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NVIDIA 2025 International CES Keynote: Liveblog

NVIDIA kicks off the 2025 International CES with a bang. The company is expected to debut its new GeForce “Blackwell” RTX 5000 generation of gaming graphics cards. It is also expected to launch new technology, such as neural rendering, and DLSS 4. The company is also expected to highlight a new piece of silicon for Windows on Arm laptops, showcase the next in its Drive PX FSD hardware, and probably even talk about its next-generation “Blackwell Ultra” AI GPU, and if we’re lucky, even namedrop “Rubin.” Join us, as we liveblog CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote address.

02:22 UTC: The show is finally underway!

02:35 UTC: CTA president Gary Shaprio kicks off the show, introduces Jensen Huang.

02:46 UTC: “Tokens are the building blocks of AI”

02:46 UTC: “Do you like my jacket?”

02:47 UTC: NVIDIA recounts progress all the way till NV1 and UDA.

02:48 UTC: “CUDA was difficult to explain, it took 6 years to get the industry to like it”

02:50 UTC: “AI is coming home to GeForce”. NVIDIA teases neural material and neural rendering. Rendered on “Blackwell”

02:55 UTC: Every single pixel is ray traced, thanks to AI rendering.

02:55 UTC: Here it is, the GeForce RTX 5090.

03:20 UTC: At least someone is pushing the limits for GPUs.

03:22 UTC: Incredible board design.

03:22 UTC: RTX 5070 matches RTX 4090 at $550.

03:24 UTC: Here’s the lineup, available from January.

03:24 UTC: RTX 5070 Laptop starts at $1299.

03:24 UTC: “The future of computer graphics is neural rendering”

03:25 UTC: Laptops powered by RTX Blackwell: staring prices:

03:26 UTC: AI has come back to power GeForce.

03:28 UTC: Supposedly the Grace Blackwell NVLink72.

03:28 UTC: 1.4 ExaFLOPS.

03:32 UTC: NVIDIA very sneakily teased a Windows AI PC chip.

03:35 UTC: NVIDIA is teaching generative AI basic physics. NVIDIA Cosmos, a world foundation model.

03:41 UTC: NVIDIA Cosmos is trained on 20 million hours of video.

03:43 UTC: Cosmos is open-licensed on GitHub.

03:52 UTC: NVIDIA onboards Toyota for its next generation EV for full-self driving.

03:53 UTC: NVIDIA unveils Thor Blackwell robotics processor.

03:53 UTC: Thor is 20x the processing capability of Orin.

03:54 UTC: CUDA is now a functional safe computer thanks to its automobile certifications.

This live post will update automatically when content is added
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(PR) Sansui to Showcase AI Gaming Monitor at CES 2025

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Sunday, January 5th 2025

Sansui is thrilled to announce its presence at CES 2025, where it will showcase the award winning AI Gaming Monitor, recently named a CES Innovation Awards 2025 Honoree. This cutting-edge gaming monitor highlights Sansui’s dedication to redefining the gaming experience with advanced AI technology and user-focused innovation.

“CES is the ultimate stage for innovation, and we’re excited to showcase a product that represents the future of gaming,” said Victor, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sansui. “Our AI Gaming Monitor combines top-tier performance with features that enhance health and energy efficiency, delivering a truly next-level experience for gamers.” Attendees can experience this innovation firsthand at Booth 19840, Central Hall, LVCC, in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2025.

Revolutionizing Gaming with AI Technology
The Sansui 27-inch WQHD AI Gaming Monitor is designed to elevate gaming and entertainment to the next level. Key features include:

  • AI Video Processing: Real-time optimization for sharper visuals and smoother gameplay.
  • Dynamic Low Blue Light Technology: Reduces eye strain without affecting vibrant color accuracy, ideal for extended gaming sessions.
  • Power-Saving AI Functions: Wake-on-approach and adaptive dimming features minimize energy consumption.
  • Health AI Features: Includes posture detection and long-sit alerts, prioritizing gamer comfort and well-being.
  • Performance Options: Available in two models, with ultra-high refresh rates of 240 Hz or 300 Hz and a 1 ms response time.

Explore the award-winning 27-inch WQHD AI Gaming Monitor and see how Sansui is shaping the future of gaming. Attendees can experience live product demos, gain insights into the technology behind the innovation, and connect with key members of the Sansui team.

Source: Sansui

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BOOX Note Max with 13.3-inch E-Ink Display Launches Worldwide

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Saturday, January 4th 2025

E-Ink aficionados have been on the rise in recent years, and for good reason. E-Ink displays, despite their undeniable downsides, are excellent for note-taking and reading without having to worry about eye-strain. The 13.3-inch BOOX Note Max is an excellent option for its targeted demographic, and is now available for purchase worldwide for a relatively affordable price of $649.

The Note Max sports Android support, specifically Android 13. Needless to say, this means that a plethora of apps and functionality can be installed separately. The 13.3-inch capacitive touch display with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity sports a resolution for 3200 x 2400, amounting to a commendable PPI value of 300. An octa-core 2.8 GHz CPU takes care of all the computing needs, paired with 6 GB of memory. Of course, the Note Max is not meant to be a powerhouse, but decent performance is always welcome.

That said, there is no front light, which makes it rather tedious to use at night. Basically, E-Ink display do not have a backlight, which means late-night reading and note-taking will have to be accompanied by external light source, which may be to the annoyance of people around. A 3,700 mAh battery is included, which should allow for decent runtimes. At 615 grams, the Note Max is certainly on the heavier side, but that is to be expected considering its 13.3-inch form-factor.

Source: BOOX

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SCYROX V8 Review

SCYROX V8 Review | TechPowerUp

SCYROX V8 Review 7

Packaging, Weight, Cable & Feet »

Introduction

SCYROX Logo

SCYROX is a peripherals company based in China. A new name in the industry, SCYROX aims to provide high-quality peripherals at affordable prices. The V8, which is their first release, certainly fits that criteria: PixArt’s latest PAW3950 sensor capable of 30,000 CPI sees use, along with Omron D2FP-FN2 optical switches for the main buttons. At 40 g, the V8 is also exceptionally light, even though the shell is completely solid. The V8 already comes with a USB high-speed wireless dongle by default, allowing polling rates of up to 8000 Hz in wireless operation. The feet are made of pure PTFE, and one can choose between installing a set of smaller or larger feet, both of which are included with the mouse. Configuration is done conveniently through a web driver. The SCYROX V8 is available in yellow, black, or white.

Specifications

SCYROX V8
Size:118 mm x 63 mm x 38 mm
Size (inches):4.65″ x 2.48″ x 1.50″
Ambidextrous:Partially (side buttons on left side only)
Weight:40 g
Number of Buttons:5+1 (including wheel click)
Main Switches:Omron D2FP-FN2 (China)
Wheel Encoder:SCYROX (F-Switch, yellow/pink core, 9 mm)
Sensor:PixArt PAW3950
Resolution:50–30,000 CPI
Microcontroller Unit:Nordic nRF52840
Polling Rate:125/250/500/1000 Hz (wired)
125/250/500/1000/2000/4000/8000 Hz (wireless)
Cable:1.80 m, braided
Software:Yes
Price:$69.99
Warranty:One year

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(PR) ‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ Meets ‘Clash of Clans’ in City of Springs

Indie developers Alterego Games and The Naked Dev, have today announced the release of City of Springs – Craft & modify your robot drones to fight off a cruel regime in this steampunk adventure game.

City of Springs
You play as Val, a brilliant mechanic from the big slum district of the last city on earth. A cruel and strict regime controls every aspect of life in the city, and any transgression is taken out of your rations. The city is like a broken clock. Someone has to stand up to the ministries and fix it.

Gameplay
In City of Springs you craft and modify your drones to fight the robotic guards of the city in one-on-one duels, where timing and strategy are key. You explore the city’s nooks and crannies for resources to help craft new abilities, help the people where they need the most, and sneak your way around the guards and cameras that guard the streets.

The game is like an indie interpretation of Horizon Zero Dawn with Clash of Clans-like combat, but then completely different.

“We wanted a game in which the player has the freedom to choose whether to fight or sneak their way towards their goal. A story-driven game with lots of gameplay that is casual in nature, so the game is accessible to a broad audience. A game that rewards the exploration of the world and makes the players feel they are making a real change to the world.” – Vincent da Silva, Lead Game Designer.

Features:

  • Combat guards in unique 1-on-1 combat
  • Crouch and sneak your way past cameras and enemies undetected.
  • Collect story-content tapes featuring live-action videos.
  • Explore an enormous city divided into five quadrants, each with its own challenges.
  • Enjoy an elaborate story as it enfolds across 32 main quests and 43 sidequests in 8-20 hours of gameplay.

City of Springs excels with a sprawling dystopian world that harbours big surprises. The unique combat, the rich atmosphere of the city, the live-action video content and the tailored soundtrack make City of Springs a must-play title.

City of Springs, to be released 31st of January 2025 for PC, macOS & Linux on Steam.

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DDR5 Thermal Testing & Analysis

DDR5 Thermal Testing & Analysis | TechPowerUp

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(PR) ECS Announces Diverse New Motherboards, Mini PCs and Notebooks for CES 2025

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is excited to announce its participation in CES 2025, taking place at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, USA, from January 7 to 10. At the event, ECS will showcase its full lineup of cutting-edge products, including motherboards, mini PCs, and notebooks, designed to meet the needs of home entertainment, office, school, and commercial applications.

Unleash Your Potential with the Ultimate LEET Gaming Motherboards
ECS new models of LEET gaming motherboards – Z890 series marks a significant advancement in motherboard technology, offering notable improvements in performance, stability, scalability, and user-focused design, all tailored to meet the evolving needs of consumers. ECS Z890 motherboards are compatible with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors for the Intel LGA 1851 socket and feature four DDR5 DIMM slots, supporting up to 256 GB of total memory with impressive overclocking capabilities, including speeds of up to 8800 MHz. These motherboards also offer advanced connectivity options, including two PCIe 5.0 graphics slots, four PCIe 4.0 slots, ultra-fast 5 Gb Ethernet LAN, and the latest wireless networking technologies.

Experience High-Efficiency Computing Performance with the ECS B760 Series
ECS B760 motherboards are high-performance, feature-packed platforms designed to deliver exceptional value for a variety of uses, from casual gaming and daily tasks to specialized vertical market applications. Supporting up to 96 GB of DDR5 5600 memory across two DIMM slots, these motherboards offer robust expansion options. The ECS B760 motherboards also excel in bandwidth and connectivity, supporting PCIe 5.0, M.2 PCIe Gen 4 x4 2280 SSDs, WLAN 6E, and 2.5 Gb Ethernet for exceptional data transfer speeds and cutting-edge performance.

Discover the Compact and Reliable LIVA Mini PC for Home and Businesses
The ECS LIVA Mini PC family will feature the ultra-compact Q series, versatile Z series, high-performance One series, and AI-powered P series at the event. Designed for a range of applications, from home and offices to schools and retail, the LIVA One series includes two platforms: One H610 with Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors (12th/13th/14th Gen, LGA1700) and One A620 with AMD Ryzen 9000/7000/8000 Series processors (AM5 socket). Supporting up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory and offering up to three display outputs (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA) at 4K resolution, the LIVA One series also features M.2 expansion. With secure TPM support for enhanced protection against cyber threats, it’s the perfect solution for small businesses and SMBs.

ECS Presents New Lineup of AI-Driven Commercial Laptops at CES 2025
ECS is set to unveil a groundbreaking series of lightweight, AI-powered commercial laptops at CES 2025. This innovative lineup includes both 14-inch and 15.3-inch models, each meticulously designed to meet the needs of business professionals and mobile users. These laptops offer a variety of processor options, including AMD and Snapdragon platforms, and feature a sleek metal chassis that aligns with mainstream market standards.

ECS is set to debut a groundbreaking series of lightweight, AI-powered commercial laptops at CES 2025. This innovative lineup features the 14-inch UP42KP and UP42PW models, as well as the 15.3-inch UP52PW model, all designed to meet the needs of business professionals and mobile users. The laptops are equipped with a variety of processor platforms, including AMD and Snapdragon, and boast a sleek metal chassis that meets mainstream market standards.

The ECS UP42KP is a 14-inch laptop that leverages the cutting-edge AMD Krackan processor platform, featuring 8 Zen 5 CPU cores, RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, and NPU capabilities exceeding 40 TOPS. Targeted at the mainstream mid-range market, it operates within a TDP range of 15 W to 54 W and supports DDR5-5600 memory along with 16 PCIe lanes, ensuring enhanced performance and scalability.

UP42KP is equipped with advanced connectivity options, such as WiFi 6 and USB4.0, ensuring seamless and high-speed connections. It also includes an IR camera for secure Windows Hello authentication, a backlit keyboard for enhanced usability in low-light conditions, HDMI 2.1 for superior display connectivity, and a built-in camera shutter for privacy protection. Despite its extensive feature set, the device maintains a sleek, slim profile at just 16.9 mm thick, complemented by a Full HD display for a sharp and vibrant visual experience.

The ECS UP42PW is outfitted with the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor and Oryon CPU, reaching a maximum turbo frequency of 3.4 GHz and equipped with 30 MB of cache. This model boasts 45 TOPS of NPU AI capability and features high-speed LPDDR5 memory, ensuring optimal efficiency and energy savings, with a battery life exceeding 12 hours. It sports a 14-inch IPS FHD display with 100% sRGB coverage, providing vibrant and true-to-life colors. The laptop’s 180-degree flat design enhances flexibility and is perfect for meeting collaboration. Connectivity is streamlined with USB4.0. Additionally, the UP42PW supports Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC functionalities, including Recall, real-time translation, Cocreator AI, and Windows Studio Effects, making it an ideal choice for modern professionals.

In addition to the 14-inch laptop, we also offer the 15.3-inch UP52PW model. Sharing a unified design with the UP42PW, the UP52PW features a larger display to enhance productivity and user experience. Equipped with the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor, this model is ideal for professionals who require robust hardware and a variety of connectivity options. The UP52PW ensures smooth and efficient operation, meeting the diverse needs of today’s business environments.

ECS remains dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology solutions tailored for modern professionals. Stay tuned for more updates from CES 2025 as we continue to innovate and set new standards in the industry

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INTUAURA Lakeview In-Ear Monitors Review – The Power of DSP!

Introduction

INTUAURA Logo

I feel fairly confident in saying most people reading this review probably have no idea who or what INTUAURA is, and I was in this same position a few months ago. INTUAURA is a new Chinese IEM brand that is barely three years old, although its founder has been in this industry for longer and has such a great reputation that his brand is already an OEM for others, including some that you may well have heard of. INTUAURA is his way of showcasing what can be done with pure analog tuning of a single dynamic driver, and then getting that extra bit on top with digital signal processing (DSP). I had heard of INTUAURA thanks to Linsoul suddenly stocking a new brand, and all of them seemed intriguing. There were no review samples available, and of course I had no direct contact with the brand either. Skip forward to late September at the Shenzhen International Audio Show, and INTUAURA’s founder approaches me directly and invites me to come try out his IEMs. He was clearly confident of his offerings, and I went through four of them before giving my feedback, in addition to saying which one was my favorite. He offered a review sample on the spot, and only when I got back to the hotel did I realize this happened to also be the most expensive one in his current product lineup. Of course I felt bad, but he insisted I take it and do a review to help spread word on his brand. So here we are as promised to him, and thanks again to INTUAURA for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp!

We’ve seen DSP IEMs before, with the likes of the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK arguably being the most popular recent entry. INTUAURA, thanks to its own design and manufacturing factory cities, aims to bring DSP to the masses, but also uses it at the flagship levels—because why not take advantage of something at your disposal? DSP makes all the more sense with single-driver IEMs, especially those using dynamic drivers, given it’s not easy to balance out tuning for the entire 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range while also maintaining a good sense of technical/subjective aspects such as bass impact and dynamism, soundstage and imaging, and detail retrieval. Today we put INTUAURA’s current flagship, the Lakeview, to the test. It uses a custom dynamic driver made specifically for the set by a high-end driver supplier that has worked with the likes of Sennheiser and Bang & Olufsen, paired with two individual Type-C to 4.4 mm DAC/amp dongles that have EQ profiles built into them. This makes for the easiest implementation of DSP from a consumer point of view—no need to worry about buggy apps, far easier than setting up your own custom EQ profiles, and always available to you thanks to being stored on the dongles. They also double up to act as sources, allowing you to use the Lakeview with digital audio outputs from a phone or laptop on the go, while also providing the analog tuning from the IEM cable. There’s a total of three available tonalities here to go through thus, so let’s get this review started with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

INTUAURA Lakeview In-Ear Monitors
Shell:Resin shells with hand-drawn decorative faceplates
Cable:16-strand analog cable + two 4-strand DSP cables, all with high purity copper conductor
Driver Unit:Single 10 mm dynamic driver
Frequency Response:5 Hz–50 kHz
Sensitivity:126 dB/Vrms @1 kHz (+/-3 dB)
Impedance:15 Ω (+/-5%)
Cable Connectors:4.4 mm TRRRS (Type-C w/dongle adapter) to source + two 0.78 mm 2-pin plugs to IEMs
Cable Length:4 ft/1.2 m
Warranty:One year, including accidental damage
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TSMC Is Getting Ready to Launch Its First 2nm Production Line

TSMC is making progress with its most advanced 2 nm (N2) node, a recent report from MoneyDJ quoting industry sources indicates that the company is setting up a test production line at the Hsinchu Baoshan fab (Fab 20) in Taiwan. In the early stages, TSMC aims for small monthly outputs with about 3,000-3,500 wafers. However, the company has big plans to combine production from two factories in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, TSMC expects to deliver more than 50,000 wafers monthly by the end of 2025 and by the end of 2026 projecting a production of around 125,000 wafers per month. Breaking it down by location, the Hsinchu factory should reach 20,000-25,000 wafers monthly by late 2025, growing to about 60,000-65,000 by early 2027. Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung factory is expected to produce 25,000-30,000 wafers monthly by late 2025, also increasing to 60,000-65,000 by early 2027.

TSMC’s chairman C.C. Wei says there’s more demand for these 2 nm chips than there was for the 3 nm. This increased “appetite” for 2 nm chips is likely due to the significant improvements this technology brings: it uses 24-35% less power, can run 15% faster at the same power level, and can fit 15% more transistors in the same space compared to the 3 nm chips. Apple will be the first company to use these chips, followed by other major tech companies like MediaTek, Qualcomm, Intel, NVIDIA, AMD, and Broadcom.

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HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Headphones Review – The Next Best?

Introduction

HiFiMAN Logo

HIFIMAN has been busy lately, real busy even. Earlier this year we saw the release of the new planar magnetic flagship Susvara Unveiled, which brought with it a new driver concept involving the removal of the outside grilles. This effectively exposed the drivers, making for a fully open-back set which should not have any sound wave reflections off the grille that can otherwise detract from your listening experience. Of course that also meant the Susvara Unveiled required more care and attention in use, and came with magnetic veil covers to help protect the drivers when the headphones were not in use. I thought the Susvara Unveiled were absolutely fantastic and more of a specialist set than the original Susvara, meeting my music library and preferences with ease even if the $8000 was a lot to cough up. Then late September came and HIFIMAN brought out the HE1000 Unveiled for nearly a third the cost of the Susvara Unveiled. This was the unveiled take on the HIFIMAN HE1000se, and we were beginning to see a welcome trend in terms of more filled-out mids that lended favorably to vocals, as well as a generally tamer and smoother treble. The HE1000 Unveiled is also far less concerning in use thanks to the drivers being less exposed, yet I was left asking myself—will this unveiled driver technology trickle down further?

It did not take much longer for HIFIMAN to do it, and just a few weeks ago we saw the launch of the brand-new Arya Unveiled. This helps explain why the likes of the Arya Organic and HE1000 Stealth have been heavily discounted lately, not to mention the Arya Stealth from a few years ago that is a great buy at its current price—no doubt going to be discontinued soon. The Arya Unveiled looks quite similar to the HE1000 Unveiled, both with the teardrop-shaped ear cups that we’ve seen in multiple HIFIMAN headphones before, and having unveiled drivers on the outside in a manner that I do feel more comfortable using compared to the Susvara Unveiled. That said, the black chassis, headband, suspension band, and ear pads combined with the silver drivers on the outside do make me think this is the best looking HIFIMAN headphones ever made—a subjective take, but one that I am sure others agree with. This also suggests that perhaps the Arya Unveiled is using the Arya Stealth as the base platform as opposed to the Arya Organic that has a bass shelf which alone generated many fans of the product. Let’s see if the drivers being unveiled result in a similar effect here too, which may well make this the best HIFIMAN release of the year given it’s also the most affordable of the unveiled trio. Thanks to HIFIMAN for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp, as we begin this review with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled Headphones
Materials:Aluminium frame, plastic ear cups, hybrid ear pads, protein leather and steel headband
Transducer Principle:Open-back, over-ear, planar magnetic
Frequency Response:8 Hz–65 kHz
Sensitivity:94 dB/mW
Impedance:27 Ω
Cables:Dual 3.5 mm TRS from headphones to 6.35 mm (1/4″) connector to source
Weight (without cable and veils):413 g
Warranty:One year (+ six months for social media follow)