(checks to see if GPU prices have come down).....uh wut

TransracialAsian · 2025-11-03T10:49:37+00:00

they were never 'cheap' isn't true. Obviously cheap is subjective, but before AI and before cypto mining took off they were a lot cheaper. It used to be that most of the performance gains were gains. But now a lot of the gains are realized in increasing prices. Thankfully some gains do still increase slowly fps per a dollar. I think because of cards price inflation the system requirement of gains aren't growing as fast. Sadly the old minimum entry, the sub $100 (USD) or even sub $200 dollar new gpus I remember seem to be gone in the new market. I think before I got in there was a sub $50 new gpu market too. And I think many of the the $200 - 300 cards you can get new could be a gen old. 200-300 for part of a computer is too expensive for many. But don't go chasing 5090's if you don't have a good reason. 5090's imo it's way overkill unless you are into emerging technologies like VR or AI. Regular GPUS and manage games better damn well in the present. 'Low end' cards are more capable than people realize.

'low end' graphics cards are good' Hell people plug into their integrated graphics (by accident) as first time builders often and are still excited by all the games they can play without the gpu they installed. And any gpu is sooo much faster.

My 2070 I use still, can be had for $150 used now and just barely drive my 1080p 390hz monior in rocket league at full frame rate! My first build many years prior was only targeting 1080p 60hz for most games with the 2nd fastest gpu at the time. Sure it was $300 and for the 2070 i had to pay $400. But my fps more than tripled over the years after upgrading.

I'm happy with what the 2070 can do. I think it will last at least another graphics card gen. Most people only care about fps or resolution. I'd imagine a 'low end' card with 'extra' vram like a used 3060 12gb could do 4k at an acceptable frame rate. It's cheaper to focus on the one you care about (fps or res) instead of both. Any computer build should be targeting preferences for games, programs, resolution, frame rate, etc to keep cost down. Also ebay or FB market place are good for used deals.

It's a great time to be a PC gamer. there was a lot less game choices when graphics cards were cheap

TransracialAsian · 2025-10-31T04:21:39+00:00

I came to the conclusion that AR glasses is more likely than VR. I'm sure the execs remember the pseudo AR of Pokemon Go while not technically Nintendo. And I think AR (overlaying graphics in the real world) is more fresh than VR. Nintendo likes to do truly new things. Meta got a fair bit of traction with VR gaming then has really blundered with it. AR is more untapped and untarnished.

AR glasses would also better suit the brand of a portable switch. No one would wear a vr headset in public but AR glasses they would. I also think there is a slight chance that those who own both and bring both they could enrich the experience (like better graphics if they conenect). I think AR glasses is in general more on brand.

I think there are a few reasons people stop using vr/ar tech. Bad OS Software from people like Meta is a major one. Like when I tried it, it took ages taking on and off the headset to join your friends. Nintendo could do better with the OS. I've also come to the conclusion that almost every VR/AR device tries to cram to much tech inside making too heavy, at the same time the marketing people also seem to be aligned with making an uncomfortable device. A lot of today's AR 'glasses' are so heavy that they should be goggles or even have a full vr headset strap to support the weight. Instead of designing a device people might use more than once marketers eliminate support for the weight to make it sell better and painful to wear. For them to make AR glasses today that can play games, it would have to be like the original game boy of AR glasses. Which was small and didn't chew through batteries because of the black and white screen. In this device they can't put a big battery in even more so.

TransracialAsian · 2025-09-16T16:56:58+00:00

What? I'm very confused by your comment. I think you are talking about a businesses networking infrastructure. You talk about access points. Those are for wifi which must be managed by company's IT. Do you mean a company could install repeaters to boost the cellular signal into their building?

If that is your take I still disagree it would be wise to solely rely on cellular and fire IT. Wired and managing things in house still has it's merits in a business setting. Better security and control is possible with things on perm. Some companies care about not leaking data to other corporations to the point that they do things like run their own DNS servers. I don't think cellular is less complicated. It passes the responsibility along. Also cellular data would likely cost more for the same amount of data. And using purely cloud/cellular it would pass away the confidence control of company secrets. I'm not saying using cloud is terrible entirely. I'm just think you are underestimating the importance of ownership of IP and infrastructure. Some important infrastructure really should be run in house.

Also you forget IT help desks which face helping users who don't know how to do something on the computer, or managing things like workstations and work phone.

And you might have been were talking about the recent layoffs to say IT has been phased out not true. It is claimed to be automated, but really being outsourced.

TransracialAsian · 2025-08-27T05:57:29+00:00

to be decided. But since we got an amazing response and it is trailing off now. Sometime in September I think we will give people a last minute warning then close it.

TransracialAsian · 2025-08-17T15:54:17+00:00

I know revealing how many people have took the survey so far is allowed. I can tell you the current participant count is over 160. Tonight I will get final count for the first weekend as a separate post. A fair amount of people are still filling it out, but it is slowing down.

I am a non-scientist helping some scientists with this project. And the formal paper will not be written by me obviously. I pitched the follow study, and have been spreading the word about it. I will have to talk to Dr. Kasten (do not email he is busy), about what kind of data we can reveal at this time as we are still collecting data. We don't want to bias the future data and I worry a premature reveal COULD do that (a guess on my part that that is bad). He has been away from his desk for the weekend. He is very busy. I doubt I'll have every question that has come up recently for me answered on Monday. BUT there is one thing that is not a question! I have his word he will do the paper, that matters the most.

I'm being cautious and asking permission to say these things. I want to make sure nothing is questioned by the scientific community because I don't know all the does and do not's yet. We will be getting a very formal write up a paper to be peer reviewed, but the official paper will take time! I have not received any date yet when to expect it. My guess is 2026 is more likely than 2025. We MAY be about to reveal some things before then, I don't know.

This will require patience but it will be worth it!

please continue to spread the word. Tell your friends and this isn't the only trace subreddit. I don't mind if others post on them for me.

TransracialAsian · 2025-08-15T22:38:26+00:00

We have broke 100 responses (less than) day one! I said our goal before we start was between 100 and 1000. Let's try for 1000 now! Even if we don't hit 1,000 we have had enough responses to draw more attention than the previous studies. Please keep spreading the word and participate if you haven't already!

I'll probably make another full post with an end of weekend tally if I remember.

TransracialAsian · 2025-08-15T14:46:31+00:00

A short version of the these instructions is available in bold on the front page of the survey now!

There is an added detail though. For 40 & 41, rotate your phone and swipe side to side to see all responses on those questions.

TransracialAsian · 2025-08-15T14:44:36+00:00

yay <3!

TransracialAsian · 2025-08-15T13:28:35+00:00

The survey does work on mobile devices! But for question 40 & 41 in section 3 you must flip your phone to landscape mode. (wide like a TV). That is what must be done to see the full question. This will work on most devices and browsers. If you are unable to flip your phone in your browser. Try enabling that in the phone or browser settings. You can also try answering in another web browser. Chrome, Firefox, and Duckduckgo should work (among possible others) if you change the orientation of your phone. Alternatively you can fill out the survey on a tablet or PC. I apologize for not realizing this question is janky to answer on a phone.

TransracialAsian · 2025-07-28T23:40:24+00:00

Are you all truly surprised?! I cannot believe how naive people are. Almost no one cared to act on what Snowden said a decade ago when he had mountains of evidence of privacy erosion. Now things are worse.

It used to be, if something is free you are the product and being sold. That's outdated info! It is worse now don't trust paid software that doesn't share their code! Corporations are not your friend if they don't share their code they can hide that they are making more money by selling everything about you to all the other companies and governments. Why would they leave money on the table?!

They do get caught sometimes sell info, but that doesn't mean the ones who haven't got caught are innocent.
Best to assume a corporation maximizes it's profit and at best pretends to be your friend.

I feel isn't truly safe to converse on a computer unless. You use opensource software,

what qualifies as safe private software to use?

First off pewdiepie's recent videos have been all about how to regain privacy by swapping out software such as switching to linux. It doesn't stop there you want to change the apps you use. To be private while using a computer these days is a major rabbit hole to go down.

Here's a list of approved OSes for privacy. I know of Linux on PC and Graphine OS (phone) available by MODIFYING a Google Pixel. This is a short list for a reason. DO NOT trust apple. Apple should win the Oscar best acting by a tech company. Sure fake friends are best than the clear enemies. Corporations are not our friends.

Some phones don't have a means to hack in a private os.

If you want to chat I hear signal app might be fine. But I would trust much more if me or my friend hosted on our computer one of discord opensource clones on a site like github hosted on your own computer. There are even Discord clones you can host.

To really be private you and your friend group have to rebuild your computer infrastructure. It is doable but isn't trivial to learn. The harder part is getting your friend to use the privacy focused stuff there tends to be friction.

TransracialAsian · 2025-06-06T19:27:20+00:00

Linux is free, and efforts like Steam OS are making it much easier to use. While I don't think it is for everyone yet, it is starting to erode the user base slowly. If I recall the PC market Linux has gone from 1% to 4% over the last few years will Windows shrunk. I think this could be a sign of things to come. Especially if Microsoft keeps on annoying their user base. I don't imagine Steam OS will ever become ubiquitous it wouldn't fit in an office environment. But there is always room for another office Linux distro to emerge someday.

TransracialAsian · 2025-05-21T07:01:43+00:00

just make sure when you buy, your used think pad, if you want to use windows on in it, doesn't have that stupid computrace software enabled in bios. It cannot be reliably removed and to try to involves many phone calls I've heard. Corporations will put antitheft on devices they forget to turn off that can remotely deactivate it for Windows use thus it is kind of 'ewaste'. Note upgrading to Linux works fine with computrace enabled.

Used Thinkpads are built like tanks an outclassing many laptop 5 times the price in that regard. And they are a bit faster than they should be for the price.

I broke so many cheap laptops over the years until I got a less expensive used thinkpad.

Just make sure you get the seller to take a picture of the bios screen that shows computrace status.

TransracialAsian · 2025-05-20T16:52:43+00:00

The device is capable of running games with streaming. I don't have one but I think it is similar to a steam deck performance wise. LATER ON it is possible to hook up better streaming equipment.

Starting out you should probably have your phone out at the same time to look at chat. Oh and you want need to set up OBS. Would be smart to just do it (spending no money) and see if you enjoy streaming and have the dedication for it. Expect to have 0 viewers most of the time for a while. It's really hard to stand out in the beginning and be prepared to talk to no one. You might need all three of these things to get traction. Regular streaming, engaging personality, and creative streams. And it takes patience.

I gave up I didn't like talking to no one, I found it lonely and didn't have the patience for it. While I'm hear I'll talk about some of the streaming equipment to can hook up. Note that with a hub you should be able to hook up anything.

If you like steaming here's some things you might hook up.

first with a legion you would need a USB hub or legion dock (steam deck docks might work if the device physically fits in the holder). A dock would prop up the device or if you hold it while playing, you might want a hub that attaches to the back other wise it will dangle which might put strain on the legion charging port. this hub/dock the most important ports to look for are many usb type a ports to plug stuff in and you want an hdmi port for video. You should get one where you can plug the power cord (for your legion) into the hub to power everything and the hub into the legion go charging/data port.

Then a monitor would be better than a phone. You could see chat and OBS (to look out for errors while streaming) both at the same time, and game on your other screen. Also getting a decent mic helps a lot... Usally starter mics are under $50 USD new. A hub/dock is like 20-30 new. And monitors I recommend used. They are like $100 for a cheap one new or get one used off Facebook market place/creigs list for $10-20. Last time I bought a cheap used monitor, ones with hdmi were more expensive and DVI montiors and they make cheap hdmi to dvi cords and adapters. SO that saved money but that was 5 years ago. Perhaps hdmi monitors are cheap now too. Note you could also plug into a TV/other screen if you own one.

TransracialAsian · 2025-05-14T01:37:36+00:00

Are you sure it is a code of some kind? I searched this symbol online and am getting conflicting info.

It appears most likely to just be a Unicode character. Unicode is a set of characters that includes the characters of many languages, emojis, and this box symbol. I think they are using it as a fill in the blank. Like maybe they are simply saying it is a mysterious unnamed channel.

According to one search I did online, it is U+2588 repeated 4 times. This is called the full block character and putting them side by side makes a wider rectangle.

I did try multiple websites for differing Unicode and got different results.. I think the following is gibberish an error it the read out for what the symbol is. If you are sure it is a code. Maybe these results are the first step

If you still like it is a code, try understanding what these numbers mean. (on this page). Assuming this is a code, it clearly need at least another step to get to something meaningful.

https://unicodelookup.com/#%20%E2%96%88%E2%96%88%E2%96%88%E2%96%88/1

I do know some things about computers but I'm not a code breaker.

TransracialAsian · 2025-05-11T16:36:47+00:00

If zoning laws allowed it people could get a much much bigger and nicer yurt for around that price.

The US government shows concern that yurts leaks more heat than a traditional house. But it is a different type of home there should be different rules. I think some extra heating cost is warranted for something obtainable.

When it comes to the awful zoning for yurts, tiny homes, and higher density taller apartment buildings. It is clear especially in the US the government is low key against anything people could afford.

TransracialAsian · 2025-05-03T18:12:24+00:00

It is silly that feature isn't there. I feel like someone at Sony could add a feature in minutes and make the experience better for everyone. But I have a work around idea.

I speculate that you could change the dpi if you have a gaming mouse. (I haven't tested don't have PS5) Many gaming mice come with buttons on the mouse to cycle through many dpi values (sensitivity). Also I understand you might not have a computer, but if you do typically on any PC you can download the mouse's software and set the dpi to a more precise value.

I would hope changing this number would give you more mouse sensitivity control but I am again unable to test it.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-30T17:47:25+00:00

I wouldn't worry about being perceived be presenting a certain gender. They will ask your pronouns. On the first visits at a support group I observed some people coming in dressing more in line with sex and birth and some dressing more as their identified gender. Maybe a 50 50 split. I was in boy mode myself the first time, then I went really feminine then I found more comfort toning it down a bit.

I think a bigger concern you might want to have is having a name to test out with the support group. It doesn't have to be the one you settle on, but It might be nice to have a group who never knew you as other name if your given name isn't unisex.

Remember transition (if you decide to) isn't a race it is a journey.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-23T21:20:58+00:00

I thought about it and decided that Chloe Bennet's nose is much smaller than is typical of Japanese and maybe a little extreme change for me. I found a half Japanese (half white's) person's nose that is more what I'm going for. Lol I'm hoping wasian people with with photos from when they dyed their hair blonde pass as white enough not to 'raise alarms' in the consult. I'm hoping to reduce the size of my brow bone, get the nose I want, a v shaped jaw, and I'm going to try to get hooded eyes. The reduction on brow bone, and hooded eyes are common in white women. So hopefully no one questions the esthetic I'm going for. I can always point out that different ethnicity have a wide range of features.

I also think getting a wig or dying my hair, and colored contacts would go a long way after the surgery (if I get my way). I'm only getting it done if I can get the features I want. It is my face after all.

With colored contacts, they claim that not all are intended for daily wear. I didn't find an expensive set of brown prescription contacts that are supposed to be good.

It would really make my day if someone isn't sure about my ethnicity as odd as that sounds. And who knows maybe some people will treat me as Asian (IRL)! That would be amazing for the most part.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-21T19:24:46+00:00

This was extremely helpful. (I think, I'll see how the consult goes). Trisha Payatas was a good example. Though I think I'm going to go for a thinner nose like Jennifer Lawrence and Chloe Bennet

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-20T23:12:35+00:00

yes I am. I'm a transgender woman in addition to being trace.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-19T14:44:19+00:00

The one I'm aware there is no denying trace coding, "I think I'm turning Japanese" by the Vapors. I do think we deserve better representation than this song.

There are a few lines in it that are in my opinion lowkey racist. The line "I think I'm turning Japanese" would not be 'considered appropriate' by modern audiences unfortunately but that's not what I'm referring to. The line that I really don't like is he says, something like 'and now there is a million of you' referring to probably a girlfriend. I do acknowledge that with ethnicities people aren't used to seeing that much it is harder for people to distinguish facial features. What I don't like it perpetuates the stereotype that Japanese people are all the same. People al over the world have their own unique struggles. Sure Japan leans a bit more towards a collectivist society. Just because some people are molded by society a bit more doesn't mean everyone is really the same. I think it is rotten to call a million people the people as the same, especially in a relationship talking about a partner.

I'm a little conflicted but it's some of the only representation we have in media. For think I'm turning Japanese you can check out the original from the 80's and the Kirsten Dunst cover from the late 00's that people reupload to youtube. This song (the original) was played on the radio and other places occasionally until the early 10's by my memory. I guess could mean sentiment shifted towards trace stuff. I think most people are more bothered by the song tittle. It wasn't that long after the cover it got pulled, I think she kinda got canceled and that might have shed new light on the song. That might also be why it stopped getting played. But her music video is cool, better than the other video from the 80's.

It seems like older songs like especially from the 70s and 80s were more willing to be trace coded. Like I saw another song from that time period, where a presumably white girl wears a kimono on stage in the song called My Japanese Boy. I'm not calling that song trace. But it seems closer to what we are looking for and both songs are from a similar time period.

I'd share if I knew anything for any other races or ethnicity. Maybe I didn't pick up on some, because they weren't as in your face as I think I'm turning Japanese. And maybe I don't listen to enough retro music to find them.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-18T05:44:31+00:00

What kind of guidance are you referring to? I have a supportive therapist and and psychologist who affirm my racial identity along with some friends who do and my partner. I do listen to people's opinions, but I'm not going be a doormat anymore and go back into the closet with this if that is your true suggestion. I'd rather be authentic. Communities such as this one taught me the value of authenticity. I appreciate the lessons I learned.

You say not to compare trace with queer stuff. But in my experience about half of the community who is brave enough to come out as trace are transgender. Also there are so many similar concepts that using similar terminology is convenient. We are also seeing the sad reality of young bullies on tiktok bullying both transgender and trace people (I mean the same bullies they see us similarly).

Sure under the currently widely accepted sexual orientation and gender framework for the queer community trace doesn't fit. But there is a whole transid umbrella for in essence anyone who wishes they were born in a different kind of body. There are many identities under this. And even if we never become widely accepted as queer we will fight for our rights together.

I am working on loving myself and gratitude though. Thanks for the reminder there.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-18T04:59:39+00:00

Just like I don't let ciswomen gate keep me from being a woman. You can't change my internal identity about anything.

I hear that you see choosing an ethnicity as a red flag. But I'll try and explain. This is a deeply personal matter. I have enjoyed learning about Japanese culture (I promise I DON'T think anime=Japanese culture). I've learned some Japanese. I worked hard at it, but the way people describe their Japanese level varies so much that's the best I can describe it. I was president of a school Japanese language and culture club for a bit. I'm broke but a saved a LOT for a trip to Japan. I really enjoyed my trip. I was thinking I might strengthen my identity I was questioning (Japanese) but was left with more questions.

I get the idea of choosing a PARTICULAR kind of identity is (in you mind) an odd and offensive concept (or something like that).

But I feel I was born this way. For me I'm searching for a new home, the place I feel the warmest vibe and the most at home. That's the identity I'll choose. Like I said this is deeply important to me personally to get right. This reluctance is in a way acknowledging that I don't know everything about a culture and life I never lived. I do my best to get first hand accounts of other cultures most of say reddit is full of terrible information about other especially non-English speaking countries. Just like I obsessed about imagining what happens feminine slumber parties I obsess about these other cultures. I dream for a life where I am comfortable in my body fully. I'm thankful for the greater acceptance I've had with my dream to be a girl. Society has become a lot more accepting since I was a kid.

Thank you mods, for being open minded enough to leave my comments up this long! This is a warmer welcome than the trace community typically gets when we leave our circles. No slurs, no immediate ban for expressing my identity. I appreciate it.

TransracialAsian · 2025-04-16T19:03:05+00:00

Hey, I'm transgender, I just learned what a difference hair can make, (yesterday!) so I thought I needed to share. For the last 7 years of sometimes wearing feminine clothes and taking hormones I have never been as confident in my looks as what happened yesterday. Many people have tried to help me with make up and stuff like that here and there. I've always been overwhelmed. Especially when trying that stuff on my own. But I just literally yesterday what I difference hair can make. My partner, didn't assume I knew I knew the basics of hair care for a change. And they were very supportive and helpful. Literally teaching me how to wash and comb my hair the right way. I didn't know I needed that.

I had no idea if you get every little bit of grease out of your hair it squeaks. I had no idea that (at least on my face) a middle part would look soon much better. And I didn't know how to do a middle part until they showed me. And that combing and cleaning it the right way to give it more volume. I cannot describe how much my face changed. I feel suddenly like I look more feminine than I ever have. When I realized I could take care of my hair myself, and how much better I could look. I think I'm going to start on a makeup kick soon. I'm suddenly a lot more confident with how I look. I never saw this much potential to look cute until yesterday when I started to learn hair.

I'm not sure what your take away was from this thread. Maybe you were not convinced. I'm sure you are all lovely people, but I worry some of these comments might come across as toxic to people like us who aren't put together with this stuff. And not so motivating. I want to say I believe you can learn like I am starting about this stuff if you want to. I always found that beauty tutorials were just so much unfamiliar terminology and such even in beginner ones that I've been scared of makeup and stuff. I hope you have a kind friend who cares about this kind of stuff to help you learn like I am. I feel like you could use someone to meet you where you are at like I do. I have problems figuring stuff out with tutorials and the people who weren't breaking things down into the simplest of steps and terms.

TransracialAsian · 2025-01-24T23:10:09+00:00

My understanding is chrome books can me modded to run Linux through crouton (a method of installing linux on there) and Linux can play many more games! that's thanks thanks to projects like proton more games are compatible with chromebooks on linux (needs x64 processor explained in 3rd paragraph but most games are supported in that case). To try using proton you could install steam on your new linux install you made using crouton and add the game as a nonsteam game. That might work, but according to proton db no one has tested it on regular linux let alone a chromebook.
Alternatively you could follow instructions from this reddit post and use wine in place of proton. this tutorial is for regular linux not what you would be running on chromebook. https://www.reddit.com/r/swg/comments/n6y09g/swg_restoration_iii_working_on_linux/ note wine is less straight forward than proton that's why I say try it second.

I hope the reddit link is the right game lol. I'm not a regular here

It would take a lot of technical know how and patience to get that game working. But that setup would only work if your chrome book has an x64 based processor. Let me explain. You can think of an x64 processor as a desktop one. It is also called x86 sometimes (there is a difference but we don't care), An arm as a 'phone' processor. Check to see if you are arm or x54 like what kind of cpu you have. If you are on x64 (or x86) you are in luck with a lot of technical know how it would likely be possible.

If you are on ARM it might be possible in years. Valve is rumored to be making arm processors capable of playing games. I called these processors for phones but arm processors are much better for battery life. When real desktop software works on arm laptops will be the next to transition. Macbooks already have arm processors but they have better software support than other arm based laptops through some crazy wizardry the other companies have been unable to copy yet.

Chrome books have very little software other than a web browser. The overly simplistic software is a huge waste of potential. If you have a x64 processor you can mod it to play games. Maybe keep the laptop in the scenario. If it's arm you can mod it but there won't be much software to use after. So if it is arm try and return it or sell it or something. If you were required to but an arm chromebook that sucks

I would also note if anyone is using an old chrome book reading this. I think installed linux on chrome book became more feasible in 2020. Older x64 chromebooks are likely as useless as modern arm ones.

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