JEDEC, the organization that develops standards for memory technologies, has revised its DDR5 memory specification under the new JESD79-5C standard. This update increases the maximum data transfer rate to 8800MT/s, up from the previous limit of 6400MT/s set in 2020. This adjustment aims to meet the evolving performance requirements of high-performance servers and technologies such as AI and machine learning. The JESD79-5C standard introduces significant enhancements in memory performance, reliability, and security.
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In the first quarter of 2024, Netflix reported a 54% increase in profits, reaching $5.28 per share, which exceeded Wall Street expectations of $4.51 per share. This significant rise in profits was largely attributed to the acquisition of 9.3 million new subscribers worldwide, following the implementation of strict measures to curb account sharing. This growth brought the total subscriber count to 269 million, marking a 16% increase. Despite these gains, Netflix announced that starting in 2025, it will cease to disclose the total number of subscribers, a move that has not been well received by shareholders. The company stated that it will instead focus on user engagement and developing new subscription models to diversify revenue streams, suggesting a strategic shift from emphasizing subscriber growth.
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The HP 732PK 31.5-inch monitor, featuring a 4K 60Hz IPS Black panel, is now available for purchase. Equipped with Thunderbolt 4, the monitor supports daisy-chaining a second 4K display and facilitates high-speed data transfers up to 40Gbps while providing up to 100W of power to connected laptops. It also includes a built-in KVM switch, enabling users to control multiple computers with a single set of peripherals, enhancing multitasking capabilities. The display has received VESADisplay HDR 400 certification and covers 98% of the Display P3 color gamut with a factory color calibration of ΔE
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Turtle Beach, a well-known player in the gaming accessory space, has recently decided to phase out the ROCCAT brand, which it acquired back in 2019 for $14.8 million. ROCCAT, a company primarily known for its PC gaming accessories such as keyboards, mice, and headsets, will now be integrated into Turtle Beach's existing product lineup. This decision marks a significant shift in Turtle Beach's strategy as it aims to consolidate its branding and improve the cohesion of its product range across various platforms, including consoles, PCs, and simulation technologies.
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DeepCool introduced the CH160 ITX Case, a compact PC case designed to facilitate portability without compromising on performance. This ITX case is engineered to support high-performance components within a small footprint, catering to PC enthusiasts who prioritize both efficiency and design. The CH160 ITX Case efficiently manages space by accommodating 140mm ATX power supplies and air coolers up to 172mm. It also supports 3-slot graphics processing units (GPUs) up to 305mm in length that can be directly installed onto the motherboard without needing a riser cable. This design is intended to maximize airflow and reduce latency, enhancing both performance and user experience.
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Yeah, you read it right, 540 Hz. AOC announced the launch of its new gaming monitor, the AGON Pro AG246FK, equipped with a 540Hz TN panel. The monitor, which is targeted at the international market, features a 24.1-inch display with a rapid GtG response time of 0.2ms and maintains a resolution of 1080p, catering to esports requirements.
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ASUS introduced its first split water-cooling product, the ROG RYUJIN III WB, on its official overseas website. This product, first revealed at CES 2024, features a split cold head known as the Longshen 3rd generation, which is designed using Asetek technology. The ROG RYUJIN III WB integrates 178 micro cooling fins and a compact copper alloy cold plate to enhance thermal conductivity and cooling efficiency. The design retains elements from the Dragon God 3rd generation integrated water cooler, including a high-speed VRM cooling fan. This fan operates at speeds up to 5100 RPM, with a maximum air pressure of 5.53 mmH2O and airflow of 21.08 CFM, contributing to a potential reduction in motherboard VRM temperatures by up to 35°C.
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ASUS announced the launch of the 39-inch curved gaming display, ROG Swift OLED PG39WCDM, featuring an Ultra-Wide Quad HD (UWQHD) resolution of 3440 x 1440 pixels. This display incorporates a high-speed OLED panel that delivers a response time of 0.03 milliseconds and a refresh rate of 240Hz. It adheres to VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black standards for superior dynamic range. The display is equipped with several technologies designed to enhance the gaming experience. It includes ASUS OLED Care to prevent screen burn-in, ROG Smart KVM for controlling two PCs with a single keyboard, mouse, and display setup, and facilitates file transfers between connected PCs. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync Compatibility, and AdaptiveSync, ensuring smooth, tear-free visuals across varying frame rates.
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The global PC market, according to Counterpoint Research, witnessed a 3% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2024. This growth follows eight consecutive quarters of decline, attributed to a slowdown in demand and adjustments in inventory levels. The growth in Q1 2024 was from a relatively low base established in Q1 2023. It is anticipated that the PC market will maintain this upward trajectory throughout 2024, culminating in a 3% year-on-year growth by the end of the year. This forecasted growth is primarily driven by the emerging market for AI PCs, a recovery in shipments across various sectors, and a new cycle of device replacements. In Q1 2024, Lenovo's PC shipments increased by 8%, helping the company to restore its market share to 24%, up from 23% in Q1 2023. Competitors HP and Dell reported stable market shares of 21% and 16%, respectively, with expectations of growth driven by the North American market in subsequent quarters. Apple also reported a modest 2% growth, largely supported by its M3 base models.
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Turtle Beach Corporation revealed a comprehensive line-up of gaming headsets, keyboards, and mice set to launch on May 19, 2024. The products, currently available for pre-order, feature enhancements that cater to both console and PC gamers. Cris Keirn, CEO of Turtle Beach, highlighted the forthcoming addition of advanced models to their popular Stealth 600 and new Stealth 500 headset series. These updates include lower latency wireless technology, extended battery life, and improved audio drivers. The Stealth 600 series, entering its third generation, will incorporate 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, enhanced 50 mm Nanoclear drivers, and a battery capable of up to 80 hours. This series will be available in configurations for Xbox and PlayStation, as well as a PC version, all priced at $99.99.
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ASUS has released BIOS updates for its AM5 X670, B650, and A620 series motherboards. Announced today, these updates provide compatibility with the upcoming AMD Ryzen processors, in addition to enhancing support for the existing Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors. The BIOS updates are essential for enabling these motherboards to fully support both current and future Ryzen processor models.
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Seagate recently addressed common misconceptions about its heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology in a blog post, clarifying that its reliability now matches that of traditional perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) hard drives. The company's statement follows extensive testing and optimization efforts to validate the durability and longevity of HAMR technology. According to Seagate, many people are misinformed about the readiness and dependability of HAMR technology. The company has demonstrated through rigorous testing that HAMR drives have a mean time between failures (MTBF) comparable to that of modern PMR drives.
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ASUS has introduced a BIOS update designed to address game stability issues observed in Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors. This update aims to rectify instabilities such as system crashes experienced during gameplay on various popular video games, including "Tekken 8," "Battlefield 2042," "Remnant 2," "Fortnite," "Lord of the Fallen," "Hogwarts Legacy," and "The Finals." These issues were noted even on systems with adequate memory and video memory, where players encountered error messages about insufficient memory. The stability problems have been linked to the BIOS settings, as well as the high clock frequencies and power consumption of Intel processors, which can lead to unexpected system behavior under heavy loads like gaming. In response to these challenges, motherboard manufacturers like ASUS and MSI, as well as PC builders such as Falcon Northwest, have developed solutions that mitigate these issues but may involve trade-offs.
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GALAX introduced the RTX 4060 LP half-height graphics card through its Japanese agent, Xuanren Zhizhi. The model designated as "GK-RTX4060-E8GB/WHITE/LP" features a compact half-height, dual-slot form factor with dimensions of 182 x 69 x 40 mm. This design incorporates a three-fan radiator, optimizing space utilization within smaller PC cases. The graphics card utilizes the AD107 GPU and is equipped with 3072 CUDA cores. It includes 8 GB of 128-bit GDDR6 memory, achieving a maximum boost frequency of 2475MHz and a memory frequency of 17 Gbps.
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Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is gearing up to launch its new mobile processor, the Strix Halo, which is a step up from its previous models, the Hawk Point and Phoenix. The Strix Halo is built using the latest Zen 5 architecture, which is based on a chiplet design, similar to what you might find in a high-performance desktop computer but optimized for mobile devices. The Strix Halo is designed to rival the performance of standalone graphics cards (GPUs) that are usually found in larger, less portable devices. 
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Microsoft has released a research study detailing VASA-1, an AI model designed to animate portrait photos by synchronizing them with audio files, enabling the images to "talk and sing" in a manner that appears realistic. The primary application of VASA-1 is aimed at the creation of virtual characters. The model excels in generating lip movements that align precisely with the accompanying audio. Moreover, it can depict a range of subtle facial expressions and natural head movements, enhancing the authenticity and liveliness of the animated portraits.
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Qualcomm has indicated that it will introduce its new Snapdragon X series processors on April 24th. The announcement, made through a teaser that features a laptop with a distinctive "X" emblem, suggests that Qualcomm may also launch the much-anticipated X Plus models during this event. However, there is no mention of the "Elite" series in the teaser, which could imply a broader range of product unveilings. The Snapdragon X series is designed with high-performance ARM-based CPU architecture intended for lightweight laptops. The X Elite variants are expected to have up to 12 cores, while the X Plus models could feature 10 cores. Both variants will support modern graphics APIs, including DirectX, and incorporate a highly capable AI processor capable of achieving up to 45 TOPs, positioning it as one of the fastest AI processors available.
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AI is the new marketing buzz word of the year, and Logitec wants a piece of the pie from that. Logitech's introduction of the AI button follows the debut of the Copilot key on Windows PC keyboards, which simplifies the use of Microsoft's AI assistant. The new feature on Logitech's mouse is supported by the Logi AI Prompt Builder application, enabling users to engage directly with the ChatGPT chatbot. This application allows users to execute predefined commands such as rephrasing text, summarizing content, or compressing text to specific word counts. Depending on the user’s subscription to ChatGPT, additional functionalities like email composition or image generation are also accessible.
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Keychron introduced the V3 Max mechanical keyboard as part of their customizable three-mode series. The V3 Max, offering a TKL (tenkeyless) layout, is designed to enhance typing efficiency and customization. The V3 Max is available in two configurations: a base model without switches and keycaps priced at approximately $60 USD, and a complete set equipped with custom switches and OSA PBT keycaps for approximately $79 USD. This model features a gasket structure with a polycarbonate (PC) positioning plate, enhanced by thick latex foam and a bottom sponge for improved typing comfort. It includes PCB-mounted stabilizers, multimedia controls, and south-facing RGB lighting effects.
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Kioxia has recently introduced the EXCERIA G2 SD memory card, an updated version of its mainstream EXCERIA SD model, now with added support for 4K video recording. This new memory card is designed to meet the demands of high-resolution video capture, ensuring compatibility and performance enhancements for users. The EXCERIA G2 operates under the UHS-I interface and is available in capacities ranging from 32GB to 1TB. It offers maximum read and write speeds of 100 MB/s and 50 MB/s, respectively. The card adheres to the UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) standards, making it suitable for continuous and detailed 4K video recording.
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