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    1. CES 2025

      CES 2025 kicked off with some big hardware announcements. AMD CPUS for desktop, mobile, and handhelds Nvidia 5000 GPUs (see separate discussion here) But what else are people excited (or not...

      CES 2025 kicked off with some big hardware announcements.

      But what else are people excited (or not excited) for that doesn't necessarily deserve its own thread?

      19 votes
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. [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
    5. 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
    6. 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
    7. What kind of USB hub am I looking for?

      So I bought this caldigit hub along with this USB hub. I originally had the Aceele connect to my computer through the CalDigit Hub, but when I connected my keyboard to my Aceele, I noticed that...

      So I bought this caldigit hub along with this USB hub.

      I originally had the Aceele connect to my computer through the CalDigit Hub, but when I connected my keyboard to my Aceele, I noticed that when I hit F11, the boot menu doesn't get activated.

      I connected my keyboard to the caldigit hub directly though and was able to pull up the boot menu just fine.

      Then I connect my keyboard to the Aceele hub and then connected that directly to my computer and it still was not able to connect my keyboard to the computer pre-OS boot. So clearly Aceele waits till the OS is actually up before it can connect (I think?)

      However, I don't know what tech specs to look for in a hub that ensure that anything I connect to it will be detected pre OS-boot. I am looking for a hub that specifically plugs into a USB-C port, has 4 USB-A ports and is USB 3.2 gen with 10 gbps. Is that possible?

      8 votes
    8. My Leopold FC900R broke - Recommendation request

      Hi Tildes! My Leopold FC900R mechanical keyboard had a sudden thirst for a full cup of joe, which rendered the keyboard mostly unusable, even after drying for days. This has been my favourite...

      Hi Tildes!

      My Leopold FC900R mechanical keyboard had a sudden thirst for a full cup of joe, which rendered the keyboard mostly unusable, even after drying for days.

      This has been my favourite keyboard of all time, it looks and types the same as the day I got it, and I'm actually quite miffed it broke!

      So Tildes, could you help me out? What would be a good replacement?

      For people that do not know Leopolds lineup specifically, they're pretty much no frills high end mechanical keyboard. The only similar keyboard I've found so far is the Leopold FC900RBTS, but it's quite expensive and the colours it comes in aren't entirely my taste. Although I'm not opposed to putting down that kind of money, I'm wondering if there's no alternative available that matches my requirements at a slightly lower pricepoint.

      So here's what I'm looking for:

      • Double Shot PBT Keycaps, that's a must have.
      • Fullsize keyboard. I still use my numpad!
      • Wired connection. The Leopold FC900RBTS has both wired and wireless, that's fine too, but at it's core it must be wired.
      • Relatively small sized frame, the frame on the Leopold is quite economically built. It's keys on a board and that makes it rather small even at full size.
      • I think the FC900R came with MX Cherry Browns by default. I liked Browns but I'm not married to them.
      • Cost can be anywhere between $50 and $150, but I prefer paying more if the quality matches the price.
      • Colour scheme shouldn't be too shouty, but doesn't need to be full black/white either. This is what my keyboard looked like. I like that type of distinct but not loud colour scheme.
      • Usecase is both typing and gaming, not heavy office work, but a decent amount of Tildes comment writing.

      I was debating putting it into ~tech or ~gaming, but I suppose it's too allround for gaming. Although if it needs to move I'd love to hear it.

      If someone has a suggestion, please let me know!
      Thank you everyone!

      10 votes
    9. MiniPCs, portable monitors?

      Hello, it’s midnight where I am and I fell into a rabbit hole of MiniPCs and portable monitors. I work from home with the occasional max once a month summon to office. I travel a lot and I ended...

      Hello, it’s midnight where I am and I fell into a rabbit hole of MiniPCs and portable monitors.

      I work from home with the occasional max once a month summon to office. I travel a lot and I ended up wondering if a MiniPC like Geekom would be for me.

      I currently have a ThinkPad but I have an external keyboard, mouse, monitor, speaker and webcam at home. I only ever use the actual laptop parts when I am on a train or traveling. Which is also a pity because the laptop is heavy for me.

      Anyway, does anyone travel with a MiniPC / monitor combo? I would love to hear your experiences and advice and maybe some obvious and not-so-obvious pros and cons that you can share.

      13 votes
    10. Programming/gaming monitor recommendations

      I'm a work from home software engineer, I spend most of the day at my desk staring at my dual monitor setup. There are some specs I'd like to upgrade based off what I've read online, but I want to...

      I'm a work from home software engineer, I spend most of the day at my desk staring at my dual monitor setup. There are some specs I'd like to upgrade based off what I've read online, but I want to hear if any tildes users have strong opinions about the hardware.

      My primary display is a Dell S2719DGF (1440 144hz), and my secondary display is a Dell P2719H (1080 60hz). My primary display is for programming & gaming, and I want to upgrade to 4k 144hz. My secondary display is my primary display for work, only used for programming. I want to upgrade it to at least 1440, maybe 4k if it's as good as they say. I also need 100x100mm vesa mount support, though I think most monitors have that these days.

      A few points that I'm not certain about:

      • I've read that 4k is better for reading and writing code because the higher pixel density makes text sharper. I definitely prefer 1440 over 1080, but is the jump from 1440 to 4k as noticeable? I've never used a 4k monitor.

      • My current primary display has a low response time. I don't play fast-paced PvP games anymore, is this something I can give up and not notice?

      • I think IPS panels are the move for both displays, for better contrast and to avoid burn-in, but I'm no longer well educated on the current landscape of panels. MiniLED? QLED? QD-LED? What'sNextLED??

      • Both of my displays are 27 inches. I'm hesitant to upgrade to something larger like 32 inches and lose pixel density. Is the difference between 4k@27in and 4k@32in negligible?

      • I just moved my office into a loft with poor lighting. I read that dark rooms require better contrast but I'm not sure what good or poor contrast looks like.

      • Is my fps going to take a hit from increasing the resolution of my secondary display? I don't know if there's a lot of extra overhead from the increased resolution. AMD GPU/Gnome/Wayland btw.

      If you're a programmer/gamer with a hill to die on regarding monitors please share it with me!

      9 votes
    11. Stacking laptops

      I might have to have two running laptops for work. Desk space is at a premium. Right now I have my work laptop stacked on top of my personal PC on my desk ( tower, on its side, on a stand ). Would...

      I might have to have two running laptops for work.

      Desk space is at a premium. Right now I have my work laptop stacked on top of my personal PC on my desk ( tower, on its side, on a stand ).

      Would a rack like this one, with a lap top on each shelf be enough to keep the magnets on the lids of each laptop from interfering with each other? What about protecting each laptop from the heat of the other laptop?

      I already have a mechanical KVM. I will just need to buy one that accommodates more than 2 computers.

      Please, let me know if I have overlooked any considerations.

      Thank you.

      8 votes
    12. I'm getting a new Macbook Pro. What's your favorite apps and tips?

      Hi Tildes ! I was passively looking for an refresh of my current laptop (Thinkpad X1 carbon Gen 5; it's still working fine except some mysterious thermal profile1), and a friend of mine working in...

      Hi Tildes !

      I was passively looking for an refresh of my current laptop (Thinkpad X1 carbon Gen 5; it's still working fine except some mysterious thermal profile1), and a friend of mine working in retail told me he could sell me a Macbook Pro (the mid-range 14in one with the M3 Pro chip2 at a heavy discount (more than half the price; it's a display model but he tells me it wasn't mistreated). It's a too good of a deal to pass on, so I accepted.

      1 it's constantly at 70C; I already changed the thermal paste and the battery.
      2 does that mean it's Macbook Pro Pro ?
      3 and I guess the Thinkpad's going to be recycled as a home server. I half hope that running Linux on it will solve the thermal problem

      My use case would be (in no particular order):

      • photo/video processing: I know what I need and I already have a CaptureOne license. Davinci Resolve is enough (and plenty) for me
      • programming (web dev, arduino; VScode's probably gonna be the second thing I'm going to install)(I'm kinda interested running a LLM locally, but have no experience with that)
      • light CAD for 3d printing,
      • gaming? My old gaming tower runs Elden Ring fine but struggle a bit with Baldur's Gate 3 (it's really the loading time, and loading textures), and it seems this MBP can run it fine.
      • regular day-to-day browsing / office and adulting work

      I would qualify myself as a power-user.

      Background: I'm not entirely new to the Apple ecosystem. Back in uni I had the first unibody MBP sporting Leopard and then Snow Leopard. I then went with a X220t and then a my current X1.

      Some questions:

      • I see that BetterTouchTools is still a thing (back then I mapped three fingers swipe up to new tab, three finger swipe down to close tab, and twist to change tabs). I half remember one that was just a staging area living on a sidebar when moving file from one part of the finder to another (the name eludes me). Is there any other handy utilities I should be aware of ? That's also your prompt to plug in your favorite apps :)
      • How's the dongle life (and what's the recommended one) ? While most of my stuff can be USB-C, I still have important stuff that requires USB-A (my photo printers, several portables hard-drive)
      • Any interesting (gasp!) Android integration ? I'm not currently using any with my Windows machine (having Whatsapp/Telegram/Discord is sufficient), but I'm curious anyway.
      33 votes
    13. Suggestions for used and modular laptop for language learning

      I've recently come back to studying German, after having taken a small break for a few months for a new job. My main form of study is immersion (I recently stumbled across the books of Walter...

      I've recently come back to studying German, after having taken a small break for a few months for a new job.

      My main form of study is immersion (I recently stumbled across the books of Walter Moers and haven't looked back since) and conversation practice on iTalki.

      Nowadays, I try my hardest to only buy tech second-hand and preferably as future proof and modular as possible. My go-to machines are a fully modded Lenovo Thinkpad T430, and a more humble Thinkpad X230, both running Linux (Ubuntu and PopOS respectively). They work just fine for my basic needs (mostly surfing, some occasional streaming and word processing). But they struggle during my conversation lessons on iTalki or Zoom, most of the time either overheating or freezing/stumbling. I realize this might be a Linux problem, but I have also found the web camera and built-in microphone on both machines to be really inadequate for video calls. I gave up using my own laptops for my language lessons over a year ago, and now have resorted to stealing my partners Macbook, which isn't ideal.

      Do you have any recommendations for any more recent laptops that would offer a better video conference experience, while offering at least a removable battery? Pricewise it would be great to be find something below €500 used.

      5 votes
    14. Tips for managing a low-storage laptop?

      I bought an M2 Macbook Air at the start of this year for uni. I only planned to use it for uni work as I have another 'more powerful' laptop that I use for everything else, but I kinda love the M2...

      I bought an M2 Macbook Air at the start of this year for uni. I only planned to use it for uni work as I have another 'more powerful' laptop that I use for everything else, but I kinda love the M2 and want to make it my daily driver laptop. Battery lasts for ages, screen is great, it's thin and light, etc. The problem is - as you might guess - I only got the 512GB model and if there's one thing Apple hates, it's people having control over their hardware, so no expandable storage. I can't afford to upgrade the entire laptop, so I need to work with what I have. Here's what I want to use it for:

      • Graphic design: Adobe software, high-res images, typefaces, etc.
      • Music production: Ableton Live 11 Suite, sample packs, plug-ins, project folders, etc.
      • Music library: uncompressed .m4a files because iTunes hates Vorbis 😢, ~80% of my library (I don't have everything downloaded yet) is 25GB.
      • Web-browsing: Firefox... this one isn't really relevant but I feel like I should include it for completeness.

      Does anyone have any tips to stretch this 512GB as faaaaaar as it can go? I have a 2TB external SSD, but I'm wary of keeping anything important on it because it's small and I don't want to accidentally lose a bunch of stuff. I can spend a bit of money (maybe 30usd) if anyone has a good idea that requires buying something, but I can't spend any ludicrous amounts, I already did that to get the laptop!

      15 votes
    15. Looking for a touchscreen desktop computer solution

      Hi, I'm looking for a touchscreen desktop computer solution that is in the affordable range and capable of running Windows or Linux. Whether that is a touchscreen monitor and a standalone...

      Hi, I'm looking for a touchscreen desktop computer solution that is in the affordable range and capable of running Windows or Linux. Whether that is a touchscreen monitor and a standalone computer, or an all in one solution, do you guys have any recommendations? It will be used to run a marine charting program on a boat.

      6 votes
    16. Portable monitor recommendation?

      Hi Tildes, I am going to Vienna in November (and if anyone wants to meet up send me a message! but that's another topic), and this is only half vacation, half for a work-related conference, so I...

      Hi Tildes, I am going to Vienna in November (and if anyone wants to meet up send me a message! but that's another topic), and this is only half vacation, half for a work-related conference, so I want to be able to easily spend a couple hours on work even during the vacation part. To make this easier, I want to buy a portable 2nd monitor that I can plug into my laptop.

      I have ZERO experience using such an item, and wasn't even 100% sure they really exist until I searched just now, so I don't think I have any flat requirements. However, I would super like if it takes touch input and comes with a pen! (no i do not want a tablet, I want a 2nd screen for my laptop that I can drag windows & paste between etc). It also should either be super lightweight or be safe to put in my checked luggage (preferably the latter). Minimum 1080p resolution, I don't think the size matters THAT much but at least the size of a normal laptop screen (and not netbook) would be good.

      (oops I thought I was pressing enter on a tag but it sent the whole post! edited a bit to finish writing it)

      23 votes
    17. [SOLVED] Need help troubleshooting computer

      Solution It was probably my motherboard. I got a new CPU and motherboard and it worked. I also upgraded from DDR3 to DDR4 ram in the upgrade process Background So my computer is not posting, and I...

      Solution

      It was probably my motherboard. I got a new CPU and motherboard and it worked. I also upgraded from DDR3 to DDR4 ram in the upgrade process

      Background

      So my computer is not posting, and I am unsure the cause. I am not getting an error code, so that complicates things. I do not know if this motherboard will provide post codes, it does not have a seven segment display for providing post codes.

      How it started

      It just randomly stopped displaying any pictures, unsure if it happened while in use or when the computer was asleep. I was doing stuff at my desk and had music playing on my computer. The music ended and I did not put on more music and the monitors went to sleep. Later when I went to use my computer It did not appear to wake up, I tried fully shutting down and turning on my computer, and that is when this problem occurred.

      Symptoms:

      • When I power on, computer appears to start normally, with all fans spinning so power delivery appears to be working. Even GPU fans are spinning.
      • Holding down the power button turns the computer off as normal.
      • Nothing is displayed on the screen, my monitors do not even detect an input.
      • USB devices do not appear to be powering on.
      • Every minute or two, the GPU fans ramp up briefly, and then ramp down. It may be all fans are ramping up, kind of hard to tell exactly which fans are ramping up.
      • With the AMD GPU, the LEDs for power turn on. However, I vaguely recall the GPU itself having some RGB when the system was running that was not on. How my computer was setup I did not see inside my case that often, so the RGB on the GPU is a vague memory from a few years ago and I would not put much weight in there being some RGB.

      Hardware:

      • MOBO: Gigabyte 9900FXA-UD3
      • CPU: AMD FX-8350
      • GPU: ASUS Radeon HD7870 or EVGA GTX 970
      • PSU: Cooler Master Elite V2 550W

      Troubleshooting Attempted:

      I initially assumed it was GPU related as the computer appears to turn on normally, but then nothing is displayed. So another user shipped me his old GPU (the GTX 970), and I swapped it out with my old one, and the problem persists.

      I tried swapping out the RAM

      I tried a brand new PSU and that also did not solve the issue

      Leading hypothesis

      Since I have changed everything out except CPU and MOBO, I am thinking it is probably my MOBO. I am currently researching my options for replacing my MOBO, or a friend offered me his CPU and RAM from his old rig with a broken MOBO that may be a better option than replacing mine.

      22 votes
    18. Looking for a decent, but cheap-ass tablet

      Okay -- I am looking for a decent but dirt cheap tablet, manly for recipes, spotify, youtube/VLC, maybe some simple puzzle games. I want the largest tablet I can get for the fewest dollars spent...

      Okay -- I am looking for a decent but dirt cheap tablet, manly for recipes, spotify, youtube/VLC, maybe some simple puzzle games. I want the largest tablet I can get for the fewest dollars spent

      Not a lot. I was looking at the Lenovo Tab M11 or something around there.

      Also, ideally something that can take a crap-free Android ROM.

      quick edit: I gave up on this for a few days because I got into the 'this one is better... but this one is better...' and before I knew it I was hitting a grand for something I'll barely use. I just ordered a Lenovo P11. I don't expect it to be amazing, but it'll be fine for the very basic tasks I'll be using it for.

      Its surprising how much old stuff is for sale on Amazon. iPads from 2018, for instance. Doesn't seem right.

      double edit: I returned the under-powered P11 and got a Lenovo Tab K11 LTE w/ 8gb and 128gb eMMC. Not a big fan of eMMC, but it'll be fine for my uses.

      19 votes
    19. Webcam recommendations?

      Hey there, Title is pretty self-explanatory, looking for some web camera recommendations, USB obviously1, good price to value, higher quality the better, microphone not required, but appreciated....

      Hey there,

      Title is pretty self-explanatory, looking for some web camera recommendations, USB obviously1, good price to value, higher quality the better, microphone not required, but appreciated.

      1 Don't need any MDR-26/SDR-26/CameraLink connectors, or Game Boy Camera recommendations here /s

      15 votes
    20. Got my hands on BenQ's MOBIUZ EX321UX monitor

      I've been on a hunt for a new monitor for over a year now. Something that can be for personal use and WFH with these specs: 4k 144Hz MiniLED <=34" (no curve) Built-in KVM switch Having briefly...

      I've been on a hunt for a new monitor for over a year now. Something that can be for personal use and WFH with these specs:

      • 4k
      • 144Hz
      • MiniLED
      • <=34" (no curve)
      • Built-in KVM switch

      Having briefly experienced the INNOCN 27M2V, I expected a "perfect" monitor on the horizon.

      Soon after I stumbled into a blog post announcing BenQ's reveal of a monitor that featured all the specs I wanted. I've finally got my hands on that monitor today having waited ~6 months.

      First impression was the size. This monitor is a thicc boi. Made me think of a television, but not as heavy as I expected. I mounted it on my monitor arm (VESA 100) without problems.

      The OSD is nifty and easy to navigate. There are 5 "quick menus" (ALPHA, BRAVO, etc.) that let you customize settings for each and quickly switch between them. These menus can be customized to select 3 "favorite" settings (e.g. brightness) so that you don't have to dig through the entire menu.

      After tinkering a bit, I've fired up Prince of Persia The Lost Crown. I've set the display profile to use the per-configured "Fantasy" color mode (with mini-led enabled). Honestly I don't know what I'm doing these settings, so I don't know whether this monitor is calibrated at all, but it was gorgeous. I don't think any picture I take will demonstrate how good it looks.

      I don't have much to say about the KVM yet. But I connected my keyboard+mouse to the monitor, then connected the USB to USB-C to my desktop. I also connected my work laptop (USB-C to USB-C). Everything works, but it'll take a couple of days of normal use to see if there are hiccups. I like switching between desktop (waking from sleep) and my work laptop then vise-versa. I'm curious to see if the "auto scan" works like I want it to.

      Unfortunately, I've discovered 2 "stuck" sub-pixels. According to BenQ's dead pixel policy, this is "acceptable". One of the sub-pixels (green) is almost in the center of the screen and I zero in on it almost immediately. I'll reach out to their support regardless because I prefer not to have defects at this price ($1199.99). If I'm lucky I'll discover another stuck sub-pixel.

      BenQ's Specs

      20 votes
    21. What do you read/watch to keep up with new computer tech?

      Sorry in advance if this is kind of a ramble. Thanks for any thoughts you may have. This post asking about specific hardware made me realize that I have lost touch with major architectural changes...

      Sorry in advance if this is kind of a ramble. Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

      This post asking about specific hardware made me realize that I have lost touch with major architectural changes in PC hardware. Back in college (over 20 years ago), I was constantly upgrading and rebuilding computers, talking about them, reading about them. But that's probably par for the course in a EE program. I'm sure there must have been other online resources, but Slashdot is the thing that sticks out in my memory of that time.

      Then in grad school, my last set of desktops from college carried me through the first few years, and I had a series of laptops provided by school.

      Since then, I've always just bought laptops because they've gotten good enough to do everything I want, and with kids, it's much more flexible to be able to work anywhere in and out of the house. My latest (now several years old) has a high end I7 cpu, an NVIDIA GPU, two solid state drives (1.5TB total). It weighs just a few pounds and does everything I want, including things like Solidworks, zbrush, and older PC games.

      Since I can remember a time when I was excited about 90mhz processors and feeling like I was getting a screaming deal to pay $500 for a 500mb hd, sometimes it just feels surreal for this to be so normal.

      So, am I out of the loop? Or is this reflective of a more general shift? What do you read / where do you post to discuss hardware, hardware compatibility, etc. Are you still building desktops? Laptops? Cyberdecks? What are your thoughts on cost/value trade off of dell, etc. vs rolling your own?

      13 votes
    22. Is this the right time to buy an AM5 desktop?

      I am planning to go back to a desktop after using laptops for years. I already have an 1080p IPS monitor. I want just the tower. There is the new Zen 5 coming out soon. I was thinking about buying...

      I am planning to go back to a desktop after using laptops for years.

      I already have an 1080p IPS monitor. I want just the tower.

      There is the new Zen 5 coming out soon.

      I was thinking about buying a Ryzen 7600 and maybe buy a GPU in the future if I want to play heavier games. The Ryzen 7600 has integrated graphics for basic things.

      My main use now is just some casual gaming (Afterimage, Hollow Knight, Fallout 4), movies, browsing the web and compiling some software (Gentoo Linux).

      I use exclusively Linux and I want to keep using AMD.

      Should I wait the Zen 5 to come out and see if the 7600 price drops or this probably won't happen?

      6 votes
    23. Computer monitors that are good for watching videos?

      I know it isn't a good habit. I like to watch movies, "T.V. shows" on my computer. It was never a problem with older style monitors. However with newer style monitors ( like I have ) and T.V....

      I know it isn't a good habit. I like to watch movies, "T.V. shows" on my computer. It was never a problem with older style monitors.

      However with newer style monitors ( like I have ) and T.V. screens you either have to be far away from the monitor or be sitting up straight for the images not to fade. Worse, you can't see anything with night scenes.

      Anything I can do about it aside from buying a hug TV and sitting on a couch at the other end of the room?


      Update: I got the monitor /user/ButteredToast recommended. It works noticeably better than my old monitor and the price was very reasonable


      10 votes