What is going on with Anandtech[Missing reviews]?

[nerp]

Online publishing is a tough business. My bet is the site is not a cash cow and hiring a new team of writers to review hardware is just not in the budget.

 

[cen1]

This forum is the only thing keeping the site alive for me. No reason to read an Anandtech review if it's weeks late when you already get to know the product from 10 other sites which released on time. Yes, reviews are mostly better quality but not THAT better to make it worth it.

 

[antihelten]

Not in english.

http://www.hardware.fr/
http://www.sweclockers.com/
http://pclab.pl/art.html
http://gamegpu.com/
http://www.expreview.com/
https://benchlife.info/
http://fcenter.ru/online/hardarticles
http://www.3dcenter.org/

Reading detailed technical information through google translate is probably not the best idea though.

Of those 8, the only one that's half decent is hardware.fr imho (and they still don't match AT, when it comes to stuff like architecture deep dives).

The rest are either just pure benchmark sites that just gives you a table of numbers plus a verbatim repeat of the PR material with no in depth analysis, or don't even do reviews at all (3dcenter).

 

[therealnickdanger]

While there aren't many other sites that combine the same level of architecture deep dive and performance into a single review, there are hundreds of other sites and YouTube channels that do a little here, a little there. By the time AT publishes a review, there isn't much in the way of new information, unfortunately. (Except for very rare occasions like this morning's Broadwell-E review.)

Current AT staff seem better suited to doing long-term lab work than running a timely tech website. That's not an insult, just that AT has decided to take a much less "pop tech" approach to its publications. We already know that AT has time - given the large number of trade shows they attend - so clearly they need more staff to do tests and write content.

Is AT looking into alternate income through Patreon or anything? Might want to fire up that gravy train before people lose interest...

 

[24601]

Of those 8, the only one that's half decent is hardware.fr imho (and they still don't match AT, when it comes to stuff like architecture deep dives).

The rest are either just pure benchmark sites that just gives you a table of numbers plus a verbatim repeat of the PR material with no in depth analysis, or don't even do reviews at all (3dcenter).

I find fcenter.ru/online/hardarticles to have extremely good deep dives paired with deep, practical, technical testing. (They used to be translated directly to the site called Xbitlabs in english)

Some of the others are used for hard leaks, and most of the other sites are used for hard testing, with extremely rigorous, thorough, and well designed testing. (Something that is extremely lacking in every english language hardware review site currently).

 

[antihelten]

I find fcenter.ru/online/hardarticles to have extremely good deep dives paired with deep, practical, technical testing. (They used to be translated directly to the site called Xbitlabs in english)

That may be, but if so I don't really see them doing so at a faster or more thorough pace than AT. In other words they are just as late and have just as many holes in their coverage.

For instance one of the things being complained about here is the lack of a proper in depth Pascal articles, but fcenter.ru doesnt have that either, hell they don't even have a preview article like what AT provided and their last GPU review was from back in March.

So that site is hardly an alternative to AT.

Some of the others are used for hard leaks, and most of the other sites are used for hard testing, with extremely rigorous, thorough, and well designed testing. (Something that is extremely lacking in every english language hardware review site currently).

I disagree that english language sites are not doing thorough, rigorous hardware testing. There are plenty of sites doing this, to the point that we are drowning in it. The problem is that there are hardly any sites doing any analysis based upon said testing, they all just throw the numbers out there and then leave it at that.

 

[Borealis7]

well, TechPowerUp also don't have their GTX1070 review up, but i think they are too busy covering at Computex.

 

[24601]

That may be, but if so I don't really see them doing so at a faster or more thorough pace than AT. In other words they are just as late and have just as many holes in their coverage.

For instance one of the things being complained about here is the lack of a proper in depth Pascal articles, but fcenter.ru doesnt have that either, hell they don't even have a preview article like what AT provided and their last GPU review was from back in March.

So that site is hardly an alternative to AT.



I disagree that english language sites are not doing thorough, rigorous hardware testing. There are plenty of sites doing this, to the point that we are drowning in it. The problem is that there are hardly any sites doing any analysis based upon said testing, they all just throw the numbers out there and then leave it at that.

Not sure what point you're getting at.

My list was as a response to people looking for other sites that are like Anandtech in quality.

If you don't like my list for other reasons, thats fine. Not sure what the point of your repeated off-hand degradation of the sites on the list is though.

Edit:

This will be my last post on this thread, my fault for trying to inject substance in a thread that's treading water, no good deed goes unpunished :\

 

[jabroni619]

What a bunch of whiners. There is plenty of average gpu and cpu reviews on the net. Quality takes time.
We have just 2 excellent pieces of journalism about arm new cpu and gpu.
Ryan sets a damn high standard and it shows. Bar none the best on the net.

If you want crap and rants go to thg and h.

AT used to be on top of things a few years ago. Not only were they one of the first sites to get their reviews up but they also had one of the more in-depth reviews. Anand also had good relationships with folks "in the know" at several different companies and would often times pass along as many "hints" as he could about what to expect. Those days are long gone and they aren't coming back, which is quite sad.

Phones
SSDs
PSU

That's what AT reviews these days. And the occasional computer case.

 

[Stuka87]

AT used to be on top of things a few years ago. Not only were they one of the first sites to get their reviews up but they also had one of the more in-depth reviews. Anand also had good relationships with folks "in the know" at several different companies and would often times pass along as many "hints" as he could about what to expect. Those days are long gone and they aren't coming back, which is quite sad.

Phones
SSDs
PSU

That's what AT reviews these days. And the occasional computer case.

They did get the Broadwell-E review up on day one.

 

[Leyawiin]

well, TechPowerUp also don't have their GTX1070 review up, but i think they are too busy covering at Computex.

I can forgive them being a little tardy. They're usually on the spot and tell me exactly what I need to know about every facet of a new card. I stopped referring to AT's GPU reviews about the time I bought a GTX 460.

 

[Staples]

Change of management and I think the revenue (and possibly interest) in PC component reviews has been declining for the last decade.

 

[imaheadcase]

I suspect a lot of it simply has to do with the people who pushed for sites like this just got older. Most people in the awesome days of hardware are well into the 30s-40s now. Most newer people in it are not driven like we are.

 

[exar333]

Change of management and I think the revenue (and possibly interest) in PC component reviews has been declining for the last decade.

I am not sure about that. To be honest, GPU reviews and related info appears to be MUCH higher profile now vs. 10 or 15 years ago. More regular releases and shorter lifespans coupled with many more GPU use cases (compute, gaming, VR, power consumption, overclocking, etc.) than what we saw in the past. The GPU fan base, if anything, is more rabid and crazed these days. I think a lot of the AMD vs. Intel moved to NV vs. AMD since Core came out and the AMD CPU fans waved the white flag.

 

[Ranulf]

GPUs are also likely to be the most expensive component in a computer these days.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Everyone keeps going on about the mobile reviews, but they were at their best when Brian was here. Or when Anand had the balls to call out Apple for putting less effective RAM in the iPhone 5s.

 

[topmounter]

Some of this is the "main-streaming" of tech that really started in earnest with the launch of the original iPhone. The main-stream audience isn't interested in deep dives, just what amounts to be lifestyles tech reporting.

I'd prefer to see AT stick to deep-dive reporting of select products and technologies rather than crapping out smart phone reviews for syndication. However I do understand the reality of needing to generate revenue.

The only thing ad blockers are doing is blowing up the efficacy myth surrounding Internet advertising. We've been through this before with pop-up ads and other intrusive, resource-sucking forms of Internet advertising.

I'm sick of trying to click on the tiny little "x" to close an ad and as a result making these people money when I miss the magic pixel and inadvertently click-thru. If these people were in the television ad business, they'd be bitching about the fact that my toilet works, my refrigerator isn't locked and I'm not handcuffed to my couch during commercial breaks.

 

[jabroni619]

Everyone keeps going on about the mobile reviews, but they were at their best when Brian was here. Or when Anand had the balls to call out Apple for putting less effective RAM in the iPhone 5s.

I loved reading the articles where Anand would chit chat with people "in the know" at various different companies. (Intel, AMD, nVidia) and give us hints as whats to come

 

[Elixer]

BTW, anyone know if anyone from AT is at computex?

 

[Ryan Smith]

BTW, anyone know if anyone from AT is at computex?

Ian and Billy are there.

 

[antihelten]

Not sure what point you're getting at.

My list was as a response to people looking for other sites that are like Anandtech in quality.

If you don't like my list for other reasons, thats fine. Not sure what the point of your repeated off-hand degradation of the sites on the list is though.

Edit:

This will be my last post on this thread, my fault for trying to inject substance in a thread that's treading water, no good deed goes unpunished :\

That's fair enough, and I'll admit that I misread your post due to the tone of the thread.

Sorry if I came off as overly dismissive.

 

[exar333]

Ian and Billy are there.

The live blog was great. Thanks for posting that along with your comments as items were presented. I enjoyed following the presentation.

 

[BFG10K]

Yup, real shame Same thing seems to be happening at my other regular site, Techreport. The founder leaves, and everything starts to break down.

I agree completely. Out of the "old-guard" websites, the only viable one still cranking out on-time reviews is Tom's Hardware. I remember reading them back in the late 90s.

 

[imaheadcase]

Another thing that is disappointing is the websites have turned into terrible layouts.

You know what really grinds me gears, is while i use adblock like most people, websites cry about it, but yet they don't do anything to innovate to make the sites more accessible. Ad based revenue has always been billed as a temporary band aid.

If anandtech would do a subscription based, with no ads, it would reap the benefits from it. As long as it came with better content updates.

I don't understand sites that just decide to slowly die. If you don't want to be a tech site anymore, fine. But to try to "change" it into something its not, is mind blowing dumb.

 

[Elixer]

I still don't see any reviews for the geforce 10x0 cards, and it is very curious as to why.

Is it because of the AT forum breach?
Did they find something is wrong with that line of cards, and are waiting for nvidia to respond?
Is it because of lack of manpower?
Nobody giving AT any cards?
Ryan selling the site?
Are they trying to update their review software suite and things haven't gone as planned?

Bueller!? Bueller!?

We know that the radeon 4xx cards are coming right around the corner, and it seems that at least the big online shops have been getting cards, so, will the radeon 4xx reviews also be MIA?

A simple reply of "Sorry guys, I/we have been busy, and we aren't dead" would be nice.