Details
Thermal Grizzly der8enchtable: a professional benchtable (open test bench) for ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards, with an active PCB in the base that adds fan and pump control, USB ports, and SATA and microSD storage. It was developed in collaboration with Jon "elmor" Sandström (ElmorLabs) and Roman "der8auer" Hartung.
Properties
- Motherboards
- ATX (standoffs preinstalled), Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Control zones
- 3+1: three fan zones with 3x 4-pin headers each, one pump zone with 2x 4-pin headers
- Zone power
- 3 A per fan zone, 3 A per pump port (6 A total), every one fused
- Storage
- Two 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, four microSD cards
- USB
- 4x USB 2.0 Type-A (max. 500 mA), 2x USB 2.0 Type-C (max. 3 A)
- Frame
- Black-anodized aluminum, compact and modular
More than a standard benchtable
A standard benchtable has features such as integrated mounts for radiators and a power supply, and this one has both. In addition, its base unit includes an integrated printed circuit board (PCB) for connecting the hardware under test. The frame design is compact, modular, and user-friendly, the table is compatible with air and AIO coolers, and it carries A-RGB lighting.
Fan and pump control
For consistent test results, the fans are controlled via three fan controllers on the PCB, each one providing three 4-pin fan headers. Every fan zone can be switched independently to 50 % or 100 % speed. Each zone supplies 3 A of power to its fans and is protected by its own fuse. Additionally, the fan zones can be managed externally by the motherboard: a 4-pin header takes the PWM signal for external fan control.
Beside the fan-control zones, the PCB offers a secondary control zone with two 4-pin headers for pumps or fans, featuring the same control options. That makes the 3+1 control zones for fans and AIOs. The pump zone supplies 3 A per port, and each port has a fuse of its own.
USB and storage on the table
Peripherals can be connected straight to the benchtable via USB, on four Type-A and two Type-C ports. According to Thermal Grizzly's header map, the two Type-C ports share their 3 A from the PCIe 6-pin power input.
Testing and benchmarking hardware typically requires drivers, a BIOS, or an operating system (OS) plus test software. To simplify this, storage media can be mounted directly on the table, which supports SSD, USB, or microSD for the job. Up to two solid-state drives (SSDs) can be installed on the PCB, held from underneath by up to four of the supplied screws each. The PCB also provides four slots for memory cards, a cost-effective alternative to SSDs in terms of price per gigabyte.
Connecting it
The test motherboard is connected via the 9-pin USB header, and the table itself is powered by the PSU via a PCIe 6-pin cable. For control of the addressable RGB lighting (aRGB), run the 3-pin header to the motherboard. Alternatively, an external RGB controller (not included) may be used. A power button and a reset function are also provided on the PCB and wired to the motherboard through two 2-pin headers.
Port overview
| Port | Use |
|---|---|
| 1x 9-pin USB header | Data connection to the motherboard |
| 1x PCIe 6-pin header | Power supply from the PSU |
| 1x 4-pin header | PWM signal for external fan control |
| 3x fan zones | 3x 4-pin fan headers each |
| 1x pump zone | 2x 4-pin pump headers |
| 4x microSD slots | One memory card each |
| 2x on-board SATA connectors | For the two 2.5-inch SSDs |
| 2x SATA out connectors | Marked SATA IN on the header map |
| 4x USB 2.0 Type-A | Max. 500 mA |
| 2x USB 2.0 Type-C | Max. 3 A |
| 1x 2-pin header | Power button |
| 1x 2-pin header | Reset button |
| 1x 3-pin aRGB header | GND / - / D / 5V |
The PCB header diagram, Thermal Grizzly's "Integrated PCB Utility/Header Map", is a PDF of its own and is also the last page of the manual linked below.
Frame, fit and assembly
The table arrives in parts and requires assembly. Thermal Grizzly recommends it for experienced users, mainly because of the wiring between motherboard and PCB. The PCB features preinstalled standoffs for ATX motherboards (nine of them), which can be reconfigured for Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX boards with the 2 mm Allen key.
On the lower section of the frame, a power supply can be mounted with its intake fan facing down. The two radiator brackets are set for either 120 or 140 mm radiators and are slotted, so they slide to clear the hardware. For cable management, a custom-cuttable Velcro strap is provided. If the lower frame section is not needed, leave the two stands off: the feet can be attached directly to the base unit with integrated PCB, making the table significantly more compact.
Do the cable management and mount any SATA drives before the motherboard goes on, as the manual advises. Assemble on a clean, even, statically discharged surface, and take care not to bend any pins on the PCB.
In the box
- Base assembly with integrated PCB
- AIB securing bracket
- 2x radiator brackets
- Right and left stand brackets
- PSU support bracket
- PSU mounting bracket
- 4x damper feet
- 2x DIN7991 M3 x 16mm screws
- 8x DIN7985H M3 x 12mm screws
- 14x DIN912 M3 x 5mm screws
- 24x DIN912 M4 x 6mm screws
- 10x 6-32 UNC x 1/4in Phillips head screws
- 2x M3 hex nuts
- 9x M3 x 12mm barrel nuts
- Allen keys, 2 mm, 2.5 mm and 3 mm
- 2x double female 2-pin Dupont cables, 20 cm
- Double female 4-pin fan cable, 30 cm
- Double female 3-pin A-RGB cable, 30 cm
- Double 9-pin USB 2.0 cable, 15 cm
- Double-sided Velcro strap, a one-meter roll
- Manual
Thermal Grizzly's manual is a PDF and covers assembly step by step.
