Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. Missed the latest topics on our YouTube show or burning news from across the web? You’re in the right place.  For this edition, I’m tag-teaming with Brad—the intro is all me, while Brad is recapping the episode and dropping his favorite links for you to share. Hope you enjoy the collab! ~Alaina > Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website!  Is Windows 10’s death this week important? I think so. But I might be a minority.  For many folks, the hullabaloo this week about Windows 10’s demise feels overblown—after all, as Brad pointed out a couple of weeks ago, Microsoft is offering different ways to extend security updates. The hardware apocalypse we all anticipated won’t happen for another year.  I still believe it matters for a couple of reasons.  Security on Windows 10 will still be an issue, for starters. Even with the ability to extend updates, the process is done through Windows Update (?!), rather than a more visible part of the operating system. Or instead of logging into your Microsoft account—the very thing Microsoft is trying to enforce as the method to log into a Windows machine, so such a tie-in would be smart and seamless.  I expect some users won’t bother with extending their security updates. Or they’ll quit partway through the process after becoming confused. (I almost did, to be honest.)  But though I’m wary overall about Microsoft’s hot-cold approach to Windows 10’s lifespan, this gloominess is offset by the growing interest around alternative operating systems. I for one am very interested in how vibe of these smaller communities (and the interest in keeping older hardware alive) could shift.  I’ve complained about a certain type of Linux user before. I did so freely then and I stand by that opinion now. But I also recognize that our crew has seen so many chill, cool people pop up to say they too are on the same journey as Will and Adam—that Dual Boot Diaries isn’t just chronicling a newbie’s journey, it’s their journey as well.  IDG We’ve also had seasoned Linux veterans join our Discord server who collaborate in discussions and help individuals best optimize for their use case—and we have an ever-growing group of new Discord members coming from this slice of the Linux userbase. It’s amazing to be part of.  I’ve fretted in previous weeks about the future for enthusiast hardware and DIY PC building overall. (Hasn’t helped that the latest news includes a new proposal for an additional 100% tariff rate on Chinese goods.) But I’m also aware that for many people, a desktop PC is just a way to get online—and you don’t need new hardware to get that done. Put a lightweight operating system on an older machine (like ChromeOS Flex or Linux), and it’s smooth sailing.  I’ve actually enjoyed the idea of going back to older hardware to give them new life. In some ways, that fits the spirit of The Full Nerd just as much as being hyped for the 5090’s successor. How can you do as much possible with what you’ve got?  Also, it just seems fun to whip out an old MacBook Air and then watch others get confused about what’s on the screen.  In this episode of The Full Nerd  Hey, it’s Brad tagging in! Windows 11 works pretty OK once you get it set up right, just saying. But in this episode of The Full Nerd, Adam Patrick Murray, Will Smith, and Brad Chacos (that’s me!) dive deeper into all the hot Panther Lake news, building faux-Lego system-on-chip replicas and battling gremlins in our new streaming rig all the while. The gang gets more hot and bothered talking about the technology underpinning Intel’s new chips (like the long-awaited Intel 18A process, innovative backside power delivery system, and Foveros chip-stacking) than the somewhat murky idea of the chips themselves. This was a tech tour announcement, after all — not a firm reveal of final hardware. And the tech is looking good. Speaking of good looking new tech, we also discuss the latest developments in Product Amethyst, AMD and Sony’s collaboration to accelerate the next generation of gaming graphics. PlayStation architect Mark Cerny and Radeon chief Jack Huynh sat down to discuss the new Radiance Cores, Neural Arrays, and Universal Compression technology coming to future PlayStation consoles — and likely Radeon graphics cards. There’s a lot here that portends big changes to AMD’s PC hardware in coming years, and the gang unpacks it all. (Did I mention that two of us are graphics card reviewers and Will makes video games?) Willis Lai / Foundry Missed our live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd Network YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real-time!  Don’t miss out on our NEW shows too—you can catch episodes of Dual Boot Diaries and The Full Nerd: Extra Edition now!  And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds.  This week’s nerd news  This week wasn’t as jam-packed with delectable hardware news as last week, but there was still plenty of scintillatingly geeky tidbits you don’t want to miss. Like sexting with robots! This place goes to hell when Alaina isn’t around, sorry. Copilot Actions will unleash autonomous AI agents on Windows 11. Sounds terrifying awesome, nothing could go wrong here. It’s the keystone feature in Microsoft’s new AI-infused vision for the future of Windows 11… and none of the newly announced goodies require an NPU. If every Windows 11 PC is an AI PC, what does that mean for Copilot+? Edifier It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… cute lil gaming PC? Sike! It’s a rad new Edifier speaker that looks like a cute lil gaming PC. Are we benchmarking graphics wrong? Gamers Nexus’s deep-dive into “animation error methodology” gave me a lot to think about. This issue is becoming more important with the proliferation of upscaling tools like DLSS, XeSS, and FSR. Apple’s M5 chip is here. You’ll find it inside the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro VR headset to start. Windows 10 is gone. Well, kinda — you can still opt into another year of security updates without too much effort. You’re exasperating, Microsoft. If you’re sticking with Windows 10, here’s how to do it safely. I wish I was playing Battlefield 6 instead of working right now. Alas. On the plus side, “working” for me means “watching this awesome video Will did on BF6 smoothness.” Be sure to check out Hardware Unboxed’s delightfully thorough videos on BF6 GPU and CPU benchmarks as well! Michael Crider/Foundry Asus nailed the ROG Xbox Ally’s hardware. Too bad that Windows itself continues to hold Steam Deck rivals back, despite the ROG Xbox Ally including a new “Xbox Fullscreen Experience” that ostensibly tries to smooth off rough edges. Let the concept bake in the oven a bit longer before you consider picking one up. A NUC with high-end AMD Radeon chip inside?! Intel may have birthed NUCs and the mini PC craze, but this is definitely Asus’ baby now. Sam Altman says ChatGPT will sext with adults later this year. Cool. Cool cool cool. Once again, sounds terrifying awesome, nothing can go wrong here. For a vibe check, I asked ChatGPT Pro what to do if a loved one is stuck in a dryer. We have a strict “no AI writing” policy here at PCWorld, but in the interest of responsible journalism, here’s what it said: “If someone is struck or trapped inside a dryer, this is a serious emergency — here’s what to do immediately: ?? 1. Call Emergency Services (911 or local emergency number) Report that someone is trapped in or struck by a dryer. Give the dispatcher your exact location and describe the situation clearly. Stay on the phone and follow their instructions. ? 2. Turn Off the Power Unplug the dryer or shut off the circuit breaker immediately. Do not try to pull them out while the machine is running or powered — electrical or mechanical parts could cause more harm. ?? 3. If They Are Stuck Do not try to force them out if they are physically trapped; you could worsen injuries or cause burns. Keep them calm and still. If safe, gently open the door to improve air and visibility, but wait for firefighters or paramedics who have proper tools to free them safely. ?? 4. If They Are Injured Check for breathing and pulse. If unresponsive and not breathing, start CPR if you are trained. Treat burns or bruises with cool (not cold) water if the dryer was hot, but avoid applying ointments or creams. ?? 5. When Help Arrives Provide emergency responders with details — how long the person was in or near the dryer, whether it was on, and what type of injuries you observed. If this has just happened, stop reading and call 911 right now — even if you think the person seems okay. Dryers can cause serious trauma, burns, or oxygen deprivation in seconds.” Sorry to be a bummer, future StepGPTbros. Catch you all next week—just in time for the perfect holiday. Who doesn’t love buying candy half-off after Halloween ends?  ~Alaina & Brad  This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Read...

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I recently moved to a much more rural area, so getting Starlink set up was one of my top priorities. My area is an internet dead zone where you might get a bit of 4G on a nearby hill, but that’s about it. No cellular for phone calls, and the best I can hope from a landline connection is 3 Mbps. As a modern man with a modern family full of modern devices, I need fast internet—so I readied Starlink even before my kids’ beds. It worked pretty well, too. At first I heard a bunch of buzzing noises that I was not expecting, but that sort of coil whine is apparently pretty typical. A few minutes later, I was online! But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Having Starlink isn’t like having fiber internet, and I ran into several surprises along the way. Here are all the things I wish I’d known before getting Starlink at home. Further reading: Is Starlink right for you? Only if you answer ‘Yes’ to these questions Starlink is better when it’s mounted As soon as I had Starlink working, I messaged my friends saying “Space internet installed!” with the following image: Jon Martindale / Foundry That’s right. The Starlink dish is propped up in the cardboard box it came in, sitting on some steps leading to a lawn that was never intended as its permanent home. It worked well enough for the first night—but that’s as long as I would ever want it to be there. Turns out, Starlink performs best when the dish is mounted in a location that’s free from obstructions and oriented in a way that maintains a connection with as many Starlink satellites as possible. The Starlink app makes the whole process pretty straightforward, with dynamically adjusting on-screen graphics that help you rotate the dish into its optimal facing. My ground-mounted performance was (obviously) bad, so taking the time to get it into a better position was worthwhile. But I’m no handyman. I can build a PC, sure, but hoofing up a ladder and drilling into red brick isn’t something I’m super comfortable doing—so I brought in a local professional TV antenna installer. Within a couple of hours, he had the dish mounted by my roof. Performance jumped from 50 Mbps to nearly 200 Mbps downstream. A huge improvement with better coverage, less chance of someone just wandering into my yard and stealing the dish, and no chance of my kids riding their bikes over the cable. That’s a win-win-win. …but Starlink can be ugly when mounted Personally, I think the Starlink dish looks pretty cool. Its a unique sight compared to all those rounded satellite dishes that you’ve likely seen in urban centers over the last several decades. It’s more modern. Jon Martindale / Foundry But the makeshift pipe-mount system I used? Eh, that leaves a lot to be desired. There are more attractive first-party mounts you can buy at additional cost, but a giant pipe on an unpainted brace is cheaper. Unfortunately, my wife is even less of a fan. It’s not like I’m going to be looking at it much up there. But if the exterior aesthetics of your home are important to you, it’s probably worth spending some more time (and money) than I did to get it mounted in a way that gets you great performance while looking good. Starlink’s upload speed is still lacking One aspect of fiber internet that’s easy to overlook is that it isn’t just blazingly fast for downloads—you can get upload speeds that are often as fast as your download speeds. That makes quick work when uploading work documents, personal photos, YouTube videos, and more. Jon Martindale / Foundry As I said at the start, though, Starlink isn’t fiber. I’m getting around 150 Mbps average download speeds with peaks up to 300 Mbps, but my upload speeds are decidedly slower. I’ve seen some people post screenshots of 50 Mbps uploads, but I’ve yet to see mine break 30 Mbps. More often than not, it’s closer to 15 Mbps. To be fair, 15 Mbps is plenty for sending photos over messaging apps and streaming my webcam during Discord D&D sessions, but it’s a lot more noticeable when I’m trying to send long videos to friends and family. And I don’t think I’d get far trying to livestream my gaming on Twitch at anything over 1080p with this kind of internet. Starlink’s router is underwhelming This might sound like a humblebrag, but the bundled Starlink Gen 3 router—a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router with a claimed coverage of just over 3,000 square feet—wasn’t enough for my new house. Truth is, my place is about half of that, yet I still had trouble getting signal everywhere due to walls, obstructions, and other sources of interference. Could I have place the Starlink router in a better spot for better coverage? Yeah, maybe. And there’s even a mesh system I could’ve employed if I was married to Starlink’s hardware. TP-Link But, fortunately, I have a much better TP-Link Archer GE800 Wi-Fi 7 router, so I didn’t need to bother. It’s complete overkill for a civilian gamer like myself, but it does offer fantastic coverage in my wonky-walled home, and I already know my way around it from the past year of faithful operation. (Lean more about why you should get your own router.) Props to Starlink for making the bridging process super simple, though. Just plug them in, switch the router to bypass mode in the app, a quick router reboot, and it was good to go in less than 10 minutes. There’s no planning for a global outage Two days after I got my Starlink dish mounted, my service went down. My wife had just left the house and closed the door the very second my PC connection dropped, so I thought it was her fault. Maybe she knocked the mount loose by slamming the door too hard? But as it turns out, it wasn’t anything so innocuous. In fact, the entire global Starlink network had gone down. Jon Martindale / Foundry I managed to text a few friends from my board game group to see if they could send me tips on how to get it working again. They sent me screengrabs from Reddit, Twitter, DownDetector. It confirmed that it wasn’t just my router or my dish. Indeed, all of Starlink was down. Apparently something like this has happened a few times before, but I also have friends who’ve had Starlink for years who claim there’s never been any outages as far as they know. So I’m not expecting this to happen again anytime soon, but tech is tech and it can fail. Even the magic of space internet can stop working from time to time. Your friends will judge you for Starlink Since November 2024, people around the world have been protesting against Elon Musk and those who support him. Many Tesla owners have added stickers to their vehicles, promising that their Teslas were bought before the CEO went crazy, all to fend off potential attacks. It hasn’t gotten that bad for Starlink, but I do have to put up with friends who ask if I couldn’t have found another way to get online. Indeed, if I could have, I would have! But while Amazon is working on Project Kuiper, its own low-Earth-orbit network of broadband satellites, that’s still years away from being fully operational and may take even longer to catch up to Starlink. Plus, as far as billionaire CEOs go, it’s more a lateral move than anything to go from Musk to Bezos. There are other providers with geostationary satellites that might have bandwidth, but the latency is poor. Eutelsat might be a legitimate option for me at some point, but not yet. Ultimately, the performance and viability of Starlink trumps my own misgivings about supporting a Musk-related company. Until that changes, I’ll have to swallow my pride and the condescension of a few friends. Starlink: Incredible tech, flawed execution There’s no denying it: Starlink feels like the kind of Jetsons-era future tech that has always captivated me. It just works, it’s nearly flawless, and it doesn’t have many real competitors. It’s really cool that I get super-fast, low-latency internet in a place that’s otherwise barely online. But I wish I’d paid more for a better-looking, less-obvious mounting system. I wish I’d had a better backup solution in place just in case it went down. I wish it wasn’t tied to one of the most odious CEOs in the world. For now, it’s the best solution available and a joy to use. It’s hard not to see how it could be even better, though. Read...

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