Computers and upgrades

My first computer was a Desktop with AMD Sempron processor which used to run at 1.6GHz. It was blazing fast! (For a year until my neighbours got a better one.). It came with Windows XP and 512GB HDD. I learned all my computer black magic with it. I got my first Ubuntu CD mailed to me (from London!) when I had this computer. It came installed with GTA2. I played GTA3, Vice City, Thing 2, Age of Empire, Crazy Taxi, Claw 2 among other game. Everything until Prince of Persia Two Thrones worked on it. I still remember changing some random file and it’s settings which made the game run fast on my limited hardware. It is the first computer which I opened up as well. Installed SMPS when my old one gave way. My first laptop still works as well. I run latest Arch in it despite it being 15+ years old. Despite it being toothless (lost a couple of keyboards, lost the speaker and finally have a line through the display). As you might have observed, I am very attached to my computers. For this reason, I tried migrated from my 2018 Thinkpad X Carbon to my first laptop. It was rather successful I should say. The idea was to make more efficient programming practices with a limited hardware. But only until it started heating up too much and I was afraid it was going to break. So I have officially tagged him retired. I have him for my small small experiments. I can run FreeBSD, OpenBSD or NetBSD in it. I also do light computing with it. Like writing for this website.

Same way, I also tried to make my first desktop work again. After ~20ish years. This happened last year in 2025 by the way. I bought a new DDR2 (?) RAM from Amazon and tried making it boot. Motherboard had become rusty with pins and other components with visible rust (Which I only found out after what happened after I switched it on). But I was hopeful (for god knows what reason!). Cos I remember replacing the SMPS within the last decade and assumed all could be well with new RAM and relatively new SMPS. The fact that the cabinet’s light came up gave me unrealistic confidence that I am about to see my old Windows XP installation with KMPPD-MBHKT-8MKRK-RKCP6…. Hmmm! I have finally forgotten my old Windows XP licence key. The one with which I have reinstalled the OS multiple times in a day for several years. Anyways, it just threw a lot of sparks due to rust and made a loud pfff sound. Sadly it didn’t wake up from that sleep. The key part here is that it tried to switch on. Despite being not touched for so long.

This is how my 20 year old desktop broke down after switching it on after a decade

Laptops vs Desktops!

Forward to now, I am in the market for a new computer. Obviously, laptops right? But why not a desktop? No no. Not a fancy custom PC which will run 40B parameter local LLM. But an upgrade for my laptop hardware that I have. Apart from work computer, I don’t move around much with my laptop. I put it in my backack. And when I want it, I open it and put it on top of the same table I use it everyday on. Always plugged on. From 7th gen Core i7 to a 14th gen Core i3? Or maybe a 9000 series Ryzen 5 processor.

I actually asked this simple question to an LLM:

Comparing Intel Core i7 7th generation 7600U laptop processor with 14th Generation Core i3 14100F desktop computer

And I can get this setup for <₹50,000 (Approx. $527) excluding monitor and peripherals cos I have them. This means I can get 2 of them setup for ₹1,00,000 (~$1000). One for my native place and another one for my Bangalore home. This is obvious right? I mean, we all know that desktop processors are more powerful than laptop processors. Especially ~7ish generation differences! But don’t you want portability? Yes. But that’s a minority portion. Since I already have a functional laptop now, And I can probably get a Macbook Neo or Air later to solve this for this migration period. Desktop has this permanence to it. And desktop will always run for longer periods with less problems. And any problems can be replaced or be upgraded as well. Not to mention, this ₹50,000 is for lil more relaxed and comfy setup. I can cut some cost here and there to make it ₹40,000. Especially since I can always upgrade my parts whenever I want. So why not move the majority of computing back to desktop instead of a inferior laptop which costs 2x desktops?