FEATURED What did you get today?

[deathstar13]

The deed is done.

Edit: Im trying to wake up but i wanted to explain why i went this route.
I wanted a 64GB kit that was M-die and at 6400Mhz right on the edge of 2:1 and stay 1:1 as these wont be OC'ed as they will be my 23/7 ram and maybe push to 6600Mhz at most. So why 96GB? because it was cheaper than most 64GB kits and yet hit all the speeds i want.
These will be in place till the 10K AMD cpu's show up so the need for larger dimms is a natural proregression.

 

[Nebulous]

Looking to build a NAS and get away from running raid on my main rig.

Darkrock Classico Storage Master

 

[freakdiablo]

Another set of work boots.



Had a safety inspection this morning. The ones I got last year are in good shape, but the safety department was complaining they were aluminum toe and "didn't want me doing electrical work in them.".

Little weird because not only are they ASTM rated for electrical work, but...I don't do electrical work.

But hey they wanted to drop a couple hundred on a new pair of composite toe boots and I put in an additional $85 just to get a pair I liked.

 

[Blaylock]

Comfortable work boots are mandatory.

 

[mackerel]

The bottom card is the new one, replacing the two above it. LSI 9300-8i. I had performance problems with my NAS when I recently added more drives. Turned out the top-left SATA card uses multipliers and it lowered whole array performance significantly.

 

[EarthDog]

Looking to build a NAS

Why a 'full PC' versus a dedicated NAS box? I don't NAS, so I have no idea of the +/-.

 

[mackerel]

Why a 'full PC' versus a dedicated NAS box? I don't NAS, so I have no idea of the +/-.

I'd answer that seeing as my latest post was also for a NAS. But it's OT for this thread, and I'm too lazy to start another one!

 

[EarthDog]

Forget it. I'll google it when I have time.

I asked hoping for a simple executive summary. If it turned into a discussion (the plan was to 'like' and move on), I would have cleaned/moved it... I have the POWA!

 

[mackerel]

I asked hoping for a simple executive summary. If it turned into a discussion (the plan was to 'like' and move on), I would have cleaned/moved it... I have the POWA!

Bullet point version off top of my head. Obviously as with all things, you can go a LOT deeper. Quite likely I missed something.

Off the shelf dedicated NAS:
+ hardware is ready to go (unless you need to add your own drives, but that's just some screws)
+ you have a single place to go to for help
+ you know software works with the hardware
+ power efficiency (maybe?)
- you may be limited in what that software can do, especially if it is beyond the basic storage features
- they could put some features behind a further paywall, one-off or subscription
- support length?
- gets expensive fast with more bays

PC as NAS
+ run whatever NAS software you like - some free, some not
+ can run additional software beyond that, e.g. general server stuff
+ can scale to more bays more easily
+ reusing old PC hardware can be cheaper
- you have to work out how it goes together, although NAS software tries to make it easier than if you went general Linux for example
- might not be as power efficient
- you are the support, along with whatever you can search for

In my case, mine was running Unraid fine until I added more disks. Long story short, the controllers I was using was choking. Replaced with better one, seems fine now. It took some time to get there, and the new controller was extra spend. If I had known better, I could have gone straight to a better one and not got the less good ones to start with. When advice is get a good controller, they mean it! It's just a SATA controller, what could go wrong? Well, I found out the hard way.

 

[Nebulous]

Why a 'full PC' versus a dedicated NAS box? I don't NAS, so I have no idea of the +/-.

The dedicated NAS box I want is quite expensive. This is cheaper.

As for the case I got: It's made of beer can tin. Included fans are worthless.

 

[don256us]

I just bought the Google Pixel tablet 11". It's replacing my Samsung Galaxy A7 lite.

I really liked my A7 lite but over the years the battery is just about done. I also was living with it being super slow. How slow is it? When I wake it up, it's so slow that it goes back to sleep while waking. Honest. While it's coming up and I'm waiting for the input to slide up, it goes to sleep. I then have to wake it so that I can wake it.

The battery was the last straw. I've changed many a laptop batteries but tablets and phones have not gone well for me. If I say 50/50 then I'm probably being generous to myself. 30/70? Maybe. Not in my favor. I may try to change the battery on the old one just for fun. 1st I'll have to see if I can get it apart.

Best Buy gave me most of the money I needed when I purchased my TV and sound bar a few months ago. I opened a line of credit and they gave me 10% of my purchase back. My total cost after that was less than $90. Faster CPU, better screen, longer battery life, etc. I'm not super thrilled about the larger screen (8.7" to 11") because my old one was occasionally used with my drone. I won't have a mount that I can attach it to my remote control.

I should have it by Tuesday.

 

[freakdiablo]

I can't think today. I was thinking that A7 was one of Samsung's smaller phones. Was wondering why you went from a smallish phone to an 11" tablet.

(Next upgrade would be a 50" TV. Walking around with it on your shoulder like an old boombox.)

 

[JLK03F150]

I'm not super thrilled about the larger screen (8.7" to 11") because my old one was occasionally used with my drone. I won't have a mount that I can attach it to my remote control.

The good news is it should be relatively easy & inexpensive to find an add-on tablet holder similar to this one. Do you still have Phantom 3/4?

 

[mackerel]

I just bought the Google Pixel tablet 11".

Be interested in your thoughts about it when you get it. What are your use cases? I think I would have bought one if I didn't already buy the Tab S8 the year before, and having two higher end Android tablets would be excessive. However, I'm forever fighting Samsung software and was tempted to get the Pixel Tablet during last Black Friday, but didn't. Half holding out for a future version but rumours aren't looking great on that front.

 

[don256us]

The good news is it should be relatively easy & inexpensive to find an add-on tablet holder similar to this one. Do you still have Phantom 3/4?

I don't have that drone any more. I crashed it good and bought enough spare parts to build two. I wasn't able to build one. I then took all of my parts to a shop that said that they could fix it. 3-4 years later, still not fixed. I have the DJI Mavic Phantom. I crashed it too but it still flies. Woot!

Post magically merged: Apr 10, 2025

Be interested in your thoughts about it when you get it. What are your use cases? I think I would have bought one if I didn't already buy the Tab S8 the year before, and having two higher end Android tablets would be excessive. However, I'm forever fighting Samsung software and was tempted to get the Pixel Tablet during last Black Friday, but didn't. Half holding out for a future version but rumours aren't looking great on that front.

I mostly just stream YouTube and such. With the bigger screen, I'll make it my travel device too. Wife and I plan on some vacation time and it's nice to have a device that 1) holds my media and 2) has a decent battery life. The bigger screen means that I can replace my laptop for research at night. You know, what might we like to do tomorrow? from the hotel room. No laptop means lighter travel.

 

[rainless]

Ohhh I've been waiting a LONG time for this!

Time to play catch-up!









So my wife got me this drumset for my birthday.





So I got myself this bass to complete my rhythm section.





I had bought myself a Fender Telecaster copy (guitar) from China... but it wound up being some defunct/scam website. Fortunately I paid with PayPal. So once I got the money back I got myself a new field monitor for the movie I was working on. (Main actor has fled the country. Film project on hold.)




And a 200 watt production light.




...and this GIANT 30" softbox just came for it in the mail. (I got a deal on it because I ordered a V-Mount adapter at the same time I ordered the light. But they told me they wouldn't have it in stock for another TWENTY DAYS. So I asked for a massive discount on the biggest softbox they had).


That probably puts us up to date (besides the brushes I just got for my drums). I've got a power supply for up to ten guitar pedals coming tomorrow.

 

[JLK03F150]

I don't have that drone any more. I crashed it good and bought enough spare parts to build two. I wasn't able to build one. I then took all of my parts to a shop that said that they could fix it. 3-4 years later, still not fixed. I have the DJI Mavic Phantom. I crashed it too but it still flies. Woot!

I'm going to bet you can find one for your current DJI controller, you will just need to get the DJI drone model & do a little searching on amazon. I've had a tablet holder for my mavic pro for years.

 

[Blaylock]

Time to play catch-up!

Is "Catch-up!" the band name or the song?

I've been wanting to get a drum kit for a while now.

 

[freakdiablo]

Got the switches and board for my new work keyboard yesterday. Didn't realize the caps were an actual *drop* when I ordered and they're still a few weeks out. If I have time this weekend I'll at least get the switches in.

 

[rainless]

Is "Catch-up!" the band name or the song?

I've been wanting to get a drum kit for a while now.

I started a band just before I left the States the last time and one of my buddies brought over a bass amp and his friend brought drums. Then I never saw either of them again.

The bass amp is still in the basement... but I think my mother (who lives at my place now) got rid of the drums. There was no CHANCE that I was ever going to fly or ship those drums to Europe anyway... so I wasn't too heartbroken about it.

Though I did always wish I had more time (I only had them for like a month or something before I left the country) to mess around with them.

I was totally surprised by the wife getting me a set for my birthday. In a way it was bringing everything full circle. (I used to own a bass as well... which I sold the FIRST time I left the States in order to fund the move. Now I've got it all back.)

Don't know if you know how to play... I'm a guitarist. So I don't even know enough to be TERRIBLE on the drums yet! hahaha

But it's a lot more rewarding than using some kinda sampler or software for drums. You really feel them.

That old set was almost 20 years ago now.

So... should the opportunity ever come up again... I'd HIGHLY recommend giving them a shot.

Even if you wind up selling them or something later... it's a nice thing to have done.