Misc. Rambles

This blog is a sub-blog of an undergraduate used a a venue to post miscellaneous stuff.

[intellectual-rambles]

I recently purchased the Final Fantasy Vll (FF7) game for PC from steampowered.com. The game is a classic JRPG (Japanese role-playing game. It was released in 1997 and is the most popular, if not best, Final Fantasy game ever made by Square-Enix. 

The port to PC is very good (I have about 15 hours in the game so far and notice no obvious bugs); it retains much of the Playstation-era graphics charm (fairly blocky and with low polygon counts). There has been a minor increase in the graphics from what I can recall, but very minor. Gameplay is essentially the same. Regardless, I do have my issues with FF7. 

Besides mentioning about the bad support for the Xbox Windows controller, I find the game fairly linear. While you do have your choices of party members, materia (magic), minor weapons, armor, and accesories selection, but the story progresses from point A to B prett straighforward, almost no matter what your choices area, barring some small details in game in which your actions do have different consequence (e.g. choosing who to date at the golden Saucer).

While I complain about FF7 feeling linear, it's still a solid game and still very fun. The most linear game I've found (at least in the FF series) is FFX (Final Fanatasy 10). Some people tout it as the best game in the series, but I find it probably the least fun of the games. I really didn't enjoy it. And I found it too easy, and the game holds your hand way too much. Without things like the optional Blitzball competition in the game, it would be completely linear. Blitzball adds a slight element of actual random gameplay.

I mean, I'm mostly complaining because I got used to so many open-world and sandbox type games. Fallout 3 and 4, Rust, the Elder Scrolls series, randomized rogue-likes like The Binding of Isaac, ect.. I remember the first time playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3, they blew me away with their expansiveness. These games implement randomization to the highest extent (particularly rogue-likes), and also leaves to the player so many choices to which they can pick from. The main story lines are optional, quests are optional, and there are strong elements of character customization. Although the sandbox-style, which is new, and rogue-likes (which are highly popular today) have jumped to glory. 

Going back to a game that is now 21 years old, and of a different gameplay style and mechanics leaves out so many elements we are accustomed to, as a sort of juxtaposition between game styles. In the time, FF7 was considered an innovative game with its active time-battle element (but not the first).

I'm not bashing FF7, I do think it's a great game; it's awesome. I just noticed through playing recently how different and linear it feels after many years playing open-worlds and rogue-likes. They are different game styles from different periods with different game mechanics. FF7 does what it does well. I do recommend trying out FF7 for anyone who has not played a classic JRPG yet. It's probably the one I recommend to begin with. 

[intellectual-rambles]

How do people believe in love at first sight? Are you all low-minded people? How do you “love” someone because of how they look? That is like taking home a “beautiful” vase or pot containing an evil demon inside; a demon to wreak havoc on your life; yet, you would never know this demon existed unless you investigated deeper what the vase was like. Love at first sight is a fools idea. 

[intellectual-rambles]

         There are many new games emulating older, more classic, gameplay with new spins on the mechanics. These games take the old classic games and add a new twist to them, never before previously seen. Some of these games include Super Mario maker, Crypt of the Necrodancer, Darkest Dungeon, as well as other games with unique mechanics. Darkest dungeon is one game that plays like a classic, but has many new unique twists.

        Darkest dungeon is a classic dungeon-crawler style gameplay, with unique mechanics. The gameplay includes putting together a party of people, and crawling through dungeons in search of loot, avoiding traps and obstacles, and defeating enemies and bosses. As well as these classic attributes of the game, the game adds another layer of unique mechanic as the main property. Not only do players need to defeat enemies and collect loot by conquering dungeons, but the players must also take note of other character attributes in order to progress through the game.

        One mechanic is the stress the characters take while crawling through dark dungeons. As the characters progress through the dungeon, the get progressively more tense as time goes on. The player must take note of always having torches lit in order to reduce the stress accumulated during the dark. Characters can also interact with multiple curio during their adventure, which may benefit or harm the character, which may include increasing the stress level of the character. The character can also accumulate stress during battle in many ways, which can include direct stress from stressing attacks, gaining a massive critical hit blow, and fighting too long during one battle. Characters may also stress other characters through personality clashes, and stress can lead to increasing personality quirks, which are usually detrimental.

        A character in Darkest Dungeon can also gain personality quirks. There are positive and negative personality quirks which can benefit or detriment the hero. Personality quirks may include loss of control or a character, who may perform harmful effects to himself or other party members in certain situations, fear of certain enemies, and constraints on the actions they can perform. As well as negative quirks, a hero can gain positive personality quirks. The hero may gain stat bonuses, or beneficial boosts in certain situations.

        Along with stress and personality quirks, the player must balance this in the party. Some personality quirks might not affect the hero, depending on the hero type, but may confer a drastic disadvantage against certain enemies, in certain situations, or in certain parties. This must be consciously balanced by the player, which is a layer not previously before seen in dungeon crawlers. As an example, some characters automatically will not team up with other characters. Some characters introduce stress to others, and if the other heroes are highly susceptible to stress, they team will become increasingly unstable during a dungeon crawl. All these mechanics makes for a moderately difficult game, by adding extra layers to the gameplay.

         Stress and personality quirks can be mitigated or removed in between dungeon crawls by allowing the characters to rest in town. The heroes can visit a brothel, pray to a higher power, or be admitted to the mental treatment ward. This all costs loads of money though, which is very scarce in this game, so the player must choose wisely to which treatment options are the most beneficial to the group of heroes.

        Darkest Dungeon is a turn-based strategy game that adds unique elements to the classical dungeon crawler. Not only do players have to crawl dungeons, collect lot, and defeat bosses, but the player must take into account the mental status of their heroes. Heroes can accumulate stress and mental quirks, and must be de-stressed between dungeon crawls. All-in-all, Darkest dungeon is a great modern game that allows players to experience a new innovative system of game mechanics that is bound to give the player a tough time.

[1--h-deactivated20210713]

why did they make this

now sartre can fuck people up in less than 2 minutes

[intellectual-rambles]

This is more-or-less how I feel about love. Except not so much masochism and sadism, but each person’s freedom of their chosen mate (in the best case, each other) should allow for even greater freedom, but not constraint. Each person should flow into each other, creating a symbiotic greater freedom. 

Although this is how I ultimately believe relationships should be, in reality most relationships seem to be sadist or masochist, in that one person usually is the dominant one to change to benefit the relationship, and the other much less so.

[intellectual-rambles]

There are those that are silent because they don't care, and there are those who are silent because they care deeply.

int. rambles

[intellectual-rambles]

We run to those we need the most during a crisis, regardless of the state of the ego. Unlike the soul, the ego is a man-made creation.

Int. rambles

[bayocake-deactivated20160731]

It’s not just men who think they are entitled to sex or a woman’s body. 

[mimisavagee]

Consent is needed every time, no matter what the relationship is

[thechronicleofshe]

shes terrifying, 

[tuxedomask3]

What the actual fuck?

[wicked-yarn]

Wow she’s scary.

[evilguacamole]

You’re no feminist if this doesn’t bother you, that you don’t see the rape vibes here. Women can and do rape men. They use force, they use words, they can manipulate- just like men do. And it is just as wrong.

[anightvaleintern-blog1]

I’d be curious to know how many men have had this experience.

Like damn, girl, ive done the two hour get laid prep too and gotten nothing, it happens, chill. Its precautionary prepping, not surefire. Most of the time i see women do this its insecurity about themselves like “am i undesirable?” Which society kind of tells us having sex with men is our lot in life so it makes sense.

And i see some if that here but mostly just straight up entitlement. Damn.

[hirakumblr]

I had that almost happened once.

[bluemoonhound]

I bothered to tell my brother that my boyfriend was ace and he scoffed at me and said “Hes a guy. He has to want sex” and I was like Fuck off.  Oh my god.

[clownarmy]

Lotta guys are afraid of being shamed for talking about this kind of thing, I’d imagine. It sucks, because when it does happen it’s practically imposible to do anything about it.

This woman is horrifying.

[gauntletspirit]

Never. Behave. Like. This. Ever.

EVER.

[intellectual-rambles]

This is what’s wrong with the relationship and sex culture. The roles are so well ingrained in society. If a male did this to a female it would basically be considered sexual harassment. And no, guys don’t always and automatically want to have sex. I’m the guy that usually gets dumped because I don’t provide sex by the female’s will. 

[intellectual-rambles]

Dual vs single channel results

         As I said I was going to post dual vs single channel results, here we are. The computer I have is the Pavilion 17 G101DX with 750GB 5400RPM hard drive 6GB (2x4) CL11 RAM in dual configuration, and an i5-5200U processor. I finally upgraded to 256GB SSD, 16GB CL9 RAM in the last test.

         I first ran a test with the stock 6GB CL11 dual channel memory (it was one 2GB samsung ram and another unbranded 4GB stick), then added one stick of 8GB G.Skill CL9 memory, and finally, I upgraded with an SSD and added another stick of G.Skill 8GB ram for a test using 16GB (CL9) of dual channel memory.  . Both memory stick were 1600Mhz. The tests were performed with the latest PerformanceTest suite (passmark tests I think) 

The stock 6GB dual channel ram (2GB samsung CL11 and unbranded 4GB CL11) and ran two PerformanceTest tests for memory. the mean for the two tests is:

1761

The tests all had scores equal to or higher than the 8GB single channel, except, obviously, the amount of available memory.

In single channel with 8GB of ram the mean of the two memory tests were:

1620

The final test after the addition of an SSD (I don’t know if an SSD affects memory or not, but I assume it doesn’t), and another stick of 8GB of ram to a total of 16GB G.Skill CL9 in dual config. The mean of two Memory tests run is:

2112

         So here we can see an increase in total memory performance by switching from single channel to dual channel. I have not performed any statistical tests on the numbers, but maybe I will do so, with more specific detailed analysis, in the near future. So I cannot say conclusively if there is any significant increase in performance (more than due to chance). The small amount of tests run also increases the false positives of the results and my statements about performance increases from single to dual channel configurations are purely subjective.

         When running the first test, even with less total memory (weakens the total score) it still had a higher score than the single channel configuration with a lower clock number (faster memory access than a higher clock number). This is due to the ability to theoretically receive “double” the amount of data at once -128 bits per chunk over 64 bits. Although, in Dual channel, it must switch channels as the data comes in. Although I’m not an engineer or computer specialist I propose theoretically that the since my processor is a mid range processor with 2 physical core and 4 logical (i5-5200U), accessing dual channel configurations gives an intermittent wave of data (it must pause some data since so much comes at once. It lines up the data in queue. The speed of the computer is limited by the single channel 64 bit configuration, as the processor is a fairly quick one (the fastest I have had the luxury to use anyway).  

         The final test shows a nice increase in memory benchmark, but we have to take into account the increase in score from the amount of RAM added -it is double the RAM. If I had done the test with 2x4GB sticks, it would have given a more “realistic” comparison score.

        In conclusion, I subjectively conclude that dual channel configurations are better performance-wise than single channel configurations, especially if your processor is not the bottleneck on your PC. 

[intellectual-rambles]

I always chuckle inside when I see someone pressured to do an action because it's socially acceptable and not because they want to or that it covers them much benefit.

[intellectual-rambles]

Pavillion 17 G101DX first impressions

I just received my laptop and will here conduct a mini review.

The first hing I noticed with this laptop is that it is BIG. Well, of course it is, since it’s a 17′ screen laptop. Opening the lid reveals a plastic laptop, but not to cheap. The texture is of brushed aluminum. It looks fairly sleek and capable, even with its size.

Turning it on reveal windows 10. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. Operation so far hasn’t been what I expected from a broadwell 5th generation i5 processor, but I think it was running many scripts to boot up the first time so I can’t make any conclusions as of yet. 

Screen

The screen is large, not full HD, buy HD+. I would say it is sufficiently good. Nothing amazing, nothing horrible, but okay. One caveat with the screen though, is that it seems flimsy, I can bend it like a cheap thin plastic, and I am worried a solid hit might take out the screen. The screen (structure) might be the weakest point I have noticed yet. It feels like it may fall apart over time.

Heat 

My old laptop (Satellite l840D AMD A8-4500m) had problems with becoming very hot, even within 5-10 minutes of operation. It was very smooth, and responsive, and it seems, so far, on par with the i5-5200u. After running two passmark full tests, the pavillion isn’t even slightly warm. This is good for longevity of the laptop. The fan on the side is noticeable while operating the machine, but not loud. It seems to always be on, though.

keyboard

The full keyboard including a number island is a little offset from what I’m used to. Typing, I made a lot of typos, but it may just be needing to get used to the different keyboard than my old laptop. Te keyboard keys seem responsive enough, and typing isn’t bad when I get used to it. 

Performance

Running two passmark tests, I found that the performance compared to my Toshibs Satellite 14inch l840D was about doubled, at least in numbers. The graphics tests (Intel HD 5500) seemed better than the Toshiba with the eye. Numbers also proved this was true. 

Qualitative use in the hour I used it, showed about equal usability, but it is hard to compare power and speed of machines across machines, especially different brands. The Toshiba was already pretty smooth in operation, and I didn’t know what to expect in terms of performance increase, especially when the numbers show double the performance with the Pavilion.

quick conclusion

The windows 10 pavillioon 17 G101DX seems like a capable workstation made to be a desktop replacement. It is fairly large, sleek looking, and comes with a brushed aluminum look. Even with plastic materials it looks nice and feels fairly sturdy.

Using this for taking notes in my class would not be an option, as it is larger than most desks.

I am going to update the RAM in the Pavillion from 6GB to 8GB and install an SSD and run some more passmark tests. THe first Passmark tests I will post here soon in a new post.

[intellectual-rambles]

Dual vs single channel ram

I’ve Been looking online for information about RAM configurations. Specifically single vs dual channel configurations.

I recently ordered an Hp pavilion 17 g101dx and from the HP laptop manual it says it works in both configurations. Unfortunately it accepts 1600mhz only in single channel mode. Theoretically, double the amount of data can be transferred over the memory bus in dual channel mode. With this laptop though, the motherboard will downgrade (clock down) the ram to 1333mhz to compensate for more bandwidth.

I’ve not found much data online to address this question and was hoping someone could answer. Most tests show no real significant difference between single and dual channel ram configurations.

If you’d like to answer, please have some actual knowledge either in experience or computing (computer science) to back up your claim. No “intuitive” guesses.

The laptop has an i5-5200u and I will either be running 1x8gb 1600 (cl9) or 2x4gb 1333 (cl11). Ram is ddrl3. My laptop is mainly used for schoolwork multitasking and light gaming. Multitasking speed and smoothness is most important.

I will also be running my own tests using passmark testing suite to find the best configuration and posting the results to this blog as a point to add knowledge that isn’t readily easy to find.

Here’s the question:

Does a single channel ram configuration @ 1600mhz work better (faster or smoother operation) than a dual channel @ 1333mhz?

[intellectual-rambles]

A new blog

Hi, and welcome to my blog. This blog was created as a venue to post miscellaneous content, more suited to my more informal opinions. To let my spirit soar.

I currently have two other blogs: Scienceknowledge.tumblr.com (main; topics of academia, science, philosophy, knowledge) essence-of-shoto.tumblr.com (sub-blog pertaining to karate)

I hope to post reviews of technologies I have used, post opinions, things that “grind my gears”, things I like, and cool stuff. Maybe some controversial stuff.

Welcome to the wild and sophisticated (and relaxed) world of an undergraduate. Follow, or don’t follow -whatevs.... be cool.