AMD Releases Pointless Athlon APUs & RTX 2060 is Coming!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Announcement of Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G
3. Pros and Cons of the Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G
4. Update on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
5. Leaks on AMD's Upcoming Ryzen Mobile 3000 Series APUs
6. Intel's Production Capacity Increases
7. LG's New Gaming and Workstation Monitors
8. Steam Beta Version Hinting at Xbox Cross-Play Integration
9. Future Expectations for Xbox Consoles and Steam
10. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to the final episode of News Corner for 2018! As the year comes to a close, we have some interesting topics to cover in this episode. From the announcement of new processors to leaks on upcoming APUs and gaming monitors, let's dive into the world of technology news.

The Announcement of Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G

AMD has recently announced the release of the Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G, which were highly anticipated. These new processors are 2-core, 4-thread CPUs with three Vega compute units. The main improvement in the 220 GE and 240 G is the increased clock speeds compared to the already released Athlon 200 GE. While the 200 GE has a clock speed of 3.2 GHz, the 220 GE reaches 3.4 GHz and the 240 G even surpasses that with 3.5 GHz. However, it is important to note that all Athlon CPUs have a conservative 35-watt TDP, which aligns with their low core count and modest clock speeds.

Pros and Cons of the Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G

The Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G offer modest improvements in clock speeds compared to the Athlon 200 GE. However, the pricing difference between these processors is just $10. Considering that these CPUs cannot be overclocked to justify the price difference, it may not be worth investing in the more expensive versions. In fact, it has been discovered that the supposedly locked Athlon CPUs can be overclocked with very little effort, allowing the Athlon 200 GE to perform on par with the 240 G. Therefore, unless AMD releases unlocked versions or offers significant improvements, the 220 GE and 240 G may not be the best choice for consumers.

Update on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

There have been recent marketing material leaks regarding the upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. These leaks confirm that the graphics card will indeed bear the RTX branding. While previous leaks have indicated that the RTX 2060 will have 1920 CUDA cores and 6 gigabytes of GDDR5 memory, this information has not been officially confirmed. Considering the performance struggles of the RTX 2070 with ray tracing, it is expected that the RTX 2060, with fewer RT cores, may face even more challenges. Rumors suggest that the RTX 2060 will be launched in early 2019, potentially coinciding with CES, where mid-range gaming unveils are expected.

Leaks on AMD's Upcoming Ryzen Mobile 3000 Series APUs

Recent leaks have surfaced regarding AMD's upcoming Ryzen Mobile 3000 Series APUs. It is worth noting that these APUs will actually be the Second generation of Ryzen Mobile processors, as the initial release was part of the 2000 Series. Geekbench results have potentially revealed the existence of the Ryzen 3 3200U, Ryzen 3 3300U, and Ryzen 5 3500U. There are also speculations of a Ryzen 7 3700U and Ryzen 9 3000U. These upcoming APUs are expected to offer slight clock speed increases compared to their predecessors. The leaked benchmark numbers, although preliminary, suggest that these APUs will be built on the Zen+ architecture on 12 nanometers.

Intel's Production Capacity Increases

In an effort to meet the increasing demand for their 14-nanometer processors, Intel has announced plans to expand production capacity at three of their fabs. The expansion will take place in their facilities located in Oregon, Ireland, and Israel. While specific details regarding the expansion are not yet disclosed, it is expected that the focus will be on increasing the capacity for their 14-nanometer processors. Intel has also made progress in fitting fab 42 in Arizona with DUV and EUV tools required for their upcoming 7-nanometer process. However, there is no confirmed timeline for the release of the 7-nanometer technology.

LG's New Gaming and Workstation Monitors

LG is preparing to unveil a range of new gaming and workstation-grade monitors at CES 2019. Among the new products, the most intriguing is the Ultra Gear 38GL950G, a 38-inch ultra-wide monitor with a 3840 by 1600 resolution and 144 Hz refresh rate. What sets this monitor apart is the high refresh rate, making it suitable for gamers. Additionally, LG's nano IPS technology allows for 98% DCI-P3 gamut coverage. The monitor also features G-Sync and provides 450 nits of peak brightness. LG will also showcase the UltraWide 49WL95, a 49-inch dual 27-inch 1440p monitor with a 5120 by 1440 resolution. Both monitors offer productivity-focused features and will provide options for gamers and professionals alike.

Steam Beta Version Hinting at Xbox Cross-Play Integration

In an interesting development, a beta version of Steam has been discovered with code referencing Xbox integration. This suggests that easier cross-play between PCs and Xbox consoles may be on the horizon, potentially eliminating the need to use the Windows Store for cross-play functionality. Although some games on Steam, like Rocket League, already support Xbox cross-play, this new integration could pave the way for broader compatibility. It is worth mentioning that many Xbox consoles essentially run on x86 PCs, which gives rise to speculation about the possibility of running the full library of Steam games on Xbox consoles. While there are no official announcements, this concept certainly sparks excitement for the future.

Future Expectations for Xbox Consoles and Steam

As we look ahead to the future, there is hope for further integration between Xbox consoles and Steam. The concept of Xbox consoles running on x86 architecture opens up possibilities for the next generation of consoles. With Microsoft's focus on gaming and the potential to tap into the vast library of Steam games, consumers eagerly anticipate a seamless experience where platforms converge and offer the best of both worlds. While details for the next generation Xbox consoles are scarce, fans patiently await any announcements or innovations that may bring Xbox and Steam closer together.

Conclusion

In this final episode of News Corner for 2018, we explored various exciting developments in the tech world. From the announcement of new processors like Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G to leaks on upcoming Ryzen Mobile APUs, the future looks promising for tech enthusiasts. We also discovered updates on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and learned about Intel's plans for production capacity increases. Furthermore, LG's new gaming and workstation monitors offer gamers and professionals alike a glimpse of what is to come. Lastly, the potential integration between Steam and Xbox consoles introduces thrilling possibilities for the future of gaming. Stay tuned for more exciting news in 2019!

Highlights

• AMD announces the Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G processors with modest clock speed improvements. Overclocking the Athlon 200 GE makes the more expensive versions unnecessary.

• Leaks suggest upcoming Ryzen Mobile 3000 Series APUs with slight clock speed increases compared to the previous generation.

• Intel plans to expand production capacity for their 14-nanometer processors and progresses in fitting fab 42 with tools for their upcoming 7-nanometer process.

• LG unveils the Ultra Gear 38GL950G, a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate, and the UltraWide 49WL95, a dual-monitor workstation-grade display.

• Steam beta version Hints at upcoming Xbox cross-play integration, potentially leading to a seamless gaming experience between PCs and Xbox consoles.

• Hopes arise for future integration between Xbox consoles and Steam, offering a broader library of games and a seamless platform experience.

请回答问题：

1. What are the pricing differences between the Athlon 200 GE, Athlon 220 G, and Athlon 240 G?

   • The Athlon 200 GE is priced at $55, the Athlon 220 G at $65, and the Athlon 240 G at $75.

2. Are the Athlon 220 GE and Athlon 240 G worth the price difference?

   • No, as these processors can be overclocked with little effort to match the performance of the Athlon 200 GE, making the more expensive versions unnecessary.

3. What features make LG's Ultra Gear 38GL950G monitor attractive for gamers?

   • The Ultra Gear 38GL950G offers a 38-inch ultra-wide screen with a 3840 by 1600 resolution and a high refresh rate of 144 Hz, making it suitable for gaming.

4. What is the potential benefit of Xbox cross-play integration with Steam?

   • Xbox cross-play integration with Steam could provide easier and broader compatibility between PCs and Xbox consoles without relying on the Windows Store, enhancing the gaming experience for users.

5. What are the expectations for future Xbox consoles and Steam integration?

   • Fans hope for Xbox consoles to support the full library of Steam games, creating a seamless gaming experience and offering the best of both worlds for gamers.

6. When can we expect the release of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060?

   • The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is rumored to be launched in early 2019, possibly a few weeks into January, with potential announcements at CES.

Resources:

• AMD
• NVIDIA
• Intel
• LG