AMD SLEEP BUG BOOSTS BENCHMARKS?? - WAN Show March 10, 2017
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Promos
Use offer code WAN to get 10% off your first purchase on squarespace.com Use offer code WANSHOW to save $5 on a purchase of $10 or more over at ifixit.com Visit freshbooks.com and enter WAN in the “how did you hear about us” section when you sign up for your free trial Forum link: linustechtips.com Soundcloud link: soundcloud.com Timestamps courtesy of JJMC89. 00:02:56 - Twitch is getting its own desktop app 00:15:06 - CIA listed BlackBerry's car app as a possible target 00:20:20 - Licensing LMG brands - do your own thing 00:32:48 - Windows sleep bug artificially increases Ryzen benchmarks 00:39:26 - Sponsor: Freshbooks 00:45:56 - Sponsor: Squarespace 00:47:55 - Sponsor: iFixit 00:51:31 - Biostar Racing X370 GTN 00:55:39 - Facebook scores deal to live stream Major League Soccer matches 01:00:12 - Pizza Hut smart shoes 01:02:38 - Hangouts split into Meet and Chat 01:09:16 - Switch is the fastest selling console in Nintendo history 01:14:32 - Microsoft launching Xbox One cloud gaming subscription service 01:18:16 - Scientists stored a movie, computer OS, and Amazon gift card in a single speck of DNA 01:20:58 - Zombie-proof autonomous 3D-printed mobile house 01:27:26 - Floatplane Club
The WAN Show episode dated March 10, 2017 kicks off with the hosts addressing the format, the show flow, and some light banter about the setup, including a playful dig at their streaming tools and the behind the scenes aspects of producing the show. They discuss the relaunched Curse Voice as a desktop Twitch app, debating its purpose for gamers and how it stacks up against alternatives like Discord and other communications tools. The conversation reflects on the shift in how gaming communities connect, the appeal of desktop apps versus web or mobile, and the risk of platform fragmentation as Twitch seeks to absorb Curse. There is a broader theme about platform ownership, user data, and how changes in ownership or branding affect streamer communities and their audiences. The hosts also touch on broader tech news topics in the wake of the Ryzen launch, setting up a conversation about performance measurements and real world usefulness of benchmarks. They acknowledge the challenge of reporting on early adopter quirks while trying to present balanced, long-term value to viewers. The show moves through sponsor reads and product discussions, including FreshBooks, Squarespace, and iFixit, interleaved with tech chatter and humor. As the Ryzen story unfolds, they drill into a key technical issue: a Windows sleep bug that artificially inflates Ryzen benchmark scores when a machine wakes from sleep. They explain that the bug appears to skew cinebench and other timing-sensitive measurements, and they cite a tester’s numbers showing scores rising after sleep. The discussion centers on how this issue fits into the Ryzen launch narrative, what it means for overclocking and benchmark credibility, and how reviewers should approach launch reviews versus ongoing performance coverage. The hosts stress that real-world performance remains strong for Ryzen, but acknowledge that certain early adopter quirks require careful handling to avoid misleading potential buyers. They also debate the risk of publishers or hardware vendors using or leaking early performance data to influence consumer perception before fixes and optimizations land. The show closes with a reflective panel on licensing ideas, original content creation, and the value of authentic, trial-and-error growth over simply cloning others’ formats. The team emphasizes that Lonus Media Group thrives on the personal, unscripted energy of its hosts, not on licensing or over-formalized formats, encouraging viewers to innovate and find their own voice in tech media. Finally, the episode weaves in a broader look at the state of hardware, software, and user experience, setting the stage for more in-depth Ryzen analysis and future WAN Show episodes. The overall tone remains conversational, candid, and focused on practical, testable insights rather than hype, with the promise of deeper technical dives in subsequent weeks.
Topics · Science & Technology · Tech News · Gaming and streaming · Hardware · PC Hardware · Open Source and Community Tools
Questions answered
- What is the AMD sleep bug and how does it affect Ryzen benchmarks?
- The AMD sleep bug refers to a Windows timing issue where benchmarks that are sensitive to timing, like Cinebench, can show inflated scores after the system wakes from sleep due to the platform clock and Windows timer interactions. This does not reflect real-world performance and should be considered when evaluating launch benchmarks.
- Why did Linus choose not to include Ryzen launch benchmarks in the initial launch review?
- The team believed that early launch data could be skewed by bugs and early adopter quirks. They preferred to wait for more stable driver updates and platform refinements so the review would reflect long-term performance rather than initial anomalies.
- How should viewers interpret benchmarks that change after sleep states?
- Benchmarks that change after sleep can mislead if taken as representative of steady-state performance. The consensus is to treat sleep-affected numbers as timing artifacts and rely on measurements taken under consistent, awake conditions for accurate comparisons.
- What is the broader takeaway regarding hardware reviews and publisher messaging?
- The panel argues for balanced coverage that acknowledges early bugs while continuing to assess core performance. They emphasize the importance of not letting one-off issues unduly influence buying decisions and highlight the value of later, more stable testing timelines.