AMD, ARM Intel Lead Parade of High-End Chip Designs at Computex 2017

Computex was once one of the most important technology events of the year. Although it’s lost some of its luster in recent years, major computer hardware makers are still attending the event to introduce their latest innovations. This year’s Computex is no different, with AMD and Intel introducing high-end processors as well as new, small-scale computers. If new products such as the Eve V hybrid PC and the Asus Blue Cave router are any indication, this industry is moving into a new phase of technological innovation. Check out this slide show to learn about some of the most significant news coming out of Computex 2017.

Intel introduced its Core X series of processors, which it says will deliver industry-leading power and will include Intel’s first teraflop desktop CPU. The company also unveiled the eighth generation Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor, which has 18 cores and 36 threads, offering 30 percent better performance than the previous generation.

Nvidia unveiled the Max-Q Design, a new technology designed to allow PC makers to offer very thin notebooks that deliver gaming-grade power. Nvidia technology optimizes chip, drivers, thermal and electrical components to work together in a smaller chassis, so notebooks with Max-Q can be as thin as 18mm yet offer far better performance than the GeForce GTX 1060.

Intel’s Compute Card, the modular platform unveiled at CES in January, will begin shipping in August, Intel announced. The Compute Card will be available in four versions, including one with a seventh-generation Intel Core i5 processor. The base version will use an Intel Celeron N3450.

Not to be outdone, AMD said it plans to release its top-of-the-line Ryzen processors this summer. The most powerful model is the Ryzen Threadripper, which has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Threadripper will be available in high-end desktops and will come with expanded memory bandwidth, AMD said.

ARM has designed new Systems-on-a-Chip based on its new DynamIQ architecture that is designed to work on devices supporting machine learning and artificial intelligence out to the cloud and the network edge. The new Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 SoCs join ARM’s latest GPU, the Mali-G72, which the company says, will boost virtual reality and augmented reality performance.

Microsoft partnered with Harman Kardon for a new smart-home hub that utilizes its virtual personal assistant Cortana. The device, called Invoke, has a cylindrical design and can listen for voice command, which Cortana will respond to. Invoke also supports Skype calling and receiving. It is scheduled to be available this fall.

Microsoft and Intel promoted a new hybrid PC at the show called the Eve V, which was designed by thousands of crowdfunding backers on Indiegogo. It runs on a seventh-generation Intel Core i7 chip and 16GB of RAM, and features a 12.3-inch display and up to 12 hours of battery life. It will cost $1,399, but cheaper versions featuring Intel Core m3 or Core i5 processors also will be available.

Samsung showed off a new Windows-based device called the Notebook 9 Pro. The lightweight notebook is available with a 13.3-inch or 15-inch touch-screen display that supports Windows Ink and the built-in S Pen digital stylus. It runs the seventh-generation Intel Core i7.

Asus unveiled a square router with a hole in the middle, dubbed Blue Cave, capable of delivering 802.11ac WiFi in dual-band mode. According to Asus, the router can accommodate more networked devices than most competitors, and its design enables it to beam faster wireless speeds to users.

Dell introduced another all-in-one PC, the Inspiron 27 7000 AIO, featuring a 27-inch screen that can support 4K resolution and a USB Type-C 3.1 port. The Windows-based machine uses Windows Hello for user authentication, and runs on the AMD Ryzen processor and AMD Polaris RX500 Series graphics.

Asus also unveiled a new smartphone called the ZenFone AR, which supports Google’s Tango and Daydream platforms for recognizing an environment and handling virtual reality, respectively. The device features a 5.7-inch screen and runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. It has 8GB of RAM and includes three cameras: one for snapping photos, one for tracking motion and one for depth-sensing.