#96 NVIDIA Pascal GPU Has 17 Billion Transistors and 32GB of VRAM, Packs Incredible Performance

GPUs, or Graphic Processing Units, popularized by NVIDIA in 1999, were a step towards accelerated computing to fasten memory intensive works like scientific analyses, engineering models, energy efficient data centers. And now, these processing units also come as separate graphic cards mostly famous for hardcore gaming.

NVIDIA in 2016 will announce their next gen NVIDIA Pascal GPU with an introduction of new technologies. A successor to Maxwell GPU, these new NVIDIA Pascal GPU processors will have the latest HBM2 and 16nm FinFET designs. The new NVIDIA Pascal GPU is believed to have whopping 17 billion transistor networks in its processing unit. These are almost double than on NVIDIA’a previous GM200 Maxwell that has 8 billion transistors and Fiji’s graphic processor that has 8.9 billion transistors.

The number of transistors in NVIDIA Pascal GPU assure of the best performing processing cores ever. The FinFET design technology increases the density of the transistors on the core by two times. Well, that’s the same thing that happened here. Also, the increased speed of above 60 percent and 70% less power consumption makes these GPUs’ wait worth it.

Along with the 17 billion transistors embedded into the core, the Pascal GPUs will also have access to up to 32 GB HBM memory across a 4096 bit memory interface. The new generation NVIDIA Pascal GPU cores have much more bandwidth compared to AMD’s Fiji and other graphic cards.

NVLINK is a unified Virtual Memory link with Gen 2.0 cache coherency features and the bandwidth increased to almost 5-12 times in comparison to general PCIe connection which will be introduced by the NVIDIA Pascal GPU. NVLINK will enable the connection of parallel GPUs that will enhance the performance in PCs for gaming and professional purposes.

The NVIDIA Pascal GPU promises incredible processing and for you an amazing user experience. The company plans to further exceed its computing prowess with Volta GPU with 150 Petaflops of performance and will be launched in 2017.

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#13 Intel Curie: The Brain for low-cost, low-power wearables

Last year this month Intel's CEO Brian Krzanich introduced the world to the Intel Edison chip. This year he is introduced to us the Intel Curie, a button sized module using the Intel Quark SE SoC designed for wearables.

Curie is designed to be efficient at always on applications in form factors such as rings, bags, fitness trackers, and shoes to name a few.  

The Intel Curie module includes:

 Low power, 32-Bit Intel Quark microcontroller 384kB flash memory and 80kB SRAM 6-Axis accelerometer and gyroscope
 Battery charging circuitry (PMIC) Intel has created a software kit for wearable technology called Intel IQ. This software kit has been created to help developers and companies create fast wearable applications using Intel technology by including device, software, software for smartphone applications, cloud software and analytics capabilities. Currently they have released two software kits called Intel Body IQ and Intel Social IQ.

Intel Body IQ has a range of capabilities to name a few Intel Body IQ has algorithms and functions for counting steps, calculation of calories burned daily, visual device notifications for the status of the user. Intel Social IQ a few functions include device-to-device single state communication, notifications for user designated calls, SMS, social network notifications, and cloud portal for device companies to push brand notifications.

The Intel Curie module should come as no surprise to people as Intel has been putting a strong emphasis onto wearable technology in fitness and clothing with products and initiatives such as: 

 Basis Peak
 
 Fossil Group
 
 Luxottica Group
 
 MICA bracelet
 
 SMS Audio
 
 Intel Wearable Challenge
 
 Intel Vice President and GM of Intel's New Devices Group, Mike Bell, was quoted saying "In the future, we will see wearable products created by companies that have historically never used silicon before… It’s now up to the ecosystem to innovate with this technology; rings, bags, bracelets, pendants and yes, buttons, will all be possible."

Intel Curie is slated for release in the second half 2015.