Joined on 09/06/08
Pros: This is very easy to install, sleeved cable protects it very well. I personally liked how this easily illuminated the interior of my Cooler Master HAF932 without being overbearing at all. The clips also work rather well to anchor the led cable. Also this fits in nicely in an empty expansion slot
Cons: I had a little trouble installing the expansion slot end of the led kit (probably was due to how i was inserting it), but that worked out just fine.
Overall Review: As a tip for anyone looking to buy this, do a preliminary plan of how you want to run your cable before buying, then you know how long of a cable to use (being the 1m or 2m kit) Also, i really like how this makes lighting up a case real easy, good for beginners!
Pros: I've used this card on my main rig (Core i7-860, ASUS P7P55D), mostly for capturing from my 360 and other platforms I own (even did some recording from a PAL vcr). Using the MJPEG codec (because the others will make a very large file), i got fantastic quality that I could edit real easily for various projects. File formats work well with Sony Vegas Pro, Adobe CS6, even WMM. I've done a little streaming as well, and it works just fine. The HDMI Passthru is very convenient, and so is the breakout cable if capturing analog. All in all, one of my favorite pieces of tech.
Cons: On the occasion it sometimes gives me a black screen, but rebooting my comp fixes that (this is rare for me). Otherwise, I really like using it. It is an internal card, so if you are recording from a console or a media player, make sure its within a close range (unless you've got long cables) Slight bummer that the 1080p is restricted to 1080p30 (30 fps ish) and wont capture full hd from consoles, but that's alright. (I generally captured at 720p60, good ratio of filesize to quality)
Overall Review: Some helpful tips for people who are looking into this: Make sure you definitely check that you have an available PCI Express x1 slot, and that your Mobo/CPU is powerful (don't want to drop frames or be incompatible, generally speaking P, H, and Z series intel mobos should be good to go unless explicitly mentioned on the blackmagic website) Also be sure you've got a good amount of HDD space. I do use the MJPEG codec provided by BM, and for a 12 min, 720p, 60fps file for example is about 9 gigs in size. Having a descent sized scratch drive (i used a 1TB WD Black, though raid configs, ssds, or other high speed solutions will also work) is strongly recommended. The uncompressed ones can yield FAR larger file sizes so be careful with what mode you capture with (this will vary on your projects)
4+ Years and still going
Pros: I've owned this for more than 4 years on my computer, and I have to say it's performed extremely well. Quiet, reliable, and it powers everything I need. Modular plugs makes cable management easier. Also works well with my fan controller (I have a Corsair 600T White)
Cons: Some cables may be a bit short (though that may be in part due to the size of my case/gpu), so it may annoy anyone who may be a bit more OCD about cable management. But that's not really a con in my case.
Overall Review: I've only really needed a max of 600W on my computer, but if I ever were to need more, I'll certainly buy another PSU from OCZ.
Pros: Very easy to install and tuck away; uses a simple molex connector. Wire is mesh covered. Good ambient lighting within the case. Power switch and brightness settings are very convenient. Good illumination.
Cons: It can be a little tricky to place the wire in the hooks, but very doable. Also, you need to make sure that the expansion slot that you place this guy in has ample clearance so it can easily slide in.
Overall Review: I have the 2 meter red light version of this, it easily goes around the interior of my Cooler Master HAF 932 and provides great illumination of the interior of my case without being overtly bright. Also the use of a power switch and 3 brightness settings is a big plus! I would thoroughly recommend this for any user who wants a simple method of lighting their case.
FAST!
Pros: I was a little skeptical about how this card would perform on my system, but it clearly blew away my expectations. it runs Crysis maxed out on my machine (1440x900) with ease, stays quiet, and looks pretty cool with the lights.
Cons: nothing i can honestly think of
Great!
Pros: Well thought out motherboard. fits perfectly into my case. The Memory Ok! button works like a charm. Lots of small features that make it good for first time builders. Awesome first time mobo.
Cons: I thought that this motherboard wasn't going to take my memory at all when it was flashing its red memory problem light, but the Memory ok button fixed that really quick!