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April 8
- IBM boosts mainframes with 50% more AI performance: z17 features Telum II chip with AI accelerators
➀ IBM has introduced the z17 mainframe, featuring the Telum II chip with enhanced AI performance.
➁ The Telum II processor offers 70% higher general-purpose performance and 50% improved AI capabilities.
➂ IBM also unveiled the Spyre AI accelerator card for additional AI performance.
- China-exclusive RTX 5090D dominates in 3DMark benchmark records - Galax HOF edition eclipses RTX 5090 challengers
➀ The China-exclusive RTX 5090D has taken the top spots in various single-GPU world records on HWBot;
➁ The RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab edition, from Galax, features a dual 16-pin design;
➂ Despite firmware limitations, the RTX 5090D outperforms its global counterpart in most benchmarks.
- New 'DRAM+' memory designed to provide DRAM performance with SSD-like storage capabilities, uses FeRAM tech
➀ Ferroelectric Memory Co. (FMC) and Neumonda are reestablishing DRAM+ production in Germany.
➁ The new DRAM+ memory uses FeRAM technology with hafnium oxide for non-volatility and high capacity.
➂ FMC's technology aims to improve energy efficiency and data retention while maintaining DRAM performance.
- Nvidia may avoid recent tariffs on its AI servers — 60% of Nvidia servers pass through Mexico, may be exempt from Trump tariff flurry
➀ Nvidia may avoid recent tariffs on its AI servers due to their production in Mexico, which accounts for 60% of their AI datacenter servers;
➁ The tariffs could potentially affect Nvidia's datacenter shipments to U.S. hyperscalers;
➂ Nvidia's DGX and HGX servers are sorted under U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes that are exempt from U.S.-Mexico tariffs due to the USMCA trade agreement.
- Apple beat the tariffs, shipped five extra planeloads of goods from India to the U.S. in March
➀ Apple preemptively shipped five planeloads of iPhones, PCs, and other devices from India to the U.S. in late March to avoid paying 10% import duty in the U.S. and to stabilize prices temporarily in America.
➁ This move gives Apple an inventory buffer in its largest market, allowing it to assess the impact of new tariffs on its supply chain without urgency.
➂ Apple's manufacturing base spans several countries, with some models produced in India and others in China, Vietnam, and Texas.
April 7
- Beef up your Steam Deck storage with this 2TB WD Black SN770M SSD deal - only $177 at Amazon
➀ The WD Black SN770M 2TB SSD is a great upgrade for the Steam Deck, offering 2TB of storage at a discounted price of $177 on Amazon.
➁ The SN770M uses a small M.2 2230 form factor, making it suitable for compact devices like the Steam Deck.
➂ With sequential read speeds of 5,150 MB/s and sequential write speeds of 4,850 MB/s, this SSD provides fast and reliable performance.
- AMD RX 9070 vBIOS flash offers up-to 20% performance boost — modders claim OC beats 9070 XT
➀ PC enthusiasts have flashed the base RX 9070 with the XT's vBIOS, achieving a 15-20% performance boost.
➁ The mod allows the RX 9070 to approach or exceed the performance of the RX 9070 XT.
➂ Risks include voiding warranties and the potential for bricking the GPU.
- China's rare earth export restrictions threaten global chipmaking supply chains
➀ China has introduced new export restrictions on materials containing scandium and dysprosium, which are critical for RF and storage applications, potentially impacting key players in these industries.
➁ These restrictions follow previous rounds of tightening rare earth export rules and reflect a calculated strategy targeting the high-tech manufacturing supply chain.
➂ The impact of these restrictions is yet to be fully assessed, but they are expected to cause disruptions in the semiconductor industry.
- Even Tim Cook doesn't use Apple's Magic Mouse — turns out he's a Logitech fan
➀ Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, prefers the Logitech MX Master 3 over Apple's Magic Mouse;
➁ The MX Master 3 offers better usability and comfort, and allows seamless switching between devices;
➂ The choice reflects Cook's focus on functionality over design.
April 6
- AMD sets new supercomputer record, runs CFD simulation over 25x faster on Instinct MI250X GPUs
➀ AMD processors have helped achieve a new world record in a recent Ansys Fluent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on the Frontier supercomputer.
➁ The simulation, which tested Baker Hughes' next-generation gas turbines, was completed in 1.5 hours using 1,024 AMD Instinct MI250X accelerators and AMD EPYC CPUs.
➂ This marks a 25x speed increase compared to the previous 38.5-hour completion time on 3,700 CPU cores.
April 5
- Grab a budget HP gaming laptop for just $449
➀ Today, we're highlighting a budget HP gaming laptop deal available at Best Buy for just $449.
➁ The HP Victus 15 (model: 15-fb2063dx) offers a mobile gaming platform with upgradable specifications.
➂ It features an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor, Radeon RX 6550M GPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
April 4
- Asus ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming Wifi Review: Copious USB Ports and 5.0 M.2
➀ The Asus ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming Wifi is a budget-friendly AM5 motherboard with a variety of features and a premium design.
➁ It offers ample USB Type-A and C ports, 3x PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets, and AI features like AI Overclocking and AI Cooling II.
➂ The board delivers robust performance and connectivity at a sub-$500 price point, making it a competitive option for gamers and DIY builders.
- RTX 4060 is now the top GPU on Newegg despite ludicrous $500 price tag
➀ Despite a price tag nearing $500, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 is topping the best seller charts on Newegg US.
➁ The MSI Ventus model is listed at $460, while a Gigabyte Eagle model is at $455.
➂ The high demand for the RTX 4060 contrasts with the lower launch price of $299 in June 2023.
- G.Skill unveils first 128GB DDR5-8000 memory kit and ultra-fast DDR5-9000 64GB options
➀ G.Skill has announced two new high-speed and high-capacity DDR5 memory kits;
➁ The kits are designed for AMD's AM5 platform and Intel's Arrow Lake platform;
➂ The 128GB DDR5-8000 kit is said to be the world's first of its kind, while the 64GB DDR5-9000 kit offers exceptional speed.
- Intel discontinues Unison app for connecting PCs and smartphones
➀ Intel has announced the discontinuation of its Unison app, which connects PCs and smartphones;
➁ The app, part of Intel's Evo program, will cease services at the end of June 2025;
➂ Intel's decision may be part of a broader cost-cutting strategy.
April 3
- Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-on: Bigger, faster, and with mouse controls
➀ The Nintendo Switch 2 is reviewed as an evolution of the popular Nintendo console with improved hardware and game lineup;
➁ The review highlights the black matte finish, larger display, and new kickstand;
➂ The article discusses the inclusion of mouse controls and various resolution options, along with the announcement of new accessories like the Pro Controller and Nintendo Camera.
- Thermalright Hyper Vision 360 Review: Confusing SKU Spam
➀ The Thermalright Hyper Vision 360 is reviewed, highlighting its larger display and strong noise-normalized performance, but also its pump whine and inferior performance compared to the Grand Vision 360.
➁ The review discusses the features, specifications, and installation process of the cooler, noting the LCD display, thermal paste, and software customization options.
➂ The article concludes with a recommendation not to purchase this cooler and instead to consider the Grand Vision 360.
- Trump creates U.S. Investment Accelerator to manage CHIPS Act and 'negotiate much better deals'
➀ U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to create the United States Investment Accelerator Office;
➁ The office aims to negotiate better deals for taxpayers;
➂ There are concerns about the impact on existing contracts and awards.
- Intel refreshes iconic brand with 'That's the power of Intel Inside' campaign
➀ Intel has refreshed its iconic 'Intel Inside' campaign with a new slogan, 'That’s the power of Intel Inside,' emphasizing its role in the modern world.
➁ The campaign reflects Intel's belief that its products and technologies can unlock the potential of employees, customers, and partners.
➂ The original 'Intel Inside' campaign from 1991 marked a shift in tech marketing, directly targeting consumers and highlighting the processor as a key selling point for PCs.
April 1
- Retailer clarifies RTX 5090 'B-stock' listing with missing ROPs was a system error
➀ German tech retailer Alternate explains the listing of an RTX 5090 with missing ROPs as a system error.
➁ The GPU was part of a customer return and was never intended for sale.
➂ Nvidia had previously issued a clarification on the impact of the manufacturing defect, affecting only 0.5% of RTX 5090s and RTX 5070 Tis.
- Snapdragon X exclusive Copilot+ features begin trickling through to modern x86 Windows 11 PCs
➀ Microsoft has announced that several Windows 11 Copilot+ AI features are graduating from Snapdragon X exclusivity to AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V PCs.
➁ Features such as Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator are now available on modern AMD and Intel systems, as well as PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X (SDX) series processors.
➂ The Live Captions feature can translate from 27 languages into Simplified Chinese and is expected to be available for Ryzen AI 300 and Ultra 200V PC users soon.
- PNY CS2150 2TB SSD review: More 'budget' PCIe 5.0 SSD goodness
➀ The PNY CS2150 is a budget PCIe 5.0 SSD with strong all-around performance and high power efficiency.
➁ Available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, the CS2150 offers good value for its price.
➂ The drive is designed for systems that require thin drives and offers excellent performance without a heatsink.
- Some Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs are allegedly dying prematurely — over 100 cases documented based on user feedback
➀ Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPUs are experiencing premature failures, with over 100 cases documented based on user feedback;
➁ The majority of the failures are occurring on ASRock motherboards, with 82% of cases;
➂ The issue is suspected to be related to the X870 chipset, despite its premium design and components.
- Micron confirms memory price hikes as AI and data center demand surges
➀ Micron confirms plans to raise memory prices due to strong demand for DRAM and NAND flash.
➁ The price hike is expected to continue through 2025 and 2026.
➂ Factors include supply constraints and growing demand from AI, data centers, and consumer electronics.
March 31
- Seagate's 24TB IronWolf Pro is only $399 for World Backup Day
➀ Today's deal features Seagate's 24TB IronWolf Pro HDD at $399;
➁ The drive is designed for 24/7 operation and has a SATA III interface;
➂ It offers a 6 Gb/s transfer bandwidth and a 285 MB/s read/write speed.
- Acer Predator X32 X2 and X27U X1 gaming monitors debut with 240 Hz QD-OLED panels
➀ Acer has launched two new QD-OLED gaming monitors, the Predator X32 X2 and X27U X1;
➁ The X32 X2 features a 31.5-inch 4K panel with a 240 Hz refresh rate, while the X27U X1 has a 26.5-inch WQHD panel at the same refresh rate;
➂ Both monitors offer high contrast ratios, fast response times, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.
- PC enthusiast delidded a 9950X3D using fishing line and a clothes iron
➀ A PC enthusiast successfully delidded an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D using fishing line and a clothes iron;
➁ The process involved cutting the adhesive with fishing line and heating the IHS with a clothes iron;
➂ The enthusiast achieved a stable overclock of almost 6,000 MHz.
- CrystalMark Retro 2.0.0 brings retro benchmarking to systems from Windows 95 to Windows 11
➀ CrystalMark Retro 2.0.0 has been released, extending retro benchmarking to systems from Windows 95 to Windows 11.
➁ The update started a year ago, in response to user feedback.
➂ The benchmarking tool now supports Windows 95/98/Me and offers a bonus with the official benchmark score comparison site.
- Game developers urge Nvidia RTX 30 and 40 series owners rollback to December 2024 driver after recent RTX 50-centric release issues
➀ Nvidia RTX 40-series GPU owners are facing system stability issues with blue screen crashes and game-breaking bugs.
➁ Game developers are warning users against installing the latest 572.xx GeForce drivers due to performance and stability issues.
➂ Users are recommended to roll back to the older 566.36 driver from December 2024 for stability.
- World Backup Day: A reminder to protect against data loss
➀ Today marks World Backup Day, a day to remind everyone to regularly back up their important data to prevent data loss;
➁ The article highlights various storage deals available during the Amazon Big Spring Sale, including SSDs, HDDs, and portable storage options;
➂ It provides details on specific deals, such as the Samsung 990 Pro 4TB SSD and Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB HDD, along with their original and discounted prices.