Accell USB Micro-B MHL to HDMI Smartphone Adapter
The personal computer continuously evolves, enabling technology to change the way we interact with one another. Laptop computers used to be a thing of the future, until they surpassed desktop computer systems to become the industry standard. Similarly, cellular telephones have progressed beyond a simple communication tool into the convenient SmartPhone devices we enjoy today. It won't be long before the SmartPhone (or UltraPhone if you're bleeding edge) becomes the standard, and various consumer electronic devices find themselves obsolete. In this Product Spotlight article, Benchmark Reviews examines the Accell USB Micro-B MHL to HDMI Adapter, a device the connects Smartphones and Tablets to any HDMI projector, monitor, or HDTV.
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Epic Gear Meduza Gaming Mouse and Hybrid Pad
What features make the best gaming mouse? Laser or Optical? High or low sensitivity? Epic Gear has released a new technology to make it so you don't have to choose. The new Meduza Gaming Mouse uses Hybrid Dual Sensor Technology (HDST) to combine the best of both paradigms. Along with their Hybrid Mouse pad they have benchmarked high mouse performance. In this article, Benchmark Reviews evaluates the Meduza (model EGMA1H-OB) and Hybrid Pad (model EGHP1-OB-M) in preparation for their upcoming release.
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OCZ Octane SATA 6GB/s Indilinx Everest SSD
Nearly one year since acquiring well-known flash controller manufacturer Indilinx, OCZ has debuted their first storage product based on the Indilinx infused Everest platform with NDurance technology: welcome OCZ's Octane SSD. Offered in 1-terabyte capacities, the OCT1-25SAT3 series is designed to deliver optimized performance for mainstream users wanting to capitalize on near-instant solid state response times. OCZ Octane SSDs are good for up to 480MB/s read speeds over the latest SATA 6GB/s interface, and yield up to 35,000 Random Read IOPS. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests these specifications, and compares the OCZ Octane solid state drive to the leading competition.
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HIS Radeon HD 7750 iCooler Video Card
If the you have read the reviews of the AMD Radeon HD 79xx series of video cards here at benchmark reviews you will know that owning the fastest single GPU video card will hurt your wallet. While we can all aspire to (or dream of) owning one or more of these high end video cards, the simple fact is that not everyone can afford such luxuries. In this article we take a look at the more moderately priced HIS Radeon HD 7750 iCooler 1GB video card armed with AMD's Cape Verde 28nm GPU Core. Sure enough it won't run your favorite games maxed out at 1080p but with an msrp of $129.99 you might be pleasantly surprised at its power to weight ratio. Benchmark Reviews aims to provide you with an unbiased review of the HIS Radeon HD 7750 iCooler 1GB video card (model H775F1GD) and report back our findings, keeping you informed on the latest technologies available on the market today.
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XFX Radeon R7770 Black Edition Video Card
Benchmark Reviews has reviewed the XFX versions of AMD's new Tahiti-based Radeon 7970 and 7950 video cards. They provided ground-breaking single-GPU performance (both were faster overall than the NVIDIA GTX 580), but at very high prices. While these cards do a good job of supporting the very high end video card market, many more users will gravitate towards less expensive options. The Cape Verde GPUs represent the low end of AMD's new Graphics Core Next GPU line and today we have the XFX R7770 Black Super Overclocked Edition card to test.
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QNAP TS-879U-RP NAS Network Storage Rack Server
How much is too much? For those who tend to answer ...it's never enough! there is the QNAP TS-879U-RP Turbo NAS. With eight 3.5 drive bays available, there is a potential for 24TB of storage and transfer rates of more than 10 Gb/s. That's ten times more data than any home PC can pump through its ubiquitous GbE network interface, and twenty times faster than what the latest generation of SSDs can muster. This is for people who have serious data appetites and deep pockets. The cost to fill this unit up with HDDs, in the early days of 2012, is enough to give some people pause; for most business owners, it's a small and necessary cost.
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NZXT Switch 810 Full-Tower Computer Case
What is it that you should look for in a computer case, exactly? The market is full of many different styles with plenty of different features and the prices range from next-to-nothing to arm-and-a-leg. When deciding on a computer case, those are the three areas you want to focus on; price, functionality, and style. Computer case manufacturers are constantly trying to find a balance between those three items by giving customers everything they want at a price they can afford and in a style that they'll like. NZXT is a company that tries hard to please gamers and enthusiasts and their products reflect that. At CES 2012, NZXT announced a completely new case design that offers a lot of functionality for its price. In this article, Benchmark Reviews is exploring the NZXT Switch 810 Full Tower Computer Chassis to help you find out where it fits for you within those three categories.
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Intel SSD 520 Series Solid State Drive
For the past several years, consumers searching through the available selection of Solid State Drive (SSD) storage devices have noticed that capacity continues to favor the hard disk drive counterpart. While it could be a few more years before any SSD matches terabyte capacity with the HDD, Intel's NAND Flash produced at 20nm is closing that gap in terms of price and storage space. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Intel SSD 520 Series Solid State Drive against the leading competition to see if it's capable of delivering SATA 6GB/s speeds up to 550 MB/s and 80,000 maximum 4K random write IOPS.
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XFX Radeon R7950 Black Edition Video Card
Benchmark Reviews recently took a look at XFX's R7970 Black Edition Double Dissipation version of AMD's new top-end Tahiti-based video cards. It's the fastest single-GPU video card we've ever tested, but the $600.00 price was a little hard to take, especially with NVIDIA's GTX580 widely available for more than $100 less. Today XFX has supplied us with the next step down the Tahiti line, the R7950 Black Edition Double Dissipation.
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Fractal Design Define XL Computer Case
Long Live the Extra Large Full Tower PC Case? My last review at Benchmark Reviews left off praising the shrink factor of technology and the maturation of micro cases (Silverstone PS07b micro case (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=857 Itemid=61)). At the same time, Benchmark Reviews has been busy reviewing monster sized cases. One conclusion that can be derived from the size and options of PC cases is that the PC case is not nearly as dead as some surmise, be they large or small. Otherwise, we'd be getting less variety and more generic offerings, along with fewer manufacturers. So, let's get going and see how the Fractal Design Define XL Silent PC Full Tower Chassis measures up to a market awash in full tower cases.
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ASUS VG278H LCD Monitor 3D Vision-2 Kit
We live in a three-dimensional world, and display technology is finally catching up to how we see things. Games, movies, multimedia video, and even photos are now widely available in stereoscopic 3D. Packaged with a NVIDIA 3D Vision-2 glasses kit, the ASUS VG278H LCD Monitor gives you that big screen experience with vivid color, 120Hz high-definition 1080p picture quality, and added 3D special effects. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS VG278H 27 LED-backlight widescreen 120Hz monitor with NVIDIA 3D LightBoost technology and show off its built-in stereoscopic 3D Vision-2 functionality.
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ASUS P9X79 WS LGA2011 Workstation Motherboard
Generally when we here at Benchmark Reviews get a motherboard in to test, it's aimed at a specific market: it might be an enthusiast-oriented motherboard for gaming, or a micro-ATX motherboard designed for a HTPC, or even just an inexpensive motherboard for users on a budget. Today, though, we have one of ASUS' Workstation motherboards: the ASUS P9X79 WS. How does it differ from other X79 motherboards, what's the performance, and should this board be on your short list for your X79 rig?
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SilverStone SST-GD06B HTPC Chassis Enclosure
In this article Benchmark Reviews gets to evaluate a HTPC case from SilverStone's Grandia line; the GD06. With these smaller cases, space is always an issue. This is becoming increasingly critical as high definition content becomes ubiquitous. Not only do we want to view our new content in more pixels than our brain can even process, but we want to upscale the old content, or view it in 3D, and do it upside down, right side up and inside out. While you're at it give me dish, cable, recording, streaming, email, gaming and the kitchen sink. Oh...and it needs to fit in a single box on my entertainment system. Well, SilverStone is at least trying to provide the box, the rest is up to you. They've expanded on past models to fit even more powerful toys inside your HTPC. Read on to see how model SST-GD06B crams the performance you demand and puts it on your shelf.
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G.SKILL Ripjaws-Z 16GB DDR3-1600 Memory
Although the company was established in 1989, G.SKILL is still not as familiar a name in the memory market as are Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston, and others. But in the past few years they've built their portfolio of memory (and memory is almost all they do) to encompass a broad selection of price/performance points ensuring that system builders and enthusiasts can find virtually anything they need. Today Benchmark Reviews tests G.SKILL's mainstream DDR3-1600 16GB quad-channel memory kit for Intel's X79 platform.
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World of Tanks Optimized Competition Settings
World of Tanks (WoT) is a free-to-play MMO-action video game by Wargaming.net that is loosely based on World War II-era tanks from the Soviet Union, Germany, USA, China, Britain, France, and Japan. Players can open either a free or premium account, and earn their way up a tiered ladder by competing against other online players in random battles. World of Tanks is developed for the Microsoft Windows PC platform, and is designed to be played using a wide range of computer hardware: from portable laptops with integrated graphics to high-performance desktop computers with discrete graphics. Benchmark Reviews recently published our World of Tanks 3D Vision Game Review for enthusiast gamers wanting life-like realism and effects, but for this article we concentrate on the best video settings for competitive play and share helpful game play tactics.
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XFX R7970 Black Edition Radeon Video Card
AMD might have trouble keeping up with the competition in the CPU arena, but their acquisition of ATI allowed them to become a major player in the graphics world. AMD and NVIDIA regularly trade places in the fastest video card rankings, and while NVIDIA's been good holding down the title with its current high-end, the Fermi-based GTX 580, it looks as if AMD's new Tahiti-based Radeon HD 7970 will snatch the crown away...especially if it's a hot-rod, factory-overclocked video card like today's test subject: the XFX R7970 Black Edition Double Dissipation.
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SteelSeries Simraceway SRW-S1 Wheel
Hardcore PC racing simulator enthusiasts would argue that there is no alternative to a force feedback wheel and pedals, and they might be right, but not everybody has $300+ to fork out on an expensive setup. At the same time not everyone is content either being a keyboard racer or having to make do with a sub-par wheel or console style game controller. This is where SteelSeries and Ignite Game Technologies come into play. Together they have developed the SteelSeries Simraceway SRW-S1 motion sensitive steering wheel. A wheel that bridges the gap between console style game controllers and high end wheel/pedal setups, and it is available now from the SteelSeries web shop for $119.99 MSRP. Out of the box it is setup to work with Ignite's 'Simraceway' online racing simulator for the PC, but SteelSeries state that it will work with just about any racing game designed for the PC. Here at Benchmark Reviews we take marketing claims at face value and we always leave our judgement to real world testing, but if looks are anything to go by then we are in for one hell of a treat.
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Cooler Master Cosmos II Computer Case
In computer cases, it's a constant battle between price, function, and style-- as the saying goes, Pick any two . There are any number of very servicable cases available at $100 or less; if you have $150 in your case budget, you can choose from some excellent full tower cases; and if you have $250 to spend on a case, you can get almost any combination of function and style you could ever want. Beyond that are the super-premium cases, and Cooler Master's latest entry in this field is so special the company calls it an ultra tower . Benchmark Reviews takes a look to see if the Cooler Master Cosmos II case deserves this designation.
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Roccat Kova[+] Optical USB Gaming Mouse
Roccat is a European manufacturer of gaming products that's becoming increasingly popular in North America. Their sporty design and bright lighting makes it an ideal eye-candy for gaming setups. The Kova[+] is one of two gaming mice that Roccat has revamped lately, giving it increased functionality. Benchmark Reviews will be using the Roccat Kova[+] gaming mouse in games and everyday applications to see how well this fancy device handles the real test.
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EVGA GeForce GTX560Ti FTW 448-Core
This holiday season is gearing up to be a big one for computer gamers. A lot of big titles have been or will soon be released. Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Modern Warfare 3, and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are a few. Diablo 3 is expected early in 2012 as well. While this is great news for gamers, we don't have any expected releases of new GPU platforms. That's not terribly disheartening, as the current top-of-the-line GPUs will play even the most demanding of these titles. The problem is, those top end GPUs also cost an arm and a leg. NVIDIA is setting out to combat this problem for the holiday season 2011 by releasing a new and improved version of the GTX 560 Ti, the GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores. In this article, Benchmark Reviews is bringing you details on the EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores FTW video card.
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Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid ST750LX003
Mechanical hard disk technology has been the traditional standard for decades, refined to the point where it can deliver massive storage capacity beyond 3TB. Recently introduced solid-state drive storage solutions have begun pecking away at the market share thanks to their tremendous speeds and operational performance. Each offers an advantage over the other, leading manufacturers to seek out a hybrid solution that delivers quick access and large data capacity. The original 500GB Seagate's Momentus XT hybrid had the right ingredients, just not enough polish. More than a year later, the Seagate Momentus XT 750GB solid state hybrid drive (SSHD) returns with a double-size 8GB SLC NAND flash SSD buffer fused onto a larger 7200-RPM hard drive. Seagate FAST Factor firmware and Adaptive Memory Technology negate the need for third-party software, and makes this an all-in-one hybrid SSD solution. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the Seagate Momentus XT (750GB model ST750LX003) in single and RAID-0 configurations against its predecessor, and several of the fastest notebook storage devices available.
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IOCELL NetDISK 351UNE Network Storage Device
The first thing that IOCELL wants you to know about the NetDISK 351UNE is that it is not a NAS. It is a network-direct-attached-storage (NDAS) device. It does not function as a server, and there are distinct benefits to that. For one: size, cost and complexity go way down. Two: it does not use TCP/IP to connect to your network, which eliminates all TCP/IP-based methods for hacking your data. Three: it's faster, since there's ess overhead to manage. Sometimes, less is more. Benchmark Reviews has tested several full-range NAS products in the last few months, now let's investigate what advantages a more tightly focused approach can provide.
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SilverStone SST-EC03 USB 3.0 PCI-E Card
Getting access to the gigabytes of data on your external storage devices is excruciatingly slow as it trickles thru the USB 2.0 port, or at least, that's how it feels these days. USB 2.0 just can't get the job done fast enough. USB 3.0 at least for now is the answer for our external access speed requirements. The EC03 card from SilverStone installs into a single lane PCI-E gen 2.0 slot and gives you two internal USB 3.0 ports. So how fast is it? Benchmark Reviews takes the EC03 thru the paces, let's take a look.
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X79 Express Motherboard Performance Comparison
As part of the Sandy Bridge Extreme CPU launch, Benchmark Reviews received several new X79 Express motherboards to test. Each motherboard's aimed at a different audience and has different features. In this article I'll compare the stock and overclocked performance of each motherboard to see if there are any significant differences.
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Antec Eleven Hundred Computer Case
Due to the popularity of Antec's Nine Hundred and Twelve Hundred gaming cases, Antec has released the anticipated Eleven Hundred. As an extended mid-tower case it fills a small void between mid and full sized gaming cases and has room to grow with the individual as well as the industry. It complements the expanding variety of gaming configurations by providing greater range of options for things like motherboard size and fan placement. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will give an intimate look at the features and performance of the Eleven Hundred and score it against the competition.
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ASUS P9X79 Pro Motherboard
Designed to support second-generation Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition processors for the LGA2011 socket, Intel's Sandy Bridge Extreme X79 Express motherboards raise the standard for performance computers. ASUSTek, the largest of Intel's partners, is using this occasion to debut some impressive technology of their own: the ASUS P9X79 Pro motherboard. Nearly identical to the premium P9X79 Deluxe motherboard, the Pro model also offers standard features such as SuperSpeed USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, Bluetooth, and PCI-Express 3.0 compatibility. Complete with quad-channel DDR3 2200MHz system memory support, ASUS enables SSD caching and RAM-disk opportunities for high-demand tasks. A fresh new UEFI BIOS allows risk-free USB flashback, while digital power regulators now control every voltage on the system. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS P9X79 Pro motherboard with Intel's Core i7-3960X CPU and compare differences to the ASUS P9X79 Deluxe.
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EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified: Overclocked
The EVGA GTX 580 Classified is one of the most powerful single card solutions on the market. With a 14+3 VRM design, a new cooler and the Classified logo many users want to know How far can the EVGA GTX 580 Classified go? Benchmark Reviews is here to answer this question armed with the Beta EVTUNE software to allow us to really push the voltage and is yearning to see how far this card can go. So please join us as Benchmark Reviews overclocks and benchmarks the EVGA GTX 580 Classified.
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ASUS Sabertooth X79 TUF Motherboard
TUF: The Ultimate Force. ASUS' most stable and reliable motherboard is backed by the industry's best five-year warranty. To attain this honor, the ASUS Sabertooth X79 motherboard endures extreme critical environmental testing that covers low to high chamber room temperatures up to 55°C at 90% humidity. TUF Thermal Armor combined with US mil-spec electronic components ensures this motherboard will remain mission-ready regardless of how extreme an overclocking experiment gets. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS Sabertooth X79 TUF motherboard with Intel's Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition CPU (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=826 Itemid=63).
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ASUS P9X79 Deluxe Motherboard
Designed to support second-generation Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition processors for the LGA2011 socket, Intel's Sandy Bridge Extreme X79 Express motherboards raise the standard for performance computers. ASUSTek, the largest of Intel's partners, is using this occasion to debut some impressive technology of their own: the ASUS P9X79 Deluxe motherboard. Standard are features such as SuperSpeed USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, Bluetooth 3.0, and PCI-Express 3.0 compatibility. Complete with quad-channel DDR3 2200MHz system memory support, ASUS enables SSD caching and RAM-disk opportunities for high-demand tasks. A fresh new UEFI BIOS allows risk-free USB flashback, while digital power regulators now control every voltage on the system. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS P9X79 Deluxe motherboard with Intel's Core i7-3960X CPU.
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Intel DX79SI LGA2011 Desktop Motherboard
It's that time again: a new Intel processor line, along with the requisite new chipset and new motherboards. Intel's Sandy Bridge Extreme line of processors requires the massive new LGA2011 socket, which in turn is supported by the new X79 chipset. Intel provided a prototype of their top-end DX79SI motherboard with a Core i7-3960X Sandy Bridge E processor for us to test, and Benchmark Reviews will put it through its paces in this review.
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Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition CPU
Intel's Extreme Edition CPUs have always represented the company's top consumer offerings. Typically priced in the $1,000 range, they have unlocked multipliers, lots of cache, and lots of cores. But until now, Intel's top Extreme Edition offering, the Core i7-990X CPU, was based on the older Gulftown architecture, and the performance gap between this CPU and the newer Sandy Bridge architecture Core i7-2600K and 2700K is pretty damn narrow, especially considering that the latter costs less than a third the price of the former. But now Intel's made a Sandy Bridge Extreme Edition, with six physical cores and a staggering 15 megabytes of cache. Benchmark Reviews takes the new Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition CPU around the benchmark course, testing it against the best CPUs Intel and AMD have to offer.
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HIS Radeon HD 6870 IceQ Video Card
The holiday season is fast approaching and there is still no official word on the next generation 28nm GPU's other than TSMC starting volume production. What does that mean? Well, it looks like we will be waiting until next year before any more new video cards from either camp are released. This stop gap between generations gives AIB partners a chance to tweak and perfect their designs and introduce some different models to keep the market active. Today Benchmark Reviews will be looking at the HIS Radeon HD6870 IceQ 1GB, a modern video card with a classic HIS design. As aftermarket designs go, this looks like a real beast of a card but there is no factory overclock on this model. The cooler is a mixture of the HIS IceQ X fin array and a shroud that looks similar to a reference card shroud with a twist. HIS have dubbed the radial fan a 'Black Hole Impeller' because it is able to draw in air from both sides as it is raised slightly from the PCB. The main question is what difference will this make to operating temperatures and overclocking potential; and that is exactly what we intend to find out.
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RAGE the PC Game by id Software
At Benchmark reviews, we thought it might be interesting to offer a light hearted article on the new PC version FPS/RPG hybrid game RAGE, from id software, the creators of DOOM. I've played a lot of PC games since I started using computers. I'm not saying I'm a gamer, because I'm not. But, I have a good feel for how games have matured since DOOM, which was my first PC game. I've been luke warm with the entire genre of FPSs, MMOGs, and RTSs for a long time, with few exceptions. RAGE is one of those exceptions. Aside from video driver troubles early on, RAGE has a lot to offer and seems like a game inside of a game, inside of a game. This isn't a review, but more of a personal musing on the game itself. So, take off your armor and come on in for some fun.
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SteelSeries Sensei Pro Laser Gaming Mouse
Danish company SteelSeries has designed products to compete against the likes of Razer, Logitech, and Microsoft in the competitive gaming peripherals market. Their newest product the Sensei aims to decimate the competition with its 32-bit ARM processor, 5700 DPI sensor, on-board memory, and advanced software that allows users to control almost every function imaginable. Benchmark Reviews will evaluate if the Sensei is the master by which every mouse should be compared, or if it is the student still learning from those that came before it.
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VisionTek Radeon HD 6850 Video Card
Most of us love to look at the latest reviews of the most hardcore PC components and keep apprised of what's going on up in the clouds, but when it comes down to it, we are going to end up buying something that is a little more affordable. So while reviews of those items are certainly interesting to read, it's nice to see something a little more mid-ranged. I'm talking about something that will play the latest video games, even though I might have to turn down some of the settings. In this article, Benchmark Reviews is taking a look at the VisionTek 900339 Radeon HD 6850 graphics card. The newest series of GPUs has been out for a while now, and we've seen the performance charts. We don't expect any surprises from the VisionTek 900339, but that's not going to stop us from putting it through its paces and overclocking it. We want to see where the VisionTek Radeon HD 6850 differs from other cards, especially since it sits near the top end of the price range for Radeon HD 6850s.
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Corsair Carbide 500R Computer Case
If you're looking for more than a normal mid-sized ATX case can offer, or if you are having a hard time finding all the features you want without breaking the bank, then you'll definitely be interested in the Corsair Carbide 500R. Benchmark Reviews recently showed you the 400R and its excellent capabilities. A step above that is the 500R. We looked at model CC9011012-WW which has an arsenal of features. Four stock fans for massive cooling, tool-less installation, modular/configurable drive bays, eight expansion slots. It's got everything you need, and nothing you don't. This is a great case for the expanding system; for users who want to step out of something small and start getting big on their performance.
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QNAP TS-419P II NAS Network Storage Server
The official category for the QNAP TS-419P II Turbo NAS is Network Attached Storage , but in today's environment, think of it as Connected Storage . By consolidating and providing direct access to your data via cloud services or on your mobile device, it's more about connectedness than the ability to serve up files over 1000BASE-T in your home or workspace. The TS-419P II is the next logical step up from a two-bay device and allows you to implement RAID 5 or 6; a four-bay device is really the bare minimum for a high availability NAS appliance. It's equipped with a faster Marvell CPU running at 2.0 GHz, a 25% increase in clock speed from previous models. Benchmark Reviews has tested several NAS units recently, let's take at look at how this latest unit compares.
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Seagate Barracuda 3TB Hard Drive ST3000DM001
Back on March 2011, Seagate debuted their original Barracuda XT 3TB hard drive, model ST33000651AS, which used five platters to supply 3000 gigabytes of capacity over a SATA 6Gb/s interface. Seven short months later, they've returned to introduce a replacement: the Seagate Barracuda 3TB hard drive ST3000DM001, which features the same 6 GB/s interface and 64MB cache buffer but now utilizes only three 1GB density platters. Seagate has also introduced a number of refined technologies to help improve overall hard drive performance, including: dual core 40nm processor technology, DDR2 DRAM buffer, and refined caching algorithms. By reducing disc platters from five to three, it prolongs servo motor life and reduces heat output. Benchmark Reviews compared these two hard drives, to see exactly what's been gained.
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Roccat ISKU Illuminated Gaming Keyboard
Roccat has shown us here at Benchmark Reviews that it has what it takes to compete successfully in the gaming mouse market. What we are going to find out today is whether they can follow that success with the Roccat ISKU Illuminated Gaming Keyboard. Like the KONE[+] gaming mouse, the ISKU gaming keyboard has EasyShift[+] and when these two devices are paired together they can communicate with each other using the Roccat Talk protocol. There are three EasyShift[+] zones featuring 28 easy-to-reach macro keys, 5 doubly-programmable dedicated M-keys and 3 doubly-programmable Thumbster T-Keys. It is possible to assign different pre-defined functions to the eight media keys and you can also re-assign the F-keys to be used as shortcut or application launch keys. The illuminated keys have five levels of brightness and will auto dim when the keyboard has been idle for a predefined amount of time. If this hasn't got you interested then I don't know what will, please read on to find out more.
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Roccat KONE[+] Gaming Mouse
In a market segment rife with choice, any manufacturer which wants to stand out must innovate their way past the rest of the crowd or use clever marketing techniques to dupe their target market. Fortunately for us here at Benchmark Reviews, Roccat chose to innovate when they created their KONE[+] Gaming Mouse. I honestly believed that there wasn't much more that could be done in the field of pointing and clicking mouse technology but I was wrong. Roccat has introduced three great features unique to the KONE[+] mouse and also equipped it with a 6000dpi Pro Aim laser for some extremely responsive pointing ability. Intrigued? Please read on to find out more.
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OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E SSD RVDHY-FH-1T
That moment when solid state drive technology can offer the high capacity of large hard disk counterparts is nearly here. OCZ Technology, a pioneer in the SSD market, combines their experience with both SATA and PCI-Express SSDs to offer the OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid SSD. Based on OCZ Virtualized Controller Architecture technology, RevoDrive Hybrid uses Dataplex caching software to pair a 100GB SandForce SF-2281 SSD to a 1TB 7200RPM hard drive. The results are surprising: a bootable PCI-Express device with the speed of a solid state drive and the storage capacity of a hard disk drive. Join Benchmark Reviews as we test the OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid PCI-E SSD RVDHY-FH-1T.
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MSI 990FXA-GD80 AM3+ Motherboard
AMD's 900 series chipsets preceded the introduction of their Bulldozer processors by several months. While this chipset offers no additional functionality to non-Bulldozer CPUs, manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon anyway, perhaps because Bulldozer was expected a little sooner than it was actually released, and MSI was one of the first. Benchmark Reviews takes a look at how MSI's 990FX-GD80 motherboard works, and we even use a Bulldozer CPU.
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Thermaltake Overseer RX-I Computer Case
In a recent article here at Benchmark Reviews we took a look at a value-for-money offering from Thermaltake; the Spacecraft VF-I. Today we have its bigger brother; the Thermaltake Overseer RX-I, it demands a higher premium but at the same time packs in more goodies and features. In my previous article I asked what you want from a case and how much are you willing to spend, well today we have a case for those willing to splash a bit more cash in return for some great features. The Overseer has front panel USB 3.0, e-Sata, and a 2.5 /3.5 HDD/SSD dock all conveniently located whether your case is on the floor or on your desk. Inside the case you have room for tall CPU coolers (up to 177mm) and long video cards (up to 344mm), cable routing is catered for and HDD installation will look neat too. When you have all of your gear installed there will still be room to spare, Thermaltake has once again made provisions for a 120.2 (240mm) watercooling radiator and you won't be short of space to mount a pump and reservoir either.
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Configure Android Phone as Wi-Fi Internet Hotspot
Second only to sending text messages over a data plan, using the Android phone to share Internet connection with nearby devices and computers is one of the most desired functions. Fortunately, Google Android SmartPhones already have this feature built into the OS. In this article Benchmark Reviews walks you through a similar process to create a portable Wi-Fi Internet hotspot.
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Android USB Tethering Shared Internet Access
Believe it or not, Google engineers were thoughtful enough to include an easy way to tether your Android-based SmartPhone to a computer and share the Internet through your data plan. Most folks think you need a special app for that, but this free feature already resides on your Andoid phone. In this tutorial guide, Benchmark Reviews walks you through a few simple steps to use an Android SmartPhone to tether with a computer for shared Internet access using the USB cable.
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CM Storm Xornet Optical Gaming Mouse
When it comes to PC gaming, precision control begins with the mouse. You can have the best computer and display, but without a durable pointing device to transmit your intentions, the entire system becomes point-less. Cooler Master has a plan: pack only the most essential performance features into a solid gaming mouse, and sell it for less than any other. Behold, the CM Storm Xornet 2000 DPI Gaming Mouse, model SGM-2001-BLON1. In this article Benchmark Reviews compares the value-priced CM Storm Xornet to the more expensive Logitech G9x and previous CM Storm gaming peripherals.
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SilverStone Treasure TS07 USB 3.0 Enclosure
The SilverStone Treasure TS07 External 3.5 HDD enclosure allows you to grab one of the many 3.5 mechanical hard drives you might happen to have laying around, and use it as instant portable storage as long as you have access to a USB port. This 3.5 hard disk drive enclosure has a black anodized aluminum body with glossy black plastic end-caps and a clear stand. The concept is simple, open the case, plug in your SATA 3.5 drive, and via 5Gbit/s USB 3.0 super speed interface you get access to your data. In this article, Benchmark Reviews plugs the SilverStone TS07 External USB 3.0 enclosure in and tests it out.
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AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer Processor
The days when AMD processors ruled the performance roost are long gone, and most enthusiasts have forgotten they ever existed. But less than a decade ago, the Athlon X2 dual-core processor thoroughly spanked Intel's first crude dual-core efforts, which were simply two separate processor dies on one chip, communicating through the front-side bus, as opposed to AMD's much more advanced true dual-core CPUs. But AMD's been playing catch-up since then, and has been forced to compete on price rather than performance in desktop processors. Now Benchmark Reviews tests the high end of the new Bulldozer desktop CPU line, the multiplier-unlocked 8-core FX-8150 CPU.
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Thermaltake MEKA G-Unit Gaming Keyboard
Mechanical keyboards aimed at gamers are starting to take root in the enthusiast market. Keeping pace with this trend, Thermaltake eSPORTS has melded the two breeds into the MEKA G-Unit. Model KB-MGU006 builds macros, backlighting and other gaming features onto a robust mechanical keyboard base. There has been alot of hype around these hybrid style keyboards. As usual, Benchmark Reviews will cut through the flummery and use facts and performance to predict the furture of the MEKA G-Unit and it's mechi-gaming peers.
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Rosewill Wireless-N WiFi Adapter RNX-N180UBE
Until 802.11n networking was available, a cable was significantly faster and more reliable. The difference between Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) rates at 1000Mb/s and 802.11g rates at 54Mb/s was significant. With the capability to transfer data at up to 600Mb/s, 802.11n closes that gap quite a bit. Wireless N devices are becoming very affordable now. In this article, Benchmark Reviews takes a look at a very affordable wireless network adapter, the Rosewill RNX 180UBE Wireless N Adapter. We are going to attempt to find the best conditions possible for maximum transfer rates with minimal latency. We are also going to put the Rosewill RNX 180UBE Adapter in a variety of places to simulate where you might actually be using it.
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Raidmax Blade Mid-Tower Computer Case
It looks like all the case manufacturers on planet Earth are wanting to get into show business lately here at Benchmark Reviews, and Raidmax is a knockin' at our door. I've just gotten one of their cases - the Raidmax Blade mid-tower case - and I intend to find all that is both good and bad with it. Ten years ago, cases were not as diverse they are today. That is, color, interior design and functionality, and exterior flash-bang were hard if not impossible to find on a stock case. You had to revert to modding to get that look. The Raidmax Blade gives you some flash, some bang, and some internal functionality, but it's not all roses. However, for a $50.00 USD (or less) case, it's not bad at all.
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EVGA GeForce GTX 580 Classified Video Card
EVGA designed the GTX 580 Classified to be the ultimate version of what the GTX 580 could be. It was co-designed between EVGA and professional overclockers Vince k|ngp|n Lucido, and Illya TiN Tsemenko with the single goal to overclock unlike any card out on the market while at the same time looking great, and staying cool. Benchmark Reviews will see if EVGA has perfected the Fermi equation to provide great looks, extraordinary cooling, and extreme overclocking ability.
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Battlefield 3 Beta: PC Hardware Tested
Very recently, EA and Dice released an open beta for Battlefield 3. Preceeding this release was the announcement of minimum and recommended system requirements. Since the beta is now open to the public, Benchmark Reviews uses high-end PC hardware to take a closer look at what gamers should expect to be real-world computer system hardware requirements for their CPU and RAM components.
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Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition Case
In 2010, Thermaltake won the Red Dot Design Award for Product Design for their collaborative work with BMW DesignworksUSA. That product was called the Thermaltake Level 10 case. The Level 10 was an aesthetic innovation that broke many of the traditional rules of the computer chassis industry. The problem? It's original cost was $850. That's a little on the expensive side. In 2011, Thermaltake was at it again, reusing the general design of the Level 10 in order to create another case that won the Red Dot Design Award for Product Design, the Thermaltake Level 10 GT. By cutting the cost of such an innovative style of case by more than half, the Level 10 GT began to appeal to a much wider audience. Now Thermaltake has brought us another look in the Level 10 lineup. In this article, Benchmark Reviews brings you an in-depth look at the Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition Case.
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VisionTek Ultimate Performance 1866Mhz DDR3
Although it has been many years since VisionTek has produced memory they have recently started selling again with their Performance, High Performance, and Ultimate Performance memory kits. We will be looking at the VisionTek Ultimate Performance 1866MHz 10-10-10-24 (2x4GB) DDR3 system memory kit. Priced competitively at $80 VisionTek is attempting to enter a already crowded market. Benchmark Reviews will see if VisionTek Ultimate Performance memory stands out or just blends in with the rest of the crowd.
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CM Storm Trooper Computer Case
Most computer enthusiasts have only a single card in their systems: the video card. That being true, most of us could easily get by with a micro ATX motherboard in a small form factor case. But there are those who have multiple video cards, or water cooling setups with separate reservoirs and pumps; who have lots of hard drives and 5.25 bay devices, or need an XL-ATX motherboard to run a triple or quad video card system. They may represent a tiny section of the market, but they need a full tower case, and Cooler Master's shown before they're willing to address this need with cases like their HAF series. In this review, Benchmark Reviews looks at their latest full tower effort: the Cooler Master Storm Trooper.
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Street Fighter X Tekken Arcade FightStick Pro
For as long as I can remember, I've been a huge fan of arcade fighting games: Street Fighter, Tekken, and Virtua Fighter. Street Fighter was the original arcade quarter-goblin, and its sequels were financed by my paperboy earnings. Tekken and Virtua Fighter absorbed any disposable income I earned as a teen. So when game consoles replaced arcades, I was among the first to jump onboard and practice my moves at a discount. Because of exciting characters, you could hardly master one game before the others lured you in - which is why Mad Catz Street Fighter X Tekken theme makes sense. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Mad Catz Street Fighter X Tekken Arcade FightStick Pro for PlayStation3.
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Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I Computer Case
What do you look for in a case and what is the most you are willing to spend? Today's case isn't exactly high end and to match that it doesn't have all of the features and extras you would expect if you were shelling out cash in the €100+ range. System builders and budget gamers this one is for you, Thermaltake have released the Spacecraft VF-I Mid-Tower PC Case model VN60001W2Z and online retailers are listing it between €50~€65 and Benchmark Reviews has got an early peek at it. For that price you get a sturdy little case with a small side window, tool free drive mounting, removable air intake filters, room for video cards up to 320mm long, room for CPU coolers up to 168mm tall and also room for a 120.2 (240mm) watercooling radiator in the roof. This should prove to be an interesting review so please read on.
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Corsair Carbide 400R Computer Case
It's easy to build a great computer case if it's going to retail for $250 or more. Actually, I take that back: judging by some of the cases I've seen, maybe it's not that easy! While a high retail price is no guarantee of quality or usability, it's certainly more of a challenge to come out with a really great case at the $100 price level... but that's not going to stop Corsair from trying. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Corsair Carbide 400R computer case.
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MSI A75MA-G55 AMD FM1 Llano Motherboard
The Lynx platform, otherwise known as Llano for desktop, is out in full force now. The new chipset offers something of an alternative to low-end Sandy Bridge systems with comparable CPU power and extremely heightened GPU power. These APUs don't themselves a system make, however, and all the usual manufacturers have been providing a plethora of motherboards in which to place your new Lynx APU. In this article Benchmark Reviews is taking a look at the MSI A75MA-G55 motherboard. The MSI A75MA-G55 sports the new FM1 socket which takes Llano APUs. Currently the two available are the A8-3850 and the A6-3650, which come ready to rock with Radeon HD discrete level graphics. We have already seen the performance of the AMD A8-3850 APU, now let's look at the MSI design for the A75 chipset and how they differ from the competition.
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HP Touchpad Performance Hacking Guide
In our previous guide: Root Hacking the HP Touchpad Tablet PC (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=821 Itemid=38), Benchmark Reviews showed you how to enable Developer Mode on the HP Touchpad, and, with the new capabilities this mode enables, to download and install the Preware applications manager. In this installment, we'll show you how to dramatically improve the performance of your Touchpad by disabling excessive logging functions and overclocking its dual-core processor.
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Root Hacking the HP Touchpad Tablet PC
After HP discontinued the Touchpad and its other WebOS devices, they decided to sell out their remaining inventory at fire sale prices: $99 for the 16GB model and $149 for the 32GB model. The available units sold out within days; in fact, response was so strong that HP says they'll make one last production run of the Touchpad in October. If you were lucky enough to get a Touchpad, there are some simple things you can do to dramatically improve its performance, and Benchmark Reviews will explore them in this guide.
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Antec Solo-II Computer Case Enclosure
Stark, quiet and commanding; like a monolith, the Solo II has an immaculate appearance which belies its sophistication. By listening and responding to the demands of their customers, Antec has perpetuated the viability of the popular Sonta series of quiet computing cases. They've realized that the quiet computing segment contains gamers and system builders with needs beyond pure aesthetics. With a few system tweaks and upgrades (can you say large video cards?) Antec has targeted the intersection between elegance and functionality. At Benchmark Reviews we appreciate when our collective voice reaches the manufacturers. In this article we'll see exactly what Antec heard and whether or not they listen as well as their competitors.
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Mythbusters DVD: Treats for Techies
Are you a techie or geek who has every gadget conceivable but still searches for downtime entertainment? Or perhaps you are looking to find that special techie or geek in your life the perfect gift they'll love. I've got the ideal product for you: Mythbusters Season 7 on DVD! It's the show on Discovery Channel made by geeks for geeks, and its got everything they'll want.
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