CES 2022 Tech News: OLED Monitors, GPUs, and Gaming Trends

2022 Tech Outlook and CES Overview

The team returns from the holiday break to discuss the major announcements from the virtual CES 2022 showcase. Despite the shift away from a physical event, the industry introduced several significant developments, with a heavy emphasis on display technology and hardware releases.

The Rise of OLED Displays

• OLED is highlighted as a dominant trend for 2022, with a significant increase in available gaming monitors and laptops.
• The announcement of a 34-inch ultra-wide 21:9 OLED monitor from Alienware was a standout.
• Samsung's QD-OLED technology was introduced, offering a new method for pixel lighting that promises to improve HDR performance and peak brightness.
• LG’s upcoming 42-inch OLED was praised as a potential game-changer for desktop users, particularly those seeking a monitor that integrates better with high-refresh-rate PC setups.

GPU Announcements and Market Realities

• AMD introduced its 6nm Mobile chips with RDNA 2 graphics, while Nvidia revealed the high-power RTX 3090 Ti and the entry-level RTX 3050.
• There is significant frustration regarding the ongoing GPU shortage, price gouging, and the lack of accessible purchasing mechanisms compared to the console market.

"The whole PC ecosystem is being held back by the fact that you can't get a GPU."

Future Trends and Industry Critiques

BMW's E-Ink Technology

• BMW showcased a prototype vehicle using E-ink technology to change exterior paint colors, a concept noted for both its aesthetic appeal and the theoretical thermal management benefits.

Gaming and the Metaverse Controversy

• The panel strongly criticized recent interest in NFTs, blockchain gaming, and the metaverse from major publishers like Square Enix.
• These technologies are viewed as inefficient, environmentally problematic, and inherently detrimental to the core experience of gameplay.

Future Content and Analytical Focus

• The team outlines a goal to move beyond simple pixel counting in 2022, focusing instead on measuring and visualizing the final end-user image quality rather than raw resolution.
• Plans for future tech-focused content include deeper dives into shader compilation issues in engines like Unreal Engine 4 and expanding the PC Time Capsule series.