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Buying and building a computer in July 2023 (Australia)

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If you want to build a computer in June 2023, now is a good time. The Bitcoin mining boom is over, and computer hardware is available and quite affordable. However, finding the right bargain and avoiding bad deals is challenging.

Computer Building/Hardware Acronyms

You may encounter several acronyms and terms related to hardware components and technologies when building a PC.

Here are some common PC-building acronyms before you read on

  1. CPU: Central Processing Unit or processor (brain).
  2. GPU: Graphics Processing Unit or Video Card that makes games run faster.
  3. RAM: Random Access Memory is the memory that allows the computer to hold information after the computer is turned on
  4. SSD: Solid-State Drive is where files are read from and written to; SSDs allow the computer to remember things. SSDs are much faster than HDDs
  5. HDD: Hard Disk Drive is a storage device that lets the computer remember information once the power is turned off. HDDs are much cheaper than SSDs
  6. PSU: Power Supply Unit is the component that turns 240V AC to 12V, 5V and 3.3V DC for computer components.
  7. BIOS: Basic Input/Output System is the underlying menu of settings that allow the computer to start in a configured state.
  8. UEFI: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface is a newer BIOS.
  9. VRAM: Video Random Access Memory is the dedicated memory that is used by the graphics card (GPU) to allow it to run faster. 
  10. M.2: A form factor for solid-state drives and other devices
  11. AIO: All-in-One (typically refers to liquid cooling solutions)
  12. PSU: Power Supply Unit
  13. MHz is the measurement used to indicate the speed of a computer part. 1Mhz = 1 Million cycles a second, 1Ghz is 1 Billion cycles a second.

Hardware Trends

DDR4 or DDR5 Memory?

Windows computer memory is moving on from DDR4 to DDR5 memory modules. DDR4 memory was introduced in 2014. DD4 memory modules could hold a maximum of 32GB each. Most mainboards have four memory slots maximum, and a 128MB maximum memory was the limit.

DDR5, however, allows 128GB per memory mobile; DDR5 has faster throughput but slower latency.

What are Memory Timings?

Explaining Memory Timings is best left to experts like Buildzoid. 

DDR4 v DDR5
RANT: THE CAS LATENCY TIMING DOESN’T MATTER AS MUCH AS YOU THINK IT DOES
DDR5 vs DDR4 vs DDR3 Ram | i9-12900K | RTX 3090 | 4K Gaming Leaked!
What is the Optimal RAM Speed for DDR5?

“Buy DDR5 memory and a DDR5 mainboard unless you can get a bargain on a DDR4 memory and a mainboard.” I am using a DDR4 system.”

Memory Tip

Tip

“If you are buying DDR4, buy as much as you can afford now as it is hard to find memory above 64GB kits. Soon DDR4 will be unavailable.“

Memory Tip

Tip

Memory Timings

What are Memory Timings?

How Do Memory Timings Work?
What Are Memory Timings? CAS Latency, tRCD, tRP, & tRAS (Pt 1)

“Chasing faster memory timings is an area best left to the nerds with too much free time and money. Do not buy memory with the faster or slowest memory timings. Aim for the middle.

Memory Tip

Tip

fyi: About 20 brands sell memory, but only three companies make memory integrated-circuit chips for the brands to sell memory modules.

Image Description: DDR5 memory module card, 3D rendering isolated on white background – Licenced from stock.adobe.com File 435293182

The actual memory makers are Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology.

Image Description: Silicon monocrystalline wafer with microchips manufacturing used in fabrication of electronic integrated circuits. – Licenced from stock.adobe.com File 553638697

One memory maker is not generally better; different Motherboards and Processors prefer different memory. Always check for compatible processors and memory with your mainboard manufacturer (here is my mainboard compatibility lists)

DDR Memory History (Official JDEC Standards)

Memory StandardYear Max Speed (MT/s)Pre FetchPinsVoltsLatency nsAverage TimingsMax Bandwidth MB/sMax GB
DDR1 (200 ~ 400)2000 ~ 2003200 ~ 400 MT/s2ns240 pins2.5~2.6v12.5 ~ 202-2-2-20 ~
3-4-4-15		1,600 ~ 3,2004GB
DDR2 (400 ~1066)2003 ~ 2006200 ~ 533 MT/s4ms240 pins1.8v10 ~ 203-3-3-15 ~ 7-7-7-133,200 ~ 8,5338GB
DDR3 (800 ~ 2133)2007 ~ 2013800 ~ 2133 MT/s8ns240 pins1.5 ~ 1.35v10 ~ 155-5-5-5-12.5 ~ 14-14-14-136,400 ~ 17,06632GB
DDR4 (1600 ~ 3200) 2014 ~ 20191600 ~ 3200 MT/s8ns288 pins1.2 ~ 1.05v12.5 ~ 14.310-10-10-12.5 ~ 24-24-24-24-1512,800 ~ 25,600 128GB
DDR5 (3200 ~ 7200)2020 ~ ?3200 ~ 7200 MT/s16ns288 pins1.1v13 ~ 18ns22-22-22-? ~ 46-46-46-?25,600 ~ 57,600512GB
Memory standards over time

Here is a good write-up on why DDR5 is not faster (latency) than DDR3; unless you are after more throughput, then DDR4 is fine.

Processor Cores and Threads

Processors will be marketed as having so many cores or threads. In the olden days, in the year 2000 processors only had one core and one thread.

Snip OpenAI – Processor cores and threads are essential components of a central processing unit (CPU), which is the “brain” of a computer or a similar electronic device.

  • Processor Cores: A processor core is an independent processing unit within a CPU. It can execute instructions, perform calculations, and handle tasks independently. Modern CPUs typically have multiple cores, often ranging from two to dozens of cores, depending on the model and intended use.

Multiple cores allow for parallel processing, meaning that different cores can work simultaneously on different tasks, leading to increased overall processing power and improved multitasking capabilities.

  • Threads: A thread, in the context of computing, refers to a sequence of instructions that can be executed independently by a processor core. Threads are the basic units of execution within a program, and they allow for concurrent processing of multiple tasks.

Threads are often used to execute different parts of a program simultaneously, enabling parallelism and efficient utilization of processor resources. For example, in a web browser, one thread can handle user input, while another thread loads content from a web server. By dividing tasks into threads, programs can make better use of available CPU resources and provide a more responsive user experience.

  • Cores vs. Threads: The relationship between cores and threads is often described in terms of parallelism. Each core within a CPU can handle one thread at a time. However, modern CPUs often incorporate a technology called hyper-threading (Intel) or simultaneous multithreading (SMT) (AMD), which allows a single physical core to handle multiple threads simultaneously.

“A 6 core 12 thread Processor like the AMD 5600X or Intel Core i5 12400F 6 core 12 Thread processor is fine for most people.

Processor Tip

Tip

Intel is now making processors with Fast and slow (efficient) cores

AMD’s Next Processor (Ryzen 8000) will most likely have Performance and Efficiency cores

Pinless Processors

AMD and Intel have transitioned from having pins (PGA) on the bottom of processors.

“Finding a processor with no pins is the last thing on my shopping list. Buy on core/thread count.”

Processor Tip

Tip

Use this site to compare the speed of processors

Processor ranking chart

“The more you spend on a processor, the faster it will be, Try and get newer generation processors over older ones.”

Processor Tip

Tip

Intel ARC Video Cards are an option instead of AMD and nVidia Cards

Intel has started to make Video cards to compete with the AMD and nVidia Monopoly

Intel video cards for gaming are fast for a first generation design

“The more you spend on a video card, the more likely it is a nVidia card. Older generation video cards like the 6750XT may be better value than the Newer 4060 or 4070.”

Video Card Tip

Tip

“If you need ray tracing in games or want to learn 3d game design get a nVidia video card. Get an AMD Radeon Video card if you prefer to save a dollar. Get an Intel ARC video card if you are not a serious gamer.”

Video Card Tip

Tip

Use this site to see how fast one video card is against another

Video Card ranking chart

Storage: HDD v SSD v M.2 NVME SSD’s

Snip OpenAI – HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), and M.2 (Next Generation Form Factor) are different types of storage devices commonly used in computers. Here are the key differences between them:

  1. HDD (Hard Disk Drive): HDDs are the traditional storage devices found in most computers for many years. They consist of one or more rotating magnetic disks, or platters, that store data. The data is read and written using a mechanical arm with a read/write head that moves across the spinning platters.

Advantages of HDDs:

  • Cost: HDDs are generally more affordable than SSDs.
  • Capacity: HDDs offer larger storage capacities, ranging from several hundred gigabytes (GB) to multiple terabytes (TB).
  • Long-term storage: HDDs are well-suited for long-term storage of large files and data archives.

Disadvantages of HDDs:

  • Speed: Compared to SSDs, HDDs are slower in terms of data access and transfer speeds due to the mechanical nature of their operation.
  • Fragility: HDDs are more prone to damage from physical shocks, such as drops or impacts, because of their mechanical components.
  1. SSD (Solid State Drive): SSDs are a newer type of storage device that use flash memory technology to store data. They contain no moving parts, making them faster, more durable, and more energy-efficient than HDDs.

Advantages of SSDs:

  • Speed: SSDs offer significantly faster data access and transfer speeds than HDDs, resulting in improved system responsiveness and faster file operations.
  • Durability: Since SSDs have no moving parts, they are less susceptible to damage from physical shock and are more reliable for portable devices.
  • Energy efficiency: SSDs consume less power than HDDs, leading to longer battery life in laptops and reduced energy costs in desktop systems.

Disadvantages of SSDs:

  • Cost: SSDs are generally more expensive than HDDs, but prices have decreased over time.
  • Capacity: While SSDs are available in larger capacities, they tend to be more expensive at higher capacities compared to HDDs.
  1. M.2 Storage: M.2 is a form factor specification for solid-state storage devices that connect directly to the motherboard of a computer. M.2 drives use the SATA or NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) interface to communicate with the system.

Advantages of M.2 storage:

  • Speed: M.2 drives can leverage the NVMe protocol, which offers even faster data transfer speeds compared to traditional SATA-based SSDs.
  • Compact size: M.2 drives are small in size and do not require additional power or data cables, making them ideal for compact laptops and mini-PCs.
  • Versatility: M.2 slots on motherboards can accommodate different types of M.2 drives, including SATA and NVMe SSDs, providing flexibility in choosing storage options.

Disadvantages of M.2 storage:

  • Cost: M.2 drives tend to be more expensive than their equivalent SATA-based counterparts.
  • Limited compatibility: Older systems may not have M.2 slots or support the NVMe protocol, restricting the use of M.2 storage devices.

In summary, HDDs offer larger capacities at a lower cost but are slower and less durable compared to SSDs. SSDs, on the other hand, provide faster performance, better durability, and energy efficiency but come at a higher price. M.2 storage represents a form factor for SSDs that offers even faster speeds and compact size but can be more expensive and limited by compatibility with older systems. The choice between these storage options depends on factors such as budget, performance requirements, and storage capacity needs.

PCIE 5

PCIE3 v PCIe 4 v PCIE 5

“Most MainboardS can have multiple hard drives connected. Aim to have at least a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD drive for Windows C Drive and a larger magnetic drive or SSD for files or games.”

Storage Tip

Tip

Recent Hardware Controversies

Laggy Intel 11th, 12th and 13th Generation Processors during Widnows 2D (non gaming 3D workloads)

Breakdown of the video above

“Windows 11 is faster with Intel 11th, 12th and 13th generation processors (lower latency). AMD are fine.”

Windows Tip

Tip

Melting Nvidia 12VHPWR connector

12 Pin Power connector (melting), measly performance gains (4000 series), Auto Overclock (asus), Nvida Price gouging, Intel power usage, video card crack gate, EVGA exit, cost cutting by 3rd party mo fused on video cards) 

Melting Connectors

Buildzoid has a great breakdown of the issues

Cracking PCIe Connectors from large cards

High-end Video cards are now massive; the physical weight is causing stress on the main PCIe connector, and damage can kill the card.

NorthridgeFix and JaysTwoCents summed it up here

The repair of cracked video cards bu experts is pure voodoo

“Always mount your video card vertically or use a supporting bracket to prevent GPU sag and cracked boards.”

Video Card Support

Tip

Bad memory chips from flexing cards

KrisFix from German has a fantastic, technical breakdown of an issue when heavy video cards bend and flex the video cards circuit board and dislodges the memory chips. Manufacturers blame the customer and do not honour the warranty.

“Always mount your video card vertically or use a supporting bracket to prevent GPU sag.”

Video Card Support (Again)

Tip

Exploding AMD Ryzen 7000 Processors

Gamers Nexus did the best coverage of an issuer, with a few AMD Processors that exploded due to too many volts being applied when using the AMD Extended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO) in the BIOS.

The actual investigative work was second to none.

Intel or AMD

I prefer AMD over Intel Processors. AMD Processors are better value and use a lot less power. The Intel 24 Core, 32 Thread Core i9 13900KS processor consumes 150W to 253W of power. The 16 core 32 thread AMD Ryzen 9 7950X uses 170W. The AMD processor has more PCIe lanes.  The Intel 12900KS is about 15% faster, however, but I would not be able to live with the stuttering.

The Intel Processor uses too much power.

Current or last generation?

The nVidia 4000 Series video cards are a bit of a flop (melting power connector, too expensive etc). I switched to an AMD Radeon video card recently 9Radeon 6950XT 12GB) when my RTX 2080 water cooler died.

The Intel 11th, 12th and 13th generation is also a bit of a flop. I am happy with my AMDE Ryzen 5000 system. The AMD Ryzen 7000 series are not that much of a bargain. 

Future Proofing

I would not focus on future-proofing your purchase, the best strategy is to buy a strong power supply and mainboard and upgrade your PC over time, keeping it current.

Essential Components

Power Supply

A power supply is possibly the most important component you can choose.

Johnny Gury shares a lot of his knowledge of Power Supplies here

A power supply essentially turns incoming mains AC voltage to 12v DC, 5v DC and or 3.3v DC. It can do this efficiently or not.

You will see these logos when choosing a power supply; some power supplies are more efficient than others.

“Buy a 750W or higher power supply with the highest efficiency you can afford. The power supply will only consume what it needs (not hre maximum)”

Power Supply

Tip

Over the life of a power supply (5 years), that is about 20,000 hours if it is on for 12 hours a day. a 15% power efficiency saving is quite a lot

My power supply allows for remote monitoring, here are my power supply readings.

My Power Supply Efficiency over 1 hour.

Minimum Components/Specifications

32GB memory, 6 core 12 threads, 2TB NVME storage

PartMinimumPart
CaseMinimum 6 cores and 12 threadsIf you did not want a stock cooler, choose the best air cooler (the earth is not cooling down)
Power SupplyMinimum 750WCorsair HX850M 850W 80 Plus Platinum
MainboardOne that supports PCIE4 and has at least 1x M.2 hard drive slot.ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus WiFi, AM4
ProcessorMinumin 6 cores and 12 threadsMinimum 6 cores and 12 threads
MemoryG.Skill Trident Z Neo RGB 32GB (2x 16GB) DDR4 3600MHz CL16 F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC
Storage C:\1TB PCIE4 M.2 NVMe driveCorsair Force MP600 Core 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe x4 Gen4 SSD
Storage MediaAny Western Digital Gold Hard Drive (5 Year Warranty, 2.5 Million MTBF)4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 10TB, 14TB, 16TB, 18TB or 20TB
DVD-ROMNot Required.N/A
Processor CoolerIf you did not want a stock cooler choose the best air cooler (the earth is not cooling down)Noctua NH-D15 Multi-Socket PWM CPU Cooler
Rough Parts I would buy

Australian Computer Component Retailers

When it comes time to purchasing computer parts, here are my favourite computer parts retailers in Australia that I use.  I do not get a kickback from any of these retailers.

  1. Scorpion Computers – https://www.scorptec.com.au/. Scorptec has great stock levels, ships fast (if items are in stock), and warranty returns are no problems. But prices can be a bit higher than in other stores. If parts need back ordering from suppliers, the estimated delay is never correct and do add seven days to the ETA.
  2. MWave – https://www.mwave.com.au/ – MWave have reasonable prices, good stock levels and a mobile app.  The only problem is shipping boxes are enormous (a small thermal paste was shipped in a 30x20cm box).
  3. UMart – https://www.umart.com.au/ – UMart is honest, and stock and prices are never a problem.
  4. PLE Computers – https://www.ple.com.au/ PLE is based in Western Australia and Victoria and is my go-to if NSW retailers are out of stock.
  5. PC Case Gear – https://www.pccasegear.com/
  6. ITech – https://www.i-tech.com.au/

Price Compare  7/7/2023

I searched site above for 1x AMD Ryzen 9 5950X AM4 Processor (16 core, 32 threads CPU, 3.4Ghz Base, 4.9GHz Boost)

RetailerPrice
https://www.scorptec.com.au/$749
https://www.pccasegear.com/$779
https://www.i-tech.com.au/$779
https://www.mwave.com.au/$809
https://www.ple.com.au/$809
https://www.umart.com.au/$1,239

It pays to shop around for each part.

Australian Retailer Search

To be honest, when I want to buy a part, I head over to https://staticice.com.au/ and search fo the part by name or model number.

StarticIce Search

Static Ice will show a list of stores that sell the product from cheapest to most expensive.

Startic Ice Search Results

I then let my eyes scan the stores and bypass the stores I have never dealt with or had bad experiences with.

“When selecting multiple components for a computer, try and stick to one retailer as the delivery fees may add up if you split the order across multiple retailers.”

Lower Delivery Fees

Tip

PC Parts Picker

PC Parts Picker (Australia) is also a great way to monitor prices with less work.

PC Parts Picker Home

PC Parts Picker have price trends

PC Parts Picker Trends Home

CPU Price Trend

PC Parts Picker Trends CPU

GPU Price Trend

PC Parts Picker Trends GPU

Pre Built PCs

If building a PC is too much, you can always buy a pre-built gaming PC built by a retailer.

Scorptec: Gaming PC | Best Gaming Computers Australia | Scorptec Computers
MWave: Mwave Gaming PCs | Mwave
PC Case Gear: Best Gaming PC Australia | PC Case Gear Ready to Ship Gaming PCs
PLE: Shop Ready to go | PLE Computers
UMart: Gaming PCs | Desktop Computers | Laptops & Computers (umart.com.au)

This was supposed to be a short post to help some friends. I think I will end now and save some eyeballs.

 

Fyi, Here are my sytem stats and temps

Creating your first Java FX app and using the Gluon Scene Builder in the IntelliJ IDEA IDE

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This is quick guide explaining how I created my first JavaFX application using the Gluon Scene Builder in the IntelliJ IDEA IDE.

I have a number of guides on moving away from CPanel, Setting up VM’s on UpCloud, AWS, Vultr or Digital Ocean along with installing and managing WordPress from the command line. I created this blog post on creating a Java GUI app with the older Swing technology (Java FX replaces Swing). I now want to create a JavaFX app to control my UpCloud VM’s.

If you have not read my previous posts I have now moved my blog etc to the awesome UpCloud host. Sign up using this link to get $25 free credit.

Do read: Preparing for JavaFX Application Development: https://wiki.openjdk.java.net/display/OpenJFX/Building+OpenJFX#BuildingOpenJFX-Mac

Downloading Java

Download and install Java SE 8 or higher from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Java 10 install screenshot

Download Intelli J IDEA IDE

Goto https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/

Click Download

Intelli J IDEA from www.jetbrains.com

Download the community edition

IntelliJ Download Options (Ultimate or Community)

Install Intelli J IDEA IDE

Drag Intelli J to your applications folder

Install Scenebuilder

I downloaded the Java Scene Builder (1.1 or 2.0) from here.

Download Scene Scene Builder

Install the Scene Builder (open the installer and drag it to your applications folder).

Configure the Scene Builder in IntelliJ IDEA IDE

  1. Open Intelli J IDEA IDE (set the default’s you wish)
  2. Create a New Project
  3. Open Intelli J IDEA IDE Preferences
  4. Open Languages & Frameworks then JavaFX and set your Scene Builder path (e.g /Applications/JavaFX Scene Builder 2.0.app/)
  5. Exit Preferences

Set the Scene Builder Path in IntelliJ

You can now create a JavaFX project an have a workign scene builder GUI.

New Project

After you create a JavaFX project open your JavaFX fxml file in Scene Builder (right click on the .fxml file and select Open in Scene Builder)

Scene Builder

Extended Scene Builder from Gluon

I read that there is a better Scene builder GUI available from https://gluonhq.com/products/scene-builder/

Read some of the Java Scene Builder v Gluon Scene Builder history here at Reddit for the latest on why.

I am going to download the Gluon Scene Builder from http://gluonhq.com/products/scene-builder/

Gluon Scene Builder webpage screenshot of https://gluonhq.com/products/scene-builder/

Download and install the Gluon Scene builder (at the time of writing requires Java 9 or higher).

Drag the scene builder to your apps folder to install

Now open IntelliJ IDEA IDE and open the preferences and change the scene builder path from “/Applications/JavaFX Scene Builder 2.0.app/” to “/Applications/SceneBuilder.app/“.

Save the IntelliJ IDEA preferences and Right click on your projects “fxml” file again and click “Open In Scene Builder” , do verify it is indeed the Gluon Scene builder by opening the about menu.

Gluon Scene Builder Help Menu Screenshot

Designing your first JavaFX app

Now you can design and code a JavaFX application with Gluon Scene Builder.

I am not an expert at java apps so i’d highly recommend you follow this guide to learn how to build a well-structured JavaFX panel layout (just ignore that it is using the standard Scene Builder, it works with the gluon one).

You should now have a working Java FX App

Java FX App running

The scene builder will save changes to your fxml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<?import javafx.geometry.Insets?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.Button?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.Label?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.Menu?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.MenuBar?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.MenuItem?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.TextArea?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.TextField?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.TreeView?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.BorderPane?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.HBox?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.Region?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.VBox?>


<BorderPane maxHeight="-Infinity" maxWidth="-Infinity" minHeight="-Infinity" minWidth="-Infinity" prefHeight="400.0" prefWidth="600.0" xmlns="http://javafx.com/javafx/9.0.4" xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml/1" fx:controller="sample.Controller">
   <top>
      <VBox BorderPane.alignment="CENTER">
         <children>
            <MenuBar>
              <menus>
                <Menu mnemonicParsing="false" text="File">
                  <items>
                    <MenuItem mnemonicParsing="false" text="Close" />
                  </items>
                </Menu>
                <Menu mnemonicParsing="false" text="Edit">
                  <items>
                    <MenuItem mnemonicParsing="false" text="Delete" />
                  </items>
                </Menu>
                <Menu mnemonicParsing="false" text="Help">
                  <items>
                    <MenuItem mnemonicParsing="false" text="About" />
                  </items>
                </Menu>
              </menus>
            </MenuBar>
            <HBox spacing="8.0">
               <children>
                  <TextField promptText="ip" />
                  <TextField promptText="Username" />
                  <TextField promptText="Password" />
                  <Button mnemonicParsing="false" onMouseClicked="#loginButtonClicked" prefHeight="27.0" prefWidth="68.0" text="Login" />
                  <Region HBox.hgrow="ALWAYS" />
                  <Button mnemonicParsing="false" onMouseClicked="#settingsButtonClicked" text="Settings" />
               </children>
               <padding>
                  <Insets bottom="8.0" left="8.0" right="8.0" top="8.0" />
               </padding>
            </HBox>
         </children>
      </VBox>
   </top>
   <left>
      <TreeView prefHeight="200.0" prefWidth="200.0" BorderPane.alignment="CENTER" />
   </left>
   <center>
      <TextArea prefHeight="200.0" prefWidth="200.0" BorderPane.alignment="CENTER" />
   </center>
   <bottom>
      <HBox BorderPane.alignment="CENTER">
         <children>
            <Label text="Label" />
         </children>
         <padding>
            <Insets bottom="2.0" left="2.0" right="2.0" top="2.0" />
         </padding>
      </HBox>
   </bottom>
</BorderPane>

You can add functions into your controller class

package sample;

public class Controller {

    public void loginButtonClicked(){
        System.out.println("Login");

    }

    public void settingsButtonClicked(){
        System.out.println("Settings");

    }

}

Instaling Gluon JavaFX Templates

Close your test project and create a new project, but before you do click Configure then Plugins

Gluon has some nice templates

Now lets open In the following screen click Browse Repositories.

Search the repository for and install the “Gluon” plugin

Install Gluon Plugin

Restart IntelliJ IDEA IDE then you can use templates when creating a project.

Get your own VM

If you have not read my previous posts I have now moved my blog etc to the awesome UpCloud host. Sign up using this link to get $25 free credit.

Packaging a Java app for distribution on OSX

I will show how you can package your app to run on a Mac by using this.

Coming Soon

I will add more guides soon on using a custom JavaFx app to allow you to manage your own UpCloud server and perform Deploy/Init/Setup/Configure/Operate actions. Running CLI commands to deploy and manage a server is fun but is very tedious.

I blogged recently about using the UpCloud API and setting up a subdomain recently (I will use this server to test and prove the Javmanagementnt app).

Links

I hope this guide helps someone.

Ask a question or recommend an article

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Revision History

V1.6 Jenkov Tutorials

V1.5 Reddit java help

V1.4 added java widgets link

V1.3 added javafx examples link.

V1.2 added Java learning paths

V1.1 added official Javafx examples

v1.0 Initial post

Open a Windows 10 Boot Camp Installation on OSX in Parallels (like a VM)

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This guide will show you how you can open a Windows 10 Boot Camp Installation on OSX in Parallels (like a VM).

Installing Parallels on a Mac allows you to install Windows in A VM, this is handy but you may want to install Windows on a Mac drive with Boot camp (guide here)  for better performance.

Can you load this VM-less Windows install in OSX rather than reboot it, the answer is YES (with Parallels v13).

Setup your Windows Bootcamps (see my guide here).

Create a new VM image in Parallels (Select Boot Camp)

New Image

Click Continue

Use Windows Bootcamp

Confirm the reaction warning.

Before You Proceed

Name the VM and choose a location

Location

Set desired memory etc.

Choose your desired clipboard and disk access settings.

Options

Done, now Parallels will prepare your VM (Really Boot Camp)

Created

Preparing

Creating VM

Parallel tools will be automatically installed.

Configuring

Done, you will now be able to load your Apple Bootcamp partition as it is was a VM inside OSX (or boot it)

Windows

yes, the VM file is pointing to the Boot Camp partition.

VM File

I hope this guide helps someone.

Ask a question or recommend an article

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Revision History

v1.0 Initial post

Deploying nodejs apps in the background and monitoring them with PM2 from keymetrics.io

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This guide will help you install and setup the pm2 NodejJS process monitor PM2 from Keymetrics.io for free and manage your node apps performance and exceptions.

What is PM2?

PM2 is a production process manager for Node.js applications with a built-in load balancer. It allows you to keep applications alive forever, to reload them without downtime and to facilitate common system admin tasks. This is the steps I used on Ubuntu 16.04. This is NOT a paid endorsement (just self-documenting).

Key Features of PM2

PM2 offers web-based monitoring dashboard, exception reporting, load balancer, CPU and memory monitoring, transaction tracer and much more for NodeJS apps.

pm2-features

What is PM2?

Official page: http://pm2.keymetrics.io/

More info https://www.npmjs.com/package/pm2

Install PM2

Install Output

PM2 Pricing

PM2 appears to be for high-end apps but I am only using the free version or PM2 (thanks KeyMetrics)

pm2-pricing

Create a bucket for your node app

Login to keymetrics.io,

Click Generate New Bucket

Create New Bucket

Give the bucket a name etc.

Node Bucket Name

You can now link your bucket with your local pm2 installation (keep the keys private (this one no longer exists))

pm2-link

Linking your local pm2 installation with your keymetrics bucket

To add an existing node app to PM2 type the following.

You can view node apps that pm2 is managing by typing

I had a two CPU VM and I found that the app I added was added to each of the two CPU (I only needed one) so I needed to delete the second app on my second core

Restart the API

You can add a single node apps one 1, 3 or max available CPU’s

Again, to add an existing node app to PM2 type the following.

Now you can view node app data online. If you don’t have a node app ready you can use the test app.

monitor output

You can monitor your node app locally too from the CLI.

local monitoring

You can also view a demo bucket at keymetrix.io

pm2-demo-bucket

PM2’s one age documentation can be found here.

I hope this guide helps someone.

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Revision History

v1.0 Initial post

Upgrading the RAM, CPU and Memory on a Vultr Ubuntu VM in the cloud

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Upgrading the RAM, CPU and Memory on a Vultr Ubuntu VM in the cloud is quite simple.

I have a number of guides on moving hasting away form CPanel, Setting up VM’s on AWS, Vultr or Digital Ocean along with installing and managing WordPress from the command line.  I prefer Vultr as they are located in the country (Australia) and are easy to use.

First, you need to shut down the server from within the VM (SSH), I used the command.

Once the VM is shut down (wait a few minutes) you can turn off the VM in the Vultr GUI.

Shutdown

You can then go to Settings, Change Plan and review upgrade options.

Upgrade Options

Snapshot

Don’t forget to take a final snapshot.

Snapshot reminder

Goto the Snapshots page (read this guide to restore a snapshot) and click Take Snapshot.

Take Snapshop

You can see snapshot progress on the main screen.

Snapshot Progress

It may take a while for your snapshot to change from Pending to Processing.

Processing

Upgrade

When the snapshot is done it will auto boot and allow you to upgrade.

Manage

Choose the Upgrade specifications (Settings, Change Plan)

Upgrade Specs

Click Upgrade

Upgrade

Confirm

Confirm

The upgrade process will take a few minutes (I could see the CU and Ram was updated but the Storage was pending)

Upgrade Pending

Testing

After the upgrade happened the VM will autoboot, login and check tour specifications (Useful Linux Commands).

I use the htop command to view specification information.

I did a quick benchmark pre-optimizing and I can see a speed bump of 0.2s. Time to optimize.

Benchmark

I threw 50 concurrent clients at my website (with loader.io) and the server handled it fine with no increase above memory capacity like before.

Concurent Users

Optimize

Now I need to Optimize.  Truth be told  I did optimize and harden PHP and crashed PHP-FPM so I had o restore a VM snapshot.

Troubleshooting

If all else fails (post-upgrade configuration) you can restore the Vultr VM from a snapshot.

I hope this guide helps someone.

P.S If you don’t have a VM on Vultr click this link to set one up in minutes (setup guide here).

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Revision History

v1.0 Initial post

How to setup PHP FPM on demand child workers in PHP 7.x to increase website traffic

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This blog post will show you how to setup PHP FPM on-demand child workers in PHP 7.x to increase website traffic.

My blog was experiencing a number of slow page loads and often running “sudo service php7.0-fpm restart” would resolve the problem.  I have blogged before about setting up Ubuntu Servers on AWS, Digital Ocean and Vultr but this post is about debugging and speeding up PHP on Ubuntu self-managed servers.

Background

I tried the normal tweaks in “/etc/php/7.0/fpm/php.ini” like

memory_limit = 512M

I setup servers like this.

Temporary Fix

I had even set up a temporary NGINX and php7.0-fpm restart ever 5 and 1-minute respectively until I had time to look into this.

Debug

I checked out the PHP7.0-fpm.log and I found the following

Setting up a PHP-FPM pool

Read the official guide here on configuring PHP FPM pools etc.

I edited “/etc/php/7.0/fpm/pool.d/www.conf” and added the following to set up a pool of PHP-FPM servers.

You may need more or fewer child processes depending on your needs and free memory.

After editing the PHP-FPM config file restart PHP-FPM

Restart Nginx

You will be able to view the PHP child process status by typing the following

You can use htop (commands here) to see child PHP processes in the pool and to verify free memory.

php-pool

This command is good for watching free memory on a server

I prefer to use up free memory (if available) and leave about 100mb free.

Hope this helps someone.

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v1.0 Initial Post

OSX speed tested before applying Spectre and Meltdown patches in 10.13.2

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Below is a quick post of how OSX speed fairs before and after application of the OSX 10.13.2 update (that fixed Spectre and Meltdown CPU issues).

I read of up to 30% speed drops with Redis after Spectre and Meltdown patches and was curious how OSX faired.

News

Apple Confirms ‘Meltdown’ and ‘Spectre’ Vulnerabilities Impact All Macs and iOS Devices, Some Fixes Already Released [Updated]

MacOS High Sierra 10.13.2 Update Released with Bug Fixes 

Patches

macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 Combo Update + Supplement Update

Benchmarks (before applying patches)

Here are Cinebench R15 benchmarks on OSX 10.13.1 before upgrading to 10.13.2 on a 2-year-old  core i5 based iMac.

High Sierra 10.13.1, Cinebench R15 and TG Pro running in the background.

osx-speculative-001-before-cinebench-cpu

CPU: 490 cb points.

Now time to test the GPU in Cinebench…
osx-speculative-002-before-cinebench-cpu-gpu

GPU: 79.33 fps.

Now time to run a Geekbench CPU benchmark.

Here is a breakdown of the scores (2 mins after a fresh reboot and the best of three runs).
osx-speculative-003-before-geekbench-simple

Geekbench Single-Core Score: 4433

Geekbench Multi-Core Score: 13,005

Here is a breakdown of advanced GeekBench tests…
osx-speculative-004-before-geekbench-detailed

I tried to update to 10.3.2 via the software updates but my network was having troubles (human error, my firewall was too aggressive)
osx-speculative-005-update-failed

I downloaded the manual 10.13.2 update from Apple (not realising my firewall was blocking the app updates (I blocked app updated as soon as spectre news hit so I could write this post)).

I downloaded and opened the 2.8GB 10.13.2 update.
osx-speculative-006-manual-update-002osx-speculative-006-manual-update-001

PKG was extracted from the DMG.

osx-speculative-006-manual-update-003

10.13.2 Installation Wizard.

osx-speculative-006-manual-update-004

I solved my networking issues (disable my firewall) and was able to verify the installation of the 10.13.2 patch and download further 10.13.2 supplemental updates.
osx-speculative-006-manual-update-005

I verified all 10.13.2 updates were downloaded and installed and rebooted three times.
osx-speculative-006-manual-update-006

2 Minutes after a reboot I ran the same Cinebench R15 CPU benchmark.
osx-speculative-007-after-cinebench-cpu

CPU: 484 cb 

osx-speculative-008-after-cinebench-cpu-gpu

Cinebench R15 CPU dropped  about 6 points (about a 1.22448979591837% drop, not massive)

osx-speculative-009-after-geekbench-simpleb

Geek bench Single CPU scores fell from 4433 to 4194 (about 5.436498984886081% slower, not as bad as I expected).

osx-speculative-009-after-geekbench-advanced

Geek Bench Multi CPU scores fell from 13,005 to 12,868 (about 1.053440984236832% slower, not as bad as I expected).

Versions of Software

Cinebench R15

osx-speculative-010-after-cinebench-about

Geek Bench

osx-speculative-010-after-geekbench-about

Results

Cinebench CPU

Graphs are unfortunately zoomed in (I could not find out how to tell Excel to zoom out).  I will update when I find out how to zoom out results.

Green/Left = OSX 10.3.1.

Blue/Right = OSX 10.3.2 (post Spectre/Meltdown Patch).

osx-speculative-011-cinebench-results-cpu

Cinebench GPU

Green/Left = OSX 10.3.1.

Blue/Right = OSX 10.3.2 (post Spectre/Meltdown Patch).

osx-speculative-012-cinebench-results-gpu

Geekbench Single CPU

Green/Left = OSX 10.3.1.

Blue/Right = OSX 10.3.2 (post Spectre/Meltdown Patch).

osx-speculative-013-geekbench-results-single-cpu

Geekbench Multi CPU

Green/Left = OSX 10.3.1.

Blue/Right = OSX 10.3.2 (pst Spectre/Meltdown Patch.

osx-speculative-014-geekbench-results-multi-cpu

Geekbench Other

Green= OSX 10.3.1.

Blue = OSX 10.3.2 (post Spectre/Meltdown Patch).

Note: Most results were slightly slower but some were faster post patch.

osx-speculative-015-geekbench-results-detailed

Conclusion

It looks like performance falls 1-5% on a 2 year old system, not as bad as I was expecting.

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Revision History
v1.0 Initial Draft

Hope this helps someone.

Security checklist for securing a self-managed Ubuntu server in the cloud

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Below is a (perpetually updated) security checklist for securing a self-managed Ubuntu server. Recently WordPress released patch v4.8.3  that fixed some SQL injection issues.  Is your OS, Database, Web Server, OS and software up to date?

Although I have recently blogged about securing Ubuntu in the cloud, and running a server Audit with Lynus,  this new post is really about obtaining a mindset change and allocating time (each week) to ensure your self-managed servers and software is kept up to date. You can easily list down the actions you need to follow but keeping a system up to date is hard work. Sites like www.shodan.io will reveal what servers or services are vulnerable, let software updates lapse long enough and an open exploit may open a hole to your system.  It only takes minutes to set up a $2.5  a month Ubuntu server with Vultr, $5 a month Digital Ocean Server or AWS server but you need to maintain it.

I highly recommend that you watch the following video that highlights the need for even minor vulnerabilities to be patched asap. If you leave one minor vulnerability open you will give hackers a foothold into your system.

Follow @jawache on twitter.

Troy Hunt has a great post about the simplicity of hacking. Hacking is child’s play.

General Security Checklist

Find log files on your system:

Output (handy logs to review):

./var/log/mongodb/mongod.log
./var/log/fail2ban.log
./var/log/mysql/error.log
./var/log/ufw.log
./var/log/lynis.log
./var/log/dpkg.log
./var/log/nginx/error.log
./var/log/nginx/nginxcriterror.log
./var/log/nginx/access.log
./var/log/audit/audit.log
./var/log/php7.0-fpm.log
./var/log/mail.log
./backup/backup.log
./scripts/boot.log
etc
  • Enable brute force detection and banning (fail2ban etc) Read more here.
  • Secure folders with service accounts.
  • Do secure software (e.g WordPress Wordfence)
  • Do use SSL Certificates (and use modern cyphers and test with https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/)
  • Monitor SSL vulnerabilities.
  • Do a Lynis security report.
  • Install a Virus scanner (read here).
  • Secure MySQL/Databases.

First, find the version of MySQL

mysql --version
mysql  Ver 14.14 Distrib 5.7.19, for Linux (x86_64)

Read the official MySQL manual here and security guidelines here.

Read this Digital Ocean guide on securing MySQL.

  • Other: _______

Application (coding) checklist

Retain and protect information.

Infrastructure

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

  • Use the latest Long Term Support (LTS) version or Ubuntu
  • Update packages

View app packages (Ubuntu 16.04) with updates

View app packages (Ubuntu 16.04) with updates

To update packages type (remember to backup data and config files first)

Among other things, you will see the following information

Show available updates

  • Only work on code checked into GitHub or BitBucket (You will thank me when data or servers disappear).
  • Backup configuration files or backup to remote servers (my rsync guide here)
  • Use snapshots of VM’s.
  • Use Green/Blue server deployments (toggle one server a Prod and the other and Dev/Test and have one ready for a hot spare). Digital Ocean has a good guide here.
  • Consider forcing Content Security Polic and Public Key Pinning or at least using LetsEncrypt SSL certificates.
  • Take Snapshots of VM’s (automate)
  • Backup MySQL databases:
sudo mysqldump --all-databases > /backup/dump-$( date '+%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S' ).sql -u root -p

Other Useful Linus Terminal Commands.

Mindset/Culture

Dedicate time to securing your site.

  1. Spend one day a week (or automate) the updating of the OS/Software (no excuses).
  2. Follow people on twitter and subscribe to newsletters of those that are security conscious

Don’t forget to read securing Ubuntu in the cloud blog post here.

And check out the extensive Hardening a Linux Server guide at thecloud.org.uk: https://thecloud.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Hardening_a_Linux_Server

More to come..

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v1.2 added link to Hardening Linux Server link

v1.1 added @jawache link

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