Silicon Investor - Computer Building

[Don Green] Memory Loss [X] Goldman: "Structural Supply Crunch" In Memory To Squeeze PC Su...

Don Green — 3/10/2026 11:07:19 AM

Memory Loss

[X]

Goldman: "Structural Supply Crunch" In Memory To Squeeze PC Supply https://t.co/VsAc4rvyYj
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 10, 2026

[/X]

[Don Green] I don’t need much processing power from my tablet—just convenience. I still use ...

Don Green — 3/8/2026 11:20:13 AM

I don’t need much processing power from my tablet—just convenience. I still use Windows regularly for a few programs I’ve built, but they don’t require heavy CPU usage, so access to Windows is important. I have an older MBP and owned a Mac Pro back in the 2012–13 timeframe, and while I love macOS, I’ve been a Windows user since version 1.04.

Grok:
Overview The latest iPad Pro (13-inch model with M5 chip, introduced in 2025) and the newest Microsoft Surface Pro (13-inch 11th Edition with Snapdragon X processors, updated in 2025) are both premium 2-in-1 devices designed for productivity, creativity, and portability. The iPad Pro emphasizes a sleek, tablet-first experience with Apple's ecosystem, while the Surface Pro leans into full Windows versatility as a laptop replacement. Note that the iPad Pro doesn't have an exact 12-inch variant—the 13-inch is the closest larger model (previously marketed as 12.9-inch). I'll compare the 13-inch versions for fairness, as the Surface Pro also offers a 12-inch option that's more budget-oriented with scaled-down specs.Both devices feature high-end OLED display options, powerful Arm-based chips for efficiency and AI tasks, and support for stylus input. However, the iPad Pro excels in build quality and display vibrancy, while the Surface Pro offers superior software flexibility. Prices start around $1,299 for the iPad Pro and $1,199 for the Surface Pro (base configurations), though accessories like keyboards add to the cost.OverviewThe latest iPad Pro (13-inch model with M5 chip, introduced in 2025) and the newest Microsoft Surface Pro (13-inch 11th Edition with Snapdragon X processors, updated in 2025) are both premium 2-in-1 devices designed for productivity, creativity, and portability. The iPad Pro emphasizes a sleek, tablet-first experience with Apple's ecosystem, while the Surface Pro leans into full Windows versatility as a laptop replacement. Note that the iPad Pro doesn't have an exact 12-inch variant—the 13-inch is the closest larger model (previously marketed as 12.9-inch). I'll compare the 13-inch versions for fairness, as the Surface Pro also offers a 12-inch option that's more budget-oriented with scaled-down specs (e.g., 90Hz LCD display, 8-core processor).Both devices feature high-end OLED display options, powerful Arm-based chips for efficiency and AI tasks, and support for stylus input. However, the iPad Pro excels in build quality and display vibrancy, while the Surface Pro offers superior software flexibility. Prices start around $1,299 for the iPad Pro and $1,199 for the Surface Pro (base configurations), though accessories like keyboards add to the cost.

theverge.com

grok:render type="render_searched_image"> <argument name="image_id">1</argument><argument name="size">"LARGE"</argument></grok:render>Key Specifications Comparison

Category

iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, 2025)

Surface Pro 13-inch (11th Ed, 2025)

Display	13-inch Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED, 2752x2064 resolution (264 ppi), 10-120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh, P3 wide color, True Tone, nano-texture glass option, up to 1600 nits HDR brightness. support.apple.com	13-inch PixelSense Flow, 2880x1920 resolution (267 ppi), optional OLED, dynamic 120Hz refresh, sRGB/Enhanced color profiles, up to 600 nits brightness (SDR), anti-reflective coating. microsoft.com
Processor	Apple M5 chip: 9-10 core CPU (3-4 performance + 6 efficiency cores), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine for AI tasks. support.apple.com	Snapdragon X Plus (10-core) or X Elite (12-core), Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (45 TOPS for AI), Adreno GPU. microsoft.com
Memory & Storage	12-16GB unified RAM, 256GB-2TB storage. support.apple.com	16-32GB LPDDR5x RAM, 256GB-1TB removable SSD. microsoft.com
Dimensions & Weight	11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inches (281.6 x 215.5 x 5.1 mm), 1.28 lbs (579g) Wi-Fi model—Apple's thinnest product ever. support.apple.com	Approx. 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches (287 x 208 x 9.3 mm), 1.96 lbs (895g)—includes built-in kickstand. microsoft.com
Battery Life	Up to 10 hours web browsing/video playback (38.99 Wh battery). en.wikipedia.org	Up to 14 hours video playback, 10 hours web usage. en.wikipedia.org
Cameras	12MP wide rear (ƒ/1.8, 5x digital zoom), 12MP ultra-wide front (landscape orientation). support.apple.com	10MP rear, 1080p front with Windows Hello facial recognition. wired.com
Ports & Connectivity	Thunderbolt/USB 4 port (supports charging, DisplayPort, data up to 40Gb/s), Wi-Fi 6E, optional 5G. en.wikipedia.org	2x USB-C 4.0 (supports charging, DisplayPort, up to two 4K monitors), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, optional 5G. wired.com
OS & Software	iPadOS 26—optimized for touch, Apple Intelligence AI features, but limited multitasking compared to desktop OS. en.wikipedia.org	Windows 11—full desktop apps, Copilot+ AI features, better for legacy software but potential Arm compatibility issues. me.pcmag.com
Accessories	Apple Pencil Pro (hover, haptic feedback), Magic Keyboard (sold separately). support.apple.com	Surface Pen, Surface Pro Flex Keyboard (sold separately, detachable with haptic touchpad). microsoft.com
Starting Price	$1,299 (256GB, Wi-Fi). macrumors.com	$1,199 (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, X Plus LCD). microsoft.com

Strengths and LimitationsDisplay

iPad Pro Strengths: The tandem OLED panel delivers superior contrast, color accuracy (P3 gamut), and brightness, making it ideal for creative work like photo/video editing or HDR content. ProMotion's adaptive refresh ensures smooth scrolling without draining battery excessively.

support.apple.com

The nano-texture option reduces glare for outdoor use.
iPad Pro Limitations: Slightly lower ppi than the Surface, and the aspect ratio (4:3) is better for reading but less optimal for widescreen video.
Surface Pro Strengths: Higher resolution and ppi for sharper text, with a 3:2 aspect ratio that's great for productivity (e.g., documents, web browsing). The optional OLED matches the iPad's contrast, and 120Hz refresh is fluid for gaming or animations.

microsoft.com
Surface Pro Limitations: Base LCD model has lower brightness and contrast than OLED; overall, it doesn't reach the iPad's peak HDR nits, which could matter for professional media work.

Performance and Software

iPad Pro Strengths: The M5 chip provides exceptional single-core performance for tasks like 4K video editing in Final Cut Pro or AI-enhanced apps via Apple Intelligence. It's highly efficient, running cool and quiet.

macrumors.com
iPad Pro Limitations: iPadOS restricts it to mobile-style apps and limited window management, making it less suitable for complex workflows like coding or running virtual machines.
Surface Pro Strengths: Full Windows 11 supports desktop software (e.g., Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office with legacy features), multi-monitor setups, and better multitasking. The Snapdragon X chips handle AI tasks via Copilot+ efficiently, with good compatibility for most apps.

microsoft.com
Surface Pro Limitations: Arm architecture may cause emulation overhead for some x86 apps, leading to occasional performance hits or incompatibility. It's not as optimized for touch-only use as iPadOS.

Design, Battery, and Portability

iPad Pro Strengths: Incredibly thin and light, making it more portable as a pure tablet. Premium build with recycled aluminum feels premium.

macrumors.com
iPad Pro Limitations: No built-in kickstand, so it relies on cases; battery life is solid but trails the Surface in video playback.
Surface Pro Strengths: Built-in kickstand for hands-free viewing, longer battery for all-day use, and expandable storage. It's more durable for business environments.

en.wikipedia.org
Surface Pro Limitations: Thicker and heavier, which reduces comfort for extended handheld use; keyboard is an extra purchase, increasing total cost.

Final ThoughtsThe iPad Pro 13-inch shines for artists, media creators, and users deep in Apple's ecosystem, where its superior display and build make it a standout tablet. However, if you need a true laptop replacement with full desktop software and better productivity tools, the Surface Pro 13-inch edges it out despite being bulkier. Choose based on your OS preference—iPadOS for simplicity and touch optimization, Windows for versatility. For budget-conscious buyers, the Surface Pro's 12-inch variant offers similar features at a lower price (~$650 starting) but with compromises like a smaller 90Hz LCD screen.

cnet.com

If you're undecided, consider testing both for software feel, as that's often the deciding factor.

[nicewatch] You'd be amazed by the horsepower on the newer pro ipads, i know i was and gifte...

nicewatch — 3/8/2026 10:58:14 AM

You'd be amazed by the horsepower on the newer pro ipads, i know i was and gifted one away. But not being an apple guy.

Perhaps an iPad pro upgrade is your next best move if you shop right. :-) Me too.

[Don Green] I actually use my first-generation iPad Pro 12" more than my computer. If I were...

Don Green — 3/8/2026 10:48:49 AM

I actually use my first-generation iPad Pro 12" more than my computer. If I were to buy another computer for myself, I’d choose one that can do almost everything the iPad can, plus it runs Windows, which I still use regularly. It’s also a touchscreen, so I could use it as a book reader and browser.

Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1 Laptop/Tablet (2025), Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, 12" Touchscreen Display, Snapdragon X Plus (8 Core), 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage

amazon.com

[nicewatch] Congratulations. I recall your intent was for a new FSX box and its demanding sp...

nicewatch — 3/8/2026 10:13:02 AM

Congratulations. I recall your intent was for a new FSX box and its demanding specs. You should rest easy with your rig, your son did well. :-)

My stepdad is an instrument rated private pilot and had the old FSX but moved onto another program, I think it is X-plane 11. For him I think a lot of the switch had to do with maps, etc.

The box I built for my for my stepdad is almost a decade old and still works well. You'd laugh at the specs now but made sure it was lean and mean with 64GB of RAM, haha. His next rig may be his last and my advice is always the same... I'm ready whenever you are, let's go! :-) Worth noting my last build for him saved him upwards of a grand then and so much more over lifetime costs.

Only question is a mini-PC or mini-ITX of which I have inventory versus a refurbished deal which the last was with some off-lease workstations that are built like tanks. 64GB x 4 = 256GB. Seems like a high protocol for an old fart? :-)

[Don Green] A few years ago, my son wanted to buy me a new computer for my birthday, and con...

Don Green — 3/8/2026 9:02:02 AM

A few years ago, my son wanted to buy me a new computer for my birthday, and considering my age, I decided to build one that would outlast me in capability. I researched pricing and builders and bought what I felt was ideal—more RAM than I’d ever need, a GPU that was more commercial-grade than gaming, and a fast CPU. I’m very happy with it and have never come close to maxing out my memory. As an AI enthusiast, I work with various AI engines and also enjoy flying around the world using MS Flight Sim 2024. I have two 25-inch vertical displays flanking my 43-inch Samsung main screen. I have no complaints and am very thankful for my son’s gift. I expect that in the next two years, a fully AI-based Windows replacement OS will emerge, which could really impact Microsoft, and I’m ready for it. Most likely from Gemini,

[nicewatch] PC processors entered the Gigahertz era today in the year 2000 with AMD's Athlon...

nicewatch — 3/8/2026 3:17:40 AM

PC processors entered the Gigahertz era today in the year 2000 with AMD's Athlon — AMD hit marketing gold with its 1 GHz Athlon, beat Intel by a nose

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] That's funny. Your build sheet is fit for someone paying with a corporate card s...

nicewatch — 3/8/2026 1:30:53 AM

That's funny. Your build sheet is fit for someone paying with a corporate card spending OPM and not a care in the world! :-) Almost always a bad idea to pay for laptop GPU upgrades from builder, ime, just buy the best deal at the time unless must need because there are always tradeoffs in laptop GPUs anyway.

I always upgrade RAM and SSD/HDD on my own in any desktop, laptop, and mini-PC. It may not save as much money as it used to in this crazy cycle but at least I have control over the choice of parts.

Guess it comes down to knowing how to shop, right? Wasn't in the market for a new laptop but seeing what's coming a while ago and not having any CPU architecture newer than 2-2.5 years ago a BF-cybermonday laptop deal called out to me you might appreciate.

Lenovo link to it no longer works but here are points from deals site found:

Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX Processor (E-cores up to 4.60 GHz P-cores up to 5.40 GHz)
Operating System: Windows 11 Home 64
Graphic Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR7
Memory: 32 GB DDR5-5600MT/s (SODIMM)(2 x 16 GB)
Storage: 2 TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 TLC (2 x 1 TB)
Display: 16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600), OLED, Glare, Non-Touch, HDR 1000 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 500 nits, 165Hz, Low Blue Light
Camera: 5MP with Dual Microphone and Privacy Shutter
Keyboard: 24zone RGB Backlit, Black - English (US)
WIFI: Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 160MHz & Bluetooth® 5.4

same CPU as yours, which should be relevant for many years to come, imo.

only 8GB of RAM on GPU, a definite tradeoff. 12GB would have nicer but i'm not much of a gamer and still by far best gpu i've ever had in a laptop.

the 32GB RAM can be sold for a tidy price and already bought my upgrade. 2 x 48GB = 96GB RAM :-)

for storage can go 4TB x 2, or smaller variations with samsung drives.

the price? i had to manage together a few discounts starting directly with lenovo, then managed an extra 5% off in a chat window onsite (lenovo also gave me rewards points worth $90 and plan to use that to buy an extra external keyboard/mouse, or other gear). at the time paypal was running some crazy special of an extra 15-20% off if use buy-now-pay-later, plus some of my credit cards had extra holiday cash back offers.

laptop mentioned was almost $1100 all in. :-) if internal RAM sold and install 96GB that pushes it closer to $1400. already own the nvme upgrades. maybe it's just me but i'd say that was a good buy at the time and compares well to your off the shelf random buy?

[Don Green] What a Deal it's even on sale [graphic]

Don Green — 3/4/2026 4:51:46 AM

What a Deal it's even on sale

[nicewatch] Have never seen anything like this and apparently no one else observing over man...

nicewatch — 3/4/2026 1:28:04 AM

Have never seen anything like this and apparently no one else observing over many decades has either.

I recall your system, it was built for highly demanding MS FSX specs. 128GB is a good level of RAM for a proper desktop but, 256GB is better! :-) I'm only partly kidding.

Harder still is to get 128GB RAM into most laptops. Sadly these days even most "workstation" class laptops only have two RAM slots whereas four was formerly the standard.

[Don Green] Nvidia warns of constrained supply of gaming GPUs, potentially signaling higher ...

Don Green — 2/28/2026 8:44:18 AM

Nvidia warns of constrained supply of gaming GPUs, potentially signaling higher prices and shortages to come — 'we do believe for a couple of quarters it is going to be very tight'

News
By Anton Shilov published 2 days ago

(Image credit: Nvidia)The chief executive of Nvidia warned that the supply of gaming graphics cards will be tight in the first half of the company's fiscal year, and it has limited visibility for the second half of the year. Given the short supply of gaming graphics cards for desktops and gaming GPUs for laptops, expect gaming hardware to come at elevated prices.

?"As much as we would love to have more supply, we do believe for a couple of quarters it is going to be very tight," said Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, during the company's earnings call with financial analysts and investors. "If things improve by the end of the year, there is an opportunity to think about what that is from a year-over-year growth, but it is still too early for us to know at this time. We will get back to you as soon as we can."

The head of Nvidia did not elaborate whether the tight supply of gaming hardware will be a result of insufficient supply of actual graphics processors, as Nvidia diverts its reserved wafer fabrication capacity at TSMC from gaming GPUs to more lucrative data center AI GPUs, or a result of insufficient supply of GDDR7 memory as DRAM makers choose to produce silicon-intensive and expensive HBM3E over GDDR7 SGRAM.

Latest Videos From Tom's Hardware

Sales of graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming and professional visualization applications brought Nvidia $19.233 billion last fiscal year as the company sold $16.042 billion worth of GeForce graphics processors (up 41% compared to FY2025) and $3.191 billion worth of professional graphics solutions (up 70% year-over-year).

Prices of graphics cards for desktop computers have been increasing for some time. Despite this, demand for GeForce graphics boards last year was stronger than in 2024 and 2023 as Nvidia ramped up production of its GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs based on the Blackwell architecture.

While we still have yet to see how many Blackwell GPUs for gaming Nvidia shipped in calendar 2025, based on data from Jon Peddie Research, Nvidia shipped approximately 30.4 million desktop GPUs in the first three quarters of 2025, which is around 200 thousand more than the 30.2 million desktop GPUs the company sold through the whole of 2024. Typically, unit sales of gaming GPUs for laptops tend to match unit sales of gaming GPUs for desktops. By contrast, shipments of AMD's Radeongraphics cards for desktops dropped dramatically last year.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware, data by Jon Peddie Research)In any case, the chief exec of Nvidia has warned gamers about a short supply of graphics cards in the coming quarters, which almost certainly means high prices and limited choice

[nicewatch] Intel mobile CPUs have achieved up to 95x performance uplift over the past two d...

nicewatch — 2/28/2026 1:13:27 AM

Intel mobile CPUs have achieved up to 95x performance uplift over the past two decades — benchmarking the gains from 45nm Penryn to 18A Panther Lake

tomshardware.com

[Don Green] It will likely get much worse luckily I got an I9 3.5 ghz with 128 gb. of ram a...

Don Green — 2/27/2026 9:01:00 AM

It will likely get much worse luckily I got an I9 3.5 ghz with 128 gb. of ram a Few year ago. GPU will also only go much higher

[nicewatch] HP says memory costs doubled in one quarter, now account for 35% of PC build mat...

nicewatch — 2/26/2026 6:29:45 PM

HP says memory costs doubled in one quarter, now account for 35% of PC build materials

tomshardware.com

[Don Green] Computer costs going higher Message 35429129

Don Green — 2/16/2026 6:24:16 PM

[nicewatch] Framework's latest update brings more bad news about memory and storage pricing ...

nicewatch — 2/13/2026 4:18:22 PM

Framework's latest update brings more bad news about memory and storage pricing crisis — RAM costs increased to $12 to $16 per GB, recommends purchasing some models elsewhere for Framework Laptop DIY Edition customers

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] Hard drive prices have surged by an average of 46% since September — iconic 24TB...

nicewatch — 1/16/2026 12:43:15 PM

Hard drive prices have surged by an average of 46% since September — iconic 24TB Seagate BarraCuda now $500 as AI claims another victim

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] Many high-capacity NVMe SSDs are now as expensive as gold by weight as shortage ...

nicewatch — 1/16/2026 12:42:06 PM

Many high-capacity NVMe SSDs are now as expensive as gold by weight as shortage intensifies — we ran the numbers, here's what we found

tomshardware.com

[S. maltophilia] Don't worry. Neither MSFT nor the hardware makers will get you. If they do, you ...

S. maltophilia — 1/11/2026 9:20:17 PM

Don't worry. Neither MSFT nor the hardware makers will get you. If they do, you won't be buying more hardware.<g>

[Chartgod] They are all "in bed" together anyway, just cramming/forcing all code into chips...

Chartgod — 1/11/2026 7:20:21 PM

They are all "in bed" together anyway, just cramming/forcing all code into chips [planned obsolescence ] as for a few years now with my leased servers

and github.com

===========

===========

docs.redhat.com

So on workstations etc >> US peons using windows & the 'new chips" just used to then "super compress" sh** they send out to as not let you think [but you know] that your PC performance SUCKS, and get "your sh**" to the gods of the internet =

= ???

ALL SH** does go thru !!

++++

PS...if ya don't hear from me on a regular basis?

Someone came for me

++++

[S. maltophilia] price hikes of 10-20% Most of with Win 10 are anxious to keep the old boxes a...

S. maltophilia — 1/11/2026 5:45:00 PM

price hikes of 10-20%

Most of with Win 10 are anxious to keep the old boxes alive as long as possible. A 10-20% price increase after years of relative stability isn't too bad compared to the general cost of living over the past decade, even though 8-16 GB of memory isn't so great anymore. But few want a box with Win 11, and 1 year old computers rarely need replacing, so demand will shrink next year. Maybe that'll keep prices honest.

I'm no longer physically capable of building a desktop. so , when my machine dies, I hope to find one with Linux independent of Windows. One possibility:
tuxedocomputers.com

[nicewatch] That upgrade cycle has mostly come and gone and there's still a large installed ...

nicewatch — 1/11/2026 5:00:20 PM

That upgrade cycle has mostly come and gone and there's still a large installed based of Win10 that won't be anxious to change, imo. The TPM 2.0 check for Win11 compatibility is mostly crap, there are ways to bypass that and run Win11 on older hardware. If you've been following here you know RAM prices are through the roof and now SSD prices are moving higher again on frenzied -proposed- AI data center building. Even the biggest system builders have announced price hikes of 10-20% now or very soon. Some think PC demand will decline 10% this year so will be interesting to see how much of that 10-20% price increase will impact consumers at least for several months out when current inventory channels are cleared out... and then if consumers postpone upgrades or simply walk away.

You probably know but 66% of MSFT revenue is now Server/cloud services, and 365 commercial and cloud services. Microsoft OS which includes more than just pure OS licensing is ~6% of revenue in latest fiscal year. If you look at the category below Windows and Devices to "Search and news advertising", notice the bump from 2024 to 2025. Would not be surprised if most of that is due to Win11 increased install base and increased revenue from its embedded spyware.

microsoft.com

[S. maltophilia] This time MSFT is trying to coerce Win 10 users to "upgrade," and PC makers are ...

S. maltophilia — 1/11/2026 3:52:05 PM

This time MSFT is trying to coerce Win 10 users to "upgrade," and PC makers are delighted. it seems to be working much better (for MSFT) than the Win 8 introduction that was easy to avoid.

[nicewatch] Thanks. For links like that I use Brave browser which has decent ad blocking too...

nicewatch — 1/11/2026 3:39:57 PM

Thanks. For links like that I use Brave browser which has decent ad blocking tools built-in on top of two separate real time antivirus and anti-malware programs.

That program might work well for Win10 but already have a routine to disable what I want and question how well, if at all, it would work in Win11 which I don't use and am avoiding like the plague. As mentioned several times here the borderline spyware in Win11 is embedded in the kernal code so many functions cannot be turned off. The telemetry and other data it collects is intrusive and obnoxious imo. Not to mention it is an even worse memory hog than Win10. I'm hoping Win12 will be better but not holding my breath as MSFT is clearly moving in the wrong direction.

[nicewatch] I don't have a Global.Rules.Engine so must have disabled but don't remember how....

nicewatch — 1/11/2026 3:22:46 PM

I don't have a Global.Rules.Engine so must have disabled but don't remember how. The others are crap and unnecessary. They don't run on my startup (win10 pro) but some will reopen over time and haven't studied which programs they are associated with prompting that. As it is none are notable resource hogs or intrusive spyware AFAIK, and don't spend time worrying about them.

[S. maltophilia] Found this in the comments: [graphic] https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 ...

S. maltophilia — 1/11/2026 2:39:16 PM

Found this in the comments:

https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 (not personally verified).

BTW, a bunch of MSFT ads accompanied that article. Your cookie set may vary.

[Chartgod] TY NW, for the post I actually started a SH** LIST yesterday of CRAP that "keep...

Chartgod — 1/11/2026 12:37:19 PM

TY NW, for the post

I actually started a SH** LIST yesterday of CRAP that "keeps firing" in Win10, when i fired up yesterday, but had to get other things done, and wanted to find the best/simplest RegEdit for this 10 'piles of sh**'

As even though the Revo can toggle things in the auto start easy, these forced updates to it still, turn the SH** back on

+++

Things to kill from registry in Windows 10 for sure

windows 10 processes

Search

Store Experience Host
News and interests
Phone Link
Microsoft Store
Microsoft OneDrive Sync Service
Microsoft Edge Update (32 bit)

Global.Rules.Engine
> contained Microsoft Text Input Application
WHY the above Global Rules?? I am not sure but sounds like KB logger

[nicewatch] After RAM and SSDs, PSUs and CPU coolers are next in line for price hikes noteb...

nicewatch — 1/11/2026 12:32:39 PM

After RAM and SSDs, PSUs and CPU coolers are next in line for price hikes

notebookcheck.net

[nicewatch] Admins finally get the power to uninstall Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11 Pro, E...

nicewatch — 1/11/2026 12:22:26 PM

Admins finally get the power to uninstall Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and EDU versions — devices must meet specific conditions to allow the removal of the AI app

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] Modder saves $130 by building 32GB DDR5 desktop DIMMs from scavenged laptop memo...

nicewatch — 1/11/2026 12:20:34 PM

Modder saves $130 by building 32GB DDR5 desktop DIMMs from scavenged laptop memory — donor modules soldered to bare PCB flashed with custom firmware even run XMP

tomshardware.com

[Chartgod] I had popped it open, but then got phone call same time so had to change to a wo...

Chartgod — 1/9/2026 11:00:36 AM

I had popped it open, but then got phone call same time so had to change to a work screen = sorry

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] I don't think you watched that video I posted.

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 1/9/2026 10:41:38 AM

[Chartgod] I used to LOVE building all my PC's, but when I moved to Kalispell Montana 10/20...

Chartgod — 1/9/2026 10:27:14 AM

I used to LOVE building all my PC's, but when I moved to Kalispell Montana 10/2000 I ended up being able to buy one of these for a great price in 2001

PS.. I still have it, but Not For Sale in the spare bedroom closet [lol]

Maybe some of the gold plating 'on things inside' is worth more than I paid?

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] For the budget PC builder. (Its a YouTube Short can't embed the video on shorts...

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 1/9/2026 10:20:46 AM

For the budget PC builder. (Its a YouTube Short can't embed the video on shorts)

youtube.com

[nicewatch] Danger, Will Robinson? [youtube video]

nicewatch — 1/8/2026 8:21:08 PM

[Chartgod] And for the last 1.5 hours, I have been trying to Zelle guy in CA from my Capita...

Chartgod — 1/8/2026 8:14:30 PM

And for the last 1.5 hours, I have been trying to Zelle guy in CA from my Capital One account, that I have had for 10+ years and use very frequently, for paying transporters and clients paying me for my auto transport brokering gig I do as a full time thing, while losing money in stocks {LOL}

And can not send 3000.00 to someone !! And the driver is there now to pick up the trailer

So his bank has no answers, so I call mine and guy says it's all AI driven now and NO F***-ing human to talk to

+++++++++++++++++++

COMPUTERS SUCK + and the end of of the word is sooner than we think with the abortion they have created with this FAKE BS AI crap

So PC's can now, as far as I am concerned = go F*** THEMSELVES

[there I feel better getting that of my chest here now and laughing my a** off]

What a great community of like minded thinkers we have here ;-)

+++

[nicewatch] Store asks buyer to pay higher DDR5 RAM price after purchase, blaming AI for vol...

nicewatch — 1/8/2026 7:57:38 PM

Store asks buyer to pay higher DDR5 RAM price after purchase, blaming AI for volatile memory market

notebookcheck.net

[nicewatch] That's my kind of deal! I have had good success with multiple off-lease HP Z wor...

nicewatch — 1/8/2026 2:22:14 PM

That's my kind of deal! I have had good success with multiple off-lease HP Z workstation class. 32GB is minimum I'd use in any system. My modern laptops and mini PCs are 64GB or more, and the few desktops are 128GB or 256GB.

In most use cases there's not a huge performance bump from DDR4 to DDR5 ime, and some of the laptops and mini PCs work on both. Just glad I stocked up when I did on DDR4, DDR5, and NVME storage several years ago at cycle lows. Although maybe a moot point if one has owned MU, SNDK, etc. recently. :-)

Some fabs have recently said they may bring back DDR4 production, and some mobo makers are putting out updated models backwards compatible with it. Crazy times.

[nicewatch] Good luck selling it. The cheapest I see for that pair is $150-160usd and that's...

nicewatch — 1/8/2026 2:12:19 PM

Good luck selling it. The cheapest I see for that pair is $150-160usd and that's new including from Samsung itself. Of course there would be tax and shipping as well. It's interesting the small sticks got swept up in this chaos since for the big builds the 64GB, 128GB, 256GB sticks are the sweet spot.

[Chartgod] And as always? There is a 'smart-a**' in every crowd, and here I am >> for my ...

Chartgod — 1/8/2026 2:01:46 PM

And as always?

There is a 'smart-a**' in every crowd, and here I am >> for my DDR4's? I pay 183.50 per 16gb when I buy 2 at a time , total 32GB?

And they throw in a whole computer [smile]

+++

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] They retail at 125 each CDN.

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 1/8/2026 1:30:59 PM

[nicewatch] That's the current going rate. But will you have any ram left for your laptop? :...

nicewatch — 1/8/2026 1:03:15 PM

That's the current going rate. But will you have any ram left for your laptop? :-)

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] I am selling Samsung 16GB DDR5 SODIMM 5600 RAM (8GB x 2) for 200.00 CDN

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 1/8/2026 12:39:50 PM

[nicewatch] Boxes of 100 server-grade DDR5 memory now cost as much as property in Shanghai i...

nicewatch — 1/8/2026 11:34:24 AM

Boxes of 100 server-grade DDR5 memory now cost as much as property in Shanghai in China spot market — single 256GB server sticks now over $5,700

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] 'This memory situation is a multi-year problem,' says Maingear CEO — Custom PC c...

nicewatch — 12/23/2025 10:09:28 PM

'This memory situation is a multi-year problem,' says Maingear CEO — Custom PC company offers up BYO RAM builds to combat shortages

CEO Wallace Santos said costs for a 32GB kit of RAM are up 394%, and up to 344% for 64GB.

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] Dell preps massive price hikes up to 30% citing memory pricing 'out of our contr...

nicewatch — 12/22/2025 12:32:16 AM

Dell preps massive price hikes up to 30% citing memory pricing 'out of our control' — company reminds commercial customers that placing an order today for future delivery will not guarantee current prices

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] AMD's legacy Ryzen 7 5800X3D chips now sell for up to $800, more than a new 980...

nicewatch — 12/18/2025 8:21:22 PM

AMD's legacy Ryzen 7 5800X3D chips now sell for up to $800, more than a new 9800X3D — AM4 chip costs twice as much as MSRP, as enthusiasts flock to old DDR4 memory

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] Micron outlines grim outlook for DRAM supply in first earnings call since killin...

nicewatch — 12/18/2025 8:14:03 PM

Micron outlines grim outlook for DRAM supply in first earnings call since killing Crucial memory and SSD brand — CEO says it can only meet half to two-thirds of demand

tomshardware.com

[nicewatch] Samsung to halt SATA SSD production, leaker warns of up to 18 months of SSD pric...

nicewatch — 12/14/2025 5:08:02 PM

Samsung to halt SATA SSD production, leaker warns of up to 18 months of SSD price pressure, worse than Micron ending consumer RAM

notebookcheck.net

[nicewatch] If I wanted for a ditch to get dug, I wouldn't watch a banker because it might n...

nicewatch — 12/7/2025 4:18:42 PM

If I wanted for a ditch to get dug, I wouldn't watch a banker because it might never get done. :-) I dug a small ditch once as a kid. Determined that I disliked the experience enough and then obtained knowledge and experience to run excavating equipment. Have done plenty of manual labor, it's just the shovel isn't my favorite tool. Will watch your video later, thanks.