Alot of threads keep popping up where people asking which mobo this, which video card that. This thread would be used as a review where actual owners of certain products can testify to the pros and cons of a particular product which can be compared and provide information for newcomers looking to build a PC.
I'll start with my ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe
Pros: Lot's of features, lots of cables and peripherals. Onboard 8CH audio is really impressive. Dual Gigalan works superbly. Overclocking is a breeze. Extremely n00b friendly. Bios update utility is nice too. 8 SATA plus 4 IDE??!!! My God man Easy to install....easy to setup....easy to work with.
Cons: SPACE....SPACE.....SPACE!!! Needs more space. For example, once my gpu is installed, one of the memory clips can't move. Not a problem but annnoying. Also those lots of peripherals, because of their location take up your PCI slot spaces, even though they nor you may ever use them so I guess that is a waste of space....which we need. Also the chipset fan is a brute. Kindy noisy compared to four other case fans plus the CPU fan and the huge one on the power supply. Also, the chipset fans tend to go after a couple months so get a replacement. cost about 4-10US.
I give it 5/5 though. All the other stuff are just annoyances. Nothing that would cause you not to want this great board.
2 X 1GBGskill DDR 400
Pros: The sexy red head spreaders. The price. Just about 150US including shipping to Jamdown. Plug and play capability. Ram timings came up automatically. 2.5-3-3-5. Crazy stuff. Both passed memtest running for 5 hours (memtest needs only to run for 20mins).
Cons:......hmmm................................... ..maybe the heatsinks should've been blue??? Can't think of any!!!
definately 5/5
Opteron 144 CAB2E
Pros: Come on...say it with me... 1mb cache!!! This processor is like those big 24 wheelers hauling some huge loads. Likkle but talawah!! It can OC up to 2.5 easily. Some people have manage to get it 3.0 on air....3.4 on water. By the way, the default is 1.8 . B2 memory controller is great.
Cons: Kinda hot but that's expected of opties. CAB2E stepping is not as good at OCing as the CABNE stepping which can get to 2.9 with ease on air.
4.5/5 because not as good as CABNE
eVGA 6600gt 128mb DDR3
Pros: Mad sick, head gone. Runs most highend games like water. 500Mhz internal clock really a clock. Easy to OC. Pretty god for a 6600. DVI and HDTV support is easy to configure. BIG FAN!!!
Cons:.....kinda hot under load, 80C, but I hear that's normal.
5 coconuts for this baby
Now others can talk about theirs!