Thread: Anandtech News

Today we're taking a look at Corsair's Neutron NX500 SSD . This is the company's second PCIe SSD, again based on the Phison E7 controller, but this time distinguishing itself with a custom heatsink, larger overprovisioning than almost any consumer SSD, and twice the DRAM cache of a typical consumer SSD. The price tag matches the premium specifications, but the real-world performance does not justify the premium.

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ASUS is about to start shipments of its ROG Strix XG27VQ display — an inexpensive curved 27” screen with a high refresh rate and AMD’s FreeSync technology designed for gamers and modders. The monitor has all the features that one expects from the ROG trademark as well as one brand new tech from ASUS, the so-called Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB). Besides, the XG27VQ is among the first monitors to have the ASUS Aura RGB lighting on the back along with a customizable light signature projector on the bottom. With the launch of the ROG Strix XG27VQ, ASUS not only releases a moderately-sized curved LCD, but also makes a ROG-branded monitor more accessible since the new model costs $349.99. The product will soon be joined by a more advanced ROG Swift PG27VQ.
ASUS is gradually expanding its family of curved monitors. Unlike some of its rivals, the company started introduction of curved displays into its lineup from the very high-end with the ultra-wide ROG Swift PG348Q aimed at gamers in mid-2016. Since then, the company has released two curved Designo displays for those looking for style, a couple of inexpensive curved monitors for gamers and even the ROG Swift PG35VQ (the successor of the PG348Q) with a 200 Hz refresh rate, HDR and quantum dots. One of the distinguishable features of all ASUS’ curved displays so far was their diagonal size: all of them were 32” and larger. While some argue that curvature makes sense only for very large monitors, there are manufacturers, which produce considerably smaller curved screens.
In a bid to offer a similar option for its customers, ASUS introduced two 27” curved displays for gamers into its premium ROG lineup earlier this year (think of BMW 1-series: they are compact cars with premium features). The monitors belong to the Swift and Strix sub-families and thus use different panels and come with different sets of features. Meanwhile, there are several things that the ROG Swift PG27VQ and ROG Strix XG27VQ displays have in common: they are 27” large, they feature very high refresh rates of 144 and 165 Hz, they support dynamic refresh rate technologies, and they feature the ASUS Aura RGB lighting. Apparently, the ROG Strix XG27VQ is going to reach the market earlier than its brother as Amazon and Newegg recently started to list it.

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27VQ is based on a 27” VA panel with a FHD 1920×1080 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. General specifications of the panel are typical for contemporary entry-level gaming devices: 300 nits brightness, 3000:1 contrast ratio, 178°/178° viewing angles, a 4 ms response time (grey-to-grey) and so on. The monitor can use HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, or a dual-link DVD-D connector. As for ergonomics, the Strix XG27VQ can adjust height, tilt, swivel or can be attached to a VESA wall mounting.

While at first glance the new ROG Strix looks like a fairly standard monitor, there are several features that make the XG27VQ especially appealing to gamers. Firstly, it has a 144 Hz maximum refresh rate along with AMD’s FreeSync that works over both DP and HDMI with a refresh range between 48 and 140 Hz. Secondly, it has a brand-new feature called the Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), which promises to make fast-paced actions look sharper. ASUS does not describe how the ELMB works, but it may be the company’s alternative to the ULMB tech that has been around for a while. Thirdly, the XG27VQ has a 1800R curvature for those who want some additional immersion. Fourthly, it is equipped with the ASUS Aura RGB lighting on the back to customize its look (and match it with lighting effects on a PC based on a motherboard featuring the ASUS Aura lighting) as well as a customizable light signature projector on the bottom. Finally, the monitor supports the ASUS GamePlus modes, which are present on other gaming monitors by the company.

When it comes to the ROG Swift PG27VQ display announced alongside the ROG Strix XG27VQ, it looks considerably more advanced. The Swift PG27VQ has a higher resolution of 2560×1440, a faster 1 ms GtG response time, an "overclockable" 165 Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA’s G-Sync dynamic refresh rate technology with ULMB, 1800R curvature, the Aura Sync RGB lighting (which can synchronize lighting effects with all connected Aura-enabled components) as well as all the ergonomics and features of its younger brother. Quite obviously, this one is going to be more expensive too.

ASUS ROG 27" Curved Gaming Monitors
		ROG Strix XG27VQ	ROG Swift PG27VQ
Panel		27" VA	27"
Native Resolution		1920 × 1080	2560 × 1440
Refresh Rate Range		144 Hz	165 Hz overclockable
Dynamic Refresh Rate		FreeSync with ELMB (48 - 140 Hz)	G-Sync with ULMB
Response Time		4 ms (gray-to-gray)	1 ms (gray-to-gray)
Brightness		300 cd/m²	unknown
Contrast		3000:1	unknown
Viewing Angles		178°/178° horizontal/vertical	unknown
Curvature		1800R
Inputs		1 × HDMI 1.4 1 × DP 1.2 1 × DL-DVI-D	unknown
Audio		Audio out port
Proprietary Enhancements		Trace Free Technology Skin-Tone Selection: 3 Modes Color Temperature Selection: 4 Modes GamePlus Modes: Crosshair/Timer/Display Alignment Low Blue Light: Yes VividPixel: Yes GameVisual Modes: Scenery/Racing/Cinema/RTS/RPG/FPS/sRGB
Power Consumption	Idle	~0.5 W	unknown
Active	50 W at 200 cd/m²	unknown
Detailed Information		Link	Link

The ASUS ROG Strix XG27VQ display can be pre-ordered from Amazon and Newegg for $349.99, which is highly likely going to be its MSRP. The exact availability date of the monitor is unknown, but it will probably ship in Q3. As for the more advanced ROG Swift PG27VQ, nothing is clear at this point. ASUS still has not released its final specs just yet and no retailers are taking pre-orders.
Related Reading:

• ASUS VA326H and VA326N-W: 31.5-Inch Curved 144 Hz FHD Displays for $399
• ASUS Adds Entry-Level VP28UQG to Gaming LCD Lineup: 28”, 4K, FreeSync, 1ms
• ASUS Launches VG245Q 'Console' Gaming Monitor: 1080p with FreeSync, $200
• ASUS Demonstrates ROG Swift PG27UQ: 4K, 144 Hz, HDR, DCI-P3 and G-Sync
• ASUS Starts to Ship Its First Curved Ultra-Wide Display: ROG Swift PG348Q
• LG’s 34UC89G 21:9 Curved Display with G-Sync, 144 to 166 Hz, Available for $999

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In the midst of a global DRAM shortage, Digitimes reports that the market prices for graphics memory from Samsung and SK Hynix have increased by over 30% for August. This latest jump in memory prices is apparently due to the pair of DRAM manufacturers repurposing part of their VRAM production capacities for server and smartphone memories instead. As Digitimes’ sources report, this VRAM pricing is expected to increase further in September, impacting graphics card and gaming notebook manufacturers. Consumers have already felt the pain through skyrocketing DDR4 prices, and TrendForce/DRAMeXchange expects the upward trend of PC DRAM chips to continue to 2018.
Generally speaking, this production prioritization is not new. Late last year, the top three memory suppliers, Samsung (55% market share), SK Hynix (35% market share), and Micron (10% market share) shifted production capacity to prioritize servers and smartphones, causing the initial spike in PC DRAM prices. Overall, DRAMeXchange attributes the tight supply to lack of short term capacity expansion, as well as yield issues with new processes. The research firm had also noted that capacity expansion will be rather subdued as manufacturers try to keep commanding the higher margins of an undersupply environment.

In light of recent GDDR6 announcements by Micron and SK Hynix, these supply/price issues could have knock-on effects for both current and upcoming graphics cards. Additionally, as both Samsung and SK Hynix are the only HBM2 suppliers, HBM2-equipped cards may be adversely constrained by supply. Earlier this month, an SK Hynix executive stated that customers were willing to pay 2.5 times more for HBM2 over HBM1; this sentiment may soon be put to the test. The situation with Micron is a little less clear, as they not only have their unique GDDR5X memory, but also may not have raised VRAM prices. If they haven't, they may have an opportunity on their hands.
Related Reading:

• SK Hynix: Customers Willing to Pay 2.5 Times More for HBM2 Memory
• Samsung Increases Production Volumes of 8 GB HBM2 Chips Due to Growing Demand
• Micron Discusses GDDR: 16 Gbps GDDR5X, 16 nm GDDR6 and GDDR5
• SK Hynix Advances Graphics DRAM: GDDR6 Added to Catalogue, GDDR5 Gets Faster
• SK Hynix to Ship GDDR6 Memory for Graphics Cards by Early 2018

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MSI has announced a new Micro ATX motherboard added to the X299 lineup in the X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC. Based on the ATX sized X299 Gaming Pro Carbon AC, it has a similar I/O cover shape as well as the painted carbon pattern on the black board. MSI states it shares nearly all features the bigger brother offers, such as multiple PCIe x16 slots for multi-GPU, the same amount of SATA ports, dual M.2 slots, and even the same 10 phase DrMOS PWM make their way onto the smaller X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC.

The X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC supports up to 64GB of quad-channel DRAM, and using MSI’s DDR4 Boost Technology should allow the board to support memory speeds up to 4200 MHz, a full multiplier more than the ATX sized Gaming Pro Carbon AC - this is typically down to better performance potential when using 1 DIMM per channel. Another difference is visible in the available PCIe slots: the mATX version has a total of three PCIe x16 slots, two using Steel Armor and one without, to support x16/x16/x8 using a 44-lane CPU and x16/x8/x4 with a 28-lane CPU, although to use all the bandwidth a user would need to invest in single slot solutions. Under the guide overclocking, MSI claims that its features such as an external clock generator for more BCLK flexibility, an 8-Layer PCB, and a fully digital power design for its 10 phase Military Class 6 power delivery (among other features) contribute to the overclocking performance.

Chipset Diagram

On the storage side, the X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC comes with eight SATA 6 Gbps ports, who of which can share bandwidth with the two M.2 slots when using SATA based M.2 drives. The M.2 ports also support PCIe 3.0 x4 drives, in which case this will not affect the SATA ports.
USB connectivity starts with USB 3.1 Gen 2 via an ASM3142 controller: Type-A and Type-C ports on the back I/O panel, as well as another Type-C using an internal header. There are four more USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports on the back, as well as two USB 2.0 ports. More can be found when using the internal USB headers.
For networking, the X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC comes with two Intel Gigabit LAN controllers (one more than the ATX Gaming Carbon Pro AC), the Intel I219-V and the Intel I211AT. Wireless features are handled by Intel’s dual band Wireless-AC 8265 module pre-installed in the WIFI1 slot. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) up to 867 Mbps, as well as dual mode Bluetooth 4.2. Audio duties are handled by the Realtek ALC1220 codec supporting 7.1 channel HD Audio. MSI updated its audio software on select boards in the X299 platform to Nahimic 2+, using their collaboration with Nahimic for advanced audio features.

RGB LEDs can be found on the I/O cover as well as on the audio separation line on the PCB that is meant to separate digital and analog signals. Two other small RGB strips are on the right side of the board. All the RGB LEDs (and external RGB LEDs that are supported) are controlled by MSI’s Mystic Light application. To further the aesthetic charm, if the default look isn’t what the build theme is looking for, MSI includes three different 'Gaming Pro' heatsink covers in Carbon, Gold, and Silver, which can be swapped around to achieve the most appropriate look for the build. It also has mounting points available, which MSI named 3D X-Mounting, to use for additional modifications for 3D-printable parts. MSI states that the cable covers, M.2 fan stand, SLI bridge, and more can be used to personalize the board even further.

MSI X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Warranty Period	3 Years
Product Page	Link
Price	$279.99
Size	mATX
CPU Interface	LGA2066
Chipset	Intel X299
Memory Slots (DDR4)	Four DDR4 Supporting 64GB Quad Channel Up to 4200 MHz
Network Connectivity	1x Intel I219V GbE 1x Intel I211AT GbE
Onboard Audio	Realtek ALC1220
PCIe Slots for Graphics (from CPU)	3 x PCIe 3.0 - 44 Lane CPU: x16/x16/x8 - w/ 28 Lane CPU: x16/x8/x4
PCIe Slots for Other (from PCH)	N/A
Onboard SATA	Eight, RAID 0/1/5/10
Onboard SATA Express	None
Onboard M.2	2 x PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA
Onboard U.2	None
USB 3.1	ASMedia 3142 Chipset: 1 x Gen 2 Type-A (Back Panel) 2 x Gen 2 Type-C (Back Panel) 1 x Gen 2 Type-C (internal connector) Intel X299 Chipset: 4 x Gen 1 Type-A via Back Panel 2 x Gen 1 Internal Headers
USB 3.0	N/A
USB 2.0	Intel X299 Chipset 4 x Gen 1 Type-A via Back Pane 2 x Gen 1 via Internal Headers
Power Connectors	1 x 24-pin ATX 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V 1 x 6-pin PCIe
Fan Headers	1 x CPU (4-pin) 1 x Water Pump (4-pin) 3 x System Fan (4-pin)
IO Panel	1 x Clear CMOS button 1 x BIOS FLASHBACK+ button 1 x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A ports 2 x Wi-Fi Antenna connectors 4 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports 2 x LAN (RJ45) port 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A port 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port 1 x Optical S/PDIF OUT connector 5 x OFC audio jacks

Pricing information was not mentioned in the press release. However, the $279.99 price listed above was found on gigparts.com. It is selling for $399.99 on ncix.com.
*MSI's website states that the board supports 128GB of DRAM, although that would mean using 32GB UDIMMs which do not exist. We fully suspect this is a typo on MSI and have reached out for clarification - we expect the support to be 64GB (4x16GB).
Related Reading:

• The Intel Skylake-X Review: Core i9 7900X, i7 7802X, and i7 7800 Tested
• Kaby Lake-X i7 7740X and i5 7640X Review: The New Single-Threaded Champion, OC to 5 GHz
• MSI Announces the X299 XPower Gaming AC Motherboard: Five M.2 Slots
• GIGABYTE Launches Airus X299 Motherboards: X299-Gaming3, Gaming 7, and Gaming 9
• ASUS Unveils Seven X299 Motherboards: Prime, TUF, and ROG

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For the launch of AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper processors, one of the features being advertised was Game Mode. This was a special profile under the updated Ryzen Master software that was designed to give the Threadripper CPU more performance in gaming, at the expense of peak performance in hard CPU tasks. AMD’s goal, as described to us, was to enable the user to have a choice: a CPU that can be fit for both CPU tasks and for gaming at the flick of a switch (and a reboot) by disabling half of the chip. Initially we interpreted this via one of AMD’s slides as half of the threads (simultaneous multi-threading off), as per the exact wording. However, in other places AMD had stated that it actually disables half the cores: AMD returned to us and said it was actually disabling one of the two active dies in the Threadripper processor. We swallowed our pride and set about retesting the effect of Game Mode.

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At a closed-session partner in China, Intel revealed a number of preliminary details about its upcoming 8^th generation Core processors for desktops. As expected, Intel is telling its business customers that is increasing core count of its CPUs for mainstream PCs in a bid to drive performance, catalyze upgrades and better compete against its rival.
Intel has previously unveiled that they're working on what will be their 8^th Generation Core processors. What has been rumored for a while (and what Intel yet has to publicly confirm) is increased core counts for the 8^th Gen desktop parts. This week Chiphell, a China-based website, published a picture taken from a partner briefing event, which briefly describes the advantages of Intel’s 8^th gen Core CPUs vs the company’s 7^th gen Core chips.
According to two separate external sources with knowledge of the matter, the slide is up-to-date and genuine.
Intel is stating that the increased number of cores and enlarged caches will be the key improvements of the 8^th Gen desktop parts, compared to their direct predecessors. In particular, the event speaker explained that the next-gen Core i7-8000 series CPUs will gain two additional cores to give six cores with Hyper-Threading. At the top end, it was stated that these will be at 95W and 65W TDPs for unlocked and regular SKUs respectively. The Core i5 series will also get two additional cores, but no Hyper-Threading. As for the Core i3 parts, these parts will lose Hyper-Threading, but instead move into the traditional i5 space, giving four cores only. Intel stated that they will also continue to offer unlocked CPUs within its i7, i5 and i3 families, and such processors will feature higher frequencies and a 95 W TDP (compared to the 65 W thermal envelope for their regular parts).

Basic Specifications of Intel Core i5/i7 Desktop CPUs
7th Generation					8th Generation
	Cores	Freq. (Base)	L3	TDP		Cores	Freq. (Base)	L3	TDP
i7-7700K	4/8	4.2GHz	8 MB	95W	i7-8700K	6/12	3.8GHz	12MB	95W
i7-7700	3.6GHz	65W	i7-8700	?	65W
i5-7600K	4/4	3.8GHz	6 MB	95W	i5-8600K	6/6	?	9 MB	95W
i5-7400	3.0GHz	65W	i5-8400	2.8GHz	65W
i3-7350K	2/4	4.2GHz	4 MB	60W	i3-8350K	4/4	4.0GHz	6MB	95W
i5-7100	3.9GHz	51W	i3-8100	3.8GHz	65W

As it stands, three things remain unclear about the 8^th generation Core processors for desktops. The first one is the integrated graphics configuration of the company’s upcoming parts, as it may be important if Intel increases their GPU core counts to keep performance growing. The second one is the CPU core configuration of the future Pentium SKUs. In the case of Kaby Lake-based Pentiums, Intel enabled Hyper-Threading technology to match the Core i3 parts, blurring the line between the i3-7000 and the Pentium G4600-series parts. Third is if there are any adjustments to the pricing structure.
What will be interesting is the fact that Intel has lost the 4C/8T level of hardware. By moving the Core i5 to a six-core, any 4C/8T component has the potential to surpass a 6C/6T in certain tests.
Intel did not supply us with this information. Intel traditionally does not comment on information it reveals to partners behind closed doors. More importantly, the information should be considered as preliminary as the company has been known to change product specifications close to launch, even on final engineering samples to retail. Even though the 8^th generation Core processors would already need to be in production in order to meet Intel's 2017 goals, last minute changes are always on the table. Similarly, Intel has a lot of latitude in deciding when to actually launch their parts, particularly lower-volume desktop parts.

Related Reading:

• Intel to Announce 8th Generation Core Processors on August 21st
• Coffee Lake Not Supported by Intel’s 200-Series Motherboards
• Intel Officially Reveals Post-8th Generation Core Architecture Code Name: Ice Lake, Built on 10nm+

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More news from Intel this morning, this time published directly on their website. With the upcoming announcement of the 8^th Generation Core next week to which Intel has already posted teasers to the media, it would seem that someone at Intel decided to add processor details and pricing into Intel’s official Price List today.
New to the document are four CPUs, all in the U-series range, which usually indicates TDPs of 15W for non-Iris products. However, the big jump to note will be in the core counts. U-series processors, including the Core i7 parts, have historically been only dual-core with Hyper-Threading, similar to the Core i5 parts (with the Core i7 being better for voltage/frequency curves and overall performance). The Price List shows that both the new Core i7-8000 and Core i5-8000 parts will move up to four cores, and both will feature Hyper-Threading, giving a total of eight threads.

Specifications of Intel Core i5/i7 U-series CPUs
7th Generation					8th Generation
	Cores	Freq. (Base)	L3	Price		Cores	Freq. (Base)	L3	Price
i7-7660U	2/4	2.5 GHz	4 MB	$415	i7-8650U	4/8	1.9 GHz	8 MB	$409
i7-7560U	2.4 GHz	$415	i7-8550U	1.8 GHz	$409
i5-7360U	2/4	2.3 GHz	3 MB	$304	i5-8350U	4/8	1.7 GHz	6 MB	$297
i5-7260U	2.2 GHz	$304	i5-8250U	1.6 GHz	$297

The Price List also states their L3 cache sizes, which is consistent with previous Core i7/i5 positioning. The base frequencies are to note, which are lower than previous generations. Other information shows the pricing is about the same, and the that these are on 14nm. It doesn’t state which 14nm process these parts are on, but it confirms that 10nm isn’t ready as of today to go into the list. The list also doesn't state the CPUs' turbo frequencies.

Click to Zoom

One thing that might have users disappointed is that there is no update on any desktop parts in the price list. The list has the new U-series CPUs as having an official price from August 21st, which would also follow some of the laptop designs that have been leaked by retailers featuring these new parts. The image at the top is of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-52G-55XD, which is one of those devices.
Related Reading

• Intel to Announce 8th Generation Core Processors on August 21st
• Coffee Lake Not Supported by Intel’s 200-Series Motherboards
• Intel Officially Reveals Post-8th Generation Core Architecture Code Name: Ice Lake, Built on 10nm+

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On Tuesday, Lian-Li announced a new Mini-ITX Tower chassis with its PC-Q39. A progression from the PC-Q37 case, the PC-Q39 is a bit larger and can now house an ATX form factor PSU, up to 2x120mm radiator, and a triple slot graphics card. The outside of the chassis uses tempered glass on the side with an updated aluminum front panel giving it a high-end look many are after.
Lian-Li PC-Q39

Like its predecessor, the PC-Q39 maintains a dual chamber design separating the motherboard, video card, and heatsink/radiator from the HDD/SSD and power supply. Lian-Li strategically placed dedicated grommets for liquid cooling tubes at the top and bottom of the motherboard tray. Along with five other holes, there are plenty of places to route tubing for the reservoir and pumps, as well as other wiring in the wider second chamber. This setup can make for a much cleaner look and allows for less obstructed airflow in the main chamber. The front panel, located on top of the Q39 (was on the front of the Q37), has been modernized to include a single USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C connector, as well as two USB3.0 ports.

The PC-Q39’s additional size, 15mm wider, allows it to use the more familiar ATX form factor for PSUs, up to 160mm in length. The second compartment also contains a tool-less drive rack holding two 3.5” and one 2.5” drive. Two additional spaces for 2.5” drives are found in the back and on the motherboard tray, for a total of three 2.5” drives.
At the top of the chassis, there is room for two 120mm fans or a 240mm radiator. Additionally, there is space on the bottom of the case for two 120mm fans or a single 140 mm fan for increased airflow in the main chamber. All fan mount points come with a magnetically attached dust filter to slow the buildup of dust inside the case. There are three expansion slots for PCIe devices allowing owners to use video cards with a triple slot cooler and up to 300mm in length. Working in the small case shouldn't be an issue due to the front, top, and side panels all being removable.

Below is a complete specifications table:

Lian-Li PC-Q39 Mini-ITX Chassis
Model	PC-Q39G WX
Case Type	Mini Tower Chassis
Dimensions	(W)252mm x(H)348mm x(D)346mm
Color	Black
Front/Side Panel	Aluminum / (L) Tempered Glass, (R) Aluminum
Body Material	Aluminum
Net Weight	5.3kg
External Drive Bays	None
HDD/SSD Bays	2x 3.5", 3x 2.5"
Expansion Slots	3
Motherboard Type	Mini-ITX
System Fan (Optional)	2x 120mm(top), 2x 120mm or 1x 140mm(bottom)
I/O Ports	2x USB3.0, 1x USB3.1 Type-C, HD Audio
VGA Card Support	(L)300mm x (D)60mm
CPU Cooling Support	(H)120mm
PSU Support	ATX PSU,(L)160mm
Radiator Support	Top: 240mm x 80mm x 120mm

The PC-Q39 is available now at newegg.com for $209.99.
Gallery: Lian Li PC-Q39 Mini-ITX Chassis


Related Reading:

• Lian-Li Announces Availability of the DK-05 Motorized Adjustable PC Desk
• GIGABYTE Joins AM4 Mini-ITX Club with GA-AB350N-Gaming Wi-Fi Motherboard
• Mighty Mini-ITX: ASRock X299E-ITX/ac with 4 Channel DDR4 and 3xM.2 Support
• ASUS Announces ROG Strix H270I & B250I Mini-ITX Motherboards

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Aquantia and Dell this week began to offer Aquantia’s AQtion AQN-108 5 GbE network controller as a build-to-order option for the OptiPlex 7050 workstations. Dell is the first major PC brand to offer an Aquantia AQtion card with its systems, and since Dell is one of the world’s largest suppliers of computers, the collaboration is a good news for Aquantia. This is also equally good news for the adoption of higher bandwidth Ethernet standards in PCs, marking one of the first times a faster NIC has been available in a commodity-grade workstation.
The Aquantia AQtion AQN-108 card is a 2.5/5 GbE network controller that uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot and supports 5 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps and 100 Mbps networking standards over RJ45 connectors using Cat5e/Cat6a cabling over distances up to 100 meters. The card is aimed at individuals and small businesses willing to invest in 2.5G/5G infrastructure. In fact, the Dell OptiPlex 7050 machines are meant for this kind of organizations: the workstations are based on Intel’s Core processors (the Core i3-7300 is the cheapest option) and start at $769 per box.

Dell charges $277.13 for the addition of a full height AQtion AQN-108 card into a tower OptiPlex 7050, which is quite a lot because Aquantia charges around $100 per card. Unfortunately, this is a usual practice for large PC makers to sell optional hardware with a huge markup. For example, even Intel’s 10 GbE X540 card can be bought for considerably less than $277 at Amazon.
Despite the price, it is important that Dell is offering an AQuantia-based NIC designed for 2.5G and 5 G infrastructure because it means that the large PC supplier sees promise in 2.5G/5G networks.
Related Reading:

• ASUS Launches XG-C100C 10 GBase-T Adapter: Aquantia AQC107, $99
• ASUS XG-U2008 10GBase-T Network Switch Released: 2x10G + 8x1G for $249
• Lower Cost 10GBase-T Switches Coming: 4, 5 and 8-port Aquantia Solutions at ~$30/Port
• Aquantia Launches New 2.5G/5G Multi-Gigabit Network Controllers for PCs
• Aquantia Launch AQtion 5G/2.5G/1G Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Cards (NICs) for PCIe
• GIGABYTE Exhibits an Aquantia AQC107 based 10G Ethernet PCIe Card
• AKiTiO Displays Thunderbolt 3 to 10GBase-T Adapter

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We lost a friend and a colleague to terrorism yesterday (Aug. 17).
Bruno Gulotta, 35, an employee of Tom's Hardware Italy — a brand owned byAnandTech parent company Purch — was on holiday in Barcelona, Spain, strolling along Las Ramblas with his partner and two young children, when he was struck and killed by a van that also took the lives of 13 others and injured more than 100.
When he was hit by the van, Bruno was holding his 5-year-old son Alessandro's hand. His son was yanked away to safety by his mother, who had their 7-month-old daughter, Aria, strapped to her chest when the van struck.
The terrorist group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have arrested at least four suspects as the investigation continues, according to the Associated Press.
"It is with great sadness that I must report that one of our team members was killed in the attack in Barcelona yesterday," Purch CEO Greg Mason announced in an email to the company.
"While many of our offices are no stranger to the realities of terrorism, it is particularly sobering when tragedy takes one of our own. Please keep Bruno and his family in your thoughts and prayers as well as our EU team members who are dealing with the very real existence of danger and loss in their daily lives," Mason said.
Bruno was mourned and remembered by his friend and colleague Roberto Buonanno, the country manager for Tom's Hardware Italy, in a story we have translated and reposted below. If you would like to donate to Bruno's family, contributions are being collected through a PayPal account Buonanno set up for this purpose: paypal.me/famigliabrunogulotta.

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From Tom's Hardware Italy, translated:

Today is a day of mourning for us. We all come together with affection for his companion, Martina, and his two small children. Here are our memories of Bruno, as written by the country manager of Tom’s Hardware for Italy, Roberto Buonanno.The news came to us suddenly yesterday evening during the laid-back week of Ferragosto [a holiday celebrated in Italy]. Our colleague and friend Bruno Gulotta was run over and killed by a terrorist in the heart of Barcelona. Here was there on vacation with his companion and his two kids. He was posting on Facebook, and everything seemed like a typical vacation: a photo from Cannes, one from Las Ramblas in Barcelona. And then something that no one expects: the death of a young man, father and partner of the mother of his two children.We spent the evening and night trying to stay lucid, and communicate the news to our colleagues and close friends; many wondered if this was a macabre joke or reality. And then we started to read online publications, competing to collect as much news, photos and videos of this young Italian, dead in a terrorist attack in Barcelona.It is a tragedy that strikes us in so many ways, one more dramatic than the other. We are thinking of his companion, Martina, who, with the strength of a young mother, must now face something nobody should have to. We put ourselves in the shoes of little Alessandro, who is preparing to start elementary school, knowing that his life and family will no longer be the same. And then we think of little Aria, who will not remember the horrible scene, but will never know her dad.Bruno was a point of reference, a central figure for all those who knew him. For us at Tom's Hardware, he was an important pillar who helped hold us up.Anyone who worked with him — whether it was customers, suppliers or web stars — was impressed by his kindness and professionalism. He had an insatiable hunger for knowledge, and he was a real enthusiast — one of us — even though he later decided to move full time to marketing and sales. And in that role, I have never known a more capable person. He loved to study every aspect of his profession. He was an insatiable reader and avidly searched for perfection.We talked for hours and hours about our productivity and our personnel development systems, and exchanged many letters seeking guidance. Anyone who had a problem with a computer, software or web platform could ask and find a solution by coming to Bruno, even if they didn't work with him. That’s because Bruno was a truly generous and heartfelt person. He was able to lead a rich family life and a brilliant professional career with a balance that I will always admire.Personally, Bruno helped keep my feet on the ground. Every time we had a problem or a question that required my approval, I talked with him. And this went beyond just business. We talked about the education of children, vaccines, alternative medicine, diet and physical fitness. I don't know how I will be able to endure, seeing his empty desk in our office across from where I work, and I think about how much I will miss his company. And then I realized that it is a selfish thought, because everything that counts now, and that's important, is giving maximum support to his family, to whom we will always be available.Rest in peace, Bruno. We will always remember you. Considering that you have always been a life force, I swear to you, even through your last act on Earth, you have taught me a profound lesson. You will always be in my thoughts every time that I feel the need for a voice of a friend, as if you would always be there, as you have always been, at every hour of the day and in any moment.

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