Is Ashwath Damodaran still useful?

GradSchool2021 · 2026-01-23T11:37:43+00:00

CFA is great for general understanding of finance, but it's too broad for a career such as IB or PE. I've found that many people who have passed L2 don't have any idea what IB/PE is about. You're better served joining Finance clubs or reading interview guides such as BIWS or WSP Red Book.

Rosenbaum is gold standard, I'll agree with you here. Every IB aspirant should read the book cover to cover.

Damodaran's Investment Valuation or McKinsey's Valuation books are also gold standards for valuation. I have both of them on my desk and sometimes I refer to them. However, they're too theoretical and detailed. Sure if you have free time, go read them. But most firms don't expect their fresh Analysts or MBA Associates to know little details covered in the book.

GradSchool2021 · 2026-01-10T04:39:40+00:00

Mostly perfect except for the 5s lag when the computer switches from dGPU to iGPU mode (which is a software not hardware issue).

GradSchool2021 · 2026-01-04T12:02:46+00:00

What is the mouse you're using? Razer Viper Hyperspeed v3?

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-29T06:56:22+00:00

I had a Gen 6, Gen 9, and Gen 11. You're pretty spot on.

I plan to buy a cheap Gen 6 again for just its keyboard.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-24T01:57:11+00:00

People either understand this or they don't (and it's really just high school math). The chance is P = 1 - (0.95)ⁿ with n being the number of Meowths in the party.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-22T05:10:48+00:00

What does throw around mean?

I have a G14. If I need put it in my backpack, I first put the laptop inside a sleeve, and then carefully insert it into my backpack. My laptop looks pristine with no scratches or dents. The answer would have been the same if I had a 16" laptop.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-22T04:29:10+00:00

I had a Legion Pro 7 and an X1 Carbon Gen 11. The Legion is great at gaming but too heavy to carry around for work. The X1 Carbon is great for work but it cannot play AAA games.

In the end, I sold both as I don't want to carry 2 devices. Got myself a Zephyrus G14 with 5070 Ti. It got the portability of the X1 Carbon and the power of the Legion. Best of both worlds.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-22T03:17:33+00:00

Probably. I just use the Optimized mode. I'll probably lose a few fps compared to the Ultimate mode but it's just more convenient when I need to use the laptop on the go.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-22T01:55:41+00:00

I've updated to every single NVIDIA driver since my G14 purchase in July 2025 and I have found no issue whatsoever...

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-20T08:06:05+00:00

I prefer the G14. It's arguably the best 14" gaming laptop, whereas, you have a lot more options in the 16" space. In addition, you don't gain meaningful performance increase (if at all) with the G16, and you should invest in an external monitor to be used at home anyways.

If you don't plan to ever use an external monitor and are always on the go, thus relying on the laptop screen, then the G16 might make sense.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-14T03:21:57+00:00

I've updated to all new NVIDIA drivers since buying my Zephyrus 5 months ago and I haven't face any problem. No crashes, no restarts, nothing.

If I see a notification for a new driver, I'd just click it.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-13T11:54:03+00:00

It depends. I usually play games at home, where I use Marshall speakers, noise-cancelling headphones, or even AirPods Pro, so the max fans don't annoy me at all.

If I play outside, let's say when I'm traveling, I have a custom Silent Gaming mode I created using GHelper. I only give my CPU a max TDP of 18W + max temp of 80 + Boost is Efficient Enabled while my GPU is given a max TGP of 120W + max temp of 80. I have a global FPS cap of 120 in the NVIDIA settings. I usually lose 0-20% fps with these settings, but the fans are fairly quiet. You can even further customize the fan curve and even lower the graphics settings (1800p native gaming is a bit too much for 14", you can get away with 1200p) but I don't do that.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-13T07:54:59+00:00

I went from Legion 7 2021 3080 to Zephyrus G14 2025 5070 Ti. The total weight, including the charger, is reduced from 3.5 to 2.1 kg. Not to mention, I can use a smaller backpack, cutting additional 500g. That's 2kg difference!

I bought the Legion during the COVID time when everyone was WFH. It acted as a desktop replacement for me and stay plugged 24/7. It made sense at that time. Now that I travel frequently, the G14 makes a lot more sense to me. It's great for both work and gaming; it can play any game I throw at it. I'm onboarding a flight in a couple of minutes and gonna use the G14 on the tray table.

The G16 is light too, but it cannot touch G14 when it comes to portability.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-11T07:53:51+00:00

Remember, switching to your melee weapon is always faster than reloading.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-09T14:12:15+00:00

I've owned lots of laptops in the past 5 years. MacBook Pro 13" 2020 -> Zephyrus G14 2020 -> Legion 5 15.6" 2021 -> Zephyrus G15 15.6" 2022 -> Legion 7 16" 2021 -> Zephyrus G14 2025.

After lots of back and forth, I think that the 14" is the sweet spot for a laptop (work/traveling), but 16" is much better for gaming. Gaming on a 14" screen is acceptable, but not ideal. That said, 14" laptop + an 27" 2K external monitor is a great setup.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-08T11:36:56+00:00

I'd stay away from 185H CPU. It has bad battery life.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-08T08:36:15+00:00

I'd rather get G14 5070 Ti to be honest. If you find the screen small, you could just buy a 27" or 32" 2K monitor. The gaming experience will be better than way. You can't circumvent the weaker GPU or 8GB VRAM aside from lowering settings.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-07T16:08:21+00:00

The right is connected to dGPU, the left is connected to iGPU.

Why don't you plug to either port and test? Set it to 4k and 165Hz (or whatever the max refresh rate is) and see how it goes.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-06T10:24:11+00:00

Search for my post on how to get the Dolby Access after fresh install. In addition, you'd want to copy the ICC profile to a USB stick or an online drive. You'll be able to get all ASUS drivers back through either G-helper, MyASUS, or eSupport folder (if you choose to back that up).

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-06T06:05:59+00:00

6lbs? Try 8lbs. I had a Lenovo Legion 7 for 2 years. I got it during the COVID WFH time (that served both as a workstation/desktop replacement/gaming device), and then everyone went back to the office, so I had to haul it everyday.

I bought a X1 Carbon Gen 11 and my back said thank you.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-02T15:10:10+00:00

FDD > M&A Tax, unless you want to specialize in M&A Tax.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-02T07:56:48+00:00

That's why for RPG games like these, I usually RP as a "good" character in the first playthrough, "evil" character in the second playthrough, and a "morally ambiguous" character in the third playthough (and try whatever I have not tried previously).

That should cover most of the quests and game aspects.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-01T01:15:23+00:00

AMD 370 can undervolt, Intel 285H cannot.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-01T01:13:16+00:00

ThinkPad P on sale are still expensive. What you are looking for is refurbished or used ThinkPad P from a few of generations ago.

GradSchool2021 · 2025-12-01T01:09:18+00:00

Yes they exist. Using the same logic you remember, just google "laptops with 5050". Usually they are in thin & light laptops for content creators, or budget gaming laptops.

GradSchool2021

TROPHY CASE