Razer Ouroboros Elite Gaming Mouse
In 2009, Razer started working on a mouse with some ambitious goals. It would be a gaming-grade, wireless hybrid mouse. It would be ambidextrous, even adjustable - allowing the user to create that perfect fit. It would pack in the latest sensors and gaming technology, complete with a cloud-based driver solution. Three years later in late 2012, Razer finally released the Ouroboros. As soon as it was released, it quickly sold out of stock online and in stores and has since disappeared from regular channels. At Benchmark Reviews, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Razer Ouroboros gaming mouse and take it for a spin.
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MyDigitalSSD BP4 Slim 7 Solid State Drive MyDigitalDiscount.com Inc. was founded in 2001 by Matt Dawson out of his passion for the latest gadgets and has since grown into a globally recognized retailer catering to technology users. The MyDigitalSSD BP4 Slim 7 Series SATA Solid State Drive is their latest high-performance storage solution, designed with an ultra-slim 7mm profile to fit all SATA notebooks as well as desktop PCs. Equipped with a Phison PS3108-S8-I SSD controller and Toshiba TH58TEG7DCJTA20 19nm Toggle NAND Flash, the 240GB BP4 Slim 7 model MDS7-BP4-240 sent to Benchmark Reviews for testing is made to produce up to 560 MB/s reads and 530 MB/s writes with 4K Aligned Reads reaching 46,000 IOPS and 4K Aligned Writes as high as 79,000 IOPS. Read More ...
Genius Gila GX Gaming Mouse For several years, Genius has been manufacturing quality computer peripherals and decided, in 2011, to leverage its years of experience by creating the GX Gaming series, which currently consists of mice, keyboards, headsets, speaker systems, and mouse pads. The Genius Gila, which Benchmark Reviews will evaluate in this article, is the company's latest foray into the gaming mouse market. This mouse boasts a 12-button design and offers desirable gaming mouse features such as adjustable weighting, on-the-fly DPI adjustability, and user-defined macros. The Genius Gila GX Gaming Mouse looks good and its features sound good, so read on and find out if it really IS good. Read More ...
NZXT Phantom 630 Computer Case Some of the first reviews I wrote for Benchmark Reviews were for NZXT cases. Most of these were lower-end cases priced at $75 and under. Although the cases were inexpensive, I was impressed with both the quality of construction and the thought put into their design. Since then, NZXT has moved upmarket, starting with their original Phantom case, which has now become a series of its own. Just introduced is the new Phantom 630 case, the little brother of the Phantom 820 we've seen previously. At an MSRP of $179.99, this is a not an inexpensive case, so let's see if it's worth the money. Read More ...
AZiO Levetron GM533U Gaming Mouse Choosing a gaming mouse nowadays can be rather difficult. Especially with the many compelling options and special features offered by multiple manufacturers. Above everything, a gaming mouse must be comfortable, durable, have programmable buttons, and a reasonable dpi range. Most modern mice come with extra features such as wireless functionality, adjustable weight, customizable lighting, and even onboard memory for button profiles.That being said, a particular model may tick all the boxes, and still be imperfect. There is a certain X factor when it comes to mice and other gaming peripherals; it just has to suit the individual using it. As a result, this article will necessarily be somewhat subjective. The mouse under inspection is one of the few offered from AZiO. The GM533U appears to have ticked many of the boxes but should you pick this one over the many other alternatives from reputable gaming brands? Benchmark Reviews takes the Levetron GM533U for a spin to find out. Read More ...
DeepCool N9 Aluminum Notebook Cooler From Beijing DeepCool Industries Co. Ltd comes the very attractive DeepCool N9 Notebook Cooler. The clean lines of the aluminum cooling grid, offset by the dark black chassis and stainless steel support makes the DeepCool N9 Notebook Cooling pad a very fine addition to anyone's desk. This is the second BenchmarkReviews.com. article on a new line of notebook cooling pads being released in the US. Read More ...
Rosewill Armor EVO E-ATX Computer Case Rosewill has a wide range of computer accessories. Anything from tools, fans, cases, external enclosures, keyboards, and printer toner. Primarily Newegg's in-house brand, they've been expanding their product lines and reach; some of their products have recently started to show up at other retailers. I've found many of their products to provide an incredible performance per dollar ratio in the past, as one of my favorite computer chassis of all time is the Rosewill Thor v2. A beast of an enclosure, my only complaint was the Thor was a bit on the large side. When I saw the ARMOR-EVO E-ATX case announced, I wondered if my wish had come true - could the Armor-EVO provide the advantages of the Thor v2 in a smaller package? At Benchmark Reviews, we have a chance to find out. Read More ...
Assassin's Creed III: Deluxe Edition Video Game This holiday season has certainly been a season for sequels in the video game market. We've seen the release of Assassin's Creed III, Far Cry 3, Hitman: Absolution, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, and Planetside 2. Each of these releases has been highly anticipated by their respective fanbases. The new games include better-than-ever graphics, new engines, new features, and they further unravel their storylines. At Benchmark Reviews, we got our hands on one of the most highly anticipated of these new games, Assassin's Creed III: Deluxe Edition. In this article, we'll take a look at the new engine used for Assassin's Creed III as well as the gameplay and new open world features. Read More ...
DeepCool M3 Notebook Cooling Pad It is a fact that laptops can get very hot and, depending on where it is placed, it can get mighty uncomfortable. The advent of laptop coolers has provided a way to help reduce the heat for the comfort of both the computer and the user. Beijing Deepcool Industries Co., Ltd are introducing a line of laptop coolers into the North American Market. Benchmark Reviews has obtained DeepCool M3 Audio Cooling Pad to review. Let's see if it can take the heat off your lap while bringing cool sound to your ears. Read More ...
Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD Smartphone Pervasive computing has taken over as the dominant technology market for consumers. Users who want to stay productive, or merely connected while away from their desk, have found the Smartphone to be a mobile workhorse. Today, Benchmark Reviews brings you a hands-on review of Motorola's top-line device, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD. Both the RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD have a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 4.7″ 720p HD Super AMOLED display. The RAZR HD has a 2530 mAh battery, and the RAZR MAXX HD has 3300mAh of go juice inside. This is not an all-day battery; this is a 2-3 day battery, depending on your usage pattern. Let's take a closer look at Motorola's latest flagship phone. Read More ...
OCZ Vector Solid State Drive The OCZ Vector 2.5 solid state drive (VTR1-25SAT3 series) is an ultra-slim 7mm high-performance SSD storage device produced in-house by OCZ Technology with a focus on reliability. Featuring OCZ's new Indilinx Barefoot 3 storage controller, the Vector SSD series is built to produce optimized performance for enthusiasts wanting to capitalize on near-instant response times. OCZ Vector SSDs are available in 128/256/512GB capacities, and deliver up to 550MB/s read speeds with up to 95,000 Random Read IOPS. In this article Benchmark Reviews puts these specifications to test, and compares the OCZ Vector solid state drive against the leading competition. Read More ...
NETGEAR ProSafe GS110T Gigabit SmartSwitch Until recently, there were only two types of network switches, un-managed and managed. Today, there is a new class, called Smart Switches. A blend of the two previous extremes, they're targeted to both corporate users and what the industry politely calls ProSumers . Switches aren't reviewed by the press that often, but they are a necessary part of many home and SMB networks, so we need to look at what's available now and then. NETGEAR is a major player in the networking market, and today Benchmark Reviews looks at the GS110T, one of the less expensive offerings in their ProSafe SmartSwitch line. It's got enough GbE ports to future-proof most home installations, plus two fiber optic interfaces. Read More ...
Gigabyte Aivia Osmium Mechanical Keyboard It is now common to see gaming peripherals in the marketplace that originate from manufacturers that are originally known for producing high-quality computer components. Gamers certainly welcome this trend, and we all hope that it continues because the end result is that we have many outstanding options from which to choose. Being one of the manufacturers that is known primarily for producing motherboards and other computer components, Gigabyte has quietly been providing us with some solid peripherals. Its latest keyboard entry, the Gigabyte Aivia Osmium Keyboard, is, clearly, very well constructed, boasting Cherry MX Red mechanical key switches. There are a number of other mechanical keyboards out there from which to choose, and Benchmark Reviews will explain why the feature-rich Gigabyte Aivia Osmium mechanical gaming keyboard should be among those on your consideration short list. Read More ...
Fractal Design Node 304 Mini-ITX Case Everything is getting smaller. With today's emphasis on efficiency and mobility, and processors that do even more with much less power consumption, it is a trend that will probably continue. With the success of enclosures such as the BitFenix Prodigy and Coolermaster's Elite 120 Advanced, it is great to see other manufacturers embrace this trend and put their own innovations and ideas into the small form factor market. Choices are always a good thing for a customer, and Fractal Design brings their own blend of ITX with the Node 304. In the following pages, Benchmark Reviews will take a closer look at the ideas featured in the Fractal Design Node 304 FD-CA-NODE-304-BL Mini-ITX tower computer case. Read More ...
Das Keyboard Model S Professional Metadot's Das Keyboard is one of the most recognized keyboards on the mechanical keyboard market. The Das Keyboard has become one of the standards to which all other mechanical keyboards are compared. The question that Benchmark Reviews will be trying to answer is Metadot's keyboard The keyboard to have or is it just another mechanical keyboard in the growing market of mechanical keyboards aimed at both the gamers and the professionals. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the Das Keyboard Professional Model S Mechanical. Read More ...
Rosewill Gaming Keyboard RK-8100 Despite being a PC gamer since receiving MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries for my parents' ancient Epson back in 1995, I've never really had a keyboard specifically designed as a gaming keyboard. They've always been generic office things from Microsoft or Logitech. At a relatively low $24.99, Rosewill targets this well-featured peripheral at the budget-conscious gamer. It features a number of bells and whistles to appeal to a gaming audience. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Rosewill Gaming Keyboard RK-8100 (model RIKB-11003). Read More ...
Samsung Galaxy S3 Smartphone SPH-L710 Desktop and notebook computers are slowing being dominated by the smartphone, a portable yet capable electronic device that grows more powerful with each new generation. For users who want to stay productive, or merely connected while away from their desk, the smartphone is proving to be a mobile workhorse. Samsung is a master of portable consumer devices, and a pioneer in the smartphone industry. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the Samsung Galaxy S III (model GT-I9300), an ultra-powerful smartphone with 4.8 HD Super AMOLED screen and Google Android 4.1.2 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. Read More ...
A4Tech Ultracore3 V7 Gun3 Gaming Mouse Being an enthusiast doesn't necessarily mean pouring an incredible amount of money into a hobby. While going to a web site that sells computer components, sorting by Highest Price and just adding everything at the top of the list to your cart will probably result in a fast computer (probably...) I'm not sure if that is what defines an enthusiast. Sometimes finding those products that ride that price/performance line, getting the absolute most for the money spent - that's where enthusiasm can be found. A4Tech, a company with 25 years of experience with mice and other peripherals, has just released a new line of gaming mice that Benchmark Reviews is going to take a look at today. First up, the A4Tech Ultracore3 V7 Gun3 wired gaming mouse - let's see what A4Tech has in store for gaming enthusiasts... Read More ...
ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 USB 3.0 Hard Drive The Adata DashDrive Elite HE720 promises a sleek and light weight method of moving hundreds of gigabytes of data from point A to point B. Imagine showing up at your friends' door with four seasons of their favorite TV show in your pocket. Although USB memory devices currently offer the lightest and smallest way to move data, the cost per gigabyte becomes quite high as capacity increases. In this article, Benchmark Reviews looks at the features and performance for the lightweight, portable and overall good-looking ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 USB 3.0 External Hard Drive. Read More ...
SilverStone SUGO SG09 Micro ATX Build Notes Building a system in a micro ATX computer case is always a challenge, since there's so much less space to work in. Component placement and wiring will require much more attention and time than they would for a build in a standard ATX tower chassis. After our previous look at the SilverStone SUGO SG09 Micro ATX chassis, SilverStone sent us some new components designed for use in this case. Benchmark Reviews takes a look at how these new components affect the build. Read More ...
How To Send Free Text Messages Via Email Wireless carriers continue to raise the price for sending text messages from your cellular phone, even though Short Message Service (SMS) has been around for twenty years and creates very little load on their infrastructure. Network carriers such as AT T charge $.20 per text message or $.30 per multimedia message unless you add their optional $20/month unlimited messaging service, which may not fit into everyone's budget. International texting creates additional charges, which could also be avoided. This guide offers an alternative, and shows you how to send simple text and multimedia picture messages through any email account. Read More ...
Thermaltake Level 10M Gaming Mouse A couple of years ago, Thermaltake entered into a design collaboration with auto maker BMW, resulting in the impressive and very expensive Level 10 computer case. At $800 retail, it didn't sell very well, but it did make its mark as one of the most innovative and dramatic computer cases ever produced. The same design aesthetic is evident in Thermaltake's latest collaboration with BMW, the Level 10M Gaming Mouse. The box boasts that it's Born to be seen , but of course what really matters is how it performs, and Benchmark Reviews is here to find out just that. Read More ...
Arctic USB Charger PRO 4 Rev.2 USB has made it convenient to charge mobile devices, since most people also have access to a computer with an available port. But as the devices add up, those ports become scarce. This is ideal during extended travel, when battery power for items like the Apple iPad or iPhone runs low after a movie. Keeping fully charged is a challenge while traveling, since most people leave their bulky systems at home. This is where a portable USB charge adapter comes in very handy. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the travel-sized Arctic USB Charger PRO 4 Rev 2, model PSAEQ-AC01301-BL. Read More ...
Oblanc NC2-1 UFO Headphones OG-AUD63042 Finding a good quality set of headphones with a microphone that are compatible across multiple platforms is difficult. Either you get good sound, with no headset features, or you get a headset with less than stellar audio quality for music. The Oblanc NC2-1 UFO headphones aim to fill that slot. Us here at Benchmark Reviews have had the opportunity to put these headphones through their paces. With a padded headband, massive 50 mm driver, in line microphone with call control, and a 4-pole connector with adapter to work across smartphones, tablets, mobile phones, and computers; the NC2-1 headphones are packed with features, and we're going to test them out. Read More ...
Mad Catz Tritton Pro+ 5.1 Surround Headset Before current generation consoles were even conceived, PC gamers and enthusiasts have been able to enjoy the benefits that headsets offer. In recent years XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 users are now also able to enjoy those same benefits. Today Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at the TRITTON Pro+ True 5.1 Surround Sound Headset from Mad Catz. The TRITTON Pro+ is compatible with PlayStation 3, XBOX 360 and PC (Europe) via an optional cable. The TRITTON Pro+ boasts true Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound via eight individual drivers - four in each earcup (Front, Center, Surround, Subwoofer) - each with independent volume control. Visually speaking there isn't much that separates the Pro+ from the rest of the TRITTON range of headsets; it's all about what's inside, so let's find out more. Read More ...
EonNAS 1100 NAS Network Storage Server Data Rot! Every time a compact disk gives up the ghost and you some files, you've experienced it. All digital storage technologies are susceptible to data rot, AKA bit rot. Benchmark Reviews recently highlighted reliability issues that SSD users are experiencing; their flash memory failures have been an eye-opening experience for consumers. We all know how a hard drive crashes , but we're not so clear on how electrons disappear. Large data centers have been acutely aware of this problem, and the industry devised ways of eliminating it. Now, Infortrend is making that technology available to consumers, with their new EonNAS series. The key to data integrity is in the ZFS file system, that's part of the Sun-based OS installed in the EonNAS 1100. Plus, it performs data deduplication on the fly! Read on to find out more... Read More ...
NZXT Cryo X60 Notebook Cooler RN-CRX60-B1 No matter which laptop you have, the expensive or inexpensive one, they pretty much all seem to get very hot in a short period of time. NZXT has released their fifth notebook cooler, the Cryo X60, model RN-CRX60-B1. With a slim profile design using two 120mm asymmetrical cooling fans, aluminum construction, and high airflow with vented aluminum mesh cutouts. Supports laptops up to 16 screen size. This is a premium laptop cooler with an integrated 4 port usb hub and a 5 speed fan controller that runs optionally on Usb power or AC adapter. Built by NZXT known for gamer enthusiast quality cooling products and accessories, Benchmark Reviews will be testing this cooler for performance and value. Read More ...
ROCCAT KONE Pure Gaming Mouse For those of you out there that are looking for a nice basic but high spec gaming mouse, the ROCCAT KONE Pure - Core Performance Gaming Mouse might well be just right for you. By stripping away some of the gimmicks and not so useful features of the KONE[+], ROCCAT have been able to build a sleek beast with the KONE Pure and here at Benchmark Reviews we aim to test it to its fullest. First of all it is smaller than both the KONE[+] and the KONE XTD, and it also does away with the LED strips and weight adjustment system, leaving a gaming peripheral that is a great pleasure to use. The KONE Pure uses the same Omron switches and R3 Pro-Aim laser sensor found in the KONE XTD but lovingly packs them into a more compact package. Think of the KONE Pure as more of a brother than a replacement to the KONE XTD and KONE[+]. Read More ...
HAWKEN Mech Combat FPS Video Game Preview From the moment you hit the launch button to when you expire in a burning and crumpled mess, the impact of the Hawken Mech Combat FSP video game is almost mesmerizing. Meteor Entertainment and Adhesive Games have produced a gripping and fast paced game that is challenging, and very engaging. Benchmark Reviews has had the opportunity to preview the game during the Open-Beta events 1 and 2. Read More ...
BlueAnt Commute Handsfree Car Kit CMT-USEN BlueAnt Wireless is well known for their Bluetooth-connected headsets, such as the high-quality BlueAnt Q2 and the durable BlueAnt T1 series. Bluetooth headsets are great solutions for cellular telephone calls, but can become uncomfortable to wear and lack voice-activated control over calls and text messaging. The BlueAnt Commute CMT-USEN voice-activated handsfree car kit delivers complete voice command interaction with your SmartPhone, and includes all the great technology that delivers clear communication in their premium headsets. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the BlueAnt Commute under several conditions, comparing the features and benefits over other handsfree options. Read More ...
ROCCAT KONE XTD Gaming Mouse This time last year ROCCAT released the KONE[+] to replace the original KONE Gaming Mouse, this year there are two upgrades for the KONE gaming mouse line - the KONE XTD and the KONE Pure. In this article Benchmark Reviews will be looking at the ROCCAT KONE XTD Max Customization Gaming Mouse (model# ROC-11-810). The KONE XTD looks exactly the same as its predecessor but there have been a few changes under the hood. For starters the KONE XTD boasts an 8200 DPI Pro Aim R3 laser sensor, a 32-bit Turbo Core V2 72MHz ARM MCU processor, upgraded Omron switches and an advance Tracking Distance Control Unit. We were impressed with the KONE[+] so let's see if the KONE XTD is a worthwhile replacement. Read More ...
Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe Video Game In their second installment of the popular Guild Wars franchise, ArenaNet has certainly bought out the big guns. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will be reviewing their Digital Deluxe offering, which includes some compelling extras for those that plan to be in larger guilds. The game features a heavily modified Guild Wars 1 graphics engine, complete with totally new audio and cinematics engines which take advantage of today's DirectX 11 video and sound cards. With continuous events and structured player versus player, there should be plenty to keep you occupied for a long time. Read More ...
ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe/WD mini-ITX Motherboard Recently I've had the opportunity to test several small form factor cases aimed at the enthusiast market, and it's been fascinating to see the progress vendors have made in creating cases that allow users to squeeze high performance systems into increasingly smaller spaces. However, the best designed SFF enthusiast case isn't much good without a high performance motherboard, and historically there hasn't been much for the enthusiast in the mini ITX form factor. Until now, at least: ASUS has released their P8Z77-I Deluxe/WD motherboard. Let's see what performance and features they've managed to hammer into this tiny thing. Read More ...
Logitech G600 MMO Gaming Mouse Gamers are demanding people to create equipment for, and who can blame them. When you spend hours a day with your hardware, (like many of us at Benchmark Reviews), and other people are depending on your hardware to hold up, you have certain expectations from it. When looking for a mouse, one considers many factors, including size, weight, customization, durability, and the list goes on. Logitech has aimed its G600 MMO Gaming Mouse towards gamers looking for a high-quality mouse with lots of features, and it definitely shows. With 20 programmable buttons, a maximum DPI of 8200, the G-Shift feature, a lightweight body, and many other features, this mouse provides a balance between functionality and fun. If you've ever found yourself looking for a mouse with a good balance between functionality, durability and cool features, then take a look at this... Read More ...
Logitech G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse Ahh, flagship gaming mice. Nothing says enthusiast more than a top-of-the-line, fully featured, optioned-out model. Although the Logitech G700 Wireless Gaming Mouse has been on the market for awhile, it still resides as Logitech's top answer to various other hybrid wireless gaming mice (Razer Mamba/Naga Epic, Microsoft Sidewinder X8 - if you can still find one, Gigabyte AIVIA, Cyborg R.A.T. 9...). I've always felt that a quality mouse and keyboard will change your computing experience for the better - so does the G700 deliver? Benchmark Reviews will find out for sure... Read More ...
Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 OLED Gaming Keyboard Mad Catz released their new STRIKE 7 keyboard two months back, representing the high end model of their new cyborg series keyboards. Like the Cyborg RAT-9/7/5/3 mice, the STRIKE 5 is now released. It's more affordable, and just as promising. Equipped with the same keyboard and customization setup, the STRIKE 5 is equipped with the same power with the only difference being the auxiliary panel. Instead of the VENOM touchscreen which came with 12 apps, the STRIKE 5 comes with a simplified OLED EYE display. For those looking for a cheaper alternative to the STRIKE 7, Benchmark Reviews will analyze the STRIKE 5 to see if it holds up. Read More ...
Cooler Master HAF-XB Computer Case Enclosure I've reviewed a number of computer cases in the past few years, but I've never had the opportunity to work with anything like the new Cooler Master HAF XB. Rather than offer yet another take on the traditional tower case, Cooler Master goes with a completely new design: a bi-level case which keeps the power supply and drives in the bottom half and the motherboard in the upper half. It'll occupy a lot more desk space than a tower, but what advantages does it offer? Benchmark Reviews will thoroughly dissect this intriguing case and build a high-end AMD gaming system into it to see how it works. Read More ...
Arctic Dual USB Car Charger People love their portable electronics, and can't get escape without their phone, tablet, and digital multimedia devices in tow. We take our ebook readers with us everywhere, carry a Bluetooth wireless headset for calls on the road, and occasionally find time to take pictures with the digital camera. All of these devices require power, and when you're away from home it's hard to keep batteries charged during long trips or after prolonged use. Every vehicle has a 12V cigarette lighter receptacle, but most lack USB power outlets. Arctic Cooling offers the Dual USB Car Charger (model PSAEQ-AC01901-BL) to keep your devices working while on the road, with two USB ports and the ability to fast-charge at up to 2.1 amps of power. Read More ...
CM Storm Ceres 400 Wired Gaming Headset Cooler Master's subsidiary, CM Storm, continues to develop quality PC gaming peripherals proving that it is a serious player in the industry. The CM Storm Ceres-400 wired gaming headset, model SGH-2010-KKTA1, is the organization's latest audio entry into the market, and it is clear what the objective was when developing this headset; to provide budget-conscious gamers with a high-quality set of headphones. Priced at around $50, the Ceres-400 is packed with features, such as the large 40mm drivers, you normally won't find at this price point. Benchmark Reviews is proud to take a close look at this headset in order to provide you with a thorough review of it. Read More ...
Personal 3D Printing vs Patents and Gun Controls 3D printing technology has progressed beyond prototyping and developed into consumer production. What was once an expensive process that enabled quicker proto-fabrication has now become an affordable means for regular users to construct or duplicate any object of their desire. Inventors have championed 3D printers as devices favorable to their pursuit of product development, but the same technology will allow consumers the ability to copy patented work or firearms without consideration. The resulting dilemma will play out in courts around the globe as 3D printing devices and the software that coordinates them are steadily improved. Read More ...
NZXT Phantom 820 Tower Computer Case A great case can last an enthusiast many builds. This means that case designers need to create cases that can handle many different configurations, with many different requirements. A multi-GPU system has different requirements than a single GPU system, which in turn has different requirements than professional workstation. While NZXT attempts to cater to all of these parties, designing a case involves making compromises between the three areas of quality, features, and cost. Therefore, the question Benchmark Reviews will attempt to answer is what compromises did NZXT make in the creation of the NZXT Phantom 820. Read More ...
RHA SA950i Portable Headphones Following on from the RHA CA-200 Noise isolating headphone review last week, Benchmark Reviews is all set to take a look at the higher priced RHA SA950i On-Ear Portable Headphones from Reid Heath Acoustics. The SA950i headphones are designed primarily for Apple iPhone/iPod/iPad users, but will also work just as well on most other modern smartphones. Available in Apple Retail Stores from October 30th 2012 (MSRP $59.95), the RHA website claim the SA950i Headphones feature technologies more commonly found in full-sized studio equipment, and delivers professional-grade audio in a compact supra-aural design . The SA950i Headphones also feature a 1.5m braided cable with a multi function in-line remote, contour forming ear cups, adjustable chrome sliders, 40mm titanium coated mylar drivers and dynamic neodynium magnets. RHA seem pretty confident about the SA950i Headphones, and we aim to see if they can really deliver. Read More ...
Intel SSD 335 Series Solid State Drive Intel's SSD 335 Series solid state drive is available in 240GB capacity and features 20nm 64GB IMFT 29F16B08CCMF2 NAND Flash components. Optimized for the SATA 6Gb/s interface, the Intel SSD 335 Series provides sequential reads up to 500 MB/s and 450 writes up to MB/s. Performance for 4 KB random reads reaches 42,000, while writes climb to 52,000 IOPS (94,000 combined). Intel SSD 335 uses a second-generation LSI/SandForce SF-2281VB1-SDC processor with enhanced BCH ECC capability, and supports for ATA-7 Security Erase. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the value-priced Intel SSD 335 Solid State Drive (SSDSC2CT240A4K5) against competing storage solutions to determine the best value for your computer system. Read More ...
SilverStone SUGO SST-SG09 MicroATX Chassis As more enthusiasts discover that they really don't need seven or eight slots in a standard ATX motherboard, the popularity of Micro ATX and Mini ITX rigs is exploding. Formerly constrained to HTPC or light home server duty, small form factor systems are now becoming the province of enthusiasts, aided by motherboards and cases designed to support the power and air flow required to house the higher-end components such systems require. The latest performance-oriented Micro ATX case is Silverstone's new SUGO SG09B, and since it's from Silverstone, you might expect that it has some unique design features. You'd be right. Read More ...
OCZ Technology: From SSDs to Layoffs Once upon a time between 2004-2006, OCZ was a well-known manufacturer of high-end memory components and power supply units that sold under the motto Founded by Enthusiasts, for Enthusiasts . During the peak economy in 2007, OCZ Technology CEO Ryan Petersen proved his devotion to enthusiasts by purchasing PC Power Cooling (May 2007), swiftly followed by elite system-builder Hypersonic PC (October 2007). Through the years that followed, OCZ's brand name would successfully sell NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, overclocker heatsinks, premium thermal pastes, hardcore gaming peripherals, and even a mind-controlled Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA). On March 2008, OCZ Technology revealed the industry's first consumer Solid State Drive - the apex of their dedication towards high-performance computer hardware enthusiasts. The future looked so very bright, until stock value became the mission. As of 26 October 2012, many of the great minds behind OCZ's enthusiast movement were without work. Read More ...
Gigabyte F2A85X-UP4 AMD FM2 Motherboard The second generation of AMD A-Series APUs is now among us. Hopefully you have been able to read our articles about the newest AMD Trinity Processors. Those APUs are nice, but they amount to nothing without a motherboard to pair them with. At Benchmark Reviews, we tested those APUs with the Gigabyte F2A85X-UP4 Socket FM2 A85X Motherboard. While the A85X chipset brings a few minor changes to the FCH, Gigabyte has added a lot of their own features to the F2A85X-UP4 motherboard to ensure that it meets all of the needs of early FM2 adopters. Read More ...
Silverstone FP37 SDXC USB 3.0 Front Bay Card Reader A media card reader can be a convenient device when it comes to transferring information between cameras, video cameras and a desktop computer. Media card readers based on USB 3.0 should take advantage of the higher interface bandwidth to allow much faster file transfer. In this article, Benchmark Reviews looks at the Silverstone FP37 USB 3.0 front bay media card reader to find out just what kind of features and performance can be expected from this newer generation of media card reader. Read More ...
AMD FX-8350 Vishera Desktop Processor AMD introduced its new FX-series processors almost exactly a year ago, and AMD enthusiasts hoped these Zambezi CPUs, built on AMD's new Bulldozer architecture, would provide real competition to Intel's Sandy Bridge line. But although the FX-8150 had eight integer cores and was capable of high clock speeds, its high price and poor performance at the individual core level meant that it wasn't very competitive with the equivalent Intel CPUs. Now we have the AMD FX-8350 CPU, code-named Vishera and based on the Piledriver architecture to test. Has AMD managed to reduce the performance deficit relative to Intel? Let's find out. Read More ...
Use PlayStation3 Gamepad with PC Games Ever considered buying a gamepad for racing, sports, or split-screen PC games? Well, there are quite a few options from Microsoft, Logitech, and Saitek including the popular Logitech F710 and Saitek P3600. However, if you don't fancy the grip of the Xbox controller, don't agree with the colour scheme of the F710, or are just looking for something different, there is good news! The Sony DUALSHOCK 3 controller (designed for the PS3), with a little work can be made to work on your PC. Certain unique features of the PS3 controller, such as six-axes motion-sensing and pressure sensitive buttons, make it a viable competitor to the more popular options. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will demonstrate that one of the best controllers of all time can be used to score breathtaking goals, pull off amazing combos, and crush lap times in your favorite PC games. Read More ...
Logitech G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard After almost dying out, then re-emerging as boutique items for snobs, mechanical keyboards are experiencing a sudden surge in popularity as people realize the advantages they have in keyboard feel and longevity over the traditional rubber dome or membrane keyboards. After testing mechanical keyboards from Cooler Master, Corsair, Rosewill, and Thermaltake, Benchmark Reviews now has the opportunity to look at a mechanical keyboard from one of the largest keyboard vendors in the world, Logitech. Join me as I explore the features and capabilities of their new Logitech G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Read More ...
JVC HA-NC250 Noise Cancelling Headphones Noise cancelling headphones are almost a necessity for frequent travelers. Benchmark Reviews has just complete field trials of the JVC HA-NC250 noise cancelling headphones. These headphones provide solid all around performance for a very competitive price. Read More ...
RHA CA-200 Black Noise Isolating Headphones Since its conception Benchmark Reviews' primary focus has been on consumer and enthusiast PC hardware, and now with the proliferation of mobile computing and gadgets it was only a matter of time before that focus shifted slightly. Today we will be taking a look at a set of RHA CA-200 Black Headphones from Reid Heath Acoustics. Available now for a mere $29.95, the CA-200's claim to offer high quality and performance at a low cost. Features include; 40mm mylar drivers, neodymium magnet and CCAW voice coils, 3.5mm gold plated connections, an ErgoFit system which allows the ear cup to pivot on multiple axes, and most importantly - a detachable braided cable. Please join us as we analyze the performance, comfort, aesthetics and functions of the RHA CA-200 Black Headphones. Read More ...
Logitech G930 Wireless Gaming Headset A great headset will change the way you think about sound. It all started when I upgraded to a Sapphire Radeon 7970. As it turns out, this dual-slot graphics card extended just enough to prevent the installation of my aftermarket sound card in the only remaining PCI slot. The Razer Carcharias headset I was using just didn't sound the same with onboard sound, so it was off to find another solution - so I returned the 7970 and all was good. HA! Like any of us here at Benchmark Reviews would miss out on a perfectly valid chance to upgrade... Truth be told, I still felt like something was missing in my computing experience, so I set out to find another headset that would enhance the audio I enjoy - a worthy compliment to the enhanced visuals afforded by the Radeon 7970. That brings us to the Logitech G930 Wireless Gaming Headset - ladies and gentlemen, lend me your ears... Read More ...
PNY XLR8 PRO Solid State Drive Not many Solid State Drive manufacturers offer a five-year full-replacement product warranty, but PNY does. Built in the USA, the PNY XLR8 PRO SSD series combines a second-generation LSI/SandForce SF-2281 SATA 6Gb/s controller with fast IMFT-branded NAND flash components to produce up to 85,000 IOPS. PNY has tweaked the XLR8 PRO SSD-series to deliver transfer speeds up to 550 MB/s read and 520 MB/s write. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests these claims, and compares XLR8 PRO SSD performance to competing storage solid-state solutions to find out which SSD is best. Read More ...
CM Storm Recon Mouse and Skorpion There are many different aspects to an enjoyable computer experience, and one of the foremost of those is input devices. The right mouse or keyboard can make or break a game, cause the death of a boss, or the death of your party, make your headshot across the map, or end up with you staring at a respawn timer. Cooler Master recently released their Storm Recon mouse, as well as the Skorpion mouse bungee. The ambidextrous Storm Recon boasts many different bells and whistles, and here at Benchmark Reviews, we will put both items through their paces. Read More ...
Genius GX-Gaming Cavimanus 7.1 Headset There are headsets that are nice for listening to music, and then there are headsets specifically designed to enhance the gaming experience. Genius presents the GX-Gaming Cavimanus 7.1 channel corded Headset and takes pro gaming audio to a whole new plateau. The Cavimanus has combined a high quality neodymium 40mm sound driver, with a well calibrated vibration feature that provides incredible explosive bass that sounds like its coming from a sub woofer. With a mid-range retail price point of $64.99, Benchmark Reviews will analyze the Cavimanus (HS-G700V) for quality, performance, and value. Read More ...
NETGEAR R6300 Gigabit Wi-Fi Router Next generation wireless routers are now firmly in the marketplace, and Benchmark Reviews has had the opportunity to take a closer look at one of NETGEAR 's current flagship routers, which is the NETGEAR R6300 Gigabit Wi-Fi Router. Having Broadcom's 5G Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11ac chips on-board, The R6300 is capable of delivering speeds of up to 1300Mbps when connected to other 802.11ac devices, and speeds of up to 450Mbps when connected to 802.11n devices. Some have suggested that it has, a face that only a mother could love, but, personal preferences aside, the design of the R6300 is not indicative of this router's performance and capability. It is packed with great features, such as READYshare, that are designed to address your personal and professional wireless needs. Whether you want to stream HD video, sit down for an extended gaming session, or even do a number of tasks simultaneously, the NETGEAR R6300 can handle it. Read More ...
Patriot Gauntlet 320 Wireless HDD PCGTW320S If you've ever wanted a compact storage device that was small, had its own power supply, and wirelessly accessible, then the Patriot Gauntlet 320 fits the build perfectly. While capable of connecting via SuperSpeed USB 3.0, the Patriot Gauntlet is so much more. Designed as a portable hard disk drive with 320GB of storage space, 5.5-hour lithium-ion battery, and and integrated 150Mbps Wi-Fi b/g/n access point, the Patriot Gauntlet 320 (PCGTW320S) simultaneously streams media to up to five devices. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Patriot Gauntlet 320 using Google Android and Apple iPhone devices as well as digital media players and the PC platform. Read More ...
MSI GTX N650Ti Power Edition Video Card The final iteration of NVIDIA's Kepler GPUs is now upon us. The GTX 650Ti, which is technically closer related to the GTX 660 than the actual GTX 650 itself, is about to fill in the final gap in Kepler GPU chart. The GTX 650Ti is being positioned as an affordable GPU meant to allow all gamers to have the same Kepler benefits that may have previously been out of reach. Here at Benchmark Reviews, we have the MSI GEFORCE GTX 650Ti Power Edition 1GD5/OC video card on hand and we have put it through its paces. In the following article, we will strip down the MSI GTX 650Ti Power Edition video card and test it against a wide variety of other graphics cards to show you just where it stands. Read More ...
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Video Card NVIDIA's GeForce GTX series traditionally offers enthusiast-level performance with features like multi-card SLI pairing and GPU Boost application-driven variable overclocking technology. The GeForce GTX 650 Ti graphics card keeps with tradition in terms of performance by offering the capable GK106 GPU with 768 CUDA cores, but skips past some of the top-end extras. Nevertheless, NVIDIA Kepler GPU architecture delivers additional proprietary features such as: 3D Vision, Adaptive Vertical Sync, multi-display Surround, PhysX, and TXAA antialiasing. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti graphics card with DirectX 11 video games. Read More ...
AMD A8-5600K APU Trinity Desktop Processor Right on track, well after Ivy Bridge, AMD has released their second generation of Accelerated Processing Units in the form of the Trinity series A10-5800K and the A8-5600K. Last week, we brought you a preview of these two APUs just to give you a taste of their gaming performance and some of their specifications. Today, at Benchmark Reviews, we are going in detail for a full work-over of the A8-5600K APU. Read More ...
AMD A10-5800K Trinity Desktop Processor Right on track, well after Ivy Bridge, AMD has released their second generation of Accelerated Processing Units in the form of the Trinity series A10-5800K and the A8-5600K. Last week, we brought you a preview of these two APUs just to give you a taste of their gaming performance and some of their specifications. Today, at Benchmark Reviews, we are going in detail for a full work-over of the A10-5800K APU. Read More ...
Orcs Must Die! 2 Video Game Are you looking for some slice dice fun that doesn't require a large time commitment? Do you wish you were in the Lord of the Rings movies, killing orcs left and right? If you answered 'yes' to both of these questions, then Orcs Must Die! 2 is the action game for you. Featuring slick graphics and great use of sound, Orcs Must Die! 2 is the type of game you launch intending just to play a map or two, then look at the clock and find out hours have passed. Check out why you should give this budget-priced video game a chance in this review from Benchmark Reviews. Read More ...
MSI Z77 MPOWER LGA1155 Motherboard MSI should be well known to most of our readers, and today Benchmark Reviews checks out their new MSI Z77 MPOWER LGA1155 motherboard. This time around MSI is aiming at the performance enthusiast and overclocker: the MPOWER is an OC Certified motherboard. What, precisely, does OC Certified mean? Join us as we put this board through its paces and see if it can serve as the foundation of an overclocked system. Read More ...
SPEEDLINK KUDOS RS Gaming Mouse It's annoying when certain jazzed up peripherals are branded as 'Gaming' especially when they have no particular benefit to gamers. SPEEDLINK on the other hand have made a very good effort with the KUDOS RS Gaming Mouse, while it is very flashy looking with its red metallic finish it also packs some good features too. The KUDOS RS features include a 5700 dpi laser sensor, on-the-fly sensitivity and profile switching, 7 programmable buttons and a 4D scroll wheel. Here at Benchmark Reviews many of us are enthusiastic gamers and we strive for quality and functionality as just much as you, our faithful readers. Please read on to find out more. Read More ...
CM Storm Scout 2 Gaming PC Case Benchmark Reviews evaluated the first CM Storm Scout gaming case when it was first released in 2009. Back then, it was a unique combination of form, function, and swagger. The built-in handle made it a natural for LAN parties, but the size and weight meant two things - you could pack in some serious hardware, and you needed serious muscles to carry it around. Perhaps surprisingly, that combination turned out to be very popular, and Cooler Master was encouraged to bring the basic design up to date after a few years. The 2012 version, called Scout 2, is better in almost every way. No major shifts in form or function occurred, and almost everything you liked about the original Scout has been updated and improved. Let's take a look at what the design team did with their second chance... Read More ...
Borderlands 2 Defeat The Warrior Farming Guide Borderlands 2 is an exciting game that pulls you into a fantasy world that's been done a hundred times, but finds a way to give it to you like never before. While the game itself is a hybrid creation with familiar ingredients that taste of Eve Online, World of Warcraft, and Fallout, then seasoned with hints of Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty. Players assume the role of a vault hunter in one of four combat disciplines: Commando, Gunzerker, Assassin, and Siren. The character then fight bandits in first-person shooter format across a vast array of maps, but unlike most FPS-styled games, each level means better loot and tougher enemies. In this article Benchmark Reviews explains how to easily beat 'The Warrior' end boss within 'The Talon of God' final story mission, then we show you how to farm him for XP and legendary purple weapons over and over again. Read More ...
Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 Gaming Keyboard Mad Catz has always taken wild swings at design and innovation. Their latest introduction, the Mad Catz STRIKE 7 gaming keyboard, is among the most luxurious and expensive keyboards on the market. With 7 detachable and modular pieces, 1 TFT-LCD touch screen, 12 programmable macro keys, 12 touch screen macros, and 3 instant toggle profiles, the raw capability of this keyboard can put any keyboard to shame. Benchmark Reviews will take apart the STRIKE 7 and see if it really is the king of the crop. Read More ...
AMD Trinity APU A10-5800K & A8-5600K Preview Less than two days ago, Benchmark Reviews received the latest and greatest APUs from AMD; the A10-5800K and the A8-5600K. They don't launch in the retail market for a couple of weeks, but we are bringing you the low down in a special preview of the newest Accelerated Processing Units about to become available. The Second Generation APUs follow along the same lines as last year's APU releases by AMD with some notable upgrades in both CPU and GPU performance. The new Trinity series of APUs also comes with a new chipset and socket that are surprisingly not backwards compatible with the first generation Llano series of APUs. Read More ...
Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X Intel ATX Motherboard The latest chipset from Intel, the Z77, has been around for a little while now and has certainly spurred a lot of interest by aftermarket motherboard manufacturers. Little actually changed between the Z68 chipset and the Z77 chipset. Z77 added Smart connect to let you receive emails while your computer is asleep and Rapid Start to speed up boot times. With so little changing, it is up to the manufacturers to pack their motherboards so full of features that they stand out above the rest of the competition. That is exactly what Biostar has done with the Hi-Fi Z77X. Read More ...
Thecus N5550 NAS Network Storage Server The Thecus N5550 NAS Server is aimed right at the typical small business owner or advanced home user, by virtue of its size and form factor. It benefits from a recent tech refresh of the Intel Atom product line, has 2GB of DDR3 installed, and uses an interesting SATA/RAID controller solution. The Local Display feature means you can hook up a keyboard, mouse and video monitor directly to the NAS, for setup or media streaming duties. With five bays you can have capacity and redundancy, with RAID 5, 6, or 10, plus a hot spare. Dual GbE network ports are standard, as is a single USB 3.0 port on the front panel. Benchmark Reviews has tested several NAS products lately, ranging from simple two bay units, up to an 8-Bay NAS for the storage needs of large businesses. Let's see how this 5-bay device compares to its competitors. Read More ...
Razer Carcharias Gaming Headset For many gamers, the most important piece of hardware in their repertoire (after their computers of course) is their headset. Whether you use one so you can game while your significant other is asleep, to get better audio quality than your speakers provide, or simply because you prefer them, there's nothing like a good headset. Razer offers gamers their Carcharias wired gaming headset, model number RZ04-00270100-R3U1. Priced for $79.99, the Carcharias offers good sound, a comfortable fit (even with glasses!), and plug-and-play interfacing. Benchmark Reviews will test the Carcharias headset for range, sensitivity, comfort and general functionality. Read More ...
EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB SuperClocked When PC gamers upgrade their computer's video card, they want to get as much value as possible from their investment. They also want to be covered in case of failure, and get back into the fight as quickly as possible. NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 660 graphics card delivers impressive performance to the mainstream, pushed into hyper speed by EVGA's factory SuperClocked treatment. A 3-year warranty can be extended to 10-years, surpassing every other brand in the industry. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB SC (model 02G-P4-2662-KR) against a collection of DirectX 11 discrete graphics solutions. Read More ...
Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini-ITX Case As more and more features are subsumed onto the motherboard, and graphics cards grow ever more powerful, many enthusiasts are realizing that they can do without the size and space requirements of an ATX form factor system. Micro-ATX and mini-ITX systems are becoming more popular, with new motherboards and cases breaking out of the HTPC market that they've defined for so long and nudging into the enthusiast market. Benchmark Reviews looks at Cooler Master's Elite 120 Advanced case and builds a gaming system in it to see how it fares. Read More ...
ADATA XPG SX900 Solid State Drive Until recently, all SandForce-based solid state drive storage products came with a reserved NAND flash capacity referred to as 'Over Provisioning', used for low-level tasks by the SSD controller. Available now with the ADATA XPG SX900 series, a LSI-SandForce 2281-based solid state drive, capacity grows 7% larger thanks to new firmware that specifies binary capacity points while preserving performance. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the value-priced 256GB ADATA XPG SX900 SSD (model ASX900S3-256GM-C). Read More ...
Thermaltake BlacX 5G Docking Station For our readers in the field of IT, data recovery whether from a dying disk, virus infection, or a dying system is a common occurrence. While slave drive kits work, they can look messy. Thermaltakes solution to this is its line of BlacX vertical docking stations. Benchmark Reviews will be looking at the updated Thermaltake BlacX 5G docking station, which will give users SATA 6Gb/s and SuperSpeed USB-3.0 support allowing for the fastest possible transfer speeds. This review will be evaluating whether the Thermaltake BlacX 5G dock is something every IT department should have or if there are better solutions on the market. Read More ...
Damage Inc: Pacific Squadron WWII Aerial warfare first became a major component of combat during the Second World War, amidst a transitional period in motorized flight that had only been created forty years prior. There had been mixed results in the previous World War, but the enormity of WWII pushed Nations to invest their best engineering into airborne combat operations. The fight was everywhere, but it was most efficient from the air above. Mad Catz captures this historical time in the flight simulation video game Damage Inc: Pacific Squadron WWII. Each collector's edition kit includes the popular Saitek Pacific AV8R FlightStick, imposing realistic flight controls into action for either simulation or arcade modes. Read More ...
CM Storm Stryker Computer Case Review In the fall of 2011, Cooler Master's gaming and enthusiast product branch, CM Storm, released the CM Storm Trooper Computer Case. It was a massive full-tower case with a very unique front I/O style and a big handle on top. The CM Storm Trooper received a lot of high marks by reviewers and owners alike. This time around, Cooler Master is changing things up just a little. The CM Storm Trooper is getting a face-lift and a name change. In this article, Benchmark Reviews is taking a look at the CM Storm Stryker, a white, windowed version of the Trooper. Read More ...
Silverstone SUGO SG08 Mini-ITX Case Does your system contain a single video card and use onboard sound? If so, you might understand the increasing popularity of small form factor systems based on micro-ATX and mini-ITX motherboards. These tiny systems trade expansion slots for small size and convenience, and Silverstone of course has a number of cases for each. Benchmark Reviews checks out their latest mini-ITX computer case, the Silverstone SUGO SST-SG08, in this review. Read More ...
SLI Performance: GTX 660 Ti vs GTX 670 Back in May (2012) NVIDIA released their $400 GeForce GTX 670 video card, securing the number two position in their single-GPU product stack. Just three short months later, the GeForce GTX 660 Ti graphics card arrived to market and filled store shelves at the $300 price point. With a substantial $100 price difference between these two product, consumers might (incorrectly) presume there's a significant difference in hardware or performance. To the surprise of many, the GeForce GTX 670 and GTX 660 Ti are nearly the same card. Both feature identical 28nm NVIDIA 'Kepler' GK104 graphics processors, complete with 1344 CUDA cores all clocked to identical 915 MHz core and 980 Boost speeds. Additionally, the GTX 670 and GTX 660 Ti also feature the exact same 2GB GDDR5 video memory buffer, clocked to 1502 MHz on both cards. The only physical difference between these two products resides in the memory subsystem: GeForce GTX 670 receives four 64-bit controllers (256-bit total bandwidth) while GeForce GTX 660 Ti is designed with three memory controllers (192-bit bandwidth). So does this amount to any real differences in video game performance? Read More ...
Xigmatek Gigas uATX Computer Enclosure Mention the term Small Form Factor and most people think of a PC case that you can hold in one hand. The term came into use when PC giants HP, Compaq, and IBM were all trying to shrink the corporate desktop. The question that came to mind when Benchmark Reviews first saw the XIGMATEK Gigas was, Why this design? It's because consumers want sleek, fashionable components in their life, and big tower cases are past their expiration date, as industrial designs go. There's an increasing focus on svelte boxes that work with a mini-ITX or micro-ATX motherboard. The tiniest boxes give up some measure of performance in exchange for space, but mid-sized models like the Gigas can handle the most powerful components available. The combination of four 120mm fans and passive ventilation on the side panel supplies plenty of cool air for all the critical components inside. The ability to use virtually any 120mm CPU cooler also helps keep temps down. While not exactly commonplace, you can also run a SLI/CrossFire arrangement. The Gigas will handle full-sized graphics cards up to 320mm in length, and PSUs up to 300mm. Let's see if we can turn this piece of art into a Power Cube. Read More ...
MSI GTX 660-Ti Power Edition Video Card The long-awaited mid-range Kepler cards are finally here, with NVIDIA partners releasing their own unique takes on the GTX GeForce 660Ti GPU. MSI brings some of the features of their Lightning series down to this level, with enhanced power circuitry, triple voltage control, and even the auto dust-removing Twin Frozr cooler. NVIDIA says this GPU can compete in performance with the much more expensive AMD Radeon 7950, but does it? Benchmark Reviews puts the MSI GTX 660-Ti Power Edition video card through its test regimen to find out. Read More ...
ASUS GeForce GTX 660Ti DirectCU-II TOP Many computer hardware enthusiast recall when NVIDIA unleashed their GeForce GTX 580 video card onto the gaming landscape back on November 2010, setting the bar so high the closest threat to the $500 price point was a combined pair of the competition's best graphics cards. Under two years later, NVIDIA returns with a 150W mid-range solution that beats their former flagship. Built upon the NVIDIA GK104 GPU, the GeForce GTX 660 Ti offers the same high-end features found on the top-end GTX 680, but with a much more affordable price tag. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS GeForce GTX 660 Ti DirectCU II TOP, model TI-DC2T-2GD5. Read More ...
SilverStone TJ04-E Computer Case Silverstone is a company that whose products I always look forward to reviewing. They tend to keep their engineering department on a loose leash and as such Silverstone tends to have some unique designs come out of its doors while keeping the beautiful exteriors I expect out of my cases. The Silverstone TJ04-E is a redesigned version of the venerable TJ04 case, with a new interior that has some interesting designs that allow the TJ04 to hold nine 3.5 drives and six 2.5 drives. The TJ04-E can also accommodate video cards up to 12.8 even with the drive cage installed an impressive feat considering the TJ04-E is only 489mm long and considered a mid-tower enclosure. Therefore, the real question is does the unique design of the TJ04-E make for a great case, or does Silverstone need to go back to the drawing board. Read More ...
G-Cube iHL-500BK Luxury Headset In the world of computer audio, G-CUBE is not one of those names that comes up often. There's a valid reason for this: The company is still at the stage where it is trying to establish a place for itself amongst the crowd of contenders in this hotly-contested arena. Their new Luxy 500 Dynamic HiFi Headset (model number iHL-500BK) is the company's latest entry into the market of sub-$100.00 headsets. Benchmark Reviews examines the Luxy 500 Dynamic HiFi Headset and tests it through a wide variety of usage scenarios. Read on to see how the iHL-500BK stacks up against everything we throw at it. Read More ...
Overclocking the MSI N680GTX Lightning Benchmark Reviews recently tested MSI's N680GTX Lightning video card. While it's the fastest single-GPU card we've ever benchmarked, we weren't able to fully explore its overclocking ability since the utility required to adjust the card's voltages, MSI's own Afterburner 2.2.3, wasn't available. But now it is, so join us as we explore the outer levels of benchmarking performance. Read More ...
NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ v2 NAS Server The NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+ v2 is aimed right at the typical small business owner or advanced home user, by virtue of its size and form factor. It benefits from a recent tech refresh of its hardware and software, becoming the v2 model in the process. With four bays you can have both capacity and redundancy with RAID 5 on a three or four disk array. RAID expansion and migration are easy, with X-RAID2 software that manages all the hard work of expanding and migrating from a single disk to RAID 1, and then to RAID 5. The NV+ v2 uses a Marvell 6282 CPU, running at 1.6GHz and 256MB of DDR3 system memory. A single GbE network port is standard, as are two USB 3.0 ports on the back panel. Benchmark Reviews has tested several NAS products lately, ranging from simple two bay units, up to an 8-Bay NAS for the storage needs of large businesses. Let's see how this 4-bay device compares to its competitors. Read More ...
Sentey Extreme Division GS-6000 II Optimus If you are familiar with Sentey, you'll recognize a certain pattern they have when releasing their computer cases. They generally release a style of case and then release a few more with the same style and some minor changes. There will be an R version of the case that has red highlights, a B version with blue, W for white, and so on. In some case series they will also release a V version with a different side panel (usually windowed). In the case of the Optimus series, as well as a couple of other series, Sentey has now released a II version of the case. At Benchmark Reviews, we have a Sentey GS-6000 II Optimus case on hand and ready break down to explore what they've changed on this one. Read More ...
Cooler Master Storm Sonuz Headset Speakers work well for general listening, but when you need to hear sound detail there's no match for good headphones. Taking things to the next level, Cooler Master offers gamers and audio enthusiasts the best of both worlds with their CM Storm Sonuz wired gaming headset, model SGH-4010-KGTA1. Priced around $69, Sonuz delivers smooth analog sound over extra-large 53mm drivers. In this article Benchmark Reviews will test the CM Storm Sonuz headset for range, sensitivity, comfort, and functionality. Read More ...
ASUS P8Z77-V Thunderbolt Motherboard In the market for a new LGA1155 motherboard, but don't want to spend the cash on a top-end enthusiast level product? Or maybe you just don't need all the extra frippery, but instead are just looking for a solid workhorse board. While ASUS is certainly happy to cater to users with some extra cash in their pockets, they also have a nice selection of midrange motherboards that don't trim as many features as you might think. Benchmark Reviews takes a look at ASUS' mainstream Z77 offering, the P8Z77-V. Read More ...
WD TV Live Digital MultiMedia Player Until recently digital multimedia could only be enjoyed on the computer, and with some extra effort it could be shared onto a portable electronic device. But high-definition movies and music are really best enjoyed on a home theater system, with larger screen and powerful speakers. Now that HDTVs and wireless networking are commonplace an era of attached digital media players has begun, and the WD TV Live helps make the transition easy. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the WD TV Live high-definition digital media player, model WDBHG70000NBK-HESN, and we evaluate how well it entertains us. Read More ...
MSI GeForce GTX 680 Lightning Video Card NVIDIA's new Kepler-based video cards have set new standards in performance for the desktop graphics market. Now that reference-design cards are widely available, manufacturers have the breathing space to start distinguishing their products. Benchmark Reviews has been given the opportunity to examine MSI's N680GTX Lightning video card, and as we'll see MSI has gone far beyond simply slapping a new cooler on a reference design board. As with other products in MSI's Lightning line, the N680GTX boasts a completely new board design that should allow substantial overclocking. Read More ...
Video Games as a Legitimate Art Form Video games: They can be so beautiful to look at, lovely to listen to, and the best of them can take you on narrative journeys that can sometimes rival the best examples of cinema, theater, and literature have to offer. Which begs the question: Can video games be considered a legitimate form of art? Read along as Benchmark Reviews examines the question in-depth. Read More ...
ASUS O!Play LIVE HD Media Player If you're like me, over the years you've collected a huge digital library full of music, pictures, and movies onto your computer. Occasionally, I might watch a video from off my laptop or listen to a song while working at the desktop, but high-definition movies and music are really best enjoyed on a home theater system with larger screen and powerful speakers. The ASUS O!Play LIVE HD Media Player makes this transition easy, accepting every modern media format over local storage and network connections. Watching broadcast television and DVD/BD movies have been replaced with streaming Internet content and downloaded multimedia files, especially for college aged viewers who own a smartphone or tablet device. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS O!Play LIVE HD Media Player, and we evaluate how well it performs our tasks. Read More ...
Corsair Vengeance C70 Computer Case Corsair has been catering for the hardware enthusiasts and gamers for many years now and have gained a lot of praise for their high quality and high performance hardware. In this review Benchmark Reviews examines and tests out the Corsair Vengeance C70 mid-tower gaming PC case. Many of us believe that consoles killed PC gaming and Intel killed overclocking, but now we have another problem - Case manufactures killing case modding. The Corsair Vengeance C70 computer case has an ammo box theme and comes in military green to boot (also available in white and black). The C70 has some new features unique to this model and comes with two 120mm intake fans and one 120mm exhaust fan and removable mesh intake filters. There is also support for many different watercooling configurations including dual radiators for the deep pocketed enthusiast out there. Read More ...
Genius Imperator Pro Gaming Keyboard Genius introduced a strong lineup of gaming peripherals this year and today we will take a look at the GX-Gaming Imperator Pro MMORPG/RTS Gaming Keyboard. This is based on the Imperator baseline model except with extra features that you may want in a premium keyboard. Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the Genius Imperator Pro Gaming Keyboard to see how well it stands against competition. Read More ...
SilverStone Grandia SST-GD07B HTPC Enclosure Appearance is the strongest suit of the SilverStone Grandia GD07. Nothing fits into a fashionable home theater setup as well as a nicely finished dark aluminum front plate, free of everything that shows up on the face of a typical PC. The GD07 also offers functionality at the extreme end of the HTPC market. Generous drive capacity, ability to handle multiple full-length video cards, and compatibility with eATX motherboards puts it way over the top. Flexible options for system airflow, with both down draft and horizontal CPU coolers as viable choices, expand the range of suitable components. This is not a PC case that Benchmark Reviews would recommend for a folding farm, but for extreme HTPC use it performs far above most alternatives. For those that want to have all their main storage integrated into their HTPC and/or want to do some serious gaming on the big screen in the family room, this is one of the very few cases that can do that in style. Read More ...
Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless Headset Corsair is well known for their wide range of high quality and high performance enthusiast and gaming orientated computer hardware. The Vengeance 2000 is their first foray into the wireless gaming headset market and boasts multi-channel 7.1 surround sound gaming audio capabilities too. The Vengeance 2000 headset is very comfortable thanks to a padded headband and microfiber covered memory foam ear pads, and has true freedom of movement thanks to the lack of wires. At the business end we have 50mm drivers with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz and a unidirectional noise-cancelling condenser microphone with a frequency response of 10Hz to 10 kHz. The main setback of the Vengeance 2000 (model CA-9011115-NA) is its price, at $144.99 you have to really ask yourself if it is worth an extra $55 over the Vengeance 1500 for wireless freedom. Benchmark Reviews intends to give you all the information you need to know about the Vengeance 2000 wireless 7.1 gaming headset and to answer any questions you might have. Read More ...
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