ASUS Announces Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD Graphics Card

ASUS announced the Dual GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti SSD, the world’s first graphics card equipped with an M.2 slot, allowing for a seamless cooling upgrade for high-performance NVMe® drives.

 

Reimagined M.2 storage

At its core, this card has all of the same amazing features as the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB. Third-generation RT Cores and fourth-generation Tensor Cores, now featuring DLSS 3.5 and frame generation, drive incredibly immersive real-time ray tracing experiences, enabling this graphics card to push the limits of how good modern games can look. Housed in a sleek 2.5-slot design that only requires a single 8-pin PCIe® power connector, the Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD can easily fit into almost any existing build.

The real star of the show, though, is hiding in a special cutout on the rear of the card. With support for M.2 2280-sized NVMe drives, the Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD is the first-ever consumer graphics card to offer an onboard SSD slot. When an M.2 drive is mounted to the Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD, it may replace the CPU’s own M.2 slot on the motherboard. This comes with a few compelling reasons to make the switch to a GPU-mounted M.2 solution.

Compact cooling performance

While the RTX 4060 Ti is a PCIe 4.0-compliant GPU, if both the motherboard and the NVMe drive in a user’s system support PCIe 5.0, the drive will operate at full PCIe 5.0 speed. Because of this, ASUS recommends installing the Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD in the top PCIe slot on the motherboard, ensuring direct communication with the CPU. With no graphics performance hit in game and no read/write penalties to storage, this card is a straightforward solution for those who need high-speed, long-term storage in their gaming machines.

Why not just install this drive on the motherboard itself? The Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD is equipped with dual Axial-tech fans that keep the card running cool when in game, but these powerful fans also reduce the operating temperatures of the M.2 drive, unlike traditional motherboard M.2 slots. The Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD comes with a thermal pad pre-mounted in the M.2 slot, allowing installed M.2 drives to tap directly into the graphics card heatsink and its massive cooling potential. ASUS testing revealed up to 40% lower temperatures on the drives when attached to the Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD, granting longer sustained read/write performance than standard motherboard-mounted M.2 slots and ensuring long-term stability well into the future.

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Kingston Leads Channel SSD Shipments for the 6th Consecutive Year

Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced TrendForce has named it as the number one third-party supplier of SSDs in the channel for all of 2022; leading channel SSD shipments for the 6th consecutive year. Based on the numbers provided by TrendForce, Kingston accounted for a massive 28 percent of the 114 million units shipped in 2022.

According to the latest findings, the global SSD market rectified its supply and demand dynamics in 2022. This follows a resolution in the shortage of ICs (integrated circuits) that hampered the market in 2021. Despite the resolution, global SSD shipments declined with only 114 million units shipped in 2022 – a 10.7% decrease from the previous year. Nevertheless, Kingston remained the top SSD shipment leader in 2022 maintaining a solid advantage and saw growth in market share over 2021. Even with market challenges, the top five third-party suppliers (non-semiconductor) accounted for nearly 60% of the total shipments in 2022. The results reinforced Kingston as the clear leader in SSD production, as the second-place supplier accounted for only 9 percent of the total channel market.

With the global economy still struggling in 2023, where notebook and desktop shipments faced limitations, module makers strategically managed the burden of high-cost inventory by positioning themselves for competitive pricing in their shipping strategies. As the third quarter drew to a close, market sentiment experienced a rapid transformation, primarily driven by NAND Flash suppliers’ decisive production cuts. This change was particularly evident in the cost dynamics of SSDs, ultimately favoring module manufacturers with lower-cost inventories

Demand for PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs continues to define the market landscape pushing module houses to steadily shift from SATA to PCIe. TrendForce predicts providing NVMe upgrades will likely enhance brand recognition and continue to boost shipments. In 2022, Kingston expanded its range of products within its value and high-performance drives, as well as offerings in the external and encrypted categories. With the launch of its new NV2 client NVMe drive in 2022, it quickly became the most popular selling drive in Kingston’s lineup this year, with over 12M units sold worldwide since launch. Following the success of the award-winning Kingston FURY Renegade SSD, Kingston refreshed the drive to include a heatsink option ideal for console and PC gamers. This highlights Kingston’s continued focus on developing high quality NVMe solutions.

Aside from broadening its product portfolio to best align with customer buying trends, Kingston offers top-tier sales support and access to in-house product experts and engineers. This has led to over three successful decades of reliability and support for customers. Kingston’s #1 rank in the SSD market for the 6th consecutive year is no surprise when the same approach in the DRAM division has led the company to be the largest third-party memory module supplier for the 20th consecutive year.

“It’s an honor to achieve this top ranking for another year”, said Kingston. “From the beginning, Kingston has remained steadfast in our commitment to serving our customers and channel partners across the globe, and it’s through these strong and enduring relationships that our SSD business has experienced remarkable growth. The recent findings from TrendForce serve as a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team, and we are grateful for the recognition and success we share with them.”

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Lenovo Unveils Vehicle Computing Roadmap Through Ongoing Collaboration with NVIDIA

Lenovo unveiled its most comprehensive AI capabilities to date, as well as its vision of “AI for All,” at the company’s annual global innovation event Tech World held last week in Austin. The event, now in its ninth year, focused on how Lenovo is unleashing the power of AI to drive intelligent transformation in every aspect of everyday life and in every industry. This spans from the pocket to the vehicle to the cloud with purpose-built AI-ready devices, infrastructure, solutions, and services that empower industries, enterprises, and individuals around the world.

During the event, Lenovo revealed its vehicle computing roadmap, featuring three new products based on the NVIDIA DRIVE Thor AI vehicle computing platform:
Lenovo XH1: Central compute unit for ADAS and smart cockpit
Lenovo AH1: Level 2++ ADAS domain controller unit
Lenovo AD1: Level 4 autonomous driving domain controller unit

This is the latest development stemming from Lenovo’s news earlier this year, in which the company announced it will be a supplier of automotive intelligent controllers based on NVIDIA DRIVE.

At the event, an intelligent virtual assistant based on an automotive foundation model was demonstrated inside the vehicle and will be applied to Lenovo’s central compute unit, the XH1. The virtual assistant understands driver and passenger preferences, predicts their needs, and responds as if it were a real human assistant.  

Donny Tang, Lenovo Vice President, head of Vehicle Computing noted, “The rapid development of AI, especially foundation models, will accelerate automotive intelligence. In the future, autonomous driving will be safer, and the smart cockpit will be smarter. The vehicle is not just a means of transportation but also an intelligent companion. With automotive AI built on NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, Lenovo can develop vehicle computing controller units to meet customers’ unique needs and requirements.”

Tang added that in addition to these new controllers, Lenovo is tapping its technical strengths and expertise in cloud, edge, AI, devices, and networking to augment its automotive operating systems and intelligent solutions to empower customers.

The next-generation NVIDIA DRIVE Thor system-on-a-chip harnesses advanced AI capabilities first deployed in NVIDIA Grace CPUs, as well as NVIDIA Hopper and Ada Lovelace architecture-based GPUs, in a single architecture for greater efficiency and lower overall system cost. DRIVE Thor is expected to deliver up to 2,000 teraflops of high-performance compute for functionally safe and secure intelligent driving.

“The shift toward software-defined architectures requires a high-performance compute engine that can support the AI workloads necessary for safe vehicle deployment,” said Ali Kani, vice president of automotive, NVIDIA. “DRIVE Thor features the built-in headroom to continually support intelligent driving capabilities, including advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving, and smart cockpit.”

Since its inception last year, Lenovo’s vehicle computing business has gained traction among a broad range of partners, potential customers, and the automotive industry at large. By coupling Lenovo’s core strengths in computing technology with NVIDIA’s AI hardware and software expertise, the company is poised to deliver leading-edge intelligent mobility solutions for the future.

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AGI AI818 Gen4 SSD 1TB/2TB: Elevating Storage Speeds to New Heights

In the dynamic landscape of Malaysia's digital realm, the need for advanced storage solutions is on the rise. AGI is at the forefront of addressing this increasing demand by unveiling the AI818 Gen4 SSD, offered in capacities of 1TB and 2TB. This SSD not only provides remarkable speed but also offers outstanding value. Designed to cater to the diverse requirements of today's tech-savvy users, the AI818 Gen4 SSD is set to redefine storage benchmarks in the country.

The shift from Gen3 to Gen4 SSD technology, particularly emphasized by the NVMe1.4 specification, signifies a crucial leap in data transfer enhancement. Within a market flooded with Gen4 options, the AGI AI818 2TB model stands out, offering speeds of up to 5200MB/s. This performance is not just about speed but also about meeting the rigorous requirements of passionate gamers and power users who demand reliable, consistent performance. For those with lesser storage needs, the 1TB model presents the same exceptional performance, ensuring versatility in selection.

The AGI AI818 Gen4 SSD 1TB/2TB is about more than just raw speed. It also presents an unmatched value proposition in a market where the competition is intense. Eschewing the typical "more is more" approach, AGI has crafted this product to strike an impressive balance between cost and performance. This strategy guarantees that esports aficionados and professional users in Malaysia will get not only swift data access but a holistic solution tailored to the demands of real-world applications. For those upgrading from Gen3, the AGI AI818 Gen4 SSD offers a cost-effective yet powerful option.

Among its notable features, the AGI AI818 Gen4 SSD boasts a cutting-edge graphene heat sink, leveraging graphene's exceptional thermal properties to ensure sustained performance under heavy loads, which also contributes to the device's longevity. The heat sink's design further highlights AGI's dedication to versatile, adaptable hardware solutions, allowing the SSD to fit seamlessly into various electronic devices, from the slimmest laptops to advanced gaming systems like the PS5.

At the heart of the AI818 Gen4 SSD 1TB/2TB is AGI's unwavering commitment to quality. By marrying reliable flash memory with the robust PCIe Gen4x4 interface, AGI provides a product that epitomizes efficiency and reliability. Supported by a strong warranty, AGI confidently stands behind its product, showcasing a firm belief in its innovative edge. In Malaysia's fast-paced technology market, the AGI AI818 Gen4 SSD shines as a testament to the potential of marrying cutting-edge innovation with true consumer value.

For those in Malaysia looking to purchase the AGI AI818 Gen4 SSD 1TB/2TB can check with Afforda Notebook Solutions 

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Bitdeer to Launch Asia-Based Cloud Service Built on NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD

Bitdeer Technologies Group, a world-leading technology company for block chain and high-performance computing, today announced that it has become a preferred cloud service provider (CSP) in the NVIDIA Partner Network and plans to launch Bitdeer AI Cloud, among the first cloud services powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD with DGX H100 systems in the Asia region. The service will provide Bitdeer’s customers with access to NVIDIA AI supercomputing to help them accelerate their development of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and other AI workloads.

Rapid developments in machine learning, AI, and LLMs are creating a surging demand for powerful, reliable, and readily available cloud-based computing solutions. IDC noted that the public cloud platform-as-a-service (PaaS) market delivered more than 32% annual growth in 2022, which points to the success that customers are achieving with cloud providers as strategic partners. In addition, burgeoning online gaming, livestreaming, and social media industries in Asia are exacerbating the supply-demand imbalance for computing power.

Bitdeer’s GPU cloud service builds on the Company’s extensive customer reach in Asia. Paired with its domain expertise in hash rate-sharing and cloud services, the service can equip businesses and entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art computing using the NVIDIA DGX platform.

 “Generative AI empowers businesses to unlock unprecedented scalability, reliability, and innovation,” said Tony Paikeday, senior director of the DGX platform at NVIDIA, “With its NVIDIA DGX infrastructure, Bitdeer can provide the AI supercomputing and software needed to build and deploy generative AI models and services.”

Matt Linghui Kong, Chief Executive Officer of Bitdeer, commented, “We are excited to work with NVIDIA to lay the groundwork for the next era of AI and large language model advancements in Asia. Becoming a Preferred member of the NVIDIA Partner Network validates our technological competence and market reach. We look forward to collaborating with NVIDIA to empower businesses in Asia to innovate, grow, and prosper.”

Bitdeer, renowned for its global datacenter deployment capabilities, proficiency in high-performance machine operations, and extensive cloud service expertise, is in the process of methodically building its GPU cloud business. The Company’s designation as an NVIDIA Preferred partner will serve as a catalyst for the Company to develop its GPU cloud capabilities. Bitdeer’s strategic roadmap encompasses four phases: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Application as a Service (AaaS).

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): Bitdeer is gearing up to provide high-performance GPU cloud infrastructure to serve as the bedrock for AI-driven initiatives. This infrastructure will empower organizations to efficiently harness the full potential of GPUs, facilitating seamless execution of complex AI workloads.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): Expanding on its infrastructure capabilities, Bitdeer is actively developing a comprehensive GPU-as-a-Service platform, simplifying the deployment and management of AI applications. This platform will offer the flexibility and scalability that businesses need to smoothly implement and build out AI solutions and capitalize on the fast-growing PaaS market.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): Bitdeer is fully committed to offering turnkey AI solutions tailored to a wide array of industries. By providing AI software services, Bitdeer seeks to democratize AI, making it accessible to organizations of all sizes and eliminating the complexities of in-house development. Users will also have the option to deploy their own models and offer external services.

Application-as-a-Service (AaaS): Between 2023 and 2032, the Asia Pacific API market is expected to have the highest CAGR globally. In an effort to foster AI innovation, Bitdeer is set to craft API services that will enable businesses to easily introduce AI into their existing workflows. Bitdeer will offer an intuitive and efficient development platform and allow users to not only deploy custom APIs with ease, but also achieve seamless integration and interfacing with existing applications.

Building on the foundations of existing block chain technology and high-performance computing capabilities, Bitdeer is broadening its technical and business horizons. The Company’s ultimate goal is to provide a high-performance foundation from which it can execute complex AI workloads, leveraging GPU cloud infrastructure to create an adaptable and dynamic platform. The flexibility and scalability of this platform will make AI solutions accessible to a vast range of companies and industries. The final phase of the Company’s roadmap will see it offer an intuitive platform that can seamlessly incorporate custom APIs into existing applications. By evolving along a service trajectory that encompasses IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and AaaS, its upcoming NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD-based high-performance cloud service platform has the potential to advance the way organizations access and use AI.

Bitdeer expects its upcoming DGX SuperPOD-based high-performance cloud service platform to launch in the first quarter of 2024.

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