My Diary:

--8/09/2025: As you may (or may not) have noticed, I have stopped using Windows. I completely wiped my boot drive and install Arch Linux as the only OS. I figured better now to force myself into learning more about GNU/Linux, especially with having such a slow CPU. Remember my last diary entry? When the 1080 Ti went bye bye? Well, turns out the CPU got a little damaged too. It does still work (typing on the machine right now), however it does not operate correctly at stock settings anymore. Even with a fresh BIOS install/all stock settings, it will randomly lock up on random web pages. I did try underclocking it to 3.3GHz @ 1.284V, which did make it a little more stable. RN running it 3.65GHz @1.394V, and it does seems a bit better. Not sure why dynamic 3.7GHz @ 1.43V (stock settings) is so unstable. Really weird behavior. Still need to save up for a 3700X and maybe (someday) a 5950X. I don't think I'll even move away from AM4 unless my motherboard dies tbh. Modern boards are way too expensive for the PCIe layout I need, whether it be AMD or Intel. I'll still provide Windows support (cause why not?) as I keep trying to save up money for various things (few new PC parts, moving to another state, maybe start HRT again...etc.). I have been enjoying using Arch Linux tho. It's not perfect (duh, no OS is from any company), however it's kinda made using the computer in general more fun again. Added benifit of being snappier than Windows 11 (I'm running X11, so around Win 10 level of snappiness).

--6/23/2025: Stepping back from social media in general. Also stepping back from doing tech support. It's is more stressful as time goes by, and it absolutely comes nowhere near close to paying the bills anymore. AI is really doing a number on many fields...this will just continue to spread as money/compute is pooured into it. Oh, also! My 1080 Ti got heavily damaged 6/5/2025. Thought it was dead at first. Lots of artifacting tho and display doesn't work when you install a newer driver beyond the one that auto-installs via Windows Updates. Since I don't make very much money (might not even make enough to pay my bills this month), I can't afford to replace it. That combined with the state of the world (and especially the US) is what has lead me to stepping away from social media. I might stay active on Discord/Twitch just to keep in touch with people. Unsure tho if I even want to do that anymore. It's all a lot of effort and I just have so little patience for anything these days. Gunna try and focus on buildings PCs for people (that's really all I want to do with my life, nothing else interests me) and making more money (wish companies actually payed a living wage).

--1/28/2025: My PC is so slow, even with just general PC usage. Sure I have 32 (or 48)GB of RAM, however it's only DDR4 and my CPU is really slow. Even CPU pushed to 3.925GHz all-core and RAM to 3600 CL18 :/ I've used lots of CPUs....and the single-core of this chip just isn't fast enough. Especially comparing it to some of the AM5 builds I've done, it's like walking through peanut butter. Heck even a 5800X3D/4080 Super build in the other room is not much faster when it comes to usage in Windows 11. I wish Linux made a bigger difference, however it really doesn't. It's the same as going back to Windows 10. Lil bit snappier, with even less Window programs support (stuff like HWinfo). Even tried using a distro like Zorin OS with its ability to natively run .exe's. I'm sure if I took a weekend/full week I could get things working ok. It's just missing the relative ease of setting up a Windows install and then getting to use the PC without constantly mess with stuff. Maybe someday people will write a Linux distro or two for the average user instead of other devs. That day is not today, and probably won't happen until the end of this year at least. I've been looking at the various AM5 and Z790 motherboards avaliable. Since I really like the PCIe slot spacing on my X570 Aorus Master, seeing this trend of the secondary PCIe slots being shoved down to the bottom of the motherboard in favor of some M.2 slots makes me sad. I currently use 2 of the 4 PCIe slots and I could easily use all 4 if I pulled a few parts out of storage. Why would you make a motherboard with x2 PCIe slots right next to each other??? Multiple GPUs aren't dead, and to see that not correctly supported even on the really high-end boards annoys me greatly. I've checked almost every ASRock and Gigabyte board and they are all the same. Highly unlikely I will go ASUS given how they've treated consumers over the past few years. Hence why I also won't touch Nvidia 50 series even if it was free. Long live my 1080 Ti until I can afford a proper replacement (at least 22GB VRAM and 2x the die speed). I basically need a whole new build lol. It's so expensive tho! *sighs* I'd also like to get into VRChat with a headset, however that's even more expense added. Not to mention idk if I'd be able to handle it without constant headaches. Idk...