Jerry LevineEntirely possible that based on @pluralistic’s posts that I’m going to get a @framework / Framework Computer (https://frame.work/ )to teach my 9yo how to build a laptop and make his own (I think we’ll stick with Windows over Linux, though, if that’s okay).
once was@jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework Finally. I love this. I have done more than most people on laptops - replacing HDD and ram and screens, n wireless cards. I run old software cuz I'm poor and honestly hate the newest versions - no macs in this house - of windows. I might get one someday, but I already have two laptops and a desktop rig that I built. so I'm good for now
The Nerdy Mel@onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework
Repair is a radical act! Keep keeping those old laptops out of the trash heap!
Also, as another laptop fixer who sometimes pays their bills by being willing to be more patient with a mac than a lot of mac people (and some non-mac engineers, lol), keep keeping them out. The new m2s are basically just ipads and the coming repair cycle is going to be sad when orgs have to toss a near-brand-new machine for the first time.
Mike Spooner@TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework Rejuvenating too.
I've lost count of the number of friends' laptop computers that seemed on their last legs, basically unusable, brought back to sparkling life with: a cheap SSD to replace HDD, second-hand additional RAM, and (usually most important) a fresh reinstall of O/S and apps with all their data restored.
To those friends, it seems like magic; and very grateful that it is £20-£30 instead of £300+ for a new computer (I don't charge friends for effort and tooling, only for any parts needed that aren't already in my bucket of spares).
@shelldozer @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework with friends, that look of relief on their faces makes it worth the time. And sometimes the repair is simple enough that you can do it while you hang out over dinner. Those hard drive swaps have paid for themselves almost every time in the social time and sweet memories they've facilitated.
Dustin [BusySignal-KE2EFX]@shelldozer @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework the SSD/RAM new OS repair / fixer-up was my entire pandemic - even getting PCs and laptops from goodwill that weren’t good to salvage parts from. I probably did about 25 upgrades for friends and family when they all of a sudden needed home PCs for kids remote. It’s amazing what those three combos can do.
@dustinfinn @shelldozer @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework
Yes! We had so many friends, friends of friends, and family that couldn't afford that new computer expense when lockdowns hit. We took a lot of abandoned closet laptops and sub-$100 ebay machines and Frankensteined as many folks through it as we could. I bet a lot of the families you put machines together for are still using theirs, too.
@TheNerdyMel @dustinfinn @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework Absolutely. At least until Oct 2025, and you can probably guess why.
A couple of other things that can help tremendously on older 2006-2012 vintage systems):
(1) Replacing the hopeless OEM original CPU/chipset thermal paste/pads that, after a few years tend to have dried out, with proper long-life oil-based extremely-high-thermal-conductivity paste: Shin-Etsu X-23-7783D. This helps stop the CPU from self-throttling due to overheating due to failed thermal paste.
(2) For Core2 series CPUs, replacing the usually low-end CPU with a faster/larger-cache Core2Duo (typ. £6-£10) helps hugely. This is accompanied by judiciously undervolting the replacement CPU using Throttlestop software (set to run as a scheduled task 'at system startup', to reduce temperature and preserve battery-runtime, both back to the previous levels.
@TheNerdyMel @dustinfinn @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework
Merom CPUs can usually be undervolted down to 1.0V, Penryn down to 1.025V. Of course, as each inidividual CPU varies a little, this needs stress-testing, which I usually do with Prime95 until it shows faultless for 24 hours.
The subsequent Arrandale and later CPUs have flexibly-and-internally-managed voltage-ramping, thus Throttlestop is not needed for those.
sycramore@shelldozer @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework RAM can be a huge problem when it doesn't work for whatever reason. Tried this multiple times with laptops and they didn't boot with the new ram. Apparently some bios versions only accept ram from certain vendors.
@sycramore @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework
Or where the chipset eg: supports 2x2GB, but the OEM (Dell, can you hear me?) has artificially limited the system to 2x1GB in BIOS.
I have a word for that particular tomfoolery, but not repeatable in polite company.
@shelldozer @sycramore @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework
Okay that's it, between the excellent thread of additional tips and that statement, you've gone and done something I like and now I'm fond of you.
Andy Sherman@shelldozer @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework I’ve often found that the cheapest and most effective elixir is memory.
@andy_sherman @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework
Yes, indeed!
IME, for typical basic Windows10 use, 4GB RAM and 3MB L2 cache are really the practical minimum; for heavy use, 8GB RAM and 4+MB L2 cache are usually required.
Choong Ng@shelldozer @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework In some cases a new wireless card can work wonders as well.
Thomas Dickerson@shelldozer @TheNerdyMel @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework My wife's 2009 13" Macbook is still running smoothly with an SSD + 16GB of RAM (nevermind that that old 1280x800 display looks like a potato now)
@elfprince13 @shelldozer @onceitwas @jerrylevine @pluralistic @framework hecking yes. I love all these stories of computers kept out of the trash.