TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology (TCL CSOT), a global leader in advanced display technologies and a subsidiary of TCL Technology, today announced the commencement of construction of the world's first 8.6-generation Inkjet Printing OLED (IJP OLED) production line in Guangzhou, China. The new project, referred to as "t8", which officially broke ground on October 21, will have a designed monthly capacity of 22.5 thousand sheets (based on 2290 mm x 2620 mm substrate size), focusing on high-end displays for tablets, laptops, and monitors, with a total investment estimated to reach over approximately USD 4 billion.

"Our t8 production line marks a breakthrough for the global display industry, showcasing technological capabilities and market potential in the high-generation AMOLED sector," said Jun Zhao, Senior Vice President of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT. "By bringing together the entire value chain, from foundational materials to final product assembly, we are building a fully integrated, end-to-end industrial cluster designed to compete on a global scale."
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[NextPowerUP]

beyerdynamic introduces a new DJ headphone, available in two versions. While the DJ 300 PRO X embodies a clean, focused aesthetic, the stylish CLUB edition stands out with a bold, distinctive design. Both models can be used as on-ear and over-ear headphones, giving DJs full freedom when producing and performing. The ear cups of both versions can also be customized with unique designs via the beyerdynamic online configurator. The DJ 300 PRO X and DJ 300 PRO X CLUB will make their public debut at the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).

Seamless transition between on-ear and over-ear
The new DJ headphones from beyerdynamic represent flexibility and individual expression like no other. Thanks to their unique 2-in-1 system, the modular design can be transformed from on-ear to over-ear headphones in just a few simple steps. Users simply swap the included ear pads for either configuration. No matter which option they choose, the ear pads ensure long-lasting comfort in every situation.
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Advantech is proud to announce the release of the DPX S460, the newest member of its S-series gaming platform family. Powered by AMD's Ryzen Embedded 8000 Series APUs, the DPX S460 combines cutting-edge Zen 4 architecture, RDNA 3 graphics, and integrated AI acceleration, making it a game-changer in regulated gaming markets.

"The DPX S460 exemplifies our dedication to leveraging advanced technologies to create powerful and flexible gaming solutions," said Craig Stapleton, Product Director for Advantech. "With AMD's 8000 Series chipset, we're delivering a platform that meets the most demanding requirements of the gaming industry."
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel Arrow Lake refresh is getting closer with new details starting to appear, and this time is about a CPU reportedly named Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. According to a recent Geekbench 6 entry, the processor features 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, which aligns it more closely with the current Core Ultra 9 285K rather than the 20-core (8P+12E) Ultra 7 265K it was rumored. The benchmark lists a 3.7 GHz base clock and 5.5 GHz boost, matching the 265K, and shows the chip paired with an RTX 5090D GPU, hinting that it was tested on a new Lenovo desktop system in China. Performance results came in at 3215 points (single-core) and 22,720 points (multicore), essentially on par with the Ultra 9 285K.

While Intel hasn't confirmed any of this information, the leak also suggests potential official memory support up to 7200 MT/s, possibly part of a broader Arrow Lake refresh expected in Q1 2026. Other rumored models include a Core Ultra 9 290K Plus (24 cores) and Core Ultra 5 250K (14 cores). Intel is unlikely to change core configurations dramatically but may introduce new SKU names and tuned frequencies to align with the refreshed lineup. However, we still don't know for sure Intel's complete plan for Arrow Lake Refresh. For now, all we can hope for is something like Intel's Application Performance Optimizations (APO) applied out of the box for Arrow Lake Refresh. The current APO stack targets modern Intel Core desktop and mobile processors with six or more performance cores. It requires BIOS enablement of Intel Dynamic Tuning Technology and Windows 11. Advanced Mode unlocks wider compatibility for other 12th-generation and newer processors when Intel DTT version 11405 or later is present. Intel cautioned that real-world responsiveness may vary based on system configuration and graphics hardware. Additionally, Intel's promise back in August was to deliver more APO tuning. The latest update introduces 15 new titles, which can yield up to a 14% FPS increase, and as much as a 21% increase in 1% lows.

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[NextPowerUP]

MSI proudly announces the launch of the Cubi 5 1M, a next-generation mini PC that expertly combines exceptional performance, intelligent efficiency, and an aesthetically pleasing compact design within a 0.83-liter chassis. The Cubi 5 1M series is powered by an Intel Core 7 processor, which provides outstanding computing power suitable for multitasking, business applications, and professional workflows, all while ensuring quiet and energy-efficient operation.

Despite its compact dimensions, the Cubi 5 1M is capable of supporting up to three displays via Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and DisplayPort, thereby facilitating seamless multitasking and enhancing screen real estate. The inclusion of dual LAN ports (2.5G and 1G) guarantees rapid, stable, and secure network connectivity, making it particularly well-suited for both professional and enterprise environments.
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[NextPowerUP]

We are excited to introduce our latest 4U rack server chassis, the UNC-409S-AIO-OP. Designed for demanding industrial environments, it combines robust performance, flexible configuration options, and reliable durability.

The UNC-409S-AIO 4U rack server chassis is engineered to deliver robust performance and dependable reliability in demanding industrial environments. Constructed from 1.2 mm thick SGCC steel, it offers superior hardware protection and serves as a durable, long-term solution with flexible configuration options.
To enhance thermal efficiency, the chassis supports the installation of a 360 mm all-in-one (AIO) water cooler, enabling effective CPU heat dissipation. It accommodates various motherboard form factors, including SSI-EEB, allowing for high-performance configurations. It supports either a standard ATX PSU or a mini-redundant PSU, ensuring stable power delivery and system redundancy for mission-critical operations.
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel's next-generation "Nova Lake" desktop processors will feature 6th generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU) design, which is an entire generation ahead of the 5th generation NPU Intel introduced with "Panther Lake." As the latest Linux patch from Intel's engineers confirms, Nova Lake will already feature an upgraded NPU, making the 5th generation NPU in Panther Lake lasting only a single generation.

The patch states: "Add support for NPU6 generation that will be present on Nova Lake CPUs. As with previous generations, it maintains compatibility so no bigger functional changes." As a reminder, the 5th generation NPU in Panther Lake boosts up to 50 TOPS, making it compatible for Copilot+ AI PCs. So we can expect the NPU in Nova Lake to get a bigger TOPS budget, with the same software compatibility. This is great news for software that introduced NPU acceleration in the previous generations, as the additional performance increases will go smoothly.

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel is reportedly in talks with Taiwanese ASIC design house Alchip over the development of its next AI accelerator family, codenamed "Jaguar Shores." The design could be wrapped up by the first half of 2026, and be Intel's first solid footing in datacenter AI hardware after years of playing catch-up. Additionally it also comes at the time as the company shifts to a faster, more regular cadence for AI product refreshes. If the timeline holds, Jaguar Shores will be one of the clearest tests yet of whether Team Blue can stand as a meaningful challenge to the well-established players like NVIDIA, AMD, and countless other ASIC designers.

Under the deal being discussed, Alchip would not simply be a contractor but a deep engineering partner, taking on tasks from RTL integration and extensive verification to advanced packaging and system-level validation, while leaving wafer fabrication to leading foundries. Intel will be supplying IP and system requirements, while Alchip will be supplying custom ASIC execution. This could shorten development cycles and reduce risk. For Intel, outsourcing those heavy-lift engineering stages makes sense as it lets the company focus on architecture and software while leveraging Alchip's experience getting complex AI designs from spec to silicon.
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[NextPowerUP]

Following Apple's recent move to upgrade the Vision Pro with the latest M5 SoC and a new band, Samsung and Google revealed the first Android-powered mixed reality headset to challenge Apple's Vision Pro at nearly half the price. The Samsung Galaxy XR has dual 4K Micro-OLED displays with up to 72 Hz refresh rates (with 90 Hz "upon service request"), and it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 SoC, which supposedly delivers 20% faster CPU performance and 15% faster GPU frequencies. The virtual display has a field of view of 100° vertically and 109° horizontally. Much like the Vision Pro it is meant to compete with, the Galaxy XR uses cameras for video passthrough, relying on two 6.5 MP sensors with 18 mm, f/2.0 wide-angle lenses.

The inside-out tracking uses six cameras to track the world and your hands, and the Galaxy XR also has a depth sensor and five IMUs (inertial measurement units) to accurately interpret head movements. Controls are handled by a mix of eye tracking, voice commands, hand tracking, or the Samsung Galaxy XR Controllers, which are designed for gaming. In addition to eye tracking, the Galaxy XR supports iris recognition for biometric access to both the device and certain apps. The headset also comes with dual two-way speakers and a six-microphone array with support for beamforming. The headset weighs in at 545 g, with an additional 302 g coming from the external battery that should provide 2-2.5 hours of continuous use, depending on the application. It is only available with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, and there is no microSD expansion. The Galaxy XR is available now on Samsung's online store at $1,799.99.
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[NextPowerUP]

Modoyo is a new game studio out of Stockholm, Sweden, and its first game is Heart Electric, a fast-paced elimination hero shooter that pits 16 players against one another in teams of four, with the added twist of the "Flux" maglev traversal mechanic that adds verticality to the map. Heart Electric is still under development, with Niklas Fegraeus—who served as design director on Star Wars: Battlefront II and lead designer on Battlefield V—at the helm as creative director, but it seems as though a release date might not be too far off. No launch date has been announced, but the game has a Steam Store page, and Modoyo recently opened applications for a play test scheduled for October 24-26.

Modoyo says that Heart Electric is being developed "with player feedback at its core," suggesting that the game will change significantly ahead of its launch based on community feedback after this play test. Currently, it features a colorful, cartoonish art style somewhat reminiscent of that of Paladins or Fortnite. There are four playable heroes currently announced, each with a unique design, and Modoyo has put a lot of emphasis on the importance of tactics, teamwork, and synergy, with mods, perks, mods, and different weapons serving those goals. The minimum system requirements call for a 4th-Gen Intel Core i5, 8 GB of RAM, and at minimum an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, although this is subject to change.
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[NextPowerUP]

We have seen previous rumors claim that AMD would launch Ryzen 9000G series APUs for its AM5 platform sometime soon, although there has been no official announcement from AMD, yet. Most recently, though, data miners combing through AMD's AGESA 1207 code have managed to find evidence of new Krackan Point desktop APUs. Krackan Point has been spotted in MSI BIOS updates with references to the 00B60Fxx microcode, and the changelog for ASUS X870 beta BIOS versions mentions "new APU support," which could only really be Ryzen 9000G. These new APUs are said to be based on Zen 5, but previous leaks said that they would instead be a rehash of the 8000G APUs, making them a Zen 4 refresh. At any rate, it will likely still be a while before launch, since this is the first time the code has been spotted in desktop BIOS versions.

Until now, Krackan Point APUs have been limited to mobile applications, with the AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 and Ryzen AI 7 350 both coming to laptops earlier this year. Until now AM5 owners looking for an APU have been limited to something like the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, which launched all the way back in January 2024. If the laptop silicon is anything to go by, Krackan Point will bring AMD's RDNA 3.5 to the desktop, although with iGPUs falling short of the powerful Strix Halo 8060S. We will likely see APUs top out at the same Radeon 860M iGPU as the laptop variants, or potentially step up to the Radeon 890M iGPU, where the Ryzen 8000G APUs topped out at the 780M. The 890M would bring 256 more shaders into the mix for a decent performance uplift, although this seems to be a GPU configuration reserved for Strix Point. Current speculation also suggests that CPU core counts will be limited to eight and six cores for the Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 CPUs, respectively.

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[NextPowerUP]

One of the weirder gimmicks to come out of the enthusiast keyboard market is mini displays on keyboards, generally used to display anything from keyboard battery life and connectivity or OS modes to typing speed. The Qwertykeys QK65 MK3, however, takes the idea of a keyboard-mounted display to the next level. As the Instagram teaser and Discord announcement revealed, the QK65 MK3 includes a tiny vertical color screen—unclear whether it will be OLED or LCD, although LCD seems likely—on the right edge of the keyboard, replete with a set of built-in games that can be played on the screen. It seems as though the games will be controlled by two, maybe four, small buttons mounted directly under the display and potentially two Game Boy-inspired buttons mounted along the top edge of the keyboard, similar to shoulder buttons on a controller or gaming handheld.

The design of the QK65 MK3 also sets it apart from its kin, with a decidedly retro gray and beige aesthetic and bright accents clearly inspired by the design of old Nintendo game consoles and retro PCs. That said, it will also likely be available in a multitude of colors, as is usually the case with Qwertykeys keyboards. QK65 keyboards have also historically been available with wireless PCB options, so it stands to reason that this will be an option for buyers as well. Aside from the 65% layout, the rest of the specs, materials, and details for the QK65 MK3 are as yet unknown, although it will likely be available with an aluminium case and a variety of plate options—specifically FR4, aluminium, POM, PC, and carbon fiber—like its predecessors. It's unclear just how much the QK65 MK3 will cost, but the QK65 v2 comes in at $165 without keycaps and switches, and the QK65 v2 Classic is priced at $175. Qwertykeys keyboards are generally sold as custom kits, meaning buyers will need to bring their own switches and keycaps or buy them separately from Qwertykeys.

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[NextPowerUP]

The ASUS ROG Ally Xbox and ROG Xbox Ally X are Microsoft's Windows-based response to the Valve Steam Deck and its streamlined, touch-optimized SteamOS based on Arch Linux. While Microsoft claims to have done a lot of work to optimize Windows for the handheld, and that appears to hold true in many cases, it looks as though Linux might still be the superior choice—at least in some cases. Cyber Dopamine on YouTube tested the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X with Bazzite, a Linux distribution that follows Valve's SteamOS formula very closely, and found that not only is the start and resume functionality better, but there is a performance uptick in some games.

As demonstrated by the YouTuber, the Xbox Ally X suspends and wakes from sleep significantly quicker running Bazzite than it does running Windows, even if he's in-game. Apparently, the controller also sometimes fails to initialize after waking from sleep when the handheld is running Windows—an issue also reported by other users on Reddit—which is not the case on Bazzite. More importantly, however, frame rate testing reveals that, even running games via Steam's Proton compatibility layer, there is a notable improvement in frame rate and efficiency. Running at 17 W TDP, the Xbox Ally X manages around 47 FPS in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, while the same settings and power options result in 62 FPS on Bazzite. The same plays out at lower TDP settings. At 13 W, Windows manages 35 FPS, while Bazzite gets around 37 FPS. Hogwarts Legacy also saw a jump from 50 FPS on Windows to 62 FSP on Bazzite at 17 W. Bumping up to 35 W sees the gap shrink to just 5 FPS, with Bazzite remaining in the lead. He also mentions that the frame rate was more consistent on Bazzite, with frequent noticeable frame rate dips on Windows that weren't present on the Linux distribution. It should be noted that Bazzite isn't perfectly implemented on the Xbox Ally devices just yet, with support for features like LED control on the joysticks still missing. The developers behind the project have promised that "you're getting full support in a few days" when it comes to those hardware features currently missing.
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[NextPowerUP]

Recently, after ASUS launched the ROG Xbox Ally series and rumors popped up about Xbox potentially abandoning its long line of first-party console designs, Xbox president, Sarah Bond clarified that Microsoft is "100% looking at making things in the future," and commented that next-gen hardware is in development, although her words seem to have been carefully chosen, seemingly to avoid making any concrete proclamations about the next-gen gaming console before everything was finalized. In a recent interview with Famitsu, however, head of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, confirmed that the next-generation Xbox would be Xbox's in-house design.

In the interview, when asked about what comes after the Xbox Series X|S, Spencer responded that, while the ASUS ROG Ally would be the next Xbox hardware launch, the next first-party hardware launch out of Microsoft would be the next-gen Xbox. Not only does this confirm that the next-gen Xbox will still be an in-house design, but it suggests that there will be no first-party Xbox-branded handheld gaming PCs until at least 2027, when the next-gen Xbox is expected to launch. Conveniently, this doesn't discount any potential successors to the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally before that date. Previous rumors indicated that Microsoft was developing an in-house gaming handheld, only to later offload that engineering effort onto ASUS. While there has been no word on whether Xbox is planning another handheld console to align with the next-gen console launch, Sony looks to be developing both handheld and home console systems, each with its own APU co-developed by AMD.

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It has long been rumored that Battlefield 6 would be accompanied by a new battle royale game mode to replace the aging Firestorm, however there has been no official announcement of a PVP battle royale mode two weeks after the new shooter launched. New information from online data miners, however, now suggests that this radio silence may be intentional. According to @ModernWarzone on X, DICE and EA will launch the free-to-play Battlefield: RedSec battle royale game mode on October 28. The launch strategy here is rather curious, since EA apparently won't release any trailers or marketing material ahead of the launch, making it essentially a shadow drop alongside the Battlefield 6 Season 1 update.

Aside from the official name, which is getting heavily criticized online, the free-to-play battle royale game mode will closely follow the same formula as its predecessor. Previous supposed leaks from the same source indicated that Battlefield: RedSec would feature a highly destructible map with 100 players competing for first prize, and that matches would last "around 25 minutes." Of course, these rumors are from earlier this year, so they should be taken with a grain of salt. Internal Battlefield Labs update changelogs also leaked earlier this month, confirming that RedSec players will each have two slots for armor plates and that the battle royale game mode will feature both ground vehicles and helicopters for aerial combat, with the requisite countermeasures also available for players. Players will also be able to talk to one-another with proximity chat.

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