Hey everybody,
Though most of what I wished to say is within the announcement video for this web site (paradoxically), I wished to write down a message welcoming everybody to our new residence for written opinions content material. This can even present some further data. Earlier than we even get began, a observe: This can be a work in progress! We’re nonetheless actively engaged on including content material to and bettering bugs on the web site. The picture comparability software specifically is one the place we’re actively bettering the habits. However it is a robust begin, and positively a far cry from the place we have been in 2008. And 2022. And mainly any time that I used to be the one chargeable for constructing the web site.
Thankfully, this one was constructed by Wendell from Level1Techs. It’s best to try his YouTube channel right here!
Overview
The Options
Advert-Free
This web site is AD-FREE. It’s going to keep ad-free. To assist us make that potential, particularly as we’ve employed particularly to take care of this website and get previous & new content material alike imported, and if you happen to discover this useful, please seize a Modmat, Solder Mat, piece of commemorative glassware, or a T-shirt from our retailer! Or chip-in on Patreon.
Being ad-free additionally means we’re sustaining our video-first method (because the adverts will stay there, they usually pay the payments), nevertheless, with further staffing energy to convey content material to the web site. The superior upside of this video-first method is that it means we’ve got a TON of property and stills we are able to seize to essentially construct image-heavy pages (that load quick) to offer seems to be in any respect angles of merchandise, clear set up directions, and steering for PC builders.
Operate-First
This web site is FUNCTION-FIRST. Which means our goal is simplicity, each from a upkeep perspective (for a really small staff) and from a usability / bloat perspective. We are going to largely be specializing in textual content, photographs, charts, and tables for internet content material.
FAST
This web site is FAST AF. Due to Wendell’s engineering work, and since there aren’t any adverts, the web site masses very quick. The one locations we’ve got some slower loading are pages with graphics high quality comparisons as a result of further javascript, however the featureset is price it for these.
Neighborhood Service & Searchability
This web site is ARCHIVAL. Our purpose is to not solely get previous content material ported over to the brand new format, however to proceed including our video content material in written format. That features interviews, options just like the Artesian piece, and benchmarks alike. Now we have seen a pointy decline in viable technical publications in written format, and we’re rising involved in regards to the lack of preservation of technical data in a extra everlasting, searchable, and discoverable format than simply video. We love YouTube and dealing on it; nevertheless, particularly for individuals not as instantly engaged with this area of interest, it’s nonetheless simpler to seek out issues on the net. And fewer typically irritating, as ctrl+F is a lot simpler.
Picture Comparisons
This web site has IMAGE COMPARISONS. As we proceed to extend protection of graphics high quality variations and recreation graphics optimization, we will likely be making use of side-by-side and split-screen picture comparisons. The underside nook of those comparisons even means that you can select which screenshot is seen, as we generally have extra than simply 2. Strive it out in our Starfield Optimization Information or our Ray Reconstruction Explainer.
Methodology ‘Storage’
This web site incorporates CONSOLIDATED METHODOLOGY. That begins right here. However see under for data.
The Plans
As we frequently add content material to this website, our important fast plans are as under:
- Implement a floating desk of contents for simpler article navigation. Now we have bits and items of this in place, however we’re engaged on getting it to observe (in an un-obnoxious manner) as you scroll.
- Enhance loading pace and ‘jumpy’ habits of picture comparability pages.
- Add extra check benches to our new Check Bench web page, but in addition port-in the public-facing a part of our check methodologies and SOPs.
- Import manufacturing unit excursions in written format for instructional use.
A Private Message
To make use of a drained phrase, this has been a “labor of affection” from our staff. I had been the one one sustaining the web site for over a decade, and ultimately needed to cease updates because it grew to become too cumbersome with the time calls for of operating the enterprise, benchmarks, and YouTube channel. We needed to deal with only one factor, and that was YouTube. It’s the one place we made sufficient to truly function.
Wendell approached me in 2022 and wished to rebuild the positioning. That’s as a result of, someday round possibly 2020, I famous in a video that we wished to rebuild it (and it by no means went anyplace), and he actually wished to protect our benchmark content material completely in essentially the most accessible format potential. I agreed, so we began engaged on this upfit. I’ve at all times been sluggish with executing the ambitions, however we do ultimately get there. 3 years later, we lastly made it — thanks, Wendell.
Wendell has been enormously affected person with me on this time. My internet skillset is prehistoric by immediately’s requirements, and so there was a number of studying. We each wished this to be a consumer-first effort to make it simpler to study PC {hardware}, how the factories work (these conversions are coming!), and part efficiency. We provide that in video, however it’s not going to achieve individuals simply stepping into the business.
It’ll be good for enterprise. Nevertheless it’s additionally simply one thing we each wished to do.
However half of this web site is sentimental. As I stated within the video above, I’ve felt unhealthy for abandoning the web site updates because the ~2018-2020 period after we slowed publication. Selfishly, that’s not as a result of we obtained emails practically weekly with individuals asking us to publish our content material written once more, however as a result of the web site was the final side of the enterprise that my dad, earlier than his sudden passing in 2015, had been personally accustomed to. He noticed the movies, however the web site was the place I spent all my time (and the explanation I dropped out of college). He was the one who signed me up for a Microsoft Entrance Web page class after I was about 12, so I’ve him to thank for the early HTML expertise. And I suppose I even have him to thank for getting me began on what was in all probability the world’s worst web-building software, however possibly he wished to “construct character.”
I grew up constructing GamersNexus and he obtained to look at the method and was unbelievably supportive. I’d publish a (in all probability very poorly carried out, by immediately’s requirements) evaluation of one thing like a Tuniq cooler I’d saved for, and he’d learn it and speak to me about it. He was in all probability one among two individuals who’d learn these. He truly made the unique model of this emblem in 2008, too. He made it in Microsoft Phrase. He advised me that (no matter model it was) saved vector information — I by no means fact-checked that, however it appeared to have been true. The emblem has been maintained and up to date, however makes use of his authentic G/N design. I take accountability for the terrible font selection (and I additionally added the Photoshop CS3 mix modes to the emblem).
With out getting a lot additional into it than that, the purpose is that at the very least half of this effort is as a result of I wished to protect this side of the enterprise as a method of preserving these reminiscences. Though the movies had began earlier, the massive push didn’t occur till 2015 — and the reason being as a result of it was not elective to have the enterprise work. It needed to work, and it needed to out of the blue turn into a method of supporting the household. Video was the best way ahead.
I don’t need to linger on the subject since you’re all right here for know-how, however I did need to share it in a uncommon private message simply to offer some visibility into what drives this website. And final time I shared something near this, we had a number of you electronic mail me to say thanks as you’d related with the loss and the perseverance. So to these of you who wanted it: Look forward and push on, however there’s no disgrace with discovering methods to stay related with these reminiscences to proceed the life and reminiscence of these earlier than us.
However we by no means supposed to go away the web site behind, and now we’re again. I’m enthusiastic about that. The web site works higher than it ever did. It’s additionally good to have a spot to write down some ideas and updates instantly and extra personally for as soon as, as I typically maintain that out of movies to deal with the product.
This website masses quick and it has a extremely certified staff sustaining it. Patrick, Jeremy, and Jimmy did the majority of the work pre-loading the content material into the positioning for launch. A giant due to the staff for pushing on that, and to Wendell and Krista of Level1Techs for, as Wendell calls it, “pc janitorial” work.
Publishing Plans
We’re including extra content material practically each day. We will likely be balancing a mixture of pulling previous, still-relevant content material ahead first, alongside importing new content material. The present plan is to publish written variations of our movies on a one-week delay, generally it could be quicker.
The conversion course of for scripts is generally straight-forward; nevertheless, some issues work higher spoken than written. For these sections, we are attempting to maintain a pointy eye to strip issues like directional phrases (right here, this, that, these) that don’t make sense with out some pointing, and likewise making an attempt to clean-up the colloquialisms that don’t switch effectively to writing. Which means you’ll discover some phrase selection variations, however for essentially the most half, they’re a reasonably shut 1:1 illustration.
We additionally frequently lower content material from movies for time. Our Cities Skylines 2 piece had a complete part written about superior graphics, however we lower it as we have been operating too lengthy already (the video goal size is ~half-hour). That is an algorithmic choice, not a content material choice. As a result of we don’t need to battle an algorithm right here, we hope to convey this slicing flooring content material to the written model of the opinions and checks.
Thanks for the assist, everybody. Go discover the positioning. Oh, and all of the previous content material remains to be right here – it simply doesn’t look pretty much as good. Yow will discover it with a Google search if you happen to want one thing particular.
Strive these pages that we spent some further time on:
Oh, and a few enjoyable historical past. Right here’s what the previous web site regarded like:
2008 (Launch)
~2011 Period
~2014 Period
~2015 Period
2016-2023
I’d say it’s factor that Wendell and Krista stepped-in for this one.
– Steve
