Share
The Hardware Unboxed Podcast
How The DRAM Crisis Will Affect Gaming GPUs (feat. Ed from Sapphire)
Ep. 92
•
Episode 92: Edward Crisler from Radeon-exclusive AIB Sapphire joins the podcast to chat about the current GPU market. How will rising DRAM prices affect gaming GPUs? Can the GPU makers and AIBs absorb some of the increased cost? Also we talk about RDNA 4 and how successful it's been compared to previous generations, AMD's true market share, and of course, the Sapphire Puke box art
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - RDNA 4 Launch at Sapphire
05:11 - RDNA 4 vs Older Generations Success
11:32 - The DRAM Crisis
20:25 - AIBs Want More Control
24:48 - Thoughts on 12VHPWR
26:32 - How Are SKU Decisions Made?
32:35 - Sapphire Puke
35:27 - DRAM Pricing: What Can AMD and AIBs Do?
44:50 - AI-Focused GPU Makers Owe Everything to Gamers
50:56 - AMD's True Market Share
59:05 - The Key to RDNA 4's Success
1:03:13 - Outro with Ed's Favorite Sapphire Generation
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Audio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcast
Video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfw
SUPPORT US DIRECTLY
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxed
LINKS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxed
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social
More episodes
View all episodes
109. The Radeon RX 9050 4GB is Absolutely Diabolical
01:19:06||Ep. 109Episode 109: AMD has done something unfathomable: they're releasing a brand new 4GB GPU in the year 2026. We talk about the new Radeon RX 9050 and why this graphics card seems like a giant turd, both the 8GB and 4GB variants.CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro00:30 - AMD Radeon RX 9050 Discussion Begins40:24 - Why Not Just Re-Launch an Old GPU?48:12 - The Days of Good Cheap GPUs are Over1:09:02 - Updates From Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social108. LG Screws Customers With Bloatware, and Nvidia Tones Down DLSS 5
01:16:53||Ep. 108Episode 108: LG has been very naughty, caught installing their bloatware application on to PCs without the consent of monitor buyers. Seems dodgy, so we talk about that. We also look over the latest DLSS 5 announcements from Nvidia's recent presentation.CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro00:40 - LG Installs Bloatware on Monitor Buyers' PCs33:35 - Nvidia Shows More DLSS 5 Details56:20 - Updates From Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social107. Nvidia Hid Important GPU Info, and the 5800X3D is a Good Deal
01:16:44||Ep. 107Episode 107: We chat about some of the latest CPU releases, including the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 10th Anniversary Edition, and the Ryzen 7 7700X3D, which doesn't make a ton of sense when nobody is doing platform upgrades. Also, we thought it was quite amusing that Nvidia's hotspot GPU temperature has now been uncovered, so we discuss that whole situation.CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro01:02 - The Ryzen 7 7700X3D has Launched08:32 - The Ryzen 7 5800X3D Actually Makes Sense24:53 - Nvidia GPU Hotspot Temperature Situation40:24 - Steam Machine Thermals and HDMI-CEC01:04:55 - Updates From Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social106. Sony Kills Physical Games, Nvidia GPU Struggles & The Future of Gaming
01:24:02||Ep. 106Episode 106: We chat about Sony ending production of physical games in 2028, and the implications that has for game ownership. Plus we talk about the challenges Nvidia faces with improving GPU performance, and the future of gaming as a result.CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro00:30 - Life Update02:35 - A chat about recent content06:00 - Playstation ending disc support32:06 - Has GPU performance really hit a ceiling?44:00 - The future of gaming?53:34 - Is Radeon in the same boat as Nvidia?01:01:03 - Why games aren't getting better?01:19:36 - Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social105. Valve Stuffed Up the Steam Machine
01:13:25||Ep. 105Episode 105: We give some additional thoughts on how bad the Steam Machine is, and yes, we think it is very bad. Then we chat briefly about the Ryzen 7 5800X3D being re-released.CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro00:31 - Yeah we haven't changed our mind on the Steam Machine16:45 - Microsoft increased the price of the XBOX21:20 - Steam Machine is the new Verge PC28:28 - Pre Built as a HTPC34:33 - Playstation/XBOX is easier to use than Windows46:22 - Our thoughts on Valve50:00 - 5800X3D is back and a good buy?1:01:24 - Updates from Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social104. "Joke of a Product" - The Radeon RX 9070 GRE Hasn't Impressed Us
01:06:12||Ep. 104Episode 104: Upon our return from Computex, we chat about the current graphics card market, including AMD's bizarre release of the Radeon RX 9070 GRE.CHAPTERS00:00 - Chat About the Radeon RX 9070 GRE22:42 - The Current State of GPU Sales50:08 - Updates From Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social103. Are We Wrong About Ray Tracing?
01:03:18||Ep. 103Episode 103: Some people got upset that we claimed Nvidia didn't deliver on their promised ray tracing future. So we discuss that, the RTX 20 series, how ray tracing was marketed, and whether we think it's lived up to the original hypeCHAPTERS00:00 - Chat About Ray Tracing 55:12 - Updates From Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social102. No 9950X3D2 for Gamers Nexus and LTT... What's Going On?
01:16:57||Ep. 102Episode 102: We chat about the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition situation: the CPU itself and how it performs, AMD's decision not to provide review samples and more.CHAPTERS00:00 - Chat About 9950X3D21:04:20 - Updates From Our Boring LivesSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social101. Everyone Hates DLSS 5, Here's Our Thoughts
01:11:47||Ep. 101Episode 101: What are our thoughts on Nvidia's DLSS 5 reveal? Time to chat about that, along with Crimson Desert, which we've been benchmarkingCHAPTERS00:00 - Intro00:31 - Our Initial Thoughts on DLSS 508:14 - DLSS 5's Artistic Changes27:36 - Possible Technical Challenges42:07 - The Reaction to DLSS 549:24 - Crimson Desert Impressions1:08:03 - Final ThoughtsSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTAudio: https://shows.acast.com/the-hardware-unboxed-podcastVideo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT8Vb3jweH6_tj2SarErfwSUPPORT US DIRECTLYPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/hardwareunboxedLINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardwareUnboxedBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hardwareunboxed.bsky.social