[S/A]How Nvidia blacklists sites like Hardware Secrets

[Serpentarius]

I would love to know the source for that checklist in the article.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...ard-Review/719

This time we have NVIDIA blacklisting us. After we published a review – without any support from them, N.B. – they complained that we didn’t talk about CUDA or PhysX. I replied saying that we weren’t going to talk about these subjects because we thought they were not relevant to the average user, and we usually don’t re-write reviews. I think this is funny, we have to make a lot of effort to get samples because NVIDIA doesn’t help us and then when we publish the review they complain? If they had given us any kind of support or talked to us clarifying why they think commenting these features would make any real sense to the average user we wouldn’t be so frustrated. But all the reasons they gave us were manufactured by their propaganda machine.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/...re-Secrets/174


looks like hardwaresecrets.com got their Bacon grilled by Nvidia.

[onewingedangel]

It's usually partner cards that get tested rather than cards directly from nVidia - so it's not as if a blacklist means a lot - you just know that instead of calling a contact at nVidia, you call BFG or Zotac.

[Det0x]

It's usually partner cards that get tested rather than cards directly from nVidia - so it's not as if a blacklist means a lot - you just know that instead of calling a contact at nVidia, you call BFG or Zotac.

This time however, they crossed the line from plausible denial-ability to flat out deception. In the middle of last week we heard what Nvidia was up to this time around, but just couldn't believe they would be THAT sleazy. A day or so later, HardOCP published a story about Nvidia stock 'plummeting', basically an indignant backhand for being cut out of the GTS250's launch. Point one confirmed. The rest soon followed.

Just what are the green fumblers doing this time? Two things, one bad, the other straight out deception. The bad one is simple, if you don't review Nvidia cards and say that PhysX is the greatest thing since sliced bread and CUDA makes sex better, you aren't doing a good enough job. They will gently nudge you to change your tune to praise PhysX and CUDA until you wear the letters off your keyboard.

By gently nudge we mean bluntly threaten, and by bluntly we mean not bluntly at all. Competence would help, as would the carrot and stick approach, but Nvidia doesn't like carrots. They just threaten. Kyle made the mistake of being honest, so it is doghouse time for him, and the site. Welcome to the club, we even have a fort. I assume you got the list of who got cut too, so you know we will have quite big name company soon. Punch and pie.

So, short story, Nvidia dislikes honesty, and since they have no new product, they are afraid of that particular trait. If you didn't drool over PhysX and CUDA enough, you are cut out. This is exactly what Apple does to keep the press in line, but Apple has something Nvidia doesn't, competence.

If that wasn't bad enough, the next part is. Normally, when a vendor cuts you out, if you really care, you can go to one of their partners and get boards/chips/whatever. Sometimes this is a better idea because one or two tend to have a special card, overclocked, shiny metal cooler, or box with bigger breasts on the model. This time Nvidia specifically forbade partners from giving sites parts if they were on honesty hiatus.

nvidia-cuts-out-reviewers