Technology

• AMD has described its RDNA 4 launch as "unprecedented"
• Demand has outpaced supply significantly
• The company has promised restocks as "priority number one"

AMD has described its RDNA 4 graphics card launch as "unprecedented" in a new interview, promising that restocks of the two current GPUs are "priority number one".

In an hour-long video interview with AMD's David McAfee, Corporate VP and General Manager via HotHardware, the company made its mission statement clear: "The biggest thing we are doing quite honestly is ramping supply of Navi 48, very aggressively the demand we saw on day one was really unprecendented and unprecendeted across all the price points in the RDNA 4 product portfolio".

Despite promising "wide availability" during the announcement of RDNA 4 hardware at the end of February, RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT stock has been fleeting since the first day they hit the shelves. Current stock is dry in the US, usually reserved to just bundles, and options available in the UK can be well above the aggressive sticker price set by AMD, something claimed to be "limited time" by some retailers.

"We want to make sure that users are able to buy cards at the prices they expect to see in the market" McAfee later adds in the interview, "We're doing everything that we can to make that happen" for "retailers as well as our board partners are doing their part to help ensure that there's plenty of supply at those price points".

AMD did not produce a reference model for either the RX 9070 nor the RX 9070 XT, meaning that the design, features and price point (to some extent) could be dictated by third-party AIB models. As such, it falls on the company's partners to ramp up production to meet demand in "making sure that they have all the components that they need to build the widest assortment of cards that they can".

While the current offerings of RDNA 4 hardware are firmly placed in the midrange market, with respective MSRPs of $549 and $599, respectively (being roughly on par with the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti), McAfee expressed that AMD may still attempt to compete at the higher-end as well.

"We certainly have aspirations to cover the entire gamut of gaming solutions that are out there in the market, and maybe one day we'll get there". It's unclear whether this comment pertains to a potential higher-end RNDA 4 card or whether RDNA 5 will offer RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 rivals in the future.

A commitment to consumer demand

We've been impressed with the current RDNA 4 lineup since it launched earlier this month, citing the RX 9070 XT's near-RTX 4080 performance for the low price of $599 as a particular highlight. This is to say nothing of FSR 4, the latest version of the upscaling and Frame Generation technology, which is now AI-powered, being a step closer in quality, smoothness, and performance to Nvidia's ever-evolving DLSS, too.

Given the sheer price-to-performance afforded by both the current RDNA graphics cards, it's not surprising to see that their availability has been limited (seemingly) far beyond AMD's expectations - hence the shortages.

Traditionally, Team Red has played second fiddle behind Team Green, but the aggressive pricing (and powerful performance) of its latest cards have meant that it's occupying a niche in the midrange space that PC gamers can get behind. This is especially true given the lackluster RTX 5070, which we gave a 3-star write-up.

It's been just over a week since the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT went on sale, and they've been hard to find ever since, selling out in minutes from major retailers across regions like the US and the UK.

AMD's promise of restocks and backing its partners as they ramp up AIB production is an encouraging move. We're hopeful that AMD keeps to its word and that more PC gamers will be able to see what's possible with a GPU under $600, while its major competitor is more concerned with pushing performance boundaries (and prices) in the other direction.

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• Wix announces a new native integration with Printful
• It promises benefits to businesses of all shapes and sizes
• The offering is now available in English, with new languages coming soon

Wix, one of the best website builders on the market, has announced a new integration that will allow users to operate their print-on-demand and dropshipping fulfillment services without needing to leave the platform.

In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Wix said it is expanding its features to include print on demand by partnering with Printful.

Wix claims that all businesses will benefit from this latest announcement. New businesses, looking to start from scratch and build a brand, can benefit from a streamlined approach. Small businesses can create merchandise in a way that is “typically inaccessible to small businesses on the market today”. Established businesses can benefit from the integration by generating a new revenue stream.

Regardless of business size, all users will be provided access and control over “critical touchpoints of the print-on-demand and dropshipping solution”, as well as the ability to customize merchandise with brand logos and other art. They will also be able to adjust, or change the design of a product, and with a solution that fulfills orders individually, business owners can avoid upfront inventory costs.

Wix expands platform features

Finally, since Printful prioritizes locally-produced products (through its network of fulfillment centers), distribution is faster, and shipping costs are lower, while the on-demand operation model helps eliminate overproduction and remove the need for storage.

This offering is available in English, with plans to expand the availability to other languages “in the near future”, Wix concluded.

Lately, Wix has been hard at work, adding new features and offerings to its platform. In mid-January, it announced teaming up with YouTube Shopping, to give store owners a new and popular avenue to sell products online.

By the end of the month, the company released Business Launcher, a new AI-powered tool designed to help entrepreneurs create new business initiatives, from concept to execution.

If you’re interested in further reading, make sure to check out our in-depth Wix review.

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Is work religion, or is religion work? Both.

• Computing power and Unity Game Engine provide slick user experience
• Imax format movies can be viewed in glorious surround sound
• MBUX Virtual Assistant is empathetic and reacts to emotions

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest Classic model, which is the first in a family of new vehicles which has been designed to be electric first. The headline stats are impressive: the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology (annoying name, I know) manages a range of almost 500 miles thanks to learnings from the Vision EQXX record-breaking car.

Thanks to the ability to charge at a rate of 320kW, it can add 180 miles of range in just 10 minutes, but the German company says charging stops will be infrequent thank to the large 85kWh battery pack in range-topping vehicles and a target efficiency rate of over five miles per kWh.

Considering many modern EVs struggle to hit three miles before guzzling a kilowatt of electrons, that’s seriously impressive.

But aside from the sleek profile, low stance and hundreds of illuminated stars (142 on the front grille alone) that adorn the front and rear, it is the infotainment and computing offering that arguably ushers in a bold new era for Mercedes-Benz.

The marque says it is “the cleverest” car it has ever made, with a proprietary AI-enhanced fourth generation Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MBOS) that powers an all-new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX).

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Initialism overload aside, it has allowed the company to introduce a mighty array of touchscreen displays, driver screens and head-up displays for an unrivaled entertainment and information offering.

Unlike rivals that cover their front passenger screens in a coating to minimize driver distraction, Mercedes-Benz has incorporated camera technology and eye-detection software that will automatically warn and then eventually shut down the display if it feels the driver isn’t paying attention to the road.

It’s a wise choice, as the MBUX Superscreen, which consists of three separate screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, feels more like a premium smart TV experience than anything typically found inside a car. it’s very tempting to let the eyes wander.

IMAX format movies can be enjoyed thanks to Sony’s Ridevu app, complete with 3D surround sound courtesy of an awesomely powerful Burmester audio system.

Both driver and passenger can link Bluetooth gaming controllers and partake in Fortnite or Triple-A gaming sessions thanks to the Boosteroid app, while the entire home screen and the way it is organized can be fully customized with intuitive, tablet and smartphone-like gestures.

The power of speech

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

While it is perfectly possible to jab and prod at screens to access the feature you need, Mercedes would prefer it if you trial its latest MBUX Virtual Assistant that uses generative artificial intelligence to either change the settings or get the answer you need.

Harnessing the power of multiple agents, such as ChatGPT-4o, Microsoft Bing search and Google Gemini, Mercedes’ latest virtual assistant is capable of handling all manner of queries in a relatively natural way.

I asked it what I should buy my wife for her birthday, it suggested something that we could do together, like a spa day. So I then prompted it to give me some suggestions in the local area and it did. From there, I could call the establishment and book a date, or ask the assistant to come up with cheaper or more expensive ideas. You get it.

The MBUX Virtual Assistant is activated with a “Hey Mercedes” exclamation but it takes the form of a star avatar (yes, more stars). Its default color is blue, but it will change its hue depending on the mood it detects from the driver.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

If it picks up happy or excited vibes, it will get a little more animated and its tone of voice will be bubbly and welcoming. If it detects anger or sadness, it color changes to orange and it will keep its answers shorter, more direct and less irritating.

This is one of the first integrations of Gemini on Google Cloud for in-vehicle navigation and it works well, allowing users to enquire about the best dog-friendly restaurants in the area, or even ask it the best place to watch the sunset… with cheap parking.

Plus, the deeper partnership between Google and Mercedes-Benz means route-planning takes into account topography, route, ambient temperature, speed, as well as heating and cooling requirements, to give a much more accurate picture on range estimations and whether there will be a need to stop and charge on the way.

Prepping for an autonomous future

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz CLA )

Mercedes has long been at the forefront of autonomous driving, being one of the very few manufacturers to offer true SAE Level 3 hands and eyes-off driving in very select markets and scenarios, but there’s always room for greater capabilities.

The CLA will arrive with MB Drive Assist, the name of its SAE Level 2 autonomous driving system, as well as MB Drive Assist Pro, which the company says requires two additional cameras to it can offer advanced autonomous driving systems in urban environments.

Currently, China and the US are the only two markets that have the legal framework to allow the so-called Level 2++, which allows for automatic lane changing and lets the vehicles make turns without driver input. Think Tesla Full Self-Driving.

A new feature in the CLA seems to hint at more advanced autonomous driving capabilities. Dubbed MBUX Surround Navigation, the digital offering integrates with the driver assistance view on a small display in front of the steering wheel.

It creates a 3D picture of the vehicle’s current surroundings, including game engine-enabled digital representations of the buildings, as well as bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Tesla and Volvo offer something similar in their vehicles but it is no way near as detailed as this, with Mercedes able to also overlay intuitive route guidance instructions over the top of this digital world.

It makes it easier to navigate in busy urban areas, with a clear 3D view of taller building and landmarks making it simpler to select the right turning or side street. What’s more, it gives a good insight into the type of UX we can expect when a vehicle is in a highly autonomous mode.

While you might be engaged in answering emails or digesting the latest series of The White Lotus, the MBUX Surround Navigation allows the driver to see what the car is seeing in real-time, potentially offering some peace of mind that the car has everything under control.

The CLA has always been a model that Mercedes-Benz feels attracts a younger, more tech-savvy audience into the brand, and that’s clear with the impressive array it will offer hone it goes on sale in the coming months.

However, with such a large battery pack, powerful enough to electric motors and a dearth of screens, it’s not going to be cheap.

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With the digital-first reality of the modern day, teams are now more scattered than ever before. The wider adoption of remote working, worldwide distributed teams, and complex interconnected workflows has created an urgent need for the secure exchange of credentials such as passwords and secrets. Secrets are sensitive digital credentials, such as passwords, API keys, and encryption keys, used to authenticate and secure machine-to-machine access to IT systems and data, for example for automated DevOps workflows.

Legacy solutions for sharing credentials, such as spreadsheets, consumer-grade password managers, or even messaging apps, are no longer sustainable. These antiquated practices expose organizations to severe security risks, inefficiencies, and compliance problems. Inefficient credential collaboration can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and business downtime. As regulatory requirements continue to intensify, organizations must prioritize secure, scalable, and transparent credential management solutions that serve the demands of the contemporary workplace.

Key Collaboration Challenges in Modern Teams

Modern workplaces rely on a mix of employees, contractors, and external partners who all require different levels of access to company credentials. Managing these access rights securely without inhibiting business effectiveness is a complex challenge. Organizations must adopt a fine-grained approach to credential sharing to prevent unauthorized access while facilitating productivity.

Many businesses operate with separate systems for different kinds of credentials. IT teams might use one solution for SSH keys, API tokens, and database credentials, while business teams manage logins for CRM, financial or human resources systems, and marketing tools elsewhere. This fragmented approach with siloed solutions creates security gaps, inefficiencies, and compliance headaches. A unified credential management solution has the potential to eliminate these issues.

Without proper credential collaboration measures in place, organizations face numerous security threats, including:

Unauthorized access: Weak or shared passwords can be exploited by cybercriminals.

Credential leaks: Storing credentials in plaintext files or unsecured locations increases exposure.

Lack of auditability: Without visibility into who accessed which credentials and when, tracking security incidents becomes difficult.

Poorly structured credential collaboration slows teams down. Employees waste time searching for credentials, requesting access, asking a colleague how to best share it, or resetting forgotten passwords. Small groups may manage credentials manually, but as an organization grows, so do the complexities of access management. Without software-based automation and governance, businesses risk operational bottlenecks, security risks, and non-compliance with industry regulations.

Organizations have different security and compliance demands, which influence their choice between cloud-based (SaaS) and on-premises credential management solutions. While SaaS solutions take away the burden of software maintenance, on-premises deployments provide full control over data residency, security policies, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.

With increasing regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2, organizations must have transparency and control over credential access. A credential collaboration solution must support audit trails, access logs, and role-based access (RBAC).

Practical use Cases for Secure Credential Sharing

The below scenarios reflect the importance of sophisticated credential collaboration software.

For example, upon the departure of an employee, revoking shared credentials is a top priority. Individual accounts (e.g., Google or Microsoft) can be easily revoked, but shared credentials pose a greater challenge. If not properly managed, a former employee may retain access to critical systems, increasing the risk of data breaches. A departing employee might still have access to shared credentials, thus posing a potential security threat. Organizations need systematic policies to manage credential revocation efficiently.

A secure credential sharing system should offer:

Password expiration capabilities: Administrators can revoke access immediately or set expiration dates in advance.

Selective password rotation: Instead of resetting all shared credentials, organizations can identify and rotate only those used by the former employee.

Compliance benefits: Automated alerts and enforced expiration policies ensure governance and regulatory compliance.

Imagine another situation: when a coworker is out on vacation, teams may face challenges accessing critical accounts protected by multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA is a security method that requires a second verification step in addition to a password, which is usually provided by a time-based one-time password (TOTP) generator. This typically means that when logging into an account, such as email, cloud storage, or business software, the user must give a second form of verification.

Reliable credential collaboration

One of the most familiar examples of MFA is entering a verification code received via SMS. Consider logging into an online company system, and after entering the correct password, the system requests a code sent to the mobile number registered for MFA. If the phone is with the vacationing colleague, they would have to be contacted in order to relay the code, causing delays and inefficiencies. Moreover, sharing the code through unsecured channels like email or messaging apps could expose it to interception, increasing security risks.

Thus, a reliable credential collaboration system should have:

MFA credential delegation: Secure ways of sharing temporary or emergency MFA access so that if a team member is unavailable, authorized colleagues can safely retrieve the required MFA codes.

Audit logs and access monitoring: Ensuring all TOTP sharing actions and access attempts are tracked for security and compliance.

Essential Requirements for a Credential Collaboration Solution

Besides the specific credential collaboration features outlined above, the following general considerations should be taken into account when selecting a software solution for your organization.

A highly modern security architecture provides maximum protection against threats. The most robust approach today is private-public key cryptography, which ensures secure authentication, encryption, and data integrity.

Organizations must use role-based permissions (RBAC) and the principle of least privilege (PoLP) so that workers only have access to the credentials they need. This minimizes risk and enhances security posture.

A secure credential management system must encrypt credentials in transit and at rest, thereby introducing a so-called zero Knowledge architecture. This ensures that even if data gets intercepted or compromised, it remains inaccessible to unauthorized parties.

Teams need the ability to share credentials securely without compromising usability. A credential collaboration tool should make sharing simple while enforcing access controls to constrain risk.

Logging and reporting

Comprehensive and detailed logging and reporting features provide organizations with visibility into credential usage. This assists with security monitoring, breaches investigation, and regulatory compliance.

Credential collaboration needs to seamlessly fit into existing DevOps pipelines, cloud environments, and enterprise IT infrastructures. Integrations with tools such as CI/CD systems, cloud platforms, LDAP, Single Sign-On (SSO) and identity providers streamline operations and enhance security.

A credential management solution needs to support small teams as well as scaling to meet the needs of large enterprises. Automated provisioning, centralized access control, and robust governance capabilities ensure long-term sustainability.

Organizations should have the freedom to choose between cloud-based and on-premises solutions based on their security and compliance requirements.

Unlike proprietary solutions, open source credential management tools provide full transparency into how credentials are stored and managed. Independent audits ensure that security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed promptly.

Organizations that must conform to strict privacy laws should have authority over where their credential data is stored. Hosting in GDPR-regulated regions ensures compliance and increased legal safeguards.

Frustration with Legacy Tools Leads to Risky Workarounds

Software users expect intuitive, user-friendly applications. When faced with legacy, cumbersome credential management software, such as business password managers and Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, they often become disappointed. These systems are usually too inflexible, complex, and difficult to onboard. Thus, they suffer from low user adoption.

When usability suffers, members of the team may resort to insecure workarounds, such as keeping credentials in spreadsheets or sending them over unsecured channels, which undermine security efforts. To prevent this, organizations must transition to modern, agile credential management solutions that:

• Combine security with ease of use to ensure adoption.
• Automate credential provisioning and deprovisioning to reduce friction.
• Offer easy to understand security workflows that can be trusted by users.

If organizations fail to modernize their credential management strategy, they are not only at risk of security breaches, but also poor utilization rates, which drives users back to insecure workarounds. It’s imperative to balance the need for strong security against easy usability in order to keep teams on board with secure credential collaboration.

How to Select the Right Credential Collaboration Tool

In short: Selecting the right credential collaboration tool requires careful evaluation of your organization's unique needs and security profile.

Team size and security requirements: Identify the size of your operation and the sensitivity of the credentials.

Integration requirements: Does the tool allow for integration with existing workflows and platforms?

Compliance necessities: Verify compatibility with industry regulations.

Usability vs. security: Balance ease of use with stringent security controls.

Cost-effectiveness: Evaluate pricing against feature sets and long-term needs.

For organizations handling sensitive data, self-hosting in jurisdictions with strong privacy laws offers greater security, regulatory compliance, and control over data residency.

We showcase the best identity management software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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AI art generation has been evolving at a wild pace, and Google just threw another big contender into the mix through its Gemini Flash 2.0. You can play with the new image creation tool in Google's AI Studio.

Gemini Flash is, as the name suggests, very fast, notably faster than DALL-E 3 and other image creators. That speed might mean lower quality images, but that's not the case here, especially because all of the changes and upgrades to the model's image production ability. Still, if you want really good results, you must know how to talk to the AI. After plenty of trial and error, I've put together five tips for getting the absolute best art out of Gemini Flash 2.0. Some of these may seem similar to advice about other AI art creators, because they are, but that doesn't make them less useful in this context.

Tell a story

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

The most interesting new feature for Gemini Flash's image creation is that it isn’t just good for one-off illustrations, it can actually help you create a visual story by generating a series of related images with consistent style, settings, and moods.

To get started, you just have to ask it to tell you a story and how often you want an illustration to go with the action. The result will include those images accompanying the text.

For my project, I asked the AI to "Generate a story of a heroic baby dragon who protected a fairy queen from an evil wizard in a 3d cartoon animation style. For each scene, generate an image." I saw the above start to appear. And, if there's an issue, you can rewrite any of the bits of the story and the model will regenerate the image accordingly.

Be super specific

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

If you tell Gemini to make “a dog in a park,” you might get a blurry golden retriever sitting somewhere vaguely green. But if you say, “A fluffy golden retriever sitting on a wooden bench in Central Park during autumn, with red and orange leaves scattered on the ground”—you get exactly what you’re picturing.

AI models thrive on detail. The more you provide, the better your image will be. So for the image above, instead of just asking for a futuristic looking city, I requested "A retro-futuristic cityscape at sunset, with neon signs glowing in pink and blue, flying cars in the sky, and people walking in retro-future style outfits." Seven seconds later, the result came in.

Get conversational

(Image credit: Google Gemini Flash 2.0)

One of my favorite things about the new Gemini Flash is that you can get conversational with it without losing much of the speed. That means you don’t have to get everything right in one go. After generating an image, you can literally chat with the AI to make edits. Want to change the colors? Add a character? Make the lighting moodier? Just ask.

In the image set above, I started by asking for "A cozy reading nook with a fireplace, bookshelves filled with novels, and a big comfy armchair." I then refined it by asking it to "Make it nighttime with soft, warm lighting," then followed up by asking it to "Add a sleeping cat on the armchair," and finished by requesting the AI "Give the room a vintage, Victorian aesthetic." The final result on the left looks almost exactly like what I imagined, and makes Gemini feel like an art assistant, one capable of adjusting to what I want without starting over from scratch every time.

Gemini Flash matches ChatGPT

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

Google has boasted that Gemini is full of real-world knowledge, which means you can get historical accuracy, realistic cultural details, and true-to-life imagery if you ask for it. Of course, that requires being specific. For example, if you prompt it for “a Viking warrior,” you might get something that looks more like a Game of Thrones character. But if you say, “A historically accurate Viking warrior from the 9th century, wearing detailed chainmail armor, a round wooden shield, and a traditional Norse helmet”—you’ll get something much more precise.

As a test I asked the AI to make "An ancient Mayan city at sunrise, with towering stone pyramids, lush jungle surroundings, and people dressed in traditional Mayan garments." It's not perfect, but it looks a lot more like the real thing than previous versions, which would sometimes come back with almost an Egyptian pyramid.

Write fast

(Image credit: Created with Google Gemini)

Most AI image models have long struggled with rendering text, turning words into illegible scribbles. Even the better models today that can do so take a bit to do it and getting it right can take a few tries. But, Gemini Flash is shockingly good at integrating text into images quickly and legibly. Being very specific can help though.

That's how I generated the image above by asking the AI to "Make a vintage-style travel poster that says 'Visit London’ in bold, retro typography, featuring a stylized illustration of the city."

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High-end gaming and workstation laptop specialist Eurocom has just released a refresh of its flagship mobile supercomputer, the Raptor X18.

It is one of the fastest laptops ever built and will probably earn a well-deserved spot in our best mobile workstation buying guide.

Its base configuration runs on a Core Ultra 9 275HX, the fastest laptop processor from Intel and the top of the range model will set you back more than $15,000.

For that outlay, you get a mobile Nvidia Geforce RTX5090 GPU with 24GB GDDR7, 256GB of DDR5 RAM - the only one I know that can take that much memory - as well as four WD_Black 8TB PCIe Gen4 SSD configured in RAID-0.

As for previous mobile supercomputers, Eurocom has entrusted an ODM - most probably Clevo - with the design and manufacturing of what is, as of now, the most powerful laptop in the world.

The result is a practical, if underwhelming, finish with its true origins betrayed by the presence of an RGB Keyboard with individual key illumination, N-Key Rollover & anti-ghosting.

A mobile supercomputer can also be one of the best gaming laptops.

The 18-inch screen that completes its setup can be specced up to a UHD+ resolution (that's 3240 x 2400 pixels with a 16:10 aspect ratio).

Its 200Hz refresh rate shows that it can also be a decent gaming panel.

Where this laptop will be sorely lacking is battery life; even with a 99Whr battery, I don't expect users to be able to utilize this laptop, under load, for more than 60 minutes; consider the battery as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) instead.

That’s down to the presence of a power-hungry GPU and CPU (that demand up to 175W and 55W respectively) as well as four memory modules, a large screen and four SSDs.

You may also find its weight (7.9 lbs/3.6kg) and its dimensions (400 x 320 x 33mm) to be slightly overwhelming but then again it is more of a desktop replacement rather than a true laptop.

Raptor X18 vs 16-inch MacBook Pro

(Image credit: Future)

In comparison, the most powerful Apple laptop, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, one of the best laptops ever built, has a maximum selling price of $7,199 when configured with 128GB of RAM and 8TB SSD.

The 1TB SSD version retails for a mere $4,999 or a third of the price of the X18.

The 275HX is the most powerful laptop CPU available right now reaching, on popular benchmark software Passmar, a CPU Mark of just over 61,000.

The 16-core M4 Max, Apple’s most powerful laptop CPU, delivers about 43,700 points, a 40% speed delta.

When compared to desktop counterparts, the 275HX comes ahead of the EPYC 74F3, a 3-year old server CPU from AMD that has the same number of cores but a TDP 4x higher.

Raptor X18 vs Workstation PC

A stock picture of the Dell Precision mid-tower workstation (Image credit: Dell)

There are other Core 9 Ultra 275HX laptops scheduled for release in the coming weeks but Eurocom’s laptop is the only one with four SODIMM slots.

I configured a popular workstation PC, the Precision 5860 to match the Raptor X18.

With a slower Intel Xeon W7-2495X CPU, a less capable Nvidia RTX 4500 Ada Generation professional GPU and four 4TB SSDs, Dell’s alter-ego came out with a shocking $15,700 price tag, without a 4K monitor.

The only saving grace for the desktop workstation is the 3-year basic onsite service with remote diagnosis Dell provides.

I love the fact that the X18 has not one but two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports, the first time I’ve seen this combination in a laptop, that’s in addition to Wi-Fi 7.

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One of Dell’s latest monitors comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s a behemoth of a display.

The Dell Pro 75 Plus is, as the name suggests, a massive 75-inch 4k touchscreen display designed for more professional settings, such as an office space or meeting room. You probably could fit it into a home office space, but that might be overkill.

The new Pro 75 Plus is equipped with 20-point touch technology, and boasts 20W speakers alongside USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Ethernet capabilities. Similarly, the display includes exclusive access to Dell’s Screen Drop features and Dell Pro Micro integration, making it the “ultimate solution for enhancing productivity and engagement”, according to the company.

Looking for a cheaper option? We’ve got you covered

The Pro 75 Plus also comes equipped with Crestron Connect and Crestron XiO Cloud options, Dell revealed, allowing for remote management and greater control via office network systems.

It certainly will be appealing to enterprises overhauling their in-house tech, but the price might be a major stumbling block, coming in at $ 3,999.

The Pro 75 Plus is by no means the priciest touchscreen display we’ve come across in recent years. TechRadarPro was impressed with the ViewSonic IFP9850 4K Ultra HD Display in 2020, for example.

The whopping 98-inch display still retails at $8,490, more than double the Dell monitor.

If you’re in the market for something cheaper, however, the ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP75G1 is a great option. Also measuring in at 75 inches, the interactive display will set you back half the price at $1,999, but this is part of a limited-time promotion.

The 4K UHD display has a few distinct advantages compared to its Dell counterpart, boasting a 40-point touch display, two 10W internal speakers, three HDMI ports, and a whopping nine USB ports.

Notably, the display also gives users the choice of a slot-in PC to really kick things up a notch, with Android and Windows options available.

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Hints and answers for Connections for March 14, No. 642.