Joined on 05/14/08
Great Controller
Pros: 30 watts per channel. Everything else is just gravy. 2 or more fans per channel are handled easily. I'm running: 2x Scythe Ultra Kaze's in push/pull on a Corsair H50 2x 250mm Xclio A380 case fans 1x 120mm Coolermaster case fan 1x dual 40mm RAM cooler It has lowered the overall noise of my PC by a LOT, yet allows me the airflow I need for OC'ing and gaming.
Cons: Some say that the lighted knobs on the controller are too bright, and I would agree if it weren't for the fact that my case door has a little leeway when it comes to clearance for the controller. Also, this thing can easily power multiple 3 and 4 pin fans on each channel, so why didn't Sunbeam include 3 pin Y adapters? Now I have to order them separately! For some bizarre reason, they did include (TWO!) dual 3 pin female to 4 pin male connectors...
Overall Review: This is a very capable fan controller with a tremendous wattage rating. It's worth every penny if you want flexibility in your case's power management options.
Not happy
Pros: Mobo arrived in timely manner. Packaging was standard.
Cons: No POST. Out of case or in case, mobo was DOA. Tested RAM and CPU. Tried to update BIOS, no luck. Going with another brand after refund and RMA.
Overall Review: Hope others have luck with this board.
Happy with this KB!
Pros: Gotta love the tactile! Blues are just right for me as I don't live with anyone and I can type as loud as I want. It might be a con for those with other people around. But this KB is all about not compromising. Who buys a mechanical and doesn't know it can be loud? Backlighting is bright, and adjustable to a muted glow that almost looks like green paint. Keys are easy to remove for cleaning. Excellent build quality. Pass throughs for Audio and USB are nice. I've spilled beer on mine TWICE and just unplugged it and let it dry both times and it still works perfectly! Braided cable is a huge plus. Come to mechanical country and forget your shameful rubber dome past!
Cons: I kind of wish they had used RGB LEDS, as not everyone has a green theme. No light on FN key, and no etching for dual purpose keys. And yeah, it's bit of an investment.
Overall Review: If you spend a good amount of time on your PC, a mechanical KB is really something you should look into. It's just so much more comfortable and satisfying in a way that kind of defies description. Maybe the sound and tactile response gives some sort of psychological weight to the action of typing? Regardless, you won't regret the change, and the BWU13 is a great KB to make that change with. At least it has been for me. You will pay 5 times what a rubber dome KB costs, but if you spend that much time dealing with a KB, why not make it as good an experience as possible? You sleep 8 hours a night so you want a good bed. You spend lots of time on your computer so you want enjoyable ways of interacting with it!
Giggle
Pros: Runs like a champ and OC's easily if you need it. The included TriXX works great. I got this card for $210 with shipping. It's now $449 and out of stock!
Cons: Some games don't like to deal with any OC, but that's the games fault, not the cards.
Overall Review: Sorry if you missed out friends! The Egg had these cards cheap for about a month, and then the miners showed up. I'm running Crysis3, FarCry3, BF4, Bioshock Infinite, Saint's Row 4...all maxed with 8xMSAA. Best money I ever spent.
FAST
Pros: Insane speed. I boot from POST to W7 in 25 seconds, and as soon as I see the desktop ALL my background progs are ready.
Cons: None so far.
Overall Review: Supposedly the new Sandforce 2000 series controller has problems that result in BSOD's. Hasn't happened to me. This is a BOOT drive, not a gaming drive. It's for getting your OS running fast.
Amazing Card
Pros: VERY good sound. Many people say that if you want great sound from a card for music, you need to go with the higher end ASUS cards. I don't really think this is true after having heard this card. I popped it into a PCIe16X slot, and, after getting rid of my old drivers and getting the newest from the Creative site, I got aural bliss. This is the first card I have ever needed to turn DOWN the bass and treble on! I started with some FLAC files and was floored. I went onto some games, and was again, floored. MP3's under 320kbps will show their limitations for sure, so you might just need a bigger HD for all the lossless stuff you'll be replacing them with! This is a real step up for Creative, and I would not hesitate to suggest it to ANYONE who wants quality sound from their PC.
Cons: None that I can think of. Drivers work great and instillation is a breeze.
Overall Review: Do yourself a favor and get a high end card. You might not think it will make a huge difference, but it does. The drivers have improved tremendously since the earlier X-Fi days, and these drivers were written from the ground up to take advantage of W7.