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Karthik M.

Karthik M.

Joined on 02/21/06

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 8
Most Favorable Review

Dual Xeon workstation

ASUS Z8NA-D6C Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5500 ATX Dual Intel Xeon 5500 and 5600 Series Server/Workstation Motherboard
ASUS Z8NA-D6C Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5500 ATX Dual Intel Xeon 5500 and 5600 Series Server/Workstation Motherboard

Pros: If you want a cheap dual nehalem xeon workstation, this is the way to go. ATX form factor means I can use my old ATX case with no problems. Also the motherboard needs only a single 8-pin CPU core voltage power connector in addition to the regular 24pin connector, which means I can use my PCP&C 750 silencer quad to run a dual cpu machine. I don't have to deal with SSI-xxx, EATX, etc etc thus saving a lot of money. Things seem well placed on the motherboard given an ATX form factor, and the inclusion of the PCIe16x2 slot is a plus. I'm using my old 8800 Ultra on my build. The PCIe16 slot however lacks a retention clip. I didn't have any problems using my 8800 ultra though. Can use regular DDR3 memory. Server memory not required.

Cons: As another reviewer had mentioned, spacing is tight. I'm using the Dynatron T667 heatsink+fan to cool the CPUs. There'r no obvious orientations for the coolers. Compromise is necessary, and currently I have hot air blowing over one of my memory DIMMs. No on board audio, but I'm using an old PCI sound card for that. Not really a con but the board doesn't have a PATA port. I wanted to use an old PATA CD drive but couldn't do so.

Overall Review: All in all an excellent board for those seeking more cores for cheap. -Dual Xeon E5520 -Dynatron T667 heasink+fan

Most Critical Review

Bought for an HTPC

ADESSO WKB-3000UB Black 86 Normal Keys 13 Function Keys 2.4 GHz RF Wireless Mini Keyboard w/Optical Trackball
ADESSO WKB-3000UB Black 86 Normal Keys 13 Function Keys 2.4 GHz RF Wireless Mini Keyboard w/Optical Trackball

Pros: -Wireless -Smaller than a regular keyboard, though not as small as some laptop keyboards. -Built in trackball

Cons: -Cheap plasticky feel -Keyboard is terrible to type on. But then I'm only using it with the HTPC for limited alphanumeric input -Although the trackball works, it is of very poor quality. The ball motion is not smooth by any standard.

Overall Review: Usable and does what it's supposed to do (ex: HTPC keyboard)... don't expect something that you can use everyday for work. I don't see why anyone would buy the product for work purposes anyway.

Update

ASUS Z8NA-D6C Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5500 ATX Dual Intel Xeon 5500 and 5600 Series Server/Workstation Motherboard
ASUS Z8NA-D6C Dual LGA 1366 Intel 5500 ATX Dual Intel Xeon 5500 and 5600 Series Server/Workstation Motherboard

Pros: N/A

Cons: N/A

Overall Review: Just wanted to add something to my previous review. Two Xigmatek S1283V Dark Knight coolers fit on this motherboard. I was using Dynatron T667s, but had to ditch them since the CPUs were running way too hot. With the Dark Knights the CPUs are cool and quiet and I'm am able to use the machine as a workstation.

HTPC

APEX MI Series MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply
APEX MI Series MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply

Pros: Small size. Power supply is quiet when fan is operating at lower speeds.

Cons: Very tight spacing. This is to be expected I suppose. PSU fan is kind of loud when fan is at higher RPMs. Virtually impossible to mount a HDD in the internal front bay, since connectors get squished against RAM, CPU cooler fan etc etc. 5.25" device cables also get squished against PSU, but doable. I had to mount my HDD on the side, which means I couldn't use a 120mm fan for case cooling.

Overall Review: I'm using a Wolfdale 2.5Ghz pentium dual-core CPU and the stock cooler fits in the case. However, there is only 1 or 2mm of space between the PSU and the top of the cooler. Intel needs to move away from those silly push-pin type coolers. They're bending the tiny mini-itx motherboard so much that I'm afraid it may break or fail at some point. Cheap and reasonably good case in my opinion. Intel Wolfdale 2.5Ghz pentium dual-core with stock cooler Zotac 9300-D-E miniITX motherboard LG Blu-ray/HD-DVD player Seagate 1TB HDD Apex MI-008 case I'm giving it 5 eggs because I think it's great value for money.

Using on a dual Xeon build

Intel Xeon E5520 Nehalem 2.26 GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 80W BX80602E5520 Server Processor
Intel Xeon E5520 Nehalem 2.26 GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 80W BX80602E5520 Server Processor

Pros: Stable and relatively cheap for higher QPI (5.86)

Cons: Clock speed is sort of slow for the price. Slower than my core i7 920. Smaller cache than older Xeons.

I took a chance and lost

Lexmark E Series E260dn Workgroup Up to 35 ppm Monochrome Ethernet (RJ-45) / LPT / USB Laser Printer
Lexmark E Series E260dn Workgroup Up to 35 ppm Monochrome Ethernet (RJ-45) / LPT / USB Laser Printer

Pros: I bought this because it was relatively cheap + it had the network printer option and duplex printing capability.

Cons: Well, I could not get the printer to print even ONE PAGE!. Every single page I tried to print, including a test page from the printer itself jammed instantly. Called Lexmark tech support to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong. They said it must be something wrong with the printer and were willing to send me a replacement. But here's the kicker. An hour later I get a call from them to find out that they were gonna order a new one for me since they're out of replacements. Can you believe the nerve of these guys!!, they wanted to send me a refurbished or who-knows-what product as a replacement for something I bought the previous day. Any way they're sending me a new one now, so I didn't throw a fit.

Overall Review: I should have just done an RMA with Newegg, but it costs a bunch to ship a heavy printer. Maybe I got a bad apple, but all that matters to me is what I received. 0 eggs.