Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

It's a 3.4 Ghz Prescott Pentium 4-550 (LGA775), sitting on an Intel D925XBC motherboard. They're only nine years old, and have plenty of service life left in them for a simple fileserver and 8 bit NES emulator. Short of failure (or lack of software support for a given application) I don't foresee ever needing to upgrade or replace that machine.


I already have a couple of Lenovo H320s lying around (Core i3, 64 bit, etc), but I don't want to waste one of them in such a simple, stupid application.


I've had reasonably good luck with them- I've owned four within the past 3-4 years (all small desktops) and have installed a few others at customer sites. They're no different from any other name-brand PC built from commodity hardware.

I'll tell you one company that is (still) really outstanding, and that's Intel. I have been a fanatical purchaser of Intel motherboards for as long as I can remember (at least 15 years), and there is a very good reason for this. Say what you will about their designs not being hacker-friendly, Intel builds these ******* to last, and that includes not cheaping out on passives.

With 13 years' experience in electronics manufacturing in a industry in which devices are expected to have a 20+ year MTBF, I learned that there is a HUGE difference between a 10 cent part and a seemingly-equivalent 15 cent part. One of the most interesting chapters in my employment at PR&E was overseeing the recall and rebuild of every single RMXdigital console (a product with a $25k price tag) produced over a 1.5 year period because of one ******* diode. When an Intel design engineer specs an inductor as 12uh, they get 12 uh. When they spec a capacitor, they pay the extra five cents to get one that isn't going to dry out in 5 years' time.

I've lost a lot of components over the years, but I quite literally cannot remember ever having a single Intel-branded part fail on me, and this goes all the way back to the 8 bit era. They seem to be one of the few remaining companies (at the consumer level) which has held fast to a policy of robust design, rigorous software / firmware validation, and well-qualified component procurement, even at the cost of a 20-30% premium over "comparable" goods from east-Asian firms. Barring some unforeseen tragedy, I cannot imagine any reason why I would ever buy a motherboard or CPU from anyone other than Intel. Frankly, I wish they made video cards, hard drives, power supplies, RAM, bicycle tires, mechanical pencils and goat cheese.

(Sidebar: WTF is up with that? Intel was FOUNDED as a memory company. RAM was the product that got them off the ground, made them their first millions, and funded their accidental foray into the then-nonexistent microprocessor industry. Why can I not buy Intel RAM anymore?)





I don't get it.




I must admit that despite my rant above (re: Intel) I've kind of stopped doing this in recent years. The i5 that I use for gaming and CAD will probably be the last machine that I scratch-build. It's just gotten to the point where commodity PCs are so damn cheap that even if you wind up throwing out the power supply and putting in a new video card and more RAM, you're still going to save a lot of money. (Not to mention that they all come with a legitimate license key for whatever the OS du joir is. I've stopped pirating OSes on my "important" machines as it's not worth the hassle.)




The machine stays where it is. Over the weekend, I have a plan to solve this problem without spending any more money.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

This. I got my Lenovo refurb desktop so cheap it was silly. I added some memory and a $40 video card and called it done. No way I could have come close to that price point if I'd built it piece by piece. If I get really stupid I'll add an SSD.

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

And while I build my own machines at home, I can't do that when I deploy 20-40 machines at a time for work. Dell is king when it comes to business class desktops. We budget to replace 25% of our user interfacing hardware annually, so that's anywhere between 80-100 desktops and laptops. I would need an army of interns just to assemble the things, and then it would be like herding cats.

Joe: I agree 100% with everything you said above about Intel, and I would go as far as to say the same thing about the IBM manufactured ThinkPads. We used to justify the price for a T series because (while they were no ToughBook) they were rugged as hell. I work tech in the AG industry and we need something that these guys can use and abuse and it keeps going. The guys do NOT want to give up their old machines because the new ones are starting to develop a bad rap within the company. When my CFO or my VP comes to me and asks "Why do we pay $900 for a ThinkPad when I just bought my daughter a Dell at Costco for $450?" I'm going to start running out of excuses. Brand loyalty only gets you so far when things start to go south.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

For me, building a computer is almost like building a hot rod or something along those lines. A pre built machine is never of very good quality. Sub par parts both performance wise, as well as visually cheap looking. I enjoy spending the time tucking wires, and displaying the fancy looking hardware. Though this case I currently use has no window, so it's not really on display. I just take comfort in knowing it's all assembled with care by my own hands. I'll pay a few extra hundred bucks for that feeling. It's not for everybody though I guess.

PS, **** YOU PAYPAL! The guy has had the piece I shipped him for 3 days and still no ******* money. **** is on hold for however long they decide I guess. Almost criminal. I have plenty of ebay history, though they say I don't have enough. This is the second time they have held my money like this out of probably 50+ transactions over the last few years. I think it's just some ******* in the building who has a bad day and wants to be a dick and take it out on some random person, so they put a hold on their money. And they haven't replied to my 2 emails I have sent them since 4 days ago. What a fucked up, shitty company.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Well, I can't argue with that.


Have they ever failed to release your funds, or is just just a waiting game?

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Just the waiting game. They said because I had limited ebay history they had to hold it for up to 15 days. I've sold at least 20 or 30 things in the last 12 months, and none of those times they wanted to hold my money. they are usually pretty good, but this is pissing me off. The one time I really need the money now, they are making me wait, and not replying to my emails. The guy has had his item for a few days. Release the money now please!

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Be the cat, dude.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

General observation:

The use of rolled fondant as a cake-decorating material seems lazy and derivative to me. It doesn't taste particularly good, and almost completely removes the element of skill and artistry from cake decorating as compared to buttercream icing.

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

and it tastes like ****

When I got married this summer, the wife and I demanded buttercreme for frosting and the cake people thought we were crazy and made all kinds of noise trying to talk us out of it. At the wedding everyone raved about how good the cake was and commented about how "it wasn't covered with that weird sugary clay stuff"

Buttercreme FTW

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Cakes from Publix with buttercreme icing ftw.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

he didn't finish his biochemical engineering degree...

BUT...

I can't fault his choice and success with this:

flying_solo

iTrader: (5)

MUHAHAHAHHA. Just scored a set of mint low mile Turbos off of a 2001 FD for my rebuild. Happy Happy Joy Joy!

These things are awesome. 360 degree bearings and faster spool and tighter tolerances mean better life and more boost than my dead Series I turbos.

Diesel, engine install shall move back a few weeks while I wait for these to arrive and sort out my new fueling needs.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

**** BOA, **** TurboTax, and **** the IRS.



Just because he did not finish does not mean he is not capable of being an engineer. Maybe he was a year off and got a movie contract for a few million. I would sure as hell put off school for that, and that does not mean you are not smart enough to be an engineer. All I am saying is that Lenova saw his resume, knew what he was capable of, and hired him as a product engineer. They have far more information then we do, so I would be willing to trust their choice.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

Lars just let me make fun!

related:
List of college dropout billionaires - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Dq fuq kinna Hone Depot dunnit cut lumber?

Godless Commie

iTrader: (2)

Any cat lovers in Jersey?


Here is a small sample of state and local laws which are still on the books today:

Alabama
One is not allowed to play dominoes on Sundays
Men are not allowed to spit in front of the fairer sex
One is not allowed to wear a fake mustache to church

Alaska
It is legal to shoot bears, but walking up to a sleeping bear to take a photograph is strictly prohibited
It is prohibited to view a moose from an airplane

Arizona
Cars cannot be driven in reverse in Glendale, Arizona
An ordinance passed in Nogales prohibits wearing suspenders
Women are not allowed to wear pants in Tucson

Arkansas
Mispronouncing the name of the state of Arkansas is illegal

California
It is illegal to eat an orange sitting in a bathtub
In Riverside, one cannot carry their lunch down the street between 11 am to 1 pm. Kissing on the lips is illegal in that town … unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water
A person is not allowed to wear cowboy boots in Blythe, if he does not own at least two cows
It is illegal to cry on the witness stand in Los Angeles
Cats and dogs in Ventura County can have sex only if they have the permit to do so
The copyright to the term ‘San Francisco’ is held by the city of San Francisco One cannot manufacture any item with the name San Francisco without the permission from the city

Connecticut
It is illegal to dispose of used razor blades
It is against the law to train dogs for obedience or any other purpose
It is illegal to kiss your wife on a Sunday in Hartford
It’s against the law to eat in your car, in Bloomfield

Delaware
It is illegal for anyone to fly over any water body without sufficient supplies of food and water

Florida
A husband is not allowed to kiss his wife’s breast
Only the missionary position is legal when having sex
It is an offense to bathe naked
It’s a crime to parachute on Sundays
Women are fined for falling asleep under the hair dryer and so is the salon owner

Georgia
In Jonesboro, it is illegal to say “Oh, Boy”

Hawaii
One is fined if one does not own a boat

Idaho
A man cannot gift his lover a box of candy that is less than fifty pounds in weight
It is strictly prohibited to walk along the street with a red-tipped cane
It is a crime to ride a merry-go-round on Sundays

Illinois
All bachelors should be called master, not mister, when addressed by their female counterparts according to a state law
It is illegal to speak English. The officially recognized language is ‘American’
It is illegal for barbers to use their fingers to apply shaving cream on a customer’s face
It is illegal for women over 200 pounds wearing shorts to ride horses, in Chicago
An individual may be arrested for vagrancy, if he does not have at least one dollar bill on person

Indiana
All males 18 to 50 years old must work six days a year on public roads
It is illegal to indulge in ‘spiteful gossip’ and ‘talking behind a person’s back’
It is illegal to take baths between the months of October and March
Mustaches are illegal if the bearer has a tendency to habitually kiss other humans
One is not allowed to carry a cocktail from the bar to a table; only the waiter or waitress can do it

Iowa
A man with a mustache may never kiss a woman in public
The ‘Ice Cream Man’ and his truck are banned in Indianola
Kisses may last for as much as, but no more than, five minutes
Within the city limits, a man is not allowed to wink at any woman he does not know in Ottumwa
A husband in Ames is not allowed to drink more than 3 gulps of beer while lying in bed with his wife after making love or holding the wife in his arms

Kansas
In Kansas City, one cannot say the name ‘George Washington’ without adding the phrase ‘blessed be his name’
Pedestrians crossing the highways at night must wear tail lights

Kentucky
No female weighing between 90 and 200 pounds shall appear in a bathing suit on any highway within the state, unless she be escorted by at least two officers, or unless she be armed with a club.
A person needs a license to walk around nude in his/her property
A woman may not buy a hat without her husband’s permission in Owensboro

Louisiana
It is considered illegal for a woman to drive a car unless her husband is waving a flag in front of it

Maine
Shoelaces must be tied while walking down the street in Portland
It is illegal to blow one’s nose in public in Waterville

Maryland
Eating while swimming in the ocean is prohibited in Maryland
It is illegal to mistreat oysters in Baltimore
A kiss more than one second is illegal in Halethrope
A woman is not allowed to go through her husband’s pocket while he is sleeping
One cannot swear within the city limits of Baltimore

Massachusetts
Any person caught eating peanuts in church may be jailed for up to one year
It is illegal to take a bath unless prescribed by a physician, in Boston
It is illegal to peep into the windows of automobiles in Milford

Michigan
A wife’s hair belongs to her husband, and it is illegal to alter her hairstyle without his permission
One may not swear in front of women and children
It is illegal to sleep in a bathtub in Detroit

Minnesota
It is compulsory for all men driving a motorcycle to wear shirts
Each and every man in Brainerd is required to grow a beard by law
No child under the age of 12 is allowed to talk over the phone unless monitored by a parent in Blue Earth
In Alexandria, it is illegal for any man to make love to his wife with the smell of garlic, onions or sardines in his breath If the wife requests him, it becomes mandatory for the husband to brush his teeth
Hamburgers are not to be eaten on Sundays in St Cloud

Mississippi
It is illegal for a man to be sexually aroused in public
It is illegal to create unnecessary noises in Oxford

Missouri
It is illegal for four unrelated women to rent an apartment together (to prevent prostitution)
Yard waste may be burned any day except on Sundays, in Buckner
Hard objects cannot be thrown by hand in Excelsior Springs
Dancing is strictly prohibited in Purdy

Montana
It is considered felony for a wife to open her husband’s mail
It is illegal for a man and a woman to have sex in any position other than missionary style
It is illegal for unmarried women to fish without a companion

Nebraska
If a child cannot hold back a burp during church service, the parents can be arrested
It is not legal for a tavern owner to serve beer unless a nice kettle of soup is also brewing
A man is not allowed to run around with a shaved chest
It is illegal to sleep naked in a hotel/motel room
The owner of every hotel in Hastings is required to provide each guest with a clean and pressed nightshirt. No couple, even if they are married, may sleep together in the nude. Nor may they have sex unless they are wearing one of these clean, white cotton nightshirts
Barbers are forbidden from eating onions between 7 am and 7 pm, in Waterloo

Nevada
Sex without a condom is considered illegal
Men who wear mustaches are forbidden from kissing women, in Eureka

New Hampshire
New Hampshire law forbids you to tap your feet, nod your head, or in any way keep time to the music in a tavern, restaurant, or cafe
Citizens may not relieve themselves while looking up on Sundays
Any cattle that crosses state roads must be fitted with a device to gather its feces

New Jersey
It is against the law to ‘frown’ at a police officer
One may not dance or wear shorts on the main avenue
All cats must wear three bells to warn birds of their whereabouts
It is forbidden for a woman, on a Sunday, to walk down Broad Street without wearing a petticoat
It is illegal to buy ice cream after 6 pm, in Newark
Lovers in Liberty Corner should avoid satisfying their lustful urges in a parked car. If the horn accidentally sounds while they are frolicking behind the wheel, the couple can face a jail term

New Mexico
It’s forbidden for a female to appear unshaven in public in Carrizozo, New Mexico

New York
While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking towards the door
It is illegal for a woman to be on the street wearing ‘body hugging clothing’
A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This is an old law that specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking ‘at a woman in that way’. If convicted a second time for a crime of this magnitude, it calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a ‘pair of horse-blinders’ wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll
A man can’t go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match, in Carmel
It is illegal to eat on the street in residential neighborhoods, and the only beverage you can drink on the beach is water in a clear plastic bottle, in Ocean City

North Carolina
All couples staying overnight in a hotel must have a room with double beds that are at least two feet apart. Making love in the space between the beds is strictly forbidden
In Charlotte, women must be swathed in at least 16 yards of fabric before stepping out into public
Fights between cats and dogs are prohibited in Barber
Before a man asks for a woman’s hand in marriage, he must be inspected by all the barnyard animals on the young woman’s family’s property, to ensure a harmonious farm life, in Raleigh
It is required that one must pay a property tax on their dog, in Rocky Mount

North Dakota
It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on
It’s against state law to serve beer and pretzels at the same time in any bar or restaurant
You may be jailed for wearing a hat while dancing, or even for wearing a hat to a function where dancing is taking place, in Fargo

Ohio
It is against the law to roller skate without notifying the police
Women are forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes (to avoid men seeing the reflection of their underwear)
It is illegal to run out of gas
Breastfeeding is not allowed in public
It’s illegal to catch mice without a hunting license in Cleveland
Any person who leans against a public building will be subject to fines in Clinton County
It’s illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man’s picture, in Oxford
You cannot eat a donut and walk backwards on a city street

Oklahoma
Women are forbidden from doing their own hair without being licensed by the state
Dogs must have a permit signed by the mayor in order to congregate in groups of three or more on private property
By law, a kiss can last for 3 minutes, in Tulsa
It is against the law to open a soda bottle without the supervision of a licensed engineer, in Tulsa

Oregon
One may not bathe without wearing ‘suitable clothing’, i.e. that which covers one’s body from neck to knee
It is illegal to whisper ‘dirty’ things in your lover’s ear during sex
Anyone with a bad reputation is prohibited from distributing malt beverages, in Oregon

Pennsylvania
Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue
Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming towards him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass. If the horses appear skittish, the motorist must take his car apart, piece by piece, and hide it under the nearest bushes
No man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife
It is illegal to sing in your bathtub
Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk
Men are banned from getting aroused in public, in Allentown

Rhode Island
It is illegal to sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on a Sunday, in Providence

South Dakota
Movies that show police officers being struck, beaten, or treated in an offensive manner, are forbidden

Tennessee
It is illegal for a woman to call a man for a date
It is illegal for a woman to drive a car unless there is a man either running or walking in front of it waving a red flag to warn the approaching motorists and pedestrians, in Memphis

Texas
The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home
One needs a 5 dollar permit before going barefoot
It is illegal for kids to have unusual haircuts, in Mesquite

Utah
It is illegal not to drink milk
It is a felony to persistently tread on the cracks between paving stones on the sidewalk of a state highway

Vermont
Denying the existence of God is considered illegal
Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth

Virginia
All bathtubs are to be kept outside in the yard and not inside the house
One cannot work on a Sunday
Driving without shoes is prohibited
Children are not allowed to go trick-or-treating on Halloween
It’s against the law to tickle a girl under her chin with a feather duster in order to get her attention, in Newport
It is illegal to kick your wife out of bed, in Lebanon

Washington
One needs a license to sell condoms in Washington state

West Virginia
It is unlawful for chickens to lay eggs before 8 am and after 4 pm
One is not allowed to snooze on the train
It’s against the law to eat candy less than an hour and a half before church service in the town of Salem

Wisconsin
Car dealers cannot sell cars on Sundays
It is illegal to wake a fireman when he is asleep

Wyoming
Women cannot stand within 5 feet of a bar while drinking
One is not allowed to take pictures of a rabbit during the month of June
In Cheyenne, residents cannot take a shower on Wednesdays

flying_solo

iTrader: (5)

A lot of mustache hate going on. Wouldn't it be great to read the stories behind these crazy old laws.

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

While those are plausible, I, this dog, and John Cleese all remain skeptical.






Also, I found out there is a limit to the number of props you can give in a day.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

These laws are exactly why I propose that for every new bill signed into law; 10 existing laws should be repealed.

I also propose we stop being able to pass new laws, but I am willing to compromise.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

SO like most days here in my office at work, I was boredom browsing the internet instead of doing actual work...

...and i came across a site called aquatune.com, apparently theirs is one of the only reliable, and working HHO sytems out... because it doesnt claim to run completely, but acts like a meth injection setup.


What are your nerdy thoughts on this in turbo applications? Using HHO injection as a type of water injection? From what I read it works almost exactly the same as a water-meth injection system; just remove Walter White from the picture and place the hindenburg instead, and it also seems to inject a mist of water with the hydrogen as well.