NVIDIA Pascal Relaunch, Intel vs M1 Benchmarks & CDPR Breach

The State of Gaming Hardware

NVIDIA's Pascal Relaunch

The show opens with a discussion on market shortages. Due to supply constraints with newer Ampere and Turing architectures, NVIDIA is reportedly restarting production of the GP107 (GTX 1050 Ti) GPUs. While three generations old, this card remains highly prevalent on Steam, and both hosts agree it is a positive move to increase product availability in the current climate.

The PC Component Shortage

Hardware scarcity persists, leading to extreme price volatility. Linus notes that for the average consumer, building a budget rig has become significantly more difficult compared to 2019, with many opting for cloud gaming alternatives like GeForce Now to bypass the inability to purchase physical cards.

Intel, Apple, and Marketing Controversies

The M1 vs. Intel Evo Campaign

Intel recently launched a marketing campaign promoting their Evo platform, focusing on M1 Mac comparisons. Both hosts critique the campaign for its reliance on cherry-picked data and an insincere tone from the spokesperson. Linus emphasizes that marketing should focus on a brand's own strengths rather than attacking competitors, and notes that the campaign's execution likely suffered from heavy-handed agency interference.

Cybersecurity and Data Leaks

The CD Projekt Red Breach

CDPR was hit by a significant ransomware attack allegedly by a group known as Hello Kitty. The attackers claimed to possess source code for major titles and the proprietary Red Engine. Whether the data was sold on the dark web remains unverified, but the leak highlights critical vulnerabilities in the software industry.

The Future of Social Media

Twitter Subscription Models

Twitter is exploring a subscription service to reduce reliance on advertising. The hosts discuss potential features, noting that:
• Edit buttons would be a massive driver for professional and casual users.
• Improved analytics and elevated video quality are high-value additions.
• Exclusive content could bridge the gap between social platforms and creator monetization.

"The problem is you get agency Sarah or agency Jeff, who know absolutely nothing about computers... They have absolutely no business being involved in tech marketing."

Miscellaneous Projects

Andy's Extreme Tech Upgrade

The episode recounts an Intel Extreme Tech Upgrade for an employee named Andy. Despite the technical focus, the highlight was a comedic mishap where a bed frame collapsed while Linus was on it, a moment luckily caught on camera.