Even Intel is Impressed by AMD's Progress - WAN Show June 28, 2019

The WAN Show episode from June 28, 2019 kicks off with the hosts addressing streaming issues, noting that the broadcast sometimes hitches and that the test stream appeared borked before stabilizing. They discuss ongoing production problems, including camera setup, lighting, and exposure, and explain how high refresh rate recording affects lighting and shutter speed. The hosts introduce major topics for the show, including Johnny Ive leaving Apple and Intel’s internal memo praising AMD’s recent progress, framing both as significant industry buzz. They pivot to a discussion of Apple design leadership changes, debating Ive’s legacy and what it means for Apple’s product direction, while considering how design responsibilities might be distributed moving forward. The show then shifts toward the broader competitive tech landscape, highlighting how Intel is reportedly impressed by AMD’s advances and how this narrative plays out in public conventions and industry chatter. Throughout, the hosts weave in personal anecdotes about home theater setups, harmony remotes, and the trials of managing consumer electronics in a busy studio environment, using humor to connect with the audience. A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to AMD and Intel rivalry, including analysis of an internal Intel memo that credits AMD’s strategic refocus on high-performance products for its recent growth, and how this translates to competing in consumer and enterprise segments. They dissect the memo’s subheadings, noting AMD’s progress in cloud offerings, Rome for servers, and Matisse for desktops, while clarifying how node choices and foundry relationships influence performance gains. The conversation delves into AMD’s architectural approach, the impact of Zen 2 IPC improvements, and the perceived ability for AMD to close gaps with Intel in a variety of market segments, from consumer CPUs to data center accelerators. They reflect on how Intel’s marketing strategy and convention presence have evolved in response to AMD’s resurgence, including a comparison to how AMD captured booth attention at events like Pax and the value of face-to-face engagement. The hosts recount their own processor histories, listing multiple generations they've owned and tested, offering a candid, nerdy timeline that underscores how far CPU performance has come since the early days of socket changes and platform resets. They discuss the broader implications for enthusiasts and builders, touching on motherboards, memory compatibility, and the ongoing tension between platform longevity and the desire for newer chipsets to enable higher core counts and faster IPC. The episode interleaves sponsor segments with technical chatter, including product plugs for Savage Jerky, Madrinas Coffee, and Squarespace, while maintaining a steady stream of banter about studio gear and streaming workflow. They tease upcoming content such as latency tests and a possible “editing showdown” with guest Jonathan Morrison, and outline plans for a panel of celebrity judges for a future competition, signaling the channel’s increasing engagement with collaborative, cross-channel events. The conversation loops back to Apple and Intel, returning to Ive’s departure and what it signals for design leadership, product strategy, and the consumer tech ecosystem, while debating whether singular leadership can be replaced effectively and how cross-functional design teams might fill gaps left by a high-profile innovator. They close on a reflective note about the evolution of the PC industry, acknowledging rapid change, the importance of ecosystems and partnerships, and the ongoing rivalry that continues to shape hardware development, performance targets, and the choices available to enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Topics · technology · hardware · industry_news · computer_science · consumer_electronics · cpus_and_graphics · business_strategy