Posts by Michael Jackson10

Rachel Jones8 said:I thought I was following you, but Michael Jackson10 totally confused me with that whole tied-hands thing and the
catch-22. So, the issue isn't actually the processor itself, but the fact that the suggested setup doesn't have dual-channel memory? If there's a way to just pop in another stick later... then it's not really an issue, right?
Just like adding an SSD or whatever else down the road.
And say I want to swap in an Intel Core i5 or something newer one day... besides the CPU, what else needs changing? The motherboard? Something else? Memory too?

Since this topic moved past your specific shopping list, my post was more about debating how to build these kinds of rigs. You see so many different setups out there nowadays (and honestly, even a novice can sometimes be smarter than an expert), so I wanted to get everyone involved, especially since not many people have actually tinkered with all these various combos and have that firsthand experience.
I think I made it pretty clear that the catch-22 is that these small motherboards only have two memory slots. That’s the dilemma: do you fill both right away for max performance, or leave one open for an upgrade?
The difference, according to benchmarks, isn't trivial when using an AMD APU: in synthetic tests, we're talking up to 30%—which is kind of academic—but in real-world scenarios, it's a solid 10-15-20% depending on what you're running. I don't think it's something to ignore, even if the PC definitely runs fine with just one stick of RAM.

So, it's really just a debate: go full dual-channel now, or save a slot for the future. But if you go full now, how much? Since 2x4 GB blows the budget, and 1x4 GB feels like leaving a massive empty space... it seems to me that most average home users don't actually take advantage of that "open door" for future upgrades. Everyone is stoked at first because the jump from their ancient old rig is huge, but they're investing money in something new without hitting its full potential. Most people won't bother upgrading; they'll just squeeze every bit of life out of the machine until it dies, over and over.

Of course, it always comes down to cash. If someone dumped 6-$2333 into an old computer, and today's parts for $0.83 offer a massive speed boost, is it worth it? The buyer is happy because everything flies compared to the old junk, but they're also right on the edge of being "entry-level" for mainstream use. It's likely this new setup will have a shorter lifespan than the old one—not just because of modern manufacturing, but because the user aimed for today's needs by cutting corners, and those needs might change in just 2 or 3 years. That's why I push for a 4-core CPU. With Intel moving toward 8-12 cores for future generations and not focusing on single-core "brute force," a user running Windows + antivirus + some basic apps + God knows what else could max out two cores pretty fast. They'll have zero headroom, end up buying a new CPU, then a new board, etc., when the original idea was for this to last a few years without any tinkering.
That's also why I suggested a cooler processor. I feel like we can offset that initial $200-$100 by spending a little less on things like better ventilated cases or better coolers. That's basically how you should dimension everything else.

Rachel Jones8, don't treat my posts like they're Holy Scripture! I'm not trying to explain every single term in plain English; the crew building these configs already gets it, and honestly, I'm more interested in hearing what they think.

Rachel Jones8 said:This is getting ridiculous... we might just have to say goodbye and stop talking altogether...
So, guys suggest a setup, I buy it... and I end up with a piece of junk because of what they suggested—who was it?

I have to weigh in here, because:
a) I’m not okay with this kind of forced, one-sided shutdown of communication;
b) even George W. Bush and his secretary had the right to present a defense;
c) this is a public forum, and I can't just be banned by certain people (your "personal corner" is actually a public topic)

Look, my post was just a generalization and a bit of a joke, just like this whole thread you've ended up with. If you want proof, look at how we've spent four whole pages obsessing over one low-end build. Just scroll through other similar threads and you'll see—there are no similarities, only differences (like the patience of a century-old turtle versus these super blunt, short responses)

Nobody is asking you, or expecting you to be an electronics expert—you even admitted that yourself. From the start, everyone has been showing massive amounts of patience, often explaining things unnecessarily. I mean, if you actually knew all this and really cared, you wouldn't be asking these kinds of questions on a forum like this. You’re arguing every single point I make, comparing a heatpipe or water cooling to a water heater or a boiler (check post #67), and focusing on pictures and prices (same post, by the way—do you actually look at the photos, or just the price tag?) etc.
Oh, of course I read the thread from the beginning, back when you were torn between getting an all-in-one computer for $800 or investing about $333 instead. Now where are we exactly? 🤷, maybe around $350-$$1.00. So much for consistency—claiming looks don't matter when that's clearly what matters....

Let's get to it:
Case:
Ever since the Zalman Z9 era, Robert Rodriguez2 was the first one to bring us back to reality by suggesting the Zalman ZM-T2.
We've debated a lot here, but here's a little challenge: once you finally get your PC, open it up and take a look inside: the motherboard, power supply, drive, maybe an optical drive, and a whole lot of empty space.
For this kind of build, especially for someone who isn't an enthusiast and won't spend all day tinkering with it, a Micro-tower is the perfect fit. Mesh panels, windows, 5 fans? That's all totally unnecessary.
One thing nobody mentioned: cases with mesh fronts are way noisier than fully enclosed ones. Cheap cases, specifically, have such flimsy construction and thin metal that they easily hit resonance frequencies. Cooling isn't even the critical issue in these setups, and it's nothing compared to old configurations that used to pump out twice as much heat and noise per component. You can get both silence and good cooling with a higher-quality, closed-type case, but yeah, the price jumps up by $75+.

Processor:
The Intel vs. AMD debate is basically like searching for the Holy Grail among experts: everyone has their preference. The fact is, an Intel chip with 2 physical cores and HT can easily hold its own against an AMD chip with 4 physical cores, which aren't even truly "equal cores" to begin with. On the flip side, AMD packs in decent graphics, which is where they shine, but that tends to make things run a bit hotter. It's a trade-off.
If silence and cool temps are the priority, then why go with the AMD 5600 k, which hits 100W?
Why not the A8 6500? It's slightly slower, has slightly better graphics, and runs at only 65W.
crimsonstag84 actually has the most solid solution: the Caverry 7600 at 45W...
I think a lot of the heat (and noise) issues could be solved just by picking a smarter processor, allowing you to save that extra cash instead of trying to cool everything down later...

Motherboard:
It all comes down to that unlucky AsRock board (which I personally don't love, but hey, it gets the job done—it's cheap, and you can't get any cheaper than that).
Shoot, it’s an mATX standard, so I'm heading back to the case choice. You don't really need anything bigger than a Micro-tower since there isn't much else you can pack in there anyway.

Memory:
A single 4 GB 1600 stick is probably fine for what you need.
Nobody ever mentions this, even though there's a general consensus regarding AMD—these APUs work okay with just one "stick," but they really only hit their stride with dual-channel memory, like a 2x2 GB setup. But that’s no good here because the board only has two slots, which basically ties your hands for any future upgrades. Just another little snag.
So, we're looking at 1x4 GB 1600 MHz, though I am wondering about grabbing a second stick later. Software seems to bloat faster than weeds in a garden; it'll probably happen sooner than we think.

Power Supply:
Your budget is going to stop you from going overboard with those super quiet, high-end units, so whatever gets suggested is likely more than okay.

Hard Drive:
Personally, I’d love to see at least some kind of SSHD in a new build, if not a full SSD+HDD combo. Based on how you usually do things, I think a 500 GB SSHD would be plenty, but those are mostly laptop versions. A 1 TB drive might blow the budget, so a classic 1 TB HDD is the move, with a strong recommendation to grab a dedicated system SSD down the road and let the HDD just handle storage. That's where you actually feel the performance jump these days. You could also play around with Power Management settings so the classic drive sleeps more often to keep things quiet.

Other stuff:
Optical drives, card readers—doesn't matter. There aren't many quality ones left; it's all disposable junk now. Honestly, I could live without an optical drive since I barely use one anymore.
A card reader?
As tempting as it looks, I wouldn't bother. Everything is wireless nowadays anyway, and I can't be bothered pulling cards out of my phone, plugging them in, popping them out... I'd rather just go wireless and stare at the sun while it does its thing.
Basically, there's a real trend (not just a fad, but actually useful) where the router/AP becomes the central hub of the house. Everything new talks wirelessly: PC, laptop, TV, phone, NAS, Net...

Quote : Anyway, that last configuration from Robert Rodriguez2 was probably the best-thought-out option for an AMD APU, though I personally think you should aim for a newer APU with a lower TDP. Not only are you catching up to more recent processor generations (let's be real, they aren't revolutionary leaps and haven't exactly reinvented the wheel), but you get better manufacturing, lower power draw, and more graphical muscle (BTW, what monitor are you actually using? What resolution and requirements are we talking about?)
If your main goal is a quiet and cool PC, I think you should look at the root of the problem, which in this case is just the processor. Any aftermarket cooler is going to have an easier time with a 65W chip than a 100W one, so you won't need a million mesh screens, fans, or complex speed controls. A cooler processor puts less strain on the heatsink, the fan doesn't have to scream, and it's a virtuous cycle.
Finally, you can get nice, steady airflow without the noise by using two larger fans in a push-pull setup (front-to-back) running at 7V. Lower speeds mean less noise, and larger fans are more efficient. You won't deal with extreme pressure issues (which helps with dust, though it's inevitable), and there's no need for special regulation.

Since this is turning into quite the saga, and sagas are defined by being long-winded, can we do one more four-page round of pros and cons in episode
"Let's build the ultimate silent and cool budget PC," keeping everything mentioned above in mind?
Edit: My bad, I'm late to the party...

Quote : The New Guy

Ryan Hayes82 said:What about the cases? You've got some on sale, right? Fractal Arc MiniIf you ask me, the design is super clean and simple. Plus, the cooling is top-notch and the build quality is just excellent. Wouldn't you agree?

Quote : The New Guy

Robert Rodriguez2 said:I don't get it. Why bother? When you're working with a tight budget like $2,500, what's the point? $1000 So, what's the deal with picking out a case? $133...
Look, you aren't even going to be able to get your hands on high-end components that actually demand some crazy, over-the-top cooling. Besides, is that even really necessary for what you're doing?

Jebemumiša, Robert Rodriguez2, what are you even talking about? It's like you just landed on Mars... seriously, do you have anything feminine at all in your house?
I’d bet my life savings that if I put together a build using the Fractal design Define R4 Arctic White—if only they made it in a soft pastel pink!—and stuffed it full of parts from an old PC, at least 99% of women would absolutely love it. Wouldn't they?
So, what’s actually going through his head? Most technicians don't really get it. Choosing between AMD and Intel is basically like picking between Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. And all that talk about PATA to SATA to SSD? It's just a bunch of letters used by antisocial geeks trying to act important. On the other hand, you've got those ugly cases built to some ridiculous military standard. A Thermaltake Level 10 definitely appeals to the guys, but in a lady's room? It's an absolute eyesore.

A computer is basically just the essential box that makes all that fancy gear actually work—kind of like how an old voltage stabilizer used to keep those vintage TVs running. And when it comes to cases, they offer everything from, I don't know, a dark wenge finish to Bavarian beech, matte satin, or even high gloss. You’d think someone would pick a case to match their furniture, right? Like, when we brought a new PC over to a friend's place, it was just this basic, neutral black case. She immediately started grilling us! She was like, "Why does the monitor have a silver trim if the tower doesn't?" and then she started suggesting we paint the whole thing beechwood to match her shelving unit, or maybe do the opposite. Talk about picky!

They really get in her head with all that cooling talk—four fans, a potentiometer, and a temperature display for a recliner? Like, she actually thinks that’s necessary?

Let’s say Ryan Hayes8 suggests the Fractal Arc Mini without thinking twice—the guy has no clue he just opened Pandora's box. Just imagine that mesh front panel with a fan sitting right behind it. In ten days, it'll be caked in dust, which brings up a hundred different questions: Did he really need a front fan if it's just going to suck in all that grime? Where's the filter? Is he supposed to swap it out himself, or does some technician come by once a month to service it? Does a vacuum attachment even work on it? Since it pulls in so much dust at the intake, what on earth is happening at the back? Did he put so many fans in there just to drive her crazy right when she's dealing with a migraine? And seriously, what exactly are you cooling if the house is freezing because you're trying to save on the electric bill?

When you're shopping for tech for your girlfriend, you basically have to flip a mental switch to "female" mode:
So, we're talking about a new piece of furniture here. And look, if you absolutely have to have it, it really needs to blend in with the rest of the room—especially since it can't exactly be invisible. I mean, could you just slide it under the bed or a couch?
If it’s actually visible, it’s probably just following some trendy design guidelines. Or maybe it’s packed with useless features like random numbers, letters, or LEDs? Or even a potentiometer that isn't even connected to anything? I mean, even a microwave has stuff like that—how can you even tell if it's working?
- It’s gotta reflect the owner's personality (I have zero clue what that actually means, but apparently, it says so in Gloria)
- Since we're talking tech, wouldn't it be cool if it was called iSomething or eSomething?
- Inside, there needs to be "something"—something that works flawlessly, hits every single one of those current and future desires she doesn't even know she has yet, covers every possible thing a modern PC can offer, and stays indestructible (because it's brand new, for crying out loud!). It needs to be powerful enough for everything, plus a little extra, so it never chokes, and handles tasks before they even happen so everything feels instant.
Since this stuff is invisible, it's basically the least important part of the whole story, right? So it should probably take up the smallest chunk of the budget, maybe just $0.00. Usually, when you try to pick this "something," you end up screwing up: either it's way too expensive, too weak, too loud, or it breaks... whatever you choose, it's wrong. So you try to use logic to squeeze every bit of value out of your tiny beggar's budget, aiming for that sweet spot between quality and performance, while anticipating all the headaches that'll drive you crazy, and then you just push it off a few years and blame it on "technological progress"... because hey, by default, it's always your fault anyway...

@Rachel Jones8/">@@Rachel Jones8, don't take this personally—I'm talking about women in general here.
Think of these more like guidelines for building a PC for ladies. Being a guy, I'm surrounded by women both at home and at work, so I've learned how to prepare for even the weirdest questions (and I mean repeatedly, usually while looking at total confusion in their eyes).
My respected colleagues who suggested builds above are undoubtedly way more knowledgeable than I am; they just don't realize they're walking a thin line between life and death that us guys don't even see.
If you go in with the right approach and a smile, you could sell her absolute garbage in fancy packaging and she'd walk away beaming. But trying to sell her something truly functional and useful using a cold, rational approach? Impossible.
Man, we guys just don't know how to present something functional and sensible in an attractive way, with enough charm to make them ignore the price tag.

Since it’s looking pretty certain that she’ll end up getting a completely new PC (by the time she actually makes up her mind, the old tech will be even more outdated), why not just plug both machines into the home router? She can set all those old drives to shared folders and just slowly, methodically, sift through everything. Move the useful stuff, ditch the junk, and eventually—one day—finally put this old man's worries to rest?
Everything else, like PATA-to-SATA conversions or messing with old optical drives, is just a headache waiting to happen. That old junk is going to die one day anyway. You could buy an adapter for this or an adapter for that, but you'll just end up wasting cash on legacy hardware that'll sit there gathering dust. Why not just take that money and dump it straight into a fresh build instead? End of story.
Look, if saving this old data is a one-time critical mission—and I’m guessing she’ll hire someone to help get Windows up and running anyway—she should just ask the technician at the repair shop to back up all the old drives onto a single partition on the new drive (maybe using about 20% of the capacity). Everything stays in one place, she can sort through it at her own pace, and later, she can just wipe the rest.

I went down that same rabbit hole once, trying to cram old HDDs into new builds (thankfully I didn't need adapters). Now, you couldn't even slide a matchstick into my case, and when the fans finally kick in, the whole thing runs hot enough to make me feel like I'm living on a runway.
So, here's my take: make a clean break. Go new, skip the adapters, and maybe give the old gear to some tech enthusiasts. You won't even need fan controllers because there won't be any overheating hardware, plus you'll get plenty of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports right on the front and back depending on the case. Those temperature LED indicators? They're just relics from the Pentium 4 and AMD Barton days when everything used to overheat straight out of the factory and show god knows what kind of crazy readings...

BTW, this is such a cool thread; it's turned into quite the saga... it might even become its own dedicated sub-forum one day: "Dr. strangelov - how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb... sorry, I mean, the new PC..."

I'm pretty sure when it comes to warranties, they check exactly which distributor handled your specific monitor, especially if there are multiple players in the mix. Nobody wants to foot the bill for someone else's mistake, right? So, your warranty options are kind of set in stone—you take what you get, whether you like it or not....
Microsoft and Eco handle them too, I think,...but honestly, I saved two of my own units just by having a local tech swap out some capacitors...

You’re just talking nonsense because you aren't actually processing what's being said:
- Windows 8 is fundamentally a great OS,
- But Windows 8 comes bundled with stuff that makes life miserable for users, and that’s what gets under my skin,
- It's built for brand-new gear,
- It’s totally uncool that Microsoft can just kill off Legacy support on a whim. They didn't buy my hardware, so they shouldn't be forcing me to upgrade everything just to keep up with their schedule,
- Legacy isn't just some setting in the BIOS/UEFI. It covers all hardware and software, including peripherals, and that's where Windows 8 really struggles,
- Microsoft's value doesn't mean anything to me unless I own stock, which I don't, so I'm not impressed. Sure, Google is one of the most valuable companies out there, but I don't agree with how they handle privacy either. Generally speaking, Microsoft earned its status through some pretty shady tactics—like using monopolies fueled by political favors right here in the States.
Just look at how they shoved their proprietary format into industry standards even when it didn't meet basic requirements. It failed the first time, but after a little "lobbying," they got it pushed through. And we all know money had nothing to do with it...
- Honestly, we're lucky we have a choice between 7 and 8, so people should just use whatever works for them. Luckily, support lasts a long time, so maybe they'll come to their senses in future versions, or the list of supported hardware will expand somehow. Right now, it's just a period of unnecessary frustration, and this isn't Microsoft's end goal—it's just a failure to meet user needs.

Sure, in a candy-coated world where everything is sunshine and rainbows, everything feels faster on Windows 8.1. If you just picked up a brand-new rig...
The massive market—you know, the fleet buyers and corporate giants—doesn't actually care about having the fastest OS with the prettiest interface. Even here in the States, we don't see NASA or the military using the absolute latest version of anything. Hardware is spec'd out during procurement based on actual needs, and typically, that hardware-software combo stays in rotation until its tech lifespan hits zero, which can go on forever. Around here, Windows XP is still king in many places; it runs perfectly fine as long as you aren't messing with it, and it handles the workload without breaking a sweat.
Then there's the universal headache: legacy systems. We're talking both software and hardware, specifically peripherals. With the newest version of Windows, support for older gear is... well, let's just say it's questionable. Everything seems "perfect" when you buy a new PC and pair it with a fresh inkjet printer in the $167 range.
In a production environment, you might be using peripherals worth thousands of dollars apiece. Nobody is going to retire a solid machine just because the new version of Windows doesn't support it, or because the drivers are nothing more than a buggy patch job that barely keeps things running. Companies pay for Windows licenses, while home users end up shelling out for a $0.67 disc just to get things working.

But no, the home user *has* to be up-to-date. They feel like they're falling behind the tech curve, so they flex about having the latest version of everything. In terms of actual productivity? They’ve taken a massive step backward. Ink is expensive as hell, third-party options haven't caught up yet, they're staring at shiny new icons, and wasting time hunting for old settings hidden in new menus. But hey, it looks cool, right? And the OS boots up 5 seconds faster than the old one. That's the crucial metric! Since the computer restarts 20 times an hour, over a 5-hour workday, you save maybe 7 minutes of your life. If you crunch those numbers over a whole career, you'll basically live 14.5 months longer after you die just because you installed Windows 8.1 on time.

I feel about Microsoft the same way I used to feel about Corel: only the odd-numbered versions actually work. (In this case, it's every other one: 98SE—total fail—Windows XP SP2—Vista fail—Windows 7 SP—...and then Windows 8 is what 7 was supposed to be according to the hype, plus they slapped Metro on it because of Microsoft's dumb prediction that "everything is a tablet and everyone uses touchscreens." Good luck trying to do anything genuinely useful or productive by tapping away; it's not all just playing flash games.)
Basically: Windows 8 is just a polished version of 7, if they hadn't gutted legacy support and stopped forcing a workflow designed for information kiosks. Sure, there's a "classic Start" option, but that's just adding unnecessary complexity, much like messing with the ribbons in Office. Don't fix what isn't broken; only fix what's actually failing.

Honestly, everything in that 600-$267 class is basically disposable junk. You really just have to look at what’s actually available near you and how much those generic toner cartridges cost. Brands like Canon and HP are pretty much the standard—they actually use the same engine, anyway—though you can't exactly expect top-tier quality when you're looking at the budget tier. I know people used to complain about Samsung having paper jams, but honestly, that usually comes down to the quality of the paper you're using.
Personally, I lean toward HP because I've got a few of their "old reliable" models, and as long as I use decent paper, they never give me trouble, even when the humidity is through the roof. But hey, that's just my take. In the States, these brands are everywhere; trying to find toner for Lexmark or Samsung feels like searching for something obscure since you can't just grab it at any local office supply store or pharmacy...

Since mp4 uses lossy compression, you can't just pick any random frame and expect it to work as a standalone high-quality image. I’m not even totally sure how the math works with keyframes or how those interval settings function, but my guess is they're the only frames you can actually grab as a full-resolution shot.
According to Murphy USA, it’s almost always a joke how the keyframe is never the exact moment you actually wanted to freeze. That’s why some cameras let you trigger a single photo while you're recording video. Action cams are basically built for that—they capture everything from a first-person perspective so you don't have to worry about hitting the perfect shutter button while trying not to break your neck.
If you want top-tier footage, you either go pro with high-end gear or just nail those individual shots on the fly...

It’s gonna stay a total mystery unless you actually take a look at what Benjamin King2 suggested. It could be anything, really. Maybe the cooler isn't seated right, or the CPU is overheating and throttling itself just to stay alive? That would tank your performance and leave the processor struggling through basic tasks, blah, blah, blah...

Do yourself a favor: pop the case open (or grab someone who knows their way around hardware), pull off that cooler, blow out the dust, check the seating, clean everything up, apply some fresh thermal paste, and snap that cooler back on tight... then run your benchmarks again. There isn't any other way to fix this, at least not with an instant fix here on Reddit.

Hey, Michael Walker43... are you even reading the replies?

In this price range, you aren't really going to find an HP or a Canon packed with Wi-Fi and all those extra bells and whistles. But hey, you'll get a reliable workhorse with cheap, easy-to-find replacement toner everywhere you look. Take that Samsung mentioned above—it’s even a multifunction model, sure, but I can never find any toner for it locally. I have to special order everything from Washington, D.C., whereas you can grab HP 85 a toner at basically any corner store, and it's nearly half the price of the Samsung stuff...
You can definitely count on the build quality of a Canon or an HP, even if they're basically designed to be disposable printers. As for Samsung? I've heard they can be a bit of a headache sometimes.

Nando, eat dirt: "lucky day for us..." as if Massa is even part of that "us" group. This guy’s been having a rough ride all day, and after about 10 laps, he’s basically starting the whole race over from scratch...

Honestly, it just proves there's actual talent on the grid; we just need to stop letting Bernie’s nonsense hold them back.
Goodyear should probably sue Bernie for every single penny for the damage done to their reputation. Even Tiger Pirot wouldn't have put up with criticism this bad...

Round three, and man, what a joke this whole competition is...

You totally missed the point on Bitcoin, but hey, whatever...

darkbadger46 said:It feels like ever since >, every single sci-fi flick is going to be scrutinized under this intense microscope—people are obsessed with finding some sort of 100% scientific perfection or hunting down a supposed "error." Honestly, most people who go into a movie based on the reviews are just looking for something new to nitpick. Every sci-fi movie or series is absolutely crawling with logical leaps—just look at >. If > had been wearing an impenetrable suit while on >, he never would have been stung by a thorn that caused such a lethal infection. And how on Earth does the > make so much noise traveling through > when, technically, there's no sound in a vacuum? Or what are those Starfleet officers even using to pay > for drinks on > if they live in a society without money? Viewing this film through the lens of an infallible scientific model is just fundamentally the wrong approach.

In essence, people are glancing at everything except the actual heart of the movie—which is the portrayal of a future > fighting for his very existence, and that incredibly touching story about the bond between a father and son.

Like I said before, maybe just ask yourselves: have you spent a little too much time watching sci-fi movies?

If you're looking for someone who blindly swallows every single sci-fi flick that comes his way, yeah, that’s definitely me. But man, this movie? It actually manages to sink even lower than my usual low bar.
That controversial Prometheus movie honestly gave me at least seven or eight different things to chew on. If I actually sat down to weigh all the causes and consequences, I'd probably end up deciding whether the whole thing actually holds water or if it’s just a total disaster. What do you guys think?
Look, at the end of the day, this movie is really just a container. The plot is pretty straightforward, isn't it? Honestly, you can see exactly where it’s heading within the first ten minutes of meeting the characters. You basically know the ending before the opening credits are even finished.
This movie tries way too hard to be more than just some cheesy space soap opera. It basically expects you to throw away 45 minutes of your life without giving you any actual context. I mean, even Star Trek eventually brought in actual scientists to give their plots some much-needed substance. Even Stargate moved past the first movie by building a whole series around completely different themes, where being in Space was just a backdrop—they could've set that entire show on a subway if they wanted to. Here? This thing could have been fixed by a random high schooler just adding a little bit of scientific logic to the story. Seriously, how hard is that?
So, what exactly do they use for money on Deep Space 9? Is it Bitcoin? It’s funny when you think about it. Nowadays, we're constantly surrounded by tech that makes contactless payments a breeze—stuff like RFID barcodes and smartphones that basically act as programmable hubs for everything we do. We managed to pack all that progress into just three or four years. If we were living back in the era of DS 9 after Earth, specifically around 2013, wouldn't we have looked at even the most isolated tribes in the Amazon and thought their way of life was totally unbelievable? Technology moves fast, doesn't it?

The real problem with this movie? It lacks any actual scientific logic or grounding. Sure, part of the plot takes place in Space, so you naturally assume we're looking at a civilization with high-tech capabilities. But where is all that tech? It’s just not there. You honestly find yourself wondering how these people even managed to survive.

Basically, this movie misses the entire point. It looks at everything except what actually matters, right? You’ve got this incredible portrayal of a future Ranger just fighting to stay alive, plus that heavy, emotional father-son bond. That's where the real heart is.

Like I said before, you really gotta ask yourself—have you been watching way too many sci-fi movies lately?

So, you're saying Rangers?
You talking about that muscle-bound, meathead organization? You know, the one that evacuates an entire civilization into Space just to defend their new home using combat skills perfected in some pre-Christian era?
I mean, if they at least had some kind of laser swords—and actually gave them a decent reason, like some ancient code or religious ritual—then fine. But this? It makes absolutely zero sense. 🤷

A deep dive into a father's character and a touching story about the bond between a dad and his son (minus any mention of the Holy Spirit, since he turned his back on this whole thing too—the Trinity is just Mama Smith at this point).
So here it is:
"A militant, cold-blooded guy who’s basically an absent father—someone who has zero connection to his family and just shows up briefly to watch his son pass some cadet exam—ends up landing on an uninhabited planet with that same (unsuccessful) son.
The whole 'relationship' between the commander (dad) and the cadet (son) unfolds as the commander keeps drilling the kid on his training just to trigger a rescue mission.
Once they pull off the rescue, the commander (dad) gives this pathetic salute to the cadet (son) for a job well done... and the son just breaks down crying, deciding he's done playing soldier and would much rather play with rag dolls with Mom."

Basically, my three crappy little sentences perfectly capture the "touching tale" of this father-son bond. It's banal, shallow, and honestly not worth the effort.
You don't need a 90-minute feature film to depict a relationship like that; this feels more like a Smith family home movie where they explain to their kid how they made all the money he's spending. It's strictly for internal family viewing—too serious and way too boring for a "funny home video."
How much the Smith family actually believes in this whole project is proven by the fact that the story was finished definitively, leaving absolutely zero room for a franchise. Thanks to Father and Son for making it that way.

I had the misfortune of catching this "masterpiece" last night in some absolutely pathetic low-res version. I guess that’s why I was robbed of the only decent thing about the movie: the nature shots.
For the kid, it would probably be smarter not to blow through the family inheritance like this; he definitely won't live off his acting alone, he'll need the cash. And the goofy dad with all those hand gestures? He’s clearly just fishing for that cheap, "American sitcom for idiots" vibe.
As for the script—if it actually promised anything when it was just a rough sketch with a few basic ideas—it gets systematically dismantled by every subsequent scene, right up until the final massacre.
Once you pile on all the nonsense that manages to insult any reasonably intelligent living being, my only regret is that it didn't lean into being a sci-fi parody; everything would have fit perfectly there. The logic gaps just stack on top of each other, and after ten minutes, it all collapses into one nauseating mess. The rest of the film isn't even following a thin plot anymore; it's just waiting to see where the script slips up next (spoilers!):
- The new human habitat is this desert planet, a city tucked into a canyon by a river, where there isn't even a blade of grass to be found.
- Instead of actual walls, all the dwellings have these fabric screens to shade against the sun—which seems like a pretty flimsy defense against a deadly predator, right?
- That same "fabric curtain" motif shows up on the starship too, except here it's some kind of mesh used instead of bulkheads (did they have a clearance sale at the local mall or something?)
- Those famous Rangers first saved the human race, and now they're held hostage by their own "code of honor" or whatever, charging at a hated enemy with nothing but spears like they're in some Klingon reenactment.
- Then we get back to Earth and find out gravity is stronger here than on Mount Everest, where they live now. Despite all the lush greenery, the atmosphere is way thinner, making it hard to breathe—unless you happen to have some Bronx cough drops on hand (or was it "Throat Lozenges"? I wasn't paying attention).
So, the whole pollution issue that triggered the exodus doesn't even matter anymore; now it's just energy clouds blocking communications.
Despite all that, this energetic young guy is happily leaping from rock to rock like he's at a NASA training center for hyperactive kids.
- There are plenty of those Bronxs in every Ranger's backpack, plus med-kits, and people are dropping dead left and right, yet the kid heads into an adventure with only his personal stash. He doesn't even try to scavenge from the bodies scattered everywhere—I guess the evil Urka uses them too?
- On Earth, everything mutated except for snakes and pigs, and apparently, the most vicious creature is a leech.
- The climate shifts so drastically between day and night that it confuses even the prehistoric ferns, which somehow survive despite the polar conditions.
- What on earth is the connection between total environmental destruction and the sudden appearance of volcanoes and geothermal springs?
- And why are the Eskimos messing around with ice block igloos when they could just build a nest out of tightly woven twigs to stay warm?
- After the crash, Will stays in the cockpit, which is fully functional—navigation works, diagnostics work, alarms work... but none of that matters because you can't send an SOS from there. You need this specific little portable handheld device for that. Of course, nobody asks where the cockpit gets its power from when the tail of the ship 62 miles is far away and the rest is crushed. Yet, this tiny portable device has enough juice to pierce through most interference and blast a signal to another galaxy.
- The design of the starship is interesting, if totally illogical: it looks like a giant jellyfish with a long tail, which serves zero purpose unless it's some kind of engine part (it doesn't move and you can't use it like a fish tail, haha). In some scenes, the engines are randomly scattered all over the ship (definitely not in the tail), and they don't fail because of power loss, but because of hitting debris. Even though they aren't jet engines—since there's nothing to suck in—they're placed along the edges of the bottom/rear of the ship, far from the impacts, yet they fail one by one.
The whole structure is basically made of sheet metal as thin as a Coca-Cola can and some breezy curtains. No airtight compartments at all, just the occasional stroll through a hole the size of a garage door.
- So, picture this: you’re rocking some high-tech latex space suit that changes colors, has a built-in forearm display, tracks all your vitals (though it won't actually keep you warm!), comes with wings... plus an emergency oxygen respirator. Sure, you might survive out in deep Space, but that respirator would be useless in a thinner atmosphere like the Bronx... so that's why they don't use it.
- Honestly, even with humanity spreading out into the far reaches of Space, we still haven't figured out how to make basic gloves or helmets. If we had those, we could wear airtight suits that don't leak hormones for enemies to track. But if the predator couldn't sniff you out, there wouldn't be a movie, right?
- Besides, this predator's whole reason for existing is just killing people. Who knows how long it's been waiting for us to settle on Mount Everest planet? What was it doing before then? Who was it hunting? What does it eat? How does it breed? Can you even take it out in its nests? 🤷 It's just... there.
- And of course, just to move the plot along, they're using the same ship to transport a prisoner to another colony on a different planet for "training." These creatures are clearly spread across Space, so why transport him instead of just catching him on-site? If he isn't even on that second planet, what's the point of training to fight him? If he only exists on his home planet while cadets are recruited elsewhere, why haul the creature back and forth? Why not just bring the cadets to a local Academy? There's plenty of desert out there, man. The cadets will show up eventually.

And just like that, that's basically the whole movie... for the rest of the runtime, just go watch some National Geographic about rainforests...

Peter Sanchez15 said:I already tried that, but I just can't figure out how to wrap the ROUND function around my existing formula?
Because when I look at the cells I'm adding up, they don't show the actual number, they just show the formula used to get that value.

Basically, instead of plugging in a single number, you just take the entire contents of that cell—the whole formula—and drop it into the ROUND function:

=ROUND(formula,2)

For example:
=ROUND(SQRT(1245/45,25*0.05-2.25),2)

Just "wrap" your whole thing in the ROUND function, and it’ll tidy up that final result to two decimal places for you...

Roger Wright94 said:Nah, you're totally wrong. TBF is right here. I should've just stayed out of it.

If Mercedes could just fix even a tiny part of that rear tire wear issue, they'd be popping up on the podium instantly.
If they actually nail the fix? Championship in the bag.

Sure, there's a gap in points right now, but we've only finished a quarter of the season. There's still a massive amount of racing left. Don't forget, they've got two fast, powerhouse drivers. And when it comes to single laps, they're already at the top.

Right, because if they just fixed *part* of the problem... then once they fix the *whole* thing... and if the stars happen to align... everyone else will just sit around complaining while Merc cruises to victory? 🥳

Those hypothetical scenarios where you look at one team's potential progress in a vacuum? They don't fly on this forum either.

stormybadger8 said:Well, based on what Bernie said, that's not even accurate...
Bernie claimed he asked for tires that would last 50% of the race (halfway through, right?) and no longer than that...
At best, Pirelli tires hold up for 33% (one third) of the race, and sometimes they barely hit 25% (one quarter)...which is definitely not what Bernie allegedly* asked 😳for.

*I'm assuming the old man is lying about how long and wide things were, and that Pirelli did exactly what he told them to... but from the outside, Pirelli looks absolutely terrible...

Besides, that press conference was pretty interesting.😁
Paul made it crystal clear that the directors are pissed off because the tires are falling apart during races, and it's looking extremely bad for our little company's image.😁

Pirelli has basically flushed their entire marketing advantage of being the exclusive Formula 1 tire supplier down the drain, and then some. Even though everyone knows everything is being done by dictate, the damage from people mocking their logo is getting more expensive by the day.

I'd buy it if the tire sets were programmed for 50% of the race, allowing teams that can pull off a mandatory stop to cruise through the rest of the track while everyone else struggles in the pits and tries to make up ground via tactical driving.

But this is way too much: after about 10 laps of careful driving, the tire delaminates so badly that the entire tread peels off in huge chunks, leaving the car running on "air balloons" as you limp toward the pits.🤦
What's next: a trip to the past where the driver hops out with a mechanic, a jack, a wrench, and a set of tigar Pirot tires to swap them out wherever they blow?

These are supposed to be races for the fastest drivers in the best cars, but this setup has completely killed aggressive driving. You go all out at the start, the tires die, and then the rest of the race is just an engineer driving via telemetry—calculating the cheapest pit window, exit timing, star alignments, and zodiac signs. Every time a driver tries to overtake, they have to ask the pit wall if they're even allowed to race that car anymore... where's the actual racing in that?
It’s basically turned into a full-blown war of team strategies at this point. Honestly, they could have just run a simulation in some strategy game and played the recording for us... or maybe just strap some electric scooters to the cars? Since they aren't allowed to even look at the brakes anyway, what else do they have to lose?

Complete decadence. We’re watching the twilight of Formula 1. It feels like the leaders aren't necessarily the best drivers anymore, just the ones who manage to babysit their tires and save more sets....

So, if we’re strictly following that rule, shouldn't every single DRS overtake be double-checked afterward? Just to make sure some other team didn't mess with the tech or cheat the one-second gap.
Or honestly, why not just scrap this whole activation/deactivation headache? It's hit or miss as it is.
The fairest way would be to let every driver use DRS whenever they feel like it, regardless of the gap. It would become a standard part of an F1 car, just like the gas pedal or the brakes... instead of this constant "is it on or off?" nonsense where you have to wait a lap only to lose the slipstream anyway. Look, man, just floor it, brake, hit the gas whenever you want. You want speed? You need grip? Use your head! It would feel much more like actual racing. Right now, it’s just "the system isn't working, so just handle it yourselves and we'll pretend everything is totally fair."