Category: Computers

  • Infinix Inbook Air Pro+: 1kg Ultralight Laptop with Intel i5 Sale in India

    Infinix Inbook Air Pro+: 1kg Ultralight Laptop with Intel i5 Sale in India

    The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ laptop is now available on Flipkart with a price tag of Rs 49,990. This incredibly lightweight device, tipping the scales at merely 1kg, merges excellent design, strong performance, and flexibility, making it an appealing option for both professionals and creative individuals. Just to remind you, this laptop was launched alongside the Infinix Zero Flip in India last week.

    Specifications and Features of Infinix Inbook Air Pro+

    The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ is equipped with a 13th generation Intel Core i5 (1334U) processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, ensuring speedy processing. It includes 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB PCIe Gen 3 SSD, which is ideal for a range of activities, from creative work to software development. Its advanced cooling system keeps it running smoothly even during demanding tasks.

    Display and Battery Performance

    This laptop sports a 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, and a brightness of 440 nits, along with full coverage of both sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts. The display is surrounded by ultra-thin bezels, adding to its sleekness. The device is powered by a 57Wh battery that lasts all day, while the 65W fast charging through USB-C allows for quick recharges, helping users stay productive. For connectivity, it provides several ports, Wi-Fi 6 for fast internet access, and Bluetooth 5.2 for easy pairing with other devices. The FHD+ IR webcam supports Windows Hello for secure face unlock and offers clear quality for video calls, even in dim lighting.

    Design and Usability

    In terms of design, the Inbook Air Pro+ showcases a high-quality metal body crafted from aluminum and magnesium alloys. Weighing just 1kg and measuring 4.5mm at its thinnest point, it is remarkably portable. The backlit keyboard includes a dedicated button for quick access to Co-Pilot, enhancing user experience.

    You might also be curious about why we consider the Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ to be a revolutionary product.

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  • Intel Arrow Lake Leak Reveals Software Issues and Slow Gaming Performance

    Intel Arrow Lake Leak Reveals Software Issues and Slow Gaming Performance

    We are nearing the release of reviews for the Core Ultra 200S “Arrow Lake” series. It’s no surprise that this is the ideal moment for leaks about these new CPUs to emerge. Recently, Moore’s Law Is Dead has disclosed some concerning details regarding the Arrow Lake processors.

    Caution Advised

    Before diving deeper, it’s important to advise readers to treat this information carefully and refrain from jumping to conclusions until the official reviews are out.

    According to MLID, based on conversations with various reviewers, game developers, and YouTubers, the Arrow Lake processors do not enhance gaming performance. In fact, the Core Ultra 9 285K is reported to underperform compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the Core i9-14900K, and the Ryzen 9 9950X. Alarmingly, one review indicated that even the previous generation, the Core i9-13900K, outperformed the Arrow Lake flagship.

    Performance Comparison

    The Core Ultra 7 265K also apparently fell short "in one set of averages" against the Ryzen 7 7700X (Available on Amazon). This is particularly concerning as the Ryzen 7 7700X directly competes with the Core i5-13600K, not the Core i7.

    In terms of non-gaming tasks, the Core Ultra 9 285K appears to match the performance of the Ryzen 9 9950X (Available on Amazon).

    However, gaming performance isn’t the only significant issue with the Arrow Lake CPUs. MLID asserts that almost everyone he’s spoken to has reported a myriad of problems. These issues range from erratic performance across various review datasets to persistent Blue Screen of Death errors, and even players being ejected from servers due to mistaken identification of cheating software while using the Core Ultra 9 285K.

    Hardware vs Software Issues

    The Arrow Lake situation is reportedly so problematic that several reviewers are questioning whether there might be a hardware flaw. Nonetheless, the leaker has received assurance from an Intel source that Arrow Lake does not have a hardware defect; instead, the troubles stem from poor software.

    In conclusion, Arrow Lake appears to be a generation focused solely on efficiency and slight productivity enhancements, but not much else. When comparing Intel’s offerings against Zen 5, the Core Ultra 200S chips reportedly lack a performance edge. With the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on the way, it looks like Intel enthusiasts may have to wait until next year’s Panther Lake for desktops to see a notable improvement in gaming performance to match Zen 5 X3D.

    Given the reported challenges, the Core Ultra 200 processors may face a difficult reception when reviews are published.

    Moore’s Law Is Dead on YouTube.

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  • China Launches Trio of Satellites for Ground Radar Calibration

    China Launches Trio of Satellites for Ground Radar Calibration

    China has recently added three new satellites to its growing list of orbital missions, which now exceeds 10,000 satellites. The successful launch happened at 00:10 UTC on October 22 (or 20:10 on October 21, local time) using a Long March 6 rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China.

    Launch Details

    Though local news referred to the launch of a single satellite, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) clarified that three satellites were sent into space. They are named Tianping-3A (01), B (01), and B (02). Their primary objective is to calibrate ground radars and carry out radar cross-section measurements. SAST stated that these satellites will aid in ground optical equipment imaging experiments and support low-orbit space environment detection and monitoring tasks. They will also provide services for atmospheric space environment measurements and help correct orbit prediction models.

    Limited Information

    Unfortunately, there wasn’t much additional detail provided about these satellites. The Long March 6 rocket, which has been operational since 2015, has completed 13 successful missions to date. China has aimed for an impressive total of 50 orbital launches this year alone. Just last week, they successfully launched the Gaofen-12 Earth observation satellite along with 18 others, all intended for the Qianfan/Thousand megaconstellation project.

    Upcoming Missions

    Later this month, China plans to send three astronauts to the Tiangong space station on the Shenzhou-19 mission. More details about this mission are expected to be released soon.

  • HP Launches OmniBook Ultra Flip: Ideal 2-in-1 for Creators

    HP Launches OmniBook Ultra Flip: Ideal 2-in-1 for Creators

    HP has launched the OmniBook Ultra Flip in India, a versatile 2-in-1 laptop tailored for freelancers and content creators. This device runs on Intel’s Lunar Lake Processors and comes equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), enabling seamless transitions between laptop, tablet, and tent formats for versatile usage.

    Features of the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip

    The OmniBook Ultra Flip boasts a 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen, which supports multitouch interactions and has a refresh rate ranging from 48-120 Hz. The display features an incredibly quick response time of 0.2 ms, edge-to-edge glass, a sleek bezel, Low Blue Light technology, and brightness levels of 400 nits in SDR and 500 nits peak brightness in HDR. It also supports over 1 billion colors in HDR mode and has a 16:10 aspect ratio for better visuals.

    Beneath the hood, this device is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, capable of reaching speeds up to 4.8 GHz, with 12 MB of L3 cache and a configuration of 8 cores and 8 threads. Connectivity is made easy with 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB Type-C port, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. For wireless connections, it offers Intel Fillmore Peak 2 Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

    Operating System and Memory

    The OmniBook Ultra Flip operates on the latest Windows operating system and comes with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 already installed. It packs 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM along with a 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD for storage efficiency.

    The device has dimensions of 31.37 x 21.62 x 1.49 cm, weighs 1.34 kg, and includes various security features such as a mic mute key, a camera privacy shutter, and a 6-cell, 64 Wh battery. For charging, it utilizes a 65 W USB Type-C adapter.

    Additional Features and Pricing

    Additional features encompass a full-size backlit keyboard, a haptic touchpad, Intel Arc Graphics, a DIB PEN-TILT HP G1 NFB MPP 2.0 stylus, and a 9 MP IR TNR camera.

    The laptop is released in two versions:

    • OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 Next-Gen AI PC Ultra 7: Starting at Rs. 1,81,999
    • OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 Next-Gen AI PC Ultra 9: Priced at Rs. 1,91,999

    Those who purchase the OmniBook Ultra Flip before October 31, 2024, will get Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements valued at Rs. 9,999 for free. There are also no-cost EMI plans available through Bajaj Finance for up to 18 months.

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  • Rumored Launch Date for MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini with M4

    Rumored Launch Date for MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini with M4

    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, known for his accurate leaks about unreleased Apple items, has reported that Apple will host a hands-on event for its new products in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 30.

    Event Details

    This event is meant to let the media test the new devices, meaning they should be ready for this date. This suggests a launch on October 30, though an announcement could also happen the day before. Gurman mentions that Apple is likely to unveil the new Macs through a livestream while simultaneously releasing press materials. The following products are anticipated to be announced at the event:

    Product Expectations

    The MacBook Pro and iMac are not expected to undergo significant changes, except for the new processor. In contrast, the Mac mini is rumored to feature a complete redesign with a smaller case and USB-C ports at the front, completely omitting USB-A ports. New Mac accessories are also expected to come with USB-C port enhancements. Our benchmarks (included below) indicate that the cooling system of the Apple M4 in the iPad Pro is much quicker than that of the Apple M3 Pro, meaning Mac users can look forward to a meaningful upgrade.

    Mark Gurman (X)

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  • AYANEO Cuts Prices on AM01 and AM02 Mini-PCs After AYANEO 3 Tease

    AYANEO Cuts Prices on AM01 and AM02 Mini-PCs After AYANEO 3 Tease

    AYANEO has updated its mini-PC lineup, more than five months after debuting the AM01S. Sadly, there hasn’t been any new news regarding that model since its introduction. Instead, the company has brought back the earlier models, AM01 and AM02, which is currently priced at $708.95 on Amazon. The AM01 was first refreshed with AMD Ryzen 7 5800U models back in March.

    Performance Enhancements

    This time around, the AM01 has been upgraded to feature the Ryzen 7 5825U, offering an 8% performance boost in our tests compared to the Ryzen 7 5800U. Both models come equipped with the same Radeon RX Vega 8 integrated graphics, meaning the new AM01 should perform similarly to other Ryzen 7 5800U systems when it comes to gaming.

    Similar Upgrades for AM02

    A similar situation applies to the AM02, which now includes the Ryzen 7 8845HS. In terms of practical differences, there’s not much separating the Ryzen 7 8845HS from the Ryzen 7 7840HS, except for a 10 W higher thermal design power (TDP) for the former. The main advantage of these newer models is their more affordable pricing, which is significantly lower than previous versions of the AM01 and AM02. Currently, AYANEO is offering these models at the following prices and memory options:

    AYANEO

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  • Griffin Cove and Nova Lake IPC: Intel to Replace E-Cores with P-Cores

    Griffin Cove and Nova Lake IPC: Intel to Replace E-Cores with P-Cores

    Intel’s CPU plans appear to be ever-changing, based on the latest leaks. So far, it’s been revealed that Intel has scrapped Beast Lake, Beast Lake Next, and has also disbanded Jim Keller’s Royal Core initiative. Moreover, there are reports suggesting that Team Blue could launch Panther Lake desktop chips to compete against AMD’s Zen 6 by 2025.

    Future Innovations

    In a recent update regarding IPC metrics for Nova Lake, Moore’s Law Is Dead indicates that Intel might be developing a groundbreaking CPU architecture set to debut in 2027 or later. The source mentions that Intel is working on Griffin Cove P-cores for a yet-to-be-named architecture expected to arrive in 2027 or beyond. These P-cores might utilize the Intel 14A-P, which is an upgrade of the Intel 14A technology anticipated to commence production in 2026.

    Design Changes Ahead

    Interestingly, MLID suggests that Intel could adopt a “Unified Core” approach for E-cores, mirroring AMD’s strategy. The upcoming CPUs based on Griffin Cove or Griffin-Next might eliminate the distinction between P and E-cores, taking inspiration from Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. Unlike Intel’s separate P and E-cores, the Zen 5 series features similar architecture with minor changes in the Zen 5c for size reduction. Intel seems to be planning to implement a similar design for its 2027 architecture, moving away from the two distinct core types within a single CPU.

    Performance Expectations

    On the performance front, MLID speculates that the Griffin Cove P-cores could see a 10-20% IPC increase compared to Nova Lake and its Coyote Cove P-cores. However, since Griffin Cove is still quite a ways off, any talk of “IPC enhancement” should be approached with skepticism. MLID is aware of this uncertainty and cautions in their video that “anything after Nova Lake is NOT finalized”.

    In addition, MLID claims a potential IPC boost of 9 to 18% for the Coyote Cove P-cores in Nova Lake, although no numbers are provided for the Arctic Wolf E-cores. The leaker further suggests that Nova Lake might implement the refreshed Intel 18A-P process instead of the previously rumored 14A and TSMC 2 nm.

    As we move forward, it remains to be seen what Intel has planned with Nova Lake. In the meantime, we can look forward to the reviews of the Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 CPUs, which should roll out in the coming years. The end of 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting period for gamers, especially since AMD has announced that the Ryzen 9000X3D will launch next month.

    Moore’s Law Is Dead on YouTube, Teaser image: Intel, Moore’s Law Is Dead, edited.

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  • Intel Core 270H Leak: 14-Core Mobile CPU Hits 5.8 GHz

    A recent leak has shown Intel’s upcoming mobile processors, giving us insight into seven new chips from the Core 200H and Core 200U series. A popular hardware leaker, Jaykihn, shared these details on X, highlighting the Raptor Lake refresh products.

    Core 270H: The Performance Beast

    At the forefront is the Core 270H, engineered for top-tier performance. This processor features 14 cores, with six designed for high performance and the other eight dedicated to efficiency. It kicks off at a base clock of 2.1 GHz but can elevate to an impressive 5.8 GHz when pushed to its limits.

    Diverse Options in the 200H Lineup

    The Core 200H series includes five distinct models catering to various performance levels. The Core 250H maintains the 14-core configuration of the 270H but scales back slightly, reaching a boost of 5.4 GHz. The Core 240H, on the other hand, provides ten cores with a maximum boost of 5.2 GHz, while the Core 220H has 12 cores and peaks at 4.9 GHz. For those looking for budget options in the H-series, the Core 210H offers eight cores and can achieve a boost clock of 4.8 GHz.

    U-Series Chips for Lightweight Devices

    Intel is also introducing two U-series processors designed for thin laptops and entry-level notebooks. The Core 250U and Core 220U each come equipped with ten cores, split into two performance and eight efficiency cores. The 250U operates at a 1.1 GHz base frequency and can ramp up to 5.4 GHz when needed, whereas the 220U starts at 0.8 GHz and reaches a maximum of 5.0 GHz. Both of these U-series processors include 12MB of L3 cache and maintain a thermal design power (TDP) of 15W for better cooling.

    Not Competing with Core Ultra Lineup

    These new 200 series chips won’t interfere with Intel’s Core Ultra lineup. Instead, they utilize the Raptor Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra processors, such as the 200V and 200H/HS, are built on the newer Lunar Lake or Arrow Lake architectures. Anticipate the launch of these new 200-series processors sometime next year, likely around the same period as the Core Ultra 200H/HX Arrow Lake processors.

    Techspot (translated in English) via @jaykihn0 (translated in English).

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  • New Leaks Reveal Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 Details

    New Leaks Reveal Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 Details

    Microsoft has not frequently updated its Surface lineup in recent years, especially after the failures of the Surface Duo and Surface Neo. Nonetheless, this year it has launched four new Surface products: the Surface Laptop 6 for Business, Surface Laptop 7, Surface Pro 10 for Business, and Surface Pro 11, with the latter available for $1,099.99 on Amazon.

    New Business Variants

    Although there have been ‘for Business’ models before, this time is significant because they have different processor designs compared to the consumer versions. New reports suggest that Microsoft might be going back to refreshing its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop series annually, particularly the ‘for Business’ editions.

    Upcoming Devices

    Recently, images of what could be the Surface Laptop 8 for Business surfaced online. A post on Chiphell indicates that Microsoft is working on this device under the codename ‘831_WID’. Additionally, a new Surface Pro, codenamed ‘830_QUN’, is also in the works and is expected to launch as the Surface Pro 12 for Business.

    Technical Specifications

    Both the Surface Laptop 8 for Business and Surface Pro 12 for Business will likely be equipped with Core Ultra 5 226V, Core Ultra 7 266V, and Core Ultra 7 268V processors. This means that they will come in both 16 GB and 32 GB RAM options. Moreover, both new models are anticipated to showcase the design tweaks that Microsoft introduced earlier this year with their ARM-based consumer versions.

    Interestingly, this aligns with an earlier report that appeared on Reddit recently. Although that post has since been removed, it was claimed to be from a reliable Microsoft partner over the years. So, it wouldn’t be shocking if Microsoft reveals information about a new Copilot+ or a business-focused event around March or April of 2025.

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  • Loongson 3B6600M: Chinese CPU Competes with 7nm x86 Processors

    Loongson 3B6600M: Chinese CPU Competes with 7nm x86 Processors

    Loongson Technology, a semiconductor company from China, has announced major advancements in its CPU development and future plans during the 2024 Loongson Industrial Ecosystem Conference. The chairman, Hu Weiwu, discussed the latest updates related to their three key product categories: high-performance CPUs, embedded SoCs, and MCU microcontrollers.

    Recent Developments in CPUs

    The latest desktop CPU offered by Loongson, the Loongson 3A6000, stands strong against 14nm x86 processors. Operating at 2.5 GHz, it matches the performance of Intel’s 3.6 GHz Core i3-10100, demonstrating Loongson’s focus on optimizing design for enhanced performance without relying on the latest technology.

    Future Plans and Innovations

    Looking to the future, the company is developing the 3C6000 server CPU, which will aim to rival 10nm x86 processors. Additionally, their forthcoming desktop CPU, the 3B6600M, is expected to compete with 7nm x86 processors, potentially lining up against Intel’s 12th and 13th-gen Core chips in the mid-to-high-end segments.

    Loongson is also experimenting with turbo frequency technology to achieve speeds of 3 GHz. Furthermore, they are incorporating x86 binary translation instructions, ensuring that Windows applications and systems will run smoothly on their CPUs.

    Graphics and More

    On the graphics front, Loongson is in the process of developing the 9A1000 GPGPU chip, with initial versions anticipated to be released in the first half of 2025. They aim for this chip to be comparable to AMD’s RX 550, capable of handling AI tasks and supporting technologies such as OpenGL 4.0, PCIe 4.0, HDMI 2.1, and DP 2.1.

    Loongson’s focus isn’t solely on CPUs; they have made significant strides in their embedded SoCs and MCU microcontrollers, now in their fourth generation. These chips are meeting or exceeding market expectations in terms of performance and value.

    Their proprietary LoongArch architecture, introduced four years ago, has passed intellectual property assessments and weathered independent lawsuits. It enjoys full support from operating system kernels, BIOS, and six prominent compilers, which include GCC, LLVM, GOLANG, Java, JavaScript, and .NET.

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