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Brian1118
 
 
 
Brian1118's stats
 
  • Review count
    11
  • Helpfulness votes
    195
  • First review
    April 10, 2014
  • Last review
    November 4, 2016
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.2
 
  • Review comment count
    9
  • Helpfulness votes
    11
  • First review comment
    October 27, 2015
  • Last review comment
    November 8, 2016
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  • Answer count
    12
  • Helpfulness votes
    4
  • First answer
    May 17, 2015
  • Last answer
    June 14, 2016
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Brian1118's Reviews
1 2 >>
 
Bash the opposition with this Radeon RX 480 graphics card. It's optimized for virtual reality experiences thanks to the powerful future-ready technologies that include advance architectures for outstanding gameplay. Incredible color, sharp, crystal-clear graphics and rapid frame rates ensure your game runs at the highest quality with this Radeon RX 480 graphics card.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A Stylish, slightly Smaller card, but hot and loud
on November 4, 2016
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
This is a good card and it looks and feels BEAUTIFUL, especially with the light-up fans and logo and the stylish backplate, but I have to warn that when you run it at max or close to max capacity that it runs fairly hot and loud. Yes it is better than a reference blower card (in a well-ventilated case, in a poorly ventilated case it's actually worse, and you should get a blower card to vent the heat directly out using the GPU's blower fan) but not by a huge amount.
The card can run surprisingly hot when you play a game that actually stresses it (like The Division, or many GPU-bound games on Ultra settings) and when the fans spin up over 50%, they can be very audible, and the quality of the noise isn't great as they sound rough buzzy enough to be heard over case fans. No high pitched whine though, which is good.
This is one of the smaller RX 480's at around 9.45", with I think only the Gigabyte G1 being any smaller, and the Sapphire Nitro being about similar in length. It's a double-slot cooler, like almost every 480. That doesn't mean that it's small by any means though. The backplate gives it a decent thickness, and in smaller cases (including some older mid-size cases that have drive bays in the middle that are non-removable) the length and height is enough to block the middle of the case and impede airflow.
So if you have a smaller case and/or a case with not very good airflow, I recommend you just get a reference card like this one instead:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/xfx-custom-backplate-xxx-oc-radeon-rx-480-8gb-ddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card/5446220.p?skuId=5446220
Lastly, I'd like to say that 8gb on this card is nice and makes it more futureproof, so if the 6gb 1060 is sold out and you're looking at an 8gb 480, don't be afraid to pull the trigger. Most games nowadays don't use more than 4gb (and if so, they just use really poorly optimized textures to stress your card for no reason to make it seem like your card is doing something) but there are some games that actually make use of a lot of VRAM for a good reason like to make skin look ultra-realistic like Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Yes, the 4gb 470's and 480's are good cards for now (although I don't like the 3gb 1060's as I feel that the ram is not enough AND they're 11% slower than the 6gb 1060 because they're cut-down, weaker chips) and even the immediate future, but the 6gb 1060 and especially the 8gb 480 are I feel the best investments right now for the further future in the midrange segment.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
3of 5voted this as helpful.
 
Thanks to the varied entertainment possibilities offered by your Xbox One, the fun doesn't end once you've stopped gaming. After a heart-pounding gaming session, you like to pop in a DVD and enjoy the latest blockbuster, catch up on your favorite TV shows or listen to new beats — all from your Xbox One. The Media Remote for Xbox One simplifies media access and enjoyment.Sit back, relax and enjoy effortless entertainment with this Media Remote, which offers fingertip access to your favorite media. Easily browse and navigate through Xbox menus and control your favorite DVDs, Blu-ray movies, Netflix account, music and other entertainment. The Remote also lets you power your console on and off and return to the home screen with just the touch of a button. With a 30' range and battery-operated design, you can sit at a comfortable distance without worrying about getting wires tangled or snagged. Enjoying your favorite media has never been simpler thanks to the Media Remote for Xbox One.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Better than the official remote for viewing Hulu
on June 15, 2016
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
I actually bought the official remote before this one for $25 and can safely say that it was an inferior experience for me.
It was too small, heavy, the buttons were kind of stiff, and the play/pause, and forward/rewind buttons at the bottom were so close to the edge that it felt like the remote would fall out of my hands while I was trying to pause stuff I was watching on Hulu or Crunchyroll, etc.
Now this remote feels lighter, and cheaper and less solid than the official remote, but it's sturdy enough and it works better. There's enough controller mass below the play/pause/etc. button to where the remote will stay solidly in your hand while you control the app that you're using to watch stuff.
The only problem I had was that the left side of the circle you use to select stuff wasn't that sensitive, and you had to push the very outer edge to move the selection box on screen to the left. Other than that, this remote is GREAT, and for $10 cheaper than the official remote, which is worse imo.
If you want to change the volume on your TV however, you'll either need a Kinect or the PowerA IR cable that's on clearance right now at Best Buy. You can use other IR cables compatible with the Xbox One as well, but I bought the PowerA cable which was the cheapest I could find, and picked it up at my local Best Buy so that I wouldn't have to wait for shipping.
It works fine, and I can now change the volume on my TV with this remote.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Browse for programming, control playback and navigate menus on your Xbox One with ease thanks to this Power A IR Extender. When connected to your Xbox One, the extender allows you to use your Media Remote (not included) without a Kinect sensor. Enjoy reliable operation thanks to the extender's ability to broaden the IR range of your Kinect sensor (not included). With this accessory in your gaming setup, you'll be able to fully realize the Xbox One's potential.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Let's you use a remote to control TV volume
on June 14, 2016
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
The X-box One's remote accessories normally don't allow you to control the TV's volume or turn it on or off without a Kinect or an IR extension cable like this one.
The official ones are more expensive than this one, and weren't available at local stores, so I got this one at a local Best Buy instead.
I just plugged it into the back of the X-box, put the 3 extender tips underneath and in front of the IR sensor on the corner of my TV, and now I can FINALLY use my Insignia X-box One Media remote to watch stuff like Hulu and Crunchyroll and change the volume while I'm doing so.
Note that you have to point the remote at the X-box to change the volume. The X-box itself then sends the volume change signals through the extender to the TV.
This product also has 3 double-sided stickies to put the 3 extenders wherever you want by taping them down.
If you don't have a media remote by the way, I recommend the Insignia one. Not only is it $10 cheaper than the official one, the balance and weight is better. You can use it to play/pause and rewind without feeling like it's going to slip out of your hand.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Handle more data than ever before with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive. Fast operation is assured thanks to the SATA III connection that delivers at data up to 6 Gbps, and a lack of moving parts means reliability is exceptional. Reduce energy use and enjoy quieter operation with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
PNY is the cheapest actual Name Brand
on May 8, 2016
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
I bought an older PNY SSD, and I must say they've really upped their game since then. In the past, they had slower SSD's, but not they're almost as fast as industry leaders like SanDisk and Samsung.
My older PNY XLR8 drive was actually noticeably slower in real world use, but this new one may be slower on paper than a Samsung Evo, but in real life usage I can't really tell the difference.
Almost 500gb for this insanely low price is a GREAT deal. Boot up times for the computer I put this in went from over 1 minute (on a magnetic spinner "regular" hard drive) to around 10 seconds flat.
I used the included Acronis TrueImage code (which was on the paper flodout "manual") to active a copy of TrueImage that I downloaded online and then used to clone the contents of the old hard drive to this new one. Then I just set the bios to boot from the new SSD instead of the old HDD (which I kept with its contents intact, but as a storage drive) and poof, the computer was ready to go and better than it was when it was new.
Now, since this is a budget drive, it won't come with a SATA cable or a 3.5" adapter bracket and it only includes 4 screws, and it doesn't have a CD with the Acronis software, but I knew all that going in, and I was fine with that.
The case I was using had 1 SSD slot anyway, although if you have an older case, you may need a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter, which you'll have to buy separately.
All in all, this is the cheapest SSD that's actually worth it imho, and cheaper non name-brand drives may not actually work as well. PNY is the cheapest brand name I've run across that is actually good and that I would consider a "name brand", so if you want good stuff for cheap (albeit not GREAT stuff, just decent to good) PNY is a good way to go.
If you need ram, Best Buy often has some heat shielded, low-profile DDR ram from PNY on sale as well, even inside physical stores. It's often worth looking at because the prices are as cheap or cheaper than prices you'll find online.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Member
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
You get 2 per package, good if you're in a hurry
on April 13, 2016
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
As a first time car speaker installer, I didn't realize that I needed an adapter to install aftermarket speakers for my 2005 Ford Focus, and had the door all the way off before I found out that I needed one.
After a quick online search, I realized that my Ford needed this adapter, and that it was in stock at my local Best Buy. I went inside and talked to someone in the Car Audio section, who referred me to the mechanic in the garage section of the store, who then found a package of these adapters for me.
If you're only replacing your front 2 speakers (like I was) you only need 1 bag. If you're replacing your rear speakers too however, you'll probably need another.
I'm sure you can find these cheaper if you comparison shop or wait for a sale, but if you need a set of these RIGHT now, it's great to be able to drop by your local Best Buy to get a set. You don't have to wait for shipping, and returns are much easier than online.
Plus, you can talk to people and show them the speaker you have and get help in person. These are all reasons why I often prefer to shop in physical stores despite the option of online shopping.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Only at Best BuyInsignia™ Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker: Take the music with you with this speaker, which features Bluetooth connectivity for easy music streaming from your compatible device. The built-in power bank charges compatible devices.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good sound, can charge your devices
on November 6, 2015
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
One of the reasons I bought this speaker is that at the time I got it, there were no reviews, so I wanted to take the plunge to see if I could recommend this device to other people.
My conclusion is that if you don't mind undetailed bass and don't need speakerphone / call answering capability, that this is a good bluetooth speaker.
The mids and highs are good, and the bass is decent and has some detail (unlike most bluetooth speakers in this price range) and the sound quality is good, in my opinion. The bass is there, but doesn't overpower the rest of the mix, and the sound goes pretty loud if you need it to. The speaker is also splash resistant (although the manual says not to expose it to to water) and has a rubber flap covering the charging port, 3.5mm jack and other inputs to help it be splash-resistant.
The key feature of this bluetooth speaker is that it can charge your other devices, and has a usb port that you can plug chargers in. It has a massive battery that provides up to 30 hours of play time, which is what it uses to charge devices. To do that, you open up the rubber flap, flip the switch to "charge" (there are 3 settings: on, off, and charge) and plug in a usb charger.
Due to having that massive battery, this device is surprisingly heavy (although not overly so), and I would bet that it's one of the reasons why it can get as loud as it does.
Personally, I ended up returning this speaker for one with better bass detail and quality, but I'm a bit of an audiophile and can be picky, and feel that most people wouldn't notice or care. What I feel many people would care about however is the lack of speakerphone capability. If you need to answer phone calls with your speaker, this one can't do that. However, if you just want big sound with a long battery life and the ability to use your speaker as a portable power bank (albeit a big and heavy one), this speaker may be for you.
If you need more portability, the ability to answer phone calls, and/or better sound quality (albeit probably not quantity) you may want to consider other speakers in this price range, like the Samsung Level Box Mini (recently reduced to $50 from $100) which has excellent sound quality, but is not water resistant and is smaller and has lower battery life. Another options is a good all-rounder like the iHome Go+ Arc which is water resistant, can answer phone calls, and has slightly better bass (imo) than this speaker, but a lower battery life. Neither of those 2 can charge other devices however.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
+155points
165of 175voted this as helpful.
 
Make any room the life of the party with this Samsung Level Box Mini EO-SG900DBESTA wireless speaker, which features Bluetooth technology for simple pairing with enabled devices. The built-in speakerphone lets you make and receive hands-free phone calls.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent speaker, especially for $50 now.
on November 6, 2015
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
At the original $100 MSRP, I wouldn't have bought the level mini over a JBL Flip or Charge or the Sony X2 or X3 series, but at half the price, I feel that it's THE best performing speaker you can get for $50.
The only caveat is that it's not dust or splash resistant, but since I only use it indoors, I don't mind that. It also has a dedicated app you can get on the Google Play store (The "Samsung Level" app) which allows you to see how much battery life is left, and see and control the volume of the speaker and your phone. The app also has a built in equalizer with a lot of settings, some of which you may find useful.
As for the sound, this is a small speaker (although well built and heavy, with metal construction) that fits in one hand, but it has surprisingly good sound. Sure it won't be as loud or as clear as bigger speakers (As size matters with speakers, all other things being equal), but the bass, treble, and mids are all very good, with the bass being a particular standout.
The quantity of bass is solid, although not room filling, but the real selling point is the -quality- of the bass. It has real detail, and has enough presence to be a strong foundation to any song I play. The mids are good (although not as forward as I'd like) and voices are clear (although they can get lost in a complex mix) and the highs are good without being sharp or fatiguing.
Basically, this is a good all-around speaker with detailed, present bass. It's VERY good for the size, although the stereo separation and soundstaging isn't great, but that's because this is a small speaker with both drivers in a box together, as opposed to 2 separate speakers which you can set as far apart as you want to get real stereo imaging.
Basically for $50 I cannot complain and think it's an exceptional value, and probably the best speaker you can get (for sound quality at least) for this price range. This speaker has great battery life (12-15 hours I believe) and an integrated speakerphone function too, along with NFC pairing (just touch your phone to the speaker to connect, if it has NFC).
Basically, for the price, sound, and amazing number of good quality features, I feel that it's a steal at $50.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
+19points
19of 19voted this as helpful.
 
This Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70 tablet features a stunning 10.1" LED display and Dolby Atmos soundbar, so you can catch up on your favorite TV shows and listen to music with impressive audio and video clarity. Wi-Fi lets you stay connected on the go.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Better and worse than the previous version
on September 9, 2015
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
Basically, the screen is better (1920 x 1200 vs 1280 x 800, which wasn't enough for 10 inches) but at the same time, the speakers have been moved to the back, so it doesn't have the dual front facing stereo speakers that the previous edition of this tablet did.
So it's better and worse than its predecessor, but better in the way that most people care about (screen quality). Personally, I wish they'd upgraded the screen without moving the speakers to the back.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Control your PC with this Insignia™ NS-PNC5001 USB keyboard, which includes a USB optical mouse for precise navigation and features 104 keys, including hot keys, for simple operation. The 4.9' cord lets you find a comfortable position during use.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Stiff keyboard and hunchbacked mouse.
on August 6, 2015
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
Honestly, I feel that the reviews for this product are too high. Sure for the price it's decent, but I would rate the keyboard and mouse as just merely "adequate".
The keyboard is a little too stiff and has too much resistance for my taste (it feels like it would be fatiguing to type for a long time on it) and the mouse has this odd hunchbacked shape that makes it not rest in my palm quite right. The mouse is also a little too twitchy/fast, and not particularly accurate or precise either.
Unlike other budget keyboards or mice (like the logitech K120 keyboard or the M100 mouse) I would not try to use this keyboard/mouse set for gaming. I recommend the Logitech MK120 Combo over this product, as it's about the same price, and has superior quality, imho.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
VIZIO M-Series M422I-B1 LED HDTV: This VIZIO M-Series HDTV's 1080p display, 240Hz refresh rate and Clear Action 720 technology deliver clear images during fast-action scenes. VIZIO Internet Apps Plus and built-in Wi-Fi let you stream media.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent TV for the money, everything looks real
on May 17, 2015
Posted by: Brian1118
from Paramount, CA
Thanks to the local dimming zones on this TV, the picture quality is AMAZING. C/NET and other sites give the recent Vizio M and E series high marks (especially considering the low price for the excellent quality) for very good reasons.
Color, brightness, and contrast are all very good, and far superior to other LED LCD's in this price range. The smart features are good too, especially the keyboard on the back of the remote that allows you to type in the show you're looking up on Netflix and such very easily.
The sound is above average for flatscreen TV imho, unless you like bass. The treble is good (surprisingly good), the mids are decent, but the bass is weak, which I wasn't shocked by. If you're an average TV watcher the sound should be good enough, if you're an audiophile, a soundbar or soundbase with a subwoofer (if you want bass) are probably a good investment.
All in all, Vizio (a US company based in California, surprisingly) has done it again and made one of the best TV's out there period, and especially for the low price it charges.
My Best Buy number: 2030563616
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Brian1118's Review Comments
 
Microsoft 640 Prepaid Cell Phone for AT&T Prepaid: Stay connected and productive wherever you are with this Prepaid cell phone, which features 4G LTE speed and Wi-Fi for flexible Internet connection options. Easily browse Web sites and flip through features using the 5" touch screen, and snap photos with the 8.0MP rear-facing camera.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
True successor to the Lumia 520
By KungFubu
Since the release of the successful Lumia 520, currently the most popular Windows Phone ever, Microsoft have released several budget phones advertised as successors to the 520, from the 530 to the 635. But it wasn't until the release of the Lumia 640 that Microsoft finally released a Windows Phone worthy of being considered a true successor to the 520.
Whereas all the previous budget models essentially just copied the specs of the 520 but with cut corners and compromises (TFT instead of IPS screens, missing auto brightness sensors, etc. ), the 640 not only carries over all the features that made the 520 great, but also builds upon them. An updated processor, higher resolution ClearBlack screen with Gorilla Glass, a full GB of RAM, Miracast support, and a larger battery make the Lumia 640 the only budget Windows Phone worth considering.
If you're currently using the 520 and looking to upgrade, skip the other models and go straight to the 640. Not only does it have all the features of the 520 and more, it's also one of the handful of phones first in line for the free Windows 10 Mobile upgrade in December 2015. Even the bigger selling 520 isn't set to receive Windows 10 Mobile until sometime later in 2016. That alone is worth upgrading to.
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
I completely agree about the 640
October 27, 2015
Microsoft did cut corners on other phones like the 635, which to me makes the 640 the only budget Windows phone worth considering at the moment, and I also consider it the real successor to the 520 series. When it's on sale (like it is as of the time of this comment), it's definitely worth a purchase if you need a new Windows phone.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Dell Inspiron Desktop: With AMD Radeon graphics and 16GB system memory, this desktop offers smooth, stunning images and gameplay for your virtual challenges. An HDMI output lets you connect to a high-definition monitor or HDTV, and integrated 5.1-channel support provides rich audio performance.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
The Jury Is Still Out!!
By TxFarmboy from Bedford, TX
I've had this PC for about 2 weeks. I do have a few CONS with it: The case is much smaller than my old HP. The other problem, there is no room for expansion. Only 2 slots for memory. No extra bay or SATA cable for an extra hard drive. I planned on putting my old hard drive in as a slave, but now I must buy a hard drive enclosure for it instead.
**On this past Friday, my wife had trouble with the system lagging. After talking with Geek Squad, she was told to bring it in for an exchange and that the hard drive was probably bad. So now I have to clear the hard drive of my files!**
If not for the hard drive issue or lack of expansion, I would have given 5 stars. Still would recommend.
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
Thanks for the insightful review!
November 9, 2015
It just goes to show that nothing beats hands-on ownership. Specs alone don't mean anything if everything else isn't good.
+9points
9of 9voted this comment as helpful.
 
Only at Best BuyInsignia™ Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker: Take the music with you with this speaker, which features Bluetooth connectivity for easy music streaming from your compatible device. The built-in power bank charges compatible devices.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
amazing
By buffalogirl
Got this for free and the sound quality is amazing connects easily and is perfect I would think it is better than beats
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
Beats Bluetooth Speakers are Mediocre
December 11, 2015
I agree with you, but to be fair, Beats Bluetooth Speakers tend to be mediocre and can have harsh sound. I feel that their speakers aren't up to the quality of their headphones, and even their headphones tend to be beaten (in sound quality at least) by genuine audiophile brands (Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic, etc.) at lower price ranges.
But getting back to the point, I do feel that cheap speakers like these can compete with and surpass Beats bluetooth speakers, and that ones from JBL, Sony, and Bose can give them a sound thrashing at the same price points.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
You watched the original trilogy and the prequels. Now, you're eagerly anticipating the next installment in the epic Star Wars franchise. With this Power A Wired Controller, you'll be able to show off your fandom for the saga while representing the First Order. The officially licensed controller features stunning images of Episode VII, including Kylo Ren. Take down enemy forces with the impulse triggers, and immerse yourself in the action with the dual rumble motors. A 9.8' cord provides a reliable connection, so you can fend off foes without any lag. Get ready to become the latest enlistment for the First Order in Star Wars: The Force Awakens with this controller.
 
Overall2 out of 52 out of 5
goes bad in time - less than a year
By nate
this is my 2nd powera controller i have bought. the first one was for a friend of mine. after less than a year of having them, the analog triggers stop registering correctly. works great and feels great when they work correctly. becomes useless after that. i noticed it when playing some racing games and it seems like my car is lacking power for no reason and the exhaust is barking like i keep letting off the gas. windows confirmed that the triggers were acting like they werent going to 100% and then rapidly going up and down its range without me doing a thing. sad part is i couldnt leave feedback for the other controller but htis one went bad in a lot less time since it was a christmas gift.
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
I belive you, my PowerA controllers fail too
April 7, 2016
My Batarang controller quit after about 1 year (mostly the D-pad and triggers) and although it was made by Madcatz (not Power A) my licensed Ghost Recon Future Soldier controller gave up after 1 year as well.
I feel like PDP controllers last longer, but the official stuff tends to be the toughest, imho.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Experience fast boot-up and application load times with this PNY CS1100 solid state drive, which features up to 500MB/sec. sequential read speeds for enhanced performance. Low power consumption helps ensure long battery life on the go.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Pressure to buy
By Tazi74
I took my HP laptop in for a checkup.An since I had the Geek Squad membership I decided to let them check the laptop out it seems like every time you go in there they push for you to buy one of these memories for your computer they did it with my desktop which is a Dre Beats all-in-one and they've done it with this one I think it's their way just to sell this product there's no need for it because I took my old drive to another computer store outside of Best Buy and they said there was no need to even have this product in I recommend getting two or three opinions before you buy this product from Best Buy Geek Squad
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
SSD's are good, but the hard sell is not
May 15, 2016
While SSD's are a huge improvement over old magnetic HDD's, especially for boot up times, it's no good for sales people to pressure you to get them. And this 120gb drive really is only good as a boot drive and probably isn't enough space for the average consumer anyhow. I think it's good for you to be skeptical, because there's no reason to spend money you don't need to if what you have works fine.
If your computer's getting old and slow though, or your hard drive is 5+ years old and needs replacing, or your boot up times are too long for you however, there's nothing wrong with getting a 240gb or higher capacity SSD IF you need it however. (240 to 500gb seems to be the price / performance sweet spot right now, with 1tb SSD's still being expensive) But like you said, there's absolutely no need for hard selling.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Experience fast boot-up and application load times with this PNY CS1100 solid state drive, which features up to 500MB/sec. sequential read speeds for enhanced performance. Low power consumption helps ensure long battery life on the go.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
Decent deal
By Predator
This is a good buy for the price. Upgrading to an SSD will greatly improve any computer. But if you are to buy one, get the 256 GB or 512 GB.
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
Good point
May 15, 2016
The difference in price between 120gb and 240 to 256 gb is so small nowadays, there's almost no need to get a 120gb unless you specifically need that size and/or just want to pay the lowest price possible.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Lenovo Desktop: House your growing collection of movies and music on this desktop's 2TB hard drive, and enjoy high-speed, reliable Internet access with Wireless-AC networking. The 12GB of memory provide the power you need to tend to multiple tasks at once.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Excellent for most things
By Tanner
This tower was very vast and does almost everything I needed it to. Just did not cut it for new games such as the witcher 3.
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
The A10 is decent, but more for e-sports gaming
July 2, 2016
The Witcher 3 is one of the most demanding current-gen PC games, you'd need a separate PCI-E GPU to run it. Something like the 750Ti at the very minimum (which will run off of many stock 300w Power Supplies), with the recent RX 480 being a good choice, if you have the Power Supply for it. The EVGA 500w 80 plus one they sell for $30 or slightly more is a good choice for most single graphics cards.
The upcoming 470 and 460 from AMD will probably be good value options, along with the 1060 from Nvidia. The 460 will probably run off a stock PSU without an external power pin too.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
When building on a budget, the EVGA 600W 80 PLUS is a great choice at a low cost. Supporting 49A on a single +12V rail provides more options without having to reduce your component requirements. Save space with the 600W's compact design, well­placed power switch and fully sleeved cables. The 600W offers the connections and protections needed for basic system builds. With a standard 3 year warranty and ultra quiet fan design the 600W will be a great asset for your next build on a budget.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Not good, might be the faulty unit
By riopower
It was cheap on sale and worked out of the box which was good. But after I got all other parts after a month (which I can't return or exchange) and finished build then I started stress test for stability. my PC was keep shutting down while doing stress test or playing game. First I thought it was over heating issue with CPU so I check and logged temps of CPU. No it was bit high but not near the shut off temp. All the temps were in good range and no over heating found but still pc was shutting in middle of high load. then I realized that the back of the pc near the PSU was gets very hot. so I opened case and check the psu under load. The Fan was not spinning at all! I understand due to silent design fan does not start when there are not much load but even during the stress test it did not start. so now I had to order new PSU for replacement and this will be a 30 bucks junk that can't even used for paper weight...
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
Might be covered under warranty?
September 21, 2016
Usually PSU's have 2-3 year warranties that cover faults like this, so you may want to check to see if you could RMA it with EVGA. Even less reputable companies than EVGA can have surprisingly decent warranty coverage (as long as you complain about them in a review that they can see at least) so EVGA may be able to replace this unit if it's defective.
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Bash the opposition with this Radeon RX 480 graphics card. It's optimized for virtual reality experiences thanks to the powerful future-ready technologies that include advance architectures for outstanding gameplay. Incredible color, sharp, crystal-clear graphics and rapid frame rates ensure your game runs at the highest quality with this Radeon RX 480 graphics card.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Incredibly Disappointed
By LB1280
I realize I am in the minority on this one, but when I try two of them and they still don't work, I have no choice but to give this card one star.
Built a brand new PC using an MSI 970 G Series Gaming motherboard. I did research and didn't find any compatibility issues between this card and motherboard so maybe it's my bad luck. The video from the card to the monitor would cut out randomly after boot. I could idle at the desktop for as long as I wanted, but as soon as I started to click around the video would cut out. I thought that the original one I purchased was DOA which, hey it happens. I exchanged it for another one and the same exact thing happened. After an entire weekend trouble shooting, I gave it to my buddy who has repaired PCs for 20+ years. After a week he finally gave up. He tried other graphic cards and they worked fine, so it was clearly a GPU issue. He also tried it in other rigs, also no problem. Moral of the story is if you have an MSI 970 Gaming mobo, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CARD. I have no idea why, but it doesn't like it. Incredibly frustrating losing two weeks after a new build to have your only solution be "Try a different brand of graphics cards".
On a side note, five stars to Best Buy for their painless and quick exchange policy. That was the one shining moment out of this entire fiasco.
Customer Avatar
Brian1118
Paramount, CA
Did you try seeing if there was a bios update?
November 8, 2016
The motherboard may have a bios update available, and there's also using DDU (display driver uninstaller) to uninstall all old driver stuff (especially if you had an Nvidia card before) and reinstalling the latest drivers. I have an MSI 970-G46 (which I admit is not the same as the gaming line) and I have no issues with this card, but I have installed all the latest motherboard drivers and flashed the bios to the latest one (I recommend using the global website, as the US MSI Website tends to be behind on driver/bios files and has outdated ones) and didn't need to use DDU, but used DDU anyway just in case.
Note that I had a 270x before, so I wasn't switching from Nvidia to AMD, which can cause problems.
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2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
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Browse for programming, control playback and navigate menus on your Xbox One with ease thanks to this Power A IR Extender. When connected to your Xbox One, the extender allows you to use your Media Remote (not included) without a Kinect sensor. Enjoy reliable operation thanks to the extender's ability to broaden the IR range of your Kinect sensor (not included). With this accessory in your gaming setup, you'll be able to fully realize the Xbox One's potential.
 

Need to purchase SKU`1598 IR SENSOR. Sales rep said to purchase on lin HELP Please

If you're just looking to get an IR Cable to control your TV or AV Receiver with a media remote, this cable is the same product. I bought it and installed it and can change the volume on my TV right now.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Brian1118
 
Handle more data than ever before with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive. Fast operation is assured thanks to the SATA III connection that delivers at data up to 6 Gbps, and a lack of moving parts means reliability is exceptional. Reduce energy use and enjoy quieter operation with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive.
 

Will this work as an internal HD in a full size PC?

Only if the case has a dedicated 2.5" SSD slot. Older cases do not, but you can buy an adapter to allow 2.5" drives to fit in standard 3.5" desktop HDD slots.

If you can't easily find it here, try searching online in general. Especially if you want the bracket by itself and without extra accessories you may not need.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Brian1118
 
Handle more data than ever before with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive. Fast operation is assured thanks to the SATA III connection that delivers at data up to 6 Gbps, and a lack of moving parts means reliability is exceptional. Reduce energy use and enjoy quieter operation with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive.
 

Does the migration software make the new drive bootable after the transfer (a true clone). Or does the migration only move the data files?

It makes it a bootable drive as long as you select that option. It's Acronic Trueimage (not a knockoff) so it's legit. You do only get a code on the piece of paper (the "manual") they provide you, not a CD, so you have to download the program online and activate it with the code.

Also, it's easier to clone the drive with a desktop, especially if you can just stick the new drive in the desktop as opposed to using an external cable with say a laptop drive, although it's possible to clone a drive to this SSD using an external SATA to USB cable.

If you're going to go that route, you may need an an external SATA power adapter too, although I'm not sure because I've only done it with 2 drives inside a desktop tower.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Brian1118
 
Handle more data than ever before with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive. Fast operation is assured thanks to the SATA III connection that delivers at data up to 6 Gbps, and a lack of moving parts means reliability is exceptional. Reduce energy use and enjoy quieter operation with this PNY 480GB solid-state hard drive.
 

Can I easily install this myself, if I have never worked on a computer before?

Probably, if you're comfortable with a screwdriver and some cables and wires. If you've ever worked with electronics in a car, it's not all too different (and is probably easier) and if you know how to plug and unplug wires from TV's and game consoles, it's not that much harder.


The thing to remember about SSD's though is that they're smaller than regular 3.5" Hard Drives. If you're installing into a desktop, you may need a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter to fit this 2.5" drive into a 3.5" desktop slot. Newer cases may have 1 or more SSD slots, but older ones generally only have 3.5" ones.

If you're installing into a laptop (provided that your laptop allows you to swap out the drive) PNY includes a spacer in the box that allows you to fit this 7mm drive into 9mm drive spaces.

Still, if you're going to try something like this, I'd lookup some youtube tutorials online or better yet, find someone in real life to help you that knows about computers. Once you're shown the ropes by a mentor even a few times, it becomes easier after that.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Brian1118
 

Does this include one or two per package?

Just curious how many come with each order. Will I need to order two, or four?
It includes 2 cables per package. If you're installing 2 speakers, you only need 1 bag. If you're installing 4 speakers, you need 2 bags.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
Brian1118
 
Only at Best BuyInsignia™ Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker: Take the music with you with this speaker, which features Bluetooth connectivity for easy music streaming from your compatible device. The built-in power bank charges compatible devices.
 

Does it have a mic to use as a speakerphone?

If you're looking at the big and heavy one that can charge devices (it has a 30 hr battery life), no, it doesn't have a mic.
8 years, 3 months ago
by
Brian1118
   Paramount, CA
 
This Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70 tablet features a stunning 10.1" LED display and Dolby Atmos soundbar, so you can catch up on your favorite TV shows and listen to music with impressive audio and video clarity. Wi-Fi lets you stay connected on the go.
 

Usb or micro usb port?

Can conect my flash drive to load pictures? Any port?
MicroUSB, and the same port is used for both charging and data connection.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Brian1118
   Paramount, CA
 
This Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70 tablet features a stunning 10.1" LED display and Dolby Atmos soundbar, so you can catch up on your favorite TV shows and listen to music with impressive audio and video clarity. Wi-Fi lets you stay connected on the go.
 

Anyone have issues with streaming video freezing up while audio continues to play?

I've had it happen with Netflix and WatchEspn apps.
I haven't had that issue. I would make sure that your internet connection is good (that you're close to the wi-fi source) and that your tablet's been updated to the latest OS software version. I believe it stops updating after it hits some form of 4.4 kit kat.

Try seeing if there's new versions of the Netflix and WatchESPN apps, and update them if there are. I would also update anything that Google Play services or Google asks you to as well.

If that doesn't work, after making sure you've updated to the latest available version of Android, back up all your data and do a factory reset. Then try installing your apps again, and see if they work now.

Netflix works fine for me (my tablet's on the latest OS software, which is Kit Kat) but I haven't tried ESPN personally.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Brian1118
   Paramount, CA
 
This Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70 tablet features a stunning 10.1" LED display and Dolby Atmos soundbar, so you can catch up on your favorite TV shows and listen to music with impressive audio and video clarity. Wi-Fi lets you stay connected on the go.
 

Can you connect this tablet to a TV?

I want to connect my tablet using the HDMI port, does this tablet support MHL connection.
I don't believe that it has an HDMI port. The one I have doesn't have one, but it does have an option for Miracast (wireless streaming of what's on the screen to a TV, usually only on Smart TV's or with set top boxes like the Roku or similar things).
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Brian1118
   Paramount, CA
 
Make any room the life of the party with this Samsung Level Box Mini EO-SG900DBESTA wireless speaker, which features Bluetooth technology for simple pairing with enabled devices. The built-in speakerphone lets you make and receive hands-free phone calls.
 

I can't get my level box to work and I have lost the user manual

Make sure it's fully charged, and remember to hold down the power button for a few seconds until the (loud) chime sounds.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
Brian1118
   Paramount, CA