Podcast #866 - Intel Stock Hits Record High, Microsoft Fixes Update, ROG Equalizer, Galax, cPanel and MORE!

The PC Perspective Podcast #866 dives into a wide range of tech news, starting with Intel's stock hitting an all-time high due to improved quarterly earnings and strong margins, despite not being a stellar financial report. The hosts discuss Intel's resurgence in the AI-driven CPU market, their foundry partnerships with Tesla, and innovative yield improvements by repurposing previously scrapped chips. They then shift to Microsoft's recent Windows 11 update, praising the return of user control over updates and reboots—though they remain skeptical about Microsoft's ongoing issues with breaking updates and forced AI integrations. The episode covers the collapse of Galax, a once-prominent GPU brand, now acquired by Palette after years of mismanagement, and critiques the U.S. ban on Wi-Fi hotspots as ineffective theater. The hosts passionately defend the right to repair movement, highlighting how companies like Apple and John Deere prevent consumers from fixing their own devices. They also spotlight the cute Ace Magic Retro X5 mini PC, a retro NES-style machine with modern power, and praise the Pop 2 Pop Vision case for its strong thermals despite a high price. A major segment focuses on the problematic ROG 12V high power cable, with the hosts calling it a 'pig' due to its undersized connector and fire risk, despite Asus's expensive solution. The podcast ends with a humorous look at a $1,700 unreleased RTX 2080 Ti Super prototype on eBay, a critical cPanel authentication flaw, and gaming news including the release of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and the controversial Denuvo DRM crack forcing online checks even in single-player games. The episode closes with a mix of product picks, including Josh’s ultra-wide OLED monitor and Jeremy’s find of an Arc B580 at MSRP.