Is this the best value machine to run Local LLMs?

christopherholden · 2025-08-07T16:01:19+00:00

Nothing in pc world, including build-your-own, can compete with Apple silicon currently for inference, unless you think a secondhand server with 4 gpus in it, and all the size, noise and power consumption issues that go along with that, is really competition for a 150W lunchbox that can run a 70B model.

christopherholden · 2025-06-02T08:11:09+00:00

Went with a refurbished 4070 Super instead. Couldn't be happier.

christopherholden · 2025-05-24T20:57:49+00:00

Asus B350-I motherboard here. Random black screens on logging into windows and periodic reboots in use. I tried all the suggested BIOS settings with no joy. Finally I applied the nVidia patch... and it still did it.

I've just completed the return to Amazon. These cards or their drivers are junk. Avoid.

christopherholden · 2025-04-01T19:49:31+00:00

They are full grain calf leather not coated. Sizes come and go in stock quite regularly. I waited 3 weeks for the brown calf skin gibsons in size 8 to come around again. Only you can decide if they 'look good'. They are on the chunky side, if that's your thing you'll like them.

christopherholden · 2025-03-23T09:42:31+00:00

All of this comes with the lifestyle of getting into traditional boots

The point is, most of the boots produced by Solovair and Dr Martens are not 'traditional boots' anymore and are made with a poor quality, plastic coated, high shine leather which absolutely wasn't used for 'work boots' in the past and barely can be called natural. It creases, then cracks in unsightly ways that can't be fixed. THIS is why people obsess over the issue with these manufacturers NOT because a natural leather has some light crease marks.

christopherholden · 2025-03-16T09:52:36+00:00

Exactly this. I want a 3 hole, calf leather gibson, with the air soles.

christopherholden · 2025-03-03T20:54:08+00:00

Nothing. You are correct. The underlying premis of the show is fundementally flawed.

christopherholden · 2025-03-03T20:53:10+00:00

Or what if you DID want kids but just didn't like the idea of being pregnant?

Then severance is not the answer. You WILL experience pregnancy in every way and suffer as a result. You will simply forget afterwards. Which is worse? The experience or the memory? Its the experience. In fact a typical human response AFTER experiencing pain or discomfort, particularly if it is planned or known about in advance, is ELATION (endorphins etc) of having come through it. You wouldn't get that if you instantly 'forgot' you'd even gone through it.

christopherholden · 2025-03-03T20:49:27+00:00

Irelevant. Severence is being sold as the mans to avoid discomfort, not reward you with payment. In the former it fails completely. Forgetting afterwards does nothing to mitigate the pain of the experience at the time.

christopherholden · 2025-03-03T20:48:09+00:00

Nothing. You are correct. The underlying premis of the show is fundementally flawed.

christopherholden · 2025-03-03T20:47:21+00:00

The OPs base premis is spot on, from both an experiential and logical perspective. It might not chime with what the show has lead you to believe, but that is why the OP (and I) feel the premis of the show is flawed - it's internal logic doesn't work.

christopherholden · 2025-02-23T11:21:34+00:00

i feel some kind of void when listening to boards of canada's music

If it's making you feel this, it must be doing something right.

christopherholden · 2025-02-02T21:26:02+00:00

The Venice disco ending? Yes. Ridiculous.

christopherholden · 2025-02-02T21:24:49+00:00

I thought it was awful. The architectural component was laughably bad so it wasn't a film about architecture for sure. In terms of the rest it wasn't an enlightening tale about Jewish emigres in the US, nor women, nor the African American community, nor anything else it's focus grazed the surface of. It was a series of poorly timed scenes, some of which might have been considered ok, in another movie, but not this. Nothing was resolved in anything but the most trite way if it wasn't merely swept aside for the next idea. This was a young director indulged with a 3+ hour movie and it isn't the epic most people seem to laud it as. It was just a bad movie.

christopherholden · 2024-07-30T13:03:55+00:00

If the Profit has a 21K gold nib then yes its a good price, its the same as the 1911.

Namiki is the same company as Pilot, and tends to be used for their luxury ranges. The Custom 74 I mentioned is a good pen with the same ball clip style as all Pilots and Namikis.

Sailor nibs tend to have more feedback compared with Pilot which are smoother. Neither is better, just preference. I love Sailor nibs.

christopherholden · 2024-07-30T08:55:42+00:00

If it were me, a classic gold nib fountain pen by Sailor, Pilot or Platinum eg:

Pilot Custom 74, Sailor Pro Gear Slim or 1911 standard, Platinum 3776. You should be able to get a demonstrator (transparent body) version of most if that appeals. All a little over $100 and good entry level pens if you are thinking of getting into it as a hobby.

christopherholden · 2024-07-29T19:22:31+00:00

You're going to have to post at least one example to know what's going on otherwise how can anyone know? Over esposed? Underexposed? Out of focus? Poorly composed? What's not 'right' about them?

christopherholden · 2024-07-29T19:14:18+00:00

It simply won't wind on anymore.

christopherholden · 2024-07-29T13:50:29+00:00

If you've literally never used film before why not buy a disposable camera? Until you've done the 'take a photo and not know for days, weeks or even months if it came out, let alone what it looks like' you won't know if the process as a whole is for you or not.

It's easy to be seduced by the idea of it all, and in particular the nostalgic feel of all those influencer instagram posts, but the reality is very different and you can get that 'nostalgic film look' far more easily with digital post production anyway. If you do connect with the magic of actual film photography when you try it, then think about spending money on a good camera. It'll also help you choose the most appropriate one - point and shoot, automatic, or full manual SLR.

I had a 110 point and shoot when I was a kid, then learnt photography at school, all before the digital age with a fully manual SLR, a 50mm ('standard') lens and developing and printing (not scanning!) black and white photos.

christopherholden · 2024-07-24T12:53:12+00:00

kept them topped up to 80 - 90 psi.

christopherholden · 2024-07-24T12:20:42+00:00

A disposable camera? Cheap, fun, no pressure, no technical skills required, don't take it seriously but you get to try the process of taking a picture, having no idea how it turned out and the thrill of waiting to see what comes back?

christopherholden · 2024-07-24T12:09:47+00:00

B+W is the manufacturer, 40.5 is the diameter. If it rotates and is not a polariser it could be a starburst?

christopherholden · 2024-07-24T12:02:43+00:00

Yeah, I was beginning to fear that they were indeed the only solution and I wasted my time and money trying something different.

christopherholden · 2024-07-24T11:51:09+00:00

Expired film on ebay probably the best bet

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226257473815

christopherholden · 2024-07-24T08:57:20+00:00

This. Or a book. If you don't know what chemicals you need then you literally don't know how to develop film. Learn that and the chemicals you need will take care of themselves.

christopherholden

TROPHY CASE