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Jaired A.

Jaired A.

Joined on 06/05/04

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 10
Most Favorable Review

Don't think about it... BUY IT!

SanDisk ReadyCache SDSSDRC-032G-G26 2.5" 32GB SATA III for Windows 7 and Windows 8 -based PCs
SanDisk ReadyCache SDSSDRC-032G-G26 2.5" 32GB SATA III for Windows 7 and Windows 8 -based PCs

Pros: Quick & easy installation. Works WITH your existing hard drives. Since this is just a cache you don't have to reinstall your apps or OS, it will cache your most used files automagically.

Cons: None.

Overall Review: I never took the plunge into the SSD world for a couple reasons. For starters, I didn't want reinstall my OS. For seconders, my Steam folder is way too big to fit onto any SSD that wouldn't require me to get a 2nd mortgage. This SanDisk allows for the best of both worlds. You can still have the massive storage of a traditional HD with the speed of an SSD.

Great RAM, would buy again.

G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16D-32GVK
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory Model F4-3200C16D-32GVK

Pros: Works like a champ. Running on an ASRock Z170 Pro4S LGA 1151 at 2666mhz with a 6700k at the following timings: 15-15-15-36, 1T, 1.20v

Cons: none.

i7-920 to 6700k

Intel Core i7 6th Gen - Core i7-6700K 8M Skylake Quad-Core 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 91W BX80662I76700K Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 530
Intel Core i7 6th Gen - Core i7-6700K 8M Skylake Quad-Core 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 91W BX80662I76700K Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 530

Pros: Blazing fast. I should have upgraded long ago. I knew my i7-920 clocked at 3.5ghz was aged, but I never knew how much until I upgraded to a 6700k! I have this paired with a 290x and framerates went up in all games. It's definitely extended the life of my 290x. (didn't realize how much my previous proc was holding back my GPU)

Cons: Price?

Overall Review: I'm running at the stock clock of 4.0ghz with a boost clock to 4.2ghz. I have manually set the vcore to 1.216 The auto adjust voltage is much too high in my opinion. Set your voltage manually and your proc will run much cooler. I didn't do the math to enter the auto adjusting values, just went old school with a set vcore. Idle temps are 21C and 46C under load. That is with Corsair H100i cooler (pump set to quiet, fans set to balanced) and a 70-72F ambient temp.

Anxiously awaiting Mantle...

SAPPHIRE Radeon R9 290X 4GB GDDR5 Graphics Card 100361SR
SAPPHIRE Radeon R9 290X 4GB GDDR5 Graphics Card 100361SR

Pros: Very fast card. Contains more VRAM than you can shake a stick at. :P This card chews up BF4 and asks for more. Supports Mantle API.

Cons: Seriously, none for me. Not sure about all these other guys.

Overall Review: I upgraded from a 6990 to this card. I wrestled a while with this decision as on paper the specs of the 6990 are equal to or slighter greater than the r290x. However, I was tired of dealing with microstutter and game compatibility problems due to crossfire. I took a leap of faith and was rewarded as the 290x is everything I hoped it would be and more. I am averaging 60fps on BF4 (vsync enabled) with Ultra settings. (minus msaa). I am running an i7-920 @ 3.5ghz. Also, the crashing problems I was experiencing with BF4 went away when I upgraded to the 290x. Could be a coincidence. I'm not sure why everyone complains about noise and heat? The heat coming out of the exhaust is FAR less than I was experiencing with the 6990. I also don't understand what the complain is about noise, either. I haven't noticed any loud fan noises coming from the card, and I have the switch in Uber mode and the fan set to go up to 100% if it needs/wants to. Ambient temps in my PC room range from 65-73 degrees F depending upon the season and time of day. I wonder how many people don't have proper case cooling or positioning and then complain that their card is running too hot? This is in an Antec 900 two case. All fans are blowing air in the case. (including the CPU fan, using a corsair hydro cool that draws air from outside the case) The only fan exhausting air is the large fan on top. All case fan speeds are set to their highest setting. At the minimum you should have a case that contains a fan in the side window, as nearly all modern cases do. Also, your case should be at least one to two feet away from the wall.

Still slaughtering everything I throw at it!

MSI Radeon HD 6990 4GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Graphics Card R6990-4PD4GD5
MSI Radeon HD 6990 4GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Graphics Card R6990-4PD4GD5

Pros: Consumes less space and power than a physical 2 card solution. Excellent performance. No need to compromise when configuring graphics options in games. Set everything to ultra and game on. :)

Cons: Produces quite a bit of heat under load, as to be expected. May be a little tricky to install in some cases due to size, as to be expected. Pricey, as to be expected. ;)

Overall Review: A dual GPU solution like this is not as "plug and play" when it comes to gaming. There are some headaches that come along, and some times you won't even be able to play a new game at launch with an acceptable frame rate until a driver update is released. YOU MUST CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOUR CAP PROFILES! This is crucial to getting great performance. I've never experienced the "micro stutter" that people claim exists with dual GPU solutions.

Dropped my CPU temp 10 degrees!

SilverStone FM121-B Case Cooling Fan
SilverStone FM121-B Case Cooling Fan

Pros: Moves a LOT of air. Fairly quiet even on full blast. Dropped my CPU temps 10 degrees ceslsius!

Cons: Controller panel did not mount flush with my case, it sits recessed.

Overall Review: Q6600 on stock voltage @ 2.8ghz. (400*7) Stock cooler. Hottest core was 68 degrees after 20 minutes of prime95. (with stock case fan) With the Silverstone fan on full blast temps were only 58 degrees Celsius.