Joined on 03/02/06
HUGE
Pros: Larger than the last Noctua cooler I purchased (UP 12, I think), 6 pipes for each block. This one has a "stepped" fin design providing extra clearance to nearby components. On my new build, there is at least an inch of clearance above the memory modules. I could have gone to water cooling, but realized this was actually as quiet and with less moving parts to go wrong.
Cons: Measure your case carefully. I purchased a new case as well, a ATX full tower, to provide both adequate clearance for this cooler and USB 3 ports.
Lots of room
Pros: I purchased this primarily for the 4 USB 3.0 ports on the front, as well as sufficient room for a Noctua cooler. Very forgiving case design, much larger than I really needed, but works fine next to my workstation area. Tons of room for cables behind the MB. Very good quality, solid and heavy.
Cons: I deducted two eggs as I am still trying to figure out the fans and the closed areas. The front panel looks nice, but there is minimal air flow around it, and there are 2 fans pulling air in at that spot. So, I open the door for the air, which makes it noisier.
Overall Review: Still fiddling with the fan controls, and that may address the front panel being opened most of the time.
Replacement Drive
Pros: Had thought of having a SSD for a new build, and was waiting for the Haskwell release. Then, my primary drive failed, and requiring immediate replacement. Like everyone else new to SSDs, am honestly surprised how fast this is. I may even delay my new build for awhile, as this is pretty impressive. (Not really, still will build, but it more of a preference now than a necessity)
Cons: Had to make a trip to the local electronics store to pick up a special very very small Torx wrench, to attach the SSD to my existing platform/heat sink which held my old drive. It bolted right in, but didn't realize initially this would be required.
Overall Review: Was mentally prepared for a much more difficult transition and build, but the Samsung SSD and software made it pretty straightforward. I would suggest reading up on ACHI configuration as opposed to IDE. I am a little concerned about constant writes to a disk for IE 10 or other internet programs. I had an extra WD drive laying around, and am using that for IE, limiting the writes to the SSD drive.
High quality, just the right size...
Pros: This is a high quality PSU, and plenty of connectors, more than enough for a i7 build. Absolutely no voltage issues anywhere. Running an i7, single 4870 graphics card, 4 HDs.
Cons: I would have liked a 750 watt rating, didn't want to make the jump to an 800 or bigger.
Overall Review: Perception wise, this PSU runs cooler than my 6 year old computer PSU, which was smaller. As a result, my overall i7 runs cool, which was one of my goals.
Good game performance
Pros: On an i7 build, used this card as a single graphics card system. Played Crysis at full resolution, had no issues (other than Vista 64 related problems). Google Earth (which I use more than Crysis) is great.
Cons: The card is heavy. Looking at it from the side, the back end of the card looks like it is drooping, and non-supported. Works fine, though.
Overall Review: Wish it would have had an audio connector to simplify connection to HDTV, but that is on my motherboard, so not a problem
3 months, and very happy
Pros: I opted for the 940 as a middle of the road option of the i7 chips. The chip runs ~ 37 degrees with an aftermarket Noctua cooler (2 fans). The ability to multi-task several programs at once w/o overall system slowdown is sweet.
Cons: I bought an early chip, so I paid dearly for it. My only hesitation is that I know I am not pushing the chip as much as it could be pushed. So, if the chip failed today, I may drop to the 920 chip.
Overall Review: Played Crysis on this, and no issues. My son opted for a 9550 and saved some coin, with reasonably close performance. This is still going to be cutting edge for another 6 months to a year, so it is a future looking investment.