The latest Computex news!

For today, treat this edition as an appetiser, with rumours about the RTX 5090, exciting progress in memory standards, and a few reasons why PC components are going to cost more in the second half of the year.

Let’s go!

Memory Advances and Rising Component Costs

Today, let’s start with the bad news: PC components, which are already expensive, could become even more costly in 2024 due to a combination of taxes and transport costs. 

The 25% taxes on certain goods manufactured in China, which have been imposed and lifted several times, could come into effect again, pushing up prices for graphics cards, motherboards and PC cases. 

These extra costs are often passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

On top of that, rising logistics costs are being driven by a sudden shortage of shipping containers, with freight rates up by 30% over the past few weeks. 

The summer season, a peak period for shipments, is exacerbating the problem—something that could also affect other PC components, and even beyond.

Rumours About the RTX 5090

Now let’s move on to more exciting news about future hardware. 

Rumours about the RTX 5090, allegedly the name of Nvidia’s next flagship graphics card, continue to circulate. 

A leaker on Twitter, kopite7Kimi, claims that this card could use a huge cooler nicknamed the “cinderblock cooler” thanks to its massive shape and four-slot size. This design was reportedly originally intended for a cancelled RTX 4090 Ti.

The RTX 5090 will likely require robust cooling, as other rumours suggest Nvidia plans to equip the card with 16 GDDR7 modules in a more compact configuration than the 40-series. 

This could mean a 512-bit bus and a memory setup of 32GB GDDR7, with a launch planned for the second half of 2024.

Memory Breakthroughs: DDR6 and CAMM2

When it comes to memory, what comes after DDR5? The answer is DDR6. 

The DDR6 standard, which will also include LPDDR6, is expected to be finalised around the second quarter of 2025. Data rates for LPDDR6 should start at 10.6Gbps and peak at 14.4Gbps—a jump from the 6.4Gbps of LPDDR5. 

For standard DDR6, targets are a peak of 17.6Gbps with the possibility of reaching 21Gbps, going toe-to-toe with GDDR6 speeds for graphics cards.

Another memory standard to watch is CAMM2 (Compression Attached Memory Module), a slimmer, lighter and denser design compared to SO-DIMMs—ideal for laptops. 

MSI and Kingston are expected to showcase a desktop implementation of this standard at Computex, potentially offering signal-related benefits for memory overclocking.

News on the Asus ROG Ally and AI Thermal Paste

To wrap things up, let’s talk about what’s coming from Asus with the new version of the ROG Ally, called the Ally X. 

This improved version will feature a physical redesign that allows doubling the battery size to 80 watt-hours, 24GB of LPDDR5X memory at 7500MHz, and another USB 4 Type-C port.

Plus, Cooler Master is filling a gap in the market with its new CryoFuze 5 thermal paste, nicknamed “AI Thermal Paste”. 

While artificial intelligence doesn’t add much in terms of paste performance, it comes in six nice colours, adding a touch of style to your PC build.

That’s it for this round-up of tech news. 

FAQ

Why will PC components cost more in 2024? 

PC component costs will rise due to the potential reinstatement of 25% taxes on certain goods made in China, along with an increase in logistics costs driven by a shortage of shipping containers.

What are the rumours about the RTX 5090? 

The RTX 5090 could use a huge cooler nicknamed the “cinderblock cooler” and be equipped with 16 GDDR7 modules, with a launch planned for the second half of 2024.

When will DDR6 memory reach the market? 

The DDR6 standard is expected to be finalised around the second quarter of 2025, but it’s unlikely we’ll see consumer hardware with DDR6 before 2026.

What is CAMM2? 

CAMM2 is a built-in, compressed memory module that’s thinner and lighter than SO-DIMMs, making it ideal for laptops. MSI and Kingston will unveil a desktop implementation at Computex.

What are the improvements in the new version of the Asus ROG Ally? 

The new version, called Ally X, will feature an 80 watt-hour battery, 24GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 7500 MHz, and another USB 4 Type-C port.

What is Cooler Master’s CryoFuze 5? 

CryoFuze 5 is a new “AI Thermal Paste” thermal compound available in six colours, offering an aesthetic touch as well as improved thermal performance for your PC build.