Podcast #592 - Apple Silicon, ASRock Z490 Taichi

Recorded February 4, 2026. We also cover the upcoming Steam Machine, sad GPU trends, and the arc of the Arc B770. We've got our review of the Thrustmaster T248R and rapidly dive into AMD's glorious financial success, plus a splash of ARM's Q3 results.  Surprise!  There are discussions on memory prices, Nvidia's RTX 50 series supply, and the weeks "best" security breaches.Powered by Clippy.Timestamps:0:00 Intro00:25 Patreon01:16 Food with Josh02:36 AMD Financials08:43 Arm Financials11:45 AMD says Steam Machine still on track for early 2026 (until it isn't)13:30 New memory price outlook has DDR5 doubling again in Q114:48 Low VRAM GPUs reportedly 75 percent of NVIDIA Q1 supply16:45 AMD also in the lower VRAM game19:45 Intel Arc B770 is supposedly canceled22:17 Spinning rust lives on25:33 Qualcomm loses chief CPU architect27:09 PCPer (possibly) influences Microsoft to backpedal on AI features!31:31 5GbE is getting more affordable33:44 (In)Security Corner43:32 Gaming Quick Hits47:56 Josh reviews the Thrustmaster T248R55:45 Picks of the Week1:07:56 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

7 Feb 1h 9min

We review the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, alongside DDR4 and storage price analysis and head smacking moments. We also discuss GOG's Linux focus and Intel's latest financial results. Windows 11 woes, BitLocker Keys, Office patches and Valve is being sued for only $900M.  So much more below!Thanks to our sponsor: CoPilot Money!  All your accounts, spending, savings and investments in one place!  Get one month free with our code: PCPER!Timestamps:0:00 Intro00:40 Patreon01:58 Food with Josh04:00 AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D review13:02 Intel financials18:41 RDNA 3.5 to live on (and on)19:50 DDR4 pricing on the rise21:12 Storage prices are getting crazy28:24 GOG focused on Linux30:48 Computer History Museum online32:01 Make Windows 11 less awful33:47 Some PCs might not boot after Jan 2026 Win11 update35:11 PCs refusing to shut down after another patch36:13 Podcast sponsor - Copilot Money46:05 Gaming Quick Hits1:00:27 Picks of the Week1:13:29 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

31 Jan 1h 14min

What happens when Kent decides to use the podcast as an SFF build livestream? What about a build using DDR4 memory?? It probably doesn't get more exciting than this.  Unless you count discussing the impending pricing DOOM for SSDs and the Google enabled bluetooth security flaw.So much more fun in the timestamps below!Timestamps:0:00 Intro00:41 Patreon01:29 Food with Josh03:03 Checking in on Kent04:42 RIP cheap SSDs06:07 Samsung and SK hynix reportedly cut NAND supply to drive profits07:00 Checking in on Kent again07:38 NVIDIA GPU prices are probably going up soon12:27 RTX 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti 16GB are not EOL after all14:18 NVIDIA releasing Arm-based chips for Windows laptops this year?17:33 Micron acquires PSMC fab to expand memory operations19:38 Dev patches WINE to make Photoshop 2021, 2025 run on Linux21:35 Josh checks in on Kent25:32 (In)Security Corner35:34 Another check on Kent's build progress36:38 Gaming Quick Hits40:24 Kent makes more progress41:36 Picks of the Week55:34 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

24 Jan 56min

Every episode this year just keeps getting better, try it, you'll see.  This food podcast brought to by the tech news!  Also, 9850X3D this month, welcome back 8GB GPUs, and 2026 will be tough for PC hardware enthusiats. Oh, that Micron shut down is really a good thing, trust them.  Enjoy Linux malware, CoPilot exploits, and even a StarCraft based shooter on the way plus so much more!  Seriously, look at the timestamps below.We thank our two sponsors this week:Notion Agent - Bringing all your notes, docs, and projects into one connected space that just works!Zapier - Where tech innovators break the hype cycle and put AI into their workflows - orchestrate it with Zapier!Timestamps0:00 Intro01:54 Patreon03:20 Food with Josh05:17 AMD reportedly launching the 9850X3D this month06:07 NVIDIA to increase 8GB GPU production?08:05 NVIDIA SUPER refresh delay09:32 Micron defends shutting down Crucial12:51 Zoicware is the one true way16:32 SK hynix to build new memory plant17:50 2026 is not going to be a great year for PC builders20:29 Podcast sponsor - Notion21:54 PSUs and CPU coolers are the next to go up in price28:29 Apple's Google Gemini deal31:02 Intel Nova Lake graphics33:06 (In)Security Corner38:37 Podcast sponsor - Zapier40:06 (In)Security Corner, continued46:46 We are not normal57:33 Gaming Quick Hits1:07:38 Picks of the Week1:17:52 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

17 Jan 1h 18min

What if we told you that CES did not feature any new GPUs?  But it did feature more frames!  MSI with LIGHTNING and GPU safeguard, Phison's new controller, and that wily AMD with new Ryzen 7 9850X3D (and confirmed Ryzen 9 9950X3D2) - whee!  Remember the Reboot computer generated cartoon?  Remember D-Link Routers and Zero Days?  Remember Intel?  It's all here! That and everything old is new again with Old GPUs and CPUs coming back .. because RAM.Thanks again to our sponsor with CopilotMoney!  Get on your single pane of financial glass and bring order to your money and spending - it's even actually fun to save again.  Get the web version and use our code for 26% off at http://try.copilot.money/pcperTimestamps:0:00 Intro00:56 Patreon01:37 Food with Josh04:10 AMD announces Ryzen 7 9850X3D05:41 AMD sort of confirmed the 9950X3D207:00 NVIDIA DLSS 4.509:34 Intel was at CES12:50 MSI LIGHTNING returns14:54 MSI also launching GPU Safeguard Plus PSUs19:44 WD_Black is now Sandisk Optimus GX Pro21:54 Phison has the most efficient SSD controller26:11 ASUS ROG RGB Stripe OLED28:44 First computer-animated TV show restored33:29 Podcast sponsor - Copilot Money34:57 (In)Security Corner44:32 Gaming Quick Hits1:06:31 Picks of the Week1:24:08 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

9 Jan 1h 24min

Recorded January 1, 2026 - but only due to popular demand.  We cover the GOG purchase, the ever rising price of DDR and the fallout from all that, and talk about getting a Dumb TV again.Thanks to Copilot Money for the sponsorship again!  Get all your financials on a single piece of glass and bring order to your spending with smart analysis.  Support our show and check them out https://try.copilot.money/pcper0:00 Intro01:21 Patreon02:24 No food segment this week02:57 The rising cost of RTX 5090 and what this means for GPUs in 202604:50 SSD prices rising05:43 DDR5 continues to rise08:51 ASUS reportedly increasing DDR4 motherboard production in 202613:28 GOG acquired by co-founder18:37 Cinebench 2026 arrives22:47 Direct3D 6 support comes to D7VK as retro gaming on Linux evolves26:56 When you don't want a "smart" TV30:17 Podcast sponsor - Copilot Money31:47 (In)Security Corner37:16 Gaming Quick Hits42:39 Picks of the Week53:18 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

3 Jan 55min

No Josh this week, and it hurt. It certainly hurt the running time, at least. Enjoy this brief (and probably highly unsatisfying) year-end podcast! The perfect way to end a disappointing year!  Read as:  pricing on our PC hobby is increasing on everything thanks to AI datacenters so prepare to downsize or "last-gen" your latest build perhaps!  Enjoy our attempt at a 2025 round-up as well, probably buy that Win10 ESU, and the Xbox is probably sinking...stories below!Thanks again to our sponsor this week: Copilot Money!  Fantastic "single pane of glass" for all your finances and transactions that's actually enjoyable to use.  Get 26% off the web version for new customers!Recorded December 17, 2025.Timestamps:0:00 Intro01:27 Patreon02:16 No food segment?!03:16 AM4 CPU prices spike08:37 Storage is poised to become more expensive soon09:35 Get ready for the return of laptops with only 8GB of RAM12:49 The last month for a new RTX 3060, and RTX 50 series production cuts15:17 A brief look back at 202526:30 Podcast sponsor - Copilot Money 28:02 (In)Security Corner33:42 Gaming Quick Hits42:58 Picks of the Week55:19 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

21 Dec 202557min

There are FOUR lights!But besides that, we have AMD news on Redstone, their B650 chipset and so much DDR pricing and related news that you'll platz.  Oh, Kohler has got a toilet cam security issue (seriously) and your One Time Password use is so very passé.  Microsoft also plans to finally make Windows 11 better for gaming in 2026 - Steam and Bazzite reportedly not worried.Thanks to Notion and their AI enfused Notion Agent for the sponsorship this week, help us out and check out their very cool offer at:notion.com/pcperTimestamps:00:00 Preroll00:04 Intro00:25 Patreon01:34 Food with Josh03:15 Weekly DDR5 price check04:44 Micron is making more than ever before on DRAM06:51 A DDR4 / DDR5 combo board!08:57 The DRAM problem - now vs. 201712:11 AMD Redstone is out16:45 AMD extending life of B65020:05 Heavy SSD writes due to AMD chipset driver?22:55 Steam client back-ported to Windows 7, 824:50 NVIDIA allowed to export H200 to China now26:25 Noctua beige and brown 3D printer filament28:24 Windows update removes Start Menu and Explorer31:36 Podcast sponsor - Notion32:50 (In)Security Corner45:18 Gaming Quick Hits52:37 Picks of the Week1:03:47 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

13 Dec 20251h 5min