David Shields, Author at Benchmark Reviews @TechPlayboy

2 May 2018

The Meshify Mini C is a smaller mATX version of the mid-tower version, shaving 4 cm off the top and losing a little depth while retaining a similar price point. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll take an in-depth look at this offering from Fractal Design. How is it different from other chassis designs they offer, such as the Define Mini C? What does it offer to Micro-ATX builders? Why buy this over the similarly priced mid-tower equivalent?

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Tags: 7340172700111, 843276100117, David Shields, FD-CA-MESH-C-MINI-TGD, Fractal Design, Meshify C Mini Dark TG

Fractal Design Define R6 Mid-Tower Case Review

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22 December 2017

The Define series is best known for quality construction that features customization, sound-dampening, and enthusiast level cooling options. Three years ago we awarded the Define R5 a strong 9.5 out of 10. What has Fractal done to improve and remain relevant as we head into 2018? In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I take a closer at the Fractal Design Define R6 Tempered Glass mid-tower computer case, detailing the latest features.

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Tags: 7350041085904, 817301015905, Computer Case, David Shields, Define R6, FD-CA-DEF-R6-BK-TG, Fractal Design, Mid Tower, Review, Tempered Glass

Corsair Carbide SPEC-04 TG Case Review

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26 October 2017

I have had the pleasure to build with many products from Corsair, such as the H100i, Graphite 700T, Carbide 600T, Vengeance memory, HX750 and many more. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review the SPEC-04 TG, a new version of the budget SPEC-04 with a tempered glass side panel. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll look at the features offered by this mid-tower design before doing a quick build and delivering a final conclusion.

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Tags: 010617319711, Carbide, CC-9011117-WW, Corsair, SPEC-04 TG

In Win 301 Mini Tower Case Review

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15 June 2017

Tempered glass is all the rage right now in the custom PC market. As a result, many case makers are releasing new designs with tempered glass in an attempt to cash in. But tempered glass is often more expensive than options such as plastic. Seeing this, In Win has released the 301 mini tower, a smaller mATX version of their successful 303 chassis design. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll take a closer at the In Win 301 SECC Tempered Glass Micro-ATX Mini Tower Computer Case, detailing the features included in this design, before delivering my final recommendation.

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Tags: 827955023010, 827955023027, Computer Case, David Shields, In Win 301, Micro ATX, Mini-Tower, Review, SECC, Tempered Glass

Bloody B820R RGB Gaming Keyboard Review

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13 March 2017

In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll take a closer look at the Bloody B820R Light Strike RGB Animation Gaming Keyboard, and determine if this latest offering has what it takes to set itself apart from the rest of the mechanical keyboard market.

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Tags: 4711421926928, A4TECH, Bloody B820R, David Shields, Gaming Keyboard, Light Strike, RGB Animation

GAMDIAS Hephaestus v2 Gaming Headset Review

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Audio

18 July 2016

The GAMDIAS Hephaestus v2 Surround Sound Gaming headset features a 50mm USB connection, built-in smart controller, large ear cups, decorative LEDs, omnidirectional mike, and finally “bass impact.’ This takes low frequency bass tones and applies a slight vibration effect to let wearers “feel” the sound. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll look at the design of the Hephaestus v2 before diving into some basic performance tests.

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Tags: 47129601300289, 84847500156, David Shields, Gamdias, Gaming Headset, GHS3510, Hephaestus II, Hephaestus v2, Surround Sound

GAMDIAS EROS ELITE EQ Headset Review

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Audio

5 February 2016

The GAMDIAS EROS ELITE EQ gaming headset features a lightweight design with an innovative cooling design, 7.1 surround sound, and an attractive $79.99 price tag. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we’ll take a look at just how comfortable this USB headset is, and whether or not it should be your next choice for gaming.

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Tags: 4712960130074, David Shields, EROS ELITE EQ, Gamdias, GHS3610

Corsair Carbide Clear 600C Case Review

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10 December 2015

Corsair’s latest design is the Carbide Clear 600C and Quiet 600Q full-tower cases. The 600C features a large side panel window (much like the Graphite 760T) while the 600Q is designed for silence and water-cooling capability. Both designs feature an inverted motherboard mount intended to display the interior and improve airflow along with a PSU shroud, hidden HDD/SSD trays, and much more. Today we’ll be looking at the windowed version, the Carbide 600C.

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Tags: Carbide Series Clear 600C, CC-9011079-WW, Corsair, David Shields

SilverStone CS01B-HS Mini-ITX Case Review

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14 September 2015

Two versions of the anodized black CS01B computer case exist, one with a mesh top and the option to install two 2.5″ and two 3.5″ drives. The second is the CS01B-HS, which removes the pair of 3.5″ drives in favor of six hot-swappable 2.5″ bays. Also included in both models is a single 120mm air penetrator fan, one expansion slot, and a sturdy aluminum construction throughout. SilverStone is not intending this to be used for gaming, but rather for an office environment. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we will specifically look at the CS01B-HS version, deciding whether or not SilverStone has succeeded in creating such a product, and then deliver an overall rating.

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Tags: 4710007221938, 844761011932, Case Storage Series, David Shields, SilverStone, SST-CS01B-HS

Thermaltake Suppressor F51 Case Review

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13 July 2015

Thermaltake has been somewhat under the radar in the custom PC world for a while now, mainly due to a string of underwhelming products. However, with the release of the Core series they’re starting to make a comeback, and their newest product is their first silent chassis design, the Thermaltake Suppressor F51 E-ATX Mid-Tower Chassis

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Tags: 4717964402004, 841163061817, CA-1E1-00M1NN-00, Chassis, David Shields, E-ATX, Mid Tower, Review, Suppressor F51, Thermaltake

Zalman Z11 Neo Mid-Tower Case Review

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26 April 2015

Cases, PC Hardware Reviews

This new take on the Z11 design features a new exterior design, mounts for water cooling and filtered intakes, along with the sleek, jet-inspired exterior design from the original Z11. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I will cover the Zalman Z11 Neo and discuss the changes Zalman has made from the Z11 Plus before delivering my final rating.

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Tags: 823884207163, 8809213767395, David Shields, Review, Z11 Neo, Zalman

Sentey Optimus Plus Mid-Tower Case Review

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5 February 2015

This case, the Sentey Optimus Plus, features a large side panel window instead of fan mounts. Additional features include a fan controller, filtered intakes, a dedicated cooling fan for hard drives, and a SD card reader. These features come at an additional premium though when compared to other cases in the same price range. In this Benchmark Reviews article, I will discuss the Optimus Plus in depth and whether or not this is a good mid budget case for your next build.

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Tags: 812366022660, Case, David Shields, GS-6000 PLUS, Mid Tower, Optimus Plus, Review, Sentey

Razer Deathstalker Expert Keyboard Review

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11 December 2014

The Razer Deathstalker Expert has many of the basics needed for a gaming keyboard, such as macro recording, anti-ghosting, 1000mhz polling rate, and a key to disable the windows key while gaming. In this article for Benchmark Reviews , I will give an overview of this keyboard and Razer’s Synapse 2.0 software before delivering my final verdict on the package.

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Tags: 879882005375, David Shields, Deathstalker Expert, Keyboard, R703-00800D0-R3V1, Razer, Review

Razer Taipan Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse Review

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9 December 2014

With nine macro enabled buttons (with Razer Synapse 2.0), ergonomic design, and a fast 8200dpi sensor, does the ambidextrous Taipan have a place in Razer’s lineup? In this Benchmark Reviews article, I will give an overview of this mouse, Razer’s Goliathus Control pad and Synapse 2.0 software before delivering my final verdict on the package.

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Tags: 879862004736, 88886419331018, Ambidextrous, David Shields, Gaming Mouse, Razer Taipan, Review, RZ01-00780100-R3U1

Fractal Design Define R5 Mid-Tower Case Review

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24 November 2014

Fractal Design is probably best know for it’s Define series chassis lineup, cases designed for high performance while keeping a low noise level and budget price tag. The current version, the Define R4, was much praised for its customization options, cooling performance, and noise control. However, at the beginning of last year NZXT released their H440 chassis, a case that was called the “Define R4 Killer,” because of it’s enhanced cooling options, quiet operation, and stunning looks. But now Fractal Design have given their answer to the H440, and it’s a big one – the Define R5.

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Tags: 817301012584, Case, David Shields, Define R5, FD-CA-DEF-R5-BK, Fractal Design, Mid Tower, Review

NZXT H440 Razer Edition Mid-Tower Case Review

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17 November 2014

Razer, creator of all things peripheral, has finally released their hotly anticipated entry into the chassis market. This is the NZXT H440 – Designed by Razer. With a completely new appearance featuring a matte black exterior and interior, four black NZXT fans, a large tinted window, and plenty of LED lighting, this chassis will be sure to make every Razer fan’s wish list, especially given that it retains the original H440 quality and simplicity.

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Tags: 815671012234, CA-H440W-RA, Computer Case, David Shields, Mid Tower, NZXT H440, Razer Edition, Review

Silverstone Fortress FT05 Case Review

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17 October 2014

While the Raven and Fortress series appear to be very different, they often use the same interior design. This is certainly the case with the RV05 and the FT05 cases. With this in mind, how can consumers decide which chassis suits their needs? In this Benchmark Reviews article, I will discuss the differences between the RV05 and FT05 and potential reasons to pick one over the other before delivering my final rating of the FT05.

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Tags: 470007221679, 84476101167, David Shields, Fortress FT05, SilverStone, SST-FR05S

Corsair Graphite 780T Tower PC Case Review

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15 September 2014

On September 10th Corsair released what they consider the true successor of the 600T, the 780T. This new full tower uses the same curved design as the 600T and includes a large side panel window. However, being a full tower chassis the 780T can mount dual 360mm radiators on the front and top panels, up to nine 120mm case fans or a mixture of 120 and 140 with up to five 140mm fans. Fully filtered intakes keep the interior clean and the top panel features a three speed fan controller along with a fully lit I/O panel. In this article, Benchmark Reviews inspects the new Corsair Graphite 780T full-tower computer case.

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Tags: CC-9011059-WW, Computer Case, Corsair, David Shields, Full Tower, Graphite 780T, PC, Review

Roccat ISKU FX Gaming Keyboard Review

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7 August 2014

ROCCAT is a German company that produces gaming peripherals including gaming mice and keyboards, mouse pads, and sound systems. The ISKU FX is ROCCAT’s mid-range gaming keyboard, clocking in at $79.99. The ISKU FX features multicolor illumination, 8 configurable media and hotkeys, ROCCAT TALK, macro recording, dedicated profile switches, 36 macro keys, and an extra large wrist rest for comfort during long gaming sessions. The features and illumination options make the ISKU FX an attractive option, but can it compete with the many other gaming keyboards in the market? In this Benchmark Reviews article I will discuss the many features of the ROCCAT ISKU FX, the accompanying driver software, and how this keyboard compares to others options on the market.

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Tags: David Shields, Gaming Keyboard, ISKU FX, Review, ROC-12-901, ROCCAT

Cooler Master N600 Mid Tower Review

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14 July 2014

One can easily say that Cooler Master is a household name among PC enthusiasts. With an absolute plethora of cooling products and chassis to choose from, Cooler Master boasts one of the largest product lines in the industry. With products such as the immensely popular Hyper 212 EVO CPU cooler and the HAF 932 chassis, one can generally expect good things to come from Cooler Master. Last year Cooler Master released the N-series cases, which includes the N200, N400, and N600 models. The N600 is the premier model in the series, designed to bring enthusiast features at a more affordable price point.

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Tags: 4719512043066, 884102022234, Case, Cooler Master, David Shields, Mid Tower, N600, NSE-600-KWN1, Review

Silverstone Raven RV05 Case Review

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14 July 2014

Now, SilverStone has just released the latest chassis in the Raven series, the RV05. Drawing it’s design straight from the RV01, the Raven RV05 continues a trend started by the NZXT H440 with the removal of all 5.25″ drive bays. Without the bays, the RV05 is smaller than many mid-towers while still retaining compatibility for a full range of standard features such as ATX motherboards and power supplies, bays for dual 3.5″ drives and 2.5″ drives, and even water cooling support.

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Tags: 4710007221532, 84476101536, Case, David Shields, Mid Tower, Raven, Review, RV05, SilverStone, SST-RV05B

GAMDIAS HERMES Essential GKB2000 Mechanical Keyboard Review

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2 July 2014

Gamdias Technology Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan based company that was recently formed in 2012. As a result, their offerings are quite small, with four keyboards, a few mice, a couple of gaming headsets and some accessories such as gaming gloves. The Gamdias HERMES is their premier gaming keyboard series, with Cherry MX switches, 512KB of memory, 32-bit ARM processor, 13 customizable macro keys, and USB / audio ports. With many already existing gaming keyboards such as the Logitech G510 and Corsair Vengeance, can the HERMES Essential make inroads in an already congested market? In this Benchmark Reviews article, I’ll discuss the design and features of the HERMES GKB2000 as well as Gamdias’s peripheral software, the Gamdias HERA.

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Tags: 4710728309830, David Shields, Gamdias, GKB2000, HERMES ESSENTIAL, Mechanical Keyboard, Review

Watch Dogs Video Game Review

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Computer Games

17 June 2014

What happens when you combine the Grand Theft Auto series with a near future world where big brother is indeed always watching you? You get the new game from Ubisoft, Watch Dogs. Watch Dogs has been highly anticipated by many gamers since it was revealed at E3 2012, but due to production delays it didn’t hit retail until May 27th of this year. Watch Dogs takes advantage of many of the latest advances in graphics from NVIDIA, including HBAO+, to create a stunning, ambient world full of light and shadow.. In this techplayboy.com article, I will discuss the main features of Watch Dogs as well as the graphics before delivering my overall rating of the game.

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Tags: David Shields, PC, Review, Ubisoft, Video Game, Watch Dogs

Antec ISK600 Mini-ITX Case Review

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3 June 2014

Antec is no stranger to the chassis market, with well respected products such as the Nine Hundred and Twelve Hundred series chassis. However, Antec has little to offer in the Mini-ITX market, with just the ISK100 and 300 series released thus far. Last November, Antec released the newest case in their Mini-ITX lineup, the ISK600. The small form factor ISK600 is designed to provide all the features any ITX builder would need without the price tag of other cases such as the Corsair Obsidian 250D and the BitFenix Prodigy. The ISK600’s main features include the ability to mount a standard ATX power supply, long graphics cards, up to five internal hard drives, and it comes with a decorative LED strip on the front panel. With the interest in small form factor PCs continuing to rise, it is imperative that new designs offer more to builders than the competition. But does the ISK600 have the features necessary to compete? In this article, Benchmark Reviews inspects the features of the Antec ISK600 and how they compare to the other popular choices in the Mini-ITX market.

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Tags: 761345151658, AGI600I, Antec ISK600, Computer Case, David Shields, Mini-ITX, Review

Phanteks Enthoo Pro Tower Case Review

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10 May 2014