Modding:

    As mentioned earlier, mounting the optical under the top tier requires some modding and some parts from Lowe's. Step one is to order a second set of rails if you haven't already done so when ordering the Top Deck.

   Step two is getting the new parts from Lowe's. Here are the part #'s: #490265 for the screws 6x1 1/2" 10pcs and #880432 for the 3/8"x .171 x 1 nylon spacers.

   Since the Top Deck kit only comes with one set of drive rails, I pulled my already modded rails from the other Tech Station. What I mean by modded rails is I simply cut the rails with a hack saw or a dremel with a cutoff wheel. What I did was cut each of the 12" long rails into a 7" and 5" piece. The two 7" pieces will be for the optical drive and the two 5" will be for another HDD. Another option is to just cut the rails in half - either option will work.

Placing the HDD	Fitting the rails	OOPS installed to soon
How will the post fit	Modding the Mod	Simple fix

    During assembly of the Top Deck, I was looking for a location to mount the optical drive, and discovered it was as simple as mounting the rails next to the existing rails on the underside of the upper tier.

   Since I'm lazy and I didn't want to measure the width of the optical drive, I used the lazy man's technique. I place the optical drive in the desired location and placed the rails on top of the optical drive. Then I pushed the screws through the holes and made marks on the tier. When you do this, just do one rail at a time.

   I next drilled the two holes for the screws and mounted the rail into place. I placed the optical drive back into the location snuggled up against the installed rail and repeated the process for the other side.

   A little word of warning and preplanning: I installed the optical drive rails without thinking about the clearance for the square posts. Luckily, the optical drive fit between the square post and the first rail I had installed. The only adjustment needed was to slide the second rail back to clear the post.

Completed station	Different angle
Components installed	Looking down

Conclusion:

    The HSPC Top Deck is not perfect... yet, but it certainly is close to being perfect, at least in my eyes. I really only find 3 minor flaws and here they are....

   In modding the original tech station, the goal was to have free access to the motherboard - that's why the motherboard went from the lower tier to the upper tier. In that process, ideas starting forming about mounting the optical drive along with the hard drives under the upper tier and using the lower tier for storing video cards or RAM modules. Well, HSPC got the idea to move the motherboard to the top deck, but they left out the idea of having the optical drive mounted on the underside along with the hard drive.

   Next, the original Tech Station included two 120mm fans, and the new Top Deck uses one on a 45° rotation. This setup doesn't provide the best air flow over the motherboard or even to the HDD under the top tier.

   Last on the minor flaw list; it's not really a flaw but something overlooked. The neoprene mat is not secured in any way, shape, or fashion. On the Tech station, the pad was pinched between the tier and the post and this secured the neoprene mat into place. On the Top Deck it just floats around. Now, I'm not sure if the mat was cut too short by mistake, but if this is the norm I feel double sided tape should of been included to keep the mat in place.

    Now on to the positives of the new HSPC Top Deck. The main plus is the new redesigned layout by having the motherboard mounted on the top as opposed to the lower tier. The upper mounting gives the end user unlimited amounts of access to change out hardware and mess with jumpers... which is great for benchmarking or for designers who want to develop a new piece of hardware for a motherboard.

   The ease of building the Top Deck can be done by anyone handy with a screwdriver and only takes 20-30 minutes tops. So if you are in the market for new and/or different type enclosure for your motherboard give the HSPC Top Deck a try. I would like to thank the fine folks from HSPC in sending me out a second, and their newest, of there units to review.