As actuaries face mounting pressure for innovation, they are challenged by outdated technology and market demands, hindering their progress in a data-rich world. Read...

AMD will launch its next-gen PC GPUs with RDNA 5 technology in early 2025, AMD chief executive Dr. Lisa Su said Tuesday. They will be part of what she called the strongest PC portfolio in the company’s history. Su delivered the roadmap update during prepared remarks to analysts, describing the company’s results during the third quarter of 2024. Roughly half of AMD’s revenue comes from its data-center products, so Wall Street analysts focused most of their attention on that part of the business. AMD’s GPUs fall within its Gaming business, where revenue fell 69 percent to $462 million. That’s because the segment also includes AMD’s GPUs for gaming consoles, and Microsoft and Sony alike decreased the amount of inventory they had on hand. PC graphics also declined, as card makers and PC vendors began holding off, as well, anticipating AMD’s next-gen products. “In addition to a strong increase in gaming performance, RDNA 4 delivers significantly higher ray-tracing performance and adds new AI capabilities,” Su said. “We are on-track to launch the first RDNA 4 GPUs in early 2025.” An AMD representative confirmed that this was the first time AMD had stated the early-2025 timetable for the new GPUs. Although AMD hasn’t confirmed it, reports indicate that the chip will be known as the RX 8000 GPU, otherwise known as Navi 48 or Navi 44. Instead of attacking the “top of the stack” in terms of performance, they’ll likely be aimed at midrange price and performance points. Given that AMD is publicly confirming that they’ll arrive in early 2025, however, we’d expect to see them at the CES 2025 show in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, AMD has already announced a launch date for its next gaming/content-creation GPU, the Ryzen 9000X3D, on Nov. 7. Revenue already grew 29 percent year-over-year on strong demand for AMD’s latest Ryzen 9000 desktop and Ryzen AI 300 notebook processors, Su said. AMD’s Consumer business is usually strongest in the second half of the year, Su said. But with the combination of AMD’s existing Ryzen parts, plus the upcoming X3D chip, Su said she expects AMD to perform even better. “So I think the combination of those two have given us, let’s call it a stronger than the normal second half of the year,” Su said. “I think the main point is, this is the strongest PC portfolio we’ve had… in our history, I think, across desktop and notebook,” Su said. That momentum should continue into 2025, she added, with expectations that the PC market will grow in the mid-single digits. It will be helped, in part, as consumers migrate out of Windows 10, which ends support in October 2025. What does all this mean? A crazy, crazy CES 2025. Nvidia is already expected to announce its next-gen “Blackwell,” or RTX 5000, cards at the show. Add to that AMD’s own rival GPUs, plus whatever is in store on the CPU front, and 2025 will begin with a bang. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Chassis feels durable Great wired and wireless connectivity Well-rounded CPU and GPU performance Lengthy battery life  Cons Awkward keyboard and touchpad layout Medicore IPS display GPU performance slightly behind competitors Our Verdict The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is a jack-of-all-trades that tries to deliver strong CPU and GPU performance in a thin chassis yet also provide lengthy battery life. It mostly succeeds, though its mediocre display is a bummer. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Shoppers looking for a 16-inch laptop have no shortage of choice. The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is yet another option in this packed arena and, as its name implies, it doesn’t stand out at first glance. However, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is worth your attention if you need one laptop that can handle a bit of everything. Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Specs and features The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ pairs an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor with an Nvidia RTX 4070 mobile GPU. This is a popular choice for laptops looking to deliver strong performance in a relatively thin and light chassis.  Model number: A3XVEG CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x-7500 Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070 mobile NPU: Integrated NPU (Up to 50 TOPs) Display: 2560×1600 16:10 IPS 240Hz Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 solid state storage Webcam: 1080p 30fps camera with IR 3D camera for Windows Hello, physical privacy shutter Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C with DisplayPort, USB Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 2.5GbE LAN Ethernet Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition Battery capacity: 99.9 watt-hours Dimensions: 14.01 x 10.22 x 0.79 inches Weight: 4.63 pounds MSRP: $1,999.99 MSRP  MSI provides a wide range of physical connectivity that includes an Ethernet port (a feature many laptops no longer offer). The Stealth A16 AI+ also has a large battery and supports biometric login through both a fingerprint reader and facial recognition. Alone, none of these features are unusual, but it’s great to see them together in a laptop priced at $2,000. The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is a well-rounded laptop that’s best for people who need one machine capable of handling many tasks. MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ looks subtle at a glance. Like most laptops, it’s constructed from aluminum and plastic panels that together strike a handsome, yet unassuming, pose. The laptop’s black colorway, thin (though not super thin) design, and 16-inch display panel make it easy to mistake the laptop for competitors. Acer’s Swift X series and Lenovo’s thinnest Legion laptops look similar, especially when closed. Still, MSI nails the details. The aluminum panels that span the interior and exterior have an attractive metallic luster that catches ambient light, and a subtle glossy accent strip on the laptop’s rear provides a touch of luxury. It’s a tightly bolted laptop, too. I noticed only the slightest display flex when opening the laptop, and the chassis felt robust when I picked it up from one corner.  The Stealth A16 AI+ is portable, but not any more so than the competition. It measures roughly eight-tenths of an inch thick, 14 inches wide, and weighs about 4.6 pounds. That’s certainly light enough that it won’t feel burdensome in a backpack, but there’s a long list of competitors, from the Dell XPS 16 to the Asus ProArt P16, that offer similar or better portability. MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Matthew Smith MSI packs a keyboard in numpad in the Stealth A16 AI+ which is a polarizing choice. There’s barely enough space for the numpad, which means the keys are extremely small. The numpad shifts the keyboard towards the left, placing it offset from the touchpad, which remains centered. I got used to it, but I would have preferred a center-aligned keyboard without a numpad. Awkward layout aside, the keyboard has good key travel and a pleasant typing feel. Each key activates with a subtle but noticeable tactile snap. The keyboard has SteelSeries-branded customizable RGB-LED backlighting, as well, which is managed through SteelSeries’ software. This is a good decision, as SteelSeries’ software is attractive and intuitive. The Stealth A16 AI+ has an adequate touchpad that measures about five inches wide and three inches deep. Most competing laptops have a touchpad of similar size, but it’s not as large as class leaders like the Razer Blade 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 15. There’s still enough room to use Windows’ multi-touch gestures, though, and the touchpad’s surface felt smooth and responsive MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith There’s a lot to like about the MSI Stealth A16 AI+, but the display is a weakness. The laptop arrived with a 16-inch 2560×1600 resolution display in a 16:10 aspect ratio. It also has a maximum refresh rate of up to 240Hz refresh rate and provides clear, crisp motion in fast-paced games (though Adaptive Sync is unfortunately absent).  That all sounds fine, but the display relies on outdated IPS panel technology. Calling it “outdated” is a bit controversial, I’m sure, but I’m going to go ahead and say it: I think that IPS is outdated, at least on a laptop price above $1,000. This is mostly due to the poor contrast ratio of IPS panels, which lags far behind OLED and Mini-LED alternatives. A low contrast ratio translates to a dull, flat image.  It’s not just about contrast, though. The Stealth A16AI+ isn’t especially bright, with a maximum SDR brightness of 364 nits. It has a wide color gamut, too, and can handle 98 percent of the popular DCI-P3 color gamut. However, it covers only 87 percent of the wider AdobeRGB gamut. Most OLED displays crack 90 percent.  None of this is to say the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ has a terrible display. It looks ok. Good, even, when displaying bright and colorful content. Still, many competitors now use OLED displays, and they’re just…better.  Audio quality, on the other hand, is a strength. The Stealth A16 AI+ has upwards-firing speakers in the palm rest which provide strong, clear audio with good range and a hint of bass. They’re a bit lacking in volume, which places them behind class leaders like the Lenovo Yoga 9i Pro, but I think most people will be pleased by the MSI’s audio performance.  MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ has a typical camera and microphone setup for a high-end Windows laptop. A 1080p webcam with HDR is paired with a dual microphone array. Both are passable. The webcam provides an acceptable image, but can get very grainy in low light, while the microphone captures audio at good volume but suffers the hollow, distant quality common to laptop microphones. Biometric login is available through Windows Hello for both fingerprint and facial recognition. The fingerprint reader is located to the left of the touchpad, which I think is preferable to placing it on the power button (you don’t have to worry you’ll accidentally put the laptop to sleep). I prefer facial recognition, though, because it activates when the display lid is opened and provides touchless login.  MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Connectivity IDG / Matthew Smith Like ports? You’ll like the MSI Stealth A16 AI+. It has one Thunderbolt 4 port with USB-C 4, DisplayPort, and USB Power Delivery (the laptop’s power brick does not use USB-C, however). These are joined by two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one HDMI 2.1, and 2.5GbE LAN Ethernet. That’s a good array of ports for a modern laptop. There’s ample connectivity for new Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C devices, yet still plenty of options for connecting to older wired peripherals, a television, or a router. This works to MSI’s advantage, as many competitors lack HDMI, and a majority lack wired Ethernet.  Wireless connectivity is excellent, too, as the laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. These are the latest versions of each standard. MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Performance The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is packing hardware that’s more powerful than its slim form factor lets on. AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365 delivers CPU grunt, while Nvidia’s RTX 4070 mobile delivers on graphics.  IDG / Matthew Smith PCMark 10, a holistic synthetic benchmark that relies in part on CPU, GPU, and memory performance, reported a favorable score of 7,718 on the MSI Stealth A16 AI+.  This is similar to most competitive laptops with AMD Ryzen AI 9 or Intel Core Ultra 9 chips, but it’s the second best result among the laptops chosen for comparison. That puts the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ off to a great start. IDG / Matthew Smith Next up is Cinebench R23, a heavily multithreaded CPU tests with a short duration. Here, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ posts a decent but less respectable result. It’s not slow, but it’s beaten by three alternatives with higher-tier examples of AMD and Intel hardware. This suggests that the Stealth A16 AI+, though speedy overall, isn’t the best choice if you’re running software that leans heavily on the CPU yet gains little or nothing from the GPU. IDG / Matthew Smith Handbrake is another heavily multithreaded CPU benchmark, but with a longer duration (between 10 and 30 minutes, usually). The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ did better than expected in this test, as it managed eek out a win over the Asus ProArt P16. This is a good result, and indicates the MSI is a good choice for longer-duration CPU workloads. IDG / Matthew Smith In 3DMark Time Spy, our first graphics test, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ posted a score of 10,422. That’s typical for a 16-inch laptop that has Nvidia graphics in a reasonably portable chassis, and it effectively ties the Asus ProArt P16. Laptops like the Gigabyte Aorus 16X can achieve better results, even with the same Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU inside. But the Gigabyte is thicker, at up to once inch thick, and weighs a pound more. IDG / Matthew Smith Shadow of the Tomb Raider is now six years old, believe it or not, but it remains a good example of what players can expect from modestly demanding games released in the PlayStation 4 / Xbox One console generation. The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is no slouch, as it delivered an average frame rate of 129 frames per second. It is a step behind some competitors, however.  IDG / Matthew Smith It’s a similar story in Metro: Exodus, an older but still extremely demanding game that, at its highest detail settings, can really stress Nvidia’s RTX 4070. The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ averaged 43 frames per second, which is respectable, but notably behind the Asus ProArt P16’s score average of 50 frames per second. I wrapped up the graphics tests with Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding title. The MSI Stealth AI 16 AI+ averaged 73 FPS at 1080p resolution and Ultra detail. It also delivered a barely-playable 31 FPS at 1080p resolution with the OverDrive ray-traced preset. Both numbers are solid figures. Compared to the Asus ProArt P16, the MSI tied at Ultra detail and scored a victory in the OverDrive ray-traced mode.  The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is a strong but unsurprising performer. It delivered a great result in PCMark 10 and good results across both CPU and GPU-specific benchmarks. With that said, though, it doesn’t leap out in any particular area and often lands behind the comparable Asus ProArt P16. In fairness to the MSI, however, the ProArt P16 is $300 more expensive.  MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Battery life The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ claims to have a 99.9 watt-hour battery. I say “claims” because that is not what Windows reported. It instead placed the battery’s capacity a bit below 97 watt-hours. Either way, it’s close to the largest battery available in a modern laptop.  IDG / Matthew Smith And it pays off.  The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ achieved almost 10 hours of battery life. That’s a great result for a laptop with a powerful mobile GPU. Though it’s still far behind the 20 hours or more that is possible with the longest-lasting portable laptops, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is in a different performance category.  MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Conclusion The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is a well-rounded laptop that’s best for people who need one machine capable of handling many tasks. It’s quick enough to handle demanding content creation, has a GPU that can play modern games at respectable resolutions and detail settings (and accelerate some productivity tasks), and has battery life long enough to make the laptop a good travel companion.  This isn’t the best laptop for any single job. Some alternatives have better battery life, stronger performance, or a superior display. But if you need a laptop that can handle a bit of everything, the Stealth A16 AI+ fits the bill. And, speaking of bills, it’s not especially expensive; the base MSRP of $1999.99 compares well to more luxurious alternatives like the Dell XPS 16, Asus ProArt P16, and Razer Blade 16. Read...

Running a small business is tough. There are so many tasks that need your attention; campaigns to plan, keeping up to date with your brand messaging, all while ensuring your data is secure. It can feel overwhelming at times, but Google Workspaces has a fully-featured set of tools that can take some of the burdens off your back and let your business flourish. Now, with the latest and improved integration and capabilities of Gemini AI available, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your productivity by working smarter not harder. How Google Workspace and Gemini can help Three of the most important elements of a small business are productivity, communication and security. If any of these three pillars fail, then it can spell disaster. Gemini for Google Workspace can help ensure that doesn’t happen, with powerful features that will speed up work and improve its quality. Productivity Google recently announced that the standalone Gemini app is now part of all Google Workspace Business, Enterprise and Frontline plans. So, you can start experimenting with how this clever technology can make previously time-sapping jobs into ones that take only minutes. Gemini helps with creating task lists, researching subjects, generating images for your presentations, plus much more. Google Thanks to a new Gemini for Google Workspace add-on, those who want the most comprehensive set of AI-tools can get them directly within apps like Google Docs, Gmail, Google Drive, Sheets, and Slides. This makes it even easier to access the features, as you simply click on the Gemini icon to open the side panel and you can use the AI-assistant within a document, presentation, spreadsheet or anything else you’re working on. Say you need blog posts for your website or social media channels, but don’t have time to research and write them. Simply tell Gemini what kind of content you want, how you’d like it laid out and who it’s aimed at. The software will quickly generate ideas and structures which you can look through and ask for adjustments or the inclusion of new ideas or themes. When you’re happy, Gemini can expand the text into full articles that you can use immediately. If you need accompanying images, then Gemini can create those too. There’s also the ability to drag and drop documents you have already created so that Gemini can create presentations or reports using the information. You can add links to YouTube videos that Gemini will then summarise, ask it to research potential new clients, or even help with the planning of a sales campaign for your new services or products. With Gemini for Google Workspace you have an AI-powered assistant that’s always on-hand to make light work of difficult tasks. In fact, recent surveys conducted by Google found that working with built-in Gemini AI across apps such as Gmail, Docs, and Drive, saved users an average of 105 minutes per week, with 75% of daily Gemini for Google Workspace users saying it improved the quality of their work. So, not only were they more productive, they actually created better content. Communication Gemini for Google Workspace can also be a valued addition when it comes to communicating with customers. For example, if you’re approaching a new client and want to get off on the right foot, you can ask Gemini to research the company, products or services, then generate a marketing strategy that explains why you’d be a great fit with them. Google With its Gmail integration, Gemini can also draft introductory letters to new clients, write marketing emails, or create responses to customer service enquiries that avoid you using standard templates that can feel cold and impersonal. With all of these you also have the ability to change the tone and style with just a click. Save the hours that you’ve previously spent dealing with emails and social media duties by handing the bulk of it over to Gemini for Google Workspace. Security Security is at the heart of Gemini for Google Workspace, as Google understands how valuable your data is to your business. To help with the constant pressure of keeping cyberthreats at bay, there’s now a new Security Advisor toolkit that can analyse potential weaknesses in security and offer guidance on how to protect against them. It’s like having a security expert in your organisation that’s always looking for ways to improve the safety of your data. Basically, it’s security made simple. Google You can also use the admin console to decide how Gemini handles your data, with the promise that it will never use the information to train or improve Gemini’s models. Your data is your data, and it always will be. To illustrate this, Gemini for Google Workspace is one of the first generative AI solutions to be awarded SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701 certification, which represent some of the highest industry standards for security and privacy. Make your business more productive with Gemini for Google Workspace today There’s no need to spend any more time struggling under the pressure of running your business, instead head over to the Gemini for Google Workspace page and sign up for a trial today. You’ll instantly have access to powerful tools that can improve productivity, quality and the professionalism of your content. With the new security suite, you’ll also know that your data is safe and how to keep it that way. There’s practically no learning curve either, as Gemini integrates with Google’s hugely popular apps, of which you and your team will already be familiar. Perhaps the best asset that you get with Gemini for Google Workspace though isn’t one you’ll find in the spec sheet, as it’s simply time to think and breathe. Precious stuff. You can try the new Gemini AI tools today, with prices starting at $20 per user per month, and make your business smarter and safer without blowing your budget. Read...

As challenges in IT and security mount, over half of CIOs plan to modernise infrastructure, prioritising hybrid cloud strategies for enhanced resilience. Read...

Scott Technology has secured six major overseas contracts with European and North American food processors. Read...

A bug that borks your PC on a new Windows update is a familiar headache for many of us. It’s gotten less frequent in the last few years thanks to Microsoft being a little more proactive, as Windows will now scan your hardware and installed software for potential incompatibilities before it updates, then halt said update if it sees a problem. But with the growing number of issues affecting the Windows 11 24H2 update, we’re seeing a surprising expansion in the breadth of these upgrade blocks. BleepingComputer has an excellent rundown of exactly what hardware and software might keep your system from the update. Incompatibilities include some obvious things, like a few Asus laptops that are known to get blue screen crashes after the update, or integrated webcams and fingerprint sensors that might stop working. But there are some more innocuous mentions, including: Gameloft’s Asphalt 8: Airborne, a free-to-play racing game ported from smartphones and featured on the official Windows store. The Safe Exam Browser, an anti-cheating program required for many university students and industrial training systems. Easy Anti-Cheat, a popular software tool for online multiplayer games. Updates for your game and/or Intel drivers might fix this. Some wallpaper customization tools, which might break after the install. What a weird thing to hold up an allegedly vital update! Intel Smart Sound Technology, which can be fixed with a driver update through Windows Update. Why not just bake that in? The full list is worth a look if you’re eager to get on the latest build of Windows 11 and you’ve encountered issues. And Microsoft is certainly working on getting at least some of these problems addressed without any necessary action from users. But these weird and seemingly random conflicts illustrate that Microsoft’s task of keeping Windows users safe on the latest software isn’t getting any easier. It feels inevitable that we’ll be seeing more of these as Windows, the drivers it requires, and the software we run on it become more and more complex, all built on top of an aging and somewhat creaky operating system. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Eight bays/slots for HDDs and SSDs Supports SATA and NVMe Runs two HDDs in RAID Affordable for the ilk Cons 10Gbps caps NVMe performance at 1GBps No RAID for the last two HDD bays Our Verdict The D8 Hybrid is a versatile USB storage enclosure that lets you use up to four 3.5/2.5-inch HDDs or SSDs, as well as up to four NVMe SSDs. It’s only 10Gbps, which is easily fast enough for HDDs and SATA SSDs, but limiting for the NVMe SSDs. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: TerraMaster D8 Hybrid HDD/SSD USB enclosure Retailer Price $299.99 View Deal TerraMaster $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket With four full-sized 3.5/2.5-inch SATA bays, and four 2280 M.2 slots to accept NVMe SSDs, the D8 Hybrid is an incredibly versatile external storage enclosure capable of housing up to 162TB of storage (30TB HDDs/8TB SSDs). It’s also a good performer within the limits of 10Gbps USB. What are the D8 Hybrid’s features? I already enumerated the available storage bays/slots for you above, but you can also use 2.5-inch SATA SSDs or 2.5-inch HDDs in the 3.5-inch drive bays. SATA SSDs will deliver faster performance individually or combined in RAID 0, but 2.5-inch HDDs lag far behind their larger cousins in both capacity and speed. The D8 Hybrid is a largely black plastic box measuring 8.75-inches deep, by 6.75-inches tall, by 7-inches wide (approximate measurements), encasing a metal frame. The four 3.5-inch drive trays are easy open, but don’t lock. Two screws on the back of the enclosure secure the removable side panel that hides the four M.2 NVMe slots. The D8 Hybrid’s M.2 slots filled with various NVMe SSDs. A minor issue with the M.2 slots is shown above: I was able to screw down an NVMe SSD while it wasn’t completely inserted into the M.2 socket, and then it didn’t appear when the box powered on. Make sure you don’t see any SSD metal edge contacts when you install them. While the D8 Hybrid supports RAID, it applies to only the first two 3.5-inch drive bays. Drives in the six other bay/slots appear as single LUNs (logical units)/drives. Consider the D8 a two-drive RAID box with two extra bays and four M.2 slots. We’re not pooh-poohing the arrangement. It can be very handy under the right circumstances — that being lots of miscellaneous SATA and NVMe storage laying about. The rear of the D8 Hybrid with a Type-C port, power port, RAID mode selector, and RAID reset pinhole button. The back of the D8 Hyrbid is home to the RAID select rotary switch (single, JBOD/concatenated, striped RAID 0, and mirrored RAID 1), a RAID reset pinhole button, a large fan opening, a power jack, and the on/off button. As discussed, USB 3.2 10Gbps is the transport interface, and TerraMaster includes a high-quality Type-C to Type-C cable with the unit. The AC adapter is a 7.5 amp/12-volt type with a detachable wall cord. How much is the TerraMaster D8 Hybrid? The D8 Hybrid was $300 at the time of this writing, or little less than $40 a bay. That’s certainly less than what you’d pay for a 10Gbps dual 3.5-inch RAID enclosure plus six other enclosures. And there is value in consolidating all those drives into one box and onto one connection. Especially given the often parsimonious port allotment on today’s thin and light laptops! In other words, if the D8 Hybrid fits your needs, it’s a pretty good deal. How fast is the D8 Hybrid? The speed that the D8 Hybrid delivers will depend highly upon what type of storage you install. But whatever it is, it will max out at around 1GBps due to the 10Gbps bus. I’m a tad surprised that TerraMaster didn’t go for USB 3.2×2 or USB 4. I’ve been chagrined at other NVMe-enabled products making similar choices recently — the scuttlebutt is that chips for USB 4 are still in short supply. Just to be clear as to the relevant conundrum: NVMe is capable of 3GBps plus when used over Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB 4, and 2GBps over 20Gbps USB 3.2×2. Bus choice aside, the D8 Hybrid performed up to 10Gbps snuff, which is pretty darn fast in the real world. I saw just over 1GBps out of SSDs in the NVMe slots, 570MBps out of SATA SSDs in the 3.5-inch bays, 290MBps from a single 3.5-inch, 24GB WD DC HC580 hard drive, and 580MBps from two of the latter in RAID 0. That is very good on all accounts for USB 10Gbps. While the D8 Hybrid only offers RAID for the first two bays, you can use Windows (or macOS) software RAID to create more complex arrays… Note that instead of highlighting the drive being reviewed in red, this time it’s gray, with the Seagate Game Drive SSD — another 10Gbps product that is a good match for the D8 Hybrid’s NVMe slots — in red to highlight the 10Gbps cap. Why? I didn’t like the other shades of red I came up with. Sue me. The D8 Hybrid actually beat the Seagate Game SSD drive with NVMe. But the Sabrent Rocket 4 I used may be a faster SSD than the one inside the Seagate. Regardless, you know you’re not sacrificing performance for the D8 Hybrid’s versatility. Given the 10Gbps constraint, at any rate. CrystalDiskMark 8 rated the D8 Hybrid as completely up to snuff for a 10Gbps USB enclosure. Longer bars are better. You can basically disregard the HDD numbers in the CrystalDiskMark 8 4K tests. Hard drives simply don’t access data with anywhere near the alacrity of an SSD of any type. You can basically disregard the HDD numbers in the CrystalDiskMark 8 4K tests. Hard drives simply don’t access data with anywhere near the alacrity of an SSD of any type. Longer bars are better. Remember that shorter bars are better in the graph below charting 48GB transfer performance, where the D8 Hybrid did quite well in all phases — for the type of media involved, of course. Remember that shorter bars are better in this graph charting 48GB transfer performance, where the D8 Hybrid did very well. Shorter bars are better. The D8 Hybrid was right on target with the various media types for the 450GB long file write. The D8 Hybrid was right on target with the various media types for the 450GB long file write. Shorter bars are better. Other than wishing it was 20Gbps or 40Gbps technology, I have zero complaints about the D8 Hybrid’s performance. And you can get a lot done with 1GBps transfers. While the D8 Hybrid only offers RAID for the first two bays, you can use Windows (or macOS) software RAID to create more complex arrays or utilize more of the D8 Hybrid’s eight drives in that fashion. I’d only recommend it for redundancy (mirroring, RAID 5) as the 10Gbps USB bus is going to cap performance at 1GBps no matter how you combine the SSDs. Should you buy the D8 Hybrid? If you’re looking to run a pair of hard drives in RAID 0, plus a couple of other HDDs/SATA SSDs, as well as some NVMe SSDs externally, then the TerraMaster D8 Hybrid is a versatile way to combine them all into one physical box. Performance is certainly good enough for most tasks, albeit limiting for NVMe. Put another way, if price, capacity, versatility, and HDD/SSD SATA support are paramount, the D8 Hybrid is a great product — an excellent way to employ miscellaneous drives you may have lying about. But if you’re looking for top-tier performance from your NVMe SSDs, look to something utilizing a faster bus. Read...

Know what your PC gaming setup needs? After equipping a powerful RTX graphics card, you’re going to need a super-speedy monitor that can show those uber-high frame rates at intended. And wouldn’t you know it, this 24.5-inch Asus ROG Strix gaming monitor that ticks all the boxes is on sale for $229 on Amazon! That’s $70 (or 23 percent) off its original $299 price. So, what makes this monitor stand out? It’s clearly not the size because this isn’t anywhere close to a gigantic screen that takes over your desk. It’s also not a 4K monitor, putting out a 1080p resolution instead. But the selling point here is its 310Hz refresh rate. That’s bonkers fast, blowing past other monitors in this price range that only offer 120Hz, 144Hz, or 180Hz. The super-fast refresh rate ensures smooth and responsive gameplay, no matter what type of games you play. Thanks to the Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync feature, this monitor also has no ghosting or tearing, so you’ll have a great visual experience. It uses Fast IPS technology, mixing in the best of what an IPS panel display has to offer (especially color accuracy and great viewing angles) with an enhanced response time of 1ms for flawless gaming. Snag this Asus monitor for $229 on Amazon while you still can because this deal won’t last forever! Save now on this blazing-fast 310Hz gaming monitorBuy now on Amazon Read...

The majority of U.S. homes have an internet connection, and it’s probably not a stretch to guess that the proportion that also has Wi-Fi is close to 100 percent. Anyone who lives in a populated area and opened the Wi-Fi settings on their mobile phone will have seen how there are many networks competing for space in the ether. Modern routers, especially mesh routers, have thankfully made problems with poor Wi-Fi coverage fairly rare, but there are still many good reasons to review your network. It’s not just about security, but also about getting the most out of your internet connection, minimizing lag in online games and protecting your and your family’s privacy. Why not settle for the operator’s router? Many internet service providers lend a Wi-Fi router to customers, while others offer it as an optional extra for a small fee. Of course, it’s easy to make do with it, and it can be cheaper if it’s included. But it might be a better idea to get a router yourself instead. For one thing, it means you can keep your router and don’t have to redo all the settings if you switch operators. Carrier routers are rarely the most powerful, so you can get faster wireless internet with your own. This is especially true if you have many devices and/or a large house or a home with solid walls that weaken the signal. With mesh systems, you can get as many access points as you need to provide a strong signal throughout your home. Security can also be higher, as over the years there have been relatively frequent security flaws in operators’ routers, which are not always fixed quickly. With so many customers using the same router model, such routers become more tempting prey for hackers. Finally, you can get features that aren’t in your operator’s router but that you could benefit from, like vpn connectivity for the whole network or selected devices, separate networks for smart home gadgets, connection of peripherals like nas devices and printers, and much more. Mesh or traditional router? Before you start looking at the different manufacturers’ router models, you have an important question to consider. Do you want a traditional router plus any Wi-Fi boosters, or should you opt for a modern mesh system? A question that has no obvious answer. Mesh routers often have a cylindrical design.Andres Urena Mesh In a mesh system, two or more Wi-Fi routers or access points are combined into a larger, theoretically more robust network. The device you plug into the wall with Ethernet (or into a modem of some kind) becomes the master device and mediates the connection between all devices on the network and the internet. The routers involved communicate with each other and optimize the network so that all connected phones and other gadgets have the fastest and most stable connection possible. Advantages Easier to get good coverage throughout your home Fewer settings to make Disadvantages Fewer settings that can be made More expensive Usually lower maximum speed Traditional router with multiple antennas.Asus Traditional router A centrally located router covers as much of the home as possible — powerful models with large antennas can easily cover a medium-sized house and even reach out into the garden if it has a clear view. If you need more coverage, you need to get an extender. Advantages Less expensive Can offer significantly more customization options Powerful models have higher maximum speeds Disadvantages Can be difficult to reach all nooks and crannies Slightly more complicated settings To make the choice a little more complicated, some manufacturers have software in their regular routers that makes it possible to build mesh systems with them. Asus, for example, has something called AI Mesh. It takes a little more effort to get up and running than, for example, Google’s Nest Wifi, but offers the same benefit of better coverage and can be cheaper. Further reading: Supercharged home Wi-Fi with mesh networking: What you need to know Foundry How to choose a good model for your needs Once you’ve decided on a mesh or regular router, you’ll be faced with a veritable jungle of different models. Even if you stick to the biggest brands, such as Asus, Netgear, TP-link, and Linksys, there are hundreds of models to choose from. Here are the key aspects to look at: Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e share the same basic technology, but 6e opens up the use of channels in the 6GHz band, where there is typically less interference. Signals in that frequency band are more efficiently blocked by walls, which can also help improve the signal for your own devices that are in the same room. Wi-Fi 7 is the new version of Wi-Fi that has just been released. It brings higher speeds, both in theory and practice, and shorter response times. It’s not yet built into many computers, phones, and other gadgets, but it’s the technology of the future. Number of bands Routers are often marketed as “dual band” or “triple band.” This refers to the number of radios they have, and therefore the maximum capacity of all connected devices combined. For mesh routers, one of the bands is usually used for communication between the routers involved. Software and updates Older models may be cheap, but they carry the risk that the manufacturer will stop releasing security updates before you want to retire the router. The software in a router needs to be kept constantly updated, making it somewhat safer to choose one of the big, tried-and-tested manufacturers. Another aspect of the software is how much customization the router offers and what extra features it has. For example, if you want to be able to connect a TV or media player via VPN to view content from other countries, you may benefit from a router with a built-in VPN function. Key settings No matter which router or mesh router you get — or if you settle for the one from your operator — there are a handful of settings you should change right away. The way you connect to the router’s admin interface varies slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Instructions can be found in the user manual or an accompanying quick guide. Enabling https is even more important.Foundry Enable https Before you do anything else, I highly recommend enabling https connectivity to your router settings. This will prevent others on the local network from intercepting the router’s password by collecting all network traffic. Admin login Change the password to the router settings. On some routers you are forced to do this when you first connect, on others it is optional but something you should definitely do. If possible, I also recommend changing your username. If you have to set a new password before you can enable https, you can change the password again after you have done so for extra peace of mind. Foundry Wi-Fi name and password Once you’ve secured your router’s settings, it’s time to secure the wireless network. The router usually has a semi-random network name (SSID) that I recommend changing. Choose something fun that you can easily recognize, but be aware that others can mimic and choose the same name. A good Wi-Fi password is long but easy to type in — for example, four randomly chosen words. No one is happy about having to type p&g_Kx%qU6s%qq$ewc-= by hand, but “wire underpaid rich banner” is no problem. When choosing the Wi-Fi solution, you also get to choose the security model. Best today is WPA3, or just WPA2 if not available. WPA3 is more secure, but so far too many devices do not support it. Further reading: 5 ways to check Wi-Fi signal strength on Windows PCs Channels If you don’t know better, I suggest you choose “auto” on most of the settings in the router, at least until you have learned more or have tested the network and want to see if you can optimize it a bit. This applies to channel selection and channel width, for example. Internet connection If you get internet via fiber, the router will probably fix the connection automatically, but some operators require a login using the PPOE protocol. You should then have received the name and password from the operator, and can check the instructions from your router’s manufacturer. Switch off WPS, UPNP and NAT-PNP Look for settings for these technologies and switch them off. WPS is inherently insecure and UPNP and NAT-PNP open up your network in a way that can lead to intrusions unless both you and your gadgets do the right thing. Enable automatic updates and you won’t miss any important security fixes.Foundry Enable automatic updates If your router has a feature to install firmware updates automatically, you should enable it. Sure, there’s a minimal risk of the manufacturer releasing a bad update that crashes the router, but in return, you won’t have to log into the router periodically to avoid missing important security fixes. Connect by cable where possible Wi-Fi is handy and nowadays really fast, but the vast majority of routers still have a number of connectors for wired networking with Ethernet. High-end models today don’t settle for Gigabit Ethernet, but sometimes have 2.5 Gigabit or even faster. And the fact is that wired is usually faster than wireless. This is true even with newer Wi-Fi standards that theoretically have higher speeds. For example, Wi-Fi 6/6e has a theoretical ceiling of 9.6Gbit/s, but no real networks are that fast. Moreover, the figure applies to all connected devices combined, and traffic in both directions must be taken into account, whereas Ethernet is so-called full duplex with the same speed in each direction. Stephen Phillips More realistic is to get 0.5Gbit/s on a connected device with Wi-Fi 6, at some distance and with multiple devices connected. With Wi-Fi 6e or 7, the network can use the 6GHz band, where there is usually much less interference. This leads to higher speeds in practice, but even with the fastest routers it is difficult to reach more than 1,500Mbps. In addition to consistently high speeds, cable provides lower latency and almost no risk of occasional slowness, which can still happen with wireless. Connecting devices that have an Ethernet connector — and to which you can run a cable without creating a tangle of wires in your home — gives them a stable connection, but that’s not all. Your wirelessly connected devices will also benefit, as they will have less competition for radio waves. For example, if your router happens to be close to your TV, you can connect your TV, any media players, games consoles, and other wired devices on the same shelf. If you use smart home gadgets, it’s also a good idea to connect hubs like Ikea’s Dirigera by cable. If you don’t have enough ports, you can get a switch. Position your router correctly for a better Wi-Fi signal Wireless networks are delicate affairs whose range and speed are hugely affected by small changes, both to the settings and the positioning of the router. Radio waves are weakened by walls, and the more solid the wall, the worse the signal on the other side. If you have a traditional router, you’ll get the best signal if you place it as close to the center of your home as possible, and preferably not next to a wall. But don’t run a lot of Ethernet cable without testing first. Of course, if it works well anywhere near the socket, you can leave the router there. Smart home gadgets can mess up The default setting on most routers is to combine the two frequency bands into a common network with the same SSID, allowing the router and connected devices to choose which band based on signal strength. Some smart home devices only support 2.4GHz. Further reading: The paranoid’s guide to securing your smart home Therefore, if you have problems with some gadgets not wanting to connect or disconnecting from time to time, try splitting the network into two separate ones, one for 2.4GHz and one for 5GHz. Create a guest network that your guests can use.Foundry Use guest networks if your router supports them If you don’t want to give away your Wi-Fi password left and right, you can take advantage of a feature found in many routers, namely the ability to add a separate guest network. The guest network has its own name and password, and on many routers it is set so that devices on the guest network cannot communicate with other devices on the local network, either on the guest network or the regular one. This means that your visitors can access the internet, but not, for example, your smart home gadgets or printers. Read...