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Peter L.

Peter L.

Joined on 03/03/01

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 22
Most Favorable Review

Sweet setup

Zotac ZBOX ZBOXNANO-AD12-U AMD A68M (Hudson-M3L) Mini / Booksize Barebone System
Zotac ZBOX ZBOXNANO-AD12-U AMD A68M (Hudson-M3L) Mini / Booksize Barebone System

Pros: Small and mounts to the back of my LED TV easily. The APU is more than sufficient for streaming video content from my home server. I'm trying out OpenELEC XMBC running off a USB 2.0 Drive. Boot up is quick and the included remote works excellent with XMBC. The APU does a fantastic job with the graphics during moves or music playback. I have full copies of my movie collection and this easily handles the DVD Menus as if the DVD was the source.

Cons: None. Regarding Intels entry into this form factor: Since Zotac has been doing these small form factors for some time....I'm amazed how Intels entry is getting such fanfare. Zotac should do more marketing IMO. This is a great solution as a simple computer for the home, kitchen or as a HTPC. If you have a garage workshop...this would be great as well.

Overall Review: I'm running OpenELEC off a USB 2.0 drive for now, but I have a SSD that I'm thinking about loading into this and trying out Windows Media Center. System fan is quite and rarely is noticeable. I have mine sitting in front of the TV for now, so I'm sure it will become silent when mounted on the back of the TV. I have a Logitec wireless keyboard with a touch pad, but the remote gives me 95% functionality in navigating XMBC, so I rarely need the keyboard. I've been waiting to get this system for quite some time and very pleased with it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone I know or Meet. I can see this setup behind a 23" monitor with speakers in a kitchen with a wireless keyboard Watch Hulu, Netflix, home media or watch YouTube cooking videos. The Specs say 4 GIGS memory max, but I've got 8 Gigs and its running great. Only one memory socket, so max up if you can. 8 Gigs of Corsair Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233216

Most Critical Review

Leaks from the water tanks base/nip ple

Cuisinart SS-700 Chrome Single Serve Brewing System
Cuisinart SS-700 Chrome Single Serve Brewing System

Pros: Initial price was reasonable.

Cons: Leaks from the base of the water tank where a silicone connector is in the base. Add RMA shipping to original price and its not as good a deal.

Overall Review: I've started the RMA process and expect to receive a replacement. We'll see how the next one does.

Sweet 30" display/s (Picked up a 2nd one)

AXM 3018 30"  WQHD Monitor, 2K 2560x1600, IPS panel 6ms, 330 cd/m2 60 Hz
AXM 3018 30" WQHD Monitor, 2K 2560x1600, IPS panel 6ms, 330 cd/m2 60 Hz

Pros: Significantly less expensive than the D brand that costs 4 times as much. 2560x1600 resolution

Cons: Tilt system is a bit stiff and height adjustment would be nice, but for the price...I'm good with it. It's not like I adjust the monitor every day....anyway.

Overall Review: I've been using dual 30" D branded monitors at work for years now. The price is nuts but they are so worth it. Company requires purchasing through D's site as well. I couldn't justify spending upwards of 1,100 on one for my personal system though. Saw this on sale and didn't hesitate. For the 2560x1600 resolution I needed to pick up a D-DVI cable. The HDMI resolution was nice but not as high. Edit: 2020-04-28 Just purchased a second one, since I am fortunate to be working from home during the COVID-19 closures. Had to tweak the settings to get the colors to match up with the first one. Green tint was pretty apparent in the second one, but she is good to go now. Using these with a Kensington docking station connected via USB to a Surface book. I am using the DP cables and getting the full 2560x1600 resolution.

Easy upgrade for a friends system from an FX 4100. Double the cores for less than sixty dollars. I had to try it for such an inexpensive price.

AMD FX-8350 Black Edition Vishera 8-Core 4.0 GHz (4.2 GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W FD8350FRHKBOX Desktop Processor
AMD FX-8350 Black Edition Vishera 8-Core 4.0 GHz (4.2 GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W FD8350FRHKBOX Desktop Processor

Pros: Installed in a Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3 board with F3 Bios. Booted right up. Just needed to tweak the clock setting in the BIOS since it's an unlocked cpu. Defaulted to 2.8 Ghz at first.

Cons: Lots of heat (it's 125 watts) and the stock fan needed lapping to bring down the CPU temps. Running CPU-Z bench...it's clear how old the tech is...when you see a 65 watt Ryzen blow this thing away. Added an additional 125mm fan to pull hot air out of the case, eventhough there are two pushing air in. Still, it made a significant impact.

Overall Review: The OEM heat-sink is ok, but really needed lapping to control the temps. Prior to lapping it...the fan was running max and sounded like it was ready to take off. Throttling it back to say 2.8 - 3.0 Ghz helps control the heat and still provides the multiple threading performance he needed in AutoDesk and 3D printing. We will upgrade his system in the next few months, but this should do fine for his needs at the moment.

Does a better job than using a traditional toothbrush. Lasted just under 5 years.

Pursonic S450 DELUXE PLUS Sonic toothbrush with UV sanitizing function W/ BONUS 12 Brush heads
Pursonic S450 DELUXE PLUS Sonic toothbrush with UV sanitizing function W/ BONUS 12 Brush heads

Pros: The built in timer ensures we spend the proper time cleaning our teeth. Rechargeable feature eliminates having to constantly buy batteries.

Cons: Would be nice if it had a case for overnight/weekend trips.

Overall Review: Purchased mine in 09-2013. Yes, it lasted this long. The battery still holds a charge. It's just the tooth brush part no longer moves. Something seems to have seized inside. Looking to buy another as I got more than my money's worth from the first one.

Two long-term builds. Stable and looking at adding a third

ASUS H170M-PLUS/CSM LGA 1151 Intel H170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
ASUS H170M-PLUS/CSM LGA 1151 Intel H170 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: Takes M.2 Can handle up to 64GB of ram Skylake or Kaby

Cons: none

Overall Review: I've used this MB in two Skylake builds (I7 & I5). Both with 32GB of G.Skill Ripaws (N82E16820231965). One for a 3D workstation and another for a gaming system. Workstation: I7-6700 Skylake 32GB RipJaw V - N82E16820231965 Nvidia Quadro P2000 Samsung M.2 850 Evo - N82E16820147399 Antec p50 - N82E16811129228 Gaming System I5 6600 Skylake 32GB RipJaw V - N82E16820231965 MSI GTX1070 Gaming G- N82E16814127947 Intel M.2 2280 512MB - 9SIAAZU4NC1136 BitFenix case - N82E16811345016 I really like the Antec P50 case and ordered it for the gaming system, but be very aware of any gaming GPU you plan on installing. For the gaming system, the MSI1070 was so tall it stuck out of the P50 case by 1/2 inch and only after snipping a piece of the case. Ordered the BitFenix after the initial build and I'm using the P50 in the upcoming 3rd build.