Matthew

Just migrated a customer's system drive from a Dell Optiplex 780 to a Dell Optiplex 3010. Yes, people are really using systems these old to get work done, as unbelieve as that may seem to Youtube gaming bros chasing the latest release. The 3010 will be a significant upgrade for him He would have kept using the 780 had it not been for the motherboard not recognizing the new CMOS battery. A loud fan was also bothersome. So a number of issues that added up. Updating the BIOS on the 3010 now. This customer is on Windows 10. He has no care about it being out of service, as his main machine up to this point has been another Optiplex 780 with Windows 7. Now that some applications he needs are starting to not work on Windows 7, he'd like to move up to Windows 10. Of course, I think the 3010 is better suited to run Linux or BSD. #tech #dell #optiplex

I ordered two older CPUs - the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v2 - as they should work fine in the Dell Optiplex 3010. I am going to be doing a lot more testing on upgrades and options for this computer. If it takes a Xeon processor, it should also work with ECC memory, which would make it even more server-like. I will be testing that. Of course it will work fine as a server without a Xeon and ECC memory, as I have ProxMox running on a similar machine with an Intel i5 and regular memory and it works fine. #Dell #hardware #tech #linux #retroedge

This experiment turned out well. My sons are having a great time with Batocera Linux so far. The Dell Optiplex 3010 seems to be a good choice. I also have other plans the Dell Optiplex 3010 "platform". #Linux #RetroEdge nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpw8yhhcxgqyw4wvyzcefe78svvsxa246n6v08u6t38xy7yxxpt2kqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3xamnwvaz7tmsw4e8qmr9wpskwtn9wvhsqg9z3psud45dvm9ad4qt4d5xawefdedrw778qrwdgmzal8f9l0n83spxz22w

Good question. I usually encrypt the base filesystem of my laptops, as they are more likely to be lost or stolen. The base filesystems of my desktop computers and servers is usually not. Though some important data is kept encrypted with other tools and storage methods that are not whole disk. Something to consider. nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzqrtuaj57qq88z83x80q55gsk4d6fdz57jqlt5g22w9pspt0duk3qqyt8wumn8ghj7cnfw33k76twv4ezuum0vd5kzmqpp4mhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mqqyql7yqr92r0j33v2nksunchnp4c2q8vxvsptsazvqgglxf25e7flgdec248

I am delegating checking out Batocera Linux to one of my sons. Batocera can turn a PC into a retro gaming console. I haven't used it before, but have hardware that I think would be perfect for it: a Dell Optiplex 3010 SFF (small form factor). #linux #gaming #dell

Cleaning the motherboard did not help. In fact, it now doesn't boot at all. The corrosion must have damaged some motherboard components or ate all the way through a connection. Replacement motherboard ordered. Got an i7 instead of the Intel i5 that was in it. nostr:nevent1qvzqqqqqqypzpw8yhhcxgqyw4wvyzcefe78svvsxa246n6v08u6t38xy7yxxpt2kqy88wumn8ghj7mn0wvhxcmmv9uq3xamnwvaz7tmsw4e8qmr9wpskwtn9wvhsqgxfcyvud26jyks3knxtskl3f57jwwjdkt5yy8zt0gpysuq26y98wufwjr4p

I am listening to: Anti Moonboy News 29 - "Sand in the Gearbox" https://antimoonboy.com/posts/amn29/

Linux is Destroying Windows in Gaming Performance video by Kenny (Mental Outlaw) https://youtu.be/ajVvu9M2Y-I #gaming #linux

Cool Concepts That Deserve More Recognition Learning from the past to inform the future article by nostr:npub15fl9jqp3nh8urgj0q78zgvyjd47qgc9uwwvdcr2fxf2kmg52h9psfp9vag "Over the years, there have been many fascinating projects attempting to push the limits of digital decentralization. What makes these inventions interesting is the opportunity to truly transform the systems people take for granted. While not every attempt succeeds in radically changing the game, there is often quite a fair bit to learn from them. In fact, it is often through failed experiments that we can learn the most to inform future approaches. Cyber rebels of all stripes need to rekindle their sense of creativity and curiosity." https://libresolutionsnetwork.substack.com/p/cool-concepts-that-deserve-more-recognition #tech #decentralized #decentralization #dns

A customer's laptop was crashing, abruptly turning off, while I was trying to check it over and apply updates. No crash recent crash dumps. That indicates it may be something physical, possibly overheating. I took the bottom cover off, then removed the CPU heat sink. Was going to apply fresh thermal paste when I noticed corrosion on the motherboard. I examined the bottom cover again and noticed some discoloration around the air vent that lines up right with the corrosion. I think something may have dripped through that vent while the laptop was upside down. I will clean that up with rubbing alcohol and see if it works better after that. #repair #laptop #electronics

I tested the thermal temperature difference on an nvme SSD without and then with one of those little gum stick shaped thermal pads that fits between the motherboard and an SSD in a laptop. I didn't expect to see much of a difference, but wanted to test anyway. It was actually a 2 degree Celsius temperature difference. This was pretty much at idle, so no stress on the SSD. Before was 36 C, then after I applied the thermal pad, it was 34 C. Not bad. This was in a ThinkPad T480s laptop. #thinkpad #laptop #cooling #thermal

did some tedious apache2 web server configuration today. At times it became frustrating. Eventually got it all figured out (with some help). #sysadmin #linux

I got a ThinkPad T430 laptop in on trade in. Great condition except for the battery. Any recommendations for battery replacement? Or "whatever is available on ebay" the go-to solution? I often look for OEM batteries, but the T430 is getting to be a bit aged, so OEM batteries may not last very long either. #thinkpad #battery

I got some more ThinkPad laptops in. This shipment was ThinkPad T490s - which has soldered on memory and no memory expansion slots. Times change. Looks like the thicker and chunkier L series laptops are the ones you want to get if you want to have a ThinkPad laptop with two slots for memory modules. Still, I am happy to get these T490s laptops. They have 16GB of memory, so plenty for most users today. #thinkpad

The local chess tournament that I sponsored went well. As a prize, I donated a refurbished ThinkPad T470s laptop with Linux Mint Debian Edition and some chess software pre-loaded. Met some new people. One guy was talking about his experiences with crypto-currencies (mostly investing and loosing his gains to a rug pull). Another guy is going to be opening a new coffee shop in a nearby city. #chess #thinkpad #coffee

I hope to experiment with making my own computer cases. Visually, I like the open look, without solid panels. I have some ideas, but haven't committed them to drawings or prototypes yet. Also, I want to have some wooden components. #computer #tech #design

Have a great weekend!

Good morning. I am listening to Kenny talk about another window manager. Looks good. Written in C and MIT license. For me, continuing to explore i3wm is probably where I will stay for a while... but great to see this project and young people writing impressive C code. https://youtu.be/y5A6fnDSFfQ #programming #linux

Custom PC case builds like this are inspiring to me: Also, a great showcase of how 3D printed parts can be used to compliment other materials, instead of the whole thing being "3D Printed". #3Dprinting #woodcraft #craft #noctua #pc https://youtu.be/n_wB9_9Vl_A

I am doing some research on the differences between the E series and L series ThinkPad laptops. I am wanting to focus more on ThinkPad laptops with Ryzen processors. The big differences between the L and E series laptops is that the L series has two memory slots, which the E has some soldered on board and only one memory slot, and the L series has the cooling fan vent out the side instead of the back, which give the L better airflow and cooling than the E. #thinkpad #laptops