compliant graphics driver for Apple Silicon. Now, according to a recent Fedora Magazine (https://fedoramagazine.org/fedora-asahi-remix-41-is-now-available/) post, Asahi Linux now has a Fedora 41 Remix. The Fedora Asahi 41 Remix is still based on that same Asahi version from October 10, but it incorporates the myriad advancements from Fedora 41 and an improved Vulkan 1.4-conformant driver.

By default, Fedora Asahi Remix 41 ships with Plasma 6.2, although a GNOME 47 version is also available. However, despite using a Wayland-first dekstop environment as its default, Fedora Asahi 41 Remix will still be X11-first, for compatibility reasons. The Asahi team plans on getting Wayland working eventually, but there are technical hurdles to overcome before that is possible. Fedora Asahi Remix also ships by default with the improved DNF 5 package manager and the massively improved GIMP 3.0 image editor pre-installed as part of Plasma 6.2. Having a Fedora Remix for Asahi also provides a familiar experience for gamers on Apple Silicon Macs to get Windows games up and running via a mix of tools like Valve's Proton dxvk, FEX emulator, and vk3d-proton—check out our previous coverage (https://www.techpowerup.com/327611/latest-asahi-linux-brings-aaa-windows-games-to-apple-m1-macbooks-with-intricate-graphics-driver-and-translation-stack) of Asahi to find out more about which games are currently working. There are still a handful of hiccups (https://asahilinux.org/fedora/#device-support) when it comes to running Linux on Apple Silicon, including hardware incompatibilities, like a lack of Thunderbolt, microphone, Touch ID, and USB-C Display support.https://tpucdn.com/img/FRVGftv6IaaGX1RJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FRVGftv6IaaGX1RJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GPPF7HimcblhQKRs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GPPF7HimcblhQKRs.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329983/asahi-linux-gets-fedora-41-remix-with-new-desktop-environment-options-and-aaa-windows-gaming-for-mac-silicon)

[NextPowerUP]

Chieftec and TechPowerUp partner to bring our readers from the EU a bonanza Giveaway. It's been up for over a week, and entries close tomorrow (December 19)! If you live in the EU and haven't dropped in your hat yet, you better hurry! Up for grabs are a Chiefec Iceberg 360 ARGB AIO CPU cooler, a Chieftec Iceberg 360 Black AIO CPU cooler; a Chieftec Apex ATX mid-tower case, a Chieftec M2 Micro-ATX cube-shaped case; a Chieftec PowerPlay 1200 W PSU, and a Chieftec Atmos 850 W PSU. That's an insane 6 prizes to be won! All you need to do is fill up a short form to help us get back to you, if you've won.

For more information, and to participate, visit this page (https://www.techpowerup.com/contests/chieftec-giveaway-dec-24).https://tpucdn.com/img/LsoLrvbelylazJc8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LsoLrvbelylazJc8.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329982/chieftec-x-techpowerup-holiday-2024-giveaway-bonanza-entries-close-soon-hurry)

[NextPowerUP]

Missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals? No worries, GoDeal24 has you covered! It's as if Cyber Week never ended for this international merchant of genuine, discount software. Get Genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus at just $35.11. Office 2019 Home and Business for Mac can be had for just $39.99. Get huge savings on multi-PC packs of your preferred edition of Office. Windows 11 Pro remains the most powerful PC operating system, get it for just $13.25. Better yet, combine it with Office 2021 Professional Plus at just $43.56. Check out great deals on other combos.

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $35.11 (https://cutt.ly/WeKrPgks) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $68.44 (https://cutt.ly/leL9pXVn) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $99.99 (https://cutt.ly/CeL9aorh) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $25.29 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrOTOe) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 2-PC at $49.29 (https://cutt.ly/JeKrPTnb) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 5-PC at $109.29 (https://cutt.ly/beKrPDQs) | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $15.29 (https://cutt.ly/reKrVbty) | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $98.69 (https://cutt.ly/aeKrP9aM) | Buy Office 2019 Home and Business for Mac at $39.99 (https://cutt.ly/ieKrAqoy) | Buy Windows 11 Pro at $13.25 (https://cutt.ly/OeKrPqTZ) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 3-PC at $34.45 (https://cutt.ly/geKrARBG) | Buy Windows 11 Home at $13.05 (https://cutt.ly/GeKrADXE) | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $8.25 (https://cutt.ly/aeKrAXZf) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 3-PC at $21.25 (https://cutt.ly/IeKrA0jz) | Buy Windows 10 Home at $8.15 (https://cutt.ly/reKrA79G) | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC at $12.25 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrSt7E)

Please use the coupon code TCP62 on the following items, to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $43.56 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrSaQ8) | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $31.05 (https://cutt.ly/HeKrSlvX) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $47.59 (https://cutt.ly/ReKrSmLy) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $36.49 (https://cutt.ly/ceKrST4z)https://tpucdn.com/img/5DeomFxOXvBcRVzr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5DeomFxOXvBcRVzr.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329904/godeal24-yearend-sale-get-the-years-lowest-prices-on-genuine-software)

[NextPowerUP]

GameMax, an emerging brand of PC gaming components including gaming cases and power supply units, introduces the new GameMax P31 mid-tower chassis. The GameMax P31 combines durability, advanced cooling, and stylish design. It features two pre-installed 120 mm fans at the front and at the rear, support for additional fans and 240 mm water cooling radiators. The P31 chassis supports ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini ITX motherboards, graphics cards of up to 355 mm in length, and CPU coolers of up to 168 mm in height.

With a sleek RGB front panel, mesh side panels, and efficient I/O including USB 3.0 and Type-C (Gen 2) ports, the GameMax P31 is perfect for gaming and computing needs. The RGB light strip in the front panel can be synchronized with motherboard RGB sync technology. Dust covers on the top, front, and bottom ensure clean and reliable performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/XeqvThFJNGyGx26L_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XeqvThFJNGyGx26L.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dAsEc8wnHmqDVpoX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dAsEc8wnHmqDVpoX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/G7W38BiU0FArLAzP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/G7W38BiU0FArLAzP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XdAE90h74F3ENaoQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XdAE90h74F3ENaoQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6Cf42TWeAqhzAqoy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6Cf42TWeAqhzAqoy.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329981/gamemax-introduces-p31-mid-tower-chassis-for-modern-mainstream-users)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329981/gamemax-introduces-p31-mid-tower-chassis-for-modern-mainstream-users)

[NextPowerUP]

SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has completed development of its high-capacity SSD product, PS1012 U.2, designed for AI data centers. As the era of AI accelerates, the demand for high-performance enterprise SSDs (eSSD) is rapidly increasing, and QLC technology, which enables high capacity, has become the industry standard. In line with this trend, SK hynix has developed a 61 TB product using this technology and introduced it to the market.

SK hynix has been leading the SSD market for AI data centers with Solidigm, a subsidiary which commercialized QLC-based eSSD for the first time in the world. With the development of PS1012, the company expects to build a balanced SSD portfolio, thereby maximizing synergy between the two companies. With the latest 5th generation (Gen 5) PCIe, PS1012 doubles its bandwidth compared to 4th generation based products. As a result, the data transfer speed reaches 32 GT/s (Gig-transfers per second), with the sequential read performance of 13 GB/s (Gigabyte per second), which is twice that of previous generation products.https://tpucdn.com/img/TehoKtxBp56TfYWk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TehoKtxBp56TfYWk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HgMZHvOw4nFcOnpX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HgMZHvOw4nFcOnpX.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329980/sk-hynix-develops-ps1012-u-2-high-capacity-ssd-for-ai-data-centers)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329980/sk-hynix-develops-ps1012-u-2-high-capacity-ssd-for-ai-data-centers)

[NextPowerUP]

The Nintendo Switch 2 (https://www.techpowerup.com/329895/nintendo-switch-leak-tips-lcd-hall-effect-joysticks) is a known quantity at this point, with leaks suggesting that an early-to-mid-2025 launch seems more and more likely. Now, research firm DFC Intelligence has published a report projecting Switch 2 sales to soar past its predecessor's first-year sales figures. According to the report, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will sell between 15 and 17 million units in 2025 alone, and, given that it is the only one of the big-three consoles to get a major generational update next year, it looks like it will go largely uncontested.

By comparison, according to Nintendo's 2018 financial results, the original Nintendo Switch sold 15.5 million units in its first year on the market. The original Switch launched just before the start of the new fiscal year, though, on March 3 (Nintendo's fiscal year ends on March 31), and in its first 28 days on the market, the Switch reportedly garnered over 2 million sales. This puts the Switch 2 on track to surpass or at least match the first-generation Nintendo Switch, despite the Switch 2 facing mounting competition from the likes of the Steam Deck and Windows-based gaming handhelds. Statista data shows that the Nintendo Switch peaked at around 29 million units sold per year around 2021. Obviously, the circumstances surrounding the launch of the original Switch were somewhat different, with sales likely still riding the wave that gaming hardware saw during the COVID pandemic.https://tpucdn.com/img/XtsGjkuLquyKOo84_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XtsGjkuLquyKOo84.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QxUTjs581QHZHr3g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QxUTjs581QHZHr3g.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329979/nintendo-switch-2-slated-to-outclass-original-in-year-one-sales-figures)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329979/nintendo-switch-2-slated-to-outclass-original-in-year-one-sales-figures)

[NextPowerUP]

Just recently, we covered a juicy new leak regarding the Geekbench performance of the upcoming Ryzen AI Max+ 395 "Strix Halo" APU. It is no secret that AMD plans on launching the Strix Halo lineup at CES 2025, which happens to be less than a month away. Unsurprisingly, leaked listings of upcoming laptops and other products have been steadily popping up on the internet, with the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 being the rumor mill's latest victim.

As revealed by the product listings by retailers, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 will indeed pack some truly impressive specifications. Needless to say, the product will feature a variant with the highest-end Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU with 16 cores and 32 threads, along with an RDNA 3.5-based iGPU with 40 CUs, likely named the Radeon 8060S, which is expected to match mid-range discrete graphics in performance. A slightly lower-tier variant is also listed, with a 12-core Ryzen AI Max 390 APU.https://tpucdn.com/img/A8m6t8nCkmixZuQh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/A8m6t8nCkmixZuQh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UUwFL17Ckq9oofuP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UUwFL17Ckq9oofuP.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/329962/asus-rog-flow-z13-leaks-with-amd-ryzen-ai-max-strix-halo-apus-and-180-hz-display)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329962/asus-rog-flow-z13-leaks-with-amd-ryzen-ai-max-strix-halo-apus-and-180-hz-display)

[NextPowerUP]

Ever since AMD introduced Strix Point, enthusiasts like ourselves have been eagerly awaiting details regarding the high-end Strix Halo APUs with integrated graphics that are rumored to be powerful enough for the system to not require discrete graphics at all. Leaks regarding the upcoming performance mobile APU lineup have been trickling out steadily, and a fresh new Geekbench leak reveals the CPU performance of the Ryzen AI+ Max 395 APU, which boasts a 16-core configuration consisting entirely of Zen 5 cores, unlike Strix Point which features a mix of Zen 5 and the smaller Zen 5c cores. And oh dear, are the numbers ever so lucrative.https://tpucdn.com/img/qJKxhXgHTHqqZzbJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qJKxhXgHTHqqZzbJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/t3ftUk0gimpnkJMC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t3ftUk0gimpnkJMC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CVlnsjx14CHbECdF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CVlnsjx14CHbECdF.jpg)
The APU managed to rake in 2,849 points in the single-core department, and a whopping 20,708 points in multicore. As Videocardz correctly notes, this result is far ahead of AMD's current top-end mobile offering, the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, which manages around 16,900 points in the multicore test. In single-core, however, the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D does edge ahead, with around 2,900 points. That said, the ROG Flow Z13 laptop that the APU was housed in is most likely still in the testing phase, so it is entirely possible that the final product will sport even better performance. That being said, the Apple M4 Max SoC, however, remains in a league of its own with 3,800 points in single-core and a shocking 25,000 points in multicore. With CES 2025 just around the corner, it's only a matter of weeks before the Ryzen AI Max+ lineup finally sees the light of day and reaches our hands.
More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329963/16-core-amd-ryzen-ai-max-395-strix-halo-apu-outshines-ryzen-9-7945hx3d-in-geekbench)

[NextPowerUP]

Mozilla and Firefox have undergone a slew of changes of late, with the non-profit laying off its entire advocacy team and subsequently working with a famous design house on a branding overhaul (https://www.techpowerup.com/329529/mozilla-rebrands-reaffirms-its-mission-to-protect-open-web-despite-advocacy-team-layoffs). At the same time, Google is facing a monumental US antitrust lawsuit that could see the search giant prohibited from paying to be the default search engine on a variety of platforms. Speculation until now has predicted that if Google loses the antitrust case, it would deprive Mozilla and Firefox of a massive revenue stream, effectively ending the Firefox browser as we know it.

Perhaps in preparation for this imminent change, Mozilla has just announced (https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/firefox-ecosia-partnership/) a new search partnership with Ecosia, the search engine that prioritizes privacy and environmental concerns. Mozilla didn't explain what the partnership entails, but the official announcement seems to suggest that Ecosia won't become the default search engine for Firefox, although the blog post does encourage switching to Ecosia as the default search engine. Ecosia advertises that it is transparent when it comes to its earnings, and it donates all of its profits to environmental conservation efforts. It also embodies many of the privacy protections that Firefox has historically been known for. A more cynical reading of the situation might suggest that this is simply part of Mozilla trying to save face after its recent layoffs and a round of bad news.https://tpucdn.com/img/j5pBbFaYFXij3Oc3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j5pBbFaYFXij3Oc3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SjlFkIYIXutdgxL3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SjlFkIYIXutdgxL3.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329973/mozilla-seemingly-prepares-for-google-anti-trust-lawsuit-fallout-with-new-search-partner)

[NextPowerUP]

Moore's Law is Dead, a prominent YouTube channel specializing in computer hardware leaks, has revealed its expectations for the RTX 50-series Laptop GPUs. We have already reported on a massive product listing leak shedding light on almost every single "Blackwell" laptop GPU, but needless to say, more information is always welcome. According to Moore's Law is Dead, the RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, and this has been hinted at by the aforementioned prior leak, will only sport 16 GB of GDDR7 VRAM - the same as the RTX 5080 Laptop.

Moreover, his sources indicate that the RTX 5080 will drop with a 175-watt TGP and 7,680 CUDA cores, which is shockingly only a hair more than the 7,424 found in its predecessor. However, the source did state that the RTX 5080 will be around 40 to 60% faster than the RTX 4080, which is a massive generational leap in performance. It is not clear at this point how this number was arrived at, but it sure does seem rather utopian. Yet another source has also indicated that an RTX 5090 Laptop card with a whopping 24 GB of VRAM is also in the works which might launch down the line, but there is little else to be said about it. As MLID notes, NVIDIA has very little to no competition in the high-end laptop segment, which inevitably makes things worse for the end-user.https://tpucdn.com/img/OEJeNlLwen0LPnqF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OEJeNlLwen0LPnqF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AzuHsLOIQmHkHS0h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AzuHsLOIQmHkHS0h.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330096/nvidia-rtx-5080-laptop-gpu-might-be-up-to-60-faster-than-rtx-4080-laptop)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330096/nvidia-rtx-5080-laptop-gpu-might-be-up-to-60-faster-than-rtx-4080-laptop)

[NextPowerUP]

It is no surprise that Lenovo is cooking up the next-generation of Legion Go consoles for launch next month. We have reported on a plethora of leaks surrounding both the affordable Legion Go S, and the Legion Go 2 handheld gaming consoles. Finally, it appears that there is some concrete information regarding their launch - Lenovo, in an email to The Verge, has confirmed new Legion handhelds are dropping next month. But that's not all - according to The Verge, the launch event will have a surprise guest.

Our readers who have been keeping tabs on the Legion Go 2 rumor cycle will recall that we recently reported on a leaked image of the upcoming Legion Go S which had an interesting detail - the handheld features a dedicated button for Steam. Now, of course, we're completely in the dark regarding what that button's presence entails. It is entirely possible that the button is simply for opening the Steam app, or, it could indicate that the Legion Go 2 might run SteamOS - we simply don't know yet.https://tpucdn.com/img/MTZ43BeSGwMFuqBS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MTZ43BeSGwMFuqBS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ySTZHrYaYrw0Gu2W_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ySTZHrYaYrw0Gu2W.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330059/upcoming-lenovo-legion-go-handhelds-teased-to-launch-on-january-7-along-with-surprise-valve-walk-on)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330059/upcoming-lenovo-legion-go-handhelds-teased-to-launch-on-january-7-along-with-surprise-valve-walk-on)

[NextPowerUP]

Silicon Box, a global leader in advanced semiconductor packaging and system integration, welcomes the European Commission's approval of approximately €1.3 billion for its new manufacturing facility in Italy. The project, representing a total investment of €3.2 billion, will create 1,600 high-skilled jobs and establish Europe's most advanced semiconductor packaging facilities.

The investment supports the EU's strategic goal to produce 20% of the world's semiconductors by 2030 and marks Silicon Box's first expansion beyond Singapore. With its proprietary large format panel-level process lines, the factory can scale up the packaging of chips 6 to 8 times more than traditional wafer-level packaging.https://tpucdn.com/img/3JpWStBRM0rgu0Ke_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3JpWStBRM0rgu0Ke.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BXCwnw3BF6f48VmN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BXCwnw3BF6f48VmN.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330086/eu-approves-eur1-3b-italian-subsidy-for-silicon-box-chiplet-plant)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330086/eu-approves-eur1-3b-italian-subsidy-for-silicon-box-chiplet-plant)

[NextPowerUP]

More developers than you think are self-taught, and you can easily teach yourself how to code with this bundle of coding e-courses and Microsoft Visual Studio Pro (https://stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-visual-studio-professional-2022-the-2024-premium-learn-to-code-certification-bundle-4?aid=a-wrsgzptn&utm_source=TheTruthAboutCars.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=microsoft-visual-studio-professional-2022-the-2024-premium-learn-to-code-certification-bundle-4_121624&utm_term=scsf-611740&utm_content=a0xRn000002rdYLIAY&scsonar=1). You could build a portfolio and start a new career, freelance, or know how to create apps and websites. If you purchase everything separately and not on sale, it would cost you $1,999, but it's only $55.97 on StackSocial.

The 15 coding e-courses cover front-end development with HTML, JavaScript, Vuex, and React and back-end development with Python, Ruby on Rails, Java, C++, and SQL so you can create websites or desktop applications (https://stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-visual-studio-professional-2022-the-2024-premium-learn-to-code-certification-bundle-4?aid=a-wrsgzptn&utm_source=TheTruthAboutCars.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=microsoft-visual-studio-professional-2022-the-2024-premium-learn-to-code-certification-bundle-4_121624&utm_term=scsf-611740&utm_content=a0xRn000002rdYLIAY&scsonar=1). Or, maybe you're interested in mobile apps with Flutter, Swift, and Kotlin, data science and machine learning, or DevOps engineering with AWS or Azure.

Through December 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get this bundle of Microsoft Visual Studio Pro and 15 coding e-courses (https://stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-visual-studio-professional-2022-the-2024-premium-learn-to-code-certification-bundle-4?aid=a-wrsgzptn&utm_source=TheTruthAboutCars.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=microsoft-visual-studio-professional-2022-the-2024-premium-learn-to-code-certification-bundle-4_121624&utm_term=scsf-611740&utm_content=a0xRn000002rdYLIAY&scsonar=1) on sale for $55.97 (reg. $1,999) on StackSocial. Supplies are limited, so act while they're still available.https://tpucdn.com/img/7SEw82P1I8M4GLVi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7SEw82P1I8M4GLVi.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330030/microsoft-visual-studio-with-coding-courses-is-down-to-usd-56)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330030/microsoft-visual-studio-with-coding-courses-is-down-to-usd-56)

[NextPowerUP]

It is barely a surprise that the desktop RTX 50X0-series cards will be accompanied by laptop variants soon after their launch. And as such, multiple listings of upcoming gaming laptops have appeared on the internet. The information is rather intriguing, to say the least. The leaked listings indicate that both AMD and Intel will have products ready to join forces with Blackwell, with Intel's Arrow Lake-HX and, rather shockingly, Ryzen 7000HX-series from Team Red - much to the chagrin of those expecting Ryzen 9000HX to drop sooner. The listings also reveal some other specifications, such as the display, but there is nothing notable there - it's the typical spread of mini LED and OLED panels.

Among the leaked laptops, we have the ROG Strix Scar 18, which will pack up to a Core Ultra 9 285HX "Arrow Lake-HX" CPU, along with either an RTX 5080, or an RTX 5090 GPU. Disappointingly, it appears that the RTX 5090 will be limited to only 16 GB of VRAM, which is half that of its desktop counterpart. The RTX 5080 will also be available with 16 GB of VRAM, which certainly makes us sigh in relief. A lower-tier laptop, namely the Strix 16, has also been leaked, packing either an RTX 5070 Ti, or an RTX 5060 GPU with 12 GB and 8 GB of VRAM respectively. The laptops further down will also have the entry-level RTX 5050, with 8 GB of VRAM as well. Of course, all of this is on the new GDDR7 spec. The full-resolution image of the leaked listings can be found here (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GfLsMl4asAE8CAa?format=jpg&name=large).https://tpucdn.com/img/4jZk8gcV1E95LLpD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4jZk8gcV1E95LLpD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8hHPHYExKw9EVLfr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8hHPHYExKw9EVLfr.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330058/rtx-5090-rtx-5080-laptop-gpus-leak-alongside-asus-rog-gaming-laptops)

[NextPowerUP]

A significant legal challenge has emerged for Intel's leadership as shareholders aim for the company's representation of its foundry business performance. LR Trust has filed a lawsuit (https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.441318/gov.uscourts.cand.441318.1.0.pdf) against former CEO Pat Gelsinger and current co-CEO David Zinsner, seeking to return substantial executive compensation amid allegations of misleading statements and financial mismanagement. The lawsuit centers on Intel Foundry Services (IFS), a division that was once positioned as a crucial growth engine for Team Blue. The Intel Foundry, as it is now called, is here referred as Intel Foundry Services, which was its older name back in 2023. According to court documents, LR Trust claims that while Intel's leadership painted an optimistic picture of IFS's trajectory, the division struggled to attract major clients and accumulated significant losses. Gelsinger's $207 million compensation package is at the heart of the dispute, where shareholders now demand that these funds should be returned to the company.

The legal action also targets additional compensation received by Zinsner, arguing that executive rewards were secured through misrepresenting the company's financial health. The allegations point to a troubled 2023, during which Intel's chip production unit reportedly lost $7 billion. These challenges extended into 2024, as increased investments in new fab facilities further strained the company's finances. The lawsuit alleges that executives issued "materially false and misleading" statements regarding cost savings and revenue potential, ultimately driving shareholder value to the very bottom. LR Trust's legal filing accuses Intel's leadership of breaching its financial duties through inadequate internal controls and inaccurate financial disclosures. Beyond seeking the return of executive compensation, the lawsuit pursues damages and legal cost reimbursement, with any recovered funds potentially being returned to Intel's coffers. Intel has yet to respond formally to these allegations. This is just another lawsuit in line as Intel already has several other lawsuits going on, with one recent from August (https://www.techpowerup.com/325414/intel-faces-shareholder-lawsuit-amid-financial-turmoil-and-layoffs-company-misled-investors).https://tpucdn.com/img/atzxdHuCu6Nnh0mg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/atzxdHuCu6Nnh0mg.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330084/intel-ex-ceo-pat-gelsinger-and-current-co-ceo-david-zinsner-face-shareholder-lawsuit-over-foundry-services-claims)

[NextPowerUP]

LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, introduces the UNI FAN TL Wireless series, expanding its wireless signal-controlled product line-up. Utilizing a 2.4 GHz signal for ARGB and fan speed control, this series eliminates the need for a hub. It includes the UNI FAN TL LCD Wireless, featuring a 1.6" LCD display with 400x400 resolution at 60 FPS and customizable visuals, and the UNI FAN TL Wireless, equipped with high-performance Liquid Crystal Polymer blades. Both models feature an infinity mirror effect with dual LED zones and come in black and white in 120 mm size, supporting regular and reverse airflow configurations.

UNI FAN TL LCD Wireless
The UNI FAN TL LCD Wireless provides unparalleled customization possibilities with its 1.6" LCD IPS display at the center of the fan, offering a 400×400 resolution that supports MP4, GIF, JPG, and PNG formats for vibrant, personalized visuals. Compared to the UNI FAN TL LCD, which features a 30 FPS display, the UNI FAN TL LCD Wireless now boasts a 60 FPS frame-per-second refresh rate. Surrounding the fan edges are infinity mirrors and a thin LED strip that elegantly wraps around the mounting screw area, enhancing its sleek aesthetic. Powered by fluid dynamic bearings (FDB), the TL LCD Wireless delivers an airflow of 62 CFM, air pressure of 2.9 mmH2O, and operating noise of 27 dBA at speeds of up to 1900 RPM. The LCD receiver integrates seamlessly, using a PWM cable for power and a USB cable for the LCD signal.https://tpucdn.com/img/f5lIhhO52zn8xeWX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f5lIhhO52zn8xeWX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tTIlcYMW43icPeAd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tTIlcYMW43icPeAd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AWjUJYeigi3FowBl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AWjUJYeigi3FowBl.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330083/lian-li-adds-2-4-ghz-wireless-signal-control-to-the-uni-fan-tl-series)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330083/lian-li-adds-2-4-ghz-wireless-signal-control-to-the-uni-fan-tl-series)

[NextPowerUP]

Silicon Power (SP) is excited to announce the launch of its first M.2 PCIe 2230 E-Key SSD, the MEM3K0E, further solidifying its commitment to delivering innovative and versatile solutions for the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing applications. With the introduction of this compact form factor, the company provides developers with more options to optimize system configurations while empowering next-generation AI technologies.

An Optimized Cache and Buffer Solution
Compliant to the PCIe 3.1 standard and NVMe 1.4 protocol, the MEM3K0E is specifically designed for devices equipped with E-Key slots, making it an ideal cache and buffer storage solution to complement M-Key slot primary drives. Its chief role is to maintain stable system performance by balancing the workload during resource-intensive tasks, which it achieves with features such as a thermal throttling function and built-in voltage detector. With storage capacity options of 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, the MEM3K0E offers scalability for various applications, ranging from compact embedded systems to high-performance computing environments.https://tpucdn.com/img/sJ30rxo0r1XEVIpX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sJ30rxo0r1XEVIpX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AEIYdikp2FLK8v4W_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AEIYdikp2FLK8v4W.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330077/silicon-power-unveils-its-first-m-2-pcie-2230-e-key-ssd)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330077/silicon-power-unveils-its-first-m-2-pcie-2230-e-key-ssd)

[NextPowerUP]

TechPowerUp partners with HAVN, the year's hot new entrant to the PC case, cooling, and power industry, to bring you one of the season's biggest giveaways ahead of Holiday 2024. Open to our readers from the US and (most of) Europe, the giveaway gives four lucky winners a chance to bring home a HAVN HS 420 series case. We have a HAVN HS 420 VGPU Black, a HAVN HS 420 VGPU White, a HAVN HS 420 Black, and a HAVN HS 420 White. We recently reviewed (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/havn-hs-420-vgpu/) the HS 420 VGPU, and found it to be spacious, practical, and contemporary unit. To win one of these, simply fill up a form, so we can get back to you if you've won. You can increase your chances of winning by sharing the Giveaway on your social media.

For more information, and to participate, visit this page (https://gleam.io/q1yui/havn-x-techpowerup-giveaway).https://tpucdn.com/img/tULpCuFSl7i3WyqG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tULpCuFSl7i3WyqG.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/329214/techpowerup-and-havn-giveaway-four-havn-hs-420-series-cases-up-for-grabs)

[NextPowerUP]

According to a recent investigative report, UK-based Imagination Technologies faces allegations of transferring sensitive GPU intellectual property to Chinese companies with potential military connections. The UK-China Transparency organization claims that following its 2020 acquisition by China-controlled investment firm Canyon Bridge, Imagination provided complete access to its GPU IP to Chinese entities with military connections. The report suggests this included sharing detailed architectural documentation typically reserved for premier clients like Apple. At the center of the controversy are Chinese firms Moore Threads and Biren Technology, which have emerged as significant players in China's AI and GPU sectors. The report indicates Moore Threads maintains connections with military GPU suppliers, while Biren Technology has received partial Russian investment.

The organization argues that Canyon Bridge, which has ties to the state-owned China Reform enterprise, helped these technological transfers to benefit China's military-industrial complex. Imagination Technologies has defended its actions, maintaining that all licensing agreements comply with industry standards. The allegations have sparked renewed debate about foreign ownership of strategic technology assets and the effectiveness of current export controls. When Canyon Bridge acquired Imagination in 2020, security experts raised concerns about potential military applications of the firm's technology. UKCT plans to release additional findings, including information from legal disputes involving Imagination's previous management. Rising concerns over technology transfers have prompted governments to reassess export controls and corporate oversight in the semiconductor industry, as nations struggle to balance international commerce with national security priorities. We are yet to see official government response to this situation.https://tpucdn.com/img/QmUKRROwloTavENd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QmUKRROwloTavENd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/h1Btek5UuSNj08Mk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/h1Btek5UuSNj08Mk.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330074/imagination-technology-reportedly-shipped-gpu-ip-to-chinese-companies-like-moore-threads-and-biren-technology)

[NextPowerUP]

Motherboard vendor ASUS began rolling out UEFI firmware (BIOS) updates to its Intel Z890 motherboards that contain Intel's 0x114 Microcode update for Core Ultra "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processors. The new microcode was touted as bringing in performance gains to gaming workloads across the board, with Intel saying that depending on the configuration, one could expect a "roughly 3-8% performance gain (https://www.youtube.com/live/M6rwTGJTcOQ?si=oOVJVucb5V5hhFRM&t=3846)." The company said that motherboard vendors should begin releasing BIOS updates with 0x114 "starting January 2025," however, it seems like ASUS is ready with public "stable" (non-beta) BIOS updates with it. We use a ROG Maximus Z890 Hero in our "Arrow Lake-S" reviews, and so promptly grabbed the version 1203 BIOS from the ASUS website, and put it to the test. This also updates Intel ME (management engine) to v19.0.0.1827.

We added our performance testing numbers to our article from yesterday (December 19, 2024), where we had tested the Core Ultra 9 285K with the latest OS-level patches for Windows 11 24H2. Long story short, we do not notice any notable performance gains with the 0x114 microcode update. 0x114 was touted as providing users with additional performance gains after all the OS- and BIOS configuration related issues had been fixed. In its pre-brief from earlier this week, Intel said that the 0x114 microcode update represented additional performance gain opportunities that the company had discovered in the process of identifying and fixing the reasons why the processors fell significantly behind Intel's performance guidance in their launch reviews in October.

We recommend you to once again read our performance testing article (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/arrow-lake-retested-with-latest-24h2-updates-and-new-bios/) from yesterday, we have updated the performance graphs with 0x114 microcode update numbers, and are in the process of providing additional commentary in the article. Here's a teaser:https://tpucdn.com/img/hy4xlVaEiXujDzHt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hy4xlVaEiXujDzHt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jKKaa46rsYIpzopi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jKKaa46rsYIpzopi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HeF6UmANi6K8AQhn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HeF6UmANi6K8AQhn.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330069/intel-arrow-lake-0x114-microcode-already-out-no-significant-gains-we-tested)

[NextPowerUP]

According to recently discovered shipping manifests, Intel is developing a new processor series codenamed "Wildcat Lake," potentially succeeding their entry-level "Intel Processor" lineup based on Alder Lake-N. The documents, revealed by x86deadandback (https://x.com/x86deadandback/status/1869428945420202447), suggest a 2025 launch timeline for these chips targeting lightweight laptops and mini-PCs. The shipping records from October 30 mention CPU reball equipment compatible with BGA 1516 sockets, measuring 35 x 25 mm, indicating early validation testing is underway. These processors are expected to be manufactured using Intel's advanced 18A process technology, sharing the same manufacturing node as the upcoming Panther Lake series (https://www.techpowerup.com/329790/intel-panther-lake-confirmed-on-18a-node-powering-on-with-es0-silicon-revision). Early technical specifications of Wildcat Lake point to a hybrid architecture combining next-generation "Cougar Cove" performance cores with "Darkmont" low-power efficiency (LPE) cores in a 2P+4LPE configuration.

This design appears to separate the core clusters, departing from traditional shared ring bus arrangements, similar to the approach taken in Intel's Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake processors. While Wildcat Lake's exact position in Intel's product stack remains unclear, it could serve as a modernized replacement for the what were Pentium and Celeron processor families. These chips traditionally power devices like Chromebooks, embedded systems, and home servers, with the new series potentially offering significant performance improvements for these market segments. The processor is expected to operate in the sub-double-digit TDP power envelope, positioning it below the more powerful Lunar Lake series. Graphics capabilities will likely be more modest than Lunar Lake's Xe2 architecture, aligning with its entry-level market positioning.https://tpucdn.com/img/rFFUSMlPzI6QBqBh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rFFUSMlPzI6QBqBh.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330068/intels-wildcat-lake-emerges-as-new-entry-level-processor-series)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel has announced it will not proceed with X86S (https://www.techpowerup.com/308896/intel-exploring-x86s-architecture-envisions-an-unadulterated-64-bit-future), an experimental instruction set architecture that aims to simplify its processor design by removing legacy support for older 32-bit and 16-bit operating modes. The decision comes after gathering feedback from the technology ecosystem on a draft specification that was released for evaluation. The x86, and its 64-bit x86-64 we use today, is a giant cluster of specifications that contains so many instructions rarely anyone can say with precision how many are there. All of this stems from the era of original 8086 processor, which has its own 16-bit instructions. Later on we transitioned to 32, then 64-bit systems with all have brought their own specific instructions. Adding support for processing of vector, matrix, and other data types has increased the ISA specification so much that no one outside a few select engineers at Intel (and AMD) understands in full. From that x86S idea was born to solve the issue of supporting legacy systems and legacy code, and moving on to the x86S ISA, where "S" stands for simplified.

The X86S proposal included several notable modifications, such as eliminating support for rings 1 and 2 in the processor's protection model, removing 16-bit addressing capabilities, and discontinuing legacy interrupt controller support. These changes would have potentially reduced hardware complexity and modernized the platform's architecture. A key feature of the proposed design was a simplified boot process that would have allowed processors to start directly in 64-bit mode, eliminating the current requirement for systems to boot through various legacy modes before reaching 64-bit operation. The architecture also promised improvements in handling modern features like 5-level paging. "Intel will continue to maintain its longstanding commitment to software compatibility," the company stated in the official document on its website (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/envisioning-future-simplified-architecture.html), acknowledging that the x86S dream is over.https://tpucdn.com/img/lr73IJMjcEUgS7ok_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lr73IJMjcEUgS7ok.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330066/intel-abandons-x86s-plans-to-focus-on-the-regular-x86-64-isa-advisory-group)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330066/intel-abandons-x86s-plans-to-focus-on-the-regular-x86-64-isa-advisory-group)

[NextPowerUP]

Despite having a rather successful launch, Hi-Fi Rush was slated to be cancelled when Tango Gameworks, the studio behind the unorthodox rhythm game, was to be shut down by Microsoft in mid 2024. Shortly after that unfortunate turn of events, Tango was acquired by Krafton, the publisher behind PUBG, and Hi-Fi Rush was given a second wind. That acquisition also got fans hopeful for a sequel, and there were even rumors floating around that a sequel was in the works. Now, in a recent interview with IGN, a few Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush higher-ups—Hi-Fi Rush director, John Johanas, studio head and creative director, Colin Mack, and Hi-Fi Rush project manager, Kazuaki Egashira—confirmed that this is not necessarily the case.

While a sequel had been in development when Krafton acquired the studio, Mack says that they "are not yet at the stage where we can say specifically." That said, the studio is apparently strongly leaning towards a sequel. The justification for not yet committing to Hi-Fi Rush 2 is that the team has a fondness for the game, its characters, and its world, so they want to make a sequel that is respectful and cherishes the IP. The team also acknowledges that "it is important to try new things," and Johanas admits that Tango is considering multiple opportunities. Throughout the interview, there's an emphasis on keeping things fresh, with the team seemingly under the impression that revisiting Hi-Fi Rush in a sequel without changing it, it would become outdated. Whatever comes out of the Hi-Fi Rush universe, it's apparent that the developers working on it don't see a sequel as a cash cow. For fans of the game, there is at least hope, since Mack says that the studio hopes to hire around 50 new employees in January 2025, doubling its workforce and supposedly allowing for more freedom for creativity and experimentation.https://tpucdn.com/img/X8721Kz87QKbG47w_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/X8721Kz87QKbG47w.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330038/hi-fi-rush-2-not-guaranteed-despite-pubg-studio-acquisition)

[NextPowerUP]

OneXPlayer has pulled back the veil on its G1 gaming notebook, and the product sure does look intriguing. Calling it a notebook might not even be fair, considering that its 8.8-inch display barely exceeds tablet territory. However, for lovers of compact gaming systems and handhelds, the G1 looks like it ticks many boxes, and its detachable keyboard is undoubtedly a welcome addition.

The system is powered by AMD's 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 "Strix Point" APU with 4 Zen 5 and 8 Zen 5c cores, along with a powerful Radeon 890M iGPU with 16 CUs based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture. The aforementioned 8.8-inch display is quite the looker as well, featuring a 2.5K resolution with a speedy 144 Hz refresh rate. At least on paper, it appears that the OneXPlayer G1 leaves very little room for complaint.https://tpucdn.com/img/CNqbWte0mpgDlGgi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CNqbWte0mpgDlGgi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Em3IIrardtCv2oPT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Em3IIrardtCv2oPT.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330049/onexplayer-g1-gaming-laptop-unveiled-with-compact-enclosure-and-strix-point-firepower)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330049/onexplayer-g1-gaming-laptop-unveiled-with-compact-enclosure-and-strix-point-firepower)

[NextPowerUP]

OTK's premium prebuilt PC manufacturer Starforge Systems is launching their latest limited-edition case bundle featuring artwork inspired by the fan-favorite action-adventure sandbox game, Terraria. Officially licensed by Re-Logic, the brand-new line includes a custom design across a wide spectrum of products, including a desk mat, case, wall art, and THREE different plate light inserts.

Released in 2011, Terraria invites players to explore, craft, build, paint, and engage in combat with a variety of creatures in a procedurally generated 2D world. The Starforge Systems x Terraria PC features a beautiful pixel art Lian Li 011 EVO case and contains an AMD R5 7600X and an AMD Radeon XFX RX 7800 XT. It also features a 1 TB NV3 and 32 GB of DDR5 Ram.https://tpucdn.com/img/95ZGTeaIySDX1mIt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/95ZGTeaIySDX1mIt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3GnueLG94W6sPf7e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3GnueLG94W6sPf7e.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4SVaUNZ4MzoizvYj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4SVaUNZ4MzoizvYj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YjYlANPcgAZg7UGY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YjYlANPcgAZg7UGY.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330055/starforge-systems-launches-limited-edition-terraria-pc)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330055/starforge-systems-launches-limited-edition-terraria-pc)

[NextPowerUP]

GEEKOM, a Taiwanese tech company famous for making high quality mini PCs, is heading to CES for the second consecutive year in 2025 with an exciting lineup of new products. Known as the Green Mini PC Global Leader, GEEKOM always focuses on improving the quality and reliability of its products, and it also spares no effort in cutting down carbon emissions and making the world a greener place.

Among the many mini PCs that GEEKOM plans to put on show at CES 2025, there are many industry firsts. The GEEKOM QS1, for instance, is the world's first mini PC powered by a Qualcomm chipset. The tiny computer sports an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-80-100 processor with twelve 4.0 GHz Oryon CPU cores, a 3.8 TFLOPS Adreno X1-85 GPU and a 45 TOPS Hexagon NPU. It is smart and fast enough to breeze through all of your daily home and office computing chores, yet energy-efficient enough to significantly cut down your electric bill.https://tpucdn.com/img/m5aPFksQCvraptE3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/m5aPFksQCvraptE3.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330054/geekom-to-reveal-high-performance-mini-pcs-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330054/geekom-to-reveal-high-performance-mini-pcs-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Stuck in a gaming rut? Get out of the loop this GFN Thursday with four new games joining the GeForce NOW library of over 2,000 supported games. Dive into Square Enix's mind-bending action role-playing games (RPGs) NieR:Automata and NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, now streaming in the cloud. Plus, explore HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero for an adrenaline-packed adventure, just in time for its 1.4 update.

Check out GeForce Greats, which offers a look back at the biggest and best moments of PC gaming, from the launch of the GeForce 256 graphics card to the modern era. Follow the GeForce, GeForce NOW, NVIDIA Studio and NVIDIA AI PC channels on X, as well as #GeForceGreats, to join in on the nostalgic journey. Plus, participate in the GeForce LAN Missions from the cloud with GeForce NOW starting on Saturday, Jan. 4, for a chance to win in-game rewards, first come, first served. GeForce NOW members will also be able to launch a virtual stadium for a front-row seat to the CES opening keynote, to be delivered by NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang on Monday, Jan. 6. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for more details.https://tpucdn.com/img/rbBRKzYHQKPcxaGu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rbBRKzYHQKPcxaGu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SfrmoX0BcLWzS42k_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SfrmoX0BcLWzS42k.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XnRL33CVznmAJup2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XnRL33CVznmAJup2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OMMzWk5qYbEP8oLA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OMMzWk5qYbEP8oLA.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330053/nvidia-geforce-now-gets-nier-automata-nier-replicant-and-more-games)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330053/nvidia-geforce-now-gets-nier-automata-nier-replicant-and-more-games)

[NextPowerUP]

Apacer Technology, a global leader in digital storage solutions, has announced the mass production of its latest industrial-grade DDR5-6400 CUDIMM and CSODIMM memory modules. These modules are the first to feature a fully lead-free resistor design, eliminating the need for exemptions under the EU RoHS directive. Equipped with premium professional-grade Clock Driver (CKD) components and Transient Voltage Suppressors (TVS) diode as dual-core technologies, the modules are specifically engineered for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. These products ensure exceptional stability and security even in extreme industrial environments, providing enterprises with reliable, eco-friendly, and high-performance solutions.

In alignment with the global push for sustainability, Apacer's fully lead-free DDR5 series has attracted significant customer interest, particularly for its compliance with the EU RoHS 7(c)-I lead exemption clause. By adopting this series early, customers can proactively mitigate risks associated with the expiration of exemption extensions. Now in mass production, these fully lead-free DDR5 CUDIMM and CSODIMM modules not only help customers meet international regulatory standards but also empower them to gain a competitive edge in the high-performance computing market.https://tpucdn.com/img/Yhs1Lfekm8mpK7fi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Yhs1Lfekm8mpK7fi.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330052/apacer-commences-mass-production-of-industrial-grade-ddr5-6400-memory-modules)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330052/apacer-commences-mass-production-of-industrial-grade-ddr5-6400-memory-modules)

[NextPowerUP]

Flexible OLED tech has come a long way and started sharking up the smartphone and tablet market, but Lenovo now apparently wants to use rolling OLED displays to increase screen real-estate on its laptops without actually making them much bigger. According to notorious leaker, Evan Blass (https://x.com/evleaks/status/1869781338263638441), in a post on X, Lenovo will launch the sixth-generation of its ThinkBook Plus line-up with a rollable OLED display that can extend upwards to give it significantly more screen real-estate. Blass claims that the new ThinkBook Plus will launch at CES 2025, which is slated to take place between January 7 and January 10, 2025.

Looking at the renders that were shared alongside the leaks, and based on the size of the keyboard, the new ThinkBook will have a tall—it looks like 3:4 aspect ratio—screen that's somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 inches before the screen is fully unrolled. After unrolling, though, it appears to be able to fit two 16:9 windows on top of each other. Previous iterations of the ThinkBook Plus 17 had a small secondary display on the keyboard deck to the right of the keyboard, and the ThinkBook Plus 13 models consisted of the Gen 5 hybrid model with a detachable display and the Gen 4 variant, which had a 360° hinge and a color e-ink display on the back of the main OLED. While these designs all made compromises, whether in the suboptimal ergonomics of the mini screen of the 17 or the fact that you could only use one display at a time on the e-ink version. Previous ThinkBook versions were also compatible with an MPP stylus for handwriting, note-taking, and even image editing or sketching. It's unclear if the new ThinkBook Plus will be compatible with pen input, but there do not seem to be any images online showing the leaked laptop with a stylus in the same image.https://tpucdn.com/img/8n6gKHIT2W4d0g5s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8n6gKHIT2W4d0g5s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LdmbaAgB79qMnfyO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LdmbaAgB79qMnfyO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uNtVoq3PVEWSkno7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uNtVoq3PVEWSkno7.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330047/leak-reveals-lenovo-thinkbook-plus-6th-gen-as-worlds-first-production-rollable-display-laptop)

[NextPowerUP]

Just ahead of CES 2025, prominent display maker AOC has introduced a trio of new gaming monitors. First up, we have the Q25G4S, a 24.5-inch IPS monitor with an impressive 300 Hz refresh rate, ideal for esports titles. The QHD resolution allows for a decent pixel density at its size, making it well-suited for content consumption as well. The monitor boasts dual HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 port, and an audio jack. The monitor appears to be plenty ergonomic as well, with swivel, pivot, tilt and height adjustments courtesy of its included ergonomic stand.

Next up, we have the AOC 27G11ZE3, sporting a 27-inch IPS panel with a slower but impressive 260 Hz refresh rate. The 1080p monitor claims 99% of sRGB color gamut coverage, which is perfectly decent, but the overall content consumption experience will certainly be held back its poor pixel density. The monitor sports a DisplayPort 1.4 input, along with dual HDMI 2.0 inputs. When the latter is used, refresh rate will be limited to 240 Hz. An audio jack is also present.https://tpucdn.com/img/DYwAL7QhvcqGIkE6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DYwAL7QhvcqGIkE6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WVbVVEbuVTa7IW5D_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WVbVVEbuVTa7IW5D.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ff4cet0LFqmcXdiM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ff4cet0LFqmcXdiM.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330195/aoc-introduces-a-trio-of-new-gaming-monitors-ahead-of-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330195/aoc-introduces-a-trio-of-new-gaming-monitors-ahead-of-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

AMD fans are undoubtedly on their toes to witness the performance improvements that Strix Halo is ready to bring forth. Unlike Strix Point, which utilizes a combination of Zen 5c and full-fat Zen 5 cores, Strix Halo will do away with the small cores for a Zen 5 "only" setup, allowing for substantially better multicore performance. Moreover, it is also widely expected that Strix Halo will boast chunky iGPUs that will bring the heat to entry-level and even some mid-range mobile GPUs, allowing Strix Halo systems to not require discrete graphics at all, with a prime example being the upcoming ROG Flow Z13 tablet.

As per recent reports, the upcoming Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 APU will sport an RDNA 3.5-based iGPU with a whopping 40 CUs, and will likely be branded as the Radeon 8060S. In a leaked Geekbench Vulkan benchmark, the Radeon 8060S managed to outpace the RTX 4060 Laptop dGPU in performance. However, according to yet another leaked benchmark, Passmark, the Radeon 8060S and the 32-CU 8050S scored 16,454 and 16,663 respectively - and no, that is not a typo. The 8060S with 40 CUs is marginally slower than the 8050S with 32 CUs, clearly indicating that the numbers are far from final. That said, performance in this range puts the Strix Halo APUs well below the RTX 4070 laptop GPU, and roughly the same as the RTX 3080 Laptop. Not bad for an iGPU, although it is almost certain that actual performance of the retail units will be higher, judging by the abnormally small delta between the 8050S and the 8060S.https://tpucdn.com/img/I2y45yXAGXt2ugvB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/I2y45yXAGXt2ugvB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D0equWrDKftB6sjU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D0equWrDKftB6sjU.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330188/amd-strix-halo-radeon-8050s-and-8060s-igpu-performance-look-promising-and-confusing)

[NextPowerUP]

As 2024 draws to a close, and you scamper for gifts, GoDeal24 wants to step in—how about something really useful that doesn't move in a logistics van? Get amazing yearend deals on genuine, globally valid software, which you can use in your Winter 2024 builds, or give it away to friends and family. Get Windows 11 Pro at just $13.25. A multipack of 3 can be had at just $34.45 ($11.48 a piece). Don't forget to pair it with Office 2021 Professional Plus, now going at $35.11, with 5-PC multipacks going at $161.25 ($32.25/piece). Better yet, combine the two at just $47.59. Check out great deals on other editions of Windows at Office, and their combos.

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $35.11 (https://cutt.ly/WeKrPgks) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $68.44 (https://cutt.ly/leL9pXVn) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $99.99 (https://cutt.ly/CeL9aorh) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $161.25 (https://cutt.ly/7eNBWpHh) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $25.29 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrOTOe) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 2-PC at $49.29 (https://cutt.ly/JeKrPTnb) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 5-PC at $109.29 (https://cutt.ly/beKrPDQs) | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $15.29 (https://cutt.ly/reKrVbty) | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $98.69 (https://cutt.ly/aeKrP9aM) | Buy Office 2019 Home and Business for Mac at $39.99 (https://cutt.ly/ieKrAqoy)

Buy Windows 11 Pro at $13.25 (https://cutt.ly/OeKrPqTZ) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 3-PC at $34.45 (https://cutt.ly/geKrARBG) | Buy Windows 11 Home at $13.05 (https://cutt.ly/GeKrADXE) | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $8.25 (https://cutt.ly/aeKrAXZf) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 3-PC at $21.25 (https://cutt.ly/IeKrA0jz) | Buy Windows 10 Home at $8.15 (https://cutt.ly/reKrA79G) | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC at $12.25 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrSt7E)

Please use the coupon code TCP62 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $43.56 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrSaQ8) | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 Professional Plus at $31.05 (https://cutt.ly/HeKrSlvX) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $47.59 (https://cutt.ly/ReKrSmLy) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $36.49 (https://cutt.ly/ceKrST4z)https://tpucdn.com/img/cuMxveZnjnbciYpP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cuMxveZnjnbciYpP.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330149/godeal24-unveils-yearend-deals-on-discount-genuine-software)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel has officially announced its presence at CES 2025, teasing what appears to be a significant focus on AI capabilities in its upcoming processor lineup. The tech giant shared a preview image featuring their tagline "AI Inside for a New Era." The announcement suggests that the company will be showcasing new developments in AI processing capabilities integrated directly into their consumer processors. Intel's upcoming lineup is expected to feature the mobile-focused "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra 200H/HX processors alongside the Arrow Lake-based Core Ultra 200S series designed for desktop systems with 35 W and 65 W power configurations. The company is also supposedly introducing new mid-range and workstation-class 800-series processors for desktop platforms.

The "AI Inside" messaging indicates that Intel is positioning itself to compete more aggressively in the AI computing space, particularly as PCs increasingly handle AI workloads locally. While specific details about the presentation remain under wraps, we can anticipate announcements regarding new Arrow Lake configurations, enhanced AI capabilities, and possibly new partnerships or software ecosystems designed to leverage these features. The keynote could also shed light on Intel's strategy for maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly AI-focused computing landscape. Michelle Johnston Holthaus, interim co-CEO, and Jack Weast, an Intel Fellow and VP of Intel Automotive, will deliver the live keynote. Intel's agenda also shows next-generation AI silicon so we can get information on accelerators like Falcon Shores.https://tpucdn.com/img/IZcwsWPhklMxKzn3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IZcwsWPhklMxKzn3.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330190/intel-confirms-ces-2025-keynote-teases-ai-inside-era-and-core-ultra-200h-hx-s-cpus)

[NextPowerUP]

Recent benchmark leaks have revealed that AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card may not deliver the groundbreaking performance initially hoped for by enthusiasts. According to leaked 3DMark Time Spy results shared by hardware leaker @All_The_Watts, the RDNA 4-based GPU achieved a graphics score of 22,894 points. The benchmark results indicate that the RX 9070 XT performs only marginally better than AMD's current RX 7900 GRE, showing a mere 2% improvement. It falls significantly behind the RX 7900 XT, which maintains almost a 17% performance advantage over the new card. These findings contradict earlier speculation that suggested the RX 9070 XT would compete directly with NVIDIA's RTX 4080.

However, synthetic benchmarks tell only part of the story. The GPU's real-world gaming performance remains to be seen, and rumors indicate that the RX 9070 XT may offer significantly improved ray tracing capabilities compared to its RX 7000 series predecessors. This could be crucial for market competitiveness, particularly given the strong ray tracing performance of NVIDIA's RTX 40 and the upcoming RTX 50 series cards. The success of the RX 9070 XT depends on how well it can differentiate itself through features like ray tracing while maintaining an attractive price-to-performance ratio in an increasingly competitive GPU market. We expect these scores not to be the final tale in the AMD RDNA 4 story, as we must wait and see what AMD delivers during CES. Third-party reviews and benchmarks will give the final verdict in the RDNA 4 market launch.https://tpucdn.com/img/PA9YtJmr3BPhtRpF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PA9YtJmr3BPhtRpF.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330189/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-alleged-benchmark-leaks-underwhelming-performance)

[NextPowerUP]

The box-art of upcoming GALAX GeForce RTX 5080 "Blackwell" graphics card has much to say about the graphics architecture, without dropping any explicit mentions. The front-face of the box features a hooded human face—nothing fancy, until you begin to pay attention to the details. Half the face is composed of triangles streaming toward the face, while the other half is composed in place by a blue stream of light, as if to denote that it's being drawn by a fundamentally different method than "triangles."

The triangles here represent classic raster 3D graphics, while the other spirit-like half denotes neural rendering. Here's where it gets interesting. Both kinds of rendering are being applied to the same frame, and so neural rendering is fundamentally different from DLSS 3 Frame Generation, a technology that draws alternate frames using optical flow, motion vectors, and AI. Neural rendering appears to be, at least from this GALAX box-art, a technology that runs in real-time, where some elements, portions, or details of a frame are rendered by a generative AI, and others by raster 3D graphics.https://tpucdn.com/img/P04XTEfHyeLk6s1f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/P04XTEfHyeLk6s1f.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IPvjFrPxRQF8oVWg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IPvjFrPxRQF8oVWg.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330187/alleged-galax-geforce-rtx-5080-blackwell-box-art-drops-big-clue-about-neural-rendering)

[NextPowerUP]

AMD's client computing division is expected to have an action-packed 2025 International CES. On the CPU front, the company is expected to expand its Ryzen 9000X3D family with high-core count models, such as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D. It is also expected to introduce certain power-efficient 65 W models of its non-X3D Ryzen 9000 series "Zen 5" chips, which serve as value options within this processor generation, to try and lure buyers off the 65 W Intel Core Ultra "Arrow Lake-S" models. On the gaming graphics side, the company is expected to debut its Radeon RX 9000 series, led by the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, both of which are based on the "Navi 48" silicon, and powered by the RDNA 4 graphics architecture.

That's not all, AMD is also expected to announce the new FSR 4 technology for gamers. Leaks describe FSR 4 as being a performance enhancement that's a generation ahead of FSR 3.x. While FSR 3.x combines super-resolution based performance enhancement, and algorithmic frame-generation that nearly doubles framerates; FSR 4 is expected to be AMD's first performance enhancement to incorporate AI to not just enhance the visual detail in super-resolution, but also to improve accuracy of frame-generation. At this point, it is not known if FSR 4 will be available as a feature at launch of the Radeon RX 9070 series. VideoCardz reports that the early-January announcements could be followed by late-January availability of the hardware.https://tpucdn.com/img/AeDVn230iwoSIcGf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AeDVn230iwoSIcGf.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330186/amd-to-launch-radeon-rx-9070-series-and-fsr-4-alongside-ryzen-9-9000x3d-processors-in-january)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA has released the newest v11.0.1 update for its NVIDIA App, and according to the release notes, it comes with a single new update that disables Game Filter by default. Previously, NVIDIA has released an official statement (https://www.techpowerup.com/329960/nvidia-app-allegedly-degrades-gaming-performance-by-up-to-15-but-there-is-a-fix) looking into reported performance issues related to Game Filter options in the NVIDIA App.

The NVIDIA app comes as a replacement for GeForce Experience software, which went out of the beta phase and became the default NVIDIA software application since the GeForce 566.33 driver update. Before the update, users were left with an option to manually disable Game Filter options in Settings > Features > Overlay > Game Filters and Photo Mode. Now, users are left with an option to manually enable the option in the same settings menu.https://tpucdn.com/img/o4nlWmYOMmpRi7mX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/o4nlWmYOMmpRi7mX.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330184/nvidia-app-gets-v11-0-1-update-disables-game-filters-by-default)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330184/nvidia-app-gets-v11-0-1-update-disables-game-filters-by-default)

[NextPowerUP]

Portable monitors are undoubtedly a rather niche category of displays, but there sure are people who can greatly benefit from their existence. For such people, the recently announced Minisforum MDSA156 sure does sound like a great product, at least on paper. At a price of $231, the portable monitor is quite affordable too. In fact, the MDSA156 gives buyers not one, but two displays connected with a 315° hinge, with the bottom display having a kick stand built in which allows for multiple setups to fit varying use cases. The product sports dual Type-C ports, as well as an HDMI port for input.

Both the displays sport a 1080p 15.6 inch IPS panel, providing plenty of pixels for all kinds of workloads. Weighing in at just a hair below 1 kg (2.2 lbs), the MDSA156 is commendably portable as well. Minisforum's website has listed out a variety of setups for the product, which have been attached below. However, with a peak brightness of just 250 nits and a mere 45% coverage of the NTSC color gamut (72% of NTSC ≈ 100% sRGB), the MDSA156 is certainly not meant for any kind of professional usage on the go, at least the kinds that depend on color reproduction. For other workflows, however, the product does look enticing for those who can take advantage of the displays.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZoxZ6qrx4b17QAdr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZoxZ6qrx4b17QAdr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ix2rhSmxogXWwXiZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ix2rhSmxogXWwXiZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AC9hacoJgYG6FFHV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AC9hacoJgYG6FFHV.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330168/minisforum-launches-portable-monitor-with-dual-1080p-displays)

[NextPowerUP]

The Apple M4 hardly needs any introduction - the latest desktop-class SoC from the Cupertino giant is remarkably fast, while being impressively efficient. Its recently unveiled Pro and Max variants are equally praiseworthy, although none of the 4th generation Apple Silicon goodness is available on the extremely popular MacBook Air as of right now. However, that is about to change soon according to a reliable recent report.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the M4-powered MacBook Air has already entered production, and is scheduled to witness the light of day by the spring of next year, possibly even earlier. However, it is certainly worth noting that unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air does not feature active cooling, making its performance rather limited in demanding, sustained scenarios as compared to the MacBook Pro. Even then, the M4 is likely to be much snappier than its primary x86 rival, Intel's Lunar Lake, if the M4 iPad Pro's performance is anything to go by.https://tpucdn.com/img/QJEgChoZgK9jRxJG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QJEgChoZgK9jRxJG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/r1YIqlgheUeoVV9G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/r1YIqlgheUeoVV9G.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330167/apple-m4-macbook-air-enters-production-m5-macbook-pro-on-track-for-2025-sans-redesign)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330167/apple-m4-macbook-air-enters-production-m5-macbook-pro-on-track-for-2025-sans-redesign)

[NextPowerUP]

Minisforum is a consumer hardware brand that is well known for its impressive lineup of SFF/Mini PCs. However, what might not be as well-known, might be the fact that the brand also makes a plethora of other computing hardware and accessories. The company had recently announced the V3 and the more affordable V3 SE 3-in-1 tablet PCs with a design that is reminiscent of the Microsoft Surface. The V3 SE is now available to purchase, starting at $799.

At its heart, the Minisforum V3 SE is powered by the 28 W Ryzen 7735U "Rembrandt R" APU based on the Zen 3+ microarchitecture paired with 16 GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory. The APU is a decently powerful one, with multicore performance that is roughly in the same league as the Core Ultra 7 258V "Lunar Lake" processor. Unsurprisingly, any kind of discrete graphics is absent from the PC tablet, thereby making it rely solely on the 12-CU Radeon 680M iGPU for graphically demanding tasks. Storage is taken care of by its 1 TB M.2 SSD, which is housed in a 2280 slot.https://tpucdn.com/img/VK9Ec9rZStamuQsn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VK9Ec9rZStamuQsn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vCS5nGzxSi9GeaoK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vCS5nGzxSi9GeaoK.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330166/minisforum-v3-se-3-in-1-tablet-goes-on-sale-with-ryzen-7-apu)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330166/minisforum-v3-se-3-in-1-tablet-goes-on-sale-with-ryzen-7-apu)

[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Electronics America, a world leader in advanced memory technology, has expanded its microSD portfolio with a line of new cards inspired by iconic characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, giving players an exciting new way to celebrate their fandom, while expanding their storage and powering ultra-fast gameplay. Created in collaboration with SEGA, the Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus microSDs will feature special designs depicting Knuckles (128 GB), Tails (256 GB), Sonic (512 GB) and Shadow (1 TB).

"Samsung PRO Plus microSD cards provide gamers, content creators and more with an easy, reliable, and secure way to store large amounts of data - delivering Sonic-speed right to your fingertips," said Jim Kiczek, Vice President of Memory Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. "Since debuting more than three decades ago, Sonic has become an icon of pop culture, featured in dozens of games, TV series, and movies. Now, with the Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus microSD cards, we're combining the franchise's instantly recognizable characters with the speed and reliability of Samsung PRO Plus microSDs to give your gear the ultimate Sonic boost."https://tpucdn.com/img/3gDNydItAstWbQii_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3gDNydItAstWbQii.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RYTstrCPyU9s9O47_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RYTstrCPyU9s9O47.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HXeQBxKfmRi1l2it_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HXeQBxKfmRi1l2it.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bqopqMdCIVjHN2fD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bqopqMdCIVjHN2fD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VMg1V41hQ3hhLtjQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VMg1V41hQ3hhLtjQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330163/samsung-collaborates-with-sega-on-new-sonic-the-hedgehog-pro-plus-microsd-cards)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330163/samsung-collaborates-with-sega-on-new-sonic-the-hedgehog-pro-plus-microsd-cards)

[NextPowerUP]

Rigetti Computing, Inc., a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, announced today the public launch of its 84-qubit Ankaa-3 system. Ankaa-3 is Rigetti's newest flagship quantum computer featuring an extensive hardware redesign that enables superior performance. Rigetti also celebrates major two-qubit gate fidelity milestones with Ankaa-3: successfully halving error rates in 2024 to achieve a median 99.0% iSWAP gate fidelity, as well as demonstrating 99.5% median fidelity fSim gates.

Ankaa-3 is now available to its partners via the Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform (QCS)and will be coming to Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure in the first quarter of 2025. Users will be able to operate these higher fidelity and universal iSWAP gates for a wide range of algorithmic research, with a median gate time of 72 nanoseconds. The faster (median 56 nanoseconds), more specialized fSim gates are useful for specific algorithms such as random circuit sampling, as recently demonstrated on Google's Willow system.https://tpucdn.com/img/3qExauNx3wfDCcFF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3qExauNx3wfDCcFF.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330162/rigetti-computing-launches-84-qubit-ankaa-3-quantum-computer)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330162/rigetti-computing-launches-84-qubit-ankaa-3-quantum-computer)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA has released a new hotfix driver version 566.45 WHQL, built upon the recent Game Ready Driver 566.36. This targeted update addresses specific issues affecting gaming performance and stability. The hotfix primarily focuses on resolving micro-stuttering issues reported by players in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, along with improving overall stability for Ubisoft titles running on the Snowdrop engine.

The previous driver release brought optimizations for S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, including DLSS 3 support. It also expanded GeForce Experience optimal settings for several titles including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Delta Force, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and Red Dead Redemption. With this latest hotfix update, NVIDIA has managed to iron out stability issues. However, there are no words about the overlay feature that reportedly brought 15% performance reduction while using NVIDIA App. While we don't host hotfix drivers, you can grab it from NVIDIA here (https://international-gfe.download.nvidia.com/Windows/566.45hf/566.45-desktop-notebook-win10-win11-64bit-international-dch.hf.exe).https://tpucdn.com/img/5uxYz0FYe44ELQ7M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5uxYz0FYe44ELQ7M.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330159/nvidia-releases-geforce-hotfix-driver-version-566-45-whql)

[NextPowerUP]

Alphawave Semi (LSE: AWE), a global leader in high-speed connectivity and compute silicon for the world's technology infrastructure, proudly introduces the industry's first 64 Gbps Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) Die-to-Die (D2D) IP Subsystem to deliver unprecedented chiplet interconnect data rates, setting a new standard for ultra-high-performance D2D connectivity solutions in the industry. The third generation, 64 Gbps IP Subsystem builds on the successes of the most recent Gen 2 36 Gbps IP subsystem and silicon-proven Gen 1 24 Gbps and is available in TSMC's 3 nm Technology for both Standard and Advanced packaging. The silicon proven success and tapeout milestones pave the way for Alphawave Semi's Gen 3 UCIe IP subsystem offering.

Alphawave Semi is set to revolutionize connectivity with its Gen 3 64 Gbps UCIe IP, delivering a bandwidth density of over 20 Tbps/mm, with ultra-low power and latency. This solution is highly configurable supporting multiple protocols, including AXI-4, AXI-S, CXS, CHI and CHI-C2C to address the growing demands for high-performance connectivity across disaggregated systems in High-Performance Computing (HPC), Data Centers, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications.https://tpucdn.com/img/Fms4Kt6knjGAGy9I_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Fms4Kt6knjGAGy9I.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330157/alphawave-semi-scales-ucie-to-64-gbps-for-3nm-die-to-die-chiplet-connectivity)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330157/alphawave-semi-scales-ucie-to-64-gbps-for-3nm-die-to-die-chiplet-connectivity)

[NextPowerUP]

The battle of AI acceleration in the data center is, as most readers are aware, insanely competitive, with NVIDIA offering a top-tier software stack. However, AMD has tried in recent years to capture a part of the revenue that hyperscalers and OEMs are willing to spend with its Instinct MI300X accelerator lineup for AI and HPC. Despite having decent hardware, the company is not close to bridging the gap software-wise with its competitor, NVIDIA. According to the latest report from SemiAnalysis (https://semianalysis.com/2024/12/22/mi300x-vs-h100-vs-h200-benchmark-part-1-training/), a research and consultancy firm, they have run a five-month experiment using Instinct MI300X for training and benchmark runs. And the findings were surprising: even with better hardware, AMD's software stack, including ROCm, has massively degraded AMD's performance.

"When comparing NVIDIA's GPUs to AMD's MI300X, we found that the potential on paper advantage of the MI300X was not realized due to a lack within AMD public release software stack and the lack of testing from AMD," noted SemiAnalysis, breaking down arguments in the report further, adding that "AMD's software experience is riddled with bugs rendering out of the box training with AMD is impossible. We were hopeful that AMD could emerge as a strong competitor to NVIDIA in training workloads, but, as of today, this is unfortunately not the case. The CUDA moat has yet to be crossed by AMD due to AMD's weaker-than-expected software Quality Assurance (QA) culture and its challenging out-of-the-box experience."https://tpucdn.com/img/Ps8C8zXdm2RggTRH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ps8C8zXdm2RggTRH.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330155/amds-pain-point-is-rocm-software-nvidias-cuda-software-is-still-superior-for-ai-development-report)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330155/amds-pain-point-is-rocm-software-nvidias-cuda-software-is-still-superior-for-ai-development-report)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA "Blackwell" series is barely out with B100, B200, and GB200 chips shipping to OEMs and hyperscalers, but the company is already setting in its upgraded "Blackwell Ultra" plans with its upcoming GB300 AI server. According to UDN, the next generation NVIDIA system will be powered by the B300 GPU chip, operating at 1400 W and delivering a remarkable 1.5x improvement in FP4 performance per card compared to its B200 predecessor. One of the most notable upgrades is the memory configuration, with each GPU now sporting 288 GB of HBM3e memory, a substantial increase from the previous 192 GB of GB200. The new design implements a 12-layer stack architecture, advancing from the GB200's 8-layer configuration. The system's cooling infrastructure has been completely reimagined, incorporating advanced water cooling plates and enhanced quick disconnects in the liquid cooling system.

Networking capabilities have also seen a substantial upgrade, with the implementation of ConnectX 8 network cards replacing the previous ConnectX 7 generation, while optical modules have been upgraded from 800G to 1.6T, ensuring faster data transmission. Regarding power management and reliability, the GB300 NVL72 cabinet will standardize capacitor tray implementation, with an optional Battery Backup Unit (BBU) system. Each BBU module costs approximately $300 to manufacture, with a complete GB300 system's BBU configuration totaling around $1,500. The system's supercapacitor requirements are equally substantial, with each NVL72 rack requiring over 300 units, priced between $20-25 per unit during production due to its high-power nature. The GB300, carrying Grace CPU and Blackwell Ultra GPU, also introduces the implementation of LPCAMM on its computing boards, indicating that the LPCAMM memory standard is about to take over servers, not just laptops and desktops. We have to wait for the official launch before seeing LPCAMM memory configurations.https://tpucdn.com/img/9kQqFTk0PNUowda4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9kQqFTk0PNUowda4.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330154/nvidia-gb300-blackwell-ultra-will-feature-288-gb-hbm3e-memory-1400-w-tdp)

[NextPowerUP]

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D launched this November remains the fastest processor for PC gaming, but with just an 8-core/16-thread configuration, its performance in multithreaded productivity pales in comparison to the alternatives, including from AMD's own camp, such as the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. The company is planning to expand the Zen 5 X3D line of desktop processors in Q1-2025, with the introduction of its high core-count Ryzen 9 series SKUs, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. HXL, a reliable source with hardware leaks, says that the Ryzen 9 X3D SKUs will lack the kind of "frequency debuff" we've seen with the older generation Ryzen 9 X3D chips such as the 7950X3D and 7900X3D.

On the 7950X3D, only one of the two 8-core CCDs comes with 3D V-Cache, the other is a regular CCD with 32 MB on-die L3 cache. The CCD with the 3D V-Cache has its frequency "debuffed" compared to the other CCD, mainly to deal with the thermal limitations of the way the 3D V-Cache is stacked on top of the CCD. With the Ryzen 9000 X3D generation, AMD has redesigned this CCD + L3D stacking such that the CCD is now above, directly interfacing with the STIM and IHS; with no conductive structural silicon along the way. This means that the CCD now thermally behaves like a regular Zen 5 CCD; and for this reason, not only will the CCD with 3D V-Cache on the 9950X3D/9900X3D have the same clock speeds and boosting behavior as the one without 3D V-Cache; but also the 9950X3D and 9900X3D are expected to ship with similar, if not identical clock speeds to the 9950X and 9900X.https://tpucdn.com/img/sZDK0Io2Rvc2nKMg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sZDK0Io2Rvc2nKMg.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330152/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-and-9900x3d-to-come-with-clock-speeds-resembling-non-x3d-skus)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330152/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-and-9900x3d-to-come-with-clock-speeds-resembling-non-x3d-skus)

[NextPowerUP]

A Delaware jury has delivered a mixed verdict in the high-stakes licensing dispute between Qualcomm and Arm, with Qualcomm securing a significant but incomplete victory. The jury unanimously found that Qualcomm's use of Oryon cores in its Snapdragon X processors for client PCs did not violate its licensing agreements with Arm (https://www.techpowerup.com/328004/arm-plans-to-cancel-qualcomms-license-issues-60-day-notice). The case centered on Qualcomm's $1.4 billion acquisition of Nuvia in 2021 and subsequent use of Nuvia's processor designs. Arm had alleged that Nuvia's licensing terms couldn't transfer automatically to Qualcomm and demanded renegotiation of the agreements. When Qualcomm proceeded with development, Arm insisted the designs be destroyed (https://www.techpowerup.com/329948/arm-refutes-custom-chip-production-ambitions-wants-to-destroy-qualcomms-nuvia-ip). During the trial, Gerard Williams III, the lead developer of Oryon cores and former Apple engineer, testified that the final design contained less than 1% of Arm technology (https://www.techpowerup.com/330003/qualcomm-argues-less-than-1-of-arm-ip-is-inside-nuvia-cores-in-snapdragon-x-chips).

This testimony supported Qualcomm's position that its existing architecture license covered products designed by its subsidiaries. While Qualcomm celebrated the verdict allowing continued development of its Snapdragon X processors, the jury deadlocked whether Nuvia violated its original agreement with Arm, specifically about permitting server processor development. This impasse has prompted Arm to announce its intention to seek a retrial on this unresolved count. "We are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach consensus across the claims," Arm stated, wanting to protect its intellectual property and ecosystem. Meanwhile, Qualcomm expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating the verdict "vindicated Qualcomm's right to innovate." The stakes remain high for both companies. Qualcomm relies on its Oryon cores to compete in the PC market, where it currently holds a 0.8% share of Q3 2024 shipments (https://www.techpowerup.com/329255/snapdragon-x-failed-qualcomm-sold-720-000-pcs-in-q3-around-0-8-market-share), while Arm derives approximately $300 million annually from Qualcomm, representing 10% of its revenue.https://tpucdn.com/img/n09ylhXshvM16lJI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/n09ylhXshvM16lJI.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330131/qualcomm-wins-partial-victory-in-arm-licensing-dispute-retrial-possible)

[NextPowerUP]

AMD's recently announced Strix Point APU lineup has received favorable reviews from critics and consumers alike. Especially for SFF/Mini PC enthusiasts, Strix Point brings commendable efficiency and performance to the table - both of which are absolutely essential for a high-end mini PC. The GMK EVO-X1 is surely among those, and the system is now available for purchase from GMKTec's official online store (https://www.gmktec.com/products/amd-ryzen%E2%84%A2-al-9-hx-370-evo-x1-ai-mini-pc).

The EVO X1 sports a 110.19 x 107.3 x 63.2 mm chassis, which is decently compact for its class. As mentioned previously, the system is powered by the 12-core (4x Zen 5 + 8x Zen 5c) Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-ai-9-hx-370.c3655) APU with the shockingly potent RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 890M iGPU with 16 CUs. For most CPU-centric workloads, the EVO X1 should easily suffice. The iGPU, as mentioned, is potent enough to handle most graphically demanding tasks, including some lightweight gaming, but expecting anything more from it would be futile. Thankfully, an OCuLink port is present, which should allow for extremely fast eGPU connections courtesy of its 64 Gbps bandwidth.https://tpucdn.com/img/FeiuPaNX7c4dcLjj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FeiuPaNX7c4dcLjj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Yo5d26qdguuXFnRw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Yo5d26qdguuXFnRw.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330139/ryzen-ai-9-hx-370-powered-gmktec-evo-x1-mini-pc-goes-on-sale)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330139/ryzen-ai-9-hx-370-powered-gmktec-evo-x1-mini-pc-goes-on-sale)

[NextPowerUP]

HAVN and TechPowerUp bring our readers from the US and most of Europe a fantastic chance to bring home a cutting-edge HAVN HS 420 series PC case, designed to maximize the visual impact of your gaming hardware, without compromising on cooling performance. The Giveaway has been up for a week now, but entries close in two days! If you haven't dropped in your hat yet, hurry! Here's what's up for grabs: a HAVN HS 420 VGPU Black, a HAVN HS 420 VGPU White, a HAVN HS 420 Black, and a HAVN HS 420 White. In all, there will be four lucky winners. Our Giveaway is hosted on Gleam, so you not only have four prizes to win from, but can increase your chances of winning by sharing the Giveaway on your social media accounts. What are you waiting for?

For more information, and to participate, visit this page (https://gleam.io/q1yui/havn-x-techpowerup-giveaway).https://tpucdn.com/img/HTOv9P3bIWzlkLjI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HTOv9P3bIWzlkLjI.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330267/havn-x-techpowerup-giveaway-entries-close-soon-hurry)

[NextPowerUP]

Himax Technologies, Inc. ("Himax" or "Company"), an industry leader in fabless display driver ICs and other semiconductors, today announced it will present its next-generation, proprietary ultra luminous 400K nit Color Sequential Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay solution at CES 2025, the largest consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, U.S.A. from January 7 - 10, 2025. The unparalleled brightness of the LCoS solution reaffirms Himax's market leadership in LCoS and its steadfast commitment to advancing AR applications, catering to the critical demands of leading tech innovators in AR technology.

Himax's proprietary Color Sequential Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay sets a new benchmark in brightness performance for microdisplays. With an industry-leading 400K nits of brightness and typical power consumption of just 300 milliwatts, this breakthrough ensures superior eye-level brightness even in high ambient light environments, making it a perfect fit for outdoor usability. The integration of 2D waveguides further enhances its ability to deliver clear, vibrant visuals, making it ideal for next-generation see-through goggles. In addition to its brightness, the microdisplay boasts a lightweight, ultra-compact form factor of less than 0.5 c.c., exceptional vibrant color performance, and low power consumption, all essential factors for all-day wearable devices. This makes the Color Sequential Front-lit LCoS Microdisplay a perfect solution for the evolving needs of AR goggle devices.https://tpucdn.com/img/EGCtDQI3pHyPbS81_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EGCtDQI3pHyPbS81.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330266/himax-to-showcase-industry-leading-400k-nits-ultra-luminous-color-sequential-front-lit-lcos-microdisplay-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330266/himax-to-showcase-industry-leading-400k-nits-ultra-luminous-color-sequential-front-lit-lcos-microdisplay-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

According to a recent Citigroup analysis, CXMT, China's domestic memory chipmaker, is demonstrating significant progress in its DDR5 production yields. The company's DDR5 yield rates had reached approximately 80%, marking a substantial improvement from its initial 50% yields when production began. This progress builds on CXMT's experience with DDR4 manufacturing, where the company has achieved yields of around 90%. The company currently operates two fab facilities in Hefei, with Fab 1 dedicated to DDR4 production on 19 nm process technology and a 100,000 wafer per month capacity. Fab 2 focuses on DDR5 production using 17 nm technology, with a current capacity of 50,000 wafers per month. CXMT's DDR5 yields could improve further to approximately 90% by the end of 2025.

Despite these improvements, CXMT faces technological challenges compared to industry leaders. The company's current production process is 19 nm for DDR4 and 17 nm for DDR5, lagging behind competitors like Samsung and SK Hynix, which manufacture 12 nm DDR5 chips. This technology gap results in higher power consumption and less favorable form factors for CXMT's products. The company primarily targets domestic Chinese smartphone and computing OEM customers. Looking ahead, CXMT plans to expand its DDR5 and HBM capabilities, with a potential additional capacity of 50,000 wafers per month at Fab 2 in 2025, if market conditions prove favorable. The company is also making progress on HBM2 development, with customer sampling underway and low-volume production expected to begin in mid-2025.https://tpucdn.com/img/3TXJFKoUQPyTCGMa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3TXJFKoUQPyTCGMa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cgin86zvQ0puqCz0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cgin86zvQ0puqCz0.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330265/cxmt-achieves-80-yield-for-ddr5-chips-hbm2-production-and-capacity-expansion-underway)

[NextPowerUP]

In the first week of the 2025 International CES, Intel and AMD are expected to expand their desktop processor product stacks, with the introduction of 65 W models; and with them, more affordable motherboard chipset models. AMD is expected to launch the AMD B850 and AMD B840; while Intel debuts the Intel B860 and H810. Board Channels, a site that tracks hardware launches at the retail channel level, says that AMD is expected to set January 15 as the market availability date for motherboards based on the AMD B850 and B840. The chipset will be announced at AMD's January 7th event.

Meanwhile, Intel is expected to announce its mid-range Intel B860 and entry-level Intel H810 on its own event slated for January 7, but with product availability on January 13. The AMD B850 is essentially a rebadged B650, but motherboard vendors can optionally enable Gen 5 PEG instead of Gen 4, at which point the platform would essentially be an AMD X870, but without the mandatory discrete USB4 host controller. The AMD B850 supports CPU overclocking. The AMD B840 lacks this, and is functionally similar to the AMD B550 chipset from the Socket AM4 platform, except that it lacks CPU overclocking support. Meanwhile, the Intel B860 is expected to feature a similar I/O as the Intel B760 from the Socket LGA1700 platform. The H810 is expected to be a lean entry-level option. Both the Intel B860 and H810 are expected to lack CPU overclocking support, but the B860 probably retains memory overclocking capability.https://tpucdn.com/img/1Y4Q003T4Jt2FRzK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1Y4Q003T4Jt2FRzK.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330259/mid-january-launches-for-amd-b850-and-b840-and-intel-b860-and-h810-motherboards)

[NextPowerUP]

Fresh details have surfaced about NVIDIA's upcoming flagship "Blackwell" graphics card, the GeForce RTX 5090, suggesting power delivery and board design changes compared to its predecessors. According to Benchlife, the new Blackwell-based GPU will feature a new 16+6+7 power stage design, departing from the RTX 4090's 20+3 phase configuration. The report confirms earlier speculation about the card's power requirements, indicating a TGP of 600 watts. This specification refers to the complete power allocation for the graphics subsystem, though the actual TDP of the GB202 (https://www.techpowerup.com/330230/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-powered-by-gb202-silicon-512-bit-gddr7-asic-pictured) chip might be lower. The RTX 5090 will ship with 32 GB of next-generation GDDR7 memory and utilize a 14-layer PCB, possibly due to the increased complexity of GDDR7 memory modules and power delivery. Usually, GPUs max out at 12 layers for high-end overclocking designs.

The upcoming GPU will fully embrace modern connectivity standards, featuring PCI Express 5.0 x16 interface compatibility and implementing a 12V-2×6 power connector design. We spotted an early PNY RTX 5090 model with 40 capacitors but an unclear power delivery setup. With additional power phases and more PCB layers, NVIDIA is pushing the power delivery and signal integrity boundaries for its next-generation flagship. While these specifications paint a picture of a powerful gaming and professional graphics solution, questions remain about the broader RTX 50 series lineup. The implementation of the 12V-2×6 connector across different models, particularly those below 200 W, remains unclear, so we have to wait for the CES-rumored launch.https://tpucdn.com/img/qCjkyP8QlABzf0U6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qCjkyP8QlABzf0U6.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330256/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-features-16-6-7-phase-power-delivery-on-14-layer-pcb)

[NextPowerUP]

FSP launched the MEGA TI line of premium gaming PC power supplies, led by a 1350 W model. It offers 80 Plus Titanium rated switching efficiency, and meets the latest standards, including ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1. This particular variant puts out two 12V-2x6 connectors, each capable of 600 W continuous power delivery. Under the hood, the MEGA TI comes with a single +12 V rail design, with a single 112.5 A rail for the 1350 W model. Other features include active PFC, DC-to-DC switching, and most common electrical protections, against over/under voltage, overload, overheat, and short-circuit. The 18 cm-long fully-modular PSU uses a 135 mm fluid dynamic bearing fan to keep cool, and comes with an "ECO mode" switch that engages a passive fanless mode. The company is backing this with a 10-year product warranty.https://tpucdn.com/img/67FeuKmxY9uTZFge_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/67FeuKmxY9uTZFge.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3IRWWs31LnJYzZqs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3IRWWs31LnJYzZqs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AJfFQ2hLZyjWVIPJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AJfFQ2hLZyjWVIPJ.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330254/fsp-mega-ti-1350w-atx-3-1-power-supply-launched)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA and AMD have launched an acceleration of their next-generation GPU production and shipping schedules, racing to beat impending Trump administration tariffs that could inflate prices by up to 60%. The companies are prioritizing delivery to US warehouses before January 20, when the new trade measures are supposed to take effect. This aggressive timeline represents a significant departure from traditional GPU rollout strategies, which typically maintain controlled production rates during initial manufacturing phases. The urgent push aims to protect both consumer prices and profit margins, with manufacturers breaking from their usual conservative supply approach to ensure maximum inventory reaches American shores before the tariff deadline. NVIDIA is boosting shipments of its next-gen GeForce RTX 50 series, while AMD is busy with Radeon RX 9000 series.

The impact of these tariffs could reshape the GPU market prices, with flagship products like NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 potentially seeing price increases from the rumored $1,799 to approximately $2,500. Following similar moves by Microsoft, Dell, and HP, this strategic rush to beat tariff implementation shows the technology sector's response to evolving trade policies. These price hikes could trigger a surge in the secondary GPU market as consumers seek more affordable options. While manufacturers work to shield customers from immediate price impacts through pre-tariff stockpiling, the long-term outlook for GPU pricing and availability remains uncertain as the industry adapts to these new trade dynamics. Increasing the prices dramatically will result in a rapid fall in demand, so the supply chain is working overtime to assess and address the potential tariff issue.https://tpucdn.com/img/JSGEZ6mbkXqTGPXA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JSGEZ6mbkXqTGPXA.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330243/nvidia-and-amd-rush-to-ship-next-generation-gpus-ahead-of-trump-administration-tariffs)

[NextPowerUP]

Recent engineering samples of AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D reveal what appear to be the finalized specifications of the top-tier AM5 chip. The 16-core, 32-thread processor builds upon the gaming success of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D while addressing its core count limitations. The flagship processor features AMD's refined cache design, combining 96 MB of 3D V-Cache with 32 MB of standard L3 cache. Unlike its predecessor, the 7950X3D, the new Zen 5 architecture incorporates a redesigned CCD stacking method. The CCD now sits above the cache, directly interfacing with the STIM and IHS, eliminating thermal constraints that previously required frequency limitations. The processor features asymmetric cache distribution across its dual CCDs—one die combines 32 MB of base L3 cache with a 64 MB stacked V-Cache layer, while its companion die utilizes a standard 32 MB L3 cache configuration. In total, there is a 128 MB of L3 cache, with 16 MB of L2.

This architectural advancement enables the 9950X3D to achieve a 5.65 GHz boost clock across both CCDs, matching non-X3D variants (https://www.techpowerup.com/330152/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-and-9900x3d-to-come-with-clock-speeds-resembling-non-x3d-skus). The processor maintains a 170 W TDP, suggesting improved thermal efficiency despite the additional cache. AMD's software-based OS scheduler will continue to optimize gaming workloads by directing them to the CCD with 3D V-Cache. Early leaks (https://x.com/9550pro/status/1871072902797480126) indicate the 9950X3D matches the base 9950X in Cinebench R23 scores, both in single and multi-threaded tests—a significant improvement over the 7950X3D, which lagged behind its non-X3D counterpart due to frequency limitations. AMD plans to expand the Zen 5 X3D lineup in Q1-2025 with both the 9950X3D and 9900X3D models. Full performance benchmarks and pricing details are expected at CES 2025, where AMD will officially unveil these processors alongside their RDNA 4 GPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/BkcM2UHLsDuQNMuS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BkcM2UHLsDuQNMuS.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330242/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-carries-3d-v-cache-on-a-single-ccd-5-6-ghz-clock-speed-and-170-watt-tdp)

[NextPowerUP]

This GFN Thursday wraps up another incredible year for cloud gaming. Take a look back at the top games and new features that made 2024 a standout for GeForce NOW members. Enjoy it all with three new games to close the year. Remember to mark the calendar for the CES opening keynote, to be delivered by NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang on Monday, Jan. 6.

That's a Wrap
In another ultimate year of high-performance cloud gaming, GeForce NOW introduced new features for cloud gamers and reached a significant milestone by surpassing 2,000 games in its library, thanks to strong collaborations with celebrated publishers. GeForce NOW also launched new data centers in Japan and Poland this year, bringing GeForce RTX 4080-powered servers to gamers in the regions. Day Passes were introduced to offer gamers more flexible ways to access the cloud, with the ability to enjoy premium benefits of Ultimate and Performance memberships for 24 hours at a time.https://tpucdn.com/img/7ENnTKOYVezhVYJA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7ENnTKOYVezhVYJA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8o8gjtcmM2pVj8R4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8o8gjtcmM2pVj8R4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/W8VnVzZV8KxrEIGs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/W8VnVzZV8KxrEIGs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DMNXO62IcHce0xMc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DMNXO62IcHce0xMc.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330241/nvidia-geforce-now-gets-three-new-games)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330241/nvidia-geforce-now-gets-three-new-games)

[NextPowerUP]

An SSD from Chinese manufacturer Zhitai has demonstrated impressive performance metrics, reaching sequential read speeds of up to 14.5 GB/s. Under the hood, the TiPro9000 2 TB SSD combines domestic YMTC 5th Generation 3D TLC NAND technology with Silicon Motion's SM2508 controller. The drive's architecture features a 2 GB LPDDR4X DRAM chip and two 3D TLC NAND dies utilizing 232-layer YMTC's Xtacking 4.0 architecture. While initial testing revealed peak sequential read and write speeds of 14,527 MB/s and 13,869 MB/s respectively, these rates are sustained through the SLC cache for approximately 24 seconds. Performance testing showed distinct operational phases. After the initial burst speed period, transfer rates stabilize at around 4,000 MB/s for 325 seconds before dropping to 1,700-1,800 MB/s. The drive then demonstrates recovery capabilities, returning to 4,000 MB/s after 259 seconds.

Random performance specifications are equally impressive, with the manufacturer claiming up to 2 million IOPS for reads and 1.6 million IOPS for writes. The TiPro9000's performance metrics position it competitively among top-tier PCIe 5.0 x4 drives. This shows the capabilities of Chinese-manufactured YMTC NAND memory technology paired with Silicon Motion's controller expertise, putting a lot of faith in China-made NAND Flash. With growing needs for AI and big data applications, performant storage systems are becoming key to many systems. However, Chinese companies still need a solid (pun intended) controller to compete with Western technology to complete storage manufacturing. Alibaba is working on a RISC-V-based controller (https://www.techpowerup.com/315457/alibaba-readies-pcie-5-0-ssd-controller-based-on-risc-v-isa), while InnoGrit (https://www.techpowerup.com/314203/chinas-first-pcie-5-0-ssd-controller-from-innogrit-enters-mass-production) has also been sampling controllers. We have yet to see commercial applications based on these two.https://tpucdn.com/img/K6pF6ZIOXs4ZYZmB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/K6pF6ZIOXs4ZYZmB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1QdLEXz9FeCovzpl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1QdLEXz9FeCovzpl.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330240/ymtc-3d-tlc-nand-flash-with-xtacking-4-0-tested-up-to-14-5-gb-s-sequential-read)

[NextPowerUP]

Minisforum has decided to expand the series of motherboards used in its own mini-PCs with two new models, namely the BD795M (M-ATX) and BD795i SE (Mini-ITX). In principle, these motherboards are almost identical to those in the BD790i series, keeping the included AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX 16 cores processor with frequency of up to 5.4 GHz and integrated AMD Radeon 610M graphics. However, both have some minor physical differences. As for specifications, they offer two M.2 2280 SSD slots (one PCIe 5.0), support for DDR5 SODIMM memory with speeds up to 5200 MT/s, and a maximum capacity of 96 GB. The motherboards offer a full-size PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for users who want to add a dedicated video card.

Unlike the BD790i model, Minisforum decided not to include a CPU cooler for the BD795M model, leaving the cooling solution to the users' choice, a decision that has the collateral effect of a lower price. The motherboards even include an AIO pump connector, so users aren't limited to air cooling. Minisforum confirmed that the CPU has a TDP of 100 W and can also operate at 120 W. Also in the series of minor changes, the BD795M motherboard lacks the SSD heatsink and SSD fan connector but includes an internal antenna adapter.https://tpucdn.com/img/jBqsOf8lbbaHw6dc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jBqsOf8lbbaHw6dc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Mui7UBTR3Nv2Zgfb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Mui7UBTR3Nv2Zgfb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TjzRsTxqB83pZEGk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TjzRsTxqB83pZEGk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330233/minisforum-launches-bd795m-motherboard-with-amd-ryzen-9-7945hx)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330233/minisforum-launches-bd795m-motherboard-with-amd-ryzen-9-7945hx)

[NextPowerUP]

AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card can boost its engine clock up to 3.10 GHz, a new leak that surfaced on ChipHell says. Depending on the board design, its total board power can reach up to 330 W, the leak adds. The GPU should come with a very high base frequency for the engine clock, with the leaker claiming a 2.80 GHz base frequency (can be interpreted as Game clocks), with the GPU boosting itself up to 3.10 GHz when the power and thermals permit. The RX 9070 XT will be the fastest graphics card from AMD to be based on its next-generation RDNA 4 graphics architecture. The company isn't targeting the enthusiast segment with this card, but rather the performance segment, where it is expected to go up against NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5070 series.

RDNA 4 is expected to introduce massive generational gains in ray tracing performance, as AMD is rumored to have significantly developed its ray tracing hardware, to reduce the performance cost of ray tracing. However, as it stands, the "Navi 48" silicon that the RX 9070 XT is based on, is still a performance-segment chip, which succeeds the "Navi 32" and "Navi 22," with a rumored compute unit count of 64, or 4,096 stream processors. Performance-related rumors swing wildly. One set of rumors say that the card's raster graphics performance is in league of the RX 7900 GRE but with ray tracing performance exceeding that of the RX 7900 XTX; while another set of rumors say it beats the RX 7900 XT in raster performance, and sneaks up on the RTX 4080. We'll know for sure in about a month's time.https://tpucdn.com/img/ArKLQDNUmRtyn9fv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ArKLQDNUmRtyn9fv.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330232/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-boosts-up-to-3-10-ghz-board-power-can-reach-up-to-330w)

[NextPowerUP]

TechPowerUp today released latest version of ThrottleStop by Kevin Glynn. A nifty tool that gives you greater control over the power-management features of your processor, which should prove particularly useful for notebooks, letting you override several OEM power limitations to bring out the best in your hardware. Version 9.7 introduces several changes. To begin with, ThrottleStop adds per-profile adjustment of the turbo power limits, Speed Shift Min Max, and PROCHOT offset values. Core and cache V/F tuning have been added to the FIVR window for unlocked Core HX-segment processors (10th Gen or later). BD PROCHOT is now automatically locked when it is disabled. The DDR memory speed monitoring method has been improved. Windows 11 tray icons have been improved. Power plan selection fields have increased from 8 to 12. Safe Start feature can now be toggled on/off.

DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp ThrottleStop 9.7 by Kevin Glynn (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/)https://tpucdn.com/img/6kafQyEDX97OP9AG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6kafQyEDX97OP9AG.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330182/techpowerup-releases-throttlestop-9-7-utility-take-charge-of-your-laptops-performance)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330182/techpowerup-releases-throttlestop-9-7-utility-take-charge-of-your-laptops-performance)

[NextPowerUP]

GMKtec, a global leader in mini PC solutions, is excited to announce the launch of two new mini PC models: the NucBox G2 Plus and NucBox G3 Plus. Both models are powered by the efficient Intel N150 processor, offering excellent performance for everyday computing tasks, from home offices to media centers. These ultra-compact systems are available in different variants to meet varying user needs and budgets. Whether you're a professional, student, or casual user, the NucBox G2 Plus and G3 Plus provide a customizable and cost-effective computing experience.

The NucBox G2 Plus and NucBox G3 Plus are available now on both gmktec.com and gmktec.eu, with pricing starting from $125.99 for the barebone option. With customizable configurations, users can tailor each system to their specific needs, from memory and storage to the operating system.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZCPT2jGMkrYyHX0y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZCPT2jGMkrYyHX0y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RZEE2eKHxHvvhQkU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RZEE2eKHxHvvhQkU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GyprzTxne7g1AlCc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GyprzTxne7g1AlCc.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330231/gmktecs-updated-nucbox-g2-plus-and-nucbox-g3-plus-mini-pcs-with-intel-n150-now-available)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330231/gmktecs-updated-nucbox-g2-plus-and-nucbox-g3-plus-mini-pcs-with-intel-n150-now-available)

[NextPowerUP]

Here is the first picture of what is very likely the GeForce RTX 5090 "Blackwell," the successor to the RTX 4090 "Ada." The picture, its massive GPU, and layout appear to confirm the weekend's bare PCB leak (https://www.techpowerup.com/330205/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-pcb-pictured-massive-gpu-die-and-16-chip-memory-configuration). The RTX 5090 is powered by the "GB202" silicon, the largest gaming GPU based on the "Blackwell" graphics architecture. The silicon in the picture has the ASIC code "GB202-300-A1." From this ASIC code, we can deduce that the RTX 5090 may not max out the silicon (i.e. enable all SM present on it), as maxed-out NVIDIA ASICs tend to have the variant designation "450."

The "GB202" ASIC is surrounded by sixteen GDDR7 memory chips, which reportedly make the 32 GB memory size of the RTX 5090. The chip count, coupled with the large GPU package size (high pin-count), confirm that the "GB202" features a 512-bit wide memory bus. Assuming a memory speed of 28 Gbps, this memory bus should yield a stellar memory bandwidth of 1,792 GB/s. The GPU and memory are surrounded by the card's 24-phase VRM solution. This draws power from a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 power connector. NVIDIA will likely max out the 600 W continuous power-delivery capability of the connector, and give the card a TGP of around 500-550 W, if not more.https://tpucdn.com/img/sqAxaJX7N2qxKn3e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sqAxaJX7N2qxKn3e.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330230/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-powered-by-gb202-silicon-512-bit-gddr7-asic-pictured)

[NextPowerUP]

Patriot Memory today announced the launch of the P400 V4, a high-performance PCIe Gen 4 x4 M.2 SSD that delivers exceptional speeds of up to 6,200 MB/s read and 5,200 MB/s write. This versatile storage solution is optimized for both PC and PlayStation 5 platforms, offering gamers and content creators unprecedented performance and reliability.

The P400 V4 leverages cutting-edge PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe technology to provide lightning-fast data transfer speeds while maintaining efficient power consumption. On the PlayStation 5, the drive achieves impressive sequential read speeds of up to 6,000 MB/s, ensuring quick load times and smooth gameplay across all gaming platforms.https://tpucdn.com/img/uPIvOhh9SQe5EVKi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uPIvOhh9SQe5EVKi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ICitZljtYBjL4qLN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ICitZljtYBjL4qLN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/088vZAgnBA9tHRNT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/088vZAgnBA9tHRNT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WVqe6GYX4rCPLMn8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WVqe6GYX4rCPLMn8.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330229/patriot-launches-p400-v4-pcie-gen-4-m-2-ssd)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330229/patriot-launches-p400-v4-pcie-gen-4-m-2-ssd)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA's brand new 25 Watt "little tiny Jetson Nano" - the Jetson Orin Nano Super - capable of 67 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance, is going to generate a lot of heat that could limit its performance if the device isn't supported by adequate cooling. Thanks to the high AI performance of the Jetson Orin Nano Super, breakthrough AI models such as NVIDIA Isaac for robotics, NVIDIA Metropolis for vision AI, and NVIDIA Holoscan for sensor processing, NVIDIA Omniverse Replicator for synthetic data generation (SDG) and NVIDIA TAO Toolkit for fine-tuning pretrained AI models may now run at the Edge, delivering compute efficiency, reduced latency and data privacy. But without adequate heat dissipation, the Jetson Orin Nano Super will be forced to throttle, significantly reducing its performance and diminishing the capabilities of Edge AI applications supported including robotics, industrial automation, smart cities, healthcare, and retail analytics.

AirJet PAK 5C-25 from Frore Systems, can provide the full 25 Watts of cooling NVIDIA's Jetson Orin Nano Super needs. The AirJet PAK 5C-25 is a fully self-contained, autonomous, plug and play, solid-state active cooling thermal module, that is thin, silent, dustproof, water resistant, and enables the full performance of the Jetson Nano Super, even in the toughest operating conditions. The AirJet PAK 5C-25 can be combined with the Jetson Orin Nano Super to remove 25 Watts of heat, even in industrial grade casings that are ultra compact, silent, vibration free, dustproof and water-resistant. These industrial grade casings, enabled by the AirJet PAK, are massively smaller and lighter than comparable fanless casings that require large, heavy heat sinks to dissipate heat.https://tpucdn.com/img/hTx7iJR1WP1q1WEU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hTx7iJR1WP1q1WEU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/l1qjehcv4raHItK5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l1qjehcv4raHItK5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4wbAr2Wz6lOPqvwP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4wbAr2Wz6lOPqvwP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JZuGmm4dtUQTzLqB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JZuGmm4dtUQTzLqB.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330228/frore-systems-unveils-airjet-cooling-for-nvidia-jetson-orin-nano-super)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330228/frore-systems-unveils-airjet-cooling-for-nvidia-jetson-orin-nano-super)

[NextPowerUP]

Thanks to kopite7kimi, we are able to finalize the leaked specifications of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards.
Starting off with RTX 5070 Ti, it will feature 8,960 CUDA cores and come equipped with 16 GB GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit memory bus, offering 896 GB/s bandwidth. The card is reportedly designed with a total board power (TBP) of 300 W. The Ti variant appears to use the PG147-SKU60 board design with a GB203-300-A1 GPU. The standard RTX 5070 is positioned as a more power-efficient option, with specifications pointing to 6,144 CUDA cores and 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, with 627 GB/s memory bandwidth. This model is expected to operate at a slightly lower 250 W TBP.

Interestingly, the non-Ti RTX 5070 card will be available in two board variants, PG146 and PG147, both utilizing the GB205-300-A1 GPU. While we don't know what the pricing structure looks like, we see that NVIDIA has chosen to make more considerable differentiating factors between its SKUs. The Ti variant not only gets an extra four GB of GDDR7 memory, but it also gets a whopping 45% increase in CUDA core count, going from 6,144 to 8,960 cores. While we wait for the CES to see the initial wave of GeForce RTX 50 series cards, the GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti are expected to arrive later, possibly after RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/KCtIMwsALBk7giEi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KCtIMwsALBk7giEi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5ytE6OMCYQkPhQ9J_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5ytE6OMCYQkPhQ9J.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rbT3pMEOrQ9kETkn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rbT3pMEOrQ9kETkn.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330206/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-and-rtx-5070-ti-final-specifications-seemingly-confirmed)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card printed circuit board has allegedly been shown in the flesh, showing the memory layout and some interesting engineering choices. The custom PCB variant (non-Founders Edition) houses more than 40 capacitors, which is perhaps not standard on the FE reference board, and 16 GDDR7 memory modules. The leaked PCB, which extends beyond standard dimensions and traditional display connector configurations, is reportedly based on NVIDIA's PG145 reference design. The memory modules are distributed systematically: five on the left, two below, five on the right, and four above the GPU die. The interface is PCIe 5.0 x16.

As NVIDIA has reportedly designated 32 GB GDDR7 memory capacity for these cards, this roughly translates into 16 x 2 GB GDDR7 memory modules. At the heart of the card lies what sources claim to be the GB202 GPU, measuring 24×31 mm within a 63×56 mm package. Power delivery uses a 16-pin 12V-6x2 power connector, as expected. The entire PCB features only a single power connector, so the 16-pin 12V-2x6, but with an updated PCIe 6.0 CEM specification, is the logical choice.https://tpucdn.com/img/4wBYR3KDYzJnPw80_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4wBYR3KDYzJnPw80.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VwrDB8pLUxzUWT58_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VwrDB8pLUxzUWT58.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330205/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-pcb-pictured-massive-gpu-die-and-16-chip-memory-configuration)

[NextPowerUP]

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that it has published updates to several of its front-of-screen performance standard and logo programs, which are designed to help drive the industry to produce better-quality display products for consumers and content creators. These updates include the addition of new performance tiers for VESA's ClearMR standard for measuring motion blur that are designed for the next generation of ultra-high-refresh-rate displays for competitive gamers, such as 480-Hz and above displays. They also include a new 1000 luminance performance tier for VESA's DisplayHDR True Black standard to validate new OLED displays featuring the high luminance and greater color accuracy necessary to support professional video content creation.

VESA and its member companies will showcase product demonstrations of its latest video standards, including the new ClearMR and DisplayHDR True Black performance tiers, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking place next week in Las Vegas, January 7-10.https://tpucdn.com/img/8dpBEJYaGXZXwvnR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8dpBEJYaGXZXwvnR.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330335/vesa-adds-new-performance-levels-to-clearmr-and-displayhdr-true-black-standards)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330335/vesa-adds-new-performance-levels-to-clearmr-and-displayhdr-true-black-standards)

[NextPowerUP]

Frore Systems has demonstrated the massive increase in performance possible with AirJet solid-state active cooling chips in the new Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", the thinnest Notebook on the market at just 10.9 mm. The proof-of-concept Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", upgraded with AirJet, achieves an incredible 50% increase in sustained CPU & AI performance, showing that now, consumers really can demand it all. Frore Systems will be showcasing the upgraded Samsung Notebook in January at CES 2025.

Frore Systems achieved the 50% performance boost in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", from 12 Watts to 18 Watts, by replacing the two large fans currently used in the Notebook with four AirJet chips. This innovative solution reduces the cooling solution footprint by 45% - the fans consuming 8,800 mm² of space vs the AirJet footprint of just 4,800 mm². Therefore, the extremely compact AirJet solution creates additional space inside the Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", potentially allowing for increasing the battery size from the current 55.9 Wh to 64.8 Wh - a 16% increase - improving video runtime from 20 hours to 23.2 hours.https://tpucdn.com/img/HKbkA2QUqJGCng5D_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HKbkA2QUqJGCng5D.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Mgwbhsa8xcRqqpDU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Mgwbhsa8xcRqqpDU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1o1VQqh79oxO2q62_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1o1VQqh79oxO2q62.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XMx55Ycr8p6kN8bz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XMx55Ycr8p6kN8bz.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330325/frore-systems-airjet-delivers-50-performance-boost-to-the-samsung-galaxy-book4-edge-14)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330325/frore-systems-airjet-delivers-50-performance-boost-to-the-samsung-galaxy-book4-edge-14)

[NextPowerUP]

How much are you paying for cloud storage every month? If you're like most people, the cost creeps up without you even noticing. And if you hit your storage limit? That's another bump in the bill. That's why a lot of people are grabbing Koofr's 1 TB lifetime cloud storage plan (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-607701&utm_content=a0xRn000002UKD7IAO&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er), now $109.97 during StackSocial's end-of-year sale (reg. $810).

Instead of paying $10 to a provider like Google Drive or Dropbox each month, you only have to pay once to keep Koofr for life (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-607701&utm_content=a0xRn000002UKD7IAO&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er). The provider also makes it easy to connect your other cloud accounts to move your files over, while a duplicate file finder helps you spot and delete repeated files. Finally, you could have all of your files in one organized place. While Koofr's lifetime subscription (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-607701&utm_content=a0xRn000002UKD7IAO&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er) is at this all-time low price, it pays for itself in less than a year.https://tpucdn.com/img/FaVFwpbLSNveH0Qj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FaVFwpbLSNveH0Qj.jpg)
Get cloud storage without fees (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-607701&utm_content=a0xRn000002UKD7IAO&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er) during StackSocial's end-of-year sale: Koofr's lifetime subscription is only on sale for $109.97 for a limited time (reg. $810).Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330319/ditch-cloud-storage-fees-with-1tb-of-lifetime-cloud-storage-now-at-an-all-time-low-price)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330319/ditch-cloud-storage-fees-with-1tb-of-lifetime-cloud-storage-now-at-an-all-time-low-price)

[NextPowerUP]

TrendForce's latest investigations reveal that the DRAM market is expected to face downward pricing pressure in 1Q25 as seasonal weakness aligns with sluggish consumer demand for products like smartphones. Additionally, early stockpiling by notebook manufacturers—over potential import tariffs under the Trump administration—has further exacerbated the pricing decline.

Conventional DRAM prices are projected to drop by 8% to 13%. However, if HBM products are included, the anticipated price decline will range from 0% to 5%.https://tpucdn.com/img/uGRX9mJiodZhiGtt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uGRX9mJiodZhiGtt.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330324/passive-buyer-strategies-drive-dram-contract-prices-down-across-the-board-in-1q25)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330324/passive-buyer-strategies-drive-dram-contract-prices-down-across-the-board-in-1q25)

[NextPowerUP]

LG Electronics (LG) is reinforcing its leadership in premium OLED gaming monitors with the LG UltraGear GX9 series, set to be unveiled at CES 2025 this January. The new lineup includes the 45GX990A - winner of three CES 2025 Innovation Awards, including the prestigious 'Best of Innovation' - and an all-in-one smart gaming monitor powered by LG webOS. These accolades underscore LG's commitment to delivering advanced, high-quality gaming solutions. With the GX9 series, LG continues to demonstrate its leadership in cutting-edge technology and gaming monitor innovation.

To ensure maximum gaming immersion, all UltraGear GX9 series models feature curved display panels employing LG's advanced WOLED technology. These screens offer high brightness, true blacks, stunning colors and optimized curvature; a combination that brings games to life and draws users deeper into the exhilarating action of their favorite titles. Certified for low blue light emissions, the GX9 series provides a more comfortable experience, reducing eye strain during extended gaming sessions. In addition, LG's Anti-Glare & Low Reflection (AGLR) coating minimizes screen reflections and glare, making it easier for gamers to see everything that's happening on screen, even in brighter rooms.https://tpucdn.com/img/mY2zXOKN97XUf0pn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mY2zXOKN97XUf0pn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/I1rWvlzE34dg147z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/I1rWvlzE34dg147z.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8krMv0DchZ2lmf68_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8krMv0DchZ2lmf68.jpg)

Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330321/lg-unveils-worlds-first-bendable-5k2k-gaming-monitor-with-dual-mode-support-and-dp-2-1)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330321/lg-unveils-worlds-first-bendable-5k2k-gaming-monitor-with-dual-mode-support-and-dp-2-1)

[NextPowerUP]

Chinese GPU maker Moore Threads has prepared a professional graphics card called MTT X300, aimed at professional visualization workloads like CAD, BIM, GIS, and video editing. The Moore Threads X300 GPU utilizes second-generation MUSA architecture, featuring 4096 MUSA cores that deliver 14.4 TFLOPS of FP32 computing power. It comes equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, achieving a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s. The X300 takes advantage of PCIe Gen 5 x16 connectivity and offers versatile display options through three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1 port, supporting resolutions up to 7680 x 4320. All of that comes on a 255 W TGP package.

While the X300 GPU may be a new SKU, it resembles Moore Threads MTT S80 gaming GPU with a different firmware and set of drivers. The new X300 features hardware accelerated decoding for AV1, H.264, H.265, VP8, VP9, AVS, AVS2, MPEG4, and MPEG2, while also providing hardware encoding capabilities for AV1, H.264, and H.265. Given the professional application, the X300 can simultaneously handle up to 36 channels of 1080p@30 FPS video for both encoding and decoding operations while supporting 4-way display output up to 8K resolution. Interestingly, Moore Threads developed drivers for all mainstream CPU architectures such as x86, Arm, and even LoongArch.https://tpucdn.com/img/HGFEoBUwMn4vYtEe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HGFEoBUwMn4vYtEe.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330320/moore-threads-prepares-mtt-x300-professional-graphics-card)

[NextPowerUP]

A South Korean online retailer has listed Huawei's eKitStore Extreme 200E M.2 NVMe SSD for sale at 47,500 Won ($32) for the 1 TB model. This marks Huawei's entry into consumer storage products after previously only manufacturing server SSDs. The PCIe 4.0 drive's specifications show read speeds of 7,400 MB/s and write speeds of 6,700 MB/s. Beyond confirming the use of QLC memory without a DRAM cache, Huawei has not disclosed the drive's internal components. Due to trade restrictions, both the controller and memory chips likely come from Chinese manufacturers, though specific suppliers remain unknown. Chinese makers have been recorded to use (https://www.techpowerup.com/330240/ymtc-3d-tlc-nand-flash-with-xtacking-4-0-tested-up-to-14-5-gb-s-sequential-read) Silicon Motion's SSD controllers, but domestic controllers are also an option here.

Manufacturing costs for similar drives typically exceed $32, raising questions about the pricing strategy. The drive's components could match those used in other brands' SSDs, as multiple storage companies often use identical parts in their products. For NAND Flash, Huawei likely sourced its chips from YMTC, whose Xtacking 4.0 proves to be quite a success. The drive has appeared only at one retailer so far, and Huawei has not announced plans for sales in other regions. This price is notably lower than comparable PCIe 4.0 drives. Common retail prices for 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSDs are typically more than double this amount. Whether this represents a temporary price or a long-term strategy remains unclear. Perhaps Huawei is operating at a net loss to gain some customers, with possible plans for more SSDs in the future, along with the PCIe 5.0 version.https://tpucdn.com/img/DvtCA3NzMoDbVVzB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DvtCA3NzMoDbVVzB.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330318/huawei-prepares-1-tb-qlc-m-2-nvme-ssd-on-pcie-4-0-connection-for-usd-32)

[NextPowerUP]

"Twin Lake" is codename for a line of low-power x86-64 processors by Intel, which succeed the Core i3 N-series and N200 series "Alder Lake-N" processors. These non-socketed (BGA) chips power a wide range of devices from entry level notebooks and mini PCs to consumer NAS servers, and other embedded applications. The chips feature only E-cores. While "Alder Lake-N" used "Gracemont" cores, "Twin Lake" uses the swanky new "Skymont" cores, which serve as E-cores in "Lunar Lake" and "Arrow Lake" hybrid processors. "Skymont" cores feature massive IPC and clock-speed gains over "Gracemont," of nearly 50%, which pulls up their performance levels to match the "Golden Cove" and "Raptor Cove" P-cores of "Alder Lake" and "Raptor Lake," although these cores can't boost up to 5.00 GHz. We got the first name-drop of "Twin Lake" way back in May 2024 (https://www.techpowerup.com/322962/intels-skymont-e-core-posts-a-double-digit-ipc-gain-over-crestmont-leaked-presentation). Jaykihn leaked what the processor lineup could look like.

The "Twin Lake" silicon features two "Skymont" E-core clusters sharing an L3 cache. At this point, the sizes of the shared L2 caches of the E-core clusters, and the size of the shared L3 cache are not known. On "Alder Lake-N," each "Gracemont" cluster features 2 MB of L2 cache, and the two clusters share a 6 MB L3 cache. The silicon also features an iGPU based on what is very likely the Xe-LPG graphics architecture, with four Xe cores worth 32 execution units (EU). The series is led by the Intel N355. This chip maxes out the "Twin Lake" silicon, enabling both "Skymont" clusters, for an 8-core/8-thread CPU configuration. The CPU comes with a base frequency of 3.00 GHz, and boosts up to 3.90 GHz. The chip comes with a configurable TDP of 9 W and 15 W. It comes with a maxed out iGPU, with all 32 EU being enabled, and a graphics frequency of 1.35 GHz.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZDZHU0T5YUYYy8mj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZDZHU0T5YUYYy8mj.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330317/intel-nx50-series-twin-lake-pure-e-core-processor-line-powered-by-skymont-surfaces)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330317/intel-nx50-series-twin-lake-pure-e-core-processor-line-powered-by-skymont-surfaces)

[NextPowerUP]

Industry-leading technology manufacturer ZOTAC TECHNOLOGY PTE. Limited is headed to Las Vegas to showcase its newest products at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, one of the world's biggest tech events where hundreds of companies from over 150 countries showcase their latest innovations. This is the first time for ZOTAC to showcase its diverse range of products since its headquarters relocated to Singapore.

ZOTAC will include the Healthcare series ZBOX H37R3500W in the showcase, powered with an NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation professional GPU with up to an Intel Core i9 processor in an all-white metal enclosure, EN 60601-1 certification required for medical electronic devices, it aims to boost AI capabilities in the healthcare sector. Following the successful launch of the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE, ZOTAC GAMING's first-ever gaming handheld with an AMOLED display, premium controls, and hardware, ZOTAC is back to give media a very early sneak peek on the potential next step of the ZOTAC GAMING ZONE with stronger hardware.https://tpucdn.com/img/bct0eshWsMXd5mnk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bct0eshWsMXd5mnk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330315/zotac-to-showcase-diverse-range-of-products-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330315/zotac-to-showcase-diverse-range-of-products-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel could be working on a new Arc graphics card according to Quantum Bits quoted by VideoCardz. It's based on the Battlemage architecture and has 24 GB of memory, twice as much as current models. This new card seems to be oriented more towards professionals, not gamers. Intel's Battlemage lineup currently has the Arc B580 model with 12 GB GDDR6 memory and a 192-bit bus. There's also the upcoming B570 with 10 GB and a 160-bit bus. The new 24 GB model will use the same BGM-G21 GPU as the B580, while the increased VRAM version could use higher capacity memory modules or a dual-sided module setup. No further technical details are available at this moment.

Intel looks to be aiming this 24 GB version at professional tasks such as artificial intelligence jobs like Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. The card would be useful in data centers, edge computing, schools, and research, and this makes sense for Intel as they don't have a high-memory GPU for professional productivity markets yet. The company wants to launch this Arc Battlemage with bigger memory in 2025, we guess it might be announced in late spring or ahead of next year's Computex if there's no rush. Intel in the meantime will keep making their current gaming cards too as the latest Arc series was very well received, a big win for Intel after all the struggles. This rumor hints that Intel's expanding its GPU plan rather than letting it fade away, that was a gray scenario before the launch of Battlemage. Now it seems they want to compete in the professional and AI acceleration markets as well.https://tpucdn.com/img/iFewNGOLnvh9kfuZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iFewNGOLnvh9kfuZ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330303/intel-rumored-to-launch-arc-battlemage-gpu-with-24gb-memory-in-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330303/intel-rumored-to-launch-arc-battlemage-gpu-with-24gb-memory-in-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

In a couple of days, it'll be a new year, which will bring with it a wealth of new game releases, but before that, we have a couple of days left of this year and a few slow days or possibly weeks in the new year. This week's release includes knights with machineguns, bottle caps, also with guns, a futuristic cowboy, too many alien bugs and what appears to be a new take on the classic game RISK. See you in the new year.

Boomcestors / Monday 30 December / Early Access
Are you prepared to crush medieval armies, reduce their defensive structures to rubble, and dominate sprawling battlefields, all with cutting-edge modern warfare technology at your fingertips? Your squad is a lethal machine, armed with today's weapons. Customize your squad's size and composition, determine who will join your deadly ranks, and choose which weapons they'll wield. Steam link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3398070/Boomcestors/)https://tpucdn.com/img/QQamlhWDxkSjqkdk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QQamlhWDxkSjqkdk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6le56EUIV3MLvTLw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6le56EUIV3MLvTLw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZW0q3nnne6yiBIre_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZW0q3nnne6yiBIre.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9JdwZChbvdfgaBhD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9JdwZChbvdfgaBhD.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330297/this-week-in-gaming-week-1)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330297/this-week-in-gaming-week-1)

[NextPowerUP]

What we've all been waiting for, might just have appeared and what we're talking about is of course the pricing of NVIDIA's upcoming graphics cards. @wxnod has posted a single screenshot on X/Twitter of what could be the MSRP of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 in China. The MSRP of the RTX 4080 was 9,499 RMB and the RTX 5080 appears to be not that much higher, at 9,999 RMB, but this still equates to about US$1,370, although do note that there's 13 percent sales tax/VAT in China.

Now as for the RTX 5090, things won't be as rosy. The RTX 4090 had an MSRP of 12,999 RMB in China and the RTX 5090 comes in at an insane 18,999 RMB or US$2,600. That's a price hike of a not insignificant 46 percent over the RTX 4090 and this might make it the most expensive consumer graphics card ever released. We'd suggest taking these prices with a helping of NaCl just to be on the safe side. The cards are expected to be available some time in January according to the screenshot.

Update 15:34 UTC: A second picture was posted in the same thread on X/Twitter that shows the expected launch months of the lower-tier RTX 5000-series cards as well and it appears to be taken from a video.https://tpucdn.com/img/hKzYckqpTegSRkvH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hKzYckqpTegSRkvH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gookfHrrwortYpjS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gookfHrrwortYpjS.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330284/potential-rtx-5090-and-rtx-5080-pricing-in-china-leaks)

[NextPowerUP]

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is excited to announce its participation in CES 2025, taking place at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, USA, from January 7 to 10. At the event, ECS will showcase its full lineup of cutting-edge products, including motherboards, mini PCs, and notebooks, designed to meet the needs of home entertainment, office, school, and commercial applications.

Unleash Your Potential with the Ultimate LEET Gaming Motherboards
ECS new models of LEET gaming motherboards - Z890 series marks a significant advancement in motherboard technology, offering notable improvements in performance, stability, scalability, and user-focused design, all tailored to meet the evolving needs of consumers. ECS Z890 motherboards are compatible with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors for the Intel LGA 1851 socket and feature four DDR5 DIMM slots, supporting up to 256 GB of total memory with impressive overclocking capabilities, including speeds of up to 8800 MHz. These motherboards also offer advanced connectivity options, including two PCIe 5.0 graphics slots, four PCIe 4.0 slots, ultra-fast 5 Gb Ethernet LAN, and the latest wireless networking technologies.https://tpucdn.com/img/MeATcFHmZJQuKORE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MeATcFHmZJQuKORE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qHEEyXkjz41iIAUu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qHEEyXkjz41iIAUu.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330437/ecs-announces-diverse-new-motherboards-mini-pcs-and-notebooks-for-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330437/ecs-announces-diverse-new-motherboards-mini-pcs-and-notebooks-for-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

According to ITHome (https://www.ithome.com/0/821/908.htm), Solidigm has officially ended production of its P44 Pro and P41 Plus solid-state drives, marking its complete withdrawal from the consumer SSD market. These were the only consumer SSDs released under the Solidigm brand since the company's formation. The company has also removed all consumer drive listings from its website, which now focuses entirely on data center and enterprise storage solutions. The decision follows earlier developments in October 2023, when Solidigm reportedly dissolved its consumer SSD division and laid off staff working on consumer drives, Tom's Hardware learned (https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/solidigm-pulls-out-of-consumer-ssd-market-with-discontinuation-of-drives-storage-company-shut-down-consumer-division-over-a-year-ago) from an unnamed source familiar with the matter. This has been reportedly done to stop consumer SSD development and re-route resources to enterprise SSD, which drives more revenue.

The shutdown reportedly occurred abruptly, just before the planned launch of a new consumer SSD that had already been distributed to reviewers. Consumer SSD space has been recording a lot of uncertainty recently, as larger brands have been able to launch consumer SSDs while enjoying profits from the enterprise buildout, and AI expansion is requiring massive storage units. These larger brands can distill some of their products into consumer-focused sections without much impact on margins, as the enterprise is willing to pay top Dollar for SSDs. Sadly, Solidgm has not chosen that path and is instead going all-in on the enterprise segment. Sadly, fewer SSD makers in the consumer space means less competition, so we hope that this trend doesn't continue.https://tpucdn.com/img/d0Qy8ErbFhSsxXtQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/d0Qy8ErbFhSsxXtQ.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330436/solidigm-stops-consumer-ssd-business-operations-ended-last-year)

[NextPowerUP]

Transcend Information Inc. (Transcend) a global leader in storage solutions, introduces the new ETD210T enterprise 2.5-inch SSD, designed to meet the read-intensive needs of business users. Featuring enterprise-grade TLC (eTLC) NAND flash and a SATA III 6 Gb/s interface, the ETD210T includes a built-in DRAM cache to deliver fast data transfer, exceptional Quality of Service (QoS), ultra-low latency, and superior endurance. Ideal for read-intensive and high-capacity storage workloads in cloud and data center applications, it provides a reliable and efficient storage solution for enterprise computing.

Designed for Enterprises, Optimized for Data Centers
The ETD210T supports various enterprise applications, including data centers, virtualized servers, and large-scale data processing. Equipped with high-endurance eTLC NAND flash, it delivers exceptional read and write performance. Its endurance rating of DWPD = 1 meets the requirements of most enterprise-class applications, while its read and write speeds of up to 530 MB/s and 510 MB/s, respectively, address the need for highly efficient storage.https://tpucdn.com/img/TpwAOmVUPc2ArXHU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TpwAOmVUPc2ArXHU.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330434/transcend-unveils-enterprise-ssd-to-boost-data-center-performance-and-security)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330434/transcend-unveils-enterprise-ssd-to-boost-data-center-performance-and-security)

[NextPowerUP]

The world's leading memory module and flash memory brand, ADATA Technology, will be participating in CES 2025 with its gaming brand XPG and industrial-grade embedded storage brand ADATA Industrial. ADATA will be bringing its theme of "Innovate for a Better Tomorrow" to the Venetian in Las Vegas, located at booth Titian #2204 from January 7th to 10th. An online exhibition will be launched during this period for consumers around the world to experience a full range of innovative products in real time.

This year, ADATA will present three exhibition zones, each with an overarching theme. The "Artificial Intelligence Computing Solutions Zone" will showcase XPG AICORE DDR5 R-DIMM overclocked memory and XPG LANCER CUDIMM RGB DDR5 gaming memory. Additional products in this zone include the XPG DEFENDER SFF small form factor commercial chassis and XPG EDGECORE TFX power supply, which are designed to meet the needs of edge computing systems and demonstrate ADATA's comprehensive investment in the evolution of the AI era. The "Innovative Technology and Smart Mobile Lifestyle Zone" will see the launch of multiple Gen 5 SSD cooling solutions and highlight the world's first eco-friendly XPG LANCER NEON RGB DDR5 gaming memory with PCB heat dissipating coating, creating a new benchmark for cooling and efficient data transfer in the high-speed storage industry. The "Xtreme Performance Gear Zone" will showcase highly efficient gaming systems, top-notch power supplies, and cooling solutions, taking gaming applications to a new level. Each exhibit combines innovative technologies and high-performance products, and consumers around the world can join online for a one of a kind experience!https://tpucdn.com/img/YiZjTu532oyW1Fc1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YiZjTu532oyW1Fc1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BHyQXzx4ruiasd04_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BHyQXzx4ruiasd04.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/U1Pwr7NDrhv9XSIY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U1Pwr7NDrhv9XSIY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ez5KgWANRYXJh09J_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ez5KgWANRYXJh09J.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330432/adata-reveals-a-new-perspective-on-the-ai-era-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330432/adata-reveals-a-new-perspective-on-the-ai-era-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Pimax, a manufacturer of leading VR hardware, released in an online keynote presentation the design and specs of an upcoming headset, the Pimax Dream Air. The small and light headset packs 27 million pixels, head, hand and eye-tracking, integrated spatial audio, a DisplayPort connection, and a self-adjusting backstrap.

The Dream Air is a PCVR headset, and borrows a lot of components from the previously announced Crystal Super, including the micro-OLED panels and pancake lenses—but packs this into a small form factor headset, to satisfy different use cases. It breaks with previous Pimax headsets, with a new design language, signalling the small form factor era for Pimax.https://tpucdn.com/img/MmJqsjE6uBaMyt2n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MmJqsjE6uBaMyt2n.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/en8NWXaLFtAo4pB0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/en8NWXaLFtAo4pB0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/09iclUGOpN2IpJHA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/09iclUGOpN2IpJHA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8twb13t00KK5ZrGW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8twb13t00KK5ZrGW.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330430/pimax-announces-the-worlds-smallest-full-feature-8k-resolution-vr-headset)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330430/pimax-announces-the-worlds-smallest-full-feature-8k-resolution-vr-headset)

[NextPowerUP]

As one of the global leaders in the display industry, KOORUI is set to unveil a range of cutting-edge products at CES 2025, showcasing advancements in both technology and user experience. These launches mark another milestone in delivering innovative display solutions to consumers. We warmly invite you to visit KOORUI at Booth #35609 in South Hall 2 of the Las Vegas Convention Center to explore these products firsthand.

The highlight of the new product lineup is the world's first consumer-grade monitor featuring an unprecedented 750 Hz refresh rate. To compensate for the color defects of the TN panels, the screen uses the latest QD film with a wide color gamut solution, enabling a color gamut of up to DCI-P3 95%.https://tpucdn.com/img/U4j53GllvW5IqCrz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U4j53GllvW5IqCrz.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330429/koorui-to-launch-the-worlds-first-monitor-with-a-750hz-refresh-rate-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330429/koorui-to-launch-the-worlds-first-monitor-with-a-750hz-refresh-rate-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Electronics today unveiled its 2025 Smart Monitor, Odyssey Gaming Monitor and ViewFinity Monitor lineups, all of which will be on display at Samsung's First Look at CES on January 5. The 2025 models raise the bar for monitors by bringing AI features, industry-first sizes in the OLED market and new form factors that ignite the passions of users worldwide—whether they're working, gaming or creating.

"With the new monitors in our industry-leading lineups, we're giving people more ways to explore the content and connections that they love in new ways," said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "Because of our new AI capabilities and size options, 2025 will see users across the world find the right monitor that fits them."https://tpucdn.com/img/DMUj33bOA83DYJo8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DMUj33bOA83DYJo8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iKgWd55I9DIlZkCR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iKgWd55I9DIlZkCR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/J5soHmKkvHLXwHHx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/J5soHmKkvHLXwHHx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HSDaBsDT5lKdUgq4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HSDaBsDT5lKdUgq4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FE6tbV3wItk3M1Gt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FE6tbV3wItk3M1Gt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FGwv606RRLUK6MIS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FGwv606RRLUK6MIS.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330428/samsungs-new-2025-monitors-delivers-27-inch-4k-oled-240-hz-gaming-performance-ai-capabilities-and-enhanced-productivity)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330428/samsungs-new-2025-monitors-delivers-27-inch-4k-oled-240-hz-gaming-performance-ai-capabilities-and-enhanced-productivity)

[NextPowerUP]

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce their upcoming lineup to be shared at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. One spotlight of the show will be their Professional Workflow series which includes a 6-bay docking station, a portable 2-bay docking station, and a variety of portable SSD and reader modules that work seamlessly with the docks to extend storage capacity, transfer files faster, and provide flexibility for superior organization and backup reliability so that professional creatives can get back to being creative rather than worrying about their hardware.

"With both an in-studio 6-bay docking station, a two-bay portable dock for out in the field, and an assortment of SSD and reader modules, our customers can create the perfect post-production solution to streamline their workflow from start to finish," said Joey Lopez, Director of Marketing. In addition to the Professional Workflow series of products, Lexar will show the ARMOR SD GOLD Card. With a stainless-steel construction that is 37x stronger than typical SD cards, it is designed to withstand grueling usage out in the wild while offering up to 210 MB/s write speed and Video Speed Class 60 (V60) to seamlessly capture 6K footage.https://tpucdn.com/img/9IaZJcJEXVaEwCNT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9IaZJcJEXVaEwCNT.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330427/lexar-to-showcase-an-extensive-lineup-of-products-for-photographers-filmmakers-and-gamers-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330427/lexar-to-showcase-an-extensive-lineup-of-products-for-photographers-filmmakers-and-gamers-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

GravaStar, a leader in premium gaming accessories, proudly announces the launch of its Mercury X Pro and Mercury X ultralight gaming mice. Designed for competitive gamers and enthusiasts, these mice offer a fusion of ultra-lightweight build and cutting-edge performance, empowering gamers to achieve their best with every click.

Featherlight Design Meets High-Octane Performance
The Mercury X Pro and Mercury X are engineered with an ultra-lightweight design, weighing just 49 g, allowing gamers to move faster and more precisely without fatigue. Whether you're engaged in intense esports competitions or casual gaming, the Mercury X series ensures effortless control and maximum agility. Featuring the PAW 3950 sensor with 32,000 DPI precision, gamers can fine-tune their sensitivity to meet any gameplay situation, offering unparalleled accuracy for even the most demanding games.https://tpucdn.com/img/VlcVTEDl782eqMQK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VlcVTEDl782eqMQK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PxGlhICVwifVuEUu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PxGlhICVwifVuEUu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4HctJmbQkBnvuXWK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4HctJmbQkBnvuXWK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/s1btbvuTSOyyGcoE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s1btbvuTSOyyGcoE.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330426/gravastar-unveils-mercury-x-pro-and-x-gaming-mice)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330426/gravastar-unveils-mercury-x-pro-and-x-gaming-mice)

[NextPowerUP]

Incase, a leading carry and protection brand, today announced the all-new Compact Ergonomic Keyboard. Designed by Microsoft and grounded in more than 25 years of ergonomics research, the Incase Compact Ergonomic Keyboard is optimized for comfort and delivers a premium, natural typing experience. The keyboard also features a dedicated Copilot key to activate Microsoft's AI-powered assistant, and multi-device connectivity for increased productivity and efficiency.

"The Compact Ergonomic Keyboard was designed to take up the smallest possible amount of space while maintaining typing accuracy, comfort and a high-level of performance," said Marshall Clark, Onward General Manager. "We are extremely proud to debut the most innovative and comfortable keyboard for work, play and learning."https://tpucdn.com/img/SwAIPOALPiq7t9HR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SwAIPOALPiq7t9HR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RH3qGjWiVSHAigwJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RH3qGjWiVSHAigwJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ptHMt3FUMc0Gt2Mu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ptHMt3FUMc0Gt2Mu.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330425/incase-announces-new-compact-ergonomic-keyboard-featuring-microsoft-copilot-key)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330425/incase-announces-new-compact-ergonomic-keyboard-featuring-microsoft-copilot-key)

[NextPowerUP]

Here are some of the first pictures of the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 Gaming Trio "Blackwell" graphics card. The box art provides the first look at what the actual product will look like. It remains over 2 slots thick, and is fairly long; with a trio of what look like 100 mm fans. As with all past generation Gaming X series graphics cards from MSI, this product will feature extensive RGB LED lighting, and a fairly generous factory overclock among its base and premium tiers (Gaming and Gaming X); although historically, MSI's Suprim series has had the company's highest factory tuning.

The back-side of the box lists out MSI-specific and NVIDIA "Blackwell" specific features. The RTX 50-series will see MSI debut the new StormForce fan, which appears to have greater impeller depth than the previous-generation TorX 3.0 fan. The impellers are webbed for axial airflow, the fan blades have ridges. The box also says that the cooler features a nickel-plated copper base-plate, which makes contact with the GPU, which probably has mirror finish. This baseplate will be backed by Core Pipes, which are the cooler's copper heatpipes made square near the baseplate for better contact with it. Lastly, the card comes with a metal backplate—no surprises there. NVIDIA is looking to debut the GeForce RTX 5080 on January 21 (https://www.techpowerup.com/330408/nvidia-plans-geforce-rtx-5080-blackwell-availability-on-january-21-right-after-ces-announcement).https://tpucdn.com/img/N1K2PdrvjCUpnVRB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/N1K2PdrvjCUpnVRB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/p9mhoaTPAcNiF4pL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/p9mhoaTPAcNiF4pL.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330423/msi-geforce-rtx-5080-gaming-trio-blackwell-box-leaked)

[NextPowerUP]

G.SKILL International Enterprise Co., Ltd, the world's leading brand of performance overclock memory and PC components, is thrilled to release new low CAS latency memory kits featuring AMD EXPO overclock profile for the new AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors and performance X870 chipset motherboards. These new specifications include DDR5-6000 CL26 2x16GB/2x32GB kits and 2x 24 GB/2x 48 GB memory kits under the Trident Z5 Royal Neo, Trident Z5 Neo RGB, and Ripjaws M5 RGB Neo series.

Aiming to provide high-performance overclock DDR5 memory for PC enthusiasts, G.SKILL is releasing a new low CAS Latency memory kit at DDR5-6000 CL26-36-36-96 with kit capacity configuration of 32 GB (2x16GB), as well as the world's first 64 GB (2x32GB) kit capacity for this low latency specification. Featuring the AMD EXPO memory overclocking profile, these new specifications are built for selected X870 series motherboards and AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors. The screenshot below demonstrates DDR5-6000 CL26 2x32GB kit's stability under the Memtest memory stress test on the ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero motherboard and AMD Ryzen 9 9900X desktop processor.https://tpucdn.com/img/v52aZR54peSwp3FU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/v52aZR54peSwp3FU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mh2NXXTGJoUBJolo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mh2NXXTGJoUBJolo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DVVHP8ffLF2UEqcU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DVVHP8ffLF2UEqcU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2kiwewkRZqYsNUHk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2kiwewkRZqYsNUHk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330418/g-skill-releases-low-latency-ddr5-6000-cl26-cl28-memory-kits)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330418/g-skill-releases-low-latency-ddr5-6000-cl26-cl28-memory-kits)

[NextPowerUP]

MSI, the world's leading manufacturer of true gaming hardware, is proudly expanding the hardware possibilities for all gamers. While OLED panels have become the preferred choice for high-end gaming, the OLED burn-in issue has consistently been a major concern for all users. MSI is proud to introduce an exceptional solution that effectively addresses the dreaded OLED problem.

The world's first DisplayPort 2.1a (UHBR20) 27" 4K 240 Hz QD-OLED monitor, the MPG 272URX QD-OLED, is equipped with a 5-layer tandem OLED panel featuring the EL Gen 3 technology. This new material composition improves efficiency up to 30%. This monitor offers stunning clarity with 166 PPI, which enhances text sharpness and significantly reduces color fringing, setting a new standard for daily visuals. Recognized for its design and innovation, it has earned the CES 2025 Innovation Award. ith G-SYNC Compatible support, the monitor delivers smoother, tear-free gaming with reduced lag and fully compatibility with future hardware. This monitor is also perfect for all AAA game titles, ensuring an exceptional gaming experience with flawless performance and visuals.https://tpucdn.com/img/lV5OO33WheAA3gzj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lV5OO33WheAA3gzj.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330417/msi-unveils-worlds-first-27-4k-240hz-and-27-qhd-500hz-qd-oled-monitors-and-more)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330417/msi-unveils-worlds-first-27-4k-240hz-and-27-qhd-500hz-qd-oled-monitors-and-more)

[NextPowerUP]

ASUS has published the product page for its upcoming ROG Swift OLED PG27UDCM gaming monitor, which will go head to head with the MSI MPG272URX (https://www.techpowerup.com/330417/msi-unveils-worlds-first-27-4k-240hz-and-27-qhd-500hz-qd-oled-monitors-and-more) on which will hit retail as the first 27-inch 4K 240 Hz display. The PG27UDCM sports a 26.5-inch panel using what ASUS refers to as 4th gen QD-OLED technology, which the company claims offer longer lifespan compared to previous generations of OLED panels. The panel sports typical OLED features such as a 0.03 ms response time, a peak brightness of 1,000 cd/m², 99 percent DCI-P3 colour space coverage and VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black. The display also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync compatible, as well as a host of ASUS specific gaming features such as ELMB, GameFast Input Technology, Shadow Bost and a DisplayWidget.

Inputs consist of a DisplayPort 2.1 port with UHBR20 (80 Gbps) support, a USB Type-C with DP-Alt mode and USB PD up to 90 W and a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. There's also a three port USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) USB hub with what we presume is a USB Type-B input and a headphone jack. The reason for the presumed USB Type-B input, is that the specs claim KVM support and this would only be possible if there was a USB input of some kind, but this isn't mentioned in the tech specs. The stand is your typical higher-end model with tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment, as well as ASUS' Aura Sync lighting and a tripod mount at the top. ASUS claims a power consumption of around 80 Watts, although this doesn't include USB PD. A big plus is that ASUS will bundle a DisplayPort 2.1 DP80 cable in the box, something for example Sony decided not to include with their INZONE M9 II (https://www.techpowerup.com/326951/sony-announces-the-inzone-m10s-and-m9-ii-gaming-monitors-with-displayport-2-1) which launched in September last year. There's no word on pricing for the ROG Swift OLED PG27UDCM, but expect it to be on the expensive side of US$1,000.https://tpucdn.com/img/QagOAFAcDimOYYM4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QagOAFAcDimOYYM4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fSeGOC8kHvphBO0Z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fSeGOC8kHvphBO0Z.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RZRuFD0atqTGXiOw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RZRuFD0atqTGXiOw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hguoQBLeOSatQXgl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hguoQBLeOSatQXgl.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330415/asus-upcoming-rog-swift-oled-pg27udcm-is-a-27-inch-4k-240-hz-gaming-monitor)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330415/asus-upcoming-rog-swift-oled-pg27udcm-is-a-27-inch-4k-240-hz-gaming-monitor)

[NextPowerUP]

Recent sales data (nicely complied by VideoCardz) from one of the largest German retailers, Mindfactory, has revealed that the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor has achieved higher unit sales than all Ryzen 9000 processors combined. Despite its later market entry, the eight-core 9800X3D CPU has reached 8,650 units sold, surpassing the combined sales of the earlier-released standard Ryzen 9000 processors. For comparison, the entire non-X3D Ryzen 9000 lineup, including the Ryzen 9 9950X, 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X, has accumulated fewer total sales through the same retailer. The flagship Ryzen 9 9950X alone accounts for just 780 units, while the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 5 9600X have moved 810 and 890 units, respectively, while the second-best selling 9000 series SKU was Ryzen 7 9700X with 2,510 units sold. However, the 9800X3D's market performance still falls significantly short of its predecessor. The previous generation Ryzen 7 7800X3D maintains a massive lead with 78,420 units sold through the same retailer.

AMD is preparing to expand its X3D lineup with several new models. The six-core Ryzen 5 9600X3D is scheduled for release, along with 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X3D variants (https://www.techpowerup.com/330242/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-carries-3d-v-cache-on-a-single-ccd-5-6-ghz-clock-speed-and-170-watt-tdp) expected later this month. Based on previous generation sales patterns, where higher-core models saw lower adoption rates, these upcoming high-end processors may face similar market dynamics. Of course, these sales figures are only a part of the story as Mindfactory is only a single retailer across a diverse set of sellers, so the complete market picture is unknown to anyone but AMD. PC upgrade cycles are a common bottleneck in new CPU sales, especially as consumers don't tend to upgrade their PCs every year with new CPUs and platforms. We have to wait and see how the market adapts to new X3D SKUs, and if the Zen 5 X3D CPUs can reach the previous generation fame among consumers.https://tpucdn.com/img/lrBLERxLxbY0aD1F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lrBLERxLxbY0aD1F.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330412/amd-ryzen-7-9800x3d-cpu-sales-surpass-entire-ryzen-9000-series-at-german-retailer)

[NextPowerUP]

Nintendo Switch 2 promises to be this year's big (well small) gaming platform launch. It goes up against a growing ecosystem of handhelds based on x86-64 mobile processors running Windows, its main play would have to be offering a similar or better gameplay experience, but with better battery life, given that all of its hardware is purpose-built for a handheld console, and runs a highly optimized software stack; and the SoC forms a big part of this. Nintendo turned to NVIDIA for the job, given its graphics IP leadership, and its ability to integrate it with Arm CPU IP in a semi-custom chip. Someone with access to a Switch 2 prototype, likely an ISV, took the device apart, revealing the chip, a die-shrunk version of the Tegra T239 from 2023.

It's important to note that prototype consoles physically appear nothing like the final product, they're just designed so ISVs and game developers can validate them, and together with PC-based "official" emulation, set up the ability to develop or port games to the new platform. The Switch 2 looks very similar to the original Switch, it is a large tablet-like device, with detachable controllers. The largest chip on the mainboard is the NVIDIA Tegra T239. Nintendo Prime shared more details about the chip.https://tpucdn.com/img/TJipTfsX6YDmMbwS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TJipTfsX6YDmMbwS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/V5TOhWxDeEuFE3ls_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V5TOhWxDeEuFE3ls.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vpVjKgtr2KDefK1f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vpVjKgtr2KDefK1f.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OEHusDsq4Nw643vn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OEHusDsq4Nw643vn.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330410/nintendo-switch-2-pcb-leak-reveals-an-nvidia-tegra-t239-chip-optically-shrunk-to-5nm)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330410/nintendo-switch-2-pcb-leak-reveals-an-nvidia-tegra-t239-chip-optically-shrunk-to-5nm)

[NextPowerUP]

Hong Kong tech media HKEPC report indicates that NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card will launch on January 21, 2025. The release follows a planned announcement event on January 6, where CEO Jensen Huang will present the new "Blackwell" architecture. Anticipated specifications based on prior rumors point to RTX 5080 using GB203-400-A1 chip, containing 10,752 CUDA cores across 84 SM. The card maintains 16 GB of memory but upgrades to GDDR7 technology running at 30 Gbps (https://www.techpowerup.com/329945/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5080-to-stand-out-with-30-gbps-gddr7-memory-other-skus-remain-on-28-gbps), while other cards in the series are expected to use 28 Gbps memory. The graphics card is manufactured using TSMC's 4NP 4 nm node. This improvement in manufacturing technology, combined with architectural changes, accounts for most of the expected performance gains, as the raw CUDA core count only increased by 10% over the RTX 4080. NVIDIA is also introducing larger segmentation (https://www.techpowerup.com/327026/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-and-rtx-5080-specifications-surface-showing-larger-sku-segmentation) between its Blackwell SKUs, as the RTX 5090 has nearly double CUDA cores and double GDDR7 memory capacity.

NVIDIA is organizing a GeForce LAN event (https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/geforce-lan-50/) two days before the announcement, marking the return of this gathering after 13 years, so the timing is interesting. NVIDIA wants to capture gamer's hearts with 50 hours of non-stop gameplay. Meanwhile, AMD currently has no competing products announced in the high-end graphics segment, leaving NVIDIA without direct competition in this performance tier. This market situation could affect the final pricing of the RTX 5080, which will be revealed during the January keynote. While the January 21 date appears set for the RTX 5080, launch dates for other cards in the Blackwell family, including the RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 series, remain unconfirmed. NVIDIA typically releases different models in their GPU families on separate dates to manage production and distribution effectively.https://tpucdn.com/img/SZur1dVulAqQZrzG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SZur1dVulAqQZrzG.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330408/nvidia-plans-geforce-rtx-5080-blackwell-availability-on-january-21-right-after-ces-announcement)

[NextPowerUP]

AMD is expected to have a rather lean lineup of next-generation gaming GPUs powered by the RDNA 4 graphics architecture. The series is expected to debut at AMD's 2025 International CES keynote address, with product launches of the series-leading Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 performance-segment GPUs later this month. The RX 9070 should be available by late-January, although add-in board partners from China expect availability to ramp in February 2025. The series will see expansion with more announcements in March.

The RDNA 4 generation is driven mainly by two chips—the larger "Navi 48," and the smaller "Navi 44." The "Navi 48" will power the RX 9070 series, which are performance-segment and designed to compete with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 series; but cut-down variants of the chip are also expected to power certain upper mid-range SKUs that go up against the RTX 5060 series. The "Navi 44" chip is expected to power certain high performance/price SKUs in the mid-range, which AMD will use to target price-points well under the $300-mark. This segment is expected to heat up as NVIDIA has current-generation RTX 4060 series, Intel just made a stab with the Arc B580, and is expected to launch a faster Arc B700-series SKU based on a maxed-out "BMG-G21" silicon.https://tpucdn.com/img/LsanAP4sjB5B9Gyc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LsanAP4sjB5B9Gyc.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330407/amd-to-launch-mid-range-skus-of-the-radeon-rx-9000-series-in-march)

[NextPowerUP]

TSMC is making progress with its most advanced 2 nm (N2) node, a recent report from MoneyDJ quoting industry sources indicates that the company is setting up a test production line at the Hsinchu Baoshan fab (Fab 20) in Taiwan. In the early stages, TSMC aims for small monthly outputs with about 3,000-3,500 wafers. However, the company has big plans to combine production from two factories in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, TSMC expects to deliver more than 50,000 wafers monthly by the end of 2025 and by the end of 2026 projecting a production of around 125,000 wafers per month. Breaking it down by location, the Hsinchu factory should reach 20,000-25,000 wafers monthly by late 2025, growing to about 60,000-65,000 by early 2027. Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung factory is expected to produce 25,000-30,000 wafers monthly by late 2025, also increasing to 60,000-65,000 by early 2027.

TSMC's chairman C.C. Wei says there's more demand for these 2 nm chips than there was for the 3 nm. This increased "appetite" for 2 nm chips is likely due to the significant improvements this technology brings: it uses 24-35% less power, can run 15% faster at the same power level, and can fit 15% more transistors in the same space compared to the 3 nm chips. Apple will be the first company to use these chips, followed by other major tech companies like MediaTek, Qualcomm, Intel, NVIDIA, AMD, and Broadcom.https://tpucdn.com/img/GRV0BGcWlAex9vUG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GRV0BGcWlAex9vUG.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330399/tsmc-is-getting-ready-to-launch-its-first-2nm-production-line)

[NextPowerUP]

Sansui is thrilled to announce its presence at CES 2025, where it will showcase the award winning AI Gaming Monitor, recently named a CES Innovation Awards 2025 Honoree. This cutting-edge gaming monitor highlights Sansui's dedication to redefining the gaming experience with advanced AI technology and user-focused innovation.

"CES is the ultimate stage for innovation, and we're excited to showcase a product that represents the future of gaming," said Victor, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sansui. "Our AI Gaming Monitor combines top-tier performance with features that enhance health and energy efficiency, delivering a truly next-level experience for gamers." Attendees can experience this innovation firsthand at Booth 19840, Central Hall, LVCC, in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2025.https://tpucdn.com/img/M3ljy1MjaVOlMiO9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/M3ljy1MjaVOlMiO9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZrnwVmSVKweaehdC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZrnwVmSVKweaehdC.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330526/sansui-to-showcase-ai-gaming-monitor-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330526/sansui-to-showcase-ai-gaming-monitor-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Tech manufacturer JSAUX announces it will attend CES Las Vegas for the very first time during January 7-10. JSAUX's booth will be located at the LVCC - South Hall 1, booth no. 32344 and it will showcase a line up of new and exciting products from different categories: the FlipGo Horizon, a new entry in its family of portable monitors, and its accessories for iPhone.

Founded in 2016, JSAUX has established itself as a leading name in the gaming accessory market, with products recognized across 100+ countries. The brand's success stems from four key factors:https://tpucdn.com/img/nJ1UHjmv21Z79Q8R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nJ1UHjmv21Z79Q8R.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ze9SWCB1pXV9KKOD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ze9SWCB1pXV9KKOD.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330525/jsaux-debuts-the-new-flipgo-portable-monitor-and-more-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330525/jsaux-debuts-the-new-flipgo-portable-monitor-and-more-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

GoDeal24 is an international merchant of genuine, globally-valid software, wishing you a great year ahead. It might be a new year, but our prices haven't changed! Get Genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus at just $35.11. Save more with multi-PC packs going up to 5-PCs. Save even more when you pair this with your preferred edition of Windows, with the Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus combo going for $47.59. Start saving!

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $35.11 (https://cutt.ly/WeKrPgks) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $68.44 (https://cutt.ly/leL9pXVn) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $99.99 (https://cutt.ly/CeL9aorh) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $161.25 (https://cutt.ly/7eNBWpHh) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $25.29 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrOTOe) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 2-PC at $49.29 (https://cutt.ly/JeKrPTnb) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 5-PC at $109.29 (https://cutt.ly/beKrPDQs) | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $15.29 (https://cutt.ly/reKrVbty) | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $98.69 (https://cutt.ly/aeKrP9aM) | Buy Office 2019 Home and Business for Mac at $39.99 (https://cutt.ly/ieKrAqoy)

Buy Windows 11 Pro at $13.25 (https://cutt.ly/OeKrPqTZ) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 3-PC at $34.45 (https://cutt.ly/geKrARBG) | Buy Windows 11 Home at $13.05 (https://cutt.ly/GeKrADXE) | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $8.25 (https://cutt.ly/aeKrAXZf) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 3-PC at $21.25 (https://cutt.ly/IeKrA0jz) | Buy Windows 10 Home at $8.15 (https://cutt.ly/reKrA79G) | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC at $12.25 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrSt7E)

Please use the coupon code TCP62 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $43.56 (https://cutt.ly/YeKrSaQ8) | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $31.05 (https://cutt.ly/HeKrSlvX) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $47.59 (https://cutt.ly/ReKrSmLy) | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $36.49 (https://cutt.ly/ceKrST4z)https://tpucdn.com/img/Rmo6W1VUz29zfB9f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Rmo6W1VUz29zfB9f.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330454/new-year-but-same-great-prices-on-software-from-godeal24)

[NextPowerUP]

Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for 40 years, today introduced several new products across its Mobile Power, Audio and Future Ventures portfolios, underscoring Belkin design excellence, dedication to quality, and commitment to building products more responsibly. Belkin is showcasing its newly announced products at CES Unveiled Las Vegas - the official media event of CES 2025.

Built more responsibly with up to 90% recycled materials
Two years since introducing its transition to using 72-75% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials in its products, Belkin has transitioned over 359 products and has replaced 432 metric tons of virgin plastics with PCR materials.https://tpucdn.com/img/NzS8jHQEc1zrqyvZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NzS8jHQEc1zrqyvZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D0nhnRn2crDrzGg3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D0nhnRn2crDrzGg3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wlyhz3kxPvJEgaqU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wlyhz3kxPvJEgaqU.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330524/belkin-boosts-ces-2025-lineup-with-new-audio-concepts-content-creator-tools-and-premium-charging-solutions)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330524/belkin-boosts-ces-2025-lineup-with-new-audio-concepts-content-creator-tools-and-premium-charging-solutions)

[NextPowerUP]

GMKTec is a relatively well-known brand of mini PCs that ships internationally from its official online store. The brand's latest offering, the K11, is an RGB-fied mini PC that sports adequately powerful internals for almost any task. At its core, the K11 is powered by the Ryzen 9 8945HS "Hawk Point" APU with eight Zen 4 cores and 16 threads. The system comes pre-installed with up to 32 GB of memory and a 2 TB SSD, both of which can be upgraded down the line.

The memory can be upgraded to a whopping 96 GB, whereas the storage can be upgraded to 8 TB via the dual M.2 slots. The integrated Radeon 780M GPU is decently powerful for most non-intensive workloads, but pushing it any further might be futile. For such cases, the OCuLink port will definitely come in handy, offering speedy eGPU connections that far outshine USB-based solutions. The cooling solution appears to be sufficient on paper, allowing the system to draw up to 70 watts.https://tpucdn.com/img/YMpl5I1mNXa6yu66_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YMpl5I1mNXa6yu66.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mtuuugcnAP0Zw8tX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mtuuugcnAP0Zw8tX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nHZkCP8SOl64YF8r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nHZkCP8SOl64YF8r.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330513/gmktec-k11-mini-pc-unveiled-with-up-to-96-gb-of-memory-ryzen-9-and-oculink-support)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330513/gmktec-k11-mini-pc-unveiled-with-up-to-96-gb-of-memory-ryzen-9-and-oculink-support)

[NextPowerUP]

Xiaomi has officially introduced the 2025-lineup for its RedmiBook laptop, which comes in 14-inch and 16-inch flavors. Although the launch is limited to China as of now, its highly probable that the laptop will visit the international market as well. At its heart, both the variants are powered by the Core 5 220H CPU based on Raptor Lake-H Refresh. The chip sports 12 cores and 16 threads, with clock speeds of 2 to 4.9 GHz. There is no dedicated graphics support, and the system relies on the Iris Xe iGPU that is substantially slower than the newer Arc iGPUs found in Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake lineups.

The laptops are relatively thin and light, at 15.9 mm thin, and tip the scales at 1.36 and 1.65 kg respectively. Xiaomi advertises 19.05 hours of battery life courtesy of a 72 Wh battery, but the real world performance will almost certainly be slightly worse. The 14-inch model sports a 2.8K LCD, whereas the 16-inch version, intriguingly, sports a 2.5K display. Both the displays feature a refresh rate of 120 Hz - a welcome addition for sure. The product starts at around $640 for the 14-inch variant with a 16 GB + 512 GB configuration, and the 16-inch version costs around $30 more.https://tpucdn.com/img/wInwFFtQh1JLYB6T_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wInwFFtQh1JLYB6T.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6andunkczTAdAiIV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6andunkczTAdAiIV.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330514/xiaomi-unveils-14-and-16-redmibook-2025-with-12-core-intel-core-200h-cpu)

[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to the first full week of the new year and the month of January. This week's major release involves building pointy buildings in the desert, just south of the Mediterranean. The rest of this week's new releases involves getting imprisoned by aliens, making steampunk chocolate, work as a robot assassin, purging the land and doing hard time in a futuristic version of Japan.

Builders of Egypt (https://strategy-labs.com/) / This week's major release / Wednesday 8 January
In Builders of Egypt, you can explore the land of the pharaohs through the ages, from the Nile Delta to Nubia. Build cities, manage trade, economy, and resources, make strategic decisions, control armies and engage in battles, foster religious development, and ensure the well-being of your citizens. Play through a complete campaign or unleash your creativity in Sandbox mode. Steam link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/818520/Builders_of_Egypt/)https://tpucdn.com/img/fdaqTdZY5Pu6AKX8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fdaqTdZY5Pu6AKX8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CTnTFyh8glaYWEHV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CTnTFyh8glaYWEHV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6xL1uycgB4qbBGFf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6xL1uycgB4qbBGFf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bRdjKIShw43RKNoZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bRdjKIShw43RKNoZ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330520/this-week-in-gaming-week-2)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330520/this-week-in-gaming-week-2)

[NextPowerUP]

E-Ink aficionados have been on the rise in recent years, and for good reason. E-Ink displays, despite their undeniable downsides, are excellent for note-taking and reading without having to worry about eye-strain. The 13.3-inch BOOX Note Max is an excellent option for its targeted demographic, and is now available for purchase worldwide for a relatively affordable price of $649.

The Note Max sports Android support, specifically Android 13. Needless to say, this means that a plethora of apps and functionality can be installed separately. The 13.3-inch capacitive touch display with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity sports a resolution for 3200 x 2400, amounting to a commendable PPI value of 300. An octa-core 2.8 GHz CPU takes care of all the computing needs, paired with 6 GB of memory. Of course, the Note Max is not meant to be a powerhouse, but decent performance is always welcome.https://tpucdn.com/img/gJYXD9Z8nByz78Px_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gJYXD9Z8nByz78Px.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2yWWimuHXZXNO180_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2yWWimuHXZXNO180.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1iRc8lFHrRTKBLrO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1iRc8lFHrRTKBLrO.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330504/boox-note-max-with-13-3-inch-e-ink-display-launches-worldwide)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330504/boox-note-max-with-13-3-inch-e-ink-display-launches-worldwide)

[NextPowerUP]

Indie developers Alterego Games and The Naked Dev, have today announced the release of City of Springs - Craft & modify your robot drones to fight off a cruel regime in this steampunk adventure game.

City of Springs
You play as Val, a brilliant mechanic from the big slum district of the last city on earth. A cruel and strict regime controls every aspect of life in the city, and any transgression is taken out of your rations. The city is like a broken clock. Someone has to stand up to the ministries and fix it.https://tpucdn.com/img/3wXCi4B4o6PbyCFs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3wXCi4B4o6PbyCFs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Q3HDZcrpMPZndJga_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Q3HDZcrpMPZndJga.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qkfyXLvqGhR3RabE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qkfyXLvqGhR3RabE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VIgJjzmZOZXjZ7J0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VIgJjzmZOZXjZ7J0.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330479/horizon-zero-dawn-meets-clash-of-clans-in-city-of-springs)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330479/horizon-zero-dawn-meets-clash-of-clans-in-city-of-springs)

[NextPowerUP]

ZOWIE proudly announces XL2586X+, a new eSports gaming monitor featuring the latest Fast-TN panels for superior refresh speed and DyAc 2 technology for quick response times with minimal motion blur. Upgraded from 540 Hz to 600 Hz, XL2586X+ is now the fastest gaming monitor available, consistently ensuring smooth visuals during fast-motion and dramatic transitions without overclocking. It also includes auto game mode via XL Setting to Share software and industrial-grade bearings for precise height adjustment, solidifying XL-X+ series' position as the mainstream standard for eSports competitions and exemplifying ZOWIE's mission is to lead the FPS field by providing competitive players with top-tier equipment and the most seamless in-game experiences.

Our Mission
By continually developing professional eSports products specifically designed for FPS players, ZOWIE has come to deeply understand their needs. Going the extra mile and paying attention to the smallest details is how we give players the best gaming experience and help them achieve their very best.https://tpucdn.com/img/Y2bGIwVNNcEG5Jh8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Y2bGIwVNNcEG5Jh8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BEVAcpT8pHa9SAVK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BEVAcpT8pHa9SAVK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/omiRYC0npB3PGQxJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/omiRYC0npB3PGQxJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gzb20fnVRnZHn04b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gzb20fnVRnZHn04b.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330477/zowie-introduces-xl2586x-esports-monitor-with-600hz-refresh-rate)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330477/zowie-introduces-xl2586x-esports-monitor-with-600hz-refresh-rate)

[NextPowerUP]

HAVIT, a leader in consumer technology, will unveil groundbreaking audio products at CES 2025, tackling key challenges in audio solutions. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, HAVIT is advancing the industry and delivering a more immersive and realistic audio experience for users.

In 2024, HAVIT's global audio device sales surpassed 10 million units, reinforcing its market leadership. Several products have become favorites among consumers, highlighting HAVIT's innovation and user experience. At CES 2025, HAVIT will unveil a range of groundbreaking audio products, set to be event highlights.https://tpucdn.com/img/IsM2zcozKDrTpFs7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IsM2zcozKDrTpFs7.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330476/havit-to-debut-innovative-spatial-audio-technology-in-latest-product-range-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330476/havit-to-debut-innovative-spatial-audio-technology-in-latest-product-range-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

LG Electronics (LG) is reinforcing its reputation as a top provider of lifestyle projectors with the introduction of two brand-new models at CES 2025. Raising the bar for the lifestyle projector category, LG's "new-concept" models are designed to deliver maximum space efficiency. The CES Innovation Award-winning PF600U is a versatile device that seamlessly combines a projector with a Bluetooth speaker and LED mood lamp, while the CineBeam S (model PU615U) has the distinction of being LG's smallest-ever 4K Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector. Worthy successors to 2024's popular LG CineBeam Q, the innovative, new models boast exceptional picture quality, design and ease-of-use; making them the ideal lifestyle companions for modern consumers.

PF600U: A Versatile 3-in-1 Lifestyle Companion for Everyday Spaces
The groundbreaking PF600U, a CES Innovation Award honoree, transforms living spaces with its multifunctionality. Serving as a projector, Bluetooth speaker and LED mood lamp, it can tailor any room's ambiance to the user's preferences. Whether enjoying a private theater, soothing visuals or a mood-lit listening session, it effortlessly curates a distinctive experience that enriches the moment.https://tpucdn.com/img/UC7hRPzaIEI9mr4i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UC7hRPzaIEI9mr4i.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kw7xn8vFWytmse7R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kw7xn8vFWytmse7R.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DahMdq5cXeYni1Ns_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DahMdq5cXeYni1Ns.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YOf5J42adkRy8GDQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YOf5J42adkRy8GDQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330474/lg-reveals-multifunctional-3-in-1-projector-combining-lighting-and-speaker-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330474/lg-reveals-multifunctional-3-in-1-projector-combining-lighting-and-speaker-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

LIAN LI, a leading manufacturer of computer chassis and accessories, unveils the EDGE GOLD series power supply, the latest addition to its T-shaped PSU lineup. Tailored for dual-chamber and tower cases with its longer cables than the original EDGE PSU, the EDGE GOLD redefines connectivity and maintenance with innovative features such as the world's first removable USB/PWM expansion hub, and a removable magnetic dust filter. This fully modular PSU is equipped with industrial-grade EPCOS capacitors, ensuring stable and reliable power delivery, and is compliant with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards. The LIAN LI EDGE GOLD PSU, backed by a 10-year warranty, is available in black or white in 1200 W, 1000 W, and 850 W models, and in black only for the 750 W model.

Centralized Connectivity
The EDGE GOLD has a removable USB/PWM hub that can be attached directly to a power supply or placed inside the case using an 8-pin PCIe interface. It offers four USB 2.0 headers for up to eight downstream ports and has a total output of 2.5 A, along with six 4-pin PWM connectors supporting up to 2 A each for UNI FAN groups. Enhancing the LIAN LI Wireless ecosystem, the hub features strong magnets for easy mounting. It comes with the EDGE GOLD 1200 W and 1000 W models but is also available for separate purchase. Included are a fan PWM Sync cable, an internal USB to USB header cable, and a USB header to USB Type-A cable.https://tpucdn.com/img/JQAxYUz1pKCZbuvf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JQAxYUz1pKCZbuvf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vFGzrAgveWnAxkni_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vFGzrAgveWnAxkni.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XrQ0eqT6Zi1iai6A_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XrQ0eqT6Zi1iai6A.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bdHumsF98JsjUEaR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bdHumsF98JsjUEaR.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330473/lian-li-introduces-edge-gold-psu-with-removable-usb-pwm-hub)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330473/lian-li-introduces-edge-gold-psu-with-removable-usb-pwm-hub)

[NextPowerUP]

ORICO introduces the Mac Mini Upgrade Series, a suite of innovative solutions tailored to maximize the potential of Apple's Mac Mini M4. Loved for its powerful performance, compact design, and seamless macOS integration, the Mac Mini's capabilities are often limited by high storage and port expansion costs. ORICO's latest lineup offers stylish, cost-effective solutions designed for graphic designers, HD video editors, content creators, and professionals seeking enhanced productivity.

MiniMate provides a cost-effective external storage solution that enhances capacity while seamlessly blending with the Mac mini's sleek design, enabling users to work efficiently and unleash their creativity with ease, now on sale.

Massive Storage Options: Up to 4 TB of solid-state storage, with flexible choices ranging from 512 GB to 4 TB.
Sleek Design: Perfectly complements your Mac mini with identical dimensions for a seamless fit.
Blazing Fast Transmission: Supports up to 40 Gbps for smooth external editing and ultra-fast file transfers.

https://tpucdn.com/img/pQECwmnvVKdGxbmp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pQECwmnvVKdGxbmp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ePm1l0qqKkQQ0mUP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ePm1l0qqKkQQ0mUP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3bdUQKadEeCn5J9M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3bdUQKadEeCn5J9M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/70ADfWLiJWwWWlGQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/70ADfWLiJWwWWlGQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hU5sHGZ9sGTIFiyH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hU5sHGZ9sGTIFiyH.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330419/oricos-new-mac-mini-upgrade-series-unlock-your-mac-minis-full-potential)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330419/oricos-new-mac-mini-upgrade-series-unlock-your-mac-minis-full-potential)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel has released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, Version 101.6449 WHQL. The latest drivers are actually the launch driver for Intel Core Processor N-Series and Series 2, codename Twin Lake, Raptor Lake-H Refresh, Raptor Lake-U Refresh. In addition to updated support for new CPUs, the latest driver also fixes some issues on Intel Arc B-series graphics cards, as well as Intel Core Ultra Series 1 and Series 2 CPUs with Intel Arc GPUs. There are still plenty of unresolved issues on Intel Arc B- and A-series GPUs, but hopefully, Intel will fix these in the next drivers release.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6449 WHQL (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/intel-graphics-drivers/)https://tpucdn.com/img/DNAlI5mgdLLMUoMB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DNAlI5mgdLLMUoMB.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330471/intel-arc-gpu-graphics-drivers-101-6449-whql-released)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330471/intel-arc-gpu-graphics-drivers-101-6449-whql-released)

[NextPowerUP]

GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, announced two innovative QD-OLED monitors, marking a new era in display technology. The AORUS FO27Q5P sets a new benchmark with its remarkable 500 Hz refresh rate, the fastest in the QD-OLED segment, alongside DP2.1 UHBR20 bandwidth support. Meanwhile, the GIGABYTE MO27U2 redefines clarity and precision as the unprecedented 27-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor with a 240 Hz refresh rate and ultra-detailed 166 PPI resolution. Both monitors are equipped with GIGABYTE's exclusive OLED Care technology and enhanced Tactical Features, ensuring gamers a superior experience in speed, clarity, and reliability.

The AORUS FO27Q5P revolutionizes competitive gaming with its industry-leading 500 Hz refresh rate, providing unprecedented motion clarity and image sharpness. It surpasses the VESA ClearMR (CMR 13000) threshold and is poised to achieve the upcoming ClearMR 21000 standard, showcasing its forward-thinking design. This innovation has earned GIGABYTE an invitation from VESA to advocate for ClearMR 21000, further solidifying its leadership in display technology. Meanwhile, set to be certified with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500, it delivers precise shadow details and rich, deep blacks. With DP2.1 UHBR20 delivering a massive 80 Gbps bandwidth—2.5 times higher than DP 1.4—the FO27Q5P ensures seamless compatibility with next-gen GPUs, ready for 500 Hz gaming. Tailored for esports professionals and FPS enthusiasts, this monitor is a game-changer in both performance and visual fidelity.https://tpucdn.com/img/gWx7b4fJhBrAiPHd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gWx7b4fJhBrAiPHd.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330469/gigabyte-unveils-two-qd-oled-monitors-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330469/gigabyte-unveils-two-qd-oled-monitors-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

ASRock, a global leader in motherboards, graphics cards, gaming monitors, small form factor PCs, and power supply units, is set to captivate global tech enthusiasts at CES 2025 with its latest groundbreaking innovations, ASRock will unveil a meticulously curated lineup that includes state-of-the-art motherboards, gaming monitors, graphics cards, compact systems, and an all-new power supply series. This comprehensive showcase underscores ASRock's unwavering commitment to delivering high-performance solutions designed to meet the exacting standards of competitive gamers and technology professionals. With a focus on innovation, precision engineering, and industry leadership, ASRock is poised to shape the future of PC hardware and redefine what's possible in the world of computing.

ASRock's New BMD Motherboards Are Game Changers for Empowering Your Next-Gen PCs
ASRock will showcase the new motherboards for the mainstream and budget segment that are based on the upcoming Intel & AMD chipset. The new motherboards include the Phantom Gaming series, the ever popular Steel Legend that comes in a white PCB design and the feature filled but budget friendly Pro RS and Pro-A series. ASRock will also be debuting its first BMD (back mount design) motherboard during CES 2025.https://tpucdn.com/img/kpw8LDN0OfE6pT7m_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kpw8LDN0OfE6pT7m.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wgp0QsAOAZ9pgTZk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wgp0QsAOAZ9pgTZk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1SEZCvcyyAEv0xBa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1SEZCvcyyAEv0xBa.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330465/asrock-to-showcase-premium-motherboards-phantom-gaming-monitors-mini-pcs-and-psu-series-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330465/asrock-to-showcase-premium-motherboards-phantom-gaming-monitors-mini-pcs-and-psu-series-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

PowerColor has prepared its highest-end Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU in the "Red Devil" family. In a post on the social media platform X, PowerColor shared the below picture with the following words: "Every edge shines like a gem. Every second burns like fire. If power was in your hands, how would you use it?" The picture shows an interesting design with a black shroud holding a red acrylic core, which follows the design philosophy of Red Devil cards. On the backplate, PowerColor has embedded a Red Devil sign with a meshed plate on top of it to show the card branding. Suppose the previous generations of Red Devil cards are for reference. In that case, we assume that the Radeon RX 9070 XT Red Devil will deliver top-tier specifications and component selection for overclocking, meaning that this card will be one of the highest-end RDNA 4 designs that we will see. Of course, surprises are welcome, and we must wait for the CES launch to see more.https://tpucdn.com/img/F8sTqKw5kzjAy2AM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/F8sTqKw5kzjAy2AM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vSFWTV1jojwLUtqE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vSFWTV1jojwLUtqE.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330461/powercolor-teases-radeon-rx-9070-xt-red-devil-gpu)

[NextPowerUP]

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a pair of 27-inch OLED gaming monitors—the Swift OLED PG27UCDM and Strix OLED XG27AQDPG. Both monitors feature the latest fourth-generation ROG QD-OLED technology for exceptional visuals and infinite contrast, as well as the latest ROG OLED Anti-Flicker 2.0 technology to further minimize onscreen flicker during intense gaming.

The PG27UCDM is the world's first 27-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor with a superfast 240 Hz refresh rate and a pixel density of 160ppi for sharper images and clearer text compared to previous generation panels. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats, all selectable via the OSD menu. The monitor offers extensive connectivity options including DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20, HDMI 2.1, USB-C with 90-watt Power Delivery, and a USB hub. For user convenience, the ROG DisplayWidget Center offers quick access to monitor settings as well as OLED Care Pro features.https://tpucdn.com/img/aoHCUTXcqttNMIRa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aoHCUTXcqttNMIRa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1Tw25oRWrzqNfUjt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1Tw25oRWrzqNfUjt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iolEaCnooR18wi5v_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iolEaCnooR18wi5v.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YgloKOtwETknOocU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YgloKOtwETknOocU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/N9GdpLltbNOD9cX9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/N9GdpLltbNOD9cX9.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330460/asus-rog-announces-swift-oled-pg27ucdm-and-strix-oled-xg27aqdpg-gaming-monitors)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330460/asus-rog-announces-swift-oled-pg27ucdm-and-strix-oled-xg27aqdpg-gaming-monitors)

[NextPowerUP]

According to two of the most accurate leakers, kopite7kimi and hongxing2020, NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 will feature 575 W and 360 W TDP, respectively. Previously, rumors have pointed out that these GPU SKUs carry 600 W and 400 W TGPs, which translates into total graphics power, meaning that an entire GPU with its RAM and everything else draws a certain amount of power. However, TDP (thermal design power) is a more specific value attributed to the GPU die or the specific SKU in question. According to the latest leaks, 575 Watts are dedicated to the GB202-300-A1 GPU die in the GeForce RTX 5090, while 25 Watts are for GDDR7 memory and other components on the PCB.

For the RTX 5080, the GB203-400-A1 chip is supposedly drawing 360 Watts of power alone, while 40 Watts are set aside for GDDR7 memory and other components in the PC. The lower-end RTX 5080 uses more power than the RTX 5090 because its GDDR7 memory modules reportedly run at 30 Gbps (https://www.techpowerup.com/329945/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5080-to-stand-out-with-30-gbps-gddr7-memory-other-skus-remain-on-28-gbps), while the RTX 5090 uses GDDR7 memory modules with 28 Gbps speeds. Indeed, the RTX 5090 uses more modules or higher capacity modules, but the first-generation GDDR7 memory could require more power to reach the 30 Gbps threshold. Hence, more power is set aside for that. In future GDDR7 iterations, more speed could be easily achieved without much more power.https://tpucdn.com/img/NONma3rV82dCxv9k_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NONma3rV82dCxv9k.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330459/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-features-575-w-tdp-rtx-5080-carries-360-w-tdp)

[NextPowerUP]

TCOMAS brought a slick lineup of air and liquid CPU coolers to the 2025 International CES. We begin our tour with the AF640, a premium aluminium dual fin-stack CPU cooler. Its most striking feature is its top-plate, which has an LED segment display that talks to software over a USB 2.0 header, and puts out system monitoring info from the ACPI—CPU temperature, fan speed, CPU power draw, clock speed, etc. The cooler includes a pair of pre-installed fans with custom frames. The external "push" fan is 92 mm, with a frame size of 108 mm x 125 mm x 30 mm; while the inner "pull" fan located between the two fin-stacks is a 120 mm, with a 125 mm x 125 mm x 30 mm frame. The two fans slide out from the sides. The cooler comes in black and white trims.

Next up, are the company's stackable fans. The F700 comes in packs of 3, and features a mechanical interlock that lets you stack these up on a radiator with cabling for just one fan. There are physical control buttons on each fan to control their spin direction. Illumination is care of a Gen 2 ARGB LED setup. Each fan features a double ball-bearing. It turns at speeds between 600 and 2,000 RPM. In its conventional direction, the fan pushes up to 67.5 CFM of airflow, at 3.42 mm H₂O static pressure, and up to 38 dBA of noise output. In the reverse setting, it does up to 70.33 CFM of airflow, at 3.53 mm H₂O static pressure, and 40.3 dBA of noise output.https://tpucdn.com/img/l0x5GRdk2ZYpDo3Q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l0x5GRdk2ZYpDo3Q.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/scQvPERil2gXgrTk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/scQvPERil2gXgrTk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oBBnL0IMlLyj8BHj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oBBnL0IMlLyj8BHj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pXwMmBpv02vrmZYg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pXwMmBpv02vrmZYg.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330843/tcomas-air-and-liquid-cpu-coolers-at-the-2025-ces)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330843/tcomas-air-and-liquid-cpu-coolers-at-the-2025-ces)

[NextPowerUP]

Micron at the 2025 International CES showed us product that hint at the company planning a strong comeback to the client and PC-DIY market segments. The company's Crucial brand is already a high-volume player in the client segment, but the company never really approached the enthusiast segment. Products like the company's new T705 Pro and P510 NVMe SSDs, and DDR5 Pro Overclocking memory, seek to change this. We begin our tour with PC memory, and the DDR5 Pro OC CUDIMMs. Crucial has jumped onto the CKD bandwagon, introducing memory modules and kits that come with DDR5-6400 out of the box, but which are geared for manual overclocking to take advantage of the 1β DRAM chips underneath (hence the name).

The company also showed us their first DDR5 CSODIMM suitable for the next generation of notebooks with HX-segment processors. This module comes with a CKD and a DDR5-6400 JEDEC-standard SPD profile out of the box. Lastly, there's the Micron-branded LPCAMM2, which comes in speeds of up to LPDDR5X-8533, and is suitable for the next generation of ultraportables.https://tpucdn.com/img/fMEzq0azJhMvRPNe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fMEzq0azJhMvRPNe.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/t5GBR77Gr6zTYYOJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t5GBR77Gr6zTYYOJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VsiimQGnZ3ddWKue_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VsiimQGnZ3ddWKue.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oUT8llmh2mB9YfT4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oUT8llmh2mB9YfT4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wmviv2aNNW5D34EH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wmviv2aNNW5D34EH.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330837/micron-at-the-2025-ces-scripting-a-strong-comeback-to-the-client-and-pc-diy-segments)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330837/micron-at-the-2025-ces-scripting-a-strong-comeback-to-the-client-and-pc-diy-segments)

[NextPowerUP]

PCCooler brought a vast lineup of high performance air CPU coolers to the 2025 CES. For now, the company hasn't assigned names to these models, referring to them with their generic cooler types. We begin our tour with the "5U dual-tower," a D-type dual fin-stack cooler with two fans in push-pull configuration, and a powerful pair of 140 mm high-RPM fans. There's also the 5U Single Tower, with a single included fan. Then there's the 4U cooler with an 80 mm fan, and a 3U passive heatsink that relies on your rack's airflow. The four coolers on this tray are meant for workstations and server's it's likely that they feature base for server/workstation sockets.

For the client segment, PCCooler brought a pair of top-flow fan-heatsinks, the RC400-53, a 53 mm-tall top-flow cooler with an 80 mm fan; and the larger RC600-67, a 67 mm-tall cooler that relies on a 15 mm-thick 120 mm fan for ventilation. The RT400 is the company's most affordable single tower cooler, it relies on four heat pipes, a fairly slim fin-stack, and a basic FDB-based 120 mm fan. The RZ400 V2 is a step-up, with a slightly thicker heatsink, a more premium FDB fan, a neat-looking top-plate, and cladding on the sides of the fan. For some reason, the design language of PCCooler reminds us a lot about DeepCool.https://tpucdn.com/img/7WjjiAg23kYPXTep_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7WjjiAg23kYPXTep.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ohg1SCHJiuDV2H94_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ohg1SCHJiuDV2H94.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dLaWHJ2lDIkrj8D6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dLaWHJ2lDIkrj8D6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VkNzGpSGlEg7xCV8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VkNzGpSGlEg7xCV8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dJqVBKkqtcJOMIqo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dJqVBKkqtcJOMIqo.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330836/pccooler-air-cpu-coolers-at-the-2025-ces-a-virtual-tour)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330836/pccooler-air-cpu-coolers-at-the-2025-ces-a-virtual-tour)

[NextPowerUP]

PCCooler brought a selection of new cooling produces to the 2025 International CES, and we begin our coverage with AIO liquid CPU coolers and fans. Right off the bat, we have the flagship DT360 ARGB Display, which gets its name from its 360 mm radiator, and of course, the 5-inch true-color display on top of the pump-block, which plugs into HDMI, and can be made to show just about anything. PCCooler includes its F7X120 ARGB fans with these coolers, which feature ARGB LED diffusers both in the impeller hubs, and along the bores of the frames. The coolers come with fluid-dynamic bearings.

Next up, is the DA360 LCD. A slightly premium variant of the DA### ARGB series, these come with LCD segment displays on their pump-blocks that put out coolant temperature readings. Lastly, we spied a DA240 ARGB, the company's mainstream AIO CLC with an infinity reflection ornament on the pump-block. Moving on to the company's case fan series, and the company put out the F5R120, and flagship F9R120 high-endurance fan. Both come with FDB bearings, the F9R120 is designed for high RPM and static-pressure, mainly for radiator applications.https://tpucdn.com/img/ln1OBgwXWD3Iwe9e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ln1OBgwXWD3Iwe9e.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TBc8bjP69CoiaQoW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TBc8bjP69CoiaQoW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4QWVhZr3rDLr7N9U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4QWVhZr3rDLr7N9U.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xOS98oLG3oNfVLLq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xOS98oLG3oNfVLLq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FnbnNilCTxEbCV5h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FnbnNilCTxEbCV5h.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330833/pccooler-aio-clcs-and-fans-at-2025-ces)

[NextPowerUP]

Akko can be relied upon to bring splashes of color and zany printed graphics to trade events. A TechPowerUp staffer was refreshed—after poring over countless boxy products all day—by an assortment of the peripheral specialist's quirky keyboards, keycaps and oddball mice. Akko's YU01 "Jade" keyboard—comprised of a resin-crafted case and transparent PC plastic keycaps—drew plenty of interest from CES attendees. The opaque properties of this resin material produced some interesting results when combined with the YU01's internal RGB lighting—almost hypnotic when in motion. The chosen keycap font may offend purists, but Akko's design team has clearly gone for that unique factor.

The Akko Colorful Cats keycap set is destined to boost cuteness on any compatible keyboard—a 100% layout was showcased in Las Vegas. The (fittingly named) MAO profile sports a cat-ear shaped design. Akko's Bun Wonderland keycap set was visible on two keyboards—full-size/100% and 75% layouts. There are a variety of baked good graphics emblazoned across these "MOG Mushroom-style" profile keycaps—TPU observed all sorts of baguettes, biscuits, bits of toast, pretzels and bakeshop paraphernalia printed on PBT material.https://tpucdn.com/img/A4d8xotOYtQhJHCG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/A4d8xotOYtQhJHCG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/r9wp2E0a8RKl2gGD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/r9wp2E0a8RKl2gGD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vln6SDmd7XyMlZOF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vln6SDmd7XyMlZOF.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330825/akko-shows-off-resin-keyboard-colorful-cat-keycaps-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330825/akko-shows-off-resin-keyboard-colorful-cat-keycaps-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

At CES 2025, Creative showed off its next generation external streaming audio hub and DAC, the SXFI "Project Alphard 1." The unit is roughly the size of a mini PC. It takes input from a PC or Mac over USB-C, HDMI ARC from your TV or projector, Wi-Fi, and SPDIF (TOSLINK), with outputs to ARC, TOSLINK, and analog. The company also showed off its Pebble Nova desktop speakers. Compatible with USB, analog, and Bluetooth, the Pebble Nova may look like space-saving 2.0 speakers, but produce powerful stereo output with deep base. They are built on the same principles as premium Bluetooth portable speakers.https://tpucdn.com/img/wx4M7kcZp5oOaRt8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wx4M7kcZp5oOaRt8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gxiAcDS8Z38by6Dj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gxiAcDS8Z38by6Dj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/H24oKS3pxCgrK8T6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/H24oKS3pxCgrK8T6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iNCYuCOCvbhLEKyO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iNCYuCOCvbhLEKyO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4RweIAFz31RzCyTZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4RweIAFz31RzCyTZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/n6D3wLg2eH95eshD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/n6D3wLg2eH95eshD.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330832/creative-project-alphard-1-dac-and-pebble-nova-speakers-pictured)

[NextPowerUP]

MAINGEAR, the leader in premium-quality, high-performance gaming PCs, today announced its lineup of desktops and laptops equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs bring groundbreaking capabilities to gamers and creators. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the GeForce RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Users can multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with the NVIDIA Studio platform.

Plus, NVIDIA NIM microservices - state-of-the-art AI models that let enthusiasts and developers build AI assistants, agents, and workflows - are available with peak performance on NIM-ready systems.https://tpucdn.com/img/341qTU85ipjdE8cd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/341qTU85ipjdE8cd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EOMh7fdUOP6M3JqA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EOMh7fdUOP6M3JqA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hQ6150NM3aPNYT9g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hQ6150NM3aPNYT9g.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/a2AaNxllfLm5PzjG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/a2AaNxllfLm5PzjG.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330828/maingear-launches-desktops-and-laptops-with-nvidia-geforce-rtx-50-series-gpus-based-on-blackwell-architecture)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330828/maingear-launches-desktops-and-laptops-with-nvidia-geforce-rtx-50-series-gpus-based-on-blackwell-architecture)

[NextPowerUP]

MAINGEAR, the leader in premium-quality, high-performance gaming PCs, just dropped the curtain on two groundbreaking additions to its APEX line: the all-new APEX FORCE and the upgraded APEX RUSH. These state-of-the-art gaming PCs redefine performance, cooling, and customization for the most discerning gamers.

APEX FORCE: There's No Replacement for Displacement
The APEX FORCE features a full-tower chassis design based on the popular Phanteks NV9, concealed rear external cable management, and panoramic tempered glass panels trimmed with a diffused illuminated edge, that maximizes the premium aesthetics of the FORCE. Inside, it's immediately noticeable that MAINGEAR spent countless hours precisely engineering the APEX hardline cooling system with 10-degree offset tubing to perfectly mate with the chassis' unique design language, making the FORCE a masterpiece of functional design and engineering. Upgradable RGB lighting accentuates the cooling components and premium hardware perfectly.https://tpucdn.com/img/6ZZoAvOrRUZiYPdN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6ZZoAvOrRUZiYPdN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BVzwmW7J7TRPuFsy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BVzwmW7J7TRPuFsy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WKhVXEetaOfxvVPQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WKhVXEetaOfxvVPQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330827/maingear-unveils-two-new-premium-apex-liquid-cooled-desktop-gaming-pcs)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330827/maingear-unveils-two-new-premium-apex-liquid-cooled-desktop-gaming-pcs)

[NextPowerUP]

We had a chance to get close and personal with the new ZOTAC ZONE GAMING prototype at the CES 2025 show. While it is not a final product, we had a chance to see it in action as it is a working prototype and thanks to updated hardware, it should provide much higher performance compared to the ZOTAC Zone that we had a chance to review last year (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/zotac-zone/).

The biggest update is the 4 nm Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. The Strix Point architecture brings 12-core/24-thread CPU (four performance and eight efficiency) based on Zen 5 architecture, 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. It also comes with Radeon 890M, a RDNA 3.5 architecture GPU with 16 Compute Units. ZOTAC also increased the amount of LPDDR5X RAM to 32 GB and raised M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD storage space to 1 TB. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has a standard TDP of 28 W, and a configurable TDP between 15 W and 54 W, so it gives ZOTAC a lot of room to work with. It also features 50 TOPS XDNA NPU.https://tpucdn.com/img/TmphNHGD3LHWcN3A_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TmphNHGD3LHWcN3A.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iUowPUTHQ7R9vqwX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iUowPUTHQ7R9vqwX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sEmDAjRhjbrRXtNZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sEmDAjRhjbrRXtNZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9PgKzNw2C2lAVG57_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9PgKzNw2C2lAVG57.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZCRs0tbWZFr7iX1E_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZCRs0tbWZFr7iX1E.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330826/zotac-shows-new-zone-gaming-handheld-prototype-with-amd-ryzen-ai-9-hx-370-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330826/zotac-shows-new-zone-gaming-handheld-prototype-with-amd-ryzen-ai-9-hx-370-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Biwin, a PC memory, SSD, and flash storage product licensee for top-tier PC brands, launched its consumer brand in December 2024. Here at CES 2025, the TechPowerUp team headed over to Biwin's booth to check out up close the entire lineup of products ranging from SSDs in all shapes and sizes, and DRAM modules to memory cards, and card readers. The products on display were available on Amazon Japan in December 2024, followed by Amazon UK this January, and at the start of 2025, they will be available in Taiwan, APAC, Mexico, Latin America, and the Indian market.

Biwin showcased Black Opal premium SSDs and DRAM modules such as the Biwin Black Opal X570 PRO PCIe Gen 5x 4 NVMe 2.0 SSD capable of reaching read speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s. The Black Opal DW100 RGB DDR5 CUDIMM series stands out with 9200 MT/s and a CAS latency of CL42, a product tailored for professionals and enthusiasts. For mainstream users, Biwin presented SSDs, DRR5 memory modules, memory cards, card readers, and USB flash drives.https://tpucdn.com/img/QsgbxMkD37kroG1I_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QsgbxMkD37kroG1I.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1Q2VUHiPHDhDWwTJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1Q2VUHiPHDhDWwTJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mkB7Mia76pfYmwvQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mkB7Mia76pfYmwvQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330814/biwin-showcases-its-memory-and-storage-solutions-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330814/biwin-showcases-its-memory-and-storage-solutions-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

The term 'AI' has been used in games for decades. These non-playable characters (NPCs) traditionally follow strict rules designed to mimic intelligence, adhere to a guided story, and provide a scripted interaction with the player. However, with the rise of intelligent language models, game AI is primed for a truly intelligent overhaul. At CES 2025, NVIDIA is redefining game AI with the introduction of NVIDIA ACE autonomous game characters. First introduced in 2023, NVIDIA ACE is a suite of RTX-accelerated digital human technologies that bring game characters to life with generative AI. NVIDIA is now expanding ACE from conversational NPCs to autonomous game characters that use AI to perceive, plan, and act like human players. Powered by generative AI, ACE will enable living, dynamic game worlds with companions that comprehend and support player goals, and enemies that adapt dynamically to player tactics.

Enabling these autonomous characters are new ACE small language models (SLMs), capable of planning at human-like frequencies required for realistic decision making, and multi-modal SLMs for vision and audio that allow AI characters to hear audio cues and perceive their environment. NVIDIA is partnering with leading game developers to incorporate ACE autonomous game characters into their titles. Interact with human-like AI players and companions in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, inZOI, and NARAKA: BLADEPOINT MOBILE PC VERSION. Fight against ever-learning AI-powered bosses that adapt to your playstyle in MIR5. And experience new gameplay mechanics made possible with AI-powered NPCs in AI People, Dead Meat, and ZooPunk.https://tpucdn.com/img/bFLWa9GbA7aBdK48_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bFLWa9GbA7aBdK48.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330824/nvidia-redefines-game-ai-with-ace-autonomous-game-characters)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330824/nvidia-redefines-game-ai-with-ace-autonomous-game-characters)

[NextPowerUP]

Six months ago at Computex, NVIDIA showcased Project G-Assist - a tech demo that offered a glimpse of how AI assistants could elevate the PC experience for gamers, creators, and more. Today, we're excited to announce the initial release of the G-Assist System Assistant feature is coming to GeForce RTX users via the NVIDIA app in February. As modern PCs become more powerful, they also grow more complex to operate. Users today face over a trillion possible combinations of hardware and software settings when configuring a PC for peak performance - spanning GPU, CPU, monitors, motherboard, peripherals, and more.

NVIDIA built Project G-Assist, an experimental AI assistant that runs locally on GeForce RTX AI PCs, to simplify this experience. G-Assist helps users control a broad range of PC settings, from optimizing game and system settings, charting frame rates and other key performance statistics, to controlling select peripherals settings such as lighting - all via basic voice or text commands.https://tpucdn.com/img/EvuGkja1ZuTzmp1z_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EvuGkja1ZuTzmp1z.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330823/nvidia-project-g-assist-comes-to-nvidia-app-in-february-an-ai-assistant-for-geforce-rtx-ai-pcs)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330823/nvidia-project-g-assist-comes-to-nvidia-app-in-february-an-ai-assistant-for-geforce-rtx-ai-pcs)

[NextPowerUP]

"Muster the Rohirrim. Assemble the army at Dunharrow. As many men as can be found. You have two days." CTSM the Rohirrim...and we have two new keyboards. At the core of these Rohan forces are Rohan CSTM Decorative Cases, made from regal green polycarbonate and adorned with iconography from Calenardhon. Hoisting the banners of Rohan all the way to the top is our officially licensed DCD Rohan Keycap Set-rallied in here in the green Aldburg variant to match our new cases.

CSTM Construction for any Formation
Alongside our exclusive Rohan accessories is a whole cavalry's worth of enthusiast components—including Gateron switches, customizable gasket mounting, case foam, case weights, and more.https://tpucdn.com/img/gKqsxUUO98ALTrF8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gKqsxUUO98ALTrF8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mr6IQWhtUBK970UC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mr6IQWhtUBK970UC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/t96hQxMlHRDCmtXW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t96hQxMlHRDCmtXW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CG0PM3CrKsPkza2O_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CG0PM3CrKsPkza2O.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330819/drop-unveils-the-lord-of-the-rings-themed-cstm-keyboards)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330819/drop-unveils-the-lord-of-the-rings-themed-cstm-keyboards)

[NextPowerUP]

In competitive games, a few milliseconds of input lag can mean the difference between victory and defeat. In 2020, we released NVIDIA Reflex, an innovative technology that reduces PC latency in top competitive games by an average of 50%. NVIDIA Reflex accomplishes this by synchronizing CPU and GPU work, so player actions are reflected in-game quicker, giving gamers a competitive edge in multiplayer games, and making single-player titles more responsive.

In the last four years, NVIDIA Reflex has been integrated in over 100 games and reduced latency for tens of millions of GeForce gamers. Over 90% of gamers turn Reflex on, allowing them to experience better responsiveness, aim more accurately, and win more games. At CES 2025, we're unveiling NVIDIA Reflex 2, which can reduce PC latency by up to 75%. Reflex 2 combines Reflex Low Latency mode with a new Frame Warp technology, further reducing latency by updating the rendered game frame based on the latest mouse input right before it is sent to the display.https://tpucdn.com/img/sw3rvoAuFDUu3uLN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sw3rvoAuFDUu3uLN.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330822/nvidia-reflex-2-with-new-frame-warp-technology-reduces-latency-in-games-by-up-to-75-coming-to-the-finals-and-valorant)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330822/nvidia-reflex-2-with-new-frame-warp-technology-reduces-latency-in-games-by-up-to-75-coming-to-the-finals-and-valorant)

[NextPowerUP]

Each week, games and apps integrate NVIDIA DLSS, ray-traced effects, and AI, ensuring GeForce RTX owners receive the definitive experience. Such is the pace of RTX adoption, there are now over 700 #RTXON games and apps. To begin 2025 with a bang, we're announcing that 75 games and apps will support DLSS 4's new DLSS Multi Frame Generation technology at launch of our GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. Included on the list are today's most played and highest rated games, including Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Diablo IV, Dragon Age : The Veilguard, God of War Ragnarök, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, SILENT HILL 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Star Wars Outlaws.

Black State, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Dune: Awakening will also include DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation when they're released, ensuring the definitive day-one experience for GeForce RTX gamers. And The Witcher IV will feature the latest RTX-powered technologies. Additionally, DOOM: The Dark Ages will include immersive path-traced effects. Alan Wake 2 is upgrading its already-incredible engine with our new NVIDIA RTX Mega Geometry technology, in addition to DLSS 4. And Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is adding support for DLSS Multi Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction, with support for our new RTX Hair technology coming in a future update. For games that haven't updated yet to the latest DLSS models and features, NVIDIA app will enable support through a new DLSS Override feature.https://tpucdn.com/img/lQbRzjgUmfDlIJK8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lQbRzjgUmfDlIJK8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vqvWLZhtuUG8ZMad_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vqvWLZhtuUG8ZMad.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Yut2iEPdLBFe8zf0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Yut2iEPdLBFe8zf0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Paa2eaVny5LdTyGy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Paa2eaVny5LdTyGy.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330821/nvidia-dlss-4-multi-frame-generation-and-new-rtx-technologies-coming-to-75-games-and-apps-at-launch)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330821/nvidia-dlss-4-multi-frame-generation-and-new-rtx-technologies-coming-to-75-games-and-apps-at-launch)

[NextPowerUP]

Over the past year, generative AI has transformed the way people live, work and play, enhancing everything from writing and content creation to gaming, learning and productivity. PC enthusiasts and developers are leading the charge in pushing the boundaries of this groundbreaking technology. Countless times, industry-defining technological breakthroughs have been invented in one place—a garage. This week marks the start of the RTX AI Garage series, which will offer routine content for developers and enthusiasts looking to learn more about NVIDIA NIM microservices and AI Blueprints, and how to build AI agents, creative workflow, digital human, productivity apps and more on AI PCs. Welcome to the RTX AI Garage.

This first installment spotlights announcements made earlier this week at CES, including new AI foundation models available on NVIDIA RTX AI PCs that take digital humans, content creation, productivity and development to the next level. These models—offered as NVIDIA NIM microservices—are powered by new GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. Built on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, RTX 50 Series GPUs deliver up to 3,352 trillion AI operations per second of performance, 32 GB of VRAM and feature FP4 compute, doubling AI inference performance and enabling generative AI to run locally with a smaller memory footprint.https://tpucdn.com/img/EpvwrNbTHIVtyQB9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EpvwrNbTHIVtyQB9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ivkjcLDLnNOt4wmp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ivkjcLDLnNOt4wmp.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330818/nvidia-nim-microservices-and-ai-blueprints-usher-in-new-era-of-local-ai)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330818/nvidia-nim-microservices-and-ai-blueprints-usher-in-new-era-of-local-ai)

[NextPowerUP]

While we expected more ZOTAC ZBOX mini-PCs at the CES 2025 show, it appears that it was just too early for some of the new models to be announced. In the meantime, ZOTAC was keen to show off a single ZBOX mini-PC that was quite a feat to design considering it is aimed at healthcare solutions with EN60601-1 compliancy.

This one uses a slim 2.66-inch metal chassis with rounded edges, and is based on Intel Core i9-13900HX 24-core/32-thread processor paired up with NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Laptop GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. It offers up to 682 AI TOPS. The rest of the specifications include support for up to 64 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM in two SO-DIMM slots, two M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 storage slots, dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, as well as two HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, one Thunderbolt 4 and five USB 3.2 ports. It supports VESA mounting as well as L-shaped mounting.https://tpucdn.com/img/NqgydKGgozE4PPsW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NqgydKGgozE4PPsW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eaiOXRZNKouOMdSf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eaiOXRZNKouOMdSf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ghoLeE7Ug8sbuSTr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ghoLeE7Ug8sbuSTr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/o5UV2jlKLNdReFEd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/o5UV2jlKLNdReFEd.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330820/zotac-targets-healthcare-market-with-new-zbox-h39r5000w)

[NextPowerUP]

ZOTAC unveiled its full lineup of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards at CES 2025, including the full the new AMP Extreme INFINITY models and the whole new SOLID series of graphics cards. According to ZOTAC, the SOLID series uses cooling technologies derived from the flagship model and represents a high-performance graphics card in a minimalist package. As far as we understood, the SOLID series is meant to be the working horse of Zotac graphics card lineup, offering both performance and durability, while the AMP Extreme INFINITY will be the flagship series with all the bells and whistles. Currently, ZOTAC will offer GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, and 5070 Ti will be offered in the AMP Extreme INFINITY series and SOLID models, while the 5070 products will be offered only in SOLID series.

ZOTAC also turned a new page when it comes to design, breaking away from the traditional design of the graphics card by going for elegance and simplicity, making them more suitable for current trend of "sleek, designer-like premium PCs". With the AMP Extreme INFINITY series, ZOTAC is implementing a die-cast metal backplate with flow-through air channels, Infinity Mirror, and SPECTRA 2.0 ARGB lighting. Both the AMP Extreme INFINITY and the SOLID series will now have rounded corners, as these both look better and take up less space, which could be important to system integrators.https://tpucdn.com/img/qSR9bTxftNzVWSca_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qSR9bTxftNzVWSca.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/keCbwGYtaCw1aZaN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/keCbwGYtaCw1aZaN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FUckeMLq6i31dt96_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FUckeMLq6i31dt96.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fCsIWzs3BMYs7ObA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fCsIWzs3BMYs7ObA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yTEfKMhfmm2vZ0rk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yTEfKMhfmm2vZ0rk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330816/zotac-shows-full-geforce-rtx-50-series-lineup-at-ces-2025-updating-the-design-and-bringing-new-features)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330816/zotac-shows-full-geforce-rtx-50-series-lineup-at-ces-2025-updating-the-design-and-bringing-new-features)

[NextPowerUP]

Creative has expanded its Aurvana Ace family of xMEMS driver-equipped true wireless earbuds—two new models are on show at this year's CES trade event. The Aurvana Ace SXFI and Aurvana Ace Mimi were revealed prior to CES 2025's commencement, with reviewers in Singapore (where Creative is headquartered) already picking up samples for evaluation. The latest additions also house solid-state xMEMS drivers that works in conjunction with 10 mm dynamic diaphragm units. The TechPowerUp team took a look at the demonstration units on hand at Creative's station—a sense of familiarity was apparent with one of these models.

The collaboration between Creative and Mimi Hearing Technologies has produced the aptly named "Aurvana Ace Mimi"—from the outside this looks like a slight recoloring of the 2023 Ace and Ace 2 models. The Mimi's pricing is apparently somewhere in between the older iterations. A major change addition lies under the hood, due to the implementation of Mimi's Sound Personalization technology. A user can perform a hearing test via the Creative App. It is claimed that this analysis will produce a custom sound profile/EQ—tuned specifically for "every individual."https://tpucdn.com/img/BOWM9STQWvVdeSmh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BOWM9STQWvVdeSmh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/foV5hiicAYHJtx3j_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/foV5hiicAYHJtx3j.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WVDigIlCun5tX62u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WVDigIlCun5tX62u.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pR9G4xBe7kO6iqyL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pR9G4xBe7kO6iqyL.jpg)

Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330810/creative-showcases-aurvana-ace-mimi-ace-sxfi-tws-earbuds-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330810/creative-showcases-aurvana-ace-mimi-ace-sxfi-tws-earbuds-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Keychron brought its full lineup of keyboards to the CES 2025 show, but the star of the show is definitely the new Keychron K2 HE which uses Gateron magnetic switches. The Keychron K2 HE is a fully customizable 75% layout wireless keyboard combining metal and wood frame and double-shot PBT keycaps. The keyboard also comes with a custom wood siding, which is available in light and dark finishes and can be personalized with laser-engraved design or text of your choice directly from Keychron's website.

The Keychron K2 HE is not all about the looks though, as the key feature of this keyboard are pre-lubed Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. These linear switches not only offer fast response time and precise control, but also allow adjustable actuation point with 0.2 mm to 3.8 mm actuation range. As they use pressure-sensitive hall effect sensors to detect a keypresses it is possible to set the depth of the actuation with 0.1 mm precision.https://tpucdn.com/img/dqvLOTO4omZfGJ0C_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dqvLOTO4omZfGJ0C.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wBGttqhkAyAtX3Q5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wBGttqhkAyAtX3Q5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ANMCg0BSwpvOVx4O_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ANMCg0BSwpvOVx4O.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330813/keychron-shows-k2-he-75-layout-fully-customizable-keyboard-with-magnetic-switches-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330813/keychron-shows-k2-he-75-layout-fully-customizable-keyboard-with-magnetic-switches-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

GameSir has showcased its brand new G7 Pro wireless gaming controller at this week's CES trade event, where they teased a very compelling sub-$100 price point. It seems that a lucky few have already playtested early sample units—leaks from late last year revealed the existence of Xbox and Steam variants. During a showroom visit, the TechPowerUp team discovered that GameSir had left the oft-rumored Valve-licensed "prototype" back at HQ. Fortunately, their Xbox G7 Pro model was available for close up inspection in Las Vegas—reports suggest that a launch is lined up around Spring time.

Highlights from the G7 Pro's feature list include: TMR analogue sticks (first introduced via their Tarantula series), 1000 Hz polling rate (wired on Xbox, wireless on PC), optical microswitch face buttons, two rear programmable back buttons + two programmable shoulder triggers, swappable faceplate system, and a new tactile D-pad. TechPowerUp also spent time with some other new controller models—GameSir has another affordable-tier Nova controller (white example is pictured below) incoming, as well as a retro-gray Tarantula model.https://tpucdn.com/img/KkssKAy3cVYQayK5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KkssKAy3cVYQayK5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/y0pGSAYIPMPRfOX3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y0pGSAYIPMPRfOX3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ELAMZycAM6SCE51q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ELAMZycAM6SCE51q.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FdspAcaDcbN48XRO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FdspAcaDcbN48XRO.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331001/gamesir-presents-new-g7-pro-xbox-controller-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331001/gamesir-presents-new-g7-pro-xbox-controller-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

EcoFlow revealed its latest power generation solutions at CES 2025, with the Delta 3 series power stations leading the pack. The flagship Delta 3 Plus features lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells rated for 4,000+ charge cycles, with a total capacity of 3,024Wh and maximum output of 3,000 W. The unit's X-Stream charging technology enables 0-80% charging in 40 minutes when connected to AC power, while supporting 1,200 W maximum solar input. The base Delta 3 model offers similar specifications but with a 2,048Wh capacity.

For small-scale applications, the River 3 Plus delivers 1,200 W continuous output from its 512Wh battery pack. Operating at 30 decibels under normal load, the unit includes two 120 V AC outlets, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C port capable of 100 W output.https://tpucdn.com/img/sw1aRBJapwh6YYqD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sw1aRBJapwh6YYqD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/m6scXoCTeyafBynZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/m6scXoCTeyafBynZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hHQveqiilbKd5u9d_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hHQveqiilbKd5u9d.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/y8zxf7HtPTMlq8SP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y8zxf7HtPTMlq8SP.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331002/ecoflow-at-ces-2025-delta-3-power-stations-solar-hat-and-dual-fuel-power-generators-lead-product-showcase)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331002/ecoflow-at-ces-2025-delta-3-power-stations-solar-hat-and-dual-fuel-power-generators-lead-product-showcase)

[NextPowerUP]

If the recent RDNA 4 performance leaks are anything to go by, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 and the RX 9070 XT GPUs are sizing up to be excellent mid-range contenders. That is, of course, if the pricing is sane enough. A subsequent leak revealed that the RX 9070 XT AIB models will command a price tag of roughly around $549, which would easily allow it to undercut the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070.

Now, a further leak has revealed a product listing of an RX 9070 XT by a retailer based in the Philippines. The variant in question is Gigabyte's Gaming OC model, with base and boost clocks of 2,400 and 2,970 MHz respectively. Moreover, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory is also offered, on a 256-bit memory bus. 4,096 shading units and 64 RT cores are present as well - nothing out of the ordinary.https://tpucdn.com/img/ufGydBmIud2KkshA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ufGydBmIud2KkshA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/q97FP17bKUplij84_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q97FP17bKUplij84.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330995/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-leaked-listing-reveals-pricing-details)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330995/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-leaked-listing-reveals-pricing-details)

[NextPowerUP]

KeysFan brings you genuine, globally valid software at the beginning of the year, so you can plan your next-generation PC build in time for Spring-Summer. Spend more on your hardware by saving big on genuine software. Get Windows 11 Pro at just $14.80. Pair it with the powerful productivity suite Office 2021 Professional Plus at $38.98 on its own, or $52.79 in a combo. Save big when you buy multi-PC packs, or older editions of Windows or Office.

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $38.98 (http://shopn.run/Txx7kaiL) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $28.04 (http://shopn.run/xNYJIrO1) | Buy Office 2016 Professional Plus at $17.04 (http://shopn.run/NNyMZMQE) | Buy Windows 11 Pro at $14.80 | Buy Windows 11 Home at $14.46 (http://shopn.run/IuMAcCAJ) | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $9.08 (http://shopn.run/iwno6mf0) | Buy Windows 10 Home at $8.96 (http://shopn.run/FL8bDgmk) | Buy Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC at $13.48 (http://shopn.run/d00p7YnI) | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $108.56 (http://shopn.run/QXYqYLMf) | Buy Office 2019 Home and Business at $43.99 (http://shopn.run/NfnK1cyS) | Buy Office 2024 Home for PC and Mac at $131.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-office-2024-home.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac at $186.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/ms-o24-hb.html?ksf=skf25)

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $75.53 (https://www.keysfan.com/2-office-2021-pro-plus-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 3-PC at $109.99 (https://www.keysfan.com/3-office-2021-pro-plus-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $177.70 (https://www.keysfan.com/office-2021-professional-plus-key-5pcs.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 2-PC at $54.44 (https://www.keysfan.com/office-2019-professional-plus-key-2keys.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 3-PC at $76.44 (https://www.keysfan.com/office-2019-professional-plus-key-3keys.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus 5-PC at $120.44 (https://www.keysfan.com/office-2019-pro-plus-key-5-pcs.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac 2-Macs at $214.04 (https://www.keysfan.com/o2021-hb-2-key-mac.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 2-PC at $27.78 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-11-pro-2-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 3-PC at $38.78 (https://www.keysfan.com/w-11p-3.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 11 Pro 5-PC at $60.22 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-11-pro-5-pcs.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 11 Home 2-PC at $28.10 (https://www.keysfan.com/win-11-home-2-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $15.79 (https://www.keysfan.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-key-2-pcs.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 3-PC at $23.60 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-10-pro-3-keys-pack.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 10 Pro 5-PC at $37.68 (https://www.keysfan.com/windows-10-pro-5-keys.html?ksf=skf25) | Buy Windows 10 Home 2-PC at $16.34 (https://www.keysfan.com/win-10-home-2-pcs.html?ksf=skf25)https://tpucdn.com/img/fSsOHTIkQ5NL5AHQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fSsOHTIkQ5NL5AHQ.jpg)
Check out more great deals after the break.Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330972/keysfan-new-year-new-beginnings-sale-get-last-years-prices-on-genuine-software)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330972/keysfan-new-year-new-beginnings-sale-get-last-years-prices-on-genuine-software)

[NextPowerUP]

Morse Micro (https://www.morsemicro.com/), the world's leading provider of Wi-Fi HaLow chips based on the IEEE 802.11ah specification, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated second-generation MM8108 System-on-Chip (SoC). Building on the success of the first-generation MM6108 SoC, the MM8108 offers even better performance in all key areas of range, throughput, and power efficiency while also reducing the cost, effort, and time to bring the next generation of Wi-Fi HaLow enabled products to market.

The MM8108 delivers class-leading data rates of up to 43.33 Mbps using world-first sub-GHz 256-QAM modulation at an 8 MHz bandwidth, making it ideal for a range of applications in agricultural, mining, industrial, home, and city environments. Its integrated 26dBm power amplifier (PA) with exceptional power efficiency, and low-noise amplifier (LNA) ensure exceptional performance and enable global regulatory certification without the need for external Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters. The exceptional power efficiency significantly extends battery life and enables the uptake of solar-powered Wi-Fi HaLow connected cameras and IoT devices.https://tpucdn.com/img/bRUf6iurqZ9W1Edb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bRUf6iurqZ9W1Edb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/j9SJGT8NaaaA3KMq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j9SJGT8NaaaA3KMq.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331000/morse-micro-intros-new-world-beating-wi-fi-soc-smallest-fastest-farthest-reaching)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331000/morse-micro-intros-new-world-beating-wi-fi-soc-smallest-fastest-farthest-reaching)

[NextPowerUP]

MSI worked hard to make its Cubi NUC AI series stand out at CES 2025. Showing off small—almost nondescript—black boxes is normally a big ask, but the TechPowerUp team's collective eye was caught by a presentation piece that exhibited an exploded view of MSI's Cubi NUC AI+ 2M model's outer and inner workings (see photo below). Competing devices (https://www.techpowerup.com/330694/asus-shows-off-copilot-ready-nucs-powered-by-lunar-lake-and-strix-point-and-nuc-pro) did not get the same treatment elsewhere in Las Vegas—printed diagrams and spec sheets only go so far in showcasing PC products.

MSI's dissected Cubi NUC AI+ 2M was mounted on a plinth that featured plenty of useful markings and labels surrounding the mainboard. Naturally a fully assembled plus operational demo unit was close by—as evidenced by being hooked up to (and powered by) an MSI PRO MP251 E2 (https://www.msi.com/Business-Productivity-Monitor/PRO-MP251-E2) monitor. Cubi NUC AI+ 2M is advertised as the "Ultimate" Windows 11 Copilot+ mini PC—TechPowerUp spotted a dedicated Copilot button on the box's front fascia. An Intel Core Ultra "Lunar Lake" processor (with AI NPU boost) is soldered onto the NUC AI+ 2M board—a product placard states that the top variant can run Team Blue's Core Ultra 7 258V (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-ultra-7-258v.c3795) mobile CPU.https://tpucdn.com/img/vii5iVe5qVJrYKzh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vii5iVe5qVJrYKzh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/y1vFYEcQoU6dIzH0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y1vFYEcQoU6dIzH0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rRJhu1yy3Gqn8xGU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rRJhu1yy3Gqn8xGU.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330996/msi-cubi-nuc-ai-2ms-internals-revealed-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330996/msi-cubi-nuc-ai-2ms-internals-revealed-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Epomaker brought four of its latest gaming peripherals to the 2025 International CES. We begin our tour with the Epomaker Carbon 60, which as its name suggests, is a 60% format keyboard, with a carbon fiber pattern along its top and body. The keyboard offers three kinds of connectivity—USB, 2.4 GHz RF (1000 Hz polling rate), and Bluetooth 5.0. They included keycaps are PBT. The switches are hot-swappable, and you choose between Epomaker's in-house Mulan or Wisteria Linear switches. Completing its industrial look is yellow pull-tag.

Next up, is the Epomaker Luma84, a slick business-class keyboard which looks like it could go well with a Mac mini or similar-looking NUC. The keyboard features an 84% layout, and comes with low-profile white PBT keycaps. The keyboard comes with an aluminium top and backplate, with a similar curved-edge to a MacBook Pro. Much like the Carbon 60, the Luma84 comes with three kinds of connectivity.https://tpucdn.com/img/BNbtQpCNOlQjybRj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BNbtQpCNOlQjybRj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fYDXaQ4ZQZ8WIwDs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fYDXaQ4ZQZ8WIwDs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rRqHA7Ee0FY2YDSi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rRqHA7Ee0FY2YDSi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Wb0w1cQwfwQuVike_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Wb0w1cQwfwQuVike.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330999/epomaker-at-the-2025-international-ces-trio-of-compact-wireless-keyboards-and-mice)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330999/epomaker-at-the-2025-international-ces-trio-of-compact-wireless-keyboards-and-mice)

[NextPowerUP]

Congratulations, Sinner. As a non-productive citizen of the Panopticon, the only way to reduce the million-year prison sentence assigned at birth is through the redeeming fire of combat. FREEDOM WARS REMASTERED (https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/freedom-wars-remastered), the cult classic action game originally released on PlayStation Vita, is now available worldwide for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3004100/FREEDOM_WARS_Remastered/).

The cult hit was remastered by the game's original developer, and brings enhancements including 4K resolution, upgraded textures, improved online multiplayer, a new "Deadly Sinner" higher difficulty mode, and 60 frames per second for current gen platforms. The story remains unchanged, but upgraded player systems help streamline looting, crafting, and other player interactions from the original release. For more information, visit the official website. Choose to provide value to society through combat and helping support the Panopticon and productive citizens or die a Sinner.https://tpucdn.com/img/1lPEI17TgbTWJcKV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1lPEI17TgbTWJcKV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jLed1pBZYRmk3zUI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jLed1pBZYRmk3zUI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/d2h6CLUhdvwagtWa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/d2h6CLUhdvwagtWa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZtuzXueGNntBddMF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZtuzXueGNntBddMF.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330993/bandai-namcos-freedom-wars-remastered-out-now-on-pc-consoles)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330993/bandai-namcos-freedom-wars-remastered-out-now-on-pc-consoles)

[NextPowerUP]

Cougar at the 2025 International CES brought two new power supply lines in the performance segment, the GEX Pro series, and the GLE series. The latter is the more premium of the two, and comes in wattage variants ranging between 650 W and 1200 W. These offer a compact build that's 15 cm in depth, full modular cabling, and modern connectivity. The GLE series meets ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 specs. These use a single 135 mm hydro dynamic bearing fan to keep cool. The GLE series offers Cybenetics Platinum switching efficiency, and Cybenetics A- acoustic rating. All models 750 W and above come with a 600 W-capable 12V2x6 connector, the 650 W model does 450 W on this connector.

The GEX Pro is more of an upper mid-range product. It comes in 650 W, 750 W, and 850 W models, and is a little more compact than the GLE series, with a depth of just 14 cm, relying on a 120 mm HDB fan to keep cool. The PSU meets ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 specs, and offers Cybenetics Gold switching efficiency, along with Cybenetics A+ acoustics rating. You get fully modular cabling, and a 12V2x6 connector that's capable of 600 W continuous output in the 750 W and 850 W models, but 450 W continuous on the 650 W model. Under the hood, both PSU lines rely on a single +12 V rail design, with most common electrical protections, against over/under voltage, overload, overheat, and short-circuit.https://tpucdn.com/img/wmpy5XQu1MLcq1zc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wmpy5XQu1MLcq1zc.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330990/cougar-intros-gex-pro-and-gle-series-atx-3-1-psus-at-2025-ces)

[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft announced updates to the DirectX API that would pave the way for neural rendering. Neural rendering is a concept where portions of a frame in real-time 3D graphics are drawn using a generative AI model that works in tandem with classic raster 3D graphics pipeline, along with other advancements, such as real-time ray tracing. This is different from AI-based super resolution technologies. The generative AI here is involved in rendering the input frames for a super resolution technology. One of the nuts and bolts of neural rendering is cooperative vectors, enable an information pathway between the conventional graphics pipeline and the generative AI, telling it what it's doing, what needs to be done by the AI model, and what the ground truth for the model is.

Microsoft says that its HLSL team is working with AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm to bring cross-vendor support for cooperative vectors in the DirectX ecosystem. The very first dividends of this effort will be seen in the upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" GPUs, which will use cooperative vectors to drive neural shading. "Neural shaders can be used to visualize game assets with AI, better organize geometry for improved path tracing performance and tools to create game characters with photo-realistic visuals," Microsoft says.https://tpucdn.com/img/nC3PureKpiuvj1NW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nC3PureKpiuvj1NW.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330981/microsoft-lays-directx-api-level-groundwork-for-neural-rendering)

[NextPowerUP]

Samsung has revealed two new laptop models at CES 2025: the Galaxy Book5 Pro and Galaxy Book5 360, both featuring Intel's latest processors and artificial intelligence capabilities. The Galaxy Book5 Pro comes in two sizes. The 16-inch version weighs 1.56 kg and includes a 76.1Wh battery, while the 14-inch model weighs 1.23 kg with a 63.1 Wh battery. Both laptops use AMOLED displays with 2880×1800 resolution and variable refresh rates from 48 to 120 Hz. Storage options reach 1 TB, with either 16 GB or 32 GB of memory available.

The Galaxy Book5 360 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen that can fold back 360 degrees, effectively turning the laptop into a tablet. It has a 1920×1080 resolution display and weighs 1.46 kg, with a 68.1 Wh battery. Both models use Intel's Core Ultra processors with built-in NPUs that Samsung uses for features like AI Select for searching and Photo Remaster for image enhancement. The laptops also integrate with other Samsung devices through features like Multi Control for unified device navigation and Quick Share for file transfers. The new laptops include standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Samsung claims the Pro models can achieve up to 25 hours of battery life, though real-world usage typically yields shorter durations.https://tpucdn.com/img/yDXZgVjqz69Wj5O1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yDXZgVjqz69Wj5O1.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330978/samsung-shows-galaxy-book5-pro-and-galaxy-book5-360-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

LG unveiled its UltraGear GX9 gaming monitor series at CES 2025, with three primary models featuring WOLED display technology and curved panels. The 45GX990A features a 45-inch bendable WOLED panel that transitions between flat and 900R curvature. The display offers 5K2K resolution (5,120 x 2,160), a 21:9 aspect ratio, and a 0.03 ms gray-to-gray response time. The 45GX950A utilizes the exact panel specifications but with a fixed 800R curve. Both models include DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1, and USB-C connectivity with 90 W power delivery. The displays support variable refresh rates through NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification. The second-generation Dual-Mode system is a distinct feature that enables switching between different aspect ratios (21:9 and 16:9) and screen sizes (39-, 34-, or 27 inches). The system provides eight preset configurations for resolution and refresh rate combinations.

The 39GX90SA rounds out the lineup with a 39-inch OLED panel featuring an 800R curve. This model integrates webOS for direct streaming functionality and includes USB Type-C ports for device connectivity. All monitors in the series utilize WOLED technology for color reproduction and incorporate Anti-Glare & Low Reflection coating to reduce screen reflections. The panels are certified for reduced blue light emissions. The 45-inch models achieve 125 pixels per inch through an RGWB subpixel layout. These displays maintain compatibility with current graphics cards while supporting the latest variable refresh rate technologies. The monitors feature a 4-side borderless design and, in the case of the 39GX90SA, include an L-shaped stand for space efficiency.https://tpucdn.com/img/WvZ6lhRI6hySPWle_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WvZ6lhRI6hySPWle.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/L1sBNJoYBzWhOp27_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/L1sBNJoYBzWhOp27.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yHM2v0zwpqR2LWZJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yHM2v0zwpqR2LWZJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LLRwXQMxkI62kaOg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LLRwXQMxkI62kaOg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1cfSrrLICc68W14Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1cfSrrLICc68W14Y.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330975/lg-showcases-ultragear-gx9-oled-bendable-5k2k-gaming-monitors-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

LG Electronics has announced its 2025 Gram laptop lineup at CES 2025, featuring Intel's latest processors and a new AI system that combines on-device EXAONE language processing with cloud-based GPT-4o capabilities. The flagship Gram Pro (17Z90TR) features a 17-inch WQXGA LCD display with 2,560 x 1,600 resolution and a 31-144 Hz variable refresh rate. Powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 or Ultra 7 processors and an NVIDIA RTX 4050 with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, it supports up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM at 8,533 MHz. The device includes dual SSD slots supporting up to 2 TB Gen 4 NVMe storage and a 90Wh battery, all within a 3.26-pound chassis.

The Gram Pro 2-in-1 (16T90TP) employs a 16-inch WQXGA+ OLED panel with 2,880 x 1,800 resolution and a 48-120 Hz refresh rate. Running on Intel Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 5 processors with Intel Arc graphics, it features up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory at 8,400 MHz. The convertible weighs 3.08 pounds and includes a 77Wh battery and a mega dual cooling system. At 2.73 pounds, the Gram Pro 16Z90TS combines Intel Core Ultra 7 processors with Intel Arc graphics, featuring a 16-inch WQXGA LCD display and 77Wh battery. All Pro models include dual USB4 Gen3x2 Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support and HDMI 2.1 outputs capable of 4K@60 Hz.https://tpucdn.com/img/sOLCvYBZBTeRlNZX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sOLCvYBZBTeRlNZX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hvjGbvxmDulnxEFe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hvjGbvxmDulnxEFe.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/d19L1xAnGrsc2WrW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/d19L1xAnGrsc2WrW.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330973/lg-updates-gram-laptop-lineup-at-ces-2025-with-ai-capabilities)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330973/lg-updates-gram-laptop-lineup-at-ces-2025-with-ai-capabilities)

[NextPowerUP]

XFX at the 2025 International CES showed off a pair of Radeon RX 9070 series custom-design graphics cards. The company will keep these designs common to both the flagship RX 9070 XT, and the RX 9070. Both board designs were shown off at AMD's RX 9070 series booth. The premium custom design is being referred to as "Black." There are actually two sub-variants of this card, one called Black, which lacks any RGB LED lighting, but a second more premium one where the top of the card has an RGB LED diffuser spanning the entire top-front edge, including the triangular ends with the XFX and Radeon logos. This card wasn't shown to use, but is part of AMD's CES pre-brief.

The premium Black card features a large aluminium fin-stack heatsink, along with a trio of what look like 100 mm and 90 mm axial airflow fans. The metal backplate has a ridged pattern. The PCB underneath appears to be about three quarters the length of the card, with a large cutout in the backplate letting much of the airflow from the third fan go through the heatsink and out the back. This card draws power from three 8-pin PCIe power connectors, for a total power input configuration of 525 W, which is obviously high for what is expected to be a 300 W-class GPU, but this isn't the only card with an over-the-top power input configuration. The ASUS TUF Gaming has three 8-pin PCIe power, while the ASRock Taichi uses a 16-pin 12V2x6. Most RX 9070 series cards we've seen have just two 8-pin power connectors.https://tpucdn.com/img/TYJFqgbFE7GISFpE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TYJFqgbFE7GISFpE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8JvM5XfiSnFDG82k_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8JvM5XfiSnFDG82k.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bbg9XHDzIm94NRNG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bbg9XHDzIm94NRNG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/x5be4b0El4fAPNPk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/x5be4b0El4fAPNPk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iAGPT3kbnOklfRL2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iAGPT3kbnOklfRL2.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330969/xfx-radeon-rx-9070-series-graphics-cards-at-2025-international-ces)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330969/xfx-radeon-rx-9070-series-graphics-cards-at-2025-international-ces)

[NextPowerUP]

Huion specializes in graphics tablets and pen displays. Its products go up against those from Wacom. We've seen a host of announcements at the 2024 Computex (https://www.techpowerup.com/323393/huion-brings-professional-graphics-tablets-and-drawing-surfaces-to-computex), but the company was saving its next-gen for the 2025 CES. The company showed us their latest Kamvas 16 Gen 3, a 16-inch high-precision pen display for hand-drawn graphics applications. The display comes with a QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), which lends a respectable 184 ppi of pixel density. The display also featuers a 120% sRGB wide color gamut. The display features Huion's PenTech 4.0 technology, a high-resolution graphics pen input interface that the company introduced in 2024. This gives the input surface 16,384 pressure sensitivity levels. The display is compatible with Huion's PW600, and PW600S digital pens.https://tpucdn.com/img/1nseu3e3fEyNV1VK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1nseu3e3fEyNV1VK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4lfQZbbDC6MeJygv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4lfQZbbDC6MeJygv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uq7VyJzggOUpQ9tH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uq7VyJzggOUpQ9tH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oCufqwnpZybQGP6e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oCufqwnpZybQGP6e.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330968/huion-showcases-camvas-16-gen-3-professional-pen-display)

[NextPowerUP]

HAVN and King Mod Systems have partnered up on putting together a high-end gaming PC—a sample build was assembled in good time and sent out to Las Vegas. TechPowerUp inspected the fruit of their labors earlier this week at CES 2025. Unsurprisingly, the two collaborators have opted to use a white finish HAVN HS 420 VGPU Edition case—feel free to check out Darksaber's glowing review of this exact model (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/havn-hs-420-vgpu/). A black variant was positioned close by, so it was convenient to compare and contrast between the sibling enclosures. Coincidentally, TechPowerUp and HAVN teamed up on a giveaway competition (https://www.techpowerup.com/329214/techpowerup-and-havn-giveaway-four-havn-hs-420-series-cases-up-for-grabs) of four HAVN HS 420 models last month.

The HAVN x King Mod Systems Gaming PC utilizes some fine internals, but its AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-9-7900x3d.c3023) processor will become less cutting-edge in the near future. Team Red is lining up the Ryzen 9 9900X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-9-9900x3d.c3997) CPU for launch around March 2025. HAVN and King Mod Systems have selected Gigabyte's B650E AORUS Elite X AX ICE mainboard for their showroom build, along with a white TRYX PANORAMA 360 mm AIO ARGB liquid cooler, an MSI RTX 4080 SUPER GAMING X SLIM WHITE (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/msi-rtx-4080-super-gaming-x-slim-white.b11513) graphics card, and a 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 5600 CL36 memory kit.https://tpucdn.com/img/45fDvVcKvXXH7vcM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/45fDvVcKvXXH7vcM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IlDBznDHJUU9PEy4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IlDBznDHJUU9PEy4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wVNh7gnMD2enRpmO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wVNh7gnMD2enRpmO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MEvpAtapoWKmEPSV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MEvpAtapoWKmEPSV.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330957/havn-x-king-mod-systems-gaming-pc-showcased-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Struggling to balance space, performance, and thermal management in compact industrial platforms? The new Cervoz T445 (https://www.cervoz.com/products/industrial-m.2-2280-embedded-module-T445/detail) M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD delivers with its space-saving single-sided design, high-speed capabilities, and wide temperature resilience. Ideal for IoT gateways, industrial tablets, and automation systems. Ready to elevate your storage solution? Discover how the T445 drives efficiency in demanding industrial environments.

Single-Sided Design for Space-Limited Environments
One of the standout features of the T445 is its single-sided design, making it especially suited for space-constrained systems. By consolidating critical components like the NAND flash, controller, and power management IC on one side, it optimizes space efficiency and improves thermal management for better airflow and heat dissipation. This design is particularly important for fanless systems and compact environments, ensuring reliable performance even in extreme conditions. With a slim profile—single-sided design that reduces height by 1.35 mm compared to dual-sided models—the T445 is engineered for easy installation in tight industrial setups, providing high efficiency without compromising durability or speed.https://tpucdn.com/img/BS5zGYREjbaS1Jid_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BS5zGYREjbaS1Jid.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/A8WDocXfINaEJOi9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/A8WDocXfINaEJOi9.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330955/cervoz-launches-t445-single-sided-m-2-nvme-ssd)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330955/cervoz-launches-t445-single-sided-m-2-nvme-ssd)

[NextPowerUP]

MAINGEAR has collaborated on developing and building a Signature Edition Gaming PC with popular Twitch streamer "Shroud" (aka Michael Grzesiek). This high-performance system made its debut at CES 2025—the TechPowerUp team took a closer look during a demo session with MAINGEAR. Shroud and his partners at the New Jersey-based gaming and workstation specialist have settled on building inside HAVN's HS 420 VGPU Dual-Chamber ATX mid-tower case (available in black or white finishes). This premium chassis is a great match for the crème de la crème of high-performance gaming-centric components—naturally, AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-ryzen-7-9800x3d/) is the de-facto choice of CPU here.

Shroud's Signature Edition Gaming PC will be specced with the latest NVIDIA flagship graphics card—TechPowerUp noticed that the demonstration build featured a Founders Edition GeForce RTX 4090. It is possible that MAINGEAR is working on updating this system with a GeForce RTX 5090 card, once the "Blackwell" GPU family heads to market. The specification sheet also lists MAINGEAR's Epic 420 mm AIO liquid cooler, an AsRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi motherboard, 48 GB (2 x 24 GB) T-Force Xtreem ARGB 8000 MHz CL34 memory, a 2 TB T-Force Cardea A440 Gen 4 M.2 SSD, and an FSP PTM Pro Gen 5 80+ 1200 W PSU.https://tpucdn.com/img/jeOXsMbdUHhR4b8n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jeOXsMbdUHhR4b8n.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/I3ogsdoHi0jnL51s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/I3ogsdoHi0jnL51s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SXpEVlPGWk7TElHa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SXpEVlPGWk7TElHa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3u9W6ysgrM0zV6mY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3u9W6ysgrM0zV6mY.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330954/maingear-presents-shroud-signature-edition-gaming-pc-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

After a break for the holiday season to recharge, refresh, and spend time with our families, we're back this week and hard at work updating Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024! As we begin the new year, our teams are focused on delivering the first major updates, including Sim Update 1, while also finalizing preparations for the Marketplace launch in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

We have analyzed all the feedback provided over the past weeks and months and are prioritizing bug fixes and improvements based on community input. Because of this, we are spending this week working on the Feedback Snapshot and will have an updated version for you in next week's blog. We are also excited to announce that World Update: Brazil is on the horizon! These updates are coming soon, and we will provide more information on the timeline as it becomes available. We appreciate your support as we continue to enhance the simming experience for our community.https://tpucdn.com/img/d04OTwftE1rLr2aK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/d04OTwftE1rLr2aK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4rKmm1YnXPqTM4GO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4rKmm1YnXPqTM4GO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AST0QYnXM8rSSZVX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AST0QYnXM8rSSZVX.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330953/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-devs-discuss-upcoming-sim-update-1)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330953/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-devs-discuss-upcoming-sim-update-1)

[NextPowerUP]

MSI's Back-Connect motherboard design provides the foundation of Project Zero X—specific components were not listed when TechPowerUp examined this sleek PC build. A panoramic glass case design houses an all-MSI ecosystem that is "clean and cable-free" thanks to the aforementioned back-mounted layout. Clutter is kept out of view in a rear compartment and the I/O panel is positioned at the back of Project Zero X's enclosure (see photo below). TechPowerUp enjoyed looking at this refreshingly simple arrangement through the case's four-sided glass panel. The build's vertically-mounted MSI-brand GeForce RTX graphics card is positioned next to a signature Project Zero X-branded motherboard.

A product placard mentions that Project Zero X features an integrated "Full-Coverage Heatsink"—providing "comprehensive" cooling coverage across the system. MSI also claims that there are no air circulation dead spots—thanks to a unified airflow design. The cooling system seems to be mostly hidden away inside the enclosure's rear and bottom compartments.https://tpucdn.com/img/FA9riFt1WdSu2fCQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FA9riFt1WdSu2fCQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LqYN3sFqOWmz8mNU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LqYN3sFqOWmz8mNU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ubluGttsKvGgb54J_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ubluGttsKvGgb54J.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/V0FNFbcB8QBfzq1l_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V0FNFbcB8QBfzq1l.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/330949/msi-shows-off-project-zero-x-pc-build-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/330949/msi-shows-off-project-zero-x-pc-build-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Hyper Light Breaker, a new 3D indie platformer we reported on previously (https://www.techpowerup.com/329758/co-op-rogue-lite-hyper-light-breaker-to-launch-on-january-15-2025-with-3d-solar-ash-aesthetics) has finally launched to early access on Steam, and despite the surprising success of its predecessors, Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, Hyper Light Breaker isn't looking like the break-out indie hit of the month. While the game has garnered a solid 5,230 peak concurrent players just five hours after launch, the Steam reviews are hardly anything to write home about so far.

According to SteamDB (https://steamdb.info/app/1534840/charts/#reviews), Hyper Light Breaker has a review rating of just 35.5%, with 31.4% of the reviews giving the game a positive rating, while 68.6% of Steam reviewers gave it a negative score. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, it looks like most of the issues with Hyper Light Breaker stem from the game's early access status. Early reviews on Steam report that the game's core mechanics and gameplay loop are satisfying, but that the game, overall, seems like it needs more time in the oven. Some of the more serious complaints when it comes to Hyper Light Breaker relate to the game's combat being somewhat difficult to grasp, progression feeling unsubstantial, initial difficulty being too high, and a steep learning curve. Others pointed out that there appears to be a lot of missing content. That said, as some reviewers have pointed out, the game is in early access. If we look at the likes of Windblown—or No Man's Sky for an example on a longer timeframe—it's easy to see the value in an early access period and community feedback. If Heart Machine, the developer behind Hyper Light Breaker, uses its community feedback properly and implements fixes to issues as they arise, it seems like it could be a game enjoyed by many indie gamers.

https://tpucdn.com/img/oH1xdDBj3gJ1COGq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oH1xdDBj3gJ1COGq.jpg)Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331120/hyper-light-breaker-launches-to-early-access-on-steam-with-surprising-player-counts-and-mixed-reviews)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331120/hyper-light-breaker-launches-to-early-access-on-steam-with-surprising-player-counts-and-mixed-reviews)

[NextPowerUP]

We recently reported on the Good Old Games's Game Preservation Program's success (https://www.techpowerup.com/329412/gog-preservation-program-proves-its-worth-as-2-warcraft-games-leave-storefront-after-30-years), with the storefront preserving two 30-year-old Warcraft games. Now, however, GOG is partnering with the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation Projects (EFGAMP) (https://gog.prowly.com/375292-gog-joins-european-federation-of-game-archives-museums-and-preservation-projects-efgamp-expanding-its-game-preservation-efforts#) for future preservation efforts. EFGAMP is "the largest organization in Europe dedicated to preserving video games as cultural heritage," giving GOG's commitment to game preservation a lot more weight than previously. The partnership could also help GOG work within and with European governmental and non-governmental institutions, like museums and other organizations, in order to further the game preservation cause.

Perhaps more interestingly, as a game distribution platform with some development talent behind it, GOG actually brings something to the table that was previously missing from EFGAMP as a foundation. In the announcement, the foundation and GOG claim that 2024 was something of a tipping point for consumers when it comes to both the erosion of game ownership and game preservation as a whole. The subject of game ownership was a recurring theme in 2024, with games like The Crew (https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/ubisoft-to-shut-down-the-crew-servers-on-march-31st-2024-deeming-the-game-unplayable.318303/) joining the aforementioned Warcraft games in being delisted from stores—at least with the GOG delisting, the games are still maintained for existing owners. The goal of both GOG and EFGAMP is to preserve the history of gaming culture, allowing future generations to experience and learn about important moments in gaming history.https://tpucdn.com/img/Oil1gdEgtNrGOpgi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Oil1gdEgtNrGOpgi.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331119/gog-amps-up-game-preservation-efforts-with-new-efgamp-game-archive-project-partnership)

[NextPowerUP]

More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. On January 30th, DLSS gets even better with the launch of DLSS 4. Featuring improvements to all existing DLSS technologies, and our new DLSS Multi Frame Generation performance multiplier, DLSS 4 delivers supreme speed and superior visuals, powered by AI. Ahead of DLSS 4's release, there are another 5 DLSS games available to play this week: Assetto Corsa EVO, DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS, Honkai: Star Rail, SMITE 2, and Tankhead.

NVIDIA DLSS 4 With Multi Frame Generation Available January 30th
NVIDIA DLSS is a suite of neural rendering technologies powered by GeForce RTX Tensor Cores that boosts frame rates while delivering crisp, high-quality images that rival native resolution rendering. On January 30th, we're upgrading DLSS once again with the release of DLSS 4, featuring DLSS Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards and laptops, and upgrades to all other DLSS technologies.https://tpucdn.com/img/lH6R4cNJkwd0x4Bd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lH6R4cNJkwd0x4Bd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qN2o3HoKlwaDuvH7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qN2o3HoKlwaDuvH7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OMBt35fpkLOPITVd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OMBt35fpkLOPITVd.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331117/nvidia-dlss-comes-to-assetto-corsa-evo-dynasty-warriors-origins-smite-2-and-honkai-star-rail)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331117/nvidia-dlss-comes-to-assetto-corsa-evo-dynasty-warriors-origins-smite-2-and-honkai-star-rail)

[NextPowerUP]

Leiyin Audio, the same brand that had kindly invited us to attend the 18th Shenzhen International Audio Show (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/2024-shenzhen-international-audio-show-report/) last year, had a large booth at CES where Moondrop also had a presence thanks to its new Moondrop Global company that is now responsible for all operations outside China. There was a large showing from Moondrop thus, with most recently launched products from the past year to be found here. Our eyes were caught on the recently released Meteor, a 1 DD +2 BA +4 planar magnetic tribrid driver set that uses a relatively large 13 mm dynamic driver fit into a large faceplate protrusion that is capped by, as the name suggests, a piece of genuine meteorite fragment. It uses Moondrop's new XTM crossover technology and promises good quality bass as part of a balanced tuning for an asking price of $500 (https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-meteor-1dd-2ba-4planar-in-ear-headphone). Expect a full review on TechPowerUp, as the CES sample was already impressive despite the noisy show floor conditions.

Also at the booth was Moondrop's immensely popular Robin, a true wireless stereo (TWS) set developed in collaboration with Honkai: Star Rail, an even more popular video game. Robin is a playable character in the game, and you will see it adorned on the TWS set too. To no surprise, this is right up Moondrop's marketing alley given how much it likes to use female artwork to attract customers, although at least here we do get a legitimately well-tuned set of TWS IEMs—quite rare even in 2025—with app support for customizable tonalities and touch controls too. The carry case further builds upon the theme and, at $99, the Moondrop Robin (https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-robins-earphones-true-wireless-headphone-tws) has already proven to be a huge commercial success less than a month into its global launch.https://tpucdn.com/img/6qthxR9VVBYmEtRT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6qthxR9VVBYmEtRT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aoVr8VLk4IcGd7GC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aoVr8VLk4IcGd7GC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Tmcay8n9w6VHLj0o_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Tmcay8n9w6VHLj0o.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uLIxDtTGSTZDYtil_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uLIxDtTGSTZDYtil.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/760SpsUA3oDJRG9w_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/760SpsUA3oDJRG9w.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331115/moondrop-showcases-meteor-wired-and-robin-wireless-iems-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

Yeston's social media accounts have revealed upcoming NVIDIA "Blackwell" GPU-based Sakura Atlantis, Sakura and Game Ace models—a single teaser image shows off three different cards that will eventually contain GeForce RTX 50 series graphics hardware. Yeston has deployed common aesthetic traits across the three ranges—notably white PCBs and I/O brackets. Yeston previously revealed their new Sakura Atlantis shroud design with its recent announcement of an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (https://www.techpowerup.com/331065/yeston-unveils-radeon-rx-9070-xt-16-gb-sakura-atlantis-card-design) model. Today's product unveiling does not include any information about specific Team Green GPU SKUs, but it would be safe to assume that the upper-echelon models will sport Sakura Atlantis livery.

The older Yeston Sakura and Game Ace designs have been rolled out across a number of current-gen "Ada Lovelace" GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs. A quick analysis of Yeston graphics card product (https://yestonstore.com/collections/graphics-card) hierarchies shows lower-end GPUs (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/yeston-rtx-4060-ti-game-ace.b11431) and 4060) sporting the Game Ace shroud. The Sakura design is available across a selection of mid-tier GeForce RTX 4070 Ti and 4070 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/yeston-rtx-4070-sakura.b11425) models. VideoCardz proposes that the Sakura Atlantis cooling solution could be robust enough—based on the Radeon RX 9070 XT's rumored 300 W TBP—to take on GeForce RTX 5080 (360 W) and 5070 Ti (300 W) GPUs. TechPowerUp expects Yeston to make further announcements closer to NVIDIA Blackwell's market debut at the end of this month.https://tpucdn.com/img/5nYR8SqhSnKLscEa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5nYR8SqhSnKLscEa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ggbOmRUQgGxvOBrn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ggbOmRUQgGxvOBrn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ApRATXiqFupyNom2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ApRATXiqFupyNom2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CzEA24MFxX6MTIPO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CzEA24MFxX6MTIPO.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331112/yeston-reveals-geforce-rtx-50-series-sakura-game-ace-custom-models)

[NextPowerUP]

NC America announced today Blade & Soul NEO, the modern reinterpretation of Blade & Soul's signature fantasy universe, is coming soon to PC in North America and Europe. Featuring a beautiful visually enhanced experience, the original, well-crafted storyline, Infinite Windwalk (the "glide" ability), and a handful of enticing gameplay features, Blade & Soul NEO fulfills players' desire to re-live that pure MMO action fantasy experience they once knew.

Offering an exclusive pre-registration package, available today -- including a cosmetically enhanced character outfit, in-game currency, and more -- NC America will actively roll out new information, community activities and more on its revamped website between today and launch. Pre-register here (https://www.bladeandsoul.com/en-us/opt-in) now.https://tpucdn.com/img/9ncALoQvMlAfcYw3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9ncALoQvMlAfcYw3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ugFvQvPrcFIyQKde_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ugFvQvPrcFIyQKde.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HRa2hYFRAJsj9WcN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HRa2hYFRAJsj9WcN.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331111/ncsoft-announces-blade-soul-neos-upcoming-usa-eu-launch)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331111/ncsoft-announces-blade-soul-neos-upcoming-usa-eu-launch)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel product change notification documents—published on January 6—have revealed the planned "End of Life" (EOL) phasing out of 12th Generation "Alder Lake" mobile processor models. Tom's Hardware (https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-retires-alder-lake-mobile-cpus-excluding-hx-series-12th-gen-goes-eol-starting-april-25) has pored over the listed products/SKUs and concluded that the vast majority of Team Blue's mobile-oriented Alder Lake selection are destined for retirement. Team Blue's HX series is being kept alive for a little while longer. Two documents show differing "discontinuance timelines" for their respective inventories—including lower-end Celeron and Pentium Gold SKUs, as well as familiar higher-up Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 families. U, P, H and HK-affixed models are lined up for the chopping block.

Intel's 13th Generation "Raptor Lake" mobile processor selection—comprised of Core 100 (series 1) and Core 200 (series 2)—offers similar silicon makeup. Many equivalent alternatives to older generation "Alder Lake" chips reside here—Tom's Hardware presented a key example: "i5-1235U (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-i5-1235u.c2591), which is designated for thin and lightweight laptops. OEMs can instead opt for the i5-1335U (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-i5-1335u.c3065), the Core 5 120U (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-5-120u.c3462), or the Core 5 220U (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-5-220u.c3470#:~:text=Core%205%20220U%20has%2012,which%20limits%20its%20overclocking%20potential.), as they're just better bins of the 1235U on the same FCBGA1744 socket." A significant number of Alder Lake mobile SKUs will be available to OEMs for ordering up until 26 April, with final shipments heading out on 25 October. The rest have been assigned a July 25 order cut-off date, with final shipments scheduled on 26 January 2026.https://tpucdn.com/img/1vf8DP6m1q2NPwqf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1vf8DP6m1q2NPwqf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/h0nuD39xqOLzd75m_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/h0nuD39xqOLzd75m.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7HgD78gEvctxek2V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7HgD78gEvctxek2V.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8VxkTGXtDzPUD8Za_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8VxkTGXtDzPUD8Za.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331110/intel-12th-gen-alder-lake-mobile-cpus-face-retirement-hx-series-spared)

[NextPowerUP]

Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium (UALink) has announced the expansion of its Board of Directors with the election of Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd., Apple Inc., and Synopsys Inc. The new Board members will leverage their industry knowledge to advance development and industry adoption of UALink - a high-speed, scale-up interconnect for next-generation AI cluster performance.

"Alibaba Cloud believes that driving AI computing accelerator scale-up interconnection technology by defining core needs and solutions from the perspective of cloud computing and applications has significant value in building the competitiveness of intelligent computing supernodes," said Qiang Liu, VP of Alibaba Cloud, GM of Alibaba Cloud Server Infrastructure. "The UALink consortium, as a leader in the interconnect field of AI accelerators, has brought together key members from the AI infrastructure industry to work together to define interconnect protocol which is natively designed for AI accelerators, driving innovation in AI infrastructure. This will strongly promote the innovation of AI infrastructure and improve the execution efficiency of AI workloads, contributing to the establishment of an open and innovative industry ecosystem."https://tpucdn.com/img/Za0Huu8D0l2aylOw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Za0Huu8D0l2aylOw.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331109/ultra-accelerator-link-consortium-ualink-welcomes-alibaba-apple-and-synopsys-to-board-of-directors)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331109/ultra-accelerator-link-consortium-ualink-welcomes-alibaba-apple-and-synopsys-to-board-of-directors)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA is focused on forward momentum—Jensen & Co. pounded the showroom floor at last week's CES trade with their next-gen "Blackwell" GPUs in hand. Team Green's GeForce RTX 50-series was one of the headline acts, but the preceding RTX 40 "Ada Lovelace" family made occasional appearances. Hardware enthusiasts were not expecting the re-emergence of an older unreleased model at CES 2025, but a YouTuber discovered the supposed RTX 4090 "TITAN (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/titan-ada.c3985)" prototype's cooling solution frame. TechPowerUp's reported on this rare beast last month (https://www.techpowerup.com/329387/nvidias-massive-quad-slot-geforce-rtx-4090-prototype-pictured), and Gamers Nexus obtained an example for analysis (view their video feature below).

Industry experts believe that an unnamed contract manufacturer was tasked with producing the TITAN's quad-slot cooling solution—informed sources say that it was designed to temper the full-force of Team Green's unlocked AD102 GPU (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/nvidia-ad102.g1005). This contract company reportedly displayed various NVIDIA-related component parts in Las Vegas last week. RTX 40-era Founders Edition font was evident on the TITAN's frame—a VideoCardz news piece highlights the component's silver/magnesium color scheme. This presents further proof of inclusion within that Founders Edition generation.https://tpucdn.com/img/OBmsmtekuvrxzPEB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OBmsmtekuvrxzPEB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HShEp0FtxaitrfGa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HShEp0FtxaitrfGa.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331108/youtuber-stumbles-upon-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-titan-part-at-ces-2025)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331108/youtuber-stumbles-upon-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-titan-part-at-ces-2025)

[NextPowerUP]

The list of mini PCs available on the market has grown quite a bit in the past few weeks, with a bunch of such systems getting unveiled at CES 2025. Now, Gigabyte clearly does not wish to be left out of the party either, and has unveiled its Brix Extreme mini PC powered by a last-gen, but decently powerful AMD "Hawk Point" APU and a plethora of connectivity options in a compact package.

The system, as mentioned, boasts the 28-watt Ryzen 7 8840U PRO APU, which sports 8 Zen 4 cores and 16 threads. Performance should be identical to its non-PRO counterpart, which should put it roughly in the same class as the Intel Core Ultra 256V "Lunar Lake" CPU. The APU is paired with up to 64 GB of DDR5-5600 memory. Dual M.2 2280 slots take care of storage requirements, both of which are user-accessible.https://tpucdn.com/img/e4EFEbDKHMAzMUqS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/e4EFEbDKHMAzMUqS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aWkDOKzBqQvuwAeY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aWkDOKzBqQvuwAeY.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331088/gigabyte-brix-extreme-mini-pc-launched-with-ryzen-7-8840u-hawk-point-apu)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331088/gigabyte-brix-extreme-mini-pc-launched-with-ryzen-7-8840u-hawk-point-apu)

[NextPowerUP]

In the past few weeks, all eyes have on NVIDIA's and AMD's next-gen GPU offerings, and rightly so. Now, it's about time to turn our attention to what appears to be the third major player in the GPU industry - Intel. This is, of course, all thanks to the Blue Camp's wildly successful Arc B580 launch, which propelled the beleaguered chip giant to the favorable side of the GPU price-to-performance line.

Now, it appears that a fresh leak has revealed how its soon-to-be sibling, the Arc B570, is about to perform. The leaked performance data, courtesy of Geekbench OpenCL, reveals that the Arc B570 is right around 11% slower than the Arc B580 in the synthetic OpenCL benchmark, which makes complete sense, because the card is also expected to be around 12% cheaper than its more powerful sibling, as noted by Wccftech. With a score of 86,716, the Arc B570 is well ahead of the RX 7600 XT, which manages around 84000 points, and well behind the RTX 4060, which rakes in just above 100000.https://tpucdn.com/img/pBdJLHJ6hKU561FT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pBdJLHJ6hKU561FT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Xo2wS3yDoEgztm9n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Xo2wS3yDoEgztm9n.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/w0lZOeNOkqtkEH78_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/w0lZOeNOkqtkEH78.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331090/first-taste-of-intel-arc-b570-opencl-benchmark-reports-good-price-to-performance)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331090/first-taste-of-intel-arc-b570-opencl-benchmark-reports-good-price-to-performance)

[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Display will begin mass production of the world's first rollable OLED screen for laptops starting in April 2025. Samsung Display announced its rollable screen for the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus G6 Rollable laptop at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., Lenovo also showcased the laptop and announced its plans to globally launch in June.

The ThinkBook Plus G6 Rollable laptop features a screen underneath the keypad, where the screen expands vertically by almost 50%, offering a unique mobile computing experience. When rolled in, the screen supports a 5:4 aspect ratio on a 14-inch display. When rolled out, the aspect ratio shifts to 8:9 on a 16.7-inch display, providing an enhanced view for efficient multitasking.https://tpucdn.com/img/bO3AL5KTjUGaxBRG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bO3AL5KTjUGaxBRG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rmy4XFR9327fvqvY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rmy4XFR9327fvqvY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9jUXt8GO0WWWHV9p_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9jUXt8GO0WWWHV9p.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331107/samsung-display-to-begin-mass-production-of-worlds-first-rollable-oled-for-laptops)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331107/samsung-display-to-begin-mass-production-of-worlds-first-rollable-oled-for-laptops)

[NextPowerUP]

The market for compact gaming handheld is expanding at an unprecedented rate, thanks to the popularity boom that handhelds have received in recent months. The GPD Win Min (2025) is one such offering, sitting alongside the rest of interesting gaming products that GPD is known for. The Win Mini is now available for pre-order on Indiegogo, with a starting price of $769 (backers only), and a retail price of $839. Of course, interested buyers are encouraged to be mindful of the risks associated with crowdfunding campaigns, although GPD has mostly had a complaint-free track record.

Unfortunately, and rather unsurprisingly, the entry-level variant does not ship with the latest AMD Strix Point chips, but rather the older Hawk Point offerings, specifically the Ryzen 7 8840U with the Radeon 780M iGPU with 12 CUs. The higher-tier variants ship with Strix Point APUs, starting at the Ryzen AI 9 HX 365 APU, going all the way up to the 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with the powerful Radeon 890M iGPU. To accommodate the new APUs, GPD has reworked the thermals, and has added room for full-sized M.2 2280 SSD drives as well. The product packs hall-effect joysticks, plug-and-play grips, and a bunch of useful ports including USB4, USB 3.2 Type-C, an SD Card slot, an audio jack, as well as a good old USB-A port. The 7-inch 1080p display ramps up to 120 Hz, and the system can be equipped with up to 64 GB of memory and 2 TB of PCIe 4.0 storage, and a 44.24 Wh battery is also present.https://tpucdn.com/img/IZn3nf45AGnfqgVl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IZn3nf45AGnfqgVl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IyP5wHSMLlxBhXMI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IyP5wHSMLlxBhXMI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Tue2hrrmWYSRu2oc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Tue2hrrmWYSRu2oc.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331089/strix-point-powered-gpd-win-mini-gaming-handheld-goes-on-sale)

[NextPowerUP]

Before Call of Duty, before Battlefield, before even Medal of Honor, there was Delta Force. Released in October 1998, NovaLogic's FPS was one of the original tactical shooters. Arriving just two months after Red Storm Entertainment's Rainbow Six, Delta Force put players in the role of a Tier 1 Operative, challenging them to complete 40 missions in various modern military settings. Though it shared some similarities with Rainbow Six, Delta Force was defined by its radical Voxel Space technology, enabling it to simulate warfare on battlefields far larger than any FPS that came before.

Delta Force was sufficiently successful to spawn a sequel, and ultimately became a series—including its most famous entry, the 2003 game Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. Yet as Call of Duty and Battlefield took the popularity of real-world shooters to stratospheric heights, Delta Force struggled to keep up. The final game in the series, Delta Force: Xtreme 2, reviewed poorly, and as the world went wild for Modern Warfare, NovaLogic quietly exfiltrated the modern military shooter scene. Now Delta Force is back (https://www.playdeltaforce.com/en/), though. Developed by Chinese studio Team Jade, the reboot is bigger, broader, and more comprehensive than any prior entry in the series. Featuring classic team-based multiplayer battles, a more modern extraction mode where players compete to scavenge loot in open-ended combat zones, and a co-op/single player campaign inspired by the series' legacy, Delta Force has its sights set squarely on the two FPS franchises that have dominated multiplayer shooters for over a decade.https://tpucdn.com/img/smu3OU240idfbwW4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/smu3OU240idfbwW4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BRfZJHiEpAAVX7Xd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BRfZJHiEpAAVX7Xd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tQsqWyP1xK5QIlWt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tQsqWyP1xK5QIlWt.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331106/team-jade-discusses-delta-force-franchises-modern-reboot)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331106/team-jade-discusses-delta-force-franchises-modern-reboot)

[NextPowerUP]

Last November, Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council indicated that it was considering a relaxation (https://www.techpowerup.com/329334/tsmc-could-bring-2-nm-production-overseas-taiwanese-minister-confirms) of "legal restrictions on transferring leading-edge process technology overseas." TSMC is the nation's most prized chip foundry, but new manufacturing operations are spreading across the globe. The very best node processes—currently TSMC's advanced 2 nm (N2)—have been restricted to home turf, yet global tensions have prompted the Taiwanese government to reconsider its guarded approach. A freshly published Taipei Times report has focused on an important announcement made at a recent government press conference. Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, J.W. Kuo, stated that TSMC is now allowed to manufacture 2 nm chips on foreign soil—according to him, the foundry behemoth is "cautiously" evaluating an investment of roughly $28 to 30 (USD) billion into 2-nanometer production facilities Stateside.

His colleagues have worked hard—in the past—on preserving the country's "Silicon Shield (https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/taiwanese-govt-clears-tsmc-to-make-2nm-chips-abroad-country-lowers-its-silicon-shield)," but fresh adjustments are sweeping in. Kuo commented: "those were old-time rules. Times have changed." TSMC's—allegedly costly (https://www.techpowerup.com/330349/tsmc-arizona-plant-operations-will-reportedly-cost-30-more-than-taiwan-sites)—North American hub is reportedly marked down for a "by 2030" push into 2 nm process territories. Taiwan's Economic Affairs minister continued with his reasonings: "Private businesses should make their own business decisions based on their own technological progress...The basic principle is that businesses can make profits from their overseas investments. TSMC is building factories in the US with the aim of serving its US customers, as 60 percent of the world's chip-designing companies are based in the US." He also downplayed concerns regarding possible upcoming shifts in US trade policy making—Taiwan's "strong technological capabilities" are expected to weather the storm. Newly implemented US trade tariffs are expected to have only a "minor impact."https://tpucdn.com/img/QEM1o6V8Za4rprOp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QEM1o6V8Za4rprOp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8OmdiN699mHoLiId_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8OmdiN699mHoLiId.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uVN3cyBMtXWqxqiE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uVN3cyBMtXWqxqiE.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331104/tsmc-granted-government-permission-to-produce-2-nm-beyond-taiwans-borders)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA's new GB200 "Blackwell" racks are running into trouble (again). Big cloud companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta Platforms are cutting back their orders because of heat problems, Reuters reports, quoting The Information. The first shipments of racks with Blackwell chips are getting too hot and have connection issues between chips, the report says. These tech hiccups have made some customers who ordered $10 billion or more worth of racks think twice about buying.

Some are putting off their orders until NVIDIA has better versions of the racks. Others are looking at buying older NVIDIA AI chips instead. For example, Microsoft planned to set up GB200 racks with no less than 50,000 Blackwell chips at one of its Phoenix sites. However, The Information reports that OpenAI has asked Microsoft to provide NVIDIA's older "Hopper" chips instead pointing to delays linked to the Blackwell racks. NVIDIA's problems with its Blackwell GPUs housed in high-density racks are not something new; in November 2024, Reuters, also referencing The Information, uncovered overheating issues (https://www.techpowerup.com/328931/nvidia-blackwell-nvl72-servers-reportedly-require-redesign-amid-overheating-problems) in servers that housed 72 processors. NVIDIA has made several changes to its server rack designs to tackle these problems, however, it seems that the problem was not entirely solved.https://tpucdn.com/img/71ePYlG0m7ztKBp0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/71ePYlG0m7ztKBp0.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331105/nvidias-gb200-blackwell-racks-face-overheating-issues)

[NextPowerUP]

Qualcomm is becoming serious about its server CPU ambitions. Today, we have learned that Sailesh Kottapalli, Intel's former chief architect for Xeon server processors, has joined Qualcomm as Senior Vice President after 28 years at Intel. Kottapalli, who announced his departure on LinkedIn Monday, previously led the development of multiple Xeon and Itanium processors at Intel. Qualcomm's data center team is currently working on reference platforms based on their Snapdragon technology. The company already sells AI accelerator chips under the Qualcomm Cloud AI brand, supported by major providers including AWS, HPE, and Lenovo.

This marks Qualcomm's second attempt at entering the server CPU market, following an unsuccessful Centriq effort that ended in 2018. The company is now leveraging technology from its $1.4 billion Nuvia acquisition in 2021, though this has led to ongoing legal disputes (https://www.techpowerup.com/330131/qualcomm-wins-partial-victory-in-arm-licensing-dispute-retrial-possible) with Arm over licensing terms. While Qualcomm hasn't officially detailed Kottapalli's role, the company confirmed in legal filings its intentions to continue developing data center CPUs, as originally planned by Nuvia.https://tpucdn.com/img/aXOSaJhH3glf4c7g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aXOSaJhH3glf4c7g.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331103/qualcomm-pushes-for-data-center-cpus-hires-ex-intel-chief-xeon-architect)

[NextPowerUP]

At yesterday's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference NVIDIA announced new partnerships to transform the $10 trillion healthcare and life sciences industry by accelerating drug discovery, enhancing genomic research and pioneering advanced healthcare services with agentic and generative AI. The convergence of AI, accelerated computing and biological data is turning healthcare into the largest technology industry. Healthcare leaders IQVIA, Illumina and Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/), as well as Arc Institute, are using the latest NVIDIA technologies to develop solutions that will help advance human health.

These solutions include AI agents that can speed clinical trials by reducing administrative burden, AI models that learn from biology instruments to advance drug discovery and digital pathology, and physical AI robots for surgery, patient monitoring and operations. AI agents, AI instruments and AI robots will help address the $3 trillion of operations dedicated to supporting industry growth and create an AI factory opportunity in the hundreds of billions of dollars.https://tpucdn.com/img/DVkaNjsBmrb00ir5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DVkaNjsBmrb00ir5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6A6rqDHFEKzDjMdA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6A6rqDHFEKzDjMdA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yHve0J3NAJoJDzrl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yHve0J3NAJoJDzrl.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331102/nvidia-ai-expected-to-transform-usd-10-trillion-healthcare-life-sciences-industry)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331102/nvidia-ai-expected-to-transform-usd-10-trillion-healthcare-life-sciences-industry)

[NextPowerUP]

Finland's Proshop has listed eight GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5080.c4217) custom design graphics card models, complete with prices in Euros—please note that value added tax (VAT) is included. Team Green's CES 2025 "Blackwell" announcement revealed an MSRP of €1229 (without VAT: €979) for the GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition (for Finland, and other European countries). Board partners usually tack on extra charges for their custom interpretations—fancier variants commonly demand a premium upcharge. The VideoCardz sleuthing network has discovered that GIGABYTE's launch selection (https://www.techpowerup.com/330749/gigabyte-debuts-enhanced-cooling-and-more-compact-nvidia-geforce-rtx-50-series-graphics-cards-at-ces-2025) errs more towards the upper-end—Proshop's premature listing reveals only a single model coming in at Team Green's baseline MSRP. As always, these figures are subject to change—we are still in a pre-launch holding pattern.

The GIGABYTE RTX 5080 WINDFORCE OC (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/gigabyte-rtx-5080-windforce-oc-sff.b12044) card is the only listed model that adheres to NVIDIA's standard MSRP—VideoCardz has kindly crunched the numbers (refer to their diagram below) and reckons that the seven other options demand premiums across a range of 15% to 35%. Recent GIGABYTE press material places every model in a premium tier, even the entry-point SFF-Ready WINDFORCE OC model. An upcharge of 440 Euros is applicable with GIGABYTE's range-topping AORUS Xtreme WaterForce (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/gigabyte-aorus-rtx-5080-xtreme-waterforce.b11954) option. One step above Team Green MSRP baseline bags you the GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC model (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/gigabyte-rtx-5080-gaming-oc.b11958)—an extra investment of 190 Euros goes into a larger cooling solution and shroud design (featuring RGB lighting). TechPowerUp anticipates further price leaks to emerge—from other manufacturers—as we close in on launch day: January 30.https://tpucdn.com/img/xA2CR5YKrohH6Lxw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xA2CR5YKrohH6Lxw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ifCVXjZy5GCMSZvp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ifCVXjZy5GCMSZvp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6fYyWGSnMC8BWWhx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6fYyWGSnMC8BWWhx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8mgUR9TrMuDR0hAR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8mgUR9TrMuDR0hAR.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331100/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-5080-custom-card-prices-revealed-by-proshop-listings)

[NextPowerUP]

Thanks to the informative breakdown by Chips and Cheese, we are learning that AMD's latest Ryzen AI processors for laptops, codenamed "Strix Halo," utilize a parallel "sea of wires" interconnect system between their chiplets, replacing the SERDES (serializer/deserializer) approach found in desktop Ryzen models. The processor's physical implementation consists of two Core Complex Dies (CCDs), each manufactured on TSMC's N4 (4 nm) process and containing up to eight Zen 5 cores with full 512-bit floating point units. Notably, the I/O die (IOD) is also produced using the N4 process, marking an advancement from the N6 (6 nm) process used in standard Ryzen IODs on desktops. The key change lies in the inter-chiplet communication system. While the Ryzen 9000 series (Granite Ridge) employs SERDES to convert parallel data to serial for transmission between chiplets, Strix Halo implements direct parallel data transmission through multiple physical connections.

This design achieves 32 bytes per clock cycle throughput and eliminates the latency overhead associated with serialization/deserialization processes. The parallel interconnect architecture also removes the need for connection retraining during power state transitions, a limitation present in SERDES implementations. However, this design choice necessitates additional substrate complexity due to increased connection density and requires more pins for external connections, suggesting possible modifications to the CCD design compared to desktop variants. AMD's implementation required more complex substrate manufacturing processes to accommodate the dense parallel connections between chiplets. The decision to prioritize this more challenging design approach was driven by requirements for lower latency and power consumption in data-intensive workloads, where consistent high-bandwidth communication between chiplets is crucial.https://tpucdn.com/img/GBGRlExnTciHsW7u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GBGRlExnTciHsW7u.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331101/amd-implements-new-ccd-connection-in-strix-halo-ryzen-ai-max-processors)

[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft's gaming division faced an uncertain future back in 2021, according to an article published by The Information (https://www.theinformation.com/articles/microsofts-gaming-business-falls-short-despite-activision) mid-week. The long-form piece mainly focuses on Xbox's current predicaments, but the wider gaming press picked up on surprising allegations from days past. The story goes that Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO's, presided over two paths: either keep Xbox Game Studios going, or mothball the whole operation. History shows us that he kept his company's gaming department alive—a series of acquisitions (during and since 2021) have expanded development and publishing operations—but Xbox's journey has been rocky in the ensuing years. Investors and industry analysts believe that Microsoft's $68.7 billion takeover of Activision/Blizzard/King—back in 2023—has not boosted overall revenues to expected levels.

Insider Gaming (https://insider-gaming.com/microsoft-activision-deny-report-regarding-financial-performance/) has managed to make contact with a Microsoft spokesperson—extracted comments have been published in an "exclusive" report. The brand ambassador insisted that Nadella remains resolute about his company being "all in on gaming"—the CEO never entertained the notion of Microsoft winding down "its games business entirely." Industry experts have also criticized Xbox's Game Pass business model—many believe that the service's reach has faltered. The spokesperson commented on these opinions—proposing that engagement on Xbox platforms is "at an all-time high," helped in part by the recent launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Additionally, Microsoft believes that its audience count is in a healthy spot, with: "well over 500 million monthly players and over the last year, we've seen consistent growth in monthly users on cloud".https://tpucdn.com/img/lJCXTzoS0DuNtyON_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lJCXTzoS0DuNtyON.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7c25buFvgQCvz4I7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7c25buFvgQCvz4I7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TecJVFwU6FNgE3Xq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TecJVFwU6FNgE3Xq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5v2M7sJl2otcvruj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5v2M7sJl2otcvruj.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331272/microsoft-refutes-reports-of-xbox-division-facing-closure-back-in-2021)

[NextPowerUP]

In 2018, Kingdom Come: Deliverance's celebrated score played a crucial role in supporting Warhorse's unique vision for immersive RPG gaming. Composer Jan Valta returns for the sequel with an expanded, handcrafted score that delicately blends authenticity with the tastes of a modern world. This gentle approach matters. The medieval music of Henry's world was dominated by the spoken word, with the instruments assuming more of a background role. Time signatures ebbed and flowed with far more fluidity than modern mainstream ears are accustomed to - a story-focused form of jazz, if you like. "It didn't always go in four beats or four bars, and then another four bars," Jan explains. "In medieval times the music was led by the lyrics. It was led by the text which was usually sacred. It came from God, or from the Apostles, or from Jesus. The music was tamed by the lyrics."

Music to Your Ears
Jan instead prefers to view his final touches of authenticity as "seasoning", designed to elevate a more traditionally structured soundtrack. The score exists first and foremost to serve the narrative beats that drive Henry's adventure forwards, in other words, rather than authenticity for authenticity's sake. "Daniel Vávra (creative director) and I quickly came to a common ground, which was a symphonic soundtrack: film-like music, which is then spiced or seasoned with medieval times," he says.https://tpucdn.com/img/KXFoKuZrSREwmv0g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KXFoKuZrSREwmv0g.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ITbtYCicOerS20rw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ITbtYCicOerS20rw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mkG7xUlTBT3EHL01_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mkG7xUlTBT3EHL01.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331268/kingdom-come-deliverance-ii-devs-discuss-titles-musical-score)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331268/kingdom-come-deliverance-ii-devs-discuss-titles-musical-score)

[NextPowerUP]

It's 2025, and we're looking to digitize everything. Yes, even physical gadgets. Like that clunky scanner taking up valuable desk space… why do we have those again? Right, so they can work about half the time and do a subpar job of scanning our documents. We're ditching ours for the iScanner document-scanning app (https://stacksocial.com/sales/iscanner-app-lifetime-subscription?utm_source=techpowerup.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=iscanner-app-lifetime-subscription&utm_term=scsf-612739&utm_content=a0xRn00000352AjIAI&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er).

This iOS app can digitize anything—contracts, receipts, handwritten notes, and ID cards—and save them as PDFs, JPGs, and other file types. The app uses AI-powered tools to automatically crop the borders and straighten the scan for perfect images every time. It also includes a mobile PDF editor (https://stacksocial.com/sales/iscanner-app-lifetime-subscription?utm_source=techpowerup.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=iscanner-app-lifetime-subscription&utm_term=scsf-612739&utm_content=a0xRn00000352AjIAI&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er) if you need to add a signature, mark up a document, or manage files.

Use code SCAN at checkout to get an iScanner lifetime subscription (https://stacksocial.com/sales/iscanner-app-lifetime-subscription?utm_source=techpowerup.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=iscanner-app-lifetime-subscription&utm_term=scsf-612739&utm_content=a0xRn00000352AjIAI&scsonar=1&aid=a-zpm4h3er) for $24.99 (reg. $199.90). That's the app's lowest price ever.https://tpucdn.com/img/5UejK6HKjzaSTzIa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5UejK6HKjzaSTzIa.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331227/throw-out-your-scanner-this-app-works-better-now-cheaper-than-ever)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331227/throw-out-your-scanner-this-app-works-better-now-cheaper-than-ever)

[NextPowerUP]

A moderator on the PC Games Hardware (PCGH.de) discussion board had disclosed worrying details regarding stock limitations—presumably affecting the upcoming GeForce RTX 50 series launch in Germany. In turn, this disclosure was picked up by PCGH's new department. The predicted circumstances will—reportedly—make matters most difficult for customers looking to acquire higher-end "Blackwell" GPUs. The forum moderator gathered damning evidence from his network of contacts: "I was able to learn from well-informed dealer circles, the available contingent of graphics cards will be extremely limited! This applies in particular to the GeForce RTX 5090 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5090.c4216). Accordingly, NVIDIA determines where and who exactly will offer graphics cards at market launch. B2B dealers and the entire local wholesale trade, which primarily also works with business customers, will most likely come away empty-handed."

A bit of humor was sprinkled in with this informative post—the moderator joked about customers resorting to "cheerful" repetitive pressings of their F5 keys. They posit that the online buying experience for flagship Blackwell GPUs will be tiring and frustrating: "...so anyone who wants to get a GeForce RTX 5090 or GeForce RTX 5080 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5080.c4217) at market launch will have to queue digitally at the end customer dealers together with waiting (private) customers. Scalpers and bots will probably also get involved here. The quantities that can be purchased are likely to be limited to a maximum of one unit." Several stores are listed as being prime sources of stock (see below)—they reckon that the likes of Amazon will be not be receiving initial batches. "Second, third, or even fourth" waves of stock are anticipated, with some retailers set to act as resellers—inevitably opening the door to predicted price gouging. It is not clear whether these alleged restrictions will come into effect in markets beyond German borders—additionally, the VideoCardz insider network has not discovered any behind-the-scenes information regarding Team Green's launch period supply strategy.https://tpucdn.com/img/YrQAVCVTyWoRntlu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YrQAVCVTyWoRntlu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PDfxr2X594lIBPfC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PDfxr2X594lIBPfC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mvpOwdNU9qeFOIRc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mvpOwdNU9qeFOIRc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/krEhVvoBnX4zB6a0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/krEhVvoBnX4zB6a0.jpg)

Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331266/report-suggests-extreme-stock-limits-for-geforce-rtx-5090-5080-gpus-in-germany)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331266/report-suggests-extreme-stock-limits-for-geforce-rtx-5090-5080-gpus-in-germany)

[NextPowerUP]

Jonsbo rolls out two new Mini-ITX cases that squeeze a lot of features into just 4.54 liters. The N10 and NV10 models make the most of tight spaces, with each box measuring 205×205×108 mm. These small cases made of aluminium, take different paths to use space. The N10 caters to people who need lots of storage, with enough space for four 2.5-inch drives, kept cool by two 40x20 mm fans at the back running at 5000 RPM. Its counterpart, the NV10, swaps drive and back-fan room for graphics muscle fitting half-height dual-slot GPUs up to 190 mm long and offering PCIe 4.0 extension cable support.

The twins boast top-notch build quality combining 3.3 mm aluminium alloy with 1.0 mm steel plating. This results in a strong yet light frame, N10 weights 1.6 kg, while NV10 just 1.5 kg. Both cases can fit 1U Flex power supplies under 150 mm and CPU coolers up to 38 mm in height. Flexibility is a key selling point, as users can place both models upright or on their side to match different desk layouts. Even with their tiny sizes, these cases manage airflow well enough to handle their intended tasks, whether as small workstations or specialized setups.https://tpucdn.com/img/uLYeYTscXciWNutA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uLYeYTscXciWNutA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ezG0QT8wYd20UqG2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ezG0QT8wYd20UqG2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/krjb9GJ40QulT1cw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/krjb9GJ40QulT1cw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YyaVJRKTDhzPZMe7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YyaVJRKTDhzPZMe7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VEDYv8HGMRBZWdGk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VEDYv8HGMRBZWdGk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331267/jonsbo-launches-the-n10-and-nv10-4-54l-mini-itx-compact-cases-series)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331267/jonsbo-launches-the-n10-and-nv10-4-54l-mini-itx-compact-cases-series)

[NextPowerUP]

LUNAR (https://www.lunarremastered.com/) fans, mark your calendars! The epic adventure to save the world from the forces of evil with old friends Alex, Hiro, and more, begins April 18, 2025. Wishlist (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3255380/LUNAR_Remastered_Collection/) it on Steam right now! Dive into the enchanting worlds of LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete, two beloved JRPGs that have captured the hearts of gamers for generations. LUNAR: Silver Star Story introduces Alex, an aspiring Dragonmaster who bands together with his friends to combat the perilous emergence of the Magic Emperor and stop him from taking over the world.

LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue picks up a thousand years later, and follows Hiro and his friends as they set out in search of the Goddess Althena alongside an enigmatic girl named Lucia. On this grand quest, fend off enemies like Borgan and White Knight Leo, who hunt down the group to eradicate what they deem to be the "Destroyer of Lunar." This definitive remastered edition features enhanced graphics, audio, and quality-of-life improvements that will satiate that hunger for 90s nostalgia--better than you remember! Embark on these two adventures with updated language support, now available in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, French, and German.https://tpucdn.com/img/sTPAdIPPUfgpbGbV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sTPAdIPPUfgpbGbV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Z2kPmlUU4xwejBXg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Z2kPmlUU4xwejBXg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PK4OWHfK1kWAdh79_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PK4OWHfK1kWAdh79.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jffGzFz0gH7rxW3u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jffGzFz0gH7rxW3u.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331265/lunar-remastered-collection-lined-up-for-april-18-launch)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331265/lunar-remastered-collection-lined-up-for-april-18-launch)

[NextPowerUP]

Yesterday, Nintendo officially unveiled (https://www.techpowerup.com/331196/nintendo-announces-switch-2-april-launch-event-and-delivers-first-look-video) its Switch 2 handheld via a first look video presentation. Featured content did not come as a surprise to many gaming enthusiasts—a steady flow of leaks have already revealed outer (https://www.techpowerup.com/329895/nintendo-switch-leak-tips-lcd-hall-effect-joysticks) and inner workings (https://www.techpowerup.com/330410/nintendo-switch-2-pcb-leak-reveals-an-nvidia-tegra-t239-chip-optically-shrunk-to-5nm). Earlier today, the Digital Foundry team has offered their collective opinion on Nintendo's formal announcement. Their roundtable discussion first focused on the Switch 2's physical appearance—mainly a showcased physical increase in size, when lined up against the preceding (standard) model. Conversation quickly moved onto technical matters—a topic that Nintendo normally avoids discussing. The video presentation included in-game footage of a next-gen Mario Kart title—Oliver Mackenzie (a contributing DF video producer/writer) was not impressed by this short demo's visual fidelity. He noted an absence of DLSS image enhancement—surprising, given that the rumored NVIDIA Tegra T239 SoC is capable of deploying this graphics technology.

John, Rich and Oliver then moved onto discussing recently leaked clock speeds and performance figures (https://www.techpowerup.com/331147/nintendo-switch-2-docked-and-handheld-performance-revealed-by-tipster) (in handheld and docked modes)—overall, they reckon that these numbers seem fitting for a hybrid system. They noticed that the handheld GPU clock was lower than expected—based on their judgement of the Switch 2's fairly capable integrated cooling solution. In the past, Digital Foundry theorized that the NVIDIA-designed Tegra T239 will be an 8 nanometer part—rumored to be built on Samsung 8 nm DUV foundry node. Newer gaming community-generated proposals have suggested a shift to Samsung's 5 nm EUV node (https://www.techpowerup.com/330410/nintendo-switch-2-pcb-leak-reveals-an-nvidia-tegra-t239-chip-optically-shrunk-to-5nm)—mostly based on the chipset's physical footprint. In sharp contrast, the Digital Foundry guys are sticking with their 8 nm theory. Richard Leadbetter (DF's founder) has previously attempted to simulate Switch 2-esque performance on readily available Ampere-based hardware—he could revisit and perform tests on a laptop that sports Team Green's GeForce RTX 2050 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-2050-mobile.c3859) mobile GPU. He believes that the leaked CPU and GPU clocks (across both modes) present plausible evidence of 8 nm-level performance, cross-referenced with his team's past analysis of the system's PCB. Debates will inevitably rage on, but Rich insists that the end result will be an example of "Occam's razor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_razor)." The Tegra T239's four (long alleged) Cortex A78 cores appeared to be running at a higher frequency in portable mode than in docked—suggesting some unknown factors; perhaps a switching on or off of cores (situation dependent). Leadbetter and Co. will be looking forward to getting a proper hands-on experience at Nintendo's April to June launch events.https://tpucdn.com/img/Zg1sdcWPGgb9UXDi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Zg1sdcWPGgb9UXDi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AEPo27CWwalNW6m9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AEPo27CWwalNW6m9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DJVNrKitYjmREfAd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DJVNrKitYjmREfAd.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331262/digital-foundry-believes-that-nintendo-switch-2s-tegra-t239-soc-is-8-nm-part)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331262/digital-foundry-believes-that-nintendo-switch-2s-tegra-t239-soc-is-8-nm-part)

[NextPowerUP]

Multiple sources say an unidentified corporation is exploring the complete acquisition of Intel Corporation, according to tech publication SemiAccurate. The report points to an internal memo shared among a small group of top executives at the unnamed firm. A high-level insider confirmed the memo's legitimacy last week, reinforcing speculation that a purchase of Intel may be under serious consideration. SemiAccurate's report indicates that the prospective buyer has enough financial resources to acquire Intel outright, considering the company's current market valuation. Notably, this potential buyer has not been publicly identified in previous discussions about Intel's future, suggesting that planning has occurred behind closed doors. The memo's limited circulation hints that executives treat the proposal cautiously rather than engaging in casual exploratory talks.

Any attempt to purchase Intel would require extensive regulatory review, given the company's role in producing semiconductors for both commercial and government applications. Regulators would likely evaluate issues related to national security, supply chain stability, and competitive impact in the global chip market. While neither Intel nor the unidentified acquirer has issued an official statement on the rumor, we are watching for any signals of formal negotiations. Intel has long been a strategic source of the US semiconductor sector, and its potential ownership change would have to be domestic. If a deal does materialize, it would stand among the largest transactions in the technology field.https://tpucdn.com/img/YOrkysndL4iysver_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YOrkysndL4iysver.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331264/report-intel-could-face-acquisition-units-to-remain-together)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel Foundry has announced the onboarding of new defense industrial base (DIB) customers, Trusted Semiconductor Solutions and Reliable MicroSystems, as part of the third phase of the Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes - Commercial (RAMP-C) efforts under the Trusted & Assured Microelectronics (T&AM) Program in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)). The RAMP-C project, awarded through the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), allows DIB customers to take advantage of Intel Foundry's leading-edge Intel 18A process technology and advanced packaging for prototypes and high-volume manufacturing of commercial and DIB products for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

"We are very excited to welcome Trusted Semiconductor Solutions and Reliable MicroSystems to the RAMP-C project we are engaged in with the DoD. The collaboration will drive cutting-edge, secure semiconductor solutions essential for our nation's security, economic growth and technological leadership. We are proud of the pivotal role Intel Foundry plays in supporting U.S. national defense and look forward to working closely with our newest DIB customers to enable their innovations with our leading-edge Intel 18A technology," said Kapil Wadhera, vice president of Intel Foundry and general manager of Aerospace, Defense and Government Business Group.https://tpucdn.com/img/pBfCuTiqIQRCHs5N_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pBfCuTiqIQRCHs5N.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331263/intel-foundry-adds-new-customers-to-ramp-c-project-for-us-defense)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331263/intel-foundry-adds-new-customers-to-ramp-c-project-for-us-defense)

[NextPowerUP]

Marvelous Games (https://marvelousgames.com/) has announced Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (https://marvelousgames.com/games/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma). This new entry in the series will launch globally on the Nintendo Switch system and Windows PC via Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2864560/Rune_Factory_Guardians_of_Azuma/) on May 30, 2025. A new gameplay video showcasing Guardians of Azuma's action combat, relationship system, and seasonal village life is also now available to watch below. The latest entry in the popular action-RPG and life-simulation series introduces the Eastern territory of Azuma, a land of Japanese-inspired visuals and unique twists on familiar gameplay elements from the Rune Factory franchise.

Pre-orders for the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Limited Edition are now available at participating retailers here (https://marvelousgames.com/games/rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma/#buy-now) for an RRP of €99.99. This stunning collection comes in a custom outer box and includes a physical copy of the game, an original soundtrack CD, an art book, an Azuma-inspired folding fan, the "Seasons of Love" DLC bundle, additional DLC costumes for your protagonists and their divine sidekick Woolby, and a plush Woolby keychain. The standard edition of the game is also available to pre-order for an RRP of €59.99. Details on digital editions will be announced later.https://tpucdn.com/img/teHRPccDVMQhSmvL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/teHRPccDVMQhSmvL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2nbTxOXZx7rxzc9R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2nbTxOXZx7rxzc9R.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/M3nkoBLwKWDwBrzd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/M3nkoBLwKWDwBrzd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/n5OQUCBHQbRYJcH1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/n5OQUCBHQbRYJcH1.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331260/marvelous-announces-rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma-release-date-may-30)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331260/marvelous-announces-rune-factory-guardians-of-azuma-release-date-may-30)

[NextPowerUP]

PowerColor started its online marketing campaign for new Reaper graphics card family earlier this week—a rendered scythe graphic was posted on social media along with this cryptic message: "The Reaper has arrived. Everything is under your control. Will you be the Reaper or the one reaped?" The Taiwanese graphics cards company has already unveiled its opening salvo (https://www.techpowerup.com/330743/hands-on-with-the-powercolor-radeon-rx-9070-xt-red-devil-and-hellhound) of new RDNA 4-based card designs—on the internet (https://www.techpowerup.com/331214/powercolor-uploads-lots-of-radeon-rx-9070-xt-red-devil-promo-images) and in real life. For example, PowerColor's Radeon RX 9070 XT Reaper model was on display at CES 2025—where TechPowerUp spent a couple of minutes with an SFF-form-factor-friendly demonstration sample. Since then, more photo evidence has been posted on the AMD subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/1i2vmex/scan_uk_has_rx_9070_16gb_stock/)—a UK retailer appears to have units in-stock at their warehouse.

Team Red is seemingly operating in silent mode—they have not revealed concrete details (https://www.techpowerup.com/331197/amd-teases-radeon-rx-9000-series-launch-event-date-not-specified) about the upcoming launch of Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 (non-XT) GPUs. Preliminary specification leaks and photos of boxed retail units (https://www.techpowerup.com/331161/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-rx-9070-custom-models-in-stock-at-european-stores) have turned up this week—with yesterday's Reddit post indicating that Scan UK has received a big cardboard box containing PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper cards. Industry watchdogs reckon that AMD is still forming a release strategy—with board partners and retail/e-tail outlets waiting on and seemingly ready to receive new or finalized instructions.https://tpucdn.com/img/OCaCmVXrdUlcDqqa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OCaCmVXrdUlcDqqa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/igUKQ1EgaBUQBxnI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/igUKQ1EgaBUQBxnI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nGmBIsIETdY9IaqV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nGmBIsIETdY9IaqV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/n6P7k4hMEBBraBkf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/n6P7k4hMEBBraBkf.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331259/powercolor-radeon-rx-9070-reaper-graphics-card-stock-appears-in-uk)

[NextPowerUP]

Norwegian browser company Opera [NASDAQ: OPRA] is unveiling the Opera GX hub, a new feature designed to blend the universes of its users' favorite games directly into the browser. Starting with the Cyberpunk 2077 hub, this new addition to Opera GX brings players closer to their favorite titles than ever before, making it possible for them to use the web while never leaving Night City. They can now browse with the full Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack playing in the background, have webpages displayed in the dystopian Cyberpunk 2077 (https://www.cyberpunk.net/us/en/) style, and get direct access to streams, modding guides, news from the game and much more - all within the browser.

The Cyberpunk 2077 hub in Opera GX is the first of its kind. It's a new integrated feature that connects the universe of a game with the user's browsing experience. It also gives fans access to essential game-related content and tools, making it easier for them to stay up-to-date with the game while browsing the web within a single space. This collaboration with CD PROJEKT RED (https://www.cdprojektred.com/en) is just the beginning: Opera GX will be working on more immersive game integrations in the future.https://tpucdn.com/img/VQVmT4IyLBEyoKl1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VQVmT4IyLBEyoKl1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WkuXO636ebI9Luc5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WkuXO636ebI9Luc5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YRdjfXtvlZAQz5PO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YRdjfXtvlZAQz5PO.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331258/opera-gx-introduces-cyberpunk-2077-themed-hub)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331258/opera-gx-introduces-cyberpunk-2077-themed-hub)

[NextPowerUP]

Unannounced AMD Threadripper 9000 "Shimada Peak" processor SKUs have once again appeared on leaked shipping manifests—a 96-core variant was uncovered under similar circumstances last summer (https://www.techpowerup.com/325981/amd-threadripper-9000-shimada-peak-with-96-zen-5-cores-spotted). The latest discovery—courtesy of reliable investigator Everest/Olrak_29 (https://x.com/Olrak29_/status/1879866677737013328) combing through info published on NBD—reveals a Zen 5-based product stack that lists 16, 32, 64 and 96-core models. Until now, industry watchdogs have not spotted evidence of 32-core and 64-core SKUs—alongside prior leaks that only mentioned 16-core and 96-core parts.

Team Red has not officially announced that it is working on a follow-up to its current generation Zen 4-equipped Threadripper 7000 "Storm Peak" CPU series, but tipsters believe that fundamental similarities—based on leaked core counts and specifications—position "Shimada Peak" as the logical/inevitable successor. Speculation points to all the leaked Threadripper 9000 HEDT processors having a TDP rating of 350 W. Industry insiders propose that the highest-end variant—sporting 96 cores and 192 threads—will contain 12 CCDs (eight cores per CCD), 32 MB L3 cache (per CCD), and a lone I/O die. Wccftech theorizes that the 32-core model will be specced with four CCDs, while "the 64-core variant will come with eight CCDs." Insiders have whispered about a possible "later in 2025" launch window for "Shimada Peak."https://tpucdn.com/img/xmaFyeeDu8GTBpgo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xmaFyeeDu8GTBpgo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tMxvbWsexScBdOFO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tMxvbWsexScBdOFO.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331254/amd-ryzen-threadripper-9000-shimada-peak-64-core-32-core-skus-leak-out)

[NextPowerUP]

The newly unveiled GMK G9 is not here to set any records in terms of raw performance. However, it does pack a different trick up its sleeve - impressive storage capabilities, allowing for its use as an affordable NAS. GMK has not revealed any price or availability details as of now, although Liliputing did manage to dig up a retailer listing which reveals that the G1 mini PC will start at an affordable $289 for the base variant with 12 GB of memory and no SSD storage, whereas the same unit with 512 GB of storage will command an extra $30.

The GMK G9 is powered by Intel's N150 processor - a slightly higher-clocked version of the N100, which packs a total of four cores and four threads, a boost clock of 3.6 GHz, and a modest 6-watt TDP. As mentioned previously, the G1 is by no means a performance system, and packs just enough computing grunt to function as a lightweight daily driver or a NAS. The system can be equipped with up to 12 GB of LPDDR5-4800 memory and 64 GB of eMMC storage. To justify its NAS credentials, the G1 packs a whopping four M.2 2280 slots, allowing for a maximum of 32 TB of SSD storage. The port selection is plenty decent as well, including a USB-C port, triple USB-A ports, dual HDMI ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and of course, dual 2.5G RJ-45 LAN ports. For the price and the features offered, the G1 sure does like a commendable choice for a nifty little home server.https://tpucdn.com/img/Gp1mhmZ4rrNLjp0a_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Gp1mhmZ4rrNLjp0a.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dQsI0CfYw8c8tPix_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dQsI0CfYw8c8tPix.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331250/gmk-g9-mini-pc-unveiled-with-4x-m-2-2280-slots-and-dual-2-5g-lan)

[NextPowerUP]

LG Display, the world's leading innovator of display technologies, continues to lead the way in large-sized OLED technology by unveiling its fourth-generation OLED TV panel. 33% brighter than the previous generation and optimized for the AI TV era, it is the industry's first ever OLED display to achieve a maximum brightness as high as 4,000 nits (1 nit is the brightness produced by a candle).

Panels with both high brightness and energy efficiency are essential for AI TVs, as they use upscaling that analyzes content in real time to deliver ultra-high picture quality of up to 8K. The industry also considers higher brightness to be a key picture quality factor because it enables more vivid images that are akin to natural human vision.https://tpucdn.com/img/khLOax8SmFEnmFiI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/khLOax8SmFEnmFiI.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331256/lg-display-unveils-4th-generation-oled-panel-optimized-for-ai-era)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331256/lg-display-unveils-4th-generation-oled-panel-optimized-for-ai-era)

[NextPowerUP]

Cue the iconic FINAL FANTASY fanfare because we can confirm that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (https://ffvii.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/rebirth) is officially Steam Deck Verified! Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun da duuuuun! That means upon launch on January 23, you'll be able to play the critically acclaimed RPG on a train, on a plane, swaddled up in bed, in the bathroom… wherever you want. It's fine - we won't judge.

Of course, you can also play on your desktop, where depending on your rig you'll be able to benefit from frame rates of up to 120 FPS and a range of visual enhancements, including refined lighting, improved environment detail, more detailed textures. You'll also potentially be able to experience enhanced framerates and image quality with NVIDIA DLSS. VRR is also supported. You can get a sense of the PC enhancements in the new trailer (below), and check out our previous article (https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_US/news/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-pc) for more details.https://tpucdn.com/img/YlEJcOGO8zu7AW6u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YlEJcOGO8zu7AW6u.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gqcBjATiRfUXbmId_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gqcBjATiRfUXbmId.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mHFf37weqT3GWFij_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mHFf37weqT3GWFij.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331252/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-officially-steam-deck-verified)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331252/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-officially-steam-deck-verified)

[NextPowerUP]

AMD's Radeon RX 6750 GRE (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-6750-gre-12-gb.c4183) GPU is an (RDNA 2) Chinese market exclusive—Board Channels members reckon that this model is facing imminent discontinuation. The "GRE" affix denotes "Golden Rabbit Edition." Western graphics card enthusiasts will be familiar with this slightly odd moniker due to Radeon RX 7900 GRE (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-7900-gre.c4166)-based (RDNA 3) cards heading to European and North American territories around early 2024 (https://www.techpowerup.com/319592/amd-radeon-rx-7900-gre-to-launch-globally-on-february-27). Sadly, this mid-to-high tier GPU is rumored to be reaching an end-of-life (EOL) phase (https://www.techpowerup.com/330000/amd-radeon-rx-7900-gre-china-edition-gpu-reaches-end-of-life)—the latest speculation now points to Team Red's Radeon RX 6750 GRE being quietly withdrawn from China's PC hardware market.

Two Radeon RX 6750 GRE Navi 22 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/amd-navi-22.g951)-based SKUs—with 10 GB (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-6750-gre-10-gb.c4192) or 12 GB (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-6750-gre-12-gb.c4183) video memory configurations—were created specifically to fill a gap not occupied by AMD's Radeon RX 7600 XT (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-7600-xt.c4190) model. The affordable-tier Golden Rabbit Editions are said to be highly popular with Chinese system integrators and budget-minded gamers, but Team Red and its board partners have (apparently) declared that the 10 GB variant is now discontinued. A Board Channel member posited that an "inventory digestion phase" is already underway, with an end date set in March. AIBs are reportedly waiting on "replacement plans from February to March." The Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB variant is reported to be sticking around for the moment, but a new candidate could be appearing in the near future. VideoCardz believes that AMD is considering a rollout of the—not yet announced and oft-delayed—Radeon RX 7650 GRE as a potential modernized substitute.https://tpucdn.com/img/Jwhvo0ohglzy8iJy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Jwhvo0ohglzy8iJy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PYNS8lWsAIpfDb2H_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PYNS8lWsAIpfDb2H.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/l8l2PPxrFQN1WVEb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l8l2PPxrFQN1WVEb.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331249/amd-retiring-radeon-rx-6750-gre-10-gb-sku-according-to-chinese-tipsters)

[NextPowerUP]

The RTX 50-series fever continues to rage on, with independent reviews for the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 dropping towards the end of this month. That does not stop benchmarks from leaking out, unsurprisingly, and a recent lineup of Geekbench listings have revealed the raw performance uplifts that can be expected from NVIDIA's next generation GeForce flagship. A sizeable chunk of the tech community was certainly rather disappointed with NVIDIA's reliance on AI-powered frame generation for much of the claimed improvements in gaming. Now, it appears we can finally figure out how much raw improvement NVIDIA was able to squeeze out with consumer Blackwell, and the numbers, for the most part, appear decent enough.

Starting off with the OpenCL tests, the highest score that we have seen so far from the RTX 5090 puts it around 367,000 points, which marks an acceptable jump from the RTX 4090, which manages around 317,000 points according to Geekbench's official average data. Of course, there are a plethora of cards that may easily exceed the average scores, which must be kept in mind. That said, we are not aware of the details of the RTX 5090 that was tested, so pitting it against average scores does seem fair. Moving to Vulkan, the performance uplift is much more satisfying, with the RTX 5090 managing a minimum of 331,000 points and a maximum of around 360,000 points, compared to the RTX 4090's 262,000 - a sizeable 37% improvement at the highest end. Once again, we are comparing the best results posted so far against last year's averages, so expect slightly more modest gains in the real world. Once more reviews start appearing after the embargo lifts, the improvement figures should become much more reliable.https://tpucdn.com/img/1grR2TZXevr34fFb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1grR2TZXevr34fFb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xkpuAS0SQqGaqmNd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xkpuAS0SQqGaqmNd.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331241/nvidia-rtx-5090-geekbench-leak-opencl-and-vulkan-tests-reveal-true-performance-uplifts)

[NextPowerUP]

The journey begins now: Assetto Corsa EVO Early Access is live on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3058630/Assetto_Corsa_EVO/)! Imagine sitting behind the wheel of your dream car, the engine roaring, with the track stretching out before you. Feel the changing light as you accelerate, the road alive beneath your tires. This isn't just a game—it's the start of your driving journey.

For the next two weeks, until January 30th, join Assetto Corsa EVO (https://assettocorsa.gg/assetto-corsa-evo/) Early Access at 20% off. By joining now, you'll receive all the content featured in version 1.0 for free. This is your chance to be part of the game's evolution at the lowest price of the entire EA program—immerse yourself in every thrilling lap and turn while shaping the future of the game.https://tpucdn.com/img/8aikcs7PFKmXDAoB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8aikcs7PFKmXDAoB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Z0JBMczQmaImnDZw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Z0JBMczQmaImnDZw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D8D0hcDh47zR1k2G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D8D0hcDh47zR1k2G.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331248/assetto-corsa-evo-early-access-goes-live-on-steam)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331248/assetto-corsa-evo-early-access-goes-live-on-steam)

[NextPowerUP]

It is no secret that NVIDIA's RTX 50-series launch was welcomed with a mixed reception. On one hand, DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation has allowed for obscene jumps in performance, much to the dismay of purists who would rather do away with AI-powered wizardry. A recent YouTube video has detailed what the RTX 5090 is capable of in Cyberpunk 2077 with Path Tracing at 4K, both with and without the controversial AI features. With DLSS set to performance mode and 4x frame generation (three generated frames), the RTX 5090 managed around 280 FPS. Pretty good, especially when considering the perfectly acceptable latency of around 52 ms, albeit with occasional spikes.

Turning DLSS to quality, the frame rate drops to around 230 FPS, with latency continuing to hover around 50 ms. Interestingly, with frame generation set to 3x or even 2x, the difference in latency was borderline negligible between the two, right around 44 ms or so. However, the FPS takes a massive nosedive when frame generation is turned off entirely. With DLSS set to quality mode and FG turned off, the RTX 5090 barely managed around 70 FPS in the game. Taking things a step further, the presenter turned off DLSS as well, resulting in the RTX 5090 struggling to hit 30 FPS in the game, with latency spiking to 70 ms. Clearly, DLSS 4 and MFG allows for an incredible uplift in performance with minimal artefacting, at least in Cyberpunk 2077 unless one really looks for it.https://tpucdn.com/img/y7YFqEbiuXLLfsha_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y7YFqEbiuXLLfsha.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BVIOApCUGsBcb1dv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BVIOApCUGsBcb1dv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WPW66xhgp5hC368L_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WPW66xhgp5hC368L.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331242/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-performance-in-cyberpunk-2077-with-and-without-dlss-4-detailed)

[NextPowerUP]

Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ: STX), an innovator of mass capacity data storage, today announced shipments of Exos M hard drive samples to select customers in industry-leading capacities up to 36 terabytes (TB). Based on Mozaic 3+, the company's breakthrough heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology platform, Exos M delivers unprecedented storage scale for large-scale data center deployments.

Key Takeaways

Adopted by Cloud Service Providers: Seagate is currently ramping Exos M to volume shipments on capacity points up to 32 TB with a leading cloud service provider. Separately, Seagate is also sampling drives on the Exos M platform of up to 36 TB.
Mozaic 3+ and HAMR Innovation: Based on Seagate's Mozaic 3+ technology platform, the industry's first implementation of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), Exos M offers data center operators significant scale, total cost of ownership (TCO), and sustainability advantages, including 300% more storage capacity within the same data center footprint, a 25% cost reduction per terabyte and 60% reduction in power consumption per terabyte.
Unrivalled Areal Density: Exos M, powered by HAMR-based Mozaic 3+ platform, now delivers capacity points up to 36 TB through a highly efficient 10-platter product design. Seagate is the only data storage company that can achieve areal densities of 3.6 TB per hard drive platter today, with a pathway to increasing per-platter capacity to 10 TB.

https://tpucdn.com/img/tbK19PUGTNDjeaJ1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tbK19PUGTNDjeaJ1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9ncN2IGXLhvrSMRC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9ncN2IGXLhvrSMRC.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331367/seagate-extends-hamr-based-mozaic-3-technology-platform-with-up-to-36-tb-capacites)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331367/seagate-extends-hamr-based-mozaic-3-technology-platform-with-up-to-36-tb-capacites)

[NextPowerUP]

Global leader in storage solutions, Patriot Memory, proudly announces the launch of the iLuxe Stick, the latest addition to the iLuxe series of digital lifestyle products following the iLuxe Cube. Combining sleek design with high performance, the Patriot iLuxe Stick is a portable storage device that ensures you'll never miss capturing a precious moment due to insufficient storage. With the iLuxe app, photos and videos are seamlessly transferred to the iLuxe Stick in real time, providing effortless storage expansion for iPhones and iPads. The device also simplifies cross-platform file transfers.

The iLuxe Stick features a dual-connector design with both Type-C and Lightning interfaces, ensuring compatibility with Apple iPhones from the iPhone 6 to the latest iPhone 16. Its innovative Trust Circle encryption system supports up to 16 encrypted members, allowing users to select sharing permissions while maintaining privacy and security.https://tpucdn.com/img/3LlNjILFUlxWZzBV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3LlNjILFUlxWZzBV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tKOquIF9BB8OKza5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tKOquIF9BB8OKza5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cbQv5RfE4jR1yxZL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cbQv5RfE4jR1yxZL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kYgmJU1eKEFQManQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kYgmJU1eKEFQManQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331366/patriot-memory-unveils-iluxe-stick)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331366/patriot-memory-unveils-iluxe-stick)

[NextPowerUP]

EasySMX, the Gamer's Choice for advanced gaming peripherals, is thrilled to introduce the D05 Gaming Controller. Engineered for peak performance and versatility, the D05 brings enhanced precision, seamless charging, and more customizable vibrant RGB style to gamers on PC, Switch, Android, and iOS.

"The D05 was designed to meet gamers' demands for precision, durability, and ease of use," said Gavin, Product Director at EasySMX. "We've created a controller that enhances gameplay across platforms while addressing the most common frustrations like stick drift and inconvenient charging."https://tpucdn.com/img/CloGgy6nGoEz2ctg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CloGgy6nGoEz2ctg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/l3Ro1cwTA93jHMxk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l3Ro1cwTA93jHMxk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331365/easysmx-launches-new-d05-gaming-controller)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331365/easysmx-launches-new-d05-gaming-controller)

[NextPowerUP]

Recent MAXSUN activities have been very Intel Arc "Battlemage" B-series GPU-focused—most notably, a leaked design (https://www.techpowerup.com/330133/maxsun-arc-b580-graphics-card-with-two-m-2-slots-pictured-in-the-flesh) that leverages dual M.2 slots. Earlier today, ITHome (https://www.ithome.com/0/825/990.htm) reported on the fresh retail release of two sort-of-new MAXSUN graphics cards in China (on JD.com)—MS-GT730 PH 4 GB (¥359/~US$49) and MS-GT730 PH 2 GB (¥329/~US$45). These super low budget offerings signal a dip back into technologies of old: NVIDIA's GK208 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/nvidia-gk208b.g815) "Kepler 2.0" GPU—of 2014 vintage. This is a curious choice, given that Team Green's "Kepler" GPU generation has not received new drivers since the release of R470 (https://www.techpowerup.com/282478/nvidia-to-end-kepler-support-with-r470-drivers-9-years-after-release-support-roadmap) (back in 2021), and the last security update arrived with NVIDIA's 473.47 WHQL (https://www.techpowerup.com/294913/nvidia-releases-security-update-473-47-whql-driver-for-kepler-gpus) driver.

ITHome reckons that MAXSUN has simply recycled its existing MS-GT730 Heavy Hammer 4G and MS-GT730 Heavy Hammer 2G card designs for an early 2025 market launch—TechPowerUp's GPU database produces another very similar looking model: the GT 730 Transformers III 2G (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/maxsun-gt-730-transformers-iii.b7105). The online publication reached out to MAXSUN's JD storefront customer service for comment on the apparent refresh of old products. ITHome discovered that the renamed reissues are a result of demands generated by "internal supply chain management." MAXSUN stated that its production batch have changed, and it: "emphasizes that the performance (of their new models) is consistent with the old version(s)."https://tpucdn.com/img/tuzc6TwccCcS75hZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tuzc6TwccCcS75hZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vZoOo9hHbVQxd51H_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vZoOo9hHbVQxd51H.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gAnjQH2NpDZkAFFV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gAnjQH2NpDZkAFFV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5XdQziw8kc0029ZZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5XdQziw8kc0029ZZ.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331356/maxsun-dips-back-into-nvidia-gt-730-gpu-pool)

[NextPowerUP]

Manli announced in a recent press release, which somehow went unnoticed most likely due to the CES 2025 event, that new Gallardo, Stellar, Polar Fox, and Nebula series graphics cards based on the NVIDIA Blackwell series are ready to join the GeForce RTX 50 lineup. While Manli didn't yet provide exact specifications, they showcased a bit more details regarding the design and the Drag Reduction System (DRS) feature that equips its Gallardo RTX 50 series.

The company seems to be a bit secretive at this moment, however, they say that the Drag Reduction System (DRS) has its inspiration in motorsports. Most likely this implies a dedicated design that use the heatsinks and spoilers to direct airflow towards specific areas. Manli Stellar, Polar Fox, and Nebula RTX 50 series are all based on a dual-slot format with triple fans on top. Although the press release mentioned that the new Manli 50 series graphics cards are available, there's no information about the exact lineup or pricing, and currently, the cards are not listed on the company website.https://tpucdn.com/img/a6PMwVMriJvpTbCz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/a6PMwVMriJvpTbCz.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331354/manli-announces-gallardo-stellar-polar-fox-and-nebula-geforce-rtx-50-series-graphics-cards)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331354/manli-announces-gallardo-stellar-polar-fox-and-nebula-geforce-rtx-50-series-graphics-cards)

[NextPowerUP]

MicroProse (https://www.microprose.com/), the legendary developer and publisher known for its mastery of simulation and strategy games, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Divio to publish Liquidation (https://liquidationgame.com/). This explosive real-time strategy (RTS) game thrusts players into the war-torn world of Veá, where advanced technology clashes with arcane power, creating a rich and dynamic battlefield for RTS fans to conquer.

Starting today—January 20—players can sign up for the upcoming open playtest via Liquidation's Steam page (https://store.steampowered.com/app/896250/Liquidation/). This first-time event will offer players who sign up the opportunity to be among the first to command their forces and explore the game's unique blend of genres, offering invaluable feedback that will help shape the final release.https://tpucdn.com/img/3NQEvD5lngYzD6kg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3NQEvD5lngYzD6kg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/or1LgZMFfnjXR3jN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/or1LgZMFfnjXR3jN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fE1OWsCJ9wosQiDl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fE1OWsCJ9wosQiDl.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331355/microprose-to-publish-liquidation-playtest-coming-soon)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331355/microprose-to-publish-liquidation-playtest-coming-soon)

[NextPowerUP]

MSI is preparing a new selection of yellow-tipped 16-pin power adapters—as reported by VideoCardz earlier today—for inclusion with certain GeForce RX 50 series "Blackwell" GPU-based graphics card models. An official announcement has not been released—regarding the latest color coding for power connectors—but new product photos have appeared on the MSI website. The yellow sections provide a clear "visual guide" when hooking the relevant adapter up to a graphics card—full insertion is achieved when the yellow tip is fully obscured by its surroundings. MSI's latest image uploads indicate that dual 8-pin to single 16-pin adapters will likely be bundled with MSI's GeForce RTX 5070 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5070.c4218) models. The RTX 5070 Ti (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5070-ti.c4243) and 5080 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5080.c4217) product tiers will be getting three 8-pin ended adapters. A very busy-looking 4-way splitter is seemingly reserved for flagship GeForce RTX 5090 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5090.c4216) cards.

The MAG GL PSU series debuted back in 2023 (https://www.techpowerup.com/310153/msi-announces-the-mag-gl-series-atx-3-0-power-supplies), featuring a similarly-tinted "dual color" safety measure—based on customer and community feedback. At the time, MSI stated that it had reacted to: "reported cases of power supply connectors being burnt when paired with high-end graphics cards. We've identified the main reason: the connectors not being plugged in properly and the connector pins suffering from fall outs. With this new cable, we successfully tackle both issues head-on." Manufacturers have continued to release new products that utilize the "problematic" 12VHPWR standard, even years after the introduction of a successor (https://www.techpowerup.com/310761/12vhpwr-connector-said-to-be-replaced-by-12v-2x6-connector): 12V-2x6. NVIDIA and several of its board partners are reported to be sticking with the first iteration PCIe Gen 5 16-pin connector for upcoming GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards. The TechPowerUp team inspected ZOTAC's new 12WHPWR "Safety Light" feature (https://www.techpowerup.com/330816/zotac-shows-full-geforce-rtx-50-series-lineup-at-ces-2025-updating-the-design-and-bringing-new-features) at the recently concluded CES trade event—a visual warning will be displayed in the event of a connection problem being detected.https://tpucdn.com/img/7K6Frst8R16rNA3K_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7K6Frst8R16rNA3K.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TJzDUf9cWXYE49AF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TJzDUf9cWXYE49AF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Rm6AJUkUJU6mnKdD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Rm6AJUkUJU6mnKdD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/r72hlR52YyuIg6B4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/r72hlR52YyuIg6B4.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331351/msi-readying-yellow-tipped-16-pin-power-adaptors-for-geforce-rtx-50-series)

[NextPowerUP]

Energizer is a brand that is best known for its batteries, as the name would suggest. However, it now appears that the brand wants a piece of the consumer technology pie as well, but not exactly. The thing is, well-known brands often license out their brand name to other manufactures who make completely unrelated products, which are then sold with their branding. Energizer has done something similar, and licensed out its brand name to Avenir Telecom, who now plans on making and selling laptops with the "Energizer" brand. There are no concrete details on specifications yet, although we do know that the laptop lineup will be named "EnergyBook", and will ship in 15- and 17-inch sizes with either 128 or 256 GB of storage.

Clearly, the laptops are by no means aimed at users with heavy workloads, but rather casual users with extremely modest performance expectations from their machines. Unsurprisingly, the pricing reflects this strategy rather well, with the EnergyBook lineup being expected to start from just $199. We have no exact date in sight, although Avenir Telecom has revealed the laptops should be available in the first quarter of this year. That said, it should be noted that with laptops from prominent brands getting cheaper every year, ultra-low-end laptops from lesser-known manufacturers are often not very good deals, at least in terms of longevity or quality. Of course, the EnergyBook lineup might end up being a glaring exception to that rule, although that remains to be seen.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ap9C1OsPtE5QHksQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ap9C1OsPtE5QHksQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UqfRUCdh1eYqxSfa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UqfRUCdh1eYqxSfa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KpXrV7yzxiTLPCXi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KpXrV7yzxiTLPCXi.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331329/energizer-energybook-prominent-battery-maker-forays-into-affordable-laptop-market)

[NextPowerUP]

Recently, we covered a rumor arising from PCGH which stated that the RTX 5090, and perhaps even the RTX 5080, are gearing up to face an extremely stock-limited launch in Germany. Now, it appears that customers in North America will likely face very similar circumstances, if the claims made by tipster Moore's Law is Dead's sources are taken to be true. MLID spoke with several sources, including distributors and AIBs, all of whom had the same thing to say - it is going be quite hard to snag an RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 at launch.

One of the distributors that MLID apparently spoke with, went as far as to comment that they simply won't be having any RTX 5090s at all in the first month of launch. Further, while they received almost 200 RTX 4080s during the previous launch season, they only expect to get 20 units of the RTX 5080 this time around. As for the RTX 5090, they do not foresee inventory before late Q1, or even Q2 of this year. A second source, who claimed to be from an AIB partner, stated that while they will have RTX 5080s ready at launch, they are "only a fraction" of the RTX 4080s they had last time. Moreover, the number of RTX 5090s they claim to have matches that of the RTX 3090s they had, which, for those who don't remember, suffered from severe supply shortages at launch.https://tpucdn.com/img/8fcmGbGivoXU2obU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8fcmGbGivoXU2obU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vpudSBajR349pOuM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vpudSBajR349pOuM.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331335/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-and-rtx-5080-likely-to-be-extremely-hard-to-get-at-launch)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331335/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-and-rtx-5080-likely-to-be-extremely-hard-to-get-at-launch)

[NextPowerUP]

Bonfire Studios (https://bonfirestudios.com/), an independent video game developer, is finally coming out of stealth mode, unveiling the name and first details of its debut project, Arkheron. Founded by industry veterans responsible for iconic franchises including Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo, Overwatch, StarCraft and World of Warcraft, the Bonfire team draws on the expertise and design principles honed on those titles to craft an innovative new PvP game. Private playtesting for Arkheron is already underway and will be expanding in the coming months with rolling invites. Players who love fast-paced PvP combat are encouraged to sign up now (https://bonfirestudios.com/playtest/index.html) for a chance to be among the first to play Arkheron and help shape its later stages of development.

Bonfire has been playing and iterating on Arkheron behind-the-scenes for years and began private playtesting sessions with a small community in 2024. While players will find familiar ideas and concepts in Arkheron, it isn't about combining genres—it's about creating something entirely new; a dynamic, fast-paced PvP gameplay experience set in a dark and foreboding world. The team at Bonfire playtests the game every day, and attributes this aspect of their development process to helping them create a fun and unique game they believe will resonate with players.https://tpucdn.com/img/TcxEk27rMOA0nZeK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TcxEk27rMOA0nZeK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jqOOBlas00JoBKr7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jqOOBlas00JoBKr7.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331350/bonfire-studios-teases-debut-title-arkheron-public-playtest-coming-soon)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331350/bonfire-studios-teases-debut-title-arkheron-public-playtest-coming-soon)

[NextPowerUP]

A pre-launch unboxing the ASUS TUF GAMING Radeon RX 9070 XT OC (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/asus-tuf-gaming-rx-9070-xt-oc.b12112) graphics card model has been shared and documented online—courtesy of a video uploaded to social media over the past weekend. Artline, a computer hardware retailer based in Ukraine, seems to have at least one model in their possession—similarly, stock (from other brands) has been distributed across supply networks to locations around Europe (https://www.techpowerup.com/331161/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-rx-9070-custom-models-in-stock-at-european-stores).

AMD and its retail partners are reportedly at loggerheads (https://www.techpowerup.com/331321/amds-radeon-rx-9070-launch-faces-pricing-hurdles) over proposed launch pricing strategies—the first wave of RDNA 4-equipped products appear to be ready for launch, but debates over "excessive wholesale costs" could delay matters. VideoCardz has reached out to its contacts across distribution and insider networks—they believe that an official AMD announcement could be delivered at some point this week. Team Red representatives recently teased a forthcoming special launch event (https://www.techpowerup.com/331197/amd-teases-radeon-rx-9000-series-launch-event-date-not-specified), but chose to not divulge a specific start date.https://tpucdn.com/img/7ZU5v4ldkgNAtC5X_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7ZU5v4ldkgNAtC5X.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yEIMKF6Q32GuqVRh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yEIMKF6Q32GuqVRh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Jl7wKli5sztegQSr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Jl7wKli5sztegQSr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/P0ZCNo8GHKFoaKlW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/P0ZCNo8GHKFoaKlW.jpg)

Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331348/asus-tuf-gaming-radeon-rx-9070-xt-oc-unboxed-in-ukraine)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331348/asus-tuf-gaming-radeon-rx-9070-xt-oc-unboxed-in-ukraine)

[NextPowerUP]

Hello everyone, check out the latest game from The Outer Zone (https://theouterzone.itch.io/) and 11 bit studios (https://11bitstudios.com/). Journey the sorrowful spirit world in souls-like deck builder, Death Howl (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2825880/Death_Howl/). Craft cards and claim powerful totems to defeat the woeful spirits lurking in the mystical lands. Unravel the tale of a grieving mother in her desperate attempt to defy death and bring back her son.

In forgotten lands shrouded by myth, Ro—a hunter from a small tribe—is overcome by grief following the death of her beloved son. Guided by voices from another world, she transcends into the realm of spirits, in hopes of bringing him back. Death Howl weaves an atmospheric tale of grief, healing, and resilience. As Ro, you'll face relentless spirits in turn-based battles that challenge your tactical sense and adaptability. To succeed, you must craft and master decks of powerful cards and use shamanic totems while unearthing forgotten tales and secrets that shape Ro's path.https://tpucdn.com/img/wqPt6KMgGYmHpmPP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wqPt6KMgGYmHpmPP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9tUYjn9bxne4bqe0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9tUYjn9bxne4bqe0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oF4sixKSiY5r0uHI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oF4sixKSiY5r0uHI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KMYZBiHKpatL7mGh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KMYZBiHKpatL7mGh.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331347/11-bit-studios-announces-death-howl-demo-available-now-on-steam)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331347/11-bit-studios-announces-death-howl-demo-available-now-on-steam)

[NextPowerUP]

Noted technology tipster, Kepler L2, believes that the Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) engineering team has finalized the design of a PlayStation 6 (PS6) system-on-chip (SoC)—insider information was shared on the NeoGAF forum (a popular computer game discussion board) late last week. It would be natural to assume that Sony's gaming division is deep into the process of developing a follow-up to its PlayStation 5 home console, but Kepler L2's fresh revelation points to surprisingly advanced progress. Insider sources point to the PS6's chip design being: "complete and in pre-silicon validation already, with A0 tapeout scheduled for late this year."

Industry experts have analyzed PlayStation development cycles of days past—history has demonstrated a pattern of the A0 tapeout phase reaching completion around two years before the rollout of finalized products at retail. Kepler L2 reckons that this pattern will be repeated—indicating a possible launch of PlayStation by 2027. The rumored PS6 chipset has been linked to AMD's "gfx13" target—everyone's favorite Team Red tipster posits that Sony engineers are working with a "fork" of this next-gen "UDNA (https://www.techpowerup.com/329003/amd-to-skip-rdna-5-udna-takes-the-spotlight-after-rdna-4)" graphics technology. The rumor mill has generated additional PS6 SoC-related internet chatter—last Friday, Chiphell alleged (https://www.techpowerup.com/331230/amd-to-build-zen-6-ccd-on-tsmc-3nm-process-next-gen-ciod-and-siod-on-4nm) a possible adoption of Team Red's X3 V-cache technology.https://tpucdn.com/img/sgKK7Cb9v5ZLxEsQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sgKK7Cb9v5ZLxEsQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D6BadLfZBmHEyBZS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D6BadLfZBmHEyBZS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3o0ks1PMbq4JLONS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3o0ks1PMbq4JLONS.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331346/playstation-6-chipset-design-finalized-says-tipster-predicts-console-launch-in-2027)

[NextPowerUP]

According to a recent, global Recon Analytics survey commissioned by Seagate Technology, business leaders from across 15 industry sectors and 10 countries expect that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) applications will generate unprecedented volumes of data, driving a boom in demand for data storage, in particular cloud-based storage. With hard drives delivering scalability relative to terabyte-per-dollar cost efficiencies, cloud service providers rely on hard drives to store mass quantities of data.

Recently, analyst firm IDC estimated that 89% of data stored by leading cloud service providers is stored on hard drives. Now, according to this Recon Analytics study, nearly two-thirds of respondents (61%) from companies that use cloud as their leading storage medium expect their cloud-based storage to grow by more than 100% over the next 3 years. "The survey results generally point to a coming surge in demand for data storage, with hard drives emerging as the clear winner," remarked Roger Entner, founder and lead analyst of Recon Analytics. "When you consider that the business leaders we surveyed intend to store more and more of this AI-driven data in the cloud, it appears that cloud services are well-positioned to ride a second growth wave."https://tpucdn.com/img/034XNeAwM1sy79iW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/034XNeAwM1sy79iW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VE5QG3beZD2IXzKo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VE5QG3beZD2IXzKo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VxLvIaQg6sFiGxWQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VxLvIaQg6sFiGxWQ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331344/seagate-anticipates-cloud-storage-growth-due-to-ai-driven-data-creation)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331344/seagate-anticipates-cloud-storage-growth-due-to-ai-driven-data-creation)

[NextPowerUP]

C.C. Wei, TSMC CEO and Chairman, has shared his latest views regarding his company's North American manufacturing center—Reuters cornered him for comment during a mid-week appearance at a National Taiwan University-held event. The Taiwanese government has recently lowered its "silicon shield (https://www.techpowerup.com/331104/tsmc-granted-government-permission-to-produce-2-nm-beyond-taiwans-borders)"—following much (reported) deliberation over "legal restrictions on transferring leading-edge process technology overseas." This relaxation of rules has TSMC considering a new set of investments for operations outside of Taiwan—with an expansion into advanced node process manufacturing. Currently, 2 nm (N2) is a home turf-speciality—industry experts estimate an expenditure of $28-30 (USD) billion to bring this production technology over to the States. TSMC's CEO has described additional challenges—on top of (and impacting) finances—local bureaucracy is a big one.

Wei stated: "every step requires a permit, and after the permit is approved, it takes at least twice as long as in Taiwan." According Reuters, he reckons that it would be difficult for their North American sites to access the latest technologies ahead of teams in Taiwan. He detailed his company's recruitment of several experts—tasked with talking to local government; about regulatory issues. This was not a cheap undertaking: "we ended up establishing 18,000 rules, which cost us $35 million." TSMC's Arizona production hub will (eventually) consist of three large factories—despite long-term teething problems, Fab 21 is reported to be churning out the first wave of "Made in America" product (https://www.techpowerup.com/331138/apple-reportedly-due-to-receive-first-batch-of-made-in-usa-tsmc-chips) for a very important client: Apple. Wei expressed positives views when asked about the USA site's prospects—during an earnings conference (Jan 16)—he believes that it will eventually produce the "same quality of chips as in Taiwan," through a "smooth ramp-up process."https://tpucdn.com/img/kiTbUQudPOWHajGo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kiTbUQudPOWHajGo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NgidQp0RuVRNz1wl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NgidQp0RuVRNz1wl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KURjdnDwB8SRcQIc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KURjdnDwB8SRcQIc.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331340/tsmc-ceo-believes-american-foundries-will-trail-behind-primary-taiwanese-sites)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331340/tsmc-ceo-believes-american-foundries-will-trail-behind-primary-taiwanese-sites)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA has released urgent security patches addressing eight vulnerabilities in its GPU drivers and virtual GPU software that affect both Windows and Linux systems. The January 16 update targets multiple security flaws that could enable attackers with local access to execute malicious code, steal data, or crash affected systems. Two high-severity vulnerabilities stand out among the patches. The first (CVE-2024-0150) involves a buffer overflow in the GPU display driver that could lead to system compromise through data tampering and information disclosure. The second critical issue (CVE-2024-0146) affects the virtual GPU Manager, where a compromised guest system could trigger memory corruption, potentially leading to code execution and system takeover. For Windows systems, users must update to version 553.62 (R550 branch) or 539.19 (R535 branch). Linux users need to install version 550.144.03 or 535.230.02, depending on their driver branch.

The updates cover NVIDIA's RTX, Quadro, NVS, and Tesla product lines. Enterprise environments using NVIDIA's virtualization technology face additional risks. One vulnerability (CVE-2024-53881) allows guest systems to launch interrupt storms against host machines, potentially causing system-wide outages. To patch these security holes, virtual GPU software users must update to version 17.5 (550.144.02) or 16.9 (535.230.02). The vulnerabilities specifically target systems where attackers have local access, which means remote exploitation is unlikely. However, in virtualized environments where multiple users share GPU resources, these flaws pose a significant security risk. System administrators can download the security updates from NVIDIA's Driver Downloads page, while enterprise vGPU customers should obtain patches through the NVIDIA Licensing Portal. NVIDIA recommends immediate installation of these updates across all affected systems.https://tpucdn.com/img/gRiFvqiZE16bbGvL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gRiFvqiZE16bbGvL.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331339/nvidia-fixes-high-risk-gpu-driver-vulnerabilities-that-allow-code-execution-and-data-theft)

[NextPowerUP]

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced the launch of TALES OF GRACES f REMASTERED (https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/tales-of-graces-f-remastered), bringing the remastered version of the timeless action RPG to current generation consoles and PC. The title enhances a memorable entry in the Tales of series, letting players experience this classic with stunning visuals and new features. TALES OF GRACES f REMASTERED also adds more than 80 DLC packs and items released for the original, now included in the base game. The title is available now in Standard and Deluxe Editions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2530980/Tales_of_Graces_f_Remastered/).

TALES OF GRACES f REMASTERED is a remastered version of TALES OF GRACES f that released in 2010. Players will follow the adventures of Asbel and his friends as they embark on a world-spanning quest filled with unforgettable characters, shocking revelations, and unique companions brought together through promises made across time. Set in the lush and vibrant planet of Ephinea, players embark on a journey of intrigue across a world ruled by three great nations, each with the power of Eleth.https://tpucdn.com/img/fc2AfIaXn5lj7z9s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fc2AfIaXn5lj7z9s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1RXeS8CArncbLDv8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1RXeS8CArncbLDv8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ycshnmJw3bk3xtbV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ycshnmJw3bk3xtbV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aif3SxN3OVEO6S2V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aif3SxN3OVEO6S2V.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331338/tales-of-graces-f-remastered-out-now-on-pc-consoles)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331338/tales-of-graces-f-remastered-out-now-on-pc-consoles)

[NextPowerUP]

ONIX (https://onixsys.com/homepage-en/) has quietly added Intel Arc B580 GPU (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/arc-b580.c4244)-based models to its Newegg brand store—signalling the brand's arrival on North American's e-tail landscape. TechPowerUp first picked up on this new manufacturer's existence during Team Blue's introduction (https://www.techpowerup.com/329445/intel-announces-the-arc-b-series-graphics-cards) of Arc B-series "Battlemage" graphics cards—soon followed up with an updated version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z (https://www.techpowerup.com/329918/techpowerup-gpu-z-v2-61-0-released); adding "PCI vendor detection for ONIX." The emerging Chinese manufacturer's Odyssey OC (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/onix-odyssey-arc-b580-oc.b11944) and Lumi OC (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/onix-lumi-arc-b580-oc.b11943) models are currently "out of stock" on the Newegg store, but compelling pricing ($10 above Intel's baseline MSRP) has attracted press coverage (https://videocardz.com/newz/onix-arc-b580-graphics-cards-debut-on-us-market-with-competitive-pricing).

It is not clear whether initial supplies of the two ONIX cards were snapped up quickly, but Newegg states on both listings: "this product is temporarily out of stock because of high demand, we will replenish it as soon as possible." Currently, the Arc B580 Odyssey OC 12 GB (black) model is priced at $259.99, while its Lumi OC (white) sibling goes for $269.99—note: Newegg demands a $9.99 fee for shipping. VideoCardz reckons that ONIX is competing closely with Sparkle—a veteran Intel GPU board partner—and charging less than GUNNIR for equivalent specs/fittings. ONIX's official website features a product page for an Odyssey B570 10 GB model (https://onixsys.com/onix-odyssey-intel-arc-b570-gddr6-10gb-en/)—not listed by Newegg, but we expect it to turn up soon. Intel and its AIBs declared B570 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/arc-b570.c4245)'s retail availability last week (https://www.techpowerup.com/331190/intel-arc-b570-graphics-card-available-from-today).https://tpucdn.com/img/br4SpWBU8pI17ucS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/br4SpWBU8pI17ucS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O500Dcv2mTnBV5Q1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O500Dcv2mTnBV5Q1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DfUhUgJ8ZkXDi70W_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DfUhUgJ8ZkXDi70W.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331332/onix-arc-b580-odyssey-oc-lumi-oc-models-appear-on-newegg)

[NextPowerUP]

TechPowerUp and Chieftec brought our readers in the EU the Winter 2024 Mega Giveaway. Up for grabs were a Chieftec Iceberg 360 RGB AIO liquid CPU cooler; a Chieftec Iceberg 360 Black AIO liquid CPU cooler; a Chieftec APEX E-ATX mid-tower case, a Chieftec M2 Micro-ATX tower case; a Chieftec PowerPlay 1200 W power supply; and a Chieftec Atmos 850 W power supply—a comprehensive list of prizes spanning the company's cases, power supplies, and cooling products. The Giveaway closed recently, and we have our winners!

Parham from France—wins a Chieftec Iceberg 360 AIO CLC-360-RGB cooler
Arne from Germany—wins a Chieftec Iceberg 360 AIO CLC-360-BLK cooler
Kristijan from Croatia—wins a Chieftec Apex Case GA-01B-TG-OP case
Andreas from Denmark—wins a Chieftec M2 Case GM-02B-OP Micro-ATX case
Pepe from Spain—wins a Chieftec PowerPlay PSU GPU-1200FC power supply, and
MonteCristo from Greece—wins a Chieftec Atmos PSU CPX-850FC power supply

A huge Congratulations to the winners! Chieftec and TechPowerUp will return with more such interesting Giveaways.https://tpucdn.com/img/mjfR9nqZ4EEFVGtU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mjfR9nqZ4EEFVGtU.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331337/techpowerup-x-chieftec-winter-2024-mega-giveaway-here-are-the-winners)

[NextPowerUP]

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, proudly presents our lineup of Intel B860 Series motherboards in the ULTRA, CVN GAMING FROZEN, and BATTLE-AX models.

The Intel B860 chipset is aimed at the mid-range level price segment for the Intel Core Ultra 200 series desktop processors. The COLORFUL B860 motherboards features DDR5 memory support, support for up to PCIe Gen 5 SSDs, high-speed 40 Gbps USB4 ports, fast Wi-Fi 7 wireless networking, and more.https://tpucdn.com/img/9hJKrkUNNnKzdafV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9hJKrkUNNnKzdafV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Lh1R6Wxd8pDM9Tqi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Lh1R6Wxd8pDM9Tqi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eOZK9fgHYnVNkYRl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eOZK9fgHYnVNkYRl.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/331333/colorful-presents-the-b860-series-motherboards)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/331333/colorful-presents-the-b860-series-motherboards)