Computing - Engineering.com https://www.engineering.com/category/technology/computing/ Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:38:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 https://www.engineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/0-Square-Icon-White-on-Purplea-150x150.png Computing - Engineering.com https://www.engineering.com/category/technology/computing/ 32 32 6 Best Practices When Developing XR for Industrial Applications https://www.engineering.com/resources/6-best-practices-when-developing-xr-for-industrial-applications/ Mon, 21 Oct 2024 13:44:35 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/?post_type=resources&p=133025 Through Industry 4.0 and the industrial internet of things (IIoT), developers have brought industry into the digital realm. Industry experts can learn, control and share anything about a process with a few clicks. But these experts are still limited by their physical connections.

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Developers, however, can start to blend the physical and digital realms via technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) — collectively referred to as extended reality (XR). But this dream is still in its infancy. As a result, developers need guidelines to ensure they are going down the correct path when creating XR experiences.

In this 7-page ebook, developers will learn:

  • How XR is bound to change industry.
  • Which challenges exist when making XR experiences for industry.
  • Six best practices to keep the development of industrial XR experiences on track.
  • How Unity can help make industrial XR experiences a reality.

To download your free ebook, fill out the form on this page. Your download is sponsored by Unity Technologies.

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Intel’s photonics breakthrough, Asus’s new ultracompact AI PC and more computing news https://www.engineering.com/intels-photonics-breakthrough-asuss-new-ultracompact-ai-pc-and-more-computing-news/ Wed, 10 Jul 2024 18:51:47 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/?p=52224 Engineering.com’s roundup of recent computing news.

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Intel achieves photonics milestone

Intel says it’s reached a “revolutionary milestone” in photonics by demonstrating what it says is the first-ever fully integrated optical I/O chiplet. Unveiled at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) 2024, the optical compute interconnect (OCI) chiplet was co-packaged with an Intel CPU and ran live data, according to Intel. The chipmaker said in its press release that it expects the OCI chiplet to “revolutionize high-speed data processing for AI infrastructure.”

Intel’s recently demonstrated optical compute interconnect chiplet. (Image: Intel.)

Asus NUC 14 Pro+ supports local generative AI

Asus announced a new ultracompact PC, the NUC 14 Pro+, that it says is the first of its NUC lineup to offer Intel Core Ultra 9 CPUs. These processors include a neural processing unit (NPU) that allow the NUC 14 Pro+ to run local generative AI workloads. Housed in a 5-inch by 4-inch anodized aluminum chassis, the NUC 14 Pro+ can support up to four 4K displays through a combination of HDMI, DisplayPort and Thunderbolt outputs.

The Asus NUC 14 Pro+. (Image: Asus.)

Lenovo appoints chief security and AI officer

Lenovo has expanded the role of its chief security officer, Doug Fisher, to encompass artificial intelligence (AI). In his new role as chief security and AI officer, Fisher will lead AI governance and “champion” Lenovo’s AI policy alongside the company’s Responsible AI Committee.

In a press release announcing Fisher’s expanded role, Lenovo listed the three pillars of its AI policy as not using AI “in ways that harm people or put them or their rights at risk,” ensuring that its AI solutions are “fair, transparent, explainable, and efficient,” and committing to “protect people’s privacy at all stages of the AI Lifecyle.”

HP hires Karen Parkhill as CFO

HP Inc. announced that it’s hired a new chief financial officer, Karen Parkhill. Parkhill most recently served as CFO of healthcare technology company Medtronic and will join HP on August 5, 2024. She will replace interim CFO Tim Brown, who will step back to his role as head of Print Finance, according to HP.

“HP’s transformation over the past eight years has been extraordinary to watch and I look forward to working with a stellar team of professionals to advance the shared goal of creating long-term sustainable growth,” Parkhill said in HP’s press release.

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Logitech’s new Quest stylus, Nvidia and HPE partner on AI, and more computing news https://www.engineering.com/logitechs-new-quest-stylus-nvidia-and-hpe-partner-on-ai-and-more-computing-news/ Wed, 19 Jun 2024 18:25:09 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/?p=51893 Engineering.com's roundup of recent computing news.

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Logitech’s Quest stylus

Logitech revealed that it’s developing a new mixed reality input device. The MX Ink is a stylus made for the Meta Quest 3 that allows users to draw, annotate and interact with virtual objects. Logitech says the stylus offers haptic feedback, pressure sensitivity, low latency and a long battery life, and can be paired alongside Meta Quest controllers. The MX Ink and accessories, including a charging dock and drawing mat, will be available in September 2024.

A Meta Quest 3 user with the Logitech MX Ink stylus. (Image: Logitech.)

Nvidia AI Computing by HPE

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Nvidia announced a new portfolio of co-developed AI solutions called Nvidia AI Computing by HPE. HPE Private Cloud AI is one new solution that the companies say will give enterprises of all sizes a way to develop and deploy generative AI applications. It’s expected to be available this fall.

“To unleash the immense potential of generative AI in the enterprise, HPE and NVIDIA co-developed a turnkey private cloud for AI that will enable enterprises to focus their resources on developing new AI use cases that can boost productivity and unlock new revenue streams,” said HPE president and CEO Antonio Neri during his keynote at HPE Discover in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Campfire coming to Apple Vision Pro

Campfire, a developer of enterprise augmented reality (AR) software for CAD collaboration, announced its plans to support the Apple Vision Pro. Campfire for Vision Pro will be available in Apple’s App Store this fall, according to the company, which says it grew its customer base by more than fifty times since it began supporting Meta’s Quest 3 headset in November last year.

Apple debuts Math Notes calculator

Apple announced many updates to many products during its annual worldwide developer conference (WWDC) last week. For engineers, the most interesting may be the new calculator app coming to the iPad in iPadOS 18. Called the Math Notes calculator, the app will solve equations that have been handwritten with the Apple Pencil. It can also accept variables and plot equations, according to Apple. iPadOS 18 will be available this fall.

The Math Notes calculator app is coming to iPadOS 18 this fall. (Image: Apple.)

Supermicro’s plug-and-play AI data center

Supermicro, Inc. unveiled a new liquid-cooled data center solution in its “AI Supercluster” portfolio. Optimized for Nvidia AI Enterprise software and Nvidia’s latest Blackwell compute platforms, Supermicro says its plug-and-play AI SuperCluster hardware can significantly reduce data center power usage.

“From cold plates to CDUs to cooling towers, our rack-scale total liquid cooling solutions can reduce ongoing data center power usage by up to 40%,” Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro, said in a press release.

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AI drives growth for hardware OEMs, plus new AMD Ryzen processors and a new Asus laptop https://www.engineering.com/ai-drives-growth-for-hardware-oems-plus-new-amd-ryzen-processors-and-a-new-asus-laptop/ Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:41:00 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/ai-drives-growth-for-hardware-oems-plus-new-amd-ryzen-processors-and-a-new-asus-laptop/ Engineering.com’s roundup of recent computing news.

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AMD announces new Ryzen processors

Chipmaker AMD unveiled its next generation of processors at Computex 2024. The new AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors are built on AMD’s new XDNA 2 architecture and feature what AMD claims is the “world’s most powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU)” to power AI PC laptops. For desktop computers, AMD also announced the new Ryzen 9000 Series processors built on the company’s latest Zen 5 architecture.

(Image: AMD.)

(Image: AMD.)

Nvidia’s profits soar

Nvidia reported that its first quarter revenue is up 17.8% from the previous quarter, amounting to $26 billion with $15 billion in profit. CEO Jensen Huang said in a statement that the company’s data center growth was due to “strong and accelerating demand for generative AI training and inference on the Hopper platform.” With Hopper making way for Nvidia’s recently announced Blackwell platform, Huang added that the company is “poised for our next wave of growth.”

Asus ExpertBook P5 to bring AI to business laptops

Asus announced the ExpertBook P5, the flagship laptop of the company’s new Expert P series of business-focused AI PCs. The ExpertBook P5 will include an Intel Core Ultra processor and feature a 14-inch, 2.5K display. Full specs will be available on the laptop’s launch in Q3 of this year.

The Asus ExpertBook P5. (Image: Asus.)

The Asus ExpertBook P5. (Image: Asus.)

Dell revenue reflects AI growth

Dell detailed the results of its first 2025 fiscal quarter, which saw a 6% year-over-year increase to $22.2 billion in revenue. In the company’s press release, Dell CFO Yvonne McGill pointed to AI as a driver of new growth for the company.

Lenovo and Cisco partner for digital transformation

Lenovo and Cisco announced a strategic partnership to accelerate digital transformation that aims to “deliver fully integrated infrastructure and networking solutions.” The companies say they’ll work together to design and engineer turnkey solutions that will help customers advance their AI capabilities from edge to cloud.

HP looks to grow profits in AI and hybrid era

HP announced that its fiscal 2024 Q2 revenue was $12.8 billion, down 0.8% year-over-year. HP president and CEO Enrique Lores said in a statement that the company is “well positioned” for profitable growth, thanks in part to new solutions “designed for the AI and hybrid era.”

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Should engineers buy the Apple Vision Pro? https://www.engineering.com/should-engineers-buy-the-apple-vision-pro/ Thu, 30 May 2024 10:41:00 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/should-engineers-buy-the-apple-vision-pro/ It’s early days, but the new spatial computing headset is already making headway into engineering workflows.

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Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have been slowly seeping into engineering offices over the past decade. The technology is being used to interact with CAD models, to help assemble spacecraft and to host virtual design reviews.

But spatial computing, as the technology is often called, has yet to make the widespread impact that proponents believe it can.

Could a new consumer headset speed up progress? The Apple Vision Pro, which launched earlier this year, has spurred newfound interest in spatial computing and its potential as an enterprise tool. And with several engineering software developers already committed to the headset, it may win over more than a few engineers.

Apple Vision Pro for designers

The starting $3,499 price tag for the Apple Vision Pro, plus the cost of enterprise software for the headset, is a roadblock to putting the headset on the desk of every designer. But it gives engineering companies a new platform to explore the value of spatial computing.

An Apple Vision Pro user testing out Onshape. (Image: PTC.)

An Apple Vision Pro user testing out Onshape. (Image: PTC.)

Engineering software companies including PTC and Nvidia have embraced the Vision Pro within the first few months of release. PTC’s Onshape was one of the first engineering apps to launch on the Vision Pro, giving users the ability to directly connect to the Onshape database (removing any required intermediate file formats needed on previous headsets), pull up 3D models, change design materials, leave comments and more.

“We were excited to get an early look of the Apple Vision Pro,” Greg Brown, vice president of product management for Onshape at PTC, told Engineering.com. “We knew that because of the way that it was going to come out—the functionality, the ease of use and all of these things—the barriers that were previously there in doing this type of visualization would be addressed in a major way.”

Brown views the biggest current engineering uses for the Vision Pro as ideation, collaboration, and evaluation, and says these are the areas where the Onshape app has focused first. The current app allows multiple people to interact with a model in the same virtual space. The following video from PTC shows the app in action:

PTC has hinted at plans to bring 3D design tools to the Vision Pro as well, but right now their software is focused on display, rendering and commenting.

Hungarian CAD provider Shapr3D also offers its 3D design software on the Vision Pro, but the immersive version of the software aims to be much more versatile than mere viewing. The company is offering demos of their Vision Pro software which advertises the ability to design fully in the headset.

Other engineering software available for the Apple Vision Pro includes Nvidia Omniverse, which can stream data and applications on the headset; Vectary, an interactive product visualizer; Graphisoft’s BIMx presentation app; and JigSpace, a 3D presentation app.

Apple Vision Pro beyond design

Engineering work extends far beyond 3D models, and companies are testing out VR and AR software for use on the manufacturing floor, construction sites and beyond.

View from within the Apple Vision Pro Resolve app showing a comment left within a building. (Image: Resolve.)

View from within the Apple Vision Pro Resolve app showing a comment left within a building. (Image: Resolve.)

Resolve is a BIM application offering immersive tools for the design and construction industry with a focus on helping all stakeholders “walk” through buildings before they are built. Resolve developed a rendering engine that can take massive engineering models and load them wirelessly onto a headset with a computer or cloud streaming. The company has previously worked with other VR headsets and now has a demo available for the Apple Vision Pro that CEO Angel Say calls “the tip of the iceberg.”

“There’s still so many more features and a general platform that we want to continue building. But that’s going to take time, both from developers like ourselves to keep adding functionality to our app, but then also from the industry to embrace these applications that we’re building and apply it to the areas that make the most sense,” Say told Engineering.com.

Resolve had to reimagine their software for the Vision Pro, as it presents a new paradigm of user navigation in virtual reality.

“There are no controllers with Apple Vision Pro, and so it’s not like you can use a joystick to fly around. It’s all eye tracking and tracking input. So that has been one thing that we’ve had to rethink,” Say said.

Other companies have also developed their own custom Vision Pro software. Porsche’s race engineering team uses the headsets to track car data in real time alongside live video from their race cars. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is bringing Apple Vision Pros into the machine shop for training technicians.

However, the direct impact of the Vision Pro on engineering work will vary from user to user. Many engineers do not rely on Mac computers, presenting a hurdle to integrations, but Say has seen that shifting.

“You’ve got programs like Revit, Navisworks, all these things that are only run on Windows,” Say said. “But in the last decade, I would say the industry has also had a shift out in the field to using Apple devices.”

Should engineers buy an Apple Vision Pro?

Most engineers should wait on buying an expensive new Vision Pro. These headsets are only going to get cheaper, lighter, better, and have more engineering apps available. But if the cost is palatable and you’re eager to explore spatial computing workflows, you’ll likely be impressed with the Vision Pro.

“It’s one of those things that you can read about, you can watch videos, but nothing beats actually going out and getting a demo and really experiencing it for yourself,” Say said.

View from within the Apple Vision Pro headset of a tank system displayed in Onshape. (Image: PTC.)

View from within the Apple Vision Pro headset of a tank system displayed in Onshape. (Image: PTC.)

During a recent quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that more than half of Fortune 100 companies have purchased Apple Vision Pro headsets, showing that big businesses are seeing value in exploring the enterprise impacts of this technology.

“Real customers and real prospects have been excited to be able to get their hands on these early. They have seen benefits early and a number of them have gone out and bought them the very same day,” Brown said of his experience demoing Onshape on the Vision Pro. “That speaks volumes to me that it’s finally reached a point where it can be more than a curiosity.”

As prices come down and apps get more sophisticated, the Apple Vision Pro and other headsets that follow it could find a permanent home on every engineer’s desk.

“If people haven’t tried VR/AR in the last five years, it’s time to revisit it,” Say said. “I think it’s important to understand how much the technology has evolved and get into one of the more recent headsets.”

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Bluetooth SpaceMouse, NX Immersive Designer and a lot of new Copilot+ AI PCs https://www.engineering.com/bluetooth-spacemouse-nx-immersive-designer-and-a-lot-of-new-copilot-ai-pcs/ Wed, 22 May 2024 11:56:00 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/bluetooth-spacemouse-nx-immersive-designer-and-a-lot-of-new-copilot-ai-pcs/ Engineering.com’s roundup of recent computing news.

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3Dconnexion releases SpaceMouse Wireless – Bluetooth Edition

3Dconnexion introduced a new version of its most popular product, the SpaceMouse Wireless, that now supports Bluetooth connectivity. Made for CAD users, the SpaceMouse Wireless is a joystick-like input device that allows users to precisely navigate 3D models with six degrees of freedom. The previous version of the SpaceMouse Wireless connected via a 2.4 GHz USB dongle called the 3Dconnexion Universal Receiver, an option which is still available for the SpaceMouse Wireless – Bluetooth Edition. The device can also be connected and charged with a USB-C cable.

The 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless – Bluetooth Edition. (Image: 3Dconnexion.)

The 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Wireless – Bluetooth Edition. (Image: 3Dconnexion.)

Siemens and Sony team up on NX Immersive Designer

Sony and Siemens have announced new details of their collaboration to develop an XR headset for CAD designers. The Sony-designed SRH-S1 headset, which was on display at Siemens’ recent Realize Live user conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, includes two 4K OLED microdisplays and two controllers designed for precisely manipulating 3D objects. The SRH-S1 will be available exclusively with Siemens’ NX CAD software through a bundle called NX Immersive Designer, which Siemens expects to launch at the end of 2024.

Designing in Siemens NX with a virtual monitor using Sony’s SRH-S1 XR headset. (Image: Sony.)

Designing in Siemens NX with a virtual monitor using Sony’s SRH-S1 XR headset. (Image: Sony.)

New Copilot+ AI PCs from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus

All major PC makers launched new laptops in a category that Microsoft refers to as Copilot+ PCs. Powered by the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus processors, the new computers include a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of performing 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS), a feature that PC maker Dell says will allow users to run AI tasks more efficiently.

Dell announced five Copilot+ PCs: the Dell XPS 13, Inspiron 14 Plus, Inspiron 14, Latitude 7455 and Latitude 5455. HP announced two: the HP OmniBook X and EliteBook Ultra. Lenovo also announced two: the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and ThinkPad T14s Gen 6. Acer unveiled the Acer Swift 14 AI and Asus the Asus Vivobook S 15.

The Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC with a Snapdragon X Elite processor. (Image: Dell.)

The Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC with a Snapdragon X Elite processor. (Image: Dell.)

AMD launches EPYC 4004 Series server CPUs

AMD announced the AMD EPYC 4004 Series, a set of eight new server CPUs that the company says deliver strong performance at an affordable price for small to medium businesses. The single-socket processors use AMD’s Zen 4 architecture. AMD says that the new EPYC 4564P provides a 1.8x increase in performance per CPU dollar compared to the Intel Xeon E-2488. Hardware provider MSI has already announced server platforms supporting the new processors.

Boxx AI

Workstation maker Boxx Technologies unveiled Boxx AI, a new line of multi-GPU desktop and data center workstations for AI design and development. The desktop systems include up to four Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada Gen GPUs with up to 192 GB of GPU memory.

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The Biological and Psychological Impacts of Human-Centric Lighting https://www.engineering.com/resources/the-biological-and-psychological-impacts-of-human-centric-lighting/ https://www.engineering.com/resources/the-biological-and-psychological-impacts-of-human-centric-lighting/#respond Fri, 10 May 2024 20:21:59 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/resources/the-biological-and-psychological-impacts-of-human-centric-lighting/ This white paper explores how modern workplace lighting affects employee well-being and discusses the need for scientifically informed lighting solutions to improve health.

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Along with finding solutions to balance productivity, profitability and sustainability, public and private entities face another growing concern — employee well-being. Mental and physical health issues including exhaustion and stress continue to rise at an alarming rate. While there are many tools that can help, such as regular breaks and wellness programs, one often-forgotten way to boost human health revolves around lighting.

The evolution of modern workplaces, characterized by longer hours spent indoors under artificial lighting, increased screen time and sedentary desk-based work, has inadvertently led most humans to no longer follow the innate biological process of living from sunrise to sunset. This disruption of the circadian rhythm is further interrupted by the type of lighting used. With most studies estimating that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, that equates to a lot of time humans are deprived of natural lighting.

This white paper explores the positives and negatives of natural and artificial lighting and how science is helping to create new lighting options that address human biology to enhance mental and physical well-being.

Your download is sponsored by LANTANA LED.

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Is AR safe for industrial users? AREA infographic shows risks and benefits https://www.engineering.com/is-ar-safe-for-industrial-users-area-infographic-shows-risks-and-benefits/ Thu, 09 May 2024 13:33:00 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/is-ar-safe-for-industrial-users-area-infographic-shows-risks-and-benefits/ The Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance detailed AR safety risks in industry to guide users on the path to AR adoption.

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Augmented reality (AR) has been steadily gaining popularity as an industrial tool. It’s enabled engineers to immerse themselves in 3D designs, helped manufacturers plan and optimize factory layouts, and proved a valuable asset for training and simulation.

Not all have embraced the technology, but with spatial computing making headlines with Apple’s recent Vision Pro headset, holdouts may find themselves increasingly wondering: can AR work for me?

The Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) made answering that question a bit easier today with the release of its AR Safety Infographic. The interactive chart details 12 benefits, hazards and risks of industrial AR use to give prospective users a full picture of how the technology could impact their workplace.

Screenshot of the AREA AR safety infographic. The live infographic allows users to click on each section for more detailed information. (Image: AREA.)

Screenshot of the AREA AR safety infographic. The live infographic allows users to click on each section for more detailed information. (Image: AREA.)

AR proselytizers typically don’t dwell on the downsides of the technology, but the AREA infographic reveals several safety risks worth considering. The biggest, shown in red at the bottom, relate to the hard facts of wearing a clunky headset over one’s eyes: cognitive distraction, reduced visibility and physical strain. These downsides could make AR users a risk to themselves and their coworkers, particularly in industrial environments where workers must remain alert to potential danger.

But at the same time as it introduces these risks, AR has the potential to solve them. The top layer of the AREA infographic reveals that AR can benefit user safety by improving their situational awareness, reducing their mental load and decreasing their need to expose themselves to other potential industrial hazards.

So is AR a safety risk or a safer way to work? It can be both. Like any technology, AR has upsides and downsides, and the final balance lies in the end use. AREA’s goal is to help enterprises understand these tradeoffs to adopt AR with confidence.

“Our mission is to help companies in all parts of the AR ecosystem achieve greater operational efficiency through the smooth introduction and widespread adoption of interoperable AR-assisted enterprise systems,” said Mark Sage, AREA’s executive director, in an AREA press release. “Our AR Safety Infographic provides reliable guidance that makes the path to AR adoption surer, shorter, and smoother.”

AREA is an alliance that covers the full spectrum of spatial computing stakeholders. Members include hardware providers such as DigiLens, Magic Leap and Vuzix; engineering software developers such as Dassault Systèmes, Hexagon and PTC; academic institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Wichita State University; and engineering end users such as Boeing and Boston Engineering.

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Lenovo launches ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 alongside new AI PC laptops https://www.engineering.com/lenovo-launches-thinkpad-p1-gen-7-alongside-new-ai-pc-laptops/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:22:00 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/lenovo-launches-thinkpad-p1-gen-7-alongside-new-ai-pc-laptops/ Featuring Intel’s new NPU-equipped processors, the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7, P16v i Gen 2, P16s i Gen 3 and P14s i Gen 5 promise high AI performance for engineers on the go.

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Yesterday Lenovo announced four new mobile workstations in its popular ThinkPad lineup: the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7, ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2, ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3, and ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5. Like other recently announced computers, the new ThinkPads transcend mere laptops into a new category that vendors are calling AI PCs.

Related: AI PCs are here. Should engineers upgrade?

The new Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 laptop. (Image: Lenovo.)

The new Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 laptop. (Image: Lenovo.)

The new laptops “offer an ideal combination of workstation know-how, high levels of AI-ready performance, and true mobility,” according to Rob Herman, VP of Lenovo’s worldwide workstation and client AI business, in Lenovo’s press release.

With availability starting as early as this month, the new ThinkPads provide an interesting option for engineers seeking a Spring upgrade. Here’s what we know so far about the mobile AI PCs.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Upgrades and downgrades

The new lineup’s main attraction is the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7, a laptop that first debuted in 2018 as Lenovo’s answer to those choosy customers who wanted both a powerful mobile workstation and one that was extremely thin and light. While it delivered on the latter, it wasn’t until its fourth generation in 2021 that the P1 got access to the then top-of-the-line mobile GPU, the Nvidia RTX A5000.

Using the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7. (Image: Lenovo.)

Using the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7. (Image: Lenovo.)

Now in its seventh generation, the ThinkPad P1 still has access to powerful GPUs—but no longer the most powerful available. The P1 Gen 7 maxes out at the Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada Generation, which is a few rungs down from the flagship RTX 5000 Ada available to Lenovo’s more powerful mobile workstations and even to the new laptop’s predecessor, the P1 Gen 6.

But in this era of AI PCs, the spotlight is shining less on the GPU and more on the CPU—or rather, on the NPU that now comes with it. The neural processing unit is a new part of Intel’s Core Ultra processors that aims to accelerate certain AI applications. Lenovo described its relation to the GPU, which also has built-in AI acceleration, in its press release: “The integrated NPU is dedicated to handling light, continuous AI tasks, while the Nvidia GPU runs more demanding day-to-day AI processing.” The ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 can be configured with Intel Core Ultra processors up to the Core Ultra 9 185H.

Another notable spec change concerns the P1 Gen 7’s memory. There’s good news and bad news. The maximum configurable memory capacity has decreased from 96 GB in the P1 Gen 6 to 64 GB in the Gen 7, but the memory itself has been upgraded. According to Lenovo, the P1 Gen 7 is “the world’s first mobile workstation to include LPDDR5x LPCAMM2 memory” from Micron, which consumes “up to 61% less active power” and provides “64% space savings” compared to DDR5 SODIMM, the memory found in the P1 Gen 6 and in some new mobile workstations.

A few specs remain largely unchanged from the previous generation. The maximum storage available in the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is still 8 TB. The display is still 16 inches, with a 16:10 aspect ratio and options up to a 4K OLED touchscreen. The new laptop is slightly heavier than its predecessor, starting at 4.03 pounds (1.82 kg) rather than 3.92 pounds (1.78 kg).

ThinkPad P1 Gen 7

CPU (max)

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

GPU (max)

Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada Generation

Memory (max)

64 GB LPCAMM2 LPDDR5x 7467MT/s

Storage (max)

8 TB (2x PCIe 4×4 M.2 2280 SSD)

Display

16-inch, 16:10, up to UHD+ OLED touch

Battery

90 Wh (customer replaceable)

Weight (starting)

4.03 lb (1.83 kg)

Availability

May 2024

Price (starting)

$2,619

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 will be available in May in the U.S. with an expected price of $2,619.

Specs of the Lenovo ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2, ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3 and ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5

Alongside the premium ThinkPad P1, Lenovo’s other three new AI PCs are the more budget-friendly ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2, P16s i Gen 3 and P14s i Gen 5. While all offer NPU-equipped processors up to Core Ultra 9 185H, their other specs vary considerably.

The new ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2. (Image: Lenovo.)

The new ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2. (Image: Lenovo.)

The ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2 is the closest to the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 in both size and specs. It’s got a 16-inch, 16:10 display with up to a 4K resolution (but no OLED or touchscreen option). It can be configured with up to the Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada Generation GPU, just like the P1, though it doesn’t offer any GeForce RTX options, which the P1 does. The P16v has a higher max memory capacity than the P1, 96 GB, though that’s because it’s DDR5 memory and not the P1’s LPCAMM2 LPDDR5x (which is not currently available in modules over 64 GB). The ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2 can be configured with up to 4 TB of storage. It will be available this month with an expected starting price of $2,279.

The new ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3. (Image: Lenovo.)

The new ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3. (Image: Lenovo.)

The ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3 is another 16-inch laptop with a 16:10 display, which, like that of the P1, can be a 4K OLED display (but again, no touchscreen option). However, it takes a significant step down in graphics performance, maxing out with the freshly announced Nvidia RTX 500 Ada Generation GPU, an entry level mobile GPU with 4 GB of VRAM. The P16s can be configured with up to 96 GB of DDR5 memory and up to 2 TB of storage. The ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3 will be available beginning in May 2024 with an expected starting price of $1,859.

The new ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5. (Image: Lenovo.)

The new ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5. (Image: Lenovo.)

Finally, the ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5 is the latest iteration of what engineering.com found to be the best budget mobile workstation of 2022. It’s basically a smaller version of the ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3, offering the same selection of specs but with a 14.5-inch, 16:10 display (up to a 4K resolution, but no OLED or touch option). The ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5 will be available in Q2 of 2024, according to Lenovo, with an expected starting price of $1,829.

ThinkPad P16v i Gen 2

ThinkPad P16s i Gen 3

ThinkPad P14s i Gen 5

CPU (max)

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

GPU (max)

Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada Generation

Nvidia RTX 500 Ada Generation

Nvidia RTX 500 Ada Generation

Memory (max)

96GB DDR5 5600Mhz

96GB DDR5 5600Mhz

96GB DDR5 5600Mhz

Storage (max)

4 TB (2x PCIe 4×4 M.2 2280 SSD)

2 TB (PCIe 4×4 M.2 2280 SSD)

2 TB (PCIe 4×4 M.2 2280 SSD)

Display

16-inch, 16:10, up to UHD+ IPS

16-inch, 16:10, up to UHD+ OLED

14.5-inch, 16:10, up to UHD+ IPS

Battery

90 Wh

57 Wh or 75 Wh

57 Wh or 75 Wh

Weight (starting)

4.90 lb (2.22 kg)

4.01 lb (1.82 kg)

3.55 lb (1.61 kg)

Availability

April 2024

May 2024

Q2 2024

Price (starting)

$2,279

$1,859

$1,829

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Nvidia unveils new RTX A400 and A1000 desktop GPUs https://www.engineering.com/nvidia-unveils-new-rtx-a400-and-a1000-desktop-gpus/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:36:00 +0000 https://www.engineering.com/nvidia-unveils-new-rtx-a400-and-a1000-desktop-gpus/ The Ampere-based graphics cards are pitched at pros with power- and space-constrained computers.

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Today Nvidia announced two new desktop graphics cards, the Nvidia RTX A400 and A1000 GPU. Based on Nvidia’s Ampere architecture, one step behind the current Ada Lovelace generation, and designed to consume only 50 watts of power apiece, the new cards seemingly target the very entry level of Nvidia’s workstation graphics portfolio.

The new Nvidia RTX A400 (left) and RTX A1000 (right) GPU. (Image: Nvidia.)

The new Nvidia RTX A400 (left) and RTX A1000 (right) GPU. (Image: Nvidia.)

And yet, the RTX A400 and A1000 are pitched at professional users. Nvidia’s blog post introducing the new graphics cards says they’re designed to serve architects, engineers, industrial planners, and healthcare and financial professionals, among other users.

“They expand access to AI and ray-tracing technology, equipping professionals with the tools they need to transform their daily workflows,” wrote Nvidia senior product marketing manager Stacy Ozorio.

Specs of the Nvidia RTX A400 and A1000 GPUs

The two new graphics cards share a few features in common. Both the RTX A400 and A1000 are 50-watt, single-slot cards offering four Mini DisplayPort outputs (a new high for the 400-series, which previously had only three display outputs in the Nvidia T400).

The differences between the cards are found it their processing capacity: the number of RT cores for real-time ray tracing, Tensor cores for AI acceleration, CUDA cores for general graphics processing, and the size and bandwidth of their memory.

Nvidia RTX A400

Nvidia RTX A1000

CUDA cores

768

2304

RT cores

6

18

Tensor cores

24

72

GPU memory

4 GB GDDR6

8 GB GDDR6

Memory interface

64-bit

128-bit

Memory bandwidth

96 GB/s

192 GB/s

These spec differences manifest in a roughly 2.5x performance increase from the A400 to A1000, according to Nvidia’s peak performance data. (You have to give Nvidia credit for the arithmetically accurate product names.)

(Data: Nvidia.)

(Data: Nvidia.)

Are the RTX A400 and A1000 a good fit for engineers?

Nvidia’s new graphics cards clearly improve over their preceding generation, but they themselves are a generation behind Nvidia’s current Ada Generation graphics cards. It was just two months ago that Nvidia announced the RTX 2000 Ada Generation workstation graphics card as the entry point to the Ada generation desktop GPUs, a $625 card that beats the A400 and A1000 on every aspect of performance—most of all in the headline features of real-time ray tracing and AI acceleration.

The new cards seem to be best suited not for engineering workstations but for space- and power-constrained computers that require a bit of extra graphics horsepower—perhaps just the ability to output to four displays at once. “[T]he A400 and A1000 GPUs bring impressive features to compact, energy-efficient workstations,” Ozorio wrote.

The Nvidia RTX A1000 is now available from Nvidia distribution partners including PNY and Ryoyo Electric, and the Nvidia RTX A400 is expected to be available in May. An Nvidia representative told Engineering.com that the estimated street price of the Nvidia RTX A400 is $135 and the RTX A1000 is $365.

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