blah's Post-RMA DS Review!

Finally!! It's been a year since I got this rig, and after being stuck with a handful of hardware issues it's awesome to have it going at 100% again!

System Specs as of now:
Chassis - Silverstone Raven RV01
Processor - Intel Core i7 920
Motherboard - Asus Sabertooth X58
System Memory - 6GB 1333Mhz Mushkin DDR3 (3x2GB Tri-Channel set)
Power Supply -  TechNPS 750w Modular PSU
Hard Drive(s) - WD Velociraptor 150GB
Internet Access - Integrated motherboard LAN
Video Card(s) - 1x EVGA GTX 570 with Hi-Flow Bracket
Audio - Integrated Motherboard Audio
Cooling - Thermalright Venomous X (Dual Fan - Silverstone AP121 + Aerocool Shark)
Internal Lighting - Dual 12" Blue CCFL bars
CPU Overclocking - 3.902Mhz (BCLK 186, Vcore 1.2) (4.1Ghz or so with Turbo enabled)
Memory Overclocking - 1419Mhz
Video Overclocking - GTX 570 set to EVGA SuperClocked speeds

- Original Review Post
http://digitalstormonline.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=10106

- Feedback about DS's service
Well, my rig has changed a bit ever since the original build back in june almost two years ago. The original build itself was rock solid, save for a lockup glitch that happened for a little while with SLI'd 9600 GTs that I can't blame DS at all for. Just a random mishap that I'll say was just associated with Windows XP I guess.
A little over a year later, and I decided to get the motherboard swapped. Errgh, really I needed the motherboard swapped; I wasn't aware of how fragile the 1366 socket was and bent a pin by accident. It was a little bit of a bumpy ride from there, had some hardware mysteries and failures pop up, but the warranty DS offers came through in this time. In total, I went through a second motherboard swap because the EVGA board I switched to had a defective mem slot (possibly from shipping I'm guessing, still a mystery), as well as a PSU RMA (dunno...freak failure is the best I can explain it. Simply, in november, the PSU clicked and wouldnt start again). The RMA process was simple, fluid, and straightforward, and after two years, I really have no complaints/concerns with DS's service and dedication to their customers.
As for performance, well, I've never been happier with a computing system before. I can get to the login screen within 23 seconds usually, which is pretty darn fast for me. In games, it performs well; even in Black Ops it's luckily one of the systems that can run it with barely any issues. I also use it for some video rendering, which is does great at too. The single, single thing about it that nags me sometimes is the fact that the PSU power cord is a bit jiggly. I'll yank it out by accident once in while when I occasionally need to move the case around.
It's one kickass rig, and I thank all of DS for their outstanding commitment to their customers.

Well....wall of text is out of the way. Picture time!

Desk


Side


Front


Side again


GTX 570 with Hi-Flow Bracket if anyone wants to see what it is


Cover opened


Internals (Yes, Ven X is offset for a reason. Main exhaust fan on the Raven chassis is offset by standard somehow)


Side panel shot


Digital Storm Logo (oh, and notice I have my G700 receiver stuck up at the top of the "Stealth" i/o cover... I think it's a cool touch with the RV01 being inspired by the F117 Nighthawk and all, wireless signal getting covertly received from there hehe.



Edited by ablahblah - 05 Mar 2011 at 2:07am

I'm glad to see you back up and running as well. Thanks for the updated review and pictures!

I've adapted to the tiny space and I can really get some precise movements in by using high DPI settings but low in-game sensitivity (In black ops, I think my sensitivity is around 1 and a half blocks in view settings). 3700dpi is the sweet spot for me. Really, the way I use my mouse the hilariously small space I'd say is comparable to using a high precision knife or scalpel of some sort lol; my pinky and index finger are pretty much fighting with each other all the time that allows really minute movements.

Oh, and the SteelSeries QcK mousepad I have under there helps too (actually, not sure whether it's easy to notice in that shot, but it's sitting under there alright. Majority [over 50% of it] is squashed under my keyboard though)


Edited by ablahblah - 05 Jan 2011 at 9:22pm

on my rig that I do all my blue prints, I run 5600dpi  but yeah gaming 3600-3800 is good for me to. but, a glass mouse pad, with 130+Db speaker setup+ 5600 Dpi = mouse moving all over the place uncontrollably..

Edited by justin.kerr - 05 Jan 2011 at 11:06pm

glass mouse pad? are those really any good? and i'm assuming you mean the steel series i series, amirite :D

out of curiosity, what mouse grip do you guys use on your mice? oddly enough I can use a palm grip pretty well *on my Logitech G700* even in the tiny *mousing* space I have lol.


Edited by ablahblah - 06 Jan 2011 at 7:06pm

DST...what sensor is that mouse...lol? my G700 absolutely hates my glass table.

lol I don't even know, its an oldarse mx700 that is the one used on glass, the one I'm using with the DST is the desktop wave pro with 1600 dpi, this one does not like glass

Edited by DST4ME - 06 Jan 2011 at 6:32pm

I think that may be my new sig..

I just can't stop laughing every time I read it

IIII amm going to keeeeel youuuuu 

LOL Oni-Tenshi took it from you justin So what grip did he use?

Edited by DST4ME - 06 Jan 2011 at 7:09pm

ablahblah, own it, its a great quote IMO, instant laughter

Apparently you like to use your fingers without thinking as well.

At 15, I understand, it takes a while for a guy to find his preferred grip.

Originally posted by justin.kerr At 15, I understand, it takes a while for a guy to find his preferred grip.

I still haven't found a good grip. If I go on for too long, my hand starts to fall asleep.
<FONT style=": #000000"> Where the heck did this come from????

Edited by Oni-Tenshi - 06 Jan 2011 at 7:31pm

LOL keep practicing, you'll find your grip

Ablah, don't pay any attention to those old guys, they're just jealous!