LANDING THE BIG PUNCHES

EMAIL was in my freshman year of college in 1988. I attended Dartmouth, and we had a system named BlitzMail. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE for me. But

Every student was granted an email I reckon it’s important for the whole PC

address and access to the system. community. I feel as though this is one

Like most students, I didn’t use it at of those times when you get to hold a

all. It’s hard for even me to believe, company’s future in your hands, literally.

but back then I was in the habit of I am, of course, referring to our review of

writing letters and postcards. AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper.

I vividly recall the tipping point, I treat Threadripper as AMD’s first though. In 1re years and my first job halo product in years. Many of the

in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually company’s recent releases have been

start using it. Like a lot of corporate iterations on existing products, and while

workplaces, email was commonly that’s great, Threadripper stands on its

used for interoffice communications. own as being ballsy. But the volume wa989 in the middle

Here’s the thing about halo products: of my sophomore year, I was eating Not many can afford them, and many

lunch with a few freshmen who were more people don’t need them. I always

talking about how great email was refer to Audi when talking about halo

for chatting up women. I remember products, because ever since the release

being shocked at the notion that of its R8 supercar, the company changed

these guys didn’t have the courage to for the better. Threadripper is AMD’s R8.

pick up the phone. Little did I know. And now is the best time for the company

I’d be lying if I said that I took to to launch it—and we have it. email the next day. I didn’t. It took

Lest you have any doubts, three more years and my first job Threadripper is fast—let’s get that out

in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually of the way. It has an obscene number

start using it. Like a lot of corporate of discrete cores. It has an outrageous

workplaces, email was commonly number of PCIe lanes. It has pretty much

used for interoffice communications. everything you could ask for from a high

But the volume was manageable; I end CPU. But you don’t need it. remember going two or three hours

What you should be buying instead is without new email. That sounds any of AMD’s other Ryzen CPUs. They’re re

absolutely crazy now, but this was plenty fast, they’re feature-rich, andnd

the era before SPAM even existed. they’re much cheaper. They’re the CPUsUs

As more friends started working that AMD wants to sell in quantity. In

and came online, the postcard- and fact, it’s actually AMD itself who needs ds

letter- writing days ended forever. Threadripper. Let me explain. ( That lab job was also awesome

With Ryzen, the community was because after four years of using excited but cautious. Everyone knows that

a Mac in college, I was able to get Ryzen is a formidable microarchitecture,

back to PC gaming— after hours, of course.)

I’ll be honest; I still love checking my inbox and discovering email— from friends, family, writers, and AMD made good on its promise to

readers, PR people, whomever— even deliver CPUs in quantity. The problem

if it has become a bit overwhelming. was the lackluster history of AMD as a

Between re years and my first job platform overall, which is the direct fault

in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually of itself and its partners. start usingaccounts, I’ve never had

To seal the deal, to show that the trouble keeping up. Until now. This is company is damned serious at being on

partially what inspired this month’s the offensive, AMD needed Threadripper.

cover story. Over the last 18 months, And guess what—the strategy is

I’ve begun to notice that my ability to working. Intel is on the defensive now,

quickly parse, read, and respond to and it’s more than just a feeling: Recent

email just isn’t fast enough anymore. announcements, such as its 18-core

I need to develop new systems and CPU and product mix shake-up, tell me

shortcuts. I need to change my ways. I haven’t seen Intel being pushed into a

I’m curious— are you finding corner like this for nearly 18 years. yourself in the same boat as I am?

AMD is showing us and showing Intel If so, what have you done to better that it’s a serious threat again. With

manage your email life? Let me know Ryzen and Vega all coming out within

at George@ maximumpc. com. similar time frames, AMD is getting an incredible amount of attention for having a both a working strategy and

Finally, the winners of last month’s performance numbers to back it up. The

challenge to identify the fake Google company that was full of doubts before is

app icon. For those scoring at home, now full of confidence. the correct answer was Google

Several issues ago, I said that AMD Storage. Here are the winners: Keith was back in the ring, and able to exchange

Lucas ( who was the first correct bouts with Intel. Now it’s several rounds

response), Andy Man, Chris Brush in, and there are visible scuffs and bruises on one of the fighters. But it ain’t the one wearing the red trunks. Gordon Mah Ung is Maximum PC’s deputy editor, senior hardware TuanNguyenis Maximum PC’s editor-in

expert, and all- around muckraker. chief, also known as“the pointy end of the stick .” He’ s been writing, marketing, and raising hell in the te chi nd us try for 20 years.