Post ASJbfhWVf7tVlKB0iG by kadin@mastodon.sdf.org
(DIR) More posts by kadin@mastodon.sdf.org
(DIR) Post #ASIE1H3OAGO9ysLjWK by kadin@mastodon.sdf.org
2023-02-03T05:20:41Z
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It seems the old #Gateway desktop I was using as a storage server has finally reached the end of the road. Several capacitors on the motherboard have definitely lost their magic smoke.Though it served me well, I'm probably not going to bother re-capping it: running an #Athlon-based desktop 24/7 in 2023 just to serve files isn't exactly a great use of electricity, when an ARM or Intel SoC based system could outperform it at a fraction of the wattage.Can't say it didn't last, though.#Hardware
(DIR) Post #ASIE1HvytI3ciBtKc4 by publius@mastodon.sdf.org
2023-02-03T05:43:29Z
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@kadin Embodied energy is a big deal. Replacing something which still has usable service life with something which operates at a lower energy cost doesn't necessarily save energy overall.So, it sounds to me as though you've struck a reasonable balance.
(DIR) Post #ASJbfh1fVnDyDfkNdo by kentborg@social.tchncs.de
2023-02-03T15:03:43Z
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@kadin If only Raspberry Pi 4s weren't still in such short supply (they can be had…). It is a little kludgy to set up a powered hub for external storage (I still like spinning media), but the resulting tumble of gear is small and quiet, frugal on power use, and not too shabby performance. (Sure, Rust compiles are a bit slow, but they are Rust complies.)Now I just need to finish transitioning that e-mail serving to it before the old box finally dies.
(DIR) Post #ASJbfhWVf7tVlKB0iG by kadin@mastodon.sdf.org
2023-02-03T17:46:32Z
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@kentborg Yeah it's unfortunate Pis are so hard to get at a reasonable price. I had my eyes on eBay for another cheap thinclient, which I've had good luck using as cheap Pi alternatives (if you don't need GPIO/hats and are okay w/ x86), but then my SO told me she didn't need her current desktop anymore… so I've just traded up to a somewhat newer repurposed PC.As @publius pointed out, embodied energy is a real thing, and this machine was running already so it's a net win.
(DIR) Post #ASJbfi1hn8qdK4lvKy by kentborg@social.tchncs.de
2023-02-03T17:53:21Z
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@kadin @publius I got my Pi 4 from canakit.com, for well over $35, but still impressive to this old timer.Seems the shortage is they were designed into commercial products, that must be selling, and that sops up production.I mustly don't use all that wonderful IO, but I like that they are so standard, almost like the Debian I run on my laptop. (Except kernel updates take WAY longer.)
(DIR) Post #ASJbfiU45hX6k22ZXc by publius@mastodon.sdf.org
2023-02-03T21:43:12Z
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@kentborg @kadin I should probably feel bad about that Pi Zero I got cheap at Microcenter and have never actually used for anything. I'm always thinking I'll use it for one thing or another.
(DIR) Post #ASJyub6A88ht7ovPai by kentborg@social.tchncs.de
2023-02-03T22:33:32Z
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@publius @kadin Don't feel bad, as consumerism driving waste a Pi 0 is pretty minor.Play with it! (Stunning what a powerful Unix machine that don't think is.) Put it to use!
(DIR) Post #ASJzlbXlCpGZqz6qoq by publius@mastodon.sdf.org
2023-02-04T02:13:13Z
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@kentborg @kadin I have a nasty tendency to get de-railed. For instance, just now I've been thinking about implementing a Strowger-type step-by-step telephone exchange in solid-state digital logic.I call it "Number One ESxS", which is a very obscure joke.