Introduction

There comes a time in any computer enthusiasts lifetime when component testing on a desk or the top of a cardboard box is simply not good enough. The consumers system is susceptible to all kind of accidental damage, making precious equipment useless. In the past enthusiasts have made their own ‘bench desks’ in order to get around this problem. However these are rather cumbersome and by no means portable. In truth you can get away in a pinch with cardboard boxes for basic system testing, However,what about advanced trouble shooting, professional component reviews, overclocking using Dry ICE/LN2 or even leak testing a water cooling system? All these issues need to be addressed and yet still make the unit portable. Various companies have tried, such as the Antec Skeleton and the Wonderful Lian Li T1 Spider bench table. However none have the rigid, solid feel about them that combines flexibility, creativeness and required cooling options that the enthusiasts need. One such company that believes that they have the answer is Dimastech.

Company Background

DimasTech SNC is part of this reality by offering professional extreme cooling solutions and technologically advanced, superior efficient cooling solutions as compared to those commonly offered by the market. Phase Change Cooling represents a very powerful cooling solution, suitable for extreme overclocking conditions or special needs of testing.

DimasTech SNC offers solutions, support and advice on any matter relating to the cooling for the PC The client can find the best solution suitable to the needs presented. The dynamism and expertise allow DimasTech SNC establish itself as a manufacturer of cooling systems for PCs, Test Station / BenchTable and as a consultant for every need of cooling.

(taken from http://www.dimastech.com/EN/about-us last accessed on the 08/10/2010)

Packaging and Contents

The test bench came in a nondescript cardboard box with a few Dimastech logos on the side. However, this is where the generic look ends. When opening the box this writer was greeted with a foam sheet, which when removed reveals component cut-outs for the bench table! Thats right, the expanded foam had cut outs that are the exact shape of the components. These provide great protection and are packed in a series of layers.

Once the foam cover has been removed, the components were then revealed.  The first layer consisted of basic screws and bolts to assemble the bench table, with a long screw designed to put extra pressure on a heatsink for the processor, to allow for better contact.

The second layer consists of all the fan mounting brackets the bench table will use. The beauty of this product is that essential the fan brackets can be placed anywhere on the bench table to allow effective cooling over the motherboard, graphics card and processor.

Overall the quality of the powder coating on the fan and PCIE brackets was above par, with finger prints barely showing-such as the Mountain Mods horrible ‘Mirror Black’.  Just as we were being impressed with the overall powder coating then we find an issue. The bracket that clamps on and arches over the bench table for CPU pressure, looks like either the temperature of the oven in baking on the powder coat was not quite hot enough, or some grit from the sandblasting was still present.

A Different Part of the Same Bracket

At last we come to the third and final layer and this is the bench table itself. It is with hopes that Dimastech can redeem themselves with the powder coating from the large bracket. This is a pity as the rest of the brackets are of superior quality workmanship.

Bench Table In the Box

Bench Table In the box, Close Up

We now inspect the bench table itself. The first and most noticeable thing is the anodising/powder coating on this product. The bench table sports a metalic grey finish and the quality is simply oustanding in every aspect, both in looks and texture; so a “well done” to Dimastech is most certainly due at this point.

Assembly And Usage

Normally we at Overclockers Tech would do a detailed assembly guide with products such as this. However we feel that this product is so easy to assemble that we shall just cover the basics. To assemble the test bench the first step was to screw the motherboard mounting posts in. Remember that bag of screws and bolts we mentioned earlier? This is where it is needed. This is where a tool to tighten down the motherboard standoffs (such as what Lian Li provide) will come in handy to save marking the bolts by the use of pliers.

 Next we install the PCIE plate. At this point it is worth mentioning you may wish to leave this ever so slighty loose to allow for micro-adjustment of the plate for each motherboard, and then when the main board is installed tighten up the bolts.

Motherboard Stand Off

PCIE Plate

Next we simply attach the handles onto the side of the motherboard test bench, as this helps to make it more portable and in addition to screwing on the brackets. The following shots shows where the holes are to mount the brackes, which in turn mount the fans in order to cool the critical areas of the motherboard.

Mounting Holes One

Mounting Holes Two

Mounting Holes Three

Once the brackets are installed, the head of  the screw should be ON TOP of the bench table to allow for micro adjustment of the brackets.

Adjustment Nut

Once all the brackets and handles have been installed the bench table should look similar to the following images. Please note, the large bracket has not been installed due to having no use for this as the table will be used for water/sub zero cooling.

Finished Assembly Angle One

Finished Assembly Angle Two

Finished Assembly Angle Three

Finished Assembly Angle Four

Finished Assembly Angle Five

Finished Assembly Angle Six

In our honest opinion a well conceived and built product so far.

Using the Bench Table

Now that we have seen how the test bench is assembled and what it looks like after assembly; however this review would not be complete if we did not show the test bench with an actual system board installed.

Board Installed Angle One

Board Installed Angle Two

Board Installed Angle Three

Board Installed Angle Four (RAM Cooling Bracket)

Board Installed Angle Five (VGA Cooling Section)

Board Installed Angle SIX (PWM Cooling Section)

As you may have noticed EACH and every key area of the motherboard is effectively cooled by the place ment of the fan areas. This is a good sign and it shows that Dimastech have really thought about this issue.

Board Installed Angle Seven

Board Installed Angle Eight

Also Dimastech have included THUMB SCREWS for mounting the motherboard, it seems that they really have thought of everything.

Board Installed Angle Nine

Board Installed Angle Ten (PCIE Plate)

Conclusion

We at Overclockers Tech have seen many testing stations such as the Antec Skeleton and the Lian Li Pittstop series; however we have not seen one that ticks all the categories like the Dimastech bench table. The product is portable, extremely rugged and versatile unlike some of the other test stations this product can be used when Sub-zero cooling.

A slight minus point would be the issue with the large bracket and its powder coat. However this is balanced by the quality of the test bench itself in addition to the other brackets.

As far as the placement of the fan mounts, Dimastech seems to have thought of everything. In this reviewers opinion the product most certainly deserves recognition as one of the more superior and essential products out there.

Pros:

• Inner Packaging is brilliant
• Quality powder coating on the bench table and MOST of the brackets
• Rugged
• Portable
• So versatile that it can be used in many different cooling enviroments
• An essential for review sites
• Essential for attending overclocking contests
• Cooling potential
• Can be placed anywhere
• Great testing station for component checks BEFORE assembly inside a case
• Fantastic product for Leak-Testing Water Cooling Loops
• Saves so much time
  

Cons:

• Could do with a tool for tightening the motherboard standoffs
• One of the brackets had a powder coat defect!

Such a versatile and essential product and if anyone calls themselves a computer enthusiast, then they should have one of these test bench stations available. A wonderful little product and is sheer brilliance in itself! So much so we give this product a 9.2 out of ten and therefore a gold award.

This product can be purchased from www.dimastech.it

Author: Gilgamesh