TechPowerUP NEWS

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Researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), TU Chemnitz, TU Dresden and Forschungszentrum Jülich have been the first to demonstrate that not just individual bits, but entire bit sequences can be stored in cylindrical domains: tiny, cylindrical areas measuring just around 100 nanometers. As the team reports in the journal Advanced Electronic Materials, these findings could pave the way for novel types of data storage and sensors, including even magnetic variants of neural networks.

"A cylindrical domain, which we physicists also call a bubble domain, is a tiny, cylindrical area in a thin magnetic layer. Its spins, the electrons' intrinsic angular momentum that generates the magnetic moment in the material, point in a specific direction. This creates a magnetization that differs from the rest of the environment. Imagine a small, cylinder-shaped magnetic bubble floating in a sea of opposite magnetization," says Prof. Olav Hellwig from HZDR's Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, describing the subject of his research. He and his team are confident that such magnetic structures possess a great potential for spintronic applications.
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GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, released the GIGABYTE exclusive groundbreaking AI TOP Utility. With reinvented workflows, user-friendly interface, and real-time progress monitoring, AI TOP Utility provides a reinventing touch of local AI model training and fine-tuning. It features a variety of groundbreaking technologies that can be easily adapted by beginners or experts, for most common open-source LLMs, in anyplace even on your desk.

GIGABYTE AI TOP is the all-round solution for local AI Model Fine-tuning. Running local AI training and fine-tuning on sensitive data can relatively provide greater privacy and security with maximum flexibility and real-time adjustment. Collocating with GIGABYTE AI TOP hardware and AI TOP Utility, the common constraints of GPU VRAM insufficiency when trying to execute AI fine-tuning locally can be addressed. By GIGABYTE AI TOP series motherboard, PSU, and SSD, as well as GIGABYTE graphics cards lineup covering NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series, AMD Radeon RX 7900 Series, Radeon Pro W7900 and W7800 series, the size of open-source LLM fine-tuning can now reach up to 236B and more.
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TrendForce's latest industry report on AI servers reveals that high demand for advanced AI servers from major CSPs and brand clients is expected to continue in 2024. Meanwhile, TSMC, SK hynix, Samsung, and Micron's gradual production expansion has significantly eased shortages in 2Q24. Consequently, the lead time for NVIDIA's flagship H100 solution has decreased from the previous 40-50 weeks to less than 16 weeks.

TrendForce estimates that AI server shipments in the second quarter will increase by nearly 20% QoQ, and has revised the annual shipment forecast up to 1.67 million units—marking a 41.5% YoY growth.
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Advantech, a leading provider of embedded IoT computing solutions, is proud to unveil the AIMB-219, a THIN Mini-ITX board equipped with the latest Atom platform. It supports Atom N-series, Atom x7000RE, and Intel Core i3 N-series processors, delivering a 2.5x increase in CPU performance and 2x improvement in graphics. Designed for fanless operation in temperatures ranging from -20° to 70°C, the AIMB-219 ensures quiet and stable operation. Its compact, low-profile Mini-ITX design is ideal for space-limited systems and provides abundant I/O connectivity, including USB Type-C and M.2 B-/E-Key. With exceptional performance and advanced design features, the AIMB-219 is well-suited for industrial automation and control, outdoor self-service kiosks, digital signage, and in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD) that require efficient computing in diverse, confined spaces.

The AIMB-219 provides a variety of SKU options, including Atom N-series, Atom x7000RE, and Intel Core i3 N-series processors. The Intel Core i3-N305, the most powerful processor in the Atom lineup, boasts a 2.5x improvement in computing performance over the processor in the AIMB-218. With up to 8 cores, a burst frequency of 3.8 GHz, and a TDP of under 15 W, it delivers exceptional efficiency. Additionally, it features Intel UHD Graphics based on Intel Xe architecture, with up to 32 EUs, offering double the 3D Mark performance and superior computational capabilities compared to the Intel Core ULT processor (i3-8145U).
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Qualitas Semiconductor Co., Ltd. has developed a new PCIe 6.0 PHY IP, marking a significant advance in computer interconnect technology. This new product, created using advanced 5 nm process technology is designed to meet the high-speed data transfer needs of the AI era. The Qualitas' PCIe PHY IP using 5 nm FinFet CMOS technology consists of hardmacro PMA and PCS compliant to PCIe Base 6.0 specification.

The PCIe 6.0 PHY IP can achieve transmission speeds up to 64GT/s per lane. When using all 16 lanes, it can transfer data at rates up to 256 GB/s. These speeds make it well-suited for data centers and self-driving car technologies, where rapid data processing is essential. Qualitas achieved this performance by implementing 100G PAM4 signaling technology. Highlighting the importance of the new IP, Qualitas CEO Dr. Duho Kim signaled the company's intent to continue pushing boundaries in semiconductor technology.
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QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, today released its first full 10GbE L3 Lite managed switch, QSW-M3224-24T. Featuring twenty-four 10G Multi-Gig ports, L3 Lite management capabilities and MC-LAG network redundancy, QSW-M3224-24T assists enterprises in deploying stable and efficient mid to large-scale high-speed network infrastructure, accelerating 4K video streaming and AV-over-IP applications.

"As enterprises grow in scale and the number of networked devices increases, the demand for switches also escalates, making the management of large network infrastructure more complex and challenging." said Jerry Deng, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "as QNAP's first L3 managed switch offering multi-port 10GbE networking and advanced L3 management features, QSW-M3224-24T not only fulfills the needs of low-latency and high-density 10G network applications, but also supports advanced IP routing and network segmentation management. QSW-M3224-24T is ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises to expand their LAN efficiently and securely within a limited budget."
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[NextPowerUP]

Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2024 second-quarter results.

• Q2 total net sales of €6.2 billion, gross margin of 51.5%, net income of €1.6 billion
• Quarterly net bookings in Q2 of €5.6 billion of which €2.5 billion is EUV
• ASML expects Q3 2024 total net sales between €6.7 billion and €7.3 billion and a gross margin between 50% and 51%

CEO statement and outlook
"Our second-quarter total net sales came in at €6.2 billion, at the high-end of our guidance, with a gross margin of 51.5% which is above guidance, both primarily driven by more immersion systems sales. In line with previous quarters, overall semiconductor inventory levels continue to improve, and we also see further improvement in litho tool utilization levels at both Logic and Memory customers. While there are still uncertainties in the market, primarily driven by the macro environment, we expect industry recovery to continue in the second half of the year. We expect third-quarter total net sales between €6.7 billion and €7.3 billion with a gross margin between 50% and 51%. ASML expects R&D costs of around €1,100 million and SG&A costs of around €295 million. Our outlook for the full year 2024 remains unchanged. We see 2024 as a transition year with continued investments in both capacity ramp and technology. We currently see strong developments in AI, driving most of the industry recovery and growth, ahead of other market segments," said ASML President and Chief Executive Officer Christophe Fouquet.
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[NextPowerUP]

The much-anticipated revolution in AI-powered personal computing seems to be off to a slower start than expected. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X CPUs, touted as game-changers in the AI PC market, have struggled to gain significant traction since their launch. Recent data from PassMark, a popular benchmarking software, reveals that Snapdragon X CPUs account for a mere 0.3% of submissions in the past 30 days. This is a massive contrast to the 99.7% share held by traditional x86 processors from Intel and AMD, which raises questions about the immediate future of ARM-based PCs. The underwhelming adoption comes despite bold predictions from industry leaders. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon had projected that ARM-based CPUs could capture up to 50% of the Windows PC market by 2029. Similarly, ARM's CEO anticipated a shift away from x86's long-standing dominance.

However, it turns out that these PCs are primarily bought for the battery life, not their AI capabilities. Of course, it's premature to declare Arm's Windows venture a failure. The AI PC market is still in its infancy, and upcoming mid-tier laptops featuring Snapdragon X Elite CPUs could boost adoption rates. A lot of time still needs to pass before the volume of these PCs reaches millions of units shipped by x86 makers. The true test will come with the launch of AMD's Ryzen AI 300 and Intel's Lunar Lake CPUs, providing a clearer picture of how ARM-based options compare in AI performance. As the AI PC landscape evolves, Qualcomm faces mounting pressure. NVIDIA's anticipated entry into the market and significant performance improvements in next-generation x86 processors from Intel and AMD pose a massive challenge. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Snapdragon X CPUs can live up to their initial hype and carve out a significant place in the AI PC ecosystem.

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AAEON, a leading provider of compact embedded solutions, has announced two new additions to its RISC computing line: the PICO-AM62, a single board built on the PICO-ITX form factor, and the SRG-AM62, its RISC Gateway system counterpart. Both the PICO-AM62 and SRG-AM62 represent a new approach from AAEON's RISC Computing Division, powered by Texas Instruments AM62x Sitara Processors. These processors consist of a quad-core Arm Cortex -A53 CPU, single-core Arm Cortex -M4F MCU, and integrated GPU support.

The new product line stands out for its cost-efficiency and reliability. Both the PICO-AM62 single-board and the compact SRG-AM62 Gateway System are available in SKUs with a wide temperature tolerance of -40°C to 85°C and a power input range of 9 V to 36 V. The products are based on Texas Instruments processors, which are highly scalable and have a 20-year lifespan. This influenced AAEON's vendor choice and should attract customers looking for cost-effective, durable IoT solutions. The environmental ruggedness of both the PICO-AM62 and SRG-AM62 makes them well-suited for deployment in challenging environments, such as in-vehicle digital clusters or industrial applications.
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[NextPowerUP]

MSI introduced the PRO B650-A WIFI, a feature-rich entry-mainstream Socket AM5 motherboard under its PRO series. Built in the standard ATX form-factor, the board features a 6-layer PCB, and includes heatsinks for all its M.2 slots, The board draws power from a 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS power connectors and uses a 14+2+1 phase VRM solution that's capable of even the top 170 W TDP Ryzen 9 chips. The CPU socket is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, and two M.2 NVMe Gen 4 slots. The board's third M.2 Gen 4 slot is wired to the B650 FCH.

The MSI PRO B650-A WIFI offers a fairly premium onboard audio solution driven by a Realtek ALC4080 CODEC. USB connectivity includes a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 type-C port, three 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A, four 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1, and a few USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 ports by internal headers. Display outputs include HDMI and DisplayPort. Networking connectivity includes a 2.5 GbE interface driven by a Realtek 8125B controller, and an AMD/Mediatek sourced WLAN module with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Besides the three M.2 Gen 4 slots, you get four SATA 6 Gbps ports. The board supports USB BIOS Flashback. The company didn't reveal pricing.

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In a surprising development, Intel plans to extend the longevity of its Socket LGA1700 platform even as the newer LGA1851 platform led by the Core Ultra 200 "Arrow Lake" remains on track for a late-Q3/early-Q4 2024 debut. This, according to a sensational leak by Jaykihn. It plans to do this with a brand-new silicon for LGA1700, codenamed "Bartlett." This should particularly interest gamers for what's on offer. Imagine the "Raptor Lake-S" die, but with four additional P-cores replacing the four E-core clusters, making a 12-core pure P-core processor—that's "Bartlett." At this point we're not sure which P-core is in use—whether it's the current "Raptor Cove," or whether an attempt will be made by Intel to backport a variant of "Lion Cove" to LGA1700.

This wouldn't be the first pure P-core client processor from Intel after its pivot to heterogeneous multicore—the "Alder Lake" H0 die has six "Golden Cove" P-cores, and lacks any E-core clusters. Intel is planning to give launch an entire new "generation" of processor SKUs for LGA1700 which use the newer client processor nomenclature by Intel, which is Core 200-series, but without the "Ultra" brand extension. There will be SKUs in the Core 3, Core 5, Core 7, and Core 9 brand extensions. Some of these will be Hybrid, and based on the rehashed "Raptor Lake-S" 8P+16E silicon, and some "Alder Lake-S" 8P+8E; but "Bartlett" will be distinctly branded within the series, probably using a letter next to the numerical portion of the processor model number. There will not be any Core 3 series chips based on "Bartlett," but Core 5, Core 7, and Core 9.
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More than 500 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. This week, Dungeonborne and Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn will launch with day-one DLSS 3 and Reflex support. And gamers can sign up for the Marvel Rivals Closed Beta, which begins next week and features support for both DLSS 3 and Reflex. THRONE AND LIBERTY also has an Open Beta starting this week featuring DLSS 3 and Reflex, and Stormgate is coming soon with DLSS 3 and Reflex.

Stormgate Coming Soon With DLSS 3 & Reflex
Stormgate is the upcoming free-to-play real-time strategy game from the team at Frost Giant Studios, featuring developers who've worked on some of gaming's most popular RTS games, including Warcraft III and StarCraft II. In Stormgate, you'll explore an ever-evolving story through thrilling campaign missions where science fiction and fantasy collide. Alternatively, battle opponents around the world on the competitive 1v1 ladder, or team up with your friends to challenge the AI in the 3-player co-op modes. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, Stormgate sets itself apart from past RTS games with unmatched responsiveness and features rollback technology for smooth online play. Stormgate supports high-resolution HD visuals at 4K, with hundreds of units on-screen in epic, large-scale wars across a variety of maps and tilesets.
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Simply NUC, Inc., a leading custom computing company, proudly announced the launch of the Scorpion Canyon NUC 14 Performance device across their global websites, a revolutionary PC workstation designed to meet diverse computing needs. Featuring the latest Intel Core Ultra "Meteor Lake" CPUs, Intel Arc integrated graphics, and optional NVIDIA RTX 4060 or 4070 graphics, the NUC 14 Performance redefines computing in a compact form factor.

"Introducing the NUC 14 Performance is a significant milestone for us," said Aaron Rowsell, Founder & President of Simply NUC. "This product family ushers in advanced AI capabilities and top-tier graphics in computing power. With unmatched performance, AI-readiness, and a sleek tool-less design, the NUC 14 Performance sets a new standard for compact workstations."
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AMD is about give the new "Zen 5" microarchitecture a near-simultaneous launch across both its client segments—desktop and mobile. The desktop front is held by the Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" Socket AM5 processors; while Ryzen AI 300 "Strix Point" powers the company's crucial effort to capture Microsoft Copilot+ AI PC market share. We recently did a technical deep-dive on the two. HardwareLuxx.de scored two important bits of specs for both processors in its Q&A interaction with AMD—die sizes and transistor counts.

To begin with, "Strix Point" is a monolithic silicon, which is confirmed to be built on the TSMC N4P foundry node (4 nm). This is a slight upgrade over the N4 node that the company built its previous generation "Phoenix" and "Hawk Point" processors on. The "Strix Point" silicon measures 232.5 mm² in area, which is significantly larger than the 178 mm² of "Hawk Point" and "Phoenix." The added die area comes from there being 12 CPU cores instead of 8, and 16 iGPU compute units instead of 12; and a larger NPU. There are many other factors, such as the larger 24 MB CPU L3 cache; and the sizes of the "Zen 5" and "Zen 5c" cores themselves.
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Phanteks today introduced the AMP GH line of power supplies that meet ATX 3.1 and PCIe Gen 5.1 standards. These PSUs come with the latest 12V-2x6 power connectors, and are ready for current- and next-generation graphics cards. There are three Wattage-based variants, and their color-based sub-variants. The AMP GH series comes in 1000 W, 850 W, and 750 W; each in black and white color variants. The 1000 W models meet 80 Plus Platinum switching efficiency, while the 850 W and 750 W models are 80 Plus Gold. All models come with full modular cabling, and all of them—including the 750 W model—come with 600 W-capable 12V-2x6 connectors.

Under the hood, the Phanteks AMP GH comes with a single +12 V rail design, with active PFC, DC-to-DC switching, and most common electrical protections. A 120 mm fan with hydraulic bearing, is used to keep the PSU cool. This fan is programmed with 0 RPM mode, which lets the PSU shut the fan off below a load threshold, with the temperature permitting. The PSU body is just 14 cm long, which should come in handy with today's mid-tower cases. Available now on Overclockers UK, the 1000 W model ranges between £129 to £139; the 850 W model between £104 to £114; and the 750 W model between £85 and £95.

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