Tech Corner

[Pol]

Yes, getting a GPU now is a costy idea. Ironically, the best choice now, however lacking the horses, is to get APU - CPU with integrated GPU, best if from AMD.

We may prepare our self, for at least one more year, when it won't change.

[Pol]

New line of Moto phones (Motorola by Lenovo) was released, see their spec. here.

Moto G6 is having the newest chip, despite being choosen from the low range, supporting fast charging and USB-C, ..among any other features, in fact not mentioned in the article.

[mr.hackcrag]

What phone do you like most Pol?

[Pol]

Not yet decided, first I need to get them in hand - I cannot judge phones afar. Anyway I like that new Snapdragon 450 - as affordable and very usable solution, as well as older Snapdragon 625 which is now often being discounted - like for Motorola Moto G5 Plus.

Anyway max size for me is 5.2", others are usually too big to fit.

[Pol]

Microsoft bought Github -- Symanted root CA is out and you need to replace it with DigiCert root CA, that also includes old certificates from GeoTrust, Thawte and RapidSSL -- Steam fixed 10yrs old bug in Steam Client -- Facebook shared your data with Phone Makers without your consent. The previous mistake in their "on-device data sharing" program was a bit worse.

[mr.hackcrag]

Pol, what is your take on the "Pinnacle Ridge" AMD processor?

http://www.microcenter.com/site/product ... ndles.aspx

Bahaha, just checked the I9 processor and motherboard bundle; $2,000 USD.

[Pol]

@mr.hackcrag

Just the best!

Especially "AMD Ryzen 7 2700X" sounds great price/performance as i7 alternative.

[mr.hackcrag]

The RX 580 prices have come down a little (about $300) after that price hike because of the miners, but memory RAM prices have sky rocketed. The cheapest 16GB (2 8GB) costs about $160. It used to be half that price.

[Pol]

True, true. Even waiting a bit longer may not fix that. Same patter like with HDDs. God only know if it's a clever excuse or it would happen anyway. But certain part would be be always just the first, all for the top 1%.

[mr.hackcrag]

Any problems a 40 inch (100 cm) monitor might present for general computer use? It is curved if that makes any difference.

[Pol]

If you have an appropriate big table and don't do DTP, then no. Eyes usually get used to it.

[mr.hackcrag]

I'm thinking about getting this monitor for about $300 which I think is a low price, but maybe that price is too good to be true. Is it outdated or have any problems/limitations? I'm not sure what features for a monitor I should prioritize?

http://www.microcenter.com/product/4841 ... ED_Monitor


This is the current monitor I have (it's old like me):

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/au ... ,3465.html

[Pol]

Probably because of manufacturer and simplicity - this is a quite basic monitor. AOC and BenQ were always cheap, in past they used older technologies but today they don't. That last comment is interesting:

This display has the potential to look far better than it does on most sales floors. Do this:
- Connect to your PC using DisplayPort.
- Install the display driver from the AOC website (this contains the color profile).
- Set your GPU to output 10-bit color.
- Turn the brightness on the display up. This will make that amazing VA contrast ratio super effective.
With these things done, the display looks incredible - deep blacks, rich color, and full Adobe sRGB color space. This display is calibrated from the factory.

Pluses:
* 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x D-Sub(VGA), 4x USB - with one more enpowered.
* 10bits MVA 3840x2160

Minuses:
* 85% NTSC Color Space
* base don't support pivot, or change of height, can only tilt from -5 to +13,5°
* No HDR
* No FreeSync or G-Sync

So I would say that for basic use it's ok. HDR is probably not necessary for you, but FreeSync and better Color Space range could be handy, undeniably the second would certainly make it more costly.

[mr.hackcrag]

So it sounds like it would not be good for gaming because it doesn't have free-sync and it might not be good for the long-term because it doesn't have HDR (unless unlikely scenario it gets added with firmware update?) That's a shame.

Any large sized white/silver monitors you recommend?

[Pol]

Ah, I seen your old,that was very nice IPS. But mine old favourite was too. Too bad that my "backup" monitor isn't.

Sure no, max brightness is 300 cd/m2.

No, I'm not sure if HDR is needed - that really depends on your demands. A very similar monitor to this one is Dell U3415W. Which is smaller, have better matrix and still bear no HDR or FreeSync Support. However have also a better base.

This LG 34UM69G-B is having FreeSync and it's clearly a gaming monitor. But it's having less colors, just 6bits vs your 10bits. And still no HDR.

So, if you are looking for price too, there's no easy choice. Although with shelling out more money you will get one featuring HDR, FreeSync, UHD, Curved, 10bits and 38" at least. But I think that price will be almost twice.

Myself I would recommend that Dell U3415W. For it's stable and well but no HDR or FreeSync either.

[mr.hackcrag]

Is panel type important consideration? I've read that overall advantages of IPS make it better than VA, but the main difference is IPS has better color accuracy while VA has better contrast. The monitor I was looking at had MVA panel.

It also appears to be a replica of this Philips monitor:

https://www.displayspecifications.com/e ... /c3a919488

Any new technology that is worth waiting to buy in future?

[Pol]

The colors are different, if you have good eyes, you see it.

Replica? But the AOC one is a better from them

IPS have better color gamut, P/M-VA have better response time, whereas still a good colors, just not as much as IPS. And there are other types as well, just TN have worst colors but best response time. This perhaps could help you:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/selector.htm

Although it can be a bit outdated.

Nope, I don't know about any. FreeSync is already here, then good colors, and I think that true HDR is not necessary and good pivot makes live much easier. Some anti-lag or other pixels enhancing technology is always handy.

Depends on what do you want the original AOC is a good choice, and that DELL is a bit better.

This one
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/samsung_c32hg70.htm

have it all but it's slightly smaller. Haven't time to check its specification completely, so you should.

[mr.hackcrag]

I've decided not to get AOC one.

The Samsung you listed is about $600. Not too bad.

The following Samsung is about $900. Does it have your stamp of approval?

http://www.microcenter.com/product/4807 ... ED_Monitor

Cheaper one:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... 6824011158

[Pol]

Oh, my. You will need a huge table for it. I mean, you should calculate its price with it. As it's a bigger brother it should be ok. The only thing which strike my eyes is optimal temperature range, seems that someone is trying to take a cover in Apple style

Anyway even for his smaller and better manageable sibling, which I linked, people sometime complain that's too hot.

As for that Acer, that's no so much shining but still good, err, very good considering the price. Just the HDR Ready is not much, HDR is having several parts, not every monitor supports all of them.

Well, I cannot give it my stamp of approval, if I haven't it on my table, so ..no.

[mr.hackcrag]

Well, I cannot give it my stamp of approval, if I haven't it on my table, so ..no.

I guess that means I will have to buy it for you so you can review it for me.

Okay, I will choose one of those two monitors and here is the PC I'm building:

CPU

http://www.microcenter.com/product/5056 ... ism_Cooler

GPU

http://www.microcenter.com/product/4787 ... Video_Card

RAM

http://www.microcenter.com/product/5074 ... Memory_Kit

I'm keeping my old PSU, SSD, HD.

The only thing I need help selecting is a motherboard because I don't understand that subject too much. Can you help? Any selection I made that are not optimal?