TechPowerUP NEWS

According to the report from Phoronix, the upcoming Linux 6.11 kernel will introduce initial display support for the highly anticipated Intel Battlemage graphics processors. Battlemage, built on Intel's Xe2 architecture, represents the company's latest effort to challenge established players in the graphics arena. This new line of GPUs is designed to succeed the current DG2/Alchemist hardware, promising enhanced performance and improved power efficiency. The Linux 6.11 kernel will provide the fundamental capability to drive displays connected to Battlemage GPUs. While this initial support is a crucial first step, it lays the groundwork for more comprehensive functionality in future updates. Linux users and developers can look forward to testing and providing feedback on these new graphics solutions.

Intel's focus on power efficiency is evident in the features accompanying Battlemage support. The kernel will introduce Panel Replay functionality, a technology aimed at reducing display power consumption. This aligns with the growing demand for energy-efficient computing solutions, particularly in mobile and laptop segments. However, the work is far from complete. Intel's Linux graphics driver team continues to refine and optimize Battlemage support, with the goal of delivering a seamless experience by the time these GPUs hit the market later this year. The introduction of Battlemage support not only expands options for Linux users but also intensifies competition in the GPU market, potentially driving innovation across the industry. With promises of up to 1.5x over the previous generation Arc GPUs, we are in for a decent upgrade this year.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Prices of AMD Ryzen 8000G "Hawk Point" desktop APUs in the Socket AM5 package saw reductions over the week. The Ryzen 7 8700G, the fully unlocked part, is now available for $299, a $30 cut from its launch price of $329. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 5 8600G has now slipped under the $200-mark, with a $199 price-tag. The chip had originally launched at $229. Both these chips feature a 16 TOPS NPU, and are the first desktop processors that are capable of on-chip AI acceleration. Both processors are based on the 4 nm "Hawk Point" monolithic silicon, and feature "Zen 4" CPU cores. The 8700G packs an 8-core/16-thread CPU with an RDNA 3 iGPU that has 12 compute units (CU); while the 8600G is 6-core/12-thread, with an iGPU that has 8 CU.

Things get interesting with the Ryzen 5 8500G, which is now down to $159 from its launch price of $179. This new price makes the processor competitive with the 13th Gen Core i3 and the lower end of the Core i5 lineup. Unlike the other two 8000G series chips, the 8500G lacks an NPU, and is based on the 4 nm "Phoenix 2" silicon that has two "Zen 4" and four "Zen 4c" CPU cores for a 6-core/12-thread CPU configuration. Both kinds of cores share a 16 MB L3 cache. It has a heavily cut-down RDNA 3 iGPU with just 4 CU. The Ryzen 8000G desktop APU series only features PCIe Gen 4 (no Gen 5), which may not mean much for today's discrete GPUs, but limit your SSD upgrade path to Gen 4 (Gen 5 SSDs will be limited to 7 GB/s).[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Today, Razer unveils the new DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, an ergonomic wireless esports mouse inspired by the iconic, award-winning DeathAdder V3 Pro. Loved by the esports community with over 20 million units sold worldwide, the DeathAdder line continues to evolve. In pursuit of creating an approachable pro-grade esports mouse for the community, factors like grip style, and mouse shape and size were crucial.

As a result, design angles and height tweaks were treated with extreme care, with testing, and validation to ensure the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed meets community and pro standards. This mouse delivers top-tier features in a more accessible format, perfect for gamers and aspiring champions seeking to elevate their gameplay with Razer's trusted performance and technology.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Dune: Awakening, the Open World Survival MMO set on Arrakis from developer Funcom, today unveiled the second Dune: Awakening Direct. The showcase offers 30 minutes of in-depth interviews and game footage showing character creation, the MMO-like server structure, the narrative ramifications of a world where Paul Atreides was never born, and the spiritual journey the player will undergo in the game, following in the footsteps of the Fremen.

Dune: Awakening, which recently shot past 1 million wishlists on Steam, draws on the visual and aural identity created by Denis Villeneuve and Legendary's recent blockbuster movies and is deeply rooted in the original masterpiece by Frank Herbert. The game unleashes you on a vast and open Arrakis torn by war, where you must survive and strive for control of the spice alongside hundreds of other players.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

TSMC is working on a new advanced chip packaging technology that uses rectangular panel-like substrates instead of the traditional circular wafers, according to a Nikkei report citing sources. This new approach would allow more chips to be placed on a single substrate. TSMC is reportedly experimenting with rectangular substrates measuring 515 mm by 510 mm, providing more than three times the usable area compared to current 12-inch wafers. Using a rectangular-shaped wafer can potentially eliminate more of the incomplete chips found on the edges of current circular ones. While this may sound simple, it would actually require a radical change to the entire manufacturing process.

While the research is still in its early stages and may take several years to reach mass production, it represents a major technological shift for TSMC. The company has responded to Nikkei's inquiry by stating that they are closely monitoring advancements in advanced packaging technologies, including panel-level packaging. This development could potentially give TSMC an edge in meeting future chip demands, however, Intel and Samsung are also testing this new approach.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Western Digital has released a new budget friendly SSD that got a serious jump in model number, since the company decided to call it the SN5000. Its predecessor is the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and price wise, it's the better option of the two. The new SN5000 uses the same BiCS 5 TLC NAND as the SN580 on the 500 GB to the 2 TB SKU, but according to Anandtech, the 4 TB uses BiCS 6 QLC NAND. The SN5000 is still a PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe drive, but the overall performance has been significantly improved. If we use the 1 TB SKU for comparison, then the sequential read speeds have gone up by 1 GB/s from 4150 MB/s to 5150 MB/s. The sequential write speed is up 750 MB/s from 4150 MB/s to 4900 MB/s.

As for random performance, the read IOPS are up from 600K IOPS to 730K IOPS and the write IOPS are up slightly from 750K to 770K. The 4 TB QLC SKU is said to deliver even better performance with the exception of the random read IOPS. The 1 TB SKU is said to have a write endurance of 600 TBW, but the 4 TB SKU only offers 1200 TBW. That's 0.33 drive writes per day (DWPD) for the 1 TB SKU vs. 0.16 DWPD for the 4 TB SKU, showing the weakness of the QLC NAND. A new feature for the SN5000 series compared to previous WD Blue NVMe drives is support for TGC Pyrite 2.01 encryption. The WD SN5000-series starts at US$70 for the 500 GB model, going up to US$80 for 1 TB, US$140 for 2 TB and topping out at US$280 for the 4 TB model. WD only seems to have the 500 GB model in stock, with all the others being available in 3-4 weeks time. All SKUs come with a five year warranty.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...][Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Today Lenovo introduced the Lenovo Tab Plus, an entertainment tablet that delivers an outstanding sonar experience with Eight JBL speakers with Hi-fi matrix structure tuned by Dolby Atmos. Designed for music lovers, the 11.5-inch tablet complements its premium sound with a 2K display for vivid visuals and an adjustable stand for optimal enjoyment from every angle.

"Tablets have evolved to meet the needs of people transitioning between work, study and play, offering a balanced combination of mobility and performance," said Tony Chen, vice president of Tablets, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "As the tablet market recovers, customers can expect increased Lenovo product differentiation through features that address their specific demands. The Lenovo Tab Plus is a prime example of a well-rounded tablet that delivers premium sound for a truly immersive entertainment experience."[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

CTL, a global cloud-computing solution leader for education and enterprise, announced today the introduction of the new CTL Chromebook Plus PX141 Series. This series equips education and enterprise users with the powerful performance, AI tools, and creative apps they need to get more done, faster. Easy ChromeOS device manageability combined with CTL's lifecycle services reduces the burden on IT departments.

"We are excited to launch CTL's Chromebook Plus PX141 Series with two distinct models. As a leader in the ChromeOS space, we know our customers will appreciate the design, performance, and AI capabilities of this next-generation device in the CTL Chromebook portfolio," said Erik Stromquist, CEO of CTL.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

During Computex 2024, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for the notebook segment in the form of the Core Ultra 200V series, codenamed Lunar Lake. Set for release in [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], these processors are generating excitement among tech enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. According to the latest leak by VideoCardz, Intel plans to unveil nine variants of Lunar Lake, including Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 5 models, with a single high-end Core Ultra 9 variant. While exact specifications remain under wraps, Intel's focus on artificial intelligence capabilities is clear. The company aims to secure a spot in Microsoft's Copilot+ lineup by integrating its fourth-generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU), boasting up to 48 TOPS of performance. All Lunar Lake variants are expected to feature a hybrid architecture with four Lion Cove performance cores and four Skymont efficiency cores.

This design targets low-power mobile devices, striking a balance between performance and energy efficiency. For graphics, Intel is incorporating its next-generation Arc technology, dubbed Battlemage GPU, which utilizes the Xe2-LPG architecture. The leaked information suggests that Lunar Lake processors will come with either 16 GB or 32 GB of non-upgradable LPDDR5-8533 memory. Graphics configurations are expected to include seven or eight Xe2 GPU cores, depending on the model. At the entry level, the Core Ultra 5 226V is rumored to offer a 17 W base power and 30 W maximum turbo power, with performance cores clocking up to 4.5 GHz. The top-tier Core Ultra 9 288V is expected to push the envelope with a 30 W base power, performance cores boosting to 5.1 GHz, and an NPU capable of 48 TOPS. You can check out the rest of the SKUs in the table below.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (Toshiba) announces the release of its MG10-D Series, a family of air-filled conventional magnetic recording (CMR) HDDs supporting SAS and SATA interfaces and capacities of up to 10 TB. Crafted with precision engineering and over 50 years of Toshiba experience, the MG10-D Series delivers improved performance and power efficiency over prior generations. With sanitize instant erase (SIE) and self-encrypting drive (SED) options, valuable data is safeguarded by a storage solution known for its robust performance and unwavering dependability.

Built for the increasing application demands of enterprise server and storage solutions, the MG10-D Series delivers a new level of performance. For example, compared with the previous model, the new 10 TB MG10ADA10TE provides an approximately 13% better maximum sustained transfer speed of 268MiB/s and doubles the cache buffer size to 512MiB. It also reduces power consumption in active idle mode by approximately 21%, to 5.74 W. Architected to deliver improved total cost of ownership (TCO), the new MG10-D Series fits seamlessly into a wide variety of business-critical applications, such as email, data analytics, data retention, and surveillance.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Windows PowerShell specialists can be valuable to a wide variety of teams and companies around the world. The task automation and configuration management program features advanced scripting capabilities that can boost productivity and save time. During our special, limited-time Deal Days price drop that runs until 11:59 PM PT on July 21st, you can get this Windows PowerShell Certification bundle for just $14.97 (reg. $78). Featuring 18 hours of content and six courses, this affordable bundle can guide you to become a more knowledgeable PowerShell professional.

Among the top courses in the bundle—Essential Tools for Windows System Administrators features eight lessons on automating daily work with PowerShell scripting, creating syncovery profiles for local and cloud backups, and learning advanced settings and customization options in syncovery. Anybody Can Script: A PowerShell Learning Series is another popular course in the bundle. Its 14 lectures focus on familiarizing users with PowerShell, teaching them how to start scripting, as well as basic command lines, underlying concepts, and how to integrate PowerShell concepts with non-Microsoft products.

Don't miss out on this year's Deal Days price drop that runs through 11:59 PM PT on July 21st, during which you can get this [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] on sale for just $14.97 (reg. $78).[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]