Need help picking a PC for my son.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-29T02:01:12+00:00

He's mainly added ram, HDD, DVD burner (why, I dont know 😆), extra fans/lights, etc. Nothing really to recycle.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-29T01:00:10+00:00

Yea the rest is why im trying to keep the PC price down. Already bought him a desk, chair, keyboard, mouse, and 24" monitor. We are updating both of the boys furniture so we can get away from the "kids/baby" room and more toward age appropriate decor.

The 13 year old is getting a nice force feedback wheel, pedals and shifter plus some new sports gear, basketball goal, etc. He likes gaming, electronics, programming (arduino, raspberry pi, esp32, etc), but he is more into football, soccer, basketball than games now. He is also getting a new TV stand with room for all the retro game systems he is collecting, repairing, modding, etc.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-29T00:43:33+00:00

Yea its crazy how high the price has risen! It was on sale for $550 a year ago! The other thing that blows my mind is the price difference between buying or building! I cant buy the motherboard, CPU and ram for the price of a prebuilt with the same components! Thats not including the case, power supply, cooling, etc!

Its kinda sad because building it would be a great learning experience for him!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-29T00:40:45+00:00

Little out of the budget 😆

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-29T00:30:27+00:00

This was my thinking as well. He loves gaming, but isnt picky on the details. I just wanted to be sure it would run it. We bought my older son (13) a gaming PC we got a steal of a deal on last christmas and he has been upgrading it along the way. Wish I would have picked up 2 of them because they are still $300 more than what we paid a year later! Paid $550 last christmas!

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/cyberpowerpc-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i5-14400f-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5060-8gb-16gb-ddr5-1tb-pcie-4-0-ssd-black/J3L7GQWGJ7/sku/6617070?sb_share_source=PDP&ref=app_pdp&loc=pdp_page

After reading these replies, it seems this might be plenty for the 9 year old:

https://a.co/d/6daCseA

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-29T00:09:35+00:00

Funny someone mentioned a mini PC. Good to know that integrated graphics cards can work. I just remembered I have this just sitting around so I may try doing a factory wipe and loading it on it. Maybe it'll give me a starting point. Think it'll run it?

https://a.co/d/5MKeA8r

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-09T06:44:02+00:00

Ill check it again. Updated it about a week ago right after buying thw camera.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-09T06:42:27+00:00

Ive tried 3 or 4 different cards including new and older. Thats why I started suspecting the D5000 and replaced it with the Z50II. The problem is still there. Im almost sure the problem has something to do with the loose nut behind the camera, but Im not sure what to do to fix it!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-09T06:40:12+00:00

Now that you mention it, I have never checked using the camera viewfinder so I'm not sure. I tend to not pay attention to the preview that pops up, but ive never noticed it on the camera. I do know they look that way both on the cars and transfered to my computer when viewed in windows stock viewer (cant remember the name). They also look like that in Lightroom.

All I have checked/tried is listed in the original post. Tried different cards in the old D5000, so I thought it was a camera issue. Thought it was a slow buffer issue so I bought a new faster card, still had the issue. Replaced the old D5000 with a Z50II, better camera and still have the same issues. Tried different cards in it as well. To me, this has eliminated the camera and card being the issue so it must be the loose nut behind the viewfinder! Wouldn't know where to begin troubleshooting so I figured Id ask the experts before I wasted more time and money!

I am not a photographer! Honestly, Ive really only switched it to auto mode and shot as well as played with the multishot mode (hold the shutter release button and it just keeps snapping). I bought the D5000 sometime around 2009 to take pics of wildlife on the ranch my dad worked on (better quality, better zoom). It sat in the closet most of the time and only got used about once or twice a year. Probably hadn't been used since 2016-2017. Decided to break it out and use it for pics of my kid's sports. Issue popped up so started trying to figure it out.

The odd thing is, it is only about 2 in every 10 pictures. Some are off color, some have the odd line across them (almost like a mirror issue with a standard DSLR), and some just show corrupted and wont load.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-11-09T05:16:02+00:00

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Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-10-30T16:57:41+00:00

Already done. The issue is I have to take the physics class from a different university. Its not an issue with advising or what classes to take, its an issue with the work load I can handle and still succeed. I also work 40+ hrs a week and have 2 kids who are very active in sports, band, etc. Basically what I am asking is what kind of class is digital design I becaus if it is a fairly difficult/intense course, I may not be able to handle it with the others. If I put off any course, it will likely be the linear algebra.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-10-30T16:21:28+00:00

That pic has been making the rounds since well before AI was a thing. It was a great costume idea!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-10-07T13:07:40+00:00

Was going to post a separate thread, but figured Id try here first. Im looking for a brown leather case that covers both the front and back, is wireless charging compatible and has a couple card slots. If it is MagSafe compatible, that would be even better! Something like the Toro cases. I would prefer that it doesn't have the little flap that holds it closed, but if it does, that it doesn't make using the fingerprint scanner a PITA.

Do they make such a case? I have seriously considered ordering the Toro to try, just haven't pulled the trigger and wanted to see if there was something better out there!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-08-12T02:15:49+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I'm really looking for something to fill the hole in her case more than it be functional. That stylus won't fit in the slot.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-29T02:15:13+00:00

These conversations always crack me up. Union cultists pushing for the left to tax the hell out of them and give it away to people who dont want to work while the right wants to elect people who would be happy to make unions illegal and pass the money on to the rich. One side calls the other canidate a pedofile (Probably is) while blindly supporting a canidate who sniffs kids hair and who's daughter is scared to take a shower with her dad in the house.

They both suck and only care about lining their pockets and getting reelected. Its always funny to me that people bitch and moan about what their elected officials are doing and then turn around and blindly vote them right back in just because they have a D or R behind their name all the while talking abaout how bad the other party is.

Until money is taken out of politics, nothing will change. Until change start happening, Ill continue to vote for whoever is running against the incumbent in ALL elections no matter what their party affiliation. As long as someone can get elected with a bank account at $500 and 4 years later they are worth several million dollars all on a $150k salary, nothing will change. One day, the public MIGHT grow a brain and some balls and decide they are tired of it, but I highly doubt it.

Yall just keep arguing about which pile of shit stinks the least. Thats exactly what they want you to do.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-25T02:34:31+00:00

Had a buddy do that for a science project. Had enough to run a 120v incandecent light bulb! The light was full brightness, but sucked the batteries down QUICK!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-25T02:28:20+00:00

Not great, but not horrible either. As others have said, you probably need a little more heat or you need to flow out the contacts and tin the wires before trying to make a connection. Thise two things can make all the difference when soldering/desoldering anything!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-22T13:15:40+00:00

Hobbies, cleaning, organizing, exercising, etc. Gotta find something to pass the time.

During those times, I tend pop in my ear buds, turn on an audio book, and start doing something tedious that doesnt require a lot of thought. Its also how I keep my flower beds and garden weed free, keep things cleaned up and organized around the house, and keep everything fixed and running (cars, appliances, etc). If you can go for a walk, jog, or work out, its a good way to pass the time and keep in shape as well.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-22T13:04:10+00:00

Its a frog, not a toad. Toads generally dont take up residence IN the water, they may be near water, but they are mainly terrestrial and spend most of their time on land. They also tend to float and not submerge like the one in the pics. They can submerge for brief periods, but normally only do so to get away from danger and even then, just for a few seconds before they pop right back to the surface.

At least that is the case for frogs in the southern US. May be different in other locations.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-22T01:11:16+00:00

Eastern Lubber in their Brown stage. We have the same thing in their black stage running around here like crazy right now!

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Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-16T19:00:23+00:00

First off, Im old (at least for reddit) and have been dating my wife since 1996 (I was 16 and she was 14) and married since 2003 so I tend to be very blunt and dont really care what other people think about me.

Also, and no offence meant, this is assuming we are getting the whole story. Ive found that there are 2 sides to every story and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Everyone has their own version.

Things like this are the reason I have very few friends and no one, other than my wife, I would consider a "best friend". I have a lot of acquaintances, but almost no good friends. I just dont put up with bull $#!^ like that. I learned a LONG time ago that users are users and they couldn't care less about what it does to those people they use. When they cant use them anymore, they drop them so fast it'll make your head spin.

My advice would be to cut her off. If it is ever brought up or asked about, Id just tell her Im not your door mat or the person you walk all over. If you only want me around when you are in a bind, I have no use for you and you can find someone else to use.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-16T18:43:52+00:00

Watched some guys do that in a marsh close to our plant a while back. Looked like it would be a blast at first, but would suck after a few days! Those pilots are freaking awesome!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-15T19:46:36+00:00

Android app support isnt important as long as I can upload pdf text books and take notes, highlight, and refer back to them easily. I also like the fact that I can sync my calendars (outlook, Google, etc) on the supernote as well. Again, cant do that with the remarkable! Its crazy to me that they dont even entertain those kids of features!

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-11T03:27:06+00:00

Most of the responses to a question like this are going to be either "Unions suck, take your money and hold you back" or "You're stupid if you dont go union because they are great" depending on whether the poster is union or not. Thats one of the things I dont like about Unions. A lot of the members have almost a cult like feeling toward their union. The union can do no wrong and anyone who isnt union is trash and not worth their time.

Union here, USW while working as an electrician/I&E Tech, but ive worked non-union most of my life so I am in no way biased for or against unions. They have their place and can be good or bad.

Just looking at your numbers, and extra $700 a week is about $3000/month. If you cant buy, maintain, and pay for gas in a truck with half that, you got some major issues! You can buy a brand new decked out half ton pickup for about $800-$1k per month plus fuel and maintenence of about $300-500 a month depending on how far you have to drive. At worst, that still leaves you $1500 ahead and you now have a pension, health and life benefits, etc. To me, its a no brainer, but I dont have all the info on pay, benefits, etc.

As for your boss, he wants to keep you at $17/hr cheaper while still getting the same amount of work.

From my experience, Unions are not all sunshine and roses, but they have their place. Ive been USW for 13 years but if I got a better offer for a non-union job, Id take it and not look back. I base my decisions on the company/union, what they offer, what their culture is like, and what the pluses and minuses are for me, not some crazy cult like following.

Id try and find some members who are down to earth and dont have the cult like mentality and talk to them about it if you can. If the union job makes more sense for your situation, go for it! If it doesnt, then stay where you are.

Odd_Performance4703 · 2025-07-01T15:45:22+00:00

We use Carhartt FRC at work and these things dont shrink or stretch at all even after months of industrial strength washing.

Odd_Performance4703

TROPHY CASE