GPU price hikes, Wacky CES previews + more! - TechLinked

TechLinked Podcast Summary

Episode Title: GPU price hikes, Wacky CES previews + more!
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Linus Media Group

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives into the recent spike in GPU and PC component prices, previews some of the most unusual technology teased ahead of CES 2026, and rounds up the latest happenings in gaming, chip manufacturing, and data storage tech. The tone is energetic and tongue-in-cheek, blending serious tech news with playful commentary and geeky humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Imminent GPU Price Hikes

Nvidia RTX 5090 Price Surge:
- Reports claim some RTX 5090 GPU variants may retail for nearly $5,000 in January 2026—more than double the launch MSRP of $2,000.
- "I don't know if the $5000 number is accurate, but the RTX 5090 launched at a $2000 MSRP and it's already hard to find anywhere under 3000. Which is so, so sad for the people just trying to scrape enough together to buy the most powerful gaming GPU on the planet." (C, 00:54)
- Rising DRAM (memory) costs are blamed, as RAM now constitutes a significant portion of GPU manufacturing expenses.
Wider PC Component Price Increases:
- ASUS will raise prices on select products starting January 5, 2026 (coinciding with CES).
- Leaked partner letters reveal:
  - Escalating costs and scarcity for memory and storage
  - “They’d like to absorb some more of your money instead. Wait a minute, just January 5th. That’s the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where this year all the keynotes are just gonna be guys walking on stage to be like welcome Same but more expensive. Woo.” (C, 01:44)

2. Wacky CES 2026 Previews

Gamesir Swift Drive Wireless Controller:
- Wireless gamepad with a miniature force-feedback steering wheel reminiscent of Namco’s Jogcon from 1998.
- "Finally, I can drive virtual cars in modern games just like I do real cars with both my thumbs in the middle of the wheel. Wait. Whoa. Watch out. You mess with the nerd, you get the horns." (C, 02:42)
- Gamesir also introduced a full-sized wireless wheel and pedal setup, featuring a turbine fan for airflow simulation and haptics.
OneNetbook OneX Sugar Wallet Handheld:
- 8-inch folding OLED gaming handheld, powered by a Qualcomm Gaming Platform flagship processor.
- "It's like the handheld that could have been if Sony and Nintendo ended up working together after all, in the good timeline utopia." (C, 03:19)
Epilogue SN Operator:
- $60 USB dock for playing and digitizing original Super Nintendo cartridges on PC, Mac, or Steam Deck, with save backups and built-in emulator support.
- Ships in April 2026.
- "The not so great news? Nintendo may still find a way to sue your ass." (C, 03:45)

3. Quick Bits (Gaming, Hardware Mishaps & Tech Industry News)

GPU Power Connector Catastrophes:
- Another RX 9070XT suffered a melted 12V 2x6 power connector after one year of usage. (C, 05:29)
- Anecdote: Gamer who received rocks instead of a GPU finally gets his RTX 5080 (and celebrates with an Asus TUF tattoo atop a pile of rocks).
GOG's Big Business Move:
- Digital game store GOG is being sold by CD Projekt Red to co-founder Michael Kasinski; no changes for users, but plans to further revive classic PC games.
- "Basically it's the same good old gog old games just readopted by its biological father who was only partially absent but is now giving this whole full time parenting thing a shot. I call that character growth." (C, 06:17)
US/China Chip Manufacturing Updates:
- US has temporarily allowed Samsung and SK Hynix to move chipmaking equipment to their Chinese factories until 2026, easing tensions.
- Meanwhile, China now requires chip makers to use at least 50% domestically made equipment in new factories.
- "But are the chips still domestic if they're made by foreign machines?" (C, 07:07)

4. Wild Innovations – and “Charging Freaking Roadways”

Inductive Charging Highways:
- Florida is building a stretch of highway with charging coils beneath the asphalt—“charging freaking roadways”—that can deliver up to 200kW to compatible EVs.
- "Will it work? Maybe. Will it be wildly expensive and only support a handful of cars at first abso freaking lutely." (C, 07:41)
Brain Implants for Sensory Restoration:
- Northwestern researchers debuted a tiny, wireless, scalp-mounted implant that can restore lost senses by shining patterned light through the skull into the brain—"avoids drilling into the brain and has already helped mice relearn how to interpret sensory signals." (C, 08:06)
- Playful warning: "It sounds fantastic as long as there's some sort of fail safe to prevent a Pickle Rick situation." (C, 08:18)
Scalable DNA Data Storage:
- Atlas Data Storage claims to have built the “world’s first scalable DNA data storage system,” with up to 60 petabytes per liter and millennia of longevity.
- Throughput and costs remain limiting: sequencing is $30/250GB and very slow for now.
- "Soon we'll be living in less of a cyberpunk dystopia and more of a bio sci fi genetically engineered dystopia. That's exciting." (C, 08:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"This year all the keynotes are just gonna be guys walking on stage to be like, 'Welcome! Same but more expensive. Woo. Come on, please clap AI.'" (C, 01:48)
On controller nostalgia: "It's like the handheld that could have been if Sony and Nintendo ended up working together after all, in the good timeline utopia." (C, 03:22)
On Nintendo’s legal reputation: "Nintendo may still find a way to sue your ass. They are just not as cool as our sponsor Ugreen..." (C, 03:50)
On GOG's ownership shuffle: "Just readopted by its biological father who was only partially absent but is now giving this whole full time parenting thing a shot. I call that character growth." (C, 06:34)
"Will it work? Maybe. Will it be wildly expensive and only support a handful of cars at first abso freaking lutely charging freaking roadways man." (C, 07:58)
"It sounds fantastic as long as there's some sort of fail safe to prevent a Pickle Rick situation..." (C, 08:18)
"Soon we'll be living in less of a cyberpunk dystopia and more of a bio sci fi genetically engineered dystopia. That's exciting." (C, 08:59)

Important Timestamps

00:30 — GPU & PC part price hikes discussion
01:44 — ASUS price increases and CES snark
02:36 — Gamesir controller & CES wacky tech previews
03:19 — OneX Sugar Wallet gaming handheld preview
03:45 — Epilogue SN Operator Super Nintendo dock
05:29 — Melted GPU connectors & weird shipping anecdotes
06:17 — GOG sold to its co-founder
07:07 — US-China chip supply chain news
07:41 — Wireless charging highways in Florida
08:06 — Brain-implant tech for restoring senses
08:59 — DNA-based data storage

Tone & Closing

The episode retains TechLinked’s trademark energy, blending legitimate industry analysis with sarcastic jabs, geek nostalgia, and dry humor. There’s a consistent undertone of exasperation at pricing, cautious optimism about new “wacky” tech, and a winking acknowledgment of the persistent absurdities in gaming and tech culture.

Closing thought:
"Happy New Year, everyone. We'll see you in 2026. Heck, depending on where you live, we might already be seeing you in 2026. Have they solved the RAM crisis yet over there? Let me know." (C, 09:28)

This summary omits advertisements and non-content banter to focus on the tech news and main humor segments of the episode.

Transcript

A (0:00)

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means half day. Yeah, give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront.

B (0:23)

Payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required New customer offer for first three months only Speed slow 135 gigabytes of network busy taxes and fees extra see mintmobile.com Check.

C (0:30)

Chat, chat, chat, chat chat. Check it out. What's it all about then? Well, I'm gonna tell you. Nvidia GPUs could be getting some imminent price hikes, with one report citing claims from industry insiders that some variants of the RTX 5090 could end up retailing for nearly $5,000 as soon as January 2026, a month in which many of you are currently already living. Comment below with how your 2026 is going so far. This alleged cost increase is almost certainly thanks to skyrocketing DRAM costs. RAM makes up a huge chunk of a graphics card's price. Now, I don't know if the 5000 number is accurate, but the RTX 5090 launched at a $2000 MSRP and it's already hard to find anywhere under 3000. Which is so, so sad for the people just trying to scrape enough together to buy the most powerful gaming GPU on the planet. But it' clear that price hikes on PC components outside of just RAM and SSDs are inbound. For example, in a leaked letter to their partners, ASUS is saying they'll raise prices on at least some products starting on January 5, 2026. The letter indicates that memory and storage components are so expensive and scarce, scarce, scarce that ASUS can no longer absorb the cost. They'd like to absorb some more of your money instead. Wait a minute, just January 5th. That's the first day of the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas, where this year all the keynotes are just gonna be guys walking on stage to be like welcome Same but more expensive. Woo. Come on, please clap AI. But actually I take it back because some companies are starting to pre announce some of the fun and wacky tech they'll show off at ces. As is tradition, Gamesir is teasing a wireless Swift Drive controller with a tiny steering wheel built right into the pad that provides force feedback effects for racing games like the Namco Jogcon PlayStation controller from back in 1998. Finally, I can drive virtual cars in modern games just like I do real cars with both my thumbs in the middle of the wheel. Wait. Whoa. Watch out. You mess with the nerd, you get the horns. Gamesir also showed off a full on wireless wheel and pedal set with its own turbine fan to simulate airflow and haptic effects for total and complete immersion. Meanwhile, OneNetbook teased the new OneX Sugar Wallet, an 8 inch gaming handheld with a folding OLED screen powered by a Qualcomm Gaming Platform flagship processor. My favorite type of Qualcomm gaming platform processor price and launch details are still up in the air, but I'm into that thing. It's like the handheld that could have been if Sony and Nintendo ended up working together after all, in the good timeline utopia. Speaking of Nintendo Epilogue has shown off the SN Operator a USB connected dock that lets you plug your old Super Nintendo cartridges straight into a PC, Mac or Steam deck and and then play or archive them digitally with save backups and emulator support built in. It's 60 bucks US and supposedly ships in April, which is great news for cartridge owners who don't want to fiddle with the DIY archiving kits out there. The not so great news? Nintendo may still find a way to sue your ass. They are just not as cool as our sponsor Ugreen and their Magflow Magnetic Power bank. The ultimate treasure for modern adventurers. With ultra fast 25 watt wireless charging, it can revive my iPhone 17 Pro Max from 0 to 50% in just 38 minutes, fast enough to outrun rolling boulders. Its powerful magnetic hold keeps my phone secure even when I'm clinging to crumbling ledges, while the real time LED display shows exactly how much power remains. Two USB C ports and a wireless charging pad let me charge three devices at once and 30 watt two way fast charging with a built in USB C carry strap means I can recharge my gear, my Sherpa's gear, or the power bank itself. Mid Expedition compact flight, safe and tough enough for booby trapped tombs or you know, just going to work or school or whatever. Ugreen's MagFlow Magnetic power bank keeps adventurers moving. Check it out in the link below. You might know the quick bits for their contributions to tech news, but they're also amazing battle rappers. Hey they have a show tonight you should oh it's already over cause they're so quick. Another RX9070XT has suffered a burn injury on its 12 volt 2 by 6 power connector with Redditor DivinityThreshold, claiming it lasted a year before joining the extremely exclusive melted 12 volt connectors club. Ah, I'm jealous. But at least he got a year of gaming out of it, unlike the guy who ordered a GPU and got rocks instead. Some good news for him though, he finally got his RTX 5080 from Best Buy after he figured out the shipping weight somehow mysteriously increased during transit. To celebrate, he got a tattoo of the Asus TUF logo on a pile of rocks. Not sure why you'd want to commemorate a shipping snafu in which someone stole an expensive item from you, but whatever sinks your boat Game Store GOG is officially breaking out on its own. If that's what you call parent company CD Projekt Red selling GOG to Michael Kasinski, the original co founder of both GOG and CD Projekt Red, who is now an independent entrepreneur despite still holding many CD Projekt Red shares. Anyway, the DRM free storefront says nothing is changing for users. That's the important part. Your library is safe. But big changes are coming. GOG is teasing more ambitious plans to revive classic PC games starting next year. Basically it's the same good old gog old games just readopted by its biological father who was only partially absent but is now giving this whole full time parenting thing a shot. I call that character growth. The US is giving Samsung and SK Hynix temporary permission to keep shipping chip making tools into their Chinese factories through 2026, easing pressure after earlier export waivers were revoked. The goal is to reportedly keep memory production running in the short term, especially as AI demand pushes prices even higher. But at the same time, China is pulling in the opposite direction. Beijing is now requiring chip makers to use at least 50% domestically made equipment to when expanding their manufacturing capacity, forcing fabs to choose local tools even when foreign options could offer a cheaper solution. But are the chips still domestic if they're made by foreign machines? Hey, remember solar freaking roadways? No that's okay, cause now we have charging freaking roadways. Florida is building a highway that can wirelessly charge EVs while you drive. Yes, charging freaking roadways. A stretch of State Road 516 will have inductive charging coils underneath the asphalt delivering up to 200kW to compatible cars as they roll along. It's meant to extend range, not fully charged vehicles, but it could definitely be a step in the right direction. Will it work? Maybe. Will it be wildly expensive and only support a handful of cars at first abso freaking lutely charging freaking roadways man. Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a tiny FR flexible underscalp implant that could help restore lost senses by shining patterned light directly through the skull into the brain. Which is something you can do, apparently. The wireless device avoids drilling into the brain and has already helped mice relearn how to interpret sensory signals. It sounds fantastic as long as there's some sort of fail safe to prevent a Pickle Rick situation and Atlas Data Storage announced what it called the the world's first scalable DNA data storage offering earlier this month. The system can pack up to 60 petabytes per liter of gene carrying juice and could last for thousands of years. Sounds like something ChatGPT just came up with, but okay. Unfortunately, encoding and decoding data using the four chemical bases in DNA isn't really cheap or fast. Sequencing currently costs around $30 per roughly 250 gigabytes and takes significant time, so it won't be replacing tape at scale for years. Still, it's pretty cool. Soon we'll be living in less of a cyberpunk dystopia and more of a bio sci fi genetically engineered dystopia. That's exciting. You know what else is exciting? That there's gonna be more tech news on Friday, so you should come back then. Happy New Year, everyone. We'll see you in 2026. Heck, depending on where you live, we might already be seeing you in 2026. Have they solved the RAM crisis yet over there? Let me know.