![]() They are basically laptops which have some performance constraints still as they have mobile SoC processors on them. Don't bother with the tiny PCs if you want a lab PC. That keeps the bench clear of monitor footprint. It'll run 2x 27" 1440p displays quite happily which can be stuffed on a second hand Knoll Sapper stand. Also usually come with a windows 10 pro license embedded. 2 front USB, 6 rear USB, gig ethernet, 2x displayport, 1x VGA, 1x serial, usual audio. They are very quiet, very reliable and stuffed full of ports. If it's of the last 3-4 generations of Intel CPU you probably won't notice much difference. I'd grab a second hand Lenovo M800 or M900 SFF PC. Behind me to the left is a storage unit for all the common bits and pieces and the other storage unit under the rack, for less frequently accessed stuff. One goes to the main PC and the other is 1.2m that I can plug into another machine. I did, however, make myself a little USB changeover with a mechanical 4PDT switch in a box with a USB socket for the keyboard+mouse receiver, with two cables. ![]() ![]() Since dual monitor KVM switches are so expensive (and I don't use that functionality much) I get by with manually switching inputs to the monitors. There is a spare HDMI cable connected to one and a spare VGA cable connected to the other. They are both connected to the PC as well as one being connected to a microserver. ![]() The monitors have 3 inputs each - two HDMI and one VGA. I have a direct connect USB extension cable as well as a 4 port USB hub snaking up, coming out from under the rack. This area is the subject of a complete redesign to allow for placement of some TE - such as my 3478A - to be accessible but out of the way. Above the monitors is a double shelf which contains a variety of bits and pieces which include lighting and a camera for photography, label printer, some commonly used tools and so on. Wireless keyboard and mouse - so they can be easily moved out of the way at any time. At the back, I have two 27" IPS monitors, leaving the space in front for all manner of work. Nearly all my accessible TE is located in these (at the moment) and this includes my soldering and hot air stations. (I could get more space on my desk if I could move that rack further to the right, but the storage unit has a laser printer on it that SWMBO uses, so I only get a third of it.) The rack has an old shelf unit I made sitting on top. (IanM is right, size of the PC box is not really a concern.) On the desk, to the right I have a 19" 12U rack which is straddled between the desk and a storage unit I made. Underneath, I have a 2 drawer filing cabinet to the left and a regular tower PC to the right. I searched the forum for threads on this subject but none cut quickly to the dilemma i'm facing. or is it? Love to know your ideas, & apologies if this is discussed elsewhere. the opposite sprt of hardware to ever becoming my repair bench PC. I've just been given a boat anchor of a HP Z800workstation of all things that i know nothing about & haven't even fired up but was pulled from duty and the two top-end graphics cards removed.(it's actually very clean inside). My workbench is not massive but it has a return so one part of its real-estate has become the PC i/o test-gear zone so to speak. Lots of USB-2 sockets & a few USB-3 to connect to my testgear & at least an SD card slot. A small BT keyboard & BT mouse so they don't hog valuable benchtop space. I've come to like dual screens (i tend to work with stuff parked on one for reference the main work displays on the other) that don't need to be huge (but for some reason now new screens are big). I don't like the idea of a laptop because of the footprint they occupy. They maybe faulty now or they are just unreliable! I really need something to replace the setup. but even though it has the full compliment of accessories it's beyond pathetic using the USB ports on the external brick i/o. Once i found it to be beyond annoying it became my hack at the workbench. The current junker is my SurfacePro3 that i actually bought myself for some stupid reason wayback when. So for years i have used your usual junkbox hack come 2nd hand PC running some sort of Windows so i can use the USB test gear i own, to hunt the interweb for free service manuals, parts data, do orders with the likes of Digikey, Mouser etc, design stuff, simulate circuit ideas, cad yadda, yadda. (Lets go with a Money no object scenario).
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