HW News - Intel is a Cluster, NVIDIA Blackwell Boosts Production, Sony "Still Learning"
Summary
TLDRIn this week's tech news recap, the video discusses several key topics. First, it addresses the ongoing issues with Intel's CPU and motherboard power stability, highlighting Intel's recent statement regarding power delivery settings and the confusion it has caused among consumers. Next, the video covers Sony's controversial mandate requiring PC players of Helldivers 2 to link their PlayStation Network accounts to their Steam accounts, a decision that was later reversed following significant backlash. Additionally, the video touches on Sparkle's new Intel Arc Rock graphics cards, which have been criticized for their naming but are defended based on mythological and gaming references. The recap also includes a unique PC component from ASL featuring animal decals and a custom backplate, NVIDIA's dominance in the AI hardware market with its upcoming Blackwell platform, and Microsoft's experimental ads in Windows 11. Finally, the video showcases an innovative engineering project where a Raspberry Pi was used to automate an Etch A Sketch, demonstrating the possibilities of creative tech modifications.
Takeaways
- 📦 The K95 Pro case by Montech is a dual chamber enclosure with customizable storage and power supply options, ideal for a threadripper system.
- 🚀 Intel's CPU and motherboard power situation is unstable, with Intel not enforcing power delivery settings, leading to a cluster of issues with their CPUs.
- 🤔 Intel recommends using the highest power delivery profile compatible with each motherboard design, but this advice is part of the problem causing instability.
- 🎮 Sony faced backlash for requiring PSN account linking with Steam for Helldivers 2, which was later reversed due to community uproar.
- 💸 Sony's claim of 'still learning' after decades in the industry was criticized as insincere, with the company being seen as using the game to boost PSN signups.
- 🐦 Sparkle's new Intel Arc Rock cards are named after mythological creatures and are not copying Asus ROG, highlighting the importance of unique naming in product branding.
- 🐱 A unique PC component, an RTX 460 video card with cat and dog decals, was released by ASL, emphasizing the value of design diversity in the tech market.
- 📈 Nvidia's upcoming Blackwell platform is expected to significantly boost TSMC's production and demand, with high expectations for its market share in high-end GPUs.
- 🪟 Microsoft is experimenting with ads in Windows 11, although they can be disabled, indicating the company's efforts to generate additional revenue.
- 🔍 A creative engineering project converted an Eter Sketch into a computer-controlled device using a Raspberry Pi and stepper motors, showcasing the potential for repurposing old technology.
- 🎨 The Robo ET a Sketch project took approximately 2 minutes to complete a drawing, demonstrating the practical application of pathfinding algorithms and motor control in art.
Q & A
What is the main issue discussed in the video regarding computer hardware?
-The main issue discussed is the instability problems with Intel's motherboard and CPU power settings, which has been a persistent problem in the industry for at least eight years.
What is Intel's stance on the power delivery settings for their CPUs?
-Intel does not recommend using lower power delivery settings than a motherboard can handle and suggests that customers use the highest profile compatible with each individual motherboard design.
What was the controversy surrounding Sony and Helldivers 2?
-Sony initially required PC players to link their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts to their Steam accounts to continue playing Helldivers 2, which led to significant backlash and review bombing on Steam.
Why did Sony reverse its decision regarding the linking of PSN accounts to Steam for Helldivers 2?
-Sony reversed the decision due to the overwhelming negative feedback and review bombing from the game's player base, which indicated that the requirement was not well-received.
What is the significance of the new Intel Arc Rock cards by Sparkle?
-The Intel Arc Rock cards are significant as they follow a naming scheme based on mythological creatures, which some have mistakenly thought was a copy of Asus ROG's naming convention. The 'Rock' in the name refers to the Roc, a legendary bird of prey.
What is the expected impact of Nvidia's Blackwell platform on TSMC's production and demand?
-The Blackwell platform is expected to significantly boost TSMC's production and demand, potentially increasing their chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) capacity by over 150% in 2024.
What is the controversy about Microsoft experimenting with ads in Windows 11?
-Microsoft is testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu, which has raised concerns among users about potential intrusive advertising. However, Microsoft has stated that these ads can be disabled through settings.
What is the unique feature of the ASL video card mentioned in the script?
-The unique feature of the ASL video card is its design, which includes a cat and dog decal on the fans and a custom back plate with the characters 'woa' on the cat and 'bajah' on the dog.
What is the significance of the Raspberry Pi-based project involving an Eter Sketch?
-The project involves using a Raspberry Pi and stepper motors to automate the drawing process on an Eter Sketch, showcasing the capabilities of pathfinding algorithms and the integration of mechanical components with computing.
What is the estimated visual field percentage that Microsoft believes they can sell before inducing seizures through ads?
-This is a humorous or sarcastic statement from the script and not a factual claim. The script does not provide a specific percentage, but it implies that Microsoft is cautious about the amount of advertising they introduce.
What is the thermal conductivity formula featured on the Mule mugs sold at Gamers Access .net?
-The script does not provide the exact formula, but it mentions that the mugs feature a 'nerdy representation' of heat transfer, likely involving variables such as temperature, thickness, and material properties.
Outlines
🔧 Hardware Frustrations and Stability Issues
The segment begins with an overview of frustrations surrounding mythological and DND creature names used in computer hardware branding. It criticizes Intel's ongoing stability issues with CPUs and motherboards, which have been problematic for years, especially since the Coffee Lake series. The discussion highlights Intel's lack of control over motherboard manufacturers like Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte, who set their own power behavior despite Intel’s guidelines. A new BIOS profile called 'Intel Baseline' is mentioned, which diverges from Intel’s default settings and has led to performance and stability concerns.
🔒 Sony's PSN Requirements Stir Controversy
This paragraph addresses Sony's enforcement of PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking with Steam accounts for 'Hell Divers 2' players, leading to widespread backlash. The mandate was initially meant to enhance security but faced technical issues and public outcry, prompting Sony to make it temporarily optional. The narrative criticizes Sony for altering the game's functionality post-launch, which impacted players' access and overall experience. The situation illustrates a misstep in Sony's strategy, reflecting poorly on their understanding of consumer expectations and digital rights management.
🎮 Sony's PSN Strategy and Public Response
The narrative continues the discussion on Sony’s PSN linking policy, emphasizing its impact on international players and those in regions without PSN access. Sony’s decision to enforce account linking, which they later suspended due to backlash, highlights their poor handling of the rollout and insensitivity to the global gaming community. The CEO of Arrowhead, the game developer, expressed frustration and a sense of powerlessness, which was exacerbated by Sony's flippant comment about 'still learning.' The segment critiques Sony's approach and the subsequent public and developer backlash.
🕹️ Community Backlash and Corporate Missteps
This segment discusses the backlash Sony faced over its decision to require PSN account linking for 'Hell Divers 2' on Steam, noting that the community's strong reaction included review bombing on Steam. Sony's attempt to justify their decision as a learning experience is mocked, given their long history and established presence in the gaming industry. The summary highlights the disconnect between Sony's corporate decisions and community expectations, stressing the importance of respecting consumer rights and maintaining trust.
💡 Sparkle and ASUS Controversy in Gaming Hardware
The segment shifts focus to a controversy involving Sparkle's naming scheme for its Intel Arc Rock cards, comparing it to ASUS' Republic of Gamers (ROG) branding. The discussion delves into the mythological and gaming references used in hardware naming, such as the use of 'orc' and 'elf' from Dungeons & Dragons. It criticizes the industry's approach to branding and product naming, highlighting the lack of creativity and potential confusion among consumers. Additionally, the narrator mentions plans to launch a tech-themed tabletop product.
🖥️ Nvidia Dominates AI Hardware and Microsoft's Ad Experiment
This paragraph covers Nvidia's expected dominance in the AI hardware market with its new Blackwell platform, contrasting it with previous generations and predicting significant market share. It also touches on Microsoft experimenting with ads in Windows 11, critiquing the company for pushing unwanted promotions to users despite its vast market valuation. The discussion points out the option to disable these ads and the potential implications for user experience and corporate perception.
🤖 Innovations in DIY and Etch-a-Sketch Robotics
The segment concludes with a discussion on a unique DIY project that integrates an Etch-a-Sketch with a Raspberry Pi and stepper motors to create automated drawings. This creative integration showcases the blend of classic toys and modern technology, illustrating the possibilities within the maker community. The segment underscores the novelty and engagement such projects bring to the tech community, alongside a touch of humor about the project’s challenges and outcomes.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Intel
💡Sony
💡Power Delivery
💡Baseline Settings
💡Account Linking
💡Thermal Issues
💡Performance Profiles
💡PL1 and PL2
💡Review Bombing
💡Community Response
Highlights
Intel's CPU and motherboard power situation is a significant issue within the computer hardware industry, with ongoing instability affecting users.
Intel has been rumored to change power settings, which could potentially harm performance.
Intel issued a formal statement addressing the instability issues on 13th and 14th gen processors, recommending higher power delivery profiles.
Sony faced backlash over requiring PlayStation Network (PSN) account linking for PC players of Helldivers 2, which was later made optional.
Sparkle announced new Intel Arc Rock graphics cards, with names inspired by mythological creatures rather than copying ASUS ROG branding.
ASL, a China-based board partner, revealed a unique video card design featuring cat and dog decals.
NVIDIA's upcoming Blackwell platform is expected to significantly boost TSMC's production and demand, potentially making up 40-50% of NVIDIA's high-end GPU market by 2025.
Microsoft is experimenting with ads in Windows 11, which can be disabled through settings.
An innovative project converted an Eter Sketch into a computer-controlled device using a Raspberry Pi and stepper motors.
The Robo ET a Sketch project by Micah Tilton used pathfinding algorithms to transform hand-drawn sketches into motor instructions.
The conversion process for the Eter Sketch involved measuring the screen and calculating the required motor steps for accurate drawing.
The final Robo ET a Sketch drawing of a dog took approximately 2 minutes to complete, despite the noise and heat generated by the motors.
The host is developing a tech-themed tabletop product for the GN Store, set to release around November.
The host emphasizes the importance of unique PC part designs in maintaining a fresh and fun market, as long as they meet functional requirements.
NVIDIA's dominance in the AI hardware market is highlighted by the expected significant boost to TSMC's production capacity.
The inclusion of GB200, B100, and B200 in NVIDIA's B series is anticipated to greatly increase chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) capacity.
Microsoft's board meeting was humorously referred to as a 'tape' obtained by the host, indicating a playful approach to company updates.
Transcripts
[Music]
hello welcome back to another Harbor
news recap of the week in this one I'll
be ranting about mythological and DND
creature names as it pertains to
computer hardware it's very important
it's been a a big problem in this
industry and we finally had enough we'll
also be talking about Intel speaking of
big problems in the industry this would
be in response to the ongoing
instability issues that have really
built up over the last month in
particular additionally we'll be talking
about Sony and how it says it's still
learning even though it's been in this
industry for video games for like half a
century or something depending on how
you count it or at least decades uh and
its response to the hell divers 2 issues
that it caused let's get started before
that this video is brought to you by
montech and the k95 pro case the k95 pro
is a dual chamber enclosure with
configurable options for storage and
power supplies could be useful for a
threader per system and ample radiator
and fan mounting options scattered
around the top back bottom side and
front of the case the front also can be
mesh or solid with the mesh running a
higher paracity for more breathability
learn more at the link in the
description below up first we're
shooting the third version of this story
about int's motherboard and CPU power
problems because it keeps changing so I
think as soon as we finish this episode
we're going to kind of here you go get
it out the door because they might
change it again uh Intel CPU and
motherboard situation is a complete
cluster fcq at this point and at the
center of all of it is a problem that
has now existed for eight years from
Intel at least since coffee Lake maybe
before then where it acts the Perpetual
victim of Asus MSI and gigabyte uh as it
seems to insist Intel has absolutely no
control over the power Behavior out of
the box that motherboard vendors enforce
on Intel CPUs even though Intel in fact
controls the entire ecosystem start to
finish um so at this point given the
stability we have all seen the chickens
have hatched before the egg in front of
the cart I think that's how the saying
goes and Intel has finally had more
problems than just thermal ones with
CPUs after some rumors earlier this week
about a potential change to pl1 and pl2
which stated that they functionally
would have the power and significantly
harm performance Intel decided to put
out a formal statement instead the
company said this quote several
motherboard manufacturers have released
bu bios profiles labeled Intel Baseline
profile however these bios profiles are
not the same as the Intel default
settings recommendations that Intel has
recently shared with its Partners
regarding the instability issues
reported on 13th and 14th gen kqq
processors these Intel Baseline profile
bio settings appear to be based on power
delivery guidance previously provided by
Intel to manufacturers describing the
various power delivery options for 13th
and 14th generation kcbe processors
based on motherboard capabilities in all
bold Intel is not recommending
motherboard manufacturers to use
Baseline power delivery settings on
boards capable of higher values they
continued with Intel's recommended Intel
default settings are a combination of
thermal and power delivery features
along with a selection of possible power
delivery profiles based on motherboard
capabilities Intel recommends customers
implement the highest power delivery
profile compatible with each individual
motherboard design as noted in this
table and this is the table they
included so this image doesn't list any
Baseline settings instead it lists
performance and extreme PL 1 through 4
and some other settings the bigger news
here reading between the lines that
Intel's basically saying hey we're not
enforcing this whole 125 watt pl1 188
watt pl2 thing that you all have been
talking about uh so that seems at least
that's our takea away from it um which
is maybe more of a response to earlier
stories this week than it is useful in
any other way seems like Intel at this
point is just trying to get in front of
that part of the story
which we'll see what they do over the
next month uh because it was a uh we'll
see it the problem that Intel faces is
if they change things too much they have
a bait and switch where they've
drastically impacted performance
potentially uh or even a little bit in
exchange for getting stability if it's
not stable at Baseline setting sorry I
can't use that word anymore they've
changed the definition for that too if
it's not stable in the socket out of the
box with whatever settings are applied
then it's not really fair to count that
performance as the sort of usable
performance of the product so they're
trying to avoid a a situation where they
get caught in a bait and switch but also
trying to improve the stability so
that's where Intel is right now what it
is saying explicitly is that it doesn't
recommend using lower settings than a
board can handle which is kind of what
got them into this situation to begin
with although technically they're
referencing these settings now uh it's
also suggesting explicitly that
customers use the highest profile that's
what they're saying so unfortunately
this is the exact behavior that caused
this whole mess to begin with and even
still motherboard vendors have deviated
from Intel's table that they've just
provided because that's what they do
because Intel doesn't actually try to
control anything they just say out of
our hands we're just poor old little
Intel we can't stop them from setting
crazy settings that are unstable or in
the very least are uh impossible to cool
that's not us Intel has created the
entirety of the situation from start to
finish the way they handle their
partners and the way they handle their
power settings where Intel's desperation
to continue to blast performance by just
increasing the frequency and the power
over the last several Generations has
caught up to them and that's why we have
these stability problems now and it's
also why this is a complete mess over
the past week and I was trying to
calculate how many more times can I
swear in this episode uh complete mess
for this past week because it seems like
nobody knows what's going on and uh
Intel is the one that needs to step in
and be the leader of its own ecosystem
here and say Here's what we're doing uh
everybody do this now but that's not
what's well at least based on this today
it doesn't seem like that's what's
happening at least not in a strong
enough way to really fully resolve thing
so in other words there's really not
much news all this does is kind of
refute parts of some of the major uh
previous
commentary and we've now shot this three
times and at the end of it all really it
does seem like it's just a clown car
full of Intel CPUs that are being driven
by the motherboards except the Intel
CPUs and the car are the only ones with
a driver's license so I don't know if
that makes any sense that that's what
we're going to go with for the
descriptor of the problem let's move on
to the next story I don't want to film
this again next one's going to be Sony
we'll just get the get these out of the
way First Sony had some hell divers 2
problems the end of this I've got quite
a few opinions on what's going on but
just for the the news and the fact up
front so hell divers 2 developers
Arrowhead last week uh and the games
player base were put through a turmoil
by evil empire Sony uh and that's the
game's publisher so Sony published a
mandate that all PC players would have
to link PlayStation Network or PSN
accounts to their steam accounts in
order to continue playing the original
steam post now updated stated that the
requirement had been made quote
temporarily optional due to technical
issues at the explosively popular launch
of the game but that the grace period
they said would expire Sony said this
account linking plays a critical role in
protecting our players and upholding the
values of Safety and Security provided
on PlayStation PlayStation Studios games
now as you all know this directly
basically states that uh being on Sony's
Network instantly makes you safe and
that's why there is an entire website
devoted to security breaches and
vulnerabilities it's October 2023 breach
of employee personal information for
example or it's September one in 2023 of
260 gabt of files it's August 2017
breach of Sony social media accounts and
various others so they have experience
in security Sony also said this quote as
such as of May 6th all new hell divers 2
players on Steam will be required to
connect their Steam account to a
Playstation network account current
players on Steam will start to see the
mandatory login from May 30th and will
be required to have linked a steam and
Playstation network account by 4th
PlayStation Network accounts are free
and easy to set up uh asterisk unless
you literally can't set them up come
back to the Hat we understand that while
this may be an inconvenience to some of
you this step will help us to continue
to build a community that you all are
proud to be a part of many thanks for
your continued support of Hell divers 2
signed Sony interactive entertainment
there's a trend between this story and
the first one uh there's a few problems
with this but right off the bat it is
incredibly scummy to change
like this after the launch of the
product cuz it now no longer functions
the same way now if you think well
making an account no big deal first of
all say that to all the GeForce
experience users who've complained about
it for years they finally are pulling
that back but secondly in some regions
and countries it is actually not
possible to comply with the terms of
service of this network and make an
account for it so they've set up an
unwinable scenario for a lot of users
that this has all been changed now but
that's why a lot of people were so upset
about it so we just think it's it's not
right to change a behavior that will
actually take away access to the product
or significantly alter it in a
meaningful way after the customer has
not only bought it but invested
significant time in it which puts them
in a situation they may have to
compromise on other values they care
about in order to keep using that
product and so that's kind of our
problem with it now even though the PSN
integration was technically there from
the start and technically mentioned on
the steam page it was easily bypassed
and it had no impact on user experience
one of our staff members got the game at
launch and just skipped it and never
thought about it again until now in fact
the mandatory account link was requested
by Sony 6 months ahead of launch
according to developer arrowheads CEO
and it was his decision to suspend the
requirement a few hours after launch
more seriously PSN isn't even available
in a whole host of countries players in
those regions would be forced to never
play the game again even though they
bought it and played it for months or
lie about the location and break the to
and see where that gets them if it's
ever a problem it's one thing to Bar
some regions in the first place due to
trade restrictions or simple
unwillingness to do business with those
markets but to take it away after the
sale has been made is absolutely
disgusting in my opinion tan amount to
theft uh so entering some light
speculation here we assume what happened
is that Sony thought it would look great
to pump the numbers of PSN signups
leading into a a fiscal quarter or a
filing or something um whatever I mean I
don't know it's it's money driven
because Sony went into this calculated
they would have known or if they didn't
they're unbelievably incompetent I don't
think they're that stupid they would
have known there would be push back they
would have known there'd be a loss of
some players who can't meet that
requirement uh
legitimately and they chose to forge
ahead anyway and the only reason I
personally can think of for a large
company like Sony to do that is money uh
and so the only reason they would walk
that back is money so anyway the game's
player base immediately went into a
complete frenzy and uh enacted a a
fourth wall breaking major order of
their own and started review bombing on
the
uh on Steam with over 200,000 negative
reviews and Arrowhead CEO uh chimed in
with support but also just looked
utterly defeated it it was genuinely sad
to read some of the response from the
CEO I mean it to be frank like some of
the Twitter posts from the CEO you read
it and you're like this is I think I
have identified depression like I think
that's what this is um and it kind of
paints that picture of like this
powerlessness despite a prior uh
potential business agreement and it's
because of how much the game uh
completely flipped from this absolute
positive win in recent weeks to what it
was uh he tweeted this is this the
moment to tweet what you guys don't have
phones uh some good humor at least on a
serious note we are talking Solutions
with PlayStation especially for non PSN
countries your voice has been heard and
I'm doing everything I can to speak for
the community but I don't have the final
say now it's important for everyone here
to bear in mind that the contract
between Arrowhead and Sony like we said
for hell divers 2 was made years ago
generally speaking the publisher is the
party that controls distribution that's
the whole point of having a publisher
now unfortunately there was some
collateral damage here where the
original hell divers game which has
nothing to do with this situation was
also caught up in review bombing the
change came in on Friday by Monday Sony
spoke up and posted to Twitter or X and
the original steam post was updated
quote hell divers fans we've heard your
feedback on the hell divers 2 account
linking update the May 6th update which
which would have required Steam and
Playstation network account linking for
new players and for current players
beginning May 30th will not be moving
forward we're still let try that again
we're still learning we we're still
learning oh poor Sony they're they're
just learning they're just figuring it
out they're new to this cut them some
slack they're still
learning that makes it okay what is best
for PC players and your feedback has
been invaluable thanks again for your
continued support of Hell divers 2 and
we'll keep you updated on future plans
so number one they reverse the decision
that's good uh it shouldn't have
happened in the first place number two
Sony can back off with the we're still
learning absolute nonsense because the
company was founded 77 years ago it was
founded like World War II era 1946 I
think is what we saw for the original
company founding date and even if you
want to focus only on Playstation
1994 December
94 uh and that is enough time on its own
to no longer be still learning if you're
still learning about things as basic as
G do you think the customers would be
mad if we broke the game for some of
them after 30 years in business uh
then uh I don't I really don't know what
to say like yes everybody is constantly
learning hopefully that's kind of the
plan this is like learning how to