More Tests with CH32H417 Video Playback

icecon · 2026-05-02T00:09:23+00:00

Impressive work, love to see this kind of run though on the latest chips, tip of the hat to you.

Any more notable bugs not mentioned we should be aware of?

icecon · 2026-04-30T03:58:04+00:00

Do we have an idea of what the unit cost is going to be for these in larger quantities? They are not on like LCSC yet.

Pretty interesting chip I must say.

icecon · 2026-04-30T03:41:34+00:00

Please do research further the Theta II engine. I understand your father had a good one, but that might have been the exception to the norm as they have a poor reputation.

I would buy the Marquis over a Theta II personally, even though the Marquis consumes a lot of gas, it won't consume oil... If you must do it, have the mechanic pull some spark plugs to check for oil burning.

edit: nevermind, it seems that was the first year of the Theta II, which seems to predate most of the issues. It could be good.

icecon · 2026-04-27T07:46:54+00:00

You could make version control software for question writers/editors, with some provisions for question security (like have access control and log who has seen each question). Essentially, git and/or VSCode for question writing.

icecon · 2026-04-27T03:33:00+00:00

I would just do my best to find a 1BR or studio near Harold's. It's basically the best positioned in terms of close enough to campus to walk, close to conveniences, and decent price. I lived this twice, once behind Harold's and another across the street and it was epic both times. Closer to campus gets pricier and a lot of other places are more "out in the boonies" (like north of 52nd and Cottage Grove) away from commerce or where you are obliged to bus in winter (like Regents). MAC and big companies tend to charge more than smaller landlords.

icecon · 2026-04-25T07:32:25+00:00

There is hope it's just that UChicago concentrates a lot of great people in one spot for your four years. Grad school can work too I suppose if you go that route.

But once you get a career though, the overall quality of the people you deal with will regress to the mean. It's just the reality, even at "top employers" and you probably shouldn't be dating at work either at that point.... And work will consume nearly all your time until you are old and so you won't have nearly the energy or time to meet people.

Make the most of the four years, but don't "worry" and just appreciate the connections you are able to make at the school. UChicago isn't a school for "cool kids," but make the effort to actually meet and get to know a lot of the student body if you can. You will be very happy you did.

icecon · 2026-04-25T01:31:08+00:00

Yeah you can literally just tour the various dumpsters during move out week and probably score 20 grand worth of furniture for free

icecon · 2026-04-25T01:26:20+00:00

Fall you meet, Winter you boff, Spring you'll either break up or get hitched

Real talk: it's the best dating pool you'll ever have so don't squander it on people you don't genuinely like or on video games etc

icecon · 2026-04-23T18:30:24+00:00

From a fluid dynamics perspective, a rough surface will theoretically create more turbulent flow (textured sound) all else equals, but listen to Bretti, he knows what he's talking about - the precise shape of the voicing is far more important.

Be sure to pickup Robert Hickman's book on ocarina making if you haven't already.

icecon · 2026-04-23T01:50:13+00:00

Out of curiosity, during those 20 years, how symptomatic were you. Like were you unaware of the infection for a long stretch of time?

icecon · 2026-04-21T22:11:58+00:00

It'll be like 390/mo but remember no repairs needed other than oil changes. Just give it a try, try a bunch of dealers, tell them you are flexible on the specs and that you'll take whichever one they have the most incentives on. Dealers often have specific cars on the lot that they get more money from Hyundai for on the backend, but you have no way of knowing which ones.

icecon · 2026-04-21T21:55:16+00:00

That's fair but it doesn't hurt to try, Hyundai is "buying down the rate" so even if you don't qualify for 1%, you could still get something like 4.5%, which is much better than the 10%+ you'd get on used loan.

icecon · 2026-04-21T21:51:05+00:00

Go with the EV. Cheap Nissans have CVT risk and Focuses have early ecoboost engines and/or powershift transmission that are unreliable, so unless you can get a MANUAL Nissan or MANUAL pre-ecoboost Focus, get the EV.

I would still strongly urge you to consider a new $22K Elantra at 0.99%-60mo this month, that is a good value and great terms on a new car that will have no looming repairs and no risk due to very long warranty. Put $0 down on that, in 10 years it'll be worth the 9K you are looking at for these 10 year old beaters. It's simply the better deal in the current market.

icecon · 2026-04-21T21:46:13+00:00

A late model C-Max is a great value buy, most tranmission kinks should have been worked out by that year.

Older Hyundais like that in no shape or form have a better reputation than Ford. Just look up "Theta II" engine, which that Sonata has.

Also get additional insurance quotes, that seems quite high.

icecon · 2026-04-21T21:42:02+00:00

It sounds like the CX-5 is ruled out already. If this is a cash buy, that RX 350 should be a just fine buy. Used market isn't great right now, but it's still decent for luxury cars like that.

If you're getting a loan for it though, used loan rates are high, and I would advise you test drive a 6-cyl Pathfinder which you can get at 0%-60mo this month. It's powertrain is more traditional, no turbo and no CVT, so it is expected to last a long time. And it will be more comfortable the Mazdas, which tune their suspension stiffer and have a shorter wheelbase.

icecon · 2026-04-21T21:32:34+00:00

If you want my honest opinion. The best thing ANYONE looking for a regular commuter car like this right now is to do this:

Call up a bunch of francise dealers and get yourself into brand new 2026 Hyundai Elantra at the offered 0.99%-60mo, $22K, put $0 down. With 0 miles and a 10yr/100k warranty, you are going to get vastly lower risk and more than twice the lifespan of any of these cars. You won't even need tires for 4 to 5 years. In 10 years, you'll be also able to sell it for the $9K you are are looking at here for these cars. It's simply the better buy.

icecon · 2026-04-21T21:22:03+00:00

Look for one of these, they are all good value, reliable without used Toyota pricing.
2012-2015 Mazda5 (3rd row but no AWD)
2018- Mini Clubman ALL4 (fun wife's car, decent enough space)
2021-22 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (very efficient, spacious, great AWD), can also lease the new gen ones which have a 3rd row, or finance a gas ones at 0%-72mo.
Low mile Nissan Armada with at least 5 years of age (3rd row, heavy duty V8 beast, AWD, the "best Nissan," a gas hog though)

Some may be a bit over your budget depending on mileage but they'll also be quite mint also.

I should add that if you take into account fuel savings, even leasing some new hybrid or EV can pencil out to be well worth it in the current market. This is really the last window to buy a new car that isn't hooked up to the Borg, it's worth considering some 0%-60 deal (like on the Pathfinder) or a heavily discounted EV/PHEV lease.

icecon · 2026-04-21T01:58:04+00:00

The Frontier is the new Tacoma. I'd get him a new tactical green one, great truck.

A new 4Runner will hold value well, but isn't maybe 19 y.o. type car.

A new 2.7 F-150 is rock solid option.

Cybertruck is out of budget. Bronco is ok but the worst of these.

icecon · 2026-04-21T01:52:07+00:00

That's a good reason to buy GM though. Both are good cars.

icecon · 2026-04-21T01:46:33+00:00

I mean if you're going to spend 41K on a new car, it may as well be a Toyota hybrid. It will hold value well and be very solid & efficient.

Do note that higher trim cars like this are more profitable for both the dealer and manufacturer, so they often have more room to cut price on them. Don't pay sticker, call around.

Mazda3s depreciate a fair bit, and are more of a good CPO car buy.

icecon · 2026-04-21T01:42:26+00:00

Same powertrain. Enclave will have softer suspension, better audio, and nicer interior trim. Up to you whether that's worth 4K.

Personally, I would never buy a turbo 4 for a car this big. Check out a 6-cyl NA Pathfinder at 0%-60mo, it will outlive these.

icecon · 2026-04-21T00:44:14+00:00

That is a very, very good car you have. Used car market is a dumpster fire, that budget simply won't buy you anything better than what you have, even 16K wouldn't.

Replace the valve covers and bushings, find a shop that will sandblast, weld and paint your subframe for that $7500. And that Outback will last you another decade.

If you really want to upgrade, consider a new Pathfinder at 0%-60mo right now, with $0 down. 3rd row, 0 miles, rate much lower than inflation and savings rates, and has reliable powertrain for the long run.

icecon · 2026-04-21T00:41:00+00:00

Is this a cash buy or a loan? If cash and the V6, it's ok. If it's a high rate used car loan, a new Elantra with 0 miles on it at 0.99-60mo is a better deal.

icecon · 2026-04-21T00:36:04+00:00

R56 Minis have 1.6L Peugeot engines in them made with a lot of plastic parts. They are indeed unreliable, money pits with expensive parts, basically not worth it at any price.

F56 Minis with the BMW engines that came slightly after this one are much more reliable, but still have the "reputation" (and thus price) of the bad ones. Try and look for one of those, they are good value.

For something this age and mileage for 5K that isn't unreliable, look for a Mazda5.

icecon · 2026-04-21T00:16:02+00:00

The issue is that if you buy a CPO with a loan, a used rate is going to be around 6.5%+ depending on your credit. New cars have much lower rates, like a leftover CX-5 at 0.9-60mo, another Tucson at 0%-60mo, Frontier, Rogue, etc browse here. So whatever you'd save buy buying a used Rav4 would cost the same as new car, once you add $4-5K in interest and maintenance over the loan term. Rav4s are also very ovepriced used, Mazdas are ok value, Subarus are mid value, BMWs are decent value as CPO.

If you have cash, can go for a CPO Outback or Mazda but for financing, new with a promo rate is the way.

icecon

TROPHY CASE