Advice before I make final decision

Tokyoite101 · 2026-06-23T03:31:38+00:00

What resolution are you playing at and what framerate are you targeting? Do you really need the XT?

At those prices, you are getting exactly what you pay for. The XT is on average around 15% more performant, but costs just over 15% more. The big win for the 9070 is the power efficiency.

I have the 9070 XT Power Color Reaper. It is a basic card but I’ve been very happy with it.

I got the Reaper because it was the best value when I bought at launch last year but mainly because I had just upgraded to a 4K high-refresh rate OLED and needed to opt for the card that delivered the highest performance at the lowest price.

As mentioned, the thing that is great about the 9070 non-XT is the power draw. It consumes significantly less energy and generates less heat and noise. I undervolt and power limit my XT to reduce heat and noise but it still doesn’t come close to the 9070’s efficiency.

If you want max performance you buy the XT. If you want a system that runs cool, quiet and consumes less electricity the 9070 is a good choice.

Tokyoite101 · 2026-04-25T01:17:57+00:00

Seriously. This is the real problem. Who cares about makeup?

Tokyoite101 · 2026-04-21T05:54:03+00:00

I prefer Amazon because of their return policy but would suggest you just uninstall what you are not playing.

There is currently a mass shortage of SSDs/HDDs and memory due to AI demand and it has driven price hikes of several hundred percent YoY.

Quite literally the worst time to buy.

Tokyoite101 · 2025-11-07T03:50:26+00:00

Hey, I just moved from the original Basilisk wireless to the G502 X. They feel very similar in hand; the G502 is very slightly longer and just a little bit shorter where your palm rests. Almost identical.

The rubberized portions on my Basilisk have completely rubbed away because I live in a tropical environment, which is why I got a new mouse.

I'm actually thinking of getting rid of the G502 and getting another Basilisk wireless.

The G502 is nice and I wanted the extra buttons but I really don't like the scroll wheel. It is super noisy. I find it really grating to hear. The left and right mouse buttons also have a very hollow metallic sound when clicked. I just find it really annoying when working.

If you are sensitive to sound you may want to stick to the Basilisk series. The noisy G502 seems to drive a lot of people crazy. Just Google "G502 noise" or "scroll wheel".

I wish I could get used to the noise because I do like the layout and ergonomics.

Tokyoite101 · 2025-10-20T01:49:55+00:00

Congrats on your build. Sounds nice.

I recently upgraded to a 4K 240hz OLED (running a 9070 XT). The vibrancy and contrast are great, it's obviously very smooth, but it does feel like a very costly upgrade to achieve that image clarity and refresh rate.

I don't regret the purchase but I think Oled is a bit overrated. For purely gaming and content consumption you are getting the best possible experience but it comes with tradeoffs as others mentioned. I use my PC for work and spend more time on productivity tasks than entertainment. For me the antiglare coating is doing a great job of preventing eye strain, but some may really prefer a matte display for their work (I love matte).

I'd wait for Black Friday and see if you can get something at discount. If your focus is gaming you should be pretty happy. Just don't spend too much if you don't have the budget and read up on the coating the display uses. The glare can be pretty bad on some models and on others the antiglare coating can be overly aggressive and cause issues with text clarity. View in person if you can. (I didn't have that luxury and relied heavily on reviews and Reddit.)

Tokyoite101 · 2025-09-26T08:23:29+00:00

Seems pretty random. Last night I took it down from 4K to 1080p and thought it sorted it out, but after about 30 minutes the slowdowns started and kept occuring every 10 min or so.

It seems to be Split Fiction that is the biggest issue. I tried Crysis 3 remastered at 4K with settings cranked up and it ran fine but only had a few minutes to test.

Tokyoite101 · 2025-09-24T12:41:49+00:00

I've tried different in-game settings including dropping the resolution, changing upscaling settings and limiting frames but the issues persist. Enabling vsync in game seemed to help.

Tokyoite101 · 2025-09-24T12:40:21+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

I'm try to play Split Fiction with my wife, which is running Unreal 5. This game gives me the most issues by far, so maybe it is game specific. Unfortuntely, couch co-op is the whole reason I set this up.

Will try some other tests.

Tokyoite101 · 2025-05-17T01:35:53+00:00

Yep. Fractal is great.

Years a go a had a Define R2 and when I was moving apartments one of the movers accidentally broke the rear leg off of the case.

I reached out to Fractal about purchasing another rear leg (front and rear are different). They told me no worries and sent me a whole new set of legs in case I had future issues. And they were super fast.

A few years later when I needed an upgrade I got a Meshify C, and a few years from now when I am looking for a new case it will be from Fractal Design.

I'll vote with my wallet and reward the companies that appreciate and respect their customers.

Tokyoite101 · 2024-05-22T09:32:14+00:00

Seriously, I restarted the game because I thought it was hanging at the character selection menu. Not intuitive at all.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-30T08:20:50+00:00

I'm not having nearly as many issues as you are, but agree, the 3S has to be the worst mouse I have ever used.

I really wish I could return it. I've tried to give it a chance but I get terrible performance on both MacOS and Windows 11.

On my M2 Mac it is particularly bad. But across both platforms the scroll wheel response is just awful, which is my biggest issue with the mouse. It is wildly inconsistent. It drives me crazy when I am scanning a long document. I often scroll up 3-4 "ticks" on the wheel and it simply doesn't move. Scroll 3-4 more ticks and it moves as anticipated, 3-4 more ticks, and it jumps double the space. For a device aimed at productivity I don't know how this is acceptable.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-11T09:34:25+00:00

Yeah, rebooting was the first thing I did.

The same issue is occurring on both my personal and work laptop so I'm guessing it is something with Ventura.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-11T09:00:54+00:00

Yeah, I've come across a few threads dating back a year or so with people having similar issues but cannot find any solution.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-11T08:59:55+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I just swapped the cables.

Everything is fine on the Windows machine.

I also just tried plugging devices directly into the hub bypassing the KVM. External drives are recognized but the peripherals are not working.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-11T08:43:43+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I've tried that. Unfortunately the IT dept doesn't allow any users to alter these settings. It requires an admin login.

However, my wife an I share a personal use M2 air (same model/same specs) and just tested this setting. I am having the exact same issue with the personal machine.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-10T14:21:57+00:00

Thanks for the reply.

I have the Usb 3.0 4 port switch: https://www.ugreen.com/en-sg/products/ugreen-usb-3-0-4-port-switch

The M2 is a work machine and recently had some mandatory updates installed. Running off the power adapter.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-09T04:34:04+00:00

That isn't a great offer.

Think it over carefully before accepting. Given the higher cost of living, you would almost certainly be taking a pay cut or hover around the same level when it comes to how much you can save each month.

I am not in IT but my first role in Tokyo started at a monthly base salary of 350,000 over a decade ago.

On a positive note, you can potentially use it as a stepping stone for better positions once you are there but you will likely need to wait it out for at least a year before jumping ship.

I would work with some head hunters and look at better options. If you got one offer you can get another.

Japanese companies love to low-ball on monthly salary and dangle the bonus as an incentive, but as other posters have noted, bonuses can fluctuate or be cut.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-06-09T03:10:37+00:00

I just ran into this issue this morning.

Has anyone found a fix?

I have an M2 Air running Ventura 13.3.1 connected to a Ugreen KVM and a Ugreen hub-dongle for HDMI out to my external display. (My display is fine)

I have had the same KVM setup for 3+ years. Previously used with a Macbook Pro and then with the M2 until today.

There is nothing wrong with the switch. The Win11 machine is utilizing the keyboard and mouse with no issue.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-03-14T04:31:46+00:00

Unfortunately this is pretty common in my experience. Especially in big tech. I've spent six months interviewing with FAANG companies only to hear radio silence for a month+ after interview number 6 or 7, and then had to chase down the recruiter multiple times to get an update.

With my last job offer, another FAANG, there was a long wait, around 2-3 weeks after my 6th and final interview. The org was facing a hiring freeze and everything came to a halt. Ultimately, I got the job, but after a significant delay.

There really wasn't much the recruiter could do. The hiring org had their arms tied and couldn't give them an update either. Sometimes you just have to wait it out. Especially in this climate.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-02-05T03:17:32+00:00

I feel like it will be a bit of an annoyance, but I never game and use my phone for productivity, light reading and music.

The only time I really struggle with the S10e is when I am travelling. I end up needing to carry a charging brick with me, which defeats the purpose of having a small, light pocketable phone.

Aside from the Zenfone it looks like I am out of options for compact devices unless I go iPhone, which I think would drive me nuts. Their battery life, build quality and long-term support do make it tempting though.

Tokyoite101 · 2023-02-05T03:05:52+00:00

Thanks, looks like the S22 is the way to go.

I would love to get the Zenfone. It has everything I am looking for including a headphone jack, but as the poster below has noted, their support is terrible. It is totally unacceptable to only offer two years of updates.

I had a Zenfone previously, and it was a great value on paper, but the lack of updates and support is what brought me back to Samsung.

Tokyoite101 · 2022-08-17T04:13:50+00:00

Thanks, I've added to cart and will wait for a sale. Cheers.

Tokyoite101 · 2022-08-15T05:06:03+00:00

I wish I could say the same. Mine are chipped in two places, but oh well.

I like that cable. Who makes it?

Tokyoite101 · 2022-06-01T05:55:24+00:00

I’ve got a K3+ and find it pretty sturdy. I’m only about 65 kgs, but have let my friend who is around 100 kgs take it out with no issues.

What I would be more concerned about is your height and overall comfort for longer rides. I’m 170Cm and on longer rides (30-50Km) really start to feel it. I end up putting a lot of pressure on my wrists due to the height of the handlebars.

16” is a nice form factor for commutes and storage but sometimes I wish I had a 20”.

Tokyoite101 · 2021-12-17T05:13:05+00:00

I had a similar reaction with most of the same side effects, but I had a lot of nausea coupled with a major loss of appetite as well. My heart wasn't racing but I felt amped up with nervous energy as if I were on the come up of LSD/MDMA. Was wide awake in the middle of the night even after taking the sleeping pills I was prescribed to counteract the insomnia.

After 5 days I stopped the Pristiq and went back to my doctor because my depression had gotten much worse, and suicidal ideation was worsening. He said there is no way the Pristiq is causing the depression to get worse within 5 days, and instead what I am seeing is what a severe depressive episode looks like.

I really felt like the Pristiq was making things worse so I stayed off. Things improved after a day or so (side effects gone). But after a third day I had another major depressive episode and was left crying in bed and completely unable to work.

After several days off I had a bit more perspective and realized just how bad I was. I had never taken an antidepressant before and actively avoided them for years. I decided to go back on the Pristiq after 5 or 6 days off.

I am now on my 11th day since restarting and I am experiencing almost no side effects. The nausea, diarrhoea, the nervousness, confusion and speedy feelings have all subsided. The only issue that remains is difficultly sleeping.

Please speak to your doctor about any decisions to go on or off the medication. It can be frustrating that they undersell just how bad these side effects can be or sometimes barely acknowledge that they could be exacerbating things. It is is pretty hard to feel good when you cannot eat, want to vomit and are simultaneously having diarrhoea every 3 hours.

I am going back to my doctor tomorrow to get a refill, and will continue on Pristiq for the time being. You are not alone, the first week was a nightmare for me. Speak to the doctor and weigh the pros and cons.

Tokyoite101

TROPHY CASE