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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

#421

Post by trevyn »

sixothree wrote: post #190
auggierose wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

MacBooks have terrible thermals. They will thermal throttle before most laptops, much less even compared to a desktop. Also, laptops generally have CPUs that pull 15 watts. Whereas desktops have CPUs that can pull 95 watts or higher (sometimes up to 150). The difference is astounding.

The 15/16" MBPs have a 45W CPU TDP; they can run CPU continuously at at least 45W as long as your ambient temperature is normal-ish and the airflow isn't obstructed, and can do 60W+ if thermals are cooperative.

See: https://evanmccann.net/blog/2020/5/13-inch-macbook-pro-revie...

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#423

Post by justinclift »

unemphysbro wrote: post #252
WalterBright wrote: post #16

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…

XX. Cannot sit with my desktop in bed :)

Some years ago I saw a magazine ad showing a retractable hmm... stand thing to hold a monitor, keyboard, and mouse above a bed.

It was able to be angled for comfort, etc. So, you'd be able to put a desktop somewhere (above? below?) and use it from bed.

No idea if they're still sold, but it wouldn't be too surprising. :)

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#424

Post by xondono »

toast0 wrote: post #404
megous wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What? There’s a lot of laptops that hit their top clocks with no issues. The main problem is that doing so seriously reduces your battery duration and emits significant noise.

Pick anything over the 800$ range that isn’t a macbook and you’re way more likely to hit clocks than not.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#425

Post by justinclift »

WalterBright wrote: post #16

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…

> Premade powerful computers are always "gaming machines" ...

Only for consumer level ones. Higher end ones are "workstations" and can generally be specced from mid-range-consumer-level to almost-a-friggin-supercomputer-node. ;)

As a bonus, no RGB. :)

Examples:

* https://www.quietpc.com/sys-amd-workstation

* https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/workstations-isv-certif...

* https://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/desktops/index.html

* https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/thinkworkstations

* https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/superworkstation

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#426

Post by fyfy18 »

mkl wrote: post #418
WalterBright wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. I think I went through every keyboard on Amazon and found only one. If you use a USB wireless keyboard, well, there goes one of the two USB slots on the laptop. It's not just the monitor being big, I want lots and lots of pixels. I'm currently running 3840*2160, and have a second monitor attached set up in portrait mode (so I can display a manual page while I work on…

> It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. Microsoft make at least two, the Surface Keyboard [1] and the Ergonomic version [2]. I own several of the standard ones, and they're the best-made keyboards I've ever owned (and the only ones my joints can currently cope with), but the fact that they're Bluetooth instead of USB drives me insane. I'd pay extra for a wired version that just instantly sends the keystro…

I've use the Surface Ergonomic keyboard as my daily driver, and agree it is great. My only complaint is the indicator lights on Caps and Fn are not bright enough.

If you really want a dongle the previous Sculpt Ergonomic has a dongle but the Num Pad is separate :-/ It doesn't have the delay you talk about, and has much better battery life than the Surface version (had it for three years and have't changed them yet).

https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboar...

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#427

Post by mkatx »

I can fully get behind the thesis of this post. But I still love using my thin laptop.

My solution: run desktops at home as your own private cloud and use them in various ways from you laptop or phone. Create your own services or use oss services to fulfill your needs from your thin internet devices, no middle man/woman needed, use your desktop/s anywhere. This won't solve your uefi problem if you use modern laptops, nor will it solve your usb 2.0 problem if you stick to old laptops. But set up your own services, don't let them take over! It's quite a bit of work to setup, but maybe it'll get easier if more people take on the challenge. (Disclosure: this is my personal pipe dream, and I'm in the early stages of working this out myself.)

On a side note, the open laptops you refer to can be more pricy, but if that's what you believe in, then support the cause!

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#428

Post by unishark »

Macha wrote: post #350
TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You answered your own question: CPUs are throttled down when there is too much heat. That happens all the time in a laptop. A desktop with enough air flow never has that problem (unless overclocked).

It depends on your definition of throttled. A CPU that was totally unthrottled would just sit at its boost clock under sustained load, but even desktop CPUs can't manage that, dropping to their base if too much heat is generated. Of course, there are laptops that can't even sustain the base clocks, but some have enough cooling to match that.

The base clock rate is typically defined as the sustainable speed. Intel literally calls Turbo Boost "algorithmic overclocking".

The problem is this base clock speed is given by the CPU manufacturer not the laptop maker. And Intel wouldn't know what kind of laptop it's getting crammed into. So careful definitions don't really help. Desktops are already big clunky things that have to be kept plugged in, I can trust them a lot more to deliver the CPU's promised performance. Whereas laptops are notoriously making compromises because customers tend to be very unrealistic about noise, battery life, etc.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#429

Post by kbernholm »

My current desktop system is a Raspberry Pi 4B with a 64 bit quad core ARM processor at 1.5 GHz and 4GB memory (8GB version is also available). It runs BSD's and Linux distributions, it has no UEFI, and I can tinker with it to my hearts content. It's great for writing and coding and everything else I do. If I want to play games, my son has several games consoles.

I recommend that you take a look at the Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers. They're cheap too :-)

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#430

Post by justinlloyd »

OpticalWindows wrote: post #298
WalterBright wrote: post #16

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'm surprised we havent tried to sell desktop computers with battery packs yet

There are desktop PSUs you can purchase, that have built in UPS. And I recall there was a UPS designed to fit in the case - 5+1/4" drive bays as I recall. A quick google search would probably surface those relics of the past. At the desks in our house we run a UPS, even if a laptop is plugged in to it. The UPS protects the laptop charger, the monitors, the powered USB hub, printer, and other peripherals.
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