TechPowerUP NEWS

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Samsung Electronics today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company posted KRW 71.92 trillion in consolidated revenue on the back of strong sales of flagship Galaxy S24 smartphones and higher prices for memory semiconductors. Operating profit increased to KRW 6.61 trillion as the Memory Business returned to profit by addressing demand for high value-added products. The Mobile eXperience (MX) Business posted higher earnings and the Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses also recorded increased profitability.

The weakness of the Korean won against major currencies resulted in a positive impact on company-wide operating profit of about KRW 0.3 trillion compared to the previous quarter. The Company's total capital expenditures in the first quarter stood at KRW 11.3 trillion, including KRW 9.7 trillion for the Device Solutions (DS) Division and KRW 1.1 trillion on Samsung Display Corporation (SDC). Spending on memory was focused on facilities and packaging technologies to address demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), DDR5 and other advanced products, while foundry investments were concentrated on establishing infrastructure to meet medium- to long-term demand. Display investments were mainly made in IT OLED products and flexible display technologies.
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QNAP Systems, Inc. (QNAP) today released the upgraded Security Center with the new feature "Unusual File Activity Monitoring", which has been designed for QNAP NAS as a tool for system risk assessment and protection center. Security Center proactively scans, monitors and analyzes NAS status, file activity, potential security threats while also offering instant protective measures against attacks. Security Center also integrates virus scanning and malware removal software to ensure the complete protection of the NAS to reduce the risk of data loss.

"QNAP have developed active protection measures for robust security checks and data protection of NAS" said Jimmy Tan, product manager of QNAP, adding "Security Center supports the new feature 'Unusual File Activity Monitoring' which takes a proactive approach to monitor unusual file activities on NAS and provides instant security measures against potential or confirmed security threats to ensure users precious data. We welcome all QNAP users to join the beta test of Unusual File Activity Monitoring feature and provide feedback to help us continually develop and improve our solutions with better user experiences."
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Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS), a premier chip and silicon IP provider making data faster and safer, today announced the availability of its new family of state-of-the-art DDR5 server Power Management ICs (PMICs), including an industry-leading extreme current device for high-performance applications. With this new family of server PMICs, Rambus offers module manufacturers a complete DDR5 RDIMM memory interface chipset supporting a broad range of data center use cases.

"Advanced data center workloads like generative AI require the highest bandwidth and capacity server RDIMMs tailored to meet ever-increasing memory needs of a growing data pipeline," said Sean Fan, chief operating officer at Rambus. "With the addition of this new family of server PMICs, we expand our foundational technology and offer customers a comprehensive memory interface chipset that supports multiple DDR5 server platform generations."
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Cooler Master, a leading provider of PC components, gaming peripherals, and tech lifestyle solutions, today announced the launch of their latest update in gaming comfort: the CALIBER X2C and CALIBER R3C chairs, part of the refreshed COOL-IN Series. Designed for gamers who demand style and substance, these chairs promise to keep you cool under pressure while delivering unmatched comfort.
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[NextPowerUP]

MINISFORUM also listed its new Mini PC - NAB9 on Amazon, featuring an i9-12900HK processor and dual 2.5G Ethernet ports. The 32 GB + 1 TB version is priced at $599, with a first-order coupon of $96, bringing the final price down to $503. MINISFORUM NAB9 utilizes the same mold as the NAB7, but upgrades to the flagship Intel Core i9-12900HK processor, with 14 cores and 20 threads, a 24 MB cache, a base frequency of 3.80 GHz, and a maximum turbo frequency of up to 5.00 GHz. With a TDP of 45 W, it integrates Iris Xe graphics with 96 EUs, significantly enhancing graphic performance.

Furthermore, the NAB9 supports AV1 decoding and video editing acceleration, ensuring users experience faster and smoother operations, whether watching high-definition videos, editing photos, or engaging in design and creative work. With a volume of just 0.9 liters, the NAB9 is 1/40th the size of traditional PCs. Its easy-to-disassemble design allows users to quickly access and replace memory and SSD. The new active SSD cooling design, coupled with side ventilation openings, effectively dissipates heat from the memory and SSD.
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[NextPowerUP]

The MINISFORUM NAB6 Lite utilizes the same mold as the NAB6, with a CPU that is an Intel Core i5-12500H processor, boasting 12 cores and 16 threads, an 18 MB cache, and a maximum turbo frequency of up to 4.50 GHz. With a TDP of 45 W, it integrates Iris Xe graphics, offering strong graphic performance suitable for everyday office work and multimedia entertainment.

With a volume of only 0.9 liters, the NAB6 Lite is 1/40th the size of a traditional PC. Its body features an easy-to-disassemble design; simply press the cover plate to pop it open, allowing users to conveniently replace memory and SSD. Additionally, it introduces a new active SSD cooling design plus side ventilation openings to address the accumulation of heat in memory and hard drives, enabling more effective cooling for both memory and SSD.
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[NextPowerUP]

To enhance user experience, Microsoft has rolled out a significant update to the web version of its Microsoft Store, simplifying the process of downloading and installing applications. This move aims to minimize the number of steps required, making it more convenient for users to access their desired apps. Previously, the process of installing apps from the Microsoft Store website involved multiple steps, including navigating through deep-linked dialogues and mini-window popups before the actual download could commence. While this approach was implemented as a security measure to prevent malicious scripts from executing, it was deemed cumbersome by many users. With the introduction of the "undocked version" of the Microsoft Store, the app installation process has been streamlined. Users can now download an app for their Windows system with just two clicks.

The first click initiates the download of the app package, and the second click launches the application itself. Early feedback from testers and developers has been overwhelmingly positive, with reports indicating a 12% increase in app installations and a remarkable 54% surge in the number of applications launched after installation. This update not only improves the user experience but also holds the potential to boost app adoption and engagement on the Microsoft Store platform. While not all apps currently support this new lightweight installation process, with some still directing users to the dedicated Windows app or requiring additional downloads during installation, Microsoft is committed to expanding the availability of this feature across its app catalog. This update underscores Microsoft's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and user-friendliness of its services.

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[NextPowerUP]

MONTECH, a PC components and peripherals provider, announces an extreme version of the popular SKY TWO with an airflow-focused E-ATX case - the SKY TWO GX. The case supports up to 11 fans (3 pre-installed AX140 PWM ARGB) and the top clearance is increased to accommodate 66 mm radiator thickness and has 25 mm space for cable management. The SKY TWO features a 51% porosity mesh design on its front, top panel, and side of the PSU chamber. Support has been improved for high-end components, making this an extreme performance case starting at only US $89.

MONTECH has refined the GX edition to achieve enhancements based on insights from the original SKY TWO users. The height at the top has been increased by 10 mm, which allows it to accommodate radiators with a thickness of 66 mm. A 5 mm increase on the backside of the case for cable management, expanding the spacing to 25 mm. The glass panel has been improved with a beautifully designed handle and hinge for easy swivel access. The lower-side mesh panel is also available for quick access to the bottom chamber.
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[NextPowerUP]

SPARKLE is announcing SPARKLE Intel Arc A770/A750 ROC Series, comes with the very first white card of SPAKRLE, "Luna Edition", and a standard black card. As the new flagship series of SPARKLE, ROC stands for the enormous legendary bird of prey and represents the power and the precision, which is the brand-new BEST choice of the A770 / A750, provides high performance and myriad of productivity without anything getting in the way.

ROC series equipped dual 100 mm double-ball bearing fan with 2.5-slot heatsink design, reduce the length of card effetely and ready to fit into the compact system. Furthermore, 100 mm DBB fans have brought the higher efficiency of cooling, lead to an ultra-silence experience without compromising performance. A blue breathing light of Intel Arc on the side of the card is bringing classic and style to your gaming setup.
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[NextPowerUP]

A few batches of GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards are based on the 5 nm "AD103" silicon, a significantly larger chip than the "AD104" that powers the original RTX 4070. A reader has reached out to us with a curiously named MSI RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E 12 GB OC graphics card, saying that TechPowerUp GPU-Z wasn't able to detect it correctly. When we took a closer look at their GPU-Z submission data, we found that the card was based on the larger "AD103" silicon, looking at its device ID. Interestingly, current NVIDIA drivers, such as the 552.22 WHQL used here, are able to seamlessly present the card to the user as an RTX 4070. We dug through older versions of GeForce drivers, and found that the oldest driver to support this card is 551.86, which NVIDIA released in early-March 2024.

The original GeForce RTX 4070 was created by NVIDIA by enabling 46 out of 60 streaming multiprocessors (SM), or a little over 76% of the available shaders. To create an RTX 4070 out of an "AD103," NVIDIA would have to enable 46 out of 80, or just 57% of the available shaders, and just 36 MB out of the 64 MB available on-die L2 cache. The company would also have to narrow the memory bus down to 192-bit from the available 256-bit, to drive the 12 GB of memory. The PCB footprint, pin-map, and package size of both the "AD103" and "AD104" are similar, so board partners are able to seamlessly integrate the chip with their existing AD104-based RTX 4070 board designs. End-users would probably not even notice the change until they fire up diagnostic utilities and find them surprised.
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[NextPowerUP]

MSI, a leading brand in gaming, content creation, and business and productivity laptops, is proud to announce that its gaming handheld, Claw, has achieved a significant boost in gaming performance, with an increase of up to 150% through new BIOS and GPU drivers. Moreover, the updated BIOS and GPU drivers enable the Claw to smoothly play the top 100 popular games on the Steam platform, providing an excellent mobile gaming experience.

The new E1T41IMS.106 BIOS (referred to as 106) and 31.0.101.5445 GPU driver (referred to as 5445) for the MSI Claw have significantly enhanced gaming performance according to internal tests. For instance, the performance of the well-known open-world horror game "7 Days to Die" increased by up to 150%. Other popular games such as "Monster Hunter World" and "Cyberpunk 2077" also saw performance improvements of over 50% with the new BIOS and GPU drivers, providing a smoother gaming experience.
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[NextPowerUP]

A couple of weeks ago, we reported on NVIDIA directing users of Intel's 13th Generation Raptor Lake and 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs to consult Intel for any issues with system stability. Motherboard makers, by default, often run the CPU outside of Intel's recommended specifications, overvolting the CPU through modifying voltage curves, automatic overclocks, and removing power limits.

Today, we learned that Igor's Lab has obtained a statement from Intel that the company prepared for motherboard OEMs regarding the issues multiple users report. Intel CPUs come pre-programmed with a stock voltage curve. When motherboard makers remove power limits and automatically adjust voltage curves and frequency targets, the CPU can be pushed outside its safe operating range, possibly causing system instability. Intel has set up a dedicated website for users to report their issues and offer support. Manufacturers like GIGABYTE have already issued new BIOS updates for users to achieve maximum stability, which incidentally has recent user reports of still being outside Intel spec, setting PL2 to 188 W, loadlines to 1.7/1.7 and current limit to 249 A. While MSI provided a blog post tutorial for stability. ASUS has published updated BIOS for its motherboards to reflect on this Intel baseline spec as well. Surprisingly, not all the revised BIOS values match up with the Intel Baseline Profile spec for these various new BIOS updates from different vendors. You can read the statement from Intel in the quote below.
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[NextPowerUP]

As we go from April to May, we have something of a void of new game releases, with the biggest release being a game that puts you in charge of a factory. As for the rest of this coming week's releases, you can look forward to doing some farming, working as a detective, cosplaying as an alien, working in a lab and finishing the week in office with a party royale.

Foundry / This week's major release / Thursday 2 May / Early Access
Foundry is a first-person (first-robot?) factory builder with complete creative freedom set in a procedurally generated and infinite voxel world. Land on an unexplored planet and design a giant automated robot production facility under the watchful direction of your AI friend, Carl. Steam Link
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GeForce NOW brings 24 new games for members this month. Ninja Theory's highly anticipated Senua's Saga: Hellblade II will be coming to the cloud soon - get ready by streaming the first in the series, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, part of the seven new games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. Plus, game across more devices than ever as GeForce NOW adds improved support on Steam Deck this GFN Thursday.

Journey into Viking Hell
Experience exceptional storytelling in Ninja Theory's award-winning game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, available to stream from the cloud this week. Set in a dark fantasy world inspired by Norse mythology and Celtic culture, the game follows the journey of Senua, a Pict warrior. Her quest is to reach Helheim, the realm of the dead, to rescue her deceased lover's soul from the goddess Hela. Solve intricate puzzles with observation, engage in melee combat and get pulled deep into Senua's mind as she grapples with inner demons. Journey through the hauntingly beautiful landscapes of Helheim with ray tracing and high-dynamic range using an Ultimate or Priority membership for the most immersive and stunning visual fidelity.
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Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NasdaqGS: SIMO) ("Silicon Motion", the "Company" or "we") today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. For the first quarter of 2024, net sales (GAAP) decreased sequentially to $189.3 million from $202.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income (GAAP) decreased to $16.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted American Depositary Share of the Company ("ADS") (GAAP), from net income (GAAP) of $21.1 million, or $0.63 per diluted ADS (GAAP), in the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the first quarter of 2024, net income (non-GAAP) decreased to $21.6 million, or $0.64 per diluted ADS (non-GAAP), from net income (non-GAAP) of $31.3 million, or $0.93 per diluted ADS (non-GAAP), in the fourth quarter of 2023. All financial numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
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