Category: Computers

  • Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs 7800X3D: Major Gaming Boost with Zen 5 X3D

    Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs 7800X3D: Major Gaming Boost with Zen 5 X3D

    We’ve seen a lot of leaks about the Ryzen 9000X3D lately. There are talks of possible lower prices and increased V-Cache for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. The upcoming Zen 5 Ryzen 9000X3D processors are expected to strengthen AMD’s gaming advantage over Intel even more. This is particularly relevant now since the new Intel Core Ultra 200K “Arrow Lake” CPUs likely won’t provide any gaming performance improvements compared to the 14th generation chips.

    New Specifications

    As for the specs of the Ryzen 9000X3D, rumors suggest that these chips will have faster clock speeds than the Zen 4 models. A recent video on bilibili has shown the Ryzen 7 9800X3D working at a significantly higher all-core boost clock compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

    The video from bilibili claims that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a base clock of 4.7 GHz, with the ability to boost all cores to 5.2 GHz during what seems to be Cinebench 2024. While we don’t have the benchmark data, the 5.2 GHz all-core clock speed is quite thrilling for several reasons.

    Performance Improvements

    Firstly, if the Ryzen 7 9800X3D really hits an all-core frequency of 5.2 GHz, it would mark a notable 400 MHz rise over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which peaks at 4.8 GHz across all 8 cores. Interestingly, the 400 MHz increase matches the bump we saw from the Ryzen 7 7800X3D (4.8 GHz) to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D (4.35 GHz).

    Moreover, hitting a 5.2 GHz all-core boost clock could indicate a single-core boost reaching between 5.4 and 5.5 GHz. Just for reference, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has a single-core boost speed of 5 GHz. Since many games benefit from higher single-threaded frequencies, this means greater gaming performance in most cases.

    Conclusion

    Also, when we factor in the IPC improvements from the new Zen 5 architecture, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D appears to be a solid upgrade compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This should please AMD enthusiasts who were let down by the underwhelming gains of standard Zen 5 processors.

    Before we conclude, just remember to take this information lightly, as we currently lack official confirmation regarding the specs of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

    bilibili via HXL on X, Teaser image: AMD, Joshua Sortino on Unsplash, edited

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  • Rockchip RK3688: Future Gaming Handhelds & SBCs with ARMv9.3 CPU

    Rockchip RK3688: Future Gaming Handhelds & SBCs with ARMv9.3 CPU

    Rockchip chipsets are the backbone for many competitors of the Raspberry Pi 5, which is currently priced at $58.39 on Amazon. These rivals include brands like Banana Pi, FriendlyELEC, Orange Pi, and Radxa. Additionally, some of the less powerful chipsets from Rockchip can be found in budget-friendly gaming handhelds, such as the ZPG GKD Bubble.

    New Chipset Announcement

    Recently, Rockchip has shared some exciting news about upcoming single-board computers (SBCs) and possibly new budget gaming handhelds by introducing a new chipset in their growing lineup. The RK3688 has been unveiled, and it’s said to offer impressive AI acceleration, boasting an NPU that delivers 16 TOPS of performance. In addition to this, the RK3688 includes an ARM Mali-G310 GPU, similar to those found in smartphone chipsets like the Dimensity 7030.

    Features of RK3688

    Furthermore, Rockchip has confirmed that the RK3688 will come with ARMv9.3 CPU cores. Although the specific type of CPU cores used in the RK3688 has not been revealed yet, CNX Software speculates they might be the Cortex-A730 or Cortex-A735. This new chipset also supports UFS 4.0 storage, alongside LPDDR4, LPDDR4x, and LPDDR5 RAM. It appears that the Radxa ROCK 6 could be among the first devices to utilize the Rockchip RK3688; however, details about the launch of this SBC and other devices using the RK3688 are still unclear at the moment.

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  • Intel Arrow Lake-S: Core Ultra 9 285K, 7 265K, 5 245K Specs Confirmed

    Intel Arrow Lake-S: Core Ultra 9 285K, 7 265K, 5 245K Specs Confirmed

    Intel’s new Arrow Lake-S series of desktop CPUs is under a lot of pressure to compete against AMD’s strong push in the CPU market. We had some clues about what to expect, but a recent leaked slide has revealed the complete lineup, confirming what we can look forward to.

    What’s Included in the Lineup

    The slide shows that the Arrow Lake-S series will feature five different models. Leading the pack is the Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, which boasts 24 cores but, unfortunately, has only 24 threads due to the lack of hyperthreading. These cores are divided into 16 ‘Skymont’ efficiency cores and 8 ‘Lion Cove’ performance cores. This CPU can reach speeds of up to 5.7 GHz and has a thermal design power (TDP) of 250 W.

    Mid-Tier Options

    Following that, the series includes the Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 7 265KF CPUs. Both of these models come equipped with 8 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores, summing up to 20 cores and 20 threads. Like the previous model, neither supports hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 7 265KF, as indicated by its name, lacks integrated graphics, while the Core Ultra 7 265K includes an integrated GPU with 4 Xe cores running at 2.0 GHz. Additionally, the ‘KF’ version does not support Intel vPro and SIPP features.

    Entry-Level Choices

    Lastly, we have the Core Ultra 5 245K and Core Ultra 5 245KF CPUs. Both models feature a 14-core setup with 6 efficiency and 8 performance cores. The situation is similar to the earlier variants: the Core Ultra 5 245K has an integrated GPU with 4 Xe cores clocked at a slightly lower speed of 1.9 GHz and includes vPro and SIPP support, while the 245KF model does not have these features.

    All CPUs in this lineup support up to 192 GB of dual-channel DDR5-6400 RAM and come with 24 PCIe lanes. Intel is set to officially announce these new CPUs in the near future, but getting a sneak peek like this is always exciting. Based on the leaked performance tests of the Core Ultra 9 285K, it seems that Intel’s Arrow Lake-S series is expected to deliver impressive single-threaded performance.

    Purchase Recommendation

    HXL via Twitter

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  • GPD Duo: Innovative Convertible Laptop with AMD Zen 5 & Dual OLED

    GPD Duo: Innovative Convertible Laptop with AMD Zen 5 & Dual OLED

    GPD has launched the Duo, marking its return to full laptop releases after a break. As anticipated, the company chose Indiegogo for the initial launch, where it has already secured over $150,000 from supporters. To sum it up, the GPD Duo features the following hardware:

    Key Specifications

    Additionally, every unit is equipped with one USB 4 (40 Gbps) port, OCuLink, HDMI 2.1, an SD card slot, along with several USB Type-A ports. At the time of the launch, GPD is offering the Duo with AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840U and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APUs. For context, the latter outperforms the former in benchmarks by about 1.38 times. Currently, the Duo is priced as follows:

    Crowdfunding Details

    It’s important to highlight that the crowdfunding campaign for the Duo will continue until November 22, and GPD will not distribute any units to customers before that date. Therefore, the estimated shipping period of November 2024 may actually mean the last week of that month at the soonest. Unfortunately, GPD has not provided any further details on this matter.

    Indiegogo

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  • Apple’s Q3 PC Market Losses; Asus and Lenovo Gain Share

    Apple’s Q3 PC Market Losses; Asus and Lenovo Gain Share

    In the third quarter of 2024, from July to September, globally, 68.9 million PCs were sold. This total encompasses desktop systems, laptops, and workstations, but excludes tablets. According to information from the International Data Corporation (IDC), sales dropped by 2.4% compared to the same time in 2023, with Apple being the only significant loser in this market.

    Apple’s Decline

    The maker of the iPhone managed to sell just 5.3 million Macs in the last quarter, representing a 24.2% decline compared to the previous year. This drop occurred even though the sales strategy remained similar; the MacBook Pro featuring Apple M3 was introduced in October 2023, and a new version with Apple M4 is expected to be released in October 2024. The IDC’s report attributes this sales decline to a shift in consumer demand towards more affordable computers due to the current economic climate. Furthermore, the buzz surrounding AI hasn’t yet impacted sales, and IDC analysts predict that AI-driven computers won’t dominate the market until 2026.

    Market Competitors

    On a brighter note, the arrival of new Copilot+ PCs equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, Intel Lunar Lake, and AMD Ryzen, along with the anticipated MacBooks featuring Apple M4, are likely to invigorate the premium market in the next few months. Lenovo retained its position as the largest PC vendor globally, selling 16.5 million units, which grants it a 24.0% share of the market. HP follows in second place, with 13.6 million PCs sold, accounting for a 19.7% market share, while Dell comes in third with 9.8 million sales, or 14.3% of the market. Despite facing some controversies, Asus managed to increase its sales by 10% compared to last year, moving Apple into the fifth spot with 5.5 million units sold and a 7.9% market share.

    Future Outlook

    The outlook for the PC market seems mixed, with the traditional demand for laptops and desktops being influenced by economic factors. While high-end models are on the horizon, the overall shift towards budget-friendly options may continue for the foreseeable future. The upcoming releases and innovations could potentially change the landscape, but for now, companies like Apple will need to rethink their strategies to regain lost ground in the competitive market.

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  • Raspberry Pi 500: New Successor to Raspberry Pi 400 with BCM 2712

    Raspberry Pi 500: New Successor to Raspberry Pi 400 with BCM 2712

    The Raspberry Pi 400 has been available for some time now. To give you some background, the Raspberry Pi Foundation launched this device, which it called ‘a computer in a keyboard,’ in late 2020. Since that release, the Foundation has introduced several other products, including the Raspberry Pi 5, which is currently priced at $58.39 on Amazon.

    New Developments in the Raspberry Pi Lineup

    It’s been so long since the Raspberry Pi 400 came out that a DIY enthusiast made their own version during the summer. However, there are indications that the Foundation is working on a direct follow-up named the Raspberry Pi 500 (RPi 500). Reports suggest that the RPi 500 has only been seen in the GitHub repository for the arm64 version of Raspberry Pi OS.

    Specifications and Features

    Interestingly, it looks like the RPi 500 will use the same Broadcom BCM 2712 chip found in the Raspberry Pi 5. Sadly, many details are still unclear, such as if the RPi 500 will have an exposed PCIe connection. It’s likely that the RPi 500 will keep the same I/O and 4 GB RAM configuration as its predecessor, but we will have to wait for more information to confirm this.

    Sources: GitHub via Hackaday & Tom’s Hardware

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  • Verizon and AT&T Hit by Major Chinese Cyberattack

    Verizon and AT&T Hit by Major Chinese Cyberattack

    A Chinese state-backed hacking group, referred to as Salt Typhoon, has allegedly infiltrated the systems of prominent U.S. broadband companies, such as Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies. This cyber intrusion is reported to have lasted for several months, and it’s a significant issue. Authorities are currently viewing it as a major national security concern. The hackers might have accessed systems used for legal wiretapping requests, raising alarm about the potential compromise of U.S. intelligence and communication data.

    Ongoing Investigations

    Although the breach was only recently uncovered, the full scope of it remains under investigation by U.S. government agencies and private cybersecurity companies. Investigators think that the hackers focused on network infrastructure to capture internet traffic, which could impact millions of Americans. There are also signs that providers outside the U.S. might have faced similar threats.

    Verizon’s Response

    In reaction to the breach, Verizon has established a "war room" at its facility in Ashburn, Virginia, collaborating with the FBI, Microsoft, and Google’s Mandiant—a cybersecurity firm that specializes in threat detection, incident response, and security consulting—to evaluate the situation. While U.S. officials have not yet verified whether the attackers accessed lists of surveillance targets or their communications, the severity of the incident warranted a briefing for President Joe Biden, according to reports.

    Broader Implications

    The Salt Typhoon operation, which has been active since 2020, is part of a wider Chinese espionage campaign, with signs indicating possible involvement from China’s Ministry of State Security. The FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies continue to probe the extent of the breach and what sensitive data may have been taken. Microsoft, along with other cybersecurity companies, is helping to assess the level of data compromise.

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  • Core Ultra 9 285K vs i9-14900K: Power Use and Gaming Speed

    Core Ultra 9 285K vs i9-14900K: Power Use and Gaming Speed

    Intel’s Arrow Lake-S performance details have been leaked by a Chinese news source just days before its official release, and the results aren’t particularly impressive. The top-tier Core Ultra 9 285K appears to be slower than Intel’s fastest current generation Raptor Lake-R. Additionally, AMD’s Ryzen 7000X3D series outperforms it in demanding gaming situations. The lone positive note here is that Arrow Lake boasts better power efficiency.

    Performance Comparisons

    The Core Ultra 9 285K only trails the i9-14900K by a few frames per second. According to the leak, the Arrow Lake-S chip averages 261 fps, while the i9-14900K averages 264 fps. Interestingly, the information suggests that Intel is showing total system power usage rather than just CPU power. The Core Ultra 9 285K system is 80 W more efficient, while matching the performance levels of the Raptor Lake-R system.

    Focus on Efficiency

    It seems that raw performance is not the main goal for the new Arrow Lake series. Instead, Intel’s enhanced manufacturing method allows for lower thermal design power (TDP) with similar performance levels, or in some cases, up to 15% better performance. Another slide indicates that the Core Ultra 9 285K matches the i9-14900K while consuming 34-58 W less power, and certain games may experience a performance boost of 4-6% with a TDP reduction of up to 165 W. However, the specifics of the TDPs for the 15% performance improvement in F1 23 are unclear.

    Competitive Edge

    The leak also features two slides that pit the Core Ultra 9 285K against AMD’s older and newer Ryzen 9000 series processors. In productivity tests, the Arrow Lake-S flagship model outperforms the Ryzen 9 7950X3D by as much as 30%. Intel has consistently held an advantage in productivity and content creation for several generations. On the gaming front, though, the Arrow Lake-S is sometimes 15% faster, but it can be up to 21% slower in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, making it generally slower. Furthermore, Intel isn’t comparing it to the 7800X3D, which continues to be the top performer in gaming.

    When compared to the Ryzen 9 9950X, the Core Ultra 9 285K is mostly even, achieving three wins and five losses, giving it a slight overall performance edge of 0.26%. This slide is not particularly useful since it fails to specify the TDPs for any of the CPUs. Additionally, there is a note indicating that the results utilize Application Optimized (APO) code, which typically skews results in favor of Intel.

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  • 24-Core Core Ultra 9 285K CPU Leaks for Gaming PC

    24-Core Core Ultra 9 285K CPU Leaks for Gaming PC

    Intel is about to launch its new Arrow Lake-S series of desktop CPUs very soon. The top model in this series, the 24-core, 24-thread Core Ultra 9 285K, is expected to offer significant improvements in single-thread performance, according to some recently leaked PassMark scores.

    Product Details Leaked

    A leaked product page for HP’s Omen 35L pre-built gaming tower has disclosed that it will come equipped with the Core Ultra 9 285K Arrow Lake-S CPU, which boasts a boost clock speed of 5.7 GHz. It can also support up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM. Interestingly, the memory speed is noted as 4000 MT/s, which seems quite low and likely a mistake. On the graphics front, HP is also going all out, featuring options with Nvidia’s powerful RTX 4090.

    Performance Expectations

    Intel’s Arrow Lake-S series will not include hyperthreading support, and early benchmarks seem to showcase this change. However, single-threaded performance is expected to see a notable rise, as shown by recent tests. It remains uncertain if these potential performance boosts will be sufficient for the struggling chip giant to reclaim its position as a key player in gaming performance.

    Competitive Landscape

    With fierce competition from AMD and Apple’s custom chips, Intel is under significant pressure. Their new Lunar Lake mobile platform has been well received, and the Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs have a lot at stake as they aim to attract gamers and creators once more.

    momomo_us via Twitter

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  • M4 MacBook Pro Leaked Again to YouTuber, No Fake Flags This Time

    M4 MacBook Pro Leaked Again to YouTuber, No Fake Flags This Time

    Apple’s product leaks before launches are not new. Yet, seeing retail versions of the M4 MacBook Pro in the hands of two Russian YouTubers nearly a month ahead of schedule is quite shocking. If Apple has a leak issue, this isn’t just a minor concern; it’s a serious supply chain disaster waiting to happen.

    Leaked Details

    Earlier today, we reported on a YouTube video from a well-known Russian creator who unboxed what they claimed to be the M4 MacBook Pro and tested it using Geekbench. The performance numbers are impressive, but honestly, this isn’t surprising since the chip was showcased in the OLED iPad Pro about four months back.

    Suspicious Circumstances

    The unboxing video raised some eyebrows, though. For starters, the packaging featured the same old wallpaper from the M3 era, and the MacBook’s system details were cleverly obscured. There was also an additional Thunderbolt port, which was only available on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models. Just a few hours later, another YouTuber named romancev768 also displayed an ‘M4 MacBook Pro’ and made sure to reveal the ‘About the Mac’ screen on his 14-inch model, clearly showing the M4 SoC alongside 16 GB of memory.

    The Big Question

    This leads us to a puzzling question—how are retail versions of these yet-to-be-released MacBook Pro models finding their way to Russian YouTubers almost a month before the official release? The answer eludes me, and maybe it’s better to leave it unanswered. Nevertheless, Apple appears to be facing a significant supply chain issue that could cause quite a stir among its executives. Is this reminiscent of the iPhone 4 situation? It’s tough to determine.

    Romancev768V via YouTube.

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