Intel Linux Graphics Drivers Show Multi-GPU Xe Support

The Intel graphics driver work for the Linux 5.5 kernel contains work on multi-GPU support, including handling integrated and discrete graphics concurrently.

Intel’s latest driver work for Linux 5.5 has shown that it is working on multi-GPU capabilities for its discrete Xe and Gen 12 graphics solutions. The capabilities would include integrated and discrete graphics working concurrently.

Phoronix already reported in August on work Intel has been doing for its graphics driver to support multiple devices concurrently. Phoronix said the muti-GPU support would most commonly be for the case of integrated graphics paired with a discrete Xe GPU, as the patches said: “With discrete graphics system can have both integrated and discrete GPU handled by i915 [driver].”

For multiple discrete GPU setups like SLI and CrossFire, Phoronix wasn’t expecting much on the user-space side, however, saying that the OpenCL and Vulkan APIs could handle those cases, for compute and graphics respectively.

The work is part of an ongoing effort to prepare Intel’s driver for discrete graphics support. The latest changes Phoronix reported for the upcoming Linux 5.5 kernel is code for a performance monitoring unit (PMU) for handling the integrated plus discrete graphics use-case. While it isn’t too interesting by itself, it further shows Intel’s work on Xe and multi-GPU capabilities.

Such multi-GPU capabilities are further noteworthy because there are rumors that Intel’s Arctic Sound discrete GPU will consist of a multi-chip package (MCP) of possibly four graphics dies, although it is not known if this multi-GPU work is related.

Other pieces that made it into the Linux 5.5 kernel include other work on bringing up Tiger Lake and Xe and the initial bits for Jasper Lake, a 10nm Atom SoC that probably won’t release until well into 2020, Phoronix suggested based on the timing.

It is not the first time information about Intel’s upcoming graphics has leaked via its Linux graphics driver enablement, such as a Mountain View SoC and a new display feature for Xe. Earlier this month, chief architect Raja Koduri might have suggested a June 2020 announcement for its first discrete graphics cards.

AMD Might Have More 280W EPYC CPUs In The Works

AMD’s Product Master guide, which the chipmaker has since removed, has been a source of multiple nuggets. The rumor mill continues to spin as eagle-eyed leaker @KOMACHI_ENSAKA has spotted a few interesting unannounced EPYC, codenamed Rome, enterprise chips.

The EPYC 7H12 is the crown jewel of AMD’s second-generation EPYC family of processors. The core-heavy 280W chip sports 64 cores, 128 threads and 256MB of L3 cache. It has a 2.6 GHz base clock and 3.3 GHz boost clock.

Like the EPYC 7H12, the EPYC 7742 and 7702 have the exact number of cores and L3 cache. However, the two aforementioned chips run at lower clock speeds so they aren’t exactly in the same 280W category as the EPYC 7H12. The latest sightings suggest that the EPYC 7H12 could have new company.

We don’t expect every listed processor in AMD’s document to make it to the market. But if the two mysterious EPYC do, AMD could market them as the EPYC 7R32 and 7R22. Apparently, both SKUs are rated with a 280W TDP (thermal design power).

It’s unlikely that the EPYC 7R32 and 7R22 will have more cores. Judging by the TDP alone, they will likely maintain the 64-core, 128-thread configuration. Perhaps, the pair of chips will have added features that the EPYC 7H12 currently doesn’t possess. Then there’s also the possibility that the EPYC 7R32 and 7R22 are tailored for a specific OEM so they might not be available in the general market.

How to use the ‘Remind when messaging’ feature on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Along with the other changes Reminders received with iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and macOS Catalina, there’s a useful new way to get a nudge about a reminder you’ve set when using the Messages app. Follow along for how to use the “Remind when messaging” feature on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Reminders got a big redesign with the latest software for iPhone, iPad, and Mac including the option to make subtasks and sublists, 72 options for list icons and colors, a new UI, and more.

Another subtle yet handy feature is to set a reminder to trigger when you text someone in the Messages app.

How to use the ‘Remind when messaging’ feature on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Open Reminders and add a new reminder or tap an existing one

Tap the “i” icon to the right of your reminder

Enable Remind me when messagingby tapping the toggle

Tap Choose Person

Select someone from your contacts

Tap Done in the top right corner

The next time you message the person you selected in Reminders, you’ll get an alert for your reminder. Give a tap on the notification if you’d like to mark the reminder as completed.

The process is the same on Mac, just click the “i” icon to the right of a reminder to enable Remind me when messaging.

Another neat feature to take advantage of across iPhone, iPad, and Mac is adding photos into reminders.

Intel’s Ice Lake Might Work Its Way Into Desktop PCs

A Linux kernel patch from earlier this month, which was spotted by leaker @KOMACHI_ENSAKA, reportedly adds 10nm Ice Lake (ICL) desktop and server processors. Kan Liang, who is a Senior Graphics Software Engineer at Intel, signed off on the patch.

Despite recent rumors, Intel hasn’t given up on its 10nm process node for desktop chips. However, the chipmaker hasn’t dropped any specific processors names into its recent statement that it would bring 10nm chips to the desktop. However, the Linux patch does seem rather convincing that Intel’s 10nm desktop processors could debut with the Ice Lake architecture.

There are multiple mentions of the Ice Lake processors in the patch. Komachi believes the key to deciphering the different entries resides in the suffix. There isn’t any hard evidence to back this up, though, so we should interpret the product naming scheme with caution.

The IceLake entry presumably refers to desktop chips, while the IceLake_L entry could denote mobile parts. According to the leaker, the IceLake_X entry may stand for Xeon chips, while the IceLake_D entry represents both Xeon D and Xeon E offerings.

We’ve already seen what mobile Ice Lake chips can do. However, it would be fascinating to see how Ice Lake performs on the desktop when it isn’t confined to ultra-low TDP (thermal design power) envelopes like on the mobile parts. And who knows – maybe with some more breathing room, Intel’s 10nm processors might actually surprise us.

Chrome 78 for Mac, Windows rolling out: New tab overlays, click-to-call, and more

Google is rolling out the latest version of Chrome for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Chrome 78 readies customization options for the New Tab page, a nifty click-to-call feature, and new tab overlays.

Announced last month, Chrome will soon get more customization options than just adding a background to the New Tab page or using a theme from the Chrome Web Store. Accessible from the same “Customize” button in the bottom-right corner of the New Tab page, the “Background” option remains unchanged. Google offers a gallery or you can upload an image. “Shortcuts” refer to the grid of website favicons just under the search bar. There are three possibilities:

My shortcuts: Shortcuts are suggested based on websites you visit often

Most visited sites: Shortcuts are curated by you

Hide shortcuts: Don’t show shortcuts on this page

“Color and theme” lets you choose one of 23 preset themes, or launch a color picker to select your own and have Chrome create one. This feature is not yet widely rolled out.

Chrome is getting another cross-device sharing feature after “Send this page” widely rolled in September. With “click-to-call,” you can right-click or highlight a phone number/link — like tel:800-800-8000 — to have it sent to your Android phone. A Chrome notification will appear and a tap dials the number. This functionality may not be widely available yet.

Google has redesigned the UI that appears when you hover over a tab. Instead of a thin strip of text, there is now a bubble overlay underneath the favicon. The page name and domain are much larger and instantaneously pops up in a consistent position. Google plans to add preview thumbnails in a future update.

Google’s Password Checkup extension from February will soon be integrated with Chrome 78. It warns of compromised third-party logins during sign-in. A red Safe Browsing-like dialogue prompt will appear to advise users to change their password. This feature works without Google becoming aware of plain-text credentials.

If we detect that a username and password on a site you use is one of over 4 billion credentials that we know have been compromised, the extension will trigger an automatic warning and suggest that you change your password.

Chrome is cleaning up chrome://flags starting with version 78. The stated reason for enterprise customers is how policies are a better way to configure the browser. “Many flags” will be removed going forward, but this should not significantly impact regular users.

Chrome 78 for desktops is available now, with Android and Chrome OS following in the coming weeks.

Chromebook 101: what’s different about the Chromebook keyboard?

One of the first shocks that you may experience when you buy your first Chromebook probably comes when you look at the keyboard. Where is the Caps Lock key? What (if you have a Pixelbook) is that strange-looking key between the Ctrl and Alt keys? What is that strange key in the top row that looks like a square with two straight lines next to it?

Google has tweaked the keyboard of its Chromebooks in ways that emphasize the way in which Chrome OS differs from Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS. And what makes things even more confusing is that the layout of the keyboard can vary depending on the model of Chromebook you are using. For example, if you are using a Pixelbook, you may have a couple of extra keys. In addition, a key that has a “search” symbol on it in most Chromebooks may have a round “status” symbol on it in a Pixelbook.

This is a quick primer to explain what those differences are. While your Chromebook may differ slightly, this should help in providing a reference until you are used to your new keyboard (or until you remap the keys so they fit your preferences).

THE TOP ROW

Instead of the usual numbered function keys (F1, F2, etc.), Google has substituted a row of various dedicated keys. This is what each is meant for, from left to right:

Esc (Escape): the usual get-out-of-trouble key

Back: go back one page

Refresh: refresh your page

Full Page: toggle the current page to take up the full screen

Show Windows: show all the open windows on the screen; if you have more than one virtual desktop, they be shown on top of the screen

Brightness down

Brightness up

Play / Pause

Mute

Lower volume

Raise volume

Power (Pixelbook Go) or Open the status area (Pixelbook 2017)

OTHER KEYS

Between the Tab and Shift keys on the left of the keyboard, where the Caps Lock usually resides, you may either have the Launcher key or the Search key, depending on your system. The former launches the Chrome OS app drawer; the latter brings up a search box.

Finally, if you have a Pixelbook, the Assistant key, between the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom left of the keyboard, will bring up the Google Assistant.

Hands On With Samsung’s New Galaxy Fold

New form factors are always exciting, but nothing else in recent years has captured people’s imaginations quite like foldable screens.

When it comes to the Galaxy Fold, drama has ensued. From its micro-debut at Samsung’s Developer Conference in 2018, to faulty review units, there have been many question marks around how it would eventually perform.

And while some may have even assumed that the first generation of the Fold would become Vapourware, it made a surprise appearance at IFA 2019. And we got to spend 45 glorious minutes with it.

To set the scene, we tried the Galaxy Fold both behind closed doors and briefly on the show floor at IFA this week. Both of these situations were highly controlled and our time was limited. I mention this because my first impressions of the device are just that – first impressions.

Just The Specs, Please

Ask and you shall receive.

What’s New?

When Samsung announced the new release date of the Fold earlier this week, the company stated:

“During the past several months, Samsung has been refining the Galaxy Fold to ensure it delivers the best possible experience. Not only we improved the Galaxy Fold’s design and construction, but also took the time to rethink the entire consumer journey.”

It doesn’t seem like there have been any changes to the software, but there are two distinct hardware upgrades to the new Fold. The first is a T-shaped clip at the base of the fold, which prevents people from peeling off the protective film. If you’ll recall, this was one of the major issues reported by reviewers, some of whom tore this off due to mistakenly thinking it was a regular screen protector, as opposed to a fundamental part of the design.

The other issue was dust, which was able to slip into the device due to a gap near the hinge, which subsequently shortened some devices out. This space has now been significantly reduced.

What’s Good About It?

Multi-tasking

Anyone with a two-monitor setup will know how productive it is for work. More importantly, you’ll be aware of how deeply satisfying it is to watch stuff on one screen while browsing the internet on the other.

The Fold does a darn good job of doing the same thing, but on a single screen… which is in the palm of your hand. It’s capable of having several apps open simultaneously. I found two to be best in terms of usability and eye comfort, but three was also okay.

I was especially fond of having YouTube play on one side of the device, while browsing the web with the other. Fortunately for you, a story about sex tech (with an amazing header gif) was at the top of the website while I filmed. You’re welcome.

The camera is pretty good

One of the key advantages that Huawei’s Mate X has over the Galaxy Fold is the camera. It’s been blessed with the same setup as the P30 Pro, which is one of the best phone cameras of the year.

But while the Fold may have an inferior camera, its still pretty darn good. It has the same hardware as the S10 range, which is up there in terms of quality.nI only got the chance to take a few snaps, none of which were in a picturesque environment, but they were still good.

Continuity And Rotation

In the settings you can choose which apps you want to continue running on the front screen. This means that once you fold the device up the app will continue over.

I found that this process was quick and painless – though it is worth noting that the apps won’t appear as full screen which may irk some people.

Another potential niggle is that all new apps have closed screen continuation switched off by default. Every time you download a new app you will need to toggle it on if you want it to work with this continuity. There’s currently no option to have all apps toggled on by default. Rotating the open device also result in a quick justification change, and all apps and media looked great and continued flawlessly.

One last thing that may annoy some people – if you try and make a phone call with the device unfolded it will automatically use the loud speaker. If you want to use it as a regular phone you need to fold the device up, as the speaker is on the outside of the device.

I avoid phone calls at all costs, so it’s not an issue for me, but it could be for some.

It’s fun

One of the commonalities between myself and the other tech journalists in the room (besides our jobs) was the childlike wonderment we exhibited while playing with the Fold. Not only is it an exciting new device, it’s plain fun to use. The simple act of opening and shutting it is an utter delight.

Similarly, taking photos of the screen when it was ever-so-slightly folded never got old.

Yes, it’s a solid device that seems to be behaving itself this time around. But its also a fun gadget, and that in itself is worth celebrating.

What’s Not So Good?

You can feel the crease

When using the device unfolded you can absolutely feel the crease. The bump is a little distracting and not the nicest feeling on what is a premium and expensive product.

However, I also tried Huawei’s Mate X foldable this week, and the crease was far more pronounced.

It’s also something that is forgivable on a first gen product where the form factor is entirely new. I imagine that as the technology evolves the creases will be… ironed out.

Sorry, it had to be done.

Thick

We’re living in a time when phone manufacturer’s are trying to make phones as thin as possible. Foldables are by definition the opposite of this. The very action they’re named after doubles their thickness, leaving you with a phone that is reminiscent of the early 2000s. At just over 17mm thick, the Galaxy Fold certainly sticks out. Even literally if you’ve popped it in your pocket.

Of course, this isn’t an issue unique to the Fold. The Mate X suffers from the same condition, as will any other foldable phone that comes to market in the foreseeable future. It’s not a deal breaker, but its a tad annoying when you’ve become so accustomed to sleek, thin convenience.

Easily scratchable (probably)

Much like the Royole Flexpai foldable I tried at CES in January, I felt morally obliged to slide the Galaxy Fold into my back pocket – both folded and unfolded. This resulted in a reaction from the Samsung team, who seem worried about breakages and scratches. This isn’t surprising considering the issues the first models had, and the fact that its a plastic screen – as opposed to something like Gorilla glass.

However, the mild panic did seem to indicate that these things are somewhat on the delicate side, so I wouldn’t be surprised if screen scratches will be common once they’re out in the wild.

Should you buy it?

The Galaxy Fold is exclusive to EE here in the UK, so if you want one, then expect to fork out a minimum of £109 a month on a two-year contract plus somewhere between £50 and £250 upfront. With that in mind (plus the fact that its a first gen product), it should be difficult to recommend the Fold.

But despite spending so little time with it, I really couldn’t blame anyone for wanting one. It’s exciting, fun and works great. That being said, holding off until the next generation isn’t a bad idea either – especially if you need to buy on a plan.

You’ll have no judgement here if you decide you need one now and have the cash to spare. This is a safe tech space and we get it. I for one can’t wait to spend more time with it.

AMD ROCm Code Suggests BFloat16 Support in Future GPU

A recent GitHub update for AMD’s open-source ROCm software suggests that future AMD GPUs might support the increasingly popular BFloat16 numeric format for deep learning training, following in the footsteps of Google, Intel, and Arm.

The update on GitHub was a commit in the ROCm Software Platform Repository, AMD’s open-source HPC platform for GPU computing, titled “more BF16 TN sizes.” The reference to BF16, short for BFloat16 or bfloat16, suggests that AMD might implement it in hardware in a future GPU architecture.

BFloat16 is a recent numeric data format developed by Google for deep learning training and implemented in its TPUs. It truncates the mantissa of a standard FP32 floating-point number by 16 bits, essentially reducing its precision by multiple decimals. It requires less silicon area and bandwidth by being a 16-bit format, and Google also claims it is more efficient to implement in hardware than the currently standardized FP16 format.

The BF16 format is increasingly supported in hardware. Intel has already announced that it would broadly adopt the format, supporting it in the upcoming Cooper Lake-SP Xeon, Agilex FPGA, and Nervana NNP-T. More recently, ARM announced support for BF16 coming to Armv8. With AMD now possibly joining the party, that would leave Nvidia as the only major AI hardware vendor without a public commitment to support the format.

Razer’s first gaming monitor (27-inch, 144Hz) is now available for $699

It’s been nine months since Razer trotted out its Raptor 27 gaming monitor at CES, and if you’ve been waiting for this one, you can finally purchase the display—Razer is now accepting orders, with the Raptor 27 priced at $699.99.

That’s a bit on the high on side compared to other gaming monitors with similar specs. More on that in a moment, but first, here’s a rundown of the vitals:

Screen Size—27 inches

Resolution—WQHD (2560 x 1440p)

Panel—IPS

Refresh rate—144 Hz

Response rate—4ms with Overdrive, 1ms with Motion Blur reduction, 7ms typical

Gaming modes: FPS / Racing / MMO Mode / Streaming

Viewing angle—178 degrees (H/V)

Aspect ratio—16:9

Contrast ratio—1000:1

Brightness—up to 420 nits

Color gamut—95 percent DCI-P3

HDR—yes

Height adjustable stand—yes, w/ 90-degree tilt for easy port access

Connectivity—1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DP 1.4, 1x USB-C (supports DP1.4), 2x USB 3.0 pass-throughs

Included cables—1x power, 1x HDMI, 1x Display Port, 1x USB-C (also supports DP), 1x 2 USB 3.1 Type A

Dimensions w/ stand—24.15 (H) x 15.29 (W) x 19.23 (D) inches (613.4 x 388.4 x 488.4 mm)

Weight w/ stand: 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg)

These are mostly high-end specs across the board. On paper, the Raptor 27 looks like a good candidate for fast-action and esports gaming, with a 144Hz refresh rate and up to (down to?) a 1ms response time.

The Raptor 27 supports AMD’s FreeSync technology to smooth out gameplay. It’s also been certified by Nvidia as a G-Sync Compatible monitor, though apparently not when enabling HDR (according to Nvidia’s chart).

One of the somewhat unique features of the Raptor 27 is the ability to tilt the display back 90 degrees. This is intended to offer users easy access to the cable inputs and outputs underneath. And of course RGB lighting is present.

We have not tested this monitor, but right off the bat, we can tell some users will take issue with Razer’s pricing. The MSRP is actually the same as the Asus ROG PG279Q, one of the best gaming monitors with a similar set of features, though you can find that panel on sale for $609.99 right now. Same goes for Acer’s Predator XB271HU—it carries a $699.99 MSRP, but is on sale at Amazon for $499.99 right now.

I’m sure Razer would argue the Raptor 27 is a more premium display. Razer at least alludes to that, saying it sports a “precision-crafted, matte-black design” and “forged aluminum base,” with a backplate that is “finished with a blend of fabric and metal to add a touch of elegance.” So, there’s that.

Intel’s curious “The Element” shows up insides a teardown of its latest mini-computer

Earlier this year, Intel showed off the NUC Compute Element, previously known simply as The Element, and it was one of the best PC components at Computex. But, it was unclear just what sort of product we’d see built around it. Now, the details are starting to come together.

In a recent teardown from Chinese form KoolShare, spotted by Tom’s Hardware, we’ve seen a glimpse of something called “The Element” inside Intel’s upcoming NUC 9 extreme.

By all outward appearances, the NUC 9 Extreme is a fairly straightforward computer, albeit a small one. Intel’s trick with these NUC (Next Unit of Computing) devices, however, is to pack powerful desktop components into a small form factor. With the new NUC 9 Extreme, that appears to remain the case, even if it’s on the larger side at 238 x 216 x 96mm.

Inside the NUC is where things get really interesting. At the base of the computer there’s a 500W power supply, but above that is what would seem like a motherboard until you realize there’s no CPU socket. Instead, there’s just a PCB with two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, another x4 slot, and an M.2 slot.

Enter the NUC Compute Element

Instead of putting a CPU into a socket on the motherboard, fitting in RAM and adding in storage, Intel has gone with the NUC Compute Element. It houses all of those components, but slides into a PCIe x16 slot and runs off an additional 8-pin power connection, very much like a graphics card. The unit found in the NUC 9 Extreme has two SO-DIMM slots, two M.2 ports, and can run reportedly run a Intel Core i5-9300H, Core i7-9750H, or Core i9-9980HK.

What Intel has effectively done with this design is find a way to take one half of the motherboard and convert it into a swappable component. Just as you can take a graphics card out of a PCIe slot and fit in a new one to boost the capabilities of your computer, you could take out a NUC Compute Element and slot in a new one to give the NUC 9 Extreme a boost. Of course, you may have re-install Windows.

Since Intel CPU upgrades often require new motherboards, the transition to NUC Compute Element could end up being less wasteful, as it would let some of the traditional elements of the motherboard stick around between upgrades. It could also making picking PC components a little less daunting for newer PC builders.