Joined on 03/21/04
This is the REAL thing !!
Pros: My wife put a used Peanut Butter jar in the Dishwasher. Peanut Butter is very difficult to clean off of anything. What a difference ! The jar came out sparkling clean - I was shocked. Here's hoping Newegg runs another deal when my supply runs low.
Cons: Do you think the Legislators who passed the Anti-Phosphate laws have ever cleaned a dish themselves ? I doubt it !!
Cabling is very tricky
Comments: I set this up successfully with FLAT 80-Wire Cables. For some reason no ROUND 80-Wire Cables I used would work with this card - and I tried (3) Brand New ones.
A very poor choice
Pros: I've been building and maintaining computers since 1985. So I have a pretty good idea of what I'm doing. And I have have pretty good idea this is one FAILED product. Oh, it's easy enough to set up - initially. But prepare yourself for the CONSTANT complaints from your wife and children "The Internet's not working ". Then spend 15 minutes to an hour rebooting and rechecking everything, when it will finally work again. For a day - MAYBE. After a couple of months of this I thought maybe I got a bad Unit - or a bad Power Adapter. But my second one is just as bad as the first.
Cons: Fails DAILY.
Overall Review: This piece of junk has soured me on anything from NetGear.
Failed within 30 days
Pros: Very Fast
Cons: Failed within 30 days - all Data lost. Tried it on (3) different, modern machines. None recognize it now.
NO i5 3550 SUPPORT
Pros: MSI will update BIOS if you RMA the MB
Cons: As others have reported, it will not work with any Intel i5 Ivy Bridge CPU out of the box. You will need to either install a Sandy Bridge first, update the BIOS, then install the Ivy Bridge. Or mail it to MSI for them to do it.
Overall Review: Years ago I would have got angry at any new build that pretends to be a doorstop. Maybe even thrown it across the room. But today I am very patient, as I have learned that getting angry and acting out just makes things worse. I'll probably even buy MSI again.
Top Quality & Easy to Install
Pros: Looks much more expensive that it is. Easy to clean. Handles are aligned perfectly from the factory; no need to fiddle with setscrews.
Cons: Several parts are plastic that I wish were metal. Not an issue it they don't break or get brittle. Only time will tell.
Overall Review: Would buy again !