As expected, Apple did not reveal exact sales numbers of its Apple Watch device during the first quarter of availability at its conference call, however, it did say that the product was more successful in terms of unit sales than iPad and iPhone in their first quarter of availability. This …
Read More »Intel Core i7-6700K ‘Skylake’ overclocked to 6.50GHz with LN2
A computer enthusiast has managed to set a new record in overclocking of Intel Corp.’s Core i7-6700K processor. The chip was pushed to 6.50GHz about a month ago, which is the highest frequency achieved by a “Skylake” microprocessor so far. While the record was set using liquid nitrogen cooling, this …
Read More »Rambus to unveil brand-new DRAM tech in the coming weeks
Rambus this week said that it will officially introduce its all-new datacenter-class dynamic random access memory (DRAM) architecture in the coming weeks. The new DRAM is expected to shrink latencies and increase capacities of computer memory chips, something that is tremendously important for servers working with big data and in-memory …
Read More »MSI unveils its Intel Z170 Gaming platforms for Intel ‘Skylake’ CPUs
MicroStar International on Tuesday gave a sneak peek on its new mainboards based on Intel Z170 core-logic set designed for gamers. The MSI Z170A Gaming family of mainboards provides ultimate performance and innovative features, but are aimed at different segments of the market. The upcoming MSI Z170A Gaming mainboards designed …
Read More »TSMC plans to use EUV lithography for 5nm process technology
For quite a while, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has been talking about using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography for its advanced 10nm process technology. However, since appropriate scanners are not ready and will not be for at least a couple of years, the company will be unable to take advantage of …
Read More »EVGA pre-bins GM200 GPUs for GeForce GTX 980 Ti K|NGP|N
It is not a secret that every graphics processing unit has a unique set of physical features, including individual overclocking potential. In a bid to provide unique service to its customers, EVGA will offers its flagship GeForce GTX 980 Ti K|NGP|N with pre-determined overclocking potential. The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 …
Read More »AMD unveils A8-7670K accelerated processing unit
Advanced Micro Devices on Monday introduced its new A8-7670K accelerated processing unit designed for low-cost personal computers. The new APU is based on “Kaveri” design and features slightly lower performance than the flagship A10-7870K. The AMD A8-7670K features four “Steamroller” cores (two dual-core modules) with 3.60GHz/3.90GHz clock-rate, integrated AMD Radeon …
Read More »U.S. authorities would block Micron acquisition by Tsinghua – sources
Tsinghua Unigroup last week communicated its interest to acquire Micron Technology to the company, but did not present a formal offer. Moreover, according to sources close to the producer of DRAM and flash, the U.S. authorities would block the deal because Micron is strategically important for the country. China-based Tsinghua …
Read More »Intel Core i7-6700K ‘Skylake’ overclocked to 5.20GHz with air cooling
Intel Corp.’s upcoming Core i7-6700K “Skylake” processor will hit the market only in August, but samples of the chips have already been shipped to select Intel’s partners, who test them in their labs. According to a new report from a Chinese web-site, the new chips are pretty good overclockers: one …
Read More »Analyst: Apple sold around four million Apple Watch devices
Without any doubts, Apple’s Watch is a rather popular device. Unfortunately, Apple itself is not going to disclose its sales numbers any time soon, which is why it is unclear how successful the device is. A financial analyst estimates that Apple has so far shipped around four million units. KGI …
Read More »TSMC’s 7nm tech will use 10nm elements, production starts in 2018
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. this week disclosed some additional details about its 7nm fabrication process. TSMC reiterated plans to start qualifications of the technology in early 2017 and then initiate volume production in 2018. The 7nm process will use certain elements derived from the 10nm fabrication process, which will help …
Read More »AMD begins development of its third major semi-custom design
Advanced Micro Devices recently started to design its third semi-custom accelerated processing unit for an undisclosed customer. Some believe that this third semi-custom system-on-chip will eventually power Nintendo’s next-generation game console code-named “NX”. However, AMD claims that the new SoC “expands the base” of its semi-custom business beyond gaming, which …
Read More »TSMC: 10nm is on-track for volume production start in Q4 2016
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. this week denied any delays of risk or mass production of chips using its 10nm process technology. The company intends to start volume production of semiconductors at 10nm node late next year, which means that its clients will receive their first 10nm chips in the first quarter …
Read More »AMD vows to keep R&D investments at appropriate levels
Despite of tough times, Advanced Micro Devices plans to sustain its research and development investments on certain levels in a bid to ensure that its products are competitive in the future. Research and development are two corner stones of high-tech companies. Without fundamental research of things that may not seem important today …
Read More »EVGA offers £20/€25 cashback on its GeForce GTX 960 graphics cards
For a limited time only EVGA offers a special discount in the form of cashback on its Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics cards. The promotion is open to residents of the U.K., European Union, EEA countries as well as Switzerland. Customers, who buy any EVGA GeForce GTX 960 graphics card from …
Read More »TSMC begins shipments of chips made using 16nm FinFET process tech
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. announced on Thursday that it had started volume production of chips using its 16nm FinFET manufacturing technology in the second quarter of 2015. The world’s largest contract maker of semiconductors is delivering the first batch of products made at 16nm node to its customers right now, …
Read More »AMD: We have taped out our first FinFET products
Advanced Micro Devices said on Thursday that it had taped out its first products, which will be made using a FinFET process technology. While AMD does not reveal which products it had taped out, it is highly-likely that one of them is a highly-anticipated microprocessor based on “Zen” micro-architecture. “We …
Read More »Shipments of 8K UHD TVs to hit one million units in 2019 – report
Due to lack of content and high prices, the next-generation 8K ultra-high-definition format will take off pretty slowly, according to estimates by IHS DisplaySearch, a major market tracker. In the second year of availability, shipments of 8K (7680*4320) UHD televisions will hit around one million units, which is comparable to …
Read More »Shipments of Intel Core i7 processors set records in Q2 – company
Despite of lowering sales of personal computers and slow demand for consumer electronics in general, Intel Corp. claims that shipments of its high-end Core i7 microprocessors were record-high in the second quarter of 2015. Although Intel Corp. posted mixed results for the second quarter of the year and made a rather …
Read More »Asustek and Gigabyte remain world’s top mainboard makers as market shrinks
Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology remained the top mainboard makers in the first half of this year, according to a media report. Each company shipped about eight million motherboards globally, which was below their initial plans. In fact, the market of mainboards shrunk pretty significantly in 1H 2015. Gigabyte managed …
Read More »Intel wants to use EUV lithography for 7nm process technology
Intel Corp. has implied a number of times that it did not need to use extreme ultraviolet lithography for its 7nm manufacturing process. However, after facing problems with multi-patterning methods at 14nm and 10nm fabrication technologies, it seems that the company has changed its mind. This week Intel said that …
Read More »Intel confirms delay of 10nm chips to 2017, blames difficulties
Intel Corp. on Wednesday confirmed the delay of mass production of central processing units using 10nm fabrication process to 2017. The company said that it ran into difficulties with its 10nm technology and decided to stretch the life-cycle of 14nm process with one more family of CPU products code-named “Kaby …
Read More »EVGA shows off its GTX 980 Ti K|NGP|N Edition as launch looms
Vince “K|NGP|N” Lucido, a legendary overclocker that works with EVGA, has published the first official images of the upcoming EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti K|NGP|N Edition graphics card. The new board looks somewhat similar to previous-generation K|NGP|N Edition products, but it still features a number of differences that promise to …
Read More »GlobalFoundries: We are producing 14nm chips for our customers, yields on-track
GlobalFoundries on Wednesday confirmed that it is had initiated high-volume production of chips for its customers using 14nm FinFET (14LPE) process technology. The company claims that yields of its 14nm semiconductors are comparable to yields at Samsung Foundry, the company that developed the 14LPE. “Our 14nm ramp is right on …
Read More »K|NGP|N: Overvoltaging alone does not help ‘Maxwell’ to overclock
Nvidia Corp.’s latest graphics processing units based on “Maxwell” architecture are rather good overclockers, but only to a certain degree. According to Vince “K|NGP|N” Lucido, a professional overclocker, without extreme methods of cooling (such as use of liquid nitrogen, chiller or other), most “Maxwell” GPUs just do not work at …
Read More »TSMC cuts prices of 20nm and 28nm chips by 10%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reduced prices of chip production using its 20nm and 28nm fabrication processes earlier this quarter, according to a media report. Customers of TSMC lowered orders for 20nm and 28nm chips and the company wants to increase utilization of its capacities by slashing prices. Potentially, the price-cuts …
Read More »Plextor officially introduces low-cost TLC NAND-based SSDs
Plextor, a leading maker of solid-state drives primarily known for high-end SSDs, this week officially introduced its M6V family of products that target customers in budget. The new M6V lineup features triple-level-cell (TLC) NAND flash memory and an inexpensive controller. Nonetheless, Plextor claims that the drives boast with the company’s …
Read More »SanDisk unveils new wireless flash drive for PCs and mobile devices
In the increasingly mobile world, it is very hard to find a storage device that is compatible with all gadgets that are in use, is not expensive, is easy to carry and to use. SanDisk has managed to create one: the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick can store up to 128GB of …
Read More »Acquisition of Micron by Tsinghua could lead to DRAM oversupply
Financial analysts believe that the rumoured takeover of Micron Technology by China-based Tsinghua Unigroup could lead to a major change of Micron’s policies in regards of expansion of production capacities. If Tsinghua acquires Micron and starts to build new fabs to gain market share, this could result in oversupply of …
Read More »Chinese group could acquire Micron to boost local memory industry
Tsinghua Unigroup, a China-based investment company that controls Spreadtrum Communications and RDA Microelectronics, reportedly wants to acquire Micron Technology, the world’s third largest maker of DRAM and the No. 4 maker of NAND flash. China may need Micron in a bid to boost its homegrown memory industry and secure supply …
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