How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
It's Sunday, I'm lazy, so here's me talking about something somebody
else wrote rather than thinking up something new myself.
Today's article of contention: "6 PC specs that are finally outdated
in 2026"*
I'll save you from actually having to READ the article by listing
their picks below:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAMAt least I've got 32gb and so does my son. Now I can have all those web
It's Sunday, I'm lazy, so here's me talking about something somebodywell get extra, but for most people
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAM
16GB is still fine if that's what they are running with now.
It's Sunday, I'm lazy, so here's me talking about something somebody
else wrote rather than thinking up something new myself.
Today's article of contention: "6 PC specs that are finally outdated
in 2026"*
I'll save you from actually having to READ the article by listing
their picks below:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAM
Now, I'm not sure I agree with some of those. In particular, I have
issue with the following picks:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
Personally, while I know so people swear by ultra-wide, super-high
resolution with brain-boggling fast refresh rates, I'm absolutely fine
with 1080/60Hz. I mean, sure it helps that I have bad eyes and
multiple monitors (not to mention I use a 47" screen as my primary).
But I've looked at better monitors and -while, sure, the upgrade may
be slightly noticeable-- it's not so much that I think its worth the
price. Plus, if I'm stuck at 1920x1080 and capped to a 60FPS
framerate, I can get by on an older CPU/GPU longer than if I were
playing games at 3840x2160. My computer has to push less pixels, and I
don't really see the difference; it's win-win!
Sure, if you have the option you might as well go with the better
hardware... but obsolete? I don't see it that way.
2) Non-modular PSUs
Obsolete? Only to the geeky. Most people don't care. Most people don't
even know what a PSU is. They use whatever comes in their Dell, after
all (and that very rarely is a modular PSU). In fact, in this case the
OEMs using a non-modular PSU is an advantage... because if they went
modular you KNOW they'd be cost-cutting by not providing extra power
leads. At least with the non-modular OEM PSUs, you're certain to get
one or two extra molex or SATA connections for a minimal amount of upgradability.
Modular PSUs are neat, and can make for cleaner PCs. But they're a
luxury, not a necessity, and their older cousins are absolutely not
obsolete.
6) 16GB RAM
I'm sorry, but no. Yes, more RAM is good but even nowadays, for most
games, 16GB is fine. (Okay, it does depend on whether or not you have integrated video or not that uses system RAM for its GPU. If that's
the case, your '16GB RAM' is actually 12GB or less, depending on the application). But even with bloated Win11, most apps and a lot of
games will happily run with 16GB. I check memory usage while playing
games (that Steam overlay thing is great!) and the number of times it
goes over the 16GB for most games is pretty rare (I've more than 16GB,
but almost never get advantage from it). More is always better, and if
you're building a new PC might as well get extra, but for most people
16GB is still fine if that's what they are running with now.
Especially since RAM prices are skyrocketing now. We don't need fear mongering telling people to rush out and buy stuff they don't really
require.
I also have a minor nit with:
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
Mostly because it's such a moot point. Pretty much every motherboard
nowadays comes with it onboard anyway. But I think most people
actually BUYING specific motherboards --hello, fellow geeks!-- rather
than just going with what comes in their Dell probably are going to
use a wired network anyway. Which makes the onboard wifi sort of
superfluous. And if they really want it, it's dirt-cheap to buy an
adaptor card or dongle.
I don't know if I'd argue obsolete... but I don't think it really
matters since it's not much of an option anymore to begin with.
* * * *
How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
----
* linky here: https://www.xda-developers.com/pc-specs-that-are-finally-obsolete/
It's Sunday, I'm lazy, so here's me talking about something somebody
else wrote rather than thinking up something new myself.
Today's article of contention: "6 PC specs that are finally outdated
in 2026"*
I'll save you from actually having to READ the article by listing
their picks below:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAM
Now, I'm not sure I agree with some of those. In particular, I have
issue with the following picks:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
Personally, while I know so people swear by ultra-wide, super-high
resolution with brain-boggling fast refresh rates, I'm absolutely fine
with 1080/60Hz. I mean, sure it helps that I have bad eyes and
multiple monitors (not to mention I use a 47" screen as my primary).
But I've looked at better monitors and -while, sure, the upgrade may
be slightly noticeable-- it's not so much that I think its worth the
price. Plus, if I'm stuck at 1920x1080 and capped to a 60FPS
framerate, I can get by on an older CPU/GPU longer than if I were
playing games at 3840x2160. My computer has to push less pixels, and I
don't really see the difference; it's win-win!
Sure, if you have the option you might as well go with the better
hardware... but obsolete? I don't see it that way.
2) Non-modular PSUs
Obsolete? Only to the geeky. Most people don't care. Most people don't
even know what a PSU is. They use whatever comes in their Dell, after
all (and that very rarely is a modular PSU). In fact, in this case the
OEMs using a non-modular PSU is an advantage... because if they went
modular you KNOW they'd be cost-cutting by not providing extra power
leads. At least with the non-modular OEM PSUs, you're certain to get
one or two extra molex or SATA connections for a minimal amount of upgradability.
Modular PSUs are neat, and can make for cleaner PCs. But they're a
luxury, not a necessity, and their older cousins are absolutely not
obsolete.
6) 16GB RAM
I'm sorry, but no. Yes, more RAM is good but even nowadays, for most
games, 16GB is fine. (Okay, it does depend on whether or not you have integrated video or not that uses system RAM for its GPU. If that's
the case, your '16GB RAM' is actually 12GB or less, depending on the application). But even with bloated Win11, most apps and a lot of
games will happily run with 16GB. I check memory usage while playing
games (that Steam overlay thing is great!) and the number of times it
goes over the 16GB for most games is pretty rare (I've more than 16GB,
but almost never get advantage from it). More is always better, and if
you're building a new PC might as well get extra, but for most people
16GB is still fine if that's what they are running with now.
Especially since RAM prices are skyrocketing now. We don't need fear mongering telling people to rush out and buy stuff they don't really
require.
I also have a minor nit with:
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
Mostly because it's such a moot point. Pretty much every motherboard
nowadays comes with it onboard anyway. But I think most people
actually BUYING specific motherboards --hello, fellow geeks!-- rather
than just going with what comes in their Dell probably are going to
use a wired network anyway. Which makes the onboard wifi sort of
superfluous. And if they really want it, it's dirt-cheap to buy an
adaptor card or dongle.
I don't know if I'd argue obsolete... but I don't think it really
matters since it's not much of an option anymore to begin with.
* * * *
How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
------
* linky here: https://www.xda-developers.com/pc-specs-that-are-finally-obsolete/
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAM
On Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:29:49 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
None.. all the stuff on that shit list really is obsolete.
As far as 1080p monitors for gaming, its kind of a matter of not
knowing what you're missing if you're still gaming at 1080p, because everything is better at 1440p. It's easy to fall into
ignorance-is-bliss mode on this (sort of the polar opposite of FOMO syndrome)... I was a somewhat late adopter of 1080p myself for my
gaming specific rig, but in addition the gaming benefit, any text
reading happening on 1080p at 27" or above is only torturing your
eyeballs.
Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote at 19:01 this Sunday (GMT):
On Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:29:49 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson >><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
None.. all the stuff on that shit list really is obsolete.
As far as 1080p monitors for gaming, its kind of a matter of not
knowing what you're missing if you're still gaming at 1080p, because
everything is better at 1440p. It's easy to fall into
ignorance-is-bliss mode on this (sort of the polar opposite of FOMO
syndrome)... I was a somewhat late adopter of 1080p myself for my
gaming specific rig, but in addition the gaming benefit, any text
reading happening on 1080p at 27" or above is only torturing your
eyeballs.
I really don't play games that demand a high resolution, lol
I'll save you from actually having to READ the article by listing
their picks below:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAM
How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
It's Sunday, I'm lazy, so here's me talking about something somebody
else wrote rather than thinking up something new myself.
Today's article of contention: "6 PC specs that are finally outdated
in 2026"*
I'll save you from actually having to READ the article by listing
their picks below:
1) 1080p 60Hz monitors
2) Non-modular PSUs
3) Motherboards without onboard Wi-Fi
4) Gen3 NVMe SSDs
5) 500GB SSDs
6) 16GB RAM
https://www.xda-developers.com/pc-specs-that-are-finally-obsolete/
OK, I don't think I've never had one of those. Went from 1200p to 1440p
:) But considering the trouble I've had with Gsync-compatibility, 60 fps
is often where games want to stick at no matter what. More comes with >tearing. Some games it just works and it's butter smooth.
I've heard dual monitors can cause these issues but so far, no luck with >disabling that either.
On Mon, 8 Dec 2025 19:00:06 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07
<candycanearter07@candycanearter07.nomail.afraid> wrote:
Rin Stowleigh <nospam@nowhere.com> wrote at 19:01 this Sunday (GMT):
On Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:29:49 -0500, Spalls Hurgenson >>><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
How much so-called 'obsolete' hardware are you running?
None.. all the stuff on that shit list really is obsolete.
As far as 1080p monitors for gaming, its kind of a matter of not
knowing what you're missing if you're still gaming at 1080p, because
everything is better at 1440p. It's easy to fall into
ignorance-is-bliss mode on this (sort of the polar opposite of FOMO
syndrome)... I was a somewhat late adopter of 1080p myself for my
gaming specific rig, but in addition the gaming benefit, any text
reading happening on 1080p at 27" or above is only torturing your
eyeballs.
I really don't play games that demand a high resolution, lol
That's kind of the thing though, none of them really demand it. It's
just one of those things that when you make the increase, your eyes
thank you for it, and wish you'd done it sooner. And then of course
after some period of time, it's hard to go back.
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