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I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

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Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#401
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are obviously many ways to do this comparison, but going off Wikipedia's pricing for most recent Intel processors. Their highest end mobile processor is currently the i7-1185G7 which apparently retails for $426. Let's compare it with the closest desktop processor to that price, the i9-10900 ($438). Cores (Threads): 4(8) vs. 10(20). Base Freq: 3.0ghz (At 28w TDP) vs. 2.8ghz. Max All Core Turbo: 4.3ghz vs. 4.8ghz…

A MacBook Pro can have an i9 and 8 cores, isn't that better than the i7-1185G7?

i3/i5/i7/i9 aren’t actually different processors, they make a handful of desktop/laptop/server... variants for each generation of Core architecture CPU and differentiate down the line by binning and restrictions added at time of production. So mobile i5 might have nothing to do with desktop i5, or i7 and Xeon can be taken from the same batch.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#402

I prefer a desktop because: 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. 4. I prefer big freaking disk drives installed. 5. I put the desktop under my desk, and with a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, there is much less of a snarl on my desk. 6. The desktop has an optical drive I still use. 7. The desktop has lots of USB ports and they're all in use. 8. I can repla…

There are usb hubs with hardware switched for each port. You can use that to turn off the port used by a camera or microphone.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#403

I prefer a desktop because: 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. 4. I prefer big freaking disk drives installed. 5. I put the desktop under my desk, and with a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, there is much less of a snarl on my desk. 6. The desktop has an optical drive I still use. 7. The desktop has lots of USB ports and they're all in use. 8. I can repla…

I will never do a wireless keyboard. The idea of trusting a company to properly encrypt my wireless keystrokes is laughable. My security is far more important than cable management thanks.

If you are concerned about your keystrokes being broadcast wirelessly (which is a reasonable concern), I remember from a video or something I saw a long time ago that there was success in reconstructing keys pressed by the sound waves they make. Modern methods are probably better.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#404
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

12. High end desktop CPUs are noticeably faster than mobile counterparts (higher freq, more cache)

And can sustain the top clocks with proper cooling, contrary to laptops.

Laptop cpus might be able to sustain top clocks with proper cooling, but we'll never know.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#405
post #353
post #248

What's crazy to me is how insanely overspec'd mobile devices are for what they deliver. If you went back in time and told 1999 me the following: I'll give you a computer with the following: * 256GB of solid-state storage * 6 CPUs @ 3+GHz * 8GB of RAM * Weighs only 200 grams * Battery-powered, lasts 5+ hours * 1440 x 3168 resolution display I would have been absolutely gobsmacked. Such a machine absolutely outclasses…

For me it's a mystery how phone specs are so good, but their performance is so bad. Always freezing, crashing, long load times, etc. I have an old PSP (PlayStation Portable) and whenever I turn it on I'm amazed at how fast and lag-free it is. This probably proves that the problem is most likely the software, not the hardware.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirth%27s_law

Frameworks piled on frameworks to make things 5% faster to develop, combined with a general tendency for software developers to not optimize anything until someone complains.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#406

I prefer a desktop because: 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. 4. I prefer big freaking disk drives installed. 5. I put the desktop under my desk, and with a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, there is much less of a snarl on my desk. 6. The desktop has an optical drive I still use. 7. The desktop has lots of USB ports and they're all in use. 8. I can repla…

I don't want a gaming machine that comes with a graphics adapter that sounds like a 747 taking off

Out of curiosity, what do you use instead? I'm wondering what the best options are for workstation-type desktops.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#407
post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trend in laptops has been for longer battery life and less heat. Since there haven't been any major breakthroughs in battery technology or mobile processor power (at least from Intel), this means lower power for processors and generally lower performance in general. Almost all laptops are using ultra low voltage Intel chips. And even the ones that don't, except for high end gaming laptops, thermally throttle ALL…

What example configuration machine from a decade ago can match (or beat) a current-gen maxed-out Thinkpad or Macbook Pro in raw performance? Those laptops are quite speedy compared to something from 2010

Maxed out MacPro4,1 or equivalent HP workstation class PC

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#409
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This will be true for a long time - the design constraints are so totally different it would be foolish to use the same design in desktop and laptop systems. The most limiting thing is TDP, which in the highest performance laptop processors is still capped at 45W, whereas a maxed out desktop processor can draw 100W or more. See these tables for i9, for example, compare Coffee-Lake-S (Desktop) with Coffee-Lake-H (Lapt…

> The most limiting thing is TDP, which in the highest performance laptop processors is still capped at 45W, whereas a maxed out desktop processor can draw 100W or more. Maybe a small desktop. My desktop processor is 180W TDP (Threadripper 1950x), while some others are 250W TDP. You can also get a dual-socket workstation, for 2x CPUs (both pulling 200W each). Thermals and power are significantly higher on desktops, i…

My desktop very rarely gets loud since I have made sure to choose a good airflow case and top of the line air cooler.

My Macbook laptop, on the other hand, sounds like a jet everytime I run yarn install.

So yes, desktops have higher thermals. But it handles it so much better than a laptop that it almost becomes irrelevant.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#410

I prefer a desktop because: 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. 4. I prefer big freaking disk drives installed. 5. I put the desktop under my desk, and with a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, there is much less of a snarl on my desk. 6. The desktop has an optical drive I still use. 7. The desktop has lots of USB ports and they're all in use. 8. I can repla…

I use ThinkPad T450 with added SSD drive, external monitor and mouse - the keyboard is great IMHO.
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