Beam 1.0 vs Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
Beam 1.0 took 2 min 35 s and $0.063 at list price, Nemotron 3.5 Lightning took 10 min 9 s and $0.012 at list price. Nemotron 3.5 Lightning took 3.9× as long, and Beam 1.0 cost 5.4× as much.
Beam 1.0
Reflection AI · $1.00/M out
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning
NVIDIA · $0.20/M out · free route · 399 HN pts
Pelican
Generate an SVG of a pelican riding a bicycle
Watch
Draw a mechanical wristwatch that shows the current local time, with a sweeping seconds hand and a date window. Make it look expensive.
Landing
Build the landing page for Lumen Cycles, a Copenhagen workshop that builds custom cargo bikes to order. Make it look like a real brand you would trust with 4,000 euros.
Breakout
Make a Breakout game I can play right now with the keyboard or the mouse. Give it several levels, a score and some juice.
Logo
Design a logo for Night Heron, an independent bookshop that only opens after dark.
About
Write the opening of the About us page for Patchbay, a three-person studio in Rotterdam that repairs vintage synthesizers. About 150 words.
Patchbay is a three-person studio in Rotterdam devoted to repairing vintage synthesizers and keeping electronic instruments alive. We work with analog and digital keyboards, drum machines, and modular systems, restoring worn circuits, replacing fragile components, and returning each machine to reliable musical use. Our small team combines careful technical work with genuine respect for the instruments that shaped decades of music. Whether an instrument needs a routine service, a difficult diagnosis, or a full restoration, we approach it with patience, clear communication, and attention to detail. We believe these machines are not just equipment; they are tools with history, character, and sound worth preserving. Based in Rotterdam, we serve musicians, collectors, and studios who want their gear maintained properly and played again. At Patchbay, every repair is treated as a collaboration between craft and music, ensuring that classic synthesizers continue to inspire new sounds for years to come.
Patchbay is a three-person studio in Rotterdam devoted to the restoration and repair of vintage synthesizers. We believe analog gear holds a living voice, and our purpose is to safeguard that sound for musicians, collectors, and creators who value authenticity. With hands-on experience in circuitry, voltage calibration, and component preservation, we treat every console, drum machine, or modular voice with meticulous care. Rotterdam’s eclectic artistic community fuels our commitment to keeping analog heritage alive, bridging past technology with present music. Whether rescuing a neglected lab unit or reviving a cherished polysynth, we approach each instrument as a unique piece of musical history, ensuring it performs as intended for years ahead. We love helping artists reconnect with the warmth and character only vintage hardware can offer. Our workshop sits in the heart of the city, where dusty circuit boards meet fresh compositions, and every repaired synth becomes part of a new musical story.
Specs and numbers
| Beam 1.0 | Nemotron 3.5 Lightning | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Reflection AI | NVIDIA |
| Made in | US | US |
| Released | 16 Oct 2026 | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Price in, per M tokens | $0.25 | free route (list $0.07/M) |
| Price out, per M tokens | $1.00 | free route (list $0.20/M) |
| Context | 1,048,576 tokens | 262,144 tokens |
| Weights | open | open |
| Hacker News points | — | 399 |
| Time for the six prompts | 2 min 35 s | 10 min 9 s |
| List price of the six prompts | $0.063 | $0.012 |
Nemotron 3.5 Lightning was cheaper: $0.051 less at list price, and less on each of the 6 prompts. Beam 1.0 was faster: 7 min 34 s less in total, and faster on each of the 6 prompts.
In the recording, both Breakout games play.