Joined on 10/16/05
so good, bought x2
Pros: -able to hold overclock if you know what you're doing and willing to experiment with timings -OK price -if you have a CPU overclock, don't settle for the XMP profile. the lax timings at 2133mhz are actually slower then tighter timings at 1800mhz -design not too gaudy (ripjaws, I'm looking at you) -small enough heatsink for an oversized CPU heatsink/fan
Cons: -not free
Overall Review: -bought 16GB and used 12GB in tripple channel setup i7 920 @3.8GHz, 12GB GSkill @ 1834 (or 1810 I forget) @8-9-8-24-2t timings, ASUS P6X58D mobo, MSI580GTX 3GB, 1000w PSU, 932HAF case, 24" monitor.
1/2 sticks was defective
Pros: looks cool small profile probably good if they worked
Cons: one out of two sticks was apparently defective as windows would BSOD and not install (tried replacing HDD and other components, replaced RAM everything went smoothly.)
Good Monitor!
Pros: -glossy screen (see other thoughts) -1920x1080HD -tasteful modern design that's not tacky -tilt adjustable -"frameless" design -IPS that's not slow in response time (6ms) -HDMI x2 inputs -comes with HDMI cable
Cons: -no DVI input (at this resolution DVI is same as HDMI though) -very bad speakers (but who buys it for the speakers?) -poor menu navigation
Overall Review: to enter USER color settings you need to press ENTER(MENU) on the word USER (not scroll sideways). the best values that I got from an indepth review of this monitor seem to be Brightness: 37, Contrast - 45, Colors - 86, 88, 92 (R/G/B) as for the gloss, according to macro photos of the pixels on screen vs matte monitors, these are far more sharper (due to the light not being diffused by the matte covering) and clear. for some it may be annoying that screen reflects everything like a mirror when it's off
the upper crust of GPUs
Pros: -will run any of today's games on ultra without breaking a sweat -ACX cooler fans are silent on auto become lightly audible at 60%+ RPM -relatively light and smaller than most of today's top end card thus will fit into most cases and their PCIe slot clips no problem
Cons: -price. definitely -one of the connectors was VERY hard to connect. pins appeared straight but it just didn't want to fit. -set up your case air streams appropriately. this card dumps HOT air into the case, thereby making the CPU warm up a couple of degrees. beware of air paths throughout the inside of the case -came with a free game? keep the game, just take $50 off the card!
Overall Review: i7 920 @ 4.01GHz/12GSkill RAM/EVGA 780GTX/ASUS P6X58D/256GB Vertex 4 SSD/932HAF case/24" monitor/Logitech input devices.
price drop AFTER I bought it!
Pros: small/light and very portable pretty big capacity for everyday music touchscreen is nice fits into my iPod nano wriststrap like a glove (bought separately) love watch feature and the 18 built in styles FM radio built in pedometer (yes now you can laugh)
Cons: won't make coffee or do dishes
Overall Review: -the only way it will "hold a charge all day and all night" as advertised, is if you don't TURN IT ON. false advertising if I ever saw it.
MSI 580GTX insanity
Pros: -eats BF3 and everything else -quiet under 65% fan -amazing power and some OC potential (although fans get loudER under OC ~65-70% fan) -3GB memory -physX for all you batman/mafia 2 gamers
Cons: -clips won't work with 932 HAF case due to card plastic frame (used motherboard screws instead) -price -won't make me coffee -really heavy for the motherboard slot - one wishes for a factory support of sorts
Overall Review: -it will even run notepad! xD -the card exhausts air INTO the case so make sure it won't get warm over time -latest beta driver won't work with WMC/TV (not card's fault)