TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

BenQ, the globally renowned brand of digital lifestyle devices and pioneer of professional display technology, today announces the upcoming launch of the RD Series, the world's first line of monitors custom-crafted to meet the unique and extensive needs of programmers. Equipped with BenQ-exclusive Fine-Coated Panel (varies by models), with advanced anti-glare, anti-reflective properties designed specifically for coding, RD Series offers devs utter clarity to focus entirely on long lines of code. "As a user-centric company, BenQ is dedicated to prioritising the needs of its users," said Conway Lee, President of BenQ Corporation. "With a sincere commitment to serving the community, we aim to bring innovation to life and pave the way for the future by introducing the world's first programming monitors in the RD Series."

RD Series displays promote programming productivity with an advanced coding mode, delivering crystal-clear fonts for improved code differentiation in both light and dark themes adaptable to diverse development work environments. Accessible at the touch of the dedicated Coding HotKey at the centre of the function bar, the RD Series coding mode readily helps programmers achieve a focused state of flow.
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[NextPowerUP]

As computers and tablets got smaller and thinner, their connection ports ironically got less and less convenient. Since they limit our ability to connect other devices and accessories, we usually have to rely on adapters, but this 13-in-1 docking station brings back the days of when things were built-in for $49.99 (reg. $70). The docking station plugs into your iMac, Windows laptop, Microsoft Surface, iPad Pro, or any other device with a USB-C port. Then, you can use any of the following connections, as long as your device supports them:

With all of these connection options, you could connect three additional displays with HDMI and VGA, transfer data with USB-C and an SD card, plug audio accessories in with the 3.5 mm audio connection, and charge devices with USB 3.0 and 2.0. This 13-in-1 docking station is highly reviewed on Amazon, with 4.1 out of 5 stars from more than 2,800 reviews. On StackSocial, it has a solid 5-star rating, with reviewers talking about using it for their iMacs and MacBook Pros, writing "it works great with all the different ports no longer provided on laptops" and "it's nice not having to plug in all of these other dongles but just one that can handle everything".

Plug in with this 13-in-1 docking station on StackSocial for $49.99 (reg. $70) and save 28%.
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[NextPowerUP]

Amid an AI revolution sweeping through trillion-dollar industries worldwide, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang will deliver a keynote address ahead of COMPUTEX 2024, in Taipei, outlining what's next for the AI ecosystem. Slated for June 2 at the National Taiwan University Sports Center, the address kicks off before the COMPUTEX trade show scheduled to run from June 3-6 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. The keynote will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. Taiwan time (4 a.m. PT) on Sunday, June 2, with a replay available at NVIDIA.com.

With over 1,500 exhibitors from 26 countries and an expected crowd of 50,000 attendees, COMPUTEX is one of the world's premier technology events. It has long showcased the vibrant technology ecosystem anchored by Taiwan and has become a launching pad for the cutting-edge systems required to scale AI globally. As a leader in AI, NVIDIA continues to nurture and expand the AI ecosystem. Last year, Huang's keynote and appearances in partner press conferences exemplified NVIDIA's role in helping advance partners across the technology industry.
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[NextPowerUP]

Today, in advance of ISC High Performance 2024, SpiNNcloud Systems announced the commercial availability of its SpiNNaker2 platform, a supercomputer-level hybrid AI high-performance computer system based on principles of the human brain. Pioneered by Steve Furber, designer of the original ARM and SpiNNaker1 architectures, the SpiNNaker2 supercomputing platform uses a large number of low-power processors for efficiently computing AI and other workloads.

First-generation SpiNNaker1 architecture is currently used in dozens of research groups across 23 countries worldwide. Sandia National Laboratories, Technical University of München and Universität Göttingen are among the first customers placing orders for SpiNNaker2, which was developed around commercialized IP invented in the Human Brain Project, a billion-euro research project funded by the European Union to design intelligent, efficient artificial systems.
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel is giving its next-generation desktop processor lineup the Core Ultra 200 series processor model numbering. We detailed the processor numbering in our older report. The Core Ultra 200 series would be the company's first desktop processors with AI capabilities thanks to an integrated 50 TOPS-class NPU. At the heart of these processors is the "Arrow Lake" microarchitecture. Its development is the reason the company had to refresh "Raptor Lake" to cover its 2023-24 processor lineup. The company's "Meteor Lake" microarchitecture topped off at CPU core counts of 6P+8E, which would have proven to be a generational regression in multithreaded application performance over "Raptor Lake." The new "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processor has a maximum CPU core configuration of 8P+16E, which means consumers can expect at least the same core-counts at given price-points to carry over.

According to a report by Chinese tech publication Benchlife.info, the introduction of "Arrow Lake" would see Intel's desktop processor model numbering align with that of its mobile processor numbering, and incorporate the Core Ultra brand to denote the latest microarchitecture for a given processor generation. Since "Arrow Lake" is a generation ahead of "Meteor Lake," processor models in the series get numbered under Core Ultra 200 series.
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[NextPowerUP]

Leading digital lifestyle accessories brand, Trust Electronics Ltd, is pleased to announce the expansion of its gaming portfolio with the launch of its two new mechanical gaming keyboards, the Torix and Acira. Both providing different options for gamers, the Torix is a full-size mechanical gaming keyboard that combines premium features with an intuitive design whereas the Acira is a 60% mini mechanical keyboard which leans towards the rising trend in compact gaming keyboards. The Trust Torix is available to buy from Very for £59.99 and the Trust Acira is available to buy from Very for £39.99. Trust GXT 866 Torix Premium Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Available from Very for £59.99.

The Trust GXT 866 is a premium mechanical gaming keyboard that is designed to elevate player's gaming experiences. Combining premium features with an intuitive design, it delivers high performance and precision to gamers. Designed with both new and hardcore gamers in mind, the Torix brings a new level of performance and durability to the Trust Gaming range. Boasting low profile keys equipped with Mechanical Huano Linear switches, gamers can expect swift key presses, up to 50 million keystrokes, and extra comfortable typing for smooth and enjoyable gameplay. Not just excelling in performance, the Torix also has style. Featuring full RGB backlighting, users can completely customise the lighting to suit their style or mood. With 16.8 million colour combinations and effects to choose from and the possibility to customise each key separately, this is just one more way for gamers to fully immerse themselves in the game.
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[NextPowerUP]

Corsair Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRSR) ("Corsair" or the "Company"), a leading global provider and innovator of high-performance products for gamers, streamers, content-creators, and gaming PC builders, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Select Financial Metrics

• Net revenue was $337.3 million compared to $417.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $354.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. Gaming Components and Systems segment net revenue was $230.3 million compared to $280.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $265.0 million in the first quarter of 2023, while Gamer and Creator Peripherals segment net revenue was $107.0 million compared to $136.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $88.9 million in the first quarter of 2023.
• Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $12.5 million, or net loss of $0.12 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.2 million, or net income of $0.06 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023 and a net loss of $1.1 million, or a net loss of $0.01 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted net income was $9.5 million, or net income of $0.09 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $23.2 million, or net income of $0.22 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023 and adjusted net income of $11.9 million, or net income of $0.11 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $18.0 million, compared to $33.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, and $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2023.
• Cash and restricted cash was $130.2 million as of March 31, 2024.

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[NextPowerUP]

Personal computers (PCs) have been used as the major productivity device for several decades. But now we are entering a new era of PCs based on artificial intelligence (AI), thanks to the boom witnessed in generative AI (GenAI). We believe the inventory correction and demand weakness in the global PC market have already normalized, with the impacts from COVID-19 largely being factored in. All this has created a comparatively healthy backdrop for reshaping the PC industry. Counterpoint estimates that almost half a billion AI laptop PCs will be sold during the 2023-2027 period, with AI PCs reviving the replacement demand.

Counterpoint separates GenAI laptop PCs into three categories - AI basic laptop, AI-advanced laptop and AI-capable laptop - based on different levels of computational performance, corresponding use cases and the efficiency of computational performance. We believe AI basic laptops, which are already in the market, can perform basic AI tasks but not completely GenAI tasks and, starting this year, will be supplanted by more AI-advanced and AI-capable models with enough TOPS (tera operations per second) powered by NPU (neural processing unit) or GPU (graphics processing unit) to perform the advanced GenAI tasks really well.
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[NextPowerUP]

The battle is over. Microsoft is finally changing the measuring methodology in its Task Manager from Mega Hertz (MHz) to Mega Transfers per second (MT/s). This comes amid the industry push for more technical correctness in RAM measuring, where the MHz nomenclature does not technically represent the speed at which the memory is actually running. While DRAM manufacturers list both MHz and MT/s, the advertised MHz number is much higher than the effective speed at which the DRAM is running, resulting in confusion and arguments in the industry about choosing the correct labeling of DRAM. A little history lesson teaches us that when single data rate (SDR) RAM was introduced, 100 MHz memory would perform 100 MT/s. However, when double data rate (DDR) memory appeared, it would allow for two memory transfers per clock cycle.

This would introduce some confusion where the MHz speed is often mixed up with MT/s. Hence, Microsoft is trying to repair the damage and list memory speeds in MT/s. Modern DDR5 memory makers are advertising DDR5 kits with "DDR5-4800" or "DDR5-6000," without any suffix like MHz or MT/s. This is because, for example, a DDR5-6000 kit runs at 6,000 MT/s, the effective speed is only 3,000 MHz. The actual clock of the memory is only half of what is advertised. The MT/s terminology would be more accurate and describe memory better. This Task Manager update is in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3570 in the Beta Channel, which will trickle down to stable Windows 11 updates for everyone soon.

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[NextPowerUP]

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, today announced an Intel Baseline BIOS update for BIOSTAR Intel 700/600 VALKYRIE, RACING, and SILVER series motherboards to improve system stability and performance. BIOSTAR has introduced an "Intel Default Settings" option in the BIOS to address stability issues with Intel 13th/14th K-SKU CPUs under high power consumption scenarios.

This feature, available through the CPU Power Management option, ensures improved system stability when using these high-performance CPUs. Users are encouraged to update their BIOS with the latest version available on the official BIOSTAR product page to access this new feature. The new "Intel Default Settings" mode feature will appear on the CPU Power Management option on your BIOS after you have completed upgrading to the latest BIOS. Committed to delivering exceptional hardware and support, BIOSTAR has collaborated closely with Intel to quickly roll out this update, ensuring that users experience optimal performance and enhanced system stability.
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD is preparing a new processor naming scheme for its next-generation processors, targeting the ultraportable segment, according to a report by Chinese tech publication ITHome, citing sources in ASUS. The new naming scheme purports to make it easier for customers to identify processors with AI capabilities (integrated NPU), processor class (whether it's U, H, or HX), followed by a numerical component that lets customer know product grade. This runs contrary to yesterday's report that cited a Lenovo product flyer referencing a "Ryzen 8050 series." It remains to be seen if the 8050 series are a class of mainstream processors without AI capabilities, which is unlikely, given that Lenovo is using them with its premium ThinkPad T-series.

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[NextPowerUP]

Recently, MINISFORUM officially starts showing the AtomMan X7 Ti on its website, which is the world's first Intel Ultra 9 AI Mini PC equipped with a dynamic screen. The X7 Ti pre-sale will begin at 19:00 PST on May 20th in the MINISFORUM official store. AtomMan is MINISFORUM's new high-end brand dedicated to developing cutting-edge and high-performance tech products. Currently, the AtomMan brand consists of two sub-series: X Series (Exploration/AI) and G Series (Gaming).

The AtomMan X7 Ti features an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, built on Intel's 4 nm process technology. It boasts 22 threads, 16 cores, a maximum frequency of 5.1 GHz, 24 MB of L3 cache, and a TDP of 65 W. The integrated Arc Iris Xe graphics come with 8 Xe cores and 8 additional ray tracing units, supporting AV1 encoding and decoding. With 128 execution units (FP32 cores), it also supports XeSS sampling technology, significantly enhancing 3D rendering, video editing, and live streaming workflows, making it ideal for playing AAA games.
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[NextPowerUP]

The Sabrent USB-C to SATA/IDE 2.5"/3.5"/5.25" Drive Adapter (USB-DS12) is your one-stop storage management solution for SATA and IDE hard drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), and optical drives (CD/DVD-RW). It connects easily to Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, among other possible device hosts, via an integrated 5 Gbps (USB Gen 3.2 1x1) USB-C cable. The maximum speed of the connection depends on the drive's interface at speeds up to SATA 3 Gbps ("SATA-II" / SATA-300). The USB-DS12 adapter is plug and play with no drivers required and is hot-swappable for your convenience.

It's important to support devices both old and new. 3.5" and 5.25" drives require additional 12 V power to operate reliably, so we have included an external power supply. IDE drives may also require a 4-pin Molex style connector for power rather than an SATA power connector, so also included is an appropriate connector for maximum flexibility. The unit itself also has a power status LED to let you know when things are good to go. Plug everything in and get to retrieving or transferring your data, formatting or cloning your drive, or freely engage in other storage management operations.
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[NextPowerUP]

Over 500 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and barely a week goes by without an incredible new game integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex and advanced ray-traced effects to deliver the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. Following the recent launches of massively anticipated, DLSS-accelerated titles such as Grey Zone Warfare and Manor Lords, this week sees the Advanced Access launch of the eagerly-anticipated Homeworld 3, the latest iteration in the classic real-time strategy franchise. Additionally, Bellwright and Incursion Red River are available now with DLSS 2, adding to our ever-growing catalog of RTX titles.

Homeworld 3 Available From May 10th With DLSS 2
The award-winning Homeworld franchise returns to PCs with long-awaited Homeworld 3. Assume control of a roving fleet and battle through dazzling, fully 3D spaces in strategic combat. Use the crumbling remains of an ancient civilization to funnel foes into a brilliant ambush or hide your fleet from powerful enemies. Attack head-on, with a clever flank, or even from above and below your foes.
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD has reached a significant milestone, capturing a record-high share of the X86 CPU market in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest report from Mercury Research. This achievement marks a significant step forward for the chipmaker in its long battle against rival Intel's dominance in the crucial computer processor space. The surge was fueled by strong demand for AMD's Ryzen and EPYC processors across consumer and enterprise markets. The Ryzen lineup's compelling price-to-performance ratio has struck a chord with gamers, content creators, and businesses seeking cost-effective computing power without sacrificing capabilities. It secured AMD's 23.9% share, an increase from the previous Q4 of 2023, which has seen a 19.8% market share.

The company has also made major inroads on the data center front with its EPYC server CPUs. AMD's ability to supply capable yet affordable processors has enabled cloud providers and enterprises to scale operations on AMD's platform. Several leading tech giants have embraced EPYC, contributing to AMD's surging server market footprint. Now, it is at 23.6%, a significant increase over the past few years, whereas AMD was just above 10% four years ago in 2020. AMD lost some share to Intel on the mobile PC front due to the Meteor Lake ramp, but it managed to gain a small percentage of the market share of client PCs. As AMD rides the momentum into the second half of 2024, all eyes will be on whether the chipmaker can sustain this trajectory and potentially claim an even larger slice of the x86 CPU pie from Intel in the coming quarters.
Below, you can see additional graphs of mobile PC and client PC market share.Read full story

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