NVIDIA GeForce Now gets Skull and Bones, Halo: Infinite - and the possible sleeper hit of 2024
NVIDIA's GeForce Now streaming service just added the usual bunch of games, and this week's crop includes some high-profile titles.
First up, we have support for Skull and Bones, the new open world coop epic for budding pirates (nautical pirates, that is, not software thieves). Earlier this week, NVIDIA announced DLSS support for Skull and Bones, to boot (albeit DLSS 2 rather than DLSS 3 frame generation, but it's still going to provide a nice frame rate boost).
Another major addition to the GeForce Now library this week is Halo: Infinite, the shooter which has been around for a few years now. It still has a thriving multiplayer community, in case you were wondering.
Lexar's new SL600 Portable SSD is super fast, hits speeds of up to 2000MB/s
The portable storage solution market is stacked with viable options, but if you're after pure performance, look no further than the new Lexar Professional SL600 Portable SSD - which delivers up to 2,000MB/s read and write speeds - maximizing its USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface.
Available in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, Lexar's latest is all about catering to photographers, videographers, and content creators looking for speed, and it's available now at retailers like B&H and Adorama. And, as it's compatible with any device with a modern USB port, it's also great for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox gamers looking to expand storage without sacrificing overall speeds.
As a portable SSD, the Lexar Professional SL600 is designed to be taken on the go and features a durable aluminum case/enclosure that's shock and vibration-resistant. And for those conscious about transporting and transferring data, you've got access to Lexar DataShield 256-bit AES encryption software to protect files.
ASUS's Zenbook DUO is a new laptop with two 14-inch OLED touchscreens and a detachable keyboard
ASUS first showcased the new Zenbook Duo (2024) UX8406 at CES last month, where it immediately turned heads and garnered attention as a new one-of-a-kind device-a dual-screen laptop with a detachable keyboard designed to deliver a versatile and cutting-edge portable productivity experience.
It can be configured and used in multiple ways, with the ASUS Zenbook DUO having a traditional single-screen and keyboard setup that can also turn into two portrait displays in a book-like orientation with touchscreen functionality to a modern productivity setup with the dual screens and keyboard arranged to maximize comfort and use.
Hardware-wise, you've got the new AI-ready Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processor with Intel arc graphics, 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, and 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. As for the displays, you're looking at two 14-inch ASUS Lumina OLED displays with a 2880x1800 resolution, 500-nit HDR peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy.
OpenAI's new Sora tool creates video from text input with incredible results
OpenAI has just announced its latest tool -- Sora -- which will generate videos from text prompts, and it has truly incredible videos out before the new tool has been officially released. Check it out:
OpenAI posted on X about Sora, teasing: "Sora can create videos of up to 60 seconds featuring highly detailed scenes, complex camera motion, and multiple characters with vibrant emotions". The new model is named "Sora" after the Japanese word for "sky" and can produce impressive video results up to 60 seconds long just from a text prompt.
OpenAI explained on its website: "We're teaching AI to understand and simulate the physical world in motion, with the goal of training models that help people solve problems that require real-world interaction".
Creative is keeping the idea of desktop PC speakers alive with its new Pebble X series
With countless headsets designed for PC gaming and audio, there's seemingly only a fraction of that attention placed on PC desktop speakers - those two (or more) portable speakers you sit on either side of your display or desk. If you're in the market for some portable desktop speakers for gaming and other media, you might want to check out the new Creative Pebble X and Creative Pebble X Plus desktop speakers.
The latest iteration of the circular and stylish Pebble series of speakers features enhanced and custom-tune 2.75-inch drivers angled at 45 degrees; they're small but can deliver big sound. Each speaker offers up to 15W for a peak of 30W while connected to a USB-C port - which increases to 30W and a peak output of 60W when connected to a power adapter.
This dual functionality is excellent, with the Creative Pebble X Plus including a cube-shaped 3.5-inch subwoofer compact enough to sit on a desk.
Samsung's first 2nm chip order is from a Japanese startup which didn't order from TSMC
Samsung has reportedly won a contract from a Japanese startup, building their new chips on Samsung's fresh 2nm process node... taking the 2nm battle to TSMC's doorstep in 2025 and beyond.
Japan's Preferred Networks (PFN) is a startup that specializes in research and development of deep learning for IoT applications and is often referred to as the most advanced firm in Japan through its resources and expertise in developing custom software and supplying various customers with supercomputers.
In a new report from Seoul Economic Daily, Samsung has reportedly inked a new deal with PFN that would see both companies benefitting. PFN gets its hands on the latest chip technology that allows it to have an advantage over its competitors, while Samsung gets to talk up its foundry business pumping out 2nm chips against TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company).
You can fly missions on Dune's desert planet of Arrakis in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Dune: Part Two is one of the most anticipated movie releases of the year, with the epic sci-fi sequel set to hit theatres and IMAX screens on March 1, 2024. Microsoft has partnered with Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures to celebrate the release, and there are a couple of cool treats for fans on the horizon.
First, Microsoft Flight Simulator is getting a Dune-themed update, taking players beyond its incredible 1:1 recreation of Earth for the first time. Players can pilot a realistic recreation of the insect-like Royal Atreides Ornithopter on the iconic spice-filled planet of Arrakis. The Dune expansion includes three new tutorials covering take-off, landing, freefall flying, and six activities, including "a daring rescue mission where aviators must save their flight instructor before a massive sandstorm engulfs him."
Which is reminiscent of that tense rescue scene from Dune: Part One. In addition to the Microsoft Flight Simulator expansion, Microsoft is giving away a custom Xbox Series S with an elaborate Ornithopter Stand and the "world's first floating Xbox controller."
Lian Li reveals its next-gen PC cases, cooling designs, and PSUs at Digital Expo 2024
Lian Li recently hosted its 2024 Digital Expo event on YouTube, sharing updates on prototype cases, a standing desk, new concepts for all-in-one (AIO) coolers, and new power supplies that are on the way.
The new prototype Lian Li SUP-01 is a new case that experiments with a front GPU layout, while the new AIO cooler is the GALAHAD II LCD SHIFT that the company minimizes the tubing with, while a new EDGE Series PSU is a new form factory power supply that solves cable access in dual chamber cases.
Lian Li also unveiled its new DK-07 standing desk with a glass top covering the component chamber, surrounded by aluminum panels, and a built-in 30-inch LG transparent OLED display as a secondary monitor without obscuring the system. It looks beautiful, and I'd love to see what it'd be like in the flesh.
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D processor drops to $409 for the first time ever, grab yours now!
AMD's Ryzen 9 7900X3D processor has just dropped in price, down from $459 to just $409 right now... a damn good deal considering the CPU launched for $599.
The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D processor launched for $599, rocking 12 cores and 24 threads of Zen 4 processing power with second-gen 3D V-Cache technology. The 12 cores and 24 threads boost up to 5.6GHz and rock 140MB of cache, all sitting on a power-sipping 120W TDP (compared to Intel's upcoming Core i9-14900KS special edition CPU pushing 400W+ and some).
Throughout 2023, pricing on the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D was pretty steady at around $500, but then in January 2024, we saw a discount bringing the price of the CPU down to $460, and now there's another $50 discount, dropping the 7900X3D to just $409.
AMD FSR 3 and FSR 2 supported games list updated, here's what's available now and coming soon
AMD's FSR 3 or FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 with frame generation launched in September 2023 alongside the Radeon RX 7700 XT and Radeon RX 7800 XT. However, with support in just two games on day one, and only a handful more added by the year's end, adoption for AMD's answer to DLSS 3 has been slow... to say the least.
The good news is that January 2024 saw more games add FSR 3 support than the first four months of the technology. The adoption looks to be picking up steam thanks to FSR 3's improved performance in games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and AMD confirming that its latency reduction tech Anti-Lag + (a key component of frame generation) is finally coming back.
And with that, AMD has updated its list of games with FSR 3 and FSR 2 support, and those 'coming soon.' FSR 3 includes both Super Resolution upscaling and Frame Generation, with FSR 2 including Super Resolution only. Here's a look at the current slate of PC games with FSR.