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HighSpeed PC Tech Station 2 |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Wednesday, 13 June 2007 |
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Page 3 of 3
The final step is putting the two pieces together. Once again you'll thread four screws through the top panel. The problem arises when you try to thread them through the pillars as the pre-drilled holes are way too small and the plastic is so hard that threading them manually is next to impossible. For that reason I had to make a trip to Home Depot and pick up a cordless drill/powered screwdriver. So unless you have an amazing grip and LOTS of torque at your disposal or a power tool, you'll probably want to purchase the pre-assembled kit. Once you have the screws in nice and tight, you simply snap in the caps to hide them and give the entire model a professional appearance.
Another great inclusion is the "ATX control kit". This is basically a pair of switches, a PC speaker, and power/HDD LEDs that mount directly onto your motherboard headers and let you turn the system on and off. Simple yet very convenient solution. It would be nice if the power switches were a bit more rigid in terms of their wiring though, since pressing down on the button carelessly can cause the neck to bend.
Installing the hardware is a painless procedure. The motherboard sits firmly on the rubber standoffs thanks to the pair of plastic screws which go through two of the holes as well as the slip resistant rubber. Expansion cards mount flawlessly and can be secured via the support bar and corresponding plastic screws. As for the top, you can arrange whatever you want, however you want. There's also enough clearance between the two shelves to mess around with hardware without removing the motherboard (and if you feel that 7" isn't enough, you can always purchase a set of 10" bars for $15 extra). Overall it's a great kit, but it comes at a price. At the time of writing the older 14" x 8" model will cost you $80 ($95 assembled) while the new version 2 runs for $140 ($155 assembled). This is more than most quality ATX cases.
Update (08/07/05): Newer, more thorough instructions are now available for both the standard and large Tech Stations. You can find them here.
Pros
- Great concept
- Incredibly stable, solid design
- Perfect size
- Looks very professional
- Relatively easy to assemble (with pre-assembled option available)
- Very useful
Cons
- Poor instructions
- Need a power screwdriver to assemble it well
- A bit on the expensive side
HighSpeed PC's Tech Station 2 is a very niche product. Few people will have use for it, but those who do constantly tinker with PC components will find it to be one of the best solutions out there. If you can muster the funds, it's worth the premium. Construction is solid and components will fit great. Let's not forget that it also makes you look at lot more professional by organizing all those cables and loose drives. If interested, you can get yours here.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 15 June 2007 )
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