One Minute Tech Reviews

Author Archives: Louie Tran

Working From Home Isn’t So Bad – My Mac and Windows Gaming Setup March 2020

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With everything going, a lot of us are now required or highly encouraged to work from home. For me, it’s just another day as I’ve been remote working for over a decade. In fact, I love working from home because I can count on my own gear, have a large high resolution display and not work off a smaller cheap screen they have at most offices.

My Mac setup is also my PC setup too these days. I switch to Windows Bootcamp to run Windows Applications and plug in an eGPU with an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super when I want to run some demanding games. Sure, it’s not the same as an actual dedicated gaming PC but being able to do all this off one device is awesome.

Stay safe, wash your hands and be sure to practice your social distancing!

How I Went Back to College University On a Scholarship at 40

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New video up!

You’re never too old to go back to school. You’re never too old to qualify for a scholarship either. I went back AND I was able to get a scholarship for the online accredited university I’m attending at Western Governors University.


Sterkmann Backpack Review and What’s in My Travel Bag

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A review of the – Sterkmann Expandable Carry on Backpack for men Overnight Weekender for Travel & Business Waterproof Fits 15″ Laptop With Packing Cube, Shoe Pouch & Laundry Bag (20L-30L Capacity, 3 lbs) – yes it’s a mouthful but that was basically the product description on Amazon!

This is a really great travel backpack with excellent build quality and a much lower price than the Nomantic backpacks without sacrificing the quality.

Note: I was able to fit my Sony A7III with the Tamron 28-75 lens AND the Samyang 35mm lens attached to the camera with all the stuff that’s already in the backpack!

Link to backpack: https://amzn.to/2uKIeuf


SMALL TIME YOUTUBER! Typical Saturday VLOG with no drones, boosted boards, or first class flying

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I am not Casey Neistat. I am not Logan or Jake Paul or those other awesome YouTubers! This video has no crazy wild adventures, skydiving, boosted boards… or even drones in this video. But hey, hats off and MEGA KUDOS to those guys!

This is my typical Saturday… and as I was editing it – a lot more uneventful than usual so I am going to warn you that it might get pretty boring. But hey, sometimes you just want to unwind and really not do much after a long week. Hope you enjoy some of this. A LIKE and Subscribe or even a comment will be greatly appreciated.


Installing an eGPU to your MacBook Pro 16 Inch or Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro / Air Windows Bootcamp

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This video is how to get your Macbook Pro or any Mac with a Thunderbolt 3 setup with an eGPU. It’s really easy if you use an NVIDIA based card for Windows Bootcamp. It’s more tricky if you are using an AMD based card – link how to do that here: https://egpu.io/boot-camp-egpu-setup-guide/

I just finished a video on the 16-inch MacBook Pro’s gaming performance not too long ago and I included some benchmarks that showed significant improvement with an eGPU. Link to that video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPlM_tARsLI


Apple MacBook Pro 16 Radeon 5500 8GB Bootcamp Gaming Performance vs MSI GS65 Gaming Laptop + eGPU

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How well does the MacBook Pro 16 inch perform? How does it compare to a gaming laptop? How much does an eGPU improve gaming performance? This is where we find out!

I’m borrowing a friend’s MacBook Pro 16 with 5500m 8GB and I don’t know if I am impressed or surprised at the gaming performance because I had low expectations.

I tried out Overwatch, Nier Automata, and Tomb Raider all in using the bootcampdrivers.com Adrenaline RED version, and am easily getting 45-60+ fps on High Settings on a 3440×1440 100hz display (using TAA or AA OFF). The detail on Nier and Tomb Raider unfortunately isn’t as good as it is on my GS65 with an RTX 2060 card but I believe that’s mainly because those games were optimized for the NVIDIA graphics cards and there is a bit of tearing but the games are definitely more than playable and better than what you can get from a console. Overwatch on the other hand, just flies in ultra. I understand most people play games in 1920 x 1080 resolution so I included benchmark scores on that as well.

Also the system runs really hot even with Turboboost turned off and being undervolted so the fans will be on the whole time when playing a game. Not too different from any other laptop so it would be a good idea to have this on a cooling pad because the temps get up into the 90s easily.

As for if this is worth it as a gaming laptop, definitely not. At the configuration of an i9, 32GB, 2TB and Radeon 5500 8GB, you can buy 2 Razer Blade 15s and they will be way better for gaming. But as a high end Mac that can edit complicated 4K videos with ease in Final Cut Pro, and function as a mid-tier gaming laptop, it’s something to think about.

Things to consider…

  • If you want a pretty laptop for gaming, get a Razer Blade
  • if you want the best PC gaming experience, build a PC or get a high end gaming laptop if you want to go mobile
  • If you want a Mac to do productivity work, love sending iMessages from laptop and want to game on the side… get a MacBook Air and build yourself a kickass gaming PC… or get a MacBook Air and a Razer Blade 15 and use the leftover money for games on Steam
  • If you want want a Mac to do productivity work, are one of those types that wear a tin foil hat thinking PCs will get viruses because you clicked on a link that you thought was porn, get a MacBook Air or the Base Model MacBook Pro and every console out there and it will still come out less…
  • If you need laptop for Mac software that squeezes out every bit of hardware (whether you are a pro, hobbyist, or enthusiast), and like the idea of being able to play PC games all in one device… this MacBook Pro is for you.
  • If you have a lot of money, want the absolute best, are a geek that wants to run PC games on a Mac just to say that you did… a spec’d out MacBook Pro 16 is definitely for you. And while you’re at it, build a kickass gaming PC, buy every console out there, gaming laptop, Tesla, camera, and all those toys that your favorite influencer has, and pat yourself on the back because you made it in life! Congratulations!


Three Minute Morning and First Drone Flight with DJI Mavic Mini

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This is the first video I’ve shot and edited in ages. Just picked up the DJI Mavic Mini and flew it for the first time. In face there are many things I haven’t done in awhile and flying a drone is also one of them. Last drone I had was a Phantom 4 which I sold sin 2017 before I moved to Austin. Hope to get back into editing videos again.

Non drone footage taken on Sony A7III with Tamron 28-75 lens.


Goodbye A6300 and 4 ASP-C lenses… Hello Sony A7III with Tamron 28-75 F2.8 Lens Full Frame

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sony a7iii

Happy New Year!

I wasn’t expecting to pickup any gear this early on of 2020, but I have been eyeing the Sony A7III ever since it came out in 2018. I’ve been rocking the A6300 with a handful of prime lenses and loved that camera. However, after borrowing a friends A7III, I’ve been amazed with and wanted one since. I figured I’d just wait for the A7IV to eventually come out but who knows when that might happen and the A7RIV is just simply overkill for my needs.

Yesterday, I sold my A6300 camera and 4 lenses and picked up with A7III with Tamron 28-75 F2.8 lens at my local camera store for a great deal. Sure it was a little impulsive and there is a chance that the A7IV could come out this year but I doubt that it would be leaps and bounds over this one. Like a kid on Christmas I ran home took it out of the box, put the battery in, popped on the lens and did the initial setup and then… 1% battery life left. I took a hasty quick photo of the closes thing around me of course it happened to be my cat Lilly.

cat

I was pretty amazed at the quality, and even though I have borrowed this camera a few times, it feels different when I now actually own it. The Tamron lens is awesome. I think it is the only lens I will ever need but there’s a chance that I MIGHT pickup a 35mm or 50mm full frame prime in the near future.

basil

No regrets whatsoever in selling my ASP-C camera and lens and I look forward to taking awesome photos this year… and maybe get back to doing YouTube videos again!


What’s On My Desk Winter 2019

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Some changes since my last post in the summer as I added a monitor arm as well as a floating laptop stand!

  • MSI GS65 9SE – currently my main rig for work and gaming.  This thing is an absolute beast and can handle all the new games you throw at it. My Macbook Pro 13 inch is now assigned to being a travel laptop and Final Cut Pro machine.
  • Monoprice Zero G Curved Gaming Monitor UWQHD 100hz – I finally replaced my aging 32 inch display and went with an Ultrawide. I’ve been using 60hz for the longest time and 100hz is incredible lol
  • NB North Bayou Monitor Desk Mount Stand Swivel Arm Gas Spring – This thing is a game changer. I’m able to adjust my display however I want. I love it. Buy it!
  • EZM Notebook Arm Extension Desk Mount Stand – This is great too as t also frees up some space on my desk. Plus being able to adjust the height makes using it as a second screen a lot better too!
  • Sony SRSHG1 HearGo Bluetooth Speaker – Small but mighty. It can connect USB, bluetooth 3.5, Wifi, Google Cast… you name it. This thing is amazing and sounds great
  • Logitech MX Keys – Replaced my Steelseries Apex 7 keyboard and went back to a wireless setup. This keyboard, although not as clicky as a mechanical keyboard works pretty great
  • Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse – Kind of tempted into upgrading to the MX Master 3 for the USB-C but other than that, it’s not that much of a difference from what I hear. I have this at my desk and an MX Anywhere 2s in my laptop bag
  • Xbox One Controller (White) – for gaming. I sometimes use the PS4 controller for PSP emulated games
  • Razer Nari Headphones – Picked these up when they were on sale. Sound quality is excellent especially when playing FPS games like Overwatch or Modern Warfare 2019. I’ve also screamed and jumped sevral times playing Resident Evil 2!
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max 256GB – Didn’t think I was going to upgrade this year but I was sold on the low light capabilities of this phone and I sold my Sony RX100 V but still keeing the Sony a6300 (camera that took this photo). iPhone 11 Pro Max is still paired with my Apple Watch Series 4 smartwatch

One Minute Review – Apple AirPods Pro

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airpods pro

One Minute Review

Like:

  • Stupid easy pairing with any Apple device such as iPhone, iPad, MacBooks, iMac, Apple Watch, yes the whole Apple Line thanks to the H1 Chip
  • Very impressed with the sound quality for music and phone calls – has nice clarity, bass and treble
  • 4.5 hours of listening time and 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge. Battery case can charge the AirPods quickly to get you extra useage
  • Fits well in my ears thanks to the silicone tips – the OG AirPods kept falling off my ears. I can run and work out with these
  • Small, compact wireless charging case, unlike the PowerBeats Pro – these can easily fir in your pocket
  • Noise cancellation and transparency modes are welcome additions and they work pretty well
  • IPX4 rated water and sweat resistant

Don’t Like:

  • After 12-18 months, AirPods don’t hold their charge that well anymore
  • Apple’s battery replacement service is $49 an earbud… people will end up throwing these away contradicting Apple’s environmental values

Recommend?

  • YES if you are looking for a good overall pair of earbuds with noise cancellation features
  • YES if you are using this with your Apple devices
  • NO if you want Bose / Sony headphone quality noise cancellation