Recent #Microsoft news in the semiconductor industry

11 months ago

➀ Microsoft's Cobalt 100 Arm CPUs are now generally available in Azure cloud;

➁ The processors power three instance types: Dpsv6, Dplsv6, and Epsv6;

➂ Dpsv6 and Dplsv6 are for general-purpose computing, while Epsv6 is for memory-optimized workloads;

➃ Performance improvements over previous generations of Azure Arm-based VMs are noted;

➄ The VMs are available in various regions and are expected to expand to more locations in 2024.

Microsoft
11 months ago
➀ Microsoft Azure's CTO suggests that the distribution of AI training is necessary as datacenters reach power grid limits; ➁ The rapid expansion of generative AI models requires more powerful hardware, pushing the limits of current datacenter infrastructure; ➂ Microsoft is investing in energy infrastructure and considering connecting multiple datacenters for advanced AI model training.
AIMicrosoft
11 months ago
➀ Microsoft showcased its newest NVIDIA GB200 systems, highlighting the significant cooling requirements for these systems. The cooling solution, a large coolant distribution unit (CDU), occupies twice as much space as the GB200 compute rack. ➁ The systems are part of Microsoft Azure's next-gen NVIDIA training and inferencing platform, emphasizing the company's commitment to advanced AI models. ➂ The design of the cooling system is notably open, in contrast to other secretive organizations, showcasing Microsoft's confidence in its innovation.
CoolingMicrosoftNVIDIA
11 months ago
➀ Microsoft has begun a phased rollout of Windows 11 2024 update, known as 24H2, aiming to introduce new foundational elements for AI experiences; ➁ The update includes several notable upgrades such as improved search, Wi-Fi 7 support, and a streamlined File Explorer; ➂ The update also brings new features like Recall, Energy Saver, and enhancements to the Microsoft Store.
MicrosoftUpdateWindows 11
11 months ago
➀ Microsoft has been struggling with its Xbox strategy, changing short and medium-term plans frequently; ➁ An insider claims that Xbox's plan changes every year, with inconsistent messaging on new projects like a handheld console; ➂ Microsoft's recent industry moves, such as acquiring Activision-Blizzard and studio closures, have been met with uncertainty and changes in direction.
ConsoleMicrosoftSoftware & Gaming
12 months ago
➀ Microsoft has added four new titles to Xbox Game Pass, announced at Tokyo Game Show; ➁ The games include 'All You Need is Help', 'Legend of Mana', 'Trials of Mana', and 'We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie'; ➂ 'We Love Katamari' is the only title available on Game Pass Standard, while the others require PC or Ultimate subscriptions.
MicrosoftXboxXbox Game Pass
about 1 year ago
1. Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 as the most used operating system among gamers on Steam, with a 50.81% share in August 2024. 2. The popularity of the game 'Black Myth: Wukong' may have influenced the survey results, especially in China. 3. NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3060 remains the most widely-used graphics card among Steam gamers, while the mobile GeForce RTX 4060 has risen to the second spot.
MicrosoftSTEAMgaming
about 1 year ago
1. Funcom's Chief Product Officer, Scott Junior, stated that it is challenging to run Dune Awakening on Xbox Series S due to its lower powered hardware. 2. The game is initially launching on PC, with plans for Xbox release pending further optimizations. 3. This issue adds to concerns about the Xbox Series S's capability to handle demanding games, following similar challenges with Baldur's Gate 3.
Dune AwakeningMicrosoftXbox
about 1 year ago
➀ Microsoft unveiled its first custom AI accelerator, Maia 100, designed for large-scale AI workloads on Azure, featuring a 5nm process and COWOS-S technology. ➁ The chip integrates large on-chip SRAM and four HBM2E chips, offering 1.8TB/s bandwidth and 64GB memory. ➂ Maia 100 supports up to 700W TDP, optimized for high performance and efficient power management. ➃ The accelerator includes advanced tensor units and vector processors, enhancing AI computation efficiency. ➄ A comprehensive SDK is provided for seamless integration with Azure OpenAI services, supporting PyTorch and other development tools.
5nm TechnologyMicrosoftai accelerator