Pros: What separates this combo card from the usual is the large number of USB 2.0 outputs. ALL are usable: two external USB, one internal USB, and two sets of headers for FOUR front panel connectors. That's SEVEN USB 2.0 outputs, all usable at the same time. Plus two 1394 firewire. Inexpensive, too.

Cons: If the internal 1394 connector is used, one of the external 1394 connectors is unusable. Hardly a big deal.

Overall Review: They also answer e-mails and provide accurate information. Unfortunately, that's rare these days. The box doesn't accurately tell just how versatile this card is.

Pros: I already had an OCZ fan and 4GB of identical OCZ RAM, so it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Cons: One module failed incoming inspection with Memtest 86 ver 3.4. It didn't even pass the computer's bootup memory test, which is extremely liberal. Even the good module runs very hot at the voltage specified on the label.

Overall Review: I bought this kit to upgrade existing memory (same OCZ 4GB kit) to 8GB for OpenSolaris. Corsair Dominator or OCZ Reaper memory with better heatsinks would be a better choice for 1066 MHz operation. I had to buy 8GB of Corsair Dominator memory locally to put the computer back into service on time. I still don't understand what the point is of shipping via DHL to a city near me then dropping the package in the mail. Why not ship it USPS to start with?

Pros: I have previously written a review praising this board for its hefty non-flexing construction and impressive performance. Lots of companies make good motherboards, most half the thickness of Gigabyte's. But wait - there's more!

Cons: I previously carped a bit about the memory speed not being displayed at bootup. That's the worst thing I could think of about this board. Man, do I feel like a jerk or what? Gigabyte's outstanding service certainly far outweighs what most people wouldn't even consider a tiny problem.

Overall Review: After a couple of months, one of the 4 cores in the Intel Q9550 CPU would disappear, then reappear at random. I removed the CPU and tested it in a different motherboard. No problem found with the CPU after 48 hours stress test. I tested the Gigabyte board with a Core 2 Duo CPU, and there were no problems found. I reiunstalled the quad core CPU and within a few hours the same problem showed up. I filled out the Gigabyte online RMA request and received an RMA number very quickly. A few weeks afterI shipped it to Gigabyte, I got the repaired one (or a different one) back. IT IS PERFECT. If an impressive motherboard is not enough, this type of service should put Gigabyte way up to the top of your list of companies to consider. I am looking at Gigabyte's GA-EP45T-UD3LR because I have a crummy Intel DP45SG board that won't boot with perfectly good Patriot 1.5V DDR3 memory. The memory tests perfect in an Asus P5KC and an Asus P5QC. Intel told me to pound sand. BUY GIGABYTE!

Pros: Might be a great board if I could get it to work.

Cons: The board will only work with 1.5-volt DDR3 RAM. This is important. No floppy or IDE connectors, but plenty of USB and sufficient SATA. Comes with a card advertising a CIR controller, but the URL is bad and the infrared product that is supposed to connect to the board headers seems to be unavailable.

Overall Review: Perhaps a BIOS update would remove this 1.5-volt memory limitation, but I can't update the BIOS until I get it to POST.

Pros: Nice case, fits MATX board and - unusually - a full-size power supply, not the cheesier MATX power supplies. Also accommodate two 3.5-inch hard drives; again, unusual for an MATX case. Despite complaining and whining below, still the best MATX case I've ever used.

Cons: Wouldn't be any if I hadn't purchased a black version of the same model 3 months ago. Silverstone cheapened the hard drive mounting. The older one has a slide-out module for 2 hard drives. With the newer one, the hard drive mounting is much more crude and cheaper, requiring the use of (supplied) flat-head screws, and adds an hour to the assembly process. I'm not looking forward to eventual hard drive replacement in the RAID 1 array.

Overall Review: I wouldn't be complaining about this if the older (black) one were not so much better for installing hard drives. The Intel DG45ID motherboard in this silver case is larger than the Asus P5B-VM DO board in the black case, so assembly was even more tricky in this newer silver case. Supplied with mounting holes for a third 80mm fan. Get one. Fan 2 mounts on and blows through the hard drive enclosure - good idea. Although cramped, 3 case fans and 2 power supply fans (Thermaltake 430W) keep the interior cool, even with the stock Intel CPU cooler.

Pros: Runs very cool on test bench with no fan at all. Passed 24 hours of Memtest 86+ V 2.11 with no problem in an Asus P5QC. No need to play with timings or voltages to make it work in dual channel interleaved mode.

Cons: None with the memory. Just be careful to use the DDR3 sockets in the motherboard if it has both DDR2 and DDR3 sockets. This might require the ability to comprehend a simple drawing, or perhaps even the talent to read and understand simple instructions, not to mention the artistic temperament to distinguish among black, yellow, and orange.

Overall Review: When the Asus P5QC motherboard BIOS was set to AUTO, the memory ran at 8-8-8-20 although Newegg shows it rated at 9-9-9-24. Patriot makes lower latency (7-7-7-20) Vipers at a higher price, but I saw no practical difference.