hardware
What upgrades are worth it on my next computer?
27/08/26 Filed in: Hardware
I’m going to splurge and buy a Mac Studio. Seems like a bit of overkill, but I use these things for a long tine (I still have my old Powerbook and Newton). I really am getting in to ai and thinking about different ways to use it.It’s hard to guess what one might need several years from now to take advantage of everything. I’ll look at the lease option
Below you’ll see I went from 32-40 GPU ($300) in order to increase unified memory from 48-64 ($400).
It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1200 to increase to 128?????
Also, I increased storage to 2T for $800; It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1000 to increase to 4T
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There’s a saying in Cycling. "Don’t buy upgrades. Ride up grades.” In relation to computers, what is your use case to justify the cost? I own a very expensive bike that I only ride every once in a while. It’s made of carbon fiber and makes me feel great when I’m riding but I’m not any faster.
Upgrading to 2TB storage: Great idea!
Upgrading to the faster processor: Meh. I can’t really make a case for why that would be necessary. But I’ve found in most cases, people like to upgrade things because they “think” it will make it faster. The fact is more that it’s usually not going to even be noticeable. You are talking about a car that can make it around the track in 1 minute vs one that can make it around the track in 56 seconds.
Upgrading storage: Even less noticeable than upgrading the processor. Chances are the large majority of general users will NEVER run applications that even come close to addressing the amount of memory these computers have in the modern day. To prove this, you can open activity monitor and look at memory pressure. If an application is hogging memory it’s more likely due to a problem and not just standard RAM allocation. The users that do need more memory are video editors, musicians. It’s hard to make a case for even photographers unless you are doing a massive number of batch modifications at once. And only the Pros or production houses do that.
So in the long run, the base model with increased storage is all I would personally ever consider but I do know human nature and people want what they want. It’s essentially the same as buying two dead bolts for the same door. If it makes you feel better and you can afford it, go ahead. But it’s no safer than one dead bolt.
NOTE: Keep in mind I come from a very frugal upbringing so it’s in my DNA to spend as little as possible.
Below you’ll see I went from 32-40 GPU ($300) in order to increase unified memory from 48-64 ($400).
It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1200 to increase to 128?????
Also, I increased storage to 2T for $800; It doesn’t seem worth it to spend $1000 to increase to 4T
___________
There’s a saying in Cycling. "Don’t buy upgrades. Ride up grades.” In relation to computers, what is your use case to justify the cost? I own a very expensive bike that I only ride every once in a while. It’s made of carbon fiber and makes me feel great when I’m riding but I’m not any faster.
Upgrading to 2TB storage: Great idea!
Upgrading to the faster processor: Meh. I can’t really make a case for why that would be necessary. But I’ve found in most cases, people like to upgrade things because they “think” it will make it faster. The fact is more that it’s usually not going to even be noticeable. You are talking about a car that can make it around the track in 1 minute vs one that can make it around the track in 56 seconds.
Upgrading storage: Even less noticeable than upgrading the processor. Chances are the large majority of general users will NEVER run applications that even come close to addressing the amount of memory these computers have in the modern day. To prove this, you can open activity monitor and look at memory pressure. If an application is hogging memory it’s more likely due to a problem and not just standard RAM allocation. The users that do need more memory are video editors, musicians. It’s hard to make a case for even photographers unless you are doing a massive number of batch modifications at once. And only the Pros or production houses do that.
So in the long run, the base model with increased storage is all I would personally ever consider but I do know human nature and people want what they want. It’s essentially the same as buying two dead bolts for the same door. If it makes you feel better and you can afford it, go ahead. But it’s no safer than one dead bolt.
NOTE: Keep in mind I come from a very frugal upbringing so it’s in my DNA to spend as little as possible.
My camera isn't working
25/07/23 Filed in: Hardware
Scotty, I am having trouble with the auxiliary camera that I had to begin using after the internal camera on laptop broke.
I have had a weekly Teams meeting the past 2 weeks. In each case, I could not get an option for an auxiliary camera. As a result, whenever I went with the camera “on”, it was dark.
Not sure if is Teams or me. Not sure if Zoom would be an issue but I have not had a Zoom call recently.
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First thing to check is to try using the camera with other software than Teams. For example, Zoom of course. You can just open zoom and go to settings to test the camera. FaceTime, or even QuickTime will allow you to record using the camera.
If the camera is unavailable in any of the other applications, it’s the either the camera or a setting related to the camera. But if all those other applications find the camera then it’s Teams. Be sure to quit each application before opening the next. Applications don’t like to share hardware when two are open using the same hardware.
If it's teams, check the following…
If you’re on the latest version of the OS Venture, go to settings, select Privacy and Security and make sure that you’ve allowed access within the camera area.
Do you repair damaged iPods and iPhones?
14/12/10 Filed in: Hardware
Hi
I just got a new ipod touch and im trying to sync it.It needs the new version of itunes to work and the new itunes needs mac os x 10.5 or higher to run but i cant get the mac update to download. My computer is an older mac, so could that be the problem?
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It depends on what mac it is. If it’s a PowerPC iMac instead of a more modern intel based iMac then there could be an issue although even the PPC iMacs should run 10.5. However 10.5 needs at least 512 megs of ram so you may below the requirements there. Another possibility could be that you may be out of space on your hard drive. But it sounds most likely like you need to get 10.5 on your machine in order to get the most recent version of iTunes.
I just got a new ipod touch and im trying to sync it.It needs the new version of itunes to work and the new itunes needs mac os x 10.5 or higher to run but i cant get the mac update to download. My computer is an older mac, so could that be the problem?
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It depends on what mac it is. If it’s a PowerPC iMac instead of a more modern intel based iMac then there could be an issue although even the PPC iMacs should run 10.5. However 10.5 needs at least 512 megs of ram so you may below the requirements there. Another possibility could be that you may be out of space on your hard drive. But it sounds most likely like you need to get 10.5 on your machine in order to get the most recent version of iTunes.
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