Why the RTX 3090 Super is a Great Idea - Tech News 8_29_2021
# Comprehensive Tech News Roundup: Innovations, Scandals, and Upcoming Releases
## Introduction
The tech world is bustling with announcements, leaks, and rumors as we approach the holiday season, a time when manufacturers ramp up production to meet consumer demand. This article delves into the latest developments in hardware, software, and emerging technologies, ensuring you're fully informed about what's happening in the industry.
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## AR Contact Lens Breakthrough: Mojo Vision at Hot Chips
Mojo Vision showcased their groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) contact lens at Hot Chips 2023. This tiny device integrates a hexagonal display, camera, motion sensor, and wireless connectivity, offering a sci-fi level of functionality. The lens features a micro display with greenish pixels thinner than a red blood cell and a magnification system to project images onto the retina. Equipped with a low-power camera (256x256 resolution at 44 FPS) and an ARM Cortex MCU, it connects via Wi-Fi. Currently in testing, the lens offers up to one hour of battery life and aims for two hours upon release. Unlike Google Glass, this discreet design won't alert others to your recording or browsing habits.
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## Intel's Upcoming Flagship: Core i9-12900K
Geekbench leaks revealed impressive performance metrics for Intel's upcoming Alder Lake CPU, the Core i9-12900K. Boasting eight P-cores and eight E-cores (24 threads total), it outperformed AMD's Ryzen 9 5950X in single-threaded tasks by 12% and multi-threaded tasks by 3%. The CPU paired with DDR5-4800 memory achieved a single-core score of 1,893 and a multi-core score of 17,299. This marks Intel's competitive response to AMD's dominance in the high-end market.
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## Threadripper Pro CPUs: Zen 3-Based Powerhouses
Twitter leaks revealed details about AMD's Threadripper Pro series, codenamed "Shagal." The lineup includes the 5995 WX (64 cores) and 5945 WX (12 cores), both featuring Zen 3 architecture. These CPUs offer up to 8-channel memory support for pro models and 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes, compatible with existing TRX40 and TRX80 motherboards. The Threadripper Pro series is expected in November, promising robust performance for content creators and professionals.
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## Nvidia's RTX 3090 Super: A Rumored Beast
Nvidia may be developing a super variant of the RTX 3090, codenamed GA102-350A1, featuring all 10,752 CUDA cores. This would make it comparable to enterprise-grade cards like the A40 and RTX A6000. The new model could boast 24GB GDDR6X memory with faster speeds (up to 21 Gbps), potentially hitting 1 TB/s bandwidth. While pricing will be steep, it aims to offer a 5% performance boost for high-end gaming.
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## SSD Scandal: Manufacturers Compromising Quality
Recent investigations exposed unethical practices by major SSD manufacturers:
- **Western Digital**: Replaced WD Blue SN550's NAND chips post-review, reducing read speeds by up to 50%. The company promised future model transparency.
- **Crucial**: Downgraded P2 NVMe SSDs from TLC to QLC without changing the product name. Reviews of the faster TLC version flooded in before the switch, leading to significant performance drop under heavy use.
- **Samsung**: Updated 970 Evo Plus with a slower controller (from Phoenix to Elpis), resulting in reduced speeds post-SLC cache saturation. The new model retains the same name but has a different part number.
These incidents highlight the importance of manufacturers maintaining transparency and honesty with their products.
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## Tech Briefs: High-End TVs, TSMC Price Hikes, Razer Vulnerabilities
- **HighSense 8K TV**: Priced at $2,900, this 75-inch 120Hz model features 8K resolution, 1,000 nits brightness, and 180-zone local dimming. However, no consumer content sources support 8K yet.
- **TSMC Price Increase**: The foundry raised prices by 10% for 7nm and 20% for older nodes, affecting CPU/GPU production costs. TSMC plans to invest in new fabs to alleviate supply chain issues.
- **Razer Security Flaw**: A researcher disclosed a vulnerability allowing control of Razer peripherals via PowerShell commands. The company ignored initial reports but acted after public exposure.
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## Fractal Design's Torrent Case Recall
Fractal recalled theirTorrent case due to a flaw in the integrated Fan Hub, which caused performance issues. Unlike other companies, Fractal proactively offered replacement hubs or refunds to affected customers, setting a positive example for handling defects.
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## Newegg Addresses Exploding PSUs
Newegg reached out to users who were sold Gigabyte's faulty PSU-GPU combos, offering refunds or replacements. This move comes after extensive criticism of the dangerous product combination.
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## High-End Waterblock with 1440p Display
Barrow introduced a waterblock featuring a 2.9-inch 72 PPI display, perfect for system stats or aesthetic purposes. Though no Freesync support is confirmed, it could potentially serve as a secondary gaming monitor.
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## Windows 11 Compatibility Update: Ryzen Excluded
Microsoft concluded testing and found only select Intel 7th-gen CPUs qualify for Windows 11 upgrades, excluding Ryzen 1000-series processors due to driver and security issues. Users with unsupported hardware can still install Windows 11 via clean installation.
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## Conclusion
The tech landscape is evolving rapidly, presenting both exciting innovations and ethical challenges. From groundbreaking AR wearables to controversies in SSD manufacturing, the industry's future remains unpredictable yet promising. As always, your feedback is invaluable; share your thoughts below! For more details, explore linked articles and subscribe for updates.
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*Thanks for reading!*