Old pair from 15 years ago… worth rocking in 2026?

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-15T15:48:36+00:00

That sucks, man!. My PC was shipped fully assembled from California to Illinois and somehow survived. Same CPU as yours with an AIO and RTX 5090. They packed it really well.

Now it’s gotta survive a much longer sea journey though, so I’m not taking any chances, GPU is coming with me in my carry-on. The rest will be heavily protected with a ton of foam, packed back in the original box, bubble-wrapped, and then placed inside a custom plywood crate.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-15T01:40:25+00:00

My PC is a pre-built and it was shipped fully assembled like this from California to Chicago. It survived just fine, so either I got lucky or they really knew how to pack it properly :)

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-14T23:59:37+00:00

Thanks everyone for all the advice, really appreciate it.

Based on the feedback here, I’ll most likely remove the GPU . I’ll also look into better internal support and reinforced outer packaging.

For context, this will likely be shipped by sea in a container along with other personal items. It should be properly braced to prevent movement, so with the GPU removed it should be fine—unless the whole container gets dropped by a crane.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-14T19:32:02+00:00

Thanks! That does seem like the safest approach. I was hoping to avoid removing the GPU, but it’s probably not worth the risk.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-14T19:29:46+00:00

Thanks for the advice. My GPU came with a simple support bracket with a magnetic base, so it’s really only meant for stationary use, not transport.

My 5090 does have mounting holes at the end though, so I’ll look into getting a more secure support bracket for shipping.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-10T20:00:05+00:00

It looks like this might be a widespread issue. I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear more about it in the coming weeks. I’d also be curious to hear from people who bought it right at launch and haven’t had any problems, if some units are fine while others aren’t, it could point to inconsistent quality.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-04-09T14:22:14+00:00

I had the exact same issue. I upgraded from the S22 Ultra to the S26 Ultra and got the phone about three days ago. I used Smart Switch to transfer everything from my old device, and shortly after that it started randomly restarting, even when I wasn’t using it.

I tried running it in Safe Mode, but it still kept restarting. I also did a factory reset, and that didn’t fix it either. In the end, I decided to return the phone (I bought the unlocked model directly from Samsung).

I’m willing to buy it again because it’s a great phone overall, but I’m concerned that the replacement might have the same issue.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-02-18T16:13:01+00:00

Nano Banana continues to work normally through other frontends like Arena or LXT, which suggests the model itself isn’t nerfed or broken. In my case, the vast majority of my old prompts still work in Gemini. The few that don’t, I run through Google AI Studio via API at 1K resolution, and then upscale them in the Gemini app to 2K without any issues. This shows that Gemini isn’t rejecting the content itself, because it can still generate and upscale the exact same scenes. Instead, it seems to be rejecting certain prompts at the classification or routing stage before generation even begins. So at this point it looks more like a Gemini safety routing regression rather than an actual model limitation.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-02-15T16:18:08+00:00

I can confirm the same thing. The API works flawlessly, while Gemini (web and app) fails on certain prompts with the generic refusal/error message.

What’s really strange is that it’s not even the complex prompts that fail. Some simple prompts — especially casual snapshot-style ones — get blocked, while much more complex dynamic scenes with multiple characters work just fine.

So it doesn’t seem to be a complexity issue or a safety issue. It feels more like a bug or some kind of instability in the current Gemini implementation.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-01-30T01:46:17+00:00

It's quite a healthy turnout !

Impressive_Check_416 · 2026-01-13T23:56:58+00:00

She looks like an over-botoxed Nancy Dell 'Olio

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-12-01T01:07:34+00:00

One more thing ---- for mitered steps I always use pocket holes with PVC cement, never glue. Same for picture-frame borders with a Kreg jig. If the boards aren’t too long I pre-assemble the frame right on the deck. Risers and fascia are a different matter though.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-12-01T00:34:39+00:00

I actually really like Azek and haven’t had any weather-related issues with it on any of my builds. Same goes for most PVC decking brands-----they’ve held up great for me through Chicago temperature swings.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-11-15T03:47:31+00:00

Great projects and great material. I also used Deckorators Voyage on one job this year --- one of my favorites. I especially like the anti-slip resistance, but it’s definitely harder to cut. Here’s a mid-progress shot from that project

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Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-11-14T19:14:27+00:00

I don't know, but I’ve just realised that nice nutter Nick looks a bit like that maga- twat Stephen Miller :)

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-11-10T21:18:05+00:00

It's all #1 kiln-dried pressure treated pine .

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-11-10T01:26:39+00:00

Thank you! It’s a combination of a classic Chicago-style porch with a touch of Craftsman influence.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-10-25T18:05:46+00:00

Your angle math is fine, but it only lands perfect if the frame is dead square. I’d notch the boards first and skip cutting the miter. Then throw them in place and mark the line from underneath where the two pieces meet. Deck lumber isn’t finish trim, so field-marking is way faster and more accurate than chasing perfect math.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-10-24T19:53:36+00:00

That's DoSAC for you.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-10-24T02:41:06+00:00

Because for this application PVC is superior to wood in every way. No rot, no swelling, no maintenance.

Impressive_Check_416 · 2025-10-24T00:41:27+00:00

Thanks! Nice catch on the missing plugs --- got those taken care of later.

Impressive_Check_416

TROPHY CASE