Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack<base href="http://www.atruereview.com/" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/template_css.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/style10.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/slimbox/slimbox.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/rokmoomenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <style type="text/css"> td.left div.moduletable, td.right div.moduletable, td.left div.moduletable-hilite1, td.right div.moduletable-hilite1, td.left div.moduletable-hilite2, td.right div.moduletable-hilite2, td.left div.moduletable-hilite3, td.right div.moduletable-hilite3, td.left div.moduletable-hilite4, td.right div.moduletable-hilite4, td.left div.moduletable-hilite5, td.right div.moduletable-hilite5, td.left div.moduletable-hilite6, td.right div.moduletable-hilite6, td.left div.moduletable-hilite7, td.right div.moduletable-hilite7, td.left div.moduletable-hilite8, td.right div.moduletable-hilite8 { width: 175px; } div.wrapper { margin: 0 auto; width: 868px;} </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/mootools.r462.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/roktools.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/mootools.bgiframe.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/rokmoomenu.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.addEvent('domready', function() { new rokmoomenu($E('ul.nav'), { bgiframe: false, delay: 500, animate: { props: ['opacity', 'width', 'height'], opts: { duration:400, fps: 100, transition: Fx.Transitions.sineOut } } }); }); </script> </head> <body id="page_bg" class="f-default"> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/slimbox.js"></script> <div id="fxContainer"> <div id="fxTarget"> <div id="fxPadding" class="wrapper"> </div> </div>  </div> <div id="template" class="wrapper"> <div id="header"> <a href="http://www.atruereview.com" class="nounder"><img src="http://www.atruereview.com/images/blank.png" style="border:0;" alt="" id="logo" /></a> <div id="banner"> <div class="padding"> <form action="index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=5" method="get"> <div class="searchroflmao"> <input name="searchword" id="mod_search_searchword" maxlength="20" alt="search" class="inputboxroflmao" type="text" size="20" value="search..." onblur="if(this.value=='') this.value='search...';" onfocus="if(this.value=='search...') this.value='';" /> </div> <input type="hidden" name="option" value="com_search" /> <input type="hidden" name="Itemid" value="5" /> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div id="horiz-menu" class="moomenu"> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/search.html">Search</a></li> <li><a href="http://atruereview.com/oldrev.php">Old Reviews</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/atruereview/articles.php">Old Articles</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/contact/contact.html">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/links/links.html">Links</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/accessories/2.html">Reviews</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="top"> </div> <div class="clr" id="mainbody"> <table class="mainbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="left"> <div class="moduletable"> <h3> Main Menu </h3> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/" class="mainlevel" >Home</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/search.html" class="mainlevel" >Search</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://atruereview.com/oldrev.php" class="mainlevel" >Old Reviews</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/atruereview/articles.php" class="mainlevel" >Old Articles</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/contact/contact.html" class="mainlevel" >Contact</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/links/links.html" class="mainlevel" >Links</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/accessories/2.html" class="mainlevel" >Reviews</a></td></tr> </table> </div> <div class="moduletable"> </div> </td> <td class="mainbody"> <table class="sections" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="section w99"> <div class="moduletable"> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="padding"> <h1 align="center">Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack</h1> <p align="left">Provided by: <a href="http://www.sunbeamtech.com/" target="blank">Sunbeam Tech</a> <br> Retail Est: $18.99<br> Review Date: December 9th, 2004<br> Written by: David L.</p> <p align="left"> With all the different configurations and modding in PCs today, there are literally endless possibilities. Sometimes it takes more than skills and/or ingenuity to get what you really want. That's where Sunbeam comes in with their Wherever PCI Rack. This little gem looks like it could open up your options by leaps and bounds. Let's see if at least some of your modding headaches are finally over. </p> <p><strong>Packaging:</strong> <p>I received a box of Sunbeam Tech goodies via FedEx. The oversized box was stuffed with packing peanuts and bubble wrap. Well protected for shipment, and everything arrived in seemingly great shape. (see what other toys they sent along in my upcoming reviews) <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/pci_rack/2big.jpg"><img src="atruereview/pci_rack/2.jpg" alt="Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack" width="250" height="250" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> <p align="left"><b>Features:</b> <p> All of the Wherever PCI Rack features can be found at <a href="http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/WHEREVER%20PCI%20RACK.HTML" target="blank">Sunbeam Tech's website</a>. </p> <ul> <li> 1.5mm thick (chromed steel)</li> <li> Add extra bays of any size, at any location</li> <li> Improve components layout within the case</li> <li> Easy to install, just a few screws away</li> </ul> <p><b>What You Get</b>:</p> <p> The kit comes nicely boxed with graphics showing application suggestions as well as a list of features and individual dimensions. The main parts are nicely chromed and consist of an "L" shaped 240mm*38mm main strut, two smaller 150mm*13mm struts, two thumbscrews, and 4 rubber grommets. Several 90 degree bends in the main strut as well as slotted mounting holes assure many possibilities. The two smaller struts are slotted and drilled as well. There are plenty of possible configurations with just these three pieces, depending on your needs and case layout. This kind of reminds me of an erector set. </p> <div style='text-align:center'><a href="atruereview/pci_rack/3big.jpg"><img src="atruereview/pci_rack/3.jpg" alt="Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack" width="250" height="196" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </div> <p align="left"><b>Installation</b>:</p> <p align="left"> The main strut is drilled perfectly to fit the PCI slot I/O ports in the back of your case. Installation was quick and easy with four screws. Once installed, it really brings to mind some promise as a very useful accessory. At first glance I thought it would be flimsy, but it's actually surprisingly sturdy and held it's ground despite my test of using it as a handle to pick up my empty midtower.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/pci_rack/4big.jpg"><img src="atruereview/pci_rack/4.jpg" alt="Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack" width="250" height="250" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger pictu</font><font size="-1">re</font> </p> <p align="left">Being low on spare 120mm fans, I decided to install a 120mm and an 80mm fan into the main strut. They installed easily, though the slots could be drilled out slightly larger to accommodate the fan screws. As you can see, I had plenty of room there for two 120mm fans, and I was only using 1/3rd of the struts. This would be great for you overclockers out there. Two 120mm fans blowing over the graphics card and HSF should drop those temps a bit.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/pci_rack/5big.jpg"><img src="atruereview/pci_rack/5.jpg" alt="Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack" width="250" height="250" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger pictu</font><font size="-1">re</font> </p> <p align="left">Sliding the included grommets into the smaller struts, it became apparent that an extra hard drive should work there nicely, and the grommets would reduce any vibrations. A few screws later the rails were attached and the hard drive was ready for a new home. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/pci_rack/7big.jpg"><img src="atruereview/pci_rack/7.jpg" alt="Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack" width="250" height="205" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger pictu</font><font size="-1">re</font> </p> <p align="left">The hard drive went in with the help of the included thumbscrews. Once again the rack was as sturdy as could be expected. With a couple of these kits, a nice RAID configuration should be easy to hide away in the rear of your case, where the rear exhaust fans could whisk away their heat. </p> <div style='text-align:center'><a href="atruereview/pci_rack/8big.jpg"><img src="atruereview/pci_rack/8.jpg" alt="Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack" width="250" height="227" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger pictu</font><font size="-1">re</font> </div> <p align="left">I've only begun to touch on the possibilities of this accessory and there's literally no way I could show them all to you. Using your imagination you can easily see that this device is definitely not limited to fans and hard drives. For more ideas and pictures, please visit <a href="http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/WHEREVER%20PCI%20RACK.HTML" target="blank">Sunbeam Tech's website</a> and take a look.</p> <p align="left"><b>Conclusion</b>:</p> <p align="left"> At the beginning of this review I vowed to find out if this product would put an end to some of those modding headaches we all get. In the end, the Sunbeam PCI Wherever Rack has made a believer out of me. Not only has this kit proven it's usability, but versatility as well. The possibilities of configurations are nearly endless, and a few of these kits would be welcomed by any PC modder (myself included).<br> <br> <b>Pros:</b> </p> <ul> <li>Great Quality</li> <li>Sturdy Construction</li> <li>Nice Chromed Finish</li> <li>Endless Possibilities</li> </ul> <b>Cons:</b> <ul> <li>Slots Need To Be Wider</li> <li>Seems A Bit Expensive</li> </ul> <p> <b>Rating:</b></p> <table width="227" border="0"> <tr> <td width="105">Overall:</td> <td width="183">Very Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Performance:</td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Installation: </td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Price: </td> <td>Fair</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Packaging:</td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compatibility: </td> <td>Very Good</td> </tr> </p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer">  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>