News | Asus seems to be working on cable-concealing hardware

After Gigabyte and MSI, Asus also seems to have plans for cable-concealing hardware, under the guise of 'DIY-Ape Revolution'.

Earlier this year, it was mainly Gigabyte that scored highly with the launch of Project Stealth. The interplay between a unique motherboard, accompanying video card and computer case makes it possible to hide otherwise rather ostentatious cables completely out of sight.

Asus now seems to have a similar plan, albeit apparently as a larger ecosystem of cable-closing components, starting with a few motherboards from its own stable. An almost twenty-minute long Chinese promotional video for what Asus seems to call the ‘DIY-Ape Revolution’ for the time being was published on BiliBili.

Asus would in any case include the H610, B660, B760 and B650 chipsets in the ‘revolution’ of cable-concealing motherboards. On the new components, virtually all connectors (including power, fan headers, and SATA connectors) are milled on the back of the motherboard — out of sight and often slightly easier to access. Apparently the new motherboards come in white or black, with fairly minimalist heat spreaders.

To keep the rear ports accessible, compatible cabinets must leave unique cutouts. The video shows that Lian Li is already offering a suitable cabinet; Asus is also said to have entered into collaborations with Cooler Master, Phanteks and Cougar, among others.

For now, Asus’ DIY-Ape Revolution seems like a project to try out slowly, probably starting in China. Presumably, the components are not yet made available in large numbers (or worldwide), while Asus and its partners are measuring enthusiasm for the cable-closing hardware.


Hardware | RTX 4090 Ti video card prototype leaks out

An early photo of an alleged RTX 4090 Ti video card has leaked via Twitter.

The footage was published by @greymon55, now known as an insider in the video card industry. Initially, the photo was shared without context, but in a later response the Twitterer clarifies that it would be Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4090 Ti, a still unannounced video card on Nvidia’s heaviest AD102 GPU.

For the time being it remains unclear where this specific prototype comes from, all brand indication has been made unrecognizable. In its basic form, the card resembles a Gigabyte model or perhaps a new Suprim card from MSI. Nvidia itself seems out of the question; typically, high-end Founder’s Edition cards have a “blower” design, consisting of fewer fans.


Hardware | Leaked photo confirms AMD's X670 Extreme chipsets

Leaked photos from an MSI meeting confirm that AMD is indeed preparing Extreme variants of the X670 and B650 chipsets.

The footage was published by Twitter user @wxnod, who recently shared a prototype AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs. The new photos show a presentation in an MSI office, presumably by or with AMD experts.

Apparently AMD is currently working on four different chipsets for the Ryzen 7000 platform. This includes the aforementioned X670 and B650 models, but also the previously mysterious Extreme variants (X670E and B650E) of that pair.

The differences between them seem quite clear. Where the regular chipsets come with a PCIe 5.0 slot or a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, the Extreme motherboards do both. Both a PCIe 5.0 graphics card and a new PCIe 5.0 SSD can use the new interface simultaneously.


Hardware | Dock for Steam Deck is delayed

Valve has announced that the official dock for the Steam Deck has been delayed again. Delay will not impact production of Steam Decks themselves.

When the so-called Steam Deck Docking Station could appear, remains unclear for the time being. In February of this year, Valve itself indicated that the official release period would fall somewhere “in the spring”, but that season now seems to be no longer feasible.

Valve indicates in a blog post that the postponement is (once again) due to shortages in material, as well as the ongoing impact of the corona pandemic. “We are working to improve the situation and will provide more information as soon as we have it.”

Valve does point out that the delay will have no impact on the production of the handheld itself. The Steam Deck was also delayed at the end of last year for roughly the same reasons and still has long reservation periods, but according to Valve, the dock is in no way slowing down the rollout of the Steam Deck itself. “Different parts, different factories,” said the Valve development team.


Hardware | Phison's PCIe 5.0 SSD reaches 12.5 GB/s on X670 chipset

Storage manufacturer Phison has demonstrated a new SSD controller over PCIe 5.0 interface, with read speeds of up to 12.5 GB/s on AMD's new motherboard chipset.

Phison’s new SSD card is the PS5025-E26, a first token of the E26 platform on PCIe 5.0 (x4) interface. On paper, the total bandwidth of that interface is 15.8 GB/s which is double that of PCIe 4.0 (x4).

For now, Phison achieves a read speed of 12,457 MB/s and a write speed of 10,023 MB/s, using an early sample SSD. The SSD in question uses an on-board Phison E26 controller and 3D TLC NAND flash storage from Micron.

Phison’s demonstration shows the controller paired with Asus’ X670 Crosshair Hero motherboard, featuring AMD’s new X670 chipset. The motherboard will most likely run on an early sample of a Ryzen 7000 CPU. AMD had previously indicated that it already wants to use PCIe 5.0 storage with the first Zen 4 CPUs and motherboards.

It’s still unclear when Phison’s new PCIe 5.0 products should hit the market, let alone when alternatives will be rolled out to consumers — or at what prices. The company had previously indicated that it plans PCIe 5.0 products for “the second half of 2022”, although “end of 2022” now seems plausible.

The demonstration on an X670 platform is especially relevant, now that AMD is publicly betting on Zen 4 as the first chip generation to embrace the new storage generation, with a generous 24 lanes on PCIe 5.0. According to AMD, the first PCIe 5.0 SSDs should launch simultaneously with Zen 4, later this year.


Hardware | Galax Shows DDR5 Memory With Lego Compatibility

In the 'something different' category, Galax unveils a quirky range of DDR5 memory modules. Galax's so-called Gamer RGB DDR5 discs have, in addition to a standard RGB bar on top, a series of Lego-compatible studs on the top.

The official reveal was picked up by EXPreview, complete with renders of the two different colors: light blue or bright red. The Gamer RGB DDR5 line initially launches as a 2x 16 GB kit, later followed by 2x 8 GB and 2x 32 GB alternatives.

The clock frequency is initially at 4,800 MHz; later, faster modules could be on the horizon. An official release date or suggested retail price for the first Lego-compatible memory kits has not yet been announced, but Galax promises that the Gamer RGB DDR5 series will follow shortly after the official introduction of Intel Alder Lake CPUs.

It is also unclear whether these Galax products will come to the West at all. The Taiwanese manufacturer previously launched RTX 30 video cards with studs for the popular building blocks, but the same craft cards have never been available outside of China.

Intel itself has not yet released a release date for the next generation of processors — which offer DDR5 support as a first. However, a sales embargo would expire on November 4, which suggests that the Alder Lake generation will be officially unveiled sometime shortly before.


Hardware | AMD unveils Radeon RX 6600

AMD unveiled their latest GPU yesterday afternoon: the RX 6600 (non-XT). The new video card focuses mainly on 1080p gameplay, albeit with higher refresh rates.

The Radeon RX 6600 video cards have a target price of $329, exactly fifty dollars below the previously released Radeon RX 6600 XT.AMD’s latest budget GPU runs on the same Navi 23 chipset, 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 32 MB of Infinity Cache, but has slightly fewer cores, at a lower clock speed. The 32 compute units here are scaled back to 28, with a default clock of 2.044 MHz and Boost frequency to 2.491 MHz.

In the unveiling video of the RX 6600, AMD already shows some performance examples. A game like Far Cry 6 hits 75 frames per second at 1080p resolution, on the highest settings with ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution. For less bombastic games, such as Anno 1800, the GPU can also switch to 1440p resolutions.

With the somewhat reversed computing power, the non-XT card has also become slightly more economical. The AMD-specified total board power is 132 watts, which can be supplied via a single 8-pin power connector.

In terms of physical design, there is little difference between the RX 6600 XT and this newer model. AMD’s own reference design again uses the same shape and single fan; with partner manufacturers, the new GPU is often soldered into the existing housings, as is the case.

The Radeon RX 6600 graphics cards should be available immediately. Sales have also started in the Benelux, but by no means all models are equally available. At the time of writing, retailers are asking about one and a half times the suggested retail price for the new budget card: approximately 579 euros.


Hardware | Lian Li postpones new case due to failed mesh panel

Hardware manufacturer Lian Li has delayed the arrival of the new O11 Air Mini case for two months. On social media, the manufacturer announced that the delay was due to undersized mesh panels.

“After thorough checks on the first batch of O11 Air Minis, we discovered that the mesh panel was different from our intended design,” Lian Li said. Originally, the mesh apparently should have been twice as fine, resulting in 5 degrees Celsius lower CPU temperatures, according to Lian Li’s internal tests.

Instead of sending thecase out into the world in this way, Lian Li now deletes the entire first edition. A new release date has not yet been set, but pre-orders of the O11 Air Mini will be postponed at least two months.

The O11 Air Mini is a variation of Lian Li’s popular O11 Dynamic case. Not only has the case been made a little more compact this time, airflow should also be a priority in this model. Three of the six sides consist almost entirely of mesh panels, with enough space inside for six 140mm fans and/or several 120mm alternatives.

Lian Li announced the O11 Air Mini early this month. The case has a target price of $109, which includes two unlit 140mm and one 120mm fans. In the Benelux, the sale of the case does not seem to have officially started yet.


Hardware | Everything you need to know about a PS5 SSD upgrade

With the introduction of the next-gen consoles, we are finally saying goodbye to slow HDDs. For example, the PS5 will house a super-fast SSD. But can you also upgrade it with a larger disk? Read everything you need to know about it right here!

With a new console generation we naturally expect a number of changes every time. Of course, there is a graphical upgrade involved, but it often doesn’t stop there. New technologies also provide other benefits.

With the introduction of the PlayStation 5, we finally say goodbye to long loading times. The brand new console from Sony does not house a slow and noisy HDD, but is finally switching to an SSD. And not just any SSD! The Japanese company has collaborated with Samsung to deliver a custom-made NVMe SSD. That drive is said to be faster than drives that consumers can buy on the market today.

Sony is thus setting high expectations for the PS5 and the hardware it contains. With the leaps we’ve seen in SSDs in recent years, there could certainly be some truth to it. For example, the recently released Gen 4 NVMe SSDs are almost ten times as fast compared to SATA SSDs as the popular Samsung EVO 860.

With such a fast SSD, the question quickly arises why on earth you would want to upgrade such a drive with another SSD next to it? The answer to that is quite simple: the initial size. Where Microsoft has opted for a 1TB NVMe SSD with the Xbox Series X, the PlayStation 5 contains ‘only’ an SSD of 825GB. Moreover, if we are to believe the rumors about the disk’s usable space – the space left over next to the operating system and other mandatory components – users can get started with only 664GB.

That’s still more than what the PlayStation 4 launched in 2013, but if we look at the size of games these days, the PS5 SSD won’t fit much. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare needs no less than 175GB of space and is certainly no exception. For example, if you want to get started with the new version of GTA V on the PlayStation 5, you also need almost 100GB of space. That way it becomes a matter of constantly uninstalling games if you want to install a new game.

Microsoft is clear if you want to upgrade the SSD in the Xbox Series X. The American company offers an official SSD expansion, with a 1TB drive from Seagate. That upgrade seems to be quite pricey, but at least players can rest assured that there is an easy way to upgrade if the need arises.

From Sony, it only remains silent when it comes to an upgrade. The Japanese company has only said that eventually more SSDs can be placed in it, but does not give specific examples and does not offer a larger option itself for the time being. Mark Cerny has said that the upgrade can be offered by third parties. For the time being, you are officially at the mercy of the built-in 825GB SSD.

Just because Sony hasn’t officially said anything about it yet, doesn’t mean there aren’t options for players looking for an expansion right now. Although Sony has put a custom drive in the console, the upgrade slot found in the PS5 is simply an M.2 NVMe slot, as seen in the recent PS5 teardown video. In addition, there is already a manufacturer that claims to have a fast SSD that is guaranteed to work on the PS5. According to Western Digital, the WD SN850 NVMe Gen. 4 SSD work effortlessly on the next-gen console.

Undoubtedly, Western Digital will not be the only manufacturer that will make SSDs for the PlayStation 5. We will therefore regularly update the overview of available SSD upgrade for the console with new options. So keep a close eye on the overview if you’re looking for more space for your PS5!

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Hardware | PS4 making a lot of noise? This is how you clean it

Do you notice that the PS4 makes a lot of noise while playing? Or is the console no longer working properly? Then you can do two things: sell it or open it once and clean it well inside. There is a good chance that the problem will disappear.

This article explains how to properly open the PlayStation 4 and what you need to know about cleaning. Fortunately, it is not all that difficult, so this job can be done within an hour. Make sure you have the right materials at home and then follow the steps below.

Supplies:

  • Compressed air
  • Cotton swabs or a (soft) toothbrush
  • Possibly isopropyl alcohol if you do a thorough cleaning
  • A dry cloth
    Philips screwdriver
    T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver (for the first PS4 model)

Opening and cleaning PS4

Before we begin, it’s a good idea to make sure the PlayStation 4 (whatever model you have) is actually turned off before unplugging it. This prevents possible damage because a game or app was still open or an external hard drive was connected.

Then clean the openings with some compressed air, about six inches away, such as all USB ports on the front and back. With a cotton swab or clean toothbrush, whether or not dipped in isopropyl alcohol, you can make short work of the stubborn dirt that may be present.

Now it’s time to open up the PlayStation 4 itself. For the old model you need a T8 or T9 Torx screwdriver for that; the top of the Pro and Slim, however, click right off. Clean the inside of the cover with a dry cloth. Now press the center of the fan with your finger and hold it well. Blow the fan clean, at an appropriate distance, with short gusts of wind from the compressed air canister. Do not run the fan as this can cause problems such as a short circuit.

Now use both screwdrivers to loosen the rear part. The metal plate must also be removed. You do that with the Torx screwdrivers. After removing the plate, use the compressed air again (keep the distance) to blow everything clean. You can also use the toothbrush for stubborn dirt, possibly with the help of isopropyl alcohol. You can also use a cotton swab to hold the fan in place so that it doesn’t move when you use compressed air.

After blowing clean, the console should be left alone for about half an hour. After that half hour you can put all the parts back. So keep the screws handy and put them in a place where you can easily find them.