The video recaps major hardware news, including Nvidia’s $20 billion deal to acquire Groq’s AI technology and talent, AMD’s leaked Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU details, DIY DDR5 memory and GPU VRAM mods in Russia and China, and OpenAI’s controversial plans for more invasive ads in ChatGPT. It also highlights ongoing hardware shortages, TSMC’s upcoming price hikes, and teases the annual “Disappointment PC” build video.
This week’s hardware news recap covers several major industry developments as 2025 ends and 2026 begins. The host notes that the annual “Disappointment PC” build video is coming soon, reflecting on a year full of letdowns—many related to the overwhelming focus on AI. The news segment starts with Nvidia’s strategic move to acquire talent and license technology from Groq (with a Q), an AI chip competitor, rather than buying the company outright. This $20 billion deal allows Nvidia to sidestep regulatory scrutiny while securing Groq’s inference technology and key personnel, potentially to prevent competitors from accessing Groq’s innovations and to strengthen Nvidia’s dominance in AI hardware.
AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU was confirmed again, this time through a leak by Dell and Alienware, following previous accidental disclosures by AMD itself. The new processor, featuring 3D V-Cache technology, is expected to be officially announced at CES 2026. Leaks suggest a significant boost clock increase over its predecessor, the 9800X3D, and a price point around $600. There are also ongoing rumors about a higher-end 9950X3D model, but less concrete information is available on that front.
In the DIY and modding scene, Russian enthusiasts are experimenting with building their own DDR5 memory modules by purchasing blank PCBs and soldering on memory chips, which can be slightly cheaper than retail options. This practice is reminiscent of similar hardware salvage and modification efforts seen in China, where components from e-waste are repurposed to create new products. The video also touches on Japanese retailers restricting sales of 16GB and higher GPUs due to supply challenges, reflecting broader memory and storage shortages.
A notable modding story involves Chinese repair shops reportedly offering modified RTX 5080 graphics cards with 32GB of VRAM, up from the standard 16GB. While the video evidence is inconclusive, the practice of upgrading GPU memory is well-established in China, as seen previously with RTX 4090 cards. These modifications can make older or less expensive cards more valuable and are part of a broader trend of hardware customization in response to market demands and supply constraints.
Finally, the video discusses OpenAI’s reported plans to introduce more invasive advertising into ChatGPT, potentially blending ads into responses in a way that could be more manipulative than traditional search ads. This raises concerns about user privacy and the potential for sponsored content to influence user behavior subtly. Additionally, TSMC is expected to increase wafer prices for advanced nodes over the next four years, driven by high demand from AI chipmakers. These price hikes will likely affect both enterprise and consumer hardware costs, as TSMC remains the primary supplier for advanced GPUs and CPUs. The host concludes by encouraging viewers to watch for the upcoming Disappointment PC build and wishing everyone a happy new year.