TechPowerup News
The latest Hardware and Gaming News
-
Chinese Firms Equip GeForce RTX 5090D with Blower-Type Coolers for AI Workstations
Chinese hardware enthusiasts and AI researchers are rolling out custom versions of NVIDIA's latest flagship GPU, the GeForce RTX 5090D "Blackwell" variant for China. Originally intended as a special model that complies with US export regulations, the RTX 5090D is proving to be an excellent choice for smaller AI labs. Building on the trend set by specialist firms modifying the RTX 3090 and RTX 4090, these teams have taken the GB202 chip and mounted it on new PCBs with blower‑style coolers better suited to AI server racks than gaming rigs. Instead of large fans and complex heatsinks, each card uses a dual‑slot blower design that pushes hot air straight out the back of the chassis.
The power connector has also been moved to the rear bracket, making it easier to stack cards in clusters without cables getting in the way. Each unit still packs 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, although the maximum power draw remains unconfirmed. While previous "D" series cards topped out around 450 W, with Blackwell, this figure might approach 575 W, similar to the regular RTX 5090. This blower cooler could be undersized for a near‑600 W TDP, but with undervolting and underclocking, it may operate with stability over long workloads. Given that Chinese AI labs are struggling to acquire enough GPU capacity, some smaller labs and university researchers are possibly far away from getting enough compute resources for their work. So, repackaging these GPUs into workstation bodies is the only choice to get some acceleration in the hands of the masses.
-
Sapphire Prepares PULSE A620AM WIFI MicroATX Motherboards
Sapphire Technology has given a sneak peek of its new PULSE A620AM WIFI motherboard. This board uses the AMD A620A chipset, comes in an microATX size, and has two slots for DDR5 memory. The PULSE A620AM WIFI boasts a 6+2+1 phase power system, with an aluminium heatsink that covers the VRM left-side area. Sapphire's tests show that the board "keeps steady and runs at consistent speeds when using high-end processors like the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 9800X3D at full load."
For extras, this board lets you overclock DDR5 memory up to 7200 MT/s, has one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, comes with two M.2 storage spots, and includes built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 support. On the back of the Sapphire PULSE A620AM WIFI board, you'll find one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, four USB 2.0 ports, one PS/2 port for keyboard and mouse, two USB-A ports, one RJ45 Ethernet port, two Wi-Fi antenna plugs, and three audio jacks. IT Home reports that the board "will hit online stores starting April 21" at what they call a "budget-friendly price". Judging from the aesthetics and features, Sapphire PULSE A620AM WIFI motherboards are oriented toward users on a tight budget. Until the official release, we just have to wait and see Sapphire's vision of a "budget-friendly price".
-
Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro is Only $15 Right Now
In October of 2025, Microsoft will phase out support for Windows 10. For many users, it's free to upgrade, but the baseline version of Windows 11 is limited in what it can do. If you want a more advanced OS with improved security, a refined user interface, and even improvements for gaming, try Windows 11 Pro. Windows 11 Pro extends beyond the standard Windows 11 feature set, giving you advanced capabilities tailored to professional workloads. BitLocker device encryption, Hyper-V virtualization, and Windows Sandbox now come pre-loaded for secure data management and isolated testing environments.
Snap layouts and virtual desktops streamline multitasking. TPM 2.0 and Smart App Control bolster security with hardware and software-level protection. DirectX 12 Ultimate also improves GPU performance for graphics-intensive tasks like art or even gaming.
It would normally cost $199 to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, but during this limited-time sale, it's only $14.97. No coupon needed.
