First, I am man enough to admit that I am wrong and I want to apologize
to the people defending Linux. The people behind the operating system do
sincerely care more about their users than the companies over on the
Windows side.

For those unaware, AMD has an issue with fTPM stuttering. If it is
enabled, your desktop will periodically get sluggish performance (for
about 3-4 seconds), an unresponsive mouse and keyboard, and corrupted
audio. For an example, check out this short video:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYnRL-x6DVI>. You can't predict when it
will happen, it just does.

The quick solution is to disable fTPM. A lot of motherboards allow you
to do it. Another solution is to install a hardware TPM. AMD has also
acknowledged the problem and provided a BIOS update manufacturers can
make available to their users. If you have an affected desktop, the
problem is therefore solved.

Given that Windows and a lot of online multiplayer games now require
TPM, disabling it entirely is a bad idea. You must therefore update or
install a hardware TPM.

For laptops however, you're at the mercy of the manufacturer. I have an
ASUS and the company has acknowledged the problem. Nevertheless, they
will do absolutely nothing about it. You can't disable fTPM in the BIOS,
there is also no update. You can screw around with Windows and disable
the TPM by rename TPM.sys, but Microsoft will likely reinstall it during
the next update. Therefore, you have no choice but to live with it. If
you edit videos or sound for a living, you're likely to often restart
your work because this can happen randomly during the encoding process.

Meanwhile, on the Linux side, Linus Torvalds simply decided that the
problem, hwrng, might as well be disabled since it is useless anyway. As
of kernel 6.2, Linux will detect whether you have a problematic BIOS and
disable the feature. In other words, as long as you're using Linux, you
won't experience this garbage.

If you read what people online have to say, they are swearing not to buy
AMD again. Meanwhile, they are disregarding that Intel has its own
issues with the 13th and 14th generation processors crashing if used at
their rated speeds
<https://www.theverge.com/24216305/intel-13th-14th-gen-raptor-lake-cpu-crash-news-updates-patches-fixes-motherboards>.
In other words, even the alternative is garbage. Additionally, Windows
_still_ requires TPM and such issues might surface again with Intel for
all that we know.

I've made my decision and gone ahead with Fedora. I might face problems
along the way, but I think that I have finally found the motivation to
disregard or work through them.

My apologies to all, once more.
--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
Telegram: @AndrzejMatuch

Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

>First, I am man enough to admit that I am wrong and I want to apologize
>to the people defending Linux. The people behind the operating system do
>sincerely care more about their users than the companies over on the
>Windows side.
>
>For those unaware, AMD has an issue with fTPM stuttering. If it is
>enabled, your desktop will periodically get sluggish performance (for
>about 3-4 seconds), an unresponsive mouse and keyboard, and corrupted
>audio. For an example, check out this short video:
><https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYnRL-x6DVI>. You can't predict when it
>will happen, it just does.
>
>The quick solution is to disable fTPM. A lot of motherboards allow you
>to do it. Another solution is to install a hardware TPM. AMD has also
>acknowledged the problem and provided a BIOS update manufacturers can
>make available to their users. If you have an affected desktop, the
>problem is therefore solved.
>
>Given that Windows and a lot of online multiplayer games now require
>TPM, disabling it entirely is a bad idea. You must therefore update or
>install a hardware TPM.
>
>For laptops however, you're at the mercy of the manufacturer. I have an
>ASUS and the company has acknowledged the problem. Nevertheless, they
>will do absolutely nothing about it. You can't disable fTPM in the BIOS,
>there is also no update. You can screw around with Windows and disable
>the TPM by rename TPM.sys, but Microsoft will likely reinstall it during
>the next update. Therefore, you have no choice but to live with it. If
>you edit videos or sound for a living, you're likely to often restart
>your work because this can happen randomly during the encoding process.
>
>Meanwhile, on the Linux side, Linus Torvalds simply decided that the
>problem, hwrng, might as well be disabled since it is useless anyway. As
>of kernel 6.2, Linux will detect whether you have a problematic BIOS and
>disable the feature. In other words, as long as you're using Linux, you
>won't experience this garbage.
>
>If you read what people online have to say, they are swearing not to buy
>AMD again. Meanwhile, they are disregarding that Intel has its own
>issues with the 13th and 14th generation processors crashing if used at
>their rated speeds
><https://www.theverge.com/24216305/intel-13th-14th-gen-raptor-lake-cpu-crash-news-updates-patches-fixes-motherboards>.
>In other words, even the alternative is garbage. Additionally, Windows
>_still_ requires TPM and such issues might surface again with Intel for
>all that we know.
>
>I've made my decision and gone ahead with Fedora. I might face problems
>along the way, but I think that I have finally found the motivation to
>disregard or work through them.
>
>My apologies to all, once more.

Welcome back, buddy.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 2024-12-27 16:39, Joel wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>
>> First, I am man enough to admit that I am wrong and I want to apologize
>> to the people defending Linux. The people behind the operating system do
>> sincerely care more about their users than the companies over on the
>> Windows side.
>>
>> For those unaware, AMD has an issue with fTPM stuttering. If it is
>> enabled, your desktop will periodically get sluggish performance (for
>> about 3-4 seconds), an unresponsive mouse and keyboard, and corrupted
>> audio. For an example, check out this short video:
>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYnRL-x6DVI>. You can't predict when it
>> will happen, it just does.
>>
>> The quick solution is to disable fTPM. A lot of motherboards allow you
>> to do it. Another solution is to install a hardware TPM. AMD has also
>> acknowledged the problem and provided a BIOS update manufacturers can
>> make available to their users. If you have an affected desktop, the
>> problem is therefore solved.
>>
>> Given that Windows and a lot of online multiplayer games now require
>> TPM, disabling it entirely is a bad idea. You must therefore update or
>> install a hardware TPM.
>>
>> For laptops however, you're at the mercy of the manufacturer. I have an
>> ASUS and the company has acknowledged the problem. Nevertheless, they
>> will do absolutely nothing about it. You can't disable fTPM in the BIOS,
>> there is also no update. You can screw around with Windows and disable
>> the TPM by rename TPM.sys, but Microsoft will likely reinstall it during
>> the next update. Therefore, you have no choice but to live with it. If
>> you edit videos or sound for a living, you're likely to often restart
>> your work because this can happen randomly during the encoding process.
>>
>> Meanwhile, on the Linux side, Linus Torvalds simply decided that the
>> problem, hwrng, might as well be disabled since it is useless anyway. As
>> of kernel 6.2, Linux will detect whether you have a problematic BIOS and
>> disable the feature. In other words, as long as you're using Linux, you
>> won't experience this garbage.
>>
>> If you read what people online have to say, they are swearing not to buy
>> AMD again. Meanwhile, they are disregarding that Intel has its own
>> issues with the 13th and 14th generation processors crashing if used at
>> their rated speeds
>> <https://www.theverge.com/24216305/intel-13th-14th-gen-raptor-lake-cpu-crash-news-updates-patches-fixes-motherboards>.
>> In other words, even the alternative is garbage. Additionally, Windows
>> _still_ requires TPM and such issues might surface again with Intel for
>> all that we know.
>>
>> I've made my decision and gone ahead with Fedora. I might face problems
>> along the way, but I think that I have finally found the motivation to
>> disregard or work through them.
>>
>> My apologies to all, once more.
>
>
> Welcome back, buddy.

At this point, the migration back to Windows is not going to sound too
appetizing. When you know that what's waiting for you on the other side
is a heavier operating system which requires you to enable something
that causes unpredictable stutters, you're a lot more likely to say
"yeah... I'll just stay here for now."

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
Telegram: @AndrzejMatuch

Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

>> Welcome back, buddy.
>
>At this point, the migration back to Windows is not going to sound too
>appetizing. When you know that what's waiting for you on the other side
>is a heavier operating system which requires you to enable something
>that causes unpredictable stutters, you're a lot more likely to say
>"yeah... I'll just stay here for now."

Windows is all about the latest and greatest hardware, it doesn't take
long for a PC to become burdened with it, it's why I run Linux, of
course my machine has the *ability* to run Win11, it just sucks,
literally sucking away usefulness that could instead be put into Linux
and its open-source library of apps. Am I missing Office and
Photoshop? I guess, but they're bloatware too, so who cares. I'm
liking software freedom.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 2024-12-27 19:02, Joel wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>
>>> Welcome back, buddy.
>>
>> At this point, the migration back to Windows is not going to sound too
>> appetizing. When you know that what's waiting for you on the other side
>> is a heavier operating system which requires you to enable something
>> that causes unpredictable stutters, you're a lot more likely to say
>> "yeah... I'll just stay here for now."
>
>
> Windows is all about the latest and greatest hardware, it doesn't take
> long for a PC to become burdened with it, it's why I run Linux, of
> course my machine has the *ability* to run Win11, it just sucks,
> literally sucking away usefulness that could instead be put into Linux
> and its open-source library of apps. Am I missing Office and
> Photoshop? I guess, but they're bloatware too, so who cares. I'm
> liking software freedom.

Most of what I routinely use is open-source anyway and/or available
under Linux so there is no real attachment to Windows. I'm losing access
to the movies I own on Microsoft Films & TV, but they're available to me
over the Xbox anyway. I also don't feel like showing those movies to my
students anymore, so I'm contenting myself with them not being
accessible to me at all times on my laptop.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
Telegram: @AndrzejMatuch

Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

>>>> Welcome back, buddy.
>>>
>>> At this point, the migration back to Windows is not going to sound too
>>> appetizing. When you know that what's waiting for you on the other side
>>> is a heavier operating system which requires you to enable something
>>> that causes unpredictable stutters, you're a lot more likely to say
>>> "yeah... I'll just stay here for now."
>>
>> Windows is all about the latest and greatest hardware, it doesn't take
>> long for a PC to become burdened with it, it's why I run Linux, of
>> course my machine has the *ability* to run Win11, it just sucks,
>> literally sucking away usefulness that could instead be put into Linux
>> and its open-source library of apps. Am I missing Office and
>> Photoshop? I guess, but they're bloatware too, so who cares. I'm
>> liking software freedom.
>
>Most of what I routinely use is open-source anyway and/or available
>under Linux so there is no real attachment to Windows. I'm losing access
>to the movies I own on Microsoft Films & TV, but they're available to me
>over the Xbox anyway. I also don't feel like showing those movies to my
>students anymore, so I'm contenting myself with them not being
>accessible to me at all times on my laptop.

My computer is a work of art, Win11 clogs it up like laryngitis, Linux
is sleek.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 2024-12-27 19:49, Joel wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>
>>>>> Welcome back, buddy.
>>>>
>>>> At this point, the migration back to Windows is not going to sound too
>>>> appetizing. When you know that what's waiting for you on the other side
>>>> is a heavier operating system which requires you to enable something
>>>> that causes unpredictable stutters, you're a lot more likely to say
>>>> "yeah... I'll just stay here for now."
>>>
>>> Windows is all about the latest and greatest hardware, it doesn't take
>>> long for a PC to become burdened with it, it's why I run Linux, of
>>> course my machine has the *ability* to run Win11, it just sucks,
>>> literally sucking away usefulness that could instead be put into Linux
>>> and its open-source library of apps. Am I missing Office and
>>> Photoshop? I guess, but they're bloatware too, so who cares. I'm
>>> liking software freedom.
>>
>> Most of what I routinely use is open-source anyway and/or available
>> under Linux so there is no real attachment to Windows. I'm losing access
>> to the movies I own on Microsoft Films & TV, but they're available to me
>> over the Xbox anyway. I also don't feel like showing those movies to my
>> students anymore, so I'm contenting myself with them not being
>> accessible to me at all times on my laptop.
>
>
> My computer is a work of art, Win11 clogs it up like laryngitis, Linux
> is sleek.

I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
Telegram: @AndrzejMatuch

Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

>I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.

My headphones are good enough that simple stereo sound is strong,
without enhancing effects. It's one of the foundational parts of a
computer build, to me, a motherboard with Realtek's audio gear.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

On 2024-12-28, Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
> On 2024-12-27 19:49, Joel wrote:
>> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>>
>>>>>> Welcome back, buddy.
>>>>>
>>>>> At this point, the migration back to Windows is not going to sound too
>>>>> appetizing. When you know that what's waiting for you on the other side
>>>>> is a heavier operating system which requires you to enable something
>>>>> that causes unpredictable stutters, you're a lot more likely to say
>>>>> "yeah... I'll just stay here for now."
>>>>
>>>> Windows is all about the latest and greatest hardware, it doesn't take
>>>> long for a PC to become burdened with it, it's why I run Linux, of
>>>> course my machine has the *ability* to run Win11, it just sucks,
>>>> literally sucking away usefulness that could instead be put into Linux
>>>> and its open-source library of apps. Am I missing Office and
>>>> Photoshop? I guess, but they're bloatware too, so who cares. I'm
>>>> liking software freedom.
>>>
>>> Most of what I routinely use is open-source anyway and/or available
>>> under Linux so there is no real attachment to Windows. I'm losing access
>>> to the movies I own on Microsoft Films & TV, but they're available to me
>>> over the Xbox anyway. I also don't feel like showing those movies to my
>>> students anymore, so I'm contenting myself with them not being
>>> accessible to me at all times on my laptop.
>>
>>
>> My computer is a work of art, Win11 clogs it up like laryngitis, Linux
>> is sleek.
>
> I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
> don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
> laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
> the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
> thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.

I'll take a look at it and see if I can hear any difference on my old
computers. Thanks for bringing it up. (I've got a feeling my computers don't
use this Atmos anyhow, but I could be wrong.)

--
“Evil is not able to create anything new, it can only distort and destroy
what has been invented or made by the forces of good.” —J.R.R. Tolkien

On 2024-12-27 21:18, Joel wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>
>> I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>> don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>> laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>> the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>> thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.
>
>
> My headphones are good enough that simple stereo sound is strong,
> without enhancing effects. It's one of the foundational parts of a
> computer build, to me, a motherboard with Realtek's audio gear.

I remember the days when Realtek was synonymous with shit sound.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
Telegram: @AndrzejMatuch

On 2024-12-28, Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
> On 2024-12-27 21:18, Joel wrote:
>> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>>
>>> I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>>> don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>>> laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>>> the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>>> thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.
>>
>>
>> My headphones are good enough that simple stereo sound is strong,
>> without enhancing effects. It's one of the foundational parts of a
>> computer build, to me, a motherboard with Realtek's audio gear.
>
> I remember the days when Realtek was synonymous with shit sound.
>
It still is.

--
pothead

"Give a man a fish and you turn him into a Democrat for life"
"Teach a man to fish and he might become a self-sufficient conservative Republican"

Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:

>>> I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>>> don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>>> laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>>> the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>>> thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.
>>
>> My headphones are good enough that simple stereo sound is strong,
>> without enhancing effects. It's one of the foundational parts of a
>> computer build, to me, a motherboard with Realtek's audio gear.
>
>I remember the days when Realtek was synonymous with shit sound.

My first legit PC sound device was a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI
card, used in two single-core-CPU machines I had between 2005-2010,
2010 being when I built my previous computer, which had an Intel
motherboard with Realtek's 24/192 audio stuff. Probably Realtek in
earlier times was working with more primitive digital audio.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
>On 2024-12-28, Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>> On 2024-12-27 21:18, Joel wrote:
>>> Andrzej Matuch <andrzej@matu.ch> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>>>> don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>>>> laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>>>> the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>>>> thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.
>>>
>>> My headphones are good enough that simple stereo sound is strong,
>>> without enhancing effects. It's one of the foundational parts of a
>>> computer build, to me, a motherboard with Realtek's audio gear.
>>
>> I remember the days when Realtek was synonymous with shit sound.
>>
>It still is.

What exactly would you suggest is better, pray tell?

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent. States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.

Andrzej Matuch wrote:

>I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.

Atmos? I thought that was a thing for home theater systems - systems
that go way beyond the classic 5 channel (plus subwoofers)
surround-sound to 9 channels or even more, with speakers overhead as
well as to the sides.

Seems like silly marketing to apply it to a laptop's sound system.

--
'There tends to be some sort of idea in COLA that *everything* should
be "without cost" in linux world.' - "True Linux advocate" Hadron
Quark, lying shamelessly

On 2024-12-28 11:50, chrisv wrote:
> Andrzej Matuch wrote:
>
>> I just found out that Linux has an alternative for Dolby Atmos. If you
>> don't know what that is, it's an application which really makes your
>> laptop's speakers (if you have decent ones) loud and clear. Without it,
>> the volume is very low. It turns out that EasyEffects does the same
>> thing and just happens to be open-source. I am very happy right now.
>
> Atmos? I thought that was a thing for home theater systems - systems
> that go way beyond the classic 5 channel (plus subwoofers)
> surround-sound to 9 channels or even more, with speakers overhead as
> well as to the sides.
>
> Seems like silly marketing to apply it to a laptop's sound system.

I would ask you to get your hands on a laptop which supports Dolby Atmos
and install Linux and Windows side by side. You'll notice how low the
volume is in Linux right away. In Windows it is a little bit higher but
absolutely stellar the moment you enable Atmos with its Dynamic profile.
You'd think that it is just increasing the volume past 100% but it's
not; there is no crackling whatsoever suggesting that the hardware is
doing more than it should. Either way, EasyEffects seems like a good
alternative to the proprietary product and I feel blessed that it is
available to me at no charge.

--
Andrzej (Andre) Matuch
Telegram: @AndrzejMatuch

Andrzej Matuch wrote:

>> Atmos? I thought that was a thing for home theater systems - systems
>> that go way beyond the classic 5 channel (plus subwoofers)
>> surround-sound to 9 channels or even more, with speakers overhead as
>> well as to the sides.
>>
>> Seems like silly marketing to apply it to a laptop's sound system.
>
>I would ask you to get your hands on a laptop which supports Dolby Atmos
>and install Linux and Windows side by side. You'll notice how low the
>volume is in Linux right away. In Windows it is a little bit higher but
>absolutely stellar the moment you enable Atmos with its Dynamic profile.
>You'd think that it is just increasing the volume past 100% but it's
>not; there is no crackling whatsoever suggesting that the hardware is
>doing more than it should.

I'm not doubting that there is some beneficial processing going on.
It just seems ridiculous to call whatever it's doing "Atmos".

--
"Its why they dropped Linux support - all freetard whining with no
contributions." - "True Linux advocate" Hadron Quark