TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

TrendForce's latest report on enterprise SSDs reveals that a surge in demand for AI has led AI server customers to significantly increase their orders for enterprise SSDs over the past two quarters. Upstream suppliers have been accelerating process upgrades and planning for 2YY products—slated to enter mass production in 2025—in order to meet the growing demand for SSDs in AI applications.

TrendForce observes that increased orders for enterprise SSDs from AI server customers have resulted in contract prices for this category rising by over 80% from 4Q23 to 3Q24. SSDs play a crucial role in AI development. In AI model training, SSDs primarily store model parameters, including evolving weights and deviations.
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[NextPowerUP]

Toshiba Electronic Components Taiwan Corporation (Toshiba) has announced next-generation S300 Pro Surveillance Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) targeting the latest requirements in the surveillance storage market. With capacities up to 10 TB and double the buffer size of their predecessors, the upgraded HDDs with conventional magnetic recording (CMR) technology enable surveillance system integrators, system installation providers, and end users to record, store and analyze their video streams from up to 64 high-definition (HD) cameras.

The highly scalable, 3.5-inch S300 Pro series, with capacity options of 4 TB, 6 TB, 8 TB and 10 TB, now supports up to 24 bays, and delivers reliable operation even in the most demanding environments, making the HDDs an excellent fit for large-scale video recording systems. Compared to the previous generation, they provide a higher maximum sustained transfer speed of 268MiB/s and double the cache buffer size to 512MiB. They also reduce power consumption, delivering improved total cost of ownership (TCO).
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[NextPowerUP]

TechPowerUp has released version 2.60.0 of GPU-Z, a popular graphics sub-system information, monitoring, and diagnostic utility. This latest update brings significant enhancements, including full support for the Arm64 architecture and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite GPUs. The release also adds support for AMD Zen 5 CPU temperature monitoring and a wide range of new GPUs from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. Notable additions include the NVIDIA 4070 Ti Super (AD102), RTX 4070 (AD103), RTX 4060 Ti (AD104), RTX 4060 (AD106), as well as AMD Zen 5 (Strix Point and Granite Ridge), and Intel Raptor Lake U SKUs and Meteor Lake Intel Arc Graphics.

In addition to expanded hardware support, GPU-Z 2.60.0 addresses several important issues. The update fixes NVIDIA driver version reporting for some pre-2015 versions, resolves an installer problem that prevented closing running instances of GPU-Z, and corrects the "0 MHz" memory clock display on certain AMD RDNA GPUs without overclocking support. Other improvements include a small handle leak fix, added support for the Monster Notebook subvendor ID, and compatibility with new VMWare virtual GPU IDs. The installer now requires Windows 7 or newer, with appropriate messaging for unsupported systems. Users can download the latest version of TechPowerUp GPU-Z from the official TechPowerUp website to access these new features and improvements.

DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 2.60.0
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel Core Ultra "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processors are expected to debut later this year, and introduce the new Lion Cove P-cores, along with Skymont E-cores to the desktop platform. Engineering samples and qualification samples with specs close to retail chips seem to already be in the hands of PC OEMs and motherboard vendors, given the volume of leaks over the past few days. Jaykihn0, one of the more influential sources of these leaks, revealed a few interesting details of the maximum boost frequencies of these chips.

The QS of a top Core Ultra 9 "Arrow Lake-S" SKU, probably the flagship model that succeeds the current Core i9-14900K, is described as having a maximum P-core boost frequency of 5.70 GHz, and an all-P-core boost frequency of 5.40 GHz. The maximum E-core boost frequency, which is also the all-E-core boost frequency, is said to be 4.60 GHz. Let's unpack this. "Arrow Lake" uses the same mix of "Lion Cove" P-cores and "Skymont" E-cores as "Lunar Lake," albeit arranged along a ringbus, and sharing an L3 cache, unlike on "Lunar Lake," where the P-cores have their own exclusive L3 cache, and the E-cores are arranged in a low-power island, with the fabric of the SoC tile connecting the two.
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[NextPowerUP]

URCDKeys is a popular international merchant of genuine software, here to prepare you for the school year ahead. Save big when you buy a laptop, desktop, or assemble your own desktop, and buy your software worries to us—get Genuine Windows 11 Pro at just $20. Windows 10 Pro can be had at just $14. Get the most powerful productivity suite to go with your build—Office 2021 Professional Plus can be had at $86. Check out great deals on other editions of Windows and Office, or better yet, save big when you buy combos of them.

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Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 Professional Plus at $40 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $58

Buy Visual Studio 2022 Enterprise at $95 | Buy SQL Server 2019 Standard 2-core at $87 | Buy SQL Server 2019 Standard 16-core at $158

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[NextPowerUP]

SoftBank has reportedly decided against using Intel's foundry for its ambitious AI venture, Project Izanagi, and is opting for TSMC instead. The conglomerate aims to challenge NVIDIA in the AI accelerator market by developing its own AI processors. This decision marks another setback for Intel, which has faced several challenges recently. In February 2024, reports emerged that SoftBank's CEO, Masayoshi Son, planned to invest up to $100 billion to create a company similar to NVIDIA, focused on selling AI accelerators. Although SoftBank initially worked with Intel, it recently switched to TSMC, citing concerns about Intel's ability to meet demands for "volume and speed."

The decision, reported by the Financial Times, raises questions about Intel's future involvement and how SoftBank's ownership of Arm Holdings will factor into the project. While TSMC is now SoftBank's choice, the foundry is already operating at full capacity, making it uncertain how it will accommodate this new venture. Neither SoftBank, Intel nor TSMC has commented on the situation, but given the complexities involved, it will likely take time for this plan to materialize. SoftBank will need to replicate NVIDIA's entire ecosystem, from chip design to data centers and a software stack rivaling CUDA, a bold and ambitious goal.
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[NextPowerUP]

Texas Instruments (TI) (Nasdaq: TXN) and the U.S. Department of Commerce have signed a non-binding Preliminary Memorandum of Terms for up to $1.6 billion in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to support three 300 mm wafer fabs already under construction in Texas and Utah. In addition, TI expects to receive an estimated $6 billion to $8 billion from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Investment Tax Credit for qualified U.S. manufacturing investments. The proposed direct funding, coupled with the investment tax credit, would help TI provide a geopolitically dependable supply of essential analog and embedded processing semiconductors.

"The historic CHIPS Act is enabling more semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the U.S., making the semiconductor ecosystem stronger and more resilient," said Haviv Ilan, president and CEO of Texas Instruments. "Our investments further strengthen our competitive advantage in manufacturing and technology as we expand our 300 mm manufacturing operations in the U.S. With plans to grow our internal manufacturing to more than 95% by 2030, we're building geopolitically dependable, 300 mm capacity at scale to provide the analog and embedded processing chips our customers will need for years to come."
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[NextPowerUP]

Antec Inc., a global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories, is proud to announce the launch of the Antec SF850X Power Supply. This latest addition to Antec's power supply lineup combines compact design with cutting-edge efficiency, delivering reliable power in a small form factor that's perfect for modern, high-performance PCs.

High Efficiency and Reliable Performance
The Antec SF850X Power Supply is designed to meet the demands of today's PC enthusiasts and professionals who require both performance and efficiency. Featuring an 80 Plus Gold certification, the SF850X delivers up to 92% energy efficiency at typical loads, reducing energy consumption and heat generation while ensuring your system runs smoothly. This high level of efficiency not only lowers your electricity bills but also contributes to a greener environment by reducing your PC's carbon footprint.
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[NextPowerUP]

Bioware has officially announced the launch date for its upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which will be available on October 31st. Pre-orders for the game have opened up as well, and we got a new official release date trailer, as well as the full PC system requirements.

Powered by the Frostbite engine, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set in the world of Thedas, and it is probably one of the most anticipated RPGs. It will include several classes, and plenty of skills and weapons to choose from for your team of up to seven companions. Earlier rumors also suggest that Bioware and EA will also announce a partnership for Dragon Age: The Veilguard with AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA.
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[NextPowerUP]

MSI proudly introduces its first curved 32-inch 240 Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor. The monitor offers an unprecedented immersive gaming experience. MSI has tailored the monitor's specifications to cater to different players, ensuring everyone finds their perfect model.

Expanding Horizons with an Immersive Curved Gaming Experience
The MPG 321CURX QD-OLED is designed to elevate gaming experiences to new heights offering true-to-life colors, deeper blacks and brighter whites. Combined with a 1700R curvature, 240 Hz refresh rate, and an ultra-fast 0.03 ms response time, it ensures immersion, clarity and precision. It includes USB Type-C with 98 W power delivery for seamless connectivity and charging. MSI's advanced features such as KVM, HDMI 2.1, MSI Gaming Intelligence, and VESA ClearMR 13000 cater to high-end gamers.
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[NextPowerUP]

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, is launching the iGame DDR5 Loong Edition memory in celebration of the Year of the Dragon. The iGame DDR5 Loong Edition memory complements the iGame Loong Edition graphics cards and motherboard that were released earlier this year.

Designed to complement the Loong Edition graphics cards and motherboard, the iGame DDR5 Loong Edition features traditional Chinese decorative patterns including "Xiangyun" (auspicious clouds) and "Yufeng" (gentle breeze). The iGame DDR5 Loong Edition memory boasts a layered RGB light bar on top of its aesthetic heat sink. Completing the exquisite design is a golden nameplate with the Year of the Dragon pattern. The memory is equipped with a tall aluminium alloy heat sink that provides excellent heat dissipation.
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[NextPowerUP]

Calling all gamers and Star Wars enthusiasts! Get ready for an extraordinary adventure across the stars as MSI proudly introduces the Star Wars Outlaws Game Bundle in collaboration with Ubisoft. This thrilling collaboration includes a copy of Star Wars Outlaws along with MSI's top-notch gaming hardware, offering an experience that will transport players to a distant galaxy.

Featuring MSI's cutting-edge gaming hardware, the Star Wars Outlaws Game Bundle invites players to dive deep into the heart of the Star Wars galaxy like never before. This bundle offers an array of exhilarating adventures that will leave players on the edge of their seats. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix.
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[NextPowerUP]

Time to be wowed: GeForce NOW members can now stream World of Warcraft on supported devices with in-game mods powered by the CurseForge platform for WoW customization. With support for top mods, even the most hardcore raid leaders can play like a hero, thanks to the cloud. Embark on a new adventure in Azeroth when the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, The War Within, launches on Monday, Aug. 26, at 3 p.m. PT. GeForce NOW members who purchase the Epic Edition of The War Within will get early streaming access on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 3 p.m. PT. And check out the five new games available in the ever-expanding GeForce NOW library this week, including the Psychonauts series from Double Fine Productions. For those looking to upgrade their play or try out GeForce NOW for the first time, the Summer Sale is offering new one- and six-month Ultimate and Priority memberships at 50% off through this Sunday, Aug. 18.

Play Your Way
Return to World of Warcraft in style across supported devices with GeForce NOW and support for top CurseForge Addons. One of the most popular platforms for WoW Addons, CurseForge includes user interface customization, combat Addons, action bars, quest helpers and many more categories. GeForce NOW has collaborated with CurseForge to include over 25 of the top Addons from its platform, available to Ultimate and Priority members - including Day Pass users - to seamlessly customize their WoW experience. The Addons are just as easy to implement as they would be while playing locally on a PC gaming rig, and a CurseForge account isn't required - just launch WoW and enable Addons from the game's menu.
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[NextPowerUP]

A critical security flaw known as "Sinkclose" (CVE-2023-31315) has been identified in all AMD processors dating back to 2006, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of devices worldwide. This vulnerability allows malicious actors to exploit the chip architecture, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data. Researchers Enrique Nissim and Krzysztof Okupski, researchers from the security firm IOActive, have revealed that the vulnerability can be exploited through various methods, enabling attackers to extract confidential information from affected systems, including passwords and personal data. The issue is especially concerning, given that it is present in all AMD CPUs made in the last 18 years and their widespread use in both consumer and enterprise environments. However, to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must possess access to system's kernel. Downloading of malware-infused files can trigger it, so general safety measures are recommended.

The Sinkclose method exploits a little-known capability in AMD processors called TClose. This name is a blend of "TClose" and "Sinkhole," with the latter referring to a previous vulnerability found in Intel's System Management Mode in 2015. AMD chips employ a protective mechanism named TSeg, which blocks operating systems from accessing a specific memory area reserved for System Management Mode (SMM), known as System Management Random Access Memory (SMRAM). However, the TClose feature is designed to maintain backward compatibility with older hardware that might use the same memory addresses as SMRAM. It does this by remapping memory when activated. The security experts discovered that they could manipulate this TClose remapping function using only standard operating system permissions. By doing so, they could deceive the SMM into retrieving altered data, enabling them to redirect the processor and run their own instructions with the high-level privileges of SMM. This technique essentially allows attackers to bypass standard security measures and execute malicious code at one of the most privileged levels of the processor, potentially compromising the entire system.
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[NextPowerUP]

MSI, a world leader in high-performance and innovative computing solutions, has announced the world's first 4-Side Slim Bezel 120 Hz Business Monitor: the PRO MP251 E2 and PRO MP252 E2. In today's ever-evolving landscape of work and entertainment, innovative and ergonomic solutions are in high demand. MSI's latest 24.5-inch 120 Hz 4-Side Slim Bezel Monitor is the top choice for both work and light gaming. This prompt explores the unique features of this cutting-edge monitor and how it enhances user experience, productivity, and light gaming.

Sleek and Immersive: The Ultimate Slim Bezel Experience
The PRO MP series monitor features a PerfectEdge Design and a 4-Side Slim Bezel, making it 37.5% slimmer than standard monitors. With a high screen-to-body ratio of 92%, it offers a more immersive viewing experience with less distraction. This design not only boosts productivity but also allows for seamless multi-display setups, providing an immersive experience for both work and light gaming. Experience the future of displays with the PRO MP251/MP252 E2, combining sleek aesthetics with functionality.
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