I do not know what you think of all of this, but it appears to be that 2024 will be known as the year something has gone terribly amiss in the age of computing.
Between rocky hardware launches, extremely expensive GPU models, and bad software releases (yes, I unfortunately have to include Blender in this), it may be time to consider a backup hobby that does not involve digital technology. Continuing as a 3D artist only becomes less enticing if this is a preview of what the future of computing looks like (because if I can no longer create without fighting bugs from the bare metal on up, then even the thought of having a PC, or working anything with a screen for that matter, does not seem fun anymore).
For now, we still have the previous generation with the major issues fixed along with some very safe looking APU models to fall back on, but for how much longer? Even now my idea of upgrades is no longer about trying to get the biggest performance leap possible, but simply about having a machine that will not break a year or so from now. At the least, it looks like the walls are being hit and it now falls on software developers to fix their quality control and improve performance on their end.
I think weāre all getting a bit spoiled. I remember when both software and hardware were HORRENDOUS compared to now but we still did it. Watching paint dry would have been an equivalent hobby.
Donāt worry, with a few billion $ on the line, theyāll figure it out, just wait a little.
You know you donāt have to use hardware you donāt like, right? No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy and use a AM5 chip.
If your enjoyment of digital art is tied to hardware quality- youāre in the wrong hobby already. My first digital art was on an ancient Toshiba laptop that died immediately if you breathed on or touched the power cord. The vast majority of artists in history had no digital at all. If you want to make art, you donāt care about all that. If you want to be a tech blogger, then be a tech blogger. If you want to be an artist, go make art, and if you donāt like your digital options, pencils are 5 cents each at the dollar store
My point stands that you donāt have to use the cutting edge technology to do digital art. If you donāt want to use a certain piece of hardwareā¦ donāt? Seems simple
PCās age though (especially if you work it hard which is what using Blender does), and even if they continue to work well, we have Microsoft working to make sure they still age in the form of even recent machines not qualifying for the latest editions of Windows. I have looked at Linux Mint, but last I checked I am not sure WINE is yet at a state where it can handle all Windows software.
Now then, when all of your options have known issues with things like performance, degradation, overheating, ectā¦, or just about every new CPU you are looking at requires higher maintenance water cooling systems that overheat your working space and can spew fluid destroying your machine in the process, then you find yourself racing against the clock to avoid a situation where you will buy anything just to have continued access to what you are doing. I do not expect Qualcomm or even Nvidia to save the day with cutting-edge ARM desktops anytime soon.
The existence of chips like the AMD Ryzen 8700G is what is preventing me from being completely cynical and pessimistic about the future of computing and is probably what I am going to go with for a new machine when it comes time.
Personally I would be more than fine if newer PC hardware doesnāt give me FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and I can comfortably hang onto my current hardware for a while. I really enjoy learning bizarre new optimization techniques like the talented artists and programmers for limited early 3D hardware like the N64 or PS1 because it makes me feel like a āmagicianā in a way, at best making stuff that just looks good to the average layperson watching my video, even if I had to apply a ton of āsmoke and mirrorsā to ensure it would render in a reasonable amount of time on my increasingly-outdated hardware.
Still, for the sake of reducing e-waste, weāve got to figure out a compromise between reducing materialistic tendencies in power PC users, while also ensuring companies donāt go under just because their products somehow last too long and people decide to only upgrade when their old hardware becomes downright unusable. Companies like AMD, NVidia and Intel should not be constantly introducing new products that use a ton of limited Earth resources just for the sake of having something ānewā to show off every year, especially if the newer versions donāt have a substantial benefit over just sticking with what you currently have and wonāt be an actual game-changer until like 6 iterations later.
Holy Crom! I think I have determined the issue! First, and very importantly, turn off the computer (there is a button somewhere, you just have to find it). Then do any one or better yet, all of the following:
Sky diving, dirt biking (crazy fun), street biking (with a wickedly powerful sport bike that threatens to leave you behind if you donāt hang on for dear life), target shooting (with targets, not live things to be clear), caving, rock climbing, mountain climbing, surfing (super super fun), boxing, kick boxing, travelling to a very dangerous country completely unprepared, white water kayaking (followed immediately by white water swimming), skiing, wind surfing, or just going to the bar.
Some are dependent on where you live. Some can be done for free!
Iāve done each and every one of those many many times and I can say with absolute certainty that they balance the soul and I recommend every one (with the possible exception of the travel one as it requires a bit of luck to return unharmed) but you get the idea.
The most important part is to exit the residence and keep going. Not forever but for a while. When you return, you may not even remember what a Zen5 is, and then you can go back to work in piece.
I think that if you manage to combine knitting with one of the activities suggested by @engart your life will change forever and technological headlong rush will be the last thing on your mind.
good quality; made with expensive technology; and very well paid
mass production with quick product cycles
Most consumers do want everthing better and also cheaper. And so the big ones produce āthe next big thingā regardless if someone need it or not. But then also have to present the next leap in technologyā¦ for what ?? To make salicious videos of celebrities by using AIā¦ ???
Why do people have to watch 4K videos on their mobiles ?? Why do smartphones have to be soo thin that the accu has to be very expensive and high tech and then ends up burning ? Why does a accupack for this also have to be as thin as the smartphone with the same problems ??
Because people buy this sā¦t to spend their money and precious time to ābe happyā because teir work sucks.
People build the pyramids without thisā¦ ā¦or aliensā¦
So, whatās the problem with the AMD CPUs? If you decide to go for the most expensive ones, you have to enable core parking? Is that it? Doesnāt sound that bad.
Already in the 1960 microcode was invented and later used to change microprocessors which might be problematicā¦ and one may know that microcode and BIOS/ UEFI and also OS updates and patches are standard practiceā¦ āindustry standardā so to speak.
I think Iāll just put this problem to the same category as āI lost a sock this morningā in my mind. I mean if I ever even bought one of those CPUs. Which I donāt really see a reason for. I donāt think the most high-end CPU is a necessity for working with Blender and there are better value options. But this has a solution anyway, so none of this is important anyway.
Let me put it like this:
What would an AceDragon thread in the Latest News section be without alarmist āThe end is near!ā -rethoric based on some fishy youtube-video?
Things have always been this broken in hardware and software, the only deference now is more people are talking about it. there are a lot of reasons for that including
there are more people connected to the Internet
Catastrophizing is a good way to attract attention and increase traffic.
there are a lot of lonely people hangry for attention (social media addiction increase loneliness).
Stuxnet and its cloneās effect on the IT industry made security research and discovering bugs more of mainstream news.
I think weāre all getting a bit spoiled. I remember when both software and hardware were HORRENDOUS compared to now but we still did it. Watching paint dry would have been an equivalent hobby.
the further in the past the more problems i had.
ā¦or aliensā¦
Which I donāt really see a reason for. I donāt think the most high-end CPU is a necessity for working with Blender and there are better value options. But this has a solution anyway, so none of this is important anyway.