I’ll be the primary to confess, I had no historical past with AnandTech earlier than I joined. It was by sheer likelihood, assembly one of many writers at an overclocking occasion, that led me to first develop into a reader, then a author, to what has develop into my profession in journalism. When you’re new to AnandTech then welcome! It’s been my residence for over a decade, the place we’ve all the time had the aim of pushing the boundaries for all issues technical and engineering-related. For all of the previous palms – I do know lots of you’re employed on the corporations we report on across the trade, and we’ve been perpetually glad in your continued assist and interactions. Lengthy might it proceed, particularly in an trade that’s slowly consolidating round a couple of key gamers, each in technical and publishing – for so long as the viewers calls for it, AnandTech will purpose to offer.
Personally, I used to be all the time into computer systems, however it was overclocking that obtained me into {hardware}. Not simply getting extra frames in my video games, however precise aggressive overclocking, making an attempt to get the most effective scores on this planet. Folks liken it to the Method 1 or automotive tuning, when in actuality it looks like drag racing – 8 hours of preparation for a ten seconds quarter mile. Learning chemistry on the time, on the floor there appeared to be not way more than a little bit overlap, apart from a want to study extra about what I used to be doing, the why, and the way it all labored. That oblivious-yet-determined method led to Rajinder Gill, senior motherboard editor on the time, suggesting that Anand carry me on as a freelancer again in 2010. Initially with information, I transitioned into Rajinder’s function quite shortly after he left, and ranging from the Sandy Bridge launch in early 2011, I spent the following 5 years reviewing motherboards at AnandTech as my day job after graduating my PhD. I nonetheless look again on my first correct motherboard assessment, the ASRock P67 Extreme4, with rose-tinted spectacles. It was a fantastic board for the time, and I nonetheless have it in my assortment.
That’s what obtained me to AnandTech, and after 11 years I really feel the necessity to change, so I’ve determined to take up a brand new place within the trade. When Anand left in 2014, after 18 years on the helm, I used to be nonetheless fairly inexperienced in my function and didn’t actually take his phrases to coronary heart on the time. Wanting again at them at the moment, I see lots of parallels, despite the fact that I’ve by no means sat in that senior function. Since Anand left, I used to be promoted to Senior CPU Editor, and Ryan Smith has taken the Editor-in-Chief function with grace and poise – he’s constantly talked me down from a ledge when this trade has piled on, and all I’ve wished to do is lash out! After Anand left, it was Ryan who introduced me on as a full-time worker, and helped navigate AnandTech by way of two acquisitions, to the place the model at the moment sits at the moment with Future. Regardless of being (roughly) the identical age, Ryan has been a mentor and a director for lots of the content material I’ve written, for which I’m very grateful. I hope he is aware of how a lot it has meant through the years.
I’ve actually loved working at AnandTech. I like getting my tooth into the most recent technical particulars, and getting advance briefings from the researchers by no means ceases to be a fantastic pleasure of mine. It doesn’t matter whether or not that’s for an upcoming product, attending technical IEEE conferences, or for Sizzling Chips discuss, or seeing inside the key R&D room at Computex. In lots of methods, my tutorial expertise has overlapped with my protection that I’d by no means have predicted – we’re on the cusp of discovering out how we want Extra Than Moore’s Regulation within the trendy period. My journey in 2019 topped 200,000 miles, which doesn’t actually trouble me within the slightest, as I’ve been capable of meet and focus on with key trade movers and shakers. A crowning second was talking AMD into making its 64-core Threadripper into a better price the night earlier than the announcement. Or biting certainly one of Intel’s 10nm wafers. Having the ability to journey round and go to corporations has proven me simply what number of superb folks and tales there are in our trade, and it’s a disgrace there aren’t sufficient hours within the day to deal with all of them, as I do know lots of you’d need to hear about them. I hope I’ve additionally been capable of carry a little bit little bit of humor and enjoyable to my content material too.
If there’s one factor that has remained by way of all that point, it’s the dedication of AnandTech’s writers to offer as many detailed technical write-ups as we are able to. Through the years I’ve labored with some unbelievable expertise, particularly Andrei, and I’ve managed people that I’ve seen enhance leaps and bounds, particularly Gavin who now leads our motherboard protection. Massive shoutouts go to the remainder of the staff through the years: Ryan, Brett, Ganesh, Billy, Kristian, Tracy, Anton, Joe, Matt, Matt, Josh, Nate, Rajinder, Gary, Virginia, and Howard. You’ve all meant so much to me in so many alternative methods. Then there’s additionally the viewers, who’ve all the time supplied copious suggestions, both right here, on social media, or by way of our e mail conversations. Please don’t cease giving all of us constructive criticism on how you can do our jobs higher, no matter the place we’re or who we work for.
As for me, I’m discovering new ventures: a combination of behind-the-scenes and public-facing alternatives, in addition to continued consulting, however nonetheless inside this tech trade that we love to investigate. We’re on the cusp of discovering out how we want Extra Than Moore’s Regulation within the trendy period. I’ll nonetheless be that loud voice on Twitter, criticizing each monetary disclosure and presentation, and when you’re occupied with what I’m doing subsequent, then I’m more likely to announce my future roles over there or on LinkedIn briefly course. Whereas at the moment is my closing day at AnandTech, do not be stunned if my identify pops up once more right here over the following week or two, as I’ve ready some content material upfront, together with our AMD Rembrandt assessment and an interview with Raja Koduri. Keep tuned for these.
To the entire readers through the years, thanks a lot for this chance. I couldn’t have accomplished it with out you. I hope that you simply’ll proceed to present all of the AnandTech writers the assist you could have proven me.
~Ian
