WATCH OUT FOR RAM PRICES!

Scannerman · Feb 1, 2026

hader said:
That's not the main reason behind AI.

Forgive me if I left you with the impression that the main reason for AI is for mankind to become slaves to the proverbial beast. In nowise do I suggest that this is the main reason. To put a keener edge on my communication I am suggesting that this may as well be the goal of AI because that is precisely where it is headed. Personally, I couldn't give a flying rip what the main reason behind doing anything is IF the outcome is ultimately nefarious and malignant. I alluded to this in my prior post when I quipped the cliché about the road to hell. I am not completely opposed to AI (but I do wonder how much humanity would truly suffer without it) but I am opposed to the way it is being thrust upon society, the job market, our personal computers, our devices, our education, etc.etc. AI is everywhere and frankly, it commonly does a very poor job of things.

It matters not what the intention of a thing is if the outcome consistently spells disaster. In other words, it is what it is. Meh, I'll say it again: AI will be the demise of humanity. I don't need SciFi to tell me this. I have eyes. I still have a brain. Automation was an economic concern long before I was born and there is no disputing that it cost many people their jobs and livelihoods. We can boast that we survived automation (with a little help from WWI and WWII) but this particular invention is something other. This thing goes everywhere.

Is AI going everywhere because it's such a great deal? I rather have my reservations in that regard. AI is going everywhere because investors have sunk so much capital into it that it is too late too turn back, too late to pull out, too late to change back. There's just too much munny riding on AI. You know, the old 'too big to fail' makes it prevail, but it's a black hole. Metaphorically, the Aztec priests are cutting the hearts out of the worshipful masses until they run out of blood munny. The real question is WHO PAYS? Well, certainly not our illustrious AI geniuses, the high priests of silicon inspired sentience. No, their job is to keep on collecting and spewing out visions of Pi in the sky ad infinitum. This is the real reason why the cost of silicon for we, the plebs, has quadrupled in less than six months.

I found it alarming when I learned via Links with Friends (a division of Level One Techs) that a majority of Japanese students stated that they would not have graduated High School without AI. What is this telling us?

The plethora of reasons for AI is endless, but I think most would agree that the main reason it is thrust upon us with such vigor is the corporate bottom line. The requirement for help and manpower has always been present in any advanced culture. This is putting it mildly. The problem is economic. I would say that it can be realistically argued that the manpower is there but the sustainable income isn't. We need to be realistic. Automation was supposed to solve so many of our world problems, give us more time for recreation and our families, etc. We could live like kings. Three day work weeks blah, blah, blah. But that's not reality is it. Those who volunteered to be living sacrifices for the Aztec priesthood were also the advocates of euthanasia. Where are they now? Where are the priests? Promises, promises while the rich continue to get richer. Nope. I'm not buying it.

I agree that it's not all bad. Not yet.

gunrunnerjohn · Feb 1, 2026

Scannerman said:
I found it alarming when I learned via Links with Friends (a division of Level One Techs) that a majority of Japanese students stated that they would not have graduated High School without AI. What is this telling us?

Actually, I'm not sure that's something to feel bad about. If that's really true, that means our education system might have a chance to catch up. Of course, we'd have to be smart enough to actually take advantage of the situation, which doesn't seem likely. However, maybe there's hope. :lmao:

Winuser · Feb 1, 2026

hader said:
AI is here to stay I am a afraid (that genie can't put back in it's bottle) and isn't getting beter and beter all the time. It will slowly replace physical jobs. Why hire a person if a mobile AI-robot with enough sensors, quick movements (beyond our human restrictions) and enough AI-intelligence and doesn't require food or sleep can complete the task also? 24/7. The only thing it's need is electricity to recharge it's battery. Goes never on a holiday, complains, or is sick...

The AI-robot also doesn't buy the products or services that the company provides. For years we have been told about the need to cut back on our energy use because we're running out of energy sources and also the effects caused by the greenhouse gases. Now they want to use something that is so power hungry that they have to restart old nuke plants and build new power plants just to supply the power that AI needs. IMHO, there's something seriously wrong with that picture.

Winuser · Feb 1, 2026

Scannerman said:
AI will be the demise of humanity.

Looking back at history and what is happening today, I see a day when humanity gets almost totally destroyed and those left have to start all over.

Scannerman · Feb 1, 2026

Winuser said:
Looking back at history and what is happening today, I see a day when humanity gets almost totally destroyed and those left have to start all over.

Welcome to the tin foil hat club. I'm about ready to trade mine in for a Faraday cage. Incidentally the experts are now predicting that we are entering another ice age. Frankly, I couldn't agree with you more as I sit back and look at the entire macro view. The idolatry of idiocracy just keeps on growing. At this rate we might consider ourselves thankful if our grand children are capable of counting the fingers on their hands.

gunrunnerjohn said:
Actually, I'm not sure that's something to feel bad about. If that's really true, that means our education system might have a chance to catch up. Of course, we'd have to be smart enough to actually take advantage of the situation, which doesn't seem likely. However, maybe there's hope.

There is indeed a silver lining for those who are able and willing to pursue it. AI is a big racket and there's a whole lot of munny to be had. Of course, there will be the royal group that will be able to afford to give their children a formidable education, but that's not for the peasantry. Their job will be how to learn to be button pushers and script kiddies for minimum wage. The rest of them can just go pound sand.

john1955 · Feb 1, 2026

PCUser said:
Are the prices of RAM affecting how you shop or upgrade your PCs?

If so, how?

In 2023 I bought VENGEANCE LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz C16 Memory Kit for $46.00 and now it's $143.00 but I cant find what I have.
If I want 32GB DDR5 6200 it would be around $700. for 32GB kit.

Scannerman · Feb 1, 2026

john1955 said:
In 2023 I bought VENGEANCE LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz C16 Memory Kit for $46.00 and now it's $143.00

I was thinking about doubling my ram from 16 to 32 and giving more of it to the graphics. Probably better to just get a new graphics card.

Normally that would be the right approach. Graphics cards are also going up in price because >> silicon.

john1955 · Feb 1, 2026

Scannerman said:
Normally that would be the right approach. Graphics cards are also going up in price because >> silicon.

Yeah, depending on the quality of the card

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 OC 4GB Graphics Card GV-N1656OC-4GD V2 $226.00

That's almost the same price it was in 2023

gunrunnerjohn · Feb 1, 2026

I see my Gigabyte RTX 4060 is now selling for several hundred more used than when I bought it new! :lmao:

Scannerman · Feb 1, 2026

john1955 said:
Yeah, depending on the quality of the card

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 OC 4GB Graphics Card GV-N1656OC-4GD V2 $226.00

That's almost the same price it was in 2023

That's a really good price. They want twice that amount in Canuckistan funds.

Scannerman · Feb 1, 2026

Speaking of AI

hader · Feb 2, 2026

Scannerman said:
Speaking of AI

That is what i am seeing also. BUT he makes a very big mistake! He thinks that Europe and the EU (European Union) are the same. No it isn't!!! The UK isn't a part anymore of the EU anymore! In 2016 the UK voted it wanted to leave the EU. It took effect in 2020. They hoped that they would prosper; No more contribution to the EU anymore. We can do it with out it. Consequences? No more EU subsides go to the UK. They hoped prices would go down. No more free trade between the UK and the EU. A very big customs department was set up that checks everything that comes in and out from the UK and the EU. As consequences; Prices rose.... All because rightwing madman Nigel Farage and his UKIP wanted to depart the EU. Promised golden mountains (sounds familiar???) As soon the decision was made he was asked to take up the job of Prime minister. "No, no that wasn't the intention" He just ran away from the consequences and the responsibility. Boris Johnson had to solve this big undertaking. For 4 years the UK and EU battled it out how to make trade agreement possible and who is paying for all of this bureaucracy. Traders in the EU had to pay a part for their transports. They were not willing to take up that tab; so products were getting more expensive. And now.... Even Nigel Farage has admitted that it was one big mistake. People are complaining now..... A lot off people want to go back to the EU. To bad UK, you made for yourselves a irreversibel decision..... Those golden mountains melted like snow in the sun.

He is ranting about CSAM. Correct. It may be introduced in the UK (The UK is a closer ally to the USA than the EU is. We have setup EU rules and on a regular basis fine company's like Google, Meta etc. if they violate EU-rules. This to a hugh disapproval of Trump. Trump hates the EU and wants to divide the EU like Putin already is trying. divide and conquer tactics.... So the EU is turning it's back towards the US.... More and more... ) We have seen here examples of people who wanted to spend their holiday's in the US at arrival their visa's were revoked because they were very critical of Trump. The US themselves is scanning social media under their control to check if someone is critical about Trump. So more and more EU people are avoiding the US. They don't want to take the risk of being turned back. Can't blame them. So no more end-to-end encryption? Our government spying on us? Wants to control us? Never!! If they wanted to do that? People go to the government with their pitchforks. Never heard of CSAM before. The EU will not introduce such a system. Were not mad like the UK, US or China. We make our own rules.

Talking about AI and Windows. Just recent I ran into a report that my Windows is not anymore in S-mode. (Smart App Control is permanently turned off) It can only be turned on again if I install reinstall Windows fresh) What the hell is that? Well according to Microsoft Windows With S-mode turned on Windows is faster then when it is turned off.... The main reason to be turned off? You installed to many software without getting it or buying it from the Microsoft Store..... Yeah. I know what behind that; Big tech want to force us to buy stuff through them so they can earn Mo Money. So be it.

That AI spying inside Windows is very concerning to me. So I will rip everything that has to do with AI out of my Windows with; GitHub - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI: Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11 The first step. I never buy Apple products for that reason he mentioned. Will depart from Meta and X and go for an alternative that doesn't watches me. There is no alternative for Google yet, but if there was I will depart from them also. Also I have to wait on a piece of software that filters out and refuse sending back unwanted information towards Microsoft. All I want to send is; This is my build version. Is there a newer one? That's it. As soon as a real replacement has arrived using Linux I will get rid of Windows all together.

hader · Feb 2, 2026

hader said:
.....

That AI spying inside Windows is very concerning to me. So I will rip everything that has to do with AI out of my Windows with; GitHub - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI: Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11 The first step. I never buy Apple products for that reason he mentioned. Will depart from Meta and X and go for an alternative that doesn't watches me. There is no alternative for Google yet, but if there was I will depart from them also. Also I have to wait on a piece of software that filters out and refuse sending back unwanted information towards Microsoft. All I want to send is; This is my build version. Is there a newer one? That's it. As soon as a real replacement has arrived using Linux I will get rid of Windows all together.

Just in.... Does Microsoft listen to all our AI complaints? Maybe.... We just have to wait and see......

Scannerman · Feb 2, 2026

hader said:
That is what i am seeing also. BUT he makes a very big mistake! He thinks that Europe and the EU (European Union) are the same. No it isn't!!! The UK isn't a part anymore of the EU anymore! In 2016 the UK voted it wanted to leave the EU. It took effect in 2020. They hoped that they would prosper; No more contribution to the EU anymore. We can do it with out it. Consequences? No more EU subsides go to the UK. They hoped prices would go down. No more free trade between the UK and the EU. A very big customs department was set up that checks everything that comes in and out from the UK and the EU. As consequences; Prices rose.... All because rightwing madman Nigel Farage and his UKIP wanted to depart the EU. Promised golden mountains (sounds familiar???) As soon the decision was made he was asked to take up the job of Prime minister. "No, no that wasn't the intention" He just ran away from the consequences and the responsibility. Boris Johnson had to solve this big undertaking. For 4 years the UK and EU battled it out how to make trade agreement possible and who is paying for all of this bureaucracy. Traders in the EU had to pay a part for their transports. They were not willing to take up that tab; so products were getting more expensive. And now.... Even Nigel Farage has admitted that it was one big mistake. People are complaining now..... A lot off people want to go back to the EU. To bad UK, you made for yourselves a irreversibel decision..... Those golden mountains melted like snow in the sun.

He is ranting about CSAM. Correct. It may be introduced in the UK (The UK is a closer ally to the USA than the EU is. We have setup EU rules and on a regular basis fine company's like Google, Meta etc. if they violate EU-rules. This to a hugh disapproval of Trump. Trump hates the EU and wants to divide the EU like Putin already is trying. divide and conquer tactics.... So the EU is turning it's back towards the US.... More and more... ) We have seen here examples of people who wanted to spend their holiday's in the US at arrival their visa's were revoked because they were very critical of Trump. The US themselves is scanning social media under their control to check if someone is critical about Trump. So more and more EU people are avoiding the US. They don't want to take the risk of being turned back. Can't blame them. So no more end-to-end encryption? Our government spying on us? Wants to control us? Never!! If they wanted to do that? People go to the government with their pitchforks. Never heard of CSAM before. The EU will not introduce such a system. Were not mad like the UK, US or China. We make our own rules.

Talking about AI and Windows. Just recent I ran into a report that my Windows is not anymore in S-mode. (Smart App Control is permanently turned off) It can only be turned on again if I install reinstall Windows fresh) What the hell is that? Well according to Microsoft Windows With S-mode turned on Windows is faster then when it is turned off.... The main reason to be turned off? You installed to many software without getting it or buying it from the Microsoft Store..... Yeah. I know what behind that; Big tech want to force us to buy stuff through them so they can earn Mo Money. So be it.

That AI spying inside Windows is very concerning to me. So I will rip everything that has to do with AI out of my Windows with; GitHub - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI: Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11 The first step. I never buy Apple products for that reason he mentioned. Will depart from Meta and X and go for an alternative that doesn't watches me. There is no alternative for Google yet, but if there was I will depart from them also. Also I have to wait on a piece of software that filters out and refuse sending back unwanted information towards Microsoft. All I want to send is; This is my build version. Is there a newer one? That's it. As soon as a real replacement has arrived using Linux I will get rid of Windows all together.

You're talking about Brexit. Guess who Canada inherited after Brexit? A: Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England. Oh joy. Now he's the P.M. Those world class citizens don't give a flying rip about our nations or regular people. Neither do the AI moguls who pander to the corporations in the name of big gains. Sure. They paint a rosy picture of what AI could be and how it can make life so much better, but the reality is that most people will never be at the receiving end of those benefits. Practically EVERYONE will be at the receiving end of the COST. It is business as usual.

EU is no better than the rest of them. Remember how they applauded Klaus Schwab? Going to the government with pitchforks is pathetic. In a world of high tech it's equivalent to bringing a knife to a gunfight. If nations like Poland can hold off Russia with robots what do you suppose the wealthier nations have hiding in the wings? Eugenics is also a big factor in this game. The culling of the nations has begun. The blood sacrifices have hardly ended. Instead, we will all own nothing and be happy —— or else. Only he who has the gold makes the rules. To claim otherwise is voluntary delusion.

The core element in this thread, starting with the original post is in fact AI. You and and I are both doing the same things to deal with it but the majority of people will not. As the AI invasion progresses people will have bigger problems to deal with than the exponential increase in the cost of silicon. I'm sticking to my idea of how those powers that should NOT be don't really want people to have their own independent PCs. Try running your own independent network and see how far you get. All the ISPs are in the hands of the power brokers. It is no small coincidence that Microsoft is the Linux Foundation's chief contributor. I'm surprised at how so few people (including Linux users) even know this. If I didn't like using Windows I wouldn't be using it. If I didn't like using Linux I wouldn't be using it either. I'm watching a golden age fade away in the shadow of a brave new world and there is precious little I can do to stop it.

Scannerman · Feb 2, 2026

hader said:
Just in.... Does Microsoft listen to all our AI complaints? Maybe.... We just have to wait and see......

In response to this video: I've been playing with X-Lite and I have to say I'm impressed.

Recently I went on my daughter's PC and was reminded of how snappy and efficiently it runs. It uses the legacy BIOS, USB3, RAID, MBR, and the original i7 920 Boomfield quad core withe a simple NVIDIA 1050 Ti graphics card. The system board is so old that I could still attach PATA to it and/or running a floppy drive on it directly. I have to say I was quite humbled by the architecture. She has the oldest platform in the house and encounters the least amount of issues. The only reason I was on it was to replace an old Seagate spinner that finally bit the dust. RAID1 rebuilt her archives without issue and she's good to go. Now this unit still boots to Windows 7 Pro (which I left for her because of some old games she enjoys playing offline) Windows 8.1 (which she rarely boots to but I do to interface with other systems indirectly) Windows 10, which she still uses because it's a nice little OS once you get done with surgically removing all the bloat and garbage, and Linux Mint. She has the option of booting to any four without issue.

When I think about how much I struggle with these newer systems I'm inclined to wonder how much we are really progressing in the world of personal computers. Sure, she may only be using 24GB of DDR3 memory but her PC runs efficiently, without the constant menace of AI and apps she simply doesn't need. File transfers are a bit mediocre but the system still runs NVMe on a card for a little extra fast storage. So in answer to this whole silicon fiasco I would add that perhaps many of us should be content with what we already have. Perhaps with a little TLC most of those older PCs are still worth keeping.

Scannerman · Feb 3, 2026

Two minutes into this gives us an idea of what we can expect from this fabricated silicon crisis.

CarlSD · Feb 4, 2026

This has to be a typo... surely?

Kingston FURY Beast RGB 128GB (4x 32GB) DDR5 5600MHz Desktop Memory - Black

That's Australian dollars, by the way.

I'll include a screenshot in case it is a typo and it gets changed.

SIW2 · Feb 4, 2026

It says "limit of 1 per customer"

hader · Feb 4, 2026

SIW2 said:
It says "limit of 1 per customer"

Pity... Wanted to buy 2 pcs. Oh well. We have to wait till 2030 then...... :lmao:

(I bet; when they sold 3 pcs: Out of stock....)

Winuser · Feb 4, 2026

hader said:
Pity... Wanted to buy 2 pcs. Oh well. We have to wait till 2030 then...... (I bet; when they sold 3 pcs: Out of stock....)

I think that it's possible the memory is out of stock so they over inflated the price so people wouldn't try to buy it. I've seen it done a few times on other products. My guess is that they do it in case the products ever became available again they would just need to change the price.

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