Corsair K70 LUX RGB Keyboard Review

No matter what type of keyboard you need, Corsair will have one for you. You can choose from a very broad array of products with a smorgasbord of mechanical switch types, lighting, and other features; from “fairly ordinary” to “has more computing power than your desktop rig did 10 years ago.” Benchmark Reviews has previously tested the K70 RGB Rapidfire gaming keyboard and found it to be a premium product; for this article we’re testing the Corsair K70 LUX RGB Cherry MX Red mechanical gaming keyboard.

28 February 2017AccessoriesBy Aidan Moore

Reeven Polariz RFC-4 Fan Controller Review

In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we will test the Reeven Polariz RFC-4 fan controller to see if it provides enough functionality and style to justify the cost and space required in a custom desktop PC build.

28 February 2017StorageBy Olin Coles

ADATA SU800 SSD Ultimate Review

The ADATA SU800 SSD is a 2.5″ solid state drive for the ever-popular SATA 6Gb/s interface found on mainstream desktop and notebook PCs. ADATA promises 560 MB/s read and 520 MB/s write speeds with their new 3D NAND technology, allowing Ultimate SU800 to deliver higher storage density and reliability than ever before. SU800 also features intelligent SLC caching, a DRAM cache buffer to boost transfer performance, and Low-Density Parity Check ECC. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we test the 512GB ADATA SSD Ultimate SU800 against the competition.

23 February 2017CoolingBy David Ramsey

Corsair HD120 RGB PWM Fan Kit Review

RGB lighting is the current trend these days, appearing in everything from keyboards and mice to less obvious items like motherboards and mouse pads. While LED-lit fans have been around for years, leave it to Corsair to take it to the next level with their Corsair HD120 RGB fans. You can buy these fans individually, but today Benchmark Reviews is testing the HD120 RGB three-pack of fans with the included fan hub and controller (model CO-9050067-WW).

17 February 2017PeripheralsBy David Ramsey

Azio Armato Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

Azio Corporation says that their name derives from “A to Z, Input to Output”, While their products are manufactured in Taiwan, they’re designed in California (sound familiar?) In any case Benchmark Reviews has in hand their Armato Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, model MGK-ARMATO-01. As a single-color backlit mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches, it might seem as if there’s little to distinguish it from the many other similar products available. But first appearances can be deceiving, as we’ll find out in this review.

16 February 201710 March 2017CasesBy Meng Vang

Phanteks Eclipse P400S Tempered Glass Case Review

About a year ago, we reviewed the Phanteks Eclipse P400S case, an outstanding budget oriented computer case built for both beginners and enthusiasts. With the release of the Eclipse P400S Tempered Glass Edition, it shares many of the essential features carried over from its predecessor. Users can now game in style with a tempered glass side panel along with an RGB LED strip included in the box. The Eclipse P400 series comes in many different varieties. Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at the Eclipse P400S Tempered Glass Special Edition in red and black, so let’s go over an overview in the next section.

14 February 2017PeripheralsBy Jason Vaught

Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Keyboard Review

What is the main reason to spend money on a “gaming” mechanical keyboard vs a regular keyboard? With membrane based gaming keyboards, your purchase depends mainly on features that you can only utilize during gameplay. But with a gaming mechanical keyboard, your priorities in performance to value are more broad. You’re looking for a long life keyswitch that offers tactile feel and a comfortable typing experience as well. This is what we should all look for in a gaming mechanical keyboard, does the K95 Platinum live up to these expectations? We’ll find out in this article for Benchmark Reviews.

9 February 2017PeripheralsBy Meng Vang

Gamdias Hermes E1 & Demeter E2 Review

We got our hands on the Hermes E1 mechanical gaming combo, which comes with the Hermes E1 mechanical keyboard, the Demeter E2 optical mouse, and a free NYX E1 mouse pad. The Hermes E1 features Gamdias certified blue mechanical switches, red illumination, and 21-key rollover. The Demeter E2 has an adjustable 3200 DPI optical sensor with lighting effects, and the cloth textured NYX E1 lets you game right out of the box. Benchmark Reviews will be reviewing the Hermes E1 combo, so let’s go through a quick overview of this product.

9 January 2017StorageBy David Ramsey

Samsung 960 PRO NVMe SSD Review

Samsung’s 950 PRO m.2 PCIE SSD set new benchmark records when we tested it here a few months back at Benchmark Reviews. The performance picture got even better we configured a RAID-0 array with two of these drives. Now they’ve introduced the new Samsung 960 PRO NVMe SSD, with upgraded NAND and a new controller, promising even more spectacular performance.

27 December 2016StorageBy David Ramsey

MyDigitalSSD BOOST 1TB External SSD Review

Today Benchmark Reviews has their new entry in the growing field of external, USB-connected solid state drives, the MyDigitalSSD BOOST 1TB external drive. Comprising two TLC SATA III 512GB SSDs in a RAID 0 internal array, the BOOST 1TB drive promises performance that exceeds that of SSDs connected to a SATA port, with maximum read and write speeds of 830MB/s and 730MB/s, respectively…but these speeds are only achievable if your computer has a USB Type C SuperSpeed+ port.

20 December 2016PeripheralsBy David Ramsey

Bloody B830 Mechanical Keyboard Review

A4Tech is a Taiwanese company whose “Bloody” gaming division was launched in 2012. Bloody produces gaming keyboards and mice using a unique switch technology: rather than metal contact points closing an electrical circuit when a key is pressed, Bloody’s mechanical switches use infrared LEDs and photosensors, which Bloody claims provides faster key response and a more reliable and durable switch. Benchmark Reviews checks out the Bloody B830 LK Optic Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, equipped with next-generation “clicky” optical key switches.

14 December 201631 March 2017PeripheralsBy Meng Vang

Roccat Suora FX Keyboard Review

Without sacrificing functionality, the Suora FX maintains the same frameless design seen on its predecessor, the original Suora. This keyboard does not have any of the extra gimmicky bells and whistles seen on other mechanical gaming keyboards. Instead, the Suora FX gets directly down to the point to provide the user with functionality without compromising gaming performance. Here at Benchmark Reviews, we will take a look at the Roccat Suora FX and compare it to a few other mechanical gaming keyboards.

11 December 2016PeripheralsBy David Ramsey

Bloody B840 LK Optic Mechanical Keyboard Review

A4Tech is a Taiwanese company whose “Bloody” gaming division was launched in 2012. Bloody produces gaming keyboards and mice using a unique switch technology: rather than metal contact points closing an electrical circuit when a key is pressed, Bloody’s mechanical switches use infrared LEDs and photosensors, which Bloody claims provides faster key response and a more reliable and durable switch. Benchmark Reviews checks out the Bloody B840 LK Optic Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, equipped with next-generation “clicky” optical key switches.

5 December 20164 December 2016CasesBy Jason Maxfield

Cooler Master MasterCase Maker 5T Review

In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I’ll be going over the differences between the Cooler Master MasterCase Maker 5T mid-tower computer case compared to the rest of the MasterCase series. The MasterCase Maker 5T is the current flagship of the series. I’ll be showcasing this mid-tower with a build to demonstrate the features of this sleek case. How will the MasterCase Maker 5T fair? Let’s find out.

24 October 201622 November 2016AccessoriesBy David Ramsey

Archeer Foldable Solar Charger Review

So, maybe you’re an avid outdoors person, or just an occasional camper. Perhaps you just want to dip your toe into solar power generation, or ensure there’s a way to charge your phone during a power outage. Well, Archeer has something for you: an inexpensive, folding solar charger, the Archeer AR-SC-21, that purports to be able to charge up to two USB-chargeable devices at 1.8 amps each. Benchmark Reviews will check out this charger to see if it can live up to its claims.

19 October 20164 August 2017PeripheralsBy Meng Vang

Tt eSPORTS Ventus R Gaming Mouse Review

Thermaltake is bringing their Aerodynamic Engineered Air-through Ventilation System to the entry level market with the Tt eSPORTS Ventus R gaming mouse. It features an ambidextrous body shape with RGB illumination and the popular PMW3310 optical sensor with a maximum DPI of 5000. Because of the smaller body design, gamers are able to maintain a better grip of the mouse when compared to a larger and heavier mouse. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, we will take a look at what the Ventus R gaming mouse has in store for us.

6 October 201622 November 2016Headsets, AccessoriesBy Jason Maxfield

Kworld S25 Earphones Review

The S25 Elite Mobile Gaming Earphones are gold in color, have 9mm drivers, and look very similar to a bullet casing. A very stylish look that had some people turning their heads when I was wearing them out in public, as it appeared I had a couple of 9mm rounds stuffed into my ears. In this article for Benchmark Reviews, I’ll be putting the Kworld S25 Elite Mobile Gaming Earphones to the test. Do these golden bullets live up to Kworld’s claims? Let’s find out…

5 October 201622 November 2016StorageBy David Ramsey

Toshiba OCZ VX500 SSD Review

Benchmark Reviews has previously tested both the budget OCZ Trion SSD and the premium OCZ RD400 m.2 PCIe SSD; the new VX500 represents the middle of Toshiba/OCZ’s SSD range. At the time of our reviews, the 512GB RD400 was $309.99 while the 480GB Trion 150 was $139.99; with a price of $154.99, the OCZ VX500 SSD is only slightly more than the budget Trion 150 (whose price has since dropped), but it’s still much less expensive than the RD400. Let’s see how the performance and features compare.

7 September 201622 November 2016CasesBy Meng Vang

Lian Li PC-M25A Micro-ATX Case Review

The Lian Li PC-M25A comes in a small form factor design with support for micro-ATX and mini-ITX motherboards. It is a server case as it has the ability to support up to seven 3.5″ HDDs; five of which are hot-swappable. Graphics cards as long as 410mm can be installed for GPU intensive applications. With a powerful graphics card, there is also room to install a standard ATX power supply. The body of the case is built from aluminum, which promotes durability and gives the case a clean look all around. Benchmark Reviews will take a look at the Lian Li PC-M25A, so let’s jump into a quick overview of this product.

30 August 201622 November 2016StorageBy David Ramsey

Transcend ESD400 Portable USB3 SSD Review

Transcend Information Inc. was founded in Taiwan in 1988, and the company prides itself on “organizing your digital life.” Their new ESD400 series of external USB SSDs is their entry into the market for portable, USB-powered SSDs that aims to replace the mature 2.5″ hard drive that’s dominated the small external drive market for years. With sequential read and write speeds both spec’d in the range of 400 megabytes per second, the rated performance of this drive is vastly better than any spinning hard drive. Benchmark Reviews checks out the 256GB version of the ESD400 in this review.

18 August 201622 November 2016PeripheralsBy Tom Jaskulka

SteelSeries Rival 700 Gaming Mouse Review

SteelSeries, a company known for many innovations and their support of eSports, has released a new weapon in the competitive gamer’s arsenal: the Rival 700. While they’ve been busy refreshing all of their product lines to update previous models with new features, the Rival 700 is a brand new entry entirely. Positioned as the premier offering in the Rival line of mice, the SteelSeries Rival 700 has a new twist – or, more appropriately, a buzz. Modular sensors, interchangeable cords, Prism RGB illumination and swap-able panels compliment a first-of-its-kind tactile feedback system and customizeable OLED display panel. Will these features justify the price of entry? Follow along as Benchmark Reviews takes a closer look at the new Rival 700.

15 August 201622 November 2016CasesBy Jason Vaught

be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 Review

The be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 is the newest member of the be quiet! mid-tower chassis family. This mid-tower case sports a tempered glass side panel, a fully modular design, and an abundance of water cooling support. The Dark Base Pro 900 also features filtered ventilation, RGB LED illumination, PWM fan hub, and three be quiet! SilentWings 3 x 140mm PWM fans pre-installed…

9 August 20164 August 2017PeripheralsBy Meng Vang

ASUS ROG Spatha Gaming Mouse Review

The ASUS ROG Spatha Wireless/ Wired gaming mouse brings wireless gaming to the desktop. It has an aggressive body design, six tactile side buttons, RGB lighting, and swappable left and right OMRON switches. The magnesium alloy chassis promotes durability and the sparkly steel-gray non-stick coating prevents the finish from wearing off after years of usage. Inside of the ROG Spatha is the 8200 DPI Avago 9800 laser sensor. When the mouse battery runs low, a provided micro-USB cable can be connected directly to the mouse to charge it as you play. A charging station/ wireless receiver is included in the box to charge and show off the mouse when it is not in use. At Benchmark Reviews, we will take a look at what the ROG Spatha has to offer over the competition.

1 August 201622 November 2016PeripheralsBy David Ramsey

G.SKILL Ripjaws MX780 Gaming Mouse Review

Taiwanese company G. SKILL, probably best known for its desktop and laptop memory products, jumps into the enthusiast gaming mouse market with its new Ripjaws MX780 Gaming Mouse. Stuffed with features like an 8,200-DPI Avago laser sensor, Omron switches, 1,000Hz polling, 4-zone RGB lighting, adjustable weights, switchable, ambidextrous side grips, an adjustable-height palm rest, and 512K of onboard memory for macro storage, this mouse sure looks good on paper, especially at the price. Benchmark Reviews will determine how well it stands up to the competition.

18 July 20164 August 2017PeripheralsBy Meng Vang

Tt eSPORTS Ventus Z Gaming Mouse Review

Designed for long gaming sessions, the Ventus Z gaming mouse comes with a standard body design with a bit of an aggressive feel to it along with its aerodynamic engineered air-through ventilation system. The ventilation system helps reduce sweaty palms in order to increase comfort. On top of that, the Ventus Z includes five separate profiles, 10 programmable buttons, RGB lighting, a weight system, and of course, the Avago 9500 11000 DPI laser sensor. Benchmark Reviews is excited to review the Tt eSPORTS Ventus Z gaming mouse, so let’s go ahead and take a look at a quick overview of this product.