Mining on THREADRIPPER - WAN Show Feb. 2 2018

The WAN Show episode from February 2, 2018 opens with the hosts addressing a rough start to the live stream. They discuss technical hiccups, including camera framing and a few on-air miscommunications, setting the tone for an informal, candid conversation. The pair then pivot to multiple tech topics on the agenda, signaling a mix of humor and quick takes rather than polished press briefings. They acknowledge a dramatic online thread involving a Counter-Strike co-creator, but emphasize they will not speculate beyond what is verifiably known. The discussion moves toward the core topic of the day, the potential profitability of cryptocurrency mining using Threadripper CPUs, with AMD positioning and technical claims foregrounded. The hosts critique ROI projections and highlight uncertainties around market prices, energy costs, and the reliability of mining revenue over time. They frame the Threadripper-based mining discussion as both technically interesting and financially risky, noting the high L3 cache advantages but also the broader market volatility. They explain that high L3 cache per core in Threadripper could support mining algorithms like kryptonite, and they quantify potential active mining threads that such CPUs could sustain. The conversation shifts to compare Threadripper’s performance against GPUs in mining scenarios, using rough estimates to illustrate where a Threadripper could land in the early mining landscape. They stress that the mining discussion is not just about raw speed but about economy, power consumption, and total cost of ownership. The hosts reference a pro-mining stance from AMD's marketing team, then ground the discussion in practical limits such as motherboard cost and PCIe slot availability for large GPU farms. They highlight the complexity of a holistic ROI calculation, noting that motherboard prices, power draw, and pool economics all influence profitability beyond the CPU purchase price. The show analyzes how early mining hype often misleads consumers about true profitability, using Threadripper as a case study to illustrate how perception can diverge from reality. They reflect on how public sentiment shifted rapidly as miners began to flood the market, affecting GPU availability and prices, and the consequences for typical PC builders. They discuss the broader implications for the market, including how retailers and manufacturers might respond to mining-driven demand and supply pressures. The hosts pivot to other news items, such as Elon Musk's flamethrower launch and various Windows Defender movements, framing them as lighter, successor topics to the heavier mining discussion. They note that Windows Defender may block certain free PC optimizer apps, and they speculate about potential corporate activity in the game industry, including acquisitions, while avoiding unverified rumors. The conversation returns to the topic of software and hardware optimization, debating how to balance hardware capabilities with software support in gaming and mining contexts, while humorously acknowledging the ongoing public relations dynamics. The show closes in a more reflective mood, with the hosts noting the ongoing evolution of hardware markets, the role of crypto mining in shaping component pricing, and the need for viewers to critically assess ROI claims and marketing hype. They tease follow-up content and sponsor segments, underscoring the ongoing experiment-based nature of the WAN Show and the value of practical demonstrations for the community. The final segment recaps a few notable moments from the broadcast, including a teaser about upcoming Floatplane content and a nod to the collaborative, iterative nature of Linus Tech Tips video production. The overall message emphasizes critical thinking about mining profitability, the realities of hardware costs, and the importance of corroborating claims with real-world testing and cautious budgeting. The episode ends with thanks to sponsors and a reminder that the show will continue to explore both high-profile tech news and the more experimental, community-driven projects like their mining-focused explorations.

Topics · technology · cryptocurrency · media and entertainment · hardware reviews · live streaming