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RYAN B.

RYAN B.

Joined on 12/22/06

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 8
Most Favorable Review

Digital Innovations 4390200 Working well

Digital Innovations 4390200 Connect + Charge 4-Port Hub
Digital Innovations 4390200 Connect + Charge 4-Port Hub

Pros: 4 Ports. Able to charge things without computer power. Able to go longer distance with powered USB. Power switch to turn the unit off when not in use.

Cons: My Microsoft Sidewinder X8 mouse will not charge without the computer being on - but I've charged four other devices in it with no problem...

Most Critical Review

Samsung SH-222AL/BSBS

SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW Black 1.5Gbps Model SH-222AL/BSBS LightScribe Support
SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW Black 1.5Gbps Model SH-222AL/BSBS LightScribe Support

Pros: I've used this drive almost a year now. I use it to read discs and to burn lightscribe only now. Lightscribe software is mediocre.

Cons: I stopped using it as a DVD writer. After just a couple months, it started having problems, so I use another drive for that now.

Nice, sturdy keyboard

Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Red Switches - Retail - RK-9000V2 RE
Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Red Switches - Retail - RK-9000V2 RE

Pros: Removable USB cord (easily replaceable if ever needed) Can be very quiet "Normal" arrow keys, number pad Seems very durable

Cons: Media keys are shared with F1-F8 keys using "FN" key (similar to many laptop keyboards). Not really a big deal except... the FN key has replaced the Context-Menu key (which is completely missing from this keyboard).

Overall Review: I press the keys somewhat hard, I guess, and so it does not normally type very quietly for me. If I work at it, I can type softer and it is very quiet then, but I tend to miss some keypresses when doing so. Enter key is one-row tall, with \| key above it. Some keyboards have a turned L shaped enter key.

Crucial ballistix sport VERY low profile

Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3L 1600 (PC3L 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model BLS2K8G3D1609ES2LX0
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3L 1600 (PC3L 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model BLS2K8G3D1609ES2LX0

Pros: As mentioned by other reviewers, these are very low profile. They also run at 9-9-9-24 1.35v 1600mhz without any problem (at least, on my motherboard- ASRock Z77 extreme6). I've got three pairs of these. None of them have had a problem yet. Memtest+ took about two and a half hours per pass to test them.

Cons: Price - sometimes.

Overall Review: I got my first pair of these at the end of 2012 for $71.99! After using them a while, I decided to get more. The price kept rising, at first around $100, then up to $120. Eventually, in May (2013) there was a Shell-shocker deal on these for $84.99. I bought two more pairs then and have been enjoying them immensely. I see today they are up to $133.99. I do some AVI video editing which greatly helps from extra RAM - or when I'm doing other projects I use some as a RAM drive.

ASRock z77 Extreme6

ASRock Z77 Extreme6 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASRock Z77 Extreme6 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: - One of the few newer motherboards that still has Firewire, Floppy connector, PS/2. - Includes a 3.5" USB 3.0 mounting bracket for front of case. - Appears to be well constructed. - Mounting holes for 1155 AND 775 heatsinks. - Color-coded ports, easy to tell which are SATA2/SATA3, USB2/USB3.

Cons: - Floppy connector is in the very bottom back corner. - SATA connectors are stacked, facing toward the front of case, placed right across from PCIe slot. - No IDE connectors. I don't use them regularly, but it's nice to have for transferring from older drives. - No RCA-type SPDIF plug. Optical only.

Overall Review: I had to replace my floppy cable with a longer one in mid-size case; and had to order a 24" floppy cable for my full-size tower. Probably not a big issue for most users. My first install, I had installed motherboard, ram, video card only - to test before plugging in everything else. Afterwards, to plug the SATA cables in to motherboard, I had to remove the video card (it is a long one) to reach the SATA connectors on motherboard. I had read comments about the first RAM slot being too close to CPU heatsink, so I had ordered some low profile RAM. I think it was not necessary in my case (one computer uses stock heatsink/fan, the other uses a Zalman 775). I had an old SPDIF bracket (3-pin connector to RCA) from another motherboard that I was able to use. I was able to plug it into the internal HDMI audio pins (2-pin).

Antec HCP 750

High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Intel Haswell Fully Compatible
High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.92 SLI Certified CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Intel Haswell Fully Compatible

Pros: 750 Watts. Modular (my first modular p/s) - not a lot of extra cables getting in the way. 80 plus gold. 5 year warranty. Lots of room for expansion in my current system. Even has a floppy connector (no molex adapter needed).

Cons: Nothing serious yet. There's 2 built-in 4-pin CPU plugs which I have no use for, right now. Same with the 6+2 PCIe, I only need the 6 pins for now. A little expensive, but I got mine on sale and with a rebate (which hasn't arrived yet, but it's only been about a week since I sent it in).

Overall Review: I got this to replace a 7-year old Antec TRUE 550 which was starting to have issues. So far, I'm glad I stayed with the brand. I'll probably get another one (to replace an Anted TRUE 550 EPS12V slightly older than the one I already replaced) if it goes on sale again.

12/10/2012