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Nicholas C.

Nicholas C.

Joined on 08/08/01

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Most Favorable Review

Depending on price, a steal of a beautiful case

Rosewill CULLINAN MX-Blue ATX Mid-Tower Gaming PC Computer Case, Supports 360mm Liquid Coolers, 4 Blue LED Fans, Max Airflow with PSU Shround Fan Mount, Tempered Glass, Fan Speed Control
Rosewill CULLINAN MX-Blue ATX Mid-Tower Gaming PC Computer Case, Supports 360mm Liquid Coolers, 4 Blue LED Fans, Max Airflow with PSU Shround Fan Mount, Tempered Glass, Fan Speed Control

Pros: + This case is gorgeous. Having been a PC builder for 20 years, I've built in everything from a $20 beige no-name box with a 300w power supply to a $300 Lian Li fully aluminum case. It's rare that a case surprises me, pleasantly or not pleasantly, and the Cullinan is a pleasant surprise. Just gorgeous. I love minimalist cases; I'm less a fan of windows and LED's and more a fan of a classy, flat, unassuming computer case. The Cullinan gives you the best of both worlds if you're like me...the glass is tinted and dark enough that it's not exactly see through, and the LED fans can be tamed (and the LED's turned off) if you run them on Low speed + The glass is very nice. I didn't know how I'd like it, and was slightly concerned on thickness and how sturdy it could be, but...it's fine. Each side panel is just under 1/4" thick (in glass) and feels as sturdy as the Cooler Master ATCS 840 I've owned before (which had very thick aluminum side panels). + The included fans are very quiet, and you're getting 4 of them! I don't have a sound meter to test actual dB ratings, but after connecting the rear exhaust fan to the built-in fan hub and running all the included Rosewill LED fans on High, they were barely audible over general room noise which is supposedly around 35 dB or so (with no other sounds, such as TV or music playing). They do move an acceptable amount of air; since they're so quiet, I can accept some loss on airflow. They'll do the job without really being noticeable, that's for sure. If you run them on Low, you're not going to hear them (or see them) at all, but I can't say I'd run them on Low while gaming or running a system on mid-to-high CPU load, but that depends on other factors too (like CPU make, overclock, and HSF). They are very bright, but due to the tint on the glass, it's subdued more than you'd think and actually looks very nice. + Speaking of which, the Cullinan had no issues keeping my OC'd i7 4790K w/Hyper 212 Evo / OC'd GTX 980 system cool. Load temps during gaming and running Intel Burn Test never went above mid-60's on CPU and GPU both. (Identical in performance to my S340, mentioned below.) + Before getting the Cullinan, my current case "flavor of the month" has been the NZXT S340. It has a window, but inside is very clean, and it's (again) a nice, unassuming PC that can house a weak little web/email system, or a 4K gaming rig. The S340 is definitely one of the better clean inside/cable management cases that I've owned, and the Cullinan for the most part steals all the positives of the S340. The cable "tunnel", hidden PSU/HD areas, easy to remove and clean fan dust filters, and plenty of cable management loops and zip tie spots all hit the nail right on the head with both the S340 and now the Cullinan. The Cullinan also has room for 1 more SSD and 1 more 3.5" HD as well, plus the built-in fan controller, so it's head and shoulders above the S340 for me now. + This bears repeating - dust filters, dust filters everywhere! EASILY REMOVABLE dust filters! Thank you!!! + Even though I'm an 'air cooled' guy, the Cullinan has forward-compatibility to run 2x 360mm radiators internally, and has the punch outs to run a loop outside of the case as well. + The cable "tunnel" does have 3 grooves for extra long graphics cards to be supported and not slant downwards so much. My EVGA GTX 980 ACX 2.0 card did not reach far enough to really take advantage of the groove, but obviously longer graphics cards will.

Cons: - The expansion card "slider" holder piece really has to be removed to install a graphics card or other expansion card easily. Luckily, it's just 1 thumbscrew, and it pivots and comes out the back of the case. You could try to wedge a card in there without taking that out, but I wouldn't recommend it. The manual even says to remove it, then install your card, screw the card down, then put the "slider" back in place for extra protection/stability. - The fans only light up on High speed, and are only blue in color. That may or may not be a 'con' to you. They do have a LOT of LED's in each fan, in a neat pattern. Most LED fans that I've had in the past only had a 4-5 LED per fan so they didn't light up as much. - Since the right panel is also the tinted glass, your cable spaghetti behind the motherboard and where your PSU/HD's are does show up a bit over there, even if you keep it nice and neat. It's not too terribly bad though. - Fully loaded, it is a bit on the heavy side (due to all the glass).

Overall Review: * Minor quibbles aside, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this case to anyone looking for a classy, understated case. The glass and the design is just beautiful. There is a Rosewill logo etched in white at the bottom of the front panel, but it barely shows up with the case fan LED's fully lit. * The only possible fly in the ointment is a competitor's case - the Corsair 460X RGB. Currently, the Corsair is priced more than the Rosewill, but the Rosewill is on sale and has a higher MSRP. Keep this in mind. Both cases are very nice; I don't own a 460X RGB but from what I've seen, it's very similar (internally) to the Cullinan, except it has 3 full RGB fans instead of 4 blue LED only fans, and the right side panel (behind the motherboard) is a blank steel panel instead of glass. If you wanted glass throughout, there's the Corsair 570X RGB, but that one has a bit of a higher price over both the Cullinan and the 460X RGB. I do think the Cullinan offers better internal cable management than the 460X RGB, so if a cleaner inside is more important to you than "other than blue colored" fans, well, the Cullinan is definitely a better choice. Again, I don't hesitate to recommend the Cullinan, but, compare it to the 460X RGB and see which is more preferable for you. * This is the first Rosewill case I've used; I've had many other Rosewill products in the past and have always been happy. I'm very impressed with the build quality and design of this case, and will definitely keep Rosewill cases in mind in the future if and when I'm wanting a new case (or recommending one). Very happy with the Cullinan though...a definite 'home run' of a case - absolutely beautiful, and at a pretty good price.

11/28/2016
Most Critical Review

Addendum to previous review with RMA experience

ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance LGA 1150 Intel H97 HDMI USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASRock Fatal1ty H97 Performance LGA 1150 Intel H97 HDMI USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: NewEgg tried to make it right when ASRock didn't.

Cons: Earlier review: Does not POST with G3258 or i7 4790K http://www.newegg.com/Product/SingleProductReview.aspx?ReviewID=4242810 ASRock flat out refuses to provide an RMA exchange for this product. I contacted them using their Support Request form at http://event.asrock.com/tsd.asp »Subject Board does not POST »Problem Description I received this product as a NewEgg EggXpert reviewer. The board does not POST. I have tried 2 different CPU's; a Pentium G3258 and a Core i7 4790K. I've tried 2 different sticks of RAM; a Samsung 4GB DDR3 1600 dimm, and a Crucial 8GB DDR3 1600 dimm. Parts are tested working in my primary computer. No matter what I try, this board does not POST. Fans spin up, no video, no sound. Have tried resetting CMOS, switching to BIOS 2. No change. Board appears to be DOA. I would like to get a replacement. ***** I was emailed by Eric at ASRock America and was given a [canned] reply asking me to check several things, most of which I've already checked, swapped, and re-checked (and even mentioned doing so in my initial support request to them). I replied stating that I'd checked these things, and then was told: "Hello, That seems like mainboard issue. Please contact seller for mainboard exchange." Given that the board is past the 30 day return policy offered by 99% of retailers including NewEgg, this is not an acceptable answer, nor does it offer a resolution to my problem. I have a dud of a board, and ASRock support has in kind also been a dud. This is why I've always stuck with Gigabyte and Asus products, and stayed away from ASRock.

Overall Review: NewEgg (to their credit), offered to send me another board to review since ASRock is not stepping up to the plate and doing what's right - however, NewEgg does not have an 1150 board to send me (and I'm not upset about that, because this isn't their issue to fix, it's ASRock's). I've always received excellent support through NewEgg, and even as an EggXpert that trend has continued. Kudos to NewEgg for going above and beyond where they didn't have to. ASRock on the other hand, thanks for nothing. You have just further cemented my belief to avoid your products. Very, very disappointing. All I wanted was a replacement. This board has been out of the box and out of the anti-static bag for roughly 2 hours total, has no damage, and practically has no use. Now, it REALLY has no use.

Good quality DDR4 RAM

Crucial Pro 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model CP2K16G4DFRA32A
Crucial Pro 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model CP2K16G4DFRA32A

Pros: + Plug and play with several motherboards I've tested it on, including a B450, B550, and X570. + The heat spreaders are very nice and keep the RAM cool to the touch. Build quality is top-notch, as is usual for Crucial/Micron products. + The low-profile RAM makes it easy to fit under most tower coolers and their fans without much hassle. + The speed of the RAM overall is good @ 3200 MHz, even if the CAS latency figures are a bit on the weak side @ 22. + Only 1.2 Vdimm whereas most RAM is 1.35 Vdimm so they use less power than most competing DDR4 sticks. + Lifetime warranty means you are covered for any potential issues in the future with this RAM.

Cons: - The packaging. The RAM is in a clamshell which is wedged between two glued pieces of cardstock. I HATE this kind of packaging because there's no way to get to the product without tearing the heck out of the packaging. Please, Crucial, redesign this into something easier and less frustrating to open. - The latency. I was hoping for CAS 16 or even CAS 20 like most similar spec'd RAM kits. I would imagine the higher CAS is due to the low Vdimm and energy efficiency of this RAM.

Overall Review: = Crucial's name and reputation make this RAM an easy purchase IMHO. You also have plug-and-play functionality, RAM that fits under probably 99% of coolers out there, and a lifetime warranty. What's not to like? = I did not try to overclock the memory or tighten the timings, though I would imagine it's probably reasonably easy to do so since these are only 1.2 Vdimm.

Great performance/speeds! Very good drive for the price.

Crucial P3 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD, up to 5000MB/s - CT2000P3PSSD8
Crucial P3 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD, up to 5000MB/s - CT2000P3PSSD8

Pros: + Tested with 2 different systems, a B350 and an X570. Speeds were excellent, even on the slower PCIe Gen 3 x4 B350 system. There, it was capped at 3200MB/s, but on the X570 with PCIe Gen 4, Crystal DiskMark sequential read tests were just below 5000MB/s, and the write tests ended up being nearly 4400MB/s, so - results were as advertised (and slightly better). + 5-year warranty backed by a reputable company definitely makes the P3 Plus worthy of consideration for anyone looking for a high performance NVME SSD. 2TB on a stick of gum at this price is a great deal, especially with the support you get by going with a Crucial product. + Includes a free feature-limited (but good enough) version of Acronis True Image to handle any data migration or cloning that you may need to do with this drive and your current drive. + Windows 10 Professional boots in roughly 5 seconds, and apps and games are all very fast on this drive.

Cons: - Durability is somewhat questionable, compared to what competing products offer. 440TBW is relatively low compared to the competition, which is disappointing. That's a lot of data, but when other 2TB drives have ratings upwards of 500+ TBW, you get a little more long-term peace of mind by going with a different drive. - This is a QLC-based drive, so speeds can fluctuate and slow down a bit more as the drive is filled. QLC drives are notorious for having these sorts of issues, so this also brings into question some potential longevity issues. If you've overly concerned about this, definitely look for a TLC-based drive such as Crucial's own P5.

Overall Review: = All in all, this is a great drive worthy of 4 eggs for sure. Longevity is slightly questionable compared to the competition, but then again it is a Crucial product so you know the warranty and support will be second to none and that should help alleviate any concerns that you have. = Price and performance are very competitive compared to competing drives. Getting a free version of Acronis True Image to use with this drive is the icing on the cake, although there are other products out there (and many SSD manufacturers do provide free tools that handle the same needs).

10/17/2022

Very nice 550 watt PSU for a mid-range gaming PC

CORSAIR CX-M Series CX550M 550 W ATX 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Semi-Modular Power Supply
CORSAIR CX-M Series CX550M 550 W ATX 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Semi-Modular Power Supply

Pros: + Corsair chooses good quality OEM build partners for their products, and I believe this is a Channel Well built unit. It is very nice, good quality. I'm kinda mixed on the stamped vent design as opposed to a giant hole with a fan grill, but otherwise it's a very nice PSU. + 5 year warranty is a big plus + 45 amps on the 12V rail should be sufficient for most low to mid-range graphics cards. + Flat ribbon cables for the modular leads are easy to cram into the tightest of spots in most PC cases, even SFF/mATX builds. Speaking of which: + Modular cables break down as such: 1 PCIe cable with 2 x 6+2 pin leads, 1 molex cable with 4 x 4 pin leads, 1 SATA cable with 2 leads, and 1 SATA cable with 4 leads. This should cover you in most cases. This is indicated on the box, and I wish more companies would show this in their product info so people knew what to buy and if they would be adequate. + The permanently attached cables consist of the 20+4 pin ATX power cable, and a 4+4 pin EPS power cable. + Fan runs quiet even with the system under load. My unit did not have any coil whine.

Cons: - Only 80+ Bronze efficiency, but at this price point that's generally the best you're going to get. - Stamped fan grill design is kinda cheesy but obviously done as a cost-saving measure.

Overall Review: = Bottom line is, this is a good power supply for a decent price and will work for most people and most systems. I have used this unit with a mid-range gaming PC and it worked just fine with no issues under system load. System specs are as follows: = Ryzen 5 5600X CPU @ 4.4GHz all cores, 1.08 V = Gigabyte B450M-DS3H WIFI mATX AM4 mobo = Noctua NH-U12s Redux CPU HSF = 16 GB Corsair LPX DDR4 3200 (2 x 8 GB) = SK Hynix Gold P31 500 GB m.2 NVME SSD = MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti VENTUS 3X 8G OC LHR GPU = Cooler Master MasterBox MB311L ARGB mATX case = Corsair CX-M Series CX550M PSU (this PSU) = Windows 10 Professional

Great cooler at an acceptable price

Corsair Hydro Series H100x Extreme Performance Liquid / Water 240mm CPU Cooler (CW-9060040-WW) LGA 1700 Compatible
Corsair Hydro Series H100x Extreme Performance Liquid / Water 240mm CPU Cooler (CW-9060040-WW) LGA 1700 Compatible

Pros: + Very classy looking cooler. The build quality and craftsmanship is excellent. The pump base lights up white, but that's about it. No RGB LED fans, no crazy customization. This cooler fits the niche for people who want great cooling but don't need endless bling in their case. + Good price! Because you're not buying an RGB product, you're saving a lot of money for features you might not even use. I'm glad that they're selling these "plain" products alongside the RGB ones because not everyone wants a bright colorful system. + Fantastic cooling! Slightly higher temps than the H115i RGB Platinum, but still much lower than my Cryorig H7. Dropped about 20 degrees at load off my OC'd i7 4790K, performing in the upper-50c range instead of the upper-70c range with my Cryorig H7. + The fans are generally pretty quiet and perform well with the radiator. As they spin up during load the noise gets a bit more pronounced, but they're still fairly quiet. + 5-year warranty!

Cons: - Not the easiest to install, but not terribly difficult either. Just pay attention and make sure you hook everything up.