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

[BurnItDwn]

I agree 1000% about motherboard roundups ....
I miss the mobo articles. The chipset articles were nifty when announced, but I miss the roundups. It was nice to see a dozen different boards for whatever CPU socket is the flavor of the month comparing and contrasting the boards ...
I think AT does well with the video card reviews, and I actually do like the power supply reviews, but reviews of games and such, really IMO is a bit out of place.

 

[Hlafordlaes]

Ditto, ibid, same here. I especially have appreciated the mobo, chipset, psu and vid card/IGP reviews and roundups, as well as the care taken in the past to focus on media playback as well as 3D graphics. Requests:

OCing: Finish up on that delicious intro to PLL signal stability etc from a few weeks back. Arguably best article in recent memory.
Mobos: More late cycle feedback and, in a sense, support. For example, based on a great socket 775 roundup in 2007(?), lotsa AT readers picked up one of the Asrock transition boards with the VIA PT880 chipset. There was talk at the time of getting a bit more guidance from Gary on advanced BIOS options (still waiting wistfully). If there is a site that might get VIA or Asrock to open up enough to explain some of the cryptic settings, it's AT. (Madshrimps tried and failed, btw).
HTPC: Too many sites are only component-at-a-time in their reviews. This still-emerging market would benefit from a systems viewpoint once in a while (soup-to-nuts budget, mid- and high-end systems).

My $0.02

 

[mindless1]

I agree, bring back everything about 2003 (on Anandtech too!).

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: 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.

I could have written this myself. I joined during the same time-frame under a different user name. I especially like the Buyer's Guides where all the components are suggested for a build. The Budget Buyers' Guide is dated November of 2007. Pretty old, but .... maybe there just hasn't been enough that's changed to justify a new guide. I build a number of computers a year and like to rely on these guides for, well, guidance.

(and yes the 56 in handle is year of birth, told ya OLD )

Young pup. 1954 here. There's some here older than us. Guys with grey whiskers. Greyer than mine anyway.

 

[SonicIce]

yea it pretty much blows now like every other site

 

[Anand Lal Shimpi]

Hmm...perhaps I can do something about this.

Give me some time, these are things that I've noticed as well and want to address. It's actually good to hear it from you all here, it lets me know that I'm not crazy

-A

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Anand Lal Shimpi
-A

We are humbled by your presents :heart:




> The Good Old Days <

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: Anand Lal Shimpi
Hmm...perhaps I can do something about this.

Give me some time, these are things that I've noticed as well and want to address. It's actually good to hear it from you all here, it lets me know that I'm not crazy

-A

Oh sh*t, it's the boss!

Hint-
We're all crazy

 

[AmberClad]

My biggest gripe is the delay after delay that seems to happen with every promised motherboard roundup, eventually leading to said roundup never materializing or being half-baked.

Originally posted by: gString
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?

It's not just you.

I'm a huge gamer -- the parts in my system were chosen with pure gaming in mind, with everything else secondary. But even so, I don't come here for gaming related articles -- that's what I go to GameSpot and IGN for.

In the same way though, I don't go to gaming sites to read about hardware, since their articles tend to be very dumbed down. You certainly wouldn't ever see anything really in-depth, like the Nehalem, Intel SSD, or video card articles here at AT.



Pragmatically speaking, since most of the paid advertisements here at AT are bought by enthusiast hardware companies, wouldn't there be more revenue generated if there were more hardware articles?

 

[AmberClad]

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

A few of my personal favorites that are missing from that site:

* HardOCP
* Hardware Canucks
* Hexus
* LegitReviews

PSUs
* Jonny's site
* Hardware Secrets

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Anand Lal Shimpi
Hmm...perhaps I can do something about this.

Give me some time, these are things that I've noticed as well and want to address. It's actually good to hear it from you all here, it lets me know that I'm not crazy

-A

It's good to know you're at least listening to our feedback. :beer:

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Anand Lal Shimpi
-A

Woot! The boss is here!

My suggestion is to give us more by giving us less.

What does that mean?

I don't think we need as much in-depth reviewing and benchmarking of follow-up products. What I mean is, for instance, after a comprehensive chipset or GPU review any products reviewed after that should just have a cursory benchmark (to make sure nothing is dreadfully wrong), some decent pictures and a quick go at overclocking. Seriously, do we need to know that X motherboard is 0.28% faster than Y motherboard, and that Z motherboard was able to overclock but only after contacting the manufacturer, trying out three different beta BIOSes and sacrificing a rooster?

Generally speaking once a particular chip has been reviewed, everything else based on it is... basically the same. However, readers often want answers to the question of "which exact one should I get?" Thus, short reviews/roundups. Since we know that, say, X motherboard and Y motherboard both use x48 chipset, a "short" review can focus on their individualities such as anything special in BIOS, the layout of the board (which is of great interest to some) and whether there are any pleasant or nasty overclocking suprises. Shorter reviews also means more reviews can be done. Win!

 

[ShawnD1]

I haven't noticed any real problems with the site, and I've been reading since about 2001.

The sections I come here to read are CPU, video, motherboards, and sometimes hard drives. All of those sections are well done. They contain all of the information I need.

 

[lefenzy]

I wish anandtech would stop the power supply reviews and do other hardware. I mean, it's a psu; you just buy a quiet one that meets your needs. It's only when a new cpu is released, ie. not that often, that we get a really in-depth article on cpus from Anand.

On a related note, silentpcreview.com should start reviewing cases again instead of publishing an article once a week on a new fan or a new gpu cooler.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Anand Lal Shimpi
-A

Woot! The boss is here!

My suggestion is to give us more by giving us less.

What does that mean?

I don't think we need as much in-depth reviewing and benchmarking of follow-up products. What I mean is, for instance, after a comprehensive chipset or GPU review any products reviewed after that should just have a cursory benchmark (to make sure nothing is dreadfully wrong), some decent pictures and a quick go at overclocking. Seriously, do we need to know that X motherboard is 0.28% faster than Y motherboard, and that Z motherboard was able to overclock but only after contacting the manufacturer, trying out three different beta BIOSes and sacrificing a rooster?

Generally speaking once a particular chip has been reviewed, everything else based on it is... basically the same. However, readers often want answers to the question of "which exact one should I get?" Thus, short reviews/roundups. Since we know that, say, X motherboard and Y motherboard both use x48 chipset, a "short" review can focus on their individualities such as anything special in BIOS, the layout of the board (which is of great interest to some) and whether there are any pleasant or nasty overclocking suprises. Shorter reviews also means more reviews can be done. Win!

No, longer reviews, and more reviews, anandtech certainly has the traffic to pay for a few more articles....

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: lefenzy
I wish anandtech would stop the power supply reviews and do other hardware. I mean, it's a psu; you just buy a quiet one that meets your needs. It's only when a new cpu is released, ie. not that often, that we get a really in-depth article on cpus from Anand.

On a related note, silentpcreview.com should start reviewing cases again instead of publishing an article once a week on a new fan or a new gpu cooler.

Keep in mind that the guy doing PS reviews is not the guy doing CPU reviews. One is not in place of the other.

 

[HannibalX]

I have been having similar feelings as many people are expressing in this thread for the last few years. AT has fallen out of my #1 slot for hardware analysis and after being here for so long, I will admit that makes me sad. The number one reason for this is the tone/direction of the articles. Articles now seem to concentrate on everything a certain hardware manufacturer is doing wrong and crowning a ?champion? for a certain hardware category, forsaking all other parts in that category. Frankly, this comes off as borderline fanboy?ism (so what if that isn?t a real word). I feel like AT is going for a ?shock and awe? approach instead of an ?intelligent and objective? approach to their articles.

Here is what brought me to AT back in 1999:
1.) In-depth, technical analysis of new hardware.
2.) Unbiased and objective conclusions based on the part, not what the competitor?s part is doing.
3.) Practical information that assisted readers in buying the correct part(s) for their needs.

This is what we get from AT today and why I read their articles last:
1.) Buzz words and plenty of them, lots of subjective opinion and not much actual analysis.
2.) A never ending ?Crowning of Champions? for manufactures that does little to help readers.
3.) A never ending criticism of manufacturers for not doing exactly what AT staffers think they should be doing at any given time.

I think AT needs to experience a ?re-birth? so to speak where staffers get back to basics with their articles. Focus on the parts, what they can do, and how readers can use them. Cut the industry play-by-play, because you aren?t good at it. Focus on what you are good at, the things that brought readers to AT to begin with. The user base here is massive, and people want to continue to participate here ? I know I do.

 

[Anodos]

I've only recently come back to peruse these forums. Built a system about 4 years ago, and now want to build another. The forums have been great!

I have noticed, though, that very little of what's reviewed by A-tech has anything to do with what I'm wanting to do. No offense, I'm sure it's useful to some of you, it's just I remember seeing budget guides and more display reviews and just in general more things that seemed relevant to a basic build.

Still, I'm a big fan of this site, mostly due to the forums.

 

[shomei]

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?

Couldn't agree more! I have been a regular reader of Anandtech for many years, all the way back to 2001. I really miss the old anandtech. I don't remember the last time I have read a motherboard roundup (p35 i think and they left it half finished) from them. I am really a fan of Anandtech and am really sad with what is happening to the site. Unfinished motherboard reviews (saying they are coming back but never do, maximus II, icfx3200 or P965 advanced late boards anyone?, ubuntu guide ?), system guides nowhere to be found (last was in November 2007), heck they don't even have one P45 review (only a preview)!

I think the main problem is they have opened up to so many areas (cameras, economical analysis, gaming, psus (which is a good thing), etc.) that they cannot possibly keep up with each one of them.

Please give me back anandtech, I am a true fan.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: Anodos
I've only recently come back to peruse these forums. Built a system about 4 years ago, and now want to build another. The forums have been great!

I have noticed, though, that very little of what's reviewed by A-tech has anything to do with what I'm wanting to do. No offense, I'm sure it's useful to some of you, it's just I remember seeing budget guides and more display reviews and just in general more things that seemed relevant to a basic build.

Still, I'm a big fan of this site, mostly due to the forums.

I think you hit on a valid point actually -- many of the reviews lately seem to be for ultra high end niche products (Rampage II Extreme, BlackOps, P5E3 Premium, Striker II Extreme...the list goes on and on). Why are there so many X48 reviews, and so few P45 reviews?

How many people actually seriously consider buying something like that, versus a midrange ~$100-$150 dollar board?

I realize that the motherboard companies are probably more interested in sending review sites their high end products, but still. The reviews seem to be more about giving motherboard companies their time in the spotlight, versus actually providing useful buying info to the consumer. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading about and looking at those ultra high end products, but it wouldn't hurt to mix things up a bit.

 

[Zebo]

Here was my last comment on one of those 'previews':

More "look what we got" articles and nothing of substance. I know you're privileged site here at AT and enjoy taunting other sites with your access but briefs just wastes your audiences time.

However - there still inst a better review site - the Russians would win hands down if they got an English editor if only for the plethora of tests in numerous HW tests they do. (e.g. xbitlabs/digit-life)

 

[Zebo]

Lots of good suggestions in this thread besides the un-reviews.

I particularly think more attention needs to be paid to peripherals such as PSU's and HSF's. Understanding testing is difficult and probably experts like jonnyguru would have to be hired there is a certain amount of homogeniality between same product making those products a safer bet to recommend much like CPU's.

Motherboards is the thoughest one - what works for some doesn't work for others because of the myriad of ram/video card selections, software, and certain board bugs and someones tweaking skill. Too many permutations to really cull the heard of motherboards but I agree that more low end products (if you call P45 low end) should be highlighted. There is also no good answer to doing motherboard reviews because I've have some of the same samples do entirely different things with identical hardware and bios installed. For example, I had an DFI NF4 Ultra-D which could hit 333 FSB while the other wouldn't post past 275. So what worked on sample A may not work on sample B even copying the hardware and settings Anandtech (Gary) uses.

Another thing I really think needs to be addressed is lack of legacy Hardware in these reviews. Why not throw a older P4 or A64 in your video review suite for example - doesnt have to be all cards only one card. Or why not throw a 7900 GT or at least a 8800GTX video card in your 4870 X2 review? This does two important things to my mind. Updates peoples memory how fast the new stuff really is compared to their popular choices back in the day and shows them if they can even handle the new software out. It may or may not but at least it would be informative to know.


Anyway I could go on forever but then I'd just be nit picking a great site!

 

[faxon]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Lots of good suggestions in this thread besides the un-reviews.

I particularly think more attention needs to be paid to peripherals such as PSU's and HSF's. Understanding testing is difficult and probably experts like jonnyguru would have to be hired there is a certain amount of homogeniality between same product making those products a safer bet to recommend much like CPU's.

/snip


Another thing I really think needs to be addressed is lack of legacy Hardware in these reviews. Why not throw a older P4 or A64 in your video review suite for example - doesnt have to be all cards only one card. Or why not throw a 7900 GT or at least a 8800GTX video card in your 4870 X2 review? This does two important things to my mind. Updates peoples memory how fast the new stuff really is compared to their popular choices back in the day and shows them if they can even handle the new software out. It may or may not but at least it would be informative to know.


Anyway I could go on forever but then I'd just be nit picking a great site!

this is so true. i only started actively reading anandtech on a daily basis this year, despite checking in every couple weeks since about 2005. i built my first comp when i was in middle school, picked up on the hardware enthusiast side of things in HS, and now im in college studying for a plethora of M$, CompTIA +, and cisco exams. this site is one of the best ones i read hands down because of the reviews it publishes on computer hardware. if i want to read gaming reviews i will go to gamespot or IGN. the exception is when the game is using some kind of amazing new software which is a major breakthrough in computing performance.

as far as things i really want to see MORE of, PLEASE OOH PLEASE start running some display reviews. i know anandtech has the LCD thread (which is what started me spending so much time on the forums lol), but that thread is hard to keep up with and all though it is really well organized, it doesnt really take an in depth look at any of the good displays out there today for gaming, multimedia, professional modeling work, or digital media production. and anandtech could really do with a few more CPU and GPU cooler reviews, as well as a front page review on the latest in water cooling and things that are slated for the future, like liquid metal heat pipe coolers which use an electromagnetic pump to move metal through heat pipes to be radiated away. the site www.benchmarkreviews.com has a better CPU cooler review lineup than anandtech and they only just started this year as far as i know, but already they have put out some of the best CPU cooler reviews and guides on the net, despite being lacking in some areas.

To build on what others have been saying also, we need more of the low end/midrange motherboard roundups, with specific infos on what to watch out for with certain chipsets, and which manufacturers have exceptional features worth checking out. it would also be nice to see at least a biannual roundup of which DVD/BD drives work the best and tend to be generally quiet while doing it. i recently got a lite-on DVD/everything drive which is really good at burning and reading, gets good data transfer rates, and it had like 500+ 4 or 5 star reviews on newegg, but it is audible over a dremel at 10k RPM cutting 1.5mm thick SECC computer cases (i actually tested this im not kidding). it would be great to find out which of our longer lasting parts are good AND quiet in a quick roundup at least every 6 months or so, if not a year at the least.

 

[Dravic]

Another thing I really think needs to be addressed is lack of legacy Hardware in these reviews. Why not throw a older P4 or A64 in your video review suite for example - doesnt have to be all cards only one card. Or why not throw a 7900 GT or at least a 8800GTX video card in your 4870 X2 review? This does two important things to my mind. Updates peoples memory how fast the new stuff really is compared to their popular choices back in the day and shows them if they can even handle the new software out. It may or may not but at least it would be informative to know.


Anyway I could go on forever but then I'd just be nit picking a great site!

This is a great idea, not everybody upgrades every cycle. A lot of old school budget overclockers tend to skip a generation.

I would love to see the most popular pieces of hardware from the previous generation(or 2 for landmark pieces like the 8800gt) added to the benches just to crystalize the benefits the current gen gives you.

 

[Navid]

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?

Some first post!