Anyone tried the new star wars game. So far its pretty fun! Does an excellent job of capturing the Star Wars scoundrel feeling. Minigames are fun also. Let me know what you guys think of it!

(PR) ViewSonic Launches Laser Projectors with Up to 8500 ANSI Lumens for Larger Venu

ViewSonic, a leading global provider of visual solutions, expands its Luminous Superior Series by launching high-brightness laser B2B projectors. With brightness levels reaching up to 8,500 ANSI Lumens, these projectors deliver exceptional visual experiences in large venues such as auditoriums, museums, and reception areas. By adding 6 new advanced models to the DLP technology lineup, ViewSonic offers the most comprehensive projector product line available, designed to meet the diverse needs of professional AV partners.

"ViewSonic has achieved twofold growth in the 5,000 to 5,999 ANSI Lumens segment globally, driven by the launch of new laser projectors. The company has surpassed last year's performance as demand for high-brightness projectors continues to rise," said Dean Tsai, General Manager of Projector & LED Display Business Unit at ViewSonic. "The enhancement of our B2B projectors allows us to offer a broader range of brightness levels, catering to both mainstream and professional needs. This series is designed with a user-centric approach, delivering superior visual quality and performance with higher cost-effectiveness while setting new standards for sustainability in professional visual technology. This not only strengthens ViewSonic's market position but also opens up new opportunities, further reinforcing our leadership in the global projector market." Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/326098/views...ger-venues

(PR) SK Hynix Develops Industry's First 1c (10nm-class) DDR5 Memory

SK hynix announced today that it has developed the industry's first 16 Gb DDR5 built using its 1c node, the sixth generation of the 10 nm process. The success marks the beginning of the extreme scaling to the level closer to 10 nm in the memory process technology. The degree of difficulty to advance the shrinking process of the 10 nm-range DRAM technology has grown over generations, but SK hynix has become the first in the industry to overcome the technological limitations by raising the level of completion in design, thanks to its industry-leading technology of the 1b, the fifth generation of the 10 nm process.

SK hynix said it will be ready for mass production of the 1c DDR5 within the year to start volume shipment next year. In order to reduce potential errors stemming from the procedure of advancing the process and transfer the advantage of the 1b, which is widely applauded for its best performing DRAM, in the most efficient way, the company extended the platform of the 1b DRAM for development of 1c. The new product comes with an improvement in cost competitiveness, compared with the previous generation, by adopting a new material in certain process of the extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, while optimizing the EUV application process of total. SK hynix also enhanced productivity by more than 30% through technological innovation in design. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/326051/sk-hy...dr5-memory

(PR) IBM Announces Telum II Processor and Spyre Accelerator for Next-Gen Mainframes

IBM (NYSE: IBM) revealed architecture details for the upcoming IBM Telum II Processor and IBM Spyre Accelerator at Hot Chips 2024. The new technologies are designed to significantly scale processing capacity across next generation IBM Z mainframe systems helping accelerate the use of traditional AI models and Large Language AI models in tandem through a new ensemble method of AI.

With many generative AI projects leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) moving from proof-of-concept to production, the demands for power-efficient, secured and scalable solutions have emerged as key priorities. Morgan Stanley research published in August projects generative AI's power demands will skyrocket 75% annually over the next several years, putting it on track to consume as much energy in 2026 as Spain did in 2022. Many IBM clients indicate architectural decisions to support appropriately sized foundation models and hybrid-by-design approaches for AI workloads are increasingly important. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/325964/ibm-a...mainframes

Sanctioned DeepCool Products Resurface on US Retailer Sites Under New Brand

Latest reports indicate that sanctioned Chinese PC hardware manufacturer DeepCool's products have appeared on major US online marketplaces under the brand "Shaking Tank," as revealed by YouTuber Greg Salazar on social media platform X. This comes two months after the US State Department sanctioned DeepCool for alleged business with Russian firms involved in the Ukraine conflict, barring US sales and imports of their products. Despite this, retailers like Amazon and Newegg list apparent DeepCool products under the Shaking Tank brand. These listings show product renders with the DeepCool logo blurred or removed. Fan hubs previously displaying the DeepCool emblem now show blank spaces, and product packaging has obscured identifying marks. Examples include the DeepCool AK620 and LS720 models, now advertised as ShakingTank AK620 and LS720.

The nature of this rebranding still needs to be clarified. While DeepCool adopting a new name to bypass sanctions would likely face severe legal consequences, more plausible explanations include a reseller rebranding remaining inventory or retailers clearing sanctioned stock. This situation questions trade sanctions' effectiveness and enforcement in the global marketplace, leaving consumers uncertain about DeepCool's future in the US market and potential impacts on international trade regulations.


https://www.techpowerup.com/325950/sanct...-new-brand

Intel Releases Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5972 WHQL

Intel has released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics Drivers. Version 101.5972 WHQL, rolled out on August 24th, 2024, focuses on game-ready optimizations to bring support for new games to Intel GPU users. The latest driver update provides day-one support for several highly anticipated titles, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beta, SMITE 2, Star Wars Outlaws, and Visions of Mana. For Intel Arc A-Series GPUs, known issues include intermittent flickering corruption in Doom Eternal (Vulkan) during gameplay and in the game menu, potential application crashes in Blender while rendering certain benchmark scenes, and possible errors in Topaz Video AI when exporting videos after using some models for video enhancements.

Users of Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs may experience application crashes in Enshrouded (Vulkan) during gameplay and in Diablo IV (DirectX 12) with ray tracing enabled. Other issues include color corruption in Horizon Forbidden West (DirectX 12), game crashes in Fortnite (DirectX 12) when performing Alt + Tab operations, system instability in SPECworkstation3.1 during certain workloads, missing texts in CATIA's quality toolbar with HQAO settings, and application crashes in Procyon AI while running benchmarks with precision float32. Intel Arc Control users should be aware that the Schedule Updates for Drivers feature may not work intermittently. Additionally, Arc Control Studio capture or stream may not stop consistently when using the stop option. As a workaround, users can use the Exit app option in Settings to stop the recording.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5972 WHQL Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/325932/intel...-5972-whql

(PR) AV Access Unveils iDock C20 KVM Switch Docking Station

AV Access, a leading provider of Pro AV and AV over IP solutions, proudly announces the debut of the iDock C20 KVM switch docking station, the latest gem in its innovative iDock series. This cutting-edge device merges a dual monitor USB-C KVM switch with a versatile 12-in-1 docking station, empowering users to manage two laptops, dual monitors, and various peripherals seamlessly, amplifying efficiency in home office, learning, and gaming setups.

"Today's dynamic work landscape demands versatility, especially for professionals working from home, like graphic designers, programmers, and avid gamers. The iDock C20 4K KVM switch caters precisely to their multifaceted needs. It simplifies home office setup, streamlines desk space, reduces clutter, and substantially boosts productivity," explained Bill Liao, CTO of AV Access. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/325870/av-ac...ng-station

AMD Works with Microsoft to Improve Zen 3 thru Zen 5 Performance in Windows 11 24H2

AMD Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" desktop processors have been out for a couple of weeks now, and the "Zen 5" based processors have fallen short of gaming performance expectations, set mainly by some of the numbers AMD put out in its Computex 2024 reveal for the processors. The consensus among the tech press is that these processors are roughly 3-5% faster than Ryzen 7000 series "Raphael," but with noteworthy improvements in energy efficiency. AMD set out to study why there are such vast deltas in performance between its numbers and those of reviews, and arrived a few possible explanations. The company also stated that it is working with Microsoft to fix this in the next major update to Windows 11.

One of them is that AMD's testing was done on Windows 11 23H2 with Admin mode (i.e. a local system administrator account was used), while some reviewers tested with a regular user account that has some admin privileges. Apparently this affects the way the branch prediction units of "Zen 5" processors work. "Our automated test methodology was run in "Admin" mode which produced results that reflect branch prediction code optimizations not present in the version of Windows reviewers used to test Ryzen 9000 Series," AMD said in a statement. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/325829/amd-w...ws-11-24h2

ASUS Prepares Limited Edition Radeon RX 7900 XTX "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 E

ASUS has introduced a new limited edition graphics card: the Radeon RX 7900 XTX Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 Edition. The company will produce only 20 units of this specially designed card, making it one of the rarest graphics cards on the market. The new card is based on the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, which uses AMD's RDNA 3 architecture. It maintains the same technical specifications as the standard model, including its gaming capabilities. The primary difference lies in its aesthetic design, which features artwork and elements inspired by the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, specifically referencing the Space Marines from the upcoming game Space Marine 2. ASUS developed this product in partnership with the developers of Space Marine 2. Each card will be individually numbered, potentially increasing its value for collectors. Despite its unique appearance, the card is expected to perform similarly to the standard RX 7900 XTX in terms of gaming performance.

Distribution of these graphics cards will not occur through typical retail channels. Instead, ASUS plans to organize a giveaway contest on August 23. The company has yet to release full details about how interested parties can enter the contest, and that information will be available through their official communication channels shortly. While the card offers no performance improvements over the standard model, its scarcity and unique design may appeal to enthusiasts of both computer hardware and the Warhammer franchise. Potential contestants should note that, as with any limited edition product, demand is likely to far exceed the available supply. ASUS has not indicated whether similar collaborations or limited editions might be planned for the future.


https://www.techpowerup.com/325799/asus-...-available

Intel Core Ultra 200 "Arrow Lake-S" Lineup and Clock Speeds Revealed

Intel is preparing at least twelve Core Ultra 200-series "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processor SKUs for the consumer segment, with more variants possible for the commercial desktop segment in the future. Q4 2024 could see the company debut its first SKUs targeting the PC enthusiast and gamer crowd with as many as five unlocked K or KF series SKUs. These, and finer details such as clock speeds, were revealed in a massive info dump by Jaykihn, a reliable source with Intel leaks. Intel is expected to debut the series later this year with the Core Ultra 9 285K, the Core Ultra 7 265K and 265KF; and the Core Ultra 5 245K and 245KF. The company is skipping a KF SKU for its top Core Ultra 9 part.

As has been consistent for several past generations of Intel processors, the top Core Ultra 9 (formerly Core i9) tier gets Thermal Velocity Boost, Turbo Boost Max 3.0, and classic Turbo Boost 2.0. The 285K maxes out the "Arrow Lake-S" B0 silicon, enabling all 8 "Lion Cove" P-cores, and all 16 "Skymont" E-cores. It comes with a P-core base frequency of 3.70 GHz, and an impressive 3.20 GHz E-core base frequency. The maximum P-core boost frequency achievable for up to two cores is 5.70 GHz, and 3-6 as well as 7-8 cores boost up to 5.40 GHz, making it the all-P-core boost frequency for this chip. The four E-core clusters are assured an all-E-core boost frequency of 4.60 GHz. The iGPU has 64 execution units, and ticks at up to 2.00 GHz. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/325706/intel...s-revealed