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John H.

John H.

Joined on 02/23/09

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 6
Most Favorable Review

Excellent Design, Great Cable Management

SilverStone RAVEN RV02B-EW-USB3.0 Matte black reinforced plastic outer shell, 0.8mm Steel body ATX Full Tower Computer Case with Window Side Panel with 2X USB3.0 ports
SilverStone RAVEN RV02B-EW-USB3.0 Matte black reinforced plastic outer shell, 0.8mm Steel body ATX Full Tower Computer Case with Window Side Panel with 2X USB3.0 ports

Pros: Great airflow (keeps system about 5*C cooler than previous case), 90* mobo rotation works well (quick, easy access to all I/O ports without crawling behind a desk), quiet, easy on the eyes, easy hot swap configuration, tons of room for cable management. I could go on, but it should suffice to say that everything I don't list in the "cons" section is a positive about this case. It's fantastic

Cons: -The power supply configuration is a little different than most cases. It's been a while since I've been inside my rig, so forgive me if my memory is fuzzy, but you need to be careful which PSU you select. The intake port can be blocked by the case, potentially. It wasn't an issue for me with the PSU I already had, thankfully, but it would be worth looking into before you commit to buying this case or a new PSU that won't work well with this particular unit. -Fan controllers are on top of the case, have to remove top panel to access. This isn't a big con for me since I just leave my fans on low unless I absolutely need the cooling boost. The difference in temps between low and high is very minimal (~5*C for me under load, usually). -Dust filter access requires the removal of a side panel. -Cable management could be made easier with more tie-down points, but again, it's not a big complaint. I had more than enough room for my cables.

Overall Review: There are certainly full towers out there that make a DIY build easier, but I don't believe any of them have the combination of looks, quietness, coolness, and utility that the RV-02 has. At its current price of $200+, I can't say I would fully recommend it, however. I bought this case for $150 well over a year ago on a special. Paying $200 when an option like the HAF 932 is out there for 25% less with comparable airflow and better cable management (although the 932 is a hideous looking beast) would be tough for a cheap guy like me. If you feel like the price is in your range, you won't regret buying this.

Great card for the money

PowerColor Radeon HD 3450 256MB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Graphics Card AX3450 256MD2-HV2
PowerColor Radeon HD 3450 256MB DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Graphics Card AX3450 256MD2-HV2

Pros: I haven't had a whole lot of time to compare this to my onboard graphics to really see if I'm getting a boost, but I didn't buy this card for a boost anyways. I had a comp that is primarily used for HTPC type activities (PowerPoint, movies) that needed dual output capabilities, but the mobo was only capable of single output. $20 for a perfectly capable HTPC card with HDMI, DVI, and VGA is all I could ever ask for. It works great. I had no problems with install or setup whatsoever, and from what I gathered in my research, Powercolor appears to have a sterling reputation for reliability.

Cons: Not a con if you know what you're buying, but this card is not going to plow through Crysis on high settings. I haven't pushed this thing at all yet, but I would guess that if you're into playing games that were made after 2007-2008, this isn't going to be the card you want.

Overall Review: This card is great if it suits your needs. Just make sure you won't need more before you purchase. Unless you're wanting a high-end rig, chances are this is going to exceed your needs.

Best mouse I have ever owned

Logitech MX 518 Aluminum 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Gaming Mouse
Logitech MX 518 Aluminum 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Gaming Mouse

Pros: Ergonomic, cheap, comfortable button arrangments, solid feel, accurate, looks good

Cons: Short cord, but that's really not a big deal, and it's pretty much industry standard.

Overall Review: For the money, I don't think this mouse can be beat. If you want to spend twice as much, you might be able to find something better, but for a mid-level mouse this is as good as it gets.

Excellent for the money

Logitech K120 Wired Keyboard for Windows, Plug and Play, Full-Size, Spill-Resistant, Curved Space Bar, Compatible with PC, Laptop - Black
Logitech K120 Wired Keyboard for Windows, Plug and Play, Full-Size, Spill-Resistant, Curved Space Bar, Compatible with PC, Laptop - Black

Pros: Quiet, sleek, works, cheap

Cons: None, in my opinion

Overall Review: You know what you're getting with this keyboard if you just read the specs. The ONLY thing I can think of that some people might complain about is that the keys are somewhat stiff compared to many other keyboards. I love it, because it really helps quiet things down, and the keys feel a little more solid to me. I think it's a positive, but if you're not expecting it, you might be a little put off by the stiffness.

Great Monitor at a Great Price

ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 12000:1 (1000:1) Built in Speakers
ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 12000:1 (1000:1) Built in Speakers

Pros: Awesome visuals, good size, very sharp, a wide range of settings to choose from, fast response.

Cons: Angle is not adjustable, speakers are poor (not really a con, because no one who needs good sound quality would use on-board speakers), factory settings aren't what I wanted, and it took quite a bit of tweaking to get the look I desired.

Overall Review: This is a very good monitor, but at the time of this writing, the advancements in monitors have made this somewhat obsolete, in my opinion, compared to other offerings in the same price range on newegg. ASUS continues to push the envelope and get great monitors into customers' houses for very reasonable prices. In my opinion, unless you're in need of a monitor with more than a billion colors, ASUS is the way to go. I have no real complaints. The reason I gave this particular product four eggs is that its price is not reflective of its current market value any longer.

Great Case for the Money

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black / Silver 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case
RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black / Silver 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case

Pros: Fans galore, sturdy, looks great, and it's extremely easy to use.

Cons: It would be nice to have access to some of the front ports without having to open the door for the case. More media ports would be a welcome addition. If you use a lot of external devices, you're probably going to want some sort of additional media port. It's a little difficult to find a good arrangement to get loose cords out of view. This is only an issue because this beautiful case provides you with a great view of the innards of the computer.

Overall Review: I don't know that you can buy a better computer case for the money. If you want a sub-$100 case, this is the one for you.