The recent criticism of Linus Tech Tips, explained

15.08.2023 - 22:35 / pcgamer.com

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 Monoblock prototype after it was finished with the device rather than returning it to the manufacturer as it had promised to.

The Gamers Nexus video prompted a lengthy written rebuttal from Sebastian, who actually stepped down as Linus Tech Tips CEO in June but said he «needs to own» this particular incident because he was still in charge when it happened.

«To my team… I stressed the importance of diligence in our work because there are so many eyes on us,» Sebastian wrote. «We are going through some growing pains—we've been very public about them in the interest of transparency—and it's clear we have some work to do on internal processes and communication. We have already been doing a lot of work internally to clean up our processes, but these things take time. Rome wasn't built in a day, but that's no excuse for sloppiness.»

Although he cops to some general sloppiness, Sebastian also defended LTT's commitment to, and record of, getting it right—including in the case of the Monoblock