TechPowerUP NEWS

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Path of Exile 2 today released in Early Access on Steam and consoles, and, despite the game's $29.99 Early Access pricing, it has already managed to amass a peak player count of over 458,920 players on Steam alone. While this is undoubtedly good news for the developer and publisher, the increased server load has apparently already caused problems, resulting in excessive queue times to get into game sessions. At the time of writing, the game has only been available to play for a little over four hours, and the player count is only beginning to plateau now.

According to the Path of Exile X account, the development team has been hard at work trying to stem the bleeding, as it were. So far, the Path of Exile website has been down several times due to the high traffic, preventing players from claiming their Steam keys. Additionally, and somewhat hilariously, this outage has also affected the "Early Access Live Updates" site that was meant to be a resource for gamers to keep track of work the live service team was doing to try and deal with the high launch-day volumes.
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It's no secret that Ubisoft hasn't had the best year, with the gaming giant having had to shut down multiple live-service and single-player games this year as a result of disappointing player counts and sales figures. Now, according to a series of rumors, Ubisoft is in talks with Chinese conglomerate Tencent with the intention of a buy-out. Curiously, though, Yves Guillemot, who currently sits as CEO of Ubisoft, wants to sell at least some of the Guillemot family's shares to Tencent, effectively giving Tencent a controlling stake in Ubisoft, but the Guillemot family wants to do so without losing control of the company it helped found.

According to Reuters, inside sources claim that the Guillemot family, who are the founding shareholders and currently have a controlling stake in Ubisoft, would like to maintain a controlling position in the company after whatever potential buyout deal is being discussed. Apparently, the Guillemot Family's desire for continued control has thus far been a sticking point for Tencent, who has as yet opted not increase its stake in the French game developer and publisher, instead holding out for a more favorable deal. Tencent already has around a 10% stake in Ubisoft, but the inside sources claim that Tencent wants greater control over the company before agreeing to a buyout of Guillemot shares.
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Advantech, a leading provider of AIoT platforms and services, proudly unveils its latest AI acceleration modules: the EAI-1200 and EAI-3300, powered by Hailo-8 AI processors. These modules deliver AI performance of up to 52 TOPS while achieving more than 12 times the power efficiency of comparable AI modules and GPU cards. Designed in standard M.2 and PCIe form factors, the EAI-1200 and EAI-3300 can be seamlessly integrated with diverse x86 and Arm-based platforms, enabling quick upgrades of existing systems and boards to incorporate AI capabilities. With these AI acceleration modules, developers can run inference efficiently on the Hailo-8 NPU while handling application processing primarily on the CPU, optimizing resource allocation. The modules are paired with user-friendly software toolkits, including the Edge AI SDK for seamless integration with HailoRT, the Dataflow Compiler for converting existing models, and TAPPAS, which offers pre-trained application examples. These features accelerate the development of edge-based vision AI applications.

EAI-1200 M.2 AI Module: Accelerating Development for Vision AI Security
The EAI-1200 is an M.2 AI module powered by a single Hailo-8 VPU, delivering up to 26 TOPS of computing performance while consuming approximately 5 watts of power. An optional heatsink supports operation in temperatures ranging from -40 to 65°C, ensuring easy integration. This cost-effective module is especially designed to bundle with Advantech's systems and boards, such as the ARK-1221L, AIR-150, and AFE-R770, enhancing AI applications including baggage screening, workforce safety, and autonomous mobile robots (AMR).
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[NextPowerUP]

The AGON Pro AG326UD Gaming Monitor sets a new standard with its cutting-edge 32-inch UHD QD-OLED display, offering a stunning 3840x2160 4K resolution, a blazing-fast 165 Hz refresh rate, and an ultra-responsive 0.03 ms GtG response time. Designed for both gamers and creative professionals, it features NVIDIA G-Sync technology for seamless visuals, while HDMI 2.1 support ensures unmatched responsiveness for next-gen console gaming. Certified with VESA HDR TrueBlack HDR400, it delivers breathtaking brightness and precise color reproduction, making it ideal for both immersive gameplay and demanding creative workflows. With ergonomic design, a versatile USB hub, and a burn-in warranty, the AG326UD is the ultimate display for achieving legendary performance in any endeavor.
QD-OLED Technology

The AG326UD's QD-OLED panel combines the best of OLED and Quantum Dot technology to deliver lifelike visuals. With true blacks, ultra-rich colors, and brilliant brightness, the display offers a viewing experience so immersive it feels like looking through a window. Even in brightly lit environments, its exceptional color quality ensures your content pops with realism.
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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS today announced the ProArt PA401 Wood Edition chassis, a smaller variant of the ProArt PA602 Wood Edition that can fit high-performance PC components, keep them cool under load, and look stylish while doing so. For those who want a thermally optimized case with visual luster and all the home and lifestyle-focused essentials they could ask for in a more space-saving form factor, the PA401 delivers.

The ProArt PA401 Wood Edition is an aesthetic charmer that is perfect for lifestyle users in need of a distinct, tasteful PC case featuring strong thermal performance on top of some useful bells and whistles. Between its side panel options, impressive cooling capabilities and multitude of PC-building conveniences, it is the go-to case option for those looking to dabble in the desktop space for the very first time. Whether using it in a studio or a home office, it will blend in with its environment and leave ample space for other hardware and accessories.
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[NextPowerUP]

HighPoint Technologies, a leader in advanced PCIe Switch and RAID AIC, Adapter and Storage Enclosure solutions, has announced an extensive line of M.2 and E1.S RAID AICs engineered to accommodate high-performance GPU-centric workloads. Designed for enterprise and datacenter class computing environments, HighPoint NVMe RAID AICs deliver class-leading performance and unmatched scalability, enabling modern x86/AMD and Arm platforms to support 4 to 16 NVMe SSDs via a single PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 5 x16 slot. State-of-the-art PCIe Switching Architecture and flexible RAID technology enable administrators to custom tailor M.2 and E1.S storage configurations for a broad range of data-intensive applications, and seamlessly scale or expand existing storage configurations to meet the needs of evolving workflows.

Unprecedented Storage Density
HighPoint NVMe AICs have established a new milestone for M.2 NVMe storage. HighPoint's revolutionary Dual-Width AIC architecture enables a single PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 5 x16 slot to directly host up to 16 M.2 NVMe SSDs, and 128 TB of storage capacity, at speeds up to 28 GB/s; a truly unprecedented advancement in compact, single-device storage expansion solutions. State-of-the art PCIe switching technology and advanced cooling systems maximize transfer throughput and ensure M.2 configurations operate at peak efficiency by halting the performance sapping threat of thermal throttling in its tracks.
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[NextPowerUP]

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, IPC solutions, and storage devices, introduces the Storming V 16 GB / 8 GB DDR4 memory ideal for budget-friendly, casual home entertainment systems.

The Storming V DDR4 memory is an excellent choice for modern home entertainment systems, combining outstanding performance with affordability. Designed for casual entertainment and gaming, it delivers exceptional speed and stability, handling popular mid-range titles effortlessly to provide smooth gameplay and rapid data transfer rates. With a strong emphasis on practicality and performance, the Storming V DDR4 is the smart choice to elevate your everyday computing and entertainment experience.
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[NextPowerUP]

With its futuristic look, including the tempered-glass side and front, the AK5G RGB is the ultimate home for high-end hardware which has to be seen. The inside of this ATX case has been spaciously designed and offers room for up to eleven fans or two radiators. In addition, modern input-output connections and support for the new BTF mainboards will all ensure that the case stays future-proof.

Futuristic Look
With its eye-catching front panel and tempered-glass side panel, the AK5G RGB is ideal as an impressive showcase for impressive hardware.
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[NextPowerUP]

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has successfully achieved the fine pattern resolution required for photomasks for logic semiconductors of the beyond 2 nm (nm: 10-9 meter) generation that support Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography, a cutting-edge process in semiconductor manufacturing.

DNP has also completed the criteria evaluation for photomasks compatible with High-Numerical Aperture, the application being considered for next-generation semiconductors beyond the 2 nm generation, and has commenced the supply of evaluation photomasks. High-NA EUV lithography makes it possible to form fine patterns on silicon wafers with a higher resolution than previously possible, and is expected to lead to the realization of high-performance, low-power semiconductors.
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[NextPowerUP]

IBASE Technology Inc. (TPEx: 8050), a leading manufacturer of embedded computing solutions, introduces the IB996 Full-Size CPU Card, tailored to meet the demanding needs of industrial and embedded computing. Supporting 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 desktop processors, this innovative solution adheres to the PICMG 1.3 standard and features the Intel Q670E chipset for robust performance and flexibility. It offers outstanding expandability and connectivity for applications in industrial automation, transportation, and medical systems.

The IB996 boasts seamless performance and compatibility, supporting up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory with dual DIMM slots and superior networking capability with two Intel 2.5G LAN ports. Integrated Intel Xe graphics allow for versatile display options, including DVI-I, LVDS, and DVI-D, making it suitable for a variety of visual data processing tasks. Additionally, it comes equipped with 8x USB 3.2, 5x SATA III, four COM, and two M.2 sockets (M-Key and E-Key), with the M.2 M-Key supporting PCIe for NVMe storage solutions, ensuring high-speed data transfer and optimal performance across Intel-based systems.
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[NextPowerUP]

The RPCS3 team has announced the successful implementation of arm64 architecture support for their PlayStation 3 emulator. This development enables the popular emulator to run on a broader range of devices, including Apple Silicon machines, Windows-on-Arm, and even some smaller Arm-based SBC systems like the Raspberry Pi 5. The journey to arm64 support began in late 2021, following the release of Apple's M1 processors, with initial efforts focused on Linux platforms. After overcoming numerous technical hurdles, the development team, led by core developer Nekotekina and graphics specialist kd-11, achieved a working implementation by mid-2024. One of the primary challenges involved adapting the emulator's just-in-time (JIT) compiler for arm64 systems.

The team developed a solution using LLVM's intermediate representation (IR) transformer, which allows the emulator to generate code once for x86-64 and then transform it for arm64 platforms. This approach eliminated the need to maintain separate codebases for different architectures. A particular technical challenge emerged from the difference in memory management between x86 and arm64 systems. While the PlayStation 3 and traditional x86 systems use 4 KB memory pages, modern arm64 platforms typically operate with 16 KB pages. Though this larger page size can improve memory performance in native applications, it presented unique challenges for emulating the PS3's graphics systems, particularly when handling smaller textures and buffers. While the emulator now runs on arm64 devices, performance varies significantly depending on the hardware. Simple applications and homebrew software show promising results, but more demanding commercial games may require substantial computational power beyond what current affordable Arm devices can provide.

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[NextPowerUP]

Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced that it has pioneered a new custom HBM compute architecture that enables XPUs to achieve greater compute and memory density. The new technology is available to all of its custom silicon customers to improve the performance, efficiency and TCO of their custom XPUs. Marvell is collaborating with its cloud customers and leading HBM manufacturers, Micron, Samsung Electronics, and SK hynix to define and develop custom HBM solutions for next-generation XPUs.

HBM is a critical component integrated within the XPU using advanced 2.5D packaging technology and high-speed industry-standard interfaces. However, the scaling of XPUs is limited by the current standard interface-based architecture. The new Marvell custom HBM compute architecture introduces tailored interfaces to optimize performance, power, die size, and cost for specific XPU designs. This approach considers the compute silicon, HBM stacks, and packaging. By customizing the HBM memory subsystem, including the stack itself, Marvell is advancing customization in cloud data center infrastructure. Marvell is collaborating with major HBM makers to implement this new architecture and meet cloud data center operators' needs.
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[NextPowerUP]

Fujitsu has previewed its next-generation Monaka processor, a 144-core powerhouse for data center. Satoshi Matsuoka of the RIKEN Center for Computational Science showcased the mechanical sample on social media platform X. The Monaka processor is developed in collaboration with Broadcom and employs an innovative 3.5D eXtreme Dimension System-in-Package architecture featuring four 36-core chiplets manufactured using TSMC's N2 process. These chiplets are stacked face-to-face with SRAM tiles through hybrid copper bonding, utilizing TSMC's N5 process for the cache layer. A distinguishing feature of the Monaka design is its approach to memory architecture. Rather than incorporating HBM, Fujitsu has opted for pure cache dies below compute logic in combination with DDR5 DRAM compatibility, potentially leveraging advanced modules like MR-DIMM and MCR-DIMM.

The processor's I/O die supports cutting-edge interfaces, including DDR5 memory, PCIe 6.0, and CXL 3.0 for seamless integration with modern data center infrastructure. Security in the design is taken care of with the implementation of Armv9-A's Confidential Computing Architecture for enhanced workload isolation. Fujitsu has set ambitious goals for the Monaka processor. The company aims to achieve twice the energy efficiency of current x86 processors by 2027 while maintaining air cooling capabilities. The processor aims to do AI and HPC with the Arm SVE 2 support, which enables vector lengths up to 2048 bits. Scheduled for release during Fujitsu's fiscal year 2027 (April 2026 to March 2027), the Monaka processor is shaping up as a competitor to AMD's EPYC and Intel's Xeon processors.

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PowerColor, renowned for graphics card innovation and performance, is excited to unveil its latest creation, the PowerColor Alphyn AH10 Wireless Gaming Headphones. Designed to enhance every gamer's experience, the Alphyn AH10 pairs cutting-edge audio technology with unparalleled comfort and style. PowerColor, known for high-performance gaming graphics cards, is expanding into gaming peripherals with the new Alphyn series. This launch marks our commitment to delivering the same innovation and quality to gaming accessories.

The series debuts with the Alphyn AH10 Wireless Gaming Headset, offering immersive audio performance, followed soon by AM10 gaming mice that seamlessly blend precision performance with ergonomic comfort. Alphyn sets a new standard for gamers, enhancing every experience.
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Hyper Light Breaker, the sequel to the massively popular indie hit, Hyper Light Drifter, is set to release on Steam on January 15, 2025. The only catch is that the game will release into early access, meaning it will likely change significantly during its first year on the market. At launch, Hyper Light Breaker will cost $29.99.

While Hyper Light Breaker shares a name with and hits a lot of the same aesthetic notes as Hyper Light Drifter, it isn't exactly a sequel in the classical sense. Hyper Light Breaker is set "decades before" the events of Hyper Light Drifter, and the aesthetic looks like an upgraded version of the hyper stylized 3D graphics we saw from Heart Machine in Solar Ash, as opposed to the top-down 2D pixel art of Hyper Light Drifter. Unlike Solar Ash, though, the core gameplay loop will rely on rogue-lite mechanics and hack and slash combat, making it a unique entry in the Hyper Light universe. Additionally, Hyper Light Breaker will be a co-op game, with support for up to three players in a squad.
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