Podcast #849 - Year End Show - AM4 CPU Price Spike, 8GB Laptops in 2026, RTX 50 Series Cuts, 2025 wrap up + MORE!

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 ★

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 ★

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 ★

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 ★

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 ★

Yes, we talked about DDR5 pricing a lot, again.  But we also talked about a very special Intel 18A customer, one billion PCs screaming out in pain (it's a metaphor!), AMD CPU / GPU pricing trends, ASUS router vulnerabilities (again), alternatives to Windows for playing games which includes playing web based old console games.  It's a thing.  Also, we virtually pour one out for Crucial (Micron).Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:33 Patreon01:03 Food with Josh02:35 Micron shutting Crucial down07:54 Pricing a budget AM5 build on PCPartPicker11:47 Reports of Ryzen price increases (and then more DDR5 price talk)16:10 A new, faster Ryzen X3D is coming19:11 Intel to fab Apple silicon?21:48 NVIDIA reportedly stops bundling RAM with GPUs27:50 1 billion PCs still on Windows 1033:57 Plex starts their free remote streaming crackdown40:01 (In)Security Corner48:35 Gaming Quick Hits59:32 Check out our short video on the HyperX SoloCast 21:00:31 Picks of the Week1:11:17 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Cloudlflare asks Amazon to hold it's virtual "beer", HEVC and H.265 support being removed from CPUs ... sorta, Steam Machine priced like lobster and will Intel bLLC compete with AMD 3D-vCache?  But we mostly complain about DDR5 in this exciting episode!00:00 Intro00:30 Patreon01:44 Food with Josh04:10 We talk about the DDR5 problem for the third week in a row18:44 TSMC confirmed September power outage at Arizona fab23:01 Dell and HP removing HEVC from some laptops26:33 Unpowered SSDs slowly lose data32:32 Is Intel bLLC really an X3D competitor?34:13 (in)Security Corner42:01 Gaming Quick Hits46:18 Picks of the Week1:06:12 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What do you get after 844 episodes?  This one.  We've got hacked Android photoframes, DDR5 driving up prices on everything, Nvidia financials for the win, and even some Fallout mods.  Join in the fun!Oh, do check out our sponsor this week, it definitely helps the show!  Notion AI!Don't just start your projects, bring it all together and get it *done*.  See what Notion Agent can do for you.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:59 Programming update (livestream next week but no pod)02:27 Patreon04:40 Food with Josh06:44 NVIDIA financials20:18 DDR5 prices are skyrocketing25:00 Intel "ai" chief joins OpenAI29:37 AMD to release the latest FSR on December 1033:06 Microsoft makes Sysmon native to Windows36:05 SilverStone's retro case family grows37:48 The accessory market for Steam Machine has begun38:13 Podcast sponsor Notion39:30 (In)Security Corner53:32 Gaming Quick Hits1:02:48 Crucial Pro DDR5-6400 CL32 review1:11:23 Picks of the Week1:20:13 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Only three of us were available this week, but the show must go on! Perhaps the energy is a bit subdued without Bront and that other guy, but you might just find something buried in the protracted ramblings that could interest you for a few fleeting seconds.Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:41 Patreon02:10 Food with Josh05:45 Josh’s take on AMD Financial Analyst Day13:49 A digression to actually talk about hardware (mostly?)17:33 AMD Ryzen X3D outsells entire Intel CPU lineup20:10 Softbank sells all NVIDIA stock21:50 Server HDDs in short supply26:23 Microsoft testing out haptic feedback with Win 11 beta28:42 RTX 50 SUPER series possibly delayed until late 202630:03 Google ending support for 1st gen and 2nd gen Nest31:00 (In)Security Corner41:06 Gaming Quick Hits (featuring The Steam Machine)48:14 Check out our Sapphire B850 motherboard review video56:47  Picks of the Week1:04:01 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

AMD makes the big money and gets sued at the same time.  RDNA 1 & 2 support shall continue ... mostly.  Windows gets fixes to the Update and Shutdown.  Tall chips and clean up tips, kill commands, LInux gaming and TP-Link might catch a total ban + so much more!Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:26 Patreon03:49 Food with Josh07:21 AMD earnings15:34 AMD hit with patent lawsuit over 3D V-Cache21:47 Radeon RDNA 1 and 2 maintenance mode story25:36 World's tallest chip defies Moore's law?30:55 Windows Update and shut down actually works now33:06 Windows Update naming update36:00 Handy tips on cleaning up Windows 11 25H239:37 NVIDIA denies report that RTX 5090 is discontinued41:48 Podcast sponsor43:14 (In)Security Corner56:48 Gaming Quick Hits1:11:00 Josh presents the Asetek Initium racing bundle1:30:03 Picks of the Week1:41:38 Outro ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★