What's your latest tech purchase?

[ArdWar]

Got NOS SX8200P for cheap, still not even sure what exactly I got. I guess they're truly mix and match and don't come in specific versions like what SSD DB here imply.

 

[Mussels]

Got NOS SX8200P for cheap, still not even sure what exactly I got. I guess they're truly mix and match and don't come in specific versions like what SSD DB here imply.

View attachment 300617

That SSD is the poster child for parts-swapping

 

[AusWolf]

Finally pulling the trigger on a new laptop to replace my XPS 9370. Crazy to think I paid $1600 for that 8550U+8GB+256GB problem child inferno back in 2018...

X13 Gen 3 came down to $1300cad and I decided it was time. Brighter option screen so there's that. Great serviceability as expected from Thinkpad. Also the temp/power testing for the X13G3 6850U is out of this world - 69C max CPU load??? I have a feeling the 680M is going to kick the everliving shit out of my 2300MHz Vega 8 for about 1/3 the power. Maybe I'll have to sell my 5700G for being useless

Might even get a T14s Gen 2 for my dad too while I'm at it. $960cad for a 14" Thinkpad with 5850U and 16GB of LPDDR4X and 512GB NVMe, plus 3 years of warranty........great deal if I ever saw one.

View attachment 300600

It might be just me, but I have a bad experience with gaming laptops and try to talk everyone who wants one out of it. They mostly overheat, and even if they don't, you can't play any game on the built-in keyboard, it's so hot. Not to mention the abysmal battery life and weight. With that said, it's been years since I've had a laptop that's even remotely capable of gaming, so things might have changed since then.

 

[tabascosauz]

It might be just me, but I have a bad experience with gaming laptops and try to talk everyone who wants one out of it. They mostly overheat, and even if they don't, you can't play any game on the built-in keyboard, it's so hot. Not to mention the abysmal battery life and weight. With that said, it's been years since I've had a laptop that's even remotely capable of gaming, so things might have changed since then.

X13 is not a gaming laptop. It's more along the lines of the XPS 13 or Zenbook, just a bit chunkier.

Since Renoir (4000) AMD has consistently proven both much easier to cool and much lower power, and also much better performing in both CPU and GPU. It is universally true that ultrabooks are usually only rated to cool about 30W or so max, but 15-30W is all -U Renoir/Cezanne/Rembrandt/Phoenix ever needs at full tilt. Mobile APU follows the same PPT rules as desktop APU, very little non-iGPU SOC power, what PPT you see is what PPT you get.

I'm not sure why Intel even tries in the -U segment anymore. They're not even in the same realm efficiency wise, PL1 is something like 54W for the past few -U families. Pretty telling that their Alder Lake and Raptor Lake -Us have only 2 P-cores and still double the PL1 package power of the APUs and an iGPU half as fast

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

I'm not sure why Intel even tries in the -U segment anymore

Because they have the average consumer and all of the notebook makers wrapped around their little finger. No doubt you saw the discrepancy in availability.

 

[tabascosauz]

Because they have the average consumer and all of the notebook makers wrapped around their little finger. No doubt you saw the discrepancy in availability.

Yeah I guess that one was a little rhetorical lol

In the current $800-1400 price point set between the 5800U and 6800U, Intel believes that its 1135/1165G7 and 1235U are competitive. Hence, as Intel offered 0 compelling options whatsoever, I didn't upgrade until there was a good deal on Rembrandt.

Gen3 is also offered with Alder Lake-U and Alder Lake-P (64W PL1!!). The latter is straight up uncoolable in this form factor and falls into the same quagmire as the stock XPS13.

 

[Space Lynx]

Finally pulling the trigger on a new laptop to replace my XPS 9370. Crazy to think I paid $1600 for that 8550U+8GB+256GB problem child inferno back in 2018...

X13 Gen 3 came down to $1300cad and I decided it was time. Brighter option screen so there's that. Great serviceability as expected from Thinkpad. Also the temp/power testing for the X13G3 6850U is out of this world - 69C max CPU load??? I have a feeling the 680M is going to kick the everliving shit out of my 2300MHz Vega 8 for about 1/3 the power. Maybe I'll have to sell my 5700G for being useless

Might even get a T14s Gen 2 for my dad too while I'm at it. $960cad for a 14" Thinkpad with 5850U and 16GB of LPDDR4X and 512GB NVMe, plus 3 years of warranty........great deal if I ever saw one.

View attachment 300600

I just don't know why you would buy this when 7840 APU laptops just came in stock today, and cheaper than this one.

 

[wNotyarD]

I just don't know why you would buy this when 7840 APU laptops just came in stock today, and cheaper than this one.

Could get for cheaper, but as strong as a Thinkpad?

 

[tabascosauz]

I just don't know why you would buy this when 7840 APU laptops just came in stock today, and cheaper than this one.

Tell me where I'm going to find a 13" ThinkPad or comparable with Phoenix for $1300cad. I'll wait.

If the Framework is what you're thinking of, similarly specced with 780M brings it out to $1400usd.

 

[Space Lynx]

Tell me where I'm going to find a 13" ThinkPad or comparable with Phoenix for $1300cad. I'll wait.

If the Framework is what you're thinking of, similarly specced with 780M brings it out to $1400usd.

build quality never came to my mind, I just assumed most modern laptops were built fairly well. and yeah I need to remember cad/usd, it is bigger difference than I realize

 

[Veseleil]

Got NOS SX8200P for cheap, still not even sure what exactly I got. I guess they're truly mix and match and don't come in specific versions like what SSD DB here imply.

View attachment 300617

Will compare mine when I get home in a few weeks. We can run some benchmarks then. And make a thread about it.

 

[tabascosauz]

build quality never came to my mind, I just assumed most modern laptops were built fairly well. and yeah I need to remember cad/usd, it is bigger difference than I realize

Welcome to the northerners' daily life; I got real excited when the new Phoenix Framework was announced and priced one out before realizing it was in usd. $1400usd will be an eyewatering $1900cad+......excluding any additional shipping+taxes that apply. I can escape taxes by shipping to my mailbox, but most likely not for things over $1000usd.

It's not that Thinkpad X has amazing build quality or design, more that it's known factor and a step above most others in serviceability. And that the vast majority of non-Thinkpad fare from Lenovo is not worth looking at except *maybe* some of the new ones with highest end specs.

Availability of -U series Phoenix in Canada is still abysmal. Only one I've seen is a pre-order for the Ally (and that's Z1 Extreme, not 7840U). Even for Rembrandt, a lot of laptops released months ago have no availability here.

 

[sam_86314]

My Logitech G610 irritated me (not remembering lighting profiles between reboots is the main thing), so I got a new keyboard.

I originally got a Corsair K60 RGB Pro SE, but after using it for a bit, I really didn't like the feel of the Cherry Viola switches. They felt cheap, mushy, and had a hollow sound.

It did solve the main issue that the G610 has, but the switch feel was enough for me to return it. Instead, I decided to treat myself to a higher end keyboard (sort of a birthday present to myself).

I ordered a Glorious GMMK 2. I got this keyboard because of the hot-swappable switches, 96% layout (I like having a number pad), and support for QMK firmware (which I plan to put on it at some point.

Shipping was surprisingly good; I ordered it on June 11th and it arrived today. This is despite it shipping with OnTrac.

The pre-built version of this keyboard comes with Glorious Fox switches, which are pre-lubed linear switches. They feel and sound so much better than the Cherry Viola switches in the K60. The G610 had Cherry Brown switches, and I decided I wanted to try linear switches. But the best part is that I can swap them out if I decide I don't like them. It'll work with switches from Cherry, Kailh, Gateron and many more.

It also remembers the lighting profile you set even when unplugged, just like the K60. That really shouldn't be an impressive feature to have, as even the Onn mechanical keyboard from Walmart (which has Outemu Blue switches and is actually a surprisingly nice keyboard, especially for $46) can do that.

 

[Space Lynx]

My Logitech G610 irritated me (not remembering lighting profiles between reboots is the main thing), so I got a new keyboard.

View attachment 300711

I originally got a Corsair K60 RGB Pro SE, but after using it for a bit, I really didn't like the feel of the Cherry Viola switches. They felt cheap, mushy, and had a hollow sound.

It did solve the main issue that the G610 has, but the switch feel was enough for me to return it. Instead, I decided to treat myself to a higher end keyboard (sort of a birthday present to myself).

View attachment 300712View attachment 300713

I ordered a Glorious GMMK 2. I got this keyboard because of the hot-swappable switches, 96% layout (I like having a number pad), and support for QMK firmware (which I plan to put on it at some point.

Shipping was surprisingly good; I ordered it on June 11th and it arrived today. This is despite it shipping with OnTrac.

View attachment 300715View attachment 300716

The pre-built version of this keyboard comes with Glorious Fox switches, which are pre-lubed linear switches. They feel and sound so much better than the Cherry Viola switches in the K60. The G610 had Cherry Brown switches, and I decided I wanted to try linear switches. But the best part is that I can swap them out if I decide I don't like them. It'll work with switches from Cherry, Kailh, Gateron and many more.

It also remembers the lighting profile you set even when unplugged, just like the K60. That really shouldn't be an impressive feature to have, as even the Onn mechanical keyboard from Walmart (which has Outemu Blue switches and is actually a surprisingly nice keyboard, especially for $46) can do that.

View attachment 300717

I like how the Enter key says 'Ascend' that's fucking epic. I need this keyboard. My body needs it.

 

[bobbybluz]

Another Arctic Liquid Freezer II. This time a 360 for $56 locally. I think I have enough spares now.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Probably the most cheapest and most legit PoS setup i'll probably buy.

 

[sam_86314]

I like how the Enter key says 'Ascend' that's fucking epic. I need this keyboard. My body needs it.

Would you say it's glorious?

 

[wNotyarD]

My Logitech G610 irritated me (not remembering lighting profiles between reboots is the main thing), so I got a new keyboard.

View attachment 300711

I originally got a Corsair K60 RGB Pro SE, but after using it for a bit, I really didn't like the feel of the Cherry Viola switches. They felt cheap, mushy, and had a hollow sound.

It did solve the main issue that the G610 has, but the switch feel was enough for me to return it. Instead, I decided to treat myself to a higher end keyboard (sort of a birthday present to myself).

View attachment 300712View attachment 300713

I ordered a Glorious GMMK 2. I got this keyboard because of the hot-swappable switches, 96% layout (I like having a number pad), and support for QMK firmware (which I plan to put on it at some point.

Shipping was surprisingly good; I ordered it on June 11th and it arrived today. This is despite it shipping with OnTrac.

View attachment 300715View attachment 300716

The pre-built version of this keyboard comes with Glorious Fox switches, which are pre-lubed linear switches. They feel and sound so much better than the Cherry Viola switches in the K60. The G610 had Cherry Brown switches, and I decided I wanted to try linear switches. But the best part is that I can swap them out if I decide I don't like them. It'll work with switches from Cherry, Kailh, Gateron and many more.

It also remembers the lighting profile you set even when unplugged, just like the K60. That really shouldn't be an impressive feature to have, as even the Onn mechanical keyboard from Walmart (which has Outemu Blue switches and is actually a surprisingly nice keyboard, especially for $46) can do that.

View attachment 300717

When I had a Logitech G810, it didn't have issues with lighting profiles and I loved how the Romer-G felt. However, there were leds failing pretty soon and then came the dreaded chattering.
Replaced it with my current linear Razer Huntsman Elite, and despite my typing precision getting worse it's a nicer keyboard to play on.

 

[nomdeplume]

Probably the most cheapest and most legit PoS setup i'll probably buy.

How did your first big ride on the new wheels go?
Well enough to insulate and line a musette to carry fresh catches home on ice?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

How did your first big ride on the new wheels go?
Well enough to insulate and line a musette to carry fresh catches home on ice?

Im in it for the sport. Not for the eating. The waterways around here are also pretty polluted.

Unfortunately ive not been able to have any big rides on the wheels due to it being horrendously sunny and hot during the day but I am enjoying them very much when I take them out for a short but brisk ride at dusk as the sun is starting to go down. They accelerate slightly slower from a stop compared to my previous wheels but once I'm up to cruising speed or completely going flat out, I'm just flying along. Just off the bat i've gained another 4.8km/h in cruising speed. I might be able to take it out for a long spin this coming Sunday as weather conditions are good with a lot of cloud cover. The place I go has a lot of long straights and small inclines with not as much traffic as the main road so i'll really be able to go full throttle.

I could be a lot faster but lighter innertubes cost a fair amount of money and Im waiting for pay day so I can order some TPU ones off aliexpress.

 

[Space Lynx]

waiting for pay day so I can order some TPU ones off aliexpress.

TPU means different things to different people on this site... heh you learn something new every day.

 

[Double-Click]

Amazon has a $50 coupon for the Sapphire 7900 XT Pulse right now, so I bought one
$669 after store credit and tax, time to sell the 3060 Ti.

I was planning to get the display first but is what it is for the moment.
Can either use the 1660S or just set my refresh to something conservative and use good 'ol v-sync.

 

[AusWolf]

Welcome to the northerners' daily life; I got real excited when the new Phoenix Framework was announced and priced one out before realizing it was in usd. $1400usd will be an eyewatering $1900cad+......excluding any additional shipping+taxes that apply. I can escape taxes by shipping to my mailbox, but most likely not for things over $1000usd.

It's not that Thinkpad X has amazing build quality or design, more that it's known factor and a step above most others in serviceability. And that the vast majority of non-Thinkpad fare from Lenovo is not worth looking at except *maybe* some of the new ones with highest end specs.

Availability of -U series Phoenix in Canada is still abysmal. Only one I've seen is a pre-order for the Ally (and that's Z1 Extreme, not 7840U). Even for Rembrandt, a lot of laptops released months ago have no availability here.

I guess it's a bit easier over on this side of the pond. If something's announced for an MSRP of let's say, $1000, it'll cost £1000 over here due to taxes and whatnot.

 

[Space Lynx]

Amazon has a $50 coupon for the Sapphire 7900 XT Pulse right now, so I bought one
$669 after store credit and tax, time to sell the 3060 Ti.

I was planning to get the display first but is what it is for the moment.
Can either use the 1660S or just set my refresh to something conservative and use good 'ol v-sync.

that's a great deal, nice grab. if you ever do get a better monitor someday, that thing OC's to match a xtx stock. but you will need to follow W1zz's guide under his review of the 7900 xt pulse on this site, there is an overclocking section.

not going to lie, I am tempted to upgrade. i haven't even dented dragon age origins yet though, and my 1070 already maxes that out at max refresh. so eh, im just going to chill for a while and enjoy what i have.

 

[Double-Click]

Thanks & thanks for the tip will check it out

I'm definitely going to get a new display sooner than later, been looking at 4K / 144Hz.
The HP Omen 27qs 240 Hz / 2K panel also caught my eye if nothing fits the bill with Plan A.

Waiting to see how the Omen 27k does with reviews when it comes out soon.
I think it's the same Innolux panel Gigabyte, Sammy and ASUS use based on specs, but HP seems to be doing a better job with balancing build quality, QA, and calibration at this price point.