The WAN Show : Galaxy Note 3 & Gear, Ivy Bridge E, HDMI 2.0 and GUEST Tiny Tom Logan - Sept 6, 2013

The WAN Show episode dated September 6th, 2013 covers a mix of hardware announcements, industry moves, and technical deep dives. The hosts kick off with a discussion of Intel’s Ivy Bridge E extreme/enthusiast platform, explaining the LGA 2011 groundwork and how it differs from the 1155 socket family. They tease Broadwell architecture details and set the stage for a guest segment with Tiny Tom Logan from Overclock3D to explore the latest in CPU design and overclocking. The show then shifts to Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business, including the strategic implications for branding, manufacturing, and patent licensing. Samsung’s Galaxy Gear and the synergy with the Galaxy Note 3 are introduced, with commentary on compatibility and the evolving wearable space, including earlier notes about the new devices that were announced around that time. A sponsored segment with Squarespace is highlighted, describing how the platform enables easy website creation with hosting and domain perks, followed by a note on Razor Comms for live streaming and how it improves broadcast quality. The team discusses the reliability issues encountered with Skype during streaming, attributing the problem to IP exposure, and they explain the shift away from Skype to more secure or robust communication paths for the WAN Show. Tiny Tom Logan appears as a guest, joining the discussion on Ivy Bridge E, its overclocking potential, and how it compares to previous enthusiast-grade CPUs in terms of power, performance, and pricing. The show then pivots to a detailed technical explanation of Ivy Bridge E’s core count, die shrink, and memory controller improvements, with Tom weighing in on whether this is truly a flagship enthusiast product. The conversation includes a critical look at Haswell and the broader 2013-2014 CPU landscape, including power efficiency and performance-per-watt considerations for high-end builds. Throughout, Linus and Tom address the realities of overclocking at extreme levels, sharing anecdotes from their own testing rigs, including memory speeds, core voltages, and stability challenges. The panel discusses the practical value of high-end CPUs for gamers, content creators, and professionals, noting that many users may be better served by balanced platforms rather than extreme overclocks. They also touch on the real-world pricing and availability of 4960x and related models, emphasizing how memory bandwidth and socket compatibility influence upgrade decisions. The NVIDIA/AMD dynamic, while not the central focus here, is touched upon in the context of platform capabilities and the importance of motherboard BIOS maturity during transition periods. The co-branding and marketing strategies around Kit Kat and Android are explored, including Nestle and Google’s collaboration on Android-themed Kit Kat bars and Android branding efforts, with consideration given to how such promotional partnerships impact consumer perception and device ecosystems. The RAM market discussion centers on HD 7970-class pricing, DRAM supply and demand influenced by a RAM plant fire, and the potential ripple effects on memory pricing, with warnings about immediate pricing volatility and opportunities to buy memory while prices are temporarily favorable. The team provides a practical memory upgrade advisory, suggesting that viewers act quickly to secure RAM while supply disruption persists. The episode ends with a recap of the key takeaways, plus a tease for future WAN Shows, guest appearances, and deeper dives into Broadwell readiness and next-generation chips. The overall tone remains exploratory and practical, balancing hands-on hardware insight with high-level market analysis and community engagement. The host interplay, guest insights, and sponsor segments collectively paint a picture of a tech landscape in transition, where enthusiasts weigh the promise of new architectures against real-world costs, compatibility, and long-term value.

Topics · Technology · Computing · Gadgets · IndustryAnalysis