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Michael L.

Michael L.

Joined on 01/05/06

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Most Favorable Review

MasterLiquid Lite 120 All-in-one CPU Liquid Cooler

Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120 AIO CPU Liquid Cooler, White Led Pump, FEP Tubing, 120mm Air Balance MF, Dual Dissipation Technology
Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120 AIO CPU Liquid Cooler, White Led Pump, FEP Tubing, 120mm Air Balance MF, Dual Dissipation Technology

Pros: The Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120 All-in-one CPU Liquid Cooler fits pretty much every socket CPU (except TR4, but even for that an adapter is available). The specification list up to 180W TDP, more than the 150 on the air based TDP HSF. It is compact and that makes installation a breeze. The flexible tubes are of appropriate length, making installation simple. Remove the motherboard and put the backing plate on the back side of the motherboard. It is low depth and fit readily with no case modification, even with an older case that does not have a cutout behind the CPU area. The instructions are mostly visual and simple enough to follow. The pump and fan connections to the motherboard are straightforward. The entire installation process replacing a conventional air HSF took less than an hour. It is quiet, with the pump listed at < 8 dBA and the fan 6-30 dBA. The pump is described as a dual dissipation pump and the entire thing should be maintenance free. The specs for the pump list 70,000 hours MTTF, which works out to about 8 years, and the fan is listed as more than double that. The fan appears to be high quality and has a high density sine fin design, and qualitatively it was quieter than my case fans. Performance was great, even better than I expected. It had no issue taking a 6600k to 4.6 GHz and in stability testing it stayed below 60 degrees C. That is something I can easily live with and have no concerns.

Cons: The copper block had clear machining marks, as shown in gallery images, and was not particularly smooth or polished. I considered polishing it and then testing again to see if there is any improvement in cooling performance, but given the above performance it did not seem like it would be worth the time.

Overall Review: This is my second CPU liquid cooler, with the other cooling a 4770k. I may obtain another one of these to use with a currently air cooled 5820k.

Most Critical Review

First one DOA, second one is fine

POWERCOLOR Active DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI-D Adapter DP-SL DVI-D ADAPTER
POWERCOLOR Active DisplayPort to Single-Link DVI-D Adapter DP-SL DVI-D ADAPTER

Pros: One active displayport needed for three monitors. Works well for Eyefinity with a 5570, after a defective one was returned for replacement.

Cons: First one was DOA, has to return for a replacement.

DDR5 64 GB RAM in two sticks, with room to double if/when needed

Crucial Pro Overclocking 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5 6400 (PC5 51200) Desktop Memory Model CP2K32G64C40U5B
Crucial Pro Overclocking 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5 6400 (PC5 51200) Desktop Memory Model CP2K32G64C40U5B

Pros: -The 64GB ram kit was a simple install in the DDR5 RAM slots. -The looks of the black aluminum heat spreaders are minimalistic and have a low height. -These dont stand out and I like the looks against a black motherboard. -The specifications are good at 6400 MHz at intermediate latency CL40 and 1.35 V compared to other available 64 GB kits. -These are in the sweet spot for specs for frequency, CAS latency, voltage, and cost.

Cons: If you are seeking RGB or exotic color to match a theme, these memory sticks are not the best if that is desired. The packaging needs to be torn to open the plastic, so it would not be easy to return to the clear plastic and replace the outer paper backing and look like new.

Overall Review: After installing and upon entering the BIOS, I did an initial boot with default 5600 MT/s (MHz) and lower voltage, which was fine into Windows and some quick stability test. It was a simple change to reboot, set obtain the rated DDR 6400 MT/s at 1.35 V using XMP. This setting has been stable in multiple Windows tests and stress testing all cores. The system has been very stable and not a single issue at the rated specs. The lifetime warranty is nice, but I dont expect the need to use it. In normal use scenarios, I cant notice any difference between slightly better CAS latency RAM, so the 40-40-40-84 is fine. The motherboard I am using is an Asus Prime Z690A with an Intel Core i7-12700KF, so I can confirm good compatibility. Overall, I am satisfied and recommend the kit.

Corsair EX100U 1TB USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD fast and light

Corsair EX100U 1TB USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD External SSD up to 1,600MB/sec CSSD-EX100U1TB
Corsair EX100U 1TB USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD External SSD up to 1,600MB/sec CSSD-EX100U1TB

Pros: The portable SSD is fast and give and noticeable advantage in time when dealing with many files or large files. The specs and actual performance, consistent high copy MB/s (up to 1600 MB/s sequential read, 1500 MB/S sequential write) depending on source drive, on this are great and beyond a conventional SATA SSD. Ensure you are using USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and a fast M.2 drive as your source/destination for the highest speeds. The case is aesthetically appealing and has two neutral colors based on a black and gunmetal grey. It even had a ring built in that you could use to put it on a key chain, and given the small size of about 1.5 inches by 3 inches and less than half an inch thick, you could easily do that. The build quality seems good with a minor exception mentioned in the cons. The warranty appears to be at least three years and given the typical usage scenario for this, I anticipate it lasting longer than that. Using this for several weeks and been super happy with it, and would consider upgrading to larger capacity in the future.

Cons: The cover for the port seems a little flimsy and I have concerns that it will last a long time without accidentally breaking off, potentially leaving the port open to dust and dirt. The cable are a little thick, which could be a little con as it does not sit level without adjustment (see photo), but a pro is that these cables will hopefully last longer.

Overall Review: The USB 3.2 portable SSD is an upgrade over what Ive been using previously (SATA based), and if you are using and copying from a fast M.2 drive this really shines. I recommend it, but give some though about the capacity that would work for you now and in the near future.

Norelco nose and brow trimmer - multipurpose

Norelco NT3600/42 Nose Trimmer 3000 Men's Shavers
Norelco NT3600/42 Nose Trimmer 3000 Men's Shavers

Pros: The case is appealing and has two neutral colors. The build quality seems good and the switch has good feedback.

Cons: It features lithium battery power with a logo on the front, but it is just a AA and is not rechargeable type lithium ion battery.

Overall Review: High rpm cutting means no snagging. There are multiple attachments for use on brow hairs and nose hairs. Two different length spacers for brow trimming. Cleaning is simple with a rinse off with water. In use so far, it works as it should.

CORSAIR RM850 full modular PSU

CORSAIR RM850 CP-9020235-NA 850 W ATX 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Power Supply
CORSAIR RM850 CP-9020235-NA 850 W ATX 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Power Supply

Pros: The CORSAIR RM850 PSU has a black exterior and has no LED lights. The full modular PSU lets one utilize minimal cabling (i.e. ATX 24 pin for motherboard, 8 pin EPS for CPU). The remaining connections can be used as needed, up to 6 PCIe and 12 SATA, which is enough for most scenarios. The connectors click firmly. Installation was simple. The 80 Plus gold certified means this will be 87% efficient at loads from 20-100%.

Cons: The 120 V power cord connection in its vertical orientation near the side is very close to the side, which meant I could not use it in OPHION M EVO TGS with a vertically mounted PSU that required a right angle power cord connector. There were no issues with a standard case with power cord at the rear.

Overall Review: The CORSAIR power supplies Ive used on past builds have been reliable and stable. The 135 mm fan is quiet when running, with the zero RPM mode my preferred default setting. It does not switch on until heavier loads. The 12V handles over 70A (850W), which should be more than enough for my foreseeable gaming builds. In my use in the past couple of weeks it is very stable and quiet. Corsair offers a ten-year warranty, clearly indicating they are confident in the component (e.g. capacitor) quality and will stand behind the product. I expect to be using it for many years.