You can buy Intel's Unreleased CPU RIGHT NOW - WAN Show March 5, 2021

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on two major hardware-market disruptions: AnandTech’s early retail-bought Intel Core i7-11700K review and Linus Tech Tips’ own “Verified Actual Gamer” GPU purchase program. They also discuss NVIDIA’s rumored 3060 mining limiter on the 3080 Ti, AMD’s likely paper-launch problems, Google’s shift toward privacy-preserving ad cohorts, and Arizona legislation challenging app-store payment monopolies. The tone blends analysis, skepticism, and operational details about scarcity, tariffs, and anti-scalping efforts.

Main Topics: AnandTech’s early Intel Core i7-11700K review (Priority: 5/5): The hosts break down how AnandTech published a full review before embargo by buying retail hardware, why Intel couldn’t practically enforce NDA terms once the chip was publicly sold, and what the performance results suggest versus AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X. Verified Actual Gamer GPU allocation program (Priority: 5/5): Linus reveals a coming program to sell RTX 3080/3090-class cards at MSRP to verified gamers, emphasizing limited supply, anti-scalping intent, regional/tariff complications, and that the launch will be announced through scheduled content. GPU shortages, mining, and NVIDIA/AMD strategy (Priority: 5/5): They discuss the rumored ETH mining limiter on NVIDIA’s 3060/possibly 3080 Ti, the rationale behind product launches during a severe GPU shortage, and AMD’s 6700 XT launch likely becoming another paper launch. Google’s privacy positioning and FLoC (Priority: 4/5): The hosts examine Google’s announcement to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome and replace them with cohort-based tracking (FLoC), arguing it may preserve Google’s ad power while raising barriers for competitors. Arizona bill against app-store payment exclusivity (Priority: 4/5): They cover an Arizona House bill requiring app platforms to allow third-party payments for developers based in the state, framing it as a meaningful challenge to Apple’s app-store control and a possible template for other states. Market and distribution realities in consumer tech (Priority: 4/5): Across the episode, they repeatedly stress that shortages, tariffs, shipping costs, and retail/channel access now determine what consumers can actually buy, often more than product performance does.

Key Arguments: AnandTech’s embargo workaround was legitimate because retail availability makes NDA enforcement effectively moot once the product is already public. Intel’s real failure was allowing the chip to reach retail before media seeding, not AnandTech’s decision to review it. The 11700K shows real but not revolutionary gains; Intel still trails AMD in efficiency and many workloads, though it may be the best option if it is the only chip available. During a chip crunch, consumers should buy the processor or GPU they can actually find at a reasonable price rather than waiting indefinitely for the ideal part. Launching lower-tier GPUs when the market cannot satisfy high-end demand mainly creates more customer frustration and adds little practical value. The Verified Actual Gamer program is an anti-scalping effort that is intentionally more than a simple giveaway and is designed to route scarce GPUs to real users at MSRP. Google’s shift away from third-party cookies is presented as privacy-friendly in theory, but likely also strengthens Google’s control over ad-tech and raises entry barriers for others. State-level app-store payment legislation could materially alter platform economics and may encourage companies to relocate to more favorable jurisdictions. GPU mining restrictions may matter less long-term if Ethereum’s roadmap changes or if other coins remain profitable; the bigger issue is scarcity and resale inflation. No perfect anti-scalping system exists; the goal is to maximize the odds that hardware reaches genuine users rather than resellers.

Data Points: Intel Core i7-11700K retail price referenced: About $369 USD equivalent / around $400 retail in Europe - AnandTech reportedly bought the chip from a European retailer before embargo AnandTech timing: Nearly two weeks early - Full review published before Intel’s embargo lift Intel CPU core comparison: 8 cores - The 11700K is discussed as replacing a 10-core part in Intel’s lineup 10th-gen uplift: 19% floating-point, 7–13% integer - Reported performance gains versus 10th-gen Intel CPUs Ryzen 7 5800X MSRP: $449.99 - Used as the main pricing/performance comparison point for Intel’s competing chip RTX 3080 resale price: Nearly $4,000 - Discussion of extreme eBay/scalper pricing RTX 3060 retail resale range: About $800–$900 - Used to illustrate current GPU scarcity and markup RTX 3060 Ti resale price: Around $1,200–$1,300 - Further evidence of severe inflation on used GPU markets Verified Actual Gamer program stock: Between 80 and 100 cards - Initial planned first drop, subject to supplier issues and lost units GPU tariff surcharge: 25% - Applied to cards that touch U.S. soil after import, per the discussion Arizona House vote: 31 to 29 - Bill advancing third-party payment allowance narrowly passed the House Google tracking change: Third-party cookies phased out; FLoC cohorts tested - Google’s announced move toward cohort-based ad targeting Fortnite pro signing bonus: $33,000 - Eight-year-old Joseph Dean signed with Team 33 Fortnite World Cup prize: $3 million - Referenced as context for the sport’s high earnings Dwarf Fortress benchmark note: Small, medium, and large world sizes - Used humorously while describing benchmark behavior and performance categories

Pivotal Quotes: "If it's on a retail shelf and you can buy it, it's out." — Linus: Explaining why AnandTech’s early review is hard for Intel to object to "The smart money would be to get the AMD processor. Except that... due to high demand and prioritizing commercial and enterprise contracts, the only parts readily available on retail shelves right now are from Intel." — Dr. Ian Cutress / AnonTech conclusion as cited in discussion: Summarizing the practical buying advice amid shortages "It's not a giveaway, it's just a chance to buy them." — Linus: Clarifying the Verified Actual Gamer program’s purpose and legal framing

Implications: Consumers will increasingly buy based on availability, not ideal benchmarks. Manufacturers’ embargo and launch strategies are under more pressure, anti-scalping systems are becoming a competitive differentiator, and state laws plus privacy shifts may reshape platform economics and ad tech.