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Redtail
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- Review count9
- Helpfulness votes35
- First reviewFebruary 17, 2015
- Last reviewApril 7, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes1
- First review commentSeptember 24, 2015
- Last review commentSeptember 24, 2015
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- Answer count5
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- First answerJuly 18, 2015
- Last answerDecember 4, 2015
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Redtail's Reviews
Record solo performances with this Focusrite Scarlett audio interface. Stereo line outputs let you connect this device to your home speakers, and the USB interface lets you record without power cables. Boasting a compact design, this Focusrite Scarlett audio interface is easy to take wherever your music career takes you.
Posted by: Redtail
I'm a digital composer and I occasionally work in production and recording with friends for private projects, as well as recording turntable work for fun on the side, and I run a WIndows based workstation running ProTools, Reason and REAPER. I've gotten my hands on a pretty wide variety of audio devices across a pretty wide range of quality and price levels, from the crude and cheap like the now archaic Roland EDIROL UA1EX first-generation, to the sought-after DigiDesign 004, and many newer and older devices. While I don't do a lot of recording, per-se, I do a tremendous amount of composition and production, and the need for a high-end external sound card for monitoring purposes and occasional microphone or line-in recording drove me to this range of products, which is generally accepted to include this unit, the PreSonus AudioBox iOne, the Mackie Onyx and a few other similar devices. I eventually settled on this model based on its combination of features, the represented quality of the preamps, and the recommendations of a number of local hip-hop producers. My genre of choice is drum & bass/jungle, which incorporates a very similar production style emphasizing mostly digital sampling, some synths, along with turntable and vocal recording, which this little machine handles *beautifully*. The pre-amps drive my 80ohm Beyerdynamik DT770P headphones plenty loud and crystal-clear (I've used better, but not for less than four figures), and the color-coded peak meter LED on the inputs on the front are so convenient and intuitive to use that you ALMOST don't even have to be able to see your DAW screen to produce a clear recording on the first take.
Installation is a little counterintuitive, but not difficult. Install the drivers before you connect the device, or you'll have a little bit of a headache to deal with, but nothing serious.
Installation is a little counterintuitive, but not difficult. Install the drivers before you connect the device, or you'll have a little bit of a headache to deal with, but nothing serious.
PROS -
-Light weight
-Aluminum case does not flex, feels VERY sturdy
-Ease of installation
-High quality headphone pre-amp
-LED peak meters are responsive and intuitive
-Includes a very solid suite of extra software and samples
-Red brushed aluminum is very fetching. And hard to misplace.
-Direct monitor switch and switchable pre-amp for line 2 input
-Up to 192kHz sample rate, which is overkill and then some.
-Extremely competitive price point.
-Light weight
-Aluminum case does not flex, feels VERY sturdy
-Ease of installation
-High quality headphone pre-amp
-LED peak meters are responsive and intuitive
-Includes a very solid suite of extra software and samples
-Red brushed aluminum is very fetching. And hard to misplace.
-Direct monitor switch and switchable pre-amp for line 2 input
-Up to 192kHz sample rate, which is overkill and then some.
-Extremely competitive price point.
CONS -
-VERY limited input (1x 1/4" TRS, 1x XLR w/48v
-Inability to control monitor/phones volume separately
-Plastic backplate feels *very* cheap
-RCA style monitor outputs might not be the best choice for someone looking to use this device on the go without extra adapters.
-VERY limited input (1x 1/4" TRS, 1x XLR w/48v
-Inability to control monitor/phones volume separately
-Plastic backplate feels *very* cheap
-RCA style monitor outputs might not be the best choice for someone looking to use this device on the go without extra adapters.
VERDICT -
If you're a professional looking for a stationary audio solution with multiple inputs, this will be woefully inadequate. You should investigate the larger Scarlett models such as the 2i4 or bigger.
If you're looking for a mobile recording or production solution, or maybe you're an electronic musician whose need for a high-quality, inexpensive monitor/headphone solution outweighs your need for multiple record inputs, then this would be an excellent option for you, perhaps even at the point of diminishing returns.
If you are a singer-songwriter who generally needs to mic-up your vocalist and a guitar or a piano, this device was designed with you in mind, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better fit.
If you're a professional looking for a stationary audio solution with multiple inputs, this will be woefully inadequate. You should investigate the larger Scarlett models such as the 2i4 or bigger.
If you're looking for a mobile recording or production solution, or maybe you're an electronic musician whose need for a high-quality, inexpensive monitor/headphone solution outweighs your need for multiple record inputs, then this would be an excellent option for you, perhaps even at the point of diminishing returns.
If you are a singer-songwriter who generally needs to mic-up your vocalist and a guitar or a piano, this device was designed with you in mind, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better fit.
If you are a new musician to electronic composition and arrangement or production, then this would be a great place to start, but you may also want to consider Focusrite's package containing this unit, monitor headphones and condenser microphone for a little more, as you'll benefit from the extras (worth a lot more than the extra $100) if you don't have them already.
The only drawback is that it's frequently out of stock, so save it and check back, and if you're traveling with it, make sure to get that Geek Squad protection.
My Best Buy number: 2950165303
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take your work and play with you wherever you go with this Lenovo Thinkpad laptop, featuring 3rd Generation Core i5 processing for dependable program support. The 12.5-inch screen is portable without cutting back on workspace, and this refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad comes loaded with reliable Windows 10 Pro to get you up and running.
Customer Rating
4
Hard to go wrong for the money.
on September 19, 2016
Posted by: Redtail
Skip to the end for quick pros/cons list.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X230 was a serious, heavy-hitter business class laptop announced around December, 2012. Maybe a little earlier. It had an MSRP of about $1,600. Its chief competitors were machines like the HP Probook, the Dell Studio Venue, and the MacBook Pro.
Suffice it to say that the Thinkpad was the only machine of its type without a captive audience, that still has legitimate fanboys.
They're not wrong.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X230 was a serious, heavy-hitter business class laptop announced around December, 2012. Maybe a little earlier. It had an MSRP of about $1,600. Its chief competitors were machines like the HP Probook, the Dell Studio Venue, and the MacBook Pro.
Suffice it to say that the Thinkpad was the only machine of its type without a captive audience, that still has legitimate fanboys.
They're not wrong.
Like most top-shelf machines like this, much of the value is in construction, but some is in exclusivity. Even new-old-stock machines of this type go for over $800.
Now, let's talk about the computer.
The chassis is mostly constructed from milled magnesium, with a pretty slick textured paint finish. My refurb came with a sort of vinyl applique pasted over the top, presumably to hide any imperfections in the paint. I removed it immediately because I don't so much like the plastic and don't mind a few small nicks in the paint.
The result is a machine that weighs very little, despite its remarkable bulk.
The i5-3320m processor is definitely a little dated. I couldn't recommend the older X220 computer for this reason; the second-gen machines lack a lot of more modern functions that the third-gen models have. I know that the Thinkpad fanboys lamented the passing of the older keyboard style. These keyboards aren't bad at all, but I kinda see why people had the opinions they had.
The size of the laptop is perfect for the keyboard. It really does run edge to edge on the chassis, making it almost identical to a full sized keyboard. Very comfortable to type on, even for someone used to typing on a full-sized mechanical gaming keyboard.
The chassis is mostly constructed from milled magnesium, with a pretty slick textured paint finish. My refurb came with a sort of vinyl applique pasted over the top, presumably to hide any imperfections in the paint. I removed it immediately because I don't so much like the plastic and don't mind a few small nicks in the paint.
The result is a machine that weighs very little, despite its remarkable bulk.
The i5-3320m processor is definitely a little dated. I couldn't recommend the older X220 computer for this reason; the second-gen machines lack a lot of more modern functions that the third-gen models have. I know that the Thinkpad fanboys lamented the passing of the older keyboard style. These keyboards aren't bad at all, but I kinda see why people had the opinions they had.
The size of the laptop is perfect for the keyboard. It really does run edge to edge on the chassis, making it almost identical to a full sized keyboard. Very comfortable to type on, even for someone used to typing on a full-sized mechanical gaming keyboard.
The 1366x768 display is a bit on the low resolution side compared to more modern screens, but for its size, it's definitely workable with as small as the screen is.
This model comes with a mediocre 350gb mechanical hard drive, but it's more than sufficient for basic use. I've already replaced mine with an inexpensive SSD, and the difference in performance is astounding.
The chassis has an mSATA socket, which is perfect for another high-speed compact SSD, multiple USB 3.0 ports and a cool old 54mm ExpressCard slot for use with some interesting hardware.
More interesting, the machine supports 16gb of DDR3 1600mHz RAM.
The chassis has an mSATA socket, which is perfect for another high-speed compact SSD, multiple USB 3.0 ports and a cool old 54mm ExpressCard slot for use with some interesting hardware.
More interesting, the machine supports 16gb of DDR3 1600mHz RAM.
GOOD
- Incredibly cheap.
-Very solid specs.
-Considerable expandability.
-Highly durable magnesium alloy chassis.
-Very modern connection options.
-Surprising battery life.
-SATA and MSATA internal drive options.
-Backlit keyboard AND overhead LED lamp to illuminate the chassis lid.
- Incredibly cheap.
-Very solid specs.
-Considerable expandability.
-Highly durable magnesium alloy chassis.
-Very modern connection options.
-Surprising battery life.
-SATA and MSATA internal drive options.
-Backlit keyboard AND overhead LED lamp to illuminate the chassis lid.
BAD
-Probably twice as bulky as a contemporary option.
-Low resolution monitor
-Older 3rd-generation processor.
-Mediocre stock hard drive, other options available for those without the technical skills to upgrade themselves
-Refurbisher doesn't update shipping process on the Best Buy website and shipping is a little slow.
-Probably twice as bulky as a contemporary option.
-Low resolution monitor
-Older 3rd-generation processor.
-Mediocre stock hard drive, other options available for those without the technical skills to upgrade themselves
-Refurbisher doesn't update shipping process on the Best Buy website and shipping is a little slow.
Prognosis -
This machine is an excellent second-string option for those who need a powerhouse machine with some considerable expandability, at the expense of having a considerably bulkier machine with a good bit less battery efficiency, one of these might offer a good option for someone short on cash but willing to throw a little bit more time and effort into the computer than a regular, new-in-box PC.
A tremendous value for the money. One star off because I feel refurbished products aren't always the right choice for everyone.
This machine is an excellent second-string option for those who need a powerhouse machine with some considerable expandability, at the expense of having a considerably bulkier machine with a good bit less battery efficiency, one of these might offer a good option for someone short on cash but willing to throw a little bit more time and effort into the computer than a regular, new-in-box PC.
A tremendous value for the money. One star off because I feel refurbished products aren't always the right choice for everyone.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Corsair M65 RGB USB Gaming Mouse: Respond quickly with this mouse, which features 8200 dpi laser technology and weight-tuning zones for control and balance. The 8 programmable buttons include a sniper button for first-person shooter games.
Customer Rating
4
Mixed feelings, mostly good.
on December 4, 2015
Posted by: Redtail
I wish I could give this mouse three and a half stars, but I can't, and my reasoning is slightly pedantic, so I'll round it up on that account.
I'm a huge fan of Corsair hardware, so I set a high bar. I am at this moment using the K65 RGB keyboard, which was selected as a second-place choice to the Logitech G910 Orion keyboard which I had to return because it was simply too wide for my keyboard tray and left no room for my mouse.
I am a fan of the feedback, the programming and the build quality of the K65RGB keyboard, and whay I like about it is this sense of build quality. Everything about it is quite plain aside from the backlighting. It has no macros, no fancy hardware docks, no particularly futuristic shape, but it's very durable, very ergonomic, and feels expensive.
I am a fan of the feedback, the programming and the build quality of the K65RGB keyboard, and whay I like about it is this sense of build quality. Everything about it is quite plain aside from the backlighting. It has no macros, no fancy hardware docks, no particularly futuristic shape, but it's very durable, very ergonomic, and feels expensive.
The mouse, on the other hand?
It does not feel cheap, but there's much less of this sense of tactile robustness to it. It has a good weight that can be adjusted, it has good ergonomics and backlighting, it has a good price, and a good layout.
Despite this, it's good, but not great.
It does not feel cheap, but there's much less of this sense of tactile robustness to it. It has a good weight that can be adjusted, it has good ergonomics and backlighting, it has a good price, and a good layout.
Despite this, it's good, but not great.
Now, I want to be clear. When I opened the box, it was glorious. I think this is in part due to the heavy texturing on the sides that meant the slightest, laziest, most drunken and half-asleep grip would fling the thing across my desk with razor precision. And that gritty coating has worn off after less than a week.
Pros -
-Very good sensor, on-the-fly adjustable sensitivity.
-Sniper button. Useful for FPS gaming, AS WELL as fine adjustment of settings while using DAW/music production software.
-Backlighting is very bright.
-Adjustable/removable weights in the base, for those who prefer a different balance or lighter feel.
-Futuristic look without sacrificing practicality or price point.
-Very good sensor, on-the-fly adjustable sensitivity.
-Sniper button. Useful for FPS gaming, AS WELL as fine adjustment of settings while using DAW/music production software.
-Backlighting is very bright.
-Adjustable/removable weights in the base, for those who prefer a different balance or lighter feel.
-Futuristic look without sacrificing practicality or price point.
Cons -
-Lights can be difficult to produce an exact color match with, as with many RGBs
-Corsair's software is not particularly resource efficient, though it does manage all Corsair RGB peripherals at once
-The wonderfully tactile grippy coating wears off prematurely, leaving an unremarkable, though not necessarily unpleasant, soft-touch surface behind.
-Lights can be difficult to produce an exact color match with, as with many RGBs
-Corsair's software is not particularly resource efficient, though it does manage all Corsair RGB peripherals at once
-The wonderfully tactile grippy coating wears off prematurely, leaving an unremarkable, though not necessarily unpleasant, soft-touch surface behind.
Other thoughts -
Coating the inside of the scroll-wheel housing with a reflective paint might make the LEDs inside pop more, as might beveling the inside edges of the mouse buttons a bit more aggressively. A version with a longer back might be nicer for those of us with enormous hands.
Coating the inside of the scroll-wheel housing with a reflective paint might make the LEDs inside pop more, as might beveling the inside edges of the mouse buttons a bit more aggressively. A version with a longer back might be nicer for those of us with enormous hands.
I will probably use this mouse without any significant complaints until it wears out.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep your computer cool with this Thermaltake Riing 12 LED 120mm radiator fan, which is designed to quietly and powerfully displace warm air at a rate of up to 40.6 cfm. LED illumination enhances the look of your system.
Posted by: Redtail
I subscribe to the same school of thought with my computers as many Victorian aristocrats did regarding children;
They should be seen, but not heard.
They should be seen, but not heard.
The Riing is a high static-pressure fan with a very nicely balanced motor and blades, rubber isolators at each corner on each side, and according to Thermaltake, a special blade design that's supposed to reduce vibration without adversely affecting airflow. I'm not sure about the blade design, it looks pretty bog-standard, but I'm definitely a fan of the motor design and the shock mounting on the corners.
The acrylic band around the center of the unit creates a super cool 1980's cyberpunk look that is distinctive, but only a little bit obnoxious, unlike the fully acrylic fans that have LEDs set right into the corners and the whole thing glows blue.
The only regret I have is that I'm out of places to stick more of these cool-looking fans. The ones I have right now do a more than adequate job of ventilating my case, but they do look pretty slick.
The only regret I have is that I'm out of places to stick more of these cool-looking fans. The ones I have right now do a more than adequate job of ventilating my case, but they do look pretty slick.
Pros -
-Excellent aesthetic
-Very good noise control
-Multiple 12v options
-Pretty decent cost
-Sheathed cables look very clean, slightly tacky for good cable management
-Not visible from space; lights not bright enough to give me skin cancer if I sit on the left side of my computer too long.
-Excellent aesthetic
-Very good noise control
-Multiple 12v options
-Pretty decent cost
-Sheathed cables look very clean, slightly tacky for good cable management
-Not visible from space; lights not bright enough to give me skin cancer if I sit on the left side of my computer too long.
Cons -
-No PWM. Voltage control necessary for manual speed control. When active, unfortunately this reduces light intensity at lower speeds. This makes me sad. Side effect is that it makes the computer look like it's breathing, if you set a bad fan speed hysteresis, which is slightly amusing at least.
-No PWM. Voltage control necessary for manual speed control. When active, unfortunately this reduces light intensity at lower speeds. This makes me sad. Side effect is that it makes the computer look like it's breathing, if you set a bad fan speed hysteresis, which is slightly amusing at least.
PC build -
Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H-BK
Intel i7-4790K
-cooled by Corsair H100i cooler, fans replaced with Thermaltake Riing because they look better and work quieter
Intel 535 SSD@240gb
2x WD 5400 mechanical @ 1tb
EVGA GTX-970 SSC
16gb RAM @ 1866mHz
Fractal R4 Define windowed case
Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H-BK
Intel i7-4790K
-cooled by Corsair H100i cooler, fans replaced with Thermaltake Riing because they look better and work quieter
Intel 535 SSD@240gb
2x WD 5400 mechanical @ 1tb
EVGA GTX-970 SSC
16gb RAM @ 1866mHz
Fractal R4 Define windowed case
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This Fractal Design Define R4 case features eight 3.5" hard drive trays and two 5.25" bays for flexible placement options. The side panel features an acrylic window with noise-reducing lining material.
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding!
on October 6, 2015
Posted by: Redtail
This case was my fifth- or sixth-place option after a decision to use a rather large sum of My Best Buy reward certificates to buy a new case. Up at the head of the line was the NZXT Phantom 240, which went out of stock the day my certificates arrived, and stayed that way for an unnerving length of time.
I selected THAT case because it had a streamlined, high-tech design, accommodated a large number of fans in a large number of form factors including my water cooling loop, had a see-through side window both for the purposes of permitting quick inspection and for sating my need for vanity, as well as removable filters over all intakes.
After deliberation I decided to go with this case instead. It was about twice what I originally wanted to spend, but for the difference, I got the following:
-Original features desired
-MASSIVE cable management bay behind motherboard
-Durable matte black finish (I would have gone with white in a heartbeat, but it was not available) which seems very easy to clean and resistant to scratches
-One of the best designed and constructed quick-change drive bay designs I've ever seen
-A removable drive stack which provides either for the installation of five extra HDDs when installed, or permits straight airflow from the front high-side fan (not provided, though the low fan can be moved up very easily if you prefer) when removed
-Removable insuilation/silencing plates which can be installed on the top, should I decide in the future to switch to a fully water-cooled system with a larger central radiator, thus negating the need for a CPU radiator
-A built-in rheostat to control fan voltage to up to three system fans, which I have found extremely useful during recording sessions in quieting down the computer
I selected THAT case because it had a streamlined, high-tech design, accommodated a large number of fans in a large number of form factors including my water cooling loop, had a see-through side window both for the purposes of permitting quick inspection and for sating my need for vanity, as well as removable filters over all intakes.
After deliberation I decided to go with this case instead. It was about twice what I originally wanted to spend, but for the difference, I got the following:
-Original features desired
-MASSIVE cable management bay behind motherboard
-Durable matte black finish (I would have gone with white in a heartbeat, but it was not available) which seems very easy to clean and resistant to scratches
-One of the best designed and constructed quick-change drive bay designs I've ever seen
-A removable drive stack which provides either for the installation of five extra HDDs when installed, or permits straight airflow from the front high-side fan (not provided, though the low fan can be moved up very easily if you prefer) when removed
-Removable insuilation/silencing plates which can be installed on the top, should I decide in the future to switch to a fully water-cooled system with a larger central radiator, thus negating the need for a CPU radiator
-A built-in rheostat to control fan voltage to up to three system fans, which I have found extremely useful during recording sessions in quieting down the computer
What I don't like so much, is how wide the case is, though that's a simple part of the design. It has to be this wide to permit both cable management, sound deadening materials and airflow over the side of the full-sized graphics card.
When I talk about quiet, I mean quiet. With the exact same fans as in my MSI Nighthawk case, and in the same positions, I can no longer hear the case running at full idle power while wearing my headphones with nothing playing.
When I talk about quiet, I mean quiet. With the exact same fans as in my MSI Nighthawk case, and in the same positions, I can no longer hear the case running at full idle power while wearing my headphones with nothing playing.
I've reduced core temperature by over 10 degrees celsius, as well as reducing my GPU core temperature at idle by 6 degrees and processor core temperature by another thirteen, though that could be the result of installing the water cooler instead of the stock Intel LGA1155 air cooler.
Overall, I'm very glad I ended up purchasing this case instead of the other options, both with regard to functionality, performance and aesthetic.
Overall, I'm very glad I ended up purchasing this case instead of the other options, both with regard to functionality, performance and aesthetic.
Build-
Gigabyte Black Edition Z97 full-ATX motherboard
EVGA GTX970 SSC
Intel i7-4790K
Corsair H100i
16gb Corsair 1866 RAM
Intel 535 series SSD, 240gB
2x 2GB Western Digital HDD
4x Thermaltake Riing 120mm
2x Fractal 140mm low-noise
Gigabyte Black Edition Z97 full-ATX motherboard
EVGA GTX970 SSC
Intel i7-4790K
Corsair H100i
16gb Corsair 1866 RAM
Intel 535 series SSD, 240gB
2x 2GB Western Digital HDD
4x Thermaltake Riing 120mm
2x Fractal 140mm low-noise
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get control of the game with this Logitech Extreme 3D Pro 963290-0403 joystick that features a twist-handle rudder and 12 programmable buttons for precise control. The hand grip features sculpted curves for a comfortable hold during long gaming sessions.
Posted by: Redtail
This stick is not as full-featured as some of its contemporaries. Let's get trhat out of the way now. To use this stick with an immersive simulator like DCS or even something like Elite: Dangerous or Star Citizen would be pushing it past the limits of its own merit and expecting a pint to hold a quart.
That said, for the $30 that this thing can be had for, on sale, it is not possible to find a more comfortable, durable, and featured stick.
This stick pairs well with something like a Razer Tartarus to create a low-cost stand-in for a bulky or expensive HOTAS rig. It can also be used in conjunction with WSAD on a traditional gaming or membrane keyboard to give a similar effect, if your muscle memory is especially apt. Touch-typers will find this sufficient, but others may need a more tactile or intuitive control set.
That said, for the $30 that this thing can be had for, on sale, it is not possible to find a more comfortable, durable, and featured stick.
This stick pairs well with something like a Razer Tartarus to create a low-cost stand-in for a bulky or expensive HOTAS rig. It can also be used in conjunction with WSAD on a traditional gaming or membrane keyboard to give a similar effect, if your muscle memory is especially apt. Touch-typers will find this sufficient, but others may need a more tactile or intuitive control set.
Stick is designed as a standalone unit, so the throttle and the six base keys are awkward (read: impossible) to reach while using an offhand control such as a Tartarus, Orbweaver or keyboard. This is partially mitigated by the fact that it dies have a trigger, thumb button, four hat keys and a good, comfortable eight-way hat slider.
Perfect for newbies and those advanced builders who forgot to leave room in their build budget for a more advanced control setup.
I have extremely large hands which makes the lower keys on the top of the stalk difficult to comfortably reach.
I have extremely large hands which makes the lower keys on the top of the stalk difficult to comfortably reach.
Pros:
-Super cheap.
-Very durable.
-Decent generic ergonomics make it usable for most hands.
-Lots of buttons and good sensitivity, especially considering the price point.
-Very smooth axes with rudder rotation
-Super cheap.
-Very durable.
-Decent generic ergonomics make it usable for most hands.
-Lots of buttons and good sensitivity, especially considering the price point.
-Very smooth axes with rudder rotation
Cons:
-ZERO ergonomic adjustability. Very large and very small hands need not apply
-Basic design not suitable to advanced or complicated flight sims without extra controls.
-No pinkie controls, no DMS-style hat or master-mode style switch.
-ZERO ergonomic adjustability. Very large and very small hands need not apply
-Basic design not suitable to advanced or complicated flight sims without extra controls.
-No pinkie controls, no DMS-style hat or master-mode style switch.
My Best Buy number: 2950165303
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep your computer's CPU running smoothly with this Corsair Hydro Series H100i cooler, which features dual 120mm fans and a coolant system for effective heat dissipation. Corsair Link allows you to monitor and easily control cooling performance.
Posted by: Redtail
The unit is extremely easy and simple to install as far as water coolers go. Plug and play, really. The sealed nature is a double edged sword though. The PC must have an internal socket for a 240mm radiator on the inside because the coolant hoses cannot be disconnected for exterior mounting. This is a hassle for people who bought a water-coolant-ready case designed for external radiators, which require the coolant lines to be routed through two small holes generally on the back of the case or in some cases, on the top.
Not compatible with the MSI Nighthawk case without substantial modification to the case.
Not compatible with the MSI Nighthawk case without substantial modification to the case.
Pros-
-sealed loop, no leaks, no filling or maintenance, no tank.
-simple installation.
-reasonable cost.
-very effective for moderate overclocking on most standard motherboards and cooler adaptors.
-glowing pump does look pretty cool.
-sealed loop, no leaks, no filling or maintenance, no tank.
-simple installation.
-reasonable cost.
-very effective for moderate overclocking on most standard motherboards and cooler adaptors.
-glowing pump does look pretty cool.
Cons-
-requires internal radiator mount.
-short hoses make installation on large cases difficult, makes hose routing a chore.
-requires internal radiator mount.
-short hoses make installation on large cases difficult, makes hose routing a chore.
I would probably still recommend this to most friends. If you're advanced enough to understand the limits of the system, you are probably not looking at this model anyway.
My Best Buy number: 2950165303
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best BuyEasily type and control the on-screen action of your games with this Corsair Gaming K65 RGB keyboard that features Cherry Red MX RGB mechanical key switches for optimal performance. Multicolor backlighting illuminates the keys in an array of colors.
Posted by: Redtail
My preference has always been for larger 10-key keyboards, and more to the point, Logitech as a brand. I purchased one of the gorgeous new Logitech G series models, but it left no room for my mouse in my very crowded setup. Disappointed, I jumped on this one due to build quality.
It is an immensely well built product. The keys have a fantastic feel, the backlighting is pretty decent, the body is milled aluminum and the wrist rest is a comfortable soft touch plastic.
I had minor frustration with the software, but only minor.
It is an immensely well built product. The keys have a fantastic feel, the backlighting is pretty decent, the body is milled aluminum and the wrist rest is a comfortable soft touch plastic.
I had minor frustration with the software, but only minor.
Pros-
-durable
-programmable easily per program
-easy to fit into a narrow keyboard tray
-good key feedback and lovely "clack" sound is very satisfying to type documents on.
-durable
-programmable easily per program
-easy to fit into a narrow keyboard tray
-good key feedback and lovely "clack" sound is very satisfying to type documents on.
Cons-
-requires two USB sockets
-lighting software is a bit of a system hog, idles at 200mb of memory. Not problematic on beefier systems, but slightly annoying on principle. Works fine, just inefficient.
-lighting is at the top edge and base of each key, digits on number keys do not show up especially well. This is a shortcoming with the Cherry MX switch, which is good enough to justify this irritation.
-requires two USB sockets
-lighting software is a bit of a system hog, idles at 200mb of memory. Not problematic on beefier systems, but slightly annoying on principle. Works fine, just inefficient.
-lighting is at the top edge and base of each key, digits on number keys do not show up especially well. This is a shortcoming with the Cherry MX switch, which is good enough to justify this irritation.
Short version-
I think I would still prefer the Logitech if they made a comparable product, but I am happy with my purchase.
I think I would still prefer the Logitech if they made a comparable product, but I am happy with my purchase.
My Best Buy number: 2950165303
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This GIGABYTE ATX motherboard delivers up to 3000MHz system speed and offers multigraphics support for powerful performance. The Intel® Core™ i7-4790K processor ensures efficient system processing.
Posted by: Redtail
Received the products well ahead of lead time. Installation was a breeze partially due to the board's design. Very uncluttered, lots of room to breathe. Lots more for a good cable management job.
Gigabyte's boards are set up in such a way that it takes almost all of the work out of a mild to moderate over clocking job, by basically grabbing the system by the neck and micromanaging everything. It is quite brilliant for newer users. The graphical BIOS makes more advanced tuning much simpler than before, letting you save various hardware profiles and more importantly, use your mouse. This is a big plus because keyboard controls inside of BIOS are a train wreck.
Eight SATA ports and the ability to manage every one of them plus all USB headers as bootable devices? Big improvement over the older Z77 boards.
The black polymer coating on the board isn't just for show, it's supposed to be a light duty thermal protection. But I find it helps me locate headers and their labels much faster than trying to read white print on a brightly colored textolite board with circuits all over it.
The included processor is a beast even at base clock speeds. Capable of handling a dozen and a half instances of Native Instruments' Massive synth running out of REAPER, each with between one and four automated effects processors attached, three vocal tracks, live drum recording, and live guitar recording and realtime processing with a low enough latency that my musicians couldn't tell it wasn't live. The i7 is overkill for any traditional household computing task, which means longevity. It's sure to stay relevant for a long time.
Gigabyte's boards are set up in such a way that it takes almost all of the work out of a mild to moderate over clocking job, by basically grabbing the system by the neck and micromanaging everything. It is quite brilliant for newer users. The graphical BIOS makes more advanced tuning much simpler than before, letting you save various hardware profiles and more importantly, use your mouse. This is a big plus because keyboard controls inside of BIOS are a train wreck.
Eight SATA ports and the ability to manage every one of them plus all USB headers as bootable devices? Big improvement over the older Z77 boards.
The black polymer coating on the board isn't just for show, it's supposed to be a light duty thermal protection. But I find it helps me locate headers and their labels much faster than trying to read white print on a brightly colored textolite board with circuits all over it.
The included processor is a beast even at base clock speeds. Capable of handling a dozen and a half instances of Native Instruments' Massive synth running out of REAPER, each with between one and four automated effects processors attached, three vocal tracks, live drum recording, and live guitar recording and realtime processing with a low enough latency that my musicians couldn't tell it wasn't live. The i7 is overkill for any traditional household computing task, which means longevity. It's sure to stay relevant for a long time.
Pros-
-relatively easy setup
-good hardware match
-simple firmware configuration
-Excellent heat mitigation
-good overall cost
-dual BIOS makes experimenting less scary for new system builders, makes it extremely difficult to brick
-print is easy to read
-design has a very clean overall look
-Z97 northbridge is forward compatible to gen-5 processors
-relatively easy setup
-good hardware match
-simple firmware configuration
-Excellent heat mitigation
-good overall cost
-dual BIOS makes experimenting less scary for new system builders, makes it extremely difficult to brick
-print is easy to read
-design has a very clean overall look
-Z97 northbridge is forward compatible to gen-5 processors
Cons-
-terrible BIOS keyboard controls
-audio track lighting is garish orange EL wire, which clashes terribly with my cyan case lights, cannot be customized to my knowledge
-board does not include mounting screws, make sure not to lose any of your old ones. This is clearly intended for upgrades, not scratch builds.
-terrible BIOS keyboard controls
-audio track lighting is garish orange EL wire, which clashes terribly with my cyan case lights, cannot be customized to my knowledge
-board does not include mounting screws, make sure not to lose any of your old ones. This is clearly intended for upgrades, not scratch builds.
My Best Buy number: 2950165303
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Redtail's Review Comments
Keep your computer's components safe with this mid-tower case that supports two 200mm and six 120mm fans for fast and efficient cooling. The steel and plastic materials provide strength and durability.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Damaged !
By Studio101
Got this case from best buy last week.
Came in right away but,
the top of the case was dented in !
This was not done in shipping, this was done at the factory.
Still, Best Buy should have inspected the case before it was to be shipped.
Moral of the story, sometimes buying something on line is not the best
idea.
I was in a crunch and didn't have the time to mess around with returning the case.
So !!!!!!! buyer Beware if you feel your time is valuable !!!!!
buy these type of things at a store that has it in stock.
Came in right away but,
the top of the case was dented in !
This was not done in shipping, this was done at the factory.
Still, Best Buy should have inspected the case before it was to be shipped.
Moral of the story, sometimes buying something on line is not the best
idea.
I was in a crunch and didn't have the time to mess around with returning the case.
So !!!!!!! buyer Beware if you feel your time is valuable !!!!!
buy these type of things at a store that has it in stock.
Redtail
September 24, 2015
With respect, have you ever worked retail before?
Do you know what a chore it is to get people to buy something in a box that has been opened?
Do you know what a chore it is to get people to buy something in a box that has been opened?
Best Buy would never sell anything if they opened every box to check to make sure the product wasn't damaged before selling it. It's the manufacturer's responsibility to make sure they're not shipping junk.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Redtail's Questions
Redtail has not submitted any questions.
Redtail's Answers
Asus Mother board Help
Asus K30AD Intet is 44605, need to up grade as there are not enough internal connections for adding hard drive and video card power plug. Suggestions? Without breaking the bank.
Try a new power supply. There should be a good 600w EVGA model with a ton of amps to spare on the main 12v rail. Obviously double-check the consumption of your parts to make sure first.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Redtail
What is the correct water cooling fan for a Asus Intel i7-4790s?
Gift for my son. I know nothing about this.
Short answer - Corsair H100i or H80i, but go to a Best Buy location and chat up a PC builder first before pulling the trigger.
Not so short answer-
This depends exclusively on the case. The i7-4790 desktop processor is what's called a Socket LGA1155, which means that any fan or water-cooling assembly designed for that shape of a processor socket will work fine. Most modern ones will do this with no trouble, and are actually modular enough that they will work with anything going back about two generations both AMD and Intel.
There are a few VERY important things to remember though, when choosing and installing a radiator.
1. Will it fit?
-YOu need a bay for your radiator. Most radiators will be sized similarly to single or grouped fans, usually either 120x120mm (one 120mm cooling fan) or 120x240mm (two 120mm cooling fans). Some high-performance gaming cases offer a special spot to install this inside the top. You can't always tell without looking inside, so a great way to tell is simply to find the model of your son's case, type that name into Google followed by "Compatible with" and the make and model of your radiator unit.
2. Where am I going to mount it?
-In a top-mount radiator, this is an easy solution. Some fancy aftermarket cases offer more unusual mount locations, though in the case of many standard machines with a 120mm exhaust fan, a 120mm single-style radiator might be all you can fit. THis is not always ideal, since that exhaust fan will either be replaced with a radiator (which then gets hot air pumped through it) or ends up getting reversed (which means you no longer really have an exhaust for hot air). Another potential issue is that you may have to remove the backplate of the computer to install the pump's bracket. The process is actually pretty easy and most pumps self-index pretty well to prevent any kind of mounting problems, but if your case does not have a removable backplate that exposes the *back* of the motherboard, installing this unit will require the entire machine be disassembled, which is a pain.
3. Why water?
-Water cooling is a godsend for high-performance machines, but in many applications, air cooling can be as good or better. Air cooling takes up less electricity, which means less amps drained off of your PSU. Air cooling has fewer failure points and is often cheaper. Water cooling has a very distinct advantage of being able to remove a staggering amount of heat and maintain a very consistent core temperature without generating a lot of noise, however, so if sound is a concern, then you're on the right track.
Not so short answer-
This depends exclusively on the case. The i7-4790 desktop processor is what's called a Socket LGA1155, which means that any fan or water-cooling assembly designed for that shape of a processor socket will work fine. Most modern ones will do this with no trouble, and are actually modular enough that they will work with anything going back about two generations both AMD and Intel.
There are a few VERY important things to remember though, when choosing and installing a radiator.
1. Will it fit?
-YOu need a bay for your radiator. Most radiators will be sized similarly to single or grouped fans, usually either 120x120mm (one 120mm cooling fan) or 120x240mm (two 120mm cooling fans). Some high-performance gaming cases offer a special spot to install this inside the top. You can't always tell without looking inside, so a great way to tell is simply to find the model of your son's case, type that name into Google followed by "Compatible with" and the make and model of your radiator unit.
2. Where am I going to mount it?
-In a top-mount radiator, this is an easy solution. Some fancy aftermarket cases offer more unusual mount locations, though in the case of many standard machines with a 120mm exhaust fan, a 120mm single-style radiator might be all you can fit. THis is not always ideal, since that exhaust fan will either be replaced with a radiator (which then gets hot air pumped through it) or ends up getting reversed (which means you no longer really have an exhaust for hot air). Another potential issue is that you may have to remove the backplate of the computer to install the pump's bracket. The process is actually pretty easy and most pumps self-index pretty well to prevent any kind of mounting problems, but if your case does not have a removable backplate that exposes the *back* of the motherboard, installing this unit will require the entire machine be disassembled, which is a pain.
3. Why water?
-Water cooling is a godsend for high-performance machines, but in many applications, air cooling can be as good or better. Air cooling takes up less electricity, which means less amps drained off of your PSU. Air cooling has fewer failure points and is often cheaper. Water cooling has a very distinct advantage of being able to remove a staggering amount of heat and maintain a very consistent core temperature without generating a lot of noise, however, so if sound is a concern, then you're on the right track.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Redtail
How to tell which external CD Rom drive fits my laptop?
It's external, you shoudln't have to worry about fit. If you''re running a laptop that is even close to modern, you should be fine with any buss-powered USB external.
8 years, 6 months ago
by
Redtail
I to pl ARK on my HP ENVY M6 Sleekbook with AMD A10 elite quad-core and need to know what video card i should get to improve graphics
You can't upgrade the graphics card on a laptop. There's nowhere to fit it.
8 years, 6 months ago
by
Redtail
Get control of the game with this Logitech Extreme 3D Pro 963290-0403 joystick that features a twist-handle rudder and 12 programmable buttons for precise control. The hand grip features sculpted curves for a comfortable hold during long gaming sessions.
will this work on World of tanks?
is it programmable to mouse and keyboard functions
It is not mappable to hotkeys or macros using default software, unfortunately. At least insofar as I've tried.
WoT seems better optimized for mouse/keyboard inputs anyway.
WoT seems better optimized for mouse/keyboard inputs anyway.
8 years, 9 months ago
by
Redtail