The Evolution of the Graphics Adaptor
In this episode we talk about the evolution of the graphics adapter from the humble beginnings with CGA and ISA to the modern power house of 4k and PCI Express

In this episode we talk about the evolution of the graphics adapter from the humble beginnings with CGA and ISA to the modern power house of 4k and PCI Express
With the advent of disposable computers the second-hand market for computer hardware has almost completely dried up though every once in awhile someone will pull a nice gem from an estate sale basement or if you are lucky you can find something at the local thrift shop. That is unless you are in the Seattle area and visit a store called Re-Pc. This is an electronics recycler who repurpose, repair and re-sell old electronics instead of sending everything off for scrap
In this episode we discuss the effects of the mysterious disappearance of the RTX 3000 Series and the reason behind why NVIDIA cards are so good at what they do. The global shortage and huge asymmetrical demand have sparked the company to finally segment their retail products in hopes of giving gamers a chance to enjoy the other thing RTX cards can do, Game.
In February of 2021 Frys Electronics closed their doors, they claim it was due to complications associated with “The Situation” which put additional stress on a business model that has been failing since the early 2000’s. In this episode we discuss some reasons behind why this has happened and what impact the new normal will have on retail shopping centers going forward.
Dennis caught the retro PC bug and might have gone a little overboard picking up an old 486 off ebay. In this episode the duo talk about the details of the machine and what it takes to run old hardware when certain vintage parts are no longer available.
For years Dennis has been anti AMD often dumbfounded by why anyone would want to build with Ryzen, Threadripper was a disappointment and the first-generation Zen Cores were awfully slow. But, like video game movies things are getting better and this latest crop of processors is looking pretty good.
Watercooling has many benefits and while the benefits that created watercooling still exist the scale of their impact on modern computers has diminished considerably. In this episode we explore the benefits and limitations of watercooling in the modern era.
Watercooling is plagued with controversy from picking the best components to some of the old school myths and issues including the topic of mixed metals and to prove that with proper care your components will last we cut open a 4-year-old Thermaltake radiator. We also help you improve your case cooling with a few modding tips.
In this special episode unbox a motherboard from the Hardware Asylum permanent collection and a hardware platform that had a very short life in the grand scheme of computer hardware. While the product may not have been on the market long what it brought to the table had a very lasting impact on the systems we are building today.
In this special episode we celebrate our 10-year anniversary and look back on some of the highlights of the show from the past 10 years. This includes some history and trivia about the show and some of the special guests that we have had on over the years.
In this episode we look at a very old processor cooling technology that has made a resurgence to help improve Comet Lake processor performance and discuss the issues surrounding the death of the High End Desktop Processor and why it isn’t that big of deal.
In this episode we discuss the lack of RTX 30 Series video cards that are overclocker friendly, while there are some RTX 3090 cards that work well on LN2 that is it and it makes us sad and then transition into overclocking using a SFX power supply and how good it actually is.
in this episode we will be talking about how overclocking has changed due to the limitations of heatbound processors and factory overclocked video cards. Most modern CPUs and GPUs are being released at their frequency and thermal limits and attempt to overclock them result is throttling and failure however, the memory controllers are strong giving overclockers another avenue to take when looking for more performance.
In this episode we talk about the Dark Edition motherboards from EVGA. These boards are designed for extreme overlocking using a variety of cooling methods from high-end watercooling to Dry Ice and even LN2. The boards also support extreme memory and video card configurations making them very unique in the enthusiast PC space.
The current “situation” have you down? Well, in this episode we talk about some upcoming game titles that are sure to get you excited, even if they don’t have an official release date
In this episode we talk about the driver issues that caused RTX cards to crash during certain games talking about the differences between a hardware issue over a software one. Later Dennis tells us about his impromptu LAN party and playing the new game Among US
in this episode we explore the actual power of the PC, and not so much the enthusiast PC but the every PC that is likely over 5 years old and built with midrange gear. These machines are all over the place and the driving force behind how games are built and the benchmark console makers follow when planning a new release.
in this episode we dissect and take a deep dive into what we believe the new RTX 3000 series video cards will bring based on the product announcement from NVIDIA. As of this podcast we have yet to see any real benchmarks any real reports on availability and any real listings on current pricing so the real world may vary.
In this episode we talk about overclocking and not just any overclocking but the extreme kind where you chill a CPU and then double up your GPU performance using the SLI technology. Sadly NVIDIA has made it clear they aren’t going to support SLI anymore due to the lackluster response in the consumer market. Yes, we blame everyone buying a new GPU for killing SLI.
We have been avoiding the topic of COVID-19 for various reasons and finally felt it was time to address the worldwide pandemic and how it has impacted many of the tradeshows and conventions we normally attend including CES 2021, Hackfort and PAX.
We have all bought used computer hardware. Sometimes the deal goes extremely well and everyone is happy and yet, other times you might get something you didn’t expect or have compatibility issues. In this episode we talk about some of the experiences we have had along with some things to look out for.
In this episode we turn the clock back 10 years to look at the state of Computer Hardware in 2009. Believe it or not computers have come a long way since then and they are used in a more diverse manner being split across desktop, portable and mobile. While the technology has gotten better the overall purpose remains the same.
In this episode we take a candid look at extreme watercooling and if going big can be a real benefit to your water loop or just a waste of time and money. We also discuss radiator design, size and thermal capacity while also addressing the issue of galvanic corrosion.
In this episode we take a deep dive into the new ASUS Republic of Gamers Maximus XII Formula and some of the cooling accessories you can get specific to this LGA 1200 motherboard. The EK Quantum Momentum isn’t the first product of its kind but does offer a unique dress up option for your XII Formula
In this special video podcast extra we talk about how to test sound cards when the normal testing methods have failed, namely why the Creative AE-9 is special. Later the topics shift to PC modding with the new SilverStone Cable Extensions, SilverStone 120mm Air Penetrator fan and finally Darren tells us about his latest 3D Printing project.
In this special video podcast we talk about the new Z490 motherboard offerings from ASUS that encompass an entire range from the high dollar Maximus XII down to mainstream Z490 Prime motherboards.
In a special video podcast extra the duo talk about the replacing a prized gaming mouse with a substandard product and then go on to speculate about which next gen gaming console will be better.
In a special video podcast the duo talk about the products going on in the Hardware Asylum Labs including some RTX 2060 KO Overclocking, external power modifications for video cards and coolant testing.
In this episode it is all about VR gaming, Darren picked up an Occulus Quest over the holidays and brings it to the lab for some pre-podcast gaming. It was really good fun and begs the question, is it time to go full VR?
In this episode we talk about the history of modern video cards from AGP graphics to the modern RTX including their rise to prominence in the enthusiast market to the fiery downfall triggered by cost, performance and the carelessness of a modern hardware enthusiast.