Computer Systems News - Page 19

Toshiba research scientists have created a new algorithm that is capable of sifting through extremely large number sets ten times faster than laser-based quantum computers.

The two Toshiba research scientists are Hayato Goto and Kosuke Tatsumura, and back in 2015, Goto originally created the idea for the new algorithm after noticing how some parts of a complex system can go through a bifurcation process once new inputs are implemented. It took Goto a further two years to implement the new algorithm, which has been called "Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm". Goto then partnered with Tatsumura, and with his knowledge, the researchers were able to make the new algorithm scalable.

After some time tweaking the design process, the researchers were able to get the algorithm to not only work on a traditional computer with off the shelf components but also a cluster of server CPU's and field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Using an FPGA, the reports of Toshiba's new algorithm is to be up to ten times faster than a laser-based quantum computer. Toshiba plans on selling the "Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm" to stock trading companies, social networks, and manufacturing companies. Toshiba is aiming this new algorithm at solving companies' combinatorial optimization problems.

CES 2020 - Razer had one of the best-looking modular gaming PCs at CES 2020 with its new Tomahawk Gaming Desktop, which is built on the concept of Intel's new Ghost Canyon NUC.

The new Razer Tomahawk sees your graphics card vertically mounted and front-and-center to the glass window, with the company building the Tomahawk in an all-aluminum chassis. It's easy to get into with a lock-and-slide mechanism at the back of the Tomahawk, providing a tool-free leap into the PC.

Razer will let you configure the Tomahawk modular g aming PC with up to an Intel Core i9 processor, 64GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card. We should expect the new Razer Tomahawk modular gaming PC to start at around $2000, and I'm sure it'll be an expensive little beast with a Core i9, 64GB of RAM, and GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card.

CES 2020 - Origin PC, the boutique system builder recently acquired by Corsair, has made some waves at CES 2020. Today Origin announced their new M-Class studio desktop. The M-Class Studio desktop is targeted at professional class users who need maximum power for tasks such as video, and photo editing, 3D Modeling, and various other creative workflows.

The M-Class Studio desktop is something that is well outside of what we consider "in the wheelhouse" of a custom boutique builder like Origin, until now. With their recent acquisition by Corsair, they got a massive shot in the arm, and likely some wiggle room to expand their offerings beyond extreme gaming-focused rigs and into the professional application realm.

One of the key features enabling productivity-focused builds from Origin is NVIDIA's new "Studio drivers," which are tuned and optimized for professional workload performance. These drivers have been tested and shown to accelerate professional workflows by a significant margin for professional users while still retaining the gaming performance users have come to know.

Intel has stepped it up with its new NUC (Next Unit of Computing) in the new NUC 10, with the new Frost Canyon NUC packing some super great internals into a small PC that c an easily fit anywhere on your desk.

The highest-end configuration of Intel's new NUC can pack Intel's latest 10th-gen Core i7-10710U processor, which boosts at up to 4.7GHz, has 12MB of cache, and rocks Intel's latest UHD graphics. This means that lower-end games, emulated games (this is a big market for PCs like this as well), and even esports titles can run without an issue at 1080p.

If you want this speed in a new Intel NUC you'll be spending $1295, but for that you'll get yourself 64GB of RAM (!!!), and a 1TB Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 SSD. There are lower-end offerings with just 4GB of RAM and a 120GB for $705.

Microchips are found almost everywhere in technology these days, and as our needs grow and microchips become more complex, so does the manufacturing process.

The microchip manufacturing process began way back in 1977, and since then, scientists, engineers, and everyone else in between has been working hard at making the process not only be more efficient but also more powerful. The current process of chip manufacturing is called 'photolithography'. This is the process of using light to transfer geometric patterns onto silicon, which are then engraved into the metal.

This whole process is extremely specific, and as humans have made chips more advanced, they have gotten smaller, acquired more transistors, have more performance, and are more energy-efficient. But what if the process required a change in manufacturing to achieve even better chips? Manufactures have already thought of this and have redesigned a new process that will create faster and better chips.

Apple is reporting working on a new "gaming-focused" Mac that it would introduce in 2020, with new reports suggesting that Apple's new gaming Mac would compete against high-end pre-built gaming PCs.

A new report by Patently Apple suggests that Apple's new gaming Mac could cost up to $5000, which is no surprise given Apple is not afraid of charging ridiculous prices for its products. Hell, we have a new Mac Pro that costs over $50,000 -- with its Pro Display XDR costing $5000 and requiring Apple's specific-made cloth to clean, and it can even be configured with wheels that cost $400.

Apple's new gaming-focused Mac would cost up to $5000 and be aimed at the esports market, which would be an interesting flex for Apple which has -- at least right now -- zero interest in the esports market. The new Apple gaming PC could be an all-in-one desktop gaming PC or a new gaming-ready MacBook Pro (or a new moniker).

A device invented in 1804 by French weaver and merchant Joseph Marie Jacquard called the Jacquard machine is an essential part of computing history, and it just sold for $43,750.

Since you might not have heard of the device before, here's a quick rundown. The device attached to a weaving loom and used printed punch cards to "program" patterns into the looms woven fabric. Jacquard's machine had extreme precision when it came to weaving patterns, and in 1886 it was used to create a prayer book that was woven together with silk.

Due to the Jacquard machine relying on replaceable punch cards to control the outcome of what was being woven, the machine was titled a precursor of computer programming. It became a staple point for future creations, such as Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. The Jacquard mechanism just sold at the Sotheby's annual History of Science and Technology auction for $43,750.

Oh, so you thought over $50,000 for the highest-end Apple Mac Pro was too much? Too bad, because the wheels inside of your credit card are going to be going round and round at the $400 price on the optional wheels for your new Mac Pro.

Apple's new Mac Pro has a base starting price of $5999 that quickly gets out of control once you start beefing it up, where going up to 1.5TB of RAM will cost you an additional $25,000 on its own. Boosting up the CPU to a 28-core unit costs $7000 more, while throwing in 2 x Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics cards will cost an additional $10,800.

But it would have to be the new optional wheels that cost $400 more, meaning that each individual wheel will cost you $100. But don't worry, you've probably just purchased that $1000 Pro Stand at the same time, and now you'll need to drain that bank account a little more -- so here, I've made it a little more convenient for you to show you some new League of Legends biker jacket from Louis Vuitton that costs $5650.

You can now officially order Apple's new Mac Pro, which might start at just $5999 -- but the price can get pretty hairy, pretty damn quickly. Apple's impressive new Mac Pro costs north of $50,000 when you've got it fully specced.

What do you get for the massive price of $53,247 you ask? Well, you do get 1.5TB of RAM and quad GPUs -- but everything else is either just alright, or good. The base model Apple Mac Pro for $5999 comes with an 8-core Intel Xeon-W processor, while spending an additional $7000 will see you upgraded to the much-faster 28-core CPU.

Upgrading from the stock 32GB of DDR4 ECC RAM to a simply crazy 1.5TB of RAM will cost you a huge $25,000 -- you could buy 4 x stock Mac Pros for that money and have change to buy the $400 wheels. Heh. There is one issue with the 1.5TB RAM upgrade: you will be stuck at the 24-core Intel Xeon-W processor at a minimum, you can't have an 8-core CPU + 1.5TB of RAM.

Back in late September, Google announced that it had achieved what they called 'Quantum Supremacy', what does this mean exactly?

Thankfully, Elizabeth Gibney, a Senior Reporter at Nature can explain it to us in just three short minutes. If you didn't know, when Google announced that they had achieved 'Quantum Supremacy', IBM's head of research, Dario Gil said that Google's claim to 'Quantum Supremacy' was "just plain wrong". Why is that?

Well, Gibney explains that Google's quantum computer called 'Sycamore' performed a task that isn't particularly useful, and was just designed so the company could claim quantum supremacy. This can also be backed up by Gil, who said that Google's quantum computer is a specialized piece of hardware that is designed to solve one problem, while IBM's own quantum computer can pursue multiple. Either way, Google did complete a monumental task in an impressive amount of time.