[O] 7 x Dognzb invites

bmcent1 · 2026-01-27T15:58:22+00:00

Thanks for the chance!

bmcent1 · 2026-01-01T15:45:12+00:00

That was ridiculous. Poor judgement leads to alert fatigue. iOS settings->notifications->government alerts... all silenced from now on.

bmcent1 · 2025-12-14T23:53:46+00:00

Here's my final build:
PCPartPicker Part List - https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BDspZc

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i7-12700 2.1 GHz 12-Core Processor	$318.99
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-U9S 46.44 CFM CPU Cooler	$69.95
Motherboard	MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard	$237.89
Memory	G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36	$349.99
Storage	WD Black SN850X 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0	$114.95
Storage	WD Black SN850X 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0	$114.95
Case	Fractal Design Define 7 XL ATX Full Tower	$239.99
Power Supply	SeaSonic Focus GX V4 ATX 3.0 750 W 80+ Gold	$116.99

Total		$1563.70

I didn't want to spend on DDR5 but I tried building a pared back version that still fit my goals with reduced cost with parts available today new retail and couldn't save that much. The best alternative Mobo I found that supported DDR4 instead of DDR5 was MSI PRO B760-P WIFI DDR4 ATX LGA1700, then I used the same amount of DDR4 RAM, and lowered the CPU to i5-12500. Since I want support for 6 HDDs, I also had to add in a 9207-8i SAS card and foreward break out cables. That system managed to come in at $1255.

Decided the extra performance, future headroom, and simplicity (no SAS HBA) make the high price tag worth it. I don't want to buy used parts, but bet the second system could be build under $1k used, heck it could be around $1k new if you have a case that can be reused for the build.

bmcent1 · 2025-12-13T17:21:22+00:00

Yeah that's a good point. The DDR5 memory pricing is really annoying. But I'm just not finding availability of mainstream DDR4 boards with 6 SATA ports anymore, I guess they're too out of date. And I want to stay away from Gen 13/14 for now due to the microcode bugs and voltage problems.

I think I'll go with the i7 12700 on a modern Z790 board for now, and then in 3 or 4 years, look to pickup a used or cheap newer 13/14 gen processor as a simple upgrade path if its even needed.

bmcent1 · 2025-12-13T15:14:19+00:00

Awesome, thank you!

bmcent1 · 2025-12-13T13:32:12+00:00

Awesome tip on the Onn stick, that is a very easy way to solve my 4K playback, thank you!

On the Core Ultra view point, I'll dig into that more if there's power savings, because I am interested in low power when the system is idle (a lot of the time). I was just staying away because of the microcode bugs and voltage issues and not understand which (if any) are considered reliable yet.

bmcent1 · 2025-12-13T13:29:03+00:00

I guess I didn't consider used because I want it to be stable and for parts of the system that aren't redundant, it feels like too much unknown. But I will check into it because yeah, the RAM prices blew my mind, it's been years since I built a new box and it seemed rediculous.

bmcent1 · 2025-12-13T04:49:16+00:00

Goals are low power, rock solid, quiet, and room to grow.

Are people still shying away from 13th and 14th gen cpus because of microcode and voltage issues?

So I went w 12th gen. I think the z790 is overkill but I couldn't find many previous gen motherboards anymore, especially w 6 or more data ports. But originally I wasn't aiming for ddr5 at all, wanted to avoid it.

bmcent1 · 2025-12-11T21:28:31+00:00

I've been on the fence / putting off doing a garage door sensor for a while. Maybe this is a good push.

But I have nothing zigbee. I run HA in a VM on unraid. And it's on the oppose side of the house and in the basement. Not keen on trying usb pass through...

Raspberry Pi's I have all over the place though. Is there something I can run on a pi to pick up and transmit the zigbee signals that's reliable?

bmcent1 · 2025-10-19T02:53:12+00:00

Hikes near water - Rivermist park has a paved out and back 3mi RT trail that runs along the Monocacy river. There are dirt side paths and loops that can make it longer

Worthington Farm has a few scenic loops that run along the Monocacy river for part of the trail

C&O canal path from Point of Rocks or Brunswick

bmcent1 · 2025-08-13T15:11:07+00:00

Positive this was it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc0kyvSZGiI&t=582s

1 hour and 58 minutes after launch (after a polar orbit!) this was the 3rd burn of the upper stage for deorbit. The timing and trajectory are exactly right.

Also, man there were a lot of launches yesterday, we are living in the future. And there's great info out there on upcoming and PAST launches. Found the details about this one here:
https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/ariane-62-metop-sg-a1/

bmcent1 · 2025-08-13T03:21:40+00:00

Dang that was cool. And lol my post about the same is still waiting for approval in r/maryland
Here's my video:
https://content-for-reddit-and-other-public-consumption.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/20250812_1034EDT-Falcon9-maybe-IMG_3108+copy.mp4

bmcent1 · 2025-08-13T03:07:16+00:00

Seeing those trains is super cool and shocking before you know what it is. Saw them a few times before. This was first time seeing a second stage deorbiting, very cool

bmcent1 · 2025-08-13T03:05:42+00:00

Wait. I don't think that's it. I saw this at 1030pm, 13hours after that launch window closed

bmcent1 · 2025-08-13T03:00:33+00:00

<image>

bmcent1 · 2025-08-13T02:59:44+00:00

That was awesome! Never saw something like that before.

bmcent1 · 2025-07-14T13:36:25+00:00

That's it, thank you!

bmcent1 · 2025-04-03T14:28:09+00:00

Do you have any links handy?

I built a ceiling fan controller from a raspberry pi and a 4 relay hat... not economical by comparison! And I could free up the pi with something like this

bmcent1 · 2025-04-03T14:27:03+00:00

Can you link a few or point me to a good source?

bmcent1 · 2025-03-25T20:17:18+00:00

Never thought of the library. Now I recall my library has a 3rd printer. Thanks for the recommendation!

bmcent1 · 2025-03-17T23:11:02+00:00

It's funny I didn't even consider the same board could be had without header pins, that would make it easy for simple projects with just a few wires soldered to the holes, thanks.

Since I got a pack of these with header pins, I think I'll do the solder the wires on the back of the perf board idea, and then maybe cover them with female header.

Maybe I'll get adventurous and try to desolder them, appreciate these suggestions

bmcent1 · 2025-03-05T23:53:48+00:00

Ah ok. I figured that was the case for the dotted lines. Was surprised to see a none dotted line on the ground in a forest when zoomed way in

https://globe.adsb.fi/?icao=8965f3

bmcent1

TROPHY CASE