|
HighSpeedPC Tech Station
Introduction
Testing hardware means constantly shifting and replacing system components! A hard drive here, CPU cooler there - something gets moved for pretty much every review. Doing all of this tooling around with the system installed in a case means I need a good screwdriver close by and I can bet on the occasional scratch on my hands or fingers. Now that I have a dedicated test rig, Kurtis took pity on me and asked the guys at HighSpeedPC.com to send me one of their "Tech Station' kits to use and review. The HSPC Tech Station is an open-frame PC test bed, allowing greater access to system components and reducing the time it takes to swap hardware. The motherboard rests on rubber feet with nylon screw posts to keep it aligned and thumbscrews are used for add-in cards. Perhaps the most appealing thing is that no screwdriver is needed, save the assembly of the Tech Station itself. I used the Tech Station exclusively during my recent motherboard reviews and have had about three months use with it. In this review I will cover the assembly of the unit and, of course, my actual experiences with it: good, bad and ugly. First Impressions The HSPC Tech Station came in a rather unassuming white box with nothing but a small label on it to declare its intentions. Inside the box was a white bubble-envelope for padding with all the parts inside it. The larger pieces are loose in the package while the screws and other small hardware are in baggies. There's quite a bit of hardware in the little package, which likely means a hefty install time.     The two platform pieces are very thick and heavy. They will certainly provide a sturdy base for all of your hardware. The edges are beveled round and the surface has an orange-peel like texture to it.Like the plates, the pillars and other frame pieces of the HSPC Tech Station are pretty heavy duty. It's apparent before I even put everything together that this is going to be a solid unit. Aside from the large structural pieces of the Tech Station and the random build hardware, you also get a 120mm fan and some switches and LED's to be used on the motherboard's front panel connectors. These switches and LED's are very important for powering up your system, so be careful not to lose them. They are also somewhat flimsy as their wires aren't any thicker than a small paperclip, and they bend easily. 
Page 1: Introduction & First Impressions
Page 2: Putting it Together Page 3: Testing Page 4: Conclusion 
|
Recent Articles Editorials March 15, 2010
Editorials August 27, 2009
Editorials August 18, 2009
Editorials March 17, 2009
Recent News Jason Bradbury Mar. 19, 2010 - 10:52 pm
Rock Paper Shotgun Mar. 19, 2010 - 10:44 pm
joystiq Mar. 19, 2010 - 6:58 pm
Tom's Hardware Mar. 19, 2010 - 4:42 pm
Rock Paper Shotgun Mar. 18, 2010 - 11:58 pm
Fudzilla Mar. 18, 2010 - 11:57 pm
CVG Mar. 18, 2010 - 11:53 pm
Tech Radar Mar. 16, 2010 - 11:58 pm
|
|||||||||||||||
