Comment by stego-tech
15 days ago
I mean, what was once an accessible hobby that taught folks how computers worked to a degree is now an RGB-lit target for thieves who know they can flip that memory and GPU for a grand or so pretty easily.
That's a pretty big turnabout that could get some more folks thinking about and discussing the impacts of AI on non-AI systems or markets.
I'm not happy about the, most likely temporary, price increases, but come on, it has never been an accessible hobby. It has always been an elitist, expensive hobby. Console game is the cheap way into gaming.
Here is 1995 custom PC build. Adjusted for inflation, it would be $4,276.37 today.
https://www.goto10retro.com/p/building-a-pc-in-1995
And it doesn't even have a gaming video card. You'd have to throw in another $400 for a good early 3d accelerator.