Just thinking about building a new PC gives me a headache. I used to do it years ago, and it seemed like between one PC and the next I had to relearn everything because of the technology changing so quickly.
I assume now, that the technology changes before you can finish reading the description of the technology.
It's not really that bad as far as the tech advancing. The biggest thing is keeping up with the latest processors and graphics cards. Intel makes it a bit easier by coming out with new processor slots for their processor range, whereas AMD likes to be less clear about it. You basically have to find a motherboard with a compatible slot and make sure it supports your processor. RAM standards can be fun too. Occasionally, there's new hard drive tech, but not that often. As far as how everything goes together, most everything really only has one spot where it can plug into the motherboard.
One thing that makes it more challenging is online stores like Amazon. Amazon will have all kinds of boards and processors going back several years, making it extra important that you find parts that match. This was actually the first time I bought components from a store in person, so I knew they would go together. After all, Walmart wants you to come in and buy the stuff then go home an put it together. So, they sell compatible stuff. (mostly) Though, we are now carrying both Intel and AMD processors, where we only had Intel before. We also have some of the latest Nvidia graphics cards. I've been really excited since we started carrying this stuff. In fact, I was talking to the manager over electronics yesterday and he said he'd like it if we got rid of some stuff (like "physical" software) and expanded our component section. I agreed with him.
Incidentally, since I got home from work, I've been running this computer for almost an hour with no issues, so it must have been a Windows issue. At least that license was dirt cheap, since it looks like it's a bust.
In my infinite wisdom, I decided to tear my new computer apart this morning because I'm expecting my new case and PSU today. Naturally, since I'm waiting for them, Amazon is taking all day to deliver them. (seriously, the ETA keeps getting pushed back) When I'm at work, they deliver stuff early, but not when I'm at home.
I did go to the Walmart that I work at a little while ago and pick up a brand new NVME SSD. I decided to upgrade from an old SATA SSD to that style of drive. So, I went from "I'm going to buy this new motherboard, processor and RAM and use older components for everything else," to "The only thing not new is the graphics card." And, while I was at Walmart, I picked up some more coffee. After all, nobody wants to run out of coffee.
The other thing I've been doing today is working on the bridge sensor array. Sensor arrays are good places to go greeble happy, though I kept it mainly low poly because this stuff will be covered by a somewhat translucent dome:
I copied the greebleage for the planetary sensor, and I also started on the base for the sensor:
Well, I got my case and my PSU. Here's the complete computer:
Also, I managed to fix the WIFI thing on the motherboard. I had the board out of the computer and all I did was unscrew the WIFI thing from the board and then screw it back in. Apparently, that's all it took. My guess is that it wasn't screwed in correctly in the first place. Gotta love mass produced factory goods.
Nice. Getting MadKoi vibes with that dome material. The innards are also making me think of a TARDIS.
Thanks a lot, bro. It's definitely never a bad thing to be compared to MadKoiFish. But, alas, I've still never seen an episode of Doctor Who. I keep telling myself I'm going to find it streaming somewhere and give it a look, but I never do.
I added a hatch in the cube thingy in the center. I figure that's an access hatch for making repairs. I made sure there's enough room for the doors to actually open. Then I added some pipes to the impulse vents because I wanted to. I also added some thrusters to the top and bottom of the cutout between the main impulse vents. I figure those are the main thrusters for moving forward. And, for some reason, I decided the whole cutout needed some light, so I put some strip lights in the top and bottom of the cutout to cast light on the impulse bits.
Here's an idea of what this stuff looks like in a flyby shot.
Amazing work. My god... She's a pretty ship, and the level of detailing you're giving her? Brilliant mate! Love the sensor domes and what you've done to the Impulse engines. Keep up the good work, this is going to be stunning.
The watcher in the tower... Waiting, hour by hour...
- Mike Oldfield
The deck allowance is a little over 3m tall. This allows for the ship's skin, framework, conduits, etc. between the decks. The upper four decks do have a few centimeters more height, because that was necessary to make it work with the design. Also, when I was building the saucer, I fixed the whole issue where the edge of the saucer is a bit too thin to keep the deck size consistent and working.
Now I need to see if I can find an older version of the file with the teardrop without lines, so I can redo the line work to get my windows where I need them. If I don't have an older version of the file that I can append, I need to just rebuild the teardrop.
OK, I fixed the teardrop so I can put windows in it.
Before I figured out the deck plan, I worked on the saucer edge. This is what made me do the deck plan, as I needed a plan before putting windows into the saucer edge.
I like the big indented area in the top/front of the saucer. I like the shade of blue you're using too.
Thanks. The indented area is eventually going to have the ship's name and registry in it (I'm thinking of going with the USS Excalibur) and the blue is just something I mixed up to give it a bit of an Excelsior vibe. Plus, I wanted something that was going to pop against the light gray of the hull.
PC shenanigans is why I threw money at Puget to build my last one--- ka-yow and cha-ching, but solid.
I think this wee beastie needs an escort of Dental Mirror Frigates, all throwing 'dramatic lighting fxery' at her. And the USS Alexander Courage in tow.
Heh, I love building computers. No issues at all with this one running Kubuntu. I don't know what issue Windows 11 had with it. I may give Windows another try on it, or just stick with Linux. Really, there's no reason I need Windows on a computer where I'm not worried about game compatibility. Most of the other software I use these days is open source.
Beautiful work as always. I like the blue and the way it contrasts against the rest of the hull, she is going to be very striking when she's done - and sexy as hell. The level of detail is just astounding.
He he he - I had some fun with own PC at the weekend, had to replace the NVME drive, cloned the old one, put the new one in and found the problem was actually a corrupt registry. *sigh* got it sorted, and the new NVME is bigger and faster, so I shall keep it. PC's, fun right?
The watcher in the tower... Waiting, hour by hour...
- Mike Oldfield
Beautiful work as always. I like the blue and the way it contrasts against the rest of the hull, she is going to be very striking when she's done - and sexy as hell. The level of detail is just astounding.
He he he - I had some fun with own PC at the weekend, had to replace the NVME drive, cloned the old one, put the new one in and found the problem was actually a corrupt registry. *sigh* got it sorted, and the new NVME is bigger and faster, so I shall keep it. PC's, fun right?
Thanks a lot.
Yeah, Windows and their friggin' registry. It's been the cause of many headaches over the years.
Speaking of windows, my computer may not have Windows, but my ship now does. I added the saucer edge windows. I put a lot more on than the TOS ship has, because the saucer is the main habitat part of the ship. Most of the crew quarters and common areas are in the saucer.
I'm working on a docking port for the saucer edge:
And, yes, it's self illuminating:
I still have to add the doors and probably more greebles as well. My idea is that the tube can extend, like the one on the NX-01. Other ports I model on the ship will have the same basic design. This makes more sense to me than what they did on the Enterprise refit. They had the round ports in the secondary hull, torp launchers and back of the bridge, but a completely different port on the port side saucer edge. That one seemed to only dock with the drydock in TMP, but never with anything else. I guess they could have had that sort of connector on ESD as well, but it was never shown. Whenever the Enterprise-D docked with an ESD type of Starbase, it used tubes with the round connectors.
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It's not really that bad as far as the tech advancing. The biggest thing is keeping up with the latest processors and graphics cards. Intel makes it a bit easier by coming out with new processor slots for their processor range, whereas AMD likes to be less clear about it. You basically have to find a motherboard with a compatible slot and make sure it supports your processor. RAM standards can be fun too. Occasionally, there's new hard drive tech, but not that often. As far as how everything goes together, most everything really only has one spot where it can plug into the motherboard.
One thing that makes it more challenging is online stores like Amazon. Amazon will have all kinds of boards and processors going back several years, making it extra important that you find parts that match. This was actually the first time I bought components from a store in person, so I knew they would go together. After all, Walmart wants you to come in and buy the stuff then go home an put it together. So, they sell compatible stuff. (mostly) Though, we are now carrying both Intel and AMD processors, where we only had Intel before. We also have some of the latest Nvidia graphics cards. I've been really excited since we started carrying this stuff. In fact, I was talking to the manager over electronics yesterday and he said he'd like it if we got rid of some stuff (like "physical" software) and expanded our component section. I agreed with him.
Incidentally, since I got home from work, I've been running this computer for almost an hour with no issues, so it must have been a Windows issue. At least that license was dirt cheap, since it looks like it's a bust.
I did go to the Walmart that I work at a little while ago and pick up a brand new NVME SSD. I decided to upgrade from an old SATA SSD to that style of drive. So, I went from "I'm going to buy this new motherboard, processor and RAM and use older components for everything else," to "The only thing not new is the graphics card."
The other thing I've been doing today is working on the bridge sensor array. Sensor arrays are good places to go greeble happy, though I kept it mainly low poly because this stuff will be covered by a somewhat translucent dome:
I copied the greebleage for the planetary sensor, and I also started on the base for the sensor:
Also, I managed to fix the WIFI thing on the motherboard. I had the board out of the computer and all I did was unscrew the WIFI thing from the board and then screw it back in. Apparently, that's all it took. My guess is that it wasn't screwed in correctly in the first place. Gotta love mass produced factory goods.
It makes a huge difference from a distance.
Thanks a lot, bro. It's definitely never a bad thing to be compared to MadKoiFish.
Thanks, and no problem. I'm rendering right now, when I'm done I'll do a screenshot of it.
I've been working on the impulse engines:
I don't know why I made all of that stuff, it's hardly visible in most renders:
Here's an idea of what this stuff looks like in a flyby shot.
- Mike Oldfield
The deck allowance is a little over 3m tall. This allows for the ship's skin, framework, conduits, etc. between the decks. The upper four decks do have a few centimeters more height, because that was necessary to make it work with the design. Also, when I was building the saucer, I fixed the whole issue where the edge of the saucer is a bit too thin to keep the deck size consistent and working.
Now I need to see if I can find an older version of the file with the teardrop without lines, so I can redo the line work to get my windows where I need them. If I don't have an older version of the file that I can append, I need to just rebuild the teardrop.
Before I figured out the deck plan, I worked on the saucer edge. This is what made me do the deck plan, as I needed a plan before putting windows into the saucer edge.
Thanks.
I think this wee beastie needs an escort of Dental Mirror Frigates, all throwing 'dramatic lighting fxery' at her. And the USS Alexander Courage in tow.
He he he - I had some fun with own PC at the weekend, had to replace the NVME drive, cloned the old one, put the new one in and found the problem was actually a corrupt registry. *sigh* got it sorted, and the new NVME is bigger and faster, so I shall keep it. PC's, fun right?
- Mike Oldfield
Thanks a lot.
Yeah, Windows and their friggin' registry. It's been the cause of many headaches over the years.
Speaking of windows, my computer may not have Windows, but my ship now does. I added the saucer edge windows. I put a lot more on than the TOS ship has, because the saucer is the main habitat part of the ship. Most of the crew quarters and common areas are in the saucer.
Thanks a lot.
My thoughts exactly.
- Mike Oldfield
And, yes, it's self illuminating:
I still have to add the doors and probably more greebles as well. My idea is that the tube can extend, like the one on the NX-01. Other ports I model on the ship will have the same basic design. This makes more sense to me than what they did on the Enterprise refit. They had the round ports in the secondary hull, torp launchers and back of the bridge, but a completely different port on the port side saucer edge. That one seemed to only dock with the drydock in TMP, but never with anything else. I guess they could have had that sort of connector on ESD as well, but it was never shown. Whenever the Enterprise-D docked with an ESD type of Starbase, it used tubes with the round connectors.