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Recently I made a major change to my home computing platforms with the addition of a PC running Windows 11.
My primary computer was and will remain a 2025 MacBook Air, which works splendidly, and it runs the OS with which I'm most productive. However, as I near retirement and may be taking on some consulting, I wanted access to a powerful PC that could run Windows 11 and an as-yet TBD Linux distribution for running local LLMs.
So, a few weeks ago I bought at MicroCenter a PowerSpec G732 gaming PC. It's a beefy rig that IMO gives you a lot for the money:
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (4.5GHz) Processor
- MSI PRO B850M-VC WiFi Motherboard
- 32GB DDR5-6000 RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Graphics Card
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 5GbE LAN, WiFi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
- Windows 11 Home
My old monitor was a 27" LG from 2019 which was built to work with the then-new MacBooks that had only Thunderbolt ports. It acted as my docking station proving power, audio and video, Gig-E and a decent built-in webcam. Unfortunately, it only works with Macs, not PCs, so I needed to replace it.
Microcenter had an LG UltraGear 27G640A-B.AUSQ 27" 2K QHD (2560 x 1440) 300Hz Gaming Monitor with built-in speakers but no webcam on sale for $300. While the old unit was 4K-capable I ran it at only 2K because at 4K everything was too small for me to see.
The new monitor lacks a webcam so I added a Logitech Brio 100 1080p Webcam which include a microphone.
I'm using my old Dell keyboard and Logitech mouse, both connected via USB.
My impressions so far:
The PC's build quality is excellent with nice interior cable management. Performance seems very good although the closest thing I've done to taxing it is to run Skyrim at the highest resolution. If I run it faster than 60FPS, though, the video spins which is apparently a known Skyrim bug. Obviously, I need something more modern to really stretch out the graphics, and after I get it setup for local LLMs I expect to put the NVidea card to real work.
The Logitech webcam was only $40 but apparently the video quality is nicer than the one built into my old monitor. I didn't get any complaints about audio from its mic on a Google Meetings call or a Zoom call.
The new monitor is sharp, displaying either text or graphics well. The built-in speakers are inferior to those on my old monitor. I may replace them with USB speakers connected to the KVM.
Windows 11 is DOGSHIT. I had to do a lot of tweaking to disable unwanted features (e.g. Copilot) but it seems to be running OK for now. I did make a USB recovery stick in case a Microsoft update breaks it. (As far as I'm concerned the best version of Windows for end user computing was Windows 7.)
The biggest problem I had with the PC was trying to get a PowerA brand USB XBox controller working with it. This should have been plug and play. Fat chance. I spent HOURS trying to get it to be seen by any applications or the Windows joystick control app, which included a ton of Googling and even troubleshooting with the aid of Google Gemini to no avail. Eventually, I returned the PowerA controller and replaced it with a Bluetooth Microsoft XBox controller that installed and worked with minimal effort.
The PC has two empty slots on its motherboard for NVME SSDs. I plan to populate one in the near future and dual-boot with Linux for running local LLMs. I haven't decided which version. I'm debating between Fedora, Alma, Debian, or Ubuntu. Stay tuned.
However, the new setup left me without the ability to connect the MacBook Air to the new monitor and my mouse and keyboard, so today I went back to Microcenter and got a UGreen HDMI KVM Switch (2 Computers, 1 Monitor, 4K@60Hz) model #15707.
Yes, I have too much crap on my desk. My Xfinity gateway (in bridge mode) is the white tower back left. In front of that is a Yaesu FT-2800R 2M/70cm transceiver. On the right you can see my MacBook Air in a cradle I bought around 10 years ago to use in my old home office, and finally the new PC. The WiFi adapter is connected to the PC but not in use since wired Ethernet > WiFi. Behind the monitor is a three-tier wire rack shelf holding my WiFi router on top, and below that my desktop switch and Intel Nuc, and on the bottom shelf my power strip.
The KVM is behind the Mac, with its remote control below the monitor.
Because the MacBook Air only has the Magsafe power connector, A/V, and two Thunderbolt ports, I have it connected with an older Anker USB-C hub/dock that has an HDMI port, three USB-A ports, and a Gig-E port, which is then connected to my desktop switch. Power to the Mac is provided by the OEM Magsafe charger.
I chose the UGreen KVM switch because of the mostly positive reviews at Microcenter and Amazon, and because it's noted as being compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows. A couple reviews noted instability when it was run off bus power, so I added a USB-A to USB-C cable for power, which I have plugged into my power strip.
A nice feature of the KVM is that it has a remote button for switching inputs. I need to stick it to the base of the monitor with some double-sided Velcro.
The KVM seems to work with both the Mac and the PC. I tested the webcam and it works on both machines in MS Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.
The main downside to the new setup is that due to limited desk space I had to give up the ability to use the laptop with the screen open, but I can live with that.
This new setup will allow me to retain the use of my Mac for most productivity and Internet activities while enabling me to run Windows 11 or desktop Linux when needed.
Very quiet, very comfortable room. (It is a Hilton; it better be.) There is an indoor skydiving business across the street; if we had more time, I would go over there. I have always wanted to experience skydiving without the adrenaline rush of jumping out of a perfectly functional plane while wondering if my parachute is going to work.
The post Vietnam Field-Made Tiger Stripe Combat Vests first appeared on Forgotten Weapons.
The AR15 is the most popular rifle in America today, and certainly the most controversial. I bet we all know someone who just bought their first one.An ideal companion to the rifle would be a book about its history and use. I recommend “AR-15: A Citizen’s Guide to America’s Rifle.” I’ve known the author, Frank […]
This Week in History: On August 4, 1873, while protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, the US 7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer (pictured), clashed for the first time with the Sioux Indian tribe near the Tongue River, killing one man on each side. — August 6, 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved. It was described by Voltaire as “in no way holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.” Emperor Francis II renounced his title of Holy Roman Emperor, becoming instead the first Emperor of Austria. — August 4, 1900: An allied expeditionary force, made up of …
The post Preparedness Notes — August 4, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Some of the erroneous assumptions and operating principles that Western governments of today have been utilizing in their social planning schemes are these six stupid ideas: 1. The stupid idea that people and institutions can become perfect. The perfectibility of institutions and people is contrary to all natural law and historical precedent. People are imperfect by their nature and institutions which are composed of people are imperfect. 2. The stupid idea that economic output is everything which can be expressed as a regularly reported number which can be measured, and the number …
The post Fall of the American Republic – Part 2, by Single Farmer appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
The U.S. M1 bayonet is designed to fit the M1 Garand rifle which was the standard issue American infantry rifle during World War II and the Korean conflict. The M1 bayonet has a 10-inch spear-point blade that is 1 inch wide and has a tang that is around 0.25 inches thick. The blade is made of 1080 carbon steel. The grip panels are made out of black Durez or a similar plastic. The bayonet measures 14.25 inches overall. The 10-inch blade is long enough to make the bayonet somewhat awkward for everyday tasks like opening cans, prying open crates, or …
The post AFH U.S. M1 Bayonet, by Thomas Christianson appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
Today’s graphic is a satellite image of Europe at night. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail image below is click-expandable. — If any SurvivalBlog readers have personally taken or otherwise hold the copyright to a particularly nice landscape photo or other photo of particular interest to preppers that is in a wide horizontal format (to match our blog template) then please send it in as an e-mail attachment, and I will consider posting it as a Graphic of the Week, or as a Top Note photo. I can of course credit you by name — or pen name — if …
The post SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Economics & Investing Links of Interest NYT: Larry Ellison Bet It All on the A.I. Boom. Will He Be the Face of the A.I. Bubble? Bond yields at 19-year high send Warsh credibility warning. At Whatfinger: America’s Quiet Civil War: High-Tax Slave States vs. Free Market Freedom States. To file under “Socialist Stupidity”: Commerce Department quietly announces 7 new equity stakes in private companies. Silicon Valley’s 24-Year-Old AI “Prophet” Just Lost a Fortune – The Hype Finally …
The post Economics & Investing Media of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column: China’s robot warrior dogs. Robot Dogs are Training \With Soldiers in China Whatfinger.com reports: Robot dogs are no longer experimental in China. They’re training with actual soldiers, right now: …
The post The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — SurvivalBlog reader C.B. forwarded this news link: American Red Cross declares national blood crisis as type O supply drops to dangerous levels. Here is an excerpt: “The Red Cross is now limiting distributions of type O blood to hospitals, as the nation’s largest single provider of blood products now has less than …
The post SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
REDOUBT NEWS LINKS This weekly column features media from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. In Spokane: ‘When the sun rises, we are going to be in shock’: Thousands evacuated in north Spokane as wildfire crosses river into city. Some other coverage: Apocalyptic Inferno in Spokane: Fast-Moving Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations as Homes Burn and Hospital is Emptied (Videos). Idaho In-N-Out gunman died by gunshot wound after killing 3, wounding 7, Twin Falls police say. An armed citizen made the …
The post SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …
The post Editors’ Prepping Progress appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Your Little Toe Does Have A Purpose It Makes Sure That All Of Your Furniture is Kept In Its Proper Place Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.
The post JWR’s Meme Of The Week: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.” – C.S. Lewis, as quoted in Cyril Connolly’s ‘The Unquiet Grave’ (1944) Chapter 31
The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Week: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.
By Dave Workman UPDATE: An armed private citizen using a semiautomatic FN Five-Seven pistol fitted with a suppressor is being called a hero for opening fire on a killer armed with a rifle at a recently-opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho. Jordan Salinas, 35, is quoted by the Idaho Statesman stating, “There’s a […]
The post Armed Citizen Hailed as Hero for Engaging, Distracting Idaho Killer appeared first on Liberty Park Press.
Termite sent me this, and I had to look it up. LARPing is "Live Action Role Play".
So, that explains that.
Which reminds me, I need to order something for arifle.
The post Sweden’s Green Trials Galil: the FFV-890C first appeared on Forgotten Weapons.
Quote of the Day The state of Delaware has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. But don’t make the mistake of believing that “distinction” means the state is safe from criminal gun misuse. The national gun … Continue reading →
Continue reading →Authorities say the homeowner shot the suspect in the feet during the attempted burglary.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials say his injuries are not considered life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery.
He is expected to face burglary charges upon his release from the hospital, authorities say.
No injuries were reported to the homeowner or any other occupants of the residence.
Police in Warner Robins said officers were sent to Ignico Drive near Village South apartments for a call about a shooting in the area at 2:42 a.m. on Friday.
At the scene, police discovered an 18-year-old boy dead after he had been shot.
City officials later identified the victim as Kaden McGhee, and announced that the shooting is being investigated as a self-defense incident.
It's quiet in the tropics for the first week of August. So far, we have had only two named storms in the Atlantic basin August is normally the month when the Atlantic storms crank up, notably in 2005. That was a busy year. A little research tells us that the least active hurricane season on record was 1914 when only one known tropical storm was recorded.
We had a little dry cold front move through over the weekend. No rain and the temps are not notably lower, but the humidity is down, which is a good thing.
Belle mentioned that she would like a chimichanga for lunch, and I happen to have a recipe. I'll go to the grocers in a bit and see if I can find some tortillas.
I originally wrote this article 13 years ago. Just a few weeks ago, I went out to dinner with a long time friend from high school. She teaches women’s self defense classes at a local college. She mentioned that she used this article in every class she teaches. Until I had spoken with her, […]
Attempted but did not reach four dead because of a good guy with a gun. 8/2/26 Newsweek:
A man armed with a handgun exchanged gunfire with the suspect during Saturday's deadly shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, forcing the gunman to take cover, according to an eyewitness cited in multiple reports.
Lane Koehn told The Associated Press he saw a man carrying an AR-style rifle emerge near the drive-thru on Saturday afternoon before another man pulled a pistol and fired at the gunman.
It is an article of faith that a good guy with a gun (at least a concealed one) will not stop someone with an "assault weapon." At first glance, this seems to make sense: they have a powerful weapon, dangerous to 100 yards plus.
But in this case, the murderer blew away any tactical advantage: he was shooting apparently randomly as he approached. At 100 yards, yes, the rifleman has the clear advantage. At 15 yards, not so much.
As with many of these tragedies, one shot, the murderer committed suicide. I will be surprised if this does not turn out to be mental illness induced.
According to police, a man entered McNeal’s Superette in the 5900 block of Lillian around 10 a.m. and caused a disturbance, during which he attempted to force his way behind the counter into a secured area. The clerk then reportedly shot the man.
When officers arrived at the market, police said there was a fight between the suspect and the officers who attempted to take him into custody.
Detectives said a subject had obtained a key card to another individual’s hotel room and entered the room without permission. The subject later exited the room, and the verbal confrontation continued in the hallway.
Surveillance footage showed the subject attempting to strike the other individual and enter the hotel room a second time.
During the confrontation, the subject reached into his waistband and produced a black object. The other individual then fired approximately eight rounds, striking the subject multiple times, authorities said.
Police said Peak and another man were physically assaulting David Johnson Gray, a 57-year-old Black man, when a firearm was dropped during the altercation. Investigators said Gray retrieved the firearm and fired several rounds, striking Peak as he and the other man were attempting to run away. The other man was not hit, police said.
The quest to squeeze maximum performance and aerodynamic efficiency out of small bore cartridges never stops with me. With Hornady’s release of the 62gr ELD-VT (Varmint Target) bullet, designed natively around the .22 ARC, it was only a matter of time before I had to see how this high velocity, high BC projectile performs in […]
The post Testing the Hornady 62gr ELD-VT in .224 Valkyrie: 100-Yard Velocity & Accuracy Bench Prep first appeared on Day At The Range.Long-range shooting has a way of exposing the strengths and weaknesses of both rifles and ammunition. It’s easy to look good on a single lucky hit, but sustaining impacts over an entire day of shooting is what really tells the story. For this range session, we brought four very different rifles chambered in three different […]
The post Four Rifles. Three Calibers. One Goal: Ring Steel at Distance – 800 to 1000 Yards first appeared on Day At The Range.