GPU wars are coming!! - WAN Show Feb 14, 2020

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: This WAN Show covers a mix of hardware news, business decisions, and company updates, but the biggest theme is how the tech industry is shifting toward more modular, service-driven, and power-hungry products. The hosts discuss Intel’s rumored multi-tile GPUs, Sony’s PS5 cost pressures, Tesla’s feature licensing precedent, NVIDIA GeForce Now publisher pullouts, Starlink’s Australia approval, and several LMG updates including new channels, shipping changes, and a UPS fire incident.

Main Topics: Intel Xe Arctic Sound GPU leaks (Priority: 5/5): The hosts unpack leaked internal Intel slides suggesting Xe GPUs in 75W, 300W, and up to 500W configurations, emphasizing that the high-power versions are likely data center or workstation parts rather than consumer cards. LMG channel strategy and Short Circuit launch (Priority: 5/5): Linus explains the purpose of the new Short Circuit channel: to cover cool tech without the heavy research, thumbnail/title pressure, and learning-outcome requirements of LTT, while protecting LTT’s momentum and audience expectations. Tesla feature ownership and self-driving precedent (Priority: 5/5): They debate the broader implications of Tesla removing and later restoring self-driving features, arguing this reflects a future where software capabilities may be licensed separately from hardware and can affect privacy, resale, and ownership. NVIDIA GeForce Now publisher withdrawals (Priority: 4/5): The conversation covers major publishers pulling support from GeForce Now, with concern that cloud access to already-owned games could become another revenue negotiation point rather than a straightforward consumer benefit. PlayStation 5 cost and console economics (Priority: 4/5): Sony’s PS5 bill of materials is reported around $450, raising concerns about launch pricing, but Luke argues consoles may remain viable because current-gen hardware is more PC-like and last-gen devices can remain useful longer through staggered game rollouts. Service updates: shipping, VPN, and storage backup (Priority: 3/5): LMG announces lower flat-rate shipping for LTTstore, defends continuing with PIA after the Cape acquisition, highlights Backblaze’s restore and unlimited backup features, and notes PIA’s Android app being open sourced. Server room UPS fire and operational risk (Priority: 5/5): A major interruption occurs when a 1000W light is plugged into a UPS power line, causing arcing and a fire. The hosts describe the damage, Eaton’s response, and the seriousness of a power-protection device failing catastrophically.

Key Arguments: Intel’s rumored 500W GPU is likely meant for servers/workstations because it requires a 48V connector and is not a normal consumer product. LTT cannot treat its main channel like a catch-all tech dumping ground; audience expectations and channel momentum matter too much. Short Circuit exists to cover interesting tech quickly, with less prep and less burden to produce a perfect title, thumbnail, or educational takeaway. Tesla’s temporary removal of self-driving from a used car illustrates how software features tied to hardware can be controlled after purchase, which is a troubling ownership precedent. Cloud gaming platforms may become another site of publisher monetization and control, even when users already own the underlying game. PS5 launch pricing is constrained by expensive DRAM/NAND and could be closer to a PC-style market than previous generations, with a longer cross-gen rollout. LMG kept PIA after reassessing the acquisition and confirming that the product still aligns with their usage and privacy expectations. The UPS fire was not just a warranty annoyance; a power-protection device should not fail by arcing and catching fire, so Eaton should investigate regardless of warranty status.

Data Points: Intel Xe GPU TDP range: 75W to 500W - Leaked Arctic Sound presentation referenced three card configurations. Intel dual-tile GPU TDP: 300W - Middle-tier Xe configuration discussed as workstation/high-end consumer class. Intel four-tile GPU TDP: 400W to 500W - Highest-power Xe configuration requiring 48V server power. Highest historical consumer GPU TDP mentioned: 375W - GeForce GTX Titan Z cited as prior extreme example. R9 295X2 TDP: 500W - Used as an example of a previous dual-GPU 500W card. PS5 bill of materials: around $450 per unit - Bloomberg report cited in discussion of Sony’s pricing pressure. Backblaze restored files: 35+ billion files - Mentioned in the Backblaze sponsor segment as a measure of scale. Backblaze monthly price: $6/month - Unlimited backup service pricing discussed on air. LMG US shipping: $8.99 flat rate, 2-5 day shipping - New LTTstore shipping pricing announced. LMG Canada shipping: $12.99 flat rate, 2-6 day shipping - New LTTstore shipping pricing announced. LMG international shipping: $15.99 flat rate, 7-14 day shipping - Major improvement over prior international rates. Old international shipping duration: up to 45 days - Used to illustrate the previous shipping pain point. Starlink network cost: roughly $10 billion USD or more - Estimate for global satellite deployment discussed. Starlink latency: 25-35 ms - Compared to traditional satellite latency for remote regions. Geostationary satellite latency: 600 ms typical; 477 ms best-case theoretical - Compared with Starlink’s lower latency. UPS damage event: 1000 watts - The filming light that triggered the arcing/fire event. UPS rating: 12,000 VA configured - Current configured capacity described during the fire explanation. Wattage of older power modules: 1,200 kVA / 12,000 VA config noted - Illustrated the UPS module setup and remaining capacity after one unit was removed. Steam library size mentioned: close to 450 games - Used to explain why Steam Labs’ game recommender could be helpful. Live poll result for phone preference: standard phones 65% - Audience straw poll on standard vs flipping vs folding phones. Channel Super Fun initial audience size: 100,000 subscribers before first upload - Highlighted as the first LMG channel to launch with built-in audience.

Pivotal Quotes: "“A lot of the time LTT has sort of become an unwieldy ship to steer.”" — Linus: Explaining why Short Circuit was created as a separate channel. "“I am not jacked for it. I like driving.”" — Linus: Clarifying his position on software-licensed vehicle features and self-driving ownership models. "“Under no circumstances should a product designed for power protection light on fire.”" — Linus: Describing the Eaton UPS failure and why it deserves serious investigation.

Implications: The episode highlights a future of tech products that are more segmented, licensed, and service-dependent. For listeners, it signals more cross-gen consoles, cloud-gaming negotiations, and feature-gated hardware, while LMG is also adapting its content model and store logistics to match audience and business realities.