Joined on 07/29/08
E0 or C1?
Pros: This is not a review but a request to all people reviewing this product. Please list whether you recieved C1 Stepping or E0 stepping. You can find this information on the side of the box, it will be version SLAWQ if it is C1 stepping. It will be SLB8V if it is E0 stepping. Newegg won't tell us which version we are buying, so we rely on people who have already purchased this processor to tell those of us who are thinking of buying it what version Newegg is shipping out. It is important because the E0 will be better for overclocking. Thanks!
Cons: Newegg won't tell us which stepping their processor is!
Overall Review: For the record, the one i ordered on 15 August and recieved on 20 August was C1 Stepping.
Bad Network Card
Pros: Nice Looking Easy to install Nice looking sticker?
Cons: The Killer NIC leaves a lot to be desired. The LAN connection was so bad that Windows Update failed to run. I'm switching to another brand for this build.
Too Pricey
Pros: I Actually don't own this card. I own a different GTX 670. I just wanted to say that i would buy this one to put in SLI with my other if ASUS would just drop the price down to around $200.
Cons: Price. There are better cards out there for less money from the current generation. The only reason someone has to buy this card is to run it in SLI with another GTX 670.
Overall Review: If you want to clear out your inventory, Asus, just drop the price on this and people like me will buy one!
Awesome
Pros: ~Sharp Looking board ~Easy UEFI ~Overclocks like a superstar
Cons: ~Good lord, get the bios update. If you are an overclocker, your patience will be sorely tried by have to look at HIS face each and every time you go into bios. The bios update allows you to get his mug out of most of your system. ~Price. Yeah, i could have done without the all the stupid marketing and branding costs associated with the board. The price may very well have been lower without Fatty's endorsement. I didn't buy it because of him, i bought it because of the reviews.
Overall Review: 99.8, how i hate thee. Okay, so i'm a bit OCD. I recently read somewhere that you can't hit the nail on the head with an ASROCK board and get 100mhz BCLK. Through numerous trial and error situations, i found that to be true: If you select 100mhz BCLK, you get 99.8MHZ If you select 100.1MHZ BLCK, you get 100.1MHZ If you select 99.9MHZ, YOU GET 99.9MHZ (What the Duece?) Either way, it was largely irrelevant, I'm just a stickler for getting things where i want them to be. Either way, an everyday 4.6GHZ overclock is awesome: Core i5 2500k 4.6GHZ STABLE 13 hours Prime 95 Blend 1.295volts Max on highest core under load recorded at 61c. Also in the midst of trying out 5.1ghz at 1.39. Good board.
Perfect
Pros: Bought 2 of them for a dual display setup. 1. I immediately pixel tested them and found no dead pixels on either screen. 2. Versus a previous Acer LCD, these have crisper resolution. 3. Nice wide viewing angles.
Cons: Nothing that is really TRULY their fault (see below).
Overall Review: I don't really hold this against the monitors but... 1. Whereas their stands look awesome and function well, they have some sharp edges. i shifted one and gouged the hell out of my desk. IF you have a cheapo desk like do, beware. But seriously, don't hold this against the monitors, it was the desk's fault. 2. Be PATIENT while attaching the monitor to the stand. It's a socketed "snap in" sort of deal, and it is very persnickety about putting it together 'just so.' It took me 6 or 7 tries to get the thing to snap together. The second monitor only took me 3 attempts. I can see this pushing a less patient person into trying to ram it together, which could lead to a duct-tape solution.
Awesome processor
Pros: Fantastic processor, i didnt buy it from the the egg but highly recommend others do.
Cons: Got C1 stepping.
Overall Review: If you got an e0 stepping (SLB8X on the box) please indicate here. I may return mine and buy it from newegg!