Advanced Micro Devices has demonstrated three laptops based on the code-named “Carrizo” accelerated processing units (APUs) at the Consumer Electronics Show 2015. The demonstrations prove that AMD already has working “Carrizo” silicon at hands; however, it is still unclear when exactly the company plans to initiate commercial shipments of the new …
Read More »GeForce GTX 970/980 8GB graphics cards are still in plans
The first rumours about 8GB versions of GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980 graphics cards emerged sometime in October, 2014. However, none of such graphics adapters showed up last year. Apparently, add-in-boards with 8GB of GDDR5 memory are still in plans, however, their availability will depend on supply of high-performance …
Read More »Nvidia plans to add G-Sync technology to laptops
Without any doubts, gaming notebooks are getting more and more popular these days because of many industry trends. As a result, they are gradually gaining technologies we typically find on desktop computers. In the recent years laptops gained unlocked microprocessors, overclocking memory and multi-GPU technologies. This year Nvidia Corp. will …
Read More »Five display manufacturers commit to FreeSync
The first AMD FreeSync compatible monitors are expected to launch this year and five display manufacturers have already committed to supporting the variable refresh rate technology. LG, BenQ, ViewSonic, Samsung and Nixeus all have FreeSync displays in the works. Confirmed models range in size from a standard 24 Inch size …
Read More »Sales of Sony PlayStation 4 hit 18.5 million units
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. late on Monday said that total life-to-date sales of its PlayStation 4 game consoles to end-users had hit 18.5 million units. Once again, Sony’s PS4 has proved itself the fastest-selling console in the history of video games. Shipments of Sony PlayStation 4 have already set multiple …
Read More »LG debuts 34-inch ultra-wide display with AMD FreeSync
LG Electronics, the world’ largest maker of ultra-wide monitors, has announced the world’s first 21:9 display with beyond full-HD resolution and AMD FreeSync technology. The unique display was developed primarily for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts, but given its unique capabilities, even some professionals may find it useful. The LG 34UM67 …
Read More »GlobalFoundries denies problems with 14nm: everything is as planned
GlobalFoundries, the world’s second largest contract manufacturer of chips, late on Tuesday denied existence of problems with the ramp up of production using 14nm fabrication process. According to the foundry, it specifically stockpiles manufacturing equipment at a warehouse so that to install it once the fab 8 facility becomes compatible …
Read More »GlobalFoudries stops installations of 14nm tools, could delay production
Although GlobalFoundries has licensed 14nm FinFET manufacturing technology from Samsung Electronics back in May, 2014, it looks like the company may have to delay mass production using the fabrication process. According to a media report, the company has stopped installation of equipment required to make chips using 14nm FinFET technology. …
Read More »Microsoft improves Xbox One performance with new SDK
When Microsoft Corp. formally introduced its Xbox One video game console in 2013, it faced a rather massive amount of criticism from enthusiast gamers because the system’s graphics processing horsepower was considerably lower compared to that of Sony’s PlayStation 4. Apparently, the company has taken critics seriously and is trying …
Read More »AMD could use GlobalFoundries’ SHP process technology for GPUs
Although Advanced Micro Devices wants to cease using special process technologies for its products in order to cut-down their manufacturing and development costs, it looks like next year the company will have to use GlobalFoundries’ 28nm super high-performance (SHP) technology for its Radeon graphics processors in order to ensure their …
Read More »U.S. ITC to investigate Samsung’s complaints against Nvidia, others
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on Tuesday said it will investigate Samsung’s accusations against patent infringements by Nvidia Corp. and its partners. If the ITC finds Nvidia and its allies guilty of patent infringements, it may stop sales of their products in the United States. The products at issue …
Read More »Biostar to protect mainboards from lightning strikes, electrical surges
Biostar, a well-known maker of mainboards, said this week that its mainboards will be equipped with a technology that helps to protect personal computers against power surges in Ethernet networks as well as against electrostatics. It is not a secret that PC components can be damaged or even destroyed by …
Read More »Sapphire Technology teases NFC brand
Sapphire Technology on Wednesday uploaded a teaser video to its account on YouTube, teasing, possibly, new graphics cards featuring mysterious NFC technology. Like with many viral videos, Sapphire’s video does not explain what exactly it advertises. “Passion is hard,” says the voice in the video. “Sometimes it hurts. People tell …
Read More »Nintendo contracts AMD to power next-generation game console
Back in May Nintendo already confirmed that it had started development of its next-generation home console. In October it also transpired that the company would design system-on-chip for its forthcoming system in the U.S. According to a new media report, Nintendo contracted AMD to provide graphics processing technologies for the …
Read More »Asus preps external device for extreme overclocking of graphics cards
Asustek Computer is working on external voltage regulator module (VRM) card for graphics cards that will enable extreme overclocking by allowing massive overvoltage. Asus follows EVGA and Gigabyte Technology who have been selling similar external VRM solutions for years now. Although a lot of modern graphics cards (e.g., Asus Strix …
Read More »GlobalFoundries: Customized and SOI process technologies gain importance
While non-standard fabrication processes are sometimes challenging and make it harder to re-use intellectual property across different product lineups, they are just what the doctor ordered when one needs to achieve certain goals. According to GlobalFoundries, the No. 2 contract maker of chips, many customized process technologies are gaining importance …
Read More »GlobalFoundries to produce 14nm chips in the first half of 2015
GlobalFoundries, the world’s second largest contract maker of semiconductors, plans to start volume production of chips using 14nm fabrication process in the first half of 2015, a little later than Samsung Electronics, but, possibly, earlier than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The company does not reveal who will be the first …
Read More »AMD to limit performance of Radeon GPUs in games to cut-down power consumption
For many years all developers of graphics processors for notebooks limited display refresh rates in cases when they did not matter in order to cut-down their power consumption. In addition, designers of GPUs reduced performance of chips in cases when it was not required. One of the things that no …
Read More »AMD Radeon prices may stabilize soon as channel inventory depletes
Following months of excessive inventory of AMD Radeon graphics cards in the channel, the situation has finally gotten better for Advanced Micro Devices. As a result, rapid price drops on Radeon graphics cards may stop shortly. Early this year the value of cryptocurrency increased to new heights and mining enthusiasts …
Read More »Web-site compares performance of next-gen GPUs from AMD and Nvidia
A web-site has published alleged benchmark results of next-generation graphics cards from Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia Corp., such as code-named “Bermuda XT”, “Fiji XT” as well as GM200. Without a lot of surprises, the new single-chip graphics solutions from AMD and Nvidia will offer a noticeable performance improvement compared …
Read More »GlobalFoundries may seriously expand GPU manufacturing for AMD
GlobalFoundries may significantly expand production of graphics processing units for Advanced Micro Devices next year, according to a new market rumour. If the unofficial information is correct, then GlobalFoundries will produce at least two high-end AMD Radeon graphics chips in 2015. At present GlobalFoundries produces the bulk of high-performance accelerated processing units …
Read More »AMD’s Catalyst Omega driver downloaded 2 million times in first week
Last week, AMD made a big end of 2014 splash with the launch of its new Catalyst Omega driver and it looks like it has certainly paid off as word has come down to us straight from AMD that the new driver has been downloaded over two million times in its …
Read More »Analyst: Sony’s PlayStation 4 will have a massive lead in titles in 2015
Although Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox One has managed to outsell Sony’s PlayStation 4 in numerous countries in November, it will get massively harder for the system to compete against its arch-rival next year. The number of quality titles for PlayStation 4 will be considerably higher than the number of quality games …
Read More »AMD appoints new consumer sales chief
Advanced Micro Devices on Monday promoted Mario Silveira to lead worldwide consumer sales within the company's computing and graphics business unit. Mario Silveira, who is 40 years old, joined AMD in 2010 and most recently served as head of consumer go-to-market sales for the EMEA region. Mr. Silveira will report …
Read More »Xbox One outsold PlayStation 4 by 400 thousand units in November – leaked NPD data
Leaked data allegedly from NPD Group suggests that Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox One video game console outsold its main rival Sony PlayStation 4 system by staggering 400 thousand units in the U.S. in November. If the situation persists, this holiday season will be won by Microsoft, at least in North America. …
Read More »AMD cuts prices of professional GPUs by 50% to gain market share
Advanced Micro Devices offers to sell its professional graphics cards for workstations or servers with a massive discount to first time buyers in an attempt to increase its revenue and market share. ATI Technologies and then Advanced Micro Devices was an underdog on the market of professional graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware …
Read More »Microsoft Xbox One finally outsells Sony PlayStation 4 in U.S., U.K.
While Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4 video game console was outselling Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox One for the bigger part of the year, in November the latest gaming system from software giant managed to finally leave its arch-rival behind in terms of sales in both the U.S. and the U.K. But will it become a …
Read More »AMD may roll-out GCN successor in 2016
Advanced Micro Devices may introduce its all-new graphics architecture in late 2015 and then ramp it up in 2016. At least, Mark Papermaster, chief technology officer of AMD, implied on such scenario this week. Graphics architectures from ATI Technologies and Advanced Micro Devices live active life for about four years …
Read More »AMD could power yet another gaming device – chief financial officer
An accelerated processing unit from Advanced Micro Devices could power yet another gaming device, chief financial officer of the company implied this week. The high-ranking executive did not provide any details, but given the revenue opportunities the company outlined with the deal several weeks ago, we are talking about a …
Read More »AMD will explore graphics IP licensing opportunities going forward
In a bid to boost its revenue streams, Advanced Micro Devices could start licensing its graphics processing technologies to third parties, just like ARM Holdings, Imagination Technologies, Nvidia Corp. and Vivante. But will that business make sense to AMD? AMD and Nvidia Corp. are the last two remaining developers of discrete …
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