Pros: Solid board, was actually able to leverage it for server use. Works fine with no issues.
Cons: The SATA ports are parallel with the board. I would have prefer them be perpendicular. I also would have liked them to be ALL 3 and Intel.
Overall Review: Used this board as the core of my build and it worked out great with an Intel i7 Processor. I was able to get it working as a server with all the drivers installed. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: Provides good, clean, power. It's also very quiet. Very impressed with the fan inside.
Cons: None.
Overall Review: I used this in a build with a SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front panel, 0.8 mm SECC body Lascala Series LC20B-M ATX Media Center / HTPC Case. It was VERY tricky. Best fit in large towers. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: Comes with everything you need to mount it in a 2.5 format factor slot. Easy install took me 1 minute.
Cons: The plastic handles are something to be wary about. If you're like me though this won't be an issue because you rarely should have to swap drives.
Overall Review: Worked out great for my build using the 2.5 slot in a SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front panel, 0.8 mm SECC body Lascala Series LC20B-M ATX Media Center / HTPC Case. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: Fast. Reliable.
Cons: The heat sinks are obtrusively high.
Overall Review: This memory is great. In my build it was a bit tricky due to my case choice. The heat sinks are just crazy high. Make sure you have clearance and plan ahead when you combine this with a motherboard + case. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: - Fast. Once you go SSD your won't go back. - Reliable. This kit came with everything I need to mount it.
Cons: Cost. This technology needs to come down.. down in cost.
Overall Review: Absolutely love these drives. Purchased 2 for a RAID 1 configuration in a server. Regardless of what the pros vs cons are in regards to a server use you won't be disappointed. As long as you're not storing large DB files on them and using them as boot/system drives only they are great. My server boots in 35 seconds flat, to ready login, with Exchange 2010 on it. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: - Large Space. - USB 3.0 Compatible.
Cons: USB 3.0 speeds are questionable.
Overall Review: I purchased this as an external backup drive and found the USB 3.0 performance to be questionable. As with other USB 3.0 drives copy and backup processes start out faster but they dither down after a while. Regardless, it's a great unit to use as online storage backup. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: Quiet. Keeps my build Cool.
Cons: None.
Overall Review: I ordered 2 of these to mount in a SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum front panel, 0.8 mm SECC body Lascala Series LC20B-M ATX Media Center / HTPC Case. They work great and do the job. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: - Huge amount of space. - Works in a RAID 5 configuration. (tested) - Reliable.
Cons: A bit pricey when I purchased. They have come way down even since the month ago during my purchase.
Overall Review: I ordered 4 of these drives for a RAID 5 array on a Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 motherboard. At first I thought one of the drives was a failure but after researching something wasn't quite right with the Intel Matrix storage driver. Even under software RAID performance is pretty good and I would recommend these drives for a moderate load home media server. My build: 1, Intel BOXDZ68BC LGA 1155 Intel Z68 4, Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3TB 7200 RPM (RAID 5) 2, SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/AM SSD (RAID 1) 1, Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (backup) 1, CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 1, High Current Pro HCP-750 750W TX12V v2.3 Power Supply Running: Windows Server 2008 R2, MS Exchange 2010, Yosemite Server Backup 9.1 IIS, DHCP, DNS, Etc...
Pros: - None.
Cons: - Unreliable. - Never really worked properly after purchase.
Overall Review: Works in USB2.0 ports but does not work in USB3 ports at all. Tried everything, updating my USB drivers etc.. I know my ports aren't defective because other thumb drives and peripherals work flawlessly. Highly unsatisfied with this product. Tested with a brand new and verified working WD Red 10TB drive.