PC Hardware
108 episodes
#6187: Can Your Laptop Borrow Your Desktop's RAM?
Two gigabytes free on the laptop, sixty-four idle on the desktop next door. Can swap over the network actually help?
#6128: Where the Screws Go: Internal KVM Mounting
PiKVM, NanoKVM, JetKVM, and BliKVM all promise remote rescue — but wiring one inside your case is a different problem entirely.
#5992: Ridiculous But Legal Ways to Get RAM for AI
Memory prices are up 485% on some kits. Here are ten ridiculous — but completely legal — ways to get RAM for AI without the markup.
#5966: How Much of Your Linux Desktop Is Actually Misconfigured?
Most "Linux tweaks" are folklore. A few are real — and one toggle most people never open is worth up to 42%.
#5963: Running One Model Across Mismatched GPUs
Tensor, pipeline, or offload? What actually happens when you run one model across several GPUs — including mismatched ones.
#5961: What Your GPU Is Actually Waiting On
Your GPU says 100% utilized. It's multiplying zeros. Here's what the counters actually measure during inference.
#5907: Rackmounting a Desktop: Size, Cases, and the Swap
How to move a working desktop into a 19-inch rack — sizing by rack unit, picking a chassis that fits your parts, and what the transplant costs.
#5754: Your Home Rack's Power Problem, Solved
Data centers look immaculate, your rack looks like a raccoon got into a cable box. Here's what actually transfers from pro PDUs to home.
#5739: Why Your Vacuum Is Legally Weaker Than a Shop Vac
A toddler, a Bosch, and an EU power cap: why the consumer vacuum in your closet is legally weaker than the dust extractor at the tool shop.
#5609: IEC Cables: Terminate, Split, or Extend?
Rewireable C13 connectors, splitters, and the length ceiling — the practical answers to running power without daisy-chained plug strips.
#5540: Why Your Trackpad Clicks Stopped Working
Your trackpad surface works but the clicks don't? That's not a trackpad failure — it's a swollen battery pushing the click plate out of reach.
#5424: ThinkPad E15: Swollen Battery or Bad Keyboard?
A dead arrow key and a jammed trackpad on a two-year-old ThinkPad E15 might be one problem, not three.
#5207: Hard Drives Are Having Their Biggest Boom in a Decade
Everyone assumes flash killed the spinning disk. Seagate's 52% margins and sold-out capacity through 2028 say otherwise.
#5082: Why Mechanical Keyboards Refused to Die
The surprising economics and community revival behind the keyboard that wouldn't stay dead.
#5013: Android Camera Fragmentation: Why Apps See Different Lenses
OnePlus hides fisheye lenses from third-party apps. Here's how Android's camera API actually works and what you can do about it.
#5002: 3D Scanning Costs: From $5K to $80K+ for Architecture
Terrestrial laser scanners vs. handheld SLAM units — real prices, post-scan workflows, and where the money actually goes.
#4972: CPU vs GPU Inference: When to Skip the GPU
Why running AI on CPU isn't a toy — and when the GPU advantage vanishes.
#4794: Best Android Phone for an Architect in 2026
Pixel 10a, Galaxy A56, or S26 Ultra? What $300-$1000 buys for dual SIM, camera, and AI.
#4498: The Smallest Windows for a Printer VM
Can you run a Windows VM so stripped down it only hosts printer drivers? We explore Server Core, IoT Enterprise, and Tiny11.
#4489: Fixing Your Monitor's Death Whine
Can an amateur fix a failing monitor? The surprising answer is yes—with the right parts and safety know-how.
#4488: Building the Perfect Linux Triple Monitor Setup
How to buy three identical monitors for Linux that actually look consistent side by side.
#4487: The Real Levers for Better Night Screens
Gamma ramps, backlight control, and DDC/CI — what actually works for circadian-friendly displays.
#4293: Vacuum Secrets: The Industrial Machine Under $500
Why a $500 industrial vacuum can outlast three premium consumer models and save you thousands.
#4150: Computing's Hidden Price Surge: DRAM, NAND & GPUs
Why your next PC build costs 32% more than two years ago — and why no one tracks it.