Useless Tech You Shouldn't Buy
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Try FreshBooks free, for 30 days, no credit card required at freshbooks.com Here's some tech snake oil you shouldn't be spending your money on. Leave a reply with your requests for future episodes, or tweet them here: twitter.com ►GET MERCH: lttstore.com ►SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com ►LTX EXPO: ltxexpo.com AFFILIATES & REFERRALS --------------------------------------------------- ►Affiliates, Sponsors & Referrals: lmg.gg ►Private Internet Access VPN: lmg.gg ►MK Keyboards: lmg.gg ►Secretlabs Gaming Chairs: lmg.gg ►Nerd or Die Stream Overlays: lmg.gg ►Green Man Gaming lmg.gg ►Amazon Prime: lmg.gg ►Audible Free Trial: lmg.gg ►Our Gear on Amazon: geni.us FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS --------------------------------------------------- Linus Tech Tips: lmg.gg Mac Address: lmg.gg TechLinked: lmg.gg ShortCircuit: lmg.gg LMG Clips: lmg.gg Channel Super Fun: lmg.gg Carpool Critics: lmg.gg
Useless Tech You Shouldn't Buy analyzes three categories of consumer tech that often overpromise and underdeliver, with a focus on hardware that sounds impressive but offers little real value. The host explains that fake audiophile gear is a common pitfall in high-end audio markets, calling out extravagant items like a $2600 audiophile network switch and an “audiophile” SSD as prime examples of snake oil. He emphasizes that digital signals are either transmitted correctly or not at all, so spending large sums to reduce electrical noise in switches has no actual impact on sound quality. The segment on the SSD discusses flashy design choices and high-end components that fail to improve the inherent quality of music stored on digital data, underscoring that the perceived benefits are largely marketing-driven rather than performance-based. The discussion then pivots to SSD water cooling, noting that while cooling can be beneficial in extreme scenarios, most SSDs only require adequate airflow and proper case maintenance to stay within safe temperature ranges, with water blocks providing negligible performance gains. The host also critiques low-end graphics cards, such as older Nvidia models, which are marketed as capable of running modern games but typically offer weak performance and can mislead buyers during GPU shortages. Through humor and concrete examples, the video urges viewers to avoid hardware upgrades that do not meaningfully improve experience or performance. The segment wraps with a light-hearted jab at overclocking and a closing recap that reinforces practical buying decisions over hype, encouraging the audience to question marketing claims and focus on genuine value. Overall, the video blends witty commentary with factual explanations to debunk overpriced audiophile tricks, misguided SSD enhancements, and underpowered GPUs. It reinforces the importance of sensible airflow, appropriate cooling, and careful evaluation of product claims before making a purchase, while reminding viewers that sometimes the most cost-effective solution is a simpler, proven approach rather than a flashy, expensive gadget.
Topics · consumer-technology · video-reviews · tech-hype · hardware · audio · storage · graphics · energy-and-cooling
Questions answered
- Why are high-end audiophile switches considered marketing hype despite their cost?
- Because digital audio signals are binary and either transmit correctly or fail; a costly switch cannot improve the actual data quality or sound when the data is already being transmitted without errors.
- Do SSD water cooling blocks provide real performance benefits for typical users?
- No, for the vast majority of workloads, SSDs perform within safe temperature ranges with proper case airflow, and water cooling does not meaningfully increase speed or longevity.
- Are low-end graphics cards a sensible purchase during GPU shortages?
- Generally not, since they offer limited or outdated performance and can’t deliver modern-game experiences, often making better value to invest in a more capable card or alternative display options.