The recent criticism of Linus Tech Tips, explained
Linus Tech Tips founder Linus Sebastian has admitted to «sloppiness» in the hardware review channel's handling of controversy that erupted over its recent review of a high-end watercooling system, but says what really bothers him about the situation is «how quickly the pitchforks were raised.»
The trouble began with a June 24 video in which Sebastian and an assistant put together a watercooled PC using Billet Labs' Monoblock, a system designed to cool both the CPU and GPU simultaneously. The Monoblock is not actually in production at this point: It's available for preorder at the Billet Labs website for $841. The device tested by LTT was apparently a unique prototype.
The build did not go smoothly. The installation of the cooling block was difficult, and the GPU they used wasn't a proper match for the cooler: The unit Billet Labs sent was meant for GeForce GTX 3090 GPUs, but LTT tested it on a 4090. According to Linus Tech Tips writer Adam Sonedergard, who assisted on the test, the manufacturer said the device would work with a 4090 card, but it «didn't know how well.» Not well at all, as it turned out.
«The best-case scenario for this thing is, the temps are slightly better [than other coolers],» Sebastian said in the review's conclusion. «But the experience of building with it is a nightmare, and the advantages over literally any other solution are negligible.»
That review led to an August 14 call-out of Linus Tech Tips by channel Gamers Nexus, a direct competitor, which questioned LTT's «accuracy, ethics, and responsibility» and accused it of «rushing content out the door» in order to achieve «quantity over quality.» Gamers Nexus editor-in-chief Steve Burke also said in the video that LTT «sold» the one-of-a-kind
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