Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Shmøergh Hog: A Two-Year Journey Building a Simple Analog Synth

2025-01-03

The Shmøergh Hog is a meticulously crafted analog synthesizer, a weekend project spanning two years, built by two designers from tech companies. Designed for simplicity and ease of use, it employs a classic subtractive synthesis architecture. The authors detail their journey from initial concept and circuit simulation through PCB manufacturing and custom stainless steel enclosure creation. While mass production isn't the goal, they hope to share this unique instrument with fellow music enthusiasts. The build guide is open source.

(www.peterzimon.com)

Hardware analog synthesizer electronic music

Alder Lake SHLX Instruction Anomaly: A 3x Performance Mystery

2025-01-02

Blogger Tavian Barnes uncovered a strange performance quirk in Intel's Alder Lake processors concerning the SHLX instruction. Under certain conditions, this instruction runs significantly slower—three times slower than expected. Benchmarking revealed that initializing the shift count register using a 64-bit immediate value causes the slowdown, while 32-bit instructions or other initialization methods do not. This discrepancy is puzzling since SHLX only uses the lower 6 bits of the shift count register. The root cause remains a mystery, but this finding highlights a potential optimization oversight in the Alder Lake microarchitecture.

(tavianator.com)

Hardware instruction latency

XiangShan: An Open-Source High-Performance RISC-V Processor

2025-01-02

XiangShan is an open-source, high-performance RISC-V processor project jointly developed by the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Peng Cheng Laboratory. Multiple stable versions have been released, along with comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and micro-architecture overviews. The latest Kunminghu version is under development and supports various simulation tools and IDEs. XiangShan aims to advance RISC-V processor technology, employing an agile development methodology, and its work has been published in peer-reviewed papers, receiving international recognition.

(github.com)

Hardware Open-Source Processor

Asus, Samsung, and MSI Announce World's First 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz Monitors

2025-01-02

Asus, Samsung, and MSI have jointly unveiled the world's first 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz gaming monitors. All three utilize Samsung Display's fourth-generation QD-OLED panel, promising a longer lifespan and leveraging DisplayPort 2.1a for 4K 240Hz refresh rates without Display Stream Compression (DSC). While largely similar in specs, minor differences exist in size (Asus' is 26.5-inches), HDR support (Asus includes Dolby Vision), and warranty details. Release dates and pricing remain unannounced, but the combination of high refresh rate, high resolution, and OLED technology positions these monitors as top-tier gaming displays.

(www.theverge.com)

Hardware OLED monitor gaming monitor

Powering Up and Disassembling a Rohde & Schwarz SKTU BN 4151/2/5 Noise Generator

2025-01-02

A video on MakerTube PeerTube demonstrates powering up and disassembling a Rohde & Schwarz SKTU BN 4151/2/5 noise generator. JavaScript is required to view the video. If JavaScript is disabled, users need to enable it, use a third-party application, or review the source code on GitHub or Framasoft's GitLab. The video also notes that PeerTube may be incompatible with some browsers; Mozilla Firefox's latest version is recommended.

(makertube.net)

Hardware Rohde & Schwarz Noise Generator

SignalSDR Pro: A Raspberry Pi-Sized High-Performance Software-Defined Radio

2025-01-02

Signalens is launching the SignalSDR Pro, a high-performance software-defined radio (SDR) with a Raspberry Pi-like form factor. Based on the Analog Devices AD9361 transceiver and AMD Zynq 7020 FPGA, it boasts a 70MHz to 6GHz frequency range and features Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 connectivity. A 40-pin GPIO header allows for external hardware integration, and compatibility with other SDR platforms like ADALM-PLUTO and USRP B210 is achieved through simple jumper changes and microSD card swaps. The package includes a metal enclosure for passive cooling, multiple antennas (including GPS), cables, and SIM cards.

(www.hackster.io)

Hardware Software Defined Radio

The Beeper: A DIY Solution to Combat Prolonged Sitting

2025-01-01

Tired of the aches and pains from prolonged sitting at the computer? This post details a clever DIY device, "The Beeper," built to combat this. The Beeper consists of an ESP8266 microcontroller, a buzzer, and a simple switch housed in a small enclosure. After a set period of inactivity (screen unlocked), the Beeper emits an annoying sound, forcing the user to get up and silence it. The author provides details on the hardware, Lua firmware, and a macOS script that controls the device, highlighting iterative improvements to minimize interruptions during video calls. A simple yet effective solution to a common problem!

(blog.jacobvosmaer.nl)

Hardware Ergonomics

Reverse Engineering the Duco Connectivity Board: Home Assistant Integration Achieved

2024-12-31

Frustrated with the limited control options of his DucoBox ventilation system (only four modes via a simple button), the author decided to reverse engineer the official, expensive Duco Connectivity Board, which is essentially an ESP32. Using a logic analyzer and information from Duco's website, the author analyzed the communication protocol between the board and the ventilation system. It turned out not to be Modbus, but a custom protocol. After decoding the protocol, the author created an ESPhome component, enabling seamless integration with Home Assistant. This significantly enhances control and allows for reading CO2 sensor data and other information.

(github.com)

Hardware

Reverse Engineering the TI SimpleLink RF MCU Black Box

2024-12-30

Despite the popularity of low-cost RF microcontrollers, their internal RF hardware workings remain largely undocumented. This talk delves into the Texas Instruments SimpleLink family of BLE and Sub-GHz RF MCUs. While the reference manual is comprehensive, the radio section is surprisingly sparse. The presenters reverse-engineered the SimpleLink MCU's RF subsystem, explaining its operation from stack to antenna. They also reverse-engineered TI's proprietary RF patch format and investigated the hidden DSP modem cores, potentially opening the door for a cheap single-chip SDR.

(media.ccc.de)

Hardware RF microcontroller

PolyDye: Full-Color 3D Printing Mod for Marlin Printers

2024-12-30

PolyDye is an open-source project that brings vibrant, full-color printing to Marlin-based 3D printers by integrating inkjet technology. It applies ink layers between white filament layers, controlled precisely by an ESP32-S3. Currently in beta, this exciting mod is constantly evolving and adding features.

(github.com)

Hardware full-color printing

Open-Source 8-Bit DIY Computer, Cody Computer, Released

2024-12-30

The Cody Computer is an 8-bit home computer designed as a DIY project, inspired by (but not compatible with) the Commodore computers of the 1980s. Built around the Western Design Center's 65C02 and 65C22 and the Parallax Propeller microcontroller, it features 3D-printed components, a custom keyboard, and supports both Cody BASIC and assembly language programming. Offering retro-style graphics and sound, the Cody Computer's design files and software are released under the GPLv3 license. Detailed project information is available in the freely downloadable 'Cody Computer Book'. This project aims to provide a simple, fun, and educational DIY computing experience.

(www.codycomputer.org)

Hardware DIY computer

Are PC Hardware Companies Creating Closed Ecosystems?

2024-12-29

A veteran computer hardware engineer observes a concerning trend: PC hardware manufacturers are increasingly restricting user access and control. Dell, for example, has removed the ability to change storage configurations in the BIOS of some laptops and doesn't provide necessary RST drivers on its website, preventing clean OS installations from media. Users are forced to use pre-installed systems or manufacturer recovery tools containing bloatware and data collection. This mirrors Apple's MacOS approach of limiting non-approved software, potentially leading to extremely limited consumer choices in the future.

(www.scottrlarson.com)

Hardware PC hardware closed ecosystem user control

Intel's Pentium FDIV Bug: A $475 Million Mistake

2024-12-28

In 1993, Intel launched the high-performance Pentium processor. A year later, a flaw in its floating-point division algorithm was discovered, causing incorrect results in rare cases. Initially dismissed by Intel, the bug—dubbed the FDIV bug—quickly gained media attention. The error stemmed from 16 missing entries in the processor's lookup table, with 5 entries directly causing incorrect calculations. Intel ultimately recalled and replaced all affected chips at a cost of $475 million. This article delves into the Pentium's division algorithm, pinpoints the bug's location on the chip, and explains the underlying mathematical error that led to this costly mistake.

(www.righto.com)

Hardware Pentium Hardware error

Ars Technica's Guide to Mechanical Keyboards: A Clickety-Clack Adventure

2024-12-28

Confused about buying a mechanical keyboard? Ars Technica's comprehensive guide navigates the complexities. Learn about keyboard sizes (full-size, TKL, 60%, etc.), switch types (linear, tactile, clicky), keycap materials (ABS, PBT), backlighting options, and advanced features like N-key rollover and macro support. The guide clarifies each element with illustrations and examples, catering to both beginners and enthusiasts seeking their perfect keyboard.

(arstechnica.com)

Hardware mechanical keyboards keyboard buying guide mechanical switches

Bizarre PCIe Issue with 4TB Crucial T500 NVMe SSD

2024-12-28

A user encountered a strange problem with a 4TB Crucial T500 NVMe SSD on an MSI PRO X670-P WIFI motherboard: the SSD works flawlessly after each boot but becomes undetectable after shutdown, requiring a physical reseat. Investigations ruled out the SSD and CPU, pointing to a motherboard design flaw. Residual voltage remains after shutdown, causing the SSD controller to malfunction. Disconnecting the HDMI cable resolved the issue, suggesting a power delivery design or BIOS problem on the motherboard.

(forum.level1techs.com)

Hardware Motherboard Issue

38C3 Conference: Reverse Engineering the ESP32's Wi-Fi Stack to Unlock its Potential

2024-12-28

At the 38C3 conference, Frostie314159 and Jasper Devreker presented a talk on reverse engineering the ESP32's Wi-Fi stack. By reverse engineering the closed-source Wi-Fi stack, they built an open-source alternative, unlocking the full potential of the ESP32. This allows the ESP32 to be used as a penetration testing tool, a B.A.T.M.A.N. mesh router, an AirDrop client, and more. The project highlights the versatility of the ESP32 and provides valuable experience for similar reverse engineering endeavors.

(media.ccc.de)

Hardware Open Source Wi-Fi

Reverse Engineering Elgato's Stream Deck Plus: Breaking Free from Proprietary Software

2024-12-26

Den Delimarsky successfully reverse-engineered the Elgato Stream Deck Plus and shared the detailed process. Using tools like Wireshark, he captured and analyzed the USB communication between the Stream Deck Plus and a computer, revealing the workings of buttons, screen, and knobs. This includes the image transfer protocol, button status feedback, and screen touch event coordinate data. He then updated the DeckSurf SDK with a C# example, enabling developers to control the Stream Deck Plus without relying on Elgato's software.

(den.dev)

Hardware hardware hacking

Hardware-Efficient UNORM and SNORM to Float Conversion

2024-12-26

This blog post delves into the efficient hardware implementation of converting UNORM and SNORM integer formats to IEEE 754 binary32 floating-point numbers. The author details handling special values for 8-bit and 16-bit UNORM and SNORM, demonstrating how bit shifts and additions achieve precise conversion without complex division. Normalization and rounding are explained to ensure accuracy. The post concludes by summarizing the hardware cost, highlighting its efficiency.

(fgiesen.wordpress.com)

Hardware float conversion

Nordic Unveils VPR: Its First RISC-V Processor, Ushering in a New Era of Heterogeneous Computing

2024-12-26

Nordic Semiconductor has launched VPR, its first RISC-V processor, integrated into the new nRF54H and nRF54L SoCs. VPR, an RV32EMC processor running at up to 320MHz, is designed for software-defined peripherals. The article details VPR's architecture, initialization process, and collaboration with the Arm Cortex-M33. Zephyr's sysbuild simplifies building and deploying VPR applications, enabling heterogeneous computing for enhanced performance and functionality.

(danielmangum.com)

Hardware Heterogeneous Computing

Thunderbolt 4/5 Docks: Impact on SSD Performance

2024-12-25

This article tests the performance impact of Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 docks on different SSDs (Thunderbolt 3 and USB4). Results show that using a TB5 dock with an Intel Mac nearly doubles the speed of a USB4 SSD, reaching 20Gb/s—unprecedented. However, TB3 SSD read speeds decreased with the TB5 dock. A TB4 hub limited USB4 SSD speeds and reduced TB3 SSD write speeds. The tests demonstrate unpredictable performance variations depending on the Mac, dock, and SSD combination, highlighting the need for careful testing.

(eclecticlight.co)

Hardware Performance Testing

PCWorld's Hardware Guru, Gordon Mah Ung, Passes Away at 58

2024-12-25

PCWorld mourns the passing of Gordon Mah Ung, executive editor and renowned hardware journalist, who died over the weekend at age 58 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. With over 25 years of experience covering computer technology, Ung's rigorous reporting, unique personality, and commitment to journalistic standards touched countless lives. He led hardware coverage at Maximum PC for 16 years and hosted the popular video podcast, The Full Nerd. His passion for PC tech, humor, and occasional outbursts of righteous anger made him a legend. His death leaves a void in the industry and among PC enthusiasts.

(www.pcworld.com)

Hardware hardware journalist

Sipeed NanoKVM-PCIe: A Budget-Friendly KVM over IP Solution

2024-12-24

Sipeed has launched the NanoKVM-PCIe, a low-cost KVM over IP solution with optional WiFi 6 and PoE support. Based on the SOPHGO SG2002 SoC, it features multiple interfaces, including Ethernet, USB-C, and HDMI, supporting 1080p60 video output. The device supports UEFI/BIOS control, emulated USB keyboard/mouse, IPMI, and more, with a web frontend for management. NanoKVM-PCIe can be powered via PCIe slot or USB-C, and is priced between $55 and $70.

(www.cnx-software.com)

Hardware Embedded System

Retrocomputing: Replacing a 386/486 CMOS Battery

2024-12-23

Older 386/486 motherboards often have leaky NiCd or NiMH batteries that can damage the board. This guide details a simple alternative: using three AA batteries and a battery holder. The author compares using a CR2032 and a Tadrian 3.6V Lithium cell, ultimately opting for three AAs due to ease of use, no motherboard modification, and the ability to use rechargeable batteries. Other replacement methods are mentioned, including using a CR2032 holder and Schottky diode, and utilizing an external battery header on the motherboard if present.

(rubenerd.com)

Hardware battery replacement

AMD MI300X vs. Nvidia H100/H200 Benchmark: CUDA Moat Remains

2024-12-22

SemiAnalysis conducted a five-month independent benchmark of AMD's MI300X against Nvidia's H100 and H200. While the MI300X boasts theoretical advantages in performance and TCO, real-world results fell significantly short due to flaws in AMD's public software stack and insufficient testing. AMD's software proved problematic, hindering usability and resulting in performance trailing Nvidia's offerings across most benchmarks. Despite improvements from AMD engineers, the software stack remains underdeveloped, leaving the CUDA moat intact. This in-depth analysis offers concrete recommendations for AMD to enhance its software and competitiveness.

(semianalysis.com)

Hardware GPU Benchmark Nvidia H100/H200

Testing for Thermal Issues in Advanced Packages Becomes Increasingly Challenging

2024-12-21

The increasing complexity and heterogeneity of chip architectures, coupled with the adoption of high-performance materials, are making it significantly more difficult to identify and test for thermal issues in advanced packages. Traditional corner-based thermal testing is insufficient due to unpredictable chip-level thermal effects and varying heat distribution under different workloads. Heterogeneous integration, thinner substrates and metal layers, and diverse materials and interconnect schemes all contribute to this complexity. To address these challenges, the industry is exploring advanced thermal modeling, test structures, adaptive testing strategies, and AI to achieve more accurate thermal characterization and reliable device testing.

(semiengineering.com)

Hardware chip testing thermal management heterogeneous integration heat dissipation chip packaging thermal testing

Radxa Orion O6: World's First Open-Source Armv9 Motherboard Debuts

2024-12-20

Radxa, in collaboration with partners, has unveiled the Radxa Orion O6, claimed as the world's first open-source Armv9 motherboard—more accurately, a single-board computer (SBC). Powered by CIX's CD8180 SoC, it boasts 12 CPU cores (including four Cortex-A720 cores up to 2.8GHz) and an Arm Immortalis G720 GPU, offering impressive performance with 8K video decoding and encoding capabilities and a 30 TOPS NPU. RAM options range from 8GB to 64GB (soldered DDR5-5500). The board is packed with I/O, including multiple M.2 slots, a PCIe x16 slot, and multi-gigabit Ethernet. Currently supporting Debian and Fedora Linux, with Windows and Android support planned. Pricing starts at $200 for the 8GB model.

(www.tomshardware.com)

Hardware Single-Board Computer Open-Source Hardware

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K "Arrow Lake": Windows 11 vs. Ubuntu Linux Performance Showdown

2024-12-20

Phoronix conducted a comprehensive benchmark comparing the performance of Intel's flagship Core Ultra 9 285K "Arrow Lake" processor on Windows 11 and Ubuntu Linux. Testing included various Linux kernel versions and power management settings. Results showed Linux sometimes edging out Windows in performance, thanks to Linux's flexibility and optimizations for newer kernels. The benchmarks highlight the impact of OS choice on processor performance, offering valuable insights for users choosing an operating system.

(www.phoronix.com)

Hardware processor performance OS comparison

tldraw Computer: A JavaScript-Dependent Machine

2024-12-20

tldraw has released a computer called "tldraw computer," but it requires JavaScript to run. This suggests the computer might be web-based or heavily reliant on a JavaScript runtime environment, rather than traditional hardware architecture.

(computer.tldraw.com)

Hardware web-based computer

Lifelike Raven Animatronic: A Maker's Journey

2024-12-20

This blog chronicles the creation of a highly realistic raven animatronic. The author details the process from initial design and construction to programming intricate movements like beak synchronization with sound and realistic eye blinking. Challenges encountered and solutions implemented are shared, offering valuable insights for aspiring roboticists and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and art. The blog showcases a fascinating blend of creativity and engineering.

(theanimatronicmenagerie.wordpress.com)

Hardware animatronics

Home Assistant Unveils Open-Source Voice Assistant Hardware

2024-12-20

Home Assistant has launched Voice Preview Edition, hardware for its open-source voice assistant, Assist. Priced at $59, this device boasts advanced audio processing, a sleek design, and extensive customization options, aiming to deliver a private and open voice assistant experience. Seamlessly integrating with Home Assistant, it supports local voice processing and allows for customization of both software and hardware. This preview edition accelerates Assist's development, ultimately aiming to surpass existing voice assistants, support more languages, and offer users greater choice.

(www.home-assistant.io)

Hardware voice assistant open-source hardware

Category: Hardware