Olin Coles

Author's details

Name: Olin Coles
Date registered: 1 March 2007
URL: http://techplayboy.com

Biography

Nevada, USA - Website Founder - Executive Editor - Senior Staff Writer - Content Moderator - Webmaster - Member Since March 2007

Latest posts

  1. Testing Temu 2TB USB Flash Drives (Spoiler: Fake Capacity) — 30 September 2024
  2. Thermaltake Tower 300 Micro ATX Chassis Unveiled — 9 January 2024
  3. Benchmark Reviews is now Tech Playboy — 24 July 2023
  4. Redragon Griffin M602A-RGB Gaming Mouse Software — 24 July 2023
  5. Technology Enhances Muay Thai Kickboxing Training — 10 June 2023

Most commented posts

  1. Win an Antec AMP SP1 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker from Benchmark Reviews! — 20 comments
  2. Samsung SSD 850 PRO Solid State Drive Review — 14 comments
  3. Using RAID-5 Means the Sky is Falling — 11 comments
  4. HP SSD EX920 M.2 Solid State Drive Review — 8 comments

Author's posts listings

Testing Temu 2TB USB Flash Drives (Spoiler: Fake Capacity)

Categories:

Technology Editorials

30 September 2024

by

Temu 2TB USB Type-A Flash Drive

Very recently I found myself on Temu.com looking for inexpensive drive enclosures to house a few SATA SSDs that have been collecting dust. Then, out of nowhere, came the elusive unicorn I was not expecting: 2TB USB flash drives. Could they be as real as advertised?

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Thermaltake Tower 300 Micro ATX Chassis Unveiled

Categories:

Manufacturer News

9 January 2024

by

Thermaltake Tower 300 Hydrangea Blue CA-1Y4-00SFWN-00 Micro Tower Chassis Front Corner

Thermaltake Tower 300 Micro ATX Chassis Unveiled Embrace the Fusion of Form and Function with Thermaltake’s Latest Iconic Release Thermaltake, a leading PC DIY brand for premium hardware solutions, proudly introduces the Tower 300 Micro ATX Chassis, which will be showcased at CES2024. As part of the esteemed Tower Series, known for its iconic vertical case design, the Tower …

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Benchmark Reviews is now Tech Playboy

Categories:

Featured Announcements

24 July 2023

by

Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award Logo (Large: Print Ready)

So here we are. The benchmarkreviews domain was sold, when it should have been techplayboy. There was never more than a few pages of content at Tech Playboy, while Benchmark Reviews had tens of thousands of pages. I am making the most of a terrible situation, one that has been heart breaking after more than a decade of work, and I will not be relegated into a victim. I am moving Benchmark Reviews to Tech Playboy, where our work will live on.

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Redragon Griffin M602A-RGB Gaming Mouse Software

Categories:

Computer Hardware Spotlight

24 July 2023

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Redragon Griffin M602A-RGB Gaming Mouse

Amazon presently sells the Redragon Griffin M602A-RGB wired gaming mouse for $19.99, which makes it an appealing purchase for entry-level and value shoppers. The specifications are impressive for such a bargain, boasting programmable macro functions, full RGB-lighting control, and 7200 DPI optical sensitivity. Without software the Redragon M602A-RGB is an adequate wired gaming mouse, but …

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Technology Enhances Muay Thai Kickboxing Training

Categories:

Technology Editorials

10 June 2023

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Technology Enhances Muay Thai Kickboxing Training

While Muay Thai kickboxing is a traditional martial art, there are some recent instances where technology has been integrated into training, and advanced equipment has been used to enhance the practice and provide additional benefits. In this article, we explore a few examples of how modern technology enhances Muay Thai kickboxing…

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Thermaltake TOUGHRAM XG RGB DDR4 Memory Kit Preview

Categories:

Product Previews

13 May 2021

by

Thermaltake TOUGHRAM XG RGB DDR4 4600MHz 16GB Memory Kit R016D408GX2-4600C19A

Thermaltake TOUGHRAM XG RGB DDR4 Memory Kit Preview By Olin Coles Manufacturer: Thermaltake Product Name: TOUGHRAM XG RGB DDR4 4600MHz 16GB Memory Kit Model Number: R016D408GX2-4600C19A UPC: 0841163077917 Price As Tested: $227.46 (Amazon) Aluminum Heat Spreader Use of aluminum heat spreader which is coated with exquisite paint delivering exceptional heat dissipation to meet high-performance needs. …

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How to Mine Cryptocurrency in 2021: Beginner’s Guide

Categories:

Guides

16 February 2021

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PhoenixMiner Flexpool Ethereum Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency mining can be a lucrative opportunity for people to earn money by using an idle gaming computer while to work while they sleep. This activity has become popular, again, because Bitcoin has just reached a new high of $50,000 USD. In this tutorial guide, I share the steps needed to quickly configure a gaming PC to begin mining one of the favored cryptocurrencies.

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VIZIO 5.1 Sound Bar M51a-H6 Speaker System Review

Categories:

Home Theater Reviews

1 January 2021

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VIZIO M-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar Kit with Dolby Atmos and DTS.X M51a-H6

Like most people in 2020, I retreated indoors during the global pandemic. It has been a constant challenge to entertain and distract, but thankfully streaming services have helped with plenty of shows and movies. This past year has given the term ‘Netflix and chill’ new meaning, and with some help from VIZIO, 2021 could have some added thrill. Boasting eleven total speakers across four components, the new 2021 revision VIZIO M-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (model M51a-H6) might just shake you out of this long hibernation.

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VIZIO V585x-H1 58″ 4K HDR Smart TV Review

Categories:

Displays

17 November 2020

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VIZIO V585x-H1 4K HDR Smart TV Front Color

For under $300 you get a 58-inch 4K UHD display loaded with HDR10+ support, SmartCast 4.0 technology, 802.11n Dual Band Wi-Fi, and VIZIO’s new V-Gaming Engine featuring Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and AMD FreeSync. In this review, I test the $298 VIZIO V585x-H1 58″ 4K HDR Smart TV.

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Does Sprint Booster Improve Vehicle Engine Performance?

Categories:

Technology Editorials

21 September 2020

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Sprint Booster Throttle Response Accelerator Lag Fix

I first learned of Sprint Booster after purchasing a 5th generation Toyota 4Runner in 2020, and discovered that the vehicle’s drive-by-wire accelerator introduced a throttle response delay in an effort to improve fuel economy for its ECO Mode feature. By comparison, this made the new SUV less responsive than my much-older 4th generation 4Runner. The Internet was filled with posts and reviews of buyers who were pleased with their purchase, but did Sprint Booster really improve their vehicle’s engine performance or increase efficiency like some of them claimed?

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Patriot Viper Black RGB DDR4 Memory Preview

Categories:

Product Spotlights

12 May 2020

by

Patriot-Viper-Black-RGB-DDR4-Memory-Preview-Angle

For the longest time, system memory kits were merely a set of chips exposed atop a printed circuit board. Then, in 2003, Patriot Memory changed the landscape by adding metal heat shields to dissipate heat away from the IC’s. Not only did this add a fresh new look to SDRAM, but it offered stability for overclockers. Fifteen years later, Patriot Memory is still assembling their own SDRAM modules and evolving the technology. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we examine Patriot’s new Viper Black RGB DDR4 PC4-28800 3600 MHz gaming memory.

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Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 Memory Review

Categories:

Memory

3 April 2019

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Patriot-Viper-Steel-DDR4-PC4-28800-3600-MHz-Gaming-Memory-Review

Once upon a time consumer memory kits were plain and boring, with bare RAM modules exposing the sensitive components. Then, in 2003, the Patriot Memory series changed landscape by adding metal heat shields to dissipate heat away from the IC’s. Not only did this add a fresh new look to SDRAM, but it offered stability for overclockers. Fifteen years later, Patriot Memory is still assembling their own SDRAM modules and evolving the technology. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we examine Patriot’s new Viper Steel DDR4 PC4-28800 3600 MHz gaming memory.

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Patriot Viper RGB DDR4 Memory Review

Categories:

Memory

18 October 2018

by

Patriot-Viper-RGB-DDR4-Memory-Modules

Once upon a time consumer memory kits were plain and boring, with bare RAM modules exposing the sensitive components. Then, in 2003, the Patriot Memory series changed landscape by adding metal heat shields to dissipate heat away from the IC’s. Not only did this add a fresh new look to SDRAM, but it offered stability for overclockers. Fifteen years later, Patriot Memory is still assembling their own SDRAM and evolving the technology. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we examine Patriot’s new Viper RGB DDR4 PC4-25600 3200 MHz gaming memory.

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Kingston HyperX Fury RGB SSD Review

Categories:

Storage

24 September 2018

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Kingston-HyperX-Fury-RGB-SSD-Purple-Angle

HyperX Fury RGB lights up that dark space in your case with customizable lighting effects, and is fully compatible with all modern RGB controllers. Utilizing the economical Marvell 88SS1074 storage controller with Toshiba 3D TLC NAND flash components, the Kingston HyperX Fury RGB SSD advertises 550 MB/s peak read speeds and 480 MB/s writes. The Fury RGB SSD also offers 500x its capacity is total bytes written, with a three-year warranty. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we test the HyperX Fury RGB SSD against the leading SATA-based competition.

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Samsung SSD 970 PRO Solid State Drive Review

Categories:

Storage

25 July 2018

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Samsung-SSD-970-PRO-Solid-State-Drive-Review-Angle

Not so long ago Samsung debuted their third-generation NVMe client storage devices with their SSD 970 PRO M.2 solid state drive series. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 512GB Samsung SSD 970 PRO, which pairs their latest 2-bit MLC V-NAND and a 512MB LPDDR4 DRAM cache buffer with their new Phoenix controller to produce up to 3500 MB/s reads at 370,000 IOPS and 2300 MB/s writes at 500,000 IOPS, and we compare performance against all the leading competition. We’ll find out if Samsung’s 970 PRO SSD is worth the money.

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Samsung SSD 970 EVO Review

Categories:

Storage

18 July 2018

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Samsung-SSD-970-EVO-1TB-Solid-State-Drive-Angle

Samsung recently debuted their second-generation 3-bit MLC V-NAND flash technology with their SSD 970 EVO NVMe M.2 solid state drive series. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 1TB Samsung SSD 970 EVO, which pairs their latest 64-cell layer V-NAND and a 1GB LPDDR4 DRAM cache buffer with their new Phoenix controller to produce up to 3400 MB/s reads at 500,000 IOPS and 2500 MB/s writes at 450,000 IOPS, and we compare performance against all the leading competition. We’ll find out if Samsung’s 970 EVO SSD is worth the money.

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Samsung SSD 860 PRO 1TB Review

Categories:

Storage

7 July 2018

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Planar NAND allowed manufacturers to offer speedy solid state storage at fair price, while Samsung’s recently announced 860 EVO SSD improved upon this with their latest 3-bit MLC V-NAND flash technology. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 1TB Samsung SSD 860 PRO, which utilizes 64-cell layer 2-bit MLC V-NAND for high endurance and improved sequential performance to produce up to 560 MB/s reads at 100,000 IOPS and 530 MB/s writes at 90,000 IOPS, and compare SATA 6 GB/s performance against the all the leading competition.

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Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr Review

Categories:

Video Game Reviews

7 July 2018

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For more than thirty years, Warhammer 40,000 has offered gamers an exciting storyline set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Adapted from the popular tabletop games into an action role-playing genre, Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr pits players against followers of the Chaos Gods set in the 41st millennium. Choose from Psyker, Crusader, or Assassin background classes to perpetually develop your character in a world where you’ll hunt down enemies and wage war against other power factions. Join me as I forge into the darkness…

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Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB Review

Categories:

Storage

29 June 2018

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Samsung-SSD-860-EVO-1TB-Solid-State-Drive-Angle

Samsung announced their 3-bit MLC V-NAND flash technology with the latest SSD 860 EVO solid state drive series. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 1TB Samsung SSD 860 EVO, which pairs 64-cell layer V-NAND and 1GB LPDDR4 DRAM cache buffer with their MJX controller to produce up to 550 MB/s reads at 98,000 IOPS and 520 MB/s writes at 90,000 IOPS, and we compare SATA 6 GB/s performance against all the leading SSD storage competition.

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VIZIO SB362An-F6 36″ Sound Bar Review

Categories:

Home Theater Reviews

28 June 2018

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VIZIO 36-Inch 2.1 Sound Bar Exposed Speakers Detail

Over the past several years home entertainment has undergone a transformation, slowly replacing bookshelf style speakers for sound bar systems. While many enthusiasts still cling to their large speaker systems, others have seen the wisdom in downsizing. Offering big sound for under $100, the 2018 VIZIO 36-Inch 2.1 Sound Bar with Built-in Dual Subwoofers (model SB362An-F6) delivers more than you might expect. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we test this Bluetooth/wired 2.1-channel sound system using Dolby Audio and DTS media.

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AOC AGON AG352UCG6 Gaming Monitor Review

Categories:

Monitors

30 May 2018

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AOC AGON AG352UCG6 120Hz Curved Gaming Monitor Review

AOC impressed gamers with their AGON AG352UCG series, which delivered a 35″ WQHD panel with 1800R curvature that naturally conforms to how the eye sees the screen to reduce fatigue while creating a more immersive experience. Refreshing the AG352UCG series with AG352UCG6, AOC delivers their third-generation 35″ AGON curved gaming monitor. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I test the updated AOC AGON AG352UCG6 gaming monitor with 35” curved VA panel and 120 Hz NVIDIA G-SYNC support at WQHD 3440×1440 native resolution.

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HyperX Cloud Alpha Gold Gaming Headset Review

Categories:

Audio

16 May 2018

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Kingston HyperX Cloud Alpha Gold Edition Pro Gaming Headset Review Angle

In this review for Benchmark Reviews, we test the Gold Limited Edition 3.5mm analog multi-platform HyperX Cloud Alpha pro gaming headset by Kingston Technology for PC, PS4, Xbox One. Featuring a dual chamber design that separates bass tones from mid level and highs, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Gold headset promises more distinction and less distortion from gaming sounds. A detachable noise-cancelling microphone designed for Discord and TeamSpeak ensure easy integration without compatibility issues suffered from some headsets.

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AudioCheck Tone Tests

Categories:

Featured Announcements

15 May 2018

by

AudioCheck Tone Tests Benchmark Reviews has used resources from audiocheck.net to experience the technical limits of headphones and speaker samples we receive for testing. In addition to their pre-compiled test files, AudioCheck also offers user-built custom files for download. We have assembled some test signals on this page for comparison: BROWSER NOTICE: Many modern web browsers will …

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CHERRY MX BOARD 5.0 Mechanical Keyboard Review

Categories:

Peripherals

11 May 2018

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CHERRY-MX-BOARD-5.0-Mechanical-Keyboard-Review-Left-Corner

Choosing the right peripheral components is critical to demanding PC users. The mouse and keyboard work like natural extensions of the body, and so their selection becomes a personal choice. Keyboards are used for both everyday workload as well as entertainment, so picking the right one is very important. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Cherry MX Board 5.0 corded mechanical keyboard with German-made Gold Crosspoint contact technology precision Cherry MX Red linear switches, double-shot keys, and customizable white LED backlighting.

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HP SSD EX920 M.2 Solid State Drive Review

Categories:

Storage

1 April 2018

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HP-EX920-M.2-SSD-1TB-Solid-State-Drive-Review-Top-Angle

In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we test the 1TB HP SSD EX920 M.2 (model 2YY47AA#ABC) against a host of other PCI-Express 3.1 NVME solid state drive competitors. HP suggests sustained sequential read speeds up to 3200 MB/s, and sustained sequential writes up to 1800 MB/s from their 1TB EX920 SSD, which utilizes 64-layer 3D NAND to deliver impressive storage density and reliability. Relative to solid state storage, one terabyte is an enormous amount of near-instant drive capacity. We’ll see if HP’s EX920 M.2 SSD is worth the money.

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