Computer
Review: HP Spectre X360 – A business laptop with standout design
In addition to its distinctive design, HP Spectre X360 also has several other noteworthy features such as an OLED display, versatile usability, and intelligent support functions
Although being a laptop brand targeting working professionals and business users with a simple “office” design, HP still offers products with innovative and unconventional designs, as exemplified by the HP Spectre X360 we have here.
As the name suggests, this is a laptop with a 360-degree hinge that allows for versatile usage compared to conventional laptops.
However, the highlight of the design of this laptop does not solely come from its flexible hinge, but rather from its build quality and small decorative details. The device is crafted from metal, providing a solid and premium feel, with some diamond-cut accents to enhance its elegance. The new HP logo has also been redesigned into a simple vertical strip style, fitting well with the overall aesthetic of this machine.
In other 360-degree convertible laptops, the hinge mechanism is often made small and tucked away to minimize its visibility. However, in the case of the Spectre X360, the hinge is actually a prominent component that enhances the overall appearance of the device. It is meticulously crafted and finished, adding to the overall aesthetic appeal of the laptop.
The particular design aspect that I want to mention is located on the two sides of the laptop. Near the point of contact with the display, the two halves of the Spectre X360 appear to be “carved out” to accommodate the USB-C ports and the 3.5mm audio/microphone jack. This is a distinctive design feature of the Spectre series, creating a recognizable difference when looking at this laptop.
Additionally, the Spectre X360 features an additional USB-C port and a USB-A port. This provides a standard port configuration for a laptop that boasts a slim and lightweight design. It is commendable that the laptop retains a traditional USB-A port for connecting peripherals such as a mouse or printer. The device measures 1.69cm in thickness and weighs 1.4kg, although it may not win any awards for being the thinnest or lightest, it still offers good portability with its 13.5-inch screen size.
Indeed, the newer generations of HP laptops like the Spectre X360 have upgraded the touchpad with a larger size, providing a more comfortable user experience compared to smaller, flatter touchpads used in the past. The increased surface area allows for smoother and more precise cursor control, making it easier to navigate and interact with the laptop.
On the keyboard, there is a fingerprint sensor that enables fast login using Windows Hello
HP Spectre X360 features a 13.5-inch multitouch OLED display with a resolution of 3000 x 2000 and a brightness of 400 nits. As you have mentioned, this display has an aspect ratio of 3:2, which is taller compared to the conventional 16:9 aspect ratio. This aspect ratio allows for more content to be displayed on the screen and is considered suitable for office applications and productivity tasks.
Correct, the 2023 version of the Spectre X360 features an Intel Core i5-1335U CPU and an Intel Iris Xe Graphics GPU. It is equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. Due to its thin design, the RAM in the laptop is soldered and cannot be upgraded in the future.
HP Spectre X360 is targeted towards office professionals who have moderate computing needs. It is suitable for tasks such as light photo and video editing, as well as running office applications. These individuals also desire a slim and lightweight machine with an elegant design. However, for those with heavier workloads that demand higher specifications, they will certainly need to consider workstation laptops or gaming laptops with powerful CPUs and dedicated GPUs.
Computer
CEO Nvidia and AMD: Two nephews disrupting the AI chip industry.
Nvidia CEO and AMD CEO: Two influential figures in the AI chip industry and also relatives from Taiwan.
The close relationship between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su was first mentioned by Ms. Su in 2020 during an event by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). “We are distant relatives,” she revealed.
Recently, genealogist Jean Wu from Taiwan also revealed details about the two individuals based on a series of administrative documents showing that Jensen Huang is a cousin of Lisa Su. Both leaders have not commented on the information, but a spokesperson from Nvidia confirmed that Mr. Huang is a distant relative of Ms. Su.
A Similar Path
The familial relationship between Jensen Huang and Lisa Su has attracted attention from industry analysts in the semiconductor field.
“I was truly surprised,” said Wu about her discovery.
Christopher Miller, author of the book Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology, also expressed surprise at the revelation that the leaders of Nvidia and AMD are relatives. “The fact that these two individuals with shared family roots in Taiwan are at the forefront of the semiconductor industry is remarkable,” he said.
According to Edith Yeung, a partner at the venture capital firm Race Capital in Silicon Valley, Taiwan is developing world-class computer hardware to drive its economy. Companies such as TSMC, Asus, Acer, and Foxconn are leading the industry, encouraging many young people to pursue careers as technology engineers.
“For nearly 50 years, the economy in Taiwan has revolved around the production of electronic devices, as well as chip design, manufacturing, and assembly. Semiconductors are the largest export sector here, attracting many young individuals to pursue careers in this field,” Miller explained. Jensen Huang and Lisa Su are no exception, although they mostly grew up abroad.
Huang was born in 1963 in Taipei before moving to Tainan. His family relocated to Thailand when his father worked at an oil refinery. When Huang was 9 years old, political unrest in Thailand led his parents to send him and his brother to live with relatives in Washington state, United States. He later attended boarding school in Kentucky.
Lisa Su was born in Tainan in 1969. Her family immigrated to the United States three years later and settled in New York.
Despite growing up in different places, Jensen Huang and Lisa Su share a common career path. They both pursued electrical engineering, with Su attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Huang studying at the University of Oregon and Stanford University.
They entered the semiconductor industry and both had stints at AMD. Huang worked as a microprocessor designer at the company before founding Nvidia in 1993. Su joined AMD nearly 20 years later and held high-level executive positions, earning praise for revitalizing the company.
From relatives to rivals
Now, both are high-level technology leaders. Their offices are located in Santa Clara, California, just a 5-minute drive apart.
Nvidia and AMD both sell hardware and software to leading technology companies, participating in an industry that could reach $1 trillion by 2030. In their latest annual report, AMD considers Nvidia as a top competitor in two out of four major business areas, which are data centers and gaming devices.
Nvidia and AMD are both renowned for their graphics processing units (GPUs) specialized in image processing for gaming. GPUs now also play a significant role in the AI race, a technology closely associated with popular products like ChatGPT.
Nvidia’s H100 chip is used by OpenAI to train the language model for ChatGPT, while AMD has also released the MI300X series, which they call “the world’s most advanced AI inference processor.” On October 31st, AMD stated that their GPUs could generate revenue of over $2 billion in 2024, emphasizing that the MI300 is projected to be the “fastest $1 billion revenue-generating product in the company’s history.”
Both companies also compete in the data center product market, including CPUs and data processing units (DPUs).
In recent years, Nvidia and AMD have been recognized for bringing cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to reshape society. Their processors are increasingly prevalent in electric vehicles and AI systems, in addition to traditional markets like personal computers and gaming consoles.
“Anyone who connects to the internet may need dozens or even hundreds of Nvidia and AMD chips. Most users don’t pay attention because they never see the chips produced by these two companies. However, the daily lives of many people rely on chips from both companies,” said Miller.
The AI boom has significantly boosted Nvidia’s value, with the company’s stock rising by 208% this year. AMD’s stock has also increased by 73%, despite the company being much smaller in scale compared to Nvidia.
Lisa Su is currently one of the highest-paid executives in the United States and topped the list of highest-paid female CEOs in the S&P 500 index last year. She has praised Nvidia as a “great company” when asked about her family relationship with Huang.
“They both possess leading technologies in key AI areas over the past 10 years. It is a competitive world, and there is no doubt that we compete fiercely, but it is also a world where we have to collaborate with our counterparts,” said the CEO of AMD.
Computer
China has successfully produced a chip ACCEL that is 3,000 times faster than Nvidia’s A100 and consumes 4 million times less power.
According to SCMP, Chinese scientists have successfully developed a chip that is both faster and significantly more energy-efficient compared to current AI chips when performing certain tasks such as image recognition and autonomous driving. While the new product cannot immediately replace the chips currently used in devices like computers or smartphones, it is expected to be applied in wearable devices, electric cars, or smart factories in the near future.
The new chip, called the Electronic and Photonic Integrated Circuit (ACCEL), is based on light and utilizes photon particles for computation and information transmission. It achieves a computing speed of 4.6 PFLOPS, which is over 3,000 times faster than one of the most widely used commercial AI chips, Nvidia’s A100. According to SCMP, the China chip also consumes less energy, approximately 4 million times less.
“The chip’s performance can be further optimized through improvements or the application of costly manufacturing processes,” said an expert representative.
Unlike semiconductor chips, quantum chips leverage the physical properties of light and offer higher efficiency. “Deploying quantum computing systems used to be a challenge due to complex structural design, susceptibility to noise, and system errors. The team has creatively introduced a framework that combines quantum and electronic computing,” Tsinghua’s website states, noting that the use of light significantly increases energy efficiency. Furthermore, “the energy required to operate existing chips for one hour could power the ACCEL chip for over 500 years,” according to SCMP.
However, the new chip is limited in its ability to handle specific tasks. It also cannot run multiple different programs or compress files like conventional computing chips.
According to Tsinghua’s website, the tasks that the new chip can perform include high-resolution image recognition, computation under low-light conditions, and traffic flow identification. It also has certain advantages when performing tasks related to AI vision because passive light from the environment enables direct computation during the sensing process.
According to SCMP, the project is funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. MakeSens, a chip design company based in Beijing and co-founded by one of the researchers involved in the project, is also involved in chip development. The company recently launched a low-power chip utilizing similar computing techniques in May.
“Developing a new computing architecture for the AI era is a remarkable achievement. However, a more significant challenge lies in real-world applications, addressing the significant needs of the nation and the community. That is our responsibility,” said Dai Qionghai, one of the co-leaders of the research group.
Currently, the research team has not yet answered questions regarding the commercial prospects of this chip.
Source: SCMP
Read more: AI generation – a new battleground in phone chip design.
Computer
Computer Gaming: Unleash the Power and Beauty of the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3
Computer Gaming enthusiasts will be impressed by the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black, a powerful and visually stunning gaming PC that offers cutting-edge technology and exceptional performance. With its NVIDIA Ampere Architecture and real-time Ray Tracing, it delivers breathtaking realism and graphics. Equipped with AMD’s Zen 4 7000-series processor and DDR5 RAM, it ensures optimized performance and lightning-fast speeds. Additionally, its advanced All-in-One liquid cooling system keeps the PC cool and quiet during intense gaming sessions. In this review, we will explore the product’s features, accessories, and share our personal experience with the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I.
After unboxing the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I, I was impressed with the attention given to the packaging and protection of the components during shipment. The removable and magnetic dust cover on top of the PC made it easy to access and install the AIO cooling system. The front panel featured convenient ports and indicator lights, providing easy access to essential functionalities. I particularly enjoyed the solid metal piece on the front panel, which not only added to the PC’s aesthetics but also offered ventilation for optimal airflow.
Upon opening the PC, I was greeted by the impressive cable management and clean layout of the components. The builder did an excellent job ensuring everything was neatly organized, making it easy to add or rearrange additional components if desired. The inclusion of six fans, three on the front and three for exhaust, kept the system cool and maintained a visually pleasing look.
The performance of the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I surpassed my expectations. Whether I was playing graphically demanding games or engaging in graphics-intensive tasks, the NVIDIA Ampere Architecture and real-time Ray Tracing technology delivered stunning visuals and unparalleled power. The AMD Zen 4 7000-series processor provided optimized performance, ensuring smooth and seamless gameplay. The DDR5 RAM’s lightning-fast speed enhanced the overall computing experience, allowing for quick application load times and improved data transfer rates.
Stunning Graphics and Performance
Delivering breathtaking realism and stunning graphics, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black is a gaming powerhouse. Thanks to NVIDIA’s Ampere Architecture and real-time Ray Tracing, you can experience gaming like never before. The cutting-edge technology of this product provides unparalleled power and performance, immersing you in a world of lifelike visuals.Not only does this product excel in graphics, but it also offers powerful performance and energy efficiency. With AMD’s Zen 4 7000-series processor, optimized performance is guaranteed for all your gaming and computing experiences. Whether you’re playing the latest games or tackling graphics-intensive tasks, this product can handle it all with ease.
Computer Gaming: Blazing-Fast DDR5 RAM
Equipped with the latest DDR5 RAM, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black delivers an impressive 16-gigabytes at a blazing-fast 6000 mega-transfers per second. This means lightning-speed performance, improved data transfer rates, and quicker application load times that will revolutionize your computing tasks.With DDR5 RAM, you can expect a significant boost in overall system performance. Whether you’re multitasking, editing videos, or running demanding applications, this product will handle it all effortlessly. Say goodbye to sluggish performance and hello to lightning-fast responsiveness, allowing you to work and play with ease.
Computer Gaming: Superior Cooling Efficiency
Keeping your PC running cool and quiet, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black is designed with an advanced All-in-One (AIO) liquid cooling system. This system ensures improved thermal performance and superior cooling efficiency, making it ideal for intense gaming sessions and demanding computing tasks.With the AIO liquid cooling system, you can say goodbye to overheating and noisy fans. The efficient cooling solution ensures that your components stay within optimal temperature ranges, allowing for consistent performance and longevity. Whether you’re pushing your system to the limits or enjoying a casual gaming session, this product will keep your PC cool and quiet.
Computer Gaming: Hassle-Free Setup
Thanks to its convenient plug and play functionality, setting up the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black is a breeze. The device comes pre-installed with Windows 11, allowing you to start using it right away without complex installations or configurations. Simply plug in the power cable, Wi-Fi antenna, and monitor, and your computer is ready for use!Gone are the days of spending hours setting up your new PC. With this product, you can save time and start enjoying your gaming and computing experiences immediately. The hassle-free setup ensures that you can dive into your favorite games or get to work without any delays.
Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Themed Accessories
Adding an extra touch of style to your setup, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black comes with a range of Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse themed accessories. From stickers and emblems to a tote bag, these accessories showcase your love for the iconic superhero.One of the standout accessories included in this bundle is the set of three Minnie figures. These figures come in a beautifully designed box and feature intricate details. With their removable backs and stands, they can be easily displayed on your PC or elsewhere. The color-coded and matched design of these figures adds a visually appealing element to your gaming or work environment.
Attention to Detail and Quality Build
Boasting attention to detail and a quality build, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black is an impressive choice. Starting from the packaging, every aspect of this product is carefully considered. The removable and magnetic dust cover on the top ensures easy maintenance and protects your components from unwanted debris.The front panel features convenient ports, including microphone and headphone jacks, USB ports, and indicator lights. The solid metal piece with ventilation on the side improves airflow and adds a touch of sophistication with the Mac Hero branding. Additionally, the grip handle at the bottom allows for easy removal of the front panel, revealing the impressive internals of the PC.Inside, the cable management is exceptional, ensuring a clean and organized build. The tempered glass door is magnetic and on hinges, providing easy access to the internal components. Speaking of components, this product features trusted name brands such as AMD CPU, Zotac Gaming GPU, Kingston Fury RAM, Azraq motherboard, Seagate one Terabyte SSD, and Thermaltake 600-watt power supply.Overall, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black offers stunning graphics and performance, blazing-fast DDR5 RAM, superior cooling efficiency, hassle-free setup, Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse themed accessories, and attention to detail in its quality build. With this product, you can elevate your gaming and computing experiences to new heights.
Pros:
- The ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle offers breathtaking realism with NVIDIA’s Ampere Architecture and real-time Ray Tracing, delivering stunning graphics and unparalleled power for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks.
- The AMD Zen 4 7000-series processor provides optimized performance for all experiences, ensuring powerful performance and energy efficiency for past, present, and future tasks.
- The DDR5 RAM with 16 gigabytes and a blazing-fast 6000 mega-transfers per second offers lightning-speed performance, improved data transfer rates, and quicker application load times, revolutionizing your computing tasks.
Cons:
- The advanced All-in-One (AIO) liquid cooling system, while effective in keeping the PC running cool and quiet, may require additional maintenance and upkeep compared to traditional cooling methods.
- The pre-installed Windows 11 may limit customization options for users who prefer different operating systems or configurations.
- The product price of $1,299.00 may be considered expensive for some consumers, especially when compared to other gaming PC options on the market.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I Spider-Man™: Across The Spider-Verse Bundle GH4060TA7600SM-U-W4B Black is a top-of-the-line gaming PC that offers an exceptional gaming experience. Its impressive features, including the NVIDIA Ampere Architecture, real-time Ray Tracing, AMD Zen 4 7000-series processor, and DDR5 RAM, make it a powerhouse for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks. The advanced All-in-One liquid cooling system ensures optimal thermal performance, while the plug and play functionality and pre-installed Windows 11 make setup hassle-free. With its sleek design and attention to detail, including the Spider-Man themed accessories, the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I is not only a high-performance gaming PC but also a visually striking addition to any gaming setup.
Questions & Answers:
Question: How does the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I enhance gaming experiences?
Answer: The ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I utilizes NVIDIA’s Ampere Architecture and real-time Ray Tracing to deliver breathtaking realism and stunning graphics, providing an immersive gaming experience.
Question: What makes the AMD Zen 4 7000-series processor special?
Answer: The AMD Zen 4 7000-series processor offers optimized performance for all experiences, ensuring powerful performance and energy efficiency. It provides excellent processing power for both current and future tasks.
Question: Can I customize the operating system on the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I?
Answer: While the ZOTAC MEK Hero G3 A7646I comes pre-installed with Windows 11, you may have the option to install a different operating system if you prefer. However, it’s recommended to check compatibility and ensure proper drivers are available.
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