What can you say . . . still the main line gaming and single core performing CPU to beat

Comes in at 4.2GHz and was easy to OC to a stable 5.0GHz . . . in my case, at just 1.30 volts

Unbelievable customer support . . . reached out to DeepCool on several occasions - and they got back to me within just a few hours - in every case !!!

DC even checked the production run for my cooler when I needed to challenge them on a reliability concern in connection with a highly modified build

Was impressed with the Fans even though I planned to substitute them due to the theme buildout - was a bit of a shame not to use them

The researched reviews -and- my early experience indicate - this is a well performing AIO and is keeping the sometimes finicky 7700K temp in check

Installation is a snap NOTE: . . . if you need special Rad fasteners like I did (acrylic case and - panel/fan/rad config . . . 6/32" is your size -and- you have 5mm of depth to play with between the rad frame and the fins

[Fun Fact- likely of no concern to most - but, here goes . . . contrary to published information the direction of flow is ... IN - bottom of block / OUT - top of block ]

[NOT an Asetek OEM product]

Previously used the GA-Z170MX-Gaming5 mATX in my son's Gaming rig - and it continues to be - Rock Solid !

So, again, went with Gigabyte and my preferred FF - mATX . . . this despite EVERY effort Gigabyte made to keep me from using their product (!)

After all the early release Marketing for the 270 chipset Gigabyte motherboards ... Gigabyte, Europe decided they would not participate in the mATX market and would simply let ASUS own it (???) . . . Believe me, I tired - even had an 'inside' guy in Gigabyte UK try to acquire one of these for me - but NO WAY! It was only after an incredible (and stupid effort) that I arranged to get this board - ended up shipping from the US (here to Denmark) . . . so, perhaps I'm the only guy in all of Europe to have built with this motherboard !!!

In any case - it's still GREAT ! (please let Gigabyte know - I'm their biggest EU Fan!!!) I have 4 set of fans being driven off 4 sets of MoB Fan headers - each set mapped to a particular temp sensor on the motherboard - and, each with an individually set Fan curve (via Bios) aimed for different needs . . . also utilizing the RGB (but not W) header.

Got the 7700K OC'd to 5.0 GHZ (stable) with little effort.

And, installed a totally customized LED overlay ... as well as, published how to change it out - which doesn't seem to be information available anywhere

There's nothing I don't like about the Gigabyte GA-Z270MX-Gaming 5 - it's one of the best values on the market - and, I would buy it again (unless Gigabyte is still not interested in selling mATX in Europe . . . then, likely be going to EVGA)

5-Stars for the board . . . 0-Stars for Gigabyte EU marketing

Awesome .... Fast .... Compatible .... Temp sensing .... White

(and, NOT Trident Z) .... zzzzzzzzzzzz !

It's THE go-to for all the right reasons

was headed toward Crucial ... then, considered Optane (too early) ... but then decided to just do the right thing !

(I'm not rich enough for 'PRO', nor smart enough to notice the difference!)

the Seagate FireCuda 1TB Hybrid was chosen as a starting point for volume storage backing up the M.2 which is handling the Operating system - and, just to get the build underway . . . and while SSD prices are - out of control!

This hybrid storage has 8GB of built in SSD buffer which learns what files you use most often - then keeps those most used files in Que for faster retrieval. That usually means that when first installed, retrieval times are the same as a standard (non-hybrid) HD - then usually after the 3rd-4th time a particular file (such as a favorite game) is retrieved ... load times significantly improve.

So the real question here is - why do the hybrid manufacturers utilize 5400 rpm drives as the base for their hybrid SSD buffered offerings rather than the faster 7400 rpm HD units . . . and, in the end - which is actually faster (and more bang for the buck).

In my case, it could be just a mental thing . . . don't know if I could even tell the difference in the real-life scenarios (or even care !!!) . . . but these days who doesn't like a "Hybrid" !!!!!

I used one of these hybrid drives in a prior build and it has performed quite well for more than 1 1/2 years. Would I buy it again ? . . . Well, perhaps if in a large capacity unit such as 5TB or more . . . but, meanwhile, I keep waiting for pricing on the 1TB+ SSDs to drop . . . maybe as a result of recent legal price fixing actions on the big three.

Likely the 1070Ti makes a bit more sense overall at this point in time - but for me, I bought just at the right time, when, amazingly the hybrid was actually lower priced than the air cooled edition (?) -and- just prior to the loss in control of retail pricing.

the FTW edition of the Hybrid is a somewhat different configuration (due to add'l power supply) than the non FTW . . . the orientation of the Asetek built AIO is located a bit more inboard and the onboard MOSFETs cooling air fan is not a blower type (radial) but instead an axial which is actually sucking air out of the unit rather than into it (!)

The radiator fan was replaced on my build due in part to keeping with the theme design - BUT ... the initial release tests per my research indicated that the Rad fan speed (solely controlled by the PCB) was not adjustable and perhaps a bit too conservative (given that the copper plate was cooling the VRAM as well as the GPU) . . . . so, when replacing the Rad fan, I choose to power it from one of the motherboard fan headers and set a specific fan curve in the Bios

While the 1080 FTW Hybrid comes - out-of-the-box - with a Base/Boost clock of - 1721 GHZ / 1860 GHz . . . by just moving the bios switch to Slave (which raises the power target to 130%) I am getting 2021 GHZ without any overclocking effort . . . what more could you ask for?

The EVGA SuperNOVA G2 is both Awesome and Annoying at the same time.

It has a very good stability reputation with some of the lowest Ripple effect issues in the market, primarily due to the technology applied by the OEM - Super Flower . . . so why not just buy direct from Super Flower ??? - cuz SF are not distributed in the US and EVGA provides a better warranty - go figure ???

Also (something I like) is the G2 has a big ol' 140mm Fan for moving lots of air when needed . . . but, then again, it also has features to insure the Fan is needed as seldom as possible - hummm!

The PSU is totally modular - which only ever made sense to me anyway - especially since my preferred form factor is mATX . . . but, why the heck does the ATX cable have two terminal connectors (18 + 10 pin) PSU side when every motherboard on earth has a 24 pin header ??? . . . then if you want to sleeve that cable - now you have secondary filter capacitors hanging in the way ... on the friggin' outboard end ... could you possibly make this any more inconvenient ???

So, of course the necessary trend is replacing the ATX cable, anyway, with some awesome Custom Cables - just seems odd that none of the custom cable makers bother with those capacitors (you know- the ones that help give the unit the great ripple control rating) - just go straight to 18 (or 16) gauge . . . so why didn't SuperFlower just do that in the first place . . . I'm just so confused . . . so I guess if that bothers you at all - you can just move up to a Platinum or Titanium unit ... then replace the ATX (gold plated terminal pins) cable with an awesome custom cable

Anyway - it's a Love / Hate thing for me ... but will probably be buying another one for the next build

We'll be Lurking for You !!!

Solid performer (USB3) ... have not experienced any connectivity issues ... handles wireless connectivity supporting - simultaneous Gaming (including competitive), Live Streaming, and You Tube, on a triple monitor system with no apparent latency issues or dropped transmission (on cable internet service - not fiber)

Needs D-Link software downloaded prior to activating ... has directional seeking antenna (tri-band) ... and the form factor is - well . . . entertaining !!!

Would definitely buy again.

Best keyboard out there - at least for me, and as long as you like RED (and I do !)

This one has Cherry Reds (other options available) - so fully mechanical switches . . . is otherwise fully mechanical with no add'l software to mess with, just plug and play . . . super slim form factor - just switches (full size) . . . sleeved cable is fully removable (yeah!) - even comes with a heavy duty mesh bag (for LAN parties) [ and, Yes ... it has LEDs with a bunch of cool patterns - but note ... LEDs are RED ONLY ]

The only wacky issue I have is - the cable requires 2 USB PC connections- one to carry the user interface and another to carry ONLY power to the auxiliary mini-USB terminal . . . what that means is that the auxiliary mini USB port on the Keyboard can only be used to power accessories (like your phone) -but, otherwise does not carry data (???)

Would I buy it again . . . You bet !!!

[ I love this keyboard ... but would actually rate it 4.5 stars due to the limited aux mini-USB issue ]