TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

Intel today released the latest version of the Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.4644 WHQL comes with Game On (day-zero) optimization for "Madden NFL 24," and "Wayfinder." Among the issues fixed with this release include an application crash noticed with "Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection" when launching the game; a system hang noticed when waking up your desktop from sleep, needing you to cycle power; and an application crash observed with Blender 3.6 during render operations, when hardware ray tracing is enabled. Grab the drivers from the link below.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.4644 WHQL
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(PR) AAEON Unveils the BOXER-6406-ADN Mini PC
Leading provider of embedded PC solutions, AAEON, is delighted to announce the official launch of the BOXER-6406-ADN, a compact and fanless embedded computer built upon the Intel Atom Processor X Series/Intel Processor N-series Processor platform.

Designed to cater to the demands of smart factory applications, the BOXER-6406-ADN boasts a range of features that establish it as a remarkably robust choice for industrial projects. Notably, the system boasts an impressive operational temperature range spanning from -20°C to 60°C. Furthermore, it supports a wide voltage input range of 9 V to 36 V, inclusive of over/under-voltage current protection as well as short-circuit protection. To enhance its durability, the system is equipped with IEC 68-2-27 anti-shock tolerance and advanced anti-vibration capabilities. Lockable I/O connectors have also been incorporated to safeguard against wear and tear.

With dimensions measuring just 186 mm x 104.6 mm x 49.1 mm, the BOXER-6406-ADN's compact chassis can be easily wall-mounted for convenient deployment. The system relies solely on passive cooling mechanisms, foregoing fan-assisted cooling systems to prevent the accumulation of contaminants when deployed in smart factory settings.
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(PR) New Xbox Game Pass Games Detailed
Sometimes you want a chill game that lets you explore sorrow (in game, I don't want to explore sorrow IRL). Sometimes you want to explore wild environments while exploring mysteries, escaping flesh monsters, or even be the monster yourself. Some highly specific things you might want, and what a crazy happenstance, we've got just those games coming soon. Let's take a look!

Available Today
Everspace 2 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S)
Step into the pilot seat in this fast-paced single-player space shooter where brutal challenges stand between you and epic loot. Embark on a sci-fi adventure where massive, handcrafted areas are packed with secrets, puzzles, and perils! Level up, craft, and loot better gear to survive on the edge of space.
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(PR) Gamdias Announces the ARGUS M4 Mid-tower Case
GAMDIAS, the leading brand of PC gaming hardware, released a stylish and high-performance mid-tower case, ARGUS M4, which is designed with a diagonally striped perforated front panel, two built-in ARGB fans, and a tempered glass swing door. Moreover, its spacious interior provides flexible options for installation of fans and radiators to ensure optimum airflow.

Extenmsive Airflow Configuration and Two Built-in ARGB Fans: The ARGUS M4 comes with a perforated front panel, mesh vents throughout the case, a preinstalled 140 mm fan on the front and one 120 mm fan on the rear which enhance airflow intake and exhaust. The tempered glass swing door as well as the two built-in ARGB fans that can be synchronized via motherboard or LED control button enable users to show the beauty of their builds.
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(PR) CORSAIR Simplifies Custom Cooling: iCUE LINK Comes to the Hydro X Series
CORSAIR, a world leader in high-performance gear and systems for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, today launched the next generation of its world-renowned Hydro X Series custom cooling products, integrating them with the revolutionary iCUE LINK Smart Component Ecosystem. With the new ELITE lineup of CPU and GPU water blocks, pump/reservoir combo and more, the Hydro X Series utilizes iCUE LINK to make building a custom cooling loop simpler than ever before.

Using a unified cable standard, iCUE LINK now drives component power coupled with digital communications to each device - from RGB and RPM control to temperature probes. Furthermore, new Hydro X Series components are now Smart, housing individual microcontrollers that manage and report performance and temperatures to the hub and iCUE software. iCUE LINK's reversible connectors across all components vastly simplify the process of building computers, making the DIY hobby more inviting and accessible to all.
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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA DLSS 3 is available now in 40 games, and is coming to more games this year. Today, The First Descendant joins that ever-expanding list of upcoming DLSS 3 games, ensuring GeForce RTX gamers receive the definitive experience the second it launches.

This week, Gord and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre launch with DLSS 2, accelerating frame rates for all GeForce RTX gamers, and Achilles: Legends Untold is available now.
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(PR) Thermaltake Unveils the Smart BM3 Bronze Series with ATX 3.0 Standards
Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Power, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast Memory solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Smart BM3 Bronze series, an ATX 3.0 power supply from Thermaltake's popular Smart Bronze series. The Smart BM3 Bronze features a compact size with a dimension of 150x86x140 mm (WxHxD), and it is available in 550 W, 650 W, 750 W, and 850 W. To provide maximum compatibility with next-gen and entry graphics cards, the Smart BM3 Bronze meets ATX 3.0 specifications, 12+4-pin PCIe Gen 5.0 ready, and supports an ample number of 8-pin connectors. Built-in with Japanese main electrolytic capacitors and 80 Plus Bronze efficiency, the Smart BM3 Bronze is an ideal semi-modular power supply with high stability.

To steadily power up the latest graphics cards with high power consumption, the Smart BM3 Bronze series is compatible with Intel's ATX 3.0 standard, which can support 200% power excursion and reach 60% efficiency at 2% load. Additionally, with the 12VHPWR connector, the Smart BM3 Bronze can support RTX 40 series GPUs with a native PCIe Gen 5.0 connector. This power supply also supports 8-pin PCIe cables for AMD graphics cards and entry RTX 40 series graphics cards, offering other options for entry-level systems. On top of that, the Smart BM3 Bronze is equipped with a Smart Zero Fan design to minimize undesired noise. The fan only spins when the load exceeds 20% of the power supply, and users also can turn the Smart Zero Fan mode on and off by its physical switch. Furthermore, this quiet 120 mm FDB fan can generate excellent airflow to minimize overheating problems.
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(PR) IBASE Announces INA8505 Enterprise 1U Edge Server for 5G Open vRAN & MEC
IBASE Technology Inc. (TPEx: 8050), a global leader in network appliances and embedded solutions, proudly announces the release of the INA8505 enterprise 1U edge server. Powered by the Intel Xeon D-2700 processor and offering versatile connectivity options, this state-of-the-art appliance is specifically designed to excel in demanding 5G Open vRAN & MEC applications such as real-time data analytics, autonomous vehicles, and smart city deployments. It enables full control over resource allocation in the RAN and MEC, and has the potential to seamlessly integrate AI capabilities to dynamically optimize network performance in real time at the edge of the 5G network infrastructure.

The INA8505 delivers unmatched performance, scalability, and efficiency with flexible storage, offering two SATA/NVMe 2.5" HDD/SSD slots, 2x M.2 (M-key) SATA/PCI-E storage slots, and one 16 GB/32 GB/64 GB eMMC. With an FHFL PCI-E (x16) Gen 4 (supports 75 W) and an FHFL PCI-E (x8) Gen 4 (supports 75 W) configurable as PCI-E (x16) Gen 4 double FHFL (supports 120 W), the INA8505 adapts effortlessly into different network environments and meet future demands for increased scalability. It boasts a rich array of I/O connectivity options, including a VGA port from BMC (Aspeed 2600, IPMI 2.0 support), two USB2.0 Type-A ports, an RJ45 console port, and four 25 GbE SFP28 ports, ensuring enhanced adaptability to various connectivity needs.
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Ubisoft Brings Assassin's Creed Mirage Launch Forward to October 5
Ubisoft has proudly announced that the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage, has gone gold, and that the game launch has been pulled forward, from October 12th to October 5th. Assassin's Creed Mirage is developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux, and it will bring back focus on parkour, stealth, and assassinations.

As the game has gone gold, meaning that the development has been completed, we expect more information as we get closer to the announced launch date. Ubisoft has previously released gameplay and story trailers back in June, as well as confirmed that there are no plans for any DLC content for Assassin's Creed Mirage. As said, the game will launch on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on October 5th.

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Tesla Starts Building "First of its Kind" Data Center
According to the job listing found by Electrek, Tesla is currently hiring staff for Tesla's "1st of its kind Data Centers." Tesla is a company with a huge demand for computing, especially with training self-driving technology on its hardware. The company is building its training chips called Dojo D1, which is used to train neural networks that power the company's Full Self Driving (FSD) that is inferenced locally on each Tesla vehicle. However, to support such training infrastructure and other data processing, the company is in need of its own data centers, and the recruitment for it has just started.

It is interesting to mention a "first of its kind" data center, meaning that some unique design and/or application goal will be present. The global data center is roughly a 250 billion USD market, and with Tesla entering, we are still waiting to see the size of its investment. Nonetheless, the latest position, "Engineering Program Manager, Data Centers," will oversee these efforts and lead the end-to-end design and engineering of this supposedly unique data center.

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(PR) Netflix Cloud Gaming Beta Launches on TVs, Coming to PCs Soon
We've been focused on creating a great gaming experience for our members since 2021 when we added mobile games to Netflix. Our goal has always been to have a game for everyone, and we are working hard to meet members where they are with an accessible, smooth, and ubiquitous service. Today, we're taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix - TVs, computers, and mobile.

We are rolling out a limited beta test to a small number of members in Canada and the UK on select TVs starting today, and on PCs and Macs through Netflix.com on supported browsers in the next few weeks. Two games will be part of this initial test: Oxenfree from Night School Studio, a Netflix Game Studio, and Molehew's Mining Adventure, a gem-mining arcade game. To play our games on TV, we're introducing a controller that we already have in our hands most of the day - our phones. Members on PCs and Macs can play on Netflix.com with a keyboard and mouse.
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Intel Wants More Than its Fair Share of CHIPS Act Money
During the Aspen Security Forums 2023, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger spoke on the topic of semiconductors and national security. During his speech, Gelsinger mentioned that Intel should get the lion's share of the US$52 billion US CHIPS Act money, simply because Intel is a US company. In Gelsinger's opinion, it appears that TSMC and Samsung don't deserve as much, despite both companies manufacturing semiconductors for US companies, with Samsung already having a foundry in Texas, while TSMC is still struggling with the construction of its Arizona foundry.

Admittedly, Intel has far more foundries in the US, but it also seems like Gelsinger forgot about other foundries, such as GlobalFoundries, but also companies such as Micron, Texas Instruments, Qorvo, NXP, On Semi, Analog Devices and so forth that all own foundries that produce their own chips on US soil. We'd expect all these companies to be eyeing the CHIPS Act cash and without many of those companies, Intel wouldn't be able to sell any of its chips, as many of them produce much needed components that are used to build motherboards, laptops and what not. Gelsinger was obviously pointing fingers at the current US China trade war and how the export controls are causing concerns with regards to the global semiconductor business. As such, Gelsinger wants Intel to have fewer restrictions from the currently imposed trade regulations, largely due to China being some 25 to 30 percent of Intel's market, with Intel being busy expanding in the country. Make what you want of this, but it's clear that Gelsinger is expecting to eat the cake and have it at the same time. Video after the break.
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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS, a global technology leader, today announced an epic collaboration with A BATHING APE (BAPE), the renowned Japanese street-style fashion brand. The collaboration showcases the iconic streetwear brand's trademark design style etched directly into the high-performance laptop's rugged, street-savvy metallic lid, palm rest and touchpad. The unique BAPE camo design also adorns an exclusive bundle of matching accessories.

ASUS has teamed up with A BATHING APE to bring users the first-ever BAPE laptop bundle: the Vivobook S 15 OLED BAPE Edition. Vivobook's energetic and vibrant style vibes perfectly with the ostentatious BAPE aesthetic. With a shared passion for creativity, diversity and unwavering authenticity, this collaboration is a seamless combination of bold street fashion and pioneering tech.
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(PR) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Gets Full Reveal
For the first time in back-to-back years, Call of Duty returns with a direct sequel as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III picks up immediately following the events of last year's incredible blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. This all-new experience is scheduled to be released worldwide on Friday, November 10th allowing players for the first time to continue their journey, progression, and story seamlessly for a new year to come.

Get ready for an all-new Campaign that continues the story immediately following the events of Modern Warfare II. Lead developer Sledgehammer Games, in partnership with Infinity Ward is set to deliver a full Campaign of action-packed operations ranging from signature, cinematic experiences to free-form Open Combat Missions, resulting in more player choice than ever before.
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(PR) Razer Announces BlackWidow V4 75% Gaming Keyboard
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, lifts the veil off the groundbreaking Razer BlackWidow V4 75%. Embodying the perfect harmony of gaming precision and customization, this keyboard boasts a robust aluminium build, gasket-mounted plate, keys primed with hot-swappable sockets, all-new tactile mechanical switches, and vivid Razer Chroma RGB lighting for an experience that stands in a class of its own.

"The BlackWidow V4 75% is the result of Razer listening to the community, seamlessly merging customization with gaming," said Barrie Ooi, Head of Razer's PC Gaming Division. "Its hot-swappable architecture, paired with our elite mechanical switches and adaptive Chroma RGB lighting, empowers gamers to tailor a keyboard that's truly unique to their needs."
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(PR) NVIDIA GeForce NOW Gets 22 New Games This Week, Ultimate KovaaK's Challenge Results Published
The verdict is in: A GeForce NOW Ultimate membership raises the bar on gaming. Members have been tackling the Ultimate KovvaK's challenge head-on and seeing for themselves how the power of Ultimate improves their gaming with 240 frames per second streaming.

The popular training title that helps gamers improve their aim fully launches in the cloud this week alongside a limited-time discount on Steam. KovaaK's leads over 20 new games joining the GeForce NOW library this week.
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[NextPowerUP]

Due to the great demand for the HEATKILLER RAD radiators in 140 mm format, the German manufacturer WATERCOOL has decided to now also produce the popular heat-exchangers in sizes 280 mm and 420 mm with a thickness of 30 mm (Slim). Thereby WATERCOOL keeps true to its line while maintaining high quality standards.

In cooperation with a well-known manufacturer from Far East, the watercooling experts have succeeded in creating a high-performance mesh radiator with a unique look. Thereby, the cooling cores are manufactured strictly according to Watercool's specifications, while the radiator housing is produced locally in Waren. This means that the finishing and quality control are performed in Germany directly by the manufacturer.
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(PR) Arctic Announces the P8 Max 80mm Fan
ARCTIC, a leading manufacturer of low-noise PC coolers and components, extends the P-fan series with the P8 Max, a new high-performance fan. In contrast to the conventional P8 PWM, the P8 Max has a significantly increased speed with revolutions from 500 to 5000 rpm, which makes it ARCTIC's most powerful 80 mm fan. In addition, the P8 Max can be throttled down to standstill if no load is needed.

The P8 Max impresses with its extraordinary performance efficiency. At a speed of 3000 rpm, it consumes only 0.06 amps. In comparison, similar fans like the P8 require more than double at the same speed with 0.14 amps. Thanks to its significant static pressure, which is particularly effective for heatsinks, radiators, pinholes and tightly packed cases, as well as its high efficiency, this fan is ideally suited for use in server cases such as 2U racks.
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Western Digital in Trouble Over Failing Portable SSDs
Over the past few months there have been reports of issues with SanDisk portable SSDs and Western Digital released a firmware update in May that was meant to prevent the drives from "unexpectedly disconnect from a computer". However, it appears that this firmware update didn't solve the problem and Western Digital is now being taken to court over drives not just having disconnect issues, but also randomly failing. The court case is expected to become a class action suit, as the plaintiff claims that the issue of failing drives affect tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people in the USA.

The models included in the complaint includes the SanDisk Extreme Pro, Extreme Portable, Extreme Pro Portable and WD My Passport SSD. A further firmware update was released in July, which is said to have made the issues even worse, with data being lost on drives or being inaccessible to drive owners. In some cases the drives go into read only mode, but sometimes this means that the drives become inaccessible to the OS, which in turn also means dataloss to the user. Time will tell how this plays out, but it's not looking great for Western Digital, but it wouldn't be the first time a storage device maker has been taken to court over failing products.

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(PR) Lenovo Group Releases First Quarter Results 2023/24
Lenovo Group today announced first quarter results, reporting Group revenue of US$12.9 billion and net income of US$191 million on a non-Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (HKFRS) basis. Revenue from the non-PC businesses accounted for 41% of Group revenue, with the service-led business achieving strong growth and sustained profitability - further demonstrating the effectiveness of Lenovo's intelligent transformation strategy.

The Group continues to take proactive actions to keep its Expenses-to-Revenue (E/R) ratio resilient and drive sustainable profitability, whilst also investing for growth and transformation. It remains committed to doubling investment in innovation in the mid-term, including an additional US$1 billion investment over three years to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) deployment for businesses around the world - specifically AI devices, AI infrastructure, and AI solutions.
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AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX Emerges: 96 Cores, DDR5 Memory, and Over 5.0 GHz Boost Frequency
AMD appears set to enhance the core count for its renowned Threadripper series. After a prolonged wait, the high-end desktop (HEDT) platform boasting a significant CPU count returns with the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX, which features an impressive 96 cores and 192 threads. This marks the series' first core count upgrade since the Threadripper 3000 series. The 7995WX CPU was spotted in the HP Z6 G5 Workstation system, potentially one of the inaugural prebuilt systems from AMD's OEM partners. The Threadripper PRO series seems poised to dominate AMD's HEDT offerings, with no indications of non-PRO consumer models emerging for now.

The latest Geekbench listing unveiled the 7995WX CPU's 96-core configuration. Although the base frequency appears misrepresented, benchmark data hints at the 96-core CPU potentially reaching a boost clock of 5.14 GHz, a detail further confirmed by Geekbench's output. Another notable enhancement in the Threadripper series is introducing the DDR5 memory standard. While the benchmarking tool doesn't explicitly mention this, it does highlight a memory configuration of 503.27 GB (512 GB) in use. The CPU managed to score 2095 points for single-core score and 81408 points for multi-core score on Geekbench v5.5 for Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS), making it one of the fastest CPUs in the database.

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(PR) Xbox Introduces Enforcement Strike System
We are constantly improving our safety measures and bringing more systems and tools in place that empower players to respectfully interact with one another - because everyone deserves a place to comfortably be themselves online, free from harassment and bullying. One of the most common questions we get from players through feedback, posts, and appeals is how repeated enforcements impact their gameplay, how they escalate, what they escalate to, and how they know when their account is back in good standing. To help address this, we are introducing a new enforcement strike system.

The new system attaches strikes to every enforcement, ranging in severity based on inappropriate activity. Each player will now have a view of their enforcement history including strikes and the overall impact these have on their player record. This revised system gives players a better understanding of enforcement severity and the cumulative effect of multiple enforcements. Enforcement transparency is about giving players clarity into how their behavior impacts their experience. Our content moderation efforts are not changing as a result of the new enforcement strike system.
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(PR) Team Group Releases High-Performing Industrial Ultra-Wide Temperature Product Series
Team Group today announced the launch of its industrial ultra-wide temperature products series that can withstand operating temperatures of up to 105° Celsius, outperforming the standard industrial-wide temperature range. It includes PCIe Gen 3 M.2 SSDs, DDR4 U-DIMM/SO-DIMM and DDR5 U-DIMM/SO-DIMM memory modules, and microSD memory cards. The 105° operating temperature PCIe M.2 SSDs have been granted Taiwan Utility Model Patent (No. M644258).

All products in the ultra-wide temperature series under Team Group's industrial product line have passed the ISO-16750 Road Vehicles - 5.1.2 High-Temperature and AEC-Q104 Temperature Cycling tests. Both of these standards are widely used in the verification of automotive electronic components. The AEC (Automotive Electronics Council) is a group jointly established by major automobile manufacturers and major component manufacturers, with the main purpose of standardizing the reliability and certification standards for automotive electronic components.
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AMD to Announce New Radeon RX 7000 SKUs Next Week at Gamescom
AMD will announce new Radeon RX 7000 graphics card models next week at a special event at Gamescom 2023. The AMD Gaming Festival 2023 the company has planned for August 25 has a special media event planned for 17:00 local time, led by Scott Herkelman and Frank Azor, which means this is squarely a Radeon RX event. "Please join the AMD Radeon team at Gamescom next week for our next major product announcements," tweeted Herkelman.

As to what the company is expected to announce, the company didn't put out any specifics, but we predict announcements both on the desktop and mobile segments. For desktops, the company is expected to announce new RX 7800 series and RX 7700 series graphics cards to fill the vast performance gap between the RX 7600 and RX 7900 XT. For mobile, the company might announce the mobile RX 7900 series powered by the compact "Navi 31" package. Frank Azor is a pre-built desktop and notebook systems boss at AMD, and his presence in the show confirms mobile RX 7000 series announcements.

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(PR) EA SPORTS NHL 24 Unleashes the Intensity of Hockey With All-New Exhaust Engine and Physics-Based Contact
Electronic Arts Inc. is creating the most intense NHL game yet with EA SPORTS NHL 24, coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on Oct. 6, 2023. Colorado Avalanche superstar defenseman Cale Makar, whose world class on-ice skills exemplify the type of hard-checking and game-changing features that will be a part of EA SPORTS NHL 24, has been named the cover athlete for this year's game.

NHL 24 feels like hockey and brings the rush and fatigue of high-pressure games to life. The brand-new Exhaust Engine - powered by Frostbite - includes the Sustained Pressure and Goalie Fatigue systems to let players experience concentrated moments of intensity that hockey is known for. Through the Sustained Pressure System, offensive players who keep pressure on in the attack zone are rewarded and will trigger the Sustained Pressure perk, lowering their opponent's attributes for a limited time and creating more space for movement and setting up plays. With the Goalie Fatigue System, the more pucks you put on net, the more fatigue the opponent's goalie will experience. This will affect the netminder's ability to react to shots as they wear down over time and upwards of 75 new goalie animations will help bring this in-game storyline to life.
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(PR) OpenHW Group Announces Tape Out of RISC-V-based CORE-V MCU Development Kit
OpenHW Group today announced that the industry's most comprehensive Development Kit for an open-source RISC-V MCU is now available to be ordered. The OpenHW CORE-V MCU DevKit includes an open-source printed circuit board (PCB) which integrates OpenHW's CORE-V MCU and various peripherals, a software development kit (SDK) with a full-featured Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE), as well as connectivity to Amazon Web Services (AWS) via AWS IoT ExpressLink for secure and reliable connectivity between IoT devices and AWS cloud services.

The comprehensive open-source CORE-V MCU DevKit enables software development for embedded, internet-of-things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven applications. The CORE-V MCU is based on the open-source CV32E40P embedded-class processor, a small, efficient, 32-bit, in-order open-source RISC-V core with a four-stage pipeline that implements the RV32IM[F]C RISC-V instruction extensions.
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(PR) Magewell Adds Duo of 4K Models to Eco Capture Family of M.2 Cards
Magewell today announced two new models in the company's Eco Capture family of ultra-compact, power-efficient M.2 video capture cards. Hot on the heels of the recently introduced Eco Capture AIO M.2—which features selectable HDMI and SDI 1080p60 inputs—the Eco Capture HDMI 4K Plus M.2 and Eco Capture 12G SDI 4K Plus M.2 capture 4K video at 60 frames per second over HDMI or SDI interfaces, respectively. Magewell will highlight the new Eco Capture models alongside other innovations in stand 7.A44 at the IBC 2023 exhibition in Amsterdam from September 15 to 18.

Magewell's Eco Capture cards offer systems integrators and OEM developers a space-efficient, high-performance video capture solution with low latency and low power consumption. Ideal for use in small, portable or embedded systems where full-sized PCIe slots are not available, the cards feature an M.2 connector and measure only 22 mm x 80 mm (0.87x3.15 in). The new models are the first Eco Capture cards to leverage a PCIe Gen 3 bus interface, offering increased DMA bandwidth over earlier siblings.
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[NextPowerUP]

Palit, the industry-leading graphics card manufacturer, is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated GeForce RTX 4070 Ti GamingPro White OC—a striking addition to our esteemed GamingPro lineup. This limited-edition marvel marks a glorious prelude to Palit's momentous 35th-anniversary celebrations, commemorating a remarkable journey of excellence in the PC industry. As we celebrate 35 years of dedication to the gaming community, this exclusive launch reaffirms our commitment to delivering exceptional graphics solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our users.

Built on the foundation of our popular GamingPro series, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti GamingPro White emerges as a stunning transformation from its original black color. Inspired by our users' valuable feedback and the desire to elevate gaming aesthetics, we meticulously refreshed the color scheme to unveil sleek and pristine-white contours that harmoniously complement any light-color PC build.
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(PR) Global Semiconductor Industry on Track for 2024 Recovery but Near-Term Headwinds Remain
With sequential IC sales declines beginning to moderate, the global semiconductor industry appears to be nearing the end of a downcycle and is expected to begin to recover in 2024, SEMI, in partnership with TechInsights, reported in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Monitor. In Q3 2023, electronics sales are projected to post healthy quarter-on-quarter growth of 10%, while memory IC sales are expected to log double-digit growth for the first time since the downturn started in Q3 2022. Logic IC sales are predicted to remain stable and improve as demand gradually recovers.

Headwinds will continue for the semiconductor manufacturing sector in the second half of the year, SEMI and TechInsights reported. Drawdowns of high inventory at integrated device manufacturer (IDM) and fabless companies will continue to suppress fab utilization rates to much lower levels than those in the first half of 2023. The weakness is projected to extend declines in capital equipment billings and silicon shipments for the rest of the year despite stable results in the first half of 2023.
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(PR) Mind-bending Sci-Fi Strategy Game Cantata Launches
Modern Wolf and Afterschool Studio are today proud to announce the official launch of sci-fi strategy game, Cantata, for PC.
After an action-packed year in Early Access that allowed the community to help shape the game's direction, this tactically rich turn-based epic has finally launched on Steam, immersing players in the unique stories, evocative visuals, and vibrant musical soundscape of a war-torn alien planet.

Fight to expand your hold on the mysterious world of Shoal in the first ever "Grand Tactics" game - combining the large-scale strategic planning of Grand Strategy titles with the turn-based skirmishes of the Tactics genre. Grow your empire with deep strategic gameplay that's easy to learn but takes time to master, capturing regions, building structures, expanding your army, and more. Play as one of three unique factions - the Machines, Aliens, or Humans - and carve out your legacy across nine single player campaigns featuring more than 27 hours of story content; each unfolds as a self-contained sci-fi narrative with its own characters, dialogue, and original artwork.
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(PR) Silicon Motion Terminates Merger Agreement with MaxLinear and Intends to Pursue Substantial Damages
Silicon Motion Technology Corporation ("Silicon Motion" or the "Company") today issued a written notice to MaxLinear, Inc. ("MaxLinear"), terminating the Agreement and Plan of Merger between the parties dated as of May 5, 2022 (the "Merger Agreement"1).

Silicon Motion's position is that MaxLinear's Willful and Material Breaches (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger Agreement prevented the merger from being completed by August 7, 2023 (the "Outside Date"). Silicon Motion reserves all of its contractual, legal, equitable, and other rights under the Merger Agreement and otherwise, including but not limited to the right to hold MaxLinear liable for substantial money damages, well in excess of the termination fee as provided in the Merger Agreement, suffered by Silicon Motion as a result of MaxLinear's Willful and Material Breaches of the Merger Agreement.
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Intel Lists Testing Interposers for Arrow Lake-HX, Lunar Lake-M, and Battlemage
Intel recently updated its website to highlight interposers used for testing upcoming chips before their actual product integration. A specific webpage now showcases components used by various tools, notably the "Gen5 VR," which stands for CPU Voltage Regulator in this context. The highlight of the update reveals at least four yet-to-be-announced products: Battlemage (BMG), Arrow Lake (ARL), and Lunar Lake (LNL), slated for launch in 2024. Particularly interesting are the two Battlemage interposers: BGA2362-BMG-X2 and BGA2727-BMG-X3. This hints that a Battlemage GPU could have more pins than Intel's current top-tier GPU from the Alchemist series, known as DG2, which features 2660 pins (BGA2660-DG2-512EU).

This unveiling could indicate Intel's plans to introduce two GPUs in its new series or potentially two different package sizes. Manufacturers often use consistent package sizes for multiple GPUs, granting flexibility to interchange processors with similar specifications and presenting a feasible production strategy. Another notable mention is the Arrow Lake-HX, intended for premium desktop/laptop hybrids.. While there was some buzz about the ARL-HX series before, this update provides clear confirmation from Intel. Lastly, the reveal includes an interposer for the Lunar Lake-M series (LNL-M), which is expected to be Intel's most energy-efficient line. Drawing parallels from the Alder Lake series, such chips were designed for tablets with power consumption between 5 to 7 watts.

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[NextPowerUP]

International Data Corporation (IDC) today published its second forecast for the worldwide quantum computing market, projecting customer spend for quantum computing to grow from $1.1 billion in 2022 to $7.6 billion in 2027. This represents a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48.1%. The forecast includes base quantum computing as a service as well as enabling and adjacent quantum computing as a service.

The new forecast is considerably lower than IDC's previous quantum computing forecast, which was published in 2021. In the interim, customer spend for quantum computing has been negatively impacted by several factors, including: slower than expected advances in quantum hardware development, which have delayed potential return on investment; the emergence of other technologies such as generative AI, which are expected to offer greater near-term value for end users; and an array of macroeconomic factors, such as higher interest and inflation rates and the prospect of an economic recession.
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(PR) Nacon Announces the RIG 600 Pro Series Gaming Headsets
NACON, a leader in premium gaming accessories and parent of the RIG audio brand, announces its first dual wireless RIG 600 PRO Series. The 600 PRO is designed to meet the diverse connection needs of gamers, boasting multiplatform dual wireless technology paired with signature RIG acoustics and comfort. Featuring best-in-class low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth, the 600 PRO is the ultimate choice to game wirelessly on all your favourite devices, including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC and Mobile.

In addition to its multiplatform compatibility, the 600 PRO excels in performance, boasting a chat-optimized microphone that discreetly folds into the earcup when not in use. The integrated flip-to-mute function further enhances versatility, allowing gamers to take calls and communicate with their squad seamlessly.
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(PR) AMD Showcases Leadership Cloud Performance with New Amazon EC2 Instances Powered by 4th Gen AMD EPYC Processors
Today, AMD announced Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded its 4th Gen AMD EPYC processor-based offerings with the general availability of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) M7a and Amazon EC2 Hpc7a instances, which offer next-generation performance and efficiency for applications that benefit from high performance, high throughput and tightly coupled HPC workloads, respectively.

"For customers with increasingly complex and compute-intensive workloads, 4th Gen EPYC processor-powered Amazon EC2 instances deliver a differentiated offering for customers," said David Brown, vice president of Amazon EC2 at AWS. "Combined with the power of the AWS Nitro System, both M7a and Hpc7a instances allow for fast and low-latency internode communications, advancing what our customers can achieve across our growing family of Amazon EC2 instances."
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Samsung Said to Produce 300-Layer V-NAND in 2024
It appears that Samsung is getting ready to beat SK Hynix in the race to 300 plus layers of NAND Flash, at least according to reports coming out of South Korea. The Seoul Economic Daily claims in an exclusive that Samsung will have a 300 plus layer V-NAND—(V for Vertical or 3D NAND—chip ready for production in 2024 and could as such beat SK Hynix by as much as a year, depending on how soon Samsung can deliver. Currently Samsung's most cutting edge stacked NAND is a 236-layer product, which is four more layers than Micron and YMTC, but two less than SK Hynix.

What sticks out in the Seoul Economic Daily news piece is that unlike SK Hynix, which is going for a triple stack sandwich, Samsung will apparently stick with two stacks. This means that Samsung is aiming for over 150-layers of NAND per stack, which seems like a big risk to take when it comes to yields. The taller the stacks, the bigger the chance of a failed stack, but maybe Samsung has found a solution around this potential issue. As modern 3D NAND relies on Through Silicon Vias, it's easier to manufacture denser stacks than in the past when wire bonding was used, but even so, this seems like a big risk for Samsung to take. That said, considering the current low demand and news of further cutbacks in production, it might be a good time for Samsung to utilise its fabs to test out this new, more densely stacked NAND to see if the company can mass produce it without issues. Samsung's roadmap calls for a 1000 plus layer V-NAND product by 2030, but it seems like the road there is still long and complicated.

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Corsair Launches PC DIY Precision Toolkit
Many of you are most likely familiar with iFixit's various toolkits, even if you don't happen to own one, as they've become quite famous all around the world as affordable, yet good quality tools. Now Corsair has decided to jump into the toolkit marketspace with its PC DIY Precision Toolkit, which is very similar to iFixit's Mako Driver Kit. Both kits come with a flexible extension rod, but where Corsair bests iFixit is when it comes to the actual driver handle, as it has a much better grip and the top cap appears to be made of aluminium rather than plastic. The box is also very similar, as both kits are kept closed with magnets and both have a magnetic insert in the lid which will hold your screws in place while you disassemble whatever it is you're trying to fix or upgrade.

The two toolkits also differ in terms of the kind of bits you get, with Corsair providing some extremely fine tool sizes, especially for Philips and pentalobe compared to iFixit, although iFixit has smaller Torx sizes in their kit. Corsair also offers more socket bits than iFixit, but loses some other bits like the SIM ejection bit and a magnetic pick-up bit. Overall Corsair provides 65 bits vs 64 for iFixit, so it really comes down to which bits make the most sense for you. Corsair also charges US$5 less for their kit compared to iFixit, with an MSRP of US$34.99.

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Intel Graphics Announces DirectX 11 Performance Uplifts and Frame-time Reductions
Intel Graphics today announced the Q3-2023 major update of its Arc GPU Graphics drivers, which will be released shortly. The latest driver promises to be a transformative update recommended for all Intel GPU users. The company says that it has re-architected several under-the-hood components of the drivers to make A-series GPUs significantly faster. The company also put in engineering effort to reduce frame-times, and introduce a new way of measuring the GPU's contribution to it; so users can figure out whether they are in a CPU-limited scenario, or a GPU-limited one. Lastly, the company updated its PresentMonitor utility with a new front-end interface.

Intel Arc "Alchemist" is a ground up discrete GPU graphics architecture that was designed mainly for DirectX 12 and Vulkan, but over time, relied on API translation for DirectX 9 games. With its Spring driver updates, the company had released a major update that uplifted DirectX 9 game performance by 43% on average. This was because even though API translation was being used for DirectX 9 games, there was broad scope for per-game optimization, and DirectX 9 remains a relevant API for several current e-sports titles. With today's release, Intel promises a similar round of performance updates, with as much as 19% performance uplifts to be had in DirectX 11 titles at 1080p, measured with an A750 on a Core i5-13400F based machine. These gains are averaged to +12% on the fastest i9-13900K processor. The logic being that the slower processor benefits greater from the changes Intel made to its DirectX 11 driver.
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[NextPowerUP]

PresentMon is a popular utility that lets you analyze system latencies at a software level, helping you determine how the interplay between various hardware devices and their software contribute to various performance metrices, such as frame-rates, and frame-times. Developed by Intel engineer Jefferson Montgomery and first introduced to the public in 2017, PresentMon has been an SDK that other performance tools have leveraged, such as CapFrameX, NVIDIA FrameView, and GPUOpen OCAT. Intel decided to release PresentMon as an application with its own front-end that has Intel branding. The company will continue to enable PresentMon SDK for third-party applications.

The new Intel PresentMon beta application comes with a configurable overlay that has real-time graphing. It leverages the new GPU_busy performance counter that is the time between two presents (i.e. the time taken for the GPU to execute API commands issues by the CPU for the generation of a particular frame. The PresentMon application retains multi-vendor support—NVIDIA and AMD GPUs remain supported—as do AMD CPUs. It also retains support for all prevalent 3D graphics APIs, including DirectX, Vulkan, and OpenGL. For power-users, the PresentMon SDK and Overlay application will continue to be open-source and available on GitHub, and the company has only increased its usability by adding more commandline options. Everyone else can grab the ready-to-use Intel PresentMon Beta application from the Intel website.

DOWNLOAD: Intel PresentMon Beta

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Lenovo Legion Go Handheld Leaks Powered by AMD Ryzen Z1 APU
After a couple of speculations, rumors, and leaks, the latest one confirms that Lenovo is indeed working on a handheld gaming console, the Legion Go, and it could be launching pretty soon. The latest leak shows it powered by AMD Ryzen Z1 APU and featuring detachable JoyCon-like controllers. It will run on Windows 11 OS and could be paired up with the Legion AR Glasses.

Unfortunately, the leak over at Windowsreport.com show does not include specifications, but according to pictures, it will feature dual speakers, two mics, microSD card reader, a couple of USB-C ports, dedicated FPS switch, a mouse wheel, integrated kickstand, and AMD Ryzen Z1 APU, same as the ASUS ROG Ally. Unfortunately, it is not clear if it will be the Ryzen Z1 or the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU.
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(PR) Immortals of Aveum Gets Updated PC Requirements, Confirms DLSS 3 and FSR 2.2 Support at Launch
The day is almost here. The release of Immortals of Aveum is just around the corner, and we here at Ascendant Studios are so incredibly excited for players to get to experience what we've been building all this time. As we inch closer to August 22nd, we wanted to take a moment to talk a bit more about the technology that's powering our game, and what that means for PC players in particular.

Earlier this year, we talked about some of the amazing tools we've had at our disposal as one of the first studios to release a AAA game using Unreal Engine 5.1. There's Nanite, for example, which automatically adjusts the details the player sees based on distance, letting us build huge, detailed 3D objects that look every bit as good up close as they do from virtual miles away. The additional surface detail of our objects provide significantly more places for lighting to bounce off of.
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(PR) BIOSTAR Launches B650MT and B650MS2 Motherboards
BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is proud to present the brand-new B650MT and B650MS2 motherboards, designed to empower both work and entertainment. Built on the performance-oriented AMD B650 chipset, with support for AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors and the latest Ryzen 7000X3D line, these motherboards stand out with unmatched features and top-notch performance for casual and business use, optimized for system integration businesses, enabling seamless management of business data and overall business processes.

The B650MT and B650MS2 feature DDR5 memory, boasting an impressive capacity of 48 GB per module and a 50% increase in bandwidth compared to its predecessor, DDR4. These features make multitasking a breeze and provide a significant increase in productivity. Users can enjoy hassle-free data transfer speeds thanks to the inclusion of PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 4.0 M.2, with the latter offering a bandwidth of 64 Gb/s, making it twice as fast as the PCIe 3.0 M.2. System updates are now more seamless and efficient, courtesy of the Smart Update feature and the SMART BIOS UPDATE, designed to offer online updates and driver installations automatically.
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(PR) AMD Releases Radeon GPU Detective (RGD) 1.0
We are happy to announce the release of Radeon GPU Detective (RGD) v1.0 - a tool for post-mortem analysis of GPU crashes. The tool allows developers to retrieve and analyze AMD GPU crash dumps and produce information that can help narrow down the search for a crash's root cause. Such information includes page fault details, resource details and execution markers reflecting the GPU work that was in progress at the moments leading to the crash.

This first version of the tool supports analysis of GPU crashes on Windows ("TDRs") in Direct3D 12 applications and requires a RX 6000 series (RDNA 2) or RX 7000 series (RDNA 3) card, in addition to the latest public AMD Radeon Adrenalin Software.
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AMD Updates Ryzen Chipset Drivers with Greater 3D V-cache Optimization?
AMD released updated Ryzen Chipset software, version 5.08.02.027. In addition to bug fixes for its various components, the drivers introduce application support for a "New program support and some new drivers added." The package now includes three new components—AMD SFH 1.1 driver, AMD PMF-7040Series driver, and a curiously named AMD Interface driver. SFH, or Sensor Fusion Hub, is a mobile-relevant component where various sensory devices, such as cameras, motion-sensors, etc., can be presented to the OS to drive applications that need them, such as Windows Hello. AMD PMF-7040 driver provides Platform Management Framework, and is specific to the Ryzen 7040-series "Phoenix" mobile processors. "AMD Interface driver" is a mystery.

AMD's first processor with 3D V-cache, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, didn't face optimization issues, as it was a single-CCD processor. The company's latest 7900X3D and 7950X3D are dual-CCD processors, where one of the two CCDs has 64 MB 3D V-cache on top of the 32 MB on-die L3 cache, and the other is a regular "Zen 4" CCD with just the on-die 32 MB L3 cache. To ensure the right kind of workload is scheduled to the right kind of CCD, AMD has been using a driver that assists Windows scheduler with this exact task. "AMD Interface driver" could serve as a backend to an application that probably gives some kind of control for this 3D V-cache control driver; or perhaps it is just a backend for Ryzen Master. If AMD has to give end-users the ability to tinker with 3D V-cache application scheduling, the logical way it would go about doing it is add functionality to the Ryzen Master app. If there is a separate front-end application planned for the task, then it is probably non-public, and meant for AMD and its ISV partners.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Chipset Software 5.08.02.027
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[NextPowerUP]

For the first time in back-to-back years, Call of Duty returns with a direct sequel as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III picks up immediately following the events of last year's incredible blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. This all-new experience is scheduled to be released worldwide on Friday, November 10th allowing players for the first time to continue their journey, progression, and story seamlessly for a new year to come.

Get ready for an all-new Campaign that continues the story immediately following the events of Modern Warfare II. Lead developer Sledgehammer Games, in partnership with Infinity Ward is set to deliver a full Campaign of action-packed operations ranging from signature, cinematic experiences to free-form Open Combat Missions, resulting in more player choice than ever before.
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(PR) Razer Announces BlackWidow V4 75% Gaming Keyboard
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, lifts the veil off the groundbreaking Razer BlackWidow V4 75%. Embodying the perfect harmony of gaming precision and customization, this keyboard boasts a robust aluminium build, gasket-mounted plate, keys primed with hot-swappable sockets, all-new tactile mechanical switches, and vivid Razer Chroma RGB lighting for an experience that stands in a class of its own.

"The BlackWidow V4 75% is the result of Razer listening to the community, seamlessly merging customization with gaming," said Barrie Ooi, Head of Razer's PC Gaming Division. "Its hot-swappable architecture, paired with our elite mechanical switches and adaptive Chroma RGB lighting, empowers gamers to tailor a keyboard that's truly unique to their needs."
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(PR) NVIDIA GeForce NOW Gets 22 New Games This Week, Ultimate KovaaK's Challenge Results Published
The verdict is in: A GeForce NOW Ultimate membership raises the bar on gaming. Members have been tackling the Ultimate KovvaK's challenge head-on and seeing for themselves how the power of Ultimate improves their gaming with 240 frames per second streaming.

The popular training title that helps gamers improve their aim fully launches in the cloud this week alongside a limited-time discount on Steam. KovaaK's leads over 20 new games joining the GeForce NOW library this week.
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(PR) Arctic Announces the P8 Max 80mm Fan
ARCTIC, a leading manufacturer of low-noise PC coolers and components, extends the P-fan series with the P8 Max, a new high-performance fan. In contrast to the conventional P8 PWM, the P8 Max has a significantly increased speed with revolutions from 500 to 5000 rpm, which makes it ARCTIC's most powerful 80 mm fan. In addition, the P8 Max can be throttled down to standstill if no load is needed.

The P8 Max impresses with its extraordinary performance efficiency. At a speed of 3000 rpm, it consumes only 0.06 amps. In comparison, similar fans like the P8 require more than double at the same speed with 0.14 amps. Thanks to its significant static pressure, which is particularly effective for heatsinks, radiators, pinholes and tightly packed cases, as well as its high efficiency, this fan is ideally suited for use in server cases such as 2U racks.
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Western Digital in Trouble Over Failing Portable SSDs
Over the past few months there have been reports of issues with SanDisk portable SSDs and Western Digital released a firmware update in May that was meant to prevent the drives from "unexpectedly disconnect from a computer". However, it appears that this firmware update didn't solve the problem and Western Digital is now being taken to court over drives not just having disconnect issues, but also randomly failing. The court case is expected to become a class action suit, as the plaintiff claims that the issue of failing drives affect tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people in the USA.

The models included in the complaint includes the SanDisk Extreme Pro, Extreme Portable, Extreme Pro Portable and WD My Passport SSD. A further firmware update was released in July, which is said to have made the issues even worse, with data being lost on drives or being inaccessible to drive owners. In some cases the drives go into read only mode, but sometimes this means that the drives become inaccessible to the OS, which in turn also means dataloss to the user. Time will tell how this plays out, but it's not looking great for Western Digital, but it wouldn't be the first time a storage device maker has been taken to court over failing products.

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(PR) Lenovo Group Releases First Quarter Results 2023/24
Lenovo Group today announced first quarter results, reporting Group revenue of US$12.9 billion and net income of US$191 million on a non-Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (HKFRS) basis. Revenue from the non-PC businesses accounted for 41% of Group revenue, with the service-led business achieving strong growth and sustained profitability - further demonstrating the effectiveness of Lenovo's intelligent transformation strategy.

The Group continues to take proactive actions to keep its Expenses-to-Revenue (E/R) ratio resilient and drive sustainable profitability, whilst also investing for growth and transformation. It remains committed to doubling investment in innovation in the mid-term, including an additional US$1 billion investment over three years to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) deployment for businesses around the world - specifically AI devices, AI infrastructure, and AI solutions.
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[NextPowerUP]

Team Group Inc., a leading provider of memory storage products announces today its partnership with ASI Computer Technologies Inc a high-profile provider of IT hardware components and systems. By combining ASI Computer Technologies'35 years of channel experience and extensive distribution resources with Team Group's vast lineup of performance focused DRAM, the two companies are strategically focused to grow share across the entire North America market.

Since 2015, Team Group has earned its reputation within the US eSports arena as a high-performance, high-quality memory brand. With complete line of T-Force products, Team Group designs solutions that are innovative in style, efficient in cooling, and consistent in functionality. As the company continued to invest in other markets with T-Create and TEAMS product lineup, we saw sales grow 50% in the B2B segment.
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AMD Software Adrenalin 23.8.1 WHQL Released
AMD has released the latest Adrenalin 23.8.1 WHQL driver, bringing support for Immortals of Aveum game, as well as several fixes, including issues with high idle power when using multi-display setups with mixed high-resolutions and high refresh rate on Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs when variable refresh rate is enabled, issues with performance drop on DirectX 11 games on Radeon RX 5600 XT when AMD SmartAccess Memory is enabled, issues in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart game with ray tracing and Dynamic Resolution Scaling enabled on some AMD graphics cards, issues in Starcraft II on Radeon RX 7000 series GPUs, corruption issues in Rocket League with Bloom set to off on certain AMD graphics cards, and performance drop on Radeon 700M series GPUs in various games.

Unfortunately, AMD still has not fixed issues with Baldur's Gate 3 with DirectX 11 API on Radeon RX 7000 series graphics cards. AMD also included an important notes section stating that the factory reset is still temporarily disabled as a precautionary measure due to isolated installation issues during PC upgrades, and AMD Cleanup Utility can be used as a temporary option.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Software Adrenalin 23.8.1 WHQL
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(PR) AMD Showcases Continued Enterprise Data Center Momentum with EPYC CPUs and Pensando DPUs
Today, at VMware Explore 2023 Las Vegas, AMD continued to showcase its proven performance and growing adoption of AMD EPYC CPUs, AMD Pensando data processing units (DPUs) and adaptive computing products as ideal solutions for the most efficient and innovative virtualized environments. For instance, a system powered by a 4th Gen AMD EPYC 9654 CPUs and a Pensando DPU, delivers approximately 3.3x the Redis application performance and 1.75x the aggregate network throughput when compared to a 4th Gen EPYC system with standard NICs. Additionally, servers with 2P 4th Gen EPYC 9654 CPUs alone can enable using up to 35% fewer servers in an environment running 2000 virtual machines (VMs) compared to 2P Intel Xeon 8490H based servers.

"AMD is helping enterprise customers fully realize the benefits of their virtualized data centers with the latest generation EPYC CPUs and Pensando DPUs," said Forrest Norrod, executive vice president and general manager, Data Center Solutions Business Group, AMD. "Consolidation and modernization enable businesses to increase server utilization and efficiency while delivering impressive performance for critical enterprise workloads. Our ongoing collaboration with VMware enables customers to get more efficient and agile to reach their digital transformation goals."
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Soundcore Unveils the Space One Headphones with Improved ANC and LDAC for US$99.99
soundcore, the premium audio brand of Anker Innovations', today launched the Space One over-ear headphones, the next generation of headphones under the Space moniker. With an upgraded noise cancelling system, Space One offers users an improved experience for listening to music or talking on the phone, by targeting frequencies that help to reduce external voices. Combined with long playtime, impressive audio performance with LDAC decoding and a comfortable floating design, Space One equals an over-the-ear pair of headphones that is perfect for all day usage.

soundcore's Best Ever Noise Cancellation:
Leveraging the Space One's improved noise cancelling structure helps to block out mid and high frequencies where the human voice typically resides (1). Once identified, the Space One headphones can help to reduce many sounds including, people talking, babies crying or co-workers on the phone in the next cubicle.
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(PR) Gigabyte Aorus Invites Gamers to Experience Next-Gen PC Gaming Hardware at Gamescom 2023
GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, is excited to announce its gaming sub-brand AORUS' presence at Gamescom 2023 in Cologne, Germany. Under the exciting theme of AORUSVERSE, AORUS is set to showcase its latest cutting-edge technology, including state-of-the-art motherboards, powerful gaming and creator laptops, PC systems, and stunning 4K gaming monitors. Attendees can expect an immersive journey into the vast gaming world of AORUSVERSE.

As a true gaming heaven, the AORUS booth will be brimming with the latest gaming hardware for enthusiasts to explore. The centerpiece of the exhibit will be the highly-anticipated Z790 X series motherboards, with the enthusiast-grade Z790 MASTER X leading the way to power Intel's next-generation processor. Additionally, AORUS will proudly unveil the Red Dot Design Award 2023 award-winning M6 wireless gaming mouse, allowing attendees to get a hands-on experience with this exceptional peripheral.
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(PR) Broadcom Provides Regulatory Update on VMware Transaction
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), a global technology leader that designs, develops and supplies semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions, today affirmed its expectation that its acquisition of VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW) will close on October 30, 2023, and provided an update on its progress with various regulatory agencies.

On August 21, 2023, Broadcom received final transaction approval from the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority. This follows legal merger clearance in the European Union, as well as in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, South Africa, and Taiwan, and foreign investment control clearance in all necessary jurisdictions. In the U.S., the Hart-Scott-Rodino pre-merger waiting periods have expired, and there is no legal impediment to closing under U.S. merger regulations.
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Intel Overclocks Arc A380 with a Driver Update
Intel Graphics figured out a unique way to step up performance of its entry-level Arc A380 graphics cards. While other companies prevent BIOS updates and generally discourage overclocking; Intel has given the A380 a free vendor overclock. With the latest Arc GPU Graphics drivers 101.4644 WHQL, Intel has increased the base frequency of the GPU. The driver installer includes a firmware update besides the driver. The A380 has a reference base clock of 2000 MHz, which boosts up to 2050 MHz. With the latest 101.4644 drivers (the new firmware), the base frequency has been increased to 2150 MHz. It's not much, but hey, who doesn't want a free 7.5% overclock to go with their recent 19% performance increase in DirectX 11 games, and over 40% increase in DirectX 9 ones?

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(PR) Samsung Announced the Freestyle Gen 2 Projector with Gaming Hub Integration
The Freestyle Gen 2 is the world's first portable projector with cloud gaming built-in, that works with your favorite Bluetooth controller
Samsung Electronics America today announced pre-order availability for The Freestyle Gen 2 with Gaming Hub - the next generation portable smart projector that transforms virtually any surface, even your ceiling, into a screen up to 100 inches. The new model (SP-LFF3CLA) provides instant access to the leading streaming entertainment platforms and now features Samsung Gaming Hub, so you can play top games from Xbox and other streaming partners, with no console required. With The Freestyle Gen 2, it's easier than ever to take your favorite content, shows, movies, and now, games, with you on-the-go[3].

"People are looking for more versatile technology that fits into their day-to-day - that's one of the reasons that portable projector purchases are on the rise," said James Fishler, Senior Vice President, Home Entertainment & Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. "The Freestyle is one-of-a-kind in the market because it offers instant access to the same streaming entertainment apps that you enjoy on your Samsung TV. Plus, setup is simple so you can easily project your favorite shows - and now even stream thousands of popular games - in high definition on the big screen anywhere, whether that's right at home, or if you're like me, on weekend camping trips."
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Logitech's G Pro X Superlight 2 Leaks Ahead of Launch
It appears that Logitech is getting ready to launch its first revision of the G Pro Superlight which simply gets a 2 in the model name to differentiate it from the current model. The G Pro X Superlight 2 is getting a new Hero 2 sensor that is said to feature a 32,000 DPI sensor, suggesting it might be capable of tracking at over 500 inches per second (IPS) with 40 G worth of acceleration. The USB report rate has also doubled from 1 kHz to 2 kHz, which at least in theory, means reduced input lag.

According to Winfuture who leaked the G Pro X Superlight 2, it will also get up to 95 hours battery life, a 25 hour improvement over the current model. Logitech is also said to have shaved off a further 3 grams of weight, although the G Pro X Superlight 2 is by no means the lightest competitive gaming mouse around. Another and most likely more appreciated feature improvement that the weight reduction, is a move to USB-C for charging, something Logitech has been slow at adopting compared to many of its competitors. The biggest downside of the new model seems to be the expected MSRP, which according to Winfuture will be somewhere between €160-170, with the current model going for €139 in Europe.

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Smugglers Caught with 780 Intel CPUs Worth Over $137,000
Recently, Chinese customs at Gongbei Port, which connects Macau and Zhuhai, made a significant interception: 780 Intel processors that smugglers were attempting to sneak in. Smugglers in China are known for their innovative tactics to bypass customs. There are many ways that these smugglers try to avoid paying customs, and that is strapping these goods on themselves. In this latest incident, the smugglers chose a seemingly clever approach by stashing the processors within a cross-border bus's engine. But passing through metal detectors with such a hefty amount of metal is risky, and even creative disguises can't shield processors from keen-eyed detectors.

After examining its digital imagery, the Gongbei Port customs officials grew suspicious of the bus. A detailed engine inspection unveiled the smuggled goods: 780 Intel processors, cleverly hidden. The estimated value of the seized items is over one million yuan, approximately $137,341. Although the exact models of the confiscated chips are not entirely clear, they appear to be from the 12th Generation Alder Lake or 13th Generation Raptor Lake series. China's vast grey market for computer components is both a boon and a bane. While CPUs, GPUs, and SSDs are available at tempting prices, these deals often lack the manufacturer's warranty. So, while the initial savings might seem appealing, the absence of warranty poses risks that could offset those initial benefits in the long run.

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NVIDIA BIOS Signature Lock Broken, vBIOS Modding and Crossflash Enabled by Groundbreaking New Tools
You can now play with NVIDIA GeForce graphics card BIOS like it's 2013! Over the last decade, NVIDIA had effectively killed video BIOS modding by introducing BIOS signature checks. With GeForce 900-series "Maxwell," the company added an on-die security processor on all its GPUs, codenamed "Falcon," which among other things, prevents the GPU from booting with unauthorized firmware. OMGVflash by Veii; and NVflashk by Kefinator (forum names), are two independently developed new tools that let you flash almost any video BIOS onto almost any NVIDIA GeForce graphics card, bypassing "unbreakable" barriers NVIDIA put in place, such as BIOS signature checks; and vendor/device checks (cross-flashing). vBIOS signature check bypass works up to RTX 20-series "Turing" based GPUs, letting you modify the BIOS the way you want, while cross-flashing (sub-vendor ID check bypass) works even on the latest RTX 4090 "Ada."

The tools bring back the glory days of video BIOS modding using utilities the likes of NiBiTor (now discontinued). The possibilities of such utilities are endless. You can, for example, flash the BIOS of a premium factory-overclocked graphics card onto your close-to-MSRP graphics card. For cards up to RTX 20-series "Turing," in addition to clock speeds, BIOS modding lets you raise power limits, which have a more profound impact on performance, as they increase boost frequency residency. BIOS modding also gives you control over the graphics card's voltages, cooling performance, and fan-curve, so you can make your card quieter, as long as your cooler can keep the GPU away from thermal limits (which you can adjust, too). With cross-flashing (without modifying the BIOS or disturbing its signature), you are now able to restore a voltage of 1.1 V on your RTX 4090 GPU, if you've got one of the newer models, which ticks at 1.07 V only. You could also flash your FE with a custom-design vBIOS with high power limit, to go beyond NVIDIA's power limits.
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[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Electronics, a global leader in the visual display industry, today announced the launch of the world's first gaming title featuring the High Dynamic Range (HDR) 10+ GAMING standard created by HDR10+ Technologies LLC. The new title, "The First Descendant" was developed by NEXON and will be unveiled at Gamescom 2023.

"We're thrilled to join forces with NEXON, a true pioneer in video games, to introduce the world's first HDR10+ GAMING title, The First Descendant," said Seokwoo Jason Yong, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "This is a gaming milestone that goes beyond mere technological advancement; it represents Samsung's continued commitment to enhance the gaming experience as technology evolves."
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Intel Socket LGA1851 Only Supports DDR5 Memory
Intel's upcoming desktop platform based on Socket LGA1851 will retire support for the DDR4 memory standard. The socket will only support DDR5. With this, Intel would have gracefully transitioned the market from DDR4 to DDR5, with its current Socket LGA1700 that enables both memory stardards, having supported three generations of Core processors (12th thru 14th). Leaf Hobby, a reliable source with Intel leaks, says that LGA1851 will remain Intel's desktop platform till 2026.

LGA1851 is expected to debut with the company's Core desktop processor generation that succeeds 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh." The socket itself has the same dimensions as LGA1700, and is expected to be cooler-compatible with the older socket. The socket will feature pins for up to 32 PCIe lanes—16 toward PEG, 8 toward DMI chipset bus, and two sets of 4 lanes toward CPU-attached NVMe storage. From these, the 16 PEG lanes, and one set of 4 lanes are expected to be Gen 5, while the chipset bus is expected to remain DMI Gen 4 x8, and the second CPU-attached NVMe slot is expected to be Gen 4. The socket could also feature wiring for updated display I/O, as Intel's next-gen processors are expected to introduce updates to the iGPU.

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(PR) AAEON Brings Intel Atom x7000E Series to the 4" EPIC Board Range With the EPIC-ADN9
AAEON, a global leader in embedded computing, has introduced the EPIC-ADN9, featuring the newest iteration of Intel technology on its 4.53" x 6.50" (115mm x 165mm) EPIC series of single-board computers. Offering a range of embedded CPUs, including the Intel Core i3-N305, Intel Atom x7425E, Intel Processor N50, and Intel Processor N97, the EPIC-ADN9 strikes a balance between efficiency and performance. This selection of processors also provides support for Intel UHD Graphics, enhancing the improved display interface configuration integrated by AAEON into the board. This configuration includes HDMI 1.4, DP 1.2, VGA, and 24/48-bit Dual-Channel LVDS.

Complementing the EPIC-ADN9's display capabilities are up to four RJ-45 ports for Intel I226-V Ethernet running at 2.5 GbE, depending on the model. AAEON designed the board to be passively cooled, while also incorporating multiple options for image acquisition and high-resolution display. This design approach aligns with AAEON's focus on applications such as entry-level gateway devices and digital signage.
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(PR) SK hynix Develops World's Best Performing HBM3E Memory
SK hynix Inc. announced today that it successfully developed HBM3E, the next-generation of the highest-specification DRAM for AI applications currently available, and said a customer's evaluation of samples is underway. The company said that the successful development of HBM3E, the extended version of HBM3 which delivers the world's best specifications, comes on top of its experience as the industry's sole mass provider of HBM3. With its experience as the supplier of the industry's largest volume of HBM products and the mass-production readiness level, SK hynix plans to mass produce HBM3E from the first half of next year and solidify its unrivaled leadership in AI memory market.

According to the company, the latest product not only meets the industry's highest standards of speed, the key specification for AI memory products, but all categories including capacity, heat dissipation and user-friendliness. In terms of speed, the HBM3E can process data up to 1.15 terabytes a second, which is equivalent to processing more than 230 Full-HD movies of 5 GB-size each in a second.
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This Week in Gaming (Week 34)
As we enter the fourth week of August, we have yet another packed week of new game releases to look forward to. This week's AAA title will most likely get a lot of flack due to the publisher and thus it's not likely to get a lot of votes in this week's poll either. However, we have a lot more for you this week, ranging from a walking simulator to blaspheming, from mech's to jumping lights and more.

Immortals of Aveum / This week's AAA title / Tuesday 22 August
Immortals of Aveum is set in an original fantasy universe engulfed in magic, rife with conflict, and on the edge of the abyss. Players experience this visceral and cinematic, story-driven game through the eyes of Jak, as he joins an elite order of battlemages, masters all three colors of magic - blue, green, and red - and decimates legions of enemies with clever chained attacks and well-timed counters. Combining a modern story within a fantasy setting, the world of Aveum is filled with unforgettable characters, fast-paced action and spell-based combat that defies FPS conventions.
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(PR) Nacon Announces the RIG 600 Pro Series Gaming Headsets
NACON, a leader in premium gaming accessories and parent of the RIG audio brand, announces its first dual wireless RIG 600 PRO Series. The 600 PRO is designed to meet the diverse connection needs of gamers, boasting multiplatform dual wireless technology paired with signature RIG acoustics and comfort. Featuring best-in-class low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth, the 600 PRO is the ultimate choice to game wirelessly on all your favourite devices, including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC and Mobile.

In addition to its multiplatform compatibility, the 600 PRO excels in performance, boasting a chat-optimized microphone that discreetly folds into the earcup when not in use. The integrated flip-to-mute function further enhances versatility, allowing gamers to take calls and communicate with their squad seamlessly.
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(PR) AMD Showcases Leadership Cloud Performance with New Amazon EC2 Instances Powered by 4th Gen AMD EPYC Processors
Today, AMD announced Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded its 4th Gen AMD EPYC processor-based offerings with the general availability of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) M7a and Amazon EC2 Hpc7a instances, which offer next-generation performance and efficiency for applications that benefit from high performance, high throughput and tightly coupled HPC workloads, respectively.

"For customers with increasingly complex and compute-intensive workloads, 4th Gen EPYC processor-powered Amazon EC2 instances deliver a differentiated offering for customers," said David Brown, vice president of Amazon EC2 at AWS. "Combined with the power of the AWS Nitro System, both M7a and Hpc7a instances allow for fast and low-latency internode communications, advancing what our customers can achieve across our growing family of Amazon EC2 instances."
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Samsung Said to Produce 300-Layer V-NAND in 2024
It appears that Samsung is getting ready to beat SK Hynix in the race to 300 plus layers of NAND Flash, at least according to reports coming out of South Korea. The Seoul Economic Daily claims in an exclusive that Samsung will have a 300 plus layer V-NAND—(V for Vertical or 3D NAND—chip ready for production in 2024 and could as such beat SK Hynix by as much as a year, depending on how soon Samsung can deliver. Currently Samsung's most cutting edge stacked NAND is a 236-layer product, which is four more layers than Micron and YMTC, but two less than SK Hynix.

What sticks out in the Seoul Economic Daily news piece is that unlike SK Hynix, which is going for a triple stack sandwich, Samsung will apparently stick with two stacks. This means that Samsung is aiming for over 150-layers of NAND per stack, which seems like a big risk to take when it comes to yields. The taller the stacks, the bigger the chance of a failed stack, but maybe Samsung has found a solution around this potential issue. As modern 3D NAND relies on Through Silicon Vias, it's easier to manufacture denser stacks than in the past when wire bonding was used, but even so, this seems like a big risk for Samsung to take. That said, considering the current low demand and news of further cutbacks in production, it might be a good time for Samsung to utilise its fabs to test out this new, more densely stacked NAND to see if the company can mass produce it without issues. Samsung's roadmap calls for a 1000 plus layer V-NAND product by 2030, but it seems like the road there is still long and complicated.

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[NextPowerUP]

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) announced the upcoming release of the ECX344A, a large-size, high-definition 1.3-type OLED Microdisplay with 4K resolution which will allow for greater photo-realistic VR and AR experiences.

The new OLED Microdisplay is mainly intended for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display applications. It delivers 4K resolution with a 1.3-type large-size display by employing miniaturization processes that SSS has achieved while developing camera electronic viewfinders (EVFs), as well as its own pixel drive circuits. A new high-speed driver circuit is included in the microdisplay to enable a high frame rate even at 4K resolution, allowing for smooth image quality with an enhanced sense of reality. Moreover, SSS's original pixel structure makes it possible to achieve both a wide color gamut and high luminance performance.
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PowerColor RX 7800/7700 Hellhound Graphics Card Teased
PowerColor put out teaser images for its upcoming Hellhound series custom-design graphics card that's either based on the Radeon RX 7800 XT or the RX 7700 XT (could be a common board design used for both GPUs). The board design closely resembles that of the company's RX 7900 series Hellhound graphics cards, but is visibly slimmer—could be either 2-slot or 2.5-slot. There are possibly 3 fans on this board, all of which are RGB LED illuminated. There is a dedicated LED-off switch on the card, located right next to two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. AMD is expected to announce its RX 7800 series and RX 7700 series on August 25th, with partner board announcements expected either immediately, or on August 26.

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(PR) NVIDIA Announces Record Financial Results for Q2 of 2023
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today reported revenue for the second quarter ended July 30, 2023, of $13.51 billion, up 101% from a year ago and up 88% from the previous quarter. GAAP earnings per diluted share for the quarter were $2.48, up 854% from a year ago and up 202% from the previous quarter. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $2.70, up 429% from a year ago and up 148% from the previous quarter.

"A new computing era has begun. Companies worldwide are transitioning from general-purpose to accelerated computing and generative AI," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "NVIDIA GPUs connected by our Mellanox networking and switch technologies and running our CUDA AI software stack make up the computing infrastructure of generative AI.
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Custom-design AMD Radeon RX 7800 series and RX 7700 series GPUs Arrive on August 26?
August 26 could be the day AMD's Radeon add-in board (AIB) partners announce their custom-design Radeon RX 7800 series and RX 7700 series graphics cards. Gamescom 2023 is underway, and the expo's booth for ASRock has three curious-looking placeholders in the wall with the graphics cards. The placeholders refer to new RDNA3 graphics cards coming in on August 26. ASRock makes AMD Radeon and Intel Arc custom-design graphics cards.

AMD is expected to announce its new performance-segment GPUs a day earlier on August 25, as part of an exclusive Radeon RX event headed by Scott Herkelman and Frank Azor. This is widely expected to see announcements for the desktop RX 7800 series and RX 7700 series; but it wouldn't surprise us if there are some announcements about high-end RX 7000-series mobile GPUs based on the same compacted "Navi 31" ASIC that powers the desktop RX 7900 GRE.

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(PR) Activision Announces Campaign Details, CoD Next, and Multiplayer Beta Dates for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
We break down the recently revealed Campaign footage from Operation 627. Also, details on this year's Call of Duty Next on October 5, and the MW III Multiplayer Beta. Developed by Sledgehammer Games in partnership with Infinity Ward, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Campaign is the direct sequel to the events of Modern Warfare II.

As mentioned in the full game's Announcement, this Campaign features a seamless integration of missions built around Call of Duty's signature, cinematic moments that have defined two decades of the franchise's action-packed, narrative-driven, single-player experiences, and brand-new Open Combat Missions designed to give the player freedom to approach the action in a variety of different ways. The full Campaign, of course, is available up to one week prior to the game's official launch on November 10, and is available through Campaign Early Access, included in all digital pre-order editions of Modern Warfare III. One week based on estimated access; actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.
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PowerColor Teases Upcoming RX 7800/7700 XT Hellhound and Fighter Ahead of Launch
PowerColor has released a couple of new teasers for the upcoming Radeon RX 7800/RX 7700 XT launch that is said to be scheduled for August 25th. According to these new teasers, it appears that PowerColor will be introducing both Hellhound and Fighter series versions, in addition to the Red Devil that leaked earlier this month.

PowerColor released two new teasers, one on Twitter and one on Facebook, showing different sides of new graphics cards, and while it did not reveal any specific details, it is obvious that we are looking at the upcoming Radeon RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7700 XT versions that will be a part of its Hellhound and Fighter series. Unlike the earlier revealed Red Devil version, Hellhound is a bit toned down, but still should come with a decent factory-overclock. So far, PowerColor is teasing only the black version, and it is not clear if we will see the white Hellhound Spectral version. The Fighter series is usually the budget-oriented series, launching at MSRP, so it will be interesting to see how many SKUs PowerColor will announce on August 25th.

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(PR) Epic Games Introduces First Run Program, Offers 100% Revenue to Developers for Exclusivity
Today, we're introducing the Epic First Run program: an opt-in exclusivity program for third-party developers on the Epic Games Store. The new Epic First Run program gives participants the opportunity to boost their net revenue from user spending on eligible products from 88% to 100% in their first six months on the Epic Games Store. After their six-month run, participants will continue to benefit from Epic's 88%/12% revenue split.

The Epic Games Store is home to a huge, rapidly growing global audience with over 230 million players and 68 million monthly active users. Participating products in the Epic First Run program will be presented to those users on-store with new exclusive badging, homepage placements, and dedicated collections. In addition, products will be featured in relevant store campaigns including sales, events, and editorial as applicable. Once a product joins the program, it will benefit from continued exposure throughout its Epic First Run.
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The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria Gets October 24th Release Date
Independent developer Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games today announced the release date for their highly anticipated co-op survival crafting title, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, which will welcome Dwarves into the storied mines on Oct. 24 with a digital release for the PlayStation 5 computer entertainment system and Windows PC version via the Epic Games Store. The game will see a physical release for the PS5 at retail on Dec. 5, and is scheduled to release for the Xbox Series X|S console systems in early 2024. Eager adventurers can pre-order the title digitally starting today on PC via the Epic Games Store or wishlist the game on the PlayStation Store for PS5. Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the epic fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria follows the Dwarves as they embark on unique adventures to reclaim and restore their Dwarven homeland of Moria.

The story of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria takes players beyond the books and into the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the fantastical world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players take control of a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria—known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf—in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude and teamwork, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures and in the hopes of one day restoring them to their former glory.
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[NextPowerUP]

Developer Shiro Games and publisher Funcom are proud to reveal that Dune: Spice Wars, the first game set in the Dune universe in two decades, will release out of Early Access in September. In just over one year of Early Access, Shiro Games has released five major updates, massively expanding the game. Get a taste of precious spice in the brand-new Dune: Spice Wars Gamescom trailer.

Dune: Spice Wars lets you lead one of the Great Houses of the Imperium to dominate Arrakis and the flow of spice. Through intrigue, warfare, economy, and spycraft, you will rule the deserts or be buried in them.
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(PR) Razer Announces Kishi V2 Pro, Kishi V2 Xbox Edition and Extends Razer Edge to Europe and Asia
Razer, the world's leading lifestyle brand for gamers, has once again set the mobile gaming world alight with their latest lineup additions. Spearheading this launch is the widely available Kishi V2 Pro, the extended reach of Razer Edge across Europe and Asia, and the new Xbox Editions of Kishi V2 for iPhone and Kishi V2 Pro for Android.

"At Razer, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in mobile gaming," said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer's Hardware Business Unit. "With the Kishi V2 line and the extended availability of the Razer Edge, we are empowering gamers to enjoy the full potential of what mobile gaming has to offer."
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(PR) GIGABYTE Introduces New BRIX Extreme Mini-PCs with AMD Ryzen 7040U and 7035U Processors
Giga Computing, a trailblazing force in high-performance technology and a distinguished GIGABYTE subsidiary, proudly presents the next evolution in computing. Behold the sleek and powerful ultra-compact mini-PC, a masterpiece meticulously designed for the BRIX Extreme lineup. This dynamic addition harnesses the formidable capabilities of the AMD Ryzen 7040U and 7035U series processors. As AMD propels mobile platforms into a new era with the Zen 4 architecture and TSMC's cutting-edge 4 nm process, the BRIX Extreme rises as the ultimate symbol of performance, style, and innovation.

Enveloped in GIGABYTE's exclusive design, the BRIX Extreme of 2022 boasts an enhanced appearance that seamlessly integrates four display outputs—HDMI 2.1, USB Type C, 2.5G Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 6E. This unleashes the unprecedented power of the most dominant mini-PC, delivering breathtaking performance and responsiveness. Unleash your creativity, dominate your games, and immerse yourself in limitless possibilities.
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(PR) Sony Announces the US$200 PlayStation Portal Handheld Gaming Device
Back in May Sony officially revealed what was then known as Project Q, its first streaming only handheld gaming device. Since then, there have been multiple rumours about the specs and what the device will deliver and now, Sony has finally decided to launch the device as the PlayStation Portal. However, it appears that Sony is still keeping things under wraps, as not much new was announced in terms of the actual specs of the device, although we now know that the 8-inch, 1080p60 display is a touch display and it can act as a virtual touchpad. Other details that Sony shared in today's announcement was that the device will feature a 3.5 mm headset jack. With a US$199.99 MSRP it might end up being a popular accessory though, as Sony is asking for far less than the rumours suggested the PlayStation Portal would cost.

Sony also unveiled a pair of new headsets for the PS5, the Pulse Elite and the Pulse Explore. The latter was shown back in May. What was not known back then, was that Sony will be adding a new wireless audio specification to the PS5 called PlayStation Link. This will require a new USB dongle that ships with the headsets and can apparently also be used with PCs and Macs in a rather unusual move for Sony. PlayStation Link is said to be a low latency and lossless wireless audio solution, but the good news is that both headsets also support Bluetooth connectivity and can connect to a PlayStation Link dongle and a Bluetooth device simultaneously. Both the the Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore will feature planar magnetic drivers, which is a not common in gaming headset and even less so for earbuds like this. The Pulse Elite has a US$149.99 MSRP and the Pulse Explore will retail for US$199.99 when they launch later this year.
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(PR) Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon G Series for Next-Gen Handheld Gaming Devices
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced the all-new Snapdragon G Series handheld gaming portfolio, built to meet the unique performance and feature demands of dedicated gaming devices. The new Snapdragon G Series unlocks a range of options for playing the most sought-after games, offering boundless ways to play virtually any game, anywhere.

"Dedicated handheld gaming devices are the best way to experience mobile games. But gamers want to be able to play all their favorite games across devices and ecosystems, be it their console, PC, or on a cloud service" said Mithun Chandrasekhar, senior director of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "The new generation of Snapdragon G Series powered devices will be the best place for gamers to play their favorite titles, offering them the ability to choose from the cloud, console, Android, or PC while on-the-go."
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[NextPowerUP]

On 22 August 2023, the new sub-gaming brand of Philips, Evnia, announced the release of the newest addition to their premium 8000 monitor series: The Philips Evnia 49M2C8900. Designed for gamers searching for a state-of-the-art and immersive product that can perform for work or play, the Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 showcases versatility with features like the large 32:9 SuperWide (48.9") screen and its complete USB-C hub.

However, this hardly scratches the surface of the Philips Evnia 49M2C8900's spec profile. Evnia, with the mission to introduce a gaming brand meant for everyone, has fully packed the Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 with specs that are suited for all types of gameplay; such as a QD OLED display for pristine visuals, a 240 Hz refresh rate for fast and clear gaming, Vesa ClearMR 13000 certification for assured blur-free gaming, DTS Sound with 30 W output for exceptional and immersive audio, and the exclusive Ambiglow feature to add to the all-around alluring experience.
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(PR) HyperX Announces Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset at Gamescom
HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the release of the Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset. Cloud III wireless delivers the ultimate in comfort and sound with up to 120 hours battery life, offering a captivating wireless gaming experience. With legendary comfort, immersive audio with re-engineered 53 mm angled drivers, and a lifetime activation of DTS Headphone:X via NGENUITY software for accurate 3D audio, Cloud III wireless is ready for gaming, wireless entertainment, untethered chat for fun or work.

The HyperX Cloud III Wireless incorporates new features and a striking new design, delivering an exceptional audio experience to gamers. Evolving from the legendary Cloud headset, known for its comfort, sound quality, and durability, the Cloud III Wireless raises the bar for gaming audio.
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(PR) Simply NUC Unveils the World's First 4x4 NUC Powered by an Intel Core i9 Processor
In a groundbreaking leap forward for small form factor computing, Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini PC solutions company, is thrilled to announce the launch of a new product family called Onyx. Powered by Intel's 13th Gen Raptor Lake "H" series processors, Onyx is the world's first 4x4 NUC to feature a Core i9 option. With support for up to an unprecedented 96 GB of DDR5-5200 memory, up to 16 TB of storage, and never before seen benchmark results, Onyx delivers unmatched computing performance for modern business.

"With the launch of Onyx we're redefining what is possible from a 4x4 NUC," said Jonny Smith, Co-CEO at Simply NUC. "Onyx is the culmination of customer-driven innovation and sets the new standard for ultra-small form factor compute power and performance."
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(PR) Thermaltake's New SWAFAN GT12/14 PC Cooling Fan Now Available
Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Power, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast Memory solutions, is thrilled to announce the SWAFAN GT12/14 PC Cooling Fan, Thermaltake's first non-RGB fan with a swappable fan blade design is now ready for purchase. The SWAFAN GT features three types of swappable fan blades within the package, providing enormous flexibility for multiple PC-building scenarios. On top of that, the SWAFAN GT series comes with a new cable-integrated daisy-chain design, minimizing cable demands by implementing better cable management.

The SWAFAN GT12/14 PC Cooling Fan is sold in a single fan pack and incorporates three types of detachable fan blades, including the pre-installed high static pressure fan blade, the high airflow fan blade and the reverse high airflow fan blade. The high static pressure fan blade generates high static pressure to cope with high air resistance objects like radiators or chassis with multiple tempered glass panels. The high airflow fan blade can provide stronger airflow to support air circulation in the chassis and enhance the overall cooling performance. Lastly, the reverse high airflow fan blade brings the air from its back to its front, so users can show the front of the fans without seeing the frame strips and compromising airflow direction. With these swappable fan blades, you can easily design your dream cooling system with the SWAFAN GT!

Update: The price is set at $29.99 for the SWAFAN GT12 (Single Fan Pack) and $34.99 for the SWAFAN GT14 (Single Fan Pack).
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Blizzard Announces Diablo IV Season of Blood Second Season at Gamescom Opening Night Live
Blizzard has officially announced the second season for Diablo IV, called Season of Blood. The Season of Blood will launch on October 17 and bring several updates, including a new questline, five additional endgame bosses, as well as some comunity-requested quality-of-life updates.

The announcement came at the Gamescom Opening Night Live, together with the new announce trailer, showing some of the updates. The trailer also introduces Erys, a vampire hunter that will be voiced by Gemma Chan.
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(PR) be quiet! Unveils New High-end Air Coolers at Gamescom 2023
be quiet!, the German manufacturer for premium PC components, is unveiling two brand-new high-end air coolers at the gamescom expo in Cologne, Germany, from August 23rd to 27th. Dark Rock Pro 5 follows in the footsteps of the extremely successful and award-winning Dark Rock Pro 4, offering immense cooling performance at low noise levels on all popular consumer platforms, while Dark Rock Elite is aimed at users that require the highest performance and airflow, integrating ARGB lighting and a unique front fan rail system for an elite experience.

Raising the bar for air cooling even further
Improving upon the high performance benchmark set by Dark Rock Pro 4 was not easy, but be quiet! managed to raise the bar even further with Dark Rock Pro 5. By leveraging the performance of Silent Wings and adding an integrated speed switch to prioritize cooling or silence have resulted in an air cooler that loves multithreaded tasks, whether it's high-end gaming or a workstation setup. Still want more? With its unprecedented cooling abilities, Dark Rock Elite is the perfect fit for gaming enthusiasts who want to achieve the best possible CPU performance and airflow, while not missing out on great ARGB lighting. Not only does the Elite offer Silent Wings fans and an integrated speed switch, it also uses an innovative rail system for the front fan to guarantee compatibility with most memory modules and motherboards. Dark Rock Pro 5 and Dark Rock Elite will be officially launched late October.
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[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Electronics, a global leader in the visual display industry, today announced the future of gaming monitors with the newest entries in its Odyssey monitor series: the Odyssey Neo G9 57" (G95NC model) and the Odyssey Ark 55" (G97NC model). The gaming monitors are on display at Gamescom 2023—the world's largest event for computer and video games, held from August 23 to 27 in Cologne, Germany—and the Odyssey Neo G9 57" can now be pre-ordered globally.

"The world of gaming is constantly evolving, and our latest monitor technology is crucial for gamers to open new doors to adventure and perform their best. Samsung's monitor leadership is further boosted by our newest Odyssey monitors, which unlock the ultimate level of immersion and create new experiences for gamers worldwide," said Hoon Chung, EVP of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "Gamescom is where the future of gaming is built. We can't imagine a better place to showcase the future of monitors."
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[NextPowerUP]

Gigabyte invited us to come down to sunny San Diego for a few days to show us what they have in store regarding their next generation motherboards - all with the theme of "Fast Track to Gen X - SPEED SIMPLIFIED" and also take us onto the USS Midway Museum experience, as it is a major landmark of the city. These upcoming motherboards set to soon be officially announced take advantage of future processor capabilities on the LGA 1700 socket. In total the new X series spans eight boards from the B760M Aorus Elite X AX M-ATX offering to the Z790 Aorus Tachyon X. While pricing isn't yet available for all of them, we did get some details of five at the center of this product stack, ranging from $279.99 for the Z790 Aorus Elite X AX to $999.99 for the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X.

The new line of boards will work with current generation Intel processors but specifically provide a foundation for next generation processors as well, with certain overclocking abilities catered to those future CPUs.
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China Ramps Up Semiconductor Imports Ahead of Export Restrictions
China has sharply increased imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment in recent months, customs data reveals. The country's purchases of chip production tools surged to record highs of nearly $5 billion in June and July, a 70% increase versus the same period last year, which amounted to $2.9 billion. The spike comes right before export restrictions on advanced chipmaking equipment are implemented by the U.S. and its allies. The moves aim to slow China's technological advancement, but Chinese chipmakers are stockpiling to avoid disruptions. Much of the equipment comes from the Netherlands and Japan, which have imposed licensing requirements on certain tool exports. While it's unclear how many are affected, the rush suggests China wants to expand production capacity and buffer against supply chain issues.

Chinese firms like SMIC and YMTC rely heavily on U.S., Dutch, and Japanese suppliers for cutting-edge manufacturing equipment. They are utilizing imported tools to boost the output of mature chips not subject to controls, particularly for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and industrial applications. Significantly, imports from the Netherlands doubled as lithography machines were delivered to Chinese foundries. Purchases from Japan also rose as companies procured etching tools and wafer coaters after 2020 U.S. restrictions. Newly established foundries backed by local governments contributed as Beijing pushed chip production expansions. Despite export control challenges, China aims to keep advancing its semiconductor capabilities. The import spike highlights intensified efforts to build self-sufficiency using older technology not covered by current limits.

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(PR) ID-Cooling Announces Space LCD AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
ID-COOLING is ready to release a full series of All-in-one liquid coolers with 2.1" LCD Display, available in both black and white, 240 mm and 360 mm, named SL series (short of SPACE LCD). Featuring a new PWM pump core pushing the RPM from 0 to 2500, the SL series can provide better water flow than previous generations and keep a quieter operation when needed.

Moreover the cooling performance is guaranteed by the newly developed 120 mm x 120 mm x 27 mm PWM fan, running from 500 to 2000RPM, 78CFM, 2.68 mm H₂O, 29.9 dB (A). Fluid dynamic bearing is used to ensure quiet operation and durability. Tubing clips are included for tidy looks. Tubing lengths are 400 mm for 240 mm version, 465 mm for 360 mm version.
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GoDeal24 Unveils Back to School Sale on Genuine Software
It's time to pack your bags and head to school. You're probably in the market for a new PC. Save big by choosing one that lacks pre-installed software—or better yet, build one yourself—and let GoDeal24 hook you up with genuine, globally valid software to supercharge your PC. Get Windows 10 Pro at just $7.25, a fraction of what you'd pay to get it pre-installed. The latest Windows 11 Pro can be had for $10.25. You'll need Office more than you realize, grab one of many editions that suit your needs (we also have Mac editions). Better yet, combine your preferred edition of Windows and Office to save even more!

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(PR) PowerColor Announces Radeon RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT Graphics Cards
PowerColor, a pioneering leader in the graphics card industry, is thrilled to unveil its latest lineup of AMD Radeon graphics cards - the PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7700 XT graphics cards. Building on the legacy of the AMD RDNA architecture, the new series promises to redefine gaming performance and visual fidelity in important segments.

For those who demand nothing but the best, the RED DEVIL models for the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT and Radeon RX 7700 XT graphics cards set the gold standard. Engineered with precision and crafted to perfection, the RED DEVIL graphics cards are the embodiment of premium performance and devilish design. With state-of-the-art cooling, blazing-fast clock speeds, and mesmerizing RGB lighting, the RED DEVIL series promises to unleash the beast in every game.
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AMD Announces FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 (FSR 3) Fluid Motion Rivaling DLSS 3, Broad Hardware Support
In addition to the Radeon RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT graphics cards, AMD announced FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 Fluid Motion (FSR 3 Fluid Motion), the company's performance enhancement that's designed to rival NVIDIA DLSS 3 Frame Generation. The biggest piece of news here, is that unlike DLSS 3, which is restricted to GeForce RTX 40-series "Ada," FSR 3 enjoys the same kind of cross-brand hardware support as FSR 2. It works on the latest Radeon RX 7000 series, as well as previous-generation RX 6000 series RDNA2 graphics cards, as well as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series, RTX 30-series, and RTX 20-series. It might even be possible to use FSR 3 with Arc A-series, although AMD wouldn't confirm it.

FSR 3 Fluid Motion is a frame-rate doubling technology that generates alternate frames by estimating an intermediate between two frames rendered by the GPU (which is essentially what DLSS 3 is). The company did not detail the underlying technology behind FSR 3 in its pre-briefing, but showed an example of FSR 3 implemented on "Forspoken," where the game puts out 36 FPS at 4K native resolution, is able to run at 122 FPS with FSR 3 "performance" preset (upscaling + Fluid Motion + Anti-Lag). At 1440p native, with ultra-high RT, "Forspoken" puts out 64 FPS, which nearly doubles to 106 FPS without upscaling (native resolution) + Fluid Motion frames + Anti-Lag. The Maximum Fidelity preset of FSR 3 is essentially AMD's version of DLAA (to use the detail regeneration and AA features of FSR without dropping down resolution).
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AMD to Give Away Starfield with Radeon RX 6000 series and RX 7000 series Graphics cards
Starfield is the most hotly anticipated title of the season. The space-opera action RPG by Bethesda has a high degree of optimization for AMD hardware, including Ryzen 7000 processors and Radeon RX GPUs, with AMD even announcing special edition SKUs of its processors and graphics cards. The company formally launched its Radeon RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT graphics cards today, with product availability slated for September 6. You know what else is coming up on that day? Starfield! AMD announced that both RX 6000 series and RX 7000 series will include the game. Competitive pricing and performance now have a deal-sweetener.

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