Long awaited update! For my 2019 build I was able to boot by messing with voltage settings in the bios, but I never could get it completely stable - especially when I upgraded my GPU to a 3080 in 2020. Finally now in 2022 I've upgraded my CPU, motherboard, and RAM again. I also got a new case, PSU, and cooler so...basically a new rig.

2022 System:

Motherboard: MSI Pro z690-a DDR4
CPU: Intel 13600k
Cooler: ID Cooling Frostflow x240 (liquid cooler)
GPU: Zotac 3800 Trinity
RAM: Teamforce 16x2 3200mhz DDR4
Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow
PSU: MSI MPG A850 GF Gaming
Drives: 500GB m.2, 250GB and 1TB SSD, 4TB HDD
PCIe: Anker USB 3.0 expansion card, OKN Wifi 6E AX5400

I do a lot more work on my PC now, and this rig is great at both gaming and as a workstation!

Not sure who will see this who can help, but figured I'd post so that I can at least organize my thoughts.

Rig:

ASRock x570m Pro4
Ryzen 5 3600
Corsair LPX Vengeance 8x2 3000mhz DDR4 RAM
Nvidia 3080
MSI MPG A850GF Gaming Power Supply
Corsair 4000D Airflow Case

I upgraded the CPU, RAM, and Mobo back in 2019, the video card in 2020, and the PSU and case a few weeks ago.

After my first upgrade, I was stuck in a boot loop for a while. I e eventually solved this by manually setting some voltage for the RAM and CPU. I used the XMP profile to get 3000mhz at 1.35v. The CPU had to be manually set to 3600mhz at 1.3v. This allowed me to boot normally.

After upgrading to the 3080 and trying more intense games/apps, I would sometimes get crashes that seemed power related (no BSOD - just a sudden shut off and turn back on). I undervolted the GPU which seemed to help a bit but noticed I would still occasionally get these crashes.

Recently I did some more testing and found that it was actually my CPU that was likely causing the crash, as temps were quickly getting into the 90s and beyond when running something. I switched out my case and the power supply (as it was very very old), but ultimately it was lowering the voltage of the CPU that helped the most. I'm now running the CPU at 1.28v with a -.05 offset. Any lower and the computer resets itself.

It's been pretty stable since this change, with temps staying in the 70s in games like Cyberpunk. BUT I'm still running a higher than recommended voltage and I'm still having to throttle the frequency at 3600, so my temps are still higher than normal and performance could be a little better. I just don't know if this is something I can fix or if I should have RMA'd something back in 2019. Everything is up to date (bios, etc). I've heard the RAM can cause issues for some reason, but everything should be compatible and play nice with each other.

Reminds me of Katrina back in the day. It's hard to describe to people how quickly things and seemingly society can just stop functioning.

It's on my list to get through, but I need to finish Red Matter 2 first and I'm just really busy at the moment.

Finally an update! Starting next month this will roll out. Meta is sending an email stating the following:

A Facebook account is no longer required to use Meta VR devices. Instead, you’ll need to set up a Meta account, which lets you log into your VR devices and view and manage your purchased apps in one place. You can set up a Meta account using your email address or Facebook account, and as part of the process we’ll migrate your existing VR information (including apps, achievements, and friends) to this account.

While you will still need a Meta account, you'll no longer be required to tie a social media presence to it. It will hopefully act as more of a traditional gaming/business account versus the more public and social-facing Facebook account.

Hey man! A few of us still meet up on Discord nightly for VR gaming. We've been playing more "session based" games, where you can jump in and jump out depending on how much time you have. I'm still waiting on a VR MMO that's worth diving deep into. I usually hop back into SWTOR every few years and play the new content and then unsub. Also doing that with FFXIV.

I'm still doing acting (which is finally getting back up and running) and more recently have been working with a gaming company on a product that should be going into paid beta soon. When I have a way to do so, I'll share it here!

Hot take: "Everything Everywhere All At Once" is what Matrix 4 should have been.

Hey Jeyk! Great to hear from you! I'll answer some of your questions!

-For my exercises, I typically focus on things I can do at home with my own equipment. As a result, this ends up being either dumbbells or a full body circuit workout. I did the circuit workout for a while, but it can be a little rough on my back. For dumbbells I just make sure to hit different muscle groups. As you mention, I try to focus on form and creating muscle engagement over number of reps and try to do a slow count when lifting weights.

-For dieting I focus mostly on calorie count. I also try to get a good amount of protein. When I was going at this hard, I ate "meat slop" (which I've referenced before) that had a good macro balance and tried to reach protein goals while still maintaining my calorie goals. If I get to a point to where I want to bulk up a little and start lifting weights, I'll shift from strictly calorie counting to focusing on protein. I use the app "Lose It!" to track all of this.

-As for intermittent fasting, I sort of do this naturally. I have a sensitive stomach in the morning and so usually don't eat a breakfast. This means I also usually do a fasted workout. I eat a late lunch (usually 3pm). This gives me some calories for a snack at night if needed, but also creates a good chunk of time where I'm fasting. It's not something I consciously try to do, but it happens naturally for me.

-For cardio I do HIIT 3x a week and use an app called "Exercise Timer" to build the intervals. I'm currently on a 30 work / 45 rest cycle. I alternate HIIT with regular cardio using Beat Saber. I use this playlist and usually do 30 minutes with no break with YUR tracking. I do expert/expert+ with no fail and increased speed (worked my way up to that). And yes, it's fun!

-I would advise caution when adding weights while doing Beat Saber. It's easier to have an injury than you may think. When I first started using Beat Saber for working out, I used these custom grips to grip it like an actual saber, but the jerkiness of changing directions quickly caused me to injure my shoulder. The weighted vest and ankle weights are probably fine, but I would be careful if you start ramping up the difficulty and speed of songs while using wrist weights. That seems like it could cause injury to me. I also stretch before and after Beat Saber and treat it like a regular workout.

As an update, I'm down to 178 lbs! I'm working again and have had a very busy month, so progress has slowed a little, but it feels great to not feel "overweight" anymore. I did a shoot this week where I played an Indiana Jones type of character for a commercial, and it always feels good to feel more confident in a role like that than feeling like the "chubby version". My birthday is next week so cake and going out to eat will probably continue to slow down my progress, but there's no hurry!