Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia driver hints at next‑gen DLSS 5 work
Nvidia’s GeForce Game Ready driver 610.47 adds three new profile options—Enable DLSS NR override, Enable DLSS NR SL override, and Override DLSS NR presets—suggesting continued development of DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal had sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, and the new driver hints at a quiet but ongoing effort.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series A
Variscite to Launch NXP i.MX 95-Based SoM Product Family
Variscite is set to launch a SMARC‑compatible system‑on‑module (SoM) built around NXP’s i.MX 95 processor. The VAR‑SMARC‑MX95 will deliver up to six Cortex‑A55 cores, dedicated real‑time co‑processors, and a 2 TOPS eIQ Neutron NPU for edge AI workloads. Three variants will embed NXP’s IW610, IW611 or IW612 tri‑radio solutions, offering Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth and Thread/Zigbee connectivity with native Matter support. The module also incorporates a Safety Island architecture and TPM 2.0 with FIPS 140‑3 Level 2 compliance, targeting safety‑critical industrial and medical applications.
Pentagon's Classified AI Push Spurs Surge in Rugged Embedded Computing Demand
The Pentagon announced contracts with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Oracle and others to run frontier AI models inside classified Impact Level 6 and 7 environments. The move is expected to accelerate orders for ruggedized, low‑SWaP embedded...
NVIDIA Ships Vera, Its First AI‑agent CPU, to Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Oracle
NVIDIA handed its first Vera CPUs to Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, marking the first production run of a processor designed specifically for AI agents. The 88‑core chip promises 50% faster per‑core performance and 1.2 TB/s memory bandwidth, a...
Google's Willow Chip Achieves Scalable Quantum Error Correction, Cutting Errors to 2.1%
Google announced that its Willow quantum processor achieved scalable error correction, lowering error rates as qubit count grew. The 105‑qubit chip reduced errors from 3% to 2.1% across increasingly larger qubit lattices, a breakthrough that could accelerate practical quantum applications.
Verification IP: Why Design Teams Buy Instead of Build
Verification IP (VIP) offers pre‑built, reusable verification components for standards‑based interfaces and memories, letting design teams avoid the costly effort of building monitors, checkers, and test suites from scratch. As protocols like PCI Express, CXL, DDR, and emerging chiplet interconnects evolve...
Georgia Tech Researchers Unveil Innovative NAND Flash Storage Technology for Deep Space Missions
Georgia Tech researchers have created a ferroelectric NAND flash memory that can survive radiation doses up to one million rads—about thirty times the tolerance of conventional charge‑trapping NAND. The device uses a hafnium‑oxide ferroelectric layer that stores data via polarization...
Uncle Sam's Next Big Supercomputer Might Use Something More Exotic than GPUs
U.S. national labs are testing NextSilicon’s Maverick‑2 dataflow processor as a potential alternative to GPU‑centric supercomputers. Sandia National Laboratory’s 64‑node Spectra testbed, built with Penguin Solutions, recently met all system acceptance criteria, proving the chips can run key HPC workloads....
Cisco Wins Over AI Customers With Merchant Silicon And Optics
Cisco reported Q3 FY2026 revenue of $15.84 billion, a 12% year‑on‑year increase, with operating income climbing 23.7% to $3.96 billion and net income up 35.4% to $3.37 billion. The company raised its AI order outlook to $9 billion for the fiscal year, expecting $4 billion...
'I'm Sorry Dave': NASA Is Working on an AI Chip to Help Next-Generation Spacecraft Think for Themselves — so Clearly...
NASA’s High‑Performance Spaceflight Computing (HPSC) project is unveiling a new radiation‑hardened AI processor that promises up to 100 times the computing power of current spaceflight hardware, with early tests indicating performance as high as 500 times. The multicore chip is engineered to...
AMD Invests $6.5 Million in Marvell, Signaling Chip‑maker Confidence in Data‑center Networking
Advanced Micro Devices disclosed a $6.5 million purchase of 65,516 Marvell shares at $99.05 each, a move analysts say signals confidence in data‑center networking technology. The investment arrives as Nvidia has already poured $2 billion into Marvell and the broader semiconductor rally...
Tata Electronics Inks Partnership with ASML for Gujarat Semiconductor Fab
Tata Electronics and ASML have signed an agreement to establish a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat's Dholera region, marking a major step in India's push for a self‑sufficient chip supply chain. The partnership, announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Europe...
Ukraine Deploys Home‑Made FP‑1 and RS‑1 Drones in Massive Moscow Strike
Ukraine announced that its forces employed three domestically produced drones—FP‑1 Firepoint, RS‑1 Bars and Bars‑SM Gladiator—in a coordinated assault that saw more than 120 unmanned aircraft over the Moscow region on May 16‑17, 2026. The strike underscores the growing potency...
EnerSys Launches AlphaCell™ 4.0HP+ Battery to Improve Replacement Interval Stability in Outdoor Communications Networks
EnerSys announced the launch of its AlphaCell™ 4.0HP+ battery, a Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) solution built for outdoor and edge communications networks. The battery is engineered to boost electrochemical stability and extend replacement intervals, addressing the growing demand for...
Aramco, Pasqal Deploy Saudi Arabia’s First Quantum Computer and QCaaS Platform
Aramco and French quantum‑computing firm Pasqal inaugurated a 200‑qubit neutral‑atom quantum processor at Aramco’s Dhahran data centre, simultaneously launching the Middle East’s first Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) platform. The partnership aims to accelerate quantum‑enhanced solutions across energy, materials...
Fabricked Attack Undermines AMD SEV‑SNP, Threatening Confidential‑Computing SaaS
Security researchers have demonstrated that a malicious hypervisor can exploit a misconfigured Infinity Fabric to bypass AMD's SEV‑SNP protections. The Fabricked attack compromises the core memory‑access controls of Confidential Virtual Machines, raising urgent concerns for SaaS providers that rely on...
Was My $48K GPU Server Worth It?
In 2024 the author quit a FAANG job and built a $48 K personal GPU server, "grumbl," equipped with six RTX 6000 Ada cards to accelerate independent AI research. By logging utilization and electricity costs, the author found the rig ran at an...
Dell PowerRack Launches at Dell Technologies World 2026 as a ‘Turnkey’ Networking, Storage, and Compute System for AI
Dell Technologies introduced PowerRack at Dell Technologies World 2026, a fully integrated rack‑scale system that combines networking, storage and compute for AI and HPC workloads. The solution promises to go from delivery to live operation in as little as six...
Budget Laptops with Intel Wildcat Lake Launch for Around $450 and Up
Intel introduced the Core Series 3 “Wildcat Lake” processors aimed at budget laptops, now appearing in devices like the Chuwi UniBook priced at $449. The chips share architecture with higher‑end Panther Lake, offering up to six cores (two performance, four efficiency)...
Mouser Electronics and Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) Enter Global Distribution Agreement to Deliver High-Performance Power Solutions
Mouser Electronics has signed a global distribution agreement with Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) to sell EPC's eGaN‑based power devices worldwide. The partnership will make GaN transistors and integrated power stages—spanning 15 V to 350 V—available to engineers designing DC‑DC converters, lidar, motor...
Fermilab Leads Multi-Lab AI Initiative to Accelerate Design of Chips Used in Extreme Environments
Fermilab is spearheading the AXESS initiative, a DOE‑wide AI effort to accelerate custom micro‑electronics for extreme environments. By integrating large‑language models and surrogate AI, the team aims to shrink chip‑design cycles from months to weeks. Early results show a 500‑fold...
Dell to Support Samsung with Infrastructure for AI-Driven Chipmaking
Dell Technologies announced a partnership with Samsung Electronics to deliver standardized compute, storage, and data‑movement infrastructure for the chipmaker’s AI‑driven semiconductor manufacturing. The solution will underpin Samsung’s digital twin, real‑time analytics, and agentic AI tools across research, design, and production...
Banned Nvidia AI Chips Keep Reaching China Despite US Crackdown
U.S. authorities say banned Nvidia AI chips continue to reach China and Russia through encrypted broker networks, shell companies, and third‑country routes, prompting the Bureau of Industry and Security to levy $420 million in penalties, including a $252 million fine against Applied...
Nvidia’s Rubin AI Platform Will Reportedly Demand More DRAM than Apple and Samsung Combined
Nvidia’s upcoming Rubin AI platform is projected to consume over 6 billion GB of low‑power DDR memory (LPDDR) by 2027, a volume that could outstrip the combined LPDDR usage of Apple and Samsung. The platform, named after astronomer Vera Rubin, promises twice...
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Deal Drops to $629 as GPU Prices Slowly Cool Off
AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 XT, launched in March 2025 at $599, is now being offered at $629 as GPU pricing eases. Built on the RDNA 4 architecture, the card features 16 GB GDDR6, 48.66 TFLOPs of FP32 compute and a 304 W TDP, delivering performance on par...
Motorola Razr Fold’s Wired Smart Connect Boosts Productivity, Sparks Carrier Interest
Motorola has rolled out the Razr Fold with a new wired Smart Connect desktop experience and native multi‑user profiles, a feature that reviewers say outpaces Samsung DeX and Google’s Pixel desktop. The foldable, powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and a 6,000 mAh battery,...
AI Surge Boosts Micron and SanDisk; Analysts Flag Buying Opportunities
AI‑driven data‑center spending has propelled Micron Technology and SanDisk to multi‑digit gains, with shares up more than 700% and 3,200% respectively over the past year. Analysts say the rally reflects pricing power but warn that capacity expansions by Samsung and...
Acasis Unveils Thunderbolt 5 FlowCore Series with 80 Gbps per Bay for AI and 8K Workloads
Acasis has launched the FlowCore Series, a Thunderbolt 5 storage line that provides up to 80 Gbps of dedicated bandwidth per NVMe bay. The lineup includes a 4‑bay TB504 and a 10‑bay TB504 Pro, each promising sustained 6,000 MB/s per drive and up...
Intel Apple Chip Pact Tests Valuation As U.S. Foundry Ambitions Grow
Intel and Apple have reached a preliminary agreement to produce Apple‑design chips in the United States, backed by strong government incentives. The deal is intended to lessen reliance on Taiwan’s foundries and could expand Intel’s role as a contract manufacturer...
Anduril's AR Headset Lets Soldiers Call Drone Strikes
The defense-tech company Anduril has shared new details about the augmented-reality headset for the military it’s prototyping with Meta, including a vision for ordering drone strikes via eye-tracking and voice commands.
Princeton Team Demonstrates 3D Brain‑Electronic Hybrid Chip with 70K Neurons
Scientists at Princeton University created a microscopic 3D metal‑wire mesh that supports about 70,000 living brain cells and directly interfaces with electronic circuitry. In a six‑month trial the hybrid device identified spatial and temporal signal patterns, marking a tangible step...
Deals: Best Buy Memorial Day Sale, Nothing Headphone (a) All-Time Low, Phone (3), $1,000 Off Windows Copilot+ PCs, More
Best Buy and Amazon kicked off Memorial Day with deep discounts across consumer electronics, including up to 50% off TVs, Apple gear, and Android phones. Nothing’s flagship Headphone (a) fell to $169, a 15% cut, while the unlocked Nothing Phone (3)...
Analogue 3D Gets Save States, Making Its N64 Remake Even Better
Analogue has released firmware version 1.3.0 for its Analogue 3D N64‑recreation console, introducing the “Memories” save‑state system. The feature lets players capture up to 20 quick‑save slots at any point, with hotkey support for both 8BitDo 64 and original N64 controllers. Oldest...
Why Retailers Are Rushing to Adopt Ambient IoT for Batteryless Electronic Shelf Labels
Retailers are rapidly shifting from battery‑powered electronic shelf labels (ESLs) to ambient IoT‑enabled, battery‑free versions. First‑generation ESLs incurred high labor costs for battery swaps and generated significant e‑waste, undermining profitability and sustainability goals. Energy‑harvesting technology now powers labels from light...
Forget Raspberry Pi: This Computer Is the Literally the Size of a Credit Card
A Reddit hobbyist built a fully functional computer that literally fits inside a credit‑card envelope. The prototype uses an ESP32‑C3FH4 system‑on‑chip with Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth LE, NFC, a 1.54‑inch 200×200 e‑paper display, an accelerometer and a thin LiPo battery with power‑path management....
Our AI Wearables Are “Changing the Game” For Disabled People
Meta unveiled a suite of new AI‑powered features for its Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses, aimed at expanding independence for people with disabilities. The rollout adds hands‑free group calling with Be My Eyes, voice‑only call controls, one‑touch shortcuts, and real‑time...
Trump's 25% Cut on Nvidia Chips Sold to China Backfired — Beijing Won't Approve a Single H200 Purchase, Costs Huang...
President Trump confirmed that Beijing has rejected all purchases of Nvidia's H200 AI chips, despite a Commerce Department clearance that could have unlocked $15‑$20 billion in sales. The 25% routing fee tied to the export framework sparked security concerns, prompting Chinese...
Guerrilla RF Launches GRF2118 with Best-in-Class Noise Figure Across the SatCom X-Band Spectrum
Guerrilla RF unveiled the GRU2118, an ultra‑low‑noise X‑Band LNA covering 6.0‑8.5 GHz, aimed at satellite communications, defense, and space platforms. In low‑bias mode the device delivers a 0.57 dB noise figure with 25.5 dB gain, while high‑bias mode offers 0.67 dB NF, 26.1 dB gain,...
Juliang Guangqi Raises $28M+ USD Angel Round to Industrialize Superconducting Quantum in China
Shanghai‑based Juliang Guangqi announced the close of a $28 million‑plus angel round, one of the biggest early‑stage quantum hardware financings in China. Backers include Heli Capital, Junshan Capital and SMIC’s private‑equity arm, underscoring strong investor confidence. The startup is developing silicon‑substrate...
Kioxia Launches XG10 PCIe 5.0 SSD Delivering up to 14 GB/S Reads
Kioxia unveiled its XG10 series SSD, a PCIe 5.0 drive that reaches 14,000 MB/s sequential reads and 12,000 MB/s writes. The product, aimed at AI‑driven workstations and high‑performance PCs, will begin sampling with OEMs in Q2 2026.
AI‑Driven Chip Rally Boosts Australian Tech Funds in April
Australia’s leading technology funds rebounded sharply in April, riding a surge in semiconductor stocks powered by AI spending. The rally delivered bumper returns for growth‑focused funds even as the broader ASX slipped, highlighting a sector‑specific boom in the Asia‑Pacific market.
Cerebras Shares Slide 10% to $279.72 After Soaring IPO Debut
Cerebras Systems saw its stock tumble 10% to $279.72 on Friday, two days after a blockbuster debut that lifted the price to $350 and raised $6.38 billion. The pullback follows investor concerns over a 130‑times trailing‑revenue valuation and the fact that...
NoMIS Joins ARPA-E Project on High-Voltage SiC HVDC
NoMIS Power Corporation has become an industry partner in a three‑year, $2.5 million ARPA‑E DC‑GRIDS project led by Michigan State University. The consortium will develop high‑voltage 6.6 kV/2.5 kA Neutral Point Clamped Power Electronics Building Blocks (NPC‑PEBB) using NoMIS’s 3.3 kV SiC MOSFET portfolio,...
Zayo Europe Opens Genoa Fibre Network Landing, Interconnection Hub
Zayo Europe has opened a new point of presence in Genoa, Italy, at Quadrivium Digital’s QGEN01 facility, extending its Southern European fiber network. The Genoa hub connects emerging Mediterranean subsea traffic to Zayo’s 400G‑enabled terrestrial backbone, offering routes to Frankfurt,...
Minisforum Launches $575 M2 Mini PC as M2 Pro Delay Persists
Minisforum has introduced a budget‑focused M2 mini PC priced at $575, delivering 90 TOPS of AI processing despite the still‑unreleased M2 Pro. The compact device expands the mini‑PC market for AI‑centric workloads.
Nex Launches $340 Playground Console in UK to Meet Online Safety Act
Nex unveiled its Playground console in the United Kingdom, pricing it at £269 (≈ $340) and touting a fully offline, AI‑driven camera system designed for children aged three to 12. The launch is timed to satisfy the UK Online Safety Act...
Murata to Expand Thermistor Production Capacity with New Japan Facility
Murata Manufacturing announced the construction of a new five‑story production building at its Yokaichi Plant in Shiga, Japan, slated to begin in May 2026 and finish by August 2028. The $113 million investment will add roughly 2,951 m² of ground space and 18,010 m² of...
Intel EMIB Yields Near‑perfect, Cost‑effective Packaging
It's a function of package reticle size (and EMIB vs EMIB-T) , but the contacts I have at Intel say 'almost perfect' and 'never an issue'. It's also worth noting that once you make the emibs, you test for known good...
Glass Core Substrate Still Decades Away, Not Ready Yet
To echo what Cheese said, if you think glass core substrate is in Clearwater Forest, you have a screw loose/have the vaguest idea of how stuff works in semis. Glass core substrate is a 2030s+ technology. I'm serious. It took 10...
SalesCloser Deepens Conversational AI Moat with Dedicated GPU Inference Cluster, Enabling Custom Model Fine-Tuning, Agentic Workflows, and Regulated-Industry Readiness
SalesCloser Technologies has launched a dedicated AI inference cluster built on NVIDIA Blackwell-class GPUs, hosted in Canada on a largely hydroelectric grid. The in‑house infrastructure lets the company fine‑tune foundation models with its own sales‑conversation data and run complex, multi‑step...
Coordinate Early Risk Identification for Scalable Multi‑Die Assemblies
Multi-die assemblies are facing full system-level challenges, but engineering teams need coordinated and repeatable ways to identify risks early and scale reliably. https://t.co/maXDZJsGsx #chiplets