One of the benefits of the Senfu Tech Station is the inclusion of a plug-in accessories pack. 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.
I was surprised that this kit didn't include a grounding or anti-static wrist strap for extra protection. There are certain
risks involved with working with exposed computer equipment and it would have been nice to see that this precaution was
addressed with this package.
Click image for larger view
All systems go!
Installation of all system components is pretty much straight forward where you designate which shelf will house
the motherboard and system components. Most motherboard contacts are exposed on the bottom of the PCB and
thankfully this package includes a PE foam cushion which provides some additional leverage away from the metal tubes.
I was in the process of putting together a small low end workstation for a friend and decided it would be perfect for
testing purposes. The motherboard is an old ABIT BH6 which uses an Intel 440BX chipset. The system is currently
running a Pentium III 700EB, 8GB HDD, 256MB of RAM, 3Dfx Voodoo 3 2000, SB128, 44X CDROM, and a 3COM Etherlink XL
NIC card. During the POST and BIOS configuration, the HD and power indicators were lit up to indicate system activity.
Click image for larger view
Click image for larger view
I have been testing the Senfu Tech Station for the last two weeks with the system exposed and haven't run into any
operational problems. When the system is not in use the included dust cover can be used to protect the system and
components from harm. I did note that larger sized ATX motherboards tend to hang out a bit from the top shelving.
The last picture demonstrates the system currently running and in the process of a WinME installation.
Conclusion:
The Senfu Tech Station is a definitely "must have" item if you are a system builder, reviewer, or tweaker. The
documentation included in the package is easy to follow and installation should only take a minimum of 30 minutes
to complete. Once constructed the unit is very sturdy thanks to the metal tubes which are constructed of aluminum
alloy and chrome metal plating. One of the benefits of the kit is the inclusion of the plug-in accessories pack
which aids in providing a visual of your assembled system in operation. Add in the size and the attractiveness of
the unit and you have an excellent addition for any hardware enthusiast. The only minor issues I found with the kit
was the provision for handling larger sized ATX boards, as well as no system in place to keep your peripheral cards
stationary. It would be very easy to bump and unseat a video, sound or network card causing it to short when the
system is powered. I also would have liked to see a grounding strap or anti-static wrist strap included as a safety
precaution. Aside from a few very minor issues, I’m giving this product a rating of
8.5 out of 10 and would definately
recommend it to anyone requiring a small and mobile workstation for testing system components. 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.
Pros:
Excellent portable workstation solution
Requires little desktop space
Strudy construction (aluminum alloy and metal chrome plating)
Installation can be completed in 30 minutes
Dust cover and plug-in accessories pack
Cons:
No grounding strap or anti-static wrist strap
No locking mechanism for keeping the peripheral cards stationary
Larger size ATX and server motherboards may cause problems
Pros:
Cons:
