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Mr. P.

Mr. P.

Joined on 07/17/04

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 11
Most Favorable Review

Update Bios and Ignore the Pics.

ASRock X79 Extreme6 LGA 2011 Intel X79 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
ASRock X79 Extreme6 LGA 2011 Intel X79 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: Features and Price

Cons: Needed the BIOS updated to remain stable. The manual is inaccurate with it's photos. When the photo contradicts the text follow the text. For example the RAM install shows different sockets saying be sure it clicks on both sides, yet the boards sockets only have 1 locking side. Similar issues exist in the illustrations for installing video cards (PCI-E 3.0 socket #1 shown in the photo is PCI-E 3.0 socket #3 according to the manual's text)

Overall Review: This is my 5th build with ASRock boards and the 1st time I had an issue. For the 1st month the system would BSOD about twice a week, it was using a 4820K CPU, after BIOS 6.4 came out and I updated the problem ceased. Though the update also made the RAID boot drive unbootable forcing a reinstall of Windows 7. After these issues were resolved the system has been running rock solid for the last month which is the reliability I've come to expect from ASRock's boards.

Pretty Nice Monitor

BenQ GW2265HM Black 21.5" 6ms (GTG) Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor, 250 cd/m2 DCR 20,000,000:1 (3000:1), Built-in Speakers, VESA Mountable, D-Sub DVI HDMI
BenQ GW2265HM Black 21.5" 6ms (GTG) Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor, 250 cd/m2 DCR 20,000,000:1 (3000:1), Built-in Speakers, VESA Mountable, D-Sub DVI HDMI

Pros: Bought on $50 sale, so the price was right. Better display then the cheaper monitors.

Cons: Pay attention to the picture of what's in the box, notice there are no screws shown -- that's because there aren't any for either securing the base (which has screw holes) or a VESA mount..

Overall Review: I like the monitor as my secondary. I would have given it a 5 star review but saving the pennies on the screws and inconveniencing the customer was a bone head move.

Works as Advertised

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL8Q-16GBZM
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL8Q-16GBZM

Pros: Good speed and good price.

Cons: None

Overall Review: Though my mother board didn't auto recognize the max settings for this DRAM it ran flawlessly at max settings once they were supplied. I haven't attempted to push it beyond it's rated values.

Very Pleased

ZALMAN MS800 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
ZALMAN MS800 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Pros: Very roomy on the "business side." Adequate cooling fans supplied. Sturdy except for the inserts (see Cons)

Cons: The area under the motherboard can be a bit cramped if you're running a lot of wire, it takes a little bit of care. I don't particularly care for the "front panel" being on the top, just a personal preference. The bay inserts aren't very secure and tend to pop out will moving the case.

Overall Review: I ordered my CPU cooler (Corsair H60) when I ordered the case, if I'd notice the dual top fans (1 supplied with case) I'd likely have gone with the H120 double wide unit.

10/18/2013

Good but very slow in RAID 5

Western Digital WD Green WD10EARS 1TB 5400 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
Western Digital WD Green WD10EARS 1TB 5400 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive

Pros: Bought 2 of these to pair with 2 WD10EADS running as a RAID 1 array one a Windows 7 system with hopes of upgrading to RAID 5 w on-line spare. I checked out the drives individually and was pleased with both. Then added them to the array and upgraded. Write speeds frequently under 4M/sec.

Cons: Slow in RAID 5 Configs when mixed with older WD 1T drives. I did not test other RAID configs or a RAID 5 array made up solely of this model drives (I'd have needed a 3rd one to do that)

Overall Review: Posting on WD's site says these drives aren't intended for RAID, wish I knew that ahead of time I'd have hunted down some more WD10EADS. (New Egg doesn't seem to carry them anymore, not sure if WD still makes them)

Working Well

Western Digital WD Green WD10EADS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive
Western Digital WD Green WD10EADS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive

Pros: Good Price, Large Size, Reliable Brand Name

Cons: None

Overall Review: I ordered 2 of these late night last Weds, the arrived today (Tues) despite being delayed by the long weekend. I installed them as a RAID 1 array after the box was accidentally dropped when the UPS guy handed it too me. Thanks to New Egg packing and WD durability both drives worked fine. 9 hours after delivery the RAID array is up and running and has had several hundred gigs of data transfered to it. Thanks New Egg!