Pros: The advantage to the Phanteks as opposed to Swiftech (PWM Only) or ModMyToys (DC Only) offerings is that it works with either PWM or DC variable voltage input to control less expensive 3 pin fans. If using PWM, you get the advantages of PWM while avoiding the potential buzzing, ticking noises when PWM fans are run at low speed..... kind of a "best of both worlds" kinda thing. The Hub is capable of powering: - When connected to a single PWM Header and a SATA power connector, will control up to eleven 3 pin DC fans through PWM modulation. If exceeding 1 amp draw, connect the DC SATA cable to provide the needed voltage w/oi losing speed control - When connected to a single CHA / OPT Header, will control a number 3 pin DC fans through variable voltage control said number of fans being limited by the amp rating of the MoBo header (typically 1.0 , sometimes 2.0 amps). You can connect the SATA Power Connector to handle more fans but then the 12v signal from the power connector will over ride the variable voltage from the MoBo header eliminating speed control. I have had as many as 8 (0.14 amp) fans (Phanteks SP140) connected under DC voltage control w/o incident but recommend 6 as a max . Can use in many different ways but here's some examples: 1. Air Cooling: 1 Hub connected to CPU Header (PWM) to control air cooler (1 - 3) and case fans (8 - 10) via PWM (11 fans max) 2. Water Cooling Single Loop (2 Speed Control Curves) via BIOS or utility (i.e. FanXpert2) a) CPU_1 (PWM) => D5 Vario Pump b) CPU_2 (PWM) => Fan PCB => Push / Pull Fans (10) on 240 + 360 or 280 / 420 3. As above but with multiple loops

Cons: Only one comes with each Phanteks case .... you have to buy extras but at $15 a pop on Phanteks site, no worries.

Overall Review: This is how I am using (15) fans & 2 pumps a) Pump Curve CPU_1 (PWM) => Pump No. 1 CPU_2 (PWM) => Pump No. 2 b) Case Fans Curve CHA_1 (DC) => Fan PCB_1 => (5) Case Fans c) Top Radiator Fan Curve CHA_2 (DC) => Fan PCB_2 => (6) Push / Pull Fans on XT45-420 d) Bottom Radiator Fan Curve CHA_3 (DC) => Fan PCB_3 => (4) Push / Pull Fans on UT60-420 All fans are Phanteks SP140s

Pros: Seems to work well enough .... at least for installing drivers.

Cons: Is it supposed to sound like a leaf blower ? If this is normal, no sense in investing in Water Cooling and low speed fans if this thing in the box.

Pros: We have now been using Seagate SSHDs in all desktop and laptop builds for going on 9 years ... and while we still use SSDs in desktops when user budget is sufficient, no longer putting SSDs in laptops. Yes, SSDs get great benchmark scores but .. well put it this way ... if used in a production environment, you will not see ANY increase in productivity, the user being the bottleneck here in all bit very specialized applications. On same box we measures 15.6 seconds boot time with SSD and 16.5 seconds with SSHD. I'd say we have bought over 4 dozen to date and 0 failures over 9 years If you want see "real world" failure rates of Consumer Hard Drives in a Consumer Environment as opposed to the useless Backblaze study, past the next line after the usual www-dot (newegg doesn't allow links to be posted in reviews) hardware.fr/articles/944-6/disques-durs.html

Cons: Would be nice if the bumped the size of the SSD portion a bit .... cost was the reason 9 years ago, no reason not to now.

Pros: I did see a review where the author concluded that these were sleeve bearings but according to Phanteks engineering department, they are actually equipped with a modified rifle bearing. I have over 30 of them, (16) on my personal box, (10) of which are on rads. One had a bit of a wobble, I sent it back and rec'd 2 back in exchange for my troubles.

Cons: Newegg specials where ya can get them for $10 are now few and far between. Inlcuding the SP versions in the discussion, the ones that come with Phanteks cases from factory do not have sleeved wires, or the rubber vibration isoltaors

Pros: Kemp.... they are case fans, they are supposed to be 8mm long, you don-t screw them in from the fan side, you screw them in from the case side.... that gives you about 7mm embedment in the fan housing. The 1mm case is not of sufficient thickness to hold any screw threads. If used on a radiator as in two of my builds, you use the radiator screws not the fan screws. Dan ... with MoBos having 6 or more headers there's says, not much call for a fan controller. I have (15) of these fans in a Primo, (9) in a Luxe, and (5) in a Pro .... plus numerous other builds. I had one that vibrated and Phanteks sent 2 to replace for the inconvenience. All of them are speed controlled from about 325 rpm to 1250 rpm w/ no issues.

Cons: None

Pros: Austin..... no Z97 board has SLI capability with anything plugged into the 3rd PCI slot....except for the very rare few that have PEX chip. This is true for ever brand out there.

Cons: Like every other Z97 board (w/o PEX) , it only offers 16 PCI lanes.....each card in SLI uses 8 lanes.