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Gentry G.

Gentry G.

Joined on 12/22/07

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 26
Most Favorable Review

Not really an enthusiast board

GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: Low cost

Cons: not really any

Overall Review: I bought this to build a computer for someone else, and they never muck about with BIOS or overclocking. However, based on the lack of extras, and the serial port on the I/O, I'd say it's more of a workstation/maybe-light-gaming computer. I got it because of the low price point and seemingly sturdy build, and was not disappointed. The end result was a quad core, 4gb DDR2, 1TB HDD computer that can run Modern Warfare 2 without too much issue.

Most Critical Review

Too Soft

Nexus SFM-1000 Silicon Fan Mounts, 4 pieces
Nexus SFM-1000 Silicon Fan Mounts, 4 pieces

Pros: These were easy to install, thanks to their length. As an added bonus, these ones don't look like tiny marital aids.

Cons: They made them too soft.

Overall Review: I took an egg off for each one that ripped after installation. I got them installed without ripping (other reviewers were not so lucky), and a month later when I cracked open the case for the first time since, I found the top two had ripped from the sheer weight of the 120x25 mm fan.

Light tool, so many uses

SwissTech UKCSB-1 Utili-Key 6-in-1 KeyChain MultiTool
SwissTech UKCSB-1 Utili-Key 6-in-1 KeyChain MultiTool

Pros: I wanted a keychain tool because I got stuck without a screwdriver one too many times, mostly. I got what I wanted, with two small drivers, a serrated blade, and a bottle opener all in one light package.

Cons: The tool can be a bit fiddly to get open, especially if you have greasy hands. It only opens up to 90 degrees, so the blade tool is a little undercut by the way you have to hold the tool.

Overall Review: The hinged release had me worried, but it turns out there's enough friction keeping the tool shut, so it doesn't open up when you don't want it to.

12/17/2012

Four pack to go!

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition - Phenom II X4 Deneb Quad-Core 3.2 GHz Socket AM3 125W Processor - HDZ955FBGMBOX
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition - Phenom II X4 Deneb Quad-Core 3.2 GHz Socket AM3 125W Processor - HDZ955FBGMBOX

Pros: For the price, this is a really powerful quad-core processor. I've never had an AMD processor to build into a PC before, and this one ha left a good impression.

Cons: The stock cooler is a joke. It's a 60mm fan that absolutely screams, but doesn't even cool the CPU very well. It woke up roomates, it made my ears ring, it was replaced by an Arctic Freezer 7.2, and it was thrown away.

Overall Review: This was a low budget upgrade, so I had to make sure I spent as little as I could on the CPU, and still get a motherboard and GPU. It all worked out really well in the end and I am not afraid to buy AMD next time

Tremulous

Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan

Pros: high air flow

Cons: Way too noisy for me. There's a noticeable whine coming from the fan that reminded me of a hair dryer.

Overall Review: I couldn't stand the sound (although I am psychotic about fan silence). Currently sitting in my garage, being used as a fan-hole template

Does what it needs to

Nippon Labs eSATA Bracket One SATA II and One eSATA 2 ports combo bracket  for SATA I and SATA II Hard Drive Model ESATAB-C
Nippon Labs eSATA Bracket One SATA II and One eSATA 2 ports combo bracket for SATA I and SATA II Hard Drive Model ESATAB-C

Pros: Makes access easier to internal SATA as well as eSATA

Cons: This bracket doesn't make things quite easy enough. The idea of having easy access to an internal SATA on the outside of your case is hampered by there being no SATA power, so you still end up routing internal cables out of your case to make it work. There is also no way to tell which is which, leaving you fumbling behind your desk.