PCIe 7.0 Spec Finalized, PCIe 8.0 Pathfinding Underway

2025-06-12
PCIe 7.0 Spec Finalized, PCIe 8.0 Pathfinding Underway

PCI-SIG announced the completion of the PCIe 7.0 specification, boasting a per-lane data transfer rate of 128 GT/s—double that of PCIe 6.0 and quadruple that of PCIe 5.0. A 16-lane PCIe 7.0 device can transfer up to 256 GB/s in each direction. Furthermore, pathfinding for PCIe 8.0 has begun, targeting a 2030+ release with potentially double the performance of PCIe 7.0, reaching 1 TB/s bandwidth. Expect PCIe 7.0 devices to hit the market around 2028-2029.

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Hardware

US Air Traffic Control System: From Floppy Disks to the 21st Century

2025-06-08
US Air Traffic Control System: From Floppy Disks to the 21st Century

The FAA is embarking on an ambitious project to modernize the US air traffic control (ATC) system, currently reliant on outdated technology like floppy disks and Windows 95. This poses significant security and efficiency risks. The upgrade, described as a critical infrastructure project, faces challenges including ensuring continuous operation and system security. While a four-year completion timeline is targeted, experts deem this unrealistic. The project's cost remains unclear, but the FAA is seeking proposals from companies to tackle this massive undertaking.

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Intel's Aggressive Restructuring: 50% Margin Mandate, 20% Layoffs Imminent

2025-06-06
Intel's Aggressive Restructuring: 50% Margin Mandate, 20% Layoffs Imminent

Intel's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is implementing aggressive measures to turn the company around. To boost profit margins, Intel will no longer approve new projects that cannot achieve at least a 50% gross margin, leading to project cancellations and engineer reassignments. Simultaneously, Intel plans up to 20% layoffs in Q2 and a streamlining of middle management. The goal is to transform Intel into an engineering-focused company and attract and retain top talent. While this approach seemingly contradicts fostering a culture of innovation, Tan appears to have investor backing. Intel's recent gross margin has plummeted to 31.67%, far below the pre-pandemic level of around 60%, making the success of this transformation uncertain.

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Microsoft Aims to End USB-C Chaos: Windows 11 Update Promises Consistent Functionality

2025-06-02
Microsoft Aims to End USB-C Chaos: Windows 11 Update Promises Consistent Functionality

Microsoft is tackling USB-C port inconsistencies with an updated Windows 11 Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP). The initiative ensures all USB-C ports will consistently support data, charging, and display functions. Additionally, USB 4 40Gbps ports will fully support both USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals. Microsoft states that certified Windows 11 laptops and tablets with Windows 11 24H2 already adhere to these rules. This should eliminate user frustration and ensure consistent functionality across all USB-C ports.

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Tech

Panasonic Kills the VGA Port: The End of an Era for Laptops?

2025-05-27
Panasonic Kills the VGA Port: The End of an Era for Laptops?

Panasonic's latest Let's Note laptops have dropped the VGA port, marking a significant shift in the industry. Driven by the rise of HDMI and the demand for thinner, lighter designs, Panasonic joins other manufacturers in phasing out this aging technology. While VGA offers robustness and reliable connectivity, its limitations in resolution and size are increasingly incompatible with modern laptops. This move also highlights the technological divergence between Japanese and Western markets.

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Realtek's Cheap 10GbE NIC Could Finally Bring 10 Gigabit Ethernet to the Masses

2025-05-23
Realtek's Cheap 10GbE NIC Could Finally Bring 10 Gigabit Ethernet to the Masses

Realtek showcased its new RTL8127 10GbE network controller at Computex 2025. This tiny (9mm x 9mm) PCIe 4.0 x2 controller supports 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps, and 10Gbps speeds, boasts a low power consumption of 1.95W, and integrates ECC and CRC features. Priced at around $10, it promises to drastically reduce the cost of integrating 10GbE into motherboards. While 10GbE switches and CAT6 cables remain relatively expensive, wider adoption of the RTL8127 by motherboard manufacturers could accelerate the普及 of 10GbE networking.

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Hardware NIC

Microsoft Quietly Kills Surface Laptop Studio 2: End of an Era for Hybrid Laptops?

2025-05-15
Microsoft Quietly Kills Surface Laptop Studio 2: End of an Era for Hybrid Laptops?

Microsoft has ceased production of its powerful foldable laptop, the Surface Laptop Studio 2. This hybrid laptop, unique for its dedicated GPU, is quietly being discontinued, reflecting a broader streamlining within Microsoft's hardware lineup. The move follows recent layoffs, the departure of former Surface chief Panos Panay, and a reported shift in focus towards AI and core products. While praised for performance and design, the high price and relatively low-power GPU of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 may have limited its success.

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Hardware

Philips Launches 'Fixables': 3D-Printable Replacement Parts for Self-Repair

2025-05-12
Philips Launches 'Fixables': 3D-Printable Replacement Parts for Self-Repair

Philips has launched a new initiative called 'Philips Fixables,' encouraging self-repair by offering free, officially designed 3D-printable replacement parts. These files are available on Printables.com, with the initial offering being a 3mm comb for a shaver. While currently limited, Philips plans to expand the library of available parts over time. This program, initially released in the Czech Republic in partnership with Prusa Research and LePub, promotes sustainable repair options and aims to foster a community around repairable hardware. Users can also request specific parts to be added to the Fixables program.

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Hardware self-repair Philips

Nvidia Raises Prices Across the Board Amidst Multiple Crises

2025-05-12
Nvidia Raises Prices Across the Board Amidst Multiple Crises

Nvidia has increased prices on almost all its products, citing tariffs, manufacturing costs, and the impact of export restrictions on its AI chips. Gaming GPUs saw a 5-10% price hike, while AI GPUs experienced a more significant 15% increase. The company's Q[number] earnings took a $5.5 billion hit due to export restrictions, including a ban on H20 chip sales to China. CEO Jensen Huang has been working to mitigate these issues, and the price increases aim to maintain profitability. Despite the price hikes, strong demand for AI chips outside of China and increased spending from cloud providers are expected to keep the company's financial report within forecasts. The move to TSMC's US plant for Blackwell chip production further exacerbated the cost increases. While a recent US-China trade deal may eventually lead to lower prices, consumers may not see immediate relief.

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Cerabyte Secures Western Digital Investment for 5000-Year Data Storage

2025-05-12
Cerabyte Secures Western Digital Investment for 5000-Year Data Storage

German data storage startup Cerabyte announced it has received strategic investment from Western Digital, accelerating development of its groundbreaking ceramic-based data storage technology. Boasting a 5000-year lifespan and potentially yottabyte-scale capacity, Cerabyte's technology has undergone extreme testing, proving resilient to heat, water, radiation, and more. Aiming for sub-$1/TB storage by 2030, this partnership promises to bring commercially viable, ultra-long-term data storage solutions to market.

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13-Year-Old Motherboard Gets Surprise NVMe Boot Support

2025-05-07
13-Year-Old Motherboard Gets Surprise NVMe Boot Support

A Gigabyte B75M-D3H motherboard, released in 2012, received a surprise firmware update (F16f) adding support for booting from M.2 NVMe SSDs. This unexpected feature, absent in the original design, came alongside a fix for the PKfail vulnerability. While performance is limited by PCIe 2.0, the upgrade significantly boosts older systems. The discovery sparked speculation about whether Gigabyte intentionally added this functionality.

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China's Breakthrough: World's First 2D Low-Power GAAFET Transistor

2025-05-04
China's Breakthrough: World's First 2D Low-Power GAAFET Transistor

A Peking University research team published in Nature, announcing the world's first two-dimensional low-power GAAFET transistor. This transistor, based on the novel 2D semiconductor material Bi₂O₂Se, outperforms comparable products from Intel, TSMC, and Samsung. This breakthrough could help China leapfrog in the chip industry, especially given the backdrop of US technological sanctions against China.

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Intel's AI Chip Flop: Unexpected Demand for Older CPUs Creates Production Bottleneck

2025-04-25
Intel's AI Chip Flop:  Unexpected Demand for Older CPUs Creates Production Bottleneck

Intel's newly launched AI PC chips are underperforming, creating an unexpected shortage of production capacity for its older, cheaper chips. This news comes alongside announced layoffs and a poor financial report that sent the company's stock plummeting. Consumers are opting for less expensive previous-generation Raptor Lake chips over the pricier Lunar Lake and Meteor Lake AI models. The resulting shortage in Intel's 'Intel 7' process node capacity is expected to persist. This unexpected surge in demand for older chips points to a lack of a 'killer app' for AI in the PC market. Intel's Q1 revenue for its Client Computing Group (CCG) fell 8% year-over-year. AMD's upcoming financial results will provide further insight into the market's response.

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WD and Microsoft Launch Massive Hard Drive Recycling Program to Reduce Reliance on China for Rare Earths

2025-04-21
WD and Microsoft Launch Massive Hard Drive Recycling Program to Reduce Reliance on China for Rare Earths

Western Digital, in collaboration with Microsoft and recycling partners CMR and PedalPoint Recycling, has launched a large-scale hard drive recycling program to address growing e-waste and rare earth element shortages. The program utilizes acid-free dissolution recycling (ADR) technology to reclaim Rare Earth Oxides (REO), including dysprosium, neodymium, and praseodymium, along with aluminum, steel, gold, palladium, and copper. The recovered REO boasts 99.5% purity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 95% compared to virgin mining. This initiative aims to lessen the US tech industry's dependence on China for rare earths and promote a circular economy. The program has already successfully recycled 47,000 pounds of hard drives, achieving a reclaim rate exceeding 90%.

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Two-Year SSD Data Retention Test: Unexpected Results

2025-04-19
Two-Year SSD Data Retention Test: Unexpected Results

TechTuber HTWingNut conducted a two-year experiment testing the long-term data retention of SSDs. Four 128GB SATA SSDs were used, two new and two heavily used (exceeding their rated TBW). After two years, the new SSDs showed data integrity but a significant increase in error correction codes, indicating potential issues; while the used SSDs experienced file corruption and performance degradation. This highlights the risk of data loss in SSDs even when unplugged for extended periods and underscores the importance of regular backups.

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Synology Locks Down Plus Series NAS to Proprietary Hard Drives

2025-04-17
Synology Locks Down Plus Series NAS to Proprietary Hard Drives

Synology's new Plus Series NAS systems, aimed at SMBs and advanced home users, now require the use of Synology-branded hard drives to access the full feature set. While non-Synology drives can be used for storage, crucial features like drive health monitoring, deduplication, lifespan analysis, and automatic firmware updates are disabled. This move, justified by Synology as improving performance and reliability and mitigating risks like recent Seagate fraudulent HDD issues, forces users to buy directly from Synology or certified suppliers. This limits choice and potentially increases costs for smaller businesses. A workaround exists by migrating drives from older systems, but this isn't practical for most users.

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Hardware

AMD GPUs Shatter CFD Simulation Record on Frontier Supercomputer

2025-04-13
AMD GPUs Shatter CFD Simulation Record on Frontier Supercomputer

AMD processors powered a new world record in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using Ansys Fluent on the Frontier supercomputer. A 2.2-billion-cell simulation, previously taking 38.5 hours on 3,700 CPU cores, completed in just 1.5 hours using 1,024 AMD Instinct MI250X accelerators and AMD EPYC CPUs. This 25x speedup highlights AMD's prowess in high-performance computing. However, challenges remain in software support, hindering AMD's ability to fully compete with Nvidia in the AI GPU market, as illustrated by instances like Tiny Corp's preference for Nvidia GPUs due to driver stability.

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AmigaOS 3.2.3 Released: Classic OS Gets a Major Update

2025-04-13
AmigaOS 3.2.3 Released: Classic OS Gets a Major Update

AmigaOS 3.2, a classic operating system, receives a significant update with the release of version 3.2.3. Hyperion Entertainment, the current steward of AmigaOS, has incorporated over 50 fixes and enhancements spanning two years. Key improvements include updates to the ReAction widget toolkit and TextEditor. Notably, this update supports classic 68K Amigas with ARM accelerators, and even the most basic A500 can run it. While rumors suggest delays for a new Amiga console, Hyperion denies involvement and expresses willingness to collaborate.

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Tech OS Update

China Unveils GPMI: A Single Cable for 8K Video and Power

2025-04-07
China Unveils GPMI: A Single Cable for 8K Video and Power

The Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance, comprising over 50 Chinese companies, launched the General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI), a new wired media communication standard. Designed for 8K video, GPMI aims to reduce cabling needs by combining data and power transmission. Available in Type-B (proprietary connector) and Type-C (USB-C compatible) variants, GPMI boasts impressive bandwidth: Type-C reaches 96 Gbps and delivers 240W, exceeding USB4 and Thunderbolt 4. Type-B pushes this further to 192 Gbps and 480W. Supporting universal control standards like HDMI-CEC, GPMI simplifies 8K setups. Its widespread adoption could revolutionize 8K connectivity, offering a streamlined single-cable solution.

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Intel Reboots 'Intel Inside': 30 Years Later, the Brand Gets a Reboot

2025-04-03
Intel Reboots 'Intel Inside': 30 Years Later, the Brand Gets a Reboot

Thirty years ago, 'Intel Inside' took the world by storm, inextricably linking Intel with the personal computer. Now, at its Vision 2025 event in Las Vegas, Intel has redefined its iconic brand. The new slogan, "That's the power of Intel Inside," not only evokes nostalgia but emphasizes the crucial role Intel, its partners, and customers play in today's world. From its initial focus on processors, to the integrated Centrino platform, and the performance-driven Core series, Intel Inside has evolved alongside technology, ultimately returning to its core brand value: highlighting how Intel technology empowers individuals and the global community. This rebranding reignites the brand's passion.

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Tech

WattWise: Command-Line Power Monitoring and Optimization

2025-04-03
WattWise: Command-Line Power Monitoring and Optimization

A robotics and machine learning engineer has created WattWise, a command-line tool that monitors power usage from a smart plug and adjusts system performance based on electricity pricing. Initially built to manage the power consumption of a high-power EPYC workstation, the monitoring component is now open-source. WattWise uses Home Assistant to display real-time power usage, historical charts, and automatically throttles CPU and GPU performance to reduce costs during peak pricing periods. The power optimization features will be released later.

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Micron's Price Hike: AI Fuels Memory Chip Surge

2025-03-31
Micron's Price Hike: AI Fuels Memory Chip Surge

Micron Technology has announced price increases for DRAM and NAND flash memory, citing robust demand in the coming years. This price hike, expected to last through 2026, is driven by soaring demand from AI, data centers, and consumer electronics, coupled with supply constraints. A key driver is the surging demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), crucial for AI accelerators and next-gen GPUs, fueled by advancements from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. Micron is investing $7 billion in a new HBM assembly facility in Singapore to meet this demand. The resurgence of the PC and smartphone markets further bolsters memory demand, suggesting a sustained upward price trend.

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German Railway Still Running on Windows 3.11?

2025-03-30
German Railway Still Running on Windows 3.11?

A German railway company recently posted a job opening for a Windows 3.11 administrator to maintain outdated systems running on 166MHz processors and 8MB of RAM. These systems, used for railway display boards across most of Germany, provide real-time data to driver cabs on high-speed and regional trains. Despite their age, these mission-critical systems remain in use, adhering to a 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' philosophy, with an expected lifespan until at least 2030. The job posting sparked online discussion, highlighting the persistence of legacy systems in critical infrastructure.

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Qualcomm Accuses Arm of Anti-Competitive Practices

2025-03-27
Qualcomm Accuses Arm of Anti-Competitive Practices

Qualcomm has filed antitrust complaints against Arm with regulators in the US, Europe, and South Korea, alleging that Arm is limiting access to its technologies and changing licensing models to harm competition. Arm denies the accusations, framing Qualcomm's actions as a diversion from their ongoing commercial dispute. This follows a recent Delaware court case where Qualcomm won, but Arm is seeking a retrial. The complaints highlight a significant rift between the two tech giants, with Qualcomm seeking to secure access to Arm's crucial technologies.

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Tech

AMD's Gaia: Open-Source LLM for Local Inference on Windows PCs

2025-03-22
AMD's Gaia: Open-Source LLM for Local Inference on Windows PCs

AMD unveils Gaia, an open-source project enabling local LLM execution on Windows machines. Leveraging the Lemonade SDK for inference and optimized for Ryzen AI processors, Gaia utilizes Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for improved accuracy and context-aware responses. Featuring agents for chatting, YouTube searching, and even joke generation, Gaia offers offline functionality, enhancing security and reducing latency. A strong contender in the burgeoning local LLM space, Gaia provides a compelling alternative to cloud-based solutions.

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Tech

Akira Ransomware Cracked: GPU Brute-Force Method Discovered

2025-03-17
Akira Ransomware Cracked: GPU Brute-Force Method Discovered

Security researcher Tinyhack has discovered a GPU-based brute-force method to decrypt the Akira ransomware. Akira, known for its exorbitant ransom demands (reaching tens of millions of dollars), targets high-profile victims. Using an RTX 4090, Tinyhack cracked encrypted files in 7 days; 16 GPUs reduced this to just over 10 hours. The method exploits four nanosecond timestamps used as seeds in Akira's encryption, brute-forcing to find the precise timestamps and generate decryption keys. Success requires untouched files and local disk storage (NFS complicates decryption). While a significant cybersecurity win, Akira's developers will likely patch this vulnerability quickly.

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Bolt Graphics' Zeus GPU: A RISC-V Challenger to Nvidia

2025-03-16
Bolt Graphics' Zeus GPU: A RISC-V Challenger to Nvidia

Bolt Graphics, a California startup, unveiled its Zeus GPU platform based on the open-source RISC-V architecture. In path tracing workloads, Zeus significantly outperforms Nvidia's RTX 5090, boasting up to 10x the speed. However, its performance in traditional rendering and AI tasks remains unclear, and a mature software ecosystem is lacking. Zeus uses a multi-chiplet design, offering various configurations with up to 2TB of memory and built-in high-speed networking, targeting high-performance computing and scientific simulations. Developer kits are slated for late 2025, with mass production in late 2026. Despite significant challenges, Zeus's emergence injects new dynamism into the GPU market.

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Hardware

Windows 10's End of Life Leaves Charities in a Bind

2025-03-15
Windows 10's End of Life Leaves Charities in a Bind

With Windows 10's free security updates ending this October, millions of PCs unable to upgrade to Windows 11 face obsolescence. This poses a significant challenge for charities that rely on these older machines. They're faced with a difficult decision: provide insecure Windows 10, switch to Linux, or scrap the computers. While Linux offers a viable alternative, the learning curve for unfamiliar users, especially seniors and students, is steep and could lead to increased tech support issues. The article explores this problem, showcasing different charities' strategies and the resulting e-waste dilemma.

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RepairTuber Rossmann Slams Brother for Anti-Consumer Printer Practices

2025-03-04
RepairTuber Rossmann Slams Brother for Anti-Consumer Printer Practices

Louis Rossmann, a renowned repair YouTuber, expressed his disappointment with Brother printers in a recent video. He highlighted how Brother is disabling third-party toner cartridges and color registration functionality through firmware updates, harming consumers. Rossmann, who previously recommended Brother printers as a solution to cartridge DRM issues, now retracts his advice. He urges users to keep their printers offline and disable automatic updates to avoid issues. Brother's actions are seen as anti-consumer and raise concerns about individual property rights.

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Framework Expands Beyond Laptops: Desktops and a Student-Focused Convertible Arrive

2025-02-26
Framework Expands Beyond Laptops: Desktops and a Student-Focused Convertible Arrive

Framework unveiled its second-generation products, including an updated Framework Laptop 13 with AMD Ryzen AI 300, a 4.5-liter Mini-ITX desktop powered by Ryzen AI Max and Radeon 8060S graphics, and a new 12-inch convertible laptop aimed at students. The desktop, a significant expansion into a new market, emphasizes customizability and boasts 1440p gaming capabilities. The company highlights the repairability and modularity characteristic of its previous laptops across its new lineup. Prices range from $899 to $1999.

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Hardware
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