Joined on 02/27/10
Does the trick
Pros: Solid build. It doesn't feel weak and flimsy. Yet it is still flexible. Supports the 144Hz refresh rate that my ASUS VG248QE puts out. Reasonable price for the length.
Cons: You can't use it to tow a car.
Had to be downclocked after about 3 years
Pros: Not relevant.
Cons: Started getting black screens / freezes after 3 years without overclocking.
Overall Review: Since this card isn't sold anymore I'm only writing this review in case an owner of this card happens to come here looking for help. If you're getting random black screens that freeze your PC, whether it's under load or just sitting at the desktop, get MSI Afterburner (Wattman / Trixx didn't work for me) and downclock the memory clock to 1400Mhz. I spent over two weeks troubleshooting this card in two different PC's. It isn't a thermal issue (I reapplied thermal paste) or a driver issue (I tried new / old drivers, it still kept freezing) or a physical issue (I took it apart and closely inspected the circuit board for burns / breaks / corrosion). It's a memory issue. So if you're having issues with this card, try downclocking the memory clock to 1400Mhz before you throw it away. The GPU clock can stay the same (1080), and let Afterburner automatically set the Core Voltage (It put mine up to +19). When I downclocked to 1400Mhz, I was able to run FurMark for 20+ minutes without issues so I called it good (It would freeze within a few minutes at the default clock of 1500Mhz). Bumping up to 1450Mhz made the freezing come back. -100Mhz isn't too big of a hit to performance, and hopefully I can get this card to last a few more years before upgrading. I hope this helps someone out there in a similar situation.
1500 VA Seems to be the Good One.
Pros: - Pure Sine - Survived 2 blackouts so far - It's nice to be able to monitor the wattage draw of my system - Didn't notice the smell that some people mentioned - Beeping and LCD can be disabled if you know how to read
Cons: - Nothing against this unit, but the research / shopping process of finding a good UPS was very long-winded.
Overall Review: A 900 Watt UPS doesn't mean you can't use a PSU rated over 900 Watts. My PC has a 1000W PSU, 1950X Threadripper w/ 64 GB RAM, Radeon VII, and two 27" monitors, all running on the battery backup ports and doesn't even break 500 Watts running at 100% load (180W normal desktop use). When the power went out, the estimated battery time ranged from 15 - 45 minutes, depending on usage of course. I didn't run the battery down to actually test the time limits. This unit is exactly what I expected, that is, a battery backup that provides peace of mind with my PC.
Peace of mind is worth the price
Pros: -12 year warranty -Fully modular -PSU is smaller than I expected -Cables run flat instead of bundled together -Fan control switch is a nice touch
Cons: -Each PCI-E cable splits into two 6+2 pin heads, but they don't recommend using both heads on the same GPU if it demands more than 225W. So you need to use two PCI-E cables, and each one will have the second head dangling connected to nothing. This doesn't bother me, but I could see it bothering someone who is picky about cable management.
Overall Review: I bought this PSU because I heard nothing but resounding acclaim for Seasonic. I wanted a PSU that could stand the test of time and not limit me on any future configurations for my build. I think I definitely found what I wanted, and with a 12 year warranty, it's clear that Seasonic stands by the quality of their products.
Excellent Motherboard for the Threadripper
Pros: All of the negative reviews are from people who bought this board early on, before the BIOS issues were sorted out. Did they have the right to be angry? Absolutely. They paid for a premium motherboard and got a buggy pile of junk. Is the board having issues as of right now? Nothing major that I'm aware of. In fact, I feel as though it's my duty to chime in on how pleased I am with this board: -Threadripper 1950x! -Incredible amount of connectivity. 3 M.2 ports, 128GB of RAM support (I "only" have 64GB installed) -Incredible amount of fancy features: Things like built-in Start and Reset buttons, onboard OLED display, tons of LED error indicators, Wifi, Bluetooth, 10Gbps extension card, fan extension card, etc. -Aesthetically pleasing: Not only in the architecture but the lighting as well. Rear connection panel looks very nice. -Easy overclocking with built-in fail-safe button if you seriously mess up (Clear CMOS).
Cons: -Like you've heard from everyone else, the mounting screws for the CPU require an uncomfortable amount of pressure to thread. -No official Windows 7 support. The OS wont recognize USB 3.1 ports and there's no bios setting to override this issue. A lot of people solved it by using the Windows DISM commands to slipstream USB drivers into their Windows 7 install image but I couldn't get it to work with this motherboard. -The little "COV" fan mounted on the rear I/O. It was so noisy that I seriously thought I had received a CPU cooler with a faulty water pump. Lucky the latest BIOS silences the little thing...
Overall Review: -Have the latest BIOS downloaded and ready to install. This should be the first thing you do when you power on. -RAM is supposed to be installed in a specific way depending on how many modules you use. It doesn't go "left to right" or "whichever way you want"......... Read The Friendly Manual! ;D -Requires TWO CPU connections from your power supply in case you didn't notice. -"Form Factor" section is misleading. This in not an E-ATX board in the sense that it mounts on 12 screws. Sure, it is about an inch wider than a standard ATX but it still mounts on only 9 screws. -Sure this board is more expensive than other X399 options but I think it's totally worth it considering the build quality and features. The motherboard is where everything in a system connects and if its a 1950x I'm connecting, you'd better believe I'm not gonna go cheap.
Cheap and Durable
Pros: 6 feet! Very thick 22AWG wire. Connection is firm on the micro end. I could plug my phone in and swing it around like a medieval mace if I wanted.
Cons: 6 feet can be overwhelming in tight spaces, i.e. a car. 1 year warranty. Nothing worth losing an egg over considering the price.
Overall Review: I always laugh when I see the dinky 4ft cables being sold for $10 a pop at stores...