Next year series Intel Core The 12th generation will hit the road to desktop PCs. The company has promised to release its hybrid large/small core architecture in the second half of 2021. It has been officially confirmed that the series will feature major architectures golden cove (large) and gracemont (small).

This is not the first attempt to introduce hybrid technology into x86 desktop processors. Earlier this year Intel introduced the series Lakefield 11 generation Core for ultra-low power consumption devices. The series offers one large core (sunny cove) paired with four small cores (Tremont).

Alder lake takes this to the next level with up to 8 small cores paired with 8 large cores. This project will include a hardware scheduler Intel next generation to take full advantage of available compute cores and ensure uninterrupted software support.

Over the weekend, Notebookcheck released an exclusive statement saying that Alder lake-s will support as memory DDR5And PCI-Express Gen5. Although support DDR5 and to be expected, support PCIe 5.0 all is somewhat surprising, since the main competitor is AMD - has not yet made official promises on both standards. Regardless of what interfaces it supports, it will still be the biggest technological breakthrough Intel since the release of the first processor Skylake.

On the database website Sisoftware a new set of test results has appeared. A device with 16 physical cores and 32 threads was detected, confirming the maximum number of cores for Alder lake-s. The processor is detected with 10x1,25 MB L2 cache and 30 MB L3 cache. L2 and L3 caches for golden cove have the same size as for Willow Cove, while smaller nuclei gracemont, seem to be grouped with shared caches. "DRR4" may be a typo, but it could also refer to DDR4 for a series of mobile devices Alder lake-s, leaving for now DDR5 Exclusively for desktop computers.

 

Intel Alder Lake-S on Sisoftware

 

Aggregated results of Intel Alder Lake-S on Sisoftware

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NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang believes Ampere shortage could last into 2021

 

During the question and answer session after GTC Digital 2020 general manager NVIDIA Jensen Huang confirmed that the shortage GeForce RTX 3090/3080 expected until 2021:

"I believe that throughout the year, demand will exceed all of our supply. Remember, we're also going to do the holiday season. Even before the holiday season, we were all doing incredibly well, and then you add the Ampere factor to that, and then you add the Ampere holiday factor , and we'll have a really big season in the fourth quarter."
- Jensen Huang

Release NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 has generated incredible demand, with retailers scrambling for every supply to fill their pre-order queues. Meanwhile, manufacturers are posting daily updates on social media and apologizing for the delay in the availability of graphics cards.

There have been reports of possible shortages even before the release of Ampere GPUs, but it's also worth mentioning an article by TweakTown's Anthony Garrefeff, who wrote that there will be "no inventory until the end of the year." Jensen's post seems to confirm this.

Huang later added that "there is no supply, there is a demand problem." 

NVIDIA already postponed the release of the video card GeForce RTX 3070to prepare more stock for launch. One thing is for sure: many more consumers will be trying to purchase the $499 model since the $699 cards are nowhere to be found.

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AMD Big Navi will receive Infinity Cache?
Big Ships will have a special cache connected to the memory subsystem. The internal name of this cache is not Infinity Cache, but it is possible that the name has changed recently because AMD registered a new trademark just three days ago.

 

On the Justia Trademarks website you can find the first mentions of AMD Infinity Cache. The name refers to the technology AMD Zen called Infinity Fabric. Proprietary interconnect system architecture AMD for cores CPU и GPU. infinity cache may become a new technology for video cards AMD Radeon.

AMD BigNavi has a relatively small 256-bit memory bus, and it is currently unknown how the dedicated cache works.

Thus, the intended video card AMD Radeon RX 6900 will have 256-bit memory GDDR6 volume 16 GB in combination with Infinity Cache. This will certainly be the highest SKU in the line.

The first rumors about Infinity Cache first appeared on the RedGamingTech YouTube channel.

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It is important to note that NVIDIA officially abandoned the name Quadro. This means that the manufacturer will no longer use Quadro и Tesla to position your workstations and servers. However, the official product website still has a link to Quadro.

NVIDIA announced two graphics cards for professional use: RTX-A6000 и A40, both with the latest architecture Ampere. Notably, both models have the same GPU configuration, namely 84 streaming multiprocessors with GPU GA102. This means that A6000 и A40 have 10752 CUDA cores.

RTX-A6000 is a workstation graphics card, whereas A40 is intended for use on a server, so technically A40 can be considered a successor Tesla T4. The difference is that A40 will have display output while server cards Tesla haven't offered them before. RTX-A6000 и A40 equipped with four connectors DisplayPort 1.4.

Although both cards have 48 GB Memory GDDR6 without X, there are changes in specifications for each model. A6000 has 16 Gbit/s modules, and A40 - 14,5 Gbit/s. This means that the maximum throughput of the previous SKU is 768 GB/s, and A40 the speed is slightly lower at 696 GB/s.

NVIDIA has not confirmed the release date for both cards or announced prices. Both cards are rated at 300W and feature a new 8-pin power connector (not compatible with the traditional 8-pin connector PEG for series GeForceRTX).

 

Nvidia RTX A6000

 

Nvidia A40

        

NVIDIA RTX A6000 and A40 Specifications

 

NVIDIA RTX Ampere (formerly Quadro) Ampere NVLINK connector

 

You can watch the announcement on GTC Digital featuring NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang here:

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NVIDIA GA104-300 GeForce RTX 3070 GPU undergoes review

          

NVIDIA GA104-300 GPU

 

Recently, information appeared about the first image of the NVIDIA “Ampere” GA104 GPU, which was supposedly going to be used in the GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile series (which are still a long way off). A new photo that has just surfaced appears to show a tabletop variant undergoing review.

Several GA104 GPUs can be seen on the tray awaiting inspection. The testing program shows that the GPUs are tested against specification 300, which means the GA104-300 and GeForce RTX 3070 series GPUs.

The GA104-300 GPU is a stripped-down version of the GA104-400 (presumably a full-fledged chip). It has 5888 CUDA cores, 184 TMUs and 96 ROPs. The SAMSUNG 8nm node based GPU also has 46 RT cores and 184 Tensor cores.

The GPU will be tied to a 256-bit memory bus, which will provide 8GB of GDDR6 memory for the RTX 3070 series and possibly more for the 16GB variants rumored to arrive later.

 

NVIDIA GA104 GPU (GN20-E5) for GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile

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ASUS has introduced an updated series of motherboards based on the B450 chipset, designed for the AMD Socket AM4 platform. New models have appeared in all series lines: ROG Strix, TUF Gaming and Prime. 

ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II

The ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II model has received several important innovations. The Voltage Regulation Module (VRM) now operates in an 8+4 design, with individual components located between improved heat sinks with thermal pads and a new reinforcement plate that is an integral part of the cooling system. 

Four DIMM slots next to the processor socket support up to 128 GB of RAM with the ability to overclock to 4400 MHz. Two M.2 connectors allow you to accommodate modern NVM Express™ SSDs, including in a RAID configuration. The main M.2 connector now has an aluminum heatsink to cool the installed drive. The board is also equipped with an M.2 connector with an E key for installing a Wi-Fi module, which can be a module of the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard.

There are eight USB ports on the rear panel, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports with 10 Gbps bandwidth and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port. One USB port is dedicated to the BIOS FlashBack feature, which allows you to update the BIOS using only a power supply and a USB drive.

The Strix B450-F Gaming II motherboard has a stylish design: black textolite is decorated with an original cybertext design with bright accents on the interface casing and the chipset heatsink. Black and white are an excellent background for colorful lighting. The board is equipped with two standard connectors for connecting full-color LED strips, as well as a low-latency connector for addressable strips. Another nice bonus: ASUS AI Noise-Canceling Microphone software effectively cancels ambient noise for easy voice communication during office meetings, online lessons and games.

TUF Gaming B450-Plus II

To meet the power demands of high-performance Ryzen chips, the TUF Gaming B450-Plus II motherboard is equipped with an 8+2 voltage regulation module. To cool power components, radiators with an increased heat dissipation area are used. This full-size ATX board is equipped with an additional (second) M.2 connector, as well as USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Type-A ports. 

Thanks to the presence of a DisplayPort video output, users who do not require a discrete graphics card will be able to take full advantage of the Vega graphics built into the Ryzen APU. The special style of the TUF Gaming B450-Plus II is emphasized by the black and yellow stripes in the design of the board. For additional personalization, the board offers two connectors for connecting full-color LED strips.

TUF Gaming B450M-Pro II

The microATX form factor makes the TUF Gaming B450M-Pro II ideal for compact PCs. Like the full-size TUF Gaming B450-Plus II mentioned above, the TUF Gaming B450M-Pro II has a DisplayPort video output, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Type-A ports, and an additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 port.

The power and reliability of the TUF Gaming line is highlighted by a pair of PCI Express® 3.0 x16 slots, one of which features a reinforced SafeSlot metal frame. Large heatsinks above the VRM area ensure efficient heat dissipation even under heavy CPU load. Four DIMM slots allow you to install up to 128 GB of DDR4 memory operating at frequencies up to 4400 MHz. In addition, the board has two M.2 slots for installing solid-state drives with a PCIe interface.  

TUF Gaming B450M-Plus II

TUF Gaming B450M-Plus II is an ideal option for users looking for a reliable and functional solution. 

The main PCIe x16 slot has a reinforced design (ASUS SafeSlot technology) and is suitable for installing the heaviest video cards. The M.2 connector is coupled with four PCIe 3.0 lanes, supporting NVMe SSDs. The board also has a connector for connecting a full-color LED strip and supports Aura Sync backlight synchronization technology.

The TUF Gaming B450M-Plus II is packed with convenient software features, including BIOS FlashBack for easy firmware updates, AI Noise-Canceling Microphone for intelligent noise cancellation, and Turbo LAN tools that let you prioritize gaming packages to minimize lag in games. Thanks to the utility Armory Crate users receive a single interface for monitoring system status and configuring parameters.

Prime B450M-A II

The Prime B450M-A II combines extensive functionality with a compact and discreet design. The power components of the VRM module are located under the heatsink, which ensures stable operation with a wide range of Ryzen processors. Four DIMM slots hold up to 128GB of DDR4 memory, and the M.2 connector is complemented by six SATA ports to create a variety of storage system configurations.

The rear panel boasts updated USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, as well as a USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector for the front panel. The BIOS FlashBack feature simplifies maintenance of this board. The BIOS chip features 256MB ROM to support future processors and enhanced upgrade capabilities.

The board has a connector for connecting an RGB strip, the operation of which can be synchronized with the lighting of other devices compatible with Aura Sync technology. For reliable cooling, it features Fan Xpert 2+ fan control utility, three 4-pin PWM fan headers, and overcurrent protection. You can easily configure the system based on Prime B450M-A II using the utility Armory Crate.

Prime B450M-K II

Prime B450M-K II is a reliable motherboard that has everything you need to build a modern PC. With its help, you can create a universal computer, a home multimedia center and even a gaming system at low cost.

The Digi+ voltage regulator module of this board is designed for entry-level and mid-level Ryzen processors. Two DIMM slots allow for a total of 64GB of RAM, and the main PCIe slot features a reinforced SafeSlot Core design. To connect drives, one M.2 slot and four SATA ports are offered.

The updated rear panel now houses an HDMI port for greater monitor compatibility. The BIOS chip with 32 MB ROM memory is complemented by support for the BIOS FlashBack function. The board is also equipped with an internal connector for outputting two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports to the front panel. Software is provided to make it easier to configure system parameters Armory Crate.

Price and availability

New models of motherboards of the B450 series will appear in Ukraine in mid-October at prices ranging from 2350 UAH (model PRIME B450M-K II) to 4300 UAH (ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II).

More information about the new models can be found on the dedicated website B450 motherboards.

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Acer Predator X34S

Acer's new ultra-wide gaming monitor is listed on Taobao for CNY 9999. The Acer Predator X34S is a UW-QHD monitor with a resolution of 3440x1440 pixels. It features a Nano-IPS panel (98% DCI-P3 coverage) designed for a variable refresh rate of up to 200Hz with G-Sync support. The monitor is also touted to have an ultra-low response time of 0,5ms. The Acer X34S will be factory calibrated to Delta E<2.

The monitor has the same 1900R curvature as the Predator X34P. The Acer Predator X34S comes with DislayHDR 400 certification and official SDR brightness of 400 nits and up to 550 nits in HDR mode. This is the most noticeable upgrade (along with the 200Hz panel) compared to the Predator X34P, which doesn't support HDR at all due to its maximum brightness of 300 nits.

Which shouldn't be a problem, but it's definitely worth noting that this monitor doesn't support HDMI 2.1, which may be missing some features for next-gen gaming consoles. However, it does have a DisplayPort and two HDMI 2.0 inputs.

The product has not yet been announced by Acer for any region. The preliminary price on Chinese Taobao is currently set at ¥9999. This will convert to US$1472 or €1257 including VAT.

          

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It has been noticed that Intel engineers have already started sending patches for the Linux kernel for the Intel Meteor Lake series of processors. Meteor Lake is the successor to the Alder Lake series with Intel Hybrid technology with a large and small core.

The series is expected to be manufactured on Intel's 7nm SuperFin process using core Ocean Cove and Gracemont architectures. The processors are expected to appear between 2022 and 2023.

The first patch to support Meteor Lake arrived with the Intel e1000e Gigabit Ethernet driver for Linux. This doesn't mean the 2022 Intel Core series will still rely on gigabit network cards. Support for 2,5 Gbps networking is gradually gaining momentum in high-end desktop motherboards with Intel 400 series and upcoming 500 series chipsets.

Thus, Intel Meteor Lake will compete with AMD's Zen4 architecture, which is expected to debut in late 2021 (EPYC Genoa) with TSMC's 5nm architecture. AMD Ryzen processors based on 5nm technology may be released in 2022, but the manufacturer has not yet made any promises regarding Zen4 consumer products.

 

Intel Meteor Lake is expected to replace Alder Lake with a hybrid of Golden Cove and Gracemont cores.

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NVIDIA today confirmed that the GeForce RTX 3070 release date has been pushed back to October 29. NVIDIA wants to avoid limited inventory at launch, so they're making more cards to meet demand. Two weeks will make a big difference, but the timing of this launch is certainly interesting, coming right after the Radeon RX 6000 announcement.

In the same blog post on NVIDIA's website, you can find the very first graph showing the RTX 3070's performance in synthetic and gaming scenarios.

There are no labels on the official graph, so each graph was measured and counted how many pixels each bar had. This gave the values ​​for reference. So yeah, it's definitely not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

NVIDIA tested games with RTX technology enabled whenever possible. It appears that DLSS was not enabled. Games were tested at 1440p resolution, which seems to be the target for the RTX 3070 SKU.

The RTX 3070 seems to offer slightly better performance than the RTX 2080 Ti (108% average), but the card is slower in some cases (Borderlands / Blender / TimeSpy Extreme). On the other hand, the card delivers between 147% and 163% performance over the RTX 2070 in gaming and between 153% and 226% in synthetic benchmarks.

NVIDIA officially states that their RTX 3070 is on average 60% faster than the RTX 2070:

"The GeForce RTX 3070 delivers the same or better performance than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (which sells for double the price) and is on average 60% faster than the original GeForce RTX 2070 in a variety of DirectX and Vulkan with ray tracing and rasterization."

NVIDIA plans to release the GeForce RTX 3070 on October 29. NVIDIA will lift its review embargo that same day, meaning time to make a purchasing decision may be limited. Hopefully supply will meet demand and buyers will have time to read or look at reviews.

 

Official performance of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

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Update: The Radeon RX 5700 XT continues to be released. The card will be in production until at least the first quarter of 2021. On the other hand, the RX 5700 is under special order.

AMD also no longer produces GPUs for the Radeon RX 5700 series.

AMD Radeon RX 5700 series - EOL

           

Reference AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 5700

 

Both reference and custom designs are no longer produced. This means that the cards already on the market represent the latest batch of these SKU cards that will be available. Some retailers have increased the prices of Navi 10 cards in response to dwindling supply, a trend visible in price hikes since July.

Interestingly, AMD still makes Radeon RX 5600 XT (also Navi 10) GPUs, so these cards should remain on the market for a while. After all, the RX 5600XT debuted on January 21st, so it's not even a year old.

What's even more interesting is that AMD has not yet canceled the Polaris-based Radeon RX 500 series and the Radeon RX 5500 (Navi 14). Polaris 20 models debuted back in 2017.

AMD is set to announce the Radeon RX 6000 series based on the RDNA2 architecture on October 28th. Next-generation Radeon cards are due to ship in November.

 

AMD Radeon RX 5700 price dynamics

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