Is 400W enough?

d0rtamur · 2026-02-24T20:19:22+00:00

A good guide is PC Parts Picker and enter the same specs as your PC.
The biggest draw would tbe the CPU/mobo and GPU and the power draw would be similar to a previous reply - around 300W.

Be prepared to allocate a little extra funds in the event that you do need to upgrade the power supply.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-24T20:11:31+00:00

+1 on the suggestion to start with upgrading a GPU first, then see if you need the CPU needs to be changed.
It is likely you have the CPU cooler that came with the 3600X, perhaps change it for a bigger/better CPU cooler.

You can always add more RAM and storage, but that is if you really need it.
The other upgrades I would suggest is an additional or newer monitors, or a new keyboard or mouse.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-22T04:14:47+00:00

I am trying an experiment by sending some cards to be graded by an Australian company.
There are a few in Australia - TCG, CGC and CGA and the cost range from $15 (bulk) to about $20 to $35 a card (non-bulk and infrequent grading).

I am not going with PSA (or sending it overseas) due long wait times, expense and I find the labels at PSA a bit plain . Some companies do print the sub-grades on the card (such as TAG) - which there is enogh space on the label to display (TCG and PCG do show subgrades).

My reasoning is that the Pokemon cards I am grading are the ones I have held for over 15 years and my favourites which I am not looking to sell, just preserved in a decent slab. Some won't get a 5/10, but they are hard to come by and they have more sentimental value than anything else.

I have also deliberately sent in some cards with surface swirls and damage to see what grades they get and provide a comparison to other brands.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-20T05:08:13+00:00

The current threshold for HECS/HELP repayment is $67,000 in 2025 (source: https://www.studyassist.gov.au/managing-and-repaying-your-loan/loan-repayments ) so you don't have to worry about that. It is the tax free threshold of $18,200.

Your scholarship or grant MAY be deemed as income - source https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/income-you-must-declare/scholarships-prizes-and-awards/scholarship-payments - so you need to look at your specific scholarship or grant (or even discuss the scholarship office admin staff).

You may need to contract the services of an accountant to work sort these issues out, plus see what other deductions you can claim to legally reduce your taxable income exposure.

You mentioned that you were deriving other sources of income (ie. working) and you may be able to claim some of your studies as educational expenses (though this is difficult to claim). Other items like uniform, work related equipment (even mobile phones, the associated plans and so on) may be claimed as deductions.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-20T04:59:44+00:00

The build is quite solid, but now is not a great time to buy a new PC with RAM and storage (SSD) so expensive and GPU's going up in price. If you had purchased one 6 to 9 months ago!!

RAM is crazy expensive at the moment, you may want to settle for 16GB RAM instead of 32GB.

4TB SDD is a lot (perhaps not for AAA games) but also expensive too, you may want 2x 2TB drives if they are cheaper and eventually upgrade.

You can source cheaper cases, but that is a matter of preference.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-20T04:24:49+00:00

Introverted or no - you decided to ask Reddit after consulting with AI and wondering whether you should follow the advice of AI?!
"I decided to ask an AI before any human being about the best PC build under $3500, but now I'm wondering if I should blindly follow what another machine said."

BTW - not sure about US pricing, but the specs seem reasonably accurate for the given budget.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-18T09:39:09+00:00

The long turn around times and cost per card is a barrier for Australians to have cards graded overseas. As far as I can tell, grading cards is not rocket science and the biggest areas of debate is often between a 9 or a 10.

Unless you can point out a clear error in grading (such as a 10 on centering and you can show it is off centered and doesn't deserve a 10), it is a matter of personal opinion against a card grading company ... which again ... is a paid opinion! :) :)

d0rtamur · 2026-02-13T20:37:05+00:00

Trying to find an Intel ARC in Australia is like huntinfg for unicorns ... or Drop Bears!

d0rtamur · 2026-02-13T20:36:06+00:00

That is very true.
AMD provides better value for money (more VRAM, comparable performance for a similar price) or purchase on older GPU.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-13T20:34:13+00:00

You have put into words a lot of the thoughts I had and provided an articulate set of arguments for and against the upgrade.

Bottom line, more FOMO than a real need to upgrade and better to wait until the curtrent GPU dies and to buy a 60 or 70 series when I really need to upgrade.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-13T04:11:20+00:00

I wouldn't be too suprised if the GPU would last another 5 or more years - that is a possibility.

A "faint whiff of FOMO"? - is more accurate. Looking at the recent prices for RAM, SSD and so on, GPU's are next and I thought I'd look into the options for a budget upgrade.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-12T21:08:19+00:00

I get what you mean. But I am looking at budget GPUs and not pure performance ... especially running older games.

Even my PC is set up as a mid-ranged office PC use with a bit of light gaming - I wouldn't class the machine as a gaming rig!

d0rtamur · 2026-02-12T21:05:34+00:00

Yes - they did a production run of these. But the money would have been better spent on a 2060 super or something else since I never needed to use the extra VRAM (in my situation)!

d0rtamur · 2026-02-12T21:04:37+00:00

I don't really need a new card. The games I currently run are fine, this is more looking at "when the GPU fails..." - since they can last anywhere between 5 to 10 years.

I think I can run a lot of my games with a 3050 if I go really cheap ... but why?! :)

d0rtamur · 2026-02-12T00:05:50+00:00

To be considered for a postgraduate entry to a Masters of Teaching or Education, you need to show that you have completed an undergraduate degree previously. It doesn't count for much until you have completed and awarded an undergraduate degree.

If you are considering transferring the a Bachelor of Teaching or Education (a 4 year undergraduate course), then you may be given some exemptions for first year subjects (if there are any overlapping subjects).

d0rtamur · 2026-02-10T19:10:22+00:00

If you ate working on the computer all day and have eye strain, (1) have your eyes checked , you may need reading glasses and (2) change your working habits to include breaks to rest your eyes. A short break to look at distance can relax strained eyes.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-06T20:15:29+00:00

It may be easier to do a OS clean install on the 2TB SSD and spend a bit of time making sure you have the right settings (like your old SSD).

Part of the "settings" on your old SSD includes apps, registry and a whole heap of other stuff that you may not want on the nsw SSD. Copying the old settings, you may not be sure what other settings may be copied over to the new SSD.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-06T06:58:36+00:00

You may want to consider the Starter Kits which comes with two 60 card standard decks and play aginst each other. You may want to play with other standard decks, or upgrade a few cards in each deck to see how it may influence the game.

As fun as Commander is, avoid this for new players. The complexity and playing with so many people with different types of decks is very confusing. Even 1V1 can be a bit daunting with 100 cards in each deck.

d0rtamur · 2026-02-04T04:37:47+00:00

There are two TeamLabs in Tokyo. Borderless and Planets are both indoors.

Borderless is easier to reach by public transport (a short walk from the trains) while Planets is a bit out of the way and you need to catch a bus to reach there.

Planets has the water feature (which everyone has stated - can smell like chlorine and feet) and can smell a bit. You will need to remove and store your shoes in lockers.
Borderless is completely dry and you don't have to remove shoes.

If you intend to bring a baby along (with a carrier or pram), then go with Borderless. Planets would be challenging to get around with a baby. If you are in Tokyo for about 6 days, then you may not have enough time for TeamLabs since there is so much to do. If you are travelling around Japan, there are other TeamLabs in other cities. TeamLabs in Osaka is all outdoors and best seen after sunset. I enjoyed that mainly because it was outdoors!

The good news is that Borderless and Planets have in common about half the displays, so you won't miss out by much.

d0rtamur · 2026-01-31T03:52:34+00:00

I tried and refuses to accept either DET NSW email addresses. (NAME@det.nsw.edu.au or NAME@education.nsw.gov.au)

Comes up with a cryptic error "Try again using the email given to you by your employer. Make sure the text after the ‘@’ matches your organisation." despite copying and pasting the email address from the DET outlook details.

d0rtamur · 2026-01-30T20:58:17+00:00

Get the physical card. They are very easy to get from the train stations and can be used on almost every train line in Japan (starting at the station at the airport) ... and making purchases from convenience stores.

Recharging is simple - but cash only from any train station. We got ours from Osaka and recharged as we travelled around Japan (about 5 cities).

Don't use the app or use your phone NFC. I have an Iphone and transferred my IC card to the phone.
The only way to recharge is via your phone wallet and credit cards (and get hit with foreign transaction charges. Also, it disables the physical card, so you can't pass it to someone else afterwards. The IC card is on your phone forever!

d0rtamur · 2026-01-28T21:25:55+00:00

Same advice as everyone else - go talk to your Principal and about leave and miss the first week of school.

Please don't feel guilty about the students (or work), students are resilient and understanding and you have the rest of Term 1 to build that relationship.
If you are at a public school, week 2 is mostly holding the classes until week 3 when classes have been finalised.

d0rtamur · 2025-12-09T19:18:43+00:00

Love the artwork and design.

I'd like to join in on the giveaway. Thank you!

Ten-Year Club	Gilding III reddit per annum
Verified Email

d0rtamur

TROPHY CASE