The Final Nail for Intel - WAN Show October 2 , 2020

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The WAN Show covered major tech launches and rumors, led by leaked Ryzen 5800X/5900X benchmarks suggesting AMD’s Zen 3 could rival or beat Intel’s i9-class CPUs. The hosts also debated Google’s Pixel 5 and 4a 5G value, software support and subscription models for phones, NVIDIA delaying the RTX 3070 for stock, and Microsoft’s progress on Windows on Arm with 64-bit x86 emulation.

Main Topics: Leaked Ryzen 5000 Zen 3 Benchmarks (Priority: 5/5): The hosts discussed leaked Ashes of the Singularity results for the Ryzen 7 5800X and separate rumors for the Ryzen 9 5900X, emphasizing strong IPC and clock gains that could put AMD ahead of Intel's Comet Lake parts. Google’s Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, and Nest Audio (Priority: 5/5): They reviewed Google’s new hardware lineup, focusing on the Pixel 5’s midrange Snapdragon 765G, the 4a 5G as the better value, and the Nest Audio and Chromecast with Google TV announcements. Phone Pricing, Longevity, and Subscription Software Support (Priority: 5/5): A long debate focused on whether phone OS updates should be funded through a monthly support fee or mandated by regulation, with Linus arguing that ongoing software maintenance has real costs and that current Android support models are unsustainable. NVIDIA RTX 3070 Launch Delay (Priority: 4/5): They framed NVIDIA’s decision to delay the RTX 3070 launch as potentially consumer-friendly, giving more time for stock to build and improving availability at launch. Microsoft Surface and Windows on Arm (Priority: 4/5): The show covered Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go and updated Surface Pro X, then shifted to Microsoft’s announcement of native Teams and 64-bit x86 emulation for Windows on Arm, which could make Arm laptops much more viable. Google Product Strategy and Service Frustrations (Priority: 4/5): The hosts vented about Google’s inconsistent product direction, citing Stadia, Daydream, Google Play Music’s sunset, YouTube Music shortcomings, and bugs in reminders and family support. Bounty/Hardware Oddity: Dual-Interface Graphics Card (Priority: 2/5): They introduced a bounty for an unusual ATI Radeon X1600 Pro card with both AGP and PCI Express interfaces, joking about what would happen if it were installed in two systems at once.

Key Arguments: AMD’s Ryzen 5000 naming may improve consumer clarity because desktop and mobile product tiers are now more aligned with architecture generations. The leaked 5800X benchmark suggests AMD may have successfully leveraged Intel-like high-number branding against Intel’s own naming hierarchy. The hosts suspect the Ashes of the Singularity leak could be a cherry-picked or accidental AMD internal slide rather than a neutral third-party leak. Phones need longer software support; without a sustainable funding model, Android devices become e-waste too quickly. A subscription or maintenance fee for OS support could be a practical way to fund long-term updates, similar to other software services. NVIDIA’s RTX 3070 delay may be a good move because launching with poor availability hurts consumers and brand perception more than waiting a few weeks. Windows on Arm becomes significantly more attractive if Microsoft’s 64-bit emulation works well, since it removes a major compatibility barrier. Google’s habit of abandoning or fragmenting products undermines trust, especially when services like Play Music, YouTube Music, Stadia, and reminders create user pain.

Data Points: Ryzen 7 5800X benchmark comparison: Superior CPU performance to Core i9-10900K, roughly comparable GPU performance - Leaked Ashes of the Singularity benchmark discussed as evidence of Zen 3 strength Ryzen 9 5900X rumor: 12 cores, 5 GHz boost, 150 W TDP - Separate leaked benchmark rumors for Zen 3 desktop CPUs IPC improvement estimate: ~15% - Expected Zen 3 instructions-per-cycle uplift over Zen 2 TSMC process gain: ~7% performance improvement - Mentioned in relation to an enhanced N7P process candidate Pixel 5 price: $700 USD - Discussed as flagship-like pricing for a midrange Snapdragon 765G phone Pixel 4a 5G price: $500 USD - Presented as the better value alternative to the Pixel 5 Pixel 5 RAM: 8 GB - Compared against the Pixel 4a 5G and previous Pixels Pixel 4a 5G RAM: 6 GB - Lower than Pixel 5 but similar in practical use for many buyers Nest Audio price: $100 USD - Google’s new smart speaker positioned against Sonos and other home audio devices Nest Audio bass and volume: 50% more bass, 75% more volume - Google’s claimed improvements over the previous Google Home Nest Audio driver sizes: 19 mm tweeter; 75 mm midwoofer - Speaker hardware specs cited during the product discussion Chromecast with Google TV launch detail: No Stadia support at launch - Mentioned as a limitation of the new Google TV dongle RTX 3070 launch timing: Delayed to end of October - NVIDIA delayed launch to improve stock availability Surface Laptop Go display: 12.4-inch, 1536 x 1024 - Specs of Microsoft’s entry-level Surface laptop Surface Laptop Go webcam: 720p - Noted as part of the device’s lower-end positioning Surface Laptop Go starting storage: 64 GB eMMC - Cited as a weak point for a $549 machine Surface Laptop Go price: $549 USD - Microsoft’s budget Surface laptop launch price Ashes of the Singularity player count: 83 peak players in last 24 hours - Used to illustrate how niche the benchmark game has become Ashes of the Singularity weekly spike: 3,758 players - Observed around late April in Steam Charts, likely due to a bundle or event

Pivotal Quotes: "this is going to be as good or better than an Intel Core i9" — Linus: Discussing leaked Ryzen 7 5800X benchmark results "what if you could just pay a monthly fee for ongoing operating system support" — Linus: Proposing a subscription model for long-term smartphone software updates "we are leading into the next story here Microsoft is planning to solve windows on arm's biggest flaw" — Linus: Transitioning from Surface hardware to Microsoft’s Arm compatibility announcement

Implications: AMD may pressure Intel on both performance and branding. Google’s launch highlights value but also weak software support confidence. Microsoft’s Arm push could finally make Arm laptops practical. The broader theme is consumers want better long-term support, not just new hardware.