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Thomas B.

Thomas B.

Joined on 09/24/08

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 4
Most Favorable Review

High Capacity, Average Ergonomics

Antec TPQ-1200 1200W Continuous Power with PowerCache Technology SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
Antec TPQ-1200 1200W Continuous Power with PowerCache Technology SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Pros: I owned this power supply for just under 2 years when it finally gave up the ghost. I ran it pretty hard on my SR-2, dual X5650's (@1.35Vcore) and dual GTX590's. It probably would have lasted longer had I not ran it so close to the rated limit--not to mention that it handled all of the aforementioned components 16+ hours a day. At ~$200 the TPQ-1200 is a great value for the capacity and output quality.

Cons: My number one gripe is that the PCIe connectors are fused in pairs. This works fine for GPUs, where the connectors are nicely aligned in a row, but when you consider the case where you have two connectors spread far apart, you'll need an extension of some sort to make it reach. My other gripe is the exhaust fan. It gets loud--leaf blowing, scare your cat/neighbor/roommate loud. If you plan on running this at capacity, make sure you have good case intake and exhaust to compensate for the less than stellar cooling system. A minor complaint is that the "PowerCache" caps are difficult to work with in small places. They're big, cumbersome and their obnoxiousness is exacerbated by the somewhat stiff cabling.

Overall Review: If your case has the room, opt to purchase some cable extensions (possibly the sleeved variety)--it will make your experience with this otherwise great power supply much more enjoyable.

Good Cheap Drive

SAMSUNG 22X Half-Height DVD Writer 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black IDE Model SH-S222A
SAMSUNG 22X Half-Height DVD Writer 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black IDE Model SH-S222A

Pros: Fast DVD burns Cheap No coasters yet!

Cons: none so far

Overall Review: IDE is an aging interface. Chose some other SATA drive or spring for rounded IDE cables to avoid restricting airflow in your case.

Amazing Case

Cooler Master COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Cooler Master COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Pros: Beautiful Aluminum finish Absolutely stellar, solid build quality Tons of room for large cooling devices and GPU's Great cable management solutions Rubber grommets keep HDD's from vibrating. Acoustic Dampening Sufficient documentation for wiring / installation. (Including front panel)

Cons: Not really a con but, the case is so quiet, you actually have to check the power LED to see if the machine is on!

Overall Review: The case comes with all but one optional 120mm fan for the HDD rack. Highly recommended to grab another fan if you plan on installing more than 4 - 6 drives. The mounting hardware and screws are already included with the case.

Microsof Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit
Microsof Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit

Pros: Works as advertised.

Cons: Might take a while to recoup the cost of batteries.

Overall Review: Battery life seems exceptional. I've been using the battery pack on and off for about a month on one charge.