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Trevor B.

Trevor B.

Joined on 08/19/14

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 16
Most Favorable Review

Exceeded my expectations; a note to those indicating excessive pressure during install

DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Air Cooler 4 Direct Contact Heatpipes, 120mm PWM Fan with Blue LED, Multi-platform Intel/AMD CPUs (AM4 Compatible)
DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Air Cooler 4 Direct Contact Heatpipes, 120mm PWM Fan with Blue LED, Multi-platform Intel/AMD CPUs (AM4 Compatible)

Pros: - Keeps my Athlon II X3 at 88f during Prime95 stress test - Cool LED fan matches my build - Install was simple - Very quiet even at 100% fan speed

Cons: - Sits ever so slightly crooked on the CPU socket (nit-picky, minor inconvenience) - No spare buffer pads for a 2nd fan should you choose to use one (DOES include spare brackets) - Does NOT allow for 360 degree orientation

Overall Review: *** A NOTE TO THOSE INDICATING EXCESS PRESSURE IS REQUIRED WHEN INSTALLING ON AM2/3+ SOCKETS *** At first, I felt the same way, until I realized the intended purpose of the design of the AM2/3+ socket bracket. 1. Hook the non-tabbed arm of the bracket onto the AM2/3+ socket ledge 2. Apply only enough pressure on the leading edge of the cooler to bring it level on top of the CPU 3. Apply the remaining pressure to the tabbed side of the socket bracket itself (NOT THE COOLER) in order to clear the 2nd hook The socket bracket acts as a tensioner to keep pressure on the cooler and hold contact with the CPU. It bends fairly easily and does NOT require much effort to clear it's connection. Once properly connected, it feels secure and stable.

Most Critical Review

Inconsistent power delivery from a relatively low-quality PSU...

LOGISYS Computer PS480G Power Supply
LOGISYS Computer PS480G Power Supply

Pros: Newegg shipping is always fast... received in 3 days with super saver delivery!

Cons: - Could not maintain consistent power delivery to a relatively low power legacy system - Wires are cheap and the connections proved unreliable - No bottom-mounted fan to act as exhaust for legacy mid towers

Overall Review: On first boot, system would power up, post, and loose power in approximately 3-5 second intervals. Reseated wires and PC was able to boot. Low whine started about an hour into setting up the PC, and it was obviously the PSU... decided that was the point I no longer trusted it, at any price. Lack of ventilation is tacky, even for a budget PSU. Bought a competing 430watt for roughly the same price that has a 120mm fan that pulls air from the case (old-style, top mounted PSU). Have been running that thing consistently for a few years without issue.

Perfect Fit - Does What It Says It Does, No More, No Less...

APC Back-UPS BGE90M 125 VA 75 Watts 3 Outlets 2-USB Charging Ports UPS
APC Back-UPS BGE90M 125 VA 75 Watts 3 Outlets 2-USB Charging Ports UPS

Pros: - Sufficient power supply to run a router, modem, VoIP phone & digital alarm clock for at least 2hrs - USB connectivity charges phones without the need for an extra outlet - Relatively small and easy to hide away after some cable managment

Cons: - Outlet orientation doesn't fit many common AC warts... needed several spacers/adapters to make it work (this was actually more frustrating that I originally assumed it would be, may be a deal-breaker for some) - Color doesn't fit in with the rest of my tech

Overall Review: Please understand the intended use of this product before purchase. This won't power your PC, nor will it be useful for an entertainment system. I purchased this item with one intended purpose... keep the network up and the VoIP phone operational during a short power outage. We live in a dead-zone with nearly no cell reception, and when the home phone is down, we're essentially cut off. Just today, had an opportunity to test the system, and it seems to have worked flawlessly. After nearly 2hrs of sporadic calls, the phone was still working. No way to tell battery capacity, so it's not clear what the max run-time would be, but 2hrs is honestly more than I expected for the price.

Let's be clear about what this is (and is NOT) before you consider your purchase!

ViewEra V100P DLP Pocket Projector, Built-In Android OS and Wi-Fi, Support Apple / Android Mirroring
ViewEra V100P DLP Pocket Projector, Built-In Android OS and Wi-Fi, Support Apple / Android Mirroring

Pros: - Self-contained Andriod OS machine w/ 8GB internal storage... that happens to be a projector! - On-board speaker is surprisingly sufficient for non-cinematic audio - Screen mirroring is simple and works well - Several input options to expand on the already limitless apps available as an Android device

Cons: - The light source is rated for 30,000hrs, but the rest of the unit is likely not... build quality is mehh - No angle correction for the projected display - No Bluetooth... think Bluetooth speaker more than anything else - Internal fan is not LOUD, but it's not quiet either - Audio out is a mini-jack, which requires an adapter to export to a full-size headphone jack

Overall Review: To speak to the title of the review, let's be clear: this is a really awesome novelty item. It does what it's advertised to do modestly well, and has some cool gimmicky features, however this is NOT a high-quality projector. Those interested in purchasing this should understand it's appropriate uses, which is mainly casual media and perhaps limited use in a mobile professional environment. I purchased this projector for $105 w/ shipping, and I would say I got a good deal. Take away the coupon, and at $150 I would consider this to be a wash. Purchase this unit at the list price of $350+, and you're throwing your money away. You will likely not find a truly niche use for this device, to be honest. Navigation is clunky, the projected display is sufficient but not terribly impressive and in-app performance (Netflix, YouTube, ect.) feels just good enough to not be burdensome... that said... IT'S SO TOTALLY AWESOME!!! I'm sure once the novelty of what it is wears off it will spend more time of the shelf than anywhere else, however for the price I paid, it was worth it.

It's a cheap case, both in price & build quality... but I love it anyways!!!

DIYPC Cuboid-B Black USB 3.0 Gaming Micro-ATX Mid Tower Computer Case w/1 x 140mm LED Blue Fan x Front, 1 x120mm LED Blue Fan x rear
DIYPC Cuboid-B Black USB 3.0 Gaming Micro-ATX Mid Tower Computer Case w/1 x 140mm LED Blue Fan x Front, 1 x120mm LED Blue Fan x rear

Pros: - Layout is unique and works well for a basic build - LOTS of support for fans & cooling - LED fans are quiet enough, and bright enough to illuminate the whole case - Almost all the hardware is designed to be tool-less - Lot's of space to work with

Cons: - In general, materials are pretty low quality (case doesn't fully hold it's square shape with the side panels removed...) - While there is generally good cable management, some connections don't have a lot of good options

Overall Review: This is the first case of it's kind I've worked with (horizontal form factor) and it's been a pretty good experience. While it doesn't take advantage of it's footprint as well (IMHO), it does offer some benefits. I must say... the case I received was surprisingly poorly assembled. With the side panels removed, nothing fits correctly, and the whole case becomes slightly parallelogram-esque. I had to force my PCI expansion cards & graphics card into place, and then form the case into position so they fit. That said, once you re-install the side panels, the case takes it's square shape back and is relatively solid. On a similar note, the case fans are pretty low quality. They flex very easily when being removed and the fan blade itself wobbled slightly when touched. However, they appear to be pretty quiet at full speed, and the LEDs are bright. Overall, I stand by the title of this review... it's a cheap case (both in price and build quality) but I love it anyways. - Once installed and cleaned up, components are displayed nicely - Airflow is adequate, and there are plenty of options for cooling upgrades - Build format is unique and allows for plenty of space for a modest build

12/31/2016

Every bit of what I was expecting and then some... great motherboard!

ASRock A88M-G/3.1 FM2+ / FM2 A88X (Bolton D4) Micro ATX Motherboard
ASRock A88M-G/3.1 FM2+ / FM2 A88X (Bolton D4) Micro ATX Motherboard

Pros: Overall great price/performance tradeoff in a small form factor... - DDR3 2133 support for Athlon/APU processors is a must to take full advantage of their capabilities - USB 3.0 + header for use in modern cases - All components seem to keep cool under normal use - Doesn't feel flimsy or poorly constructed

Cons: None

Overall Review: Paired with an Athlon 860k (stock) and 8GB DDR3 2133 memory, and this has gone well past the performance I was anticipating. Overall upgrade only cost about $150, and it's truly night and day.

11/27/2016