New CPUs From Intel *and* AMD - WAN Show June 6 2018

The WAN Show episode from June 6, 2018 covers a broad slate of high end hardware news and industry movements, anchored by Intel and AMD product advances. The hosts discuss an unnamed 28 core, 56 thread Intel processor demonstrated at Computex, emphasizing the five gigahertz claim but noting it was not stock and was supported by an elaborate cooling demo. They explain the public responses to this demo, including the confusion around the turbo speed and proper disclosure, and speculate on real-world cooling requirements and power consumption. The show then shifts to AMD’s Threadripper evolution, with confirmation that the second generation Threadripper is on track for a Q3 2018 launch and uses Zeppelin silicon with eight cores per chip across a 16-core top SKU, highlighting the 12 nanometer process and a 250 watt TDP. They contextualize the design choices with motherboard aesthetics, VRMs, and the appeal of continued performance gains in the workstation segment. A significant portion is devoted to AMD’s seven nanometer GPU announcement for the Radeon Instinct line, detailing anticipated performance advances and power efficiency relative to the prior 14/16 nanometer generations. The hosts celebrate the rapidly evolving GPU landscape and compare it with Nvidia’s offerings, while also noting the lack of a universal industry standard measure for transistor sizes. The episode continues with a discussion of Gigabyte’s “fake RAM” concept, a marketing bundle that pairs RGB memory sticks with two dummy RAM sticks to fill slots aesthetically, and they debate its practicality versus the cost savings for users seeking a filled look. They also cover broader ecosystem moves including 150,000 GitHub projects migrating to GitLab, and other tech news such as Pixel 3 leaks, internet policy comments from the NBN chief, and Mars organic molecules discovery. The conversation touches on Steam’s moderation policy shifts following a controversial school shooting game, weighing platform rights versus content curation, and the broader implications for app stores and content filtering. The squad then turns to Sea Sonic’s new system cable management device SCMd, praising its modular design and RGB branding while evaluating its impact on cable management, efficiency loss, and case aesthetics across ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX forms. The episode closes with a reminder about LTX 2018, Floatplane features such as playback speed and community interactions, and an enthusiastic tease for more Computex coverage and future hardware showcases. Throughout, the hosts inject humor and practical insight, balancing skepticism about demos with excitement for genuine hardware progress, and inviting listeners to follow up on tech events and product releases as they unfold. The show repeatedly acknowledges fan engagement and teases sponsor segments, promotional plugs, and community forums, while maintaining a tech-forward, industry-insight perspective on the latest CPU, GPU, and ecosystem developments. Overall, the episode blends hands-on hardware analysis with industry commentary, offering listeners a cross-section of what was exciting in mid-2018 for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Topics · technology · computing · hardware · cpu · gpu · industry-news