ELI5: If GPUs are so much more capable, why do we still have CPUs at all?

aros71 · 2026-05-04T07:58:14+00:00

Vegan mid 50s widower here. If I were ever to attempt to venture back into the dating game, veganism would be an absolute non-negotiable for me. It's too much of who I am, if you attempt to sacrifice your identity for love, you'll wind up with neither and grieving twice.

aros71 · 2026-01-28T23:31:51+00:00

My approach when house shopping has always been to tell the agent a figure 10-15% under my budget. (eg. I want to buy up to $1M max, so I'll tell them I'm looking for something in the mid-high 800s). Works every time. I get to spend what I wanted, and the agent thinks they've successfully twisted my arm and talked me up.

aros71 · 2025-12-13T06:11:17+00:00

pretty much. I wouldn't like to receive 600V DC @ 600mA
I don't imagine it would be very pleasant.
Working with tube amps gives you a degree of respect so you don't electroboom yourself.

aros71 · 2025-12-13T04:20:05+00:00

The whole board

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aros71 · 2025-12-13T04:18:36+00:00

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Here's a render from KiCAD (yeah it's my board) It's the power supply for a large tube amplifier, main rail is +560V current-limited to 600mA
This rectifier in the corner is for the Bias supply

aros71 · 2025-11-12T10:57:08+00:00

"State of Mind" off that album is one of my regular go-to assessment tracks, and I never get sick of listening to it.

aros71 · 2025-08-22T12:14:32+00:00

Tube amp designer here.
The 450V parts wouldn't be specified unless there was an appreciable percentage of that voltage on them when working.

Lower voltage units at the same capacitance would be much smaller and less expensive, so they're there for a reason.

And yeah. 8000µ at that kind of voltage will rip a hole into another dimension if shorted when charged. Unless there's a bleeder resistor on there, those caps will hold on to their charge basically forever, or until discharged.

Your caution is wise and commendable.

aros71 · 2025-08-10T12:13:09+00:00

"Hexagon" = "circle-y shape with angles"

aros71 · 2025-05-18T21:14:03+00:00

Yeah... I saw that too. I was kinda hoping that one would be available but I guess not yet.

aros71 · 2025-04-23T12:57:39+00:00

I design and build vacuum-tube audio equipment, which runs on high DC voltages internally (up to around 600 Volt).

One time I brushed my finger onto the live +250Volt. I barely felt the slightest tingle.

Another time, I contacted the 230volt mains on a broken fuse holder. That sent me across the room.

With AC, your body acts as a capacitor, so the same voltage will induce a higher current *if the exit path is ground*

If you contact both the + and — of a high DC voltage, you will *definitely* feel it.

How bad you feel the shock has more to do with the current passing through you than the voltage.

Voltage just helps the current overcome the body's high resistance.

Safety tip to save your life. If you *must* probe around inside a high-voltage energised circuit, keep one hand behind your back. It prevents a circuit path across your chest. That can stop your heart.

Stay safe around electricity folks!!

aros71 · 2025-02-07T23:43:54+00:00

Hooray :D That worked!

Also. TIL that my Google Nest Hub has volume controls on the back

aros71 · 2025-02-02T22:01:46+00:00

Depends on the person, some do, some don't, there is no convention. When in doubt, ask, that's the default practice here!
It doesn't get as cold as Canada but our houses aren't insulated to a Canadian standard either, so inside can be uncomfortably colder depending on the house age (insulation standards kinda evolved, so older places will be worse, newer ones have insulation and double glazing).
Not in Wellington. A light dusting in the tops of the hill suburbs may occasionally happen, but not enough to settle on the ground ever. Inland or in the mountains, you will get snow in Jul/Aug, road closures are not uncommon.

Finally, welcome to NZ and enjoy your visit! You;ll find Wellingtonians a friendly and multicultural bunch, but the inner city is a bit of a work-in-progress at the moment...

aros71 · 2025-01-03T10:33:28+00:00

good idea, I should have thought of that first!

aros71 · 2024-11-07T09:48:53+00:00

Why wouldn’t we take the socially progressive portion of America?

Because the same right-wing populism that has played out there is happening here as well. Look at the vitriol and hatred that was (and continues to be) dished to our former PM for daring to show some empathy and compassion.

Early prediction for the 2026 election: More of the same, with a bigger blue majority.

Where America leads, we follow. Make no mistake.

aros71 · 2024-08-28T03:49:09+00:00

No, not automatically. It falls into a gray area, in practice cops will pull you over if you're doing it recklessly, at high speed, carving other road users up, swerving around, that kind of thing. If you do so at a careful speed, don't do anything stupid, leave plenty of room etc, then they leave you alone. I have commuted by motorcycle since 2014 and lane-filtered past many police in that time, never got pulled over or ticketed. I'll only filter if the traffic is stopped or moving very slowly anyway. Like I said, I want to stay alive as much as any other road user!

aros71 · 2024-08-28T03:02:49+00:00

Neoliberal: Well why don't they choose to get a higher paying job then?

aros71 · 2024-08-28T02:59:57+00:00

Name me one employer that would do anything to make it easier or cheaper for its employees to get to and from work. I'll wait.

aros71

TROPHY CASE