Latest News - Page 551

This week on the TT Show, Jak and Kosta go through a range of tech, gaming, science, and AI-related stories - including an AI chatbot 'Skeleton Key,' that lets users bypass any security checks and measures in place. Plus, Nintendo's stance on the generative AI boom equates to "our games are way better than anything AI could come up with, so no thanks."

On the GPU front, the duo discusses Micron's comments on next-gen GDDR7 memory that will be used in the GeForce RTX 50 Series and how the speed increase alone will lead to a 30% increase in gaming performance. Very cool.

Also, this past week saw the arrival of AMD's FSR 3.1 in several first-party PlayStation Studios games on PC. The latest version of AMD's DLSS competitor is a little hit-and-miss. There are a lot of game-related stories, too, including Ubisoft's plan to remake classic games in the Assassin's Creed franchise, Valve's impressive new Steam Game Recording Feature, and the original Splinter Cell getting the RTX Remix treatment. Kosta weirdly sides with Ubisoft, while Jak doesn't. It gets heated, so be sure to tune in.

If you've seen one of Palit's over-the-top GameRock graphics cards, you can spot one from a mile away. Take the flagship Palit GeForce RTX 4090 GameRock OC as an example, where the physical design features a 'shimmering RGB crystal' look that is so gaudy you can't help but be impressed.

It's a design that has become synonymous with the GameRock sub-brand. However, Palit is about to change things up with a new GeForce RTX GameRock design slated to launch in the second half of 2024. Based on the timing, we wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being the GeForce RTX 5090 or GeForce RTX 5080 GameRock.

First, the new design is for fans of white-colored gear and those rocking white PC cases. Second, it removes the 'shimmering RGB crystal' look for a stylish wave of neon lights dancing around the three fans. I think it looks more appealing than the current crystal-heavy GameRock design, but hey, that's me.

LG has begun the global rollout of the new LG OLED evo M4 TV, which comes with a Zero Connect Box that provides wireless connectivity between it and the TV. Available in 65, 77, 83, and a massive 97 inches, LG is describing the new OLED evo M4 as the "first-ever TV with the ability to display wirelessly transmitted video and audio at 4K 144Hz."

Sporting the company's latest α (Alpha) 11 AI Processor, which features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and the low latency self-lite pixel technology of OLED panel technology, LG is calling this new flagship the "ultimate gaming TV." With support for 4K 144Hz, delivered wirelessly from the Zero Connect Box, we agree - especially if you connected an RTX 4090-powered rig to a 77 or 83-inch variant. The 97-inch model tops out at 4K 120 Hz for some reason.

The Zero Connect Box is a great idea that we hope will filter down to the broader LG OELD lineup in the coming years.

Intel's next-generation Core Ultra 200 series "Arrow Lake" CPUs will arrive with a brand new LGA-1851 socket, which will receive an optional RL-ILM configuration with improved thermal performance without requiring a contact frame.

We're hearing the news on LGA-1851's new socket changes through hardware leaker "Jaykihn," which reports Intel's new LGA-1851 socket will have two different loading mechanisms. The first, is the traditional ILM solution that's compatible with existing coolers, while the other is "RL-ILM" (Reduced Load ILM) that's designed specifically for improved thermal performance, but with different compatibility requirements.

The loading mechanism itself is a metal structure that surrounds the socket -- in this case, LGA-1851 -- providing the mechanism to secure the CPU, seating it (safely) into the motherboard. Until now, Intel CPUs have used a single mechanism called the ILM (Independent Loading Mechanism) but the ILMs weren't great for overclockers, given that the mechanism reduced the contact area of the processor with the cooling solution, which isn't great for heat dissipation. That all changes with LGA-1851, it seems.

The phenomenal success of the PlayStation 4 helped AMD avoid going bankrupt, in a new LinkedIn post from AMD's own Gaming Client PC Business boss. Check it out:

AMD is in quite an awesome position right now with the mega-success of its Ryzen CPUs, EPYC CPUs, semi-custom design wins inside of the PlayStation 5 (and PS4, obviously) as well as the Xbox Series X/S consoles, and even the PlayStation 5 Pro coming later this year... oh, and the next-generation PlayStation 6 console in a few years time.

But years ago, AMD wasn't in a good state... back in 2015, AMD reported a revenue slip of 10% because of a shrinking PC market, but that's where Sony stepped in with the PlayStation 4 console. AMD Gaming Client PC Business Lead, Renato Fragale, explained on his LinkedIn: "Managed 15-person product development team for Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4) that has sold over 91Mu to date. Viewed as one of the most successful launches in AMD history, helping AMD to avoid bankruptcy".

AMD has received an inquiry to build an insane supercomputer that would house an incredible 1.2 million data center AI GPUs, with the company receiving inquiries from "unknown clients" for the crazy number of AI accelerators.

In a recent interview with The Next Platform, AMD's EVP and GP of the Datacenter Solutions Group, Forrest Norrod, revealed that AMD has had inquiries from "unknown clients" that require an insane amount of AI accelerators, confirming the news of the huge AI supercomputer.

1.2 million AI GPUs is a gargantuan amount of AI processing power, with the world's current largest supercomputer -- Frontier -- featuring around 38,000 GPUs. This means that 1.2 million AI accelerators would be a mind-boggling 30x in GPU horsepower (and that's just from the GPUs, let alone the CPUs).

ASRock has rebranded its Radeon 7900 WS series to the new Radeon 7900 Creator Series, which feature a blower-style cooler and newer 12V-2x6 power connector. Check them out:

The company previously had the Radeon RX 7900 XTX WS and Radeon RX 7900 XT WS, which have been rebranded to the Creator Series, designed for multi-GPU clusters for AI inference, generative AI, and professional workstation use.

ASRock's new cards feature a blower-style cooler, a nice-and-tight dual-slot design with a vapor chamber, and the newer 12V-2x6 power connector. I think the new 12V-2x6 power connector is the biggest news, as it seems ASRock is the first with a Radeon GPU using the new 16-pin PCIe power connector, which was exclusive to NVIDIA's current-gen GeForce RTX 40 series "Ampere" GPUs.

It was only a matter of time, but it is coming: Mini-PC manufacturer Xyber XPC has just unveiled the world's first AMD Ryzen Mini-PC themed after Tesla's super-popular, near-indestructible Cybertruck. Check it out:

Xyber XPC is a Mini-PC manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China, unveiling its new Xyber XPC Mini-PC themed as a Tesla Cybertruck on Indiegogo. Inside, we have AMD's current-gen Ryzen 7 8845HS "Hawk Point" APU, and support for up to 64GB of DDR5 memory.

The team had its Cybertruck Mini-PC on display at Computex 2024 last month, with the team saying the XPC is in full production right now and isn't far away Inside, there's the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS "Hawk Point" APU, up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 (SO-DIMM) memory, and up to 4TB of SSD storage... which is damn good inside of the Cybertruck-themed system.

AMD looks to be prepping next-generation Zen 5-based Ryzen AI 300 "PRO" series "Strix Point" APUs in new teases, with the "Ryzen AI HX 9 PRO 370" and "Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360" professional Strix Poiint-based APUs with new leaks.

The new Ryzen AI 300 PRO series "Strix Point" APUs were spotted in new shipping manifests spotted by Hoang Anh Phy, which point to an October 2024 launch, just months from now. The leaker in question isn't new, revealing AMD's new Ryzen PRO W77900 Dual-Slot and Ryzen 8000F series processors coming to the DIY market.

AMD is now reportedly gearing up for the launch of the new Ryzen AI 300 PRO series "Strix Point" processors, just 6 months after the Ryzen 8000 PRO series processors launched back in April 2024. Hoang revealed the news of AMD's new Ryzen AI 300 PRO series "Strix Point" chips, confirming the processors which should follow as:

Whether you play PC games on a monitor or console games on a TV, you need a place to sit. You can use any form of seating, including a sofa, La-Z-Boy, or dining room chair. However, you should invest in a dedicated gaming chair if you want an optimal seating arrangement. They're comfortable, sturdy, and designed with gamers in mind. Take the AutoFull M6 Gaming Chair into consideration - a marvel of ergonomic design and advanced technology crafted to deliver unparalleled comfort and support. Let's dive into the key features that make this chair a must-have for anyone seeking the ultimate seating experience.

The core of the AUTO Dynamic Tracking Lumbar Pillow is its dynamic tracking technology, and the AutoFull M6 has achieved the ultimate in this regard. Unlike normal lumbar supports that remain static, this pillow employs sensors and motors to automatically adjust its position based on the user's posture and movements. Whether reclining, sitting upright, or shifting positions, the lumbar pillow intuitively provides continuous support, promoting healthier spine alignment and reducing strain on the lower back. The dynamic tracking lumbar pillow is ergonomically designed and equipped with adjustable neck and waist support, which effectively reduces the pressure and discomfort caused by sitting for long hours.

Paired with the head support and you've a comfortable and supportive combination. The high-density sponge filling of the seat and backrest ensures the softness and support of the sitting feeling, allowing you to stay comfortable even in intense competitions or work. You can remain focused and comfortable for longer periods.

Intel's next-gen Arrow Lake processors might only get overclocking with the top-end motherboards from Team Blue, if a new rumor is correct.

This comes from Jaykihn on X (as noticed by VideoCardz), not one of the hardware leakers we normally rely on for spilled info, so we should add some seasoning - though we should with any rumor in fairness.

In this case Jaykihn shares what are purportedly preliminary 800 series chipset specs, with the caveat that they might be subject to late changes (but this is unlikely).

FromSoftware's Elden Ring DLC "Shadow of the Erdtree" has been extremely well received by fans of the critically acclaimed open-world RPG, but now a new update has been released, which means there is a chance your favorite build may have changed.

Bandai Namco took to its website to share the patch notes for Elden Ring version 1.12.3, which has already been rolled out to all platforms Elden Ring is available on. Notably, this new patch includes some pretty severe nerfs to some strategies there were borderlining on exploits, and probably the biggest offender is the Lightning Perfume Bottle's, particularly when combined with the Rolling Sparks Ash of War.

Players were aiming these at the ground and when used with the aforementioned Ash of War it would result in immediate explosions that stacked. Players were able to beat the final boss of the DLC in just 13 seconds with this strategy. FromSoftware has now fixed this, as it was unintended. Additionally, players using spiky shields will no longer be able to walk through bosses by exploiting a glitch that occurred when thrust into attacks, which neither damaged the player nor reduced stamina.

Amazon Web Services, one of the biggest cloud computing services in the world, has been selected by a government to build a special cloud.

The Australian government has tapped Amazon Web Services to enter into a 10-year partnership with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to build a "Top Secret (TS) Cloud for the Australian Government." The Australian government announced it would be spending $2 billion AUD, or $1.35 billion USD, over a 10-year period, and the cloud will be designed to improve the Australian government's ability to share and analyze its most classified data.

The announcement mentioned plans to implement artificial intelligence and machine learning across the cloud and that once the secure cloud is completed, the nation will be able to better connect with other intelligence agencies to share data, specifically the United States. The Register has pointed out some important points about this cloud. First is the lack of details surrounding its construction and ownership, how it's run by Amazon Web Services but also completely secure, and where the cloud will be housed.

Minisforum has just introduced its new UH125H Pro Mini-PC which packs Intel's Core Ultra 5 125H "Meteor Lake" CPU, OCulink connectivity, and interestingly... a physical Copilot+ button. Check it out:

The new Minisforum UH125H Pro Mini-PC rocks the Intel Core Utlra 5 125H "Meteor Lake" CPU which is a 14-core, 18-thread CPU with a maximum CPU boost clock of up to 4.5GHz, with a single large diameter fan, phase-changing thermal pads, and 3-heatpipe cooling system keeping thermals under control.

The new Minisforum UH125H Pro Mini-PC features support for DDR5-5600 memory, which can be crammed with an incredible 96GB. The system ships with either no RAM or 32GB of DDR5-5600, but it is user-upgradable.

Microsoft announced it was officially ending support for the world's most-used operating system, Windows 10, in October of next year, and while the initial announcement didn't cause much of a change in terms of operating system market share, we have now seen a slight decrease in Windows 10's user base and a spike in Windows 11's.

In December last year, Microsoft announced it was officially ending support for Windows 10, which at the time had a market share of 71%. Moreover, at the time of the announcement, Windows 10's market share hadn't changed in the past two years, indicating Windows 11 adoption was stagnating. Furthermore, Statcounter reported earlier this year that Windows 11 was the first OS to lose customers mid-cycle.

Furthermore, in May this year, Windows 10 climbed nearly 1% in market share, causing Windows 11 to dip down to 25.68% market share. The shift in users indicated Windows 11 users went back to Windows 10. However, that seems to be changing now, as Statcounter reported in June 2024 that Windows 11 increased its market share by 2.14%, jumping up from 27.67% to 29.71%.

Akamai has published a new 2024 report on web traffic and found that 42% of all traffic is generated by bots, and considerable percentages of these bots in sub-sections of the internet are "high risk".

The newly published study focuses on "scraping bots," which are designed to locate and harvest data from content that is then used in future cyber-crime-related endeavors. Notably, Akamai is one of the biggest content delivery networks on the planet, with its place being alongside Cloudflare and Amazon Web Services. As for the report, Akamai found the e-commerce section of the internet is plagued with "high-risk" bots and is the most affected industry on the internet. 65% of the discovered bots in this sector were deemed to have malicious intent.

So, who benefits from these bot scrapers? These types of bots are commonly used by competitors within markets to gather data on their competition, such as prices, inventory lists, descriptions, and other valuable data. With this data and likely the involvement of a generative AI tool, the competitor is then able to implement changes that target competing businesses, thus affecting the bottom line of both businesses.

Sony is introducing a new line of collectible figures as part of The Shapes Collection, which takes inspiration from PlayStation Studios titles. The first batch of figures, created in collaboration with Spin Master, features iconic characters from God of War RagnarÜk, Horizon Forbidden West, and Ghost of Tsushima.

"The highly detailed figures deliver the interactive storytelling element of these titles in an all-new way, extending the gaming experience from digital to physical," writes Grace Chen

Vice President of Network Advertising, Loyalty & Licensed Merchandise at Sony. "This creative line takes inspiration from details in each game, with interchangeable accessories and dozens of points of articulation to pose and display each figure in your collection of memorabilia."

China has had its access to the latest and greatest AI GPUs and AI accelerators limited through US restrictions and sanctions, with a network of buyers, sellers, and countries bypassing the US-led rules, smuggling the best AI chips into China anyway.

In a new report from The Wall Street Journal, we're learning that a 26-year-old Chinese student smuggled NVIDIA AI GPUs from Singapore into China last fall. The student packed his suitcase with 6 x NVIDIA compute cards (or modules) with his personal belongings, with each of the add-in boards at about the size of the portable Nintendo Switch console, unnoticed through the airport.

The student declared the value of the AI cards at just $100 each, which is a tiny fraction of the real cost on the (growing) underground market, but it the student didn't raise any red flags when traveling through Singapore (which isn't worried about smuggling advanced AI chips into China), or China, which is interested in getting said advanced AI chips, as well as import duties.

High-end AI hardware is power-hungry, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) next-generation Trainium3 chip will consume 1000 Watts of power and require liquid cooling to keep temperatures in check.

Prasad Kalyanaraman, Amazon's VP of infrastructure services, said that "the next generation will require liquid cooling," alluding to the upcoming Trainium3 AI chip. "When a chip goes above 1,000 watts, that's when they require liquid cooling," he added. For those keeping tabs on the incredible pace of AI chip development, this would put Amazon's next-gen chip on par with NVIDIA's beefiest Blackwell chip when it comes to power consumption.

AI hardware is becoming increasingly power-hungry. Although being a 1kW chip could make the Trainium3 a Blackwell competitor, word is that NVIDIA's next-gen Rubin architecture (which it's already talking about) will consume upwards of 1500 Watts on the high-end.

The upcoming version 6.11 of the mainline Linux kernel has support for RISC-V memory hot plugging, meaning you can pull RAM sticks out of your PC without turning it off... very nice.

The Linux kernel already supported this RAM hot-swappable feature for other CPU architectures, but for the long-term health of the open-architecture RISC-V processors, this is a good step in the right direction. We're used to hot-plugging and hot-swapping HDDs and SSDs out of systems, but hot-plugging RAM is magical.

Memory hot-plugging is also something that's not new; as Tom's Hardware reports, it was available on the ultra-retro Zilog Z80 CPUs that were released all the way back in the 1980s. Fast-forward to today, and RAM hot-swapping is usually something reserved for server motherboards with dedicated server versions of Windows and most Linux distributions.