Cavium packs 48 cores into ThunderX ARM chips

Cavium will begin sampling a family of 64-bit ARM server processors later this year that pack up to 48 cores on a chip and are optimized for particular workloads.

The chip maker will start sampling four variants of its ThunderX ARM SOCs (systems on chip) in the fourth quarter, optimized for compute, storage, network and security applications, it said Tuesday.

Cavium is jumping into a nascent market for ARM server chips also targeted by Advanced Micro Devices, Applied Microsystems, Marvell and others. They're all trying to displace Intel's dominant x86 processors.

Cavium hopes to set its chips apart with their high core count, and by offering a wide variety of configurations for different workloads and price points.

It was due to release details of the chips at the Computex trade show in Taipei on Tuesday. AppliedMicro updated its own roadmap at an event in Taipei a few days ago.

The ThunderX SOCs use a custom ARMv8 core developed by Cavium running at up to 2.5Ghz, the company said. The SOCs have built-in support for high-speed memory, virtualization and high bandwidth I/O, and include hardware accelerators for different tasks.

Like other ARM server parts, the chips are designed to offer a good balance of performance and low power for cloud, big data and other emerging workloads.

Cavium has been working with Linux provider Canonical, which is preparing its Ubuntu 14.04 LTS release to run on the chips. Cavium also announced Tuesday that Taiwan's Gigabyte Technologies will be among the server manufacturers using the SOCs. Hewlett-Packard has also said it will use Cavium chips in its Moonshot servers.

The ThunderX chips will sample to server manufacturers early in the fourth quarter, which means production systems will be available in 2015, said Gopal Hegde general manager of Cavium's data center processor group, by telephone from Taipei.

The ThunderX_CP is for Web servers, content delivery systems, Web caching and social media analytics workloads. It has up to 48 cores and 4 DDR4 or DDR3 memory controllers, giving up to 128GB/s memory bandwidth.

The ThunderX_ST is aimed at Hadoop and various types of storage workloads. It has multiple SATAv3 controllers and 10/40 GbE and PCIe Gen3 ports. It also has hardware accelerators for, among other things, data protection, data security and compressed storage.

The other variants are the ThunderX_SC, for secure front-end web servers and security appliances, and the ThunderX_NT, for media servers, scale-out embedded applications and virtualized network functions.

As well as offering the ThunderX SOCs with up to 48 cores, Cavium is building eight- and 16-core implementations with fewer memory controllers, for system builders that want to build lower-cost, single-socket microservers.

The ThunderX chips will be manufactured on a 28-nanometer process by GlobalFoundries, the company spun out from AMD several years ago.

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Epson's new office inkjets have a secret weapon: fast PrecisionCore printheads

I pity the fool who bought a cheap color laser. As the pages crawl out, and the pricey toner supplies run empty, it's already too late to point out that a $400 inkjet offers better speed, print quality, and consumables costs than a like-priced color laser can ever hope to achieve.

The latest proof comes in the form of Epson's new office-class WorkForce inkjets. They look like any other printer, but they have something new to the category: Epson's PrecisionCore printhead. Here's PrecisionCore, in its most basic, chip form:

Image: Epson

The PrecisionCore print chip, fresh off the fab. Adorable, isn't it? Compact, precise, and fast.

The PrecisionCore print chip packs 600 nozzles per inch, and 800 per tiny chip. The drop size is extremely small—1.5 to 24 picoliters—the better to print crisp output.

Epson can build them into printhead arrays of varying size. For industrial applications, a PrecisionCore printhead might span the entire page width. HP already does this with its PageWide technology, available currently on the Officejet Enterprise Pro x585.

Image: Epson

The WorkForce WF-3620 costs just $170 but includes automatic duplexing and an automatic document feeder for the scanner on top.

Epson's new WorkForce models use moveable PrecisionCore printheads. Epson claims print speeds up to 20 ppm for both color and black pages. That's a darn sight faster than a cheap color laser. We're testing one in PCWorld's lab right now and will tell you soon whether Epson's numbers hold up to real-world scenarios.

The new multifunction printers all print, copy, and scan.Two-sided printing is standard, which is great for saving paper (though it can sometimes slow print speed).

The two WorkForce models are designed for small or home offices.The WorkForce WF-3620 costs just $170 and offers a 250-sheet main input tray plus a rear feed for thicker media. Two-sided printing is automatic, and a 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) makes it easy to scan multi-page documents using the top scanner unit.

Image: Epson

The WorkForce WF-3640 costs $200 and includes fax capabilities as well as more paper capacity.

The $200 WorkForce WF-3640 adds fax capability, a second paper tray, and a larger, 3.5-inch touchscreen on the control panel.

The WorkForce Pro models are designed for workgroups, with higher capacities and speeds to match. The WorkForce Pro WF-4630 ($300) has a 250-sheet main tray and an 80-sheet rear-feed tray, plus a 3.5-inch touchscreen display. Epson claims it has a monthly duty cycle of 30,000 pages.

Image: Epson

Built for small workgroups, the WorkForce Pro WF-4630 offers an 80-sheet rear feed in addition to the classic 250-page input tray.

The WorkForce Pro WF-4640 ($400) adds another 250-sheet input tray over the WF-4630. Its touchscreen interface increases to 4.3 inches in diagonal width. Fax comes standard.

The ink costs look very affordable. Cartridges for the WorkForce printers cost $30-$35 and last 1100 pages, or 2.7 to 3.2 cents per color, per page. The WorkForce Pro printers have higher-capacity cartridges and therefore lower ink prices: 1.6 cents to 2.2 cents per color, per page, based on cartridge prices of $42-$44 and yields of 2000 to 2600 pages.

Image: Epson

This is about as boxy and brawny as the WorkForce Pro line gets. The WF-4640 means business.

All of the WorkForce and WorkForce Pro lines include Wi-Fi compatibility and a well-developed suite of wireless and mobile printing features, including Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print support, plus mobile apps for printing on the go.

Epson's new business product line has plenty to recommend it, and we'll be publishing our full review in the near future. Color laser fans, give these printers a fair hearing; they offer a compelling counterpoint to the office laser status quo.

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Intel reaches 5GHz with new Core i7 chip for gamers

Intel is shipping a new Core i7 chip for gamers that runs at 4.4GHz—and can be overclocked to 5GHz.

The Core i7-4790K is a quad-core chip based on the Haswell microarchitecture. It draws 88 watts of power and has 8MB of cache, integrated graphics, memory controllers and support for the latest I/O technologies. It also supports multithreading and allow cores to process two tasks at one time.

The chip, now Intel's flagship PC processor, is mainly for gaming and enthusiast desktops.

It's Intel's first chip capable of running at over 4GHz under normal conditions. It can be overclocked to 5GHz in air-cooled systems, said Renee James, president of Intel, during a keynote speech at the Computex trade show in Taipei.

Intel's not the first chip company to reach 5GHz though: Advanced Micro Devices offers FX chips for gamers with clock speeds of up to 5GHz.

Chip makers moved away from cranking up chip clock speeds in favor of adding cores as a way to boost performance about a decade ago. Bumping up clock speeds generated more heat and consumed more electricity. Performance improvements over time have also come by shrinking chips and integrating more components such as graphics cores.

But AMD and Intel haven't given up on clock speed altogether: They continue the battle on their flagship chips with the aim of capturing the performance crown.

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Ford bringing in-vehicle tech to more Asian markets

Ford will begin offering its AppLink voice control system in additional Asian markets and bring its emergency assistance technology to Taiwan, the company said Monday at the Computex trade show in Taipei.

AppLink allows drivers to control mobile apps with voice commands and is being launched in three Asia Pacific markets this year: China, Australia and India. On Monday, Ford said it will begin offering AppLink in New Zealand, Taiwan and Thailand in 2015.

Its emergency assistance system, which automatically dials emergency services in the event of an accident, will also come to Taiwan. Already installed in 9 million vehicles, the system is triggered by an airbag deployment or emergency fuel cut off and gives drivers a 10-second window to cancel the call before it is automatically placed through a paired cell phone.

Ford will also demonstrate this week its vehicle to vehicle communications system that allows suitably equipped cars to pass information between each other over Wi-Fi. The data includes vehicle speed, location and predicted path and is being eyed as a potential way to reduce traffic collisions.

For example, if a vehicle makes a sudden lane change, that information is automatically passed to cars traveling behind allowing them to adjust their speed or course to avoid an accident. Or at least, that's the theory. Ford and other auto makers are researching such technology but it's yet to see a large-scale test.

The demonstration in Taipei will be the first time it's been shown in the Asia Pacific.

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Samsung introduces Tizen smartphone, with a Tizen TV next year

Samsung on Monday introduced its first smartphone built around the Tizen operating system, with a TV running the OS planned for next year.

Featuring a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display and a 2.3 GHz Quad-core application processor, the Samsung Z, described by the South Korean company as the first commercially available Tizen smartphone, will run Tizen 2.2.1.

It has a built-in fingerprint sensor and an ultra power-saving mode that lets the phone stay in operation even at minimal battery levels in emergencies. The device has 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory and a microSD slot that supports up to 64GB.

The Samsung Z will be on show at the Tizen Developer Conference in San Francisco, which starts Tuesday. It will be available in the third quarter in Russia with plans to expand to other markets.

Samsung said additional applications for the device can be accessed through the Tizen Store at the launch of the Samsung Z, with plans for an apps contest in Russia and CIS countries and a one-year promotional program for developers.

The company, which has designed its Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches around Tizen, plans to launch TVs and other devices around the Linux based operating system that it backs with Intel and some other key players.

"We expect to launch Tizen-based TVs in 2015," a Samsung representative wrote Monday via email. "Samsung is continually working with Tizen to develop the most innovative technology and solidify its position as the leader in the TV market," the representative added.

Samsung plans to release the software development kit for its Tizen TV in July, ahead of launching the TVs.

The company's long-term aim is to get the operating system into a variety of devices. "Samsung is committed to developing the Tizen ecosystem with a wide range of Tizen-based product categories, including mobile devices, wearable technology and of course, TVs," the representative said.

Developers can now virtually see all necessary TV functions without a physical TV, Samsung said in a post. "Developers can also remotely modify code on their PCs with the new debugging feature, whereas in the past they had to connect directly to the TV's software to correct application errors," it added.

SDK Beta also provides various scenarios including Smart Interaction that allows users to control their TVs with simple hand gestures and voice commands, and a multi-screen feature, which can be used to link a TV with various devices including mobile and wearable gadgets.

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ARM developing processors to make wearables 'invisible'

In the gold rush for wearables, the key to success is invisibility and long battery life. ARM is pursuing the development of tiny processors that fit the profile.

The new CPUs and microcontrollers are being developed for the whole range from tiny data-collecting wearables to sophisticated wearables such as smartglasses that require more processing power, ARM executives said Monday at a press conference at Computex in Taipei.

To that end, ARM also announced its first CPU design center for the Asia market in Taiwan, where development of such processors will take place. The processors will fit into the Cortex-M line.

Many ARM-based processors already go into fitness trackers, smartwatches, health monitors and high-end wearables like Oakley's Airwave 1.5 ski glasses. The processors under development could consume just nanowatts of power and be in wearables that blend with the body easily, said Noel Hurley, deputy general manager for CPUs at ARM.

He gave the example of the ARM-based Freescale KL03 microcontroller, which is virtually invisible and used in thermostats and bulbs, Hurley said.

"They are like dust, you can scatter them around," Hurley said.

Wearables are growing fast, and there's a lot of ongoing experimentation with screen sizes, sensors and operating systems, Hurley said, adding that some ideas will succeed while some will fail.

But for all wearables, size, power, connectivity and data management matter the most, Hurley said. The battery is the heaviest component in such devices, and ARM is trying to reduce the power consumption of wearables to nanowatts through its processors, Hurley said. Smaller batteries could lead to wearables that better agree with the body.

He gave the example of health monitors in hospitals, which patients could easily rip off. But if the wearable is hidden somewhere, it would be less of a hassle to the patient and the hospital, which will get a continuous data feed without interruption.

"The weight and profile of the product is really important," Hurley said.

The new wearable CPU designs will put the sensors close to digital signal processors (DSPs), so data can be quickly processed for interaction with smartphones or other data collecting instruments.

ARM licenses its processor design to chip makers, which then use it in wearables and other devices. ARM processors are used in notable wearable devices such as Google Glass and Samsung's smartwatches. ARM offers the Mbed development platform where device makers can mix and match components, connectivity options and operating systems.

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YouTube Video Quality Report compares ISPs, rats out the slow ones

Does everyone have to wait for a YouTube video to buffer, or are you the only one? Thanks to a new tool from Google, you can now see for yourself.

Google's Video Quality Report is a new tool that provides information on your ISP's performance when it comes to streaming YouTube videos, and lets you see how it stacks up to other popular ISPs in your area.

The tool ranks ISPs based on the video quality that most customers of various popular service providers can reliably stream. It also displays other information, like the percentage of customers that can stream a 720p HD video stream reliably on average throughout the day, as well as the peak video streaming hours.

A troubleshooting tips page provides you with information on how you can make sure you're getting the fastest video stream possible. The site also provides an overview of how a video stream gets from the server to your home—useful if you aren't well versed in the intricacies of networking technology.

Of course, there are some limitations: the Video Quality Report provides information about an ISP in broad strokes—it doesn't give specifics on your connection quality, which does make it less useful than it could be since connection speeds can vary depending on where you live).

Still, the information it provides is useful, and who knows? Maybe it'll help convince slow-performing ISPs to up their game.

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Report: The FCC may redefine what counts as broadband

You learn something new every day, and today I learned that the US Government has an actual standard of what counts as a high-speed Internet connection. But as the Washington Post reported on Friday, the Federal Communications Commission is looking into whether it needs to raise the baseline of what constitutes broadband Internet.

Right now, your connection needs to achieve a download speed of at least 4 megabits per second for the FCC to consider it a broadband connection. But the agency may change the definition so only connections with download speeds over 10mbps would count as broadband. It may even consider setting the proverbial bar as high as 25mbps.

Under this proposal, the FCC would also require broadband Internet connections to support upload speeds of at least 2.9mbps, a significant boost from the current definition's 1mbps minimum.

The reason for the proposed change is our insatiable appetite for more bandwidth thanks to things like video streaming, cloud storage, and cat photos, among other things. As the Post points out, "An HD-quality Netflix stream, for instance, requires at least a 5 Mbps connection." 

The FCC hasn't settled on a plan, but it is considering asking for public comment on the proposal in the not-too-distant future.

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Intel to show thin tablet-laptop hybrid with delayed Broadwell chip

A new but delayed chip from Intel that promises better performance and lower power consumption for tablets and laptops will take a small but important step forward this week with a planned demonstration at the Computex trade show.

The chip, called Broadwell, is Intel's next major processor but production problems have pushed back its launch and Intel hasn't said much about it for months. That will change when Intel shows off a 2-in-1 device—which can be a laptop or tablet—based on the chip at the event in Taipei.

The prototype, which is called Llama Mountain, will be among the thinnest hybrid devices shown by Intel, and will be based on a fifth-generation Core processor, sources familiar with the company's plans said. No more details about the Broadwell chip, or the hybrid's size or weight were shared.

The manufacturing problems with Broadwell are a rare misstep for the world's biggest chip maker.

Intel typically releases new chips on an annual basis but the multiple problems mark the first major processor delay since the Pentium 4 chip more than a decade ago.

Intel has said Broadwell chips will be 30 percent more power-efficient and faster than their Haswell counterparts, and also boast better graphics. Desktop variants of the chip will support new technologies like DDR4 memory, and also have new graphics cores.

Only one Broadwell chip has been announced—an unlocked gaming chip for gamers, but Intel hasn't provided a shipment date for that product. Intel has been showing an all-in-one reference PC called Black Brook based on Broadwell at conferences to highlight what the chip can do in desktops.

The Broadwell delay is having a rollover effect on the company's successor PC chips like Skylake, which is due for release next year. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich has maintained Skylake—which is based on a brand new architecture—would not be delayed. That could interrupt PC upgrade cycles with people bypassing Broadwell—which could have a lifespan of under a year—to go straight to Skylake.

Early production of Broadwell is already underway and the first chips are already in the hands of PC makers. Intel has said Broadwell chips will reach shelves by the holiday season, but hasn't specified whether they'd be laptop or desktop variants. This week's demonstration at Computex points to Broadwell-based tablets and laptops being released by the end of this year.

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Optimize Your Tablet For Movies on The Go

[ This sponsored article was written by IDG Creative Lab, a partner of PCWorld, and not by PCWorld's editorial staff. ]

Your tablet isn't just a way to be productive on the go, it's also a portable portal for watching movies and other video entertainment. Upgrade the viewing experience for maximum satisfaction on any Intel-powered tablet with these seven tips.

1. Pack the Right Apps

Many videos can be watched in a web browser or played directly from your hard drive, but having a good resource for fresh content can help make sure you don't get stuck with the same old stuff. There are plenty of apps out there that cumulatively give you access to a massive video library right from your tablet. On Android devices, check out Netflix, Crackle, and Hubi. The Windows store also features Netflix and Crackle, plus reliable apps like Hulu Plus and Vevo. Your cable provider may have a proprietary app too, which may let you stream content or download it for offline viewing.

2. Analyze the Angles

While most tablet screens look great from a wide range of viewing angles, you'll get the best results if your tablet is positioned directly in front of your face, with your neck and head in a comfortable position. With a slate-style tablet like the Acer Iconia A1-830, this is best achieved by adding a separate stand that can adjust to a variety of angles. (You'll find a wide range of stands available from your favorite electronics retailer, or on Amazon.) A convertible tablet device like the 2 in 1 HP Pavilion x360 also lets you adjust the screen to any angle by rotating the keyboard backward and using it as a stand. Either way, the powerful Intel processors are designed to deliver super-smooth video, even at full HD quality. 

3. Choose the Right Resolution

When selecting the resolution of your video, match it as closely as you can to that of your tablet's screen for the best results. Watch out – because screen resolution can vary greatly for every source (online, DVD, smartphone) and from device to device. For example, the Toshiba Encore 8 tablet features a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, while the portable All-in-One Dell XPS 18 offers a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Choosing the proper video resolution will help to eliminate video artifacts, including jagged and blocky images.

4. Reduce Glare

Your best bet for keeping screen glare to a minimum is to carefully choose where you position yourself in relation to bright light sources. Try to keep windows to your side, rather than behind you (which will create lots of glare) or directly in front of you (which will wash out your tablet and leave you squinting). If you're watching video outside, make sure you're positioned in the shade. Also, a screen protector with a matte surface (as opposed to glossy) will help keep some of that sunlight from bouncing back into your eyes.

5. Upgrade Your Audio

Audio is half the picture. If you're not hearing all the sound, you're not going to enjoy the movie as much as you could. Many tablets feature impressive sound, like the Dolby Home Theater surround sound speakers on the portable All-in-One Lenovo IdeaCentre Flex 20, but you'll get an even better experience if you plug in a set of quality earphones, simply to help block out other sounds around you.

6. Improve Streaming Quality

Streaming a movie from the web? Certain tablets let you stream video over a cellular data connection, but connecting over Wi-Fi will offer much faster service. Make sure you're positioned where you have a strong Wi-Fi signal to ensure the highest quality video is delivered to your tablet and to avoid dropouts and buffering – which always seems to hit right before the big action scene arrives. A quick ping at a site like speedtest.net can show you how well your network is performing.

7. Keep Distractions at Bay

It's finally movie time – so how do you keep life's various distractions from interrupting the fun? If possible, orient yourself to face away from walkways and other thoroughfares so the constant flow of passing people doesn't interrupt your viewing. Your headphones are also a signal to the outside world that you're otherwise engaged. The bigger and more noticeable they are, the better. Finally, don't forget: Mute your cell phone. That rule isn't just for movie theaters; it's for anyone who wants to give every movie an opportunity to become their next favorite.

Any Intel-powered tablet or 2 in 1 device can be your portal to a world of entertainment. Just pick your favorite content and follow these simple guidelines to optimize your experience.

[ This sponsored article was written by IDG Creative Lab, a partner of PCWorld, and not by PCWorld's editorial staff. ]

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