Tech News
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ZOTAC Launches the MEK HERO High-performance Gaming Desktop Series
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 graphics cards paired with AMD Ryzen Processors for a premium gaming experience.
All assembled and tested in the United States, now available as a Newegg exclusive.
Irwindale, California – July 20, 2021 - ZOTAC USA Inc., a manufacturer of innovative hardware solutions, is excited to announce the market launch of the newest addition to the popular MEK gaming desktop series. Introducing the MEK HERO PC Gaming series - bringing PC gamers a high-performance gaming desktop with hassle-free operation and unrivaled quality.
Powered by ZOTAC and exclusive for the United States, the MEK HERO series features ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 30 series graphics, AMD's latest Ryzen 5000 series processors, and EK liquid cooling.
"The MEK HERO is an advanced extension of our hardcore gaming line," said Gary Lau, President of ZOTAC USA Inc. "It’s designed to meet the demands of modern games from fast-paced FPS to immersive simulations, and our component partners help us achieve our goal to build a hassle-free high-performance gaming PC with unparalleled stability and compatibility," he explained. "Excellent thermals are essential to keep a high-performance gaming system operating smoothly, and our MEK HERO team has made this as one of the focal points of our design. In addition, we have partnered with the liquid cooling expert, EK, to provide an excellent AIO liquid cooling solution to the MEK HERO G1 A5837 model. Most importantly, each MEK HERO desktop PC is assembled in the US and has been strictly tested by our local engineers. The first two models of the new series are available now as a Newegg exclusive for the North America market." he added.
ZOTAC MEK HERO G1 A5636 and G1 A5837 gaming desktops are built from a sturdy, compact minimalistic Micro ATX chassis that features a tempered 4mm thick magnetic and hinged glass side panel with easy to access USB and audio ports located on the top-front. Preinstalled are three 120mm RGB intake cooling fans located at the front and a single 120mm exhaust fan at the rear to ensure strong airflow and heat dissipation.
For superior processor cooling, the MEK HERO G1 A5837 is equipped exclusively with an EK AIO 240D-RGB CPU liquid cooler with the 240mm radiator placed at the top panel, for cooling components effectively and without restriction.
"We are extremely excited to be the official liquid-cooling partner for ZOTAC's new MEK HERO line of gaming PCs," said Kat Silberstein, CEO Americas, EK. "Our EK-AIO 240 D-RGB is the perfect choice for MEK HERO G1 A5837 to keep the processor temperatures low and guarantee the performance high, while remaining whisper quiet."
In order to offer users an uncompromised PC gaming experience, the MEK HERO series features the latest NVIDIA GPU (Ampere) and AMD Ryzen CPU. The MEK HERO G1 A5837 come with a ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card and the MEK HERO G1 A5636 comes with an RTX 3060 graphics card. ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 30 series graphic cards feature enhanced RT Cores and Tensor Cores, new streaming multiprocessors, and high-speed GDDR6 memory to amplify gaming performance. NVIDIA Integrated Ray Tracing and DLSS 2.0 AI Acceleration technology create incredible in-game image quality, rendering capabilities, and visual experiences across supported games.
To further enhance performance, the MEK HERO G1 A5636 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-core processor - the MEK Hero G1 A5837 with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-core processor. Additional components consist of a Seagate M.2 NVMe SSD and HDD for storage, Crucial Ballistix DDR4 memory to deliver snappy performance, and a Gold Certified power supply for efficiency and stability. The MEK HERO series comes preinstalled with Windows 10 Home Edition and is Windows 11 ready.
Specifications
MEK HERO G1 A5636
Gaming DesktopMEK HERO G1 A5837
Gaming DesktopCPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7GHz (4.6GHz Turbo) 6-core/12-Thread Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8GHz (4.7GHz Turbo) 8-core/16 Thread Processor
Aerial Cooling
Front: 120mm RGB Fan x 3 pcs,
Rear: 120mm RGB Fan x 1pc.Front: 120mm RGB Fan x 3 pcs,
Rear: 120mm RGB Fan x 1pc.Liquid Cooling
N/A
EK AIO 240 D-RGB Liquid CPU Cooler
Memory
Ballistix DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (8GB X 2)
Ballistix DDR4 3200MHz 16GB (8GB X 2)
Hard Drive
Seagate 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD
+ 1TB 7200RPM HDD
Seagate 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
+ 1TB 7200RPM HDD
Graphics
ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
Audio
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Ethernet
10/100/1000 Mbps
10/100/1000 Mbps
Power Supply
600W 80+ Gold Certified
700W 80+ Gold Certified
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
MSRP
$1,799.99
$2,349.99
Availability
ZOTAC MEK HERO G1 A5636 Gaming Desktop
ZOTAC MEK HERO G1 A5837 Gaming Desktop
To learn more about the ZOTAC MEK HERO, visit: www.MEKHERO.com -
Intel Core i9-12900K Alder Lake-S 16-Core CPU Clocks to 5.3GHz
I caught this story over at HotHardware as they were talking about the new Adler Lake Core i9 12900k processor. Most everything about Alder Lake is speculation and if this rumor holds true then the new processor will be pretty amazing. High Clocks, PCI Express 4.0 and DDR5 goodness!
Within a matter of months, Intel will introduce its first Alder Lake processors, effectively marking a near wholesale transition to hybrid computing, and kicking off the DDR5 memory era. From an official standpoint, SKUs and specifications are still a mystery. Unofficially, however, leaks and rumors paint an interesting picture, the latest of which details a supposed Core i9-12900K processor.
What about this hybrid architecture, you say? Intel dipped its toes into hybrid waters with Lakefield, but will really embrace heterogeneous computing in the x86 space with Alder Lake. This comes by way of combining high performance Golden Cove cores with power efficient Gracemont cores in the same package.
In one of our most recent Podcasts we talked about picking a processor and what to look for if you are on a budget or looking to min/max your performance potential. In that discussion we noticed that between Comet Lake and Rocket Lake the Core i9 lost two cores and didn't increase in frequency.
It would seem Intel was saving them for Alder Lake and whatever trickery they have lurking under the "lid"
I wouldn't get to excited about overclocking these new processors, short of LN2 or a powerful SS Phase you aren't going to get anywhere beyond what Intel has programed into the "boost" controller.
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China's ban forces bitcoin miners to sell out
I haven't been following this story as closely as I should but, it would seem that China has banned cryptocurrency mining which is causing a rift in the hardware world with machines used to mine crypto are selling for scrap.
According to the article the ban is to reinforce the state run Cryptocurrency while also limiting all the "bad" stuff associated with anonymous money transactions.
Here are a couple quotes that stand out.
China's sweeping ban on cryptocurrency mining has paralysed an industry that accounts for over half of global bitcoin production, as miners dump machines in despair or seek refuge in places such as Texas or Kazakhstan.
Texas? really??
SHANGHAI, June 25 (Reuters) - China's sweeping ban on cryptocurrency mining has paralysed an industry that accounts for over half of global bitcoin production, as miners dump machines in despair or seek refuge in places such as Texas or Kazakhstan.
"Many miners are exiting the business to comply with government policies," said Mike Huang, operator of a cryptomining farm in the southwest province of Sichuan.
"Mining machines are selling like scrap metal."
The local government of Sichuan, China's No.2 bitcoin mining centre after Xinjiang, issued a ban on cryptomining a week ago.
China's State Council, or cabinet, vowed to crack down on bitcoin trading and mining in late May, seeking to fend off financial risks after the global bitcoin mania revived Chinese speculative trading in cryptocurrencies. The clampdown comes as China's central bank is testing its own digital currency.
Chinese authorities say cryptocurrencies disrupt economic order, and facilitate illegal asset transfers and money laundering. Analysts say Beijing is also worried about potential competition for the digital yuan and that the power-hungry business of bitcoin mining could damage the environment.
Of course with such a ban and crypto sell off the prices on Bitcoin have dropped and basically put all other crypto trades on hold. This will put a serious damper on the "get rich quick'ers" while also opening up the GPU market again allowing gamers a chance to finally get that upgrade they have been looking for instead of having the delivery truck get re-routed to a Chinese mining facility.
And, one nice thing about the lull is that the Crypto Zealots on social media will finally be shutting the F up while they lick their wounds and attempt to make amends with the "friends" they alienated by offering unsolicited advice on buying Crypto.
Serves them right.
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Micron to Sell Lehi, Utah, Fab to Texas Instruments
There are plenty of things I can say about this but, I'll simply settle on. Wow, times are changing and Micron has finally started to act like a "Global" company instead of owning its roots in America.
Selling the Lehi factory along with all of the employees is a pretty big deal and while I am glad to see Texas Instruments pick up the slack it speaks to how volatile things are in the global markets and that Micron is not afraid to burn some bridges along the way.
Btw, Micron is also opening up a HUGE factory in Taiwan. Could these events be connected? I suspect so.
All of this makes you wonder how long it will take before the HQ gets moved? Lets say 6 years.
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BOISE, Idaho, June 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Lehi, Utah, fab to Texas Instruments. The economic value for Micron from the sale is $1.5 billion, comprised of $900 million in cash from TI from the sales transaction, and approximately $600 million in value from select tools and other assets. Micron has sold some of these assets and will retain the remainder to redeploy to its other manufacturing sites or sell to other buyers.
Micron’s Lehi, Utah, facility has been home to a highly skilled team with expertise in all aspects of advanced semiconductor manufacturing. TI will offer all Lehi site team members the opportunity to become employees upon the closing of the sale and intends to deploy its own technologies at the site. The sale is anticipated to close later this calendar year.
“Micron’s Lehi, Utah, facility has a strong history of technology innovation and leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing,” said Micron President and CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Texas Instruments as it is an industry leader and truly values the talented Lehi team and the capabilities this site offers to deploy its technology effectively. We are greatly appreciative of the contributions that the Lehi team has made to Micron, as well as the collaboration and engagement Micron has had with the local community.”
Micron announced its intent to sell the Lehi facility in March 2021, at the same time the company confirmed plans to end production of 3D XPoint technology and pursue new memory solutions for data centers, enabled by the CXL interconnect. CXL delivers high-performance connectivity between compute, memory and storage, addressing increased customer workload requirements driven by the broad proliferation of artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel to Micron, and Macquarie Semiconductor and Technology served as transaction advisors.
About Micron Technology, Inc.
We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence and 5G applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com. -
Leading the Pack: TEAMGROUP Steps into the New DDR5 Era
Leading the Pack: TEAMGROUP Steps into the New DDR5 Era Global Launch of the TEAMGROUP ELITE U- DIMM DDR5
June 18, 2021, Taipei_ At the end of 2020, TEAMGROUP reached a cooperation agreement with top DRAM wafer manufacturers and started working on DDR5 technology. Since then, TEAMGROUP has dedicated to the research and development of DDR5 modules, collaborating with various major motherboard manufacturers to ensure that each R&D stage undergoes comprehensive testing and to deliver products of the highest quality that the industry has ever seen. TEAMGROUP is leading the industry today as we announce our official launch of the world's first DDR5 memory module for desktops, the TEAMGROUP ELITE U-DIMM DDR5, which is estimated to be available on major EC platforms for consumers worldwide by the end of June and the beginning of July.
The initial launch of TEAMGROUP ELITE DDR5 memory module will support 16GBx2 of capacity at a frequency of 4800MHz, with a voltage of 1.1V CL40-40-40-77, which complies with the standard specifications defined by the JEDEC association. Compared to the maximum 3200MHz standard frequency in the DDR4 generation, the DDR5 is able to increase the speed to up to 50%. The low 1.1V voltage is also more energy efficient than its previous generation; to ensure minimum noise interference for the memory module, the power management is transferred from the motherboard onto the memory with an additional power management IC (PMIC) for more effective system load control. The most incredible feature of ELITE DDR5 is doubling the 16 banks of DDR4 to those of 32 in DDR5 to improve the IC structure, providing double access availability. An on-die ECC (error correction code) included in the DRAM IC is also available for self-recovery of the DRAM unit, ensuring that DRAM systems with DDR5 can obtain higher levels of stability.
The memory module is applicable for Intel 600 series motherboards with DDR5 compatibility. TEAMGROUP's DDR5 will be available globally at the end of June and the initial product launch will be hitting the shelves at Amazon US, Newegg, Amazon Japan, and various major EC platforms in Europe. Gamers, get ready for the first taste of the next generation and embrace the glory of the new DDR5 era with TEAMGROUP.
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ROCCAT Kone Pro Optical Mouse Review @ APH Networks
There was a time when the armies of the German PR engines would flood the review market with samples to help promote the Roccat brand and everyone knew what a Kone was. I know from experience that Kone line of mine are quite good with some of the best support software on the market.
The Kone Pro appears to have the same shape and the subtle RGB clues (that are TOTALLY in your face) that seem to be what the world wants and... It is optical, using the Owl-Eye 19k Sensor, which is not new but, has a good following.
The ROCCAT Kone Pro Air is an impressive ultralight wired mouse for the discerning enthusiast.
Be sure to check out the review on APH Networks, they seems to always have some of the best "real world" photos of any review site out there.
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi @ TechPowerUp
Call me crazy but, I actually liked it when ASUS was adding color to their TUF series motherboards. It gave them style and something for people to care about. While most will argue that the color was completely covered by expansion cards and RGB.
My retort is simply "So do the fake plastic covers and oversized and ineffective heatsinks and yet those seem to stick around."
I think this is an issue of "sh1t or get off the p0t cause what you are doing aint working".
The latest entry in ASUS's popular TUF Gaming family is the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi. Featuring a huge VRM heatsink, 16 power stages, and more sensible colors, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi promises compelling performance at an attainable price.
To be honest, I might be a little biased here, the chip shortage, global shutdown and constant changing of marketing folks has denied me of my Z590 experience and while I might be a little salty over the whole ordeal I know deep down that the 11th Generation Intel and Z590 is pretty boring, much like the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus.
but, be sure to check out the review, cause that is what heros do.
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Patriot launches the SUPERSONIC RAGE PRIME USB 3.2 Gen 2 Flash Drive
Features a new controller for improved performance and faster transfer speeds up to 600MB/s. Now available in capacities from 250GB to 1TB.
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, June 29th, 2021 – PATRIOT™, a global leader in performance memory, SSDs, gaming peripherals, and flash storage solutions, today is excited to announce the launch of the flagship model of their SUPERSONIC series, the SUPERSONIC RAGE PRIME USB 3.2 Gen 2 flash drive. This flash drive incorporates the latest controller on the market to ensure the fastest data transfer and write speeds and comes equipped with a built-in thermal sensor to monitor the device's temperature for excellent durability and stability. Compatible with Windows® 10/8/7/Vista/XP/2000, Linux 2.4 and later, Mac® OSX 10.6 and later. The SUPERSONIC RAGE PRIME USB 3.2 Gen.2 flash drive is the ultimate solution for consumers who demand a multi-platform portable data storage solution with the excellent build quality and is available in capacities of 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB.
"With the success of the recently launched SUPERSONIC RAGE PRO, we decided to push the limits and offer a new drive that is not only faster but comes in a higher capacity. The cross-platform support is perfect for complex data transfers and even allows you to run apps from the drive itself," said Roger Shinmoto, Vice President of Product Development. "The SUPERSONIC RAGE PRIME has been customized to offer users breakneck read performance making it perfect for visual presentations and entertainment."
The SUPERSONIC RAGE PRIME takes advantage of advanced controllers and combines high-quality flash memory allowing the drive to deliver up to 600 MB/s data read performance. Users such as video content creators, 2D graphic designers, and animation makers will get the most out of its fast transfer speed for presentations and working on designs. With the enhanced read speed, the drive can also work well as an independent rescue drive for laptops and desktops.
Each drive features a built-in LED indicator allowing users to visually confirm when data is being processed and is entirely plug-and-play compatible. The drive features high-quality, durable housing for extra protection from fall damage. The SUPERSONIC RAGE PRIME USB 3.2 Gen 2 flash drive ranges in 3 capacities and is available in major global retailers, backed by a Patriot™ 5-year warranty.
FEATURES:
- USB 3.2 Gen. 2 Compliant (backward compatible with USB 2.0)
- Up to 600MB/s Read
- The highly durable design extends the life of your drive
- Durable housing protects from accidental drops and spills
- Compact, retractable design protects the USB connector when the drive not in use
- LED Light Indicator
- Plug and Play, driver free
- Compatible with Windows® 10/8/7, Linux 2.4 and later, Mac® OSX 10.6 and later
Availability:
Amazon US:
250GB: https://amzn.to/3dijZXh
500GB: https://amzn.to/2SxRdKZ
1TB: https://amzn.to/2UGTPXz -
I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC @ ExtremeTech
There has been a TON of news following the unveil of Windows 11 from TPM woes to the fact that the new OS actually requires modern hardware to run. All of this is simply news because Microsoft is pushing their weight around and the hardware media needs something to complain about.
However, there is one Microsoft feature that has annoyed me for a long time and one writer at ExtremeTech finally posted something about it. I'm in full agreement with this article (which is rare) and wanted to share it with the Hardware Asylum readers.
I’m willing to cop to the fact that this may be an artifact of the time in which I grew up. To me, my PC and “the internet” are two entirely different things. I connect to the latter to download files, read news, and watch content, but it is not the totality of my personal computer. Using an online account to log into my personal PC breaches the distinction between the two. Weird as it is — because I’m willing to admit this is a personal oddity — I find that distinction matters to me. It actually matters a lot. I don’t want my local Windows account to be synonymous with an online login.
But that’s not my only reason.
I got duped into creating an Online Microsoft account once. Actually it became an extension to my old @hotmail.com account that I created so I could run MSN Messenger back in the day. Since then it has also been linked to my Xbox Live account and to at least a couple Windows System login instances. The first is when I got duped into creating one thinking there was no alternative and the second was so I could access the Windows App store to install an update so I could convert a Windows 10 Home installation to Windows 10 Pro (which also required a new key).
Personally, I don't like having to login to my Microsoft account just to access my computer, there are plenty of times when I don't have or, don't WANT, internet access when using my PC and with an online only account that will never be possible.
But, like the author, I just have a higher understanding and expectation of my PC that a large majority of users have no interest in.
Sad as it might be, it is the future we live in.
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Thermaltake Announces the Core P6 TG and Core P6 TG Snow PC Cases
Transformable, innovative, and stylish mid-tower chassis.
Walnut, California-June 2nd, 2021-Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Cooling, Gaming Gear, and Enthusiast Memory solutions, is pleased to introduce their new mid-tower chassis, the Core P6 TG, and Core P6 TG Snow. Inheriting classic features from the existing Core P5, the Core P6 TG can be either used as a closed or open configuration and giving users the option to switch from a regular mid-tower design to an open frame by simply removing the top and front panels. The 4mm thick tempered glass side panels give users a quality viewing platform to display chassis cooling components and RGB while offering stability and protection. The smaller size combined with two-way chassis placement gives users more options on how their builds are displayed, either in a traditional tower configuration or vertically using the innovative wall-mount. Two graphics card support brackets are included supporting both vertical and traditional GPU mounting configurations. The bracket helps to remove weight from the motherboard and prevent heavy graphic cards from sagging.
Closed and Open Frame Design
The Core P6 TG Mid-Tower Chassis allows users to display their build in two different ways. The case can be converted between a closed and open frame design by removing the front, top, and side panels.
Handy I/O Ports
Connectivity is enabled over a single Type-C port, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0, and HD Audio ports on the front panel.
Tempered Glass Panels
4mm tempered glass panels comprise on the top, front, and left of Core P6 TG. The tempered glass panels are thicker and more scratch-resistant compared to standard acrylic panels.
Vertical GPU Mount
Specially designed with dual GPU placement options, the Core P6 TG has support for both vertical and horizontal graphics card layouts. With dual PCI-E slot designs and a PCI-E riser cable, the included riser GPU support bracket can prevent graphics card sag while reducing the overall weight on the motherboard.
Excellent Dust Reduction
Magnetic fan filters located on the top, side, and bottom panels provide an easy solution to collect and reduce dust buildup inside vital cooling components. These filters provide excellent ventilation even when the case is configured as a closed chassis.
High-End Expansion Possibilities
Core P6 TG Mid Tower Chassis contains excellent expandability options; it can support motherboards up to an E- ATX, a CPU cooler with a maximum height of 180mm, VGA placement of up to 300 (with LCS reservoir) and 335 (without LCS reservoir). The Core P6 TG also provides seven expansion slots and supports up to four 3.5" or eight 2.5" storage devices.
Optimized for excellent cooling, the Core P6 TG supports a total of thirteen 120mm and seven 140mm fans. There are three 120mm fans on the front, top, right, and bottom, and a single fan at the rear. Radiator compatibility matches the fan placement with one 360mm at the front, one 360mm on the right, and one 360mm at the top.
