ECS H61H2-MV LGA 1155 Intel Motherboard Review

Motherboard reviews

<![CDATA[ 
ECS H61H2-MV LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
This Intel motherboard is a great option manufactured by Elitegroup Computer Systems and can function exceptionally as either a business PC  or a home PC. “ECS, the Elitegroup Computer Systems, was established in 1987, and after almost 30 years of business. More than two decades, ECS has overcome a great deal of obstacles facing new businesses and has experienced the joy of significant growth and development. ECS is strongly committed to develop cutting-edge technology in order to generate innovative products under environmental friendly designs” (ECS).
While being a slightly older motherboard you can still pick it up for only $39.99 on Newegg.
Specifications of the motherboard are as follows:

  • LGA 1155 CPU socket
  • Accepts Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron (LGA1155) processors
  • Takes DDR3 1600/1333/1066
  • Maximum memory supported is 16GB
  • Dual Channel Memory Architecture
  • 1 PCI Express 3.0 x16 and 1 PCI Express x1 expansion slots
  •  4 SATA’s 3Gb/s
  • Has onboard video supported by a CPU with integrated graphics
  • Realtek ALC662 6 channel audio

Rear Panel Ports ECS H61H2-MV LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

  • 2- ps/2
  • 1- D sub video port
  • 1- HDMI
  • 4- USB 2.0
  • 3- audio ports

Overall this is a great motherboard for anyone looking for a business or home PC. Its 16 GB of RAM are plenty for your everyday needs and by having two expansion slots it gives you just enough room to upgrade slightly. It takes a fairly new processor socket and can run take DDR3 1600 RAM. So if you are looking for a strong motherboard for a business or home PC this motherboard could be for you.

Works Cited

“ECS – Motherboard, VGA, Notebook, Tablet PC, System, IPC, LIVA.” ECS – Motherboard, VGA, Notebook, Tablet PC, System, IPC, LIVA. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
“ECS H61H2-MV LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard.” – Newegg.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
“ECS H61H2-MV (V1.0).” ECS H61H2-MV (V1.0). N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
“Intel.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
“What Is Dual-channel Memory?” What Is Dual-channel Memory? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
“What Is Expansion Slot?” What Is Expansion Slot? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.]]>

HX324C11T3K4/32 RAM Review

Memory Reviews

<![CDATA[HyperX Beast
Kingston is an American owned, multinational computer technology corporation that manufactures flash memory products and other computer-related memory parts. Kingston was founded in 1987. Kingston is known mainly for their flash drives, SSDs, and other flash memory, but it also has a series of high-class RAM that goes by the name, “HyperX”. HyperX is no ordinary technology and is best suited for serious gamers with a high-end budget. If you’d like to know more about Kingston, go here.
The RAM that I will be reviewing today is called the HyperX Beast (HX324C11T3K4/32). It is quad-channeled which means that the complete package comes with 4 sticks, so make sure if you purchase this product that you have a motherboard that can support them all. More in-depth specs can be found here.
Specs:

  • Non-ECC (Non-Error Correction Code)
  • Quad-Channeled (4 Channels of RAM)
  • CAS Latency: 11
  • DDR3-2400 (PC3 -19200)
  • Gold Lead Plating
  • 32 GB (4x8GB)

This product is extremely quick and should be in mind if you are looking to build or upgrade your computer. If you are looking to spend $291.99 on brand new RAM, this is the perfect RAM for you. The speeds are immense and the quad-channel only makes your memory perform faster than dual or single channeled.  Overall this RAM is a great product and is indeed pricey, however it is definitely worth the money put into it.

Works Cited

“About Kingston.” About Kingston. Kingston Technology, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
“Kingston Technology.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
“Kingston HyperX Beast HX324C11T3K4/32.” HX324C11T3K4/32 Kingston HyperX Beast DDR3-2400 32GB(4x8GB). Superbiiz.com, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
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CORSAIR 4GB DDR3 SDRAM CMV4GX3M1A1333C9 review

Memory Reviews

<![CDATA[Memory Pic
This is one of the smaller RAM amounts that Corsair makes. “Corsair Components, Inc. is an American computer company that is headquartered in Fremont, California. The company was incorporated in January of 1994 and was reincorporated in the city of Delaware during  2007. Corsair Components Inc. designs and sells a range of products for computers, such as high-speed DRAM modules, ATX power supplies, USB flash drives, memory and case cooling solutions, computer cases, solid-state drives, and speakers.” (Corsair Wikipedia)
This memory is great and reliable for a cheap price of only  $39.99 on Newegg and functions great for a business PC.
Specifications:

  • DDR3 1333 SDRAM
  • 4GB
  • Cas Latancy 9
  • 1.5 Voltage
  • Non ECC and Non Parity
  • Gold Contacts

This is a great memory to get if you are looking for a cheap reliable 4GB stick of memory. Looking at 4GB sticks from Corsair and just about anywhere else this is the best memory for the price you can find anywhere on the market. So if your looking for memory for a business PC be sure to check this memory out.

Works Cited

“About Corsair.” About Corsair. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
“CORSAIR 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV4GX3M1A1333C9 CORSAIR 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV4GX3M1A1333C9.” CORSAIR 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV4GX3M1A1333C9. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
“Corsair Components.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
“Corsair Memory – 4GB DDR3 Memory (CMV4GX3M1A1333C9).” Corsair Memory – 4GB DDR3 Memory (CMV4GX3M1A1333C9). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
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Crucial Ballistix Elite 4GB DDR3 RAM Review

Memory Reviews

<![CDATA[ 
memory blog pictuire; cricial balistix Elite
Crucial Technology is a brand name used by Micron Technology Inc.

Micron Technology, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Boise, Idaho.
best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices which includes DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, and SSDs. If you’d like to find out more information about Crucial or Micron Technologies go here.
      I will be reviewing the Crucial Ballistix Elite 4GB DDR3 RAM. This memory is desktop memory that is sold in packages of one 4Gb stick. This memory is made for low gaming and high business users. To find out more about this memory and its uses, visit here.
Specs:

 

  • DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
  • Access Time: 8-8-8-24
  • Bandwidth: 4GB capacity
  • Non-Parity
  • non-ECC
  • Dual Channel capability
  • Voltage: 1.5V
  • CAS Latency of 8
  • Type: 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
  • Contact Type: Gold

This memory is fantastic memory for frequent business users. It is cheap and reliable at a price of $39.99. This memory is guaranteed compatible by Crucial Technologies and is backed by a lifetime warranty. So if you’re looking to upgrade your computer’s memory, take a look at the Crucial Balistix Elite.

Works Cited

“Compatible Upgrades. Guaranteed.” 4GB DDR3 PC3-12800 Unbuffered NON-ECC 1.5V 512Meg X 64, BLE4G3D1608DE1TX0 from Crucial.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/BLE4G3D1608DE1TX0?imodule=BLE4G3D1608DE1TX0#productDetails>.
“Crucial Ballistix Elite 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLE4G3D1608DE1TX0 N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148496&cm_re=Crucial_Ballistix_Elite_4GB_DDR3_SDRAM_DDR3_1600-_-20-148-496-_-Product>.
“Micron Technology, Inc.” Micron Technology, Inc. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <http://www.micron.com/>.]]>

Need a new school lab?

Ed Tech Teach, Staff Tech Reviews

<![CDATA[Frequently technology coordinators are faced with the option of adding or upgrading a new lab at school.  Usually we just look at our current setup and upgrade to newer hardware, OSs, and associated software.  This past year I was faced with the possibility of adding an additional lab in a very old (low tech) building.  When our building supervisor looked at it he immediately said we would need a new sub-panel and wiring to support 28 new PCs in the room.  His estimate for that was $7500.
Instead of going for the wiring and the traditional approach, I decided to look into greener options.  The nComputing L300 option immediately popped out in my Google searches for low power PCs.  I am not a fanboy of thin computing and was very skeptical about the statements concerning it’s performance.  I contacted several other Technology Coordinators and got their feedback and recommendations.  All of them gave the system high praise, once they got their labs configured correctly.
The problem with this approach, and probably any thin computing lab, is proper configuration.  Two schools both recommended a fully configured option from FireFly Computers.  Their entire business is built on one thing, building nComputing Labs really well, and it turns out that they do just that.
IMG_0040We purchased their Firefly 1200 rackmount server and put it in our server closet.  We did a 28 station lab in the existing classroom (with no additional electrical added.)  The Ethernet (it is an all Ethernet connection back to the server) all goes through Gb switches to a single Gb copper line to the server.  The setup could not have been more simple and the performance has been exactly as advertised.
I would recommend this path for any new lab.  The price per workstation is much lower than ANY PC and the energy savings are great.]]>

Western Digital's WD30EFRX and Black WD1001X06XDTL Hard Drive Review

Hard Drive Reviews

<![CDATA[ 
Western-Digital-logo
 
This is a review for both the Western Digital WD30EFRX and the Western Digital Black² WD1001X06XDTL Hard Drives. The Western Digital Hard Drive should be used for your home or business PC as opposed to a gamer PC and the Western Digital Black should  be used for home or business PC as well. 
Western Digital Corporation is one of the largest computer hard disk drive manufacturers in the world. Western Digital was founded in April, 1970 and its headquarters are in Irvine, California. They employ over 96,000 people and their annual revenue in 2013 was around US$ 15.40 billion. In 2003, Western Digital created the  first SATA drive that ran at 10,000 rpm.(Wikipedia)
The hard drives we’re looking at are to be used with the GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-OC Motherboard, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. I would recommend it being used predominately for gaming and professional use. We requested a quote for a 6GB SATA.This motherboard supports hard drives which have:

  • 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors  supporting up to 6 SATA 6Gb/s devices
  • Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10

Western DigitalThe WD30EFRX is a traditional internal hard drive that is manufactured by Western Digital. You can purchase this hard drive on Newegg.com for $134.99. On Newegg.com, 46% of the people who left reviews gave it five stars. Users described it as being “quiet” and having “silent operation”. Overall I’d say this hard drive is pretty good for your money, considering how much it stores. Whether you use it as storage for your games or you’re looking for a quiet drive, this is the one for you.

 
Wd blackThe Western Digital Black² WD1001X06XDTL is an SSD  hard drive also manufactured by Western Digital.  It is a revolutionary drive as it is a dual drive with both 120 GB SSD and 1 TB HDD. On Newegg.com, 50% of the users who reviewed the drive gave it four stars. The users described it as being “Quiet” and “Painless to install”. The best part of this drive would have to be the speeds. Its a quite fast drive which could be used for home PC’s but would be used to its full potential only on a gamer or professional PC. This drive is also a good drive for your money, especially when considering the speeds.

  • Size-1TB HDD + 120GB SSD
  • Speed- 5400 RPM
  • Access Time or Latency- 140MB/s
  • Read/write speeds-350MB/s
  • Transfer Rate- 350 MB/s
  • Buffer-6 GB/s Max
  • Mean Time Before Failure- There doesn’t appear to be one, just a five year warranty.
  • Warranty- 5 year
  • Cost- $219.99 at Newegg.com

I would personally reccommend both of these drives, as they are relatively affordable and fast. They should accomplish most any task you need them to as they are quality drives.

Works Cited

Newegg.com. Newegg.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236642>.
 Newegg.com. Western Digital Red WD30EFRX 3TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5″ Internal Hard Drive. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236344>.
Western Digital. Untitled Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.wdc.com/global/products/specs/?driveID=1087&language=1>.
 Western Digital. WD Black². N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1190>.
Western Digital. WD Black². N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1190>.
“Western Digital.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Digital>.

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Seagate Solid State Hybrid Drive ST1000LM014 Review

Hard Drive Reviews

<![CDATA[Seagate Technology PLC is a data storage company based in Cupertino, California. It was incorporated in 1978. Seagate's first product was the 5-megabyte ST-506, it was the first hard disk to be in a 5.25-inch form factor. The motherboard that this hard drive is for is an AMD GA-990FXA-UD7. The GA-990FXA-UD7 supports 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices, 2 eSATA 6b/s connectors. (Motherboard Blog)
The ST1000LM014 is an excellent Solid State Drive for gaming because not only does it load games and other applications faster, it is also faster than traditional Hard Drives. If you are a gamer, then this Solid State Drive is perfect for making your games load smoother and faster.
Specs:

  • Size- 1TB
  • Latency- 5.56ms (milliseconds)
  • Average read time- 12.0ms
  • Average write time- 14ms
  • Average transfer rate- SATA 6.0 GB/s
  • Buffer- 64MB
  • Annualized Failure Rate- 0.48%
  • Warranty- 3 years
  • $99.99

Seagate Hybrid Drives ST1000LM014 1TB MLC/8GB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s NCQ 2.5" Laptop SSHD -Bare Drive
 

Works Cited
“HARD DISK MONITORING.” Hard Disk Sentinel. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
“Laptop SSHD.” Seagate. Seagate, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.
“Seagate 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive – 2.5″ Form Factor, SATA III 6 Gb/s, 5400 RPM, 64MB Cache – ST1000LM014.” Tigerdirect. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
“Seagate Hybrid Drives ST1000LM014 1TB MLC/8GB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s NCQ 2.5″ Laptop SSHD -Bare Drive Seagate Hybrid Drives ST1000LM014 1TB MLC/8GB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s NCQ 2.5″ Laptop SSHD -Bare Drive.” Seagate Solid State Hybrid ST1000LM014 1TB Laptop Hard Drive. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

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