[ale] Stacks of boxes

[Jon "maddog" Hall]

Steve,

How can you say that you do not like "aesthetics" when you have a blue
Linux Journal Tux Tile proudly stuck on the front of your computer?

md

On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 12:42 AM Steve Litt via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:

> Leam Hall via Ale said on Sat, 7 Jan 2023 14:44:36 -0600
>
>
> >Back in early December I started the "Back to the new desktop
> >question". That's not really the full story though, I had started the
> >same conversation back in August of 2020. There was probably another
> >time or two as well, I tend to come up with the idea to build a
> >desktop, and then chicken out. Partly because I think in money
> >scarcity, partly because things have changed so much and I learn
> >slowly.
> >
> >This time I came close to backing out again, and then someone from the
> >list asked if I'd be interested in a slightly used motherboard, CPU,
> >and RAM. My assumption was that even a decent used price would be more
> >than my brain wanted to pay. Turns out the asking price was "pay for a
> >box, and shipping". If not for such a generous offer, I would have
> >probably backed out and stayed with my Dell from Goodwill.
>
> Great news! That person is really nice.
>
> This gives you an opportunity. Once your new computer is running the
> way you like it, I'd recommend you take the covers off your Goodwill
> Dell, look around. Shine a flashlight in there. Vacuum or blow out
> the dust. Run it without the cover. Start disconnecting and reconnecting
> things, and running it each time to make sure nothing got screwed up.
>
> Now, remove the mobo, motherboard and power supply from the case. You
> may or may not be able to leave the daughtercards attached to the mobo,
> and you'll for sure have to disconnect the power supply from the mobo.
> Run the computer on a static proof mat, or at least an insulated
> surface covered with a newspaper or paper towels. There's a real
> feeling of liberation running a computer with no case. It
> seems a little less magical when you see the components
> without the obfuscation of the case.
>
> Disconnect the hard disk(s) and notice the monitor count memory and
> then stop. If you don't see it count memory, disable "fast boot" and
> try again. Reconnect the hard disk and boot with no RAM, and see what
> happens (I don't know what would happen).
>
> Use some form of electronics lubricant when reconnecting everything.
> See this page: http://troubleshooters.com/tpromag/200310/200310.htm .
>
> When you're done fooling around with it, put it back together, and if
> it doesn't work, troubleshoot.
>
> If you haven't assembled a computer before, assembling a computer is a
> life-altering experience. It's always tense building a computer because
> of the money involved, but the first time is truly white-knuckle. You
> have the advantage of doing it with an old beater computer that if you
> destroy it is no big deal.
>
> The first computer I built was a $700 cheapo (but $700 in 1993 was a
> heck of a lot of money). I built it on my dining room table, very
> slowly and deliberately. It worked. I had been a programmer for over 10
> years at the time, but the hardware still intimidated me, until I built
> that one. Since then I've built many, many more. By building my own
> computer I fulfill MY priorities:
>
> 1) Lots of RAM
>
> 2) Optical drive (getting rare these days)
>
> 3) Radeon video (nVidia is Linux hostile)
>
> 4) AMD processor
>
> 5) Quality mobo
>
> 6) Enough room in the case for my big hands to perform maintenance
>
> 7) I don't care a flying flamingo about "sleek", "pretty", "beautiful",
>    multicolor blinking lights, or any other aesthetic property. This is
>    a work tool, not a piece of art. The following is a link to a photo
>    of one of my computers:
>    http://troubleshooters.com/lpm/200610/dual_celeron.jpg . Besides
>    this, I also
>
>
> SteveT
>
> Steve Litt
> Autumn 2022 featured book: Thriving in Tough Times
> http://www.troubleshooters.com/bookstore/thrive.htm
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