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Product:
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HighSpeed PC HSPC Tech Station |
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Price:
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$159 (CDN) / $139 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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HighSpeed PC
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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February 22nd, 2006
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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With the pre-assembly work of the upper Polymer bench completed, the unit can now be positioned on top of the four
vertical supports. There are four 1" screws that must be installed in each corner to secure the entire unit.
As an option consumers can install the bundled Neoprene rubber mat if they want a guaranteed non-slip surface
for mounting components such as power supplies, optical drives or floppy drives.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The last step required to complete the assembly of the HSPC Tech Station is to install the AGP/PCI support brace. There
are two mounting holes drilled on the front vertical supports that allow this brace to be easily mounted. The process
works just like the installation of the two 120mm fans using two metal "L" brackets and four 1/4" screws. There are
seven black thumbscrews that are included in the package that can be used to secure any peripheral cards that are
installed.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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To provide a visual view of the differences between the Senfu Tech Station and the HSPC Tech Station I placed
both units side by side. The HSPC Tech Station offers significant improvements with the inclusion of an AGI/PCI
support brace, cooling fans, hard drive rack and a much larger work area. In order to test the HSPC, I assembled a few spare
components which included a DFI LAN Party Pro875B Motherboard, Intel Pentium 4 2.8C Processor, 2 x Generic CDROM's,
Panasonic 1.44 Floppy Drive, Maxtor D40X-GL 60 GB Hard Drive and Aspire Aluminum ATX-AS500W PSU.
One of the benefits of the HSPC Tech Station is the inclusion of a ATX Control Kit. This is an excellent addition for
this package and provides you with the ability to remotely install LED activity and switch function to an exposed
motherboard. Included in the package were activity LEDs for Power and HDD status as well as Speaker, Reset and Power
switches.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Working with the HSPC Tech Station is a complete breeze since the strength of the design allows systems builders and
computer enthusiasts to swap out components without any issues. The hard rack is completely tool-less and allows you
to simply slip any hard drive into place for testing. Testing any type peripheral cards is also simplified by the
use of the AGP/PCI support bridge. Once a peripheral card is installed the only step required is to use of the black
thumbscrews to secure it into place.
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Conclusion:
HighSpeed PC has put together a wonder tool which is a "must have" item if you are a system builder, reviewer, or tweaker.
While the tech station concept is nothing new, the HSPC Tech Station improves upon the original design and is universally
compatible with different platforms and component hardware. The documentation included in the package is well written and
easy to follow making installation a breeze for the novice or expert user. The only tool required is a Phillips screwdriver
and 30 minutes to complete the assembly. Once constructed the unit is very sturdy thanks to the use of vertical supports,
high grade Polymer bench surfaces and non-slip Neoprene rubber mat. One of the benefits of the kit is the inclusion of the
ATX Control Kit which aids in providing a visual of your assembled system in operation. Add in dual 120mm fan mounts, AGP/PCI
support brace as well as the size and the attractiveness of the unit and you have an excellent addition for any hardware
enthusiast. While I didn't experience any issues with the HSPC Tech Station, I did note that this package does not include
any sort of grounding strap or anti-static wrist strap included as a safety precaution. Consumers should also note that an
open air platform such as this kit provides no level of EMI shielding or sound dampening. Finally, the HSPC Tech Station is
expensive and priced between $80-$139 USD which is comparable to some existing cases currently on the market. Consumers should
decide which kit is beneficial to your existing computer configuration prior to purchase. Overall, I was impressed with
HSPC Tech Station and award MTB's Seal of Approval and a final rating of
8.5 out of 10. If you have any questions
regarding this review, be sure to visit the HighSpeed PC
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Excellent portable workstation solution
- Requires little desktop space
- Strudy construction
- Wide selection of colours available
- Installation can be completed in 30 minutes
- ATX Control Kit, hard drive rack and cooling fans
- Tool-less design
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Cons:
- No grounding strap or anti-static wrist strap
- No EMI shielding or sound dampening
- Price
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