Steven Iglesias-Hearst

Author's details

Name: Steven Iglesias-Hearst
Date registered: 10 September 2009
URL: http://techplayboy.com

Biography

Leicester, United Kingdom - Senior Staff Writer - Member Since September 2009

Latest posts

  1. HIS Radeon R9 290 iPower IceQ X2 OC Video Card Review — 30 June 2014
  2. HIS Radeon R9 280 IceQ X² OC 3GB Video Card Review — 27 June 2014
  3. AVEXIR Blitz 1.1 DDR3 RAM Memory Review — 1 April 2014
  4. ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Gaming Keyboard Review — 17 March 2014
  5. ROCCAT Siru Gaming Mousepad Review — 17 March 2014

Most commented posts

  1. HIS Radeon R9 280 IceQ X² OC 3GB Video Card Review — 5 comments
  2. HIS Radeon R9 290 iPower IceQ X2 OC Video Card Review — 4 comments
  3. ASRock Z87E-ITX Intel Desktop Motherboard Review — 1 comments
  4. Lian Li PC-Q28 Aluminum Mini-ITX Tower PC Case Review — 1 comments

Author's posts listings

HIS Radeon R9 290 iPower IceQ X2 OC Video Card Review

Categories:

Graphics

30 June 2014

by

HIS_Radeon_R9_290_iPower_IceQ_X2_OC_4GB_Video_Card_Front_View

Since AMD announced their GPU 14 R9 series video cards, AIB partners have been tweaking and tuning their own aftermarket designs. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the HIS Radeon R9 290 iPower IceQ X2 OC 4GB video card (Model# H290QMC4GD). As the name suggests, this particular model features the high end IceQ X2 cooler from the HIS labs and slightly faster Core and Memory speeds. I have seen the evolution of this cooler first hand and I know it to be fully capable. Two 89mm dual axial fans and five heatpipes ensure that your temperatures will stay well within safe limits with the minimum amount of noise, even during overclocking.

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HIS Radeon R9 280 IceQ X² OC 3GB Video Card Review

Categories:

Graphics

27 June 2014

by

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In this next installment of AMD’s GPU 14 R9 line-up, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the HIS Radeon R9 280 IceQ X² OC 3GB Video Card (Model# H280QMC3G2M). As the name suggests, this particular model features the high end IceQ X2 cooler from the HIS labs and faster Core and Memory speeds. I have seen the evolution of this cooler first hand and I know it to be fully capable. Two 89mm dual axial fans and five heatpipes ensure that your temperatures will stay well within safe limits.

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AVEXIR Blitz 1.1 DDR3 RAM Memory Review

Categories:

Memory

1 April 2014

by

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I love it when a company innovates and brings a product to market that people really want. AVEXIR have done just that with their Blitz 1.1 series DDR3 PC memory range – with designs based on popular gaming motherboard brands. For this review AVEXIR have kindly sent Benchmark Reviews a wide range of samples for our testing pleasure. For performance testing, two of the seven memory modules were paired together to form the equivalent of an 8GB dual channel 1600MHz CL9 memory kit (model# AVD3U16000904G-2BZ1). This review will showcase the Blitz 1.1 series PC memory range available from AVEXIR as well as providing vital performance information.

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ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Gaming Keyboard Review

Categories:

Peripherals

17 March 2014

by

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PC Gaming is not dead, it’s just that there isn’t as much innovation happening to steal the headlines. Tablets, Laptops and Consoles are taking the limelight. Sure they’re great for intermittent gaming but can’t really compete with the ultimate solution – The humble PC. ROCCAT is making its debut into the thriving mechanical keyboard market with three variants of its Ryos MK Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. In this review, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the top of the line ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (model# ROC-12-851-BN – US Layout) with Cherry MX Brown switches and individual backlit keys.

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ROCCAT Siru Gaming Mousepad Review

Categories:

Peripherals

17 March 2014

by

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Optical and laser mice will work fine on just about any smooth surface they encounter. So what is the point of a mousepad? To answer that question we would need a science lesson so we will sum it up with one word: Friction. Everyone has their own preference and ROCCAT has many different gaming surfaces to cater to those needs. Today, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the ROCCAT Siru Pitch Black Desk Fitting Gaming Mousepad model# ROC-13-070. The Siru mousepad is unlike any mousepad I have seen before, it is a high speed wafer thin surface and is truly non-slip thanks to an innovative backing surface. Read on to find out more.

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SteelSeries Siberia Elite Gaming Headset Review

Categories:

Audio

31 December 2013

by

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SteelSeries peripherals and headsets are well known for their sleek design, high quality and excellent functionality among enthusiasts and gamers alike. Today Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at the newest line from SteelSeries; The Siberia Elite Gaming Headset (model# 51151). We will put them through their paces in a variety of scenarios including watching films, listening to music, and of course – gaming.

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Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Video Game Review

Categories:

Computer Games

16 December 2013

by

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Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is powered by a wide range of NVIDIA technologies that allow it to deliver striking graphics and an exhilarating gaming experience. In addition to using long-standing NVIDIA technologies like FXAA and TXAA to improve image quality, it also leverages newer technologies like NVIDIA HBAO+, God Rays, and Percentage-Closer Soft Shadows (PCSS) to enhance the game’s overall atmosphere. Combined with rich object detail and being the first game to ever launch with 4K textures, Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag takes advantage of the best graphics technologies and architectural features available in GeForce GTX 700-series graphics cards.

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Fractal Design Arc Mini R2 Review

Categories:

Cases

26 November 2013

by

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The second revision of the Arc Mini micro ATX chassis brings a few revisions while keeping the essential styling that differentiates Fractal Design from other PC case manufacturers. The original Arc Mini PC case was well received by PC enthusiasts and system builders alike, and now Benchmark Reviews has the Arc Mini R2 for testing and we will detail what sets it apart from the crowd.

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HIS Radeon R9 270X IceQ X2 Video Card Review

Categories:

Graphics

15 October 2013

by

HIS_R9_270X_IceQ_X2_Turbo_Boost_2GB_Front_View_Angle

In this next installment of AMD’s GPU 14 R9 line-up, Benchmark Reviews will be testing the HIS Radeon R9 270X IceQ X² Turbo Boost 2GB video card. As the name suggests, this particular model features the high end IceQ X2 cooler from the HIS labs and much faster Core and Memory speeds. I have seen the evolution of this cooler first hand and I know it to be fully capable. Two 89mm dual axial fans and five 6mm heatpipes ensure that your temperatures will stay well within safe limits.

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HIS Radeon R9 280X IceQ X2 Video Card Review

Categories:

Graphics

13 October 2013

by

HIS_R9_280X_IceQ_X2_Turbo_Boost_3GB_Front_Angle

Since AMD announced their GPU 14 R9 series video cards, AIB partners have been tweaking and tuning their own aftermarket designs. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the HIS Radeon R9 280X iPower IceQ X2 Turbo Boost 3GB video card. As the name suggests, this particular model features the high end IceQ X2 cooler from the HIS labs and slightly faster Core and Memory speeds. I have seen the evolution of this cooler first hand and I know it to be fully capable. Two 89mm dual axial fans and five heatpipes (2 x 8mm and 3 x 6mm) ensure that your temperatures will stay well within safe limits, even during overclocking.

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Bitmore e-Storm LabyrinthX Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Review

Categories:

Accessories

1 October 2013

by

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There are many things to consider when buying a portable bluetooth speaker. The Bitmore e-Storm LabyrinthX Super Bass Speaker (model# PAC 555SL) being tested by Benchmark Reviews today may not tick all of the boxes but it comes kind of close. The price is a little high for my liking but there are many more expensive bluetooth speakers on the market still. Maybe when the novelty wears off the prices might come down across the board and we will see better a better price to performance ratio.

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V-MODA CrossFade M-100 Noise Isolating Headphones Review

Categories:

Audio

30 September 2013

by

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To get the most out of the CrossFade M-100 Headphones you will be wise to also invest in a headphone amplifier. The sound output from today’s smartphones might be enough to crap out your average best buy $10 headphones, but it just isn’t enough to get a truly satisfactory experience on a higher quality set of headphones let alone the CrossFade M100’s. A lot of attention has quite rightly been given to sound quality and performance with equal attention also given to build quality and style. Don’t get me wrong, the experience is not disappointing by any means, I just need to point out that the dual-diaphragm 50mm drivers inside the CrossFade M-100 Headphones are so much more capable than you may think.

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V-MODA BoomPro Microphone C-BP-BLACK Review

Categories:

Accessories, Accessories

26 September 2013

by

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The BoomPro Microphone (model# C-BP-Black) from V-MODA is creative yet simple. It’s one of those products that begs the question: Why hasn’t this been invented already? A 200 cm headphone extension cable with a built in boom microphone – It’s ingenious. The BoomPro Microphone converts your regular or studio headphones (with 3.5mm jack input) into a headset for gaming, communication and recording. Benchmark Reviews has seen many novel accessories and quite a lot of gimmicks in the technology news stream, but this one caught our eye. For $30 you can’t really do much wrong.

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Bitmore Qi Wireless Samsung Galaxy S3 Charging Kit Review

Categories:

Accessories

3 September 2013

by

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If all of our portable devices had wireless charging capabilities built in, and all we needed to do was buy a wireless charging pad, then maybe wireless charging would take off a bit better. Unfortunately, they don’t. To this end Benchmark Reviews has the Bitmore Qi Wireless Samsung Galaxy S3 Charging Kit on test, for those amongst you out there that are looking for a novel and functional way to charge your mobile devices.

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Bitmore Universal Bluetooth Wireless Audio Adapter Review

Categories:

Accessories

3 September 2013

by

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This is where adapters come into play. But they are in themselves a product of planned obsolescence. Take the Bitmore M8 Bluetooth Audio Receiver Benchmark Reviews has today for instance; On the one hand it will enable bluetooth connectivity on a wide range of audio devices – and potentially save you from spending lots of money on upgrades, but on the other hand it is another purchase that you wouldn’t have had to make otherwise.

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Lian Li PC-Q28 Aluminum Mini-ITX Tower PC Case Review

Categories:

Cases

26 August 2013

by

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Since this is my first venture into building a system inside an M-ITX PC case I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I started out. I had certain expectations of the Lian Li PC-Q28; I knew it would take a full size ATX PSU (up to 17cm) and double slot video cards (up to 29cm long). The Lian Li PC-Q28 PC case, while small, has a large internal volume and will make for an excellent enthusiast M-ITX case with a few tweaks and mods. In this article Benchmark Reviews will hopefully provide answers to all of the questions you may have regarding the capabilities of the Lian-Li PC-Q28 Aluminum Mini-ITX Tower PC Case (model PC-Q28B), and more that you may have not considered.

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Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

Categories:

Peripherals

21 July 2013

by

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The K70 is the third attempt by Corsair at making mechanical keyboards, and I think that they have finally nailed it this time. Their initial release featured a mix of mechanical keys and rubber dome keys that many users didn’t approve of. Their second release featured backlit keys and macro keys but still had a mix of mechanical and rubber dome keys. Now we meet in the middle – we have a full set of illuminated mechanical keys with per-key illumination, and there is a choice between red, blue and brown Cherry MX switches to boot. Available in Black/Red or Silver/Blue color combinations, the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is arguably one of the best looking mechanical keyboards available today. In this article Benchmark Reviews will be testing the Black/Red model CH-9000011-UK variant with Cherry MX Red switches, in a variety of scenarios including gaming and general productivity applications.

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ASRock Z87E-ITX Intel Desktop Motherboard Review

Categories:

Motherboards

15 July 2013

by

Small form factor PC’s have been gaining a lot of momentum and favor with hardware enthusiasts and hardcore gamers these past couple of years. Since more features are integrated into the CPU in recent releases, it means more real estate has been made on ITX form factor motherboards for extras that may well have not fit previously. With the release of Intel Haswell CPU’s and Z87 chipset, motherboard vendors are now more than ever able to condense the features of a full size ATX motherboard into the ITX form factor without much (if any) sacrifice. See for yourself, take a look at an average Z68 or Z77 ATX motherboard and you will start to notice just how much space isn’t occupied. In this article Benchmark Reviews takes an in-depth look at the ASRock Z87E-ITX motherboard, reporting back on special features and performance as well as giving a visual commentary on the aesthetics of this tiny beast.

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MSI Z77A-G45 GAMING Motherboard Review

Categories:

Motherboards

6 May 2013

by

Intel’s Haswell CPU’s and Z87 motherboards may well be just around the corner, but that hasn’t stopped MSI from releasing another line of Z77 motherboards. With this new line of motherboards MSI are aiming at the gaming scene, and have a bold new color scheme and heatsink design to match. We are used to seeing either yellow or blue theme motherboards from MSI but this new ‘gaming’ line-up breaks that mould. Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the mid range MSI Z77A-G45 GAMING LGA1155 Motherboard (P/N 911-7752-19S) in this article. The MSI Z77A-G45 GAMING motherboard supports 3rd Gen & 2nd Gen Intel CPU’s designed for the LGA115x socket, and DDR3 speeds up to 3000MHz (OC). Not much separates motherboards with the same chipset these days, so extras like a KILLER E2200 NIC, Creative Sound Blaster Cinema sound and PCI Express Gen 3 expansion slots aim to make sure you have a high quality experience with this latest offering from MSI.

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