Connect with us

Technologies

Intel’s 2024 PC Chips Getting a Speed Boost From New Power Tech

PowerVia should speed up Intel PC chips — and maybe even rival designs if Intel can persuade competitors to use its manufacturing services.

Intel’s Arrow Lake processor for 2024 PCs will get a speed boost thanks to a new technique sending electrical power through its chips.

In tests detailed Monday, Intel said a technology it calls PowerVia offered a 6% speed boost on test chips. Another big change called RibbonFET that’s coming with Arrow Lake should offer further advantages.

That’s a big deal for Intel, which has struggled to reclaim a once formidable chipmaking advantage that it lost to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Samsung. Those two companies are «foundry» companies that make other chips, notably Intel’s top competitors: Apple, AMD, Nvidia and Qualcomm, but they aren’t expected to match PowerVia until later.

If PowerVia and RibbonFET arrive on time in 2024 with the Intel 20A manufacturing process, then are improved with 18A in 2025, it could help Intel better match rival chips when it comes to packing in lots of circuitry and running efficiently to extend battery life. Apple’s MacBook laptops run unplugged for hours, and many models completely do away with a cooling fan to keep their chips from overheating.

«It looks like a good incremental step,» but not a permanent advantage for Intel, Tirias Research analyst Kevin Krewell said of PowerVia. «Everybody’s going to follow suit and will have the same technology in place over time.»

And because Intel is trying to become a foundry too, it could mean some of those competitors actually could become customers that, like Intel’s own chips, benefit. Intel missed out on making smartphone chips, but in Intel’s ideal future, it could be building the Apple processor that powers a future iPhone. 

Meet backside power delivery

Chips process data and perform calculations using tiny electrical switches called transistors that can switch on and off billions of times per second. Today, the necessary power to do that comes on equally tiny electrical links that wind their way through a complex 3D labyrinth of wires that also carry instruction signals to the transistors.

But with Arrow Lake, the 2024 successor to this year’s Meteor Lake processor for PCs, Intel will separate the power delivery from the communication links, moving it to the opposite face of the chip. In the semiconductor industry, it’s called a backside power delivery network, but Intel calls its version PowerVia.

«PowerVia is a revolutionary change for on-chip interconnects that improves power, performance, area, and cost,» all important dimensions of transistor design, said Ben Sell, an Intel vice president who worked on the technology.

Problems with manufacturing progress

By incorporating PowerVia in its highest volume, highest profile processor, Intel is counting on backside power delivery working well and not degrading manufacturing with flawed chips. To guard against that possible disaster, Intel developed PowerVia using test chips built with its current Intel 4 manufacturing process, used to make elements of Meteor Lake. It works well enough that it’ll be standard for Intel 20A and its successor, 18A.

PowerVia is a crucial element to Intel’s recovery effort. In the relentless effort to miniaturize transistors, to keep pace with Moore’s Law, Intel faltered a decade ago and hasn’t fully recovered. Although Samsung and TSMC are working on backside power delivery, PowerVia could beat it to market. For example, TSMC’s backside power technology isn’t expected until 2026.

«From everything we know, this is coming a node ahead of what the industry is doing and gives our customers the advantages of PowerVia as soon as possible,» Sell said. A node is a major step in chip manufacturing technology.

PowerVia adds new processing steps to the hundreds already required to make a chip. Once the transistors are carefully built on the front of a silicon wafer of chips, the wafer must be flipped over, ground thinner, polished, and have power connections installed.

That adds cost and time. But removing the power lines from the front of the wafer means there’s more room for communication links, simplifying designs and overall lowers manufacturing costs.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for July 28, #778

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 28, #778.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.


Today’s NYT Connections puzzle features another movie category, so cinema fans, dig in. Need more help? Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Out front.

Green group hint:  It suggests something.

Blue group hint: A hobby.

Purple group hint: Cinema genres.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Foremost.

Green group: Indication.

Blue group: Item in a collection.

Purple group: ____ movie.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is foremost. The four answers are first, initial, original and primary.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is indication. The four answers are evidence, hint, sign and trace.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is item in a collection. The four answers are coin, comic, record and stamp.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ movie. The four answers are buddy, cult, date and silent.

Continue Reading

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 28, #308

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 28, No. 308.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.


I learned enough during gym-class track days to ace today’s Connections: Sports Edition green category. Need an assist with the game today? Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.  

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: These players win championships.

Green group hint: Team effort.

Blue group hint: Sobriquet.

Purple group hint: On the diamond.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Football defensive positions.

Green group: Relay race terms.

Blue group: Nicknames of NBA legends, with «The.»

Purple group: _____ run.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is football defensive positions. The four answers are cornerback, defensive end, linebacker and safety.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is relay race terms. The four answers are anchor, baton, changeover and exchange zone.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is nicknames of NBA legends, with «The.» The four answers are Admiral, Answer, Glove and Truth.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is _____ run. The four answers are earned, home, insurance and pinch.

Continue Reading

Technologies

Best Minimalist Wallet for 2025 Tested By CNET Experts

Upgrade to a slim wallet with sleek, minimalist designs perfect for everyday carry. Cut the bulk and streamline your pockets.

Why You Can Trust CNET
30+

Years of Experience

35

Product Reviewers

15k

Sq. Feet of Lab Space

CNET staff — not advertisers, partners or business interests — determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

What to consider

Number of cards

The number of cards you need will determine the size and shape of your minimalist wallet.

RFID blocking

Are you worried about someone scanning your chip? RFID blocking wallets are the answer.

Is cash needed?

Having a sturdy money clip or elastic band is important if you need cash.

Wallet material

If you want specific materials then some wallets may not be suitable for you.

vs

Compare
Back to selection

Are you still using a bulky wallet that’s packed full of receipts from who knows when and looks like it’s about to burst at the seams? If so, it may be time to upgrade your wallet to something more minimal, sleek and stylish. With everything being done digitally nowadays, there’s little reason to keep all those receipts like before, you know, «just in case.» And if you don’t carry cash, there’s no good reason to have those old-fashioned wallets anymore.

Modern wallets seem to be trending toward simplicity and minimalism, with card slots for an ID, credit cards and a couple of other items. These wallets tend to be highly durable, with some offering RFID protection, and are secure enough to pass a vigorous shake test.

I’ve spent hours testing a variety of wallets to evaluate their feel, fit and functionality. Based on that experience, I can confidently say the options below are the best minimalist wallets available. Whether you’re seeking a robust metal design or a luxurious full-grain leather wallet, you’ll find the perfect choice below.

What’s the best minimalist wallet?

For our money, the Ridge wallets are the best minimalist wallets you can buy. Sure, they aren’t the cheapest, but they are sturdy, good-looking and can be customized to fit your needs well.

Although there are plenty of bifold and trifold thin wallet options, we’re mostly focused on one-panel design wallets here. These usually hold between four and 10 credit and debit cards, although some do it more artfully than others, and there is a variety of fabrics and colors to choose from. Some are hybrids, which combine a wallet and money clip or elastic band. Most offer some RFID blocking technology, which is advertised as a protective measure against electronic pickpocketing, like scammers skimming data stored on your contactless credit cards. (That may be an overblown concern.)

Tactical wallets also have built-in multitools, should you be the type to be randomly kidnapped and ditched in a forest somewhere. Just remember that you’ll need to take any bladed multitools out before you fly, because TSA confiscating your wallet isn’t fun. At all.

Best minimalist wallet of 2025

Pros

  • Made from titanium
  • Keeps your cards tight and safe
  • Adjustable design

Cons

  • Can be pricey for the best version

Of all the rugged, minimalist wallets I tested, I found the Ridge to be the most flexible, ironic for a wallet made of titanium (or aerospace-grade aluminum if you pick a different color). The sandwich design of the Ridge wallet securely accommodates one card as easily as it can 12, and the durable but pliable money clip holds one bill as tightly as a bigger wad. The cutout provides quick access to all of your cards, and the tough elastic strap that holds everything together inspires confidence.

This wallet is almost comically overdesigned, and you can use the included screwdriver to disassemble the pieces, remove the money clip and bring the money strap to the exterior. Ridge makes this wallet in China but backs it with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects, which seems about right for the price. This burnt titanium Ridge wallet is probably my favorite color, although it’s a little pricier than some of the other color variants, which start at $95.

 … Show more
Get it now

Pros

  • Elegant design
  • Great mechanism
  • Low profile

Cons

  • Some scratches already

The Ekster’s mechanics, along with its slim profile and lightweight materials, make it an elegant solution. The button used to raise the cards is really well done, with a hefty feel of a mechanism that will last as long as the wallet. The money belt is tight, keeping his small cash pile safe, and the wallet is plenty big enough for a few cards and Ekster’s neat little Finder Card, so I could track it if the wallet did get lost. The finder card and its Android counterpart are so good that I recommend adding them to your wallet purchase. There’s even a discount if you buy them together.

I gave it to my son to use at his prom, and it perfectly matched his maroon prom outfit though I have already noticed some wear in the paint, which is not ideal. If you keep it away from your keys, you should be OK, but the paint should last longer, even in a back pocket.

 … Show more
Get it now

Pros

  • Cheap and cheerful
  • RFID blocking
  • Room for cash

Cons

  • Quality can vary

Five of the 12 wallets we tested had essentially the same basic design, and there are dozens — if not hundreds — of nearly identical models, all made in China, listed on Amazon. Prices start at just $7, for the Chelmon model, and other models generally cost between $13 and $20, although some colors, patterns and fabrics are more expensive than others. They’re all about the size of a deck of playing cards, though they measure about 0.25 inches thick. The five we tested all have their brand names embossed on them:

Each of these slimmer wallets had the same basic elements: two or three card holder pockets on each side, a transparent window that lets you flash your ID without removing it, an inner space that can be used as a cash pocket or to stow a few more cards, RFID blocking on its card sleeve to block electronic pickpocketing and, in the case of the slightly pricier Zitahli, a magnetically attached money clip. (That company claims this money clip wallet can safely hold up to 25 bills, but when I put in just 10 folded bills, the magnets failed to connect.) My top choice overall is the shorter, wider Hammer Anvil. I don’t mind that it lacks the ID window, which I find tacky and not befitting of our top wallet list.

I also really like the Kinzd, which has a slightly broader design that separates it from the cookie-cutter field. It has a terrific inner pocket — which is closed on one side only, allowing you to open it up wide — that comes together firmly with a satisfying magnetic snap.

 … Show more
Get it now

Pros

  • Made in the US
  • Mechanical slide action
  • Really tough

Cons

  • Only fits around 5 or 6 cards

Employing «more than 200 people in Tennessee,» Groove Life has created a precision-made wallet with a balanced weight that feels great in your pocket. Designed for five cards to fan easily, I found it could fit four credit cards and two insurance cards nicely, with an ID in the front leather sleeve.

The mechanism for releasing the cards is really nice, too. The entire front of the wallet slides up to help fan the cards out with a spring-loaded action that is satisfyingly mechanical. Like all metal wallets, the Groove wallet is RFID blocking, so you can have some peace of mind on that score. It’s rugged too, so dropping it doesn’t pop your cards out; at least it hasn’t yet.

 … Show more
Get it now

Other minimalist wallets we’ve tested

Not all of the minimalist wallets we’ve tested get to be called the best. Some of them are OK. Some of them are really not OK. Here are some of the wallets that did OK at testing but didn’t quite make the cut.

Factors to consider when buying a minimalist wallet

There are many factors to consider when buying the right minimalist wallet. I’ve tried to boil it down to a few key ones but remember, we are all different, so your mileage may vary. The top things to consider are:

  • How many cards do you really need?
  • Are you worried about RFID blocking?
  • Are you taking cash along with you?
  • What material do you want it to be?

The most important factor in this list is the first one and will often dictate what your minimalist wallet looks like. Do you only need two to five cards? then a no-folding wallet, or possibly a mechanical opening wallet could be a good choice. If you need more than that then a bifold or even trifold wallet may be your only option.

Most minimalist wallets these days come with RFID blocking as standard, so it’s more than likely you will have that. Double check on the listing to make sure, if it’s important to you, but know most do come with it. That’s also true for some kind of money clip or elastic strap to hold a small amount of cash. If you are looking to take a large amount of paper money with you, a minimalist wallet may not be for you.

The size of the wallet will also dictate the materials used. A mechanical wallet will be made of a metal of some kind, while other minimalist wallets will be made of leather or a vegan leather substitute. Deciding on the material and the number of cards you want to carry will likely give you the best indication of the type of wallet you’ll want to buy.

How we test minimalist wallets

Testing wallets is, as you might imagine, a fairly subjective process. These wallets come in many sizes, shapes and materials so it’s important to test on those merits. Trying to jam 10 cards into a wallet designed to hold three is pointless and not a true test.

All wallets are subjected to a vigorous shake test where we try to dislodge the cards from the inside, and if they have a money clip/strap on the outside, I try to get that to fall out too. Then it’s time for my least favorite test: sitting on the wallet in my back pocket for an entire workday. Mostly, I am making sure the wallet doesn’t bend, or otherwise damage the cards inside, but I am also checking how uncomfortable it is to sit on for eight hours a day.

Any of the wallets that claim to be RFID blockers are subjected to a test using an Android Pixel phone and an RFID card that has my Twitter link on it. If the card can be read through the wallet and my Twitter bio opens on the phone, then the wallet fails the test. Finally, I spent a week using the wallet as my main cardholder in the real world. There are very few tests better than that to give you a clear idea of whether or not it is worth your money.

Minimalist wallets FAQ

Do minimalist wallets damage cards?

If you use a minimalist wallet correctly, it will keep your cards safe and sound. If you overstock it, then you run the risk of damaging your credit cards. Remember, the whole point of a minimalist wallet is to only take the few cards you need for the trip you are on. Most can hold five to 10 cards, so keep that in mind when you choose your wallet.

What pocket should you hold your wallet?

Despite the traditional notions of holding your wallet in your back pocket, it probably shouldn’t be there. Not only does it make it much easier for pickpockets, but it also makes it harder for you to get to it when you need it. If you’ve ever tried to get your wallet while at a drive-through, you know what I mean. Having your wallet in your back pocket can also damage the cards inside. The cards will have the full pressure of your body, as well as the other cards and metal parts of the wallet pressing down on them.

Which minimalist wallet is best?

While this is a subjective question, the overall best minimalist wallet that we’ve tried is Ridge. That’s because it’s made with tough and durable materials but is still flexible enough to accommodate up to 12 cards. There’s also a strap or clip for cash, too. The Ridge Wallet comes in a variety of colors, and NFL fans can also rep their favorite teams. If you get a Ridge, expect it to last for years.

Why are Ridge wallets so popular?

Ridge wallets have become very popular, and for good reason. These hard minimalist wallets have a unique aesthetic design, are made of titanium (or aluminum, depending on color) and can hold one card as easily as 12. They come in a variety of colors, have RFID blocking technology and look incredible. They’re leading the market when it comes to hard, minimalist wallets.

Which RFID blocking wallets actually work?

Several of the wallets we mention in this list have RFID blocking technology, which means your cards won’t get scanned by thieves. Out of the ones we’ve listed, the Ridge Wallet, Hammer Anvil Minimalist wallet and Groove Life have been reliable on the RFID blocking front. We tested this feature out by attempting to use an Android phone to scan an RFID card with our X link on it; these wallets prevented that from happening.

Do RFID-blocking wallets mess up my cards?

No, RFID blocking wallets will not mess up your cards. They’re designed to prevent unauthorized reading of the RFID chips, but won’t have an affect on the magnetic strip or chip on your cards.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © Verum World Media