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David G.

David G.

Joined on 09/23/09

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 17
Most Favorable Review

Excellent Netbook

ASUS Eee PC 1201T-MU10-BK Black AMD Athlon Neo MV-40(1.60 GHz) 12.1" WXGA 2GB Memory 250GB HDD NetBook
ASUS Eee PC 1201T-MU10-BK Black AMD Athlon Neo MV-40(1.60 GHz) 12.1" WXGA 2GB Memory 250GB HDD NetBook

Pros: -Perfect Size -2GB RAM -Fullsize keyboard -AMD CPU & GPU -Very quick given its specs... blows my N450/1GB Gateway(Acer) Netbook out of the water -No bloatware

Cons: -Glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet - Not really a problem with the product, but other options or a different finish would be appreciated. -Keyboard flexes a bit under normal pressure -Standard AC adapter, would have preferred a single cord style (with the inverter on the wall plug) -Streaming video stutters a bit on 480+ quality

Overall Review: -Could not install Win7 via SD card using both the card reader and a USB reader, even though my desktop and other netbook would boot/install from it. Had to use a standard USB thumb drive and follow 2 steps: 1. Set USB drive to primary hard drive in BIOS 2. Set boot priority to boot from USB first and disable all other sources. Maybe just my thumb drive, but others may find that info helpful. -12" Targus sport case almost fits: too tight in the width, about an inch too tall, and way too thick.

Most Critical Review

Runs Hot

ZOTAC GeForce 210 1GB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x 16 (Compatible with 1.1) Low Profile Ready Video Card ZT-20305-10L
ZOTAC GeForce 210 1GB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x 16 (Compatible with 1.1) Low Profile Ready Video Card ZT-20305-10L

Pros: Good looking card Audio over HDMI Plug and play with Win7 Good enough performance for HTPC usage

Cons: Runs hot! Temps were at 72*C just watching TV, so I cracked the case and just pointed a 1000RPM 120mm fan at it and temps dropped to 45*C! Card is in a location with plenty of space around it in a well ventilated case (Silverstone GD04 w/3x120mm fans running ~700RPM).

Overall Review: I bought this card to see if previous problems were being caused by my PNY GT240, which it seems they were, but this card will be swapped out for something that runs a little cooler. This card may work when not being used for constant (but low demand) graphics needs like watching TV, but I can only recommend it if it's under direct airflow. Defeats the purpose of a passively cooled card though.

Great Tablet For The Price!

EVGA TEGRA NOTE 7 Tablet - 16GB Flash, 1GB RAM Quad Core NVIDIA Tegra 4
EVGA TEGRA NOTE 7 Tablet - 16GB Flash, 1GB RAM Quad Core NVIDIA Tegra 4

Pros: » Front facing speakers! » Good sound quality » Micro SD card slot » Excellent performance » Stylus that's there when you need it and hidden when you don't » Price » Great battery life » Can limit cores and FPS to prolong battery life » Lock button that isn't right next to volume buttons like the N7

Cons: » Mine also arrived with a stain/flaw below the screen. I was able to remove it by applying pressure around the flaw and by applying torsional pressure to the tablet body. I works and looks great now! Also search YouTube for "tablet stain removal" to see how to remove the stain much more safely using a suction cup. » No MHL support - now we have to choose between SlimPort, MHL and micro HDMI - all at $20-$45 per cable/adapter » No NFC support » Broken strokes with the stylus » Styling on rear of device could be a little more classy » Plugging in the USB cord is much more difficult than it needs to be compared to my last 3 tablets and 5+ phones that use micro USB

11/28/2013

Great SFF Case

SilverStone Sugo Series SG05BB-450-USB3.0 ALL Black Plastic / SECC Mini-ITX Desktop Computer Case with SFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified / Single +12V rail Power Supply with 2 x USB3.0 ports (Black)
SilverStone Sugo Series SG05BB-450-USB3.0 ALL Black Plastic / SECC Mini-ITX Desktop Computer Case with SFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified / Single +12V rail Power Supply with 2 x USB3.0 ports (Black)

Pros: Small! Easy to work in Quiet case fan - golf ball blades, 1200RPM High quality PSU No front panel audio interference! Accepts up to 10" cards (9" spec leaves room for connectors on end of card) - fits my reference 660Ti perfectly Black interior! Updated with USB3

Cons: Non-PWM fan PSU cables are too long & poorly sleeved No thumb screws for case access Mysterious mounting boss between mobo & fan (could easily mount a drive there if that wasn't there) - I used 3/16" foam project board and servo tape to mount my SSD there Short Front panel audio cable Bright HDD LED Paint is relatively easy to scratch (like all 3 of my current Silverstone builds) Some buckling of top/side panels when installing properly (not sized/manufactured correctly)

Overall Review: Mobo is mounted with fine thread screws (ODD type screws) You need to remove fan (everything but mobo) to mount long (9.5") graphics cards With proper wire management, I can tear it down to individual components and back to a built system in ~30 minutes. My Build: SG05-450W Asus P8Z77I-Deluxe EVGA 660Ti SC 2GB OCZ Vertex 3 120GB SSD Scythe Big Shuriken 2 CPU Cooler Enermax T.B.Silence PWM 120mm Case Fan Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3-1600 8GB Win7 Home 64 bit

Great Little Mobo

ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard with USB BIOS
ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard with USB BIOS

Pros: >Central CPU socket location = more cooler options >Everything you need, nothing you don't >Mini-PCIe connector w/wireless card >Excellent aesthetics

Cons: >Daughter board restricts airflow in some cases & limits some CPU cooler options >PWM fan control only (sounds like Asus is going to PWM control only on all their 4 pin headers) >System fan only controllable by BIOS down to 60% (why even bother then?), yet CPU can go down to 20%??? Which can do more damage, Asus? >Thick I/O plate may inhibit some cable connections

Overall Review: >Watch any aftermarket cooler backplates! Forcing this much capability into a mITX board means they had to place components in Intels "keep out zone" on the backside - some back plates need to be modified to clear transformers/transistors/little black boxes! Note this is not a 'con', but part of the game when building a board like this! >Mobo should include matching screws - daughterboard mounting screws are removed and used to mount the mobo in the case. Some cases take fine thread (ODD screws) to mount mobo. >Lack of proper fan control is a bummer - I can only hope they'll fix this in future BIOS updates/revisions! My Build: SG05-450W Asus P8Z77I-Deluxe EVGA 660Ti SC 2GB OCZ Vertex 3 120GB SSD Scythe Big Shuriken 2 CPU Cooler Enermax T.B.Silence PWM 120mm Case Fan Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3-1600 8GB Win7 Home 64 bit

Nice Cooler

Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid Cooling System
Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid Cooling System

Pros: Slim & quiet pump. Smooth hoses.

Cons: Pump controls fan? Why? Little to no change in noise level between idle and load. Wiring and hoses are long - I'm guessing 90+% of buyers mount this near the CPU - why not make a short/normal hose version? Most CPU fan headers are within an inch or two of the socket - why have 8+" of wiring?

Overall Review: Nice improvement over my old H50. A few degrees cooler at idle and load. But, just like my H50, the stock fan is back in the box in favor of a quieter fan (running a Enermax Marathon).