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    1. Also looking for GPU recommendations

      I saw a similar thread recently and since I also happen to be looking for a gpu, I thought I'd ask here as well. Soo, I suppose I should start by saying that I really do not know much about...

      I saw a similar thread recently and since I also happen to be looking for a gpu, I thought I'd ask here as well.

      Soo, I suppose I should start by saying that I really do not know much about hardware. All the computers I had were purchased pre-built and I didn't really open them up apart from occasional cleaning or plugging in a new drive. Either way, my current hardware is as follows:

      • CPU: Intel i7-8700
      • RAM: 16GB DDR4
      • GPU: integrated Intel CoffeeLake-S GT2
      • Displays: 2560x1080@60hz and 1920x1080 up to 165hz but usually sitting at 60
      • Motherboard: 0NC2VH (from Dell OptiPlex 7060 SFF)
      • PSU: 200W

      So the 2 things worrying me here are:

      1. The PSU power output is probably too low
      2. The entire case is kind of on the smaller side, I'm not sure what gpu would be able to fit there (though that's a thing I asked about when buying this pc, and apparently small form factor gpus should be fine?)

      As I said earlier I'm really clueless about this kind of things and I'm not sure where to start, so I don't even have any candidates. Generally, I don't do too much gpu-intensive stuff (which is why for a long time I've been fine with an iGPU) and most of the games (2d stuff like various roguelikes or Factorio) I play run fine, but recently I've been playing some more games like Fall Guys or Supermarket Together with friends and it's been a bit frustrating to lower the graphics settings to the very lowest they can be and also decrease the resolution to have them run at a playable framerate (though even Factorio has been having some frame drops recently as my factory keeps growing, but I'm not sure if it's actually the igpu causing the bottleneck).

      Any advice would be appreciated! I can provide more information if there's something relevant I haven't mentioned (which I imagine is quite possible)


      Edit: I am now instead considering a full upgrade, since it might make more sense as people pointed out

      Edit2: a pretty important thing I forgot to mention is that I primarily run linux, so driver compatibility is a big thing for me.

      13 votes
    2. Outdoor CCTV recommendations?

      Hi all. I need to set up an outdoor CCTV camera and since there seem to be a hundred different brands and as many pitfalls I'm wondering if anyone here can help me navigate that minefield. I have...

      Hi all. I need to set up an outdoor CCTV camera and since there seem to be a hundred different brands and as many pitfalls I'm wondering if anyone here can help me navigate that minefield. I have zero experience.

      I have the following basic requirements:

      • Waterproof: It's outdoors, it will be rained on, plus there will often be high humidity, pollen and dust. It should not get fogged up. (IP66 or higher I think?) This also means there shouldn't be exposed plugs, otherwise it's not really waterproof.
      • NOT battery powered. If there's a battery power option, battery degradation shouldn't prevent the camera from working, since otherwise that will massively impact longevity. I'm looking for something that can be wired directly to AC power.
      • Wifi support: Comms cannot be wired in this installation. Norm will probably be n (2.4ghz) but ac+ should ideally be supported for future proofing.
      • I probably can't buy it if it's not available in Europe (this often excludes some american startups).

      With regard to what happens to the footage:

      • I think IP streaming would be ideal?
      • Abso-fucking-lutely no "cloud" based services. I have no interest in having to bounce footage through the US or china, or paying a monthly fee for unnecessary nonsense. I'm afraid of brands not being clear about this being a requirement before I spend my money.
      • Some brands seem to have their own "server"/hub hardware? Why? No! I already own computers, so I don't need to waste money on a proprietary unitasker for talking to my camera.
      • I think there are some open standards for camera streaming and open source software for handling the cameras. Support for these would be great. I'm accepting software recommendations too.
      • I'm not in theory opposed to SD card support, but I'd rather not have to use local storage at all, and don't mind if it's not an option. If a setup requires storing in an SD card and then reading from it that's not the worst, I suppose (it's not that expensive to replace dead SD cards once every few years).

      Optional bells and whistles:

      • There is some illumination in the location at night, but some form of night vision would be highly desirable. Optional built in lights are probably also a good idea.
      • Microphone is a nice plus.
      • Motion detection and human tracking are a nice plus. The camera doesn't have to rotate 360 degrees; probably a ~60 degree angle of vision would be plenty. At the extreme, I'd say more than ~120 degrees is literally useless due to obstacles. (Obviously if an ideal solution has full rotation, I'll just take it.)
      • Resolution+framerate (bitrate) can be as high as wireless-n can comfortably handle, but I don't really think I need more than 1080p.

      Thanks in advance if anyone knows enough to be able to help.

      4 votes
    3. [SOLVED] Looking for recommendations on new GPU

      GPU Purchased: RX 6650XT for $330+tax Overview I am currently looking at replacing my GPU, as I believe it is broken. I do not want to spend a high amount as money is a bit tight for me. However,...

      GPU Purchased: RX 6650XT for $330+tax

      Overview

      I am currently looking at replacing my GPU, as I believe it is broken. I do not want to spend a high amount as money is a bit tight for me. However, I am open to spending a bit more than the cheapest option, if it will last me longer.

      Current Hardware

      • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
      • RAM: 32GB DDR4
      • PSU: 550W
      • GPU: NVidia GTX 970
      • Primary Display: 1080p60
      • Secondary Display: 1600x900 60hz

      Workload

      I do not do need that strong of a GPU, since I primarily play games a bit older and I occasionally do video editing. For video editing, my video projects tend to be relatively lightweight, so I do not need a beefy GPU for it.

      A couple game examples:

      • Minecraft
      • Far Cry 5
      • Civ VI

      Other factors

      For budget, I am trying to stay as low as possible. However, I do want to buy new, as I am pretty sure my GPU is the problem, but do not know for sure so want to be able to return it. For OS, I am running Fedora KDE. I had my GTX 970 working with it, but I have heard AMD cards work better for Linux. Is switching to AMD better overall or just easier to setup?

      Current GPU Considerations:

      Edit: After some suggestions, I am currently leaning towards the RX 6650XT for $330

      12 votes
    4. What do you think about the Apex Pro Keyboard?

      The other day I was in Target and they had a keyboard display, and in that display was a SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL. For those unfamilliar with them, they feature what they call omnipoint...

      The other day I was in Target and they had a keyboard display, and in that display was a SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL. For those unfamilliar with them, they feature what they call omnipoint keyswitches, which basically means that they are all essentially analogue inputs, which means you can adjust the actuation point in software.

      I know there are a lot of keyboard enthusiasts here on Tildes, so I thought I'd ask what you thought about it. While I'm probably not going to buy one anytime soon, I'm interested in it. But I'd also use it almost exclusively for typing, which isn't really the target audience for it. I generally prefer tactile switches but I realized while demoing the Apex that I've been using rubber dome switches so much in recent years that it doesn't matter too much.

      16 votes
    5. Suggestions for a tablet or a light laptop

      Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement. I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any...

      Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement.

      I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any help or direction.

      Here are the main criteria, based on what we've discussed.

      • Can compile LaTeX.
      • Can run Jupyter notebooks, Python, and the like.
      • Can play non-AAA games like Binding of Isaac, Balatro, Dofus.
      • Can play YouTube videos, and Twitch streams. (Not picky about screen quality.)
      • Maximum 13" screen, can be smaller I think?
      • As light as possible (a tablet + keyboard combo might be worth it).
      • USB port for transferring files (to their institution's ancient printers)
      • Ports to connect a mouse, gamepad, etc.
      • Bluetooth, wifi, webcam
      • Lasts at least four hours on battery (if not gaming)
      • Under 1000 euros preferably (willing to make exceptions if you think it is worth it)

      Here are the nice-to-haves:

      • HDMI slot
      • Long-lasting battery
      • Nice mic and webcam
      • Nice screen quality
      • Repairable

      Don't care about:

      • Stylus
      • SD card reader

      My friend is mostly used to Windows but I think if I could make a strong case for Ubuntu then they might be open to it if that's relevant.

      Thanks for reading!

      Edit: Thanks everyone. We ultimately settled for an IdeaPad 2-in-1. Fingers crossed that they’re happy with that.

      27 votes