Tag Archives: hardware

MSI Users At Risk Of Rogue BIOS / Firmware Updates!

MSI users are at risk of rogue BIOS / firmware updates, after hackers got hold of its source codes, private keys and BIOS firmware!

MSI Hit By Ransomware Attack + Data Theft!

On 7 April 2023, MSI (Micro-Star International) was hit by a ransomware attack, in which the hackers allegedly exfiltrated 1.5 terabytes of source codes, BIOS firmware, private keys and other data from its servers.

In its terse regulatory filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), MSI admitted that it was hacked, but did not detail the circumstances or nature of the attack.

After detecting some information systems being attacked by hackers,MSI’s IT department has initiated information security defense mechanism and recovery procedures. The Company also has been reported the anomaly to the relevant government authorities.

MSI claimed that the attack had “[no] significant impact our business in terms of financial and operational currently“, but said that it was “enhancing the information security control measures of its network and infrastructure to ensure data security.”

In a public statement, MSI also urged users to only obtain firmware / BIOS updates from its official website, and refrain from using other sources.

Stolen Data Exposes MSI Users To Rogue BIOS / Firmware Updates!

The MSI ransomware attack and data theft appear to be committed by the Money Message ransomware gang, which has threatened to release the 1.5 terabytes of critical data that it exfiltrated from MSI servers.

While MSI has apparently restored files encrypted by the ransomware, exposure of the private keys and source codes, will likely allow Money Message or other threat actors to develop rogue BIOS or firmware updates.

Installing rogue BIOS / firmware updates will give the malware the access level of a super-low-level rootkit, giving it full control over your computer, with the ability to spy on almost everything you do. Such malware will also be extremely difficult to detect and remove. After all, it boots up before the operating system!

These days, rogue BIOS or firmware updates are much less of a problem because they are usually digitally-signed by the vendor, MSI in this case. Even if threat actors distribute Trojanised downloads for MSI users, they cannot create the right digital signatures for those files.

However, now that MSI’s private keys have been stolen, they can be used to create rogue BIOS or firmware updates with authentic digital signatures! MSI users downloading and installing those updates will never know the difference.

The biggest risk right now is with PC hardware enthusiasts who enjoy installing unofficial firmware updates to gain access to special settings. That is precisely why MSI is urging its users to only download files from its official website.

Of course, this assumes that the MSI download servers are secure, and have not been compromised. If the threat actors have access to the MSI download servers, they can insert Trojanised downloads with proper signatures, and MSI system administrators may be none the wiser!

Let’s hope that this incident forces MSI to take a much closer look at its cybersecurity measures, and run penetration tests to ensure that its download servers are secure. Otherwise, some threat actors will likely hit pay dirt with MSI users!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Shocking Reason Why ASUS Z690 Motherboards Are Melting!

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ASUS Z690 Hero owners are FUMING because their motherboards are MELTING, SMOKING and CATCHING ON FIRE!

Take a look at the SHOCKING REASON why these premium motherboards are literally melting down…

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero : Potential Fire Hazard?!

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero owners are complaining on social media, and in the ASUS Support Forum, that their premium motherboards are literally burning up!

In fact, one user, TheMaxXHD, had two of his ASUS Z690 Hero motherboards die in just 3 days, with one actually catching on fire!

Late at night I am merely surfing the web and all of a sudden it hard shuts off again, and this time when I look over there I see a component on the motherboard literally on fire.

Other users reported hearing loud pops, and either smelling or seeing smoke wafting from their ASUS Z690 Hero motherboards, before shutting down.

Even users who were lucky not to experience a fire or melting components, reported that their ASUS Z690 Hero motherboards were unstable, rebooting on and off.

The motherboard’s Q Code display would also show Error Code 53, which refers to a memory error. However, replacing or swapping the memory modules will not solve the problem.

Why ASUS Z690 Hero Motherboards Are Melting / Catching On Fire!

Users who reported problems with their ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards, have noted that they were melting / smoking / catching on fire in roughly the same area – between the last DIMM slot and the Q Code display.

In that location, you can see two MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors), but they are apparently not the cause.

According to a YouTuber called Buildzoid, the capacitor next to those two MOSFETs are the likely cause of the melting / smoking / catching on fire.

He pointed out that the etched text on the capacitor is upside down, which suggests that they were incorrectly installed in reverse!

In this comparison, the reversed capacitor is seen in the picture on the left, with the positive terminal on the left, instead of to the right, as seen on the picture on the right.

When such a capacitor is installed in reverse polarity, it will not only fail to work, it will actually act as a short circuit.

This quickly creates hydrogen gas (which is flammable!), and eventually destroys the capacity and could even start a fire.

There is no doubt that installing capacitors in reverse polarity is a dangerous mistake.

ASUS Confirms Reversed Capacitor On Z690 Hero Motherboards!

ASUS confirmed Buildzoid’s assessment, stating that they have “preliminarily identified a potential reversed memory capacitor issue in the production process“.

They also confirmed that the reversed capacitor issue affects units manufactured in 2021, with the part number 90MB18E0-MVAAY0 and serial numbers starting with MA, MB, or MC.

They did not, however, reveal how this dangerous mistake happened, or why their quality control (QC) measures failed to pick up the mistake.

To identify whether your ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboard is affected by this reversed memory capacitor mistake, you can check the part and serial numbers in the product packaging label.

ASUS also created a serial number tool, for you to check if your motherboard is affected.

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero : Is There A Recall?

Unfortunately, there is no general recall of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero.

While ASUS admitted that there is a reversed memory capacitor issue, they did not recall the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards.

They only stated that they are going to continue their “thorough inspection” with their suppliers and customers, and “will be working with relevant government agencies on a replacement program“.

It is unknown why ASUS would need to work with government agencies on a replacement program, but for now – there is no recall program.

Neither did ASUS get back to the user whose Z690 Hero motherboard caught on fire after 2 weeks :

I have heard nothing from them. I sent them via reddit dm my second board’s serial number that I had returned to my local microcenter, which was the board that actually caught on fire, so they have a paper trail to follow and maybe retrieve that board from the store, and I explained the issue.

My only hope is they are actually looking into this, because it is a serious concern. However, I have heard nothing, so I don’t know.

One can only hope, but if they just sit there doing nothing, its a pretty big shame, as Asus support is one of the supposed big reasons why people buy Asus

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero : What Should You Do?

It is unfortunate that ASUS did not recall all affected ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboards. The memory capacitor installed in reverse polarity poses a real danger, and is a fire hazard.

Therefore, it would be advisable to avoid buying the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero until this issue is resolved satisfactorily.

If you are using a Z690 Hero motherboard that is affected by this issue, you should IMMEDIATELY STOP USING IT, and reach out to ASUS.

Until ASUS agrees to fix the affected motherboards, the ROG Maximus Z690 Hero should only be used by “Those Who Dare” to risk damage, or worse, from the reversed memory capacitor…

If possible, return the motherboard for a full refund, or exchange it for alternative motherboards like the GIGABYTE AORUS Z690 Master (US | UK | AU | SG | MY), like TheMaxXHD whose Z690 Hero caught fire :

I have since swapped out the board for a Gigabyte Aorus Z690 Master and has been going just fine for almost a full week. Nothing else was changed other than the motherboard, indicating to me, this is a motherboard issue.

All in all, it appears like some boards have components in flames, some merely just become bricked with code 53. In any case, I would advise avoiding until and if Asus responds.

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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2021 HP OMEN 25L Gaming Desktop Revealed!

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HP just revealed the 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop, powered by AMD and NVIDIA! Here are the details…

2021 HP OMEN 25L Gaming Desktop Revealed!

The 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop packages the latest AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphics in a slim, minimalistic design that will fit right into any modern home.

On top of using branded gaming components, it is also designed to be easily upgradable, and software-customisable via the OMEN Command Center.

Performance

The 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop is built around the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen 9 or Ryzen 7 processor, paired with up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics card.

All that is kept cool by Cooler Master cooling solutions – you can opt for a 92 mm round air cooler, or a 120 mm liquid cooled radiator.

It also features redesigned elevating 15 mm legs, and a new raised graphics slot, to improve system air intake.

Memory + Storage

HP offers up to 32 GB (64 GB in some countries) of Intel XMP-certified HyperX DDR4 memory, with and without RGB lighting.

You can equip it with up to a 2 TB WD Black PCIe TLC SSD, with up to two additional 2 TB hard disk drives for maximum storage capacity.

Connectivity

The HP OMEN 25L comes with both Gigabit LAN wired connectivity, as well as WiFi-6 wireless connectivity through its built-in AX 2×2 card.

DTS Headphone: X Technology

The HP OMEN 25L supports DTS Headphone: X technology, which gives you spatially-accurate 3D sound through any headphones or earbuds.

Micro-ATX Upgradability

The galvanised steel chassis is designed to offer easy tool-less access, and easy cable management. It also lets you easily upgrade the OMEN 25L with aftermarket parts.

2021 HP OMEN 25L : Specifications + Configuration Options

The 2021 HP OMEN 25L gaming desktop comes with these configuration options :

Specifications	HP OMEN 25L
Colour	Shadow Black
Design Options	Glass Side Cover (optional dust filter) Metal Side Cover (optional dust filter)
OS Options	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Microsoft Windows 10 Home FreeDOS 3.0
CPU Options	AMD Ryzen 9 3900 AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Chipset	AMD B450
RAM Options	Up to 32 GB HyperX DDR4 RGB Lighting Up to 32 GB HyperX DDR4
GPU Options	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
Storage Options	Up to 2 TB WD Black PCIe SSD Up to 2 x 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD
Audio	DTS Headphone:X support
Networking	AX WiFi-6 and Bluetooth 5.1 combo Gigabit LAN Ethernet
Top I/O Ports	2 x USB 3.0 Type A 1 x audio combo jack
Rear I/O Ports	1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type A 2 x USB 3.0 Type A 3 x audio ports 1 x RJ45 LAN port
Power Supply	500 Watt ATX power supply
Security	Kensington Security Lock Slot
Dimensions	165.1 mm wide 394.5 mm deep 433.1 mm tall
Weight	11.5 kg

2021 HP OMEN 25L : Price + Availability

The new HP OMEN 25L desktop has a starting price of RM 6,899 (about US$1,707 / £1,205 / A$2,154 / S$2,252).

It comes with 3-years of on-site warranty, and is available from the HP Online Store in Malaysia right now.

Here are purchase options in other countries :

US : $2199 | $1678 | $1599 | $1399 | $828

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AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Preview : RDNA 2 In Action!

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We have been playing around with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and here is our preview of the first RDNA 2 graphics card!

Take a look at our unboxing and hands-on videos, as well as the Radeon RX 6800 XT in action!

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : A Quick Primer!

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is one of three Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards. Based on the new AMD RDNA 2 architecture, they offer these key features :

AMD Infinity Cache – a large 128 MB data cache that dramatically reduces memory latency and power consumption.
AMD Smart Access Memory – offers the Ryzen 5000 series processor greater access to its GDDR6 graphics memory for better gaming performance.

DirectX 12 Ultimate – offering support for the next-generation games with DirectX Raytracing and Variable Rate Shading.
New Ray Accelerator – delivers real-time lighting, shadow and reflection realism through DirectX Raytracing.
Variable Rate Sharing (VRS) – dynamically reduces shading rate for better performance at little to no loss in image quality.
DirectStorage Support – delivers faster load times and high-quality textures in the future.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : Price + Availability

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT has a RRP of US$649, and will be available for sale starting 18 November 2020.

Custom boards will be available from brands like ASRock, ASUS, Gigabyte starting in November 2020.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : Specifications

This table summarises how the RX 6800 XT compares against the RX 6900 XT and the RX 6800.

Specifications	Radeon RX 6900 XT	Radeon RX 6800 XT	Radeon RX 6800
Transistors	26.8 billion
Fab Process	7 nm
Die Size	519 mm²
Total Graphics Power	300 W		250 W
Compute Units	80	72	60
Ray Accelerators	80	72	60
Stream Processors	5120	4608	3840
Game Clock	2015 MHz	2015 MHz	1815 MHz
Boost Clock	2250 MHz	2250 MHz	2105 MHz
TFLOPS	23.04	20.74	16.17
TMUs	320	288	240
Max. Texture Rate	720 GT/s	648 GT/s	505 GT/s
ROPs	128		96
Max. Pixel Rate	288 GP/s		202 GP/s
Infinity Cache	128 MB
Graphics Memory	16 GB GDDR6 (16 Gbps)
Bus Width	256-bit
Bandwidth	512 GB/s
PCIe Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16

Unboxing The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT!

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT comes in a large and heavy cardboard box. Very heavy duty, with thick foam packaging.

Next Page > Radeon RX 6800 XT Hands-On + In Action!

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AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : Hands-On Experience!

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a rather bulky and heavy card, because it comes with a large 2.5-slot cooler with triple axial fans.

Take a closer look at it in our hands-on video, followed by pictures of the card.

It features a die-cast aluminium backplate at the back.

Here you can see its thick heatsink, and how its cooler is designed to suck in air from the front of the card, and exhaust the hot air from the top and the bottom of the card.

It has four display connectors. From left to right : one USB Type C port, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and one HDMI 2.1 port.

The card uses up to 300 watts of power, and comes with two 8-pin PCI Express power connectors.

It should work with two 6-pin power cables though – both 8-pin and 6-pin cables deliver 150 watts.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT supports PCI Express 4.0, which offers double the bandwidth of PCI Express 3.0.

However, that requires you to use a PCI Express 4.0 motherboard, like the recommended AMD X570 motherboards.

But do not fret if you are on the Intel platform. It is backward-compatible with PCI Express 3.0, and will work just fine with PCIe 3.0 motherboards.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT : In Action!

Our testbed pairs the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor with the ASUS CROSSHAIR VIII Hero (AMD X570) motherboard, with 32 GB of DDR4 memory.

Our benchmark results will be released tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can take a look at the Radeon RX 6800 XT in action, running 3DMark Time Spy Extreme.

Be sure to come back and check our comprehensive review tomorrow, with benchmark results!

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Here Is The Ryzen R1000 APU That Powers The Atari VCS!

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AMD just showed off the Ryzen R1000 APUs, the latest addition to the Ryzen Embedded family. This is the processor that will power by upcoming Atari VCS gaming console!

Here is a quick primer on the new AMD Ryzen R1000 APU!

The AMD Ryzen R1000 APU

Known officially as the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1000, this APU brings multi-threaded performance for the first time to the low-power R-series of processors.

AMD claims it will offer 3X performance improvement per watt over the last generation, and 4X CPU and graphics performance per dollar advantage over its competition!

It brings to the AMD R-series new features like :

- Dual-core, quad-threaded Zen processor
- 3 Vega Graphics Compute Units
- Low power with ability to run without a fan
- Supports up to three 4K displays at up to 60 FPS
- 4K H.265 encode / decode(10b) + VP9 decode capabilities
- Secure Root of Trust + Secure Run Technology
- Dual 10G Gigabit Ethernet

Its low power and ability to run fanless makes it suitable for applications like digital displays, high-performance edge computing, networking and thin clients… and yes, gaming consoles!

The AMD Ryzen R1000 Will Power The Atari VCS!

AMD quoted a number of Ryzen R1000 customers – Advantech, ASRock Industrial, IBASE, Netronome, Quixant and STRATACACHE. But the biggest name is none other than Atari.

Its ability to deliver multi-threaded processing with an integrated GPU in a fanless package makes it ideal to power the upcoming Atari VCS gaming console.

AMD Ryzen R1000 Availability

The AMD Ryzen R1000 will be available Q2 2019 to ODMs and OEMs worldwide. It supports the Mentor Embedded Linux Flex OS which is already available in the market.

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Cooler Master MasterBox K500L PC Case Revealed!

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Cooler Master just launched the MasterBox K500L. As the latest case in the MasterBox K-Series lineup, the MasterBox K500L includes illuminated accents, fine mesh, and red lighting to emphasize “gaming” without breaking the wallet.

Cooler Master MasterBox K500L

The MasterBox K500L has a mesh front panel, 400mm of graphics card space, support for six 120mm fans, and front and rear water cooling support. So, there is plenty of room to house performance gaming components. Two lighted accents on each side of the mesh extend the glow of the pre-installed red LED fans and power button.

Efficient Thermal Performance: A partial meshed front panel and ventilation holes on top of the case give your parts fresh air to breathe.[adrotate group=”2″]
Lighting Effects: Stand out and be unique through LED strip in front. Your case will never be unremarkable.
Versatile Cooling Options: Support for up to six 120mm fans and front and rear liquid cooling ensure you don’t have to compromise on performance.
Graphics Card Support Up To 400mm: Supports the latest, widest cards you can get.
Stay Black, Stay Neat: Let your system stand out with a full black coating and PSU cover.
Cable Management: The PSU cover and 19mm width space behind the mainboard tray gives you plenty of cable management options to keep your build nice and clean.

The MasterBox K500L is the first release in a lineup that features 3D mesh, shaped to match the design on the front panel, with traits that change lighting depending on the angle. To accomplish this, a finer, single layer mesh was developed.

Previously, dust filters came in two layers: one layer for aesthetics and a layer of finer mesh as a dust filter. The MasterBox K500L integrates both of those layers into one, resulting in a finer mesh construction.

Thermal performance is accomplished mainly through the front panel, but complemented by filtered ventilation below the I/O, and ventilation on the top panel.

MasterBox K500L Price + Availability

The release of MasterBox K500L will commence immediately, priced at RM 239 / ~US$ 61. Here are some purchase links for your convenience :

Cooler Master MasterBox K500L : RM 239

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MasterCase H500P Mesh White PC Case Revealed!

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Cooler Master just announced the launch of the MasterCase H500P Mesh White, which boasts unrestricted airflow for maximum cooling. Here are the full details on the MasterCase H500P Mesh White!

Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh White

Behind the mesh sits two, pre-installed, 200mm RGB fans that propel air into an all-white interior chassis. The space and capacity inside ensures that the case is easy to build in and cable management is as streamlined as possible. The combination of tempered glass and industrial lines gives the MasterCase H500P Mesh White (Price Check) a refined, functional appeal for your build to look as great as it performs.

“The MasterCase H500P represents what building a PC is to us and our community. It’s fun, rewarding, and self-expressive.” — Matteo Stracciari, Case General Manager

Upon closer inspection, the mesh on the front panel is not just steel mesh. There’s a second layer, or screen, that is finer and purposed to filter dust. That tidbit of information is easy to miss if you’re hypnotized by the spinning RGB fans. Below are some more features of the MasterCase H500P Mesh White (Price Check).

Two 200mm RGB fans behind Mesh front panel

Optimized airflow is guaranteed with a complete mesh front panel providing plenty of air intake for the two pre-installed 200mm RGB fans. Use the RGB lighting to create a captivating build in your preferred color theme.

Covers for Clean Building

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A PSU shroud, CPU cut out cover, and additional cable covers take clean cable management to the next level. Assemble clean builds like a pro.

Show Off Your Graphics Card

Two additional PCI slots at the rear enable you to show off one graphics card in the vertical position. All of this is seen through a light grey tinted tempered glass side panel, ideal for showcasing your build with (RGB) lighting.

Liquid Cooling Ready

The MasterCase H500P Mesh White (Price Check) accommodates up to 360mm radiators on the top and front.

RGB controller and 1 to 3 Splitter Cable for RGB LED Fans

The included RGB controller can be connected to the reset switch to manage the lighting of the two 200mm RGB fans. Also, the RGB Connector Splitter and 4 pin male to male adapters are included.

MasterCase H500P Mesh White Airflow

Airflow is not just about cramming air into the case, it’s also about efficiently directing the air to move through the system. The particular placement of vents on the top cover is key in channeling the flow of air to reduce system temps.

Along with directing airflow, there’s ample room for advanced builders looking to house complex components like custom liquid cooling. Whether builders decide to use air cooling, closed loop, or open loop system(s), the H500P’s layout offers room for development.

MasterCase H500P Mesh White Pricing & Availability

The release of MasterCase H500P White Mesh will commence immediately, priced at RM 639 / US$ 149.99. Here are some purchase links for your convenience :

MasterCase H500P White Mesh : US$ 149.99
MasterCase H500P White Mesh : RM 635 (with 1% discount)