Step 1: Purchase or build new computer capable of running Starfield, which I realized a couple of weeks ago that my existing one isn't. Old computer goes to the wife. Wife's old computer, which was my previous computer and is at least 15 years old, failing and still running Windows 7, goes to the dungeon to join the massive collection of shit I should throw out but never do.
Step 2: Upgrade internet service from slow-as-fuck overpriced AT&T to T-Mobile 5G (already existing phone service). It would be nice if Starfield didn't take a day and a half to download.
Step 3: Shitcan overpriced/now useless DTV, get Amazon firesticks for all the televisions.
Here's reality:
Step 1: Completed; mostly a success. Found a computer to buy that was pretty much as good and reasonably priced as anything my IT buddy and I could have built, with infinitely less grief. Got this:
Works great; No issues (so far-knocking on wood). Pain in the ass reloading software and navigating the endless password/verification gauntlet, but eventually I got through it. The only real problem was with my old computer. The AIO CPU liquid cooler was starting to go, and whether it was just ironic timing or being jostled a bit during the relocation, it died almost immediately when I moved it to the new location. When I first fired it up the goddamn thing sounded like a dosimeter at Chernobyl. Eventually it quieted down, but apparently that just signaled its death, because soon after the computer shut down and wouldn't reboot because of overheating. God that pissed me off. So the replacement is out for delivery, and hopefully that will be successfully installed today. I don't trust myself and my limited skills to directly fuck with the CPU, so IT buddy is coming over to deal with that one - I'll probably do the work, but under supervision.
Step 2: The new T-Mobile system is also supposed to be delivered today. They say it's easy to install. I'm assuming it will be a pain in the ass, because that's just how my luck rolls. I guess I'll find out later today.
Step 3: Commencing after the end of the month/baseball season, so the wife's nightly Braves viewing is not interrupted and she doesn't kill me in my sleep. Beyond watching a couple of YouTube videos, I know exactly dick about firesticks and this will be completely new territory for me. Seems easy enough in the videos. But I've learned that this shit is rarely as easy as they make it look. At least for me. I wonder if I have to remove/shitcan the dish myself, or if they'll come and get it. I guess I'll find that out in October.
Anyway, I'm old and cranky and mostly hate change of any sort, so I expect to be in Ari Gold mode over all this crap for the next month or so. But when I'm done everything should be much better, and by dumping AT&T/DTV, much cheaper, and I'll be happily enjoying Starfield. Wish me luck! [Reply]
Originally Posted by HemiEd:
Several of our neighbors switched from Verizon to T-Mobile and were flaunting it like some kind of new awesome development.
Seems like every time I try to talk to one of them the call gets dropped.
Good luck with it Tim, hopefully it is much better up there in the metropolis.
Hopefully. Neither Verizon nor AT&T offered an equivalent for my area, so they won by default.
Of course my IT buddy is giving me shit for being completely paranoid about removing the old cooling system. But he thinks at a master level and I'm a barely at apprentice level, so I'll just take the abuse. Working on/around my computer's CPU is number three on the list of things that scare me, right after sharks (fuck you Spielberg) and, after wrecking my knee last year, ladders. [Reply]
New internet up and running. Pleasantly surprised. It was as easy as advertised. Five bar strength. Now I'm going to see how long it takes to download a game. I think I'll start with Witcher 3. [Reply]
Holy shit - this is like going from a biplane to a stealth fighter. I'm damned near on verge of tears! The entire game will download in less than half an hour. On the shit I had before, it would have taken six hours or longer.
Originally Posted by Frazod:
Holy shit - this is like going from a biplane to a stealth fighter. I'm damned near on verge of tears! The entire game will download in less than half an hour. On the shit I had before, it would have taken six hours or longer.
Happy for you bud,
I would also suggest hard wiring from modem to computer if possible. [Reply]
One of the features of the mobile app was using the camera to find the best spot for gateway device. I assumed that would be near the window, but instead it was right next to my computer. They're less than six inches apart.
Still pretty much dumbfounded by how awesome this is. Haven't been this happy since the Chiefs won their latest Super Bowl. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Frazod:
New internet up and running. Pleasantly surprised. It was as easy as advertised. Five bar strength. Now I'm going to see how long it takes to download a game. I think I'll start with Witcher 3.
Started the 5.5 GB download at 4:03. It was completed in 32 minutes.
The old computer, which really never had a problem before, has now apparently become possessed. New cooling system installed, core temperature fine, but for some reason the fucking thing now won't recognize the goddamn SSD.
I unplugged it and moved it ten feet. You'd think I dropped it off the roof.
