Here are a few of the stories I found interesting over the last couple days
AMD Announces New Video Cards
AMD has finally unveiled its new generation of high end graphics cards, the RX 6800, RX 6800 XT, and RX 6900 XT. These cards promise to put AMD’s graphics on par with nVidia’s high end offerings for the first time in many years.
For several years, AMD has been playing a “performance per dollar” game with their video cards. They lacked anything that could compete with nVidia at the high end, so their cards were always priced cheaper. In the $500 USD and up market that serves high resolution, high framerate gaming, AMD did not have a product to sell, leaving the entire market to nVidia.
Now, not only is AMD competitive in that range, they look to be better. While these all have to be verified by independent reviewers, AMD claims that the $1000 USD RX 6900 XT has the same performance as the $1500 RTX 3090 from nVidia. The $650 USD RX 6800 XT has the same or better performance than the $700 RTX 3080, and the $580 RX 6800 offers better performance than the $500 RTX 3070.
These are all expensive products, but with the push for high resolution, high framerate gaming going full steam ahead, these cards should all provide several years of longevity.
https://pcper.com/2020/10/amd-radeon-rx-6000-lineup-detailed/
SpaceX Opens Starlink Public Beta in the US
I’ve talked previously about how SpaceX is looking to bring its Starlink internet network to Canada in the future, likely servicing rural areas. But we had no idea what the service would look like, or how much it would cost. Well, SpaceX is starting to answer some of those questions as it begins testing Starlink.
The company is opening up a beta test of the network for some residents in the United States. This is an early look at the product, as SpaceX states in the sign up form that the network is incomplete, and users may encounter periods of time without internet connectivity. This is likely due to the fact that SpaceX has only deployed about 900 Starlink satellites, out of thousands it eventually plans to send into space.
The beta service looks fairly expensive. It will be $100 US per month, plus $500 for the equipment needed to actually connect. While that does seem like a lot, it is not much more than modern urban broadband is, and is cheaper than traditional satellite internet service that is usually very slow and has high latency.
SpaceX does promise that service will improve during the beta period, again likely as it physically puts more satellites into orbit. But it also likely needs test users to help it tune the system and learn how to optimize it.
Xbox Series vs PlayStation 5 in Pictures
We are getting very close to the release of new consoles from Microsoft and Sony, and reviewers have their devices in hand (or on desk). The new consoles are powerful, and promise 4k gaming reliably for the first time in a console, and in a price that is much cheaper than putting together a gaming PC. A Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 are cheaper than any of the video cards I mentioned in the AMD story above, but should have graphical capability that approaches those cards. But, with the power needed to push 4k gaming, these are big devices, especially in the case of the PlayStation 5. I think many people will have difficulty fitting the Xbox Series X and/or PlayStation 5 into existing media stands. I actually don’t think I can accommodate both in mine, for example. I think I would have space for one, but not both, should I eventually get my hands on both of them.
Ubuntu Releases Officially Supported Version for Raspberry Pi
Lastly, it is time to get super nerdy. Canonical has finally decided to support the Raspberry Pi single board computer with an official version of its Ubuntu Linux operating system. Ubuntu 20.10, which released last week, added support for the 4 and 8GB RAM versions of the Raspberry Pi 4, and is now an officially supported version. While Raspberry Pi OS has been ok, it has been a pretty bare bones experience for the previously underpowered Raspberry Pi devices. With newer versions of the Raspberry Pi having 4 ARM processing cores and 4 or 8GB of ram, they can make decent little web browsing machines, and Ubuntu Linux is generally well regarded as a desktop operating system.
This won’t replace a windows computer, Mac, or even an iPad any time soon, but for those who like to tinker, Ubuntu on the Raspberry Pi is a nice addition.