Thread: Anandtech News

With a varied selection of announcements for CES 2021's new virtual format, ADATA has unveiled a new external solid-state drive with integrated RGB LEDs. The ADATA SE900G looks to redefine portable storage for all the RGB junkies that also require fast SSD performance, with support for up to USB transfers speeds up to 20Gbps via USB 3.2 G2x2.
The SE900G uses a back shell constructed from metal, which ADATA claims is durable and designed to look premium. On the front is a criss-cross design with an integrated RGB light plate, making it easy to spot with its soft textured neon glare.

Looking to offer users the fastest possible performance from an external drive, ADATA has equipped the SE900G with a USB 3.2 G2x2 interface, which is backward compatible with older USB Type-C connections, albeit with lower bandwidth and ultimately lower speeds. ADATA is also claiming peak read and write speeds of up to 2000 MB/s, which is at the high-end of USB 3.2 G2x2's specification. The USB 3.2 G2x2 interface is capable of up to 20 Gbps, which uses two lanes of 10 Gbps at once to deliver its throughput.
Gallery: CES 2021: ADATA SE900G External SSD, With RGB


ADATA hasn't revealed any details about storage capacities or pricing at this time.
Interested in more of the latest industry news? Check out our CES 2021 trade show landing page!

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It's not often that the range becomes the brand, but in the case of Dynabook, which used to be an affordable range of laptops, has announced a couple of new models for 2021. The new Dynabook Satellite Pro C40 is powered by Intel's 10th generation processors, with a 14" screen and an integrated HD webcam.

The Dynabook Satellite Pro C40 includes a dark blue chassis, with a thickness of just 18.9 mm and a weight of 1.55 KG. Some of the main features include a full-sized keyboard, an internal HD webcam, with a dual array microphone. It is powered by an Intel 10th generation processor, with a 14 inch 1080p non-glare screen, with a USB 3.2 G2 Type-C port that supports charging, external displays, and data transfer. Networking capabilities include a Gigabit Ethernet port, Wi-Fi 5, with support for Bluetooth connectivity.
Prices for the Dynabook Satellite Pro C40 will start at $499.
Gallery: CES 2021: Dynabook Announces New Satellite C40 Pro Laptop


Interested in more of the latest industry news? Check out our CES 2021 trade show landing page!



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During CES 2021, Dynabook has unveiled its Satellite Pro series of laptops. A blast from the past, the new Satellite Pro C50 includes a professional design with a 15.6-inch screen with a thin bezel and is aimed more at professionals and SMEs.
The Dynabook Satellite Pro C50 has a dark blue frame, which is basic yet elegant, with a coating of Ionpure antimicrobial designed to limit bacterial growth. It includes a large full-size keyboard including a numeric keypad, with an integrated HD webcam along the top of the bezel. It has a large 5.2 x 3.4-inch trackpad and has support for Windows Precision Touchpad.

Some of the more technical specifications include an Intel 10th generation mobile processor, DDR4 memory, with a solid-state drive for storage. It includes a USB 3.2 Type-C port with charging support, an HDMI video output, with Gigabit and Wi-Fi 5 network connectivity. It weighs around 1.76 KG, with a slim 19.7 mm profile.
In terms of pricing, the Dynabook Satellite Pro C50 starts at just $499.
Gallery: CES 2021: Dynabook Unveils Satellite Pro C50


Interested in more of the latest industry news? Check out our CES 2021 trade show landing page!

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One of our first events of the annual CES trade show this year is Intel's press conference on its consumer product lines. Heading up the event with be Intel's Gregory Bryant, GM of Intel's Client Computing Group. We're expecting to hear updates about all the things planned for 2021, which is set to be a pivotal year for the company. With Rocket Lake supposedly around the corner, as well as larger versions of Tiger Lake, it will be interesting to hear what Intel is ready to talk about.
Come back at 1pm Pacific Time (4pm Eastern, 9pm UTC, 10pm CET) and follow along with the AnandTech Live Blog.

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Today Qualcomm is announcing the release of their new 2^nd generation ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Back in 2019, the company had released its first-generation sensor, most notable for being used in Samsung’s Galaxy S10 and S20 series of devices, offering an alternative and very different technology compared to the competition’s optical based fingerprint sensor solutions.



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Today at CES, Lenovo is announcing updates to some of their most popular laptops in the ThinkPad X1 series. Lenovo is refreshing not just with the standard new CPUs, but also is following the industry trend of taller aspect ratio displays. The newest model to the lineup is the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga, featuring a 3:2 aspect, and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 and ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 are both getting 16:10 displays. Finally, there is a new ThinkPad X12 Detachable 12.3-inch convertible tablet.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Lineup
	ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga	ThinkPad X1 Carbon	ThinkPad X1 Yoga	ThinkPad X12 Detachable
CPU	11th Gen Intel Core Up to i7 with vPro
GPU	Up to Intel Iris Xe
Display	13.5-inch 3:2 IPS 2256 x 1504 450 nit 100% sRGB	14-inch 16:10 IPS 1920x1200 sRGB Optional UHD 100% P3 HDR400	14-inch 16:10 IPS 1920x1200 sRGB Optional UHD 100% P3 HDR400	12.3-inch 3:2 IPS FHD+ 400 nit
RAM	Up to 16 GB LPDDR4x	Up to 32 GB LPDDR4-4267	Up to 32 GB LPDDR4-4267	Up to 16 GB LPDDR4x
Storage	Up to 1 TB PCIe 3.0	Up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0	Up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0	Up to 1 TB PCIe 3.0
Networking	Wi-Fi 6 Optional LTE Optional 5G	Wi-Fi 6 Optional LTE Optional 5G	Wi-Fi 6 Optional LTE Optional 5G	Wi-Fi 6 Optional LTE
I/O	1 x Thunderbolt 4 1 x USB 3.2 Type-C 1 x Nano SIM 1 x Headset	2 x Thunderbolt 4 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Nano SIM 1 x Headset	2 x Thunderbolt 4 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Nano SIM 1 x Headset	1 x Thunderbolt 4 1 x USB 3.2 Type-C 1 x Nano SIM 1 x Headset
Dimensions	297 x 233 x 11.5 mm 11.71 x 9.14 x 0.45 inches	314 x 222 x 14.9 mm 12.38 x 8.72 x 0.59 inches	314 x 223 x 14.9 mm 12.38 x 8.77 x 0.59 inches	283 x 203 x 8.8 mm 11.15 x 8.01 x 0.35 inches
Weight	1.15 kg / 2.54 lbs	1.13 kg / 2.49 lbs	1.39 kg / 3 lbs	760 g / 1.67 lbs
Price	$1899 USD	$1429 USD	$1569 USD	$1149 USD
Availability	January 2021	February 2021	February 2021	January 2021

ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga

Not just a special edition of the normal X1 Yoga, the new ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is the thinnest ThinkPad ever produced at just 11 mm Z-height. With a weight starting at 1.15 kg / 2.54 lbs, it is also one of the lightest, making this new 13.5-inch laptop one of Lenovo’s most portable ThinkPads ever. Powered by 11th Gen Intel Core up to an i7 with vPro, and this business device will have plenty of grunt to churn through presentations. With up to 16 GB of LPDDR4x memory, and up to 1 TB of PCIe storage, the X1 Titanium Yoga should be more than ample for almost any business application.
Not just Titanium in name, this thin and light 2-in-1 laptop is actually skinned in titanium, giving a unique appearance and feel to the device. The convertible features a 3:2 aspect ratio 13.5-inch display which works enhances the usability in laptop mode, since there is more vertical real estate, but also makes it a much better convertible device for use in the hand.

Lenovo claims up to 10.9 hours of battery life from the 44.5 Wh battery, and the device charges over USB-C thanks to the two Thunderbolt 4 ports. There is no USB Type-A available though, so legacy devices will need to be plugged with an adapter, or through a dock.
Lenovo also offers Wi-Fi 6, and cellular connectivity with LTE and 5G options. There is an IR camera with a privacy shutter, and a fingerprint reader.
The new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga will be available this month, starting at $1899.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9

One of the most popular ThinkPad designs around is the X1 Carbon series, which is a traditional clamshell laptop, and for 2021 the laptop has been completely redesigned and now features a 16:10 aspect ratio display meaning there is more vertical space. Lenovo has also added a wider trackpad, and a larger battery. This Intel Evo design also offers Wi-Fi 6 and optional LTE or 5G connectivity.
Powered by the latest 11th generation Intel core processors, aka Tiger Lake, the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers up to an i7 with vPro, up to 32 GB of LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, and up to 2 TB of PCIe 4.0 storage. Coupled with the new Tiger Lake Iris Xe graphics, and this 1.13 kg / 2.49 lb laptop offers a lot of performance in an elegant design.
The larger 57 Wh battery is rated for up to 16 hours of life, and the 65-Watt Type-C charger supports Lenovo’s Rapid Charge technology to get back up and running quickly.

The new 14-inch 16:10 display offers several variations, with 100% P3 gamut coverage and HDR 400 available. Lenovo is also upping the game in terms of communication, with Dolby Voice integrated which uses dynamic leveling to automatically adjust for voice levels and ambient noise levels. The integrated HD webcam also features IR, and the laptop includes a fingerprint reader which doubles as a wake-up button.
The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon will be available in February starting at $1429 USD.
ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6

Featuring much of the same features as the X1 Carbon, but with the added versatility of the 360° hinge Yoga design, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga also gets a new chassis this year and 16:10 display support.
Much of the internals are similar to the X1 Carbon, with 11th gen Intel Evo offering up to an i7 with vPro, Intel Xe graphics, and the same 32 GB of LPDDR4x-4266 and 2 TB of PCIe 4.0 storage. The battery capacity is the same, at 57 Wh, and it also features Thunderbolt 4 for charging and data.
The big change is again the move to a 16:10 aspect ratio display, adding more vertical room. The X1 Yoga offers the same display choices as the X1 Carbon, but with Touch being available across the board, as it is a convertible laptop.

The X1 Yoga does give up some weight over the X1 Carbon in exchange for more versatility with the Yoga hinge, and starting weight is 1.39 kg / 3 lbs. The aluminum laptop is offered in an attractive Storm Gray color.
For those looking at the new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga, Lenovo expects availability in February, with prices starting at $1569.
ThinkPad X12 Detachable

For those that need the ultimate in portability, Lenovo is announcing the new ThinkPad X12 Detachable, which is a new take in the mold of the Microsoft Surface Pro. Featuring a 12.3-inch 3:2 display, and detachable keyboard, the new convertible tablet weighs in at just 760 grams / 1.67 lbs, or 1.1 kg / 2.42 lbs with the keyboard attached.
Despite the small size, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable still features up to a quad-core 11th gen Intel Core i7 with vPro, operating at up to 15 Watts and 4.3 GHz. It also features Intel Iris Xe graphics, and up to 16 GB of LPDDR4x memory. On the storage side, Lenovo has up to 1 TB of NVMe on tap.
The 42 Wh battery is rated for almost ten hours of battery life, and the 65-Watt adapter supports Lenovo’s Rapid Charge. The charger works over USB-C, and the ThinkPad X12 Detachable offers a single Thunderbolt 4 port, as well as a second USB-C port which offers USB 3.2.

The convertible tablet also offers LTE connectivity, up to CAT9, along with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
The new ThinkPad X12 Detachable will be available in January starting at $1149 USD.
Source: Lenovo

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Despite only having a 30 minute press event for this year’s annual CES trade show, Intel has a lot to discuss about its plans through the next 12 months. The company touched upon five key processor architectures and product segments that will dictate where a lot of its FY2021 will come from. This is essentially a yearly roadmap set of announcements, without actually giving us the roadmap.
We’ve had a lot of Intel news today, which we separated out into separate news posts for ease of use. This is a handy quick-use guide to click through to any of our analysis.


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For the second year in a row, AMD has an official CES Keynote. A year on from the launch of Ryzen 4000 Mobile series processors, and after a recent hit with Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 as well as RX 6000 GPUs, we're going to see what AMD has in store for us at the show this year. We're still waiting on the other Zen 3-based hardware, as well as more details about GPUs.

Join us at the following times to follow along with our Live Blog:

• 8am PT (Pacific, Los Angeles)
• 11am ET (Eastern, New York)
• 4pm UTC / UK (London)
• 5pm CET (Europe)
• Midnight CST (China)

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A major issue faced by owners of notebooks and compact SFF PCs such as the NUCs is the paucity of USB ports or even the absence of often-needed functionality like SD /microSD card slots and RJ-45 ports. Multi-function USB hubs come to the rescue here (at the cost of physical system footprint). One of the well-reviewed low-cost offerings in this market segment is Plugable's 2020 USB-C 7-in-1 Hub. This offering allowed MFDP (multi-functional Display Port) USB-C ports in a host system to support a micro-SDXC, full-sized SDXC, HDMI 1.4 (4Kp30) display output, and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports in a small rectangular unit. While capable of being bus-powered, the hub also includes a USB charging pass-through port, allowing for up to 87W of power delivery to the host system.

Plugable's 2020 USBC-7IN1 Multi-function Hub

At CES 2021, Plugable is updating the hub with new internals and I/Os. Thanks to the inclusion of a Parade PS186 DP 1.4 to HDMI 2.0 protocol converter, the HDMI 1.4 (4Kp30) port is now replaced by a HDMI 2.0 (4Kp60) port, enabling extended compatibility with DisplayPort 1.4 hosts that are becoming more common now. One of the USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports is also being replaced by a RJ-45 Gigabit LAN port using a Realtek RTL8153 USB to GbE controller. The other ports and features (including the 87W pass-through charging port to which the host notebook's original charger can connect - enabled by a VIA Technologies VL103 PD controller) are retained. The USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports are enabled by the VIA Technologies VL817 hub chip, and the card readers have a Genesys Logic GL3224 chip behind them.

Plugable's New 2021 USBC-7IN1E Multi-function Hub

The new 2021 Plugable USBC-7IN1E multi-function USB-C hub is now available for $30 (after applying a $5 off coupon on the MSRP of $35).
Interested in more of the latest industry news? Check out our CES 2021 trade show landing page!



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Since the announcement of AMD’s Zen 3 core microarchitecture, we’ve been expecting three series of products to be announced: desktop Ryzen, mobile Ryzen, and enterprise EPYC. So far the desktop parts are now launched and at retail (if you can find them), and the mobile Ryzen processors are part of AMD’s CES disclosures this week for retail in February. That only leaves Zen 3-based EPYC, which AMD has decided to preview as part of its CES keynote presentation today.

As far as the design of Zen 3 EPYC ‘Milan’ processors go, we are expecting an almost seemless transition from the previous Zen 2 EPYC ‘Rome’ ecosystem, with pin-compatible processors offering up to 64 cores and with 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes. For performance, if the desktop processors are anything to go by, we should expect to see +19% IPC gains as well. The question remains as to frequencies and efficiency, and when the time comes for AMD to announce the product stack, we will see where the solution lies relative to the competition – should AMD have a significant competitive advantage, no doubt prices will rise in line as well. The previous generation EPYC 7742 had a ‘list price’ of $6950 for comparison.
In today’s keynote presentation, AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su showcased weather prediction simulation code known as WRF, with two of the new 32-core Milan processors up against Intel’s popular 28-core Xeon Gold 6258R (we’ve reviewed these). The demo showcased simulating a 6 hour weather pattern over the continental US, to which dual socket Milan was 46% faster than Intel. This was computed based on the final frame cut-away from the simulation in the keynote, which showed that where Intel was 56% complete, AMD was 82% complete.

+68% for single socket, +46% for dual socket

AMD’s own metric then showed a +68% difference when comparing a single socket solution. AMD did not provide exact details on the rest of the system used in their testing. It should be clear that because this is a preview, we cannot validate AMD's performance claims.
We are expecting more details about Milan and AMD’s portfolio later this year. Sooner rather than later.
Gallery: AMD Previews 3rd Gen EPYC ‘Milan’ Performance

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