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By Nick H. · Posted
Well, it's good to know that they have found a workaround to a problem that they helped create, I guess... -
By Ivan Jenic · Posted
Meta is reusing old DDR4 RAM in its servers instead of buying new hardware by Ivan Jenic Image: Meta The global hardware shortage isn’t exactly news, as the entire world has been struggling with rising component prices for quite some time now. And while big companies certainly aren’t as affected as the average consumer, even they aren’t opposed to the idea of saving a few (million) bucks. Meta appears to have found a way to spend less on new hardware while also putting its outdated infrastructure to use, essentially killing two birds with one stone. The company has built a custom chip that lets it reuse memory from retired servers rather than buying new hardware. The chip is called Vistara and allows for connecting old DDR4 RAM from obsolete servers into new servers that rely on DDR5. The problem Vistara solves goes back to a basic mismatch in how long hardware lasts. Meta replaces its servers every three to five years, but the memory modules inside them are good for seven to ten. When a server gets decommissioned, perfectly usable DDR4 RAM goes with it. Meta is presenting the new method at today’s ISCA symposium, but The Register has got hold of a paper that explains how Vistara works. It's a custom ASIC that bridges DDR4 memory to newer processors via aCXL 2.0/1.1 interface over PCIe Gen5 x16. Meta pulls DDR4 sticks from old machines and installs them in dedicated units it calls MemServers, each of which pairs 768GB of DDR5 with 256GB of recovered DDR4. The operating system sees the DDR4 as an additional memory node and draws from it when the primary DDR5 is running low. Off-the-shelf CXL hardware couldn't do this, so Meta built its own. Existing interfaces bundle their own memory with the controller, which makes reusing old RAM sticks impossible. But Vistara separates the controller from the memory entirely, so Meta can plug in whatever DDR4 sticks it has on hand. Meta plans to deploy the new architecture in hyperscale infrastructure with millions of servers, which should mean that Meta’s AI datacenters will now be more efficient. The company is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, especially with its new AI model, Muse Spark, now widely available. All of this doesn't mean that Meta will exclusively rely on "recycled" RAM, but the company is still looking at considerable savings at scale. -
By News Staff · Posted
Save up to 87% on ChatPlayground AI lifetime subscriptions by Steven Parker Today's highlighted deal comes via our Apps + Software section of the Neowin Deals store, where for only a limited time, you can save up to 87% on ChatPlayground AI: lifetime subscriptions. ChatPlayground AI puts the world’s top AI models in one powerful interface, letting you enter a single prompt and instantly compare outputs from multiple models to choose the perfect response for your needs. Boost productivity and creativity with access to the latest AI giants like GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 1.5 Flash, DeepSeek V3, and dozens more — all in one window. Whether you’re chatting, coding, generating images, or refining prompts, ChatPlayground AI equips you with advanced tools like prompt engineering, image/PDF chat, saved conversations, and AI image creation, plus priority support to keep your workflow seamless. Access the world’s best AI models Side-by-Side Comparisons: Enter one prompt & instantly view results from multiple AI models to find the best output for your needs 40+ AI Models: Includes GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet 4, Gemini 1.5 Flash, DeepSeek V3, Llama, Perplexity, and many more Multi-Function Platform: Access AI for chat, image generation & coding all within a single interface Web Browser Extension: Offers a Chrome extension to seamlessly integrate the platform into your browsing workflow Boost productivity with powerful features ChatPlayground Interface: Designed for seamless AI model comparison in one window Prompt Engineering: Refine & optimize your prompts for better, more accurate responses Chat with Images & PDFs: Upload visuals and documents to get context-aware answers Saved Chat History: Keep track of past conversations for reference & ongoing projects AI Image Generation: Create high-quality visuals powered by top AI image models Priority Customer Support: Get faster assistance whenever you need it What you'll get with the Unlimited Plan Includes unlimited messages/month Built for prompt engineers, startups, and teams who run experiments nonstop Includes priority access to new features and future models Good to know Length of access: lifetime Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Access options: Desktop Max number of device(s): Unlimited Available to both NEW & Existing users Updates included A lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI (Unlimited Plan) normally costs $619, but you can pick it up for just $79 for a limited time - that represents a saving of $530 (87% off). Click the link below for more details, always check terms and specifications before making a purchase. Get this ChatPlayground AI (Unlimited) for $79 (was $619) There are also two other discounted plans to choose from. Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. Support queries If you have queries or need support for any of the Neowin Deals, please use the contact form here. Neowin Deals are managed and sold by StackCommerce who represent Neowin on an affiliate basis. Why we post these deals We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. So for those that keep moaning and complaining, be thankful we're still online for you to even do that. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce. -
By Steven P. · Posted
Not on my Aeron Remastered no. -
By Steven P. · Posted
I like Tidal, but it still does not control devices from the mobile/app and still no surround support. And yeah re: above comment I still get a lot of network errors and I am on a 4/4 Gbit Fiber connection.
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