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Mark K.

Mark K.

Joined on 05/22/04

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 20
Most Favorable Review

Very cool UPS

CyberPower AVR CP685AVR 685 VA 390 Watts 8 Outlets UPS
CyberPower AVR CP685AVR 685 VA 390 Watts 8 Outlets UPS

Pros: After I received one of these I tested it and specs match manufacturer claims, no problems there. Outlets are spaced well and have tight connection – a good thing. Also, you also get standard serial and simple USB connection to equipment if you feel you need that – no RJ45 LAN-like plug requiring special cable like some competition units. Surge rating and backup time over twice of similar UPS from some other manufacturers. Physical finish is smooth and solid ( you would not want to drop this on your foot, trust me), main power button is small and deeply recessed so chance of accidental turning unit off is minimized yet still can be comfortable reached.. If you do not connect it to additional interfaces you get quality USB cable and coaxial cable with gold plated connectors (plus HD vinyl phone cable). Unit I received came with battery installed already so there was no need for nothing else but to plug it in – many times you have to install battery connection yourself when you buy UPS

Cons: none

Overall Review: You may pay for the name or for the value. I like value much better. This UPS is exactly what this means.

Most Critical Review

mild upgrade

ASUS GeForce 8400 GS 512MB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Ready Graphics Card EN8400GS SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP)
ASUS GeForce 8400 GS 512MB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Ready Graphics Card EN8400GS SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP)

Pros: Installed on Optiplex desktop, working fine, not that much better then original chipset video but it does give more options on resolution and refresh did improve, not a game card, not expensive, well built. If you don’t need VGA it is mild inexpensive upgrade for business and browser. One will get DVI and HDMI output cheap.

Cons: Low profile use makes it into 2 spaces card; it means wasted PCI slot and then on Dell desktop for example VGA has to be flipped over to the back then cable is almost too short for that: 1/16 inch less and would have to send it back or get your own VGA cable. Heatsink is rather crude – built with finer more ribbed element would be way better and smaller for no-fan card.

Overall Review: I did not ever bother with rebate – too many people fighting it. I figured I just save that postage and not get annoyed. Consider that and short VGA cable I would never buy MOBO from ASUS if this how they plan ahead. Magic word - "competition". Thereof - who needs whom?

brand to get

Verbatim 4.7 GB 16X DVD+R 100 Packs Spindle Disc Model 95098
Verbatim 4.7 GB 16X DVD+R 100 Packs Spindle Disc Model 95098

Pros: with 5 comps and 9 DVD burners different brands and firmware never one single coaster

Cons: none

Overall Review: hope they stay the same way for that price at least for a while

works well

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) Unbuffered DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5K2/2G
Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) Unbuffered DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5K2/2G

Pros: Installed on Optiplex 745 desktop Pentium D used for business, runs very well on 32-bit Vista and 32-bit Linux

Cons: none so far, no errors, no problems

Overall Review: Could have aluminum heat spreader yet is not really required

get them when you can

G.SKILL Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F1-3200PHU2-2GBZX
G.SKILL Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F1-3200PHU2-2GBZX

Pros: Installed in 2004 A-Open MOBO, system set it up at 2,2,2,5 in auto, it is working good so far, running constant 48 hours and did some reboots just to see if it does not get goofy. Heat spreader is from aluminum, I would prefer heavier copper like my 2 sticks of PMI before in this system, but as they say “they don’t make them as they used to”. I set it up in 2 original slots; POST is fine every time, system became most definitely relaxed now with these faster chips, especially with dense graphics information, slapped 20 pages of firefox junk on it and no problems. I did not run any games – have none, I suppose licking jam through the jar is not my forte, but I did run Edius 4 in HD and some ADA custom nav apps, which came out fast and in full glory. Happy with it and will stay so if it lasts. PMI at 2.5,3,3,7 did worked for years with no a single fail or thermal. This pair of G.Skill chips surprised me and I got them without having to mortgage my bass boat. Thank you NewEgg again!

Cons: I hope none

Overall Review: The junior engineers posting here and there having problem with bus speed at 400 need to check again how processor and ram talk – DRAM speed is no modulation tweak on 10 meter radio, cannot crank it up just because one would like to and can, because if so desired and missing data what will happen, is that the results will not be so cool. Thank heaven core of BIOS is written in machine code and mostly hidden or there would be burned out MOBO's piling up like diapers every trash day at the curb.

Good flash drive

Patriot Razzo 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) PSF8GRUSB
Patriot Razzo 8GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) PSF8GRUSB

Pros: I’ve got under 14 MB/sec write and 19.96 MB/sec read on single 599 Meg ISO file. Then copied 2.1 Gig folder loaded with small files including CBT material and it took less then 7 minutes. No noticeable temperature change - Gizmo stayed cool to touch, which tells me that actual chipset should last. It has small blue flashing tail LED during activity, cap is snap-on, and loop for neck strap is there if one needs. Price for the capacity is very reasonable and free ship from NewEgg just sweetened the deal.

Cons: None so far for what it is designed to do – store 8 Gig of data in your pocket and get it out at reasonable speed when you need it. However, it does not bark when touched, no rotating light is built in and it will not survive direct shot from 44 magnum. .. Just kidding, of course. There is no write-protect switch but I would say it is only letting dust in if installed. Security / encryption maybe needed for some but since there is plenty of room to install your own I myself would not consider that to be con thing.

Overall Review: Unit is well built, small, smooth candy-like finish and somewhat plain yet cool looking. It is definitely designed for durability but with dress shirt in mind. Not for storage in a back pocket next to screwdrivers, crimper and that stick of gum used for emergency repair of broken RJ-45’s (please forgive the sarcasm). This one is simple high capacity flash drive with no fancy software or special drivers, and can be used as bootable if so desired. I have few other flash drives but I needed 8 Gig right now and am glad I bought one. It plays VOB files without a glitch, you can store ridiculous number of picture or MP3 files from those downloads done at work, and there is still room for actual work stuff. Love it! NewEgg definitely rocks.

12/13/2007