Pros: 1.8v Spec means good compatibility with picky Intel Motherboards, e.g., XBX2, DG33FB. Overclocks just fine in my XBX2 - taking Q6600 from 2.4 GHz to 3.0 GHz no problem, a 25% OC on a very picky board! AND with out any voltage increase. Very nice.

Cons: None to date

Overall Review: This has got to be one of the best price/performace ratios out there in DDR2 land.

Pros: +VERY fast reads and writes, the Intel IOP348 processor has blazing speed such that reads and writes scale pretty linearly as you add drives into a striped array (e.g., RAID 5) even with the parity calculations required. +Expandable cache. Adding cache increases read speed tremendously! Easily exceeds SSD read speeds with 2GB+ of cache, number one upgrade for this card, for a few dollars you can get multiples of the read speed vs. using the default 512 MB cache memory. +HUGE range of RAID options, surely covers any combination you could ever want +Several on-line migration options which is a huge time and productivity saver. +Internal and external connections. +McRAID works well as UI/configuration utility.

Cons: -Mine did not come with SFF to SATA cables, but believe the current version does. -So-so manual, had to dig around for the default user name and password to get into the configuration screen. -Wish for backup battery at this price -Should come with more cache memory as baseline config (but upgrading is cheap!)

Overall Review: I've used MANY RAID cards in my builds over the years for increased data safety, and this is by far the best. Crystal Diskmark results with 512MB Cache and 2 GB cache. Check the read speeds! 512 MB cache Sequential Read : 315.361 MB/s Sequential Write : 343.626 MB/s Random Read 512KB : 86.774 MB/s Random Write 512KB : 57.186 MB/s 2 GB Cache Sequential Read : 1503.215 MB/s Sequential Write : 342.113 MB/s Random Read 512KB : 1436.860 MB/s Random Write 512KB : 72.019 MB/s Crucial C300 SSD in same system Sequential Read : 280.518 MB/s Sequential Write : 219.482 MB/s Random Read 512KB : 266.454 MB/s Random Write 512KB : 170.302 MB/s System Areca 1680ix RAID 5: 4x1TB WD RE3, default stripe size, 2GB cache using Kingston ECC KVR667D2E5/2G Mainboard : Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Processor : Intel Core i7 920 @ 2666MHz OC 4GHz Physical Memory : 12288MB (6 x 2048 DDR3-SDRAM ) Video Card : ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series SSD boot drive: C300-CTFDDAC256M

Pros: Actually UBELIEVABLE overclocking ability in my setup. 1333 !! at 1.8 volts (UNDERVOLTED) on a GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P Intel P45 MB with a Q6600 quad OC to 3.0 GHz. 5-5-5-15. So memory and CPU are running 1:1. Freaking amazing! Of course, all memory OC results are a combination of board and RAM, so kudos to Gigabyte for this P45 board as well. Really nice to hit on such a great combination. I know, it is an amazing result, this combo, but I've checked it four ways to Sunday, this is the real deal.

Cons: Can't buy more!! Wish Mushkin and NewEgg were still selling this stuff, it's really really robust. Come on Mushkin, you've got gold here, please put this RAM back on the market! Even better in a 2x2 kit.

Overall Review: Vista Biz 64 is OK on 2gig, but would certainly like more, especially of this stuff!!

Pros: Been building systems a loooong time, primarily with Asus and Intel boards, with a smattering of Abit and a few others, but I gotta say, my experience with this Gigabyte EP45 is the best yet. I see Gigabyte putting a real focus on both quality and reliability. Asus boards have become over priced, and Intel boards are too picky. *Outstanding feature set - tons of SATA, dual SATA RAID (Intel and GB), dual 16x PCIe slots (second runs 8x), headers for front panel audio, USD, 1394 *Extremely easy to overclock, and VERY forgiving when you push too far with the dual BIOS feature. *Complex but therefore very flexible BIOS *Great layout, seems spacious vs. other boards and everything falls to hand very nicely as you connect and route cables *Sturdy! Love the extra quality in the compenents, something I'm very willing to pay for for my main machine, yet the price is very reasonable. The extra copper in the PCB sure makes it feel tough, and it does seem to run very cool as a board.

Cons: Only two system fan headers Complexity of the BIOS (but it's all there when you need it)

Overall Review: Great results so far, and much more forgiving than the Intel XBX2 that it replaces as my main machine. Details - Vista 64 Business. Intel Q6600 OC 25% to 3.0 GHz, core temps in high 30s with ZeroTherm Nirvana, Muskin 1150 enhanced RAM not breaking a sweat at +25% (1366). I run a "real" RAID setup for reliability, 3Ware 9650se 12 channel with battery backup on board. This card requires the second 16x slot (it is 8x electrical). 2x Seagate 500 GB RAID 1 boot array, 3x Seagate 7200.11 1TB RAID 5 data array at 1.81TB formatted. Very fast, and very safe. I really strive for quiet but powerful builds, and this one is a dream with low operating temps, 25% OC, and whisper quiet with 2x Pabst 80mm fans on the RAID drives, 2x Artic Cooling 3's 80mm out the back, 1x 120 mm SFlex SFF21E out the top, and the ZeroTherm Nirvana on the CPU loping along at 1600 rpm. Vista experience ratings are 5.9s on disks and RAM, 4.5 on video with passively cooled XFX 8500 GT. Overall, very satisfied.

Pros: See my 2/6/2008 review. Still amazing to me that it works so well across multiple processor generations. Excellent feature set. Decent +25% OC. Pay attention to the details in these and other owner posts and you'll have a great setup.

Cons: OK, here is the new tip. I always had a bit of an issue with suspend/resume when overclocked - sometimes would not resume at all (blank screen), sometimes USB services/connections would not resume. Occasionally, a memory error message from XP after resume. After much research, did two things : turned EIST (Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology) OFF in BIOS, AND swapped out my 2.2v Transcend aXeRam for 1.8v A-Data from da Egg (and upped total RAM to 4 gig as well). Intel boards seem to love (or occasionally require) 1.8 v RAM. ALL problems with suspend/resume are gone, and still OC to 3.0 GHz on a Q6600. Like I said, the delight is in the details with this board.

Overall Review: 5 stars because, despite being fussy, it's very reliable once configured and truly works with latest processors and XPSP3. Config - Q6600 Quadcore at 3.0 GHz, 2x2 Gig A-Data DDR2 800 (a great deal on overclockable RAM right here on newegg), old XFX GeForce 6800XT (not a gamer, do lots of still imagery and video), 1x Seagate 7200.8 300 GB SATA on ICH7 to boot, 5x Seagate 7200.9-10-11 as 1.8 TB RAID5 data array on 3Ware 9650SE PCIe 4x card in second x16 slot, Samsung SH-S203N 20x SATA DVD burner on ICH7 , Cavalry 2TB external RAID 5 array as data backup with included SIL 3132R5 PCIe 1x RAID card. Seasonic 600 PSU. No PATA devices. XP Pro SP3 and all updates. Latest BIOS (always!).

Pros: Well, everyone loves this proc for good reason, four cores worth of GO rev. multitasking goodness, tons of overclock potential, for a relative song compared to dual or quad core procs spec'd for higher clock speeds. System responsiveness is really improved as well as tolerence for number of apps running. VERY noticable improvement vs. my old Pentium D940 at 3.2 GHz on the same board. If you MB supports quad core Kentsfield and your're back a gen or two, this is a very worthy and high value upgrade.

Cons: None really, though I'd love an unlocked multiplier at this price(who wouldn't?).

Overall Review: Zipped it up to 3GHz (+25%) at stock voltage with Zalman CNPS 9500 air cooling on a not very overclockable Intel D975XBX2 MB (975x chipset) with new set of Transcend's excellent aXeRAM DDR2 1200 sticks also running at spec 2.2 voltage. Wow! Proc temp is in the high 30s/low 40s, I'm quite comfortable with those temps. I don't go for ulitmate OC, rather, for balance of speed and long term reliability. The great thing is I'm crusing along at 3 GHz x4 cores on a two generation old but very reliable MB for a fraction of what a faster spec'd Quad Core plus a good P95 or x38 MB would cost. AND this proc and memory have loads more potential with a MB upgrade in the future. Not too worried about the 45nm cores with all this upside potential. OEM is the way to go, of course, if you're running 3rd party cooling. Very satisfied.