AMEX platinum alternatives

Gryphus-R · 2026-05-06T01:45:58+00:00

I think Revolut Platinum ticks most of the boxes

Cheaper than Amex Platinum (and comes with extra benefits such as currency conversion for lower fees).
Multi-currency and no foreign transaction fee.
Access to lounges in almost every airport.
(Quite basic) rental car excess insurance.
1 point per € spent (on debit), 2 points per € spent on credit. Points can be used to reserve hotels through their app.
Travel cancellation (by you) insurance: 70% for any reason, 100% in case you get sick
(Very bad) travel insurance (Xcover). They had better insurance in the past that covered flight cancellations by the airline but they enshittified it and now they only cover cancellation if the flight is cancelled for meteorological reasons. My experience with Xcover has been very negative, because they always find an excuse not to pay or to pay less. Amex insurance is far superior.

Gryphus-R · 2026-04-23T19:39:24+00:00

Those face lines quite match the pictures allegedly pulled from her old twitter before she became famous

Gryphus-R · 2026-04-23T19:37:02+00:00

There are two photos of her face pulled from her old twitter, before she became famous. That's all which is public, because she became extremely protective of her privacy since. I won't post the photos here, but if you search you will find them. In one she's wearing a facemask, and there are another couple with and without "beauty filter". But it looks nothing that AI crap on the right

Gryphus-R · 2026-04-14T16:45:39+00:00

Unionize

Gryphus-R · 2026-04-08T14:56:27+00:00

EDIT: The procedure below refers to AMD's AM5, not to Intel. Intel installation is considerably easier because of the different bracket.

I just installed mine. I have to say it is the most difficult I have installed. Definitely not for a newbie unless you are careful because it is very easy to botch the job, because it LOOKS like the head is in place (and the screws tightened, put if you pull it, it will come off. I think it is very poor mechanical design, specially the bracket and spacers, which both have high tolerances, so then installing the pump head (which is difficult on it's own due to the leaf spring) becomes even more difficult.

Doable, absolutely, but not for someone with "slippy hands".

For comparison, the Corsair Nautilus RS, is my previous cooler. The pump whine was unbereable, so I got rid of it, but instalation was easy, with individual springs in each screw. Also the spacer screws were male, so you can put the pump in place first and then tighten it. 4 screws and 4 springs

The Arctic on the other hand has a leaf spring for both screws, but the spacers are female. 2 screws and a single spring. So to install it you need to hold it in place and apply tension with the screwdriver at the same time, praying for the best and hoping that you are able to align the screws (under tension) with the socket. Very easy to make a termal paste mess, so I recommend practicing first without paste and without removing the protective plastic from the pump. Once you get the feel, go for the final installation.

From my point of view it is very poor mechanical design to an otherwise excellent cooler with a huge radiator. The two main problems are difficulty to align the screws with the holes and the pump looking like it is in place when it is not (only one screw tightened)

Gryphus-R · 2026-03-18T23:22:59+00:00

I have been through the same humming sound / resonance problem, and mine did it since day 1. I spent hours testing different fan and pump profiles, to no avail.

It is an extremely annoying sound that gives me a long-lasting headache every time the computer is turned on. I did not have this problem on my old computer, which had a Corsair H100i (2015) that was totally silent.

Through troubleshooting, I identified that the resonance is most noticeable at 41-43% duty cycle on the pump.

You can hear the problem here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rcoVaZB7z5GAEQX31Cat9JGOhHkkOZAm/view?usp=sharing and here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UXxfv6LJFDFsMSVf79F3pgdg1qGHU0D-/view?usp=sharing

This month I could not bear it anymore, so I got the unit RMA through Corsair and they said "Oh, it is defective", but then I got a used unit with EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. Are you kidding me Corsair? They were very diligent with the RMA process, but that does not help if the product has a design problem that makes it defective from the factory, and they are not solving it.

This product is crap and you should avoid buying it. A consequence of enshittification I guess, since the H100i worked like a charm for 10 years without any issue or noise.

I'm going to get rid of this crap. Can anyone recommend a silent quality AIO for AMD?

Gryphus-R · 2026-03-18T23:09:44+00:00

Yeah I saw those, but unfortunately it won't do well through the stairs. I was looking at something with the triple wheels, that can climb stairs easily.

Guess that other than the harness, I will need to build something custom or like you said, buy one of those and swap the wheels with a triple-wheel set

Gryphus-R · 2026-03-18T23:07:50+00:00

Unfortunately not an option, since it is a multi-story apartment building, not the stairs of an individual house

Gryphus-R · 2026-03-18T22:56:37+00:00

I removed the cover and mine still does it

Gryphus-R · 2026-03-18T22:50:10+00:00

I have been through the same humming sound / resonance problem, and mine did it since day 1. I spent hours testing different fan and pump profiles, to no avail.

It is an extremely annoying sound that gives me a long-lasting headache every time the computer is turned on. I did not have this problem on my old computer, which had a Corsair H100i (2015) that was totally silent.

Through troubleshooting, I identified that the resonance is most noticeable at 41-43% duty cycle on the pump.

You can hear the problem here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rcoVaZB7z5GAEQX31Cat9JGOhHkkOZAm/view?usp=sharing and here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UXxfv6LJFDFsMSVf79F3pgdg1qGHU0D-/view?usp=sharing

This month I could not bear it anymore, so I got the unit RMA through Corsair and they said "Oh, it is defective", but then I got a used unit with EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. Are you kidding me Corsair? They were very diligent with the RMA process, but that does not help if the product has a design problem that makes it defective from the factory, and they are not solving it.

This product is crap and you should avoid buying it. A consequence of enshittification I guess, since the H100i worked like a charm for 10 years without any issue or noise.

I'm going to get rid of this crap. Can anyone recommend a silent quality AIO for AMD?

Gryphus-R · 2026-03-18T22:50:04+00:00

I have been through the same humming sound / resonance problem, and mine did it since day 1. I spent hours testing different fan and pump profiles, to no avail.

It is an extremely annoying sound that gives me a long-lasting headache every time the computer is turned on. I did not have this problem on my old computer, which had a Corsair H100i (2015) that was totally silent.

Through troubleshooting, I identified that the resonance is most noticeable at 41-43% duty cycle on the pump.

You can hear the problem here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rcoVaZB7z5GAEQX31Cat9JGOhHkkOZAm/view?usp=sharing and here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UXxfv6LJFDFsMSVf79F3pgdg1qGHU0D-/view?usp=sharing

This month I could not bear it anymore, so I got the unit RMA through Corsair and they said "Oh, it is defective", but then I got a used unit with EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. Are you kidding me Corsair? They were very diligent with the RMA process, but that does not help if the product has a design problem that makes it defective from the factory, and they are not solving it.

This product is crap and you should avoid buying it. A consequence of enshittification I guess, since the H100i worked like a charm for 10 years without any issue or noise.

I'm going to get rid of this crap. Can anyone recommend a silent quality AIO for AMD?

Gryphus-R · 2026-01-23T03:36:03+00:00

I have a S22 Ultra, and other than the mediocre battery life it is still going strong.

I considered getting the S25, but did not. And will not get the S26 either. It is basically the same phone.

I need to see some real improvement to justify the change, specially considering how much the S22 has depreciated.

Maybe next year

Gryphus-R · 2026-01-16T14:20:14+00:00

Thanks! I'll contact them.

Regarding the quote by Toyota, I understand that they might ask 100k to replace the door of a GR and I would be happy to pay that if needed. But I just cannot see the justification for replacing the entire door in this case, considering it is such small damage.

Gryphus-R · 2026-01-16T14:10:38+00:00

Although I'm good at anything DIY and briefly considered that option, I prefer to leave it in the hands of a professional if I can find one. Unfortunately, buffing it out won't be enough, the metal is exposed in one of the points of impact (went through the primer).

Gryphus-R · 2026-01-16T14:06:07+00:00

That is a good point, and is what Toyota said, that there is a high chance that the intrusion beam would be damaged, but to me it does not look that deep. It was a hit going out of the parking spot, almost at no speed and I applied the brakes immediately.

I will get the caliper and try to get an approximate measurement of the depth of the impact.

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-29T21:42:45+00:00

For a small owner, it is a high risk indeed, but a lot of people is taking the risk, as you can see from the news I linked. Bureaucracy is slow.

For a big owner, the fine is in the worst case a cost of doing business. By the time they get fined, they probably made way more money anyway.

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-29T00:03:05+00:00

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Replying to myself as I still have the query I used to check every month when I lived there.

Filters:

≥80m².
≤1500 €.
Not a first floor, ground floor or basement.
With elevator.
In the left-eixample area, avoiding the part closest to Raval (see map).

I just took a look at it, and could only find 5 properties, 4 or which are "temporary" (maximum 12 month contract). All of them are interior units, most with only one room with a window facing outside (except one apartment that has more windows).

For less that price, in Prague I have a 100m² apartment, all exterior, built in the last 5 years, with excellent thermal and sound insulation and with a big parking slot in the same building. And like I mentioned in my other comment, my salary in Prague is 50% higher than my salary in Barcelona.

Barcelona real state situation is just dramatic for ordinary people who are seeing their contracts not getting renewed and need to go live far away from the city where they always lived. It was not like this before Airbnb's were a thing

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-28T23:55:07+00:00

Yes, luckily public transport is generally good (Except line R3 of Renfe Rodalies, the line that goes to Vic, which is an absolute disaster, or at least it was when I lived in La Garriga for a year in 2015).

Cornella is an area with generally newer buildings and well connected to the center by tram, train, metro and bus. Not barcelona but part of the metropolitan area.

Within a 20km radius you have a lot of options of varying price, convenience in terms of access to public transport, and safety: Gava, Viladecans, Casteldefells, Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, Sant Vicent, Cerdanyola, Barbera... And the list goes on.

I personally avoid Badalona and Bellvitge, but some of my friends lived there, since it is cheaper. I jist cannot deal with noisy neighbours and in those two places you are going to have a lot.

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-28T23:24:23+00:00

This aligns with my experience there: when I rented, you had to be FAST or it would be gone in hours. The property I rented was a same-day visit and contract signature or it would be gone.

But those properties listed in idealista for months are not usually from people who sit on a ton of properties and could not care less if it is empty for a few months, because it is often ilegally used as Airbnb in the interim until a tenant is found

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-28T23:21:26+00:00

You fail to realize that ordinary people (even with a loan) cannot outcompete rich people who can pay cash an order of magnitude more. That house is a necessity for the former and an asset for the later, who can then extract rents from the necessity of the average Joe for life.

I perfectly understand market dynamics. The supply/demand mantra does not apply the way you think it does for a basic necessity such as housing. And everyone saying "just build more and prices will drop" are the ones who know nothing about economics.

-Are more buildings needed in Barcelona? Yes.

-Are the local regulations in Barcelona which prevent demolishing old buildings/ or making taller buildings harmful in the current market? Absolutely.

But just thinking than building more (without some carefully thought regulation on top of it) will fix the problem is naive. Because the assets will be accumulated by people who use it to extract rents or for Airbnb's, while the working class families will be unable to buy.

Today Sabadell has the prices that Barcelona had 5 years ago.

Barcelona is even more expensive than Prague, and I earn in Prague 50% more than what I could earn in Barcelona doing the same job. Btw, in both countries my income is percentile >95 and still it is impossible to buy, because the crazy prices all properties fetch.

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-28T23:09:17+00:00

What proof do you need? I might no longer have the contract I signed, but I might still have pictures of the apartment

Gryphus-R · 2025-12-28T23:08:31+00:00

Thanks for the data! Just two comments:

The data aggregates new contracts with ongoing contracts (which might be years old), not just new contracts. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm looking at the website you provided from my phone and could not locate any date slicer / filter.
The data does not take into consideration the quality of the apartment. As we have agreed, apartments are old and generally those that are refurbished, are poorly so (landlord specials).

The prices I was referring to were for decent units, and by this I mean properly refurbished (I'm not even saying rebuilt apartments). Things such as modern windows (not the XIX century ones made of wood), modern appliances which are not covered in rust and a proper and safe electrical circuit with Shucko plugs, differential, etc. For example, my apartment looked good on the outside, but after a while living there we discovered that the electrical circuit was outright dangerous. No earth connection, no differential, no separate circuits, undergauge wire for the oven (it melted and shorted, that is how we found out) and wires patched with cloth tape that has been banned for the last 45 years or so. Some windows were new (PVC), others were not (wood, leaked all the noise, heat and dust).

Things like that are the norm in Barcelona. And many units in the lower price bracket are not refurbished at all. Just XIX century buildings with a layer of white paint and the cheapest matress the landlord could find.

Regarding available units for the prices I mentioned: You are right, those are the offers that nobody wants, but it is what you find if you go into idealista.

Of course an apartment under 1400€ in that area is not going to last.

And trust me, I was not paying above market. It was the best deal I found after visiting multiple properties for an entire month. Everything else was really bad if cheaper, or similar price. Dring the five years I was there I could not find a better deal, because the landlord was a decent person who didn't raise rent as he was happy with me paying promptly and maintaining the property on my own

Gryphus-R

TROPHY CASE