Equipment Crew- Part IV

[urbanlifter]

Depending on what resolution you run, a GTX 970 for $300ish is a good card that should last a while. I've seen 980Ti's go for $600 on ebay (which is basically GTX 970 SLI in performance scaling). Just wait a year & get either card cheap.

I just run whatever resolutions that are optimal output for my card on BF4 (typically in the medium range), my monitor is an ASUS VS247H-P (1920 x 1080 2ms) so I know its capable of producing some pretty smooth and crisp looking gameplay. The GTX970 is one of the cards that I was looking at, and also the GTX960 appears to be one of the best bang for your buck cards @ $200. Whenever I consider new PC components I normally check Passmark.com (Benchmarks), they seem to have good info on the highest performing GPU/CPU/HDD and rank them in several categories. So when I built my PC I basically cherry picked the highest main components I could find for CPU and HDD, and then did the 'High End - Best Value' for my GPU.

Thanks for the advice on overclocking, I might dabble in it a bit and try some of ASRocks pre-loaded settings. Then it appears that a GTX may be in my future, might slip that one in on the wife when we move into our new house, things will be crazy and I could probably manifest a GPU failure

[Cleveland33]

Brilliant.

Did you know that Burt Reynolds was a huge fan of it?

Apparently he was such a fan he approached the show and wanted to be involved - so the joke was gonna be that the real Burt would walk out during the skit and kick Norm MacDonald off, then proceed to be a worse contestant than Norm's version.

Unfortunately, the week before this was supposed to happen, Norm dropped the eff bomb on the air and got fired.

[AttyGuy]

I did not know that. It's too bad he got fired. . .

[THErunCMD]

I tried to find more info about this and only found that Ohlmeyer didn't like them. Many people speculate it was over OJ Simpson:

Macdonald's time with Saturday Night Live effectively ended in late 1997, when he was fired from the Weekend Update segment upon the insistence of NBC West Coast Executive Don Ohlmeyer, who pressured the producers to remove him, explaining that Macdonald was "not funny."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_M...day_Night_Live

[keyboardworkout]

[irongrandpa]

The need is greater than it ever was. I just completed a coarse on "Strength Training Older Adults" to renew my ACE certification. The hard part is convincing them of the need and benefits of lifting.

[yankeemarko1]

Looking for some info here if anyone has any. I'm looking to get a handheld GPS unit to take hiking. I know my phone has Google Maps, Map My Hike etc... but they just drain the battery way too fast.

I am not looking to go broke here and have been doing some research. I've been looking at a Garmin eTrex20x. It can be had for under $200.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into...rod518046.html

Question. Will this map my route while hiking? Will it tell me my starting elevation and highest point as well as total elevation change? Keep track of time?

I know these seem like dumb questions but no matter where I read about them, I don't see this info.

Thanks.

[AttyGuy]

The need is greater than it ever was. I just completed a coarse on "Strength Training Older Adults" to renew my ACE certification. The hard part is convincing them of the need and benefits of lifting.

I love buying stuff from out of shape guys who tell me they ar in their late 40's or early 50's and they are too old to lift. I am almost always older than they are. . . .

[irongrandpa]

I love buying stuff from out of shape guys who tell me they ar in their late 40's or early 50's and they are too old to lift. I am almost always older than they are. . . .

I agree with them and then take their equipment to my gym.

[KBKB]

Looking for some info here if anyone has any. I'm looking to get a handheld GPS unit to take hiking. I know my phone has Google Maps, Map My Hike etc... but they just drain the battery way too fast.

I am not looking to go broke here and have been doing some research. I've been looking at a Garmin eTrex20x. It can be had for under $200.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into...rod518046.html

Question. Will this map my route while hiking? Will it tell me my starting elevation and highest point as well as total elevation change? Keep track of time?

I know these seem like dumb questions but no matter where I read about them, I don't see this info.

I have the older Garmin eTrex Vista HCx. As near as I can tell the one you're looking at is similar to my old Vista HCx. (I think the eTrex 20x may lack a true compass and barometric altimeter, but you don't really need those functions. The device can still show you're heading and altitude by relying on GPS information. The catch is that you have to be moving in order to get an accurate heading. If it doesn't include a barometric altimeter, the device will be somewhat less accurate in its elevation readings due to the fact that determining altitude from the GPS signal is harder than determining latitude and longitude.)

In any case, yes, it'll do what you want.

You'll be able to track elapsed time, several different types of average speed, maximum speed, maximum speed, and a lot more. You'll also be able to track your elevation.

It has a track log that shows you where you've been. If you load a map onto it, you'll be able to see your precise location on the map.

You can also load routes onto it from hikearizona.com. I've done this on occasion; for some of the hikes that we've done, we most likely would not have found our way without the GPS track.

If you manage to get yourself lost, you can tell it to reverse your route so that you can get back.

[AttyGuy]

I agree with them and then take their equipment to my gym.

Lol.

[Hishiad]

Things seem strong on the house front, just hammered out everything verbally for a house. Signing contract today and should be binding tomorrow. Assuming it appraises high enough and the inspection is good we can start remodeling it before Thanksgiving.

[AttyGuy]

What about the home gym?

[yankeemarko1]

I have the older Garmin eTrex Vista HCx. As near as I can tell the one you're looking at is similar to my old Vista HCx. (I think the eTrex 20x may lack a true compass and barometric altimeter, but you don't really need those functions. The device can still show you're heading and altitude by relying on GPS information. The catch is that you have to be moving in order to get an accurate heading. If it doesn't include a barometric altimeter, the device will be somewhat less accurate in its elevation readings due to the fact that determining altitude from the GPS signal is harder than determining latitude and longitude.)

In any case, yes, it'll do what you want.

You'll be able to track elapsed time, several different types of average speed, maximum speed, maximum speed, and a lot more. You'll also be able to track your elevation.

It has a track log that shows you where you've been. If you load a map onto it, you'll be able to see your precise location on the map.

You can also load routes onto it from hikearizona.com. I've done this on occasion; for some of the hikes that we've done, we most likely would not have found our way without the GPS track.

If you manage to get yourself lost, you can tell it to reverse your route so that you can get back.

Cool. Thanks for the info. I would need to get the eTrex 30 to get the compass and altimeter. I'll read up on it and see if I think it's worth the extra money. I need to spread before I can rep you again.

[keyboardworkout]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I would need to get the eTrex 30 to get the compass and altimeter. I'll read up on it and see if I think it's worth the extra money. I need to spread before I can rep you again.

Sounds like your knee must be healed up.

[Hishiad]

What about the home gym?

It's almost an acre lot has an attached 2 car garage and in the back is an existing utility building. Plan will be to check out this building. If it's too small/old I'll tear it down and build a new one on the concrete slap already in place.

We'll see how things go on the money front. We have a few debt items we'll be focusing on before I start worrying with the gym, but there is space there now. And if not I have space to build. Gotta get closed first then get the remodeling underway and done. The mobile home we're in now will be moved and setup at a piece of land I bought to then be sold...if I'm lucky it'll be on market by summer and hopefully sold quickly.

[KBKB]

Cool. Thanks for the info. I would need to get the eTrex 30 to get the compass and altimeter. I'll read up on it and see if I think it's worth the extra money. I need to spread before I can rep you again.

One of my hiking companions has an Etrex model which is identical to mine except that it lacks the compass and altimeter.

His GPS unit is often several hundred feet different from mine for total ascent when doing a hike with approximately 2,000 feet of total ascent. That's a 10-15% difference. If this matters to you, then that's a consideration.

I don't think that the magnetic compass is a big deal. In fact, I usually turn mine off in order to extend battery life. As noted in my other post, you can still find your direction (on the compass page) by walking a few feet. Doing so will update the compass. If you use paper maps and want to know which direction is which while stopped, then it might be worthwhile to have one with a builtin compass. On the other hand, you can also use a separate compass for this.

[KBKB]

While on the subject of GPS devices...

Do not buy the Garmin Fenix 2 GPS watch. It works okay when it has a clear view of the sky, but becomes wildly inaccurate when hiking beneath trees or though steep rocky terrain. I did a hike through a wooded area earlier this summer in which it reported that I hiked 13 miles on that 8 mile hike.

It's my understanding that the (newer) Garmin Fenix 3 has the same issue. I have read that some of Garmin's older and less capable GPS watches are more accurate in such terrain.

[1651Naismith]

This advice is spot on. Garmin Forums has detailed ongoing discussions about the inaccuracy of the watch. Garmin seems to be updating firmware almost weekly, but it seems that track accuracy is still "off" and performance in areas that are not wide open is still unreliable.

It's unfortunate because the Fenix 3 is so promising in many aspects. But if it can't perform the basics well...

Do not buy the Garmin Fenix 2 GPS watch. It works okay when it has a clear view of the sky, but becomes wildly inaccurate when hiking beneath trees or though steep rocky terrain. I did a hike through a wooded area earlier this summer in which it reported that I hiked 13 miles on that 8 mile hike.

It's my understanding that the (newer) Garmin Fenix 3 has the same issue. I have read that some of Garmin's older and less capable GPS watches are more accurate in such terrain.

[KBKB]

This advice is spot on. Garmin Forums has detailed ongoing discussions about the inaccuracy of the watch. Garmin seems to be updating firmware almost weekly, but it seems that track accuracy is still "off" and performance in areas that are not wide open is still unreliable.

It's unfortunate because the Fenix 3 is so promising in many aspects. But if it can't perform the basics well...

Besides general inaccuracy, these are the other problems I've had with the Fenix 2:

• Does not follow routes well. On one occasion, it seemed to be working for about 4 miles, but it got confused when we (intentionally) got off route to look at something else. My eTrex Vista had no trouble at all coping with this detour.
• Can't get trackback to work.
• Strap mount on watch broke. (I just noticed this today.)

I just bought a Magellan Switch for $80. (It was $200 off!) But... it sucks too. I just did a hike in which I started my eTrex Vista and Magellan Switch at the same time. At the end of the hike, the eTrex Vista reported that I had hiked 3.25 miles (which I believe) while the Magellan Switch reported 3.57 miles, a difference of 10%. I hiked up and down a 300 foot hill which accounted for a bit over a mile and then finished up by hiking in some washes and on an open trail. When I was done, the Magellan Switch reported an elevation gain of approximately 1700 feet! I forgot to check the total ascent on the eTrex Vista at the end, but when I checked it at various times along the way, it reported much more believable results.

[yankeemarko1]

One of my hiking companions has an Etrex model which is identical to mine except that it lacks the compass and altimeter.

His GPS unit is often several hundred feet different from mine for total ascent when doing a hike with approximately 2,000 feet of total ascent. That's a 10-15% difference. If this matters to you, then that's a consideration.

I don't think that the magnetic compass is a big deal. In fact, I usually turn mine off in order to extend battery life. As noted in my other post, you can still find your direction (on the compass page) by walking a few feet. Doing so will update the compass. If you use paper maps and want to know which direction is which while stopped, then it might be worthwhile to have one with a builtin compass. On the other hand, you can also use a separate compass for this.

It looks like the difference between the eTrex20 and eTrex30 is a larger memory, barometric altimeter & compass. It costs about $100 more. Looks like it might be worth it to get the more accurate readings.

[yankeemarko1]

Sounds like your knee must be healed up.

The knee is OK. I still have the completely detached ACL but as long as I wear the knee brace while hiking, I'm good. It's still stiff all the time and the nerves below on the outside of the shin are dead. My leg is numb there to the touch but it doesn't affect walking or normal activity. Considering how badly I injured it, I guess I should be happy.

[KBKB]

It looks like the difference between the eTrex20 and eTrex30 is a larger memory, barometric altimeter & compass. It costs about $100 more. Looks like it might be worth it to get the more accurate readings.

According to this link comparing the two units, the memory is the same (3.7GB).

If I were buying one, I'd get the 30 for the barometric altimeter. If the only difference were the compass, I'd stay with the 20.

I occasionally ponder getting one of the Oregon or Montana units, but the size is always a bit bigger than I want and I'm not certain that I want a touch screen. (I find them to be harder to read in bright sunlight.)

[KBKB]

Here's a sunset photo from my Sunday afternoon / evening hike:

[BIgOrange865]

It's almost an acre lot has an attached 2 car garage and in the back is an existing utility building. Plan will be to check out this building. If it's too small/old I'll tear it down and build a new one on the concrete slap already in place.

We'll see how things go on the money front. We have a few debt items we'll be focusing on before I start worrying with the gym, but there is space there now. And if not I have space to build. Gotta get closed first then get the remodeling underway and done. The mobile home we're in now will be moved and setup at a piece of land I bought to then be sold...if I'm lucky it'll be on market by summer and hopefully sold quickly.

Congrats. Haven't been on much lately but I assume you didn't go with the new build in Karns. Sounds like you've got a large lot to work with. Good luck on the restoration.

[urbanlifter]

Listed my house for sale just to test the market, and within 10 days I'm under contract and have moved past inspections with flying colors. If all goes well I will have a tr-level home here soon to rebuild my home gym, much more space and no more cold garage gym winters! Sadly I decided to liquidate my current setup to avoid costly transport, kept a few of my favorite items and plan on having the next gym delivered.

Fingers crossed, I NEED A GOOD APPRAISAL THIS WEEK FELLAS!!!!!

[rthawker]

Listed my house for sale just to test the market, and within 10 days I'm under contract and have moved past inspections with flying colors. If all goes well I will have a tr-level home here soon to rebuild my home gym, much more space and no more cold garage gym winters! Sadly I decided to liquidate my current setup to avoid costly transport, kept a few of my favorite items and plan on having the next gym delivered.

Fingers crossed, I NEED A GOOD APPRAISAL THIS WEEK FELLAS!!!!!

I'm in the same boat as you except I'm taking the gym with me. Moving from Utah to Western New York. We'll be renting a house for at least a year while we find land to build. We have movers coming to pack the house on the 20th, load a Penske truck for us on the 21st, and I will drive it and unload at the other end. We are moving back home to be closer to family so I will have a lot of help unloading.

Good luck with the appraisal!

[urbanlifter]

Awesome, that's a big move cross country! I had thought about paying movers, but I figured with all the equipment it would be insane expensive. Good luck with finding land and with the build. We built our first house and it was a fun experience, didn't have to deal with all this negotiating nonsense and seller/buyer agent drama. I will be glad when this process is done so I can get back into my lifting routine, been about a month since I have picked up weights and I'm going thru withdraw. LOL

[Cleveland33]

I'm in the same boat as you except I'm taking the gym with me. Moving from Utah to Western New York. We'll be renting a house for at least a year while we find land to build. We have movers coming to pack the house on the 20th, load a Penske truck for us on the 21st, and I will drive it and unload at the other end. We are moving back home to be closer to family so I will have a lot of help unloading.

Good luck with the appraisal!

Wow that's a big move. Do you or your wife have family on this side of the country or is all new?

If you are interested - a friend of mine owns a small moving company and I was asking him what he does with these one wave moves he does - generally he rents a truck, drives there, and flies back so I was curious how he gets help with the unloading. He told me there is a website for moving help that he goes on and finds local guys and hires them for the day. Not sure if it is for moving companies only or open to the public - I can find out and get you the site info if you would be interested.

[jdforsy]

Stuck at home on the couch with a nasty case of the stomach flu. Anyone have any Netflix recommendations? Just finished Whitey which was pretty goid