What the *@&%! had happened to AnandTech??

[gString]

I've been reading AnandTech for quite some time now. Slowly it become my main computer hardware resource. Admittedly, I become addicted.
Don't get me wrong - I'm interested in games, cameras and home-theater. But it's not why I come to this site for. I need my hardware fix! I finally joined the forums, in the sole purpose of trying to claim the good old PC hardware site back. Maybe it's just me, so old fashion that I don't even play multiplayer games?
Give me back the system guides. Give me back the MB roundup. Tell me what is the best memory speed to buy for what processor on which chipset. Give me back AnandTech.
Pretty please?

 

[harobikes333]

Agreed, they've kinda slacked on the system guides / hardware combo recommendations...

your best bet is to read up and see what's the best for your money

 

[DaveSimmons]

AT still does chipset and individual motherboard reviews, along with video cards and hard drives including SSDs. They don't do the multi-brand roundups much anymore but other than that I don't see much missing.

For video cards, most are reference design these days so a multi-card [ same-GPU ] roundup would be a waste of time, unless it was to rate the box & heatsink art.

 

[Rike]

I guess you kind of have a point. I used to read everything that came out of AT. Now I hardly read half of it. So much of it seems, well, irrelevant. Maybe that's just what happens when you try to appeal to a wider group.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: gString
I've been reading AnandTech for quite some time now. Slow, it become my main computer hardware resource. Admittedly, I become addicted.
Don't get me wrong - I'm interested in games, cameras and home-theater. But it's not why I come to this site for. I need my hardware fix! I finally joined the forums, in the sole purpose of trying to claim the good old PC hardware site back. Maybe it's just me, so old fashion that I don't even play multiplayer games?
Give me back the system guides. Give me back the MB roundup. Tell me what is the best memory speed to buy for what processor on which chipset. Give me back AnandTech.
Pretty please?

Yeah I agree. It's really gone downhill in the last couple of years. It's all about games and gadgets these days. I think Anand may have lost interest and the other staff have basically taken over and they have different interests? Who knows.

 

[Roguestar]

A P45/P35/X48 board roundup would do quite nicely, for example. I'm sure they'll get back into the swing of things with the excitement of a new platform when i7 comes out, but don't forget about us current users!

 

[coolpurplefan]

I'd also like to see a review of which heatsinks can easilly be taken off. I know it sounds funny, but some heatsinks are made in such a way that either you cannot slide the heatsink off (because of some bolts) or it's just too difficult to put on and take off in the first place. Also, whether you can replace a fan on the heatsink yourself, stuff like that anyway...

 

[wwswimming]

agreed. those "motherboard round-ups" are GREAT. especially if you like pictures
of motherboards, which i do.

 

[Blain]

The component reviews are what brought me to AnandTech back in 1998, when I was configuring my first build.
The reviews over the last few years do have seem to have drifted quite a bit.

Maybe "The Boss" will listen to these comments about the site, but maybe he won't.

 

[gString]

Hey - at least I'm not the only one here! Basically, I agree with all that has been said here.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Hmmm....maybe that's why I mainly stick to the forums now and not the main site. Never thought about it, but you're right.
Maybe like the old BB King song, "The Thrill is Gone", for the higher ups of this site.

 

[gString]

DaveSimmons - You have a point there, video-cards roundup don't make much sense. But what about gpu roundup? price point recommendations?
I, for one, wonder if it make sense for me to add another gtx8800 for SLI?

Let's face it - there are better places to read about games and cameras, as much as I have sympathy for AT. The PC hardware is the reason the site thrives, but it seem that Anand lost his some of his passion for it. I don't blame him! I'm just selfishly sorry about it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

AT is still doing a good job of comparing GPUs against each other, including SLI, except for mobile parts.

I agree that AT is not where I want to read game reviews or camera reviews, other sites are more qualified for those.

 

[Roguestar]

I can't complain as far as graphics cards reviews are concerned, AnandTech seem to be pretty up to date on those, in terms of the major card revisions. Nonetheless, the likes of a roundup between a whole different rake of Radeon HD4850s with different coolers and the sapphire new design board, and all compared to the reference board and reference cooler, would be pretty handy...

 

[geokilla]

I'm still waiting for AnandTech's P45 mobo reviews...I don't think I ever saw AnandTech do a review on them.

 

[coolpurplefan]

Originally posted by: geokilla
I'm still waiting for AnandTech's P45 mobo reviews...I don't think I ever saw AnandTech do a review on them.

I just looked at the Asus website and noticed that for socket 775, there's like a billion chipsets. I'm kind of glad I went with an AMD board because it would have taken me 5 years to figure out which chipset I wanted to choose.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: coolpurplefan
I just looked at the Asus website and noticed that for socket 775, there's like a billion chipsets. I'm kind of glad I went with an AMD board because it would have taken me 5 years to figure out which chipset I wanted to choose.

All you had to do was post a new thread. We would have told you to go with an Intel P45 based MB.

 

[Bubba56]

Long time reader/lurker of AT, first time poster tho. I do have to agree to a certain extent about the over abundance of game reviews compared to hardware. I have always used AT as an impartial site for hardware, but when I tried to find reviews of DVD/CD burners and a couple other things lately, I had to come to the forums to and/or look at the recommended builds.

Perhaps I just haven't found it, but I want to read a review or thoughts on building a NAS (w/ ethernet) and/or eSata, vs buying a "store-bought". How aboutthe reviews, performance comparisons of some of the name brand DVD/CD Burners, Samsung vs Sony vs Lite-on etc.

I can also agree that reviews of GPU's might be a moot point as they are basically reference models, but perhaps a comparison of speed/features or Crossfire vs SLI @ xxx price point.

/shrug, perhaps I am just an old geez that just can't handle change but .. It seems like there is SO much information spread out that one doesn't get GOOD information on particulars??? (and yes the 56 in handle is year of birth, told ya OLD )

 

[lxskllr]

I've never read Anandtech's guides, or generally anyone else's. I prefer to read forums, as you get a better feel for how the hardware works in the field. You also get a better grasp of components that fail over time, or under certain non-standard conditions(overclocking/overvolting).

 

[gString]

Originally posted by: Bubba56
Long time reader/lurker of AT, first time poster tho. I do have to agree to a certain extent about the over abundance of game reviews compared to hardware. I have always used AT as an impartial site for hardware, but when I tried to find reviews of DVD/CD burners and a couple other things lately, I had to come to the forums to and/or look at the recommended builds.

Perhaps I just haven't found it, but I want to read a review or thoughts on building a NAS (w/ ethernet) and/or eSata, vs buying a "store-bought". How aboutthe reviews, performance comparisons of some of the name brand DVD/CD Burners, Samsung vs Sony vs Lite-on etc.

I can also agree that reviews of GPU's might be a moot point as they are basically reference models, but perhaps a comparison of speed/features or Crossfire vs SLI @ xxx price point.

/shrug, perhaps I am just an old geez that just can't handle change but .. It seems like there is SO much information spread out that one doesn't get GOOD information on particulars??? (and yes the 56 in handle is year of birth, told ya OLD )

Darn, I thought I'm the oldest...
I would, too, like to see info on building NAS. Another idea - a guide of building system with RAID 0 and round up of how good different controller are in term of speed AND what happens if you actually have one of the drive go bad.
I'm sure that we can up with a lot of usefull stuff we'd like to see. How about a survey of user rating the reliability of their MB and harddrive (can't use HD any more, huh) brands - not feature and speed, but reliability?

That's exactly my point - have the site focus back to hardware and useful info so we can do right decisions. That, and so we can look smart in the eyes of people who don't read AT

 

[Blain]

* X-bit Labs
* Tech Report
* Hot Hardware
* Big Bruin
* PC Perspective
* Tech Spot
* Sharky Extreme
* Firing Squad
* bit-tech
* Mad Shrimps
* Tweak Town
* PC Stats
* DarkVision Hardware
* CDR Info

* Tech Links 100

 

[gString]

Originally posted by: Blain

* X-bit Labs
* Tech Report
* Hot Hardware
* Big Bruin
* PC Perspective
* Tech Spot
* Sharky Extreme
* Firing Squad
* bit-tech
* Mad Shrimps
* Tweak Town
* PC Stats
* DarkVision Hardware
* CDR Info

* Tech Links 100

:laugh: Yeah, I guess I got lazy - I should go back on hunting my info

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Bubba56
Perhaps I just haven't found it, but I want to read a review or thoughts on building a NAS (w/ ethernet) and/or eSata, vs buying a "store-bought". How aboutthe reviews, performance comparisons of some of the name brand DVD/CD Burners, Samsung vs Sony vs Lite-on etc.

Here is a short fast starter, http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2235588&enterthread=y

Originally posted by: gString
Darn, I thought I'm the oldest...

As compare to me your are a Yelled (kid).

 

[Dravic]

Originally posted by: gString
I've been reading AnandTech for quite some time now. Slowly it become my main computer hardware resource. Admittedly, I become addicted.
Don't get me wrong - I'm interested in games, cameras and home-theater. But it's not why I come to this site for. I need my hardware fix! I finally joined the forums, in the sole purpose of trying to claim the good old PC hardware site back. Maybe it's just me, so old fashion that I don't even play multiplayer games?
Give me back the system guides. Give me back the MB roundup. Tell me what is the best memory speed to buy for what processor on which chipset. Give me back AnandTech.
Pretty please?

The sight has indeed been taking a turn to the more casual tech reader. I don?t really care for PR releases on up coming cameras, or game reviews. It will be a sad day when my bookmark is migrated from www.anandtech.com to forums.anandtech.com.

While AT was a tremendous resource for technical information and comparisons, it was backed up by a very rich and lively forum. They are no longer feeding their base as much as they used to, and the slow down (at least perceived slow down) in posts shows this. It would be hard press for a post that wasn?t relevant to stay on the first page of a forum for more then an hour, never mind a day.

The motherboard articles were some of the most beneficial roundups they produced, and are missing. The GPU articles are still good, and the CPU articles while less frequent (more do to AMDs current state then anything else) are still detailed.

But one man can only do so much. They site is no longer a small community site. I?m sure Anand has taken on more of a roll of business owner rather then hardware enthusiast with a website.

 

[gString]

Originally posted by: Dravic

The sight has indeed been taking a turn to the more casual tech reader. I don?t really care for PR releases on up coming cameras, or game reviews. It will be a sad day when my bookmark is migrated from www.anandtech.com to forums.anandtech.com.

While AT was a tremendous resource for technical information and comparisons, it was backed up by a very rich and lively forum. They are no longer feeding their base as much as they used to, and the slow down (at least perceived slow down) in posts shows this. It would be hard press for a post that wasn?t relevant to stay on the first page of a forum for more then an hour, never mind a day.

The motherboard articles were some of the most beneficial roundups they produced, and are missing. The GPU articles are still good, and the CPU articles while less frequent (more do to AMDs current state then anything else) are still detailed.

But one man can only do so much. They site is no longer a small community site. I?m sure Anand has taken on more of a roll of business owner rather then hardware enthusiast with a website.

Yeah, I believe you got it right. The big question is: Can it be reversed? And can we contribute to that?

Originally posted by: JackMDS
As compare to me your are a Yelled (kid).

Ha! Was it my accent that gave me away, Saba (grandpa) ? :thumbsup: