Falcon Northwest, based in Medford, Oregon, is a relatively small operation that builds super-premium systems – and it’s been around for over two decades. Its flagship, the Mach V, was first sold back in 1993. As far as we know, that makes it the most enduring name in the PC business.
Today we’re looking at a particularly stunning example of the breed. It has a ten-core Intel Core i7-6950X processor, twin GTX 1080s in SLI, 128GB of RAM, and a 1.2TB solid state drive – not to mention a sweet Digital Trends paint job. These extreme features, including the paint, pump the price up to $8,700, though you can buy entry-level versions for well less than half that.
Overclocked to the hilt, the Falcon Northwest Mach V represents the cutting edge of what modern computers might be used for. But what might it be used for? Is it for high-end gaming? Video encoding? Or some other arcane art? The answer is, in most cases, a little bit of all three.
The Mach V is also representative of the growing gap between super high-end systems and the average, everyday computers. Anyone can walk into Best Buy and purchase a system for a few hundred dollars, and while it might not be outstanding, it’ll handle all the basics most people ask from their PC.
Can the huge gap between such an entry-level system, and the nearly $10,000 Mach V, be justified? What’s the difference, in reality? And what’s the point at which buying more powerful hardware results in diminishing returns? We’ll tackle all of that today, and more.
This podcast features Matt Smith, Brad Bourque and Greg Nibler.
Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that focuses on the geekier side of life. It tackles the topics PC enthusiasts argue over in language everyone can understand. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to [email protected]. We broadcast the show live on YouTube every Wednesday at 1pm EST/10am PST.
It doesn't feel like long since the start of summer, but believe it or not, Halloween is right around the corner. As the dark nights roll in, fall is the perfect time for Gothic novels, spooky horror movies, and, of course, hauntingly good podcasts -- mug of pumpkin-spiced chai optional. There are plenty of scary podcasts to choose from, whether you're looking for fictional dramas or strange-but-true tales of things going bump in the night. Whatever you're h(a)unting for, you'll find something in our list of the best scary podcasts. And if you're looking for something that won't leave you cowering under the covers, check out our roundup of the best podcasts.
Audio drama/fiction
The No Sleep Podcast
This award-winning anthology of short original horror stories is now in its 18th season, with over 500 episodes to listen to. Each episode has a haunting, atmospheric soundtrack that ensures you're truly immersed in the tale. Be warned, though -- as the name suggests, this is definitely not a podcast to listen to in bed unless you plan on staying awake all night.
Apple Podcasts Stitcher
It's no secret that Spotify has its sights set on total podcast domination, given its high-profile acquisition of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, along with several exclusive launches like The Michelle Obama Podcast and one that features the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But the streaming music giant is still looking for additional ways to attract both listeners and podcast creators to its platform, and its latest move is the introduction of podcast polls and Q&As.
If you're a podcast creator, polls and Q&As give you a free way to increase your engagement with your audience. Normally, a listener has few ways to directly interact with their favorite podcasts, given that most platforms like Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts are essentially no more than a way to find, subscribe to, and play podcast episodes. With Spotify's new tools, podcasts become interactive, with polls and the ability to ask listeners questions, right on the episode page.
Apple will make podcasts a more integral part of its ecosystem with the launch of Apple Podcasts+, a subscription-based service that will offer exclusive podcasts only available to subscribers, along with the wider library of shows available on its existing podcasts app. The entire Apple Podcasts app will also get a redesign, as announced during the Spring Loaded event on April 20.
The premium Podcasts+ service will launch in May with several new shows only available to Podcasts+ subscribers. Along with receiving additional curation options and recommendations for subscribers in the redesigned app via Channels, Podcasts+ subscribers will also enjoy ad-free listening settings, early access to certain shows, and more, yet-to-be-announced features.